The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1903.

Evening Star, Issue 12027, 27 October 1903, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1903.

Ik this issue we publish the report of Mr Carew, S.AL, on tie vexed A Victory for question of the discharge of the Drainage sevyage Mw± ft Board. w iii be remembered that "when the Drainage Board sought authority to carry out works for trie discharge of sewage from the City into the ocean at Bird Island objections were raised by the Tomahawk Road Board and some of the residents of that district. Mr Carew was accordingly appointed a Commissioner to investigate the matter, and there can be no question as to the thoroughness with which the inquiry was conducted. Every facility was given to both sides as regards the production of evidence and the general presentation of the case; :<od whatever difference of opinion there may be respecting Mr Carew's decision it is certain that the Commissioner did his very best to obtain a complete grip oS the matter in dispute. The objectors asserted and sought to prove that if largo quanta tie? of sewage were regularly discharged into the sea at Bird Island, as proposed by the Drainage Board, a considerable portion of this matter would not be carried out to sea by the currents, but would be driven ashore by the waves, with the result that the sands would be polluted and the residents discommoded or even imperilled. The Drainage Board met this case with what practically amounted to a negative contention. They declared and endeavored to prove that the sewage (discharged in an almost liquid form) would fall into an ocean current, sweeping from the island out to sea, and that if any portion should escape shorewards it would be so diluted by the large body of water between the basin and the shore as to be quite harmless and unlikely to reach the shore. Expert witnesses differed materially (as expert witnesses have a habit of doing), but Mr Carew has come to the conclusion that the weight of evidence is on the side of the Drainage Beard's view. He thinks, however, that nothing but the- experiment of actual discharge of sewage could settle tie question whether sewage would reach the shore and accumulate en the beach; "but as sewage "could only reach there in extremely di- '" luted form, the evidence does not satisfy "me that it would be sufficiently appre- " chble to create a public nuisance or cause * danger to the public health, and thereby "deteriorate the value of property in the "neighborhood." At the same time, in view of the aforesaid uncertainty, Mr Carew is of opinion that "it would be inadvisable "to authorise the discharge at Bird Island "without provision being made thac if it "be found at any time that the sewage "pollutes the shore to an appreciable and "injurious extent that ail the sewago be treated in a septic tank, ao was recoromended by the threi engineers in reference "to the proposal to make tlte outlet at "Lawyer Head." The Commissioner does not think, however, that the Drainage Board should be required to incur the cost of providing the plant and works for septic treatment before the necessity for them Iras been demonstrated. We shall have more to say about some of the points at issue in a subsequent article.

Fxw people will be disposed to deny that Mr A. S. Adams has earned A Tempewnro the tribute paid to him bst Champion. ni?ht by Ms frifinds and ad

mirers. Even members of the trade" might admit, half-bitterly perhaps, that the honor was deserved— those at least who know anything of the "stern joy which feel in foemen worthy of their "steeL" No doubt, however, this is apt to grow monotonous when the fje°inan always wins; and Mr Adams's successes in the arena of trade versus temperance litigation have been characterised by what his opponents might almost to justified in regarding as "damnable iteration." Certainly the Temperance party have good cause to rejoice in the fact, that their professional advocate is also an enthusiastic adherent of their canse—one whose brief is but the statement of his own passionate conviction, and whose interest and fidelity have no relation to the monetary figures which that brief bears upon its surface. We are glad to associate omrsdves, albeit from an independent standpoint, with the general spirit of last night's demonstration. We have not always relished Mr Adams's oratorical and argumentative methods, and we have sometimes thought (and said) that his altruistic zeal had temporarily clouded his "sweet reasonableness." But the unselfishness of his motives might T*ell cover worse faults of temper than any that he has cammitted; and only a perverse cynic or a spiteful foe could urge that tie high praise of his public spirit and smgteness of heart pronounced by Mr Jago last m'glrfc was more dosely related to flattery than to truth. Mr Adams is now, to all intents and purposes, the leader of the Temperance party in Dunedin (as well as the custodian of their legal interests throughout the Colony); but, admirably as he is discharging his task, he is just and generous enough to admit the high value of the example set by a predecessor who served the cause with splendid courage and fidelity in its darker hour. The senior generation of temperance workers must have been gkd to see their old leader in the ehair last night, and to hear him speaking with septuagenarian vigor in support of principles which he has maintained from youth to age, through good report and ill—in days, too, when to be a temperance reformer was taaramomrt to being looked upon as a quixotic busybsdy or as a peculiar person. The tone of the speeches last night was, upon the whole, moderate and restrained, as regards polemical issues; but wo must give renewed expression to our regret that members of licentdng committees do rot think fit to abstain from controversial oratory on these occasions. We may take this opportunity of noticing the list of objec+iens to the new Licensing Bill which has been drawn up by the local Temperance party. The work lias been excellently done ? in a business-like and dispassionate fashion; and the well-reasoned dauses of the protest furnish a compendious and eondusive condemnatioa of the Premier's insidious proposals. It was observed—not quite reasonably—by une of the speakers at last night's meeting that- the Temperance from. Wei-.

Engton or from the present Parliament. It most be borne in mind, however, that the new Bill is a Ministerial, not a parliamentary, production; and we venture to predict that the House of Representatrvea will be found quite equal to the task of sending it to the limbo of abortive cariosities. If this should be the case, it -will be futile for Mr Seddon and his colleagues to try to lay blame upon Parliament and sav that the Government have done their part. The Ministerial sins of commission and omission will come into clearer light than ever when the Legislature has given the despatch to this preposterous measure.

Apropos of certain remarks by Cr Lochhead, of Mornington, as to borough rates generally being moa» or less miifonaaJy in arrear, Gr Macandrew asked questions at last night's Council meeting at the Northeast Valley, and as a result the following statement of the position of outstanding borough rates at March 31 last was laid on the table:—l9oo rate—General £A 19s, special £2l 12s 6d, and charitable aid 17s Id; 1901 rate—General £2 19s, special £1 13s 6d, and charitable aid 19s od; and 1902 rate—General £33 Is, special £l6 103 od, and charitable aid nil; and these amounts had been, said the clerk, considerably lessened since.

Is it irony or a joke, or only a common mistake, or what is the reason of the current volume of 'Chums' publishing a copy of a photograph of the Earl of Glasgow among " Men of the Empire," with the name and a short biographical sketch of our present Governor, Lord Ranfmiy, below it? The photograph is one by Standish and Preece, of Ciiristchurch, but that cannot be the reason, and it seems all the more peculiar when it is remembered that Lord Glasgow has been figuring of late among the Empire men of the Imperial Parliament, and that ' Chums' is one of the leading English annuals of its class. The Borough of North-east Valley have decided on a water cart —not what Cr Brittenden graphically described as a leaking tank on a second-hand vehicle, but a real up-to-date £43 10s dust-layer (springs £2 extra). The Works Committee recommended tho purchase of such a one from a Christehurch firm, and last night tie Council "clinched" matters. There is to be a Fannington rotary pump attached to the cart, 50 that the water may be drawn direct from the creek. After Cr Brittenden had expressed his satisfaction, and Cr Green his pride in the new venture, it was decided to accept the tender of Messrs Prycr Bros, and Co. for haulage of the cart and of the road brush. The Dunedin Cremation Society are endeavoring sealously to shed light upon dark minds in the matter of cremation v. earth burial, and a pamphlet bearing this title and the society's hall mark is being distributed. The paper is clearly put and interesting, which was intended, Mid it is also humorous, which is perhaps an accident. Summing up the pros and cans, it says that to those who have a constant or recurrent dread of being buried alive, cremation must come as a Doon, for it assures them that, besides the fact that their bodies would under this system have special medical inspection, it is an ascertained truth that when ono goes into a temperature of 2.ooodeg Fahr. the heart's action ceases. This satisfactory information certainly ranks the crematorium with " the Pickwick, the Owl_ and the Waverly pen." Reduced to fact-, the story of an accident at the Hillside Workshops is simply this: that shortly after starting work this morning the rim of a driving pullev flew to pieces and damaged the galvanised iron lean-to in which the pulley was running outside the carpentry shop. There was no belt on the pulley at the time. The flying fragments did not hit anybody. There was no business at the Police Court this morning.

We understand that at this evening's meeting of the Dunedin (Dairpetitioos Society's Committee it will be reported that the takings during the festival fully cover the expenses and leave a small balance to credit. The Committee will also have to deal with a protest entered against the winner in tho oil paintings class. The Cromwell and Queenstown Brass Bands arrived in town by last night's express, and the other visiting bands engaged at the Port Chalmers contest are expected this evening. The Contest Committea met last night to perfect detail arrangements. A large attendance is expected and provided for.

Among the North-east Valley ..Borough councillors there is Mr Green, and that gentleman seems of opinion that when wisdom is spoken it should go abroad. He joined last night in a needless discussion on a formal motion, and at the close of his oration said, with a knowing look : " There's another of my old friends; that'll be in the 'Star' to-morrow, you see." But they won't see, for when Mr Green began to speak our reporter began to sleep. A meeting of the. General Committee who hare the l)r Brown testimonial in hand was held yesterday afternoon at the Town HalL The Mayor (Mr T. Scott}, who pre-sided,-reported that it waa proposed to hold a conversazione or social gathering, at which Dr Brown could meet his old friends and receive the presentation they were about to make him. 0;i ihe motion of Mr M. Cohen it wad ui-eH.d—-"That a committee, consisting of the M;iyivr and Messrs Denniston, Moloney. Mid;!:-. Hosking, and Fergus, be empowered to m:i.-; all the arrangements for a conversazione, with a direction that the charge for admission shall be such as to bring the function within the reach of ail classes of the commnnity." Last night's meeting of the Sooth Dunedm Borough Coancil was comparatively peaceabla Cr Henderson wished to know why the payment to the Ocean Beach Domain Board was charged to the sanitary account, and he also asked for information with regard to a charge for fencing. This demand drew from Cr Fiddis a somewhat vehement protest-. If charges that were authorised eighteen months ago were to be reviewed he would promise the Council " hot coffee" by ringing np transactions of back date, such as tie charging of a hotel spree to the Waipori waterworks scheme, that would not bear the light of day. ITiis was the only breeze at the Coancil table, and it lasted bat for & moment. As a matter of fact the business transacted in open Council was mostly of an unimportant character, the questions that seemed likely to raise debate being reserved till the Council went into committee. Before strangers were excluded, however, the mayor had a passage at arms with a ratepayer who was seated on the back benches. This gentleman kejit up a running fire of comments on the Council's proceedings, and, being at last called to order, replied that he would not hold his tongue, and that the mayor simply could not put him out; but just as a crisis appeared to be imminent the ratepayer consented to keep order to oblige His Worship, and with that assurance Mr Chetwin expressed himself contented. The monthly meeting of the Green Island Domain Board last night was attended by the Chairman (Mr Jaines Miller), Messrs Kane, Geddes, MTvinley, Highet, M'Mnllan, and Jenkins. A complaint re wandering cattle destroying the marram grass which was recently waa received. The damage was reported as smalL and the clerk was instructed to see to the matter.

The South Dimedin borough inspector reported lust night, inter aha, that Vogel street had been rekerhed. Cr Wardrop tbereapon remarked : " There must be something radically -wrong about this ward allocation business. We have kerbed Vogel street for the second tone, though there are only four or five houses' m the street, yet I notice that Eeid road, which is thickly populated from end to end, has in one part never been kerbed at aIL" Cr Henderson supported the protest, adding that the ward system was a cur3e. 'The Mayor remarked that the protest came too Jate. The Council had adopted the system, and also adopted xhe scheme of works that included Vogel steeet. Why did councillors not speak at the time i The argument appeared to be unanswerable, and the subject dropped. The Alhambra Theatre 'had a good house last evening. Keflderson, the facial impersonator, gave his clever performance, to the de2ght of the audience, and Miss Amy Blackie, the Elmore sisters, Miss Daisy Chard, Mr WTU Stevens, and the Jones brothers -cpntribiitßd materially to the entertainment. The same bffl w3l he -repeated tesnglrt.

A start has been made with the contract for the second section of the iaterceptiag storm-water sewer that the Drainage Board axe constructing along the foot; of the C&versham hills, workmen having commenced to dig up the Forbury roa d footpath from the Edward street corner.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Green Island Borough CouiKal was held in the Council Chambers last night, there being present the Mayor (Mr James Miller) and Crs Kane, Geddes, M'Krnley, Highet, and Falconer The clerk reported thaTtbe outstanding rates amounted to £lO IBs 2d.

Mr Hancock, the American electrical expert (wires our parliamentary correspondent), has made arrangements which will enable him to prolong his stay in New Zealand. He was to have returned to San Francisco early next month, but he will now; be able to remain in the colony until Christmas time on his trip through the South Island, vhich will occupy about a month He will be accompanied by Mr P. Sr ?* St? P 4 - Bn g ine<a * °* the Public Works Department. They left for Lvttelton by the Mararoa last night, and inspect the principal rivers and waterfalls between Christehurch and the Bluff before going to the West Coast, Marlborough, and Nelson districts

•Mr R. Chishohn, as president of ihe Otago. Anglers' Society, this morning wired Sir J. G. Ward as follows: "Manv thanks for favorable consideration of anglers' request re licenses. Bill passed most satisfactory.'

A start was made this morning with the laying of the Neuchatel asphalt between the new tram lines in Custom-house square, and some interest seemed to centre round the work. This material is to be laid by the asphalt company along the permanent way from Water street to the Bank of New Zealand comer, and from the crossings in High street down to Bond street. To-day the men have been putting down strips of the material in a molten form along the inner side of each rafl, so as to ensure a neat joint, and in a day or two the space between will be filled in with powdered asphalt. The- liquid substance sets hard very quickly, as may be seen from to-day's work, and the powdered material, though, it takes longer to set, makes, we believe, a line, solid, smooth-topped bed.. It is understood that the Corporation intend laying down tarred macadam in the square outside of the rails.

During the past fortnight, as compared with the corresponding period for last year, the traffic receipts and mileage for the City tramways were as follow :—Receipts: 1903 £1.198 13s ; 1902, £1,024 9s 4<L Milea-e-' 1903, 18,603 nines 41 chains; 1902, 19,293 miles 14 chains.

The North-east Valley Band, at a special meeting held last night, decided to take part in the contest to be held at Palmexston North next Febrnarv.

Our parliamentary reporter wires that the principal business before the House to-night will be the committee stage of the and Income Assessment Amendment Bill.

Cricketers' carnival and art union, show week. Sixty prizes, valued £258 10s^—{Advt] The Dunedin Shorthand Writers' Association close the session this evening, when an address win be given by Mr A. W. Kitsou in the Normal School.

Furniture up to data in style and workmanship; carpets and toilet ware. Henry Sanders. 88 George strest.—TAdvt]. The fifth call oa B shares in the Zealandia Co-operative Association. Limited, is now due.

Photographs of children are mads • specialty by Mr Morris, photographer, Pruwc* street. Charsres. 21s per dozen.—TAdvt.] The Dunedin Orchestral Society's concert will be held to-morrow evening in the Garrison Hall.

In what does the superiority of New Century Soft Robber Hair Curlers consist? They are light-* durable, and invisible. They don't cause headache and break the hair.—[Advt.] A meeting of those interested in the Otago animal regatta will be held in the mayor's rooms, Port Chalmers, to-night, at seven. Visitors to town will find Hendy's hairdressing Tooms replete with every modem comfort. Nine thoroughly competent hairdressers. Gentlemen's haircutting, 6d.— [Advt.] In connection with the band contest tomorrow and Thursday evenings, a special train will leave Dunedin for Port Chalmers at 7.10, returning from Port at 10.15. The Railway Department advertises holiday excursion tickets for the King's Birthday and the Christchurch show and races. The D.I.C. are now making their second grand display of spring and summer novelties, a large shipment ex s.s. Wakanai having just come to hand. The millinery department is replete with everything choice, new, and novel, from the stylish picture hat to the French sailor. In straw hats an immense assortment is being shown, including Swiss eapelines, curacoas, sailors, etc; also -a large assortment of children's hats in galateas, white and speckled, and mushroom hats in white and burnt, suitable for school or holiday wear. The DA.C- are also making a very fine show of ladies' underwear and children's garments.— [Advt-J An entertainment will be given in the Dundas street Primitive Methodist Church tomorrow evening.

The tendency among the legal profession seems to be to move nearer to the Law Courts, the latest to go into that neighborhood being Messrs F. Z. and W. L. Moore. The Telegraph Department advises that the Trinidad-Demarara (Georgetown) second cable is interrupted 1 , and that there will be some delay to traffic.