Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4814, 11 March 1918, Page 4

Local and General

The sitting of the Native Land Court, advertised for the 20th inst. at Te Araroa. has been adjourned to the 9tli April next.

It was reported ill town on Saturdav that there was a bad slip on the ‘Motu-Opotiki road some miles from Motu and that a considerable length of the road had been carried a wav.

The actions and manner of a native armed with a shot gun in the Arakilii district have caused a little mild alarm among settlers .who hale communicated with the police m the matter. The man is said to be camping somewhere in the vicinity of the Ar a kill i station. Detective McLeod and Constable Morris will leave town this morning to look into the matter.

It is very gratifying to report that the Tuatea on finishing tender .ng operations last night was able to negotiate the river easily at dead low water. This is probably the first occasion for two years that su li ft thing has been possible. I lie travelling public, hotelkeepers, and others will he especially pleased u this happier state of affairs can be maintained.

A young married man named John Aston had a nasty spill from a mo-tor-cvcld ' late yesterday \afteimoon. He ‘was proceeding along Upper Stout Street at a slow pace when liis overcoat became entangled in the chain. The sequel was that the machine overturned on top of him and he sustained nasty flesh wounds above the right eye and on the forehead. Medical add was •.summoned, and it was found necessary to insert several stitches in the wounds. r lhe unfortunate young man is a motorcycle news runner engaged on the staff of the Times. Some extraordinary escapes from drowning on the part of stock during tlio recent flood are reported from the To Kanaka district. As alreadv reported on, a portion of Mr. Allan Booth’s dozen draught horses went into the river at high flood, but only one was drowned, some being found on one side and some on the other side. Mr. Marshall has to thank tho sagacity of one beast that he did not lose some if mot all bis cattle grazing on the old' racecourse. They went down into the /iver, but one of the animals ledjfithe . team back on to the high jgojtifmd. On Mr. Bousfield’s property three - old rams feeding amongst sa>Mie? maize which became inundated -were given up for lost, hut they have turned up safely again. As there was from three to four feet- of flood water in tho paddock, how they managed to save themselves is a mystery.

In these times, when supplies are so very uncertain, tlio man who will win out is the man who is able to buy in large quantities. Stocks of goods in New Zealand are being slowly but surely depleted, and the trader who buys in small quantities will assuredly be left. “The People’s Emporium” are taking no chances. When we know a line of goods is likely to he short we buy, and bu v heavily. This :policy we have followed out for the past thrqe years, and as a result we earryHhe best assorted stock in Gisborne. In many instances we can sell goods at tho old prices, but as wo have to replace our present stocks, wo find, on making inquiries, that the rises will bo very great. Surely there should be no necessity to emphasise the fact that to buy right you should, for youy own sake, buy now, and don’t forget when you aro buying that you. will get it cheaper” at “The People’s Emporium.*,

Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.. leaves for Wairoa this morning.

A sharp earthquake shock w a s felt in Gisborne at 1.40 this morning. Tile direction was apparently from north to south.

Mrs. M. McDonald, of Stout Street, lias been advised that her husband, Sapper M. McDonald, is returning to New Zealand, and will arrive this week.

On Saturday telephonic communication with Kaliukura and To Araroa was restored, temporary repairs having been effected. Communication between Port Awanui, East Cape and Rangitukia is still interrupted.

Wreckage from tlio ill-fated oil vessel is still coming ashore at different points along the coast. Our Tuparoa correspondent says that some large planks similar to those which- have landed at Tologa Bay may be seen along the beach between Whareponga and Tuparoa.

Mr Howie, Collector of Customs, has received the following message from Hie Minister for Marine, Mr G. , Allport : —“Notify Masters of vessels leaving for Napier that temporary light on Auckland rock buoy will be replaced on the 12th inst by original light showing flash eight tenths of a second, eclipse two tenths of a second.”

The hotels in town are enjoying heavy patronage at present. Tins is due to the fact that many country residents and country workers are remaining in town until conditions take up a little more in the more isolated districts. A leading hotelkeeper told a Times reporter last night that there was one vacant room in his establishment.

It will be remembered that at the last sitting of the Supreme Court here two juries disagreed as to their verdict in the trial of John S. Dods for alleged arson. After the second trial, his Honor ordered a further trial to be held at the sittings of the Court here, this month. The Registrar of the'Supreme Court. Mr W. A. Barton, has now been advised that the trial will not be proceeded with.

The cable news regarding the dismissal of Lord Jellicoe must have caused surprise in a good many circles, and even Air Lloyd-George’s admirers will be anxious to know the meaning of it all, but probably it will be of more immediate interest, to local residents to know that during this week Messrs C. Rosie and Co. are showing a fine lot of jerseys for boys and girls, from 4s Gd each*.

For some time past there has been a movement on foot for severing the Tologa Ba v riding from the Cook County and forming a new County. The matter will come up for consideration at the next meeting of the Cook County Council, when a notice of motion concerning this project- will be discussed. Hie name suggested for the proposed County is the Lawa County. Part of the procedure consists of obtaining the sanction of Parliament, and a Bill to this effect has been formed and will be published at the coming session.

The settlers in the Te Ivaraka district seem to have escaped fairb lightly in connection with the recent flood. As far as the crops- are concerned. t!ie maize suffered v.or.-t or all. Tor this state of affairs . the high winds were mainly responsible. Tlie maize that has fallen will now probably rot as a sequel to the flood water affVting the tips of the plants. But little pasture lias been harmed, and other damage to iarm properties consists chiefly Hi the wrecking of fences. As mentioned m Saturday’s issue, several br.dges and culverts were damaged.

A remarkable event is reported by Mr. E. W. Bousfield, of Te Karaka. who recently went overland to Hamilton, via Opotiki. He says that on his return journey, he that, in the interim, a very high tide had devastated a strip of the coast along the Oliiwa Ipirbor. What had a feu davs before been fine pasture for about half a mile from _ the beach had been completely spoiled by the action of an extraordinarily high tide. Hundreds of acres were affected. According to settlers in the locality it had proved to be the highest tide in the history of the settlement of the district.

A position not often met with has arisen in connection with an accused person who is awaiting trial at the Supreme Court on a charge of arson. It will be remembered that about a month or two ago Leonard Porter was charged at the Magistrate’s Court with arson and committed for trial. Owing to developments in his mental conduct, lie was admitted to the Avondale Mental Hospital. "While, in the eyes of the law, the accused presumed to be sane about the time the alleged offence was supposed to have been committed, yet the trial cannot be proceeded with" in his absence. M hat is to be done under the circumstances is a matter which will be left fo r the Judge to decide.

Motorists on the Coast are experiencing very considerable hardships at the present time. As a ease in point, Messrs. H. Paterson and DMellor had an unenviable time of it on Saturday, ’phones the Times correspondent. Something went wrong with the steering rod of their car and it came to a dead stop in the middle of the Tuparoa creek. Mr. Wilson Tatae in a waggon went to their aid, but the vehicle became overturned, and as a consequence one of bis horses was drowned and lies under the upturned waggon in the stream. For his part. .Mr. Tatae was luckv in escaping with a bad shaking. Altogether some nine town cars are held up on the Coast at the present time.

“The curse of this island,” remarked! Mr. E. W. Bousfield, of Te Karaka, to a Tinies reporter on Saturday, “is -going to bo the blackberry nuisance.” Air. Bousfield recently had a further opportunity of studying the nuisance as it- presents itself -in the Hot- Lakes district. He says that lie found t-liat an inoreasincr area is rapidly getting into the grip of this virulent curse. Aluch of the land affected is capable of being made highly productive. Air. Bousfield said that this district should benefit from the sad lesson that has befallen other* districts. In this distinct the blackberry nuisance ivas already gaining a big bold at, for instance, Te Reinga and Alaliia. '•lt would be a good thing,” he added, “if as much money were spent in eradicating blackberry In this Dominion as is spent in eradicating the übiquitous bunny.

Aluch interest has been shown in tlie display of autumn millinery and other seasonable ladies’ wear now being displayed at Aliss M. Neill’s. Aliss Neill placed her . orders early, and her buyers have secured for her a range of goods which must appejil to the good taste of ladies and find a ready sale. Ladies who desire to study the new designs and styles and liavo tlio benefit of an unrestricted' choice should call with as little delay as possible. Inspection is welcomed, and it will be deemed a pleasure to show you round. Apart from. the millinery, there is much that cannot fail to interest in the underclothing department, which is always well stocked with the choicest and daintiest underwear. By buying at Aliss Neill’s you get an article that is good in quality, fashionable in design, and low in the old corner and at E very body s.*

There has been somo delay in the distribution of the ballot boxes for the Bay of Plenty Licensing district election, which takes place to-morrow (Tuesday). The boxes should have been landed at Tokomaru Bay last Thursday, but were overlooked arid were carried on to Auckland. They were landed at the Bay yesterday and arrangements have been made for a special messenger to leave for Te Araroa with the boxes, delivering them at intermediate polling booths. In journeying overland to Hamilton, via Opotiki, recently, AH E. W. Bousfield. of Te ICaraka, waT impressed with the comparative scarcity of stock. It was very noticeable between, Opotiki and Rotorua that store stock was in short supply. Feed on the other hand was everywhere in over-abundance. Along the road some fine dairy herds were to be seen. In the Tauranga district, where a peculiar sickness affected cattle and sheep, stock was just now looking very well. It seemed that where settlers had olln-r and unaffected country they could keep their stock healthy by spelling them on it. Mr. Bousfield tld a Times reporter on Saturday that the Waikato itself is in great heai t, the crops and stock looking splendid—in fact, it had never looked better.

In the course of a letter to the N-Z. Times regarding the Waikaremoana scheme, Mr T. E. Fitzgerald says: —“Is it not reasonable to ask, before urging the Government to carry out the scheme, who are the owners of the lakes.'' Does the Crown ow r n the lakes? And, if riot, under what conditions can we harness the same? It appears to me that any agitation in favor of this scheme at the present time is calculated to cause serious mischief and embarrass the Government- until such time as the ownership is decided. Some few' months ago I read in the local papers that ail the Judges of the Native Land Court were to sit in Wellington to decide whether the Crown or the Natives owned the lake, I have not yet seen their decisions reported (if thev have made one). At the present Juncture and in the absence of the judged report it behoves us to be very _ caretui, otherwise we may unconsciously be playing into the hands of speculators.”

Splendid business was done at the Reel Cross shop on Saturday, the sum of at least £'2o9 6s 4d being taken. This amount is not final, and' there are one or two small amounts to be added. Of the amount mentioned £154 14s 9d was from donations made up of Hangaroa £7O 11s. Tiniroto £SO 6s 9d. Peiiiri £33 17s. The districts in charge were jjinirotlo, Hangaroa, M aerenga-o-kuri. and Pehiri. The results of the day were even more creditable when it is remembered that many of the ladies had to travel long distances over bad roads. Some could not come for this reason, but they sent donations. The committee wishes to thank Mesdarnes White and Kenway, who kindlv helped by contributing goods and assisting in making arrangements; Mrs. Ellmers for morning tea: also Messrs. Redstone and Sons and Francis and Lougher, who carried goods gratis for the shop. The following were in charge of the various stalls: —Cakes, Mesdarnes Yeitc-h and Richardson ; small goods, Mrs. Jeffrey and Miss Mossman: sweets. Miss Mae Ka y; flowers. Misses Stafford (2) and Harris (2): vegetables. Mrs. Ellmers ; meat. Mesdarnes Glassford . and Whiteley. and Mr. Cravforth: jumble. Miss Helen Moric-e: work. Mesdarnes Thomas and JVillock.