Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3995, 28 July 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

The monthly moating of the Harbor Board takes place to-day.

“To Right the Wrong,” a bold story of revenue men and smugglers, will he repeated bv Rathe Pictures at His Majesty’s Theatre to-niglit. *

To a “Times” reporter on Saturday, Dr. Collins stated that he knewnothing regarding- a rumor in the Matawai district to the; effect that he had. been appointed public vaccinator f r the Motu district. There was no truth in the report.

A quantity of correspondence is held over. ,

The following was the revenue received at the Custom House last week:—Customs duties £761 16s sd; beer duty £63 13s; light dues 4s 2d; salo of oysters £5 12s; total £B3l 6s 7d.

The following have 'booked by Messrs J. R. Redstone and Sons’ coaches, leaving this morning:—For Wharorata: Mrs Paviour and child and Mr Crosby. For Tologa: Messrs Park and Fitzgerald.

The conference between the Borough Council and the various sports bodies of the town regarding the fencing and management of the Cheldef’s Road Reserve, will take place at the Borough Council Chambers at 7.30 o’clock this evening.

A subject that should urcatly interest the novel-loving section of the community is set down for a debate at St. Andrew’s to-night. Mr P. Bushnell will defend the negative and Mr E. Yowles the affirmative of the question, “Is the modern novel decadent?” A very instructive meeting should terminate in close voting.

A misconception exists among footballers as to the name of the sub-union which consists of the Waipaoa, Whatatutu, and Puha clubs, and whose headquarters are at Te Karaka. In Gisborne the sub-union is generally called the Mangatu Sub-Union, but this is quite erroneous, for the district, to be rightly named, should be called the Waikohu Sub-Union.

The mildness that has been experienced during the present winter is evidenced by the wav a large number of the trees throughout the district are showing signs of greenness. This is particularly noticeable in connection with the willows that are planted along the county roads and on the river banks, many of the trees being Well advanced in leaf. The early fruit trees, too, are, .in a great number'of orchards, covered with b’ossoms, and orchardists are somewhat exercised over the possibility of a storm being encountered at the present juncture, which would practically ruin the early fruit crop.

General satisfaction is expressed at the recommendation made to the Government by the Forestry Commission in its report to the House of Representatives with reference to Lake Waiknremoana. Among other things, the Commission has recommended the reservation for scenic purposes of Waikaremcana from the water to sky line and the afforestation of large areas < f volcanic plateau, especia.ly near Taupo. It will be remembered that a movement was initiated some time ago by the Napier Chamber of Commerce, and strongly supported by the Wairoa Chamber and the County Council, with a view to the above matters being (riven effect to.—“Wairoa Guardian.”

The rains that fell during the early portion of last week occasion :d a slight fresh in the Waipaoa river, but the waters are now back again at a very low level. An old resident of the district stated reeent'y that so far as lie can remember there is less water in the river at the present time than at any time previous during the winter season. It is owing to- last summer’s drought and the very light subsequent rainfall that the present state of affairs is due. The men engaged in loading gravel from the bed of the stream at Kaiteratahi are no doubt well satisfied with the conditions of things, for they have been able to work the stream practically without interruption right up to the present time

At Te Karaka on Saturday a Native, who appeared to be an ardent worshipper of Bacchus, and whose frequent visits to the shrine added to rather than distracted from the eloquence that is natural in the Maori race, threw some new and interesting sidelights on the vaccination question. After reviewing the spre'ad of the epidemic and the precautions taken to prevent its.obtaining a held amongst the Maori people, he gave as his opinion that the forbidding of tmvaccinated Maoris to travel was one of the finest tilings that had happened in recent times, and he cl inched bis argument by saying, “The Government say tile -Maori no travel unless lie vaccinated the fine tiling. The Maori ho get full the waipiro and kick up the row. Next day the Court fine him ten hob but he no pay. He no go to gaol because lie not vaccinated and can’t trave 1 . By korry that’s the fine regulation.”

Country residents no doubt appreciate very highly the present very satisfactory statu of the roads in the Cock and Waikohu Counties. General's* speaking, the different roads are

in exceptionally good order, and would compare quite favorably with the thoroughfares in other counties of the Dominion where a better class of metal than there is tiffs district is more easily obtainable. It has been stated that never before in the whiter time have such pleasant conditions prevailed in.the country districts. The main road out hack which runs through Te Karaka is almost without a blemish after getting away from the borough boundary, while the road to Wairoa across the Poverty Bay flats is also in a very fair condition.

Laxity on the part of the Government departments in connection with the receipt of search fees was the subject of comment at the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland last week. A witness stated that he frequently paid search Sees to the Native Lands Office, but had never been called upon to sign a book, nor had ho ever been given a receipt for the amount paid. The magistrate (Mr. C. C. Kettle) considered this state of affairs scandalous, as no trace could be kept of the amounts paid in, and tho country might lose pounds of revenue each year. A solicitor appearing in the case remarked that some laxity existed in connection with the search fees paid into the court officers, whereupon the Magistrate voiced the opinion that the sooner such matters were brought before the Ministers of the Crown the better it would be for the country.

A few relics of past crimes are to bo seen in a case in the office of Mr. J. Cullen, Commissioner oil Police (says the “Wellington Post”). For the most part they arc revolvers, one or two of which have taken toll of human life. One of the “nuns” is a particularly ferocious-looking weapon of large calibre, which, in the hands of a desperate man, could easily have been responsible for many shocking tragedies. Two of the firearms are of obsolete pattern, and were associated with crimes'which will he remembered by only the older generation. The case also contains a number of revolver cartridges of! different sizes, taken from the pockets of criminals. There is in addition a razor with which a murder was attempted, the crime sending its perpetrator to gaol for a life sentence. One exceptionally gruesome exhibit is a flattened bullet which had lodged.in the brain of a victim of a murder in South Canterbury. Several specimens of counterfeit* coins are also included in the collection. The original intention of exCormissioncr Dinnie was to establish a museum on the same lines as the one at Scotland Yard,. but the scheme was never fulfilled in its entirety.

A most acceptable present for a lady friend can now ‘be procured at M. Neill’s, who lias just opened up a large set of samples in linen drawn thread work. The variety consists of doyleys, tray cloths, runners, duchess sets and supper cloths. Come early before the best have gone.—M. Neill, fashionable ladies’ draper, Gladstone Road.*

A mooting of the Gisborno No-Lic-onse League will bo hold at 7.39 o’clock to-night in the Methodist class rooms, Bright Street.

A memorial meeting in honor of the memory of tho late T. E. Taylor will be held at St. Andrew's Schoolroom this evening.

A committee of the Hospital Board paid a visit to the new Hospital on Saturday, and conferred with regard to tho laying out of the grounds. The monthly meeting of the Scottish Society will be held this evening, when an attractive programme of vocal and instrumental selections will be submitted.

The conference between the Borough Council and tho Fire Board, to discuss the jiroposed lease of the site for a fire station, will be resumed this afternoon.

A meeting of the Women s Christian Temperance Union will be held this evening in the Wesleyan Schoolroom. To-day will be observed in the Union as the' “T. E. Taylor Memorial Day.”

For the year ended 30th June, Wairoa imported— through the \\airoa harbor a10ne— 1,253,906 feet of timber. General good, coal, chaff, grass seed, and oat-s constituted a record, also in exports, wool, skins, hides, flax and tow.

The exports of frozen meat from Gisborne for the six months ended June 30 were as follows: —Mutton 12,044,706!bs; lamb, 3,602,0821b5; beef, 4,647,6931b5. The figures for Tokomaru Bay for tho same period were:— Mutton, 4,007,8561bs ; lamb, 1,268,533 bs ; beef. 854,2781b5; total for the district, 25,425,208ibs

A Gisborne father of seven children last week called in the aid of a private medical practitioner, and had the whole of his family vaccinated, paying the doctor 7s Cd per head, or rather per arm. It has -now been discovered that in only one case has the vaccination been successful, and father is wondering whether the medical man will see the matter through in one fee or whether lie will be called on to pay again.

Mr. Lloyd Williams, Government Orchardist, crave the pupils of Makauri School a most interesting and instructive demonstration on Friday afternoon in spraying and. pruning fruit trees. He exp’ained tile right proportions of the various ingredients to use for spraying purposes, and showed the children how to mix the preparation. A valuable object lesson in pruning was also given by Mr. Williams. The children were very mu:h interested, and will doubtless take more interest in their gardens after this lecture.

Edenham, one of the finest properties on the Southern Hawke’s Bay coast, consisting of about 3500 acres of rich heavy land, has just changed hands. The buyer, Mr Oscar Nilssen, of Ardkeen, Wairoa, intends to make Ids home there and break up all the ploughaole land. These are the kind of settlers who are welcome to Hawke's Bay, as good judges estimate that the property can be made to produce twice its present output by active up-to-date-operations such as the Nilssen family have established a reputation for in the Wairoa. district. —“Guardian.”

The Native population in the country districts are evincing the keenest desire to eomplv with the Health authorities’ regulations in connection with being vaccinated. At Te Kara'ka on Saturday Dr. Wi Repa had a busy time endeavoring to satisfy all the applicants for vaccination, and the treated ones showed to their unino - culated brethren, with. a certain amount of pride, tTie visible evidence of having undergone the operation. The short supp'v of lymph is creating a certain amount of dissatisfaction among these whose business emails the necessity of travelling, but generally speaking the Maori population arc taking a commonsense view of the situation, and are patiently waiting their time to bo innoculated.

During the past few years the export of dairy produce from the Auckland province has been increasing bv leaps and bounds, and the increase is expected to be maintained in the future. A decided disadvantage has been experienced in the past in that the butter from Auckland has had to be sent from Onehunga to V ellington for transhipment to the Home-going boats leaving that port. The superfluous handling of the butter occasioned by this.system will during, the coming export season, which starts about September, be a thing of the past, for tho New Zealand Shinping Companv and the Shaw Savill Company have decided to ship the fortnightly butter cargoes direct to their big steamers at Auckland instead of sending the produce to Wellington for transhipment.

While on a recent visit to the Bay of Islands, prosecuting inquiries in connection with his forthcoming book on “The Treaty of Waitangi,” Mr T. Lindsay Bujck was shown some early records of the Dominion which are in charge of the Anglican Church authorities at Paihia. Other records of a still earlier date are in charge of the church at Waimate, and as there is always a possibility of these documents being destroyed by fire, Mr. Buiok, on his return to Wellington, suggested to the Government, through Mr. Hamilton, of the Dominion Museum, that either photographs or transcripts of these records ought to bo made so that the information concerning the early families of the colony might be preserved. The Government at once communicated with the Diocesan Committee at Auckland with a view to this being done, and that body having given its consent, copies will he made in due course.

The Ahuriri surf-boat was working tlie beach at Mohaka on Saturday week when a sailor named MacDonald was thrown out in the surf and the boat bumped him inflicting pelvic injuries. He was carried to Mohaka Station, and attended to by Mrs Mclver, Mr Stagpoole and others, till Dr Somerville arrived by car, when he ordered him to the hospital. The sea was rough and they could not board the boat. Mr. Oldham therefore obtained Mr Frost’s horses, and in his own express with the help of Mr Stagpoole and Mr Boyle conveyed the sufferer to Wairoa. Dr. Somerville went on ahead but the ear got stuck, but they pulled him out and made the pace. It was dark and rainy at the start of the journey. They arrived at the hospital at 11. The patient suffered a good deal o n the journey. Messrs Stagpoole and Boyle were a groat help to Mr Oldham, who made record time. The accident occurred in a calm sea early on Saturday-morn-ing, Imt it became rough later. During last week the cold snap must have taken good effect upon our ‘‘office hoy,” because as a rule he always seems to have soma load on his mind. He seems to have quite got rid of the trouble and come right out of his shell, as the other day he walked right into the boss’s room and demanded a penny for a poet’s license. The Bess, that is. “Square Deal Jones,” could not make him out at first, and quietly asked him if he had not made a mistake—was it not a sharebroker’s or laud agent’s license, hut he stuck to hie guns, and said it was a poet’s license he wanted. To pacify the little chap, “Stand Alone Jones” secured him one, and this is the result:—Don’t miss the opportunity, your duty don’t delay till to-morrow or the future far away, for if you’re on the spot, and half a chance you’ve got, grasp “JONES’S” special offer—don’t delay.*

""No definite date (says our Parliamentary reporter) has yet been sot down for tne promised discussion in the House of Representatives upon the report of the Forestry Commission. In any case, the report wdi not come up for discussion until the Financial Statement has been dealt with.

Vital statistics for the four main centres for the month of June shows that in Auckland there were 178 births, in Christchurch 140 Wellington 130, and Dunedin 122. The deaths were: Auckland 69, Wellington 46, Christchurch 72, Dunedin po.

During a discussion in the the member for Hawke’s Bay, Mr H. p M. Campbell, said two valuable liquors imported into the country were champagne and brandy, and he thought that the duty on them should be reduced or abolished. Mr Isitt combated this contention, remarking that whatever the value of brandy might be.for medicinal purposes there was no possible reason for reducing the duty on eliampagne, which was by no means a poor man’s drink.

Our Parliamentary reporter wires that the proposal to constitute a Board of Agriculture will take definite shape almost immediately. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) has been asked to deliver An address at the opening of the annual conference of the Agricultural and Pastoral societies on Wednesday next regarding the Board before the delegates attending the conference. On that occasion the Prime Minister intends to offer the A. and P. Societies some representation upon the Board or Agriculture. As has been already indicated, there is a probability that the position of Chairman of . the Beard may be offered to Mr J. G. Wilson.

Some excitement was caused about 7 o’clock on Saturday morning through* the roof of the bLasksmith’s shop at tho borough yards being observed to lie on fire. The outbreak was first noticed by some of the employees at the power house. The hose from the car barn was brought into requisition. and the flames were quickly got under. In the meantime the Fire Brigade had been called up. and th-w were promptly on the scene in t'i% motor tender," bit* by the time the# arrived the fire had been supnressed. As the forge had not been lighted on Saturday morning when the fire started, it is surmised that it must have been smouldering all night. The eh* - trie motor which drives the hallows was badly damaged. It is estimated that the damage done amounts to about £ls, which is covered by insurance in the South British office.

When the Kowhai was standed at Otago Heads some time ago, the mechanical appliances of the Otago Harbor Board proved invaluable in enabling the steamer to be got off the beach and brought into dock at Port Chalmers (says' the “Otago Daily Times”). For its services the board made a claim on the Union Company of £ISOO, but, owing to representations made by the company, the board decided to reduce its claim t-o £-500. The company, however, is now communicating with the hoard asking, that this amount be still further reduced, and the application will come up for consideration at the next monthly meeting of the board.

Speaking at Christchurch on Sunday (says the “Press”) on ‘'Responsibility of Fatherhood.” Lady Stout said that much attention had been paid during recent years to the responsibilities of motherhood, and great stress had been laid on the necessity for training girls to hear the duties of wife and mother. In the speaker’s opinion, however, sufficient attention had not been paid to the necessity for fitting men to" fulfil their obligations as fathers. The father’s sens* of responsibility needed awakening in three departments. In the first place, he needed to he reminded o? his responsibility to his children. His obligation did not cease when he had provided them with clothes, _ shelter, and education. The father’s influence should not he confined within foOT walls, hut the children had to be patented when they went out to face the temptations of the world. If the fathers did their duty in this respect, the white slave traffic and many other social evils would soon disappear. Fathers needed reminding, too, of their duties as citizens. They had to pay heed to municipal reform and to make their towns cleaner and healthier for their children. What was needed in men was a healthv bodv, a healthy mind, and a pure heart. These had been demanded in mothers, but tinideal home-life would not he readied until both men and women were equal in this respect.