THE KANAKAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1717, 6 April 1906, Page 2

THE KANAKAS.

Australian oabi"grams yesterday gave some interesting information regarding the intended deporta'ion of Kanakas, and the threats that had been made of wreaking vengeance on white people by the Tanna “ boys." To those who have kept in touch with this subject an art’cle from tbe Ohristchurch Press will convey muob information By the terms of the Pacific Islands Laborers Act, tbe employment of Island labor on tbo Q teensland sugar plantations comes to an end at the dose of this year. All Polynesians in the State ' must bo sent back to their islands by tbe

Ulet of Dccombor, and no moro may bo imported. Thero ore somo 6000 of those Kanakas, os thoy aro termed, in Queonslond to-day, and tho deportation of suok a numbor croatoa diffioultios for whioh tho Queensland Government hopea to find a solution by tho appointment of a Boyal Oommiseion. Mr Kidaton, tho Premier, states, aooording to a coblo message in Saturday’s issuo, that if tho laborers ore aont back in a body to tbo Islands, a famino will probably rosult. It is juat poasiblo that if somo of thorn aro sent back to their originul islands the oonsequonoos will bo ovon moro trogio, Tbo Bishop of Molanosia has rcpoatedly doolarod that tbo con-* dition of many South Soo Islands is suoh ob to rendor it probable that depoitod Kanakas would bo murdorod on arrival, in whioh oaao ono may aasumo with aomo oonfidonoo that the murderors and their friends would bo in groator dangor of suffering from surfoit than from famino. Thero aro many Molancsians in Quoonsland, and ovon if, upon being landed on thoir original islands, they escaped becoming the “ piocos-dorosistance ” of onnnibal bonquots, tboit position would bo a most uncnviablo one. Dr Prodsham, Bishop of North Queensland, soys that many of them argue somothing like this :—“ Whoro can I go when the Government sends me away ? I havo boon too loDg in Australia. My rotations aro dead, and I bavo forgotten my people. Thero ia no echool in my native village or on my island, and my people aro wild yot.” Moro than ono returning Melanosion, on reaohing hia island, has roffisrd his danger so strongly that ho has refusod to Icavo tho labor vessel, and tho dangor that ho feared with euoh good reason will bo all tho greator in tbo oase of thoso who, while in Queenslond havo marriod nativos of other islands, Tho hardship of deportation will naturally press still moro heavily upon those Molonesians who havo beoomo Christionisod during their rrsidenoe in Qaeens'and. To obviate the danger and hardship to which returning Kanakas would bo subjeot if landed on tbeir native islands, Bishop Frodsbam suggests that they should bo allowed to | go to a placa in ono of tbo Solomon group whero thero aro already a hundred nativo Christians, and abundance of good land and wa'er. A small pioneer party thouli be sent there next month so.w to plant orop", and thus provide food for the main body following at the end of tho yoar. The oast of suoh a patty would be loss than L 250, and this sum, Dr. Frodsham thinks, should be paid by tho Queensland Government. Toe responsibility undoubtedly rests upon the Government of seeing that the restrictive legislation of which iho Kanakas aio to be the violims is cariied out with as much humanity as possible. Oo rnoßt grounds, if not all, the advantage of a '• White Australia ” as against a parti-colored ono admits of no argument. But Polynesian labor has beon of great benefit to Queensland’s great induslry in tho past, and for its own credit and its reputation for humanity tbo Government must see that in deport'Dg tbe laborers it dors not forcibly cousigQ them to degradation or dea h.

Mails for Nap : or and South dose at 4 p.m. to-day per e.s. Burn. Two housemaids are wanted for the Tola go Bay hot el. Kaiti-Oity football meeting this evening.

The Bridge hotel advortises for a boy to milk and attend horses.

The Gisborne R : flas parade at 7.30 to nigbt for instruction by Stall Sergeant Major Williams.

The trawler Beatrice had her mast carried away yesterday afternoon through acoidentiily striking the TuraDganui bridge.

There was a large attendance at the skatiDg carnival at the Tdeatre Boyal last even'mg, when a capital programme was submitted, The rink will be open this evening.

A Dunedin telegram giving the Customs revenua for the year as £41,319 8s is o\iJemly a mistake ; it would more likely b 9 £410,319, as the monthly return would be about £35,000.

The following letters from places beyond the colony lie unclaimed at the Poet Office W. Gißalshaw, J. Koigbt T. Knight, D. Merzies, T. Onyon, G. L, Turnbull, H. Harner (2). , A partnership bas been entered into by Messrs E. J. Ohrisp, T. A'stoa Colemao, and A. Trevor Coleman, who will oarry on praotioe as barristers and solicitors under the title of Chrisp and Coleman.

A Press Association telegram Btates that the following have betn appaioted Justices of the Peaoe :—Messrs J. A. Maofarlane, MoawhaDgo ; D. Mackay, Daone vi.ko; T. Mandsley, Takopru; John MeGavin, Nuhaka ; and 0. 0, Smith, Makomku.

At the annual meeting of the Gisborne Volunteer Fire brigade the election of officers resulted as follows :—Sub-Super-intendent, G. Wildish ; senior foreman, J. Thomson; junior foreman, A. Thomson ; senior branobman, W. Wildish; junior branchman, J. MoLoughlin ; secretary, Cbas. A. Nield.

Tbo race between the junior crews of the Gisborne and Poverty B»y Rowing Clubs was rowed over the Taruheru course last evening. The crews were stroked by Pollhtt (Gisborne) and MoGuflis (Poverty Bay). McGuffie’s crew had the best of the race all the way, and rowiDg splendidly together finished several lengths ahead of their opponents. Owing to a foul it has boon deoided to re-row tho 10stone crew race. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning judgment by default was givon in the to lowing civil cases;—Jamrs Whinray y. Jqhn Colbert, ba'auce of claim, LI Bs, and casts 5s ; L. I) Nathan and Co. (Mr F. W. Nolan)'v. Gerald llate Bailbtt, claim LSI 12i 61, and costs L2 14s. In the ease of Hallen-tsin Bros. (Mr R. U. Burke) v. Willism Moore, an order was mado for immediate payment of L 3 Gi 6d, in default fquc days' imprisonment.

Bulletin bumor t There seem to be almost as great possibilities about Bent’s new motor-’busrs as about Tait’s narrowgauge railways. The other night a defective kerosene tank started leaking, and a blazing motor-’bus streaked half way down Chapel sheet, Prahran, • before blistering paint, and eraoking wiadowe, and loud applause from the audience warned the driver that something untoward was happening. With the usual luck of Bent’s department, it happened that the machine held no passengers at the time. If there bad been any, they would bave been fried,

There was a record attendance at the Elite SkatiDg Rink last evening, the number of skaters being so great that late comers were unable to obtain skales. The floor was in good order, and the arrangements for the comfort and convenience of skaters were in the hands of an energetic and capable committee. Tho attraction of tho evening was the polo match, which was very closely oontesieJ, and evoked great amusement. The teams were E. Newton, J. Newton, E. Warren, J. Cramp, and B. Tanner, Snowden, Lang, Rmgi. The scores wero three goals each when the whistle sounded no time. Mr A. Sawyer controlled the game. The rink continues to increase in popularity, and a very enjoyable evening can be spent at this popular pastime.

In another column Mr F. L. De-Barres notifies the public of Gisborne and the East Coast that he has started business as a laud, estate, insurance, and goners] commission agent, Mr Banos is well kaown throughout the d : strict, having for many years been connected with tho Masonic stables, and bis return to Gis borne will fco hailed with delight by all with whom he was formerly brought in oontaot. He baa secured a flee suite of rooms in the Farmers’ Club rooms adjoining the Masonic Hotel. Mr Dos-

Ijarreß has already had a choice number of town, suburban, and country properties placed in his hands f<jr salo, which should bo well worthy the attention of investors.