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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2409, 26 January 1909, Page 4

Air. Heine, opthalmic optician, has extended his stay in Gisborne till Saturday next. The Alarine Department is advertising for tenders for tho erection of a lighthouse on Tuahiiio Point. The Taranaki Garrison Band will not compete at' the Hastings contest owing to the resignation of the conductor (Mr. T. B. McConnell). A meeting of ladies is to be held at the Alangapapa School at 3 p.m. to-day, to arrange for the annual school picnic. The Cook County Council is calling for tenders, to be received until noon on Saturday next, for forming and metalling a portion of Darwin Road, Kaiti. Vancouver Rugby authorities are contemplating an invasion of Australasia in 1910, advices to that effect have reached Wellington per medium of private letters. Before the scheme is put into execution financial assistance will be sought from the Australasian Rugby governing bodies.

“I am very pleased to see that, there arc a few men at least l with a spark of public spirit attached to their conscience that they take the trouble to look into tho figures and certify that they are correct.” —The Alayor lat the loan proposals meeting last night. •*

“Our metal is decried too much, ladies ami gentlemen,” said the Mayor last night. “Wc havo got as good a metall as you can want for tarred macadam work. There is nothing better than AVaihirere for the foundation metal for our streets.”

During Hie course of the Burns’ dinner.last evening, when song and story were at their height', great enthusiasm was caused by one of the attendants carrying round a burning peat on. a- shovel, preceded by the skirl of the pipes. The peat had been sent out from Scotland by a well-known firm of distillers specially for the occasion.

'Shortly after one o’clock this morning fire was discovered coining from an upper room in tho Gladstone boarding-house, Bright Street. The inmates were aroused and extinguished the blaze before any serious damage had been done. Tho fire was caused by a boarder leaving his oandilo alight, with the result that tho wind blew the curtains on to it.

Travellers tell us of two magnets that invc placed one; in the roof and the other o;i the floor of Mahomoi’s burying plaeo, at Mecca ; and by that means pull the iron coffin with such an equal attraction that it bangs in the air between both of them. Our magnet this .week is stove brushes, sixpence each, .at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, Saturday, 30th hist, only.

In the list of unclaimed balances of the National Bank appeals the na . of Sir John Mackenzie (deceased), an i ?L S buta?co fa aii , I V r , th ? il f "Fhol appears the name of Mr. (& c&or) who hei*> loit ho • - called for, while the Industrial Association of Dunedin has not lifted a balance of £l2 4s Id, After the success of Sergeant Friar, the Onchunga cadet, at Bisley, it war, considered possible that a cadet loan might be sent to England this yeai to represent the Dominion, and on top < this came an invitation from Ford Roberts. The Government was communicated with in this connection, oUu it is believed that those supporting the proposal have received an intimation that nothing can be done in the matter. '

The question of the metal supply was naturally raised at the loan -proposals meeting at the Garrison Hah last night. The Mayor informed the ratepayers that in a week or two there would be more metal coming into town than they would be able to use. “Wo will then,” lie added “be able to supply outside contractoi s.

Owners arc reminded that the billowin'l' entries for the Gisborne R ;IC ‘~ jng Club’s summer meeting close with the secretary (Mr. H. E. Dodd) at p o’clock this evening: Elymg Handicap, First Handicap Hurdles, mer Handicap, First County otake-> Handicap, Park Stakes: -Handica)). The following entries are also due this evening: Maiden Scurry, Handicap Scurry, Hack Fiats (both days), and Welter Handicaps (both days). “The present system is one of front streets versus hack streets, but if you adopt the system which the Council wish you to adopt, the. back roads wik pay for the front, and the front toa the back, but you must cut your cloth according to wliat you want. The Mayor at the Garrison Hall last night.

A short sitting of the Old Age Pension Court was held yesterday before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M. The following renewals were granted : Mary Anil Andrew £26, Geo. It-owley £26, Francis Ch-as. Leggett £l4, Jessie McConnell £26, Caroline Amelia Cave £26. Wm. Stuckev £l9. Chas. James Fox £26. A pension of £26 was granted to Alfred Chas. Tibbies, ano the applications of Jas. Spence and Thos. Carden were adjourned until February 22nd. “Once you get rid of these road and drainage proposals, I will endeavor to give you an opportunity of considering the question of rating in unimproved values as 'against improved,” said the Mayor last evening.—The announcement was received with applause bv the ratepayers. Miss Tittell Bruue, the well-known actress, is, as she herself confesses, an “autograph fiend,” and has recently added Dick Arnst’s signature to her collection. “And have you also added Jack Johnson’s?” the favorite actress was asked. “No,” sh« answered, “nor have I any ambition in that direction. This flight—Buriis-Jolin--6on —l wonder do the people here realise how far-reaching its effects will be. The negroes are already overbearing in certain quarters in the States, alia this spirit Johnson’s victory wi.i unquestionably tend to foster. J cannot tell you how much Americans will regret the issue at the Sydney. Stadium.”

A fire-year-ohl boy had a miraculous escape from death during the recent holidays. The child had been taken from Christchurch to stay with some relatives in the Malvern district, and a few minutes after his arrival he fell down a well 60ft deep. W lien discovered he was standing on the bottom quite unconcerned, with the water reaching nearly up to his neck. There were several crossbars supporting the sides at different levels, while at the bottom there was a force pump, worked by .a windmill on the surface. In his sensational descent, the child missed all these obstacles, and when be was rescued, after staying in the water for nearly 20 minutes, it was found that the only injury he had sustained was a slight scratch oil his hack, and a button was missing from his clothing.

The peaceful settlement of HalfMoon. Bay, Stewart Island, was thrown into a state of excitement last week by a sudden outbreak of violence on the part of one of its residents. Little appears to he known of him beyond the fact that along witli a comrade ho lived for some time at one of the neighboring beaches. Without any apparent cause, he recently got up in i» fit of uncontrollable passion, avowing his determination to extirpate every inhabitant in the place. Happily his state of mind was discovered in time to prevent him carrying out his threat, and in the public interest as well as his own safety, lie was securely bound 'and a strict watch kept over him. It is" said that in no time in the history of Southland have sudden mental lapses of this 'kind been anything nearly so numerous as they have now become. ‘ There is no known cause, hut the fact is certainly being commented on with grave apprehension.

A somewhat exciting train incident was witnessed on Wednesday morning at Bunnytliorpe (writes the "Dominion’s” travelling covrespoiideni). The early morning train was just pulling out from Bunnytliorpe on its way to Feilding ' when n young man in a tfroelc coat and top hat, representing a .musical company, was seen making a desperate rush to hoard one or the cars. The train was just gathering speed, and, ns the expression on the young maids face showed "do or die,” passengers sat tight and watched hard. For one instant tli black-coated figure was seen on the line, then it disappeared in what appeared to he a headlong dive near a cattle stop. There were sounds as if somebody were being dragged, and some lady passengers screamed. "He’s under,” when with a crash and a jar the engine-driver put on the emergency brake, and the train stood still. Some passengers who got out •in fear that the worst had happened were astonished to seo the young man. dust-covered and nerve-shaken, hut safe. It appeared that ho slipped as ho clutched vat the handrails, and •was falling and 'being dragged at the very instant the emergency brake was put on. The prompt action of Hie engine-driver saved the young mail from a serious injury, if not from death.

Would you exchange a' throbbing headache for buoyant relief? Then take Stearns’ Headache Cure, which always relieves so promptly that it is uow "used whorever heads ache.”

Butter factories in the Inglewood ' district paid £9756 for mill: during: December, 1908, os against £BI9B fcttL the corresponding month of 1907. \^tr

The dried milk factory of Messrs. D. Nathan and. Company, at Bunnytliorne, has resumed operations owing to the receipt of largo British orders. The Nelson Freezing Company’s works at Stoko will bo completed in a few days> and the Company has decided to commence operations early in February. Mr. A. J- Reynolds, of Tarat&hi East has just threshed a paddock of oats, yeilding 84 bushels per acre for 12 acres., and 78 bushels for sevcßjf acres. The. “..Carterton Daily News”"' says t-his is a Wairarapa record. Tho Stock Department draw the attention of farmers to the fact that the sheep-dipping season is now on, and owners are liable for exposing infected stock for sale or driving the .same upon the roads.

There wan a somewhat severe frost in Stratford a week ago, and exposed tender growth—such as pumpkins, tomatoes, etc. —was nipped. The weather is tho most unseasonable that has been experienced in Taranaki for years.

The lowering of the rate of subscription to the Public Library, Christchurch, has a widespread effect in increasing the number of subscribers.. Quite a large number of yearly tickets have already been token out, and the cry it “still they come.” George Holtz, aged 12, son. of Mr. Peter Holtz, of Clydesdale, near Singleton (N.S.W.), was admitted to the Singleton Hospital last week suffering from a bleeding nose, and bled to death. Evidence was given that the bleeding was caused by deceased being hit on the nose in play.

“'The morning press try to make out that these are my figures. I think that such a statement made by a press to endeavor to mislead a people is wrong and is absolutely without justification. I hope no person will take any notice of statements they see in the “Times.”—His Worship the Mayor at the meeting last night.

There is every possibility of a South African Rugby team visiting New Zealand during the 1911 season (says the “New Zealand Times”). An exWellington ian, now located in Capetown. writing to a prominent supporter of the game here, states that the project has been discussed in official circles. If the “Springboks” come they will number 30, and the combination will be a strong one.

A prominent stock authority, who has been moving about lately, gave it as his opinion to a Wairarapa “Daily Times” reporter that half a million more fat lambs will be exported from New Zealand this season than last. The estimate was based upon the percentage of lambs, which was stated to be. remarkably high everywhere. In every way the authority considered that a record season for fat lambs could be looked for.

The Government' regulation, restricting the weight of sacks of grain to be carried over the railway to 2001bs comes into operation oil February Ist, and reads as follows:—“On and after the first day of February, 1909. the maximum weight of any sack contain- - ing wheat, barley, or oats to be carried by rail shall be 290!bs. Any sack of wheat, barley, or oats containing a greater weight than 2001bs shall be £ charged for at the rate of four times' the ordinary rate of freight.”

A leading solicitor in Palmerston, with a benevolent turn of mind, recentlv observed a number of cases of cruelty and neglect to animals in and about his town. Resolved io do all he could to diminish such practices lie wrote to the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty io Animals, requesting a copy of their constitution and regulations, with a view to forming a similar institution in Palmerston North. His request was speedily complied with, and the meek beasts of burdens in that town will probably ho better looked after henceforth.

Very had weather for shearing has prevailed in the Mackenzie Country during the past month. There have been frequent showers, sufficient' to stop shearing. says the "Tiniaru Herald,” and while there has been an over-abun-dance of rain down country, parts of the Mackenzie Country are in need of a good rain. The lambing there was good this spring, in spite of the disastrous snowstorm of last winter, and while shearing tallies are disclosing the fact that the loss in number is heavy, it is found that the deterioration in quality is not so great as was anticipated would he the case.

—A number of cases of apparent double voting were reported at the polls at the Duller election. A full iiiuqiry has been made, and all cases but one have been cleared up. A lady is the offender in a dual vote traced, ahd she has made a srraitforward explanation. She voted twice at Westport. At her first essay site struck out only one name on the Parliamentary ballot paper. Subsequently ascertaining her vote was informal, she visited a second polling booth, and there cast a valid vote. As the offence was apparently committed in ignorance of its seriousness it is unlikely there will he any prosecution (says tho “West-port News’ •’).

On tho tree-planting prison camp at Waiotapu there are 50 men at work, and at Waipa 23. The men who are sent to these stations are . generally selected from those who are serving fairly long terms, and amongst whom for some time past there have been no complaints. Generally speaking the moil who have been, given this privilege have, it is reported, justified their selection, and some, on tho strength of the experience so obtained, have been given work hv tho Forestry Department at the expiration of their term of servitude. From the prisoners’ point of view it is not a bad thing to go tree-planting. An ordinary inmate of a prison who behaves himself perfectly can got a remission of a third of liis sentence, not counting the first three months. If he plants trees lie increases the remission to the extent, of 26 days for every year lie has to serve. Half a mile distant from Waiotapu is a treeplanting establishment where convalescent consumptives are given a fortnight in which to get into the way of things, and after that they'have to do sufficient to represent a money value of 15s a- week. Some of them earn 10s a day. This camp, is in charge of a matron, and indications are taat it is serving a most useful and practical purpose.