The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 18, 1901 FIXED BAYONETS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 64, 18 March 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 18, 1901 FIXED BAYONETS.

Our cablegrams this morning show that bloodshed between the. British and Russians has been narrowly averted in China. The picture of Britishers standing ready with bayonets fixed, while the Russians were throwing up entrenchments, brings the state of affairs vividlyto the mind. A British officer has apparently, for the time being, backed down, but he will rather be sympathised with than blamed for the part he had taken. Had blood been shed at his order, it would have been ah awful responsibility to incur, and we wonder not that he shrank from giving the order to strike home on the insolent Russians. The expression used in the House of Commons, “ excessive conciliation,” is ambiguous. It leaves the reader in doubt as to whether this is intended as a rebuff to the British officers, or an intimation that there will be no excessive conciliation in the future. All through the conduct of affairs in China, Russia has acted in an over-bearing and hypocritical way. The passionate declaration by M. de Giers that he would sooner cut off his hand than permit more decapitations can be set down as humbug when the facts are remembered. of the horrible barbarities that have been practised on innocent people. The Tientsin incident will tend to increase the insolence of the Russians towards the British. It is humiliating to think that they have been allowed to triumph over the question of the railway siding; but Major-General Barrow did the right thing in pausing to take advice before he took on himself the responsibility of precipitating what might have been a great and bloody war.' As Russia lias scored a triumph by “bluff,” wo can be sure that she will also be successful in diplomacy. The' Russian diplomats are past-masters in the art of lying, and the honest, straightforward Britisher is no match for the man who can lie like a Russian diplomat.

Somo correspondence is unavoidably held over. The so-called “ King ” Mahuta arrived at Kawhia, on Friday, with a*' brass band, and a large retinue. He is likely to make Kawhia his permanent headquarters. At New Plymouth a local branch of the Carpenters and Joiners’ Amalgamated Society has been formed, delegates from the Auckland branch attending. A Municipal Association has been formed at Wellington, to ensure progress on sound lines and resist the introduction of party politics into civic affairs. At the inquest at Dunedin on the body of Joseph James, killed at the Stuartstreet crossing, a verdict was returned : “ Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.” As Western Australia continues to surcharge halfpenny matter from New Zealand, it has been decided to fix the postage to that State for commercial and printed papers at Id for the first 4oz. A shocking case is reported from Oamaru. A man, named John McCormick, has been remanded for eight days on a charge of incest, the alleged victim being his OWP daughter. In the case of the Captain Cook Brewery versus Martin By an, heard at Auckland, the jury found that bad beer had been supplied defendant on several occasions. Questions of law are now to be argued. At the Police Court on Saturday an unfortunate woman named Elizabeth Booth, with several aliases, was brought before Captain Cljrjsp and Mr Johnston, Justices, and sentenced to tiyo months’ imprisonment, with seven days for drunkenness, the sentences being .concurrent. The woman, by her intemperate habits, had become a nuisance in town. Bishop and Mrs Wilson are to be entertained by the. church people of Poverty Bay, at an afternoon gathering on Tuesday, at 3 o’clock. Mr Mann has kindly lent his house and grounds for the occasion. It is.hoped that any church people, who through inadvertence, have not received a card of invitation, will pardon the omission, and will be present. At St. Mary’s Boman Catholic Church yesterday, a week’s mission services in town were commenced by Fathers Gregory and Augustine. There were very large congregations at each service. Special .music was given under the conductorship of Mr Palairet. The sermons at each service were preached by the Bev. Father Augustine, who made reference to the fact that Sunday was St. Patrick’s Day. Mr Percival Barker last week received from the Hon. Matthew Holmes’ station at Oamaru a number of fine Lincoln rams. The sheep were lauded in splendid condition, and are generally recognised to be one of the finest importations made into into the district. We understand it is Mr Barker’s intention to establish a stud flock, and with that object in view he is acquiring some of the best rams in the colony. r Our Tolago Bay correspondent telephones that everything points to thei-e being a most successful race meeting today. There is a great crowd of Gisborneites up there, and the hotel proprietor (Mr Sinclair) bos a task tp find accommodation for so many, but he is Succeeding in giving everyone satisfaction, and the excellent manner in which the house is conducted is very highly spoken of the visitors. . ' . - At the Hunt Club’s meeting at Broadlajjds on Saturday, Mr Ture, of the Mahia, was riding g,' horse belonging to Mr John Murphy. ' At one jump the horse fell '; the rider was'not hurt, nor did the horse appear tq suffer, any ill effects, but the animal appeared not to be well. Mr Ture dropped out of the hunt and rode the : horse at a walking pace.;. Suddenly (ho horse fell, and on examination was found to be dead. The rider again escaped scathless,

At Holy Trinity Church yesterday, three services—one for the children—-were conducted by Bishop Wilson. There was a-large attendance at each service, the Bishop being an ablo preacher, who always greatly interests his hearers. The cricket match between Frosertown and Gisborne at Victoria Domain on Saturday afternoon last was a close and exciting one throughout. Frasertown scored 17 and 55, while Gisborne totalled 41 and 32 for six wickets. Gisborne thus won by four wickets. - At the meeting of the A. and P. Society on' Saturday, Messrs J. AV. Nolan, J. Toinbleson, Hegarty, and P. T. Kenway, were nominated as member of committee. The following new members were elected : Messrs T. Macgregor, T. Smith, J. B. Kells, E. H. Mason, F. J. Shelton, F. Martin, Rev. Father Mulvihill, Rev. Father O'Connor, J. Harris, ,A. W. ltees, A. Keefer, H. Symes, Gisborne Times, J. Sheridan, W. H. Cooper, S. Kirkpatrick and Marshall. The annual meeting is be held on Saturday week.

Our cablegrams this morning show that New Zealand 81 per cent stock is quoted at an advance of a quarter on last week’s returns. New South Wales stock has had a set back to the extent of a quarter, the comparison between the two stocks thus being a half in favor of New Zealand. Other stocks show a like poor contrast with New Zealand. For the information of commercial gentlemen we might explain that the money market quotations usually come to hand in time for Monday morning’s journal.

The fine weather on Saturday, attracted a large gathering to the bowling green, i and several scratch matches were played, i Lewis', Willock, Sidebottom, and Ponsford i (skip) played Quigley, Witty, Bathom, and Thompson, the former winning rather easily by 28 to 12. In the handicap singles, J. Todd Witty (18 points) mot F. W. Pettie (22 points), and a close game was looked for. Pettie went away with the lead and was never caught, winning in a most hollow manner by 49 to 32. The competition 'is now reduced to three, Sidebottom, Pettie and Gaudin, and the deciding gumes will be played on Thursday afternoon next. Tea was kindly provided by Mrs Willock. The following will represent the Gisborne Rifles in the firing competition for the Kaiti Challenge Cup, which has been fixed for Thursday, 28th; —Privates Kemp, Stewart, Sergt. Skipworth, Sergt. Cruikslmnk, Corpl. Wakelin ; emergency, Cole. Mounted Rifles : Corpls. Pirie and Morrison, Troopers Matthews, Reynolds, and Symes. The cup was given by a gentleman to Capt. Warren, to be fired for by the volunteers of Gisborne, and the suggestion made at the time was, that the five highest scorers in the class firing should represent each corps. The winning team holds the cup for twelve months. The scores obtained by the men selected were as follows :—Private Kemp 153, Private Stewart 147, Sergt. Skipworth 134, Sergt. Cruikshank 131, Corpl. Wakelin 131; Trooper Matthews 146, Corpl. Pirie 142, Corpl. Morrison 142, Trooper Reynolds 141, Trooper Symes 141. Persons riding along the road on Saturday were surprised to see so many newspapers in circulation, nearly everyone met with having a paper in his hand. On arrival at Tolago the explanation was obtainable, when the traveller heard of the sensational race between representatives of the two Gisborne papers. A large party set out for Tolago in the morning, | including Messrs D. Barry, M. Hogan, W. Howard, Nasmith, Steele, Hep--1 burn, and J. Cumming. The Times representative was mounted on a hand- - some black gelding, belonging to Mr ■ Wally Howard. For the first part of the ; journey, the Herald representative made , the pace very hot, but after getting past . Pakarae, the Times representative began , to gain in every mile, and he eventually . won in a canter, reaching Tologa an hour 1 ahead of the other horseman. Mr Cumming, on a handsome black colt, and Mr ! Barry, on a chestnut pony, acted as pace--1 makers.

At about 1 yesterday afternoon a serious accident took place at Wacronga-a-hika. Miss'Tucker (mistress of Te Arai School) and Miss Veda U’Ren were driving up the road in a buggy, and wore just opposite their destination (Mr R. Colebrook’s residence) when a drunken man came galloping along and suddenly headed his horse on the buggy. The shock of the impact caused the shafts of the buggy to break off, and the young ladies were violently thrown on to the road, the horse clearing off. Both ladies were rendered unconscious by the force of the fall. Willing helpers soon appeared, and the young ladies were taken into Mr Colebrook's house, where they received the greatest of attention. Later on the ladies were conveyed to town by Mr Bruce, and being taken to “ Tiromoana,” Mrs U’Ren’s residence, they were attended by Dr. Craig. They had seceived some nasty cuts and bruises, and it will be some days before they can resume their ordinary duties. The man who caused the accident at once galloped off. The establishment in Gisborne, of a branch of the. well-known Australasian firm of Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. further marks the growing importance of this district. It is gratifying to have to record the advent of such a firm in our midst, Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co.’s business being a very extensive one. Their operations extend throughout the big towns of New Zealand, as well as the Australian cities, and there is also an important London house. The firm’s business is that of stock and station agents, and general merchants, also insurances, etc. Advances are made on wool and other produce for sale in Gisborne and for shipment to London. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. have been fortunate in securing as their district representatives a firm of such high repute as Messrs Wyllie and Mason, the latter having by the excellent manner in which they have conducted their business in Gisborne won the confidence of the settlers. The members of the latter firm are in close touch with the district, they thoroughly understand its special requirements, and should be in a position to build up a substantial business for the firm for which they have undertaken to act. We extend to the new firm our cordial good wishes, and are sure they will receive a full share of public support,