The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 12766, 20 March 1906, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1906.

We warmly congratulate the representative cricketers of Otago upon Otago their capital performance Cricket, against the Melbourne team. After being in a minority of 143 on the first innings, they made a wonderful recovery—displaying admirable qualities of nerve and co-operative spirit, -o to speak and at tho end of the three days’ play the visitors still required 52 runs to win, with only two wickets to go down. Thus the draw was decidedly in favor of Otago: indeed, it was a moral victory; but there is something more to be said. The final chance of actual victory was thrown away. To tho astonishment of observers, when the eighth Melbourne wicket fell, time was called, tho clock then pointing to 5.54. This strange procedure is saief to have been arranged between the two captains in accordance with a custom sometimes observed in Australia—a custom, however, which is unknown in New Zealand, and would be laughed at in England. In first class matches at Home it is bv no means unusual for a batsman to go to the wickets almost on tiio very stroke of time and for the result to hang upon the last few seconds. The Otago captain had no business to make such a concession, and it is just possible that his error deprived his side of victor}-. It is known that the tenth and eleventh men in the Victorian team were more or less incapacitated. If neither of them could bat, then tho match was over when the eighth wicket fell— Otago winning. On tho other hand, if (as is reported) one was able to proceed to the wickets, lie should have gone there, and a win for Otago might still have eventuated, if another wicket had fallen before six o'clock (the eleventh man being hors dc combat). It was a most’ unsatisfactory finale, and wo should think that the visiting captain, who is a, good sportsman as well as a great cricketer, must have some compunction in looking back upon it. It would be interesting to know whether Mr Armstrong would have been content to close the match six minutes before “time” if his side had then required two runs to win. In another column we publish a letter over the signature “Too Thin,” in which the writer (an excellent judge of the game) makes some pregnant and appropriate remarks on tho situation. The reference to the closing scene in the Wellington match, with the pointed contrast, is specially timely.

. Oar cricketers may have missed a nominal j victory, but their performance does them 1 great credit. Apart from the veteran | Baker’s excellent display, they did ' nob j cover themselves with glory on the opening j day, the old nervous complaint being in evidence to some extent; but they did well enough on Saturday in getting rid of the visitors for 273—though the figure would have been much lower if the generally admirable bowling had been supported by reliable catching and stumping. The confident start of Otago’s second innings prepared the way for Monday’s splendid display of all-round cricket. Siedeberg and Downes were the heroes of the match. Downes never bowled much better in his life, and if Siedeberg’s batting was not faultless, it was notably effective and inspiriting. Fisher showed, in hatting as well as bowling, that his good work for Otago is not yet a thing of the past; Au-siin did well in both departments; and, indeed, only one or two members of the t?*™ failed to make themselves more or less useful Graham, contrary to expectation, did not do great things against his fellow-Vic-toriaus, though he made a few runs in each innings (being unluckily run out in the second) and saved more in the field. Torrance justified his place, but his services were not sufficiently utilised. Neither the captain nor the wicketkeeper had a glorious time. As regards the visitors—the virtual losers—their all-round play was good and solid, without being either very remarkable or very interesting. The famous captain was an attraction, of course, and his batting and bowling were watched with keen interest, but (now that M‘Leod is past his prime) no other member of the team stands head and shoulders over the New Zealand standard. Probably the visitors would beat Otago three time out of five—not much ofteoer, we think. The game with New Zealand ought- to be a good and dose one. Let us add an expression of hope that the experience of the last three days will have a heartening effect upon Otago cricket, which was in need of encouragement and increased amour propre. Wo trust, however, that certain members of ! the team will not allow the latter quality i to keep them from the discipline of occaj sional practice in fielding and catching. “ The burden of lest catches! When the clay Clings to thy shoes in summer shower’s downpour; And, running, still thou sbumbleth, while the ray i Of ardent sons doth bite and bake thee sore, } And blind thee, till (forgetful of thy fore) Thou dost most mournfully misjudge a skyer, And lose a match the Pates .cannot restore— ' This is the end of every man’s desire.” , But this match was not loefc; it was pracI tically won; and wc would close, as we began, with'the note of -cordial congratulation.

What 13 supposed to be a gang of prbfossrntuil burglars are at work in Christchurch One house wits entered on Saturday, and property to the value of £3O stolen. In a second instance burglars made a systematic search of the premises and secured considerable bootv.

• It has been suggested that, as Messrs have been set apart by the Methodist Church for temperance work, the .Presbyterian Church should make a like sacrifice.

Out of seventy-six calves slaughtered last "creek afc the New 1 Plymouth abattoirs twenty-one were found to be diseased, and seyep were totally condemned. Tho disease was tuberculosis.

Dr Bell’s description of tho beauties of the unknown country .his geological parties are exploring is excellent, and his reports, says a contemporary, will contain iniormarton that will attract thousands to New Zorlcliul.

The scrutiny of the rolls used at the Dunedin Licensing Committee election disclosed no dual voting. The recount began yesterday, and by noon to-day Mr Maxwell and ins staff were only half through. It is a long and tedious job. Mr J. F. Arnold is attending as the necessary justice of the peace. He is always to tho front when work has to bo done.

The platform of Hie Dunedin Progressive Society was occupied ou Sunday evening by Mr F. J. Heatley, M.A., who took for his subject ‘Human Ideals.’ The lecturer referred to various ideals—political, social, ate. but dealt more particularly with the ’ ethical. He said that every race in every age_ had its standard of ideals, and it seemed as if there was no finality, for as man progressed h;s ideals purified in proportion to Lis growth. The lecturer laid down the conception that there must bo tho indwelling of the presence of God. Without that there could bo no progress, as without the three facts of Freewill, God, and Immortality there would be no incentive to aspire to that which was above. Our very language implied this when wo said that we “ought” to follow a certain line of conduct. Ibis would be meaningless if we were mere machines and there was no immortality. It was utterly impossible to think of meiu striving unless there was some ultimate goal to reach. The lecturer replied to various questions and criticisms. The attendance was good. Towards tho close of tho Southern Football Club’s annual meeting last night Mr S. Isaacs brought up the question of honorary members’ privileges. He said that honorary members were enrolled at os 6d a year, and for that sum received the right of admission to eighteen matches. That was pretty liberal, and when it was borne 111 mind that sometimes these tickets were also handed over the fence and used to admit others, he reckoned it about time to think of some better arrangement. The {southern got £‘39 this year from that source. It seemed to him it would be preferable if honorary members were not given the fright of admission, but called on to pay. This would strengthen the funds of the Rugby Union, and from tho increased revenue the Union could make a set allowance to each chib. Mr J. M. Galloway asked if he was to understand that the honorary number was a gentleman, who had discovered an economical way of enjoying his football, and Mr Isaacs answered that that was the position. Mr H. T. Leyden remarked that the present system worked for harm hi another way too. A club near the top could always dispose of plenty of honorary members' tickets, and when lucky enough to collect tho money there was a good revenue, whereas the dub that lost its matches found, no demand for these tickets, as nobody wanted to see such a clll b play. So it came about that the clubs that most needed money got the least from this source. It was at last resolved to ask the delegates to bring up the subject at the Rugby Union meeting if opportunity arises. Perhaps such on opportunity will be made, and if so the honorary economists may Ibid themselves despoiled of their perquisites. Frugality is n virtue. Does not Cowper extol it?' “John Gilpin kissed “ :s loving wife; o’erjoyed was he to find that though on pleasure she was bent she had a frugal mind.” But Mns Gilpin didn’t want 20s worth of sport for 5s 6d. and there is no record of her a.ttemptinn- to sneak in tho family on. the cheap. The Inspector of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has received a communication from Hawke’s Bay complaining of the needlessly prolonged and painful death caused to rabbits by the steel traps now in use. It is pointed out that, by order of His Maj»fty the King, no more steel rabbit traps are to be set in Richmond Park, and it is suggested that it should be made compulsory for trappers to visit their traps at regular intervals, so as to save the little creatures the prolonged agony they sometimes have to endure.

The closing of the Albion Hotel has (says the ‘ Star ’) further emphasised the scarcity of accommodation in Grejmouth, with the result that the existing hotels are always crowded, and many have to resort to “shake downs.” One hotelkeeper, taking advantage of this occurrence, has raised his tariff to 10s per diem.

On© of the Wanimoo’s passengers who missed the last train from Invercargill to th© Bluff had the value of the motor-car illustrated. Finding that a “special' could not leave in time to connect with tlie boat, he secured the services of a motor, and reached the Bluff wharf just in time to enable him to rush on board as the gangway was Ixung taken a-wav. The traveller had his passage paid from Melbourne to England, and had ho missed the Wammoo he would have lost bis luggage for some time and a fair lump of money for ever.

Mr J. Thomson, of Thomson Bros., cordial manufacturers, was fortunate this afternoon in securing at auction possession of a very fine panoramic view of Dunedin in the early days. The picture, whether taken by Burton or MclJmish, or some other photographer whose name will be familiar to old identity families, there is no means of determining, as the usual indications are absent, is remarkably well preserved, and will form a- valuable and 'interesting addition to the collection of historic material which the late Mr Alex. Thomson was so. fond of making. The date of • the' picture is also uncertain, bub it must have been takcri in the back sixties, because both the First Church, in Dowling street, and the old Theatre Royal are prominent landmarks in the foreground, and the last-men-tioned building was not destroyed till the big file of April, 1867, which ‘swept both sides of Princes street from Moray place to the Octagon.

Who huys land, buvs wax*,” says an aid proverb. The same thing seems to xwxnly to the administration of real estate also. The feeling between the Southland Countv Council and the Otago High School Commissioners has not lately been of the beet, and it is not likely to be improved, by a recent action of the Government, or, more strictly speaking, of the Education Department. The County Council recently allied to the School Commissionera for £520 to expend on road work in the Waokaia and Wendon districts, where some of the Commissioners’ endowments are situated. The Commisßienefs signified their consent to granting £2BO, arid notified the Education Department, as they are bound by law to do, submitting details of the proposed expenditure. Meantime the County Council, acting rather precipitately, called for and accepted tenders for £2BO worth of work. Now the Commissioners have been notified by the Secretary for Education that the ; Minister only approves of the expenditure of £l5O on the Wendon and Waikaia works, saving that some of the proposed works cannot be sanctioned, as thev are apparently onlv for the benefit of ' lands already leased, and not necessary for the actual leasing of lands. The Commissioners can only my over moneys out of their funds that have been approved bv the department. hence the Southland County Council seem liable to be called on to 'pay the difference between £2BO and £l5O. In their case a short cut seems to have proved to be a wrong cut.

The intercolonial steamers are bringing a large number of steerage passengers to this colony every voyage. The Wimmera, which reached tiro Bluff yesterday, had about ICO, nearly oil men, for whom a special awning had to he spread in the well deck for uae as a smoke room and lounge. These weekly arrivals should do something to re-i lieve the scarcity of labor which is at present being, experienced in. this colony.

The colony of New Zealand, which he- j tween 1879 and 1895 underwent sixteen ■ years of more or less severe depression, has' now enjoyed ten yeans of remarkable pros-' penty. It is not the least' exaggeration to eay that its present position and immediate prospects are probably brighter than a£ any moment; of its chequered history.” - In these ■ or dfl the Hon. W, P. Reevee opens an in- • tereslmg and informative article in, the j Financial Review of Reviews ’ (February number) on ‘The Recovery and Progress of New Zealand.’ He shows that the colony’s existing prosperity has a solid foundation of production and well-being, and draws an j instructive comparison betweeri New Zealand at the end of 1890 and New Zealand I in 1904-05, Ho believes that the official - figures for the colony’s external trade during the year 1904 will, when published, show f a total exceeding £38,000,000. “ This total, ’ says Mr Reeves, “ is not only striking for a country with a population of well below a million, but it is all the more creditable because, owing to New Zealand’s isolated position, the figures are not swelled by any transit' trade. A project is on foot to hold a “ New • 111 kpndon” Exhibition in London in 1907, the idea being to send to England I a large_ party of Maoris and house them in | a specially constructed “pah” in the 1 grounds.' The Maoris arc to' give exhibitions of native dances in the Earl’s Court Theatre, and the grounds are to be laid out : 111 mutation of the thermal region of Roto- | rua, with reproductions of the Pink and j White Terraces and so forth. Whether the promoter, who is now in London, will succeed in forming his syndicate and raising the requisite capital remains to be seen. Reference was made by the Premier at Geraldine to his scheme submitted to Par--1 Lament in 1898 for the establishment of i ktat® shops in England for the distribution of New Zealand meat. Mr Seddon said that m that year he strongly endeavored to widen the sphere of such operations, and submitted a scheme known as tho Seddon mutton shops scheme, for opening shops in the L mted Kingdom. He was blocked by interested parties. Mr Thomas Mackenzie was one of those who opposed the scheme, but to-day bo believed Mr Mackenzie thought he was right. A committee of the Hoiu i e threw out his suggestions. A private company, however, was formed to take up the scheme instead of the New Zealand Government. That company had opened shops for selling Argentine and other meats, including New Zealand. In two voaratthoy had cleared over £50,000. He did not hesitate to say that if his suggestion had been adopted seven million people around Manchester and other centres could have been reached by New Zealand meat. - Tho agent of the Welington Tourist Office has received a rather striking compliment for Ms department from .a gentleman in British Columbia. The 6trau°er wrote for information about the colony, and received a parcel that made the springs of gratitude well over. “ I had no thought,” he writes, “ that tho request would bs responded to in such a generous manner. I did not then understand the New Zealand way of doing things, al thou eh I should have been aware that io was a pretty thorough way after the maimer in which the ‘ill Blacks wiped up things at Home during their recent tour.” Nobody suggested it at the time to our reporters, hut it turns out that Mr A. C. Stewart, an old employee, was the firstperson to open Scoullar and Chisholm’s factory and get - to tho hydrants when the fire broke out on Saturday night. The - Southern Football Club spent some tune last night in considering whether they should instruct their delegates to the Ruony Union to vote for admitting the volunteer team as seniors. Mr W. Foster moved and Mr J. .jpenco seconded the motion to instruct the delegates to vote for the admitting. Mr A. R, Lawry said that ho would not oppose the motion, but thought it i _ght» to point out that the volunteers were getting an advantage that many junior clubs couid not obtain, and be feared their record would' not justify the step.- H6 would sooner sec them Mart as j unions and prove their right to senior rank. Mr H.' T. Ley don said he also thought it miMit be better for tho volunteers if they came in as juniors and saw how they got on. If they started as seniors and did not win right off the club would be poorly supported. and would lose (ho help of all those who made it a rule to hang, back and seo how things were going. There was no honor m merely being a senior team in name. Some clubs that now had senior rank did not seem to care whether they won or lost their matches. They were content' to be called seniors. Mr' Y. G. Cavanagh said the object of the movement u as to popularise the volunteer force and induce players to put on the uniform, and that could only be done by coming out as .seniors. Mr D. Stevenson pointed oat that the volunteers were sure to be admitted to the senior ranks in the Association game. Mr J. M. Gallaway said: “I am in sympathy with this proposal. If it turns out a failure it cannot hurt football. If we as footballers can do anything to encourage volunteering w c ought to r|o it. Football is only an amusement, Volunteering ib an absolute necessity. It is my firm belief that every able-bod - eo man will sooner or later have to fight for New Zealand.” The motion was put and carried unanimously. In the Gity of London Court the other I day a money-lending case came before Judge Rentoul. Tbs plaintiff, Myer Freedman, applied for enforcement of payment of £lO 8s KM, due from G D. Walker. De- | fendant said that he had borrowed from the plaintiff, in August of the previous year, the sum of £35. He had paid hack' £47 i 17s 6d, and he still owed £lO 8s 10d. His J salary was only 35s a week. In giving his J decision,. Judge Rentoul Slid he was not i inclined to be hard on money-lenders; they j might be of assistance to a man sometimes if they kept- their rates of interest j within hounds, and he did not lose sight I of the fact that they took risks. The law ■ compelled him to make an order; but the 1 case was a very bad one. Therefore, lie directed that the defendant must liquidate tho debt by payments of one penny a month. That £lO 8s ]od will be paid off (barring accidents) iff exactly 208 years and ten months from the date‘of the order The Labor Department Act now demands returns from shopkeepers as well as factoryowners showing in detail the wages paid, the uumbe.r of hands employed, and the hours worked for the vear ending March, and Mr Lomas is sending out the forms. Shopkeepers who do nob employ labor must nevertheless use the forms, only in such a case it suffices to write “ nil ” across the columns that they cannot fill up. There is no registration fee for shops; the fee for factories is the same as usual. It may be pointed out that the penalty for neglecting or refusing information, or giving false information, ranges up to £2O. I he Southland County Council were responsible for a protracted sitting of the Otago High Schools’ Commissioners to-day. Briefly put, the County Council want about £11,500 from the Commissioners. Portions of the Education endowments in Southland, vested in the Commissioners, are managed by tbe local land boards under Act- of Parliament. Provision is made by this Act that “thirds” and “fourths” of the perpetual lease, rents, etc., eliall be paid to the local authority for reading, etc. The Southland County Council wrote to the ! Commissioners pointing out that these lands ! managed by the land boards have not paid “ thirds ” and “ fourths,” and that the Council are “entitled to about '£10,000.” The Commissioners do not see eye to eye with the County Council, as the Government ■ have already deducted 5s an acre from the rents for their endowments, and they have j all along understood that this was for the j payment of “thirds” and “fourths” for reading, etc. Tho Commissioners to-day , decided to merely receive the letter and inform the County Council that the matter would be inquired into. The sight of a- staunch, whole-skinned ship being filled with rubbish ballast is almost pathetic. Consideration of the business wisdom or commercial significance of the process need not come into the question. There is something intrinsically base about tho appearance of this sort of loading that sets up its own mental sensation:;. i It may be that by filling their ship with stones and dirt owners are merely hurrying I on to soine profitable “trade.” But what of the slup? She came asking bread, and they gave her a stone. There is a suggestion of inhospitality about it, and a semblance of desecration. As the writer was watching- the Dilpussund’s ballasting ' this morning he mentioned some such

dreamy notions as these; to a - ruminativeseeming bystander, who looked at him curiously. “Tell you ~wot 1 was thinking,” said that worthy: “ I was wonderin’ bow long it ’ud take at this rate ; to shift Noo Zealand outer the Pacific.” There’s very little romance about some people. An exceptional assortment of. kand-madt furniture is offered at lower prices than ever, Sanders. 88 George. street.—{'Advf.l , The Railway Department advertises a special tram for Palmerston, and excursion fares on the 23rd March (Anniversary Day). . Messrs Myers, dentists, are back in new building. Octagon and George street.—lAdvt J Tamer Juice for fiver and kidney troubles is a genuine medicine.' All stores. [lo9] , r Tho annual general meeting of the Hamers will bo held in the I.M.C.A. Rooms to-morrow evening. Intending members of the proposed Wednesday Club are invited to attend. New costs just opened, in stylish patterns of tweed and rich caracul; price, from 15s 6d to four guineas. At T. Ross’s.—[Advt.] A of justices to revise the jury list, for the district of-Dunedin will be held at tho Magistrate’s Courthouse on the 6th April. W. J. Williamson, dentist, 63 Princes street (opposite Eraithwaite’s), ' Telephone 653.—[ —Advt.] Constipation cured by taking Dr Ensor’s Tamer Juice; one trial will prove its worth [lo9] A meeting of members of the Momington Cricket Club re bazaar will be held in the Council Chambers, Momington, to-morrow evening. Messrs Myers, dentists, are back new building, Octagon and George street.—[Advt.] The monthly meeting of the Bums Club will be held in the Choral Hall on Wednesday evening, 21st inst. This is the last week of tho Anglo-N.Z. Cycle Company’s clcsing-up sale. As everything must go, sensational reductions are announced in bicycles and accessories. Shop is to let, and immediate possession will he given.—[Advt..] Dunedin—a view looking down the harbor; the Ravensbonme regatta the New Zealand polo Tournament, Royal tour in India, annual shooting competitions at Trentham (showing tho champion being decorated by Miss Seddon, and other winners); and the Premier at Rotorua and Hastings are some of the week’s news items illustrated l in the ‘Weekly Press,’ which will bs on sale in Dunedin to-morrow morning. For stiff joints, neuralgia, lame back, contracted muscles nothing equals Witch’s Oil, ‘ M All the latest styles of hairdressing can bo easily executed with the new frames just opened at Heady’s Hairdressing Rooms. Inspection invited.—[Advt.]