Page 2 Advertisements Column 7

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 2

* \ t I", ' / MAIN TRUNK LINE', '7\\

- — 4 : > : r~\ DATE OF COMPLETION. ; _ T : > PERHAPS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. 1 : "I shall not bo ablo to estimate the titM required for finishing the Northern Main Trunk line for six weeks at least," "said Mr." R. W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief of-the-Pub-lie Works Department, 'to' a Dominion representative j'esterday. "It all depends on the weather," he explained, "and the weather just at present is not very amiable." -In further conversation, the engineer-in-chief stated that he hoped the line would be'finished by Christmas, but he was not'disposed to make any promises. . Mr. Holmes has just returned from making an~: inspection of the line as far as Ohnkunry.in company with Mr. J. Burnett, Chief Engineer for, Working Railways, Mr. Jones, district i engineer of the Railway De- . partment at Wanganui, Mr. M'Lean, inspecting engineer, ana Mr.. Lowe, who will be . the railway district_ engineer in* charge ofthe section when it is opened. Mr. Holmes, stated that the extraeffort •• made in tho construction of tho lino-before tho Parlia- ' mentary train went through has not teen slackened- since. The work., now in hand and waiting ,to be done consists- of buildings, ballasting, .and the completion of the earthwork. All but two of . the cuttings which 'were unfinished when .the special train went through arc now completed. Two banks have still to be made up to their-'full heigjit, and a large amount of ballasting remains to be done. The Department has been considerably hampered by the difficulty of obtaining building timber, and a-good deal of ; building work is at. present suspended .on th|s account.. The Department wants first? quality timber, and apparently the. millers do not care to cut, owing to -the small market for the-timber o£ second quality r whicli would be left on their hands. i

/ PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. v.-'- ■— « ' The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty ' to Animals met yesterday, Mr. J. S. Jameson, presiding. Other members present were;—-." Mrs. Christie and Messrs. G. Brown, 'AV. Watson, and Rev. J. R. Glasson. The inspector's report stated that he had examined. several horses, and had had two destroyed. Olio bad case reported on . was that of "a. horse which wasfouud at Houghton Bay with a -broken leg.. The inspector vipited ,tha : .' locality, and fcuud that the limb ivfi's .bro-' ken and merely hanging by the. -tendons,;,. The accident took place on. Sunday afternoon..; and after the fracture the injured animal:' rolled some 40 or 50 yards down the hill, t Thc case was reported on Mondajy when Mr. ' Seed at once- examined the horse, and had" it destroyed. - In connection with this case., the: inspector' stated that information was. given to the Island Bay constable, but he,' so the. inspector's informant stated, took n0.., action, merely referring the person who.'gave".' the information to Mr. Seed. This delays kept the horse in misery for over twelve hours. . The quarters provided for '.'King Dick" at. the Newtown ; Zoo were brought'under ' notice by a letter from a' lady, who pro- ... tested against the cruelty of keeping an, airi- , nial, accustomcd by ilature to roam at' large, in such a small space. The writer, stated' her willingness to contribute if the society . would start a subscription in aid of a roomier- • habitation for his majesty. : Mr. Seed stated, in reply to inquiries, tliat he had visited the Zoo, and had not noticed that any animals were confined in pens or cages too small for them. After some discussion the inspector was-asked to see the new curator, of the Zoo' and talk the'matter of accommodation ovenritluhuri.. . ~ Various accounts were passed for payment. tjiw •••• The following subscriptions were' "received and; acknowledged:—Mr...A. De B;.-Brandon,- . £1 Is.; Mr. L. ,Callender, £1; Mr; A. )R. :• Atkinson and the Greymouth Goal' Co., 10a. , 6d. each ; Messrs.-B. E. Cowie, F. M'Parland, S. Learv, B. Reynolds; and do., P. Hayman : and Co.. and W. Littlejohn and Co., ss. each"; and eight others at 2s. 6d..each; making a total of £5 lis.