MAKING HISTORY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2115, 25 June 1907, Page 2

MAKING HISTORY

The people of Narbonne, in the south of France, are still “making history,” and it would appear that before the trouble is ended some exciting pages will be added to a history already absorbingly interesting Narbonne was a ricli town long befort the Roman conquest, and it was there in 118 B.C. that the Romans formed their first colony in Gaul, which, under the name of Nhrbo Martius, was used as a. station for the Roman fleet. In 150 A.D. the town’s importance waned, and it was occupied in turn bj Alans, Suevi, and Vandals until in ,413 it was permanently occiyjied by the Visigoths. It was captured by the Saracens in 719 after a siege of two years, and was held by them until the Fra nlis expelled them about 759, after an investment of seven years. Charlemagne made Narbonne the capital of -the duchy of Gotliia and created a lordship for a Frank. The viscounts succeeding this Frank sometimes acknowledged the authority of the Counts of Toulouse, and sometimes of the Counts of Barcelona. In the thirteenth century the town was seized by a legate of the Pope, who took the title of Duke* of Narbonne, but later Simon de Mont-’ fort received the dignity from Philip Augustus. The decay of the town was hastened by the expulsion of the Jews by Philip the Fair! In 1507 Narbonne was united to the French Crown. It was enclosed by a new line of ramparts in the reign, of Francis I, but on ceasing to be a garrison town the last portion of the ramparts was demolished in IS7O. At the present day the population is about 29.000. The town has many old buildings of architectural interest, and posssesses one of the best museums outside Paris; The trade is chiefly confined to wine and spirituous liquors, the country growing large quantities of strong alcoholic wines largely used for “fortifying” weaker vintages. To this Jong history more pages are being added daily, and it would perhaps be hard to tell exactly what the trouble will end in. It is hardly possible that! the movement will ever attain the importance of the great French Revolution; but M.- Clemeneeau has stated in the Chamber of Deputies that he recognises that the unity of the State is endangered, and much may grow from a movement which at its inception appears to be merely a local disturbance. All the possibilities ar.e in favor of the Premier’s assumption that, disruption is possible. The disaffected people occupy the southern corner of France fronting the Mediterranean Sea, and it is reasonable to suppose that the climatic, industrial, and other conditions make them out of sympathy with the rest' of the country. The undesirability of the proposed new republic is patent! but its formation is problematical, in view of the fact that the Government is taking strong measures to stifle the movement, and is backed up by an overwhelming majority in the Chamber of Deputies. On the other hand the agitators are showing groatpde- . termination,.and during the present ' week important- developments , are , almost certain to take place. *

Tlio Ladies’ Committee for tho School Swimming Bath OomijijT'o merits this afternoon in lownloy Hull nt 3.30 o’clock. Mr W. J. Roolio, of Mr-' Mostayor’s office, Wellington, has pointod borough engineer at 1 eiiuing nt £4OO a year. Very complete arrangements are being'made by the City’.Hand. !;*' jv’s social to ho held ill Ills Majesty s Theatre on Thursday, and a successful function seeeins assured

A petition to the Mayor asking that the troopers names bo deloted tiom the Cook Memorial and placed on a separate ono to bo erected, was calculated in town yestordny altonioon and was largoly signed.

Acceptances for tho first day s events in connection with the Uishorne Racing Club’s Steeplechaso Meeting and entries for tho mmol events on both days close with tlio socrotary on Friday ovenmg next. Steady streams of applicants for tho Wnimatn sections, continued all day yesterday. Mr. R. Johnston, J. 1?., was also kopt- busy by’ those desiring his signature. Tlio ballot will be hold at tho drill shed on Thursday at 11 a.m.

A young man named James Smith appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning, to answer a charge ot travelling from Auckland to Gisborne by tho Taluno, without paying his fare. He pleaded guilty’. Mr. JW. J. Preston, manager ot the local branch of tho Union Co. put in a formal claim for tlio passage money. A fine of £2 with costs was liiposed, and Smith was ordorod to pay the fare.

A sitting of the old ago pension court was hold by tho Magistiate, Mr. W. A. Barton, yesterday, when two renewals at £26 per annum, one at £24, three at £lB and one at £ll, were granted. One application was refused as the conditions of the Act had not been complied with. lhe police reported that the applicant had kept sober during the last two years hub the Act required that qualification during the. previous fivo years.

A charge of resisting Constable Wales in the execution of his duty was preferred against a middlo-agec half-caste, named David Wilson,_ at the Police Court yesterday morning Ho said he knew nothing about it. Constable Wales stated tliat lie ill rested acuesed at about 2. 30 on Saturday afternoon for drunkenness, and he resisted violently’ and two other constables had to be called to assist His Worship inflicted a fine of £1 with 2s cost, or 4 days imprisonment. Upon a charge of drunkenness Wilsoi was ‘fined 5s and 2s costs, or 24 hours imprisonment.

The police have been on tlio warpath lately and as a result over thirty charges will be preferred against offenders (male and female) for riding on footpaths and without, lights. Last night- one young man was caught twice. It is stated that some cyclists have been very insolent in demanding passage way from pedestrians and in some cases strong language has been used to those who objected. Some children have been knocked over, hut no serious accidents are reported and even the pitiable state of the roads cannot he accepted as an excuse for disregarding the law. The cases are to be heard on Friday.

On the 22nd Just tho Harbormaster took soundings at various ..points in tlio channel, with tile new .tide gauge at'zero. The depths were: End of breakwater 14ft, No. 3 and 4 bollards 10ft-, Smirk’s landing Bft Gin, big crane Bft Cin, Waikanae 7ft- Gin, along new wharf 7ft; along town wharf 6to 9 ft. It seems that during tho heavy, weather at the latter end of May the washaways from the banks of the Waikanae Creek got into the channel. With the “fresh” in tlio river this caused a good deal of silting-up along the Kaiti and new wharf, also at points just above and below the beacon in the channel.

The New Zealand Accountants’ and Auditors’ Association intimate that the annual examinations in connection with the Association will be held throughout- tlie colony on 4th November next- The examinations are for the Fellows’, Associates’ and Students’ grades, and are available to members of either sex; as a matter of fact, there are several lady members who have already qualified by examination. ' Intending candidates may procure copies of syllabus, past examination papers, and other particulars from the Registrar of the Association, Mr J. H. Mackie, Auckland, or Mr. T.,A. Coleman, Gladstone road, Gisborne. Applications must, reach tlie Registrar not; later than Saturday’, 28th September, 1907.