The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1891.

Evening Star, Issue 8410, 10 January 1891, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1891.

Although it was only the ninth day of the new year, the statement of reThe Harbor ceipts and expenditure and the Hoard, balance-sheet for 1890 ware submitted to the Harbor Board at their ordinary meeting on Thursday by the secretary and treasurer. On the whole, the position of matters, as shown on the face of the accounts, is satisfactory, although there has been a falling off in certain items of revenue as compared with 1889. The chairman pointed out that there had of necessity been exceptional expenditure during the year, which would not be recurrent ; whilst in 1889 the increase of receipts from dues and wharfage had been very large, owing, among other causes, to the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. In the “ general account ” a credit balance is shown of £10,400 5s 6d, and the expenditure has evidently been kept within the narrowest limits. The total amount of £10,593 16s 4d was expended during the year on works —£3,717 13s 3d in the Upper Harbor, and £6,876 3s Id in the Lower ; of which £1,836 6» 3d was for the North Heads mole and £727 2a 5d for dredging at the Heads. The floating debt of the Board on December 31 amounted to £696,376 19a 7d; of which £686,700 is represented by loan debentures, and £7,781 13s 6djis due to the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin. The treasurer explains in a memo, attached to the accounts that in the statement of assets and liabilities he has not filled in any valuation of the Board’s property in plant, buildings, wharves, sheds, and landed endowments, “as the doing so would be a matter “of opinion, and no doubt would be “variously estimated by different individuals.” That the assets at present far more than cover the liabilities there can be no question whatever; whilst in repeat to the landed endowments, comprising altogether 938 acres, the value will be progressive, as the land may be required for occupation. When the duties and functions of the Board are considered, Including, as these do, the keeping of a somewhat complicated set of accounts to the satisfaction of the Controller and Auditor-General, the expenses of management certainly appear to be exceedingly moderate. These for the past year amounted to £1,797 6s Bd, inclusive of the office salaries.

The accounts include a return, interesting from a financial point of view, showing the result of the conversion scheme initiated by the treasurer, “in saving of annual “ interest payments and relief to the Board’s “revenue from providing annually sick“ing fund for five years ending 31st “December, 1890.” The total saving in interest payments during the five years has been £9,062, and the amounts from which the revenues were relieved under the conversion scheme ai?d

consolidation of sinking fond ftmotinttffi £20,751 15s 6d, The terms of th'e sinking fund loan, 1874, it is eXplkinW, provided for the Continuance ‘of o per cent, interest na the ordinal aWunt borrowed (E250,(jj)0), notwithstanding the indebtedness being reduced by annual drawings equal the amount of the sinking fund. This fund 'thus increased year by ijmfar progressively, “The net saving 'of interest payable to *' bondholders bn 6 per cent, bonds coa« “ verted Tuto 5 per cents., exclusive 6f Intb‘“teat payable to sinking fund)’* is stated at £5,361. The balance of 6 per dent, bonds “ for which provision has ijeea made to con- “ Vert into 5 per oenfe Try ear-marked bonds "of consolidated loan is £212,700.” The Vetura 'shows the amount of loan [ b?det)lndnesß at the time of entering upon conversion and consolidation to have been £682,800, The addition to this debt % “ ear-marked bonds,” to proviso hinds for conversion of 6 per cents. Into 5 per cents,, was £16,200, bringing the loan debt up to £699,000. The total debentures at present afloat are to the amount of £686,700; “ earmarked for future conversion bonus,” '£'12,300. The treasurer notes that were the conversion completed the interest would be 5 per cent, on £699,000—£34,950—and there would be no payment on account of sinking fund. In 1890 £36,502 70s was paid in interest, and £4,367 ‘6a 5d was transferred to sinking fund account. The chairman very properly remarked upon the “great success ” the conversion scheme had proved ; “ each year the advantage derived “by the Board from it was Increasing. “Though looked upon with distrust by “some members when it was first proposed, there was no doubt that the “ scheme had been a great sticlless, hi I " there was at present a Saving 'of £1,200 “ or £1,300 to the Board ; and he believed “ this would increase Until they saved “£2,500 a .year.” Mr John Gillies, indeed, throughout his tenure of office, has done ’ ‘ yeoman service ” in every way 5 and the Board have been indeed fortunate in securing a secretary and treasurer so eminently qualified.

Mr, A. fi. Ross intimated that it would probably be the last time that he would preside or appear at the Board, as, in consequence of leaving Otago, he, was about to forward hia resignation to the Governor. We feel sure thfct the expression of regret by bib colleagues yesterday will be V'ebocd throughout the district, and Very especially in Dunedin, where the active part he has taken for so many years in public affairs is duly appreciated, To the business of the Harbor Board Mr Ross has devoted himself in a special manner, hh services having been, as aptly put by Mr fe. B. Cargill, “ of a very “ unusttal character, and of great value to the v - Board.” Not only has he in the capacity of chairman, during several terms of office, fulfilled the administrative duties of that responsible position with marked ability and conspicuous assiduity ; but as a member of Parliament he has been directly instrumental in passing through the Legislature various measures necessary to enable the Board to properly carry out their statutory functions. In presiding over the meetings he has been a model chairman, and has done much to reconcile the contentious which at times threatened a deadlock. We are glad to note that in addition to Mr Mackerras* Mr Cargill, and His Worship the Mayor, Mr Dawson, M.H.R., took occasion to say a graceful word or two as to the highly satisfactory manner in which Mr Ros has filled the chair, and “ the care and attention” he has displayed. There cab hardly, indeed, be two opinions on the subject, and, as Mr Cargill said, “The amount “of time that Mr Ross had given to his “ duties, and the amount of knowledge “that he possessed on matters connected “with them, were far above what the “ Board could ordinarily look for in “ one appointed to an office of that kind.” It is to be remembered that his services as member of the Board for a lengthy period, and as chairman for five years, have been entirely without fee or reward ; and we do not think that he should be allowed to go from amongst us without substantial recognition in some form or another of what he has done for the City and district. Mr Dawson, in the course of his remarks, observed that his experience, although he had been only a short time a member of the Board, had induced in his mind the conclusion that “ the duties which devolved upon the chairman were of so onerous a kind ” as properly to require that the chairmanship should be a paid office. Some time ago we advocated that provision should be made by statute for enabling harbor boards to vote their chairman some pecuniary allowance for the time and trouble which the duties, if efficiently performed, involve. It is hardly fair to expect a business man to undertake the work—which requires daily attendance at the office, besides frequent visits to the works and general superintendence of the staff—without any remuneration whatever. The duties, as Mr Dawson properly said, are “ pretty well equal to those appertaining to the mayoral office ” ; and the chairmanship of the Board should be placed much on the same footing.

The annual meeting of the life governors

and contributors to the Bene--I,lnfmutini|,'< vo * ent Institution and the ami Hospital. Dunedin Hospital took place on Thursday'. Since in each cag the voluntary contributions amounted to less than one-sixth of the total amount required for the maintenance of the Institution, only two Trustees had to be elected, the full number of nine having to be made up by the contributing local authorities. It was only reasonable to expect when the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act came into force that the power of a compulsory levy for charitable purposes would practically check the stream of private benevolence ; and this has been found to be the case to a much larger extent than could have been anticipated. The contributions to the Benevolent Asylum last year only amounted to £265 7s lOd, upon which a Government subsidy of £127 9s was paid, forming together but a very insignificant proportion of the cost of maintenance. The address delivered by the chairman of the Benevolent Institution Board, in which he purported to give some account of the operations of last year, was interesting and (under existing circumstances) fairly satisfactory. The present mode of dispensing charitable aid is in several important points so distinctly defective that the Trustees labor under great difficulties in keeping the expenditure at all within bounds. That they have realised their duty in this matter is manifest by the fact that during what we may well conceive to have been a bad year, owing to the strikes, there was expended upon outdoor relief £325 less than in 1889, and £7OO less than in 1888. The amount, however, remains very large—£6,4l7 2s 8d ; and “zealous indeed, ”asDr Macgregor said on one occasion, “ must be the agency, and intense the “ vigilance, to prevent fraudulent claims “crowding in under such a system of “relief”—a system which, he does not hesitate to assert, is “ pauperising our “people to an extent that is incredible “to any except those who know the “ facts, and are able to understand their “significance.” The whole question of charitable aid is one which the new Parliament will have to face. It may be found requisite to approach nearer to the poor laws in the Old Country ; but evidently things cannot be allowed to go on as they are, unless it be desired to encourage pauperism and educate paupers for the next generation. Exclusive of the outdoor relief, over which, no doubt, the Trustees exercise what control is possible under a system essentially bad, the Institution, as appears from the reports and published statements of accounts, is conducted With the strictest regard to economy, whilst the health and comfort of the inmates is sedulously cared for. The weekly coat for “ maintenance ” is only 5s Id per head, which, considering that the term maintenance in this case includes every item of domestic and official exj penditure, cannot be considered other than extremely moderate. The independent testimony of the Rev. Dr Stuart in his letter to the chairman, read at the meeting, should assure the public as to the condition and management of the Institution. It is “ run on lines,” says the rev. doctor, “which secure comfort and “ kindness to the inmates equal to what “are found in a well-ordered cottage. “ ... As one who has known “the Institution from the beginning,

"I do hot hesitate tq , say that as “regards oleaqlmqas, comfort, kindness, “and order it is most satisfactory, and is V a testimony to .the wisdom ,of the manage- “ meat,” It would be hardly possible to ptophasiso these words of Dr Stuart, which we believe to bp , fully justified. A great fieal, po doubt, Ming to the good fprtttnu which has placed the chief administHlivs power from the very beteinqfcg In Bttoh excellent hands. Mr STRom, Mr R. B. Martin, Mr Rennie, hnd the present Chairmap have all done their very beet, and that has notbeeh little, to forward the success of the Institution. To Mr Solomon Very especially credit is due. since his ocbUpan'cty of the chair bas been in horneft'b'fct Wopblesome times, and he hap had contend with exceptional difficulties, with which we may say he has dealt in an able manner, being, as Dr Stuart aptly described him, “ clearheaded, prompt, and decisive in action.” His attendance at the Australasian Conference on Charity recently held in Melbourne. entirely at his own cost and charges, indicates his anxiety to be thoroughly acquainted with the subject of charitable aid in all its phases, in order to be in a position to advise as to necessary legislation.

The state and condition of the Dunedin Hospital have been so recently discussed in connection with the inquiry by the Royal Commission that very little remains to be said. As in the case of the Benevolent Asylum, the subscriptions and donations form a very small part of the income, the revenue being principally made Up by contributions from the fiovettjttlebtand frbm local bodice. The affairsftf the Institution haVe been tfindufeted Vvith good judgment, and the beSt has been rtiad'e 0! not altogether very favorable circumstances. The election of Dr Batchelor as a Trustee we consider to be a move in the right direction', it being evident thAt he thoroughly understands the requirements of the hospital, and what should be done to remedy or modify conditions attributable to the site and the character of the buildings. The Board should be much strengthened by the, accession of Dr Batchelor, who, without doubt, will be of direct assistance in any reforms or structural alterations that mUy be contemplated. __________

Mr W. O'Brien, M.P., has surrendered himself to the authorities in Ireland,

It is probable that the Exhibition balancesheet will be complete, and the final division of the funds made, about the first week in February. The New Zealand Middle Island Dairy Association have appointed Mr Charles Cox, of the Geraldine Dairy Factory, to go Home in the Doric in charge of dairy produce. At a meeting of the Committee of the New Zealand Alliance, held last night, it was resolved that five candidates should bo nominated for the Licensing Committee next month pledged to refuse all licenses. Many plantations in Canterbury begin to show signs that they will not stand the drought much longer. On the plains scores of pinus insignis have withered off, and •there are on the verge of being ruined.

Professor Virchow is Sceptical of the success of Dr Koch’s lymph, fie states that twenty-one cases of tuberculosis treated by Dr Koch’s method ended fatally, and considers that many more experiments will be necessary before the lymph becomes effectual,

A wooden ammunition shed, containing 250 hounds of ammunition, the property of the VVaikouaiti Rifle Volunteers, and six ammunition chests, the property o* the Government, were destroyed by fire on Thursday afternoon. The fire is believed to have been caused by sparks blown on to the shed from a tree that was burning about a chain away.

We learn from the ‘ Belfast Witness ’ of October 31 that “ a unanimous call has been issued by the congregation of Ferraoy (County Cork) in favor of the Rev. J. Frazer-Hurst, M.A., of Lakeview, Portglenone. Mr Frazer-Hurst was for a considerable time pastor of the Caversham Presbyterian Church, but some time ago returned to his native country. He will, we understand, accept the call, and his numerous friends will rejoice at this auspicious settlement.

Dunedin Operative Tailors’ Society meet in Rattray street Hall on Monday evening. Annual meeting to elect churchwardens and vestrymen in St. Paul’s Schoolroom on Monday evening.

We are indebted to the ‘ Daily Times ’ for the report of the Island Block shareholders’ meeting.

City Guards muster at Garrison Hall for inspection and annual meeting on Monday evening.

A meeting to arrange for the grocers’ annual picnic will be held in Y.W.C, A. Rooms on Wednesday evening. The ‘Rangitikei Advocate’ has been sold, not to Mr Arkwright as stated the other day, but to Messrs Andrew and Kellow, who have for the past two and a-half years been on its staff.

Anti-sandfly gloves for ladies’ and gentlemen’s wear; specially adapted for excursionists to the West Coast Sounds, Also anti-sandfly veiling, procurable only at Brown, Ewing, and Co.’s.— [Advt.l The directors of the Mornington Tramway Company have declared an interim dividend for the six months ended 31“t December of 6d per share, or at the rate of per cent, on paid-up capital.

The Rev. Charles Olark concluded an immensely successful season in Christchurch last night, and left by the express this morning for Dunedin. He will, however, return to the northern city before leaving New Zealand for a flying farewell visit through Australia, Tomorrow evening, as previously announced, the gifted lecturer will occupy the pulpit of Knox Church, and on Monday evening in the Princess’s Theatre will present his entirely new Dickens entertainment. This lecture Includes the following Illustrative recitals: —(1) Pickwickian shooting party; (2) Sidney Carton’s sacrifice ; (3) David’s dinner to the Mieawbera ; (4) Dr Marigold’s prescriptions. The plan of seats is at Wise and Oaffin’s, where visitors are advised to purchase their tickets beforehand.