The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 22, 1901. OUR QUEEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 17, 22 January 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 22, 1901. OUR QUEEN.

The startling news tliat lias come to hand of the serious illness of Her Majesty the Queen must cause a wave of genuine regret to spread over the whole of the English-speaking races of the world. To young and old, to rich and poor, to those residing in gilded palaces or ekeing out a precarious existence in some squalid slum the name of the Queen-Mother is held in high respect, nay, reverence. _ Considerate always of the condition of her loving subjects, warm-hearted and sympathetic, yet withal possessing a dignity befitting her high position—thus has she nobly reigned for 63 years—more than half a century of contentment and commercial and social progress. And now when nearing the end of a great and glorious reign, and a kaleidoscopic view of her life passes before our stricken Queen, has she aught to reproach herself with ? Even when a girl, and the heavy responsibilities of State sat but lightly on her brow, when inexperience rendered her timid even to her most trusted friends, her one desire was not to pose as the autocratic head of a nation, but merely to do justice to her loving and people. It was their interests, their welfare, their uplifting, and their advancement that she had most at heart. “ Teach me to do justice to my people, whom I truly love,” was more than once fervently breathed by the youthful Queen as a prayer to the Almighty, whom she frequently sought for succor and guidance. As a nation’s heart is now sorely touched, and a nation’s tears are shed at the possible loss of a Queen whom they revere and love, so sixty years ago the heart of a nation was touched at the sweet simplicity and gentle nature of their young Queen, and the seeds of a nation’s love were planted, growing stronger and stronger as years rolled on, until now at what may prove to be the end of a reign of progress, peace, and love, the news of our Queen’s serious illness, of her proximity to the Brink of Eternity, plunges a nation into grief. As our girl Queen, as the loving and helpful wife of the Prince Consort, of her beautiful home-life as Queen, wife and mother, and as the sorrowing widow, her life has been an object lesson to the world. When grim Death separated Victoria from the Prince Consort; when the helpmate to whom she clung with the full love of wife and motherhood was torn from her side, and when the scalding tears of our Queen fell fast on the grave of him whose kindness had endeared him to his people, a nation mourned in sympathy. As years passed, and the simple home life and Christian conduct of Queen Victoria permeated the Court with an elevating, almost sanctifying influence, the many pleasing attributes of the nation’s head were appreciated to the full," and the cry of “ God save our gracious Queen ” was not expressionless lip loyalty, but the fervent prayer of a loving and sympathetic people. Of late years the consideration shown to her people has grown even more pronounced, and the unification of the nation, when accomplished, and her possessions joined in one bond of sympathy and love, gave her unbounded satisfaction. In her declining days the bitter struggle of Great Britain in India, Soudan, and South Africa caused her many a heart stab. She felt for. her subjects,, and the sorrowing wails from the afflicted ones —the heart-rending appeals of the children, and the dull sobs of wives and mothers —caused her tears to flow in sympathy and our Queen to cry to her people ; “I too have suffered. I too am suffering! ” Even at wha,t may prove the last days of a reign of probity, love, and honor, and we see our Queen stricken down, her tender heart is bursting with anxiety for her subjects, with sorrow at their suffering, sympathetic, unselfish —truly a Queen to be loved and revered. And from all parts of the Empire is breathed the prayer—

“ GOD SAYS OUR QUEEN.”

Tenders for the carting of river gravel are invited by the Works Department. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council is to be held this evening. The Charitable Aid Board meets to-night after the meeting of the Borough Council.

About a thousand bales of wool were loaded into the Fife'shire yesterday. Late last night we were advised by telegram that the mail steamer Sierra, had arrived at Auckland from Sydney, at 9.20 p.m. Messrs Wyllie and Mason advertiso for lease the pleasantly-situated Haiti property owned by Mrs Boylan. s The Gisborne Public Library invite application for the position of secretary, at £52 per annum.

A cable message from Newcastle, received last night, states that the Eotuku has sailed for Lyttelton.

The Gisborne Rifle Volunteers invite tenders for the supply of cloth uniforms for the corps.

On the first and fourth pages of this morning’s Times will be found cablegrams, telegrams, shipping, Land Board report, and other news, including outside comments on the hospitality of Gisborne bowlers.

The railway line crossed the main road at Makaraka yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock. To-day Mr R. Harry will be engaged constructing points at the .station at Makaraka. The rails are now laid across the road.

Messrs Franks and Bobinson notify that this morning, and each morning thereafter until further notice, fish may be bought at the trawler’s side, Haiti wharf, from 6 to 9 a.m., at the reduced price of ten pence per bundle. The Wellington Cup race is to be ruu today. It will be of special interest to Gisborne for the reason that the local horse Materoa is engaged, and has been tipped as the winner by some sporting writers. Mr S. Williamson yesterday received a nasty kick on the leg by a horse, a bad out being sustained. Mr Williamson came into town, and was attended by Dr. Craig. The patient has gone to the hospital for a few days.

When the bulletin transmitted from the Times office, in regard to the serious health of Her Majesty the Queen, was given out in the churches on Sunday night, many people eoulcl not keep back the tears, and subdued sobs were heard.

Several stud rams were yesterday driven up the coast, their destination being Mr E. Murphy’s well-known station, Panikau, near Pakarae. The rams are of splendid quality, and attracted considerable attention while being driven to their destination. A very large quantity of that peculiarly shaped jelly-fish, known as the Portuguese man-of-war, were washed up on the coast near Pakarae yesterday. For many yards the beach was covered, and on the stretches of beach between there and Tatapouri large quantities were also swept up. In future the ordinary office of the post and telegraph branch at Gisborne will be closed at 8 p.m., and the business after that hour will be done from the Exchange room. The main entrance will be lighted up, and the public can transmit telegrams until midnight. During the practice of the orchestral members of the Gisborne Club, last night, the orchestra played “God Save the Queen.” While the orchestra was playing the other members of the club took up the anthem as a vocal selection, and it was sung and played with much depth of feeling. Mr lan Simson, Government land valuer, has revised the valuation of the Waimata, Tologa Bay, and Pouawa districts, and is now engaged in revising the Waiapu valuations.Some of the settlers will be struck with astonishment when they learn the increased valuation of their properties, and it is safe to say there will be a harvest of objections. A correspondent, who evidently wishes to tangle up the Times staff in an arithmetical knot, forwards the following. We smilingly pass it on to our readers for solution: — “Thereis a 3ft wall 12ft from a house. Outside the wall a 20ft ladder is placed, so as to touch the top of the wall. . It will reach the house at two different altitudes. Find them.” i§A special meeting of the Borough Council is to be held this evening to decide the day upon which the half-holiday is to be held during the current year. As Thursday has been so long in voguq there is no likelihood of an alteration, whatever the individual opinion of Councillors may be.

Lovers of excellent music have a treat in store for this evening, when a recital of sacred music is to be given at St. Mary’s Church. The vocalists are Misses Knight and Grace (of Auckland), Morris (of Dunedin), Flynn (of Hawera), and McGuirk, Mesdames Orr and Palairet, and Mr Barlow.’ The instrumentalists are the Misses Sobers and Mr Parker. The recital will be under the conduetorship of Mr Palairet.

Small parcels of wool—six and seven bales at a time—continue to be carted from the coastal ports into Gisborne. The roads are in very fair condition, but some of the sharp turns could be made somewhat secure. At one point, near Pakarae, one of the wool carts had a narrow escape from a capsize the other day, and another inch would have sent cart, contents, and horses over the side-—a drop of about 20 feet.

At a meeting of the Whataupoko Road Board field yesterday morning tenders were received for forming and metalling tho upper part of Ballance street, and the western portion of Russell street. That of George Phelps, £74 10s, was accepted. Four tenders were received ranging from £SB to £lOl. The lowest tenderer was Mr Peryer, but it was considered by the Board that he had made a mistake, as the work could not be done for the price. Yesterday the following mournful information' dealing with the condition of Her Majesty the Queen was received through the Press Association :—“ It is unofficially reported that Her Majesty the Queen is in extremis. It is only a question of hours as to when the end may be expected.” Shortly after receipt of the telegram the news was published by the Times as an “ extra,” and circulated throughout the town and distriot. Up to a late hour last night many residents called at or telephoned to the office enquiring as to the state of Her Majesty’s health.

A New Zealand trooper in South Africa, writing to a friend in Gisborne from De Aar, says: “We are back again almost to the old spot where the First New Zealanders commenced operations 12 months ago, and it is said that we are to have a scrap here.” (So far there has been no fighting at De Aar, and none should now be expected.) “Itis a fearful hole—dust, dust, from morning till night, with whirlwinds and other little things to shake your tent and sometimes bowl it over, and make life pleasant. We have very little work to do, and most of the men are sick of it. I heartily wish I were back in New Zealand.” The orchestral members of the Gisborne Club held a practice last night at the Club rooms. There was a good attendance of players, and a most enjoyable selection of musical items was gone through. The music was listened to by a number of the public, who congregated and applauded at the conclusion of the various items. The following was the programme gone through :—March, “ Gondola Dreams,” “ Dewdrop Overture ’’ (Foster), “Sunshine Above,” “Cross of Honor,” “ Chanson du Soir,” “Old Madrid,” “Geisha" (selection), “Love and Beauty,” “ Contingent’s Farewell,” and “ God Save the Queen.”

The business at the Land Board yesterday, reported in another column, was disposed of in less than an hour. An explanation to both matters referred to in our leading columns yesterday was given by the Commissioner. In the case of the withdrawal of the Waimata land it was explained that there was a dispute with regard to the boundary, and it was considered advisable to withdraw the land from sale. Mr Gold-Smith further stated that the Board was putting the land in the district on the market as fast as it possibly could. But they had to proceed in a businesslike manner. Isolated land without roads could not very well be put on the market. If they went on in that way their roading cost more than the land was worth. It would be better to give the land away. The Commissioner returns to Napier by the Zealandia to-morrow.

A telegram reports the oapture ol the escaped lunatic Harry Whiskey. At Dannevirke the other day he was escorted on to the Wellington express by Constable Baker, whose duty it was to hand him over to the authorities at Napier. While the train was dashing along between Takapau and Waipukurau, Whiskey made a sudden dive through the window of the carriage he was is. The startled 'policeman was just in time to grab him by' the leg, but Whiskey was too far through to be hauled back, and he made his exit all right, fortunately falling clear of the rails. The train ran two miles further before Constable Baker could get out to look for his prisoner.

Last night all the English cable stations in the world remained open, this step having been taken on account of the serious condition of Her Majesty the Queen. Instructions were received from Wellington at the local office to the effect that the office was to remain open so that the public might be made acquainted with any important change in the condition of Her Majesty. It was also arranged that in the event of the worst happening either the Telegraph Department or the Times would advise the Mayor immediately , and the news, which we trnst it may not be necessary to send for some years to come, will be made known to the people of Gisborne by the slow tolling of the firebell 21 times.

What might have proved a serious accident occurred near the rocks at the beach near Pakarae. Several Maoris, who were riding up the coast, were skylarking, when the horse on which one named Hone was seated suddenly reared and fell. His rider endeavored to get clear, but he had been riding with his feet well through the stirrups, and could not get clear. The affrightened horse stumbled to its feet and endeavored to bolt, dragging Hone in the direction of the rocks. Fortunately, one of Hone’s companions recognised the danger and, pluckily darting at the horse, managed to catoh it by the bridle, causing it to swerve away from the rocks. The horse was then brought to a standstill, and Hone, who was still hanging head downwards from the stirrup, and was somewhat bruised about the shoulders, was extricated. Had the horse galloped up to and over the rocks in front, the rider would undoubtedly have received injuries of a serious nature. The name of the young man who pluckily intervened and caught the horse is Charles Mentiplay, a recent arrival from Tauranga.