Untitled

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10692, 16 May 1906, Page 2

Eleven prisoners were transferred to Auckland this morning by the Tarawera, as the result of the recent criminal session of tihe Supreme Court. Mr and Mrs W. B. Common leave by the Mokoia this evening for Wellington, where they join tlie Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamer lonic, to return Home. Mr P. T. Ken way also leaves this evening on a trip to the Old Country. The police liave been informed by the contractors for the Gisborne sdioof that on several occasions wilful damage Ims been done to the work m progress. The mischief could not have been done by children. A reward' is offered for the apprehension of the vandal. "Red Buoy" writes .—Sir, — I appear to have credited)' Mr Ross with the honor that should 'have 'been due to Mr Lewis. I shall be careful to give honor to whom honor is due m any future letters, and as an explanation will clear the situation I will call on Mr Lewis. Mr Millar, Stock Inspector for Hawke's Bay, says the stock m that province" are, (generally speaking, m a very healtlhy condition. As the country becomes settled and occupied m smaller areas, farmers are giving more attention to the matter of providing artificial winter food. The Gi.vborne Bowlinir Club Committee met la.-t eveninor Mr Harding presiding. It was resolved to invite members of the Turanganui Club to play a friendly match with the Gisborne Club on May 24th (Empire Day), aud a special programme was arranged for that day. To-morrow tlie colonial rug competition will be continued. Coleman's team meeting Bright's. The Native census shows an increase of 137 m the population of Waiapu County since 1901, an increase of between 5 and 6 per cent. Bad news is given of tlie potato crops. Out of a total of 548 acres m cultivation, 53 acres are a total failure, whilst 390 are affected, leaving only 105 acies of eatable potatoes. The Cook census returns are not yet complete. On his arrival m Gisborne last- week, Mr Herries, M.H.R.. telegraphed to Opotiki: "Arrived at Gisborne safely, and have had a pleasant trip with the exception of Friday. It is a splendid country all round Mbtu. There are no engineering difficulties, as far as I can see, for the railway between Motu and Opctiki. It is much easier country than .1 thought. The Motu people are very anxious for the Pakilii road." Questioned at Wanganui yesterday on the subject of the new prophet m th« Bay of Plenty, the Native Minister said lie stilt 'believed, from what he had lieard from native sources and from official channels, thai the excitement had been caused by the highly colored Press Asso. ciation reports of. the proceedings, of Rua. He complained of the failure of the person responsible for the messages to make himself acquainted with the facts, and reiterated that there was no cause for alarm or unrosl. At the Police Court this morning Thomas Lawrence was convicted of drunkenness and fined 10s and 2s costs, or 48 hours' imprisonment. Edwin Franklin Sartin, a middle-aged man, was also charged with a similar offence, and remanded for a week for curative treatment. Sergeant Mackenzie stated that the man had been m the hospital, but was so violent that he had to be. removed to the police station. The accused was suffering a good deal of injury about the face, as a result of his violent be haviour. Tlie Mayor (Mr Townlev), Cr. Whinray, Messrs W. F. Crawford and Robinson (Town Clerk) visited Te Arai water supply , source yesterday. Excellent photographs were obtained/and they will be on view .shortly. Tlie party returned more, satisfied than ever that tlierc is abundance of water for a town much larger than Gisborne. They went further up the stream than on previous visits. None of the bush suroundinc the proposed site of the head works has been disturbed. Leaving Gisborne at 6 a.m., the party were away all day. reaching town again at 8 p.m. At the Police Court this afternoon, before Mr Barton, S.M.. William Peryer was charged with trespassing m pursuit of game on E. F. Gray V property, PPoura r •wa.' Defendant pleaded guilty. MiAlston ' Coleman appeared on behalf of complainant-, and stated, that Mr Gray had had much trouble with people going over his place, and the case was: brought aa a warning. Defendant acknowledged that he had no permission to go on complainant's place, which he had mistaken for Mr G. Gray's .place. He had obtained permission from Mr McLean. His Worship inflicted a fine of £1, costs 9s, solicitor's fee £1 Is. The business premises known as the Beehive, next the Herald otficc, which have done duty for many a year, are being removed, and are to be* replaced by a fine two-storey building, the design of which will be in* keeping with the adjoining block. Messrs Mackrell and Colley are the contractors. The architect, .Mr. C. Tilleard Natusch, received three tenders, as follows: Mackrell and Colley £1098, W. Glendinning (Napier) £1135, Smith and Black £1145. One tender came too late for consideration. The frontage of the building to Gladstone road will be 25ft, and the length 60ft. A new firm of ironmongers will commence business m the premises when finished. A modern two-storey brick building is about to be erected m Peel street to th c order of Mr Jas. Erskine. baker. The preparation of plans has been entrusted to Mr H. J. Brownlee, architect, and his drawings show a frontage of 66 feet, of a uniform height with Mr F. Hall's new building. On the ground floor there will be four shops, with plate-glass windows^ and a refreshment room, dining room, kitchen, scullery, pantry, and bath-room will be akso situate downstairs. Tlie upstairs portion of the premises will provide private living accommodation, and a large social hall. There will be a hand, some varandah and balcony m front. Tlie building will form a very fine addition to the architecture of the town. A syndicate of local residents has been formed to obtain "all information as to the prospects of oil boring m this district. A meeting was held at the British Empire hotel, at whidh the view was taken that Gisborne, people should be the finst to bestir themselves m what, if successful, would mean. so much for the district. It was resolved 1 as the first' step to obtain fifty residents to put their names down for £10 each, the united amount to be used to exploit the oil measures of the district on the same lines as m Taranaki, and if possible to 6i&oure the services of one of the staff, engaged m the sucessfwl operations. It is. stated tlurt there will be little difficulty m raising the amount required, and the* promoters wish it to be understood that the iproposal at present is merely for the purpose of exploitation, not for individual gain, but for the general benefit. If satisfactory results are obtained, company proposals will doubtless follow. Agreeable to .the belief ~ that there should be music iv every home, a Wharekopae settler recently purchased a piano m town. This was a simple enough thing to do, and the difficulty arose when he had to convey the musical- box home. For the fi rs t thirty miles it was fairly' easy going, but -the last ten, up hill and down gully, where road there, was none, was a journey that few. self -respecting pianos would care about. The, mode of conveyance was somewhat unique. It was carried between two horses on strong manuka poles, strapped to the animals, and for ten miles its passage was made m thigi way. Cominjr to- the river, where a ford did not exist, it : was slung over on Mires, and the horses again took up their burden until . tlie house was reached. When the daughter of the family first ran her fingers over the keys it is safe to con. elude that the thankful piano did its best m giving forth the strains of "Home, Sweet Home." The Lake Brunner Oil Company is (says tho Christchurch Press) now carrying out what the late Mr Cooper bad decided upon, viz., the putting down oJ a large bore of eight inches m diameter, to be reduced to six inches as the depth increases, and to bore to a depth of 2000 feet or . more unless satisfactory results should be obtained earlier. 'Progress just now is , slow, due to quicksand, which works at times, up the pipes to the height of;soft or, 60ft, and gives an immense amount of extra work. This is doubtless caused by gas or other pressure from below. Mr Smith has managed to get through some 60ft of this bed, and is using his best energies and skill m coping with this difficult ground. ..He will make good progress when he gets tlirough this and into harder country, which may happen any day. It ie most unfortunate for this district that Mr Cooper's death occurred at such a critical time. He had just made a special trip through the American oil fields, and * had returned with a lot of valuable information fdr use m this field, M-liich he was never destined to use, his death causing a suspension of work for some months. Work, however, was resumed last -.November, and it is intended to push on the work as speedily as possible.

The Fire Brigade meet for steam practice this evening. The Coast coach leaves at 7 o'clock sharp to-morrow morning. The Chief Postmaster advises: The Colonial Treasurer directs that until further advised, 4 per cent. Government bonds will only be sold to the public at a premium of two pounds per centum. The following will repiesent tlie KaitiCity Hockey Club m a practice match against the West End Clutb to-morrow afternoon: Gideon, McLaughland, Olsen, Wright, Beeohe, Bayly, Edwards, Martin, Delany, Sargisson, and Pirie. Lewis Macdonald and John Hannah were fined £2 and cost« at Hastings on Thursday for betcintr tote odds on the local racecourse lawn. The Police Inspector said they were only "beginners at the game." One of them had m his possession over £50, indicating that he had made a lucrative "beginning." A local barrister, under instructions from a Palmerston resident, his issued a writ a.gains* an unqualified medical practitioner resident m the town, claiming damages for unskilful treatment by which claimant's wife's life was endangered, and necessitating urgent treatment m the hospital. The details of the case are alleged to be sensational". — Manawatu Daily limes. The Orchestral Society, which has been dormant for the past eighteen montlts, will resume practice to-morrow evening at Holy Trinity sclnoolroom. There are now a considerable number of srrihg players m the place, an essential factor m an orchestral organisation, and with the hearty co-operation of all the available talent. 6ome enjoyable concerts should r«suit during the winter months. A man named Rudolph Buirgess lias been arrested at Wairaki, near Taupo, by Constable Veni, on a charge of false pretences. Burgess is identical with "Dr Buaigess," who was? m Palmerston a short time ago, and who claimed to be on a walking tour of the world. He will be taken to Auckland to answer the charge, and will, it is alleged, have other similar charges made against him. One of the chief objects of Mr Seddon's trip to Australia is tlhe rest which he will obtain during his absence from the colony. His health has not been particularly satisfactory during the past three months, and his medical advisers are very anxious that he should escape from arduous work for a month or so before the session. It is largely m deference to their wishes that the trip luts been undertaken. A plains farmer informg tlie Hawera Star that the currying, capacity of the land round about Manaia has been increased considerably during tlie last few years. This he attributes to the salt spray storms which have been prevalent for a few years. Since the first big one he noticed a great change m the country. "Further m the land is going back, and m his opinion certain country on the other side of the railway line does not now carry as much a® formerly. The rabbit pest has recently become more troublesome than usual m the high country of Hawke's Bay— particularly m the neighborhood of Kuupapanga 'and inland Patea. This is partly accounted for by the continuous wet weather experienced there for some months, which has rendered the .poisou sour, and to a great extent, ineffective. - It lias been decided by the authorities that mote stringent measure* will liave .to bo taken to deal with the pest m the districts indicated. Rua, the Maori who set himself up as a "Propk't and Brother of Jesus Christ" m the Urewera country, has had a brief career of glory. For some days he had ilie delirious joy of seeing several hundreds of curious Maoris gathering around mm to listen to his wila words, but the audience apparently soon discovered that the '"puarls of wisdom" were mere glittering pieces of crumbly pawa shell. Tlie latast account of the northern serioeomedy depicrs the hero with fading maun aud hia followers returning to their ordinary bread and butter pursuits. — Post. The Kaiti-City Football Club held a meeting last evening, when business m connection! with the junior matches was transacted. Mr B. Bright was elected to the position of deputy captain, rendered vacant by the promotion of Mr G. Willock to the senior ranks. The selection committee met afterwards, and pickad the following players from which the team to .play against West End on Saturday next will be chosen : O'Donnell, Lyford, Fox, Grant, Swainson, G. Dines, Obeti, Willock, Lwttrell. Bright, Moldes, Birkett, Robinson," Waymouth, Coleman. Butterworth, Hickey, Wells, and Parker. F. W. Marchant. M. Inst., C.E., engineer to the Timaru Harbor Board, intimated to the Napier Harbor Board yesterday that he expected to finish the survey of the harbor m about a week' 6 time from Monday, 14th inst., and he hoped to have the necessary plan completed i bout the middle of July. He offered to furnish a report oni the whole question of harbor accommodation for £110 The offer of Mr Marchant to report on harbor accommodation was accepted, he to have a. free hand iv the matter and make any suggestions he thovight desir able. A very alarming incident occurred at Nelson the other day at the residence of a well-known citizen. Some coal was beirg used m a tgrate, and a child was. playing before' the bars, when there was t loud explosion, and the glowing cinders weie scattered m all directions. At the <ame lime something was heard to strike one of the bars of the grate. Investigation disclosed the partly-flattened remains of a bullet from a .303 military -cartridge, which had somehow got among tho coal, and thus forad its billet. Fortunately the bar of the grate was struck wihen the explosion occurred, otherwise the bullet might have killed the child. When the jury brought m a verdict of "Not Guilty" m the case against, Bocquet for attempted murder at Day's Bay a person at the back of the Court indulged m hand-clapping. His Honor: "Arrest that, man.*' The man was brought forward and addressed by his Honor. "Don't you know that m making a noise like that you are liable to imprisonment?" The culprit : "I am very sorry, but I did not know. I cannot do more than apologise." His Honor : "Very well, I'll let you off. Don't do it again." Addressing the prisoner, his Honor said : "1 don't say I find fault • 4 witln the verdict of the jury. They have taken the merciful view. I strongly advise you to let this, incident m yourlif c be forgotten by you, and not be either destroying your life or- interfering with that •of other peonle. If you are. a wise man you will start and be /manly, and fight your battles, and not think of what has occurred m the past. You may go." Prisoner; "'Thank you, your Honor. . At Brisbane recently Thomas Valentine Long, formerly of Maryborough, proceeded against Charles Henry Johnson, publisher of the Wide Bay and Burnett News at Maryborough, claiming £500 damages for alleged defamation. Tlie alleged libel was contained m a letter from a New Zealand correspondent to the effect that Tom Long, at one time of Maryborough, had performed the duties of hangman at the exeoutioh of Ellis, and afterwards discussed tlie deed with a number of loungers on the wharf whilst he was waiting for the boat. . Plaintiff stated that he was not m New Zealand on the date mentioned. Defendant pointed out that there were at least three Tom Longs -in Maryborough, and he offered to publish a paragraph stating 'that- 'plaintiff was not^ the person meant. Lengthy evidence wag* given for plaintiff, but no witnesses were called for the defence. Th jury, after a brief retirement, returned a verdict for defendant, with costs. The Dunedin Star, m an article on the freights question, asserts that coal alone on the New Zealand coast is about eight or ten times as great as it is to the Hoin c steamers from Australia. But that is not all. Our port charges and other charges are simply "immense," and nothing will show it like actual figures. Tlie charges paid by tlie New Zealand Shipping .Go.'s s.s. Papunui and the Shaw, Savill steamer Mamari, recently loading m New Zealand, arc given. The Papanui paid, ex. elusive of stevedoring, £107 at Timaru, £13 at Wanganui. £233 at Auckland, £17 at Waitara, £181 at Wellington. £65 at Napier, £142 at Lyttelton, £8 at Pic. ton, which, with £889 for coal, made a total of £1659. The Mamari's expenses, exclusive of- coal, were : Auckland £446, Gisborne £112 (including port charges £18 18s 4d, light dues £4.1'4 s 7d, stevedoring £89 2s 9d). Wellington £295, Lyttelton .(two calls) £692. Timaru (two calls) £584, Dunedin £788, total £2920. A former resident of Dunedin, now en : gaged m the engineering and electrical business, m San Francisco, wrote as follows by the last mail : — "The largo production of fuel oil has made a wonderful difference throughout California. This", together with, the electric energy produced by the water power m the Sierras, is rapidly tending to make California a great .manufacturing country. All tlie large valleys are how covered with a network of electric power lines. Nearly all the large power plants have their transmission lines inter-connected, so that it is very unusual for a shut down for any length* of time to oocur. The Risden Iron and Locomotive Works are just now building a pipe line for the Kern River Power Company. Most of tbe^ipes are 90in m diameter, made of lgin plate, double butt, strapped, and quadruple rivetted. This, the writer thinks, is about the heaviest pipe that was ever built. Part of the force main, instead of being laid down the mountain side, where it is subject to land slides and washouts, will he' laid m a tunnel running up tho mountain at an angle of 45deg. After-rivet-ing and caulking, it will be grouted into the tunnel with cement. This ought to make a permanent job unless au earthquake shift* the whole mountain. We are still building dredges, each one larger and heavier than the last. The one erected m March of last year is averaging over 70,000 cubic yards per month. The larger of these dredges is operated by electric energy.

The recent census gives the Maori population of the Wairoa county at 2400, a considerable increase on the previous enumeration, but there is no actual increase, the last census having been very defective. j Messrs F. R. Flatman (Geraldine) and A. Kidd (Auckland), who acted as Government "whips" during the last" session of Parliament, have been again offered the positions, and have accepted l another term. Tlie number of unemployed on co-opera-tive works m the colony is now 8246, of whom 4624 are on railway works, and 3622 on road works. On the North Island Trunk Railway 1707 men ane. employed. During the month of April 107 married men ancF 436 single men were assisted by the Labor Department. Of this number 198 were from the North Island, 268 from the South Island, 45 from the Commonwealth, and 26 from Great Britain. It is reported that Mr Seddon transacted an immense volume of official business before his departure on a visit to Australia. He was engaged m his office continually all Friday night and on Saturday right up to t • moment of the steam, er's departure m the evening. A Dunedin correspondent states that m consequence of the recent deaths of two of the .principal members of the firm of Hallenstein Bros, it has been decided to issue 125,000 6 per cent, cumulative preference sliares of £1 each m the D.I.C. The directors and families who are large holders of ordinary shares have subscribed fox 70,000 of the proposed issue. Thomas Weatherall, acting manager of Green's Freehold mine, Gordon, Victoria, was last week blown to pieces by an explosion of gelignite. He was at the bottom of the shaft, 300 ft deep, and it is supposed he dropped a parcel ol gelignite he was carrying on to a piece of rock. A terrific explosion 'allowed, and a search revealed deceased's remains scattered m all directions. Mr D. Drummond, an ex-resident i Wellington, who Ms a trooper m the Southern Rhodesian volunteer force, represented his corps at the Transvaal Bisley meeting, held at the end of March. He won the Lieutenant-Gover-nor's cup with the record score of 102 out of a possible of 105, at the three ranges. There were 233 competitors for this event. Mr J. L. Toole celebrated' big seventysixth birthday at Brighton on March 12th, and received many presents and messages of congratulation. The veteran comedian i« not strong m health. The numerous bouquets and clusters of flowers sent for the birthday transformed Mr Toole's drawing-room into a conservatory and the many testimonies of esteem and affection received by the great actor touched him very deeply. The plant which the Government has obtained from Home to manufacture bri quettes from the small 'coal turned out of the State mine at Seddonville will be erected next to the coal stuiths at WcsAport. Tenders for its installation will close next week, and at is hoped to have the factory at work m low? or five mouths. The. plant will be able to make 200 tons of briquettes a day. The output from the State colliery at Point Elizabeth is steadily increasing. Writing of tlie proposal of the Government to 6pend some thousands of "our money" m collecting tlw experiences of the oldest inhabitant, the editor of the Masterton Dajly Times says: — "We have known s ome oi these ancient inhabitants'; we have listened with admiration to tlieir yarns of the times of old ; we have felt that" Baiott Munchausen was less gifted, m certain respect's, than they were; but who will real the gigantic volume when it comes groaning from the press?" So bad is tho road along the Main Trunk route that coaches have ceased to run, and mails are being cawied on pack horses. A recent visitor to those parts counted! m a' distance of nine miles just this side of Taurangarere, 16 drays and waggons stuck. -Thirty-six bullock* m one instance had to be employed to draw a. waggon loaded with 600 feet of timber ! The bullocks were hardly able to lift their legs out of the mud. It required eight horses to cany tlie swags of the last batch of English "navvies" sent to Okahune. Two -Whangarei boys, 11 and 14 years of age, have been playinc at bushrangers, and have, it is alleged, been indulging m somewhat dangerous' practice with a pea rifle. They left home on Tuesday last , with , a pea rifle and 12 boxes of ammunition, and spent Wednesday and Thursday seeking fun. They eventually fell into the hands . of the police, who took possession of the rifle and ten boxes of cartridges, and they will be called to answer for their extraordinary behaviour at the next sitting of the local Court. An interesting ease will be heard by Judges Mail*, Edgar, and Johnston, of the Native Land Court, at Hastings, tliii* week. The question to be decided is whether Mis Hartley (Hiraanui to Hei), now deceased, who was- married to a Fiuropean, properly adopted two children, who are now applying for succession to her estate, which is worth, it is said, between £15,000 and! £20,000. The adopted children, will be represented at the hearing by Mr H. D. Bell, Mr Scannell, and slr A. L. D. Fraser, while Mr C. P. Skerrett and Mr J. M. Fraser will appear 1 for the nearest of kin" Apropos of oil indications m the vicinity of Inglewood (says the Taranaki News), there is a swampy piece of land only a couple of hundred yards from the borough, wlu-ch is fairly alive wilh gas iii places. In one (pool there is a ctaitinuous escape of gas Dubbling up through the water. It was at this spot that a lad was badly injured by experimenting with matches some few years ago. Three or four years since a meter was put m, and a pipe running from same supplied sufficient gas to keep a large jet of flame burning night and day for three or four months A meeting of the hapus and the principal chiefs of the Wairarapa was held at Papawai on tho 10th and 11th irist. (says the Wairarapa Standard). Ruakuira Tamahau handed over the ground on wfhich the meeting-house stauds, comprising about two acres, to the .native people and the Government. The trustees appointed were the Hon. James Carroll (Native Minister), and Ruakura l\umahau, Tunuirangi, Niniwa Teranga, H. Parata, Iriatara, Kingi, and Nirchai Tamaki. The deed of transfer is. being prepared, aud will be executed m a few .days. In connection with a charge against a young man named Gray at Wellington last, week of having disobeyed an order. -of the 'Court to contribute 5s a week towards the support of his mother, the magistrate said be had never., heard of more hard-hearted sons with-refer-ence to their mother, one of them having actually written and said, "Let her go to work." "A poor old lady like that," added his Worship, glancing at Mrs Gray. The defendant, on being questioned by the Court, said he got 8s a day. "And you cannot pay 5s a week towards .your mother," observed his Worship. "I will adjourn the case for two weeks. See that you get it ah paid-up, or I will give you a turn up on the hilj." During the past few days excitement has prevailed amongst 6ome of the people at Inglewood. As m many other parts of the Taranaki province, the oil indications m this locality are very eucouraging, so much so that it is reported tliat an Austraalian syndicate Ims made an offer to purchase a settler's farm of 200 acres with the idea, of exploiting it. The price reputed to be offered for the land, which belongs to Mr B.H. Nicholls, is no less than £20,000. The offer was refused. At another spot, situate not many miles from the town, oil is freely flowing into - a small stream. In this latter locality the petroleum is so plentiful that the whole face of the creek can be ignited with a match, and the flame has been known to bum for over a quarter of an hour. All round the immediate district oil ga6 is frequently met with. If the big Taranaki and 'Parapara iron manufacturing company which J. H. Witheford is endeavoring to float m London should come ; off, an Old Aucklander stands to make his fortune, says thc Observer. This is Daniel Berry, who has ranked with E. M. Smith, M.H.R., for the last twenty years or so as tho principal promoter and advocator of the Taranaki ironsand. Mr Berry is closely connected with the well-known Sims family of boat-builders here, and is a brother of Charles Berry, for many years postmaster at Onehunga. He spent the earlier part of his life m Auckland, and then remoVed to New Ply. mouth, where he has been m business m a large way for almost a generation. Seeing tliat Smith, Berry and Co. claim to have spent something like £50,000 hi their efforts to establish the iron and steel industry, they are entitled to look for substantial return for their money. ' Referring to the visit of the Hon. Mr Carroll , to Wanganui, a correspondent telegraphs to. the New Zealand Times:— inc. opening of the Ohotu block lias been entu-elyjucceasful, and Mir Carroll hopes to be able to arrange for the opening of a further area of -thirty or forty thousand acres of adjoining land, extending from, Pipiriki to Raetihi. The Minister will lay before the natives and discuss with them his scheme for thecutting up and loading of the land, and he hopes the (result of the interview will be that, provided thc weather does- not seriously hamper. the work, be may be able to submit something to the public m two or three months. To-day Ohotu stands as an oasis m the desert of native lands. In the whole huge block there are only two unoccupied sections, and the axe is ringing from end to end. Tlie settlers are highly delighted -with the prospects, and a good deal of stock has already gone m. The rents which the Ac-tea Board will,receive m tru«t for tlie natives m respect t to Ohotu *lou> Hinount^ t,u over £3000 »y«ar.