Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10261, 3 December 1926, Page 4

Local and General.

A very . successful euchre party in aid of funds for 'the town queen was held in Liberty Hall on Wednesday night, there being a large attendance. The winners were: Ladies. Mrs Singer 1, Mrs. Sutton 2, Mrs. Stevens 3;' men. .L Robinson 1, D. McKenzie 2, J. Heeney 3. The chairman of the committee (Mr F. Toler-* ton) presented the prizes,, after which dancing took place to music supplied by Mrs. Heeney.

Asked by Mi*. Sainsbury why he was in such a hurry to get rid of everything, a Maori bankrupt at Wairoa replied that he wanted to go', bankrupt. His reason for filing in Gisborne was that he was too wellknown among the Wairoa solicitors. (Laughter). Mr. Sainsbury suggested that it might be done cheaper in Gisborne, but bankrupt admitted that it had lint cost him any less.

An Otorohanga- settler of wide farming experience, recently wrote to the Minister of Lunds stating that there were thousands of acres of grass lands in that district, which if sufficient artificial manures were used could he made to produce double what, they were now producing. He suggested that the Government should subsidise all manures for two years, and loan the fanners the purchase money,'striking a rate over "the land where the fertilisers were to ho used to cover interest and principal on the loan for, sav, four years. The Minister has replied stating that he had already given some thought to the possibility of setting up machinery such as- suggested. /He added that he. would refer the suggestion to the Minister of Agriculture, with whom he was in close, association in consideration of land problems. A suggestion that pamphlets be found, by the Crown ~for tho. guidance: -of those taking up new land was.also noted by the Minister for consideration.—Special.

Burglars broke in the froDt (100 l of Messrs E. cc ? oS Colombo Street, ChriMchurc Wednesday night and stole three vplvers and ammunition.— r.A.

The Methodist Ladies’ Guild wilt hold a shop day to-mouow (’ December 4) in Ihe old Moi y r Office Feel Street, ihe stalls w hSie jumble, produce, home-made cakes and sweets.

Mrs. Egdell has been away from Gisborne indenting hats ior the iMCuL“I "‘theSrT^crai clearance must be made of the preset large Stock. The sale commences j£day.

The allotment for the second Napier wool sale closes to-day, and it» Sg place on Friday next, December 10.

Forward dealing on the local stock market is reported* to be almost non est at the present time Buyers are seemingly not prepared to °P% at ° forward at any price. Ihe uncer tainty of the market and the fact that dealers have been hit fairly hard in recent years is appaient y tiie cause.

The Customs returns for Gisborne for last month show a decrease ot £1527 compared with the correspond ing month last year, and the excise dutv dropped to the extent or £!•->•• The full figures, omitting shillings and pence, aas follows, fast year s totals being given m parentheses. Customs £8203 (£9/30), excise duty £963 (£981).

Tiie new De Luxe Theatre in Opotiki was opened on Wednesday’ night with a crowded audience to witness the well-known picture “ihe White Sister.” Speeches were made by the Mayor (Mr. G. S. Moody) who congratulated Messrs Shalfoon Bros, ou tlieir enterprise and also Mr it. *1 • Kerridge who lias leased the premises.—Special.

The Magisterial inquiry into the validity of the tramway poll, taken on November 12, will be opened at the Courthouse on December 9. It is anticipated that the inquiry 'vi 1 be formally opened and then adjourned until after the Christmas vacation. The validity of the poll win be argued on purely legal grounds, and no evidence will be ofrered.

At least one local factory has found a means of evading the water rate, and still obtaining ample supplies or water. The Gisborne Bacon Co., a firm which uses a considerable quantity’ of water, obtains its water from a well just behind the premises in Grey Street. Water was found at three feet down and at a depth ot 18ft. ample supplies of. pure., cold water was obtained. It is estimated that the spring saves the firm at least £'loo a year.

With the approach of summer and good road conditions, the Po\e”ty Bay motoring fraternity are linking up with the Gisborne branch of the Auckland Automobile Association m increasing numbers, thus securing the advantage of hotel concessions to members of the Association a no. also the information issued concerning motoring tours and road guides wlnc-h are invaluable to the tourists contemplating motoring jaunts during the Christmas vacation.

Probably the .shortest meeting ever held in the history of the Auckland Harbor Board took place yesterdayafternoon. Members had been called together for the purpose of passing a resolution to accept new by-laws. Promptly t 3 p.m. the chairman (Mr. H. R. MacKenzie) touched his bell and moved the resolution without remark. It was seconded and declared carried by the chairman, all within a minute and a-balf. Looking at the two reporters with a smile on his face, the secretary said “That is all for you, gentlemen, this afternoon.” "As the two press representatives left the Board room a member was heard to remark amidst laughter “Gentlemen, you may now smoke.” — Special.

.In 1920 the “King natives” raised £ISOO to purchase ten acres’of land at Ngaruawahia, which is vested in the Maori “King” Te Rata Mahuta, to hold in trust as papakainga for all natives acknowledging his leadership. Costly improvements have been made, water laid on, lighting connected, and sanitary measures -taken. The work now in hand involves the completion of a hall approximately 120tt square, which will contain a refreshment room, auditorium and stage and meeting house. The opening has been fixed for March 15, 1927, and the Prime Minister is to be invited to he present after the papaxamga is well established. It. is intended to start a school to revive among the young men and women of the Native race the’arts of wood carving and weaving and other useful handicrafts.—Special.

Three weeks’ police search in Sydney for a man wanted in New Zealand ended last weqji at the top of a ladder at Co ogee, says a Sydney paper . The man was charged in Wellington with breakiugmnd entering. and was released on' £20,0 hail and absconded. The New Zealand authorities believed he had gone to Sydney, and consequently two detectives were deputed to search. They traced him to Newcastle, but when inquiries were made there by the local police he had disappeared again. The same detectives subsequently found the man at Coogee. He was painting on a new building, and was pointed out to them on the top of a ladder. on the second floor. The. detectives climbed the ladder and interviewed him on the spot, subsequently arresting him cn a provisional warrant. He "admitted his identity and suggested that he would do some free painting for the New Zealand Government.—TT.P.A.

The financial result of Gipsy Smith's mission in Dunedin was reported by the treasurer (Mr. E. A. Roseveare) at the Council of Christian Congregations last night. The amount received at the mid-day and evening meetings (exclusive of collections at the services for the benefit of the missioners) was £44S 12s Bd, 62 per cent, of which was made up of sixpences and shillings. In addition there were donations and other receipts to the amount of £l4 , 12s 6d, bringing the total to £463 os 2d. The total expenses came to £457 2s 3d. Thanksgiving offerings amounted to £95 4s Id which went to Gipsy Smith and his party. The proceeds of the lecture, which was independent of the mission, were £136 15s lid. It was reported also that the proceeds of the . sale ' of hymn hooks used at the mission were remitted to the publishers in London. They amounted to £lB6 6s, onethird of which represented the proceeds of the sale of books at an absolute loss.—P. A.

A new shipment of charming cotton georgette frocks with very attractive lines in every shade and design, await your choice. Also included is a wonderful range of crepe-de-chine frocks in the newest colorings and: these, are priced from £5 ss, and are to he had in full women’s sizes and with long sleeves so much in favor. Mathewson’s Ltdf-

Stormwater drainage is the scheme responsible for the uprooting of Pee! Street. A pipe line is to be laid v from the Waikanac creek right up NSa to Gladstone Road.

The rainfall, last month was the heaviest registered, in Gisborne m November for eight years, 3.56 i». being recorded on nine days. The total for the 11 months of the year is 29.65 in., compared with 40.88 in. in 1925, and 51.14 in. in 1924.

The Native Appellate Court commenced its Gisborne sitting yesterdav, Chief Judge Jones and Judge McCormick comprising the Court. Two Maori will petitions from (Ik; Coast, one application for the definition of. relative interest in land, and two petitions for the re-investigation of titles were set down for hearing.

Liberty Hall last evening was the scene of a very enjoyable euchre party and dance held to augment the funds of St. Mary ’s Church. Keenlycontested games resulted in Mrs. McGonigaJ winning first prize, and Mrs. Stevens second in the ladies’ section, while among the gentlemen, Mr. L. Robinson was first and Mr. Forbes second. Dancing was indulged in to a late hour to music supplied by Miss R. JLvess, Messrs Roy Ivess, H. Muller and J. Parker.

The vital statistics lor Gisborne for November show an increase of three in the births recorded, and a similar increase in the deaths, while the marriages have dropped from 13 to eight The figures are as follows, those for ihe corresponding month last year being given in parentheses for comparison: Births, 50 (47) ; deaths, 13 (10); marriages, 8 <13,. For the 11 months to Xoi-enTbor 30

the statistics are: Births, 516 (48-5): deaths, 189 (161); marriages. 163 (159).

The daily Channel feats seem have stimulated attempts to achieve

other records. The latest has bsen established hv hen Starke, a. young London fish ‘salesman, who ran up and down the steps of the Monument -in less than three minutes. His Billingsgate colleagues are excitedly discussing the effort, and many are determined to do better. The Monument, a fluted column designed by Sir Christopher Wren, to commemorate bite'Great Fire, is 202 ft. in height and contains a spiral stairway of 345 steps.

British reserve in the matter o kissing, commented upon by Mr Justice Hill, is of fairly reeen

growth (says the “Glasgow Herald '). A few centuries ago England had a reputation for being a kissing country. Erasmus wrote to his friend Dr. Faustus:—“lf thou knewest the advantages of England thou would;: run hither with winged -c-et, and if the gout would not suffe r that. then'Vouldst wish thyself Daedalus. For here are girls with divine countenances, bland and courteous, and whom thou wouldst readily prefer to the Muses. And, besides, there is a custom which c-an never be sufficiently praised; for, if you visit anywhere. you are dismissed with kisses; if you return, those sweet things are again divided: wherever you go you are abundantly kissed”. Although the Puritans frowned upon the habit, Commonwealth Ambassador to Sweden. Bulstrode Whitelecke, found che fame of the English kiss had preceded him. and the Queen requested him to teach her and her maidens the gentle art. He proved an excellent teacher, his pupils offering only “a few pretty defences. The fatal shot that deprived England of her great naval hero, L>rd Nelson, was fired (contrary to the received account! at random from the top of the Redoubtable, by a French soldier named Robert Gudlemarde, who escaped unwounded. and when his ship struck, was taken on board the Victory to Spitheae. It struck the forepart of the hero’s epaulette and entered his left shoulder. It then descended obliquely into the thorax, fracturing the second and third ribs, and alter penetrating the left lol>e of the lungs and dividing a large branch of the pulmonary artery, entered the left side of the spine, passed through the muscles oF the back, and lodged there. A considerable portion of the gold lace pad and silk cord or the epaulette, with a piece of coat, were found attached to it—whilst the gold lace was as firmly flexed as though ri had been inserted into the metal whilst in a state of fusion. The ball, together with the lace, was mounted in crystal and silver, and presented Hv Cant. Hardy to Mr. (afterward? Sir W.) 'Beattie, the surgeon of the Victory, who died in 1542.