Steady progress continues to bo made at, tho now dock site, Fort Chalmers. About two-thirds of the area lias been excavated to the required level, an excellent, hard bottom being found throughout. A couple of conorotf mixing machines will probably arrive this week, and it is expected that a start will bo made with tho laying-down of tho foundations next week. Meamvliilo tlio excavation at tho shoro end will proceed simultaneously with tho laying of the. concreto and masonry. An interesting find, in the shapo of a very largo thigh bono, apparently that of a moa, was made a few days ago near (he sheer logs, It is about 3ft lonif, and, though discoloured, is in an excellent staHo of preservation.

Tho long spell of dry weather recently experienced seoms to have dispelled tho apathy that the resident's of Green Island liavo shown with regard to tho abominable nuiaaneo caused by tho foul condition of tho Kaikorai Stream. Tho drainage that is constantly poured into it from the several factories adjoining, causes much pollution under any conditions of tho weather, and it' is only when a flood is on that tho stagnant pools and banks of tho stream get flushed of-1 ho smvago deposit. At present tho stream can only bo compared to a. long, continuous sewer without a covoi to it, and it is not to be wondered at _ that tho inhabitants are beginning to stir themselves in the direction of obtaining relief from an abuse that is nothing but a sanitary scandal.

Tho'weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees, hold yesterday afternoon, was attended by Messrs W. T. Talboys (chairman), T. W. Kempthorne, W. Burnett, J. Arkle, H. A. LeCren, A. Tapper, D. Larnach, and ' Captain Easther. Themonthly outdoor relief book showed that during January 328 eases were dealt with, comprising 142 men, 216 women, and 497 children, at a cost o£ £103 Is 6d per week. In tho corresponding month in 1906 the cases dealt with totalled 293, comprising 127 men, 180 women, and 467 children, the weekly cost being £91 2s 9d. Throe dors for tho purchaso of property at Walton were received, and that of Jeter Allen, jun., at £71, being the highest, was accepted. Tho Government valuation of tho property was £76. Nurse Barr wrote stating that owing to circumstances over ■which sli© had no control it was necessary for her to leave Now Zealand at the end of this month, and slio therefore asked to bo relieved of her duties at tho institution by February 16. Tho application was granted, tho Ohairmau remarking that Nurso Barr had proved a very suitable woman for tho position. Accounts amounting to £473 15s 4d wore passed for payment, Thirty-sovon applications for relief were dealt with.

Tho Dunedin Presbytory on Tuesday, at tho request of tho Anderson's Bay congregation, agreed to grant tho Rev. A. Oam,eron Jeavo of absonco for a further term of two months. It was also resolved to express tho sympathy of tho Presbytery with Mr Cameron, and its appreciation of the thoughtful kindness of tho congregation. A small committee was appointed to arrange for pulpit supply during the next two months. Mr Cameron's many friends will bo pleased to know that his health is very much improved, and his medical advisers expeot that this further rest will comp'.otcly restore him to his former health.

Tho Hon. J. B. Callaii. desires us to express his apology for non-attendance at tho presentation to Mr Cohen on Tuesday. It had not come under his notice that Mr Cohen's eivio activities were to bo publicly recognised, and Mr Callan, in sending a cheque towards tho testimonial fund, expresses his thorough agreement with the movement to suitably acknowledge Mr Cohen's spirited and long-continued efforts on bohalf of tho public.

Tho fiolils and paddocks in tho vicinity of Aloeraki Beach arc. so dry and parched up that (hero is scarcely any food for cattle, and quite- a number of tho animals malco their way to tho beach and feed upon tlw kelp which is washed ashore. Tho rain which was experienced in Diinwlin on Tuesday did not extend far beyond Waitati, and tho country beyond that remains in much llio same dried-up condition 86 it lias been for some time. At Mooraki tho inhabitants have to cart their water fvom Trotter's Creek, some distance- away, and tho charge for a small barrel of it is ?« 6d.

Tlio English cricket team arrive,by the second express this evening, and will be located at the Otago and Fcrnhill Clubs during their stay. - Thia will bo the last chance tho publjo will have of (seeing thia fine allround team, and thosa who had not the good fortune to seo tho vieitora bat in tho last match shoidd not miss this opportunity. The Otago tca-m aro expected to give a. much better account of themselves on this occasion. A good wicket has been prepared, and an interesting gamo is anticipated. Tho Otago Sports Depot have kindly offorcd a bat to the Otago player put-ting up the most meritorious performance in the match, to bo decided by tho vote of the team. Owing to tho English match on Saturday school matches will not commence until February 16.

A largo crowd gathered at tlio Ocean Bench last evening to listen to the playing of the Garrison Band, under Lieutenant George. Tho ovning was dull and somwhat chilly, but numbers sat on tho Sandhills and listened to the strains of music, while others promenaded up and down the entrance to ilio bench. A very enjoyable programme was submitted, tho following items being included:—March, "King William"; ovorture, ','Crown Diamonds"; selection, "Norma"; valse, "Ma Bello Adoreo"; seloction, "The Country Girl"; march, "Duko Alborl." Tho funds of tho projected band rotunda will benefit consider' ably by tho collection taken up.

Mr ]J. D. Grace, secretary of the Shipwreck Relief Society, received from Captain Morning, tho Marino Superintendent of Auckland, who is acting as tho (society's representative there, tho following wire:— "Ship Wui-tti wrecked on tho Wairoa River. Somo ot tho crow lost all their effects, and asked for assistance. Please instruct." To this Mr Grace replied, asking for the amount that Mr Fleming would recommend. When thU is ascertained Captain Fleming will bo given instructions to draw on tho society to tho amount of relief required.

A brief sitting of tho City Police Court was held bcforo'Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., yesterday morning, when two first offenders wore charged with drunkenness. They were fined 58 each, with the option of going to gaol for U hours, and ono was also ordered to psy 2s cab hire. A prohibition order was granted against a man oa tho application of his wife.

At last, night's welcomo to Sister Alice 4n tho Clioral Hall Mr Arnold, M.H.R., touched on tho housing problem, which, ho Mill, was ono of tho questions which, would have to bo taken in hand by public men. A prominent business man had said (hat if ho was tho health officer he would condemn and destroy 300 houses in tho City of Duncdin. Now, that was a statement that received applause. Those 300 houses wore houses which, lot for four, five, and six shillings a week, Well, what aWt the peoplo who would bo unhoused by- their boing destroyed? Let them take tho cheapest of tho other availoblo houses at a rental of 8s and upwards? To do so meant that many of the wives and families would havo to go without soino of tho necessaries of life. It was noceaarv, said Mr Arnold, in existing conditions, that those houses should be there, and that was why tho problem was ono that must bo taken in hand.

•Tho Dunedin Highland Rifle? and tlio City Guards went into camp at the Central Battery, Ocean Beach, last night for one week. Tho companion mustered at the Garrison Hall, and shortly after 8 o'clock marched out to tlio camping ground. A large number of tenia liavo boon erected, and, givon fine weather, some useful work will bo midortnltfin by tlio men, under tho direction of their officers. Both companies had a largo muster.

About 200 people took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the Ravcnsbournc Regatta Commilteo to mako a trip down tho harbour last evening in tho popular ferry sioamer Mahono. The water was as placid as a lake, and musia was discoursed during tho trip by tho Ilavonsbouvno Brass Band. After proceeding past Port Chalmers as far as Pulling Point, the Mnhcno returned ,to town about, 11 n.m.

At yesterday's meeting of the Iruslecs of tlio Benevolent Institution a sub-com-mittoc, consisting of Messrs W. T, Talboys (chairman), J. Arkle, H. A. LeCron, and A. Tapper, was sot up to formulate certain matters which it might bo deemed advisable to bring under tho notice of the Hon. G. I'owlds, Minister of Education, during his visit to Dunedin next weok.

What would not any eily clergyman give for tho means of ringing up every member of his congregation by telcphono to jog the memories of thoso who forget to attend his ministrations, or to make the little eocial inquiries that now cost time and shoo leather? (asks tho Auckland 'Observer). Tin's is, however, what threo Maori ministers on tho East Coast expect to bo ahlo to do very shortly. Tho Maoris living an'tho districts about East Capo »ro up-to-dato pcoplo. At thoir pwn expenso apd by their own labour thoy are making telephone wires almost as common and as complicated in their district as. epidorwobs. Tho Maori thereabouts who has not a talking machine m his own houso will soon In a person of no account, Whilo blackcocks settlements of pakehas avo bemoaning that they cannot get oven ono telephone to servo in caso of emergency, tho East Coast Maori has helped himself to thoin by tho dozen.

Mrs Fealhorstono Osier's one hundredth birthday, which was celebrated at Toronto on.December 14, attracted iiiuch interest in Nop; York, sipco the vanerablo lady is tho mother of Dr Willjam Oslor, to whom isattributed the theory that tho end of human usefulness comes at the ago of 60. Tho "birthday waa tho occasion of a family gathering of four sons, a daughter, and 27. grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 'and long accounts have beon. published of tho assombly. Tho birthday-cako was lighted with a hundred candles, and » feature of tho festivities was a number of ornamented reliefa, representing tho five British Sovoroigns under whom tho lady has lived. An address was presopted to her by Iter descendants, which is an eloquent refutation of her learned son's theory. It eays:—"WJmfc is a useful Jifo if yom-3 is not? At a hundred you are moro useful- than bofore to each and all. Ton have- been all our' lives a radiating centro oE an influence for good, which still remains. To sco you, to bo with you, is to receive peace, calm, strength, and cncourageinont. Nover stirred or excited, wailing patiently for God's timo to dio, you have shown us how to live."

The annual meeting of the Otago Mutual Starr-Bowltatt Society will bo hold in tho Trades Hall, Moray place, on Thursday, 14th inst. Threo appropriations' of £500 each will bo disposed of.

Tho name of 11. Ji, Build, a winner of a New Zealand University Junior scholarship, was orraneously printed Burt hi our roporfc yesterday of Mr Morell's speech to tho Hi#h School pupils on tho occasiou of the reopening of tho school.

The annual flower ahow of (he Cargill Road and St. Hilda Methodist Sunday Schools will 1)0 opened in tho hall, Cargill road, at 8 o'clock this evening. Lovers of billiards will ho afforded a. final opportunity of witnessing Itr Charles Slcmmolt. handle a cue in Dunedin on Tuesday next, when ho will meet ono of the best local amateurs in a match.

Messrs Uailey and Millmru, advertising specialists, 123 Princes street, notify advertisers who have not received their Advertising Handbook and Newspaper Map of New Zealand that they can obtain a copy {rco on application.

'.Clio people of Dunedin will during the next few weeks havo tho opportunity of seeing for themselves how ostrich farming is progressing »s an industry in this colony in a display of its finished products at Mrs Dreaver's establishment in Crvwrgo street, Tho centre of tho industry, us is generally known, is the Helvetia, ostrich farm, at Auckland, which has quite a fascination f„r visitors, and can show about GOO birds at. present. A representative of tho management i 9 at present in this city arranging for the display, which, judgin" by that mado by the Helvetia farm at tho Christchurch Exhibition, should lio immeasurably templing to the ladies of Dunedin.

Tho Triad for February is a very loadable number of this popular monthly, containing iminh valiuvblo information relati'us to music" science, and art. There are several wellexfeuted illustrations. '.Those nro in connection witli recent " Pretty Chili!" competition, and futl-pago portraits ot tho successful competitors aro given. A now competition is inaugurated which should prove of interest to many young people. Particulars appear in another column.

Mollisous' end-of-soason salo is now on, and will lia continued from day to day for 30 days only. Ilugo bargains in all •departments.-- Mollisons (Ltd). ■ Tourists desiring mementos of New Zealand ■uill find it to their advantage to inspect the luagnificont selection of articles in gonuino Kroonstono displayed at G. and T. Young's, 68 Princes street.

It is quite truo that Dallas and Volt arc holding u dissolution sale, and that their dissolution prices will surprise you.—Advt. A gentleman Baid to-day that ha had been ill for threo weeks with influenza. Uad he used "Lancer" Influenza Cure thrco days would probably have sufficed; 2s, at al! chemists'. Don't nccept substitutes.—Advt. Who is Pkteb DicK?-Tho most roiisbla Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposit* Coffea Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charge/•Welly moderate.—Advt.