Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3873, 9 March 1915, Page 4

Local and General

The Ma'karaka-Matawhero Gus Club are holding a £3O open handieap'shoot at Makaraka on Easter Monday, particulars of which will be advertised later, or may be seen on tlie posters.

The hotels throughout the Gisborne electorate will be closed from noon until 7 p.m. to-day, on account of the Licensing election. This does not affect the hotels in the Bay of Plenty electorate, where no election is taking place.

“The Adventures of Miss Tomboy, a riot of mirth by the Yitagraph Company, in which that prince of comedians, John Bunny, has a part in which he fairly revels, will be screened for the last time by Bathe Pictures at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night.

Francis Dempsey failed to appear at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning to answer an application by his wife, for whom Mr. Kirk appeared, for separation and maintenance orders. The preskiing magistrate (Mr. It. S. Florence, S.M.) granted a separation order, giving petitioner the custody of the child, and ordered defendant to nay ;C'l 10s per week towards his wife’s upkeep.

V man named Frederick Barton appeared before Mr. It. S. Florance. S.M.. at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and pleaded nor guiltv to a charge of drunkenness on Sunday. After ‘ hearing the evidence of the police, and as this was the third lapse within the past six months. Iris Worship sentenced the accused to ten days’ imprisonment, and issued a prohibition order against him.

An adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of Robert Robb, wood and coal merchant, was held yesterday afternoon. One tender was received for the nurchase of the schooner Elsie Mary, but the price was deemed too low, and it was not accepted, the disposal of the vessel being left in the hands of a committee. It was mentioned that an effort was being made to dispose of the 100 shares in the Waipa colliery.

Considerable interest is being manifested- in the triennial election of a Licensing Committee for the uisborne district, which will be conducted today. Foiling commences at 9 a.m. and will close at G p.m. The same roll as was employed at the general election will be used. The following arc the candidates in the field:—Robert Johnston, John Somervell, D. W. Coleman, J. C. Collins, D. J. Barker, A. S. Wachsmann, T. Jex-Blake, W. L. Clayton, and! A. FI. Wallis.

Commissioner Cullen, who left for Wairoa at 11 o’clock yesterday morning, spent a couple of hours yesterday morning looking into departmental matters at Gisborne. In conversation with a reporter prior to his departure. the Commissioner, of Police stated that the need of more police was being felt in many parts of New Zealand." The shortage of men was not due to the war, as members of the force wore not permitted to enlist. Hundreds were willing to enlist for service at the front', but in view of the limited supply of men it was deemed best not to grant permission.

Messrs. A. M. Lewis and Son report that they have been appointed sole district agents for the famous English Sunbeam car. The firm are already landing stocks of spare parts, not only for the Sunbeam, but for another two new light car agencies which they have secured, namely, the Caltliorpe and Metorite. * •

, TJio famous Taranaki oil wells are situated on this mission property, and for the first time royalties have been received.

Rev. W. T. Mas!in has tendered his resignation as a minister of the Methodist Church, and the resignation has been accepted.

The s.s. Rosamond, which arrived from Auckland, via Tola go Ray. yesterday afternoon, brought several tons of rails for the Public Works Department for use on the Gisborne-souttb-wards railway.

In receiving the reports and balancesheets of the various mission properties vested in the Methodist Church, a unique aud interesting item of income was noticed in the Grey Institute balance-sheet. New Plymouth, viz., £lO 11s 10d, royalty on oil. “King in Name Alone”, the chief attraction at the Opera House, will be finally screened this evening. This magnifient production is 4000 ft . ig and unfolds a great and stirring drama of state.

In connection with the recent Kaiti tragedy, Mr J. R. Kirk, solicitor lor Mr Samuel English, in whose hou.se the tragedy took place, has been advised that inquiries are being made by the Minister for Justice, who tfdt decide early on the question as to whether the inquest shall be allowed to to re-opened or not.

Staff-sergeants Williams (transport sergeant), TVfte (bugler), and Scott, ox the oth Regiment, will leave by next Sunday’s steamer to attend the annual training camp of the Napier Company of the regiment. 'I he cam)) is to bo held on the Napier racecourse, and will commence on the 13th mst. It was stated in evidence by Mr G. G. Hodgkins, deputy chief electoral officer, during.the hearing of the_Taninarunui election petition at Te Kuiti that there was no provision in the Electoral Act for appointing a substitute 'to a registrar of electors if that officer fell ill. The Electoral Department encountered this experience during the recent election at Tanmarunui, when the registrar broke down in health shortly after the taking of the poll.

A Pahiatua resident, who has returned from a brief visit to Hawke- s Bay, states that the recent sharp frost experienced was ruinous to tomato crops, cucumbers and other vegetables, while even flower gardens suffered extensively. One man with several acres of 'tomatoes was engaged in the dispiriting occupation of. digging up the blackened plants, which were in full crop, and heaping them up for burning. There will he a limited supply of tomatoes for the market from Hawke’s Ray, and the price in consequence was going up.

During the month of January last 137,810 carcases of mutton. 296,430 carcases of lamb. 45,622 quarters of beef. 339 carcases of pork, 138.08] boxes of butter, 85,123 crates of cheese, 87,393 bales of wool, crates of rabbits, 683 bales of } and 1209 cases of kauri gum were exported from New Zealand to Great Britain. This shows a big falling-off compared, with the f.gnn - ‘or the same month, for 1814. which were as follows:—-231.760 cariWs of mutton, 464,185 carcases of h mb, 30,424 quarters beef, 33 < arcr.> ]>ork, 10<>.492boxes butter, 130,086 cnites cheese, 108.742 bales woo], 500 sacks oa-tfi, 2851 crates rabbits, 15,234 bales hemp, 4306 bales tow, and 11,133 cases kauri gum.

0 .emp,

Mr. B. M. Wilson, general manager of the Tourist Department, accompanied by Mrs. Wilson, is at present^paying a. visit to Gisborne. Mr. Wilson has just paid visits of inspection to Lake Waikaremoana and More re Hot •Springs, and leaves to-day to inspect Te Puia Hot Springs. Speaking to a. pressman yesterday, he was enthusiastic in his praises of La'ke Waikaremoana as a tourist resort. Mr. Wilson also spoke very highly of Morere, pointing out that if the hot springs and beautiful scenic reserve were only near a centre of population they would attract thousands of people. He stated that he had made arrangement'- ior tlie eradication of blackberries at- Morere, and on his return to Wellington would endeavor to get the Department to fence the hush in order to prevent destruction by cattle.

Dairy farms have a danger to guard against which lias nrobably not entered into their calculations. Recently two cows belonging to Mr Earl, of Belvedere (Carterton), died from some mysterious cause, and Hubbard, stock inspector, was asked to make an investigation. The symptoms pointed to poisoning, and after looking for any indication of where and how the cows could tret at poison. the inspector <-oncluded that they had got it by licking the paint off a newly-painted wheelbarrow. The stomachs of the animals have been sent to "Wellington for analysis. and the result will ho interesting. It seems that in other cases paint has proved fatal to stock, in one instance a farmer losing five thathad licked the paint off a fence. It would evidently be a wise pereaution to keep cows away from any place where painting improvements are going on.

A few days ago, a little lad of diminutive stature picked up what looked like a dirty piece of jxiper on the Kaiti, at the corner of Hirini Streetand Wainui Road, and handed it to another boy. Just then Mr J. H. Bull, headmaster of the Kaiti School, came along, and,' on examining the soiled piece of paper, discovered to his intense surprise that it was a £SO bank note. On inquiries being made at the local banks, it was found that the note belonged fo a local resident, who had reported its loss. Restitution was made, much to the relief of the owner. The sequel occurred yesterday when the headmaster of the Kaiti School had the pleasure of handing to the lad who found the note a Bank pass book •showing <a credit of £4 10s, and also delivering a shining half-sovereign to the hoy to expend immediately in honor of the event. The little rellow, whose honesty thus started him out- early in life on the road to fortune, is one of a family of nine, the eldest of whom is 13.

"When the U.S.S. Co.’s cargo steamer Rosamond had just about finished discharging cargo at Tologa Bay early yesterday morning, a link in iho cable of the main anchor parted and the ship slipped her anchor. 'This occurred about 2 a.m., and Captain Stewart dragged l for the lost anchor until about- 11 a.m. yesterday, and then decided to give up the search and come on to Gisborne. Speaking to a “Times” reporter last night, Captain Stewart, stated that he would have continued the search longer had he-not had such a heavy cargo for Gisborne. Ho knew about where the lost anchor lay, and on liis next trip would bring a. proper boat drag and locate the anchor with that, as dragging with tlio .steamer was a slow process, as it- took so long to bring the-ship about even if the anchor was touched. A report was received from Tologa Bay yesterday that the Rosamond had dragged her anchor and had gone ashore in the bay but Captain Stewart stated! that nothing so sensational had occurred. Even tlie last lighters from Tologa Bay did not know why the ves-se-l was cruising about, and were quite unaware that' the Rosamond had lost her anchor. “She did not go ashore, and is good for many a year yet,” he smilingly remarked t.e the pressman last night. Mr. J. W. J. Preston, local manager for the Union Company, also contradicted the statement that the Rosamond had been aground.

Engagements and •weddings are ; making Gisborne famous.! Grieve,' jeweller, specialises in engagement rings. Wedding rings made to order in. 60 minutes if necessary.*

The Makaraka Gun Club are organising a big £3O clay pigeon match for Easter Monday, particulars of which will be issued shortly.

An Ota-ki dairy factory manager states that while on a trip to Wellington recently he had seen 30,000 crates of cheese stored in refrigerating chambers there owing, to inability to get them shipped.

The red grouse is the only bird that is absolutely British. Mr. Richard Kearton claimed so in.- a lecture in London. It cannot be found in any other part of the world, and, he assured the audience, amid laughter, it has refused to live in Germany.

Perjury was committed* on one .-ido or the other, said the magistrate v ho (reports the Auckland: “Star ) heard ' charge of assault at Coromandel on Wednesday. A lot of Maori witnesses said the defenda'nt pointed a loaned gun at a Maori woman, and the defendant’s witnesses swore that he only had a manuka stick m his hand. Ihe magistrate instructed the police to look further into the matter.

'{’wo monkevs, which had ema p<-d from captivity, created excitement m Svmends street, Auckland, on Jhiiis.dav evening. One of them stole a cucumber from a fruiterer s shpp. ami the pair then took refuge on a verandah, forth which they defied ad e.iorts to effect a capture. Later m the evening they were still at Jaige. mm U tr> the annoyance of residents m 'mat leality. who obiected to having to close their windows. The monkeys were HcatfKl to bo owned by <x resident, then on holiday.

That Dutchmen make'great pioneer* has alwavs readily been acceded, out. lew people are aware of the jealousv which existed between the Dutch and English in respect to their colour- mg efforts. Commissioner Hodder mentioned the subject at the reception in Straford fast week (says the "Post. ') Some rears ago, lie said he visitmj Holland,• and at that-time there was no very good feeling ior the Lng.i.di there. Indeed the Dutch were fond of saying that England had taken all the possessions which should belong to Holland—namely, Australia, Airk-a, India and Xew Zealand. During last season an amenoim nt was made to the Licensing Act. providing that wine shall not be manufactured for sale, except under the authority of a wine-makers license, which can he obtained through tne clerk of the nearest Magistrate .* Court. Wine is taken to include any liquor being the product of fruit otlmr tiian apples or pears grown m New Zealand-, and of a strength not exceeding 4 per cent, of proof spirit. The fees are on a scale from £2 to £lO. i j A champion amongst mean peoplehas been found in Auckland. A ina- • c-iiinist, while engaged in changing • needles in her machine in a, local inetory, put the disengaged needle in her -mouth for a moment, and swallowed 1 it-. This was at 10 o’clock in the fore- ! noon. She worked on _ until dinyerj time, when she. suffering some dmj comfort, went to the hospital at 2 I p.m. for treatment. The X-rays j showed the needle to be lodged in !m r j throat, and it was at once removed. • When she returned to work later in the day. her employer deducted om* day’s pay from her wages ror oeinx awav from her work!

An extraordinary freak of nature is reported by a correspondent of the “Stratford Post"’ as follows:- —Mr Charles E. Major, of Denbigh Road, Midhurst, had a curiosity in the form of a calf born on his place recently, when a cow calved a dead calf, the peculiarities of which were that- the calf had no eyes, no nose or nostrils, and no solid bones in its bodv except in the legs. It had a bulldog’s mouth and a very strong prominent under jaw (just like a bulldog’s) showing teeth about 24 or 3 inches long. The tail was only auout ii to 3 inches long, the legs were properly formed, but uie hoofs were exceptionally large. The calf was strawberrv in color.

The annual report of the Wellington Law Society states that there are 2 solicitors practising in the Wellington district, which is an increase of four over last year's figures. Nine of these, however, joined, the army, and so will he absentees during the ensuing year. 1 he number of solicitors practising m tlie Dominion (including, however, those who have joined tlie armv) at the end or 1914 was 1060 —an ' increase of -54 over last vear’s returns. Twenty-four applicants' in the Wellington district have been admitted abarristers or solicitors, or both, since the last annual report—viz., six barristers and solicitors. 11 as solicitors, and seven practising solicitors were admitted as barristers. The number admitted the previous vear was 41.

During the sitting of the Election Court at Te Kuiti on Friday, Mr Justice Chapman remarked on the strange fact that while the King Country was a “dry area” of a special kind.' a licensing poll was taken there everv t ‘B ee years (reports the Auckland Herald ). Mr Finlay, one of the counsel in the case: "Dry !>v proclamatin your Honor. There are*.hotels in the electorate, though—for instance in Waitara. If we vote no license, we wipe out those hotels 1-30 miles away. Then tlie national issue is a ptential issueo here.” Mr Justice chapman: “Certauly. but. you could not vote hotels into the district. " Mr 1 inlay : “No. Ihe only wav we could —ct hotels would be by special legislation, and we have been trying for it for years and have not got it yet.”