BY THE WAY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 225, 22 November 1888, Page 3

BY THE WAY.

Ho! Ho ! Mr Shelton, and what brings j 7 ou into print so often of late ? Have you hid an attack of that malignant disease “ scribbling itch,” for which the only known remedy is a snub from the editor, or what is it that ails you ? For the life of me I cannot see what Mr Shelton is driving at. If he his any complaint to make as to the way the Engineer is carrying out his work, why not formulate his charges and place them before the Board. Mr Shelton may depend that they will be enquired iuto- But Ido not see what useful end is to be served by drawing answers from the Engineer, even through a third party, aud publishing them with hostile comments. The whole thing savors of the ridiculous. Who, in the name of goodness, cutside Mr Shelton, objects to the Engineer getting on faster than he anticipated ? If Mr Shelton’s desire is to prove th it the contract system is preferable to the present one by all means let him do so, but I must say that the correspondence appears to be the outcome of some private pique. I should not be at all surprised to find that there is some bone of contention between Mr Shelton and the Engineer.

Fourteen days’ hard labor for stealing twopence worth of flowers ’ The thing seems incredible, but it is nevertheless a fact. Sir Francis Burdette, an old man of 52. was met in Victoria street, Auckland, by a puli leman, who asked him where he got some flowers he was carrying. He returned evasive replies, was taken iuto custody on a charge of stealing roses from the Albert Park, and was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ hard labor. The flowers were worth twopence, and the evidence upon which the man was convicted was wholly circumstantial. Certainly the caretaker swore to two of the roses as being of a similar variety to t hose in the Park. A footprint which corresponde'l with that of the prisoner was likewise found impressed on the flower bed. He on his side strenuously denied even having been in the Park, and there was no evidence to prove that he had been there. Nevertheless the Justices found him guilty. Doubtless flower stealers merit some punishment (and which of us would escape ?), but save them from such as that meted out by the Auckland Justices.

The vagaries of the lesser criminal lights have a wonderful fascination for me, and I have often great trouble in reconciling their decisions. It was only the other day I was reading in a Home p; par of two cases of kissing females against their will. I was always under the impression that ladies liked kissing, but I see I’m mistaken. The first case was that of a solicitor’s clerk who being in the train with a barmaid kissed her in spite of her protestations. He was given in charge and fined £5 or in default 14 days. In the other case a man met two little girls of about 12 and 14 ou the road, kissed them and passed on. He did not know he was doing any harm, he said. He received a month’s hard labor without the option of a fine 1 The report says he seemed amazed at the sentence. I wonder whether if tlie latter man had been in a higher social station, it have made any difference in his sentence* Perhaps not. The suggestion of Councillor Lucas at the last Borough Council meeting that the Domain Reserve might be used as a recreation ground, brings very forcibly to one’s mind a question that ere long must become a burning one for Gisbornites. Where shall we exercise our limbs ? It is surprising that in a town laid out on the scale that Gisborne has been, only some six acres have been reserved for recreative purposes. For so much let us be truly thankful, but it must be evident to the dullest mind that as population increases the ground will become aud more inadequate for the purpose for which it was reserved. As it is the reserve is at the present time utterly unsuitable for the requirements of our young men. As an open space to which ladies and children can go and bask beneath the trees it is of course au acquisition, but further than that it is useless, and we might as well have none at ail. To me it seems scandalous that our young men should have to depend upon private generosity for the privilege of indulging in our national sports.

I should stroEgly advise that while there are still opan spaces to be procured, some steps should be taken to secure a place suitable in size and position. Provision must eventually be made for the development in our young of those physical powers upon which life and health so much dtpend. Of course, side by side with this suggestion comes the question whether the young men and women now growing up will avail themselves of the opportunities offered to them. It has often been remarked that the present Gisborne youth is very backward so far as athletic games are concerned. Whether the climate or aught else affects him, I know not, but he i wonderfully lethargic. It was not so in the olii days. Those good old days 1 The streets weri then our playground, and spite of difficulties we went in for enjoyment. We were wonderfully e’evn' at improvising material for our games and into football and cricket we entered with spirit and zest. But the times are changed, the old gives way to new. Well, I suppose every dog must have his day.

During thelast week or two I have seen knocking about the town between ten and twenty men who have not the stamp of the usual run of unemployed. This excited my curiosity, for surely these men could not be victims of tbe depression ? Enquiry elicited the fact that the men had been employed up till lately in a contract of bush felling up the coast. The contractor, it appears, made over all the contract moneys to a local tradesman, who, when the contract was finished, appropriated the money in payment of the contractor’s account, while the poor wages men were left lamenting. They have, I believe, taken proceedings against the contractor under the Workmen’s Wages Act and have recovered judgment. They have now, I understand, to sue again—the letter of the contract this time. The letter of the contract denies all liability, and so the thing will have to be fought out in Court. This means delay, and meanwhile the poor workmen who have earned their wages by the sweat of their brow, have to hang about town without one penny in their pockets. The case seems a very hard one, but perhaps I have not got it exactly right. _______ Mark.