The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1908. GISBORNE TO WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2367, 7 December 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1908. GISBORNE TO WELLINGTON.

Wo were in hopes that the ioimation of a local Chamber of Commerce would lead to some considerable achievement that would assist in the progress of this district-, but frankly the results so far have been distinctly disappointing. It is many months since a fairly large gathering of representative citizens decided that such a Chamber should be formed, but until the report of Friday’s meeting' came to hand there was .little, indication that the new body bad succeeded in advancing' beyond the preliminary stages and had come to the consideration of solid business, of which there is ample awaiting its attention. Unfortunately at its first business meeting it took a stop which its -most charitable critic must admit was a very foolish one. The Hastings Chamber -asked its . co-opera-tion in the matter of pushing on the claims of the railway from Napier to Gisborne. The reply sent was that as the railway to the Alotu required all our consideration at the present time the Chamber could not see its way to agitate for other lines at the present time. Such an attitude seems really incredible, exeejjt on the thesis that Gisborne folks have become so contented in their isolation that they have no desire to improve their communication with tho outside world. The line to the Alotu must inevitably occupy our chief attention at the present, and very properly so, but that is no reason for shutting our eyes to tho projects which, though still in the future, are none the less important. The opening up of the Alotu and contiguous districts will assist the development of hundreds of deserving settlers whose business interests lie solely with Gisborne, and the increased production from that territory will directly affect- the prosperity of Gisborne, but it will not tend in any marked degree to remove that- isolation which is one of the chief drawbacks (o the progress of this town. Some day, when the railway Becomes directly connected with Auckland, our only line will play its part in putting us in touch with the Northern centres of the Dominion, but that is so far in the distance that it is not profitable to speculate upon it just now. On the other hand, communication with AVellington by rail is a project that is not difficult of accomplishment within a few years once the Government decides to take up the work and proceed with it in earnest. It would open up a large tract of country much of which is exceedingly productive, and it would place Gisborne in direct touch with Napier, AVellington, and the rest of the Dominion. Once it becomes possible for a business man to board a train in Gisborne in the early morning and travel to AVellington within the 'same day, tho isolation of the district will bo ended, and Gisborne will emerge from its present isolation and take its place as one of the most important cities in tho Dominion. AYe want the Alotu railway extended as rapidly as possible, we want roads and drainage for the town, wo want an efficient outer harbor, and many other works, but there is nothing which we need more urgently than rail communication with Napier, -and it is to be hoped that the reply sent to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce will in no wise cause our Southern friends to relax their efforts to improve our lines of communication. AVc do not suppose for a moment that the local Chamber is in any way antagonistic to the Southern line, but s-imply deemed it inexpedient just now to devote attention to it. 'Unfortun-a’cly, their resolution provides the Government with an opportunity to delay dealing with the important undertaking of a through trunk lino from AVellington to Auckland via the East Coast. When representations are made in that direction tho Premier will say, “The Gisborne people do not want it,” anJ will us© this as -an answer to deputations from Napier and other Southern towns. From this it will be seen that the Gisborne Chamber has fallo'i into a grievous error, and it is to be hop > d that some effort wiil 1 be made to amend the position at the earliest opportunity.

The. monthly meeting of the C,«» homo No-Licen.se League will be held at Sto Andrew’s Schoolroom to-night. A first offender for drunkenness was convicted at the Police Court on Saturday morning and fined the •usual 5s with costs. The “New Zealand Eoraiid” states that there is a likelihood of fllr. W. D. S. MacDonald settling permanently' in Rotorua. Tenders for the refreshment booth at the Wbatalutu Racing Club s races on Boxing Day will close on Monday next, December 14th. The new trailer for tho Borough Council’s Straker -waggon came to hand by the fi.s. Manuka, fiom \S eliington, on , Saturday morning. A special meeting of the Painter’s Union will be held at i. 15 p.m. today in Townley’s Hall to consider the question of referring a dispute to tlie Conciliation Board. A general and special meeting of (he Gisborne Co-operative Building Society will be lield in Townley s HalJ at 8.30 p.m. to-morrow, to dispose oi loans and 1 to confirm an alteration in the rules. *

Pastoral lands in the Tuahu survey ■district of the Wairoa County, Huwko’s Bay, aggregating some 5300 acres, have been set apart for leasing as small grazing runs under the Land Act, 1908. " The City Band gave an open-air concert on the Waikanac beach yesterday afternoon. There was only a small crowd present, but those who went to the seaside greatly enjoyed the music.

The following was the revenue collected at the Custom House, Gisborne, last week: Custom duties £564 Os 6d, beer duty £3l 7s, light dues £l6 2s 9d, port charges £99 4s lid, other receipts £1 9s; total, £712 4s 2d. Last week’s issue of the “Canterbury Times’’ contains an excellent group picture of the children who attended the Garrison Hall LfiCl on October 29. The photograph, a flashlight one, was taken by Mr. T. Thomas. The fairy extravaganza ,“Violette and Isidore,” was repeated by the children trained by the authoress, Mrs T. H. Wood, in His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday afternoon. There was a moderate attendance, but the performance was greatly appreciated. In aid of the choir and orchestra fund of the Baptist Tabernacle, an entertainment will be held therein tomorrow evening. An attractive programme is to lie ©resented. No charge will be made for admission, but a collection is to lie taken up on behalf of the fund.

At the Police Court on Saturday morning before Mr W. A. Barton, S. M., a cabclriver named Neil Blackley appeared in answer to a charge of having been found drunk in charge of a cab and horses in the Taruheru river oil Friday night. Mr G. Stock appeared for accused 'and entered a plea of guilty. A fin© of £1 with 5s costs was imposed, and at the request of accused a prohibition order was issued against him. Enthusiastic bathers who frequent the Waimata at Harris 1 Bend have replaced an old plank that has done duty as a spring board for some time by a fine board of Oregon pine which is of ample width and gives a capital spring. It was largely patronised yesterday. In view ot the large number oi bathers who use the liver at that point, it lias been suggested that a small dressing shed should be erected.

T'he various services throughout the day yesterday at the Salvation Army Citadel were conducted by Brigadier James Glover, assisted by Adjutant Dickens and Captain Jenkins, and were well uittended. The adjutant reports that a real good time was experienced, especially at. the evening service, when the Brigadier gave a stirring address on a subject bearng tho novel title of “Conspiracy ana .Murder.’’

Both to-niglit paid to-morrow night. Brigadier James Glover, of the Salvation Army, will deliver lectures in the Citadel, commencing at S o'clock. The subject, this evening will be “Salvation Army Work Amongst- the gallon,” and to-morrow evening the Brigadier will speak on the work of the Army in foreign lands, especially in Java, where he wMs stationed for a- number of years. Admission on both occasions will be free, and a collection will he made in aid of the Army funds.

Bast evening Mr. T. Downs gave an address in Townley’s Hal-l. under the auspices of the Gisborne Spiritualist Society. Mr. Brown, president of the Society, was in tho chair, and there was a fairly good attendance. Tire subject- of the address was “.Life After Death.” Mr. Downs road a poem, “A Message To Mankind,” which, he stated, had been received by himself psycliograpliicalJv from a spirit in the other world. ~He explained the teaching of the poem to the .audience.

It is stated that, a Christchurch business firm is making a practical use of the Edison phonograph for commercial purposes. The manager dictates his correspondence to tho machine at his leisure, and the typist afterwards receives it at a convenient time and writes the letters. This practice is “Paid to constitute a very great convenience for a firm dealing with a large quantity of correspondence, for tho principal can answer it at any time and spea'k at any rate of speed to tlio machine.

Mr Charles Parnell, late musical director for tlio Duller Proprietary, is about to attempt a. new world's record lor continuous piano playing. Tho present record for this kiiid of endurance tost is ol (hours o minutes, establislied at Sydney by a Mr Freeman. It was intended lav Mr Parnell to attempt the feat at Wanganui, but 3ie fbuis now contracted with the 11-oyai Pictures Syndicate (of Wellinoton) to make his attempt at Auckland on December 29, 30, and 3-1, partly in conjunction with the syndicate's moving picture "show rat the northern city.

A conference of representatives of the Australasian Seamen’s Union will be held at Sydney in February next and the New Zealand Union has been asked to send one or more representatives. A similar request was made last July in connection with the conference which was held in August, but HfS important matters requiriim attention in Near Zealand, no rep res sentatives were. sent. • iM,r W. T. Young, who was appointed for the purpose, was prevented by private cMima upon his time.- In all probability, ho will bo able to attend the x ebruaryi conference, with Mr Belcher, of Bunedin.