AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 123, 4 June 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

GISBORNITES ROBBED.

■'■>? (Special to Times.) A'" aland, last night. I learn from an Acer of the s.s. Wailcare, which arriv from Sydney to-day, that Messrs llo! : and James Robb, of Gisborne, were rubbed in Sydney. The Robb brothers' sailed for Sydney from Gisborne in the s.s. Waikare a fortnight ago. _

THE EX-JUDGE. Ex-Judge Martin made his' appearance in the Supreme Court to-day as counsel for a man charged with theft of gum. PROGRESSING FAVORABLY.

Upon enquiry at the hospital to-day, I learn that Miss Morse, the Gisborne lady who was injured at the Grand Hotel fire, is progressing very favorably.

THE JOHNSTONS. Mr Alex. Johnston, the licensee of the Grand Hotel, was about to-day, and was condoled with by his many friends on his sad bereavement. Mrs Johnston is still very much prostrated.

THE FUNERAL. The remains of the three beloved children of Mr and Mrs Johnston were yesterlaid in their graves. The body of Miss Wallace, the other victim, was laid alongside in another grave. At the grave side the memorial service concluded: “ May God help them to believe that then- dear children have gone to a happier home and a fonder love than any they could ever know on earth.” GISBORNITES IN AUCKLAND.

There is a large influx of Gisbornites ;o Auckland, and more arc expected by ;hc end of the week. HON. J. CARROLL.

The Hon. Jas. Carroll informs me that ho is feeling much better. Ho has been busily engaged during the whole day in connection with native matters. As his business entails a great deal of outside work, tho days being cold and stormy is a circumstance that might militate against the lion, gentleman’s chances of improving in health. ■ The Native Minister has of late lost two stone in weight. .

PERSONAL. Mr Mason, of Messrs Wyllio and Mason, who is staying at the Star Hotel, intends visiting the Hot Springs next week. I regret to say that the popular Gisboruito is suffering from a severe relaxed throat.

THE DUCAL FESTIVITIES. Tho Taiori’s passengers from Gisborne and the East Cape yesterday morning arc all members of the Ngatiporou tribe, who aro looked to for tho furnishing of some very fine war dances at tho Rotorua mooting. They number 260 in all. Of these over. 100 picked men have been selected to dance the old style of warlike Pcruperu, under the leadership of Tuta Nihoniho, one of tho chiefs who assisted in tho campaign under Major Ropata against Te Kooti. A. T. Ngata came up with the Ngatiporou people. Amongst other chiefs of the party are the veteran Te Iloukamau, of Hick’s Bay- and Wiremu Potae. The Taieri reached Auckland at two o’clock yesterday morning. The natives landed, and then paraded Queen street until daylight.

This morning tho Poverty Bay natives visited the Museum, and expressed them-

selves highly delighted at the old relics in tho institution. Most Gisborne’ people who have visited Auckland will know that the Grand Hotel was situated almost opposite the Museum. To-day only the hare walls of tho hotel remain. Quite a gloom was cast over tho natives when there was made known to them the result of that night’s terrible calamity, where the poor little Johnston girls and Mias Wallace met their horrible death — and nice and pretty little girls they were, too. During the remaining part of the day the Gisborne natives were parading Queen-street in strong force. It is many years ago since such a number of Maoris have visited tho city.

“ The finest set of natives I have seen for years,” remarked a well-known Aucklander, speaking of the Gisborne natives in town to-day, Mr Tc Kani Pere is working like a Trojan, keeping his men together. They all leave for Rotorua at ton o’clock to-

morrow morning. The Hon. James Carroll has been hard at work for some time past, arranging matters in connection with the great “ hui ” at Rotorua, for upon him as Native Minister has fallen the task of organising the Maori reception to the Duke. Everything points to the welcome being a most interesting sight, carried out in olden Native fashion, and one that will do credit to its organiser in as much as the worst features of former Native meetings, excessive drinking and insanitary conditions, will not characterise their greatest “ hui ” of modern times.