The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 15, 1901. THE NEW JUDGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 39, 15 February 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 15, 1901. THE NEW JUDGE.

It was with feelings of much satisfaction that the general public received the announcement made in our telegrams yesterday morning that Mr Theo. Cooper had been appointed to the vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench. Such an appointment had previously been offered to Mr Cooper, and now that he has made up his mind to accept the position, we are sure that none could have been more deserved, or have given greater satis action. Mr Cooper is well-known to the people of Gisborne, where ho has ever been held in the highest esteem. A man of unpretentious ways, he is the possessor of all those accomplishments that will fit him for the position of judge. He is a calm reasoner of exceptional acumen; he has a judicial and well-balanced mind, and he has that capacity for mastering details which will serve him in great stead. He is a gentleman in whose fairness the greatest of confidence will be placed, and we doubt if any other man in the colony is so well qualified for the position in every way than Mr Theo. Cooper. He has our warm congratulations, but in congratulating him we feel that the colony is still more to be congratulated on the acquisition to the Supreme Court Bench. When in Gisborne Borne months back, Mr Cooper delivered a lecture in which he gave some excellent advice to young men as to how they should shape their way if they wished to succeed in life. It would be hard to find a better example for our young men' than is given in his own life, which has been one of steady perseverance, everything he took in hand being.done well. We feel sure that Mr Cooper will ever do credit to the important position now conferred on him.

Some bowling notes are unavoidably held over.

Captain Edwin wired at noon yesterday : “ Strong westerly winds; glass rise ; poor tides.”

; A telegram received yesterday stated that a fire had gutted the Tramway Company’s shed at Dunedin, and a dozen cars were destroyed. There was a splendid day’s sport at the Pakarae races yesterday. The main event was won by Cronje, a horse hitherto unbeaten on the beach being hopelessly in the rear.

The Manawatu Evening Standard says: The rumor given currency to that Mr W. C. Buchanan intends contesting the Patea seat in the Opposition interest, is without foundation.

A Wellington telegram received yesterday states :—The fourth wool sale of the season was held to-day. Very little good wool was offering, but the market showed a firmer tendency. A rise of a farthing in low and inferior crossbreds and a farthing to a halfpenny in lambs’ wool was made.

There is a probability of a match being arrarged between T. H. Beatson and S. McDowell for a mile run, the stakes to be £IOO a side, and the race to come off in threee months’ time. Beatson was the winner of the mile race yesterday, and McDowell also has a colonial reputation as a long-distance runner, but at present is out of training. •At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday considerable evidence was taken in the case Amelia Johnston v. Elizabeth Higgins, claim £1 16s 3d for detention of goods, and £1 damages for non-delivery. The case was adjourned for a week.— Judgment was reserved in the judgment summons case McKee v. Campbell, an interpleader being put in on behalf of Mr George Smith, for whom Mr Chrisp appeared. The Charles Arnold Company, which opens to-morrow night at the Theatre Royal, is under circumstances that augur well for a prosperous night, to which period it is limited. Gisborne playgoers have been sufficiently well informed as to the success of Mr Arnold and his company in “.What happened to Jones” in London, South Africa, and move recently in Melbourne and New Zealand, as to leave no doubt as to its repitition here, where this popular actor has long ago . established himself in the good graces of the public. “ What happened to Jones” is a farce comedy of the most hilarious order, and it is asserted evokes three hearty laughs for every one in “ Charley’s Aunt,” or “ The Private Secretary.” If so, it must be good. Mr Arnold is supported by a company of London comedians, said to be one of the best organisations that has visited Australia and New Zealand for ye&rs. “ Jones ” had a merry run of three hundred and forty nights at the Strand Theatre, London, after which Mr Arnold and his company left for South Africa, where many things happened to them. They played a record season in Johannesburg, in July, when hundreds of Uitlanders were leaving the place daily, yet the houses were so large that they had to accommodate the orchestra on the stage. From there they went to Pretoria, and were absolutely the last theatrical company to play in the Transvaal capital, leaving there when commandeering had almost completely depopulated the town, and by practically the last train, meeting with the usual experience of refugees, From Capetown the company sailed for Australia, opening at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, last Easter, putting up a record of fifty-two performances to overflowing houses, The box plans for the season are now on view at Mr Good’s. [We are afraid that the delay of the Elingamite will spoil this nice paragraph, and the Gisborne people will still be left in doubt as to what happened to Jones.] At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Judgment was given in the reserved case of D. Courtney v. Cook County Council. His Worship said: —“ The question to be decided by me is: Did Councillors JexBlake and Mossman authorise the work claimed for? Notwithstanding the fact that the Council’s engineer (Captain Winter) had given his fiual certificate of the completion of the contract upon which plaintiff could have enforced payment, he, in consequence of complaints of some of the Councillors as to the manner in which the contract had been carried out, voluntarily went back to the ground and did certain other work pointed out to him by the Councillors named as being necessary under the contract. Why he did so, I fail to understand, seeing that he had already obtained the engineer’s certificate entitling him to payment, unless he was desirous of keeping his name good with the Council, in view of obtaining future employment. Upon looking carefully over the evidence I am of opinion that plaintiff did not intend at the time he did the work pointed out to him by Councillors Jex-Blake and Mossman to claim for it as extra work outside the contract, One thing which struck me during the progress of the case was that the contractor had too many masters to serve in carrying out the contract, which is undoubtedly the cause of the present proceedings. The Council having appointed its Engineer to supervise the work, and he having given his certificate, it should have been accepted. Plaintiff would have been perfectly justified in standing by the certificate of the Engineer if he had chosen, but not haying done so, he is not now entitled to recover more than has been paid into Court. Judgment will therefore be given for the amount paid into Court upon the Ist and 2nd items, and a nonsuit will be entered upon the last item of the statement of claim.