Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4816, 13 March 1918, Page 4

Local and General

Rates for the year 1917-18 for the Borough are coming in steadily, and of the £35,167 struck for the year, £33.624 has been collected.

It was reported uy the Borough Engineer at last nigut's meeting of the Council that during the past fortnight- five building permits had been issued, the total value being £572 10s.

At a meeting of the Presbytery at Christchurch yesterday, there* was a discussion regarding conscientious objectors. A motion was carried ‘ That the Presbytery linjke representations to the Cabinet in regard to the position of Presbvtdrian objectors on the matter of compulsory military service.” A committee was set up to draft a letter of protest to the Government.

Tramway returns as laid by the Borough Engineer before the Council last night, showed the revenue for the fortnight to be £6-5 4s 7d- The wages amounted to £37 15s 2d in that period and the power expenses were £ll 4s lOd. The number of passengers carried was 9747 and the mileage was 10S0.

In the course of his report to • the Borough Council last evening, tlio Borough Engineer, Air A. Slinger, referred to the conditions of No. 1 and No. 3 cars. He stated that No 1 had been re-assembled, two new wheels and two old ones being usedThe cells had been replaced and wiring readjusted; also slight alterations had been made for removing cells for repairs and cleaning. That car required extensive overhaul to the frame. The re-placed wheels were not in a satisfactory conditions but with care might be used in tlie meantime. Car No 3 was in for inspection; new brake shoos had been fitted and several leads insulated; also windows replaced and cells cleaned.

An' application for a license for a Maori boardinghouse was received at the meeting of the Borough Council -last evening. Writing on behalf of Mrs Cooper Rangiuia. Messrs Ivane and Dunlop said that the boardinghouse would he carried on by her in the upstairs or ground floor of the building in Lowe street known as Dunlop’s buildings. The premises were originally built for the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Club and a license was required for two rooms to accommodate each four beds, and one large room to accommodate 15 beds. There was also a public dining room and ample kitchen accommodation. The house was intended for the use of Maori lodgers, whose custom was against the use of separate . rooms. The Alavor said the matter was opposed to the Borough by-laws. Tlie application was referred to the Sanitary Committee with power to act.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board has approved of a suggestion to pay Mr F. J. Rowley £2O for services at technical classes at Gisborne.

An Order-in-Council has been Gazetted consenting to the raising by the Cook County Council of a loan for '£4500 for metalling in the PatutahiHangaroa special rating district.

Jlie next Gazette Extraordinary, calling up accretions to the . First Division *and to Clasps A, Second Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, is to be published on the 26tii in.st.

\ Press Association telegram f.om Auckland says:—'Hie Defence Minister to-night presented eight Military Medals and two D;Stingu shed Conduct Medals, all hut one D.C.M. being posthumous awards.

Silver-mounted hand-crocheted peggy Bags are most fashionable. Grieve, jeweller, is making a special display of these goods, and i s also showing a splendid assortment of separate mountings, including expanding tops, which have been very hard to procure.*

‘ Poverty Bay business transacted at the last meeting of the Hawke s Bay imnd Board included the granting of the following applications for land: .Section 4, Town of Mahia O rood 30.2 perches), cash, R. _ Bartlett. Waipiro 6A2 and 4J2 (97 ano 2 roods 33 perches), yearly, Sidney Haig.

Some idea of the rainfall on the To Altai watershed during the recent storm was given to the Borough Council last evening, when, m the course of his report, tne Borough Eilrrjuqqr stextdid that the j’Siiirali tjoai March 1 to March 7 was 9.16 inches. For the month of February it was only 3.33 inches.

At a sale of thoroughbreds at Mrs M* A. Perry’s homestead, Ctarora. Hawke’s Bay, on Saturday, two purchases of blood-stock were made . by Sir James Carroll. He., acquired. Ladv Atboline, b.m. by Goal Reel (imp)—Atholine. for 36 guineas, ano Thebes, br.f. two years. Demosmenes —Stressa (imp), for 71 guineas.

The cable news regarding the a;smivsal of Lord Jeliicoe mus- have caused surprise in a good many e.rcles, and even Mr. Lloyd-George's: admirers will bq anxious to know the meaning of it all, but prooatuy it will be "of mere immediate interest to local residents to know that during this week Messrs. C. Rosie anu Co. are showing a fine lot of for boys and girls, from 4s Go each.*

There now seems to be little doubt that the benzine tins washed ashore on the coast recently formed part of a consignment for Messrs. Granby and Co. The Collector of Customs at Gisborne (Mr. J. Howie) lias received a letter from Messrs. Gbanby and Co., in which it is stated that they are quite of the opinion that the lost ves.se] was*'the one they were expecting to arrive at Wellington, as the brand on the cases corresponded with their own mark.

On January 25th the Borough Council applied to the Minister for Public Works for assistance in reinstating the pipe line at the Te Arai water works. At the meeting of the Council last evening the Minister's reply was received. The Minister said that he regretted there was no vote under his control from which Government assistance could be granted. The only vote available for restoration of flood damage under his control was for the repair of damage to roads or bridges and similar works, but it was not available for damaged waterworks or other similar municipal undertakings. At a later stage the Mayor moved that 10 per cent, be raised on the last water loan for the purpose of reinstating the Te Arai pipe line. This would realise about £5030. The motion was carried.

Traffic returns from the Gisborne section of railways for the four-weekly period ended February 2, show that SSSS passengers were carried. 19.836 head of stock and 3804 tons oi goodsThe revenue amounted" to £2654 Os 9d, inclusive of the following items: Passengers £SOS 5s 6d: goods £lOl2 14s ,3d: parcels £l3O 3s IScl. The revenue for the same period last year was £2613 7s Id- The total revenue for the year was £22.992 11s lOd. a decrease when compared with thatfor 1917. when the revenue was £23,143 2s sd. The expenditure for the i’ouiq weekly period was £1952 Is 7d, for tiie same period last year it was £1062 3s 9d. The total expenditure to date was £17.591 11s Sd. and for th»i.corresponding period lastyear. £14,101 11s lid. The percentage of revenue so far this year A 77.519. whereas last vear it was 60.93.

There is every possibility of the Borough Council finishing its financial year within the estimate of the cost of maintenance. According to statement presented to the Council last evening by the treasurer, the expenditure in all departments exceptone. was below the estimate at the end of eleven months. In streets and bridges the actual expenditure so far had been £10.423. the estimate for that period being £10.575: sanitation and drainage had cost £3056. the estimate being set down at- £3495. In the electrical department. £11.615 had been allowed for eleven monks 7 maintenance, but £11.510 had been spent. 'Tramway expenditure for the same period had been set down at £2246 but the actual expenditure had been £2043. The waterworks department was well over tlm estimate, which was £1902. but the actual expenditure here was £3057.

In these times, when supplies are so very uncertain, the- man who wid 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 left-. . “The People’s Emporium” are taking no chances. When we know a line of goods is likely to be short we buy, and bu v heavily. This policy we have followed out for the past three years, and as a result we carry the best assorted stock in Gisborne. In many instances we can sell goods at the old prices, hulas we have to replace our present stocks, we find, on making inquiries, that the rises will be very great. Surely there should be no * necessity to emphasise the fact- that to buy right you should, for you r own sake, buy now, and don’t forget when vou are. buying that you * will “'get it clieapeY” at “The People’s Emporium.*

A disagreeable state of affairs was pointed out to -a Times representative yesterday «|gjfteriionn by the Secretary of the licence Committee, Mr J. B. Broadliurst. It was in connection with the next returning draft of soldiers which is due in Auckland on Sunday. It has been arranged that the Poverty Bay men are to disembark at Auckland and to come on to Gisborne by boat, but no steamer leaves Auckland for Gisborne for a week after their arrival, the following Sunday. The men will therefore he required to hang about Auckland for that length of time. Their next-of-kin, who will meet them, will go from Gisborne to Napier and thence to Auckland by rail. They will he required ’to return the same way before their soldier friends leave, unless they go to the extra expense of paying steamer passage from Auckland to Gisborne and board in Auckland until Sunday week. Air Broadliurst said he proposed to communicate by telegraph with the Alinister for Defence with a view to obtaining improved arrangements.

A lady writes from England: '.‘People in New Zealand who are so anxious to get to England don’t know when they are well off. If 1 had known what I do now before I came, I certainly would have stayed in New Zealand.”

The restoration of the Te Arai pipe line is proceeding slowly and steadily. The Borough Engineer reported to the Council last evening that restoration work above, the reservoir had reached the second river crossing. Six men were now employed on the job.

The Poval Mail Hotel at Okarito was destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning. * The licensee (Mrs Friend) and her daughter had a narrow escape getting out only in their night attire. The whole building and’eontents were destroyed. The origin of the lire is unknown.

Mr C. M. Hill, chief instructor at the Sockburn Aviation School, statedthat, with the increased facilities now at the school, he hopes to put, through 12 or 16 pupils this month. At the present time (states the Christchurch Press) the school is full, and there is a growing waiting list, including pupils from Auckland to Invercargill.

p 0 encourage the study of Italian, the Commercial Bank of Italy lias placed £SO a year at the disposal of the London County Council for the best- student of Italian in its schools, including the .Regent Street Polytechnic." and £IOO a year towards a chair of Italian in London University.

Particulars are given in our advertising coluitms of the St. Patrick’s jjhdit celebrations to be held in the "OiTora House next Saturdav evening. Ti ie Rev. Father Silk, D.D.. who is to lecture oil “Ireland and Rome ’ was for manv years a student at one of the colleges of this famed city ami his knowledge of the should make the lecture well-worth hearing-

Already a good deal of interest is koine, sliown in the forthcoming ,bvelectTon for the Borough Council, and two well-known business men have decided to contest the seat. These are Air. G. Wildish, who lias had previous experience at the Council table, and Air. H. H. de Costa, who just lost a seat at last election: Air. Harry Hall (formerly of Messrs. Farr and ITall) is also seriously considering offering his services. and the name of another wellknown ex-Councillor is mentioned as a likely candidate.

■J do not believe that tile placing of returned soldiers on the land is the solution of tho problem,’ said Mr J AY. Bright at a special meeting of the Defence Committee yesterday afternoon. Ho went on to sav that to put men without experience and without capital on poor laid was a .most cruel aucl. wicked thing. Alt'. Bright quoted references from the Alereantile Gazette where soldier settlers had registered advances from the Alinister for Lands, one tor £5 on a pony and £S on live stock, other sums on tools, and one for £1 on a horse cover. He said these registrations showed lpm that it was impossible for soldiers to carry on under such conditions.

The matter of appointing a Deputy Alav or was considered at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, when Cr. Alouat moved that Cr. A!nuns be appointed Deputy Mayor. He said he recognised that Cr. Hill was the senior councillor, but ow ng to ids attitude in connection with committee work, he could not support his candidature. Cr. Alunns was the next senior councillor, and would make an excellent deputy. The motion was seconded by Cr. Ball. In .replv to Cr. Tucker, the Aiayor said it was not necessary to elect a Deputy Aiayor. Cr. Tucker then moved as an amendment that the vacancy he not filled. Cr. -Miller seconded. The Aiayor said that Cr. Hill was senior councillor and was entit ed to the position. Ho also headed the poll at the last election. Cr. Oman supported this suggestion. Cr. Tucker's amendment was carried upon a division.

Much interest has been shown in the display of autumn millinery and ; other seasonable ladies’ wear now i being displayed at Miss M. Neill’s, j Miss Neill placed -her orders early, • and her buyers have secured for her ' a range of" goods which must appeal to the good taste of ladies and find a ready sale. Ladies who desire to study 'the new designs and styles and have the 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 Miss Neill’s you get an article j that is good in quality, fashionable m design, and low in price—at the old corner and at Everybodys.* When the police applied for a further adjournment at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning in the cases Police v. J. W. J. Preston and 11. G. Robertson, counsel for defendants, Messrs G.. Stock and L. J. Barnard, objected to further adjournments. The information against defendants is that they caused unnecessary suffering to a bull which was being conveyed from Gisborne to Napier’. In applying for the adjournment, Sub-Inspector Lew said liis principal witness was still unable to give evidence, and was at Rotoi ua ill. The informations had been first set down for hearing in December hist and had _ been adjourned twice. Under the i olice Offences Act no fresh information could be laid, after three months; otherwise lie would have withdiawn the present charges s.ic! re-laid new ones, Counsel protested that it was not fair to their clients for the cases to be adjourned again, and the charges remaining hanging o\ei them. The Magistrate said nuclei the circumstances he would _ adjourn the cases for a month. - 1 1" ‘’j A. asked for the adjournment to »e made on the distinct understanding that if the cases were not proceeded with they should lie struck out-

The- crush outside the Opeia j House last week upon the openin j nierht of “The Barrier” was referred t () " In- Cr. Munns at the meeting of the Borough Council last e\enm„. He said that there was .a very aig, Sort outside -hen the. doors ov™cd and there wasc a rush Unougu & doors, onlv one-icing opened. One ladv went clown in the i He thought that- a by-law should be Skid iw. f referred to il.e allocation. of tie various priced sca|s, * er ? ' the said, only nine-fays fit Is and remainder were ’priced at 2s. ae had referred to this matter piey nnslv when the theatre people said they ’would do what thev could. He Sored asking tie “SS to definitely divide the seating ac commodation into orchestral , stalls and pit and abide by them Or, AYauchop advised the Council to s to leave the matter alone. Hie crowds could be controlled by the poßce and they could form queues Js suggested > Cr. Oman, and as was done in other centres, -.t was matter of business how the manage divided their seating accommodation and made their charges, -me motion was carried.

The conditions of modern life necessitate constant _ attention to t health, and especially to the eyes. This attention isr the sole business o Haig Graham, Gisborne’s Eve bpec iallst. His methods are the most advanced.*