The Herald. Alexandra, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1908.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 653, 9 December 1908, Page 4

The Herald. Alexandra, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1908.

A meeting of the Alexandra Jockey Club is called for this evening. The annual meeting of the Blacks Plumpton Coursing JGlub will be held at Ophir on Thursday, 17 inst, at 7 p.m. Standard brand boots and shoes for quality are the best in New Zealand. See advfc. on page 1 of this issue. .-Friday next has been fixed as the date on wmich Mr A. R. Barclay's application for aj review of the poll of the Dunedm North /electorate will be taken. No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of Mr A. R. Barclay's application for a magisterial recount of the voting at the second ballot in the election for Dunedin North. Fit, style and comfort.—Three important items to be remembered when purchasing summer footwear.i In price, style, quality and comfort we guarantee to please everybody. Call and inspect our new stock. Shoe-ettes all sizes—-Theyers Bros. | A Wellington telegram states that a temiporary readjustment of portfolios has been Virranged by the Prime Minister. The of Ruilways will be taken over 'by the Hon. J. A. Millar, and that of Public Works by the Hon. James M'Gowan.

The band will play a programme of selectionsiii the street on Saturday evening next. The Indian Bazaar opens in Alexandra this Week; when lovely Indian goods will be offered for sale.

A meeting of friends and supporters of Dr Chappie at the recent election is called for Monday next to discuss the advisability of honoring Dr Chappie; . At a meeting of Clyde residents held last week it was decided to recognise in tangible form the valuable services rendered to the electorate and to the dominion generally by Mr J. A. Macpherson, who unsuccessfully contested the Tnapeka election. Mr Bruce, of the Stock Department, and Mr Dobson have completed their work of inspection in Central Otago with the object of determining as to which lands are suitable for irrigation. Their report will be looked forward to with a great deal of interest. During last week Mr E.R. Green, Inspector of Mines, paid his usual visit of inspection to the coal mines in this district. Mr R. M'lntosh, Inspector of Mines and resident at Clyde, has of late been engaged' in the southern portion of the Tuapeka district. The privileges in connection with the forthcoming meeting of the Alexandra Jockey Club were sold at auction by Mr L. Ryan on Saturday last, and purchased as follows : Booth, Mr A. Hosie, j£ls; refreshment booth, Mr A. Hosie, 10s; fruit stall, Mr N. Anderson, £3 15s; race books, Mr T. H. Cahill, £s l saddling paddock, Mr Hosie, Bs. We understand from Mr Green, Inspector of Mines, that the districts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland have' this year been free from any serious accidents in the various branches of the mining industry. This news isanost gratifying to all concerned, especially the inspectors, and it is hoped that not only will the short remaining period pf 1908 retain its record in this direction, but that in the coming year's mining operations accidents of any serious nature will also be unknown.

It does not appear to be generally known by settlers that under the Stock Act they are liable to a penalty for burying the carcase of any animal in the bed of a creek or watercourse, or allowing it to be there. Cases of an infringment of this provision occasionally occur in the Auckland district, and one has just lately came under the cognisance of the office of.the Agricultural Department, but the breach is usually due to ignorance of the Act rather than to any wilful intent to disregard it. Mr Herdman; the night before the second ballot, when speaking at Wellington, said that some body, had been spreading a rumour that he was a German, " You don't iGok it, old boy !" cried a frequent interjector from the gallery. "The gentleman is right' this time " said the candidate " lam a Scotchman. It is said that wherever you go you will find a Scotchman in a good position, and that when the North Pole is discovered a Scotchman will be at the top of it. Well, you will see" me at the top of the Wellington North poll to-morrow."~(Laughter and applause.) • The preliminary hearing of the case in which Mr W. Jeffries, one ot the candidates for Geraldine, is proceeding against Mr C. Lashlie, secretary of the Geraldine No-license League, for alleged libel, was called on at Temuka on Tuesday, but as the defendant was not represented, Mr S. G. Raymond, who appeared for the complainant, suggested that the case should be adjourned for a fortnight. The Magistrate (MrC. A. Wray) agreed to that course, though he remarked that there did not appear to be any ground for the action. He suggested that possibly the two parties might arrive at an agreement in the interval

The Taumarunui electorate, which Mr Jennings represents, is a difficult one to get round in a- short time. In conversation with a representative of the ' Taranaki News ' Mr Jennings said that from October 15, the first night he spoke, until polling day, November 17, he travelled 1,017 miles. By train he went 550 miles, trap 200, jigger 12, steam/ launch 20, and horseback 235. .He spoke on sixty-two occasions, the' greatest performance being on October 17, when he adressed six meetings in the day time, finishing with the seventh at Raetihi-at night. The placs of meetings comprised halls, schools, woolshed, saw-mills, railway stations, new bridge _at Tokirima, men in bush camps, men on railway works

Consequent upon the continued dry weather that has been experienced during the past month or so, accompanied by boisterous winds, the country throughout Central Otago is in an extremely parched condition, and growth has commenced to assume a backward tendency. Reports from the various districts show that the conditions are similar all over the interior of the province. Welcome rains fell on Monday, but the showers were of short duration, and somewhat late to relieve the seriousness of the drought. However, good will accrue from the rains, and with colder weather no\f being felt it is hoped that more rain wiA'l follow. We hear that the Ida Valley district is badly in need of moisture and crofcis are drying up; whilst in the Hawea district, where the rainfall is much heavier *han in these parts, word comes to hand that, several* farmers have turned their stock on to the crop's. : ■ . ]'.-_'

During his election campaign ]pr Chappie was wont to relate many stories, but the following one appears to be most appropriate to the successful candidate for Tuapeka, and told by the doctor, at his QWn, expense, as the ballot proved, .the Wijfi'.pf the, story will be at once depicted by/those who .personally know Mr Scott. A""'farmer returning home from, a journey w&s delighted to find that during his absence triplets had been born to him. Joyfully Jvg summoned his friend and neighbor, the.; local veterinary surgeon, to come -and,- s"ee the latest addition to his domestic r circle. The : vet. came and in his characteristically absent-minded way laid his forefinger on the chubbiest of the trjo, saying, "If you take my advice you will keep this one." Of course Dr Chappie, pointing to himself, asked the electors to assume the role of the vet. and select himself. But the electors of Tuapeka were true to the fable as told by the doctor, and selected the "chubbiest" of the trio in the person* of Mr Scott. The annual meeting of contributory local authorities for the purpose of; electing six members to the Benevolent Institution was held in Dunedin on Monday-last. Mr W. T. Talboys (chairman ofV the Benevolent Trustees), who represented\by proxy Vincent County, Cromwell and Alexandra Boroughs, took the chair at the outset, but the legality of the chairmanship being questioned by Mr Knight (Tuapeka), another chairman was elected on Mr Talboys' motion. Mr Talboys explained that if his votes as proxy were questioned the position .was that he could not use them. Mr Solomon, K.C., said that in his opinion, whether..-- the delegates took exception or not, nobody had a right to vote unless he was a member of the contributing body that he represented. This opinion was endorsed by Mr J. M.i Gallaway. According to this contention all the. three local bodies were disfranchised, and from what we can see these bodies will be put to more expense if, they desire representation or a voice in the business of the institution or charitable aid. The cost of this administration of hospital and charitable aid is contributed by the ratepayers of the respective local bodies, and we hope to see. the matter taken up and discussed by the three, local bodies, for it appears to us that it is altogether unfair to disfranchise any such body when it is repre- i sentcd by proxy, more especially when it is known that the holder of such proxy was j formerly a member of one or other of the j local bodies.