The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 14, 1901. THE WHEEL TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 106, 14 May 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 14, 1901. THE WHEEL TAX.

The many opponents of the wheel tax will bo pleased to learn that the steps taken in the matter by the Cook County Council have proved ineffective, the Council’s solicitor advising that in the form framed the by-law is ultra vires. This means that the proceedings will have to be gone over again, and more than that, if the Council still persists in its intention to gain revenue in this way an amending Act will neod to be brought before Parliament. The difficulties that the Council would have to face in trying to get the tax enforced in that way would be so great that it might almost be classed as hopeless. If the tax could be imposed without any trouble, there is evidence that it would not be easily collected. Taxes of all kinds are, of course, unpopular, but the wheel tax is of a kind that is specially hard to bring into vogue, though after it had been in force for a time people might wonder why their opposition had been so keen. The present position is certainly anything but hopeful for the Council,

WATER SUPPLY SCHEME. There is an evident desire in some quarters to unduly influence Mr Mestayer’s mind in favor of Waihirere as the source for the water supply. It should be time enough to discuss probable sources when Mr Mestayer has prepared his report. The want of knowledge in the matter is shown by references to Mangarueka, and the supposition that it is of a lower level than Waihirere. The disparity in levels does not affect the position of a supplementary supply. Supposing that Waihirere were chosen, and that later on a supplementary source were required, the intention would be to have a junction of the pipes, not to run the water into the Waihirere reservoir. The difference, we understand, between Mr Mestayer’s report and that of Mr Boylan, will be that the former will advise a much more extensive reservoir, with, of course, a much larger price.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council takes place to-night. The estate of Johann Von Pein (deceased) has been sworn at a net value of £1657.

Weather permitting, the schooner Aotca leaves for Auckland, via East Coast bays, this evening. A meeting of the Charitable Aid Board will be held to-night after the meeting of the Borough Council.

A meeting of the Hospital Ball Committee is to bo held this evening at the County Council Chambers. Captain Edwin reported at 12,80 yesterday : “ Indications frost to-night, and poor tides ; sea, heavy swell.” The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Waikoliu ? oad District will take place at 1 o’clock next SaturullJ afternoon.

Tenders will be received by Mr W. ?' Einueran, architect, until 2 p.m. on Friday for the erection of a dwelling for Mr E. Murphy.

Tenders close at 2 p.m. to-morrow for the erection of a two-storey building for Mr A. H. Wallis. The architect is Mr W. P. Finneran.

Two bibulous individuals were dealt with yesterday by Mr H. Lewis, J.P. One was cautioned and discharged, and the other, who had made a previous appearance, was fined 5s and costs.

There will be church parade at Te Karaka next Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, for tlie troops in camp at Puhatikotiko. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Canon Fox, M.A., in the schoolroom.

A scheme has been proposed in Natal for the improvement on a very large scale of Durban harbor, the port of the colonv. The cost of the undertaking, which will quadruple the shipping capacities of the present harbor, is estimated at £3,000,000.

The Parcmata 1 F block, 233 acres, situate near Tol.ago, was sold, on application of the mortgagee, by Mr J. W. Bright, manager of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, yesterday. 'The property passed to Captain Chrisp, as agent for the purchaser, at £270, Mr W. Shaw, of the Motu, has disposed of his property of a thousand acres to Mr Donald McKenzie, of the Wairarapa, at a satisfactory figure, the sale being conducted through the agency of Mr T. G. Lawless. Mr McKenzie intends to work the place to the best advantage, and should be bailed by the Motu settlers as a worthy neighbor. His Worship the Mayor received the following telegram yesterday from Dr. H. Pollen, formerly of Gisborne, and now of Wellington : “ Can expect Mr Mestayer’s report early next week. Will be costly, but hope Ml hands will combinlf-to see it through without delay. .Recent deaths reported and rumors of sickness are more expensive to the district than the extrarate would be."

Mr T. G. Lawless has a change of advertisement in this issue. The football matches set down for Saturday next are : Seniors, City v. Kaiti; Juniors, Kaiti v. West End. About SO men are at present employed on the Waikaremoana co-operative works, under Mr Straucban. Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. have j, an advertisement of special interest in this j issue, disinfectants for sanitary purposes being offered at low prices. Prior to his departure-for England, the members of the Gisborne Club presented *' Mr S. A. Noble Campbell with a travelling 1 bag. ' The Gisborne Cadets are requested to v assemble at the drillshed at 8.45 to- ‘ morrow morning to take part in the re- - ception to be accorded to the soldiers re- ] turning from the war. The cadets are to 1 attend in uniform, but without arms. 1 Ascension Day will be marked on Thursday by special services in Holy Trinity Church. There is to be a celebration of Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m., i and in the evening at S o’clock there will be a full choral service, the preacher being the Rev. H. Williams. The sheep returns for April 80th, 1900, show that tlie total for Waiapu County was 015,049, as against 805,649 in the previous year, an increase of 6400, and for Cook County 861,143, as against 824,129, an increase of 37,014. For Wairoa County the total is 547,409, as against 548,567, a decrease of 1158. There are thus in the three counties forming the eastern wing of the island 1,725,111 sheep. A few casualties marked the homeward passage of the N.Z. Shipping Company’s steamer Papauui. When near Cape Horn one of the crew fell down a hatch and broke one of his thighs and left wrist, and i while at Monte Video threat of the coalers got buried in the coal down in the bunkers. Two of them were rescued after some labor, but it took six hours to dig out the third man, who was found to be dead, At the service at Wesley Church on Sunday evening the Rev. B. F. Roth well, previous to the sermon, made feeling reference to the recent deaths, drawing , particular attention to the fact that in ’• several eases while the aged remained those just entering manhood and womanhood were cut off when they were looking forward to a life of activity and > s usefulness. Whilst expressing sympathy ;o with the bereaved, he urged upon the , e young of the congregation to make choice of a Christian life.

Captain Stenbeck, of the barque Empreza, desires us to state that the accident to Mr Tlieo. Jackson, who had two of his ribs broken last week while coal was being discharged, was not due to the way in which the vessel’s winch was worked. The captain states that it was an accident for which no one was to blame. However, we understand that the versions will shortly be put to the test, as Mr Jackson, who is laid up and suffering groat pain from the accident, has placed the matter in the hands of a solicitor. A seven-masted schooner is to be built this season in the Gordon Yards at Franklin, Me., and will be one of the largest merchant vessels afloat. The largest timbers ever placed in a vessel will be used in the construction. The schooner is to have a net tonnage of 4000, will be 335 ft. in length on the keel, with a breadth of 32ft., and in light trim will draw 18ft. It was believed the limit of large schooners had been reached last year, when the six-masted Eleanor A. Perry and George W. Wells were built at Maine, but the new seven-master will be 35ft. longer on the keel.