The Dunstan Times. “Fiat justitia ruat coelum”. MONDAY, MAY 10th, 1909. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2480, 10 May 1909, Page 4

The Dunstan Times. “Fiat justitia ruat coelum”. MONDAY, MAY 10th, 1909. LOCAL & GENERAL.

The county engineer invites tenders for metalling •!.'> chains o£ t.lio OmakauMatakanui Hoad.

Mr Douglas Nicolson, who has been suflering from an attack of typhoid fever for the past few weeks, died at Matakanui yesterday. Mrs Nicolson is also very seriously ill with the same complaint but the latest advices state that her condition had improved slightly. Speaking at Auckland with reference to the prevention of cruelty to animals, Bishop Neligan said he was surprised to note how very seldom people descended to walk up hills when driving in New Zealand. He had been the more impressed because this form of consideration for horses was regularly practised in the Old Country. “It has often struck me, too,” continued his Lordship, “that there is a bit too much whip used.” Fruit is not selling at all well these days, merchants describing the market as “dead’ No matter how tempting the fruit and the price, people seem to be looking for something still cheaper. Little fruit is being imported, and less local fruit is coming forward. Good oranges brought low rates in the sale rooms this morning, and luscious grapes could scarcely find a purchaser. The position is difficult to explain. Perhaps people have not got the money to spend. ‘ Star.’

The Bannockburn Football Club have made application to be included in the Hag fixtures of the Vincent Sub-Union. ihe inclusion of this club will probably mean that the fixtures already set down will have to be rearranged. The first match of the season, Cromwell v Lowburn, is to be played at Cromwell on Saturday. Alexandra and Clyde meet on the local ground on the Saturday following* Mr R. Mclntosh oilers a reward of thirty shillings for the recovery of a mare and foal lost from Moutere run.

Tenders are invited for the leasing of the Central Otago A. and P. Association's show grounds at Omakau for a term ot three years'

Mr M. T. Kennelly, of Dunedin, cash buyer of skins &c., has an announcement in this issue. Mr Kennelly has had considerable experience in his line of business having been associated for a number of years with the firms of Messrs J. N, Merry & Co. and A. Moritzson & Co.

Court appointments Tor June and July published. “Blokes.”—At Broken Hill a Labor candidate was elected Mayor. When his councillors addressed him as his Worship, he exclaimed, “None of that d—d rot, blokes !”

Messrs Findlay Bros., of Oreti, are reported to have threshed one paddock of oats which realised 126 bushels to the acre.

The * Citizen ’on the Lawrence-Eoxburgh railway :—lt is to be hoped that Otago's indignation at the blocking up of its harmless little sink for public money will be of sullicient duration to force the Government in fairness to close down for the time being on a few more of the political vote-catching branch lims. The Bank of Now Zealand has had another successful fyear. After transferring a substantial amount to the reserve fund, it is the intention of the Board of Directors to recommend to shareholders at the annual meeting in June that in addition to a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, five per cent of which was paid as an interim dividend in December lasi, shareholders shall receive a bonus at the rate of 2$ per cent per annum. The wool shorn in Victoria during th° past season was 10,189,7721bs less than during the preceding year. The average weight per fleece was ,071b‘lighter. At a meeting of the Maniototo Jockey Club a few evenings ago the 3rd and 4th February, 1910, was fixed as the dates of next race meeting. The Club voted for Mr Proctor and Mr Latham as delegates to the N Z. Racing Conference. A Dunedin sportsman is to be prosecuted for having more than six paradise ducks—namely eleven in his possession. For Influenza take Wood*’ Great Cliff? V 9 4’ 7$

Mr James Christie, publisher of the ‘Bruce Herald,’ is (says that journal) in receipt of a writ claiming £2OO damages for publishing a libel on Mr Robert Hewit son, farmer of Lovells Flat. During the County elections in November last a letter was inserted in the ‘Bruce Herald’ and signed “Crichton Riding Ratepayer,” and part of this will be the subject of the suit. The case will be heaid probably at the next sittings of the Supreme Court early this month at Dunedin.

From our last week’s report of the Clyde Fire Brigade’s annual meeting it would appear from the balance-sheet tabled that the brigades funds wero in credit. The secretary has since pointed out to us that the balance-sheet does not show the true position as there is a balance of £l3 owing on the station building erected some twelve months ago.

For the year ended March 31st, 1909. 38 patients were treated at the Dunstan Hospital, the average daily number of patsents being 3.3. The average cost per week of each patient amounted to 13s 9d, which, however, is reduced to 11s 9d after making allowance for the revenue derived from paying patients. The amount received from this source is somewhat small, being actually only'ten per cent of what is due. Some discussion ensued on this subject at last meeting of the trustees, with the result that of the accounts owing havo been placed in the solicitor's hands to endeavor to enforce a settlement.

The Daily Times London correspondent states that Dr and Mrs Chappie and their daughters are in Paris, where the young people are having lessons in French, and making a study of the art wonders of the metropolis. A passenger who came by the Morea tells him that Dr Chappie was presented by his tellow voyagers with a thermos and an illuminated address. He was an active member of the Sports Committee, which collected nearly £BO. Over £2O of the prizes was won by the Misses Chappie. The presentation was made by Sir John Anderson (Governor of the Straits Settlement), while the address was specially decorated by Mr T. L. Corbett, M.P. The people of Dunedin are naturally sore over the impasse the Lawrence-Roxburgh scheme has arrived at. They fondly looked to it to become a “feeder’; to tbeir wellloved city. But we have no hesitation at all in saying that a line to the interior along the great natural artery of the neux would prove an even better “ feeder ” to Otago’s metropolis than the most ardent Central Otago man has dreamed of. The proximity to the main line, and the character of the country would make all the difference.—' Clutha Free Press.’ The Prime Minister’s idea is that new banks would probably bring their own capital into the country, and would lend it out to those who are unable to obtain accommodation elsewhere ; but surely the high rates of interest at present ruling should cause a rush of capital to the Dominiou, unless there arc causes at work to keep it away. It cannot be intended that competition should be introduced to penalise the banks already working in the colony, for we do not think it can be said that they have been unduly severe or conservative. On the contrary, the statistics show that they have lent freely. Still, the fact remains that a legitimate demand remains unsatisfied, and it is undoubtedly the duty of the Government to adopt such measures as will afford relief if such measures are within their power.—' Southland Times.’

The Prime Minister appears to have made a thoroughly statesmanlike speech, dealing frankly and courageously with all the prominent public questions of the day, and devoting a good deal of time to necessary details, and the public cannot fail to be gratified by his clear and reassuring ex. position of the financial position.—‘Lyttelton Times.’

There was practically a clean sheet in both the Wardens and Magistrates Court at Clyde on Saturday, the only case called being one in the latter that had been adjourned from the previous month's sitting owing to a dispute as to the amount of costs that had been paid into Court. These had been found to have been correctly paid and the case was simply called and struck out. The sittings of both Courts at Cromwell were also of a vary short duration. The police have requested us to draw attention tc the fact of a nuisance which is being created near the Clyde Post Office by people throwing down used envelopes and other paper matter in the street. This practicelgives the street a very untidy appearance and the police have determined in future to take action against offenders,' In the current number of the Wellington ‘ Citizen ’ appears a rather clever sketch of Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., from which we cull the following :- “ Nobody can listen to Taylor and be a moderate ; he makes you violently friendly or violently hostile. Ho has so much magnetism that the audience must point North and South. Just as the average politician is naturally dull, and naturally unable to be otherwise than dull, Taylor is naturally vivid and exciting, and unable ever to be otherwise than vivid and ! exciting. I would not like to live in a society of Taylor’s making. But I would no tlike to live in a country in which there was no Taylor. In a political society grown slovenly, unprincipled and dull, there is urgent need for somebody to stir up trouble. Leaven is not a wholesome diet, but bread without a little leaven is bad.\ Taylor was the leaven of Parliament in the past; he is certain to discharge his old functions again n the future. He has given ample evidences of an intention to regard the next three sessions as three wars.

The High Commissioner has asked me (Dunedin ‘ Star’s ’ London correspondent) to emphasise the fact that the immigrants that are being sent out to New Zealand by hia department are undoubtedly bona fide workers and domestic servants, and that assistance is restricted to this class only, «i have had a groat many artisan and others,” said Mr Hall-Jones, •* applying for free passages, bnt in every case they have been refused, because I know full well the condition of the labor market in New Zealand, There is no doubt that the lines we are going on are in accordance with our instructions—that is to send only bona fide workers and domestic servants. Of course, artisans and other workers go out to New Zealand on their own account, and I don’t seo how wq pre going to prevent them. Besides it would be unwise to issue a notincalo the papers that we do not want these classes. It might be the means of preventing the emigration of those whom we regard as suitable and desirable per. sons,’

In regard to Sir Joseph Ward s references to our Dreadnought gift, the Christchurch ‘ Press ’ says ‘‘ We utterly disagree with the suggestion that the Prime Minister should have consulted members by telegram- This is a vicious innovation which has been introduced into New Zealand, and nowhere else, so far as wo are aware, and there is not a single valid argument ip its favor. We hope both sides of the House will sink their differences, and carry the proposal by a unanimous vote. In the matter of Imperial patriotilW w# «bffM «o$ do things by

To illustrate his evidence in a charge against a man for illegally discharging a firearm, a constable at the Central Police Court in Sydney, one day last week, produced a businesslike revolver and remarked, “This is a five-chamber weapon, and one shot was fired.” “Then don’t point it at me,” interjected Senior Sergeant Davis. The constable altered the direction or the weapon, whereupon there was an uneasy movement among the gentlemen at the barristers’ table. “Put it in your pocket, ordered the sergeant. “It is—” commenced witness. “Put it away,” reiterated the sergeant. “Bub I was going to say—— “Don’t point it at me,” cried the presiding magistrate, as the cold barrel slowly crept round in his direction. “Point it at the police if you like, or the Bar if you prefer it, or at the Press if you wish, or anywhere else, but don’t point it at me.” All this time the witness had been trying to get in a word. At last he succeeded. “It’s not loaded.”

Said Darby to his old wife, Joan, “We, side by side, have aged and grown, But here I tell you plump and plain, You shall not poultice me again ! There’s something now to cure one faster Of cough or cold thau mustard plaster, ( No more these blisters I’ll endure, I’ll purchase Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.”

The farmer, especially the dairy farmer, to be successful, must be a man o” resource and quick to action. Emergencies occur, whether he be within reach of a or in the back blocks, where the possession of these two qualities, often by a simple remedy applied in time, might save him pound's. Such an, emergency occurred to Mr W. Bickuell, of this town. On getting his cows in for milking recently, he noticed one of them staggering across the yard, evidently suffering from milk-fever in a virulent form. Not having the advertised instrument for the injection of air to hand, and not being able to secure the services of a vet. at a moments notice—for the case de manded prompt action, as a last resource, a common bicycle pump was brought into action. After the cow had been stripped of every drop of milk her udder contained, a silver tube, often used when a oow is suffering from a cut teat, was inserted into one of the teats, and the pump affixed to it. Though working under great difficulty, he eventually succeeded in filling her up with fresh air. One hour afterwards (though in the prescription for this disease four should elapse), the cow was again stripped and relieved of the foul air, and she was again supplied with fresh air, and she very soon recovered. —‘Wairarapa exchange.’

The Prime Minister is evidently as emphatic as ever in urging the need of a policy of close settlement, as the following statement taken from his recent speech shows : —For closer settlement in New Zealand to fulfil its purposes the areas must be smaller than hitherto, and fuller facilities will require to be given to the man without means to get on the land. He must, provided he is suitable, invariably be able_ to get upon it if he so desires. Aggregation must be more stringently prevented. I am convinced that the true basis of our permanent progress lies in increasing in every way the closer settlement of the existing large estates, and to this end the existing legislation will be strenuously employed to induce, if not compel subdivision.

Mr D. Barron, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for Otago, retired from active service on the Ist inst., and severs his connection with the Civil Service at the expiration of the three months’ leave of absence granted on retirement. During the last 42i year’s Mr Barron has filled various grades of the Provincial and General Government service. He commenced in the township of Hamilton, at that time the centre of the Mount Ida district. Subsequently Mr Barron was appointed district surveyor, when the office was removed to Naseby. On a further reorganisation of the department, necessitated through a depleted provincial exchequer, Mr Thomson (then Chief Surveyor for Otago) decided to hs certain districts within which a surveyor would be located and paid by a subsidy and fees. In carrying out this policy five districts were cstablisded for Otago, Mount Ida being allocated to Mr Barron with Naseby as the Land and Survey Office centre. Within that district Mr Barron carried out practically all the surueys for upwards of *26 years, when he was promoted to Hokitika as Commissioner of Crown Lands. After a few years service there he was transferred to Invercargill, and subsequently, on the retirement of Mr Maitland, he was promoted to Dunedin, taking up the duties formerly earned oat by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, the offices held by these two respectively being amalgamated ana placed under Mr Barron’s control.