The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 4, 1901. CYCLISTS AND BOROUGH BY-LAWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 228, 4 October 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 4, 1901. CYCLISTS AND BOROUGH BY-LAWS.

The several oases heard ia tho Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday last., in which riders of bicycles were fined for riding' on tho footpaths of the Lack streets, have provoked bitter complaints from a large number of cyclists, and it would perhaps not be out of the way for tho Borough Council at their noxt meeting to see if they cannot in some way modify the by-law, and so grant soiuo slight concessions to riders. Exception cannot bo taken to tho action of tho police in bringing the offenders before tho court, nor to the stand adopted by tho Stipendiary Magistrate. The former are merely doing their duty in carrying out the provisions of til bye-laws, and the Magistrate has ample justification, in that ho has but to administer the law as 110 finds it. Thero is unquestionably a great deal in Mr DeLautour’s contention that some consideration should be granted to cyclists who arc now a numerous body in the community, and we feel sure that the Borough Council will be supported by public opinion in making some slight concessions. It might, for instance, bo'advisable to allow outside the more frequented thoroughfares altogether, or, at least, between sunrise and sun set, cyclists to uso tlie footpaths, of couise with the proviso that anyone riding at a dangerous pace, would be still liable to be proceeded against and punished severely. The bicycle at the present time is one of tho chief means of locomotion, and the interests of cyclists should therefore bo studied, so long qs they on their part recognise the rights of the public. The by-law might be modified in the direction wo have indicated, at any rate to give tiro matter a trial. Tho vast majority of cyclists are responsible and reasonably careful people who would certainly not abuse any privilege which was granted to them. The are miles of road oven within the Borough of Gisborno where there is, practically speaking, no risk with the ordinary care. In the suburbs one may ride on the footpaths for miles without encountering a single pedestrian, and it does seem absurd that I cyclists should be compelled to drive their machines through a heavy gravelled or muddy road when they could run so smoothly on the footpath without doing it tho slightest damage. Tho cyclists to whom the bylaw was intended to apply are those known as “ scorchers,” and for them, wo have no sympathy. The Council might make it permissible for cyclists to ride on the footpaths in the suburbs at the rate of so many miles an hour, and anyone found abusing the privilege and going infer “scorching” should lie severely punished. It must j bo understood that it is a tentative matter, and if cyclists do not come up to the mark in making only a reasonable uso of tho concession, the privilege would at once be withdrawn, and the Conned would feel that they were supported by public opinion in reverting to the present regulations. We know of the case of ono cyclist, a vie-itor to Gisborne, who preferred to pack his machine and send it home rather than submit to what he considered an unnecessary and irritating by-law. Wo have also the case of Mr DeLautour, who, sooner than break the by-law, puts himself to great inconvenience and deprives himself of the use of his bicycle for the greater part of the year. Most of the outlying roads are absolutely unfit for the bicycle, and seeing that many cyclists contribute largely towards keeping tho footpaths in order, it is hardly fair that they j sh >uld be debarred from using them. In making the above remarks we have in mind the interests of the whole community, and if a concession can be made in the interests of cyclists, we strongly recommend the Council to reconsider the matter and amend the by-law,

The Tyser steamer Indralema, from 1 Xew York and Australia, is due on Sunday next. "A special meeting of shareholders iu the Raid Public Hall Company is called for this (Friday ) evening, at S o’clock, in the Catholic School. The report of the Poverty Bay Bowing Club, which is to be presented at the annual meeting this evening, appears on the front page of this issue. An advertisement with regard to Zealandia ” shirts and collars appears in this issue. For tit and wear, these goods are pronounce .1 to be the best in the market.

Messrs Peekover and Co., land and estate agents, have a change of advertisement in this issue, in which they oiler to the public some choice town and suburban properties.

A lad named Reginald lleeps, son of the head teacher at the Tallaugatta (Victoria) school, was bitten by a tiger snake. Death followed a few hours later.

The shop at present occupied by Mr Eure, draper, is advertised to let. Particulars can be obtained from Messrs .T. Gibson and J. Rosie. Possession can be obtained at once, as Mr Eure is removing to the Little Dust Pan premises, opposite the Masonic Hotel.

Attention is directed to the auction sale of the stock of the Little Dust Pan. to be held to-day at one o’clock. An excellent opportunity is ottered to residents to secure stationery and fancy goods. Messrs wyllie and Mason will conduct the sale.

An inquest was held at the East Cape yesterday on the body which liad been washed ashore from the wreck of the scow Wliuknpai. Mr Boyd. J.P., acted as coroner. Constable Kelly identified the body as that of Thomas Double, a blacksmith, who shipped by the vessel at 'l’okoniaru Bay. The jury returned a verdict of found drowned. The bodies of the other members of the crew who were drowned have not yet been recovered.

A strange sequel to a matrimonial advertisement is reported from Canterbury district. A lady, who proclaimed the golden fact that she possessed a snug banking account, advertised for a husband of culture, who could boast a similar qualification. Of course, the usual number of hoaxing letters were received, but among those which appeared genuine she selected that of a reputedly rich gentleman of leisure, who she ascertained, had not been long out from England, The result of multifarious appointments was most satisfactory to both, and it was only when near their wedding day that tho fair syren confessed that she had no money as professed ; £25 was all she had in the world. “ I did not suppose you had any,” he replied, smiling quietly, “ but I have plenty for both ; you arc treasure enough for me, anyway, so we arc all right.” And that is how an advertisement won a husband. —Free Lance.

In the course of an interview, Sir James Prendorgast said our colony was in high favor with all classes of the English community, and this fact shoved itself in many and various ways. People whom one would think had not the slightest interest in the colony spoke of it with a knowledge which took him by surprise, remembering, as ho did, the ignorance of us which prevailed in British minds but a few years ago. He frequently heard people belauding our climate, and criticising our laws, the latter raising special interest. Sir James Prendergast spoke in terms of praise of a recently formed institution, called the Atlantic Club. This was composed of a number of London gentlemen, whose chief object was to show courtesy to, and entertain, visitors from the colonics and America. By some means, the Club found out the names of oversea visitors, who, directly they landed, received invitations to parties organised for a round of visits to the historic sights of the city, to the halls of the Guilds, etc., and to a trip to the river.

ltefcrring to the religious education of the young, the .Bishop ot Whiutpu says in his [’residential address to the Bynod : This is a subject the importance of which no Christian will deny ; and the system laid down by our Education Act makes it extremely difficult for the children to get any religious instructions at all. If our children could get careful instruction in the meaning of the language, and in the narratives of Holy Scripture, as in the case in the English Board Schools, this would be an important assistance to all Sunday School teachers, There is no chance, however, of any alteration being made in the Education Act unless most oi the religious bodies Vvill agree on some definite points which may be demanded through cur members of Parliament ; and the object of the proposed society is to bring about such an agreement. It is my intention to take an early opportunity of inviting the co-operation of other religious bodies in this provincial district, in the hope that we may be able to combine with our brethren who have this object at heart in other parts of the colony, audio form such a strong society as will afford a reasonable prospect of our procuring the slight alteration of the Act which is needed.