Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 55, 6 March 1901, Page 4

STRIKING COMMENTS. STATEMENTS BY A WELLINGTON JOURNAL. (Free Lance). The announcement that the New Zealand Shipping Campany, the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, and the TyserLine had. decided conjointly to run a monthly direct service to South Africa came as a surprise to the general public, but not so to a section of the business community. The Government recently called for tenders for a six-weekly service to the Cape and Natal, the contracting parties to provide cold storage for perishable cargo and to call at a certain number of ports in New Zealand and South Africa. The three companies just named could have put in tenders, but, judging by their action they have not. The fact is, that it would not be convenient for any of them just now to comply with the conditions as to calling at a number of porls and, in justice to Iheir clients, and with a view of giving the successful tenderers a run for the money, they propose an infinitely better service than stipulated by the Government. .... Now, if the Government acted in the interests of the taxpayers, no tender would be accepted, as the object of having a direct service with South Africa at reasonable rates of fre’ght is secured, without spending a penny of the taxpayers’ money. But the Government will not act as suggested, and a tender will be accepted. Kumour, who is oft a lying j. de, has it that The Federal Line, otherwise known as Birt and Co., of Sydney, will secure this little job. This firm has shown considerable enterprise in New Zealand recently, for, net so very long ago, Birt and Co. bought the Ocean Beach Freezing Works, down Invercargill way. One of their steamers —the Cornwall—was chartered to carry away the Sixth Contingent, whereat some people were surprised, because to take away the same number of men and horses previously it required the steamers Waikato and Maori, and yet this Email boat Cornwall was good enough for 560 men and horses. It is said that a commercial gentleman, possessing considerable influence in New Zealand just now, is interested in Birt and Co., and influence, as we all know, goes a long way in New Zealand. The shipping companies have played a fine card, and it will be interesting to watch how the game works out, for it is a very exciting ] game to those behind the scenes. There is very little doubt about the owners of the troopship Cornwall getting the South African direct service subsidy.

Very complete arrangements have been made in connection with the taking of the census on the night of Sunday, March 31. gfA. Hastings tradesman, who retired from business about twelve months ago, with book debts amounting to .£BOO, has in the interval collected £750. Some Gisborne men would retire if similar inducement offered. An indignant wife, in applying for a maintenance order against her husband in Christchurch, explained that her husband went to balls without her, went to the races, and played the accordion. He also drank, but this - she seemed to consider a secondary matter.