The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1894.

Evening Star, Issue 9417, 12 June 1894, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1894.

The Conference yesterday evening between the Otago Central Railway The Otnifo League and the members of Central, the Legislature for the district can hardly be tonsidered to have strengthened the position of the League, or as being likely to forward the energetic prosecution of the work. If the chairman is to be presumed to have expressed the general opinion of those associated with him they will practically be satisfied if an appropriation from revenue—to as large an amount as possible—should be made available during the current financial year towards the construction of the line. If this " pottering" system, as Mr Reeves rightly termed it, is to be continued, the line for all practical purposesmight just as well have stopped at Middlemarch, The interior country will remain for an indefinite period unopened and its resources undeveloped ; whilst the money already expended cannot be expected to pay interest. We are entirely unable to agree with Mr Barron in declaring that it is not the duty of the League to take up the question of ways and means. This question is the crux of the whole business, and that the League should be without an opinion thereupon demonstrates a degree of feebleness which augurs ill for the success of the cause on behalf of which it was ostensibly formed. It may well be imagined that Ministers, especially Mr John M'Kenzie, will chuckle over the report of the meeting last evening, and consider that they need not trouble themselves over-much in regard to the Otago Central.

The vigorous speeches of Mr Reeves and Mr were an exception to the deadly dulness which characterised the proceedings, Mr Stronach: " hit the nail on the head " when he affirmed that " the question of whether the line should " be carried another three or four or even " twenty miles wasa mere bagatelle." What the League should aim at and work for, he continued in effect, was the completion to the Wauaka with the least possible delay. Mr Reeves boldly tackled the financial problem ; and we are aware that he expresses a very growing opinion when he advocates "borrowing a few millions "in order to complete the lines "for which the Colony is languish"ing." He argues that it would be sound policy economically to raise by loan sufficient moneys to complete "right off" the Great Northern Trunk, the Otago Central, and other railways in progress • which open up country for settlement. The total amount would not, he thinks, exceed three millions ; and the borrowing mi"ht be spread over a short series of years. Mr Eaenkhaw talks of "six or seven millions" being likely to be demanded by the North Island alone in the event of 'any loan proposals for public works being made ; but the lines authorised do not involve any such expenditure, even if they all came under the category of urgent works. We are inclined to think that theamountstated by Mr Reeves would cover such works in both islands. As to the raising a loan in order to complete those worka, the wisdom or otherwise of such a course necessarily must depend upon the manner in which the expenditure is guarded. We should entirely object to borrowing three millions or any smaller sum if the money were to be practically at the disposal of the Government. It is known what this came to in former days. No "ear-marking" of loans has been found efficient to elude the ingenuity of a Ministry desirous of making political capital out of public works expenditure. Would it #©t be feasible, however, to constitute a trust, in ■whjeh should be vested the proceeds of a new railway loan, the particular works being specified in the schedule to the Act ? The inojaeyg ponld not then be diverted to any other purpose. The snail-like pace at which the lines—upon which the progress of the Colony so immediaiely depends—are proceeding will certainly haye to be accelerated by mxa& means or other, Thedribbling out annually of a few thousand pouads from revenue will not aid the present necessities nor give reasonable hope of raising ib* depression. " The steed is starving whilst the mx» is growing!" Central Otago and the very finest portion.of the North Island will be closed to settlement for the next quarter of a century unless something is done. The meeting recently at Clyde, and the chairman of the League yesterday, revived, it may be noted, the ids?, ot the scheme embodied by Sir Harry Amtjxson in the Bill of 1889—namely, the raising of money on the security of the pastoral estates of tluu Crown in Central Otago and completing the line therewith, Such an arrangement would be equitable, aiid, we believe, feasible; but, iinfortKnafcely, owing to the policy of a former Libe«l Government, the territorial revenues of Otago were thrown into " the common pot/' wjd Are now paid into the Consolidated Fund. The difficulty in the way of any, even partial, recovery is obvious ; .and even if Minfotora> were agree, able we much doubt whether the Northern mooter? tf the House would ever consent. The prospects .9/ such a Bill in the House, as at present counted, we can hardly consider hopeful. We quite believe that the representatives of Otago will do what' they can to secure for the Otago Central a fair proportion of what may be available this year out ol revenue for public works, but at the best this will amount to very little as regards the pushipg of the foe to completion.

The monthly meeting of the Committee was held last evening, Mr 1. W,

Whitson presiding. Several subjects respecting the management of the institute were considered, and accounts amounting to £42 9s 4d were passed for payment.

At the last weekly meeting of the Roslyn Parliamentary Union, held in the Council Chambers, Mr J. A. Millar's motion in favor of the establishment of a State Bank was carried, after an interesting and animated discussion.

A meeting of the Pelichet Bay Improvements Committee was held in the Pelichet Bay Hotel last evening, Mr J. Richardson presiding. It was reported that there was every probability of the £3OO required for the improvements being collected within a few weeks. After two nights' canvassing £42 had been collected in cash, and there are some £l2O promised. Crs Sankey and Hustings, who were appointed by the West Harbor Borough Council to act on the Committee, were also in attendance. Householders are warned that a great deal of petty larceny is now going on during the night-time. The residents of Upper York place have been considerable sufferers, their back premises having been visited by mean thieves, and articles of value taken away by them. Of course, the police cannot be everywhere, bub this warning may be sufficient to put householders on their guard, and cause them to make necessary preparations for the proper reception of these nocturnal pilferers. ' Little Bill Up to Date' was repeated by the Pantomime Company at the Princess's last night. The performance went smoothly from first to last, and met with hearty appreciation from the audience. Miss Priscilla Verne and Miss St. Clair, who sang and acted capitally, were warmly received, and Mr Callaglian was also very successful, particularly in his singing of ' The 'appy'ome.' The efforts of the Barton sisters, Messrs Cowan, Parlatto, and Tudor were also suitably recognised. Mons. Provo deserves mention for his clever juggling, and a word of praise is due to the Connor brothers for their acrobatic feat?. 'Little Bill Up to Date' will be played again this evening. The monthly meeting of the George street School Committee last night was attended by Messrs C. Haynes (chairman), A. Thomson, 11. Coghill, S. Thompson, W. B. Manley, J. Dryden, and W. F. Browne. The head-master reported the number on the roll to be 848, and the average for the month 722, the bad weather having affected the attendance. A circular from Mrs Hatton, president of the Woman's Franchise League, re proposed temperance lecture by Mr R. N. Adams to Standards IV., V., and VI., and the adoption of temperance text books, was referred to the Visiting Committee to confer with the head-master and report at next monthly meeting. At yesterday's meeting of the Acclimatisation Society the Committee to inquire into the matter of the introduction of winged game were constituted as follow:—The Rev. R. Waddell, Mr Loasby, and the Executive. A letter was read from H. Maclean, dated Havvea Lake Station, May 22, 1894, describing the shooting season this year as eminently satisfactory, and pronouncing the district '' the laud of sport." Every deer shot this year was "rolling fat," and stags were abundant. He considered the introduction of a few German stags would neutralise a slight tendency to degeneration. The present camps for deer-stalkers were very suitable, and gave complete satisfaction. The weather had been all that could be desired, and the deer forests promised to be the finest in the world. It was decided to thank Mr Maclean for his communication. Messrs Stronach, Chisholm, Edgar, Roberts, and the chairman were appointed the Executive.

North Dunedin Rifles parade at the Drill Hall on "Wednesday.

The Queen's Drive Boating Club's bazaar opens in the New Town Hall, Tort Chalmers, o:i Friday.

A notice to the youths of Cavcrsham and South Dunedin n the Juvenile Foresters' Court appears in this issue. The De Vere-Sapio and Camilla Urso combinar tion open their New Zealand campaign at Invercargill to-night, and are sure of a hearty welcome there.

At the monthly meeting last night of the Prohibition League the Rev. J. T. Hinton read a short paper on 'The Duty of the Hour.' Our report is held over. AVhile directing attention to the advertisement announcing the retirement of Mr Dawson from the jewellery business, special notice should bo taken of the la<-ge reductions in prices, and a visit to the above would no doubt astonish many who have not availed themselves of the opportunity of judging for themselves.— [ADVT.I

The St. John Ambulance Association are now preparing for the winter's lectures.. A class on " first aid " will probably be started for women next week, the lecturer "being Dr Will, and the lectures for men should commence a week later under Dr Barnett. The arrangements for the nursing lectures are not yet made. The Associa.tion will advertise particulars of classes in a few days. Court St, Andrew, No r 6,127, A.O F., held their fortnightly meeting last evening at the court room, Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Caversham, when there was a large attendance of members. The Committee of Management announced that complete arrangements had been made for the opening of the juvenile court at St Peter's Hall on "Wednesday evening. Three candidates were initiated and one proposed. The receipts were £lllos. It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to remind our readers that to-morrow night the Trinity AVcsleyan Chinch, Stuart street, hold their anniversary soiree, for which the ladies of the church have been making special arrangements for some time. A very large gathering is anticipated, judging from the number of tickets sold. The programme of the public meeting, which follows the soiree, is unusually attractive, there being vocal and instrumental items and contributions by an efficient band.

A Splendid Opportunity !—Mr J. Mollison, of the firm of Mollison and Co., has just returned from Christchurch, having purchased very largely from the sale of Edward Bennett and Co.'s drapery stock. All these goods have been bought at an astounding discount, and so, to give their numerous customers and the general public the benefit of the purchase, Mollison and Co. have decided to commenco a irreat combination sale (which will include their annual stock-taking sale), on Saturday, 16th June, when all goods will be marked in plain figures at prices hitherto unheard of in our City. Every lady should take advantage of this r&ra opportunity and come and see, come and buy, come and go laden with bargains from the great combination t,alG.—[<Vi)VT.]