Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8663, 4 November 1899, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4.

GISBORNE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER i.

The V.R.C. Derby is run to-day, and the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. The result of the former will be displayed in our publishing window this evening.

The racehorse Evening Wonder was shipped by the Mararoa for Auckland this morning to fulfil engagements at the spring meeting of the Auckland Racing Club.

At the Police Court this morning a first offender for drunkenness, who did not respond to his bail, was fined 18s and costs 2s. The prisoner when arrested had about twenty sovereigns in his possession.

The number one supplementary electoral roll, consisting of about five hundred names, will be in the hands of the printer on Friday next. Those who have not yet had their names enrolled should do so at once.

At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church to-morrow morning the subject of the Rev. J. G. Paterson's discourse will be " One of the worst places in which to be a Christian." In the evening the subject will be " Furious Driving."

A grand concert aud social was to have been held in Wairoa last night in aid of the funds of the Wairoa Brass Band. It was given by the party of surveyors engaged on the proposed Napier-Gisborne railway route, who must be musically inclined.

We have been informed by the local agents of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company that hides have been realising extreme rates at the late Sydney sales. One small parcel of butchers' hides sent from this district, averaging 661bs, was sold at s|d per lb.

Messrs Colley and Mackrell, who have commenced business as builders, have just completed with great satisfaction and despatch the rebuilding of a shop for Mrs A. M. Browne, next Hekald office. The firm are w«II-known locally as goorl tradesmen, aud should obtain a fair share of support. They received to-day a wellBelected stock of timber by the Coralie from Tairua

The local agents of the New Zealand Shipping Company inform us that the Company have decided to fit their Steamers with permanentaccommodation forsteerage passengers. The accommodation will bs of a very superior description, unusually spacious and well -ventilated, excellent lavatorirs and bathroom will be provided, and the question of sanitation is one to which considerable attention has been devoted.

The final heat of the Gisborne Rowing Club's trial fours was decided last evening between Sherriffs and Symes'a crews. There wa3 splendid water, the tide being at the full. Symes's crew were the smartest away from a good start, but ' Sherriff quickly got his men settled down to hard work, and gradually drew away from his opponents. At the jetty he had the race well in hand, and from thence led Symes's bout by half-a-length to the bend, where he incrcußcd it to a length, passing the poHt with that distance between the craft, lloth orewn were warmly applauded on landing. Noxt week the members comnumco training for a series of outrigger fours ami double-scull races.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, Thomas Quinn, livery-stable keeper, was charged with a breach of the Borough byelaws by leaving a vehicle in Peel Street. Mr Finn, who appeared on behalf of the Corporation, stated that on last Saturday week there were twelve vehicles on the road in front of the stables, and on Saturday last eighteen traps were counted drawn up in line on the road. The defendant had been warned about the matter, but did not take steps to remedy it. The Council were determined to put a stop to the practice. His Worship imposed a fine of 20s and coats (£1 8s), and pointed out that if the defendant came before him again he would have to pay the full penalty (£5). The defendant said that it was too expensive to be had up too often, and thanked His Worship for the treatment accorded him, ironically remarking that the fine was very light.

At Wnnganui last Saturday a man named James Shore wns fined £10 for procuring drink for a prohibited person.

In the new petroleum bore at Moturoa, New Plymouth, a depth of about 10U0 feet has been reached without any indication of oil.

Dr Pollen, who baa been laid up for the past four weeks with pneumonia following an attach of influenza, is now progressing favorably.— Wellington Post.

" Banjo" Paterson, the well-known Australian poet, has gone to the Transvaal, and will write sketches for tho Sydney Morning Herald.

The estimated population of the colony on the SOlli September last was 790,879. The net increase during the September quarter was 3095.

Tho Timaru Harbor Board have adopted a proposal to ask the ratepayers' sanction to raise a £100,000 loan for harbor improvement works.

The sum of £3000 is this year available as a Government subsidy to public libraries. The division is to be made on the Bth February next, and applications must be in beforo the Bth January next.

Mr Newton King, who favors a progressive policy, has been elected to the New Plymouth Harbor Board, in place of Major Duvies, who resigned. There was heavy polling, which resulted as follows :— King 804, Horrocks 394, Price I!) I.

Tlie Wellington Post has been -vorking out the possibilities of the forthcoming general election, and as a result has discovered that the Government have 31 " certainties" and the Opposition an equal number, while the "doubtful" list total up to 12.

Mr Donald Macdonald is to be the war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Argus ; the Age and the Daily Telegraph will be represented by Mr W. J. Lainhie, and Mr Horace H. Spooner has gone to tlio front for the Sydney Evening News.

The Dunediii Harbor Board's big dredge No. 222 met with a mishap last week,

breaking her main propeller shaft, and the other crank sli.'ft is frafituted. It will coat £600 to put in two new shafts, and the dredge must bo laid up for a month, or else towed to and fro.

Thomas Mellett, senr., and Joseph Thornton, tributers of the Monatairi mine, Thames, were injured by an accidental explosion of powder yesterday morning. The former was badly burned, and was taken to the hospital. The latter escaped with his hair and eyebrows singed off.

A volunteer encampment was held at Mudgee, New South Wales, when Earl Beauchnmp, the Governor, went under canvas with the troops. He is the first Governor of that colouy to do so, and his action was much appreciated by all ranks, the success of the camp being thereby greatly enhanced.

No less than six Chinamen left Grey mouth last week for the Flowery Landwith au average of £1000 each. They have been working for some time in a gold mining claim in the Grey Valley, and of late their " washings up" are said to have averaged between £1 and £8 per week per man.

Some time ago an excellent exhibition of views of Salt Lake Cily was given at a meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society in Wesley schoolroom. On tlwfc occasion the hall was found to be too small to accommodate those present, and it was thought desirable to repeat the exhibition in a larger hall. The Academy of Music has been taken for the purpose, and should be well filled on Monday evening. A colection is to be made to defray expenses.

An interesting return has been compiled showing the number of sheep and cattle slaughtered during the year ended April, 1899. The number of sheep killed by farmers and others for home consumption was 576,738, and the number of cattle 17,118. No fewer than 1,756,667 sheep and lambs, and 83,770 cattle were killed by butchers and freezing companies for local consumption, while 2,865,395 sheep and lambs and 96,704cwt of beef were exported.

An attempt was made to burn down Hum's Hotel, Ohingaiti, last week, but owing to the promptitude of a domestic servant iv extinguishing the flames the attempt was not successful. A heap of wood, with kerosene poured over it, was piled up against a door on the ground iloor, and had the fire not been discovered so soon the building would undoubtedly have been destroyed. Detective Bishop has been engaged making enquiries, but the affair is at present wrapped in mystery.

It is a great disappointment to us not to find a vote on the supplementary estimates as a subsidy for the river works. The Hon. J. Carroll informs us the Government gave the matter considerable thought. Numberß of Harbor Boards had applied for aid, and to grant the Wairon, request just now would bo opening up a big question. Mr Carroll suggests that as soon as the £5000 has been spent representations should be made to the Government pointing out that there is not enough money to finish the work, and until it is completed the full benefit of the expenditure cannot be secured. In this case he thinks a vote might be granted. — Wairoa Guardian.

The Gisborne Women's Political Association last evening resolved to submit the following questions to candidates for the Parliamentary honors of Waiapu. The Secretary was instructed to send a copy to each gentleman, and request the courtesy of a reply in writing :— (1) Do you undertake to support the Bill which has already been several times before the House of Representatives for the "Removal of all Civil and Political Disabilities from Women " ? (2) Will you support the principle of "equal pay for equal work," irrespective of sex ? (3) Will you support a measure for the immediate repeal of the CD. Act from the Statute Books of the colony, as it has been already removed from those of the Imperial Parliament? (4) Will you support the repeal of the coirpulsory clause of the Vaccination Act, and here also bring our law into conformity with that of Englandat the present date? (5) Will you support legislation aiming to secure representation by an absolute majority ? (6) Will you favor a State Bank of note issue ? (7) Will you support the "Old Ago Pension scheme" as presently constituted ? (8) Do you favour the nationalisation of land and minerals ?

An interesting cose was before the Assessment Council at Wairoa last week. Mr W. F. Shaw objected to a revaluation of his land at IVasertown. In May last year Mr Turnbull, S.M., as judge, had heard his objection, and settled the case, reducing the valuation from £530 to £230. The property had since been subdivided, and now the Government proposed to put up the values again. Ho contended they had no right to do so during the valuation period only as far as the valuation was affected by the erection or removal of buildings. It cost him £2 on the last occasion for witnesses and he had only got one]year's benefit of the reduction. According to the Guardian report of the proceedings, Mr Simson, the District Valuer, Baid his instructions wtre to revalue where necessary.— His Worship : Did the ValuerGeneral authorise valuations week afler week ? Where was the- authority ? — Mr Simson : Ha had not the Act with him.— Hie Worship : What waa the good of him sitting as judge if the Court's decision could be upset without due evidence?— Mr Simeon : That was a privilege he had. —His Worship : What authority had Mr S'muou '{—Mr Simaon ; He knew the land was worth more — Mr Shaw : That was not the question. Had he power to go behind his Worship's former decision? — The Magistrate asked under what authority Mr Simson re-valued ?— Mr Simson : He was instructed to revalue — Mr Shaw knew what that meant. — Mr Shaw : Yes, to divide the values. Was he (Mr Shaw) expected to bring forward his witnesses every week or every year ? — Mr Simson : Yes, the Order-in-Council so provided.—His Worship : He would like to sac the Order-in-Council, — Mr Shaw : There was none ; Mr Simson was acting illegally. — His Worship to Mr Simsou : Mr Shaw had raised the objection, and it was for Mr Simson to show the law under which heacted.— Mr Simson : His Worship perhaps might advise on that point. — His Worship (smiling) : He could not be judge and counsel too. — The Court adjourned till 2 p.m., and on resuming Mr Simson produced a telegram from the Department showing that his authority to revalue did sxist.— His Worship : Mr Simson must give proof of the values beine too low. — Mr Simson : He could bring Mr Thorn [Mr Thorn : "Me 1 You must be dreaming."] and Mr Sargisson, and the latter would say the land was worth £15 an acre instead of £9. — Evidence was given by Messrs Sargiason, Simson, and Shaw, and the Court decided to leave the capital value as it stood, making the unimproved value at £90, and leaving iho improvements at £560.— Mr lan Simson, when leaving the , Court, expressed his intention of putting up Mr Shaw's valuation again next day. The property owners in the district (says the Guardian) should feel indebtsd to Mr Shaw for taking a stand against the Valuation Department. It is a matter of surprise that a Taxpayers' Association has not been formed long ago.

At the Gore races no fewer tliau 14 bookmakers were turned off.

The Hawke's Bay A. and P. Show's balance-sheet is £435 on the right side.

Mr John Livingstone, an elder brother of the famous African explorer, l)r Livingstone, diid at Ontario, Canada, recently, and with him the last of the noted Bliintyre family has passed away.

Mr Collision, who was judging draught horses and cattle at the Gisborno Show, has returned to Hustings, and says the quality of the exhibits was very good, though entries were not so numerous as one would have desired.— Standard.

A comical collision recently took place in South Wales between two cycling policemen. One was riding along when his light jerked out. Almost immediately after ho was knocked off by the other policeman, who was also cycling. They eacli took the other's name and address. One policeman was fined for riding without a light, and the other wa9 cast in damages for £'3 to compensate for the injury done to the man he upset.

A new material for insulating steamships and freezing works has been patented, which in the opinion of Mr A. G. Siilamon, consulting and analytical chemist, London, will supursede charcoal, pumice, silicate of cotton, or any other material. Uralito, as this insulater is called, is reported to bo capable of resisting the greatest heat, is non-tkniableand does not absorb moisture. It is made in slabs of one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and is extremly light in weight.

A good story comes from the Pahiatua district. A prosy, long-haired entertainer who wearied his audieuce considerably, had got to the middle of his lecture when a well-known candidate for Parliamentary honorß, rose and moved that the lecturer get his hair cut. Immediately there was a roar of laughter, which was increased a few minutes later when a man at the back of the hall got up and solemnly remarked—" I move as an amendment that it bfi his throat."

When a recent school excursion arrived at Wellington, a party of elder girls decided to visit the museum, and not deigning to question passers-by, set out for the building. After some wandering they espied a large structure, and concluded it was the object of their search. Entering, the visitors found themselves in the hall, and were examining a carving, when a man in livery appronched, and wonderingly inquired their errand. "Could you direct us to the curio room, plense ?" asked one of the girls. " Direct you where V was the puzzled reply. "To the curio room, please. This is the museum, is it not?" "Museum!" gasped the astonished servant ; " this is not the museum — this is Government House !"

Mr Villiera tells rather a good story | about the kilted Highlanders, whose bravery in recent campaigns has been so conspicuous. The Boers seem to have been somewhat surprised at the appearance of " the soldiers in little clotheshalf men, half women," and, according to Mr Villiers, the Khalifa's fighting men were equally puzzled at the costume of the Highlanders. They, however, evolved an ingenious theory to account for the garb of old Gaul, in which this section of the British army appeared. Some time ago, they said, those solJiers ran away in battle, and, in punishment, their women took their trousers away. That was why the Highlanders now fought like devils— they were anxious to wipe out their former disgrace, and to get their trousers back. — Post.