Poverty Bay herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. SATURDAY JUNE 18, 1908 MURDER OF KING ALEXANDER.

Whatever other causes may have contributed to the feeling of discontent which led to the assassination of the Servian Royal Family it is beyond question that the suspension' of the constitution by King Alexander was a most unwise and unjustifiable step for him to take, indeed it was calculated (o encourage a conspiracy to compass his death. The gradual ascendency of one party m a State is not a sufficient reason for a monarch to deprive his people of the rights of self-government. Only great disorder, or the safety of the country, should ever be made a pretext for such an assumption of power by the sovereign. No such condition of affairs existed m Servia when Alexander by his action two months ago became an autocrat. Instead of allowing the will of the people to be exercised. m a natural and constitutional manner through their representatives m Parliament, the King stopped up this natural flow of power and activity, with the result that it has burst all bounds like a flood and over whelmed him and his principal supporters and sympathisers. In this case it was not the hand of "a single assassin that struck down a monarch. The revolutionary feeling was so widespread that a portion of the regular army placed themselves under the orders of the conspirators, surrounded the castle, and took part m the work of blood. When on

April 7th King Alexander issued proclamations suspending the Constitution ] of 1901, and thon, as absolute Sovcr- ] eign, dismissed tlie Seriate, and abolished tho Council of Slate, the coup d'etat } scorned to have created little excitement, ( and m fact, was thought only to prove that while- tho army was obedient the King was absoluto; but the method selected was novel m history, and suggested that tho King was moro resourceful than he had the credit of being. His object, he said, was to maintain "order, unity, and peace," m Servia. The real object of tho change wiis to purge the Senate, the Council of State, and the Skupslitina of the Radical element, and to revoke tho. Radical legislation of the last two years. Thus the law introducing the ballot at elections, which protected peasants against official pressure, and the law establishing the liberty of the press were alike abolished. A Royal decree also appeared dismissing ten of tho judges of the Uourt of Cassation. Another decree announced tho nomination of ten now judges, and conflrmed four former members of the Court m their places. A similar purge was also to )e applied to the Court of First Instance. In that way the former Radical majority was transformed into a Liberal majority. Soon after these changes a telegram from Budapest stated that a plot to assassinate King Alexander was discovered at Belgrade, and that numerous arrests were made. It is a coincidence that emissaries of the father of the present King-designate, Alexander Karageorgevitch, assassinated tho reigning Prince Michael thirty years ago, while he was walking m his garden near > Belgrade. Although the country is quiet at present this does not necessarily indicate that Prince Karageorgevitch will be accepted as King by the large majority of the people. Our cables to-day state that M. Delcasse, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, has stated that the other Powers are not afftcted by tliis revolution. That may be so if no further disorder takes place, but it seldom happens that internal order is quickly restored m a country which has been the scene of such bloodshed. Mr and Mrs Mander and family leave Gisborne to-night upon a trip to tho Old Country. Tho Rev. Mi- Paterson will conduct service at Mangapapa to-morrow, commencing at 2.30 p.m. The Ventura mails from Auckland ou Bth May arrived m London on the night of 10th June. Messrs Sheridan and Co. have sold out their coal and carrying business to C. 11. Ferris and Co. The district valuer, Mr lan Simson, intends to start to revise the valuations m the following districts : Patutahi road distr-ict, Ormond and Mangatu. In the list of members of the Committee of the Beautifying Association, elected on Thursday evening, the name of the Rev. J. G. l'uterson should have been included. Mi' Haisman was tho lowest tenderer for the Wairoa Dairy Factory, and the directors decided to aslr him if he were willing to take up his contract, subject to the reductions at schedule rates. Mr McGregor will supervise tho erection of tho building. Major Kettle, commanding the Third Battalion Wellington Regiment, New Zealand volunteers, will inspect tho Gisborne Riiles .and Cadets on Tuesday ovening next. The usual parade of volunteers on Monday evening will be dispensed with. Wesley Church, services on Sunday will be conducted by Rev. B. F. Rotlnvell. Subject* : Morning, "Leaven" ; evening, "A Little Wonder on Horseback," and How He Got On." Anthems by choir. A bright, hearty, evangelistic service, to which strangers are always welcome. Messrs Evans, Nield and Co. have been appointed local agents for the Alliance Assurance Company, which is noted for prompt and liberal settlements. The agents are prepared to- effect insurance (fire and marine) at lowest current rates, and offer special facilities m builders' risks. The list of visitors at the Hot Springs Hotel, Morere, last week were : Mr Geo. A. Gendrigh (Edinburgh), Mr H. Krogh and Mr Burns (Napier), Mr Chapman and Mr Gillanders (Tarawa), Mi* Gillanclers (Little River), Mr McLean (Mangaone), Mr Ruthurford (Wairoa), Mr Wells, Mr Fleming, Mr O. Evans, Mr W. O'ReiLly, ' Mr J. Wall, and Mr Burton (Gisborne), Mr Burke (Wharerata), Mr White and MiHyde (Danuevirke), Mr Marsh and Mr Taylor (Te Arai). Mr W. Miller reports the following bookings through Tlios. Cook and Son's local office: — For London: Mr and Airs Maunder and children, per Oceana, leaving Sydney 27th June; Mr A. Wheeler, per Luitpold, leaving Sydney 27th.June; Mr F. Anderson, per Nera, leaving Sydney, 6th July. For New York : Mr W. Mackin, per Aorangi, leaving Sydney 13th July. For Hongkong : Mr' Clung How; per Changsha, leaving Sydney 11th July. Special services are being held to-mor-row m the Salvation Army Barracks m connection with the general, social and rescue work of the Salvation Army. The offerings of the day are to be- devoted to the rescue work of the Salvation Army m New Zealand. Adjutant Cook's morning subject is "The First Two Questions of the Bible, and How They Affect Me." A special address will be given m the afternoon on the work of the Army among the "Waifs a-nd Strays" of our large cities. At night the subject is "A Highway Robbery, and what became of the Victim." A hearty response to the appeal is/ looked for. The Poverty Kay hounds met on the Waikaime course yesterday afternoon. An excellent run after hares eventuated. Although a number of hares were started no kill was effected. In the absence of the deputy master Mr J. M. Go-uldsmith, Mr E. O'Reilly was m charge on Tuharoa. The huntsman, ,Mr J. Malone, was on Sailor. Others pi*esenfc were: Mr E. Hingston, ov a chestnut gelding; Mr H. DeCosta on Lynn ; Mr H. Zachariah ou KoLiti ; Mr J. Paterson on Warrior ; Mr Johnson (Auckland) on Kaiti • Mr W. O'Reilly an, Nukurau ; Mr L. Aislabie on Sam iMr Walsh on a black horse ; Mr N. Noble on a bay. St Andrew's Church anniversary services will be held to-morrow. The Rev. Gray-Dixon, M.A., of Auckland, will preach m the morning, his subject being "The Glory of the Church." In the afternoon he will address parents, teachers, and children afc three o'clock, and m the evening a special lecture to young men will be given ; subject, "A Choice Young Man." There will be special music by a very large choir. All the collection's for the day will be devoted to the church building fund. Mr Dixon has the reputation of being one of the most- powerful and successful preachers m Auckland, and there is sure to be large congregations at all the services. The Gisborne auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society have decided to offer prizes for the best essays on various subjects, to be sent m not later than Monday, July 12th. One subject will be open to all pupils m actual attendance ab any public or private school, and will be "A Short Account of the British and Foreign Bible Society; Its History and Objects" ; prizes £1 10e 6d and 10s 6d. The other subject will be open to all persons, and will bo "An Account of the Various Factors which Have Entered into the Production of Current English Versions of the Bible" ; prizes £2 2s and £1 Is; and (alternatively) "An Examination as to tho Effect of the Study of the Bible Upon the Moral Character of Any Nation" or "The Final Place of the r Bible m Literature"; prizes £2 2s and £1 Is. All essays will be sent m anonymously under rules obtainable from the secretary, Mr J. Peckover, and the local clergy and others have kindly consented to act as judges. • It is intended to have a public meeting about the middle of . July, when the results will be announced, . and the prize essays read. An opportunity will be taken at this meeting to take a poll on the question, "Should the I Bible be read m the Public Schools?" Full particulars will appear by advertisement next week. Yesterday afternoon a function of a very pleasing nature took place m the Matlawhero school. The teachers and 5 children assembled m the main room to say good-bye to Miss L. McDonald, who is severing her connection with the > school after a period of several years' service as pupil teacher. The headmaster (Mr Marshall) said 'they had all met together over a circumstance that was at - the same time pleasant and painful. It was pleasant to know that as soon as . they had learned Miss McDonald had resigned the pupils of the school determined that their respect and affec--1 tion for her should take tangible form. t Miss McDonald had year by year not r only produced good class results but had I done it m such a way as to maintain the pleasantest relations between herself and her pupils, and the handsome gift 1 of silverplate which the children now 3 wished to present to her showed their i desire to live m her memory. They had i put their little coins together, each one 3 saying as it were, "Remember me." Allt that was very pleasant: the painful side , was the parting. Miss McDonald by her i kind and cheerful manner had endeared .- herself to the pupils, and this parting i had a pang m it. In saying good-bye to ) Miss McDonald it would do the wish . of all that the relations between herself i and her friends and surroundings m the . future would be of the same genial - character, as had prevailed between her - and her pupils and fellow teaohers dur--1 ing her tenure of office at the school, s She would doubtless continue to take an r interest m the school, and the welfare - of the children and teachers, who on b their part wished her every happiness \ m life, whatever her sphere might be. - Miss McDonald, who was taken entirely 1 by surprise, asked the master to return 1 her thanks to the children. This done ■ three ringing cheers for Miss McDonald : were given, and the children were disi. missed.

Mr R. H. Mason's residence, "The Point," Wimtaupoko, has been sold to Dr. Williams for £875. An inset m connection with the Rev. W. Gray-Dixon's lecture on Tuesday evening appears with this issue. Ten per cent, of ground olives was the adulteration found m pepper sold by Win. Arthur Hobson, Rawteustall, Lancashire. Mr T. R. Porter is a candidate for theTokomaru riding m the Waiapu County Council, and his address to the electors appears elsewhere m this issue. A general meeting of the proposed Gisborne district co-operative society will bo held next Tuesday evening, when the draft rules and registration of the society will be continued. "He is a teetotaler except at lucid intervals," was the remark of a Halifax County Court judge on hearing a man admit taking a pint or two when questioned as to Ids teetatalism. Two thousand seven hundred singers from London and 600 from the provinces will form the choir for the Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace this month. The. orchestra includes 500 instrumentalists. We desire to call attention to the announcement of the candidature of Mr Allen Taylor for tlte vacancy m the Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Mr R. N. Jones. Mr Taylor has been a resident m Gisborne for 24 years, and was formerly a member of the Council, and is therefore, thoroughly acquainted with the town and its requirements. It is stated that the output of apples from Tasmania this season will be one million cases. Sir Blackmore, tlie Government Pomologist, sees no reason why a regular export trade of apples from New Zealand should not be developed if gone into properly, although Australia has an advantage m the matter of season, which enables her to send earlier apples to the London market, and thus obtain the highest prices. Instead of sending Home- such late varieties as the Stunner and Cleopatra to compete with locallygrown apples Mr Black more advises growers to go m for the early sorts to send Home before Fhere is a glut m the market. A fair number of mid-season apples could also, he thinks, be profitably exported. At a meeting of the Ota-go University Council last week, a letter was received from Mr Wolff Harris, of Bing, Harris and Co., offering to give £2000 for endowing a chair of physiology m connection with tlie University and Medical School, tMi certain conditions, the principal condition being that the chair was to. be filled at once. It was stated thai an immediate appointment would be made, and that the generous donor had been, advised to that effect. It was stated that the Daily Times had now raised £2119, the Citizens' Committed £1565, and Mr Hd.rris' offer brought tlie total to £568^ the Council caJling that £6000, to which*, no doubt, it could be raised. The Government subsidy, if granted, would make the total £12,000. Then they had £6500 from Savings Bank profits, and £1000 balance from the Evening Star fund, or £19,500. Mr Harris' generous offer was accepted with thanks. A London coiTttspondent says:— A fewdays ago Mr Harry Benjamin Yogel, son of* the late Sir Julius Yogel, appeared at the Windsor Magistrate's Court to answer a summons for driving a motor-car ait 18 miles an hour. The defendant asked to see the stop-watches used by the police, but the head constable said* they were borrowed from a local jeweller. Mr Yogel here interjected : "If you can give a certificate that my car was going 18 miles an. hour I might be able to sell it." "If it will assist you m selling your ear," replied the Clerk of the Court, "I will give you a copy of tlie conviction." The Magistrate' imposed a fine of £3. On the defendant paying his fine, the clerk said : "For another 2s 6d I will give you a certificate for the purpose of selling the car." Mr Yogel instantly tendered half-a-crown, but the clerk explained rather lamely and shamefacedly, "It was only my joke." "Do you know of such a complaint m tlie trade as "bakers' thirst?'" was the question put to a witness who was being examined m the Arbitration Court during its recent sittings at Wellington. "Indeed, yes/ replkd the witness, "but"— (as an apparent afterthought) — "the complaint is not confined to bakers alone" — at whici, there was laughter. "The witness ought to know — he keeps* an hotel," observed Mr Andrew Collins. "What you want the Court to understand," said Mr Justice Cooper, "is lliat the trade is a thirsty trade?" The Avitness replied that there was no doubt about the fact that working amongst flour made men thirsty. The New" Zealand Mines Department has received advice that fifty-two mines were at work m the Transvaal m March. The output of quartz was 453,496 tons, which produced 217j.5660z of gold of the value of £925,739, as compared with 196,514 oz valued at £834,739 m the previous month. A successful trial has been, made m New York of a motor omnibus, one of ten constructed there for use m London. As the huge vehicle, bearing the words "London General Omnibus Company," made a tour of the crowded streets it attracted universal attention. No omnibus like itwas ever before seen m New York. It weighs six tons, and can develop 45 horsepower. There is room for twelve passengers inside and for twenty m*ore on the top.. It has a queer little spiral stairway running up the rear to the roof, where benches are placed. It light* and heats itself. The omnibus is geared to twelve miles an hour^ and can run for an indefinite period. It generates its own motive power, the electric dynamo being driven on a hydro-carbon motor, and the powe r is transmitted by motors geared to the rear wheels. It is under a system ->f electrical control, which is most sensitive and susceptible of easy manipulation. A Victorian young lady recently recovered handsome damages from Marcus William Oldham for breach of promise c.f marriage. Another lady is now seeking damages for alleged failure to cany out a promise to provide the lady with a housf-, furniture, and an annuity. Application was made to the Court the other day to r.liow substituted service of the writ, its defendant was believed to be m New Zealand. Mr Justice A'Becketl, m declining the application, said that within a reasonable time a, fresh application could be made. The defendant, a young man, succeeded to a great part of the wealth, of the late Mr Silas Harding, a very rich Western district landowner, who resided at Geelong. In. his old age he married a handsome young woman, Miss Oldham, stated to -have been an actress, whom he first saw while performing at the Geelong Theatre. On his death he left her' his fortune. She was killed a year or two ago m a vehicle accident, and tlie Harding fortune thus went to her brother. Mr J. McGregor, M.A. A formerly a member of the Legislative 1 Council, a wellknown lawyer, and a keen critic of the Seddon Government m particular, and public questions m general, has created a small tempest m the columns of the Otago Daily Times, ro the proposed attempt to introduce, by meaus of a referendum, the Bible into our public 1 schools. Immediately after the Conference of Church representatives m Wellington (says a Dunediu correspondent), Mr McGregor commenced a series of articles m the paper mentioned on moral Gaining m public schools. Briefly, Ms opening arguments. sought to prove that the intro--1 duction of religious teacliiiig ; and, therefore, the break-up of our free, secular s\-stem. When Mr McGregor went farther, and carrying the war into the very ', heart of the enemy's country, maintained , that whilst it was essential that a moral training should form part of a genuine education, it was extremely doubtful whether such training could be obtained from the Bible, the cries, protests, and clamours of preacher and layman became violent. Mr McGregor said it was simply impossible to lake tlie Bible as it now ; is, and as it is accepted by the- Christian churches, as a basis of morals, and to wrest a theological meaning out of such episodes would be distinctly immoral, and 1 yet this is what the Church does, and ; would continue to do. Naturally, this plain statement raised vehement opposition. I cannot say, however, that the three or four columns of correspondence , thai the Daily Times publishes two and , three limes a week have materially added to our knowledge. | Dougal, the man accused of the murder , of Miss Camille Holland, maintained a [ careless attitude up to the day of the dis- , cOveiy of the body, but he was m a nervous state when he appeared m the Police . Court at Saffron Walden. on. May Ist. His hand shook as he now and again lifted ', it to- his forehead, and when the constable [ handed him an illustrated newspaper with ' a portrait of himself as he appeared at the inquest m the barn he turned the leaf and gazed fixedly at the plan of the Brighton road. Dougal, with, his bearded face, looks more like an ex-naval petty officer than an ex-Royal Engineer. He is of I middle height, but looks snorter owing to ; his great width of shoulder. His head is rather small for his figure, but he has . a fairly good brow. His black hair, [ growing scant upon ' Hie temples, is parted m the centre. His eyebrows are black . and thick and all but meet above the ( nose, which is rather long and promi- , nent. His eyes are light blue-grey, -and possess an unusual glitter. They seem rarely at rest. During the few minutes the man was in -court his eyes restlessly glanced at the various persons assembled ■ m front of him — Miss Holland's nephew, , Detective-Inspector Harden, Mr Pearce (the Treasury solicitor), and the Beifch. The necessary papers for proving the will of Miss Holland have been lodged m the Probate Court. The deceased lady appoints Mr Herbert Hemsley and her nepi hew, Mr Edward George Holland, executors, and leaves the former £100. Among other legacies tlie testator gives £200 to the Home for Lost Dogs, and £50 to the ■ Home .for fyest for Horses; £1000 to i each of three nephews and nieces ; also, i £1000 to Marie Holland and £100 to I Amelia Came. Our cable messages have announced that a verdict of wilful murder lias been returned against Dougal.

An. armchair made from the wood of the mulberry tree planted by Sb.akespea.re m New-place-gardens was sold m Messrs (Sotheby's sale, London, m March hist, and fetched £645. A pedigree of the chair was given from when tiio tree was cut down to the present time. Tliere will shortly be celebrated the 250 th anniversary of the municipal birth of New York. Here are some interesting facts from the Tribune, which shows the growth of the city: — Population m 1653, 1120; population 150 years later (1800), 60,000; population m 1903, 3,600,000. In 1653 there were paths, trails, and a few poor roads on the island; now there are 430 miles of streets^ of which 365 miles are paved. Tlie buildings m early NewYork wore low, small structures ; to-day there are oa Manhattan Island scores of buildings more than 10 storeys lugh^ some moro than 300 ft high. In place of tlie little school near where the new Customhouse will stand, there are hundreds of educational institutions, and the city government has voted for public education for the year more than 20,000,000d01. < (£4,000,000). It was lately reported that Mr T. Lewis, formerly stationinaster at Eketahuna, had died at Hyde. The utmostsympathy was expressed towards the supposed bereaved ones. Messages of condolence were sent from every quarter, including the Eketahuua Masonic Lodge, and the advisability of forwarding wreaths was discussed. The Vicar of the Church of wliich Mr Lewis had been a prominent member at EketaJiuna made touching reference to the many virtues of thai gentleman. Appropriate hymns were rendered and the Sunday-school scholars were addressed conceniing the melancholy incident. At noon on Wednesday, however, an operator m the Eketahuna telegraph office was struck dumb at the receipt of the following telegram, to a resident: "Hyde Railway. — What's the joke? When really defunct, would you. like skull and crossbones? — Tom Lewis." The telegraphist insisted upon the wire being repeated, but it came the same, and the news spread like wildfire tliat "Tern Lewis is still alive." Needless to say, the information was received with the most profound satisfaction. — Express. Mrs Brown Potter has been telling reminiscences to M.A.P. She was playing "Frou-Frou" at Cape Town. There were two carpenters engaged at the theatre, one a white man and tine other a black man. The while man allowed his little child to play "the child" m the piece. One day it went home from rehearsal with a violent cold. "That night," Sciys Mrs Potter, "I, as the wife of a jealous husband, had* as usual to place the child m Ids arms; being rather hurried, and the wings being dark, I snatched np the child standing tliere, rushed on to the stage, placed the child m his arms, aud lie held it, face towards -tliie audience, high above his head, saying, 'You, you at all events are mme !' It is a thrilling situation, biit, lo Mr Kyrle Bellew's amazement, the child was greeted with a roar of laughter, which soon became perfectly hysterical. Lowering tlie child to see what was the matter, he discovered lo his horror that it was a negro, pot-black ! The other carpenter had sent his child to take the place of the white one, absent through illness. It turned a tragedy into a. screaming faree — for the populace, at all events; it was far from being a farce to us, for we had to abandon the piece altogether through our South African tour." Accompanying the Canterbury M.H.R.'s on their recent visit to the Otago railways was a North Island member. At one stage the party, accompanied by Sir J. G. Ward, performed their journeying by coach. As the North Islander was the only "foreigner" present, it was agreed that he should have the place of honor next to Sir Joseph on the box seat. Directly behind him, on top of the coach, was a local member, who coveted that f)articular seat. Unable to restrain his onging to sit -beside the Minister he worried the North Islander with invitations to exchange seats. Hints and suggestions) direct requests and impassioned entreaties at every possible occasion were all of no avail, and the North Islander sat tight and suffered -in silence— for four days he suffered, and said not a word m reply. On the evening of the fourth day the party arrived at a hostelry noted for its excellent pork. The covetous one presided over the pork, and, having sharpened the knife, addressed the tormented "foreigner" with a winning smile : "Can I help you to some pigs cheek, Mr Fraser " Mr Eraser's chance had come. "No thanks," was the reply, "I've been simply nauseated with nothing else for the past four days." The other's reply was not recorded, and thereafter Sir Joseph and Mr .Fraser sat side by side m undisturbed serenity, and a cold clammy silence hung round the local member for the rest of the trip. '