Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3712, 23 December 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

Only one offender for drunkenness was in the lock-up last night.

Mow that Mr. O'Connor, lecturer for the National Provident Fund, has completed his work in Gisborne. Mr. Whiriray, of the P.O staff', will act as local agent in connection with the fund.

The long spell of delightful summer weather was broken yesterday. The morning broke bleak and windy, and several showers of rain fell both morning and afternoon. People had perforce to stay indoors, but a fairly large number of enthusiasts spent the morning on the Waikanae beach. “The Sands of Dee,” a beautiful phojto-play founded upon Charles Kingsley’s famous poem, was greatly admired at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night. The big attraction will be shown again to-night, when it will be supported by a number of new pictures, which are highly spoken of.

Mr. Bramwel! Booth, the new General of the Salvation Army, has promoted Colonel D. C. Lamb to the rank of Commissioner, and appointed him one of the Army's international secretaries for supervision of work in Canada, Newfoundland. Australia and New Zealand. He will continue to direct the emigration department, with which he has been associated for ten rears.

The spirit of C'hristmastide was abroad on Saturday, the town being thronged by crowds of people. The decorations and dressings in the shops were typical of the festive season, and business people report that trade is in a prosperous state, and that a good stamp of article is being inquired for, although a tightness in the money market is noticeable. This is mostmarked in that buyers are obtaining their goods on credit to a large extent

The bustle of the Christmas holidays is already making itself felt, so far as the steamer services are concerned. Saturday’s steamer from the South brought a large number of passengers, and continued her journey North with an increased list. Yesterday the Mokoia brought 111 saloon passengers and 3o steerage from Auckland, and the Tuatea took out close on 200 to take tlieir places. At Tokomaru a large number of passengers was taken aboard. The Mokoia met with a- stiff southerly, and did net arrive until 7 p.m. There will doubtless" be heavy booking by the Taka puna to-night. For their own convenience and that of the shipping office staffs, prospective passengers would he wise in booking as early as possible.

The directors of the Te Araroa Sheepfarmers’ Co-operative Trading Co., iVd., of Te Araroa, have decided to instVl the most up-to-cWte system to hantse their business Transactions, and wimt this object its view have placed aV order with rife local agent of the hVtiona! Cash Jvegister Company (Mi-VI. P. Lavin) for one of their : latest model multiple-dfrawer registers. IMr DavidYHawkins,/hotel, Tc Araroa, Williamjtm and Mathias, of Cape Runaway# Messrs Oates Bros., and H Snowinen, of Tokomaru Bay, have also placed orders for the latest model multiple-drawer register. Tit #mnd of the Cash Register bell fg/orv familiar to Gisborne shoppers Mis nearly all the Gisborne shops ain equipped with this wonderful inejimnic.il cashier. The following arof sffcne of the Gisborne storekeepers #wlu% have recently installed the A‘atest\ model register:— Arthur Rees. imm monger: Thos. Adams, bookseller %nd stationer; A. W. J. Mann, ehenltet and optician; Clare anr Sons, Lid., caterers; E. Chrisp :\j|d Son. nrasic warehouse; Robert jßobertson, nilircer and out-, fitter; JXlex. Thomsc®. nurseryman and sepsman ; D. S. Thompson, produce dfaler; J. Sea ley, vbreoer ; J. F. Pettiqf Masonic Hotel ; Sydney Mood-berry, fuiterer Olias. son, "fruiterer: and others.% Mr Lavin is leaving for Wellington,'but a post'll rq to the N.C.R. Co., 32 Cuba. Street, Wellington, will bring any Information desired.

Looking along Gladstone Road von will observe that nearly all foofstepsare tending in one direction, and finally enter into Melbourne Cash. There is so much to attract one and all to their establishment just now. as they have on show a most complete assortment of the smartest, prettiest, choicest- and most useful presents for Xmas and New Year.*

- The territorial Christmas holiday, tv® be from December, 25 to January SL •\- . -

• Second Lieutenants W. L. Coleman .nnd H. S. McLemon (Gisborne Mounted Rifles) have attained the rank of lieutenant.

“In the Aisles of the Wild/' a most beautifully pictured A.. 18. fonturG drama, will be repeated again at the Opera House this evening. A non-appearing first offender for drunkenness was fined 8s and costs Css) or 48 hours’ imprisonment at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. Mr John Townley, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, has been approached on the subject of fire-drill tor the Hospital and has agreed to consult liis deputies concerning the matter. \ A meeting of the committee of the A. and P. Association will be held on Saturday, January 4, when among the other matters discussed the question of holding a winter show next year ■will again be considered. At a special meeting of the Gisborno Licensing Committee held on Saturday there were present Messrs W. A. Barton, S.M. (chairman), Hepburn, teomervell and McLeod. On the application of Mr F. W. Nolan, a temporary transfer, in.respect of the Royal Oak Hotel was granted from Charles XichoJls to David Martin Wilson. The points obtained in the recent Territorial Coleman Squad competition, were as follow:—Machine Gun Section (Napier) Ist .Battalion 9tli! Regiment: —lnspection (maximum 84) 73, rifle exercise (72) 67, skirmishing (72) 54, musketry (72) 59; total (300) 253. D. Company (Gisborne) Ist Battalion 9th Regiment: 76, 61, 61, 54; total 252. C. Company (Napier) Ist Battalion 3th Regiment: 74, 53,' 54; total 232. The annual picnic of the Poverty Bay Scottish Society will be held in one of Mr E. M. Hutchinson’s pad- . docks at Waikohu on New Year’s Day. The train will leave the Gisborne railway station at 9.30 a.m. for Waikohu, returning at 4.35. Return fares have been fixed at 2s 2d each, and tea, milk, sugar and hot water will be provided free. The Society are organising the outing thoroughly, and it should prove a truly enjoyable affair. The following entries have been received for the New Zealand chess championship to be held in Nelson on December 26th :—Messrs Gyles (Westport), Sainsbury' (Gisborne), Dodds and Cole (Nelson), Severne (Canterbury), AY. F. Mason and James (AVellington), Hicks (Napier), Grierson (Auckland), Barnes and Kelling (Wellington Working Men’s Club)! The last two are uncertain starters. Mr. Sainsbury went South last evening. Our correspondent at Napier wires: Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P., has received a reply from the Minister for Railways in connection with his protest against the diversion of the sleepers intended for the East Coast railway. ! The sleepers are due to arrive at Napier on Monday, but instructions have been issued to deliver them at Stratford. The reply politely tells Mr Brown to communicate with the Minister for Public Works. A street collection was made on Saturday for funds for the new children’s home and the worthiness of the 1 object, together with the persistency of the collectors, resulted in a. goodly 1 sum being netted, the total being somewhere in the vicinity of £2O. The chief codec tors were Airs Scott and Air A\ r ebb. who had the able assistance of the Aliss Dempsey. Mrs Scott re- . ceivecl several promises of additional donations.

It is probable that a Bill will be introduced into Parliament next session giving power to the Auckland Harbor Board to undertake the construction of the AVhau canal, connecting TVaitemata and Alanakau harbors (says an Auck'and P.A. wire). The promoters have Afr AJassey’s verbal assurance that tlie sensme will receive his personal support. If the Bill is carried it is estimated that the ■work will be completed within four years from the present time.

A good story is going the rounds about a zealous advocate of the proposed Presbyterian Ladies’ College at Havelock North. His plan of campaign was to urge subscriptions as a tribute to the memory of a departed relative—child, sister, - or parent. But he horrified one good lady. “Are your parents dead?” said he. “A 7 es,” said she, “both dead.” “Oh!” said he, rubbing his hands with. delight, “that’s- splendid!” The lady says itwas the first occasion when evident pleasure was evinced at the death of her forbears.

The new rotary system of oil-boring is proving a success at Waihirere, where the depth is within 100 feet of that reached 'at Waitangi. In conversation with a “Times” reporter, Mr C. T. Williams said he was quite satisfied there was now no difficulty in putting down a well of 3000 ft or 4000 ft., and the Waihirere bore would have readied fully 2000 ft by now had it not been for the delay in procuring certain pumps from America. As showing the success of the rotary plant, he mentioned that they had sunk 800 ft in six weeks, and the well now stood at 1220 ft, Boring operations, however, were at present suspended pending the arrival of new pumps which are expected early next month. New parts are due to arrive early in the year, and Mr Williams anticipates no further trouble.

Edmond Thomas Harries, of Gisborne, butcher, has been adjudged bankrupt. In a statement filed with the Official Assignee (Mr J. Coleman), bankrupt states that from 1905 to 1910 ho was carrying on business as a butcher. During that time, while he was at first successful, he made some losses. His uusiness was ultimately purchased uy the Gisborne Meat Co., and ho round that he was a considerable amount behind. Messrs Williams and Kettle, with whom he had been dealing, put in various claims against him, amounting to £SOO. 'He considered that the correct amount due was about £2OO. The Gisborne Meat Co. recently obtained a judgment against him, and execution had been issued upon that judgment. He had, therefore, no alternative but to file. The assets in the estate are a a follow: 250 shares in the Gisborne Meat Co. £125, two horses. £2O, cash £1; total. £149. The liabilities amount to £238 18s. the unsecured creditors being as follow: The Gisbonie Meat Co. £3B 18s. Williams and Kettle £2OO.

r , Our Napier -correspondent wires: • The weather is threatening and cold with passing showers. Many visitors have already arrived here for the holidays. In consequence of the heavy summer traffic the office of the Union S.S. Co. will he open, this evening from 6.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. for the convenience of outward passengers by the Takapuna.

At Alessrs AVilliams and Kettle’s sale, held on Saturday, some 68 horses were yarded and a good sale resulted, hacks bringing from £1 15s to £lO 10s. A pair of bay mares sold for £34.

Following was the revenue received at the Custom. Hpuse during the past week: —Customs duties £1033'4s 9d, beer duty £153 ISs, light dues Ss 7d, shipping fees £1 2s; total, £IIBS 13s 4d.

On Saturday evening the Borough Engineer (Air. A. J. Paterson). and staff began operations in> repairing the Kaiti bridge, and excellent progress was made, traffic being suspended until 10 a.m. yesterday. Arrangements were made by Which tlie passengers and luggage from the ferry steamer Takapuna- were able to cross from the Kaiti side. The repairs will be continued for tlie next few days. A special general meeting of the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association was held on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of electing three members to tlie Committee. The nominees were Alessrs J. C. Field, C. G. Holdsworth, G. AA'. Humphreys, AA 7 . Peryer, O. R. Spragg and A. S. Waehsmann, and on a vote being taken Alessrs Field, Holdsworth and AYachsmann were chosen to fill the vacancies.

_ About this time last year (says tlie Napier “Telegraph”) many small boys succeeded in buying firearms and alniliunition with their savings, and soon after found themselves explaining their conduct to the Alagistrate, as it is illegal for children under 16 years of age to be in possession of firearms. As tradespeople who sell such arms to those under age are also liable, shopkeepers will he well advised to bear this warning in mind. Says a Home writer, under date November B:—“The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie’s claims to be considered real Scotch can no longer be contested. He has been accepted a member of the Scottish Clans Association of London, and to-morrow evening at the usual Lord Mayor’s banquet of the association will propose the toast of ‘The Imperial Forces.’ The High Commissioner is to pay official visits to Cardiff and Bristol next' week to inquire into the proper handling of New Zealand produce.” There was a large congregation at St. Paul’s Church, Kaiti, last evening, and a meeting was held after the service, Rev L. Dawson Thomas presiding, to discuss the proposal to provide. a clergyman to assist in the parish work at Kaiti. The matter was fully and enthusiastically discussed, and it was decided to leave the question of an appointment until the middle of January, when a further meeting will be held. .Meanwhile, a thorough canvass of Kaiti will be made. Rev. Air. Thomas told a : . “Times” reporter that an excellent response had been met with, and that it was confidently expected that, when the district was canvassed, tlie necessary assistance would be forthcoming.