The Gisborne Times PUBLIBHED EVERY MORNING. GISBOENE, MAY 16, 1906. NATIONAL PENSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1750, 16 May 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLIBHED EVERY MORNING. GISBOENE, MAY 16, 1906. NATIONAL PENSIONS.

Our telegrams to-day indicate that a step further is being made in regard to national pensions, and some suggestions are given as to the lines laid down. Whon speaking at Masterton the Premier said that in regard to national annuities he wanted to lead. The scheme was not original. Germany and Belgium wore doing some thing in the matter, but in the British I Empire he wished New Zealand to

' lead. His scheme' was that any one should be ablo to deposit a certain sum monthly, say at tho Po3t L ffice, and that the amount would be subai- | dised to the extent of 25 per cent., and | the subsidy yould be decreased to 10 per cent, in proportion to the means of the depositor.' interest and compound interest would bo paid on the deposit, and the whole amount would j provide an annuity for old age. If tho husband paid in something he would not be allowed to touch it without the consent of his wife, and a wife making a deposit would not be allowed to touch it without the consent of her husbrnd. He honestly believed that 90 per cent, of the people of the colony would take advantage of thfs method of providing for their old ago If spch a scheme was established there would be less required for old age pensions and for charitable aid, and after all the public purse was tho purse of the people, and he hoped the scheme would be participated in by all classes of tho community, young and old, married and single. They must endeavor to get the young people to take up the scheme. All his spare moments were being devoted to an elaboration of the scheme, so as to make (he legislation as perfect as possible

Mr W. Lissant Clayton notifies some desirable properties for sale. Mails despatched from Auckland via San Francisco on April 12 th arrived in London on May 14th. A reminder is given that the D.S.C. sale concludes this week, and all that remains unsold will be packed on Friday,

His Honor Mr Ju-tioo Chapman lobvob for Auokluud tins morning. May 24Ui is to bo a special bmk holiday.

Mr P. T. Konway leaves Gisborno this overling on a visit to tho Old Country. At tho Polioo Court yostordny a first oflondtr for druDkonnots was disohargod. Roboit Manning wns ahargod on remand with wifo dcsoit : on at Waihi, and was remanded to appoar at Auckland on tho 17lh inst., bail boing allowed. A mooting of tho oommittoo of tho Gisborno Bowling Club was hold last ovoning, tho President, Mr J. A. Harding, in tho chair. It was docidod to resume tho colonial rug competition to morrow, when Bright’s toam inoola Coleman's. A programme wus arranged for Empiro Day, 21th iust, and it wus decided to issuo a , hearty invitation to tho members of tho Turunganui Club to play a friondly matoh with tho Gisborno Club in tho afternoon, Somoono handed up to Nellie Stewart on her opening night at 'Frisco, a bunch of gum loaves, from which hung a piooo of card, upon whioh was written : “ A Swcot Smell for Swoot Nell—from one of the boys in tho gallery ; just a bit of bush from over tho sea.” One of the quaintest advertisement ß scon for some time was a recont one in whioh a lady thanked “ all those kind friends who had subscribed tho munificent sum of 13s 6d to a ponnileßß woman ro eoritly widowod.” No doubt tho widow will buy a largo boardinghouse.—Wellington Lanco. Tho Waikato Independent makes this assertion “ Within tho past two years two or three glaring cases of ombiz/.'omont were committed by mon high up in sooial life in Auckland, and tho culprits allowed to go scot free beoauso, as it whb said at tho time, others were implicated in the doubtful transactions, and thus it would be dif» cult to determine whero tho exposure would end.” Dick Arnst, tfco Sydney Thousand winner, writing to his father, said: —“ Am tired of Sydney, but will hang on until tho Sydney Thousand Meeting. If I can win the big race I’ll buy tbo little farm down South wo wero talking about ; if not—well, keep a bit of spud-digging for me.” As wo all know he won. A young man named David Btuco, with a Btring of aliases, pleaded guilty at tho Police Court yesterday to a charge of having no visible means of support. The police reported that the aooused arrived here about a month ago, after having served a term of six weiki for vagrancy. Sinoo then he had done no woik but lately numerous complaints bad been received that he was frightening peaceful citizens in tbo suburbs, as bis behavior was very peouliar when druok. “ You are evidently one of those persons who won’t work,” rema kod Mr BartoD, S.M., in sentencing the aooused. "If you won’t wotk out of prison, you will have to wotk in prison, and I shall send you somewhere whero they will make you wotk, You will be sentenced to three months’ imprisonment wi h haid labor in Napier gaol.” At tho meeting of tho Exhibition Com mittee, it was decided, on tbo rno'ioo of Mr Wbinray, seconded by Mr Webb, that the three chief local bodies, the Harbor Board, County and Borough Councils, be asked to contribute £IOO each to secure space for the Poverty Bay and East Coast exhibit at the forthcoming Exhibition. On tho motion of Mr Whinray, seconded by Mr Jowors, it was resolved that the Mayor arrange with tbo Bank of New Zealand for an overdraft of 25 per cent, necessary to secure spare, to avoid waiting until the local bodies held their meetings to vote the amounts required. The Secretary was instructed to wire to the Commissioner, Mr Mclotyre, that the application for spaoo, duly signed, with deposit enclosed, would bo forwarded next mail. At a banquet at Cambridge tbe toast of 11 Farming Interests ” was ontruetod lo Mr E. J. Wilkinson (a former Gisbomite), who ventured the opinion that tbe farmers of tho Waikato were amongst tho finest in Australatis, if not in tho world, gome 30 yoara ago thoy had undertaken pioneering work, and having put their hand to the plough had not turned back. He believed that the general bulk of tbe farmers in the district wero now reaping the reward of their labors and enjoying that prosperity all would wish them. Ha had heard it nfien said, and he was of tho same opinion himself until bo came hero six years ago, that the Wa k ito was a poverty-stricken place. However, there was no doubt that it possessed a woederfol fertility, and he hoped the movement to fittingly represenl tbo Waikato at tho forthcoming inter naiional exhibition would bo heartily supported.

At the annual installation of Lodge Turanganui, 1480, E.C., thero was a very large attendance, Bro. Q. W. Piimrose waa installed by W. Bro. W. W. Daw, D Q.S., bciogpresented by W. Bros. J. H. Colebourne (W.M. Lodge Abercorn, 76, N.Z.) and H. Sandlant (W.M. Lodge Montrose, B.C). After tho installation Bro. Primrose, W.M., invosted tbo following officers: Bro. D R. DeCosta, IP.M., Bro. H. Zaohariab, 8.W., Bro. C. H. Ambridge, J.W-, Bro. R. Robertson, secretary, Bro. W. B. MackP, S D., Bro. H Z ichariah, J.D., bro. W Carrol, 1.G., Bro. Jas. Cbrisp, organist, Bro T. McConuel 1 , 8.8 , Bro. J. R Miller, J.S . Bro. G. Humphreys, tylor. The following comprised tbo orchestra: Bros. Beere (P.M.), Cbrisp, Rees,Brown, B irlow, and Don, with Bro, El.is (P.M.) at tha o-gao. A banquet followed, tbo following toads being honored : “TbeKiog and the CraP,” “Most Worsbipful Grand Master, the Duke of Connaught,” ” The Worshipful Master, Bro, Primrose,” “ Sister Lidges,” and “Visiting Brethren.” Songs wore given by Bro>. A. Z loha-iab, Woodward, Allan, Hawkins, and H. DeOosta. Bro. Woodward gave areo tali on, Tho accompanist was Bro. Ellis. The provincial conference of the executiye of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union will be held in the Poyorty Bay Farmers’ Club (Dunlop’s Buildings) on Monday, 21st 'inst., at lla.ni. The Ancient Order of Forosters have decided to extend their sphere of operations to the East Coast, and a delegate from the Court William Gladstone will visit Tolago from Monday next to Friday with a view of establishing a bran- h of the Order at tlm coastal township. Residents are invited to meet the deputy at the Tolago Bay Hotel on Wednesday evening, dim Greymouth Argus states : - The tapping of a good supply 0 f minoral oil at Taranaki again draw's attention to tho possibilities of Kotuku as a likely oil liold. As most of our readers aro aware, Mr Smith is

&till boring in tho locality, on behalf !of a Hawke's Bay syndicato. For the last eighteen mouths tho prospecting has not been going on as expeditiously as previously, and at present the progress is slow, owing to the prospectors curtailing the weekly outlay. 80 far as the funds at his disposal will admit, Mr Smith is doing exceptionally good work, but we should certainly like to see others at work. The late Mr Cooper, who was the chief

organiser of tho “ oil properties ” in Taranaki and at Kotuku, and who,

moreover, possessed a fair knowledge of oil fields, always regarded the Kotuku district as far more promising than Taranaki, and had he lived the

prospecting of the former would have been continued with better appliances and more men. Since his death, the other members of the syndicate seemed to have continued in a very halfhearted manner. A local company that had been formed had too little capital, and, secondly, its mode of boring was somewhat antiquated and expensive. As was to bo expected, the funds became exhausted ere any real practical work was done, and bor-

ing was discontinued. Tho ipon.ey spent and boring done at Kotuku is a

mere trille compared with that spent and done at Taranaki. It is the firm

opinion of many who have some know-

ledge of mineral oil springs—and in his opinion Dr Bell, the Government

Geologist concurs—that large oil wells will bo found at Kotuku.