A YOUNG LORD PROVOST.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 801, 16 January 1903, Page 2

A YOUNG LORD PROVOST.

'The history of (be rise of Mr Scott Gibson to the position of Lord Provost ot Glasgow should be of great interest to young New Zealanders By the last incoming mail Mr Du neat Campbell, of Gisborne, received letters detailing the historic contest !>j

which a young fellow, not yet- aged 31, h;is been placed in the chief position of honor in one of the leading cities ’in the world. For the information of readers, we may hark hack a little in Mr Scott Gibson’s career. At a very early age he showed a capacity and liking lor lecturing, applying his attention mainly to economics and socialistic subjects. As a mere hoy—not sixteen years of age—ne Held audiences spell-hound by his eloquence, and lie not only swayed them for the few Heeling moments by the power of his silvery tongue, his charm of manner, and the beauty of his language ; but he gave his - hearers solid arguments!, and clinched those arguments with facts and figures that were deemed irrefutable. 'Three years ago he was elected member of the City Council of Glasgow, representing

burn. He was- regarded in the Council as an intruder, and opportunities to make him feel the position keenly were not lost. Blithe, for his part, stuck resolutely to the distasteful line he had set out for himself as a reformer, and he fearlessly and relentlessly exposed extravagances and exercised his power to have abuses set right. Matters became so warm that on one occasion the Lord Provost called in the police to eject him. He sat down, having been ruled out of order, but, the police did not dare to molest him. It happened that at the time lie was exposing some wrongful expenditure. During his term of office things were kept lively, aim his zealousness was not to be repressed. When his term of three years was up, his thousands of admirers requested him not only to stand for his old seat as a member of the Council, but to allow himself to be nominated for the office of Lord Provost. The latter office was held by a veteran, Mr Chisholm, L.L.D., who had passed through all the stages of office, and whose tenure wasthought so secure that on the previous occasion ne had been elected unopposed. But young .Scott Gibson, whom lie had attempted so often to

repress, was equal to the occasion, and in response to the calls upon him came out as a candidate lor the Lord Provost’s scat as well as for ordinary membership on the City Councii. The result was that lie was elected Lord Provost hy a majority of 1,112 over the veteran, and he also easily won the seat as mourner ; as one. Glasgow journal puls it, he is the only man on earth who holds two seats. As he cannot legally retain both, lie will, no doubt, anticipate proceedings and resign the membership seal. A mastery or statistics is one of the new Lord Provost’s strong points, and lie can simply overwhelm his opponents when they seek to gain a point in regard to figures. if lie were in New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward would sooner have him as a friend, than as an.opponent

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.. Al tlic next meeting o£ the Borough Council the question of the weekly half-holiday is to he decided. There can he no question as, to what that decision will he. Thursday afternoon has been found to he the best .suited to the interests of business people and country settlers, and the Council attempting to alter the present settled condition o; things would not he .instilled in doing so without strong evidence that such is the desire of tiie people To have Saturday chosen as the day might suit the interests of enthusiasts in athletics, and if other things were equal, it wohld be well to endeavor to meet the athletes irj this matter, hut the interests of industry are paramount and must not he sacrificed for the benefit of sport. Theoretically, the best day for holding the half-holiday is Saturday, hut in practice it means that to select that as the day is to deprive business people of the most important business day in the week, and to hamper country people still more seriously. It is all very well to use the old argument that Friday would to a large extent take the place of Saturday, but while the change from the old custom was taking place, serious loss would ensue to townspeople, with inconvenience to country settlers. So far Thursday has suited Gisborne well, and it is the clear duty of the Council to retain the present order of things unless there is such an agitation as would justify a change. No desire has been shown for a change, unless perhaps, on the part of a few young men. but.as they already get a pretty" fair innings in regard to holidays, they can afford to stand' gently aside anil let commerce have a turn.

By the special train yesterday 90 passengers went out to Kaitaratahi.

Welcome rain set in at 1.30 this morning. and replenished tanks and refreshed pastures can now be relied upon. A party was being arranged to visit Waihirere this afternoon to ascertain the flow of water alter the dry weather. But the steady rain which set in this morning will considerably alter the position,

Tenders close at noo tj-.iay Lr road work fur the Wbataupo. l!oa- jiU'L The auxiliary school-er . t"* 9 leaves Gisborne for East (.oast p.-vi> and Auckland on Moudav. The coiierera culvert i-n th< GisborneKaruka r-: ,va y. at Kailas at.thi, has been COmiT." -

A dcc!as..;i.ui of ii - Mvency was filed .-ste: .lay by G-ph Herbert Srglcy, tinsimih, lo.ding a. ,nt Cook County Plumbirie Wn;,1 ire special irein which c-uiveyid Dr Moii’.son 10 Kuittuaitiiii to attend to the man who was iatafiy injure.l, ran at the rate of nearly 40 miles an hour.

Ti.c following cablegram was received last iVtning by Messrs Daigery and Co.. Limit.d tjince our last cablegram tallow in general is at par to {id higher." In the estate of tire late Win. King pro bate was granted on the application of Mr Sievwrigbt, to J. X. King, John Clark, and W. H. King. Captain Edwin wired at noon yesterday : “ North east to north and northwest ; barometer fall ; moderate sea ;

good tides.” Yesterday morning East Cape reported ; “ Light breeze ; barometer, 3009 ; thermometer, OS ; weather gloomy ; sea moderate.”

Fine weather was experienced throughout the North Island yesterday morning, and overcast-, gloomy weather in the South, Light winds and smooth seas predominated on both coasts. Mr 11. Currie returned to town last

night after inspecting the scene of the bush lire at Whangaru, where he had a lot of posts damaged. 11c estimates the loss at £ /0.

A splendid chance for those desiring to purchase timber will be given shortly, when Messrs Dolgety and Co., instructed by a client, will oiler for sale 100,000 feet of dressed and undressed timber, also a quantity of Lotara, house blocks, and posts. The following alterations have been made in the telephone exchange list : Delete from list, 163, Sinclair, W. F., private residence, Whataupoko. Add to list, 1(33, Gordon and Law, butchers, Whataupoko; 216, Thehvall, Robert, private residence, Aberdeen road.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday judgment was given for plaintiff in the following undefended eases : Albert Peter Agnew (Mr G. H. Lysuar) v. Edward Groom, claim L's 4s, costs £1 Os fid ; Henry Martin (Mr Lincoln ileus) v. P- Couolty, claim Li, costs 10s.

Some sin of rum fell over Avoca station, New South Wales, a week beiure Gnnslmas Day, and aheu-.ty me country round rs like a vast field ot barmy. The recent ruins, however, were very patch,) in, the Oounarubie district, and seruocutitng is stilling going on on mar) stations.

Last week Mr T. Mitchell placed 500 young trout in the Rotoho-aboka lake, whore, at last accounts, they were looking well. The only outlet from the lake is the Oraka stream. Some very line cels have been taken in the lake, the largest weighing about 201 -

The Wanganui Chronicle understand 13 that the Wanganui liiver natives are taking steps with the view of having the Chief Justice’s recent decision, as to the power of the licensing committee to grant packet licenses to vessels in the proclaimed area, reviewed by tho Court of Appeal. A reminder is given that nominations for the under-mentioned events for the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s annual meeting, to be held on February 19 and 20, close with tho Secretary (J. M. Gumming) on Saturday, 17th inst., at 9.30 p.m.—viz., Turanga, Sunderland and County Stakes, First and Second Hurdles, Flying, Stewards, and Publicans Purse Handicaps. The Rev. Father O’Connor, formerly of Gisborne, visited Whakatane and Opouriao on Sunday, and held divine service at 9 a.m. at Opouriao and at 11 a.m. at Whakatane. This was Father O’Connor’s first visit to these districts and ho has expressed himself delighted with the country amt gratified over the hospitality and good feeling of the residents.—Opotiki Herald,

A largo number of sections in the suburbs of New Plymouth are being cut up into building allotments, and these as well as the land in the country, are commanding high prices. A resident of New Plymouth informs an exchange that one settler recently sold his farm for £2B an acre, and is removing to the Waikato district, where he has purchased land for Ll 3 an acre, which he considers quite equal to his late holding. The prosperous condition of the dairy industry is the principal cause of this inflation in values. Tho enterprising firm of Messrs Mackrell and Colley have recently erected a new boiler, and yesterday afternoon an iron chimney stack which would bring the height of the funnel to 64 feet was being erected on the brickwork foundation. The work of hoisting was nearly completed when a ropo gave way, and the long chimney stack fell, dumping across the brickwork foundation. A length of ironwork near tbo centre of the stack buckled where it fell across the brickwork, and many of the rivets were started. The bricks were loosened a little, but no further damage was done.

The .£70,000 waterworks loan for Wanganui has been definitely arranged. The interest rate is 41- per cent., the sinking fund to be taken in reduction at the same rato of interest, with the whole amount payable in Wanganui free of exchange, The Council has the right to life the amount from time to time us they requiro it, during ttie progress of the work, extending over a period of two years. The loan is lor 12 jears, thus making it come due at the same time as the other borough loans, when they cau ttien be consolidated into one general loan.

The funeral of Charles William Johnsen, who was killed near Kaitaratahi on Wednesday whilst working on a cutting oa the Gisborne- Karuka railway, took place at 4-30 yesterday afternoon from the Kaitaratahi Hotel. A large number of people followed the remains to the Ormond cemetery, where the body was interred. Deceased was a man held in high regard by all his mates and those in charge of the works. As a mark of respect work on the railway construction was suspended yesterday. The department was represented by Mr Armstrong and other members of the staff, and the late mates of the deceased attended in full force.

Mr W, F. Sinclair, proprietor of the Masonic Stables, has arranged to put on a line of coaches to Tolago Bay, commencing on Tuesday next. The coaches will run twice a week, leaving Gisborne at 8 on Tuesday and Friday mornings. The new line of coaches will be a great convenience to the Coast settlers, who now in placo of a coach service twice a week to Tolago will have a service four days in the week, Mr Sinclair intends keeping a change of horses at Pakarae, and all unnecessary delays will be avoided. The fares are notified in the advertisement, bemg single 12s; return, £l.

Some determined spirits are still intent on capturing the shark known as Kruger. A gentleman who had the idea that some of the newspaper paragraphs concerning the monster were fictitious went out, and happened to see the brute cruising around in easy-going fashion. He at once became possessed of a burning desire to capture the monster, and on Wednesday went out with a companion to try and have a shot at the shark. “Kruger” was not to be seen, but had evidently sent a scout to reconnoitre, a shark over six feet in j length. A well-aimed bullet found its mark, and the shark turned on its back and floated ashore. A fin was brought into town as a relic of the capture. The Star's Loudon correspondent writes : —lt is with much pleasure I again record a further success of that brilliant young New Zealander, Miss Eosie Eees, daughter of Mr W. L. Rees, of Poverty Bay, and sister of Miss Lily Rees, the clever part author of the “ Life and Times of Sir George Grey.” A recent “Era” says Miss Rosemary Rees, whose oneact play “The New Gun” was successfully produced a few months ago in front of “ Codes and Aunt,” will play the part of the heroine Nance Trenwith, during its production at two of the London music halls in December. Miss Rees, who has decided to use her full name of Rosemary for the future, is at present (November) appearing a; Mrs Fuller in “Who’s Brown? ”

A committee meeting of the H ,-rticul:ural Society takes place to-night. The fate oi the Small Birds Nuisance Bill m last year’s Parliament itas moved a Canterbury farmer to invent a sparrow trap, which, at a rcr-ent trial, captured 15 sparrows in one day It blew sti hard in Featherston fhe other day that a cart, containing a load o; hav, on which was seated a

farino: named Yclvcrton, was turned completely over. Yelverton escaped injury by jumping from his insecure seat as it toppled over.

Dairymen will be gratified for the information supplied by Mr J. B. Kells in the following concise letter ;— '■ Sir, —During a dry season like the present, when dairymen find their milk supply failing daily, it behoves them to give a trial to a fodder plant which will withstand a much drier season than we are ever likely to experience in Poverty Bay. I refer to lucerne, which can, I feel satisfied, be grown to advantage on a large portion of the fiats here. As an ounce of example is worth a ton of precept-, I would recommend those interested to pay a visit to Mr Hyde’s (just across the Patutahi lord), when they will see a crop which ought to convince them, if anything can. The crop referred to has been laid down for several years, and is evidently firmly established. Tho writer has had some experience in tho growing of lucerne, and will be very pleased to place any information in his power at the disposal of any farmer who may wish for it.”

A remarkable scene occurred at tho inquest recently on the body of a young Hungarian, Henry Kacirck, who committed suicide by shooting himself at North Coburg, Melbourne. For two days and nights the deceased’s fox-terrier guarded tho body, and when an attempt was made to remove it the animal severely bit one ot those who touched tho body. At the inquest Fanny Mack, a barmaid at tho Palace Hotel, who was engaged to deceased, brought tho dog to tho Court with her. She stated that tho deceased had been employed as pastrycook at the Vienna Cafe. She was handed one of her own photographs found on the body, uud immediately became hysterical. Tbo dog, who had been sitting in her lap, savagely attacked anyone who endeavored to assist her. The coroner told a coust-ablo to throw somo water in the girl’s face, but no one was disposed to approach tho angry dog. Sno cried out repeatedly, asking that no one snouid nuit the dog, us it was ail she now had left. Eventually slio recovered sufficiently to quieten the dug, and the inquest proceeded. A voidtct ot suicitle was returned.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday an application was made to take evidence in tbe case of Thomas Ahern amt Co., ol Wellington, v. John Colbeit, of Kaiti, the c aim being lor £2 ss, for a sacrament service alleged to have been supplied to the defendant. Mr R. N. Jonos appeared for too defence. In bis evidence tno defendant stated that he did not know plaintiff's, but lie remembered a traveller, whom bo presumed was their agent, coming to his placo in March, 1902. The traveller showed him a sample sacramental service which was enclosed in a leather case. Ho ordered one similar to the sample, and it was to havo been delivered in J aly at tho

latest. It was not delivered on tho date

contracted for, but some time later another person brought him a service which was in a wooden case, and was not so good as the sample. His chief complaint was that the service was not left on tho proper dato, and that it was not so good as the sample. Tho service was left with defendant notwithstanding a protest. Defendant had not interfered with tho goods, and had he known the name of tho firm supplying them ho would have written at once declining to take them. Mr Barton, S.M., allowed costs 7s, and solicitor’s fco for defendant if successful, Tho caso will be heard in Wellington shortly. The party that recently left Gisborno for To Puia Springs, being driven in a four-in-hand by Mr W. F. Sinclair, returned to town on Wednesday night, having had a most enjoyable trip. Tho roads were in fine order for driving, and the members of tho party found that grf.Ji.fc improvements had been made at the baths, of which there are now three covered in. During the stay of the party at Te Puia thero was a large picnic, including the Tolago Bay cricket representatives, Mr W. D. S. Macdonald and Mrs Macdonald and family, Misses Spence, and other Coast residents, with the party from town. Tho latter camped at the Springs for a week. There was beautiful weather, except for a thunderstorm that would have been welcomed all over the district. The storm was on tho night of the 7th. It lasted throughout the night, and while the southern portion was thirsting for rain the Waiapu was in flood on the Bth, and. travellers were unable to cross tbo ford until the next day. The road from the Springs to Waipiro is now in such good order that a buggy was able to reach Mr Pettie’s Hotel in a little over half-an-hour from the Springs, and therefore the beach was visited frequently for the sea bathing and fishiDg.