Our Dunedin Letter.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1031, 27 April 1894, Page 6

Our Dunedin Letter.

* {From Our Own Correspondent.) The edict has gone forth, and for the future, or as long as. the present licensing committee continue in office, our race meetings, agricultural shows, etc., will be run strictly on temperance principles. Nothing in the way of liquid refreshments stronger than lime juice and soda will be procurable on the grounds unless individuals take their own fiaska of what a correspondent to Civis designates " Scotch vinegar," and which he says is a recognised and popular article of consumption in the prohibited (?) Catlins district The following letter in reply to one went speaks for itself on the above matter : — "Mr H. S. James, Secretary Coursin" Club. Sir, — I beg to inform you that every member of the City of Dunedin Licensing Committee has been asked to sign a certificate granting a conditional license as applied for by you on behalf of Mr Liston, but no two will consent to si<;n. The application is therefore refused. — I am, &c, H. H. G. Ralfe. Clerk Dunedin Licensing Committee. And it is authoritatively stated that no conditional license for any purpose will be granted within the district under their jurisdiction. As a consequence of this ultimatum the St. Kilda Borough Council estimates that its revenue will suffer to the extent of Ll5O per annum, as all the conditional license fees were paid into its treasury. So in this case prohibition has its drawbacks, which the ratepayers of this borough will realise if they have to contribute extra taxes in the shape of an additional rate to enable the council to carry on the necessary works. The annual meeting of the Education Board was heir" l on Wednesday last, and according to the custom which has prevailed for the last two or three years the election of chairman caused a certain amount of friction. Twelve months a>_ v o, when Mr Borrie w.as nominated for the position, the self-styled progressive members of the board — Messrs Macgrogor, Ramsay, Green, and Dr Stenhouse— deprecated such a course, and the three first-named were very emphatic in advocating the claims of Dr Stenhouse to be elected instead. That latest Sir Oracle " (from Central Otago) on educational matters in particular and everything wise in general, John Johnston Ramsay, was very much in evidence, and I find on reference to a file of the Daily Times he thus delivered himself :— " He had to propose as an amendment that Dr Stenhouse be elected to the position, as he considered the chairmanship fairly belonged to him, and he considered he should have been placed in that position the previous year." — Mr Green seconded the amendment with a great deal of pleasure, as he thought he was fairly entitled to be elected. Mr Macgregor also spoke in the same strain, and Dr Stpnhouse himself considered ho should receive the appointment. As you are aware the amendment was lost, and Mr Borrie placed in the chair. If the arguments then adduced in favour of Dr Stenhouse at that time were reliable, such a course at the present time was much more to be supported, as for obvious reasons Dr Stenhouse should have been elected. Seeing that Messrs Green, Macgregor, and Mackenzie will be absent at Wellington on parliamentary duties for about four months, there can be no doubt Dr Stenhouae fully expected this to be donrc; but this evidently did not suit the " progressive three," for rumour has it that Mr Macgregor was to be the chosen one, but this not finding favour with Messrs M'Kerrow and Clark, who said they would vote for Dr Stenhouse if he was proposed, thus ensuring his election, this caused a new move, and Mr Macgregor and his henchman (Mr J. J. Ramsey) made it convenient to absent themselves from the meeting. Mr J. F. M. Fraser duly proposed Mr Macgregor, and this was seconded by Mr Green, but this not taking with the members present, after some discussion was withdrawn, and Mr Green was eventually elected, Dr Stenhouse being left out in the cold. Mr Mackenzie was very severe on Messrs Macgregor and Hamsay for not turning up, and next day the Central Otago " Sir Oracle " with his usual modesty went for •Mr Mackenzie, who created great laughter ut the end of the tirade by Bimply saying, "I feel crushed." The general opinion is that Dr Stenhouse has been very unfairly treated by his quondam friends,

The weather for the past week has kbeen somewhat mixed — a good deal of ' rairi and cold, but we have had as well some very fine days, and on the whole it , has not been so bad for the season of the year. The Central Otago railway is to be advanced a stage this week, and the Minister of Lands will declare it opened [to Moloney's, about nine miles from . Middlemaroh. It is expected it will be 1 opened to Hyde by July. N The annual meeting of householders to elect school committees for the various districts was held on Monday night, and I candidates were as pplentiful as " black- ; berries," and in some instances the proceedings were exceedingly lively. As a a general result most of the old commit- | teemen were returned. I The adjourned meeting of the Otago Football Union was held on Saturday evening, when about 40 delegates were present. Proceedings were lengthy and a great deal of interest was taken in the different matters brought up. Mr R. Ohisholm was re-elected president, Professor Sale, Mr Allen, Mesars Guffie, and Laidlaw, vice-presidents ; Mr J. Hutchinson secretary ; Mr T. Charmer treasurer ; Messrs Cran, * Matheson, Monkman, Montgomery, and Torrance were elected a committee. A vote of thanks to the retiring committee was passed, aud the meeting closed in peace and harmony.