THE HERALD. Alexandra: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1909. STAND PIPES.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 697, 13 October 1909, Page 5

THE HERALD. Alexandra: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1909. STAND PIPES.

I» will no doubt lie remembered that some three" years ago we advocated the placing of stand pipes along the" main street, but owing to the scarcity of water in the summer months the suggestion was evidently not taken up by the local borough council. Now that there is au assurance of a plentiful supply of water from the new sourceT and the fact of the obnoxious dust storms having commenced, it must be apparent to the council that, a mere watering of the streets once or twice a week will not suffice to suppress the dust nuisance, aud if it Is desired to keep up the clean and sanitary appearance of our main thoroughfare the existence of stand pipe* will materially aid us iu this direction. Tiie conveniences aud advantages derived from these taps are many, and were the council to decide to erect them we have little hesitation in saying that the proposal would meet with the hearty approval of the majority of townspeople. The sandy nature of Tarbert Street in the dry season is one continual source of nuisance to the business people* of the town, who are for ever endeavoring to combat the destruction of property, goods, etc., from the dust created by the constant heavy traffic passing too and fro. The Heavytraffie By-law may well be brought to bear, and the proceeds therefrom devoted towards the cost of laying down the pipes. The time has now arrived when the council should take up this proposal in all earnestness, and we would like to see our suggestion discussed at the next meeting of the council. When we rentilated this matter ou a previous occasion the council failed to treat our proposition seriously, and we uow throw out a hint to the new constitution of the council to' bring this matter forward. The erection of stand pipes would dispense with a certain amount of unnecessary labor on the part of the borough dayman, who could then be more advantageously employed at other •work around the town. The watering of the streets could easily be left to the business people, who, we feel certain, would glaidly supply a short hose for the purpose, and would uot for one moment hesitate in watering that portion of the street in front of their respective establishments.

A meeting of the Land League will be held in the library at Alexandra on Monday evening next at 8 p.m. We understand that the Arbitration Court will sit at Gore on Thursday, November 25th, to hear the dispute between the mining and dredging companies of Otago and Southland and the Gold Miners' Union of Workers.

The programme for the annual race meeting of the Alexandra Jockey Club has been approved by the Danedin Jockey Club and N.Z. Trotting Conference, and will appear in our next issue- The meeting this year will be held on Friday, December 17th. > The cheap furniture sale of Mr John Gillies, of Dunedin, has been extended for another month. Tempting offers have been made to country customers, who will find some cheap bargins in furniture at this warehouse. See advt. in this issue, and order immediately. < At the Ophir Court last week, before Messrs M'Knight and Pitches, J.'s P., Ahadbox Mullock was convicted and fined £1 is, costs 17s, and ordered to pay costs of burial amounting to 15s for neglecting a dead horse at Omakau and leaving it so as to become a nuisance to the public A St. Bathans lady last week gave birth to triplets (two sons and aldaughter), all of whom are reported as doing welt To mark the occasion, a shilling subscription was started in several country towns including Alexandra, and the happy mother will receive some tangible memento from the respective towns in commemoration of the event. Mr E. W. Porritt, who has just been appointed to the magisterial district of Naseby and that portion of the Dunstan"Wakatipa district including Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra, was up to the date of his appointment as S.M., practising as solicitor at Paeroa, Auckland. He is a son of the Rev. T. Porritt, of Featherston, and is wellknown in Wellington, particularly in volunteer circles.

The trees recently planted in the Manuherikia Domain grounds are already showing signs of life consequent upan a plentiful supply of water being supplied thereto. Some of the members could easily bestow a little • mot? enthusiasm in the welfare of the domain by visiting the grounds occasionally and attending to the watering of the trees. So far no attempt has been made to lift the pipe line and transfer it to more beneficial purpose along the line of trees. During the latter put .of last week Mr Rogers, architect for tb "3tago Education Board, and Mr D. T. Meming, a recentlyelected member of the Board, visited the Central Otago districts on a tour of inspection of the various schools with a view to reporting on the requirements in the way of repairs and other necessary wants. Mr Fleming is a member of the works committee) and his sympathy lies with the country schools. From our personal acquaintance of Mr Fleming we are certain that the country has a warm advocate in him when the education of our young is considered, and country committees would be acting wisely in keeping in close touch with Mr Fleming by bringing under his notice their many require ments from time to time. A journalist of many years standing, Mr Fleming has always taken a deep interest in education, and his pledges at election time are now being amply demonstrated by his personal visit to country schools.

Several suggesti-ms have been thrown out lately whereby the truuecs of the Dunstan Hospital may be recouped for the extra expenditure incurred by the large number of patients received into the institution owing to the typhoid epidemic in Alexandra. Up till 2 few days ago no attempt had been made by any of the local residents to adopt any of the proposals. However, thanks to the foresight of one or two local people, chief amongst whom is Mr S. Cameron, a suggestion was made that a special appeal be made to the public of Alexandra for financial assistance. This appeal will take place on Saturday evening next when the loeal brass band will appear in the street and play a programme of Collectors have been appointed, and these will make a personal canvass around the town. Residents are invited to give as liberally as their will allow, and we would like to see tie respor. -e for funds heartily taken up by Alexandra The typhoid outbreak mulcted the institution in an additional expenditure of about .£l6O, and as this has to be met by the trustees it behoves the people of Atexandra to ahow their appreciation of the benefits and kind treatment received at the hospital by the lar«e number of typhoid patients. That appreciation may readily be shown by liberal donations, and we appeal to every local resident to pruvc their when the appeal is made on Saturday next.

Speaking anent the alterations in the Otago Central time table, a local wag suggested that sleeping berths should now be placed on the trains. The innovation would be in keeping with the service. We have been requested to state'that any person found driving over the Alexandra bridge at other than a walking pace will be liable to prosecution A warning was given at last sitting of the court, when a person was fined for such breach of the county by-laws. In this issue Mr L Ryan (who is leaving the district) advertises that he will sell by auction on Thursday, 21st inst, the whole of his well-known properties in Alexandra, including brick offices, freehold sections and dwelling, together with household furniture and effects.

A special meeting of the local borough council was held on Monday last to deal with tenders for leasing one head of water delivered at the borough peustock. Only one tender—that of Mr G. Campbell—was received, ottering 10s per week for the water, and same was accepted. During last week Messrs Furkett (district engineer Public Works Department), Dobson (engineer in the survey department) and R M'lntosh (Inspector of Mines) paid a visit of inspection to the Greenland dam, the origin of the Alexandra water race. We understand that the plans for raising the dam wall are well advanced, and when completed the work will be put in hand. A grand social will be held at Clyde tomorrow evening to wind up the season of the Clyde Football Club.. Excellent music will be provided, and a set supper will be a sj>ecial feature of the function. It is the intention of a number of members of the local club to visit Clyde for the occasion, and in view of the hearty co-operation of the Clyde members at the local club's social last week we would like to see as many as possible from here patronise the Clyde function to-morrow night.

la reference to the protest made against the alteration ia the time-table of the Otag > Central railway, the member for the district was immediately proceeded with His Worship the Mayor (Mr Schaumann) yesterday received the following reply from Mr Scott, M.P., which explains itself: "Have just interviewed general manager of railways re proposed alteration .Central train. Reply emphatic. Speed limit must be reduced. Proposed table must come into force for month. Amended table may come later on.' The Roxburgh branch of the LawrenceRoxburgh Railway League lias just issued in pamphlet form statistical data collected to show facts and figures relative to the railway revenue-producing possibilities of the district to be served by the proposed railway line from Lawrence to Roxburgh. It is claimed that the statistics have been carefully compiled, and the members of the league vouch for their correctness. The league has gone the right way about bringing convincing arguments to bear on the Government in support of their advocacy, and they are certainly deserving of success for their untiring efforts in this direction. Indignation is rampant at the proposed alterations in the time table of the Otago Central railway. No reasons have so far been given for the change, but the opinion is expressed that the alterations have been made at the instance"of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. It will be remembered that some time ago some railway servants were disrated for running a train on the Otago Central line at excessive speed. Drivers contended then that if they were obliged to run up to Ihe time table excessive speed would have to be made between stations. Whether this is the result of the advocacy of the servants we are not in a position to say, but it is time some protest was made against the rank injustice to which people [in Central Otago are subjected through the slow train service. Instead of occupying longer on the journey the time should be curtailed.

Alexandra is shortly to lose one of her most prominent and respected townsmen in the person of Mr Laurence Ryan, auctioneer, commission and mining agent, who is seeking fresher and more greener fields in Auckland, where he intends commencing business on similar lines as carried on by him at present Born in Alexandra, Mr Ryan has resided in this town throughout the whole course of his life, and has now gathered round him a wife and three children of whom any man may well feel proud. He commenced business on his own account some fifteen years ago, his father having occupied the position of genial liost of the Bendigo hotel for many years Mr Ryan has always assumed a foremost position in any movement tending towards the betterment of the town, and he at present holds positions on almost every iocai institution from the borough council downwards, fie has occupied a seat at the council table continuously for the past twelve years, and his close interest in municipal matters won for himself the confidence of ratepayers generally The secretarial duties of the local Jockey Club have been entrusted to him for years past, and when adverse circumstances presented themselves he has always succeeded in tiding the club over its stormy seas of finance. Of a cheerful disposition, Mr Ryan's name has become a household word in almost every family in Alexandra, and the majority of our pioneering citizens have always regarded Mr Ryan as their chief adviser. Agent for the Public Trustee and Justice of the Peace, Mr Ryan held numerous other appointments and agencies, as well as secretary for mining companies. The news of his early departure will be received with much regret amongst his innumerable friends in this and other Central Otago districts. Mr Ryan intends leaving for Auckland at the latter end of November, and his absence will mean a considerable loss to the community.