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Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 79, 10 April 1901, Page 2

Gisborne had showery weather for a week prior to the holidays, then the weather became beautiful and remained so until yesterday, when it again became showery. 4 number of natives, for whom Mr Chas. Ferris /ictgd as interpreter, waited on the Hon. Mr Duncan yesterday, and extended to him a hearty weloome as the new Minister of Lands. The threshing of Mr Witters’ crop of linseed, near Kin-Ora Butter Factory, was finished yesterday morning, before the rain set in. It is estimated that the crop will yield 30 bushels to the acre, The small boys about Gisborne are evidently not inclined to make money by the supplying of rats, even at threepence, per head. The Council has so far only been called on to pay for one rat since the last offer to give threepence per head was made. Mrs and Miss DeCosta, and Mr Herbert DeCosta leave for England and the Continent by the Waikare this evening. They leave Sydney on the 24th inst. by the Orient liner Ortona. Their many friends will wish them bon voyage. Mr Jardine also goes to England by the Ortona. One unfortunate result of the Easter holidays, as far as the newspapers are concerned, is that it brings with it a deluge of racing telegrams. The night operator on Monday night, Mr Kemp, had a very busy time, and was kept hard at work until nearly daylight receiving messages for the Timss,

Most of the Gisbomo bowlers' who visited Napier return to Gisbomo by the steamer this morning. The Whataupoko Road Board notifies that all rates unpaid ou Saturday next, will be sued for. .< -■ . . i

Mr W. K. Robb requests an early settlement of accounts in connection -with the service of “ Burnside Elgin.” Nominations of candidates for the Gisborne Borough Council and the Mayoralty must be in by noon on Saturday. The Arai Valley this year is showing some splendid crops of maize ; but the season for harvesting is later than usual.

Messrs Common, Shelton, and Co.’s next monthly stock sale is to be held at the Waerenga-a-hika yards to-morrow. The Borough Council invites tenders up to 2.30 on Tuesday night for the formation and shingling of the Esplanade road, Kaiti. i

Messrs Williams and Kettle are now preparing their annual balance, and desire that accounts be settled before Saturday.

As a token of appreciation of his services the retiring secretary of the Golf Club, Mr E. H. Mann, was presented with a gold pencil case. The Commissioner of Taxes notifies

that returns under the Land and Income Assessment Act must be sent in by the first of May. Consignees are notified that from the 15th inst. tho Harbor Board by-law in regard to cargo left at the Board’s shod will be strictly enforced.

The brethren of the Druids’ Lodge are to have a dance social on May 9th. The gathering will be open to members of other Friendly Societies. By our telegrams it will be observed that Sydney is to be declared free from plague. Thus much inconvenience in regard to the steamers will be avoided. In the present scarcity of houses in Gisborne, thero should be eager demand for the conveniently situated house which Mr J. H. Martin has to let in Stout street.

Mr Bartholomew, who has been selected

to report on tho Motu timber, is a Feilding sawmillor, and has mills at several places. His experience is such thal his report will be accepted as conclusive."

The ensuing session of the Gisborne Mutual Improvement Society will bo

opened on Monday evening with a concert, which will be held in tho Academy of Music. A good programme has been provided, and as usual with “ Mutual ” entertainments there should be a largo attendance. A laborer named McGuinness, at Parkos (N.S.W.), turned his wife out. Later the house was seen to be afire, and the wife dragged her husband out. After a desperate struggle he rushed back into the flames. The house was destroyed, and McGuinness perished. People who went out of town during the holidays were surprised how the roads had dried up again, places that* were almost impassable a week before having got into fair condition. This was in a measure accounted for by the fact that almost all heavy traffic on the roads had to be suspended. „ During the holidays many parties have gone to the Waihirere creek to again satisfy themselves as to its capacity for supplying Gisborne with water. The general impression is that Mr Mcstayer is too sanguine in his anticipations, unless special provision is made for extra storage.

A great deal of linseed has been grown in the district this season, and there have been some splendid crops. Unfortunately tho wet weather has delayed tho gathering of tho crops. Mr Clark's Arai station has this year had about fifty acres of linseed under crop, and it is estimated that the crop will yield 20 to 30 bushels to the acre.

A meeting of the Hospital Ball Committee was held at the Borough Council Chambers last evening, Mr Townloy in the chair. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather there was a good attendance. A considerable amount of routine business was transacted. The programme for the ball as drawn up by the Programme Committee was adopted, and Mr J. R. Little was appointed joint Hon. Secretary. When replying to tho deputations on Monday night, the Hon. Mr Duncan unconsciously paid a very high compliment to Mr Jarnes Wliinray. The Minister said that the wonder was to him that that the people of tho district had not much earlier taken up the subject, and forced it upon public attention. Considering that Mr Wliinray was for so long almost alone in his agitation, Mr Duncan’s remarks are highly complimentary to him. About six miles of the new Tokonui Road has been completed in the form of a

bridle track, and the Arai Board is having the work steadily pushed on. By the appearance of things this road will in time become the main route for the traffic between Gisborne and Wairoa, the journey that way being fully ten miles shorter than by the present road. Tho settlers at Nuhaka desire that the new road should be formed right through. One of the telegraph messengers, Master Sawyer, left his bicycle outside the Post Office at 2 yesterday morning, while he went to close a door, prior to taking a budget of cable messages to the Times office. He returned within a couple of minutes to where his bicycle had been placed to find that it had vanished. A vigilant search failed to discover the culprit, but during the day the machine was found in the locality of Derby street. In the course of his remarks to the deputation on public requirements, the Hon. Mr Duncan said that summer roads would be sufficient for pastoral country, where goods could be carted in during the summer, and the roads were not much needed in tbe winter. As a matter of fact, in this district the settlers are in many cases apprehensive as to how they will be able to get in winter stores. Goods that have been in readiness to go out for months have not been delivered yet, owing to the state of the roads, which have been quite unfit for heavy traffic. *•

A -deputation from the Beautifying Association waited on the Hon. Mr Duncan yesterday morning. He took great interest in the work of the Association, and promised favorable consideration of the points raised, including a supply of trees from, the Botoru a forestry. The Association desires the Government to subsidise to the extent of £ for £ money subscribed for the purchase of a portion of the Kaiti hill for recreation purposes, and that the Crown grant of the Harbor Board’s interest in the Haiti beach be issued, so as to give the Board control. A trap accident, resulting from a pecular cause, occurred on Monday. A son of Mr A. Knox was driving home from the Kia-Ora Butter Factory ; two. mischievous boys in another cart commenced stamping on the flooring of the cart in which they were sitting. This caused Mr Knox’s horse to bolt, but the lad got the animal in hand again, Then, encouraged by the success of then- first effort, the mischief-making boys in the second spring-cart, repeated the performance, with the result that this time Mr Knox’s horse again bolted, and the vehicle was capsized, the lad who was driving being thrown out, and getting a severe shaking. Some damage was done to the spring cart and harness.

There was a full house at the free entertainment given in the Academy of Music, last night, by the Mormon elders who have bec-n attending the Mormon Conference. An enjoyable programme was given. After the overture Elder E. P. Brown, who is a fluent speaker, explained away many of the misconceptions in regard to the Mormon faith, the title of the address being “ Our Mission.” The following programme was then given : Mandolin and guitar, “ Day After Day,” Misses Westruskon, Madson and Wilson. Solo, “ She was bred in old Kentucky,” Mr G, Wilson ; encore, “ Bose O’Grady.” Illustrated lecture, “Utah,” Mr J. E. Maghby, Becitation, “ Battle of Gcttesburg,” Mr Thos. Bampton ; encore, “Brown’s Sermon." Guitar selection, “Spanish Fandangh,” Mr Frank Bull.. Quartette, “ Oh, My Father,” Messrs Wilson, Madson, Westruskon, and Jones. Instrumental selection, “ Swallows,” Messrs Madson, Westruskon, and Oldroyde. 1