TOWN EDITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10963, 4 May 1907, Page 3

TOWN EDITION

"Ten years ago it was purely a sheep run ; now it is one of the most progress ive boroughs m New Zealand.' This was said of Miramar (Wellington) by the new Mayor, Mr C. J. Crawford, who at the beginning of the epoch referred to first did duty for the district on n local body. "In those days," he continued, "it was almost a pocket borough of the Crawford family. We paid seven-eighths of the rates, and the first Road Board was rather a farce, because it contained 'two Craw fords and our surveyor. Out of five members we had always a majority present. However, I don't think that very much harm *^as done." The forthcoming sculling contest between. W. Webb, of Wanganui, and Charlie Towns, of Sydney, who has just obtained thei world's sculling championship by default ,'Jrom his brother George Tpwnfi, is arousing great interest m Wanganui, where funds are being raised to present the New Zealander with a new boat. Tlie match will be for a big purse and the championship of the world, and will take place at Sydney, probably about two months lience. Mr W. R. Tuck, of Wanganui, who is backing Webb for £500, says he is ready if Webb loses, to back him against anybody else m Australia. Webb's best feat has been his defeat of Stanbury. Rather an unusual incident marked the departure from Fiji a week or two ago of the Hon. Uolonel Claude Francis, who has just relinquished the position of Inspector-General of the Fijian police. On the day of his departure by the Man. uka a legal firm m Suva proceeded against him for the recovery of an amount owing for cab hire. The" Magistrate gave the case agaihstj the- defendant With costs*, m all about £5. Colonel Francis refused to pay the sum, and as he was about to leave the colony the plaintiffs moved the Chief Justice for a writ of speedy execution against his person. This writ, it may be remarked, would have required the signature of Golonel Francis himself. At this juncture, however, the Colonial Secretary guaranteed payment of the amount involved, and the Inspector-General was allowed to depart. . At the annual meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers' Union this afternoon Mr A. J. Cameron was appointed delegate to the Provincial Executive. Mr S. Liddell introduced the necessity of a veterinary surgeon being appointed for tho district. The present official wiiß employedat the abattoirs.'— Mr H. N. Lysnar said that the farmers Would have to pay his salary.— The Chairman said the question was an important one. There were now over 2000 cows milked m the district and if each farmer contributed" -so much on -each cow they would very soon provide the salary, for a qualified" man. He urged the matter be referred to the committee. — This course was adopted.— Mr Field moved.that the. ln-, spectorof stock be communicated with m a view to securing the erection of a dip at. the sale yards. They would never get the sheep of the district clean until dipping at the sale yards was compulsory. —The resolution was carried unanimously.—Mr Smith moved a vote of thanks to the officers of the past year.— Carried.