The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 23, 1901 BOROUGH MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 68, 23 March 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 23, 1901 BOROUGH MATTERS.

With the approach of the Borough election, we may anticipate renewed activity in municipal matters. Iu one direction, a considerable improvement might be made in a way that would soon be recouped. At present, the Borough works are carried on in a small area near the Taruheru bridge. There is no room for doing proper work, though the staff does exceedingly well under the disadvantages that have to be encountered. The effect has been shown this week in the little that has been done in regard to tarring crossings. Rain set in soon after the work was done, with the result that the work was considerably impaired. Had there been any convenience for having dry sand at hand, such work could be effectively done on any fine day. As the leases of the Borough reserves are soon falling in, the Council might well occupy a portion for its own use—cover a portion with a roof, and utilise it for the Borough work. By the appearance of things, this would be a profitable transaction for the Council. The position of the reserve is central, and would be well suited to all parts of the Borough. The piece that is now being reclaimed will never be made sufficient for the purpose.

PROGRESSIVE DUNEDIN. TnE progressive people of Dunedin have our hearty congratulations on the strides that are being made by the municipality. The record of the southern city is indeed something to be proud of—water supply, drainage, gasworks, and trams. Well might our friends in Dunedin celebrate the occasion of the taking over-of the tram-lines. The good people of Gisborne can only look on in admiration for Dunedin, and regret for themselves. No water, no drainage, and no public baths. Tramways are not to be thought of for years to come. Good roads and footpaths are our greatest hope at the present. But we can at least extend our hearty congratulations to the fortunate Dunedin, whose municipal affairs are conducted in a way that is a fitting example for the rest of New Zealand. While we read of a city like Christchurch clamoring for the consolidated fund to be trenched on for the reception of the Royal visitors, as if the city wore too poor to do its duty, we turn with pleasure to Dunedin’s record. That city is a credit to the colony.

A meeting of the Women’s Political Association is convened for to-night. The Tolago Racing Club stewards have decided to pay out the .£2B 4s dividend on Slapjack, the winner of the Scurry. Wairoa desires to participate in any scheme for utilising the Te Reinga Falls foivgeneratiug electric power. Travellers are notified that the bridge near Mr W. Rodgers’ house, on the Waimata Hill Road, is unsafe for traffic. The price of tickets for the forthcoming Hospital Ball has been fixed at 10s and 3s, being the same as last year. A meeting of the Girls’ Hockey Club is to be held this afternon, to discuss the arrangements for the coming season. The Gisborne School Concert will be held on Friday evening next. A capital programme is in course of preparation. The committee to prepare the district scheme for the football season meets in time to prepare a report for the beginning of the week.

The proposal of the County Chairman, that the Cook County take steps to raise a loan of .£20,000 will come on at the meeting of the Council next Friday. At eleven o’clock this morning Messrs Wyllic aud Mason will offer for sale a four-roomed cottage, buggy shod, and outbuildings, situated on the liaiti. Captain Edwin wired at noon yesterday : “ North-east to east and south gale after 10 hours from now ; glass fall soon ; sea heavy; tidos high; indications heavy rain.”

A townsman who is entitled to public thanks is Mr W. Webb, who at his own cost has had a gravel crossing laid down from the Bank of New South Wales to the post office corner. Delightful fiaryest weather is being at present experienced at Winton, and operations are proceeding apace. Already a number of farmers have disposed of their oats at Is 2ijd, and others are hanging on for a rise.

The annual meeting of the East Coast Mounted Rifles is to be held next Friday night. All the funds are in credit, and in every respect the position of the corps is most satisfactory. About a dozen new members are to be elected at the meeting. The ordinary meeting of the County Council takes place next Friday. The Council meets at 10 a.m., so that the business can be got through early. At 2 p.m. the Councillors confer with the Borough Council representatives in regard to a road roller and a cemetery site. We understand that Mr Townley intends to allow himself to be again nominated for the Mayoralty. It is also likely that there will be another uncontested Mayoral election. Some gentlemen who have been talked of as probable candidates will not oppose Mr Townley. Visitors to Gisborne requiring first-class board and residence can obtain all the comforts of a home at Mrs West’s, Bright street. A number of rooms have just been added to the house, and these have been splendidly furnished. The house is situated in one of the best parts of Gisborne, is close to town, and the accommodation is unsurpassed. There are at present two or three vaoancies,

. A four-roomed house and half-acre section is advertised for sale by Mr T. Hay, of Matawhero.

Messrs Wyllie and Mason hold a sale of drapery to-day on account of Messrs MeMaster and Shalders.

Messrs W. Pettie, F. Harris, and E. P. Joyce have addresses in this issue thanking the electors of the Harbor Board for the support accorded to them. The contractors for the new post-office, Messrs Webb and Son, have a corps of men in readiness to start on the work directly a sufficient supply of bricks is to hand. The first brick is likely to be laid at- the beginning of April. The threepence per head offered by the Borough Council for rats is not meeting with a ready response. A juvenile syndicate that was being formed to obtain some of the Council’s wealth has, on secondary consideration, decided to keep out of the line, and apply attention to the development of the fish industry.

The Harvest Festival services hi connection with the Salvation Army will bo held to-morrow, and should prove very attractive. Colonel Estill and Major Evans will be in charge, and services will be held at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 8 pun., and 7 p.m. There will be a harvest banquet on Tuesday evening. At the bowling green last evening, the semi-final in the Club’s handicap singles, competition for a gold medal, was played between F. Pettie and Gaudin, the lattor conceding his opponent sixteen points. A ding-dong game resulted in a victory for Gaudin by 85 to 80. The final will be played this afternoon between Sidebottom and Gaudin, the former receiving two points.

This afternoon the Cup cricket match Gisborne A v. Gisborne B (Saturday Shield contest) will bo commenced at Victoria Domain. The following will represent Gisborne B : Rees, Hussey, McCredie, Howard, East, Johnston, Coleman, Vincent, Cuthbert, Edwards, Clark, Cole. Gisborne A: Rev. Vincent, Massey, Porter, Fairlie, Nisbett, Allan, Dodd, McGregor, Hodge, Gibson, Nolan, Kenway, Taylor.

Mr J. Stewart, of the local Telegraph Department staff, has just completed alterations at the Waimata Post-office, which will be much appreciated. Settlers are now able to converse with each other through the private lines, and this boon enables a station-holder to save many miles of travelling ; in the mustering of sheep, for instance, a settler whose place is connected with the wire can simply send a message along by wire. The maize crops will be later than usual in maturing this year, but there are some very fine crops showing—some of the best over seen in the district—and splendid returns are anticipated. A large area on the Pouparae estate attracts the attention of all passers-by 7 and visitors to the district are warm in their admiration of this crop. The damp season, which has seriously affected other crops, has been specially suited to maize-growing. The only danger that now has to be risked is that owing to the lateness of the season the frosts may affect the crops.

At the mooting in connection with the Hospital Ball on Wednesday night Mr W. Webb referred to the lack of attention given to committees in Gisborne. The usual experience, he said, was for two or three to attend the meetings and do the work. He thought that those who did not give all the assistance they could should not allow their names to bo placed on such committees. He pointed out that last year, although the arrangements were so good, there were times when they could not get a quorum of the committee. They had that night elected a strong committee, and he urged that they should all tako an active part in the work. A large number of light dog carts are being constructed at Mr J. H. Ormond’s carriage factory. At the beginning of the week there wore four in hand. The body of each cart is mounted on three springs, with shifting scats. The shafts are of lancewood ; they arc hung separately' from each other, so that if anything happens to one shaft the other is not thereby affected, as. with the ordinary dog cart. There is a whip spring affixed to reduce the motion caused by the wheels, thus giving all the advantages of a first-class clog cart, with additional comfort to the occupants. Another class of vehicle that is being turned out in large numbers at Mr Ormond’s factory are the American light buggies, of which there are a great many now on the roads.