The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1882.

The novel provisions of the Licensing Act, of 188 L are about to have a fair trial. Our advertising columns teem with announcomeuts aa to elections of Liceusing Committee?, and tho number of persons to ba'^lected throughout the Colony to administer the Act nearly'approaches two thousand. We object to making the Licensing Committees elective altogether, but the thing becomes an absurdity when every ward of every small borough has to have its separate committee, -with all the paraphernalia of a municipal election. Tiie teetotallers are not as yet strong enough "to control these elections, and the probability is that those interested in tho trade will be particularly active to secure the return of men favourable to their views and likely to defend their lioensea. The Act, it is true, limits the powers of Licensing Committees, by clauses 80 and 81, as regards the refusal of renewals, to cases in which the provisions of the Act have not been properly complied with as regards the character or habits of the applicant, or the a ate;of the premises, or the mode of conducting the business ; but the last subsec° tion of clause 81 i 3 very wide in its application, for it makes it a legal ground of objection to any house '■that the licensing thereof .is not required in the neighbourhood, or that the quiet of the placo in which such premises aresituated will be disturbed if a license is granted." Thii subsection, interpreted by strong advocates o.f temperance principles, would> wo have no doubt, shut up many houses which at present enjoy a license. We will, however, assume that some degree of fajmeas and common seuse'will be shown in interpreting the Act, but still cannot regard such minute subdivision of districts us at all likely to conduce to wise administration. It will cause the issue in many cases to be a purely personal one as to whether a particular individual, or two or three individuals at most, shall continue to carry on a trade'which he or they have commenced under the sanction of the law. It may happen that a rival tradesman may turn the scale against a particular house owned by a competitor, by judiciously pulling the wir<is ior purposes of his own and getting men elected "favourable to himself. We feel the small interest felt in the question by a groat^majority of the ratepayers will make this wire pulling all the more easy. The committees will ba elected by a minority of those on the rolls, and of that minority a considerable number will be worked up by the publicans on the one side and the advocates ojE tem.pera.nce on the other. In tho end, a)ter'considerable outlay for election expenses, a result will he obtained which will no.t refect the opinions of the majority, and w.e believe a non-elective Licensing Bench would, act with greater impartiality^ and on broader and generally applicable principles. The Act, however, must have, a trial, and all experimental legislation has its, valjUe^ if only as a guide what not to, do hereafter. The electivo Licensing Committees a$ controlling existing licenses, and the local option, syatem. as applied to new licenses,, are Sir Williajj Fox's favourite expedients i;or diminishing the liquor traffic. We do not believe they will have the effect that he anticipates ; but ; the thing has to be tried. The ratepayers : havo clearly an interest in the result, and should give their votes accordingly. The mountain is already in labour, and it remains to be seen whether it will bring forth a mouse." With the principle that the people themselves, should have the ultimate control of the liquor traffic, we have no quarrel; but -its application in the present Act appears to be cumbrous and likely to bo ■ ineffective, bee use there has been too great subdivision, and because we are not likely to secure by it the best men to exercise an effective control on principles that will be generally recognised as roasonable and just. Capricious action on the part of particular committees is certain to be resented by public opinion, and we have little doubt that there will be some radical changes in the Act next session.

Reports of yes^erday'is IVaud Board and local Courts, with letters to the editor, appear on our fourth page.

Captain Baldwin, a gentleman well known in Otago, and indeed throughout New Zealand, leaves to-day for Melbourne, en route to Eng« land by the s.s. Liguria, after 22 years of almost continuous residence in this Provincial District. In common with his numerous friends throughout the province, we wish him a pleasant journey and a aafe return. Though not taking a very active part in public affairs of late years, in the earlier days his name was prominently before the public. In company with Gabriel Head he was one of tho discoverers of the Waitahuna gold-diggings, and shortly afterwards was appointed Commissioner of Goldfields for that district. A few years afterwards he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, and of tho Provincial Council of Otago. Later on, as a Com missioner of Government Insurance, ho travelled throngh the Colony explaining the schome by means, of lectures.* Some six or seven years ago he became editor of the Otago Guardian and Southern Mercury, and since resigning that position he has devoted himself ■ exclusively to his own private affairs, with the result that he has now become one of our most successful and prosperous colonists.

A Press Association telegram from Welling ton last night says.—" The steamer Wanaka, with the 'Frisco mails,is expected to anive here about daylight in the morning. The Penguin is detained to convey the Southern portion of the mails, and will take her departure immediately after the arrival of the Wanaka."

The directors of the Dunedin Coffee Palace Company yesterday decided to at once opeiv another restaurant on the ground floor of the Palace, owing to the growing demands on the establishment.

A carpenter named Walter Dossett met with a serious accident at noon yesterday whilst working at tho Lyceum. He fell to tho ground from a height of 30 feet, and sustained a frae; ture of the right wrist, besides several injuries about tho head. He was conveyed to the Hospital and attended to by Dr Roberts, but at a late hour last night he had not rogained

consciousness,

Tho Works Committee of the City Council met yesterday and accepted the tender of James Casey (£f>4 17s) for a "pipe sower in' Elder street. Tho tenders for forming, pitching, and metalling streets on the Corporation reserve, section G, block VIII, South Dunedin, wore held over for subsequent consideration. . ■ .. ••

The nomination of five members of Licensing Committee for Dunedin South takes place today. Nominations will be received at Winter's Store, Stafford street, up till 12 o'clock.

A meeting was held at tho Ravensbourne Hotel on Tuesday evening for the purpose of taking preliminary steps for opening a lodge of tho United Ancient Order of Druids. J. M'Neil, Esq. (Mayor), occupied the chair. D.P. Bro. M. Moss addressed the meeting, and fully explained tho advantages and the benefits to bo derived from the Order. A number of tho3e present signed the requisition for the purposo of obtaining a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Victoria to open a lodge in the district. The meeting then adjourned for a week to canvass for members. A vote of thanks to Bro. M. Moss for his explanation to the meeting, and to the Mayor for presiding, brought the meeting to a close.

Two candidates were yesterday nominated for tjw iiQskjqn of c.qim.cillqr foi: ili^deii Van}, Bbrmigh' of 'liqsjyn—A. Hill JacH, prqpnaftcj by PriujQin CJoiiffh and Aiiguatine li'orrey; and AVilllam Fai-loy, proposed by Donald Macdonald and James Jackson. •

Among the paasengorfi ljy tLta , s . a . To Ai\au ycKterday was tho ftov, A[r Qrcoji, wiiQ intends exploring the Soutliom Alpa. He is accatnpaniod by two guides, Ulrioh lvaufinaiui and Emil Bosa—fcwo stalwart-looking foljowa, \yolj' acquainted with alpine travel, Mr Gvqqh intends to coininenoo his oxplorafcions by as, cending Mount Ooolc; and, should ho meet favourable weather, will extend his researches amongst the northern alpino regions. A public meeting was held at St. Kilda last evening for the purpose of taking into gou.sideration the proposed schema *- ..„,,.„. the b,,i r?h wi th water. Tho'^^1? 1. Uarko) occupied the chair, and 20 persons

were present. After some discussion, Mr Feltham moved and Mr Halligan seconded— "That the report of the Council re water supply be adopted, and that the Council be empowered to take the vote of the ratepayers as to borrowing £4000 to carry out the scheme." The motion was lost, it having only eight supporters. Several ratepayers spoke in favour of a less expensive scheme than the one arranged by the borough engineer, and the following resolution was arrived at:—" That this meeting approves of the-Council entering into arrangements with the South Dunedin Council for the payment of the extra cost of laying pipes to Hutton's Hotel."

There was no meeting of the Maori Hill Council last night, as there was no quorum present. The councillors, snme of whom came a distance of nearly three miles, waited a considerable time for the Mayor. Mr Mitchell did not, -however, put in an appearance, and the meeting had to be adjourned.

The death is announced at Invercargill of Fred Clifton, a well-known music-hall singer, who, with his wife (Miss Fanny Sara), performed in Dunedin with much acceptation several years ago. He had ceased to follow the profession, and for some time past had been landlord of the Gladstone Hotel at Invercargill.

A public meeting was held last evening at Kirk's Hall, North-East Valley, in connection with the Otago Trades and Labour League, the object being to form a branch institution in that borough. Mr E. Wilson occupied the ohair; but, owing probably to the unfavourable weather, the attendance was very small. Lucid explanations of the objects aimed at by the organisation were given by the Chairman and one or two. members present, and eventually a committee, consisting of Messrs Easton, Short, Dryde'n, Smith, and Godso, was nominated to consider the question and call a second meet-

ing on Friday, the 17th inst. The dates of nomination and election of Licensing- Committees for the following districts are ad.verti.sed. thia morning:—St. Leonards, Green Island, North-East Valley East, Zaikorai, East Taieri, Outratn, and Maungatua,

Harry Stan.eh.am, well known in the New Zealand theatrfoal world, whilst playing clown at a Sydney theatre fell on the stage, a distance of about 20 feet, through the breaking of an invisible wire, and fractured his ankle.

A list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act, and of legally-qualified medical practitioners, appears in the Government Gazette published last week. _ The annual meeting of the Builders' Association was held last evening, when the following officers wore elected for the current year, vis,:—President, Mr W. Carlton ; treasurer, Mr G. Bateman ; secretary, Mr Jno. B. Thomson. The Association has been useful to the trade generally in many respects, and is worthy of more general support than is given to it. by- those engaged in the trade as master builders. A settler at Tuapeka, West, named Smith,has been committed, for trial by the R.M. at Lawrence on. a, charge of stabbing- a fellow settler nairved, Williams on 21st January. The two, were proceeding homewaids from a meeting- and quarrelled on the way, and during j>. ■ struggle, accused stabbed prosecutor with a pocket-knife in the neck and thigh. B<ti). was allowed.

Mr Clark, the chairman of the Bruce County Corooa, and. Mr Rutherford, M.H.R., waited ufpn. the Hon. R. Oliver yesterday afternoon as a deputation, to represent that in the, opinion, of the residents of the Bruco Qwftty far too large a sum was deducted from %* Government subsidy as a contribution towards the maintenance of hospitals. The Ron. Mr Oliver replied that he would obtain as much information as possible on this matter, and would then be prepared to meet the deputation again. It was agreed that the deputation should call within a fortnight, and it was mentioned that Mr Smith (of Greenfield) would then be one of the deputation.

The Roy. Alfred North, of Harborne, near Birmingham, has been appointed as minister of the Hanover street Baptist congregation, and leaves England for Dunedin in April next. Mr North is from Rawdon College, Yorkshire, has been 12 years in the ministry, and lias for some time filled the office of secretary to the Midland Baptist Association. The gentlemen commissioned to make'the appointment were Drs Angus, Landells, S. G. Green, and the Revs. C. Hf Spurgeon and J. P. Chown. Mr J. Upton Davis, whose successor Mr North will be, Reaves for England, via Melbourne, to-day.

At the last weekly meeting of the Pioneer Lod<jG, No. 2, 1.0. G.T., the following oificors were duly installed by Bro. Davis, D.G.W.0.T., assisted by Bro. Carr, G.W.S., and Bro. Buchanan, G.W.M.:—Bro. Cooper, W.C.T.; Sister Pryor, W.V.T. ; Bro. R. G. Whettor, W.S.; Sister L. Nieol, W.F.S.. Bro. S. Mackay, W.T.; Bro. Lewis, W.C. • Bro. M'Farlane, W.M.; Bro. Anderson) W.i.G.; Bro. Nagle, W.0.G.; Sister Maize, W.R.H.S.; Bro. Greig, W.L.H.S.; Sister Cooper, W.D.M..; Bro. A. Nicol, W.A.S.

We have received an interesting pamphlet on the minerals of Otago, by Mr W. R. Buchan, which contains a large amount of interesting in. formation regarding our- mineral riches. When space will permit wo shall endeavour to give the pamphlet an extended notice.

An old opera-goer writes to the London World from Malta:—" There is an American Bingiug here, by name Sargent. She is fair, small, and tolerably nice-looking, with a email voice, but admirably trained and taught, and a very superb singer. She has made qujte.a sensation in ' Sonnambula'; and if there was more of her body and voice, she would become a grea,t artiste, well worth transplanting to the London boards." Probably this is the Jennio Sargent who visited Dunedin with Madame Urso.

The xMontague-Turnor Opera Company will open for a short season in the Princess Theatre on Wednesday next. A novelty is promised in the shape of " The Royal Middy."

Mr R. S. Walpole and the members of tho Austrian Band, whose services have been engaged for the forthcoming International Exhibition, have arrived in Dunedin, and will, we understand, give two performances this week—one to-morrow in the Tempsrance Hall, ajad one in the Garrison Hall on Satur. day. The party is composed of the nucleus of the old Austrian Band, and is of undoubted strength. Mr Walpole has at present taken up his quarters at the Central Hotel, and is prepared to give any information respecting the Exhibition to intending exhibitors and others between the hours of 10 and 12 a.m. daily.

The esthetic play "The Colonel" was re-

peatcd for the last time at the Princess Theatre last evening, and was witnessed by a large audience, the dress circle being remarkably well filled. As previously, the applause, was demonstrative, the piece being most satisfactorily produced. There can be no doubt that

"The Colonel" might bo played to good

houses for some time, but it is withdrawn, and its place will bo filled by the legitimate dramatic version of Charles Read.e's " Never

Too Late to Mend," which is to be well mounted and effectively presented. The dramatic soason will close onI 'Saturday evening, and Mr Reade's drama will bo played for the first time by the company in Dunedin to-night. The unfavourable woathor last evening prevented, of course, any very largo attendance at tho theatres, but Lyons' Tourists drew a respectable number at the Queen's, and the performance was, as usual, excellently well received. An amusing farce—"Tho Lottery Ticket"—was first played, followed by the pantomime "The Isle of Tulipatam" and a harlequinade. Many of the songs were encored, Miss Horton being especially successful. We notice that a" change in tho programme will be presented to-night.

Messrs Maclean and Co. will hold a wooL salo on Friday.

Messrs D. Powell and Co. will aell 'frcohold property, ntar tho Nightcaps'coali<elds,'at luvercar-ill on -Jcli March. ' - ' ■ . ■ o

The trial of reapora and binders, under tho auspieos of the Otago Agricultural and "Pastoral Association will take placa at Mrvjainea Shand'sf inu. Wea.t Taleri' on Friday, 17th ipst. Ent^iea dogj. o^Tuosfe next' The transt^-bftoics oi the NftHoi^l Martsagfl and Agvncy Company \\\\l Ue ejqsod from the Sihto tho S2nd mat, A, dividend or 6 per cent, tor the half-year o.n.uinfr 31st Decombar last will bo payablo on and after the 22nd inst.

The nomination for the extraordinary vaeaiiT in tho Mayoralty o( Green Island will y^ 0 i>lnce on Thursday, 10th, ni.id tfto po^llug on fho 21st inst. Tho found.tioh-stono of St. Peter's Church Caivill Soul"' "aid °n S*im<lW' "<* Siis'-. ?t

An c.-jtriiordhiryry mooting of shareholders in tho zeiiandia Qi«rlz,minirijj. Company will be held'at Mr Wtitsoi.'domco, High street, on Bth Mftroh. To .b« disposed" of, iufgoit retail trade it) tho Ooloinos. Jsetp-oflt above £2000 per yoar. R qu'ibitesi Energy, civility, cleanliness, a littlo tfreunjsucottoii, and* 000. -Apply MMirs Wriffht.'Stcphenson, n)u Uo., Measrs Maclean aiul do ,or O. U«id and Co., Dune-din — [Advt.] '

J.uw Harhorow, Professed Sliirtc"^stroct, Dunodln.-A Suuiulo »■ --or, JrsinEO hours If roni"'---" ' . - .j'iii'C, to luO'isuro, in 24 ■*-■• -■>••>. Shirts re-fronlcd. kc: flnnncl

v.. .wore, punts, nightshirts niiuli: to or'ilir?"' s T:ickc4% pygamas, or slocpinf.' suits in any mtttarm). '\SoV mrs anil cuffs, newest shr.pus .•nid'"stvlcs. N.B. Uuntlomcn waited upon at their privatu rCßidenues J required.—[ADVr!] ■..-