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Evening Star, Issue 13091, 26 October 1908, Page 4

The chimney stack for the new retorts at the gasworks has now been erected, and good progress is being made with the various improvements that are being carried out at the works. _ Thirty pounds an acre was the cost of clearing some land on farms between Stirling and Kaitangata of stumps and roots, and it is reckoned to be worth while, such is the productivity of the land when used for grazing or turnip-growing. The country is a perfect picture. The grass is splendid, and the cattle are of that sleekness sometimes seen in well-kept cottagers’ cows, but seldom noticed in large herds. As is customary, however, mining is a bit slock compared with the ‘w'mkt months.

* x,_ Se l ent 3 r resideretS’of the dktrict attended the first service of the St. Gla\r. Presbyreran Church conducted yesterday 'ihcfrtiiUcf by the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, of Green Lslsfidi The preacher made brief teferened uttpOTtaac© of the occasion, wishing thoxpnd gregation. success, and in a few fitting wordsintroducing Mr J. H. Lang,' the student who is to take charge and will reside in tho district; Mr Lang conducted tho evening service, and preached an acceptable- Sermon from the subject of the life and death, of Christ. Ho also thanked the congregation for their - welcome, and acknowledged the work of the local Committee in fixing up the gymnasium for worship. The musical arrangements were efficiently looked after by Mrs H. C. Campbell, who played; th© American organ. . . The experiment of issuing a concession ticket of fifteen rides to St. Clair has now had its six months’ trial, and tho tramways manager has reported on the same, comparing the receipts for the past six months with those of the same period of last year. We have reason to 'believe that th(\conces-' sion will be continued for good. About 4,3oo.tickets have been issued to date, and the summer months coming rbjiiid there should b© a substantial increase , on, those figures. ' The Dunedin and Suburban General .-Laborers’ Union at their last monthly meeting resolved to strongly urge tho Government to immediately administer the Farm Laborers’ Accommodation Act. At the same meeting a notice of motion by Messrs Weir and Boreham was given that Mr Nicholl’s letter re No-license b© reconsidered at next general meeting. At the Port Chalmers Court this forenoon a first offender was convicted of drunkenness and discharged. Thomas Langdon was similarly treated for drunkenness. A charge against him of using obscene language was dismissed, and for resisting the police be was fined £3 and costs (2s), in default three weeks’ imprisonment. • Tho Caversham Gasworks, which are now ; connected with the City works, have been ! closed down. The holder will be kept in service to supply the residents of the district, but instead of the gas being made at Caversham it will be manufactured at the City works. This means a reduction in expenses. I The Anglican Synod of the Dunedin Diocese opened their third session in the St. Paul’s Cathedral School this afternoon as we were going to press. The Primate (Bishop Nevill) gave the first portion of bis address from tho chair this afternoon, when domestic matters, such as changes in the diocese, were dealt with. The principal portion of the bishop’s address will be delivered in the Cathedral this evening,' and will deal with the important subject of union of the churches. Bishop Nevill has invited a number of prominent Presbyterian ministers to attend to-night’s sitting, at which there will be a special musical, service by tho Cathedral choir, augmented by members of other church choirs in the diocese. Twenty-ono cooks and stewards belonging to the steamer Manuka, which arrived here on Saturday, made application, and have been enrolled on the Chalmers electoral list. In the Police Court to-day Mr Widdowfou, S.M., who presided, gave William Luby, charged with being a regue and a vagabond, a chanco to leave New Zealand for Now Zealand’s good. Sub-inspector Norwood told the Court that Luby bad promised to leave the country before next Sunday. If he did so the police would be very pleased. Mr Hanlon, who spoke on behalf of Luby, mentioned that it would bo a saving to New- Zealand if Luby were allowed to leave it. Mr Widdowson adjourned the case until next Monday to enable Luby to fulfil his promise to leave tho Dominion.

A special service was held in Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers, yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of unveiling a memorial tablet dedicated to the memory of the late Rev. F. C. Platts, who was for many years vicar of the parish. The Primate (Bishop Nevill), who unveiled the memorial, made feeling reference to tho work of Mr Platts, and expressed his pleasure at being asked to perform the ceremony. There was a good congregation, including the members of the two Masonic lodges, who attended officially. Apropos of the appointment of a first assistant in the Richmond (Christchurch) School, to which passing reference was made in our leading article on Saturday, we note that tho North Canterbury Board have got over the difficulty by making Mr Purchase’s appointment date from January 2 next, though he will commence duties on December 1. But for' this adjustment he would have to work for six years before he reaches the minimum salary he will now start with. Very nice for new' appointees, but what about the men and women who have borne the heat and burden for many a long day? Coal mining in Otago is rather quiet just now. But few of the mines are working full time, and the production all round is less than in former years. Last year tho output from Otago was over 250,000 tons. Mon who are in a position to know say that the introduction of the Waipori electric power and other causes may bo expected to account for a decreased output of about 40,0C0 tons annually from the Otago pits. There is this consolation, however: that the Otago lignites can never be knocked out. Their value is fully appreciated by economical housewives. In this respect Dunedin is better off than any other centre in the Dominion. The Bank of New South Wales has accepted a tender (£2,987) for new banking premises at Gisborne.—P.A. wire.

The District Railway Engineer hopes to start piercing the new Caversham tunnel from the south end in a very little while. 'This end of the tunnel enters the hill 52ft below the surface, and the gullet which was run in to that point has now been opened out to its permanent width. This end of _ the tunnel will bo lined for a short distance in until tho rise of the hill surface above gives sufficient thickness of rock overhead to form a strong roof. This will be the only lining in the tunnel, which the bores put down at various points from the surface along the line of route indicate will be in Caversham sandstone throughout. Not far in from this entrance the line takes a curve (20 chains radius) for a distance of 5 chains. The rest of the tunnel will be perfectly straight. At the Caversham end the tunnel has now been driven a distance of 25 chains, or over a third of tho total length, which is to be about 70 chains Working on three benches— top, intermediate, and floor; the top face being always ahead of the intermediate, and the latter ahead of the floor —the workmen are progressing at a rate of from 3ft 6in to 4ft per shift. The three-bench system enables over twentv men to work simultaneously at the face, the sectional area of which is 48 square yards, or three times that of the tunnel which it is to replace. As at the Caversham end, the south end will be equipped with a power-house to supply electric lighting and ventilation at the face, and there will also be dressing and dining rooms for the workmen. Half of ’ tho trestling at Burnside, which will give direct communication with the tunnel, and enable the engineer to run stuff ont of the south end of the tunnel and build up the embankments near Burnside without interfering with the main line traffic, is completed! At the Caversham end) also, a similar convenience wili ho obtained within a week, and the engineer, will have a clear line from the tunnel to the Dunedin goods yards, so that he can run stuff out from the tunnel to the embankment in the yard without running his service trains over the present main lino. This will enable the present tablet station near the Cavers sham gasworks to be abolished. These service trains will, of course, bo-run over the trestling between Kensington and Dunedin.

Two of the girders for the railway bridge over the Anderson Bay road are already in position, and the remaining: one will he despatched from the' Otago Foundry to the job by the end of this week; The same foundry have the girders for the King Edward street; bridge well forward, and a start will be made to rivet them upas soon as the completed one leaves the, yard. One of the lines over the Anderson Bay bridge will be ready for traffic immediately, and it is expected that the King Edward -street bridge should b.e completed in about five weeks; The girders are of mild steel throughout ;

Y ■ It-is understood'ithaka conference will be held between-the parties in. connection . with, the Otago Hotel, ’ Restaurant, an'd 1 Boarding-house , Employees’ Union’s ■ disPbte. - The employees are asking for conditions similar to those given by the Court in the-North. • ‘ .

A special meeting, of the Green' Island Borough' Council was .'held on Saturday night, and was attended by all' 'the arancillore except - , Cr Jenkins. The Borough Extension Committee were also present, and it was agreed that the Council accept the extension according to the boundaries agreed, t6 by the Gevernor-in-Council. It was., also agreed, to the suggested division of the area into two wards at present, and,, to save election expenses, that Messrs E. J. Reeves and A. C. G. Crimp and Dr Will and Mx George V. Price be recommended to the Governor for appointment as councillors to East and West wirda respectively. It was also pro-, poised that the extension take place as from November 1, or as soon after as possible. A vote of thanks to Mr A. J. Park from the Extension Committee terminated the proceedings. The secretary of the Canterbury Shearsirs Union wired Mr W. Scott (secretary af the Otago Employers’ Association) this morning as follows: There will be trouble if Otago, mil not accept Canterbury shearers’ award. Can we confer? Urgent.” To this Mr Scott replied:— ‘The result of the ballot of the Otago iheepowners is against Canterbury award. We are willing to arrange conference if you think it desirable.” There seems to be no fear of Dunedin ixperiencing any general trouble about rant of employment. Though the number if applicants at the Labor Department’s iffice this morning was slightly in excess )f the average of late, it only came to a laker’s dozen, and we understand that ixperienced bush workers and pick-and-ihovel men are easily placed. Instructions vere received to-day to send a few qualiicd bushmen to Gatlins.

| Old Musselburgh, on the Firth, of Forth, | ! and young Musselburgh, at the head of ' Dunedin Hgrbor, are to exchange school/ . a o 6 - Mr J. Harris wrote Home making the suggestion, and he has in reply a letter | in which Mr D. Whitelaw, chairman of 1 I the Scottish Musselburgh School Board, ; s he is sure that his Board will be i glad to fall in with the proposal. The exchange will take place in time for next Empire Day. Mr Whitelaw offers an option of the Union Jack, the Scottish flag (the blue field with the whit© saltire), or the Royal flag of 'Scotland (“ the ruddy lion ramped in gold”), and as our Musselburgh already owns a Jack it is likely that one of the Scottish flags will be chosen. A fire was discovered on the steamer Manuka about eleven o’clock on Saturday night by the chief officer. The steamer being about to lay up for overhaul, all the crew except the officers, the engineers, and the second cook had been paid off. All were roused up, and the lire was soon put out, the Fire Brigade being summoned to assist. The damage was practically nil. We recommend for watch, clock, and jewellery repairs, A. J. Shaw, 13-Rattray street. Absolutely the best in Dunedin.—[Advt.] We Hold the finest stock of- gloves ever imported by us. Will fit the tiniest tot up to tho very largest hand. Every color and shade in lisle and silk gloves, 10] dto 2s 6d. Lovely kid gloves from 2s 6d. 'i'. Ross, importer.— [Advt.] I ’ urchasers of tickets for the North-east valley Orchestra concert for 29th inst. and the general public are notified by advertisement in this issue that the proposed concert has unfortunately to be abandoned. Ladies.—Mademoiselle Helena Rubinstein’s Valazo and toilet requisites are sold by ' Wilkinson and Son, chemists.—[Advt.] j A lecture on ‘ The Heart of the Empire— j London; its pageantry and pathos, its glory 1 and glamor, its hustle and humor,’ illustrated by magnificent limelight views, will be given in the Hanover Street Baptist Church ; -,by tho Rev. Wm. Hay to-morrow evening, I at eight o’clock. A select musical pro- ' gramme will also be rendered. Those who like a good, educative, interesting entertainment should not miss this. J. Waters, chemist, has bathing caps from Is each; also swimming buoys, which enable anybody to swim; price, Is 6d; see window display.—[Advt.] ‘ Australasia To-day’ is the subject of an ’illustrated lecture to be given by Mr J. C. ' Ferdinand Pittman, of Adelaide, to-night in tho Tabernacle, Great King street. Mr Pittman is travelling through New Zealand in the interests of the Burwood Boys’ Home, Victoria, an institution which is doing a splendid work amongst orphan and destitute lads. A large number of slides will be shown, and an interesting lecture given. The new photo pencil drawings still attract considerable attention, and tho demand for them is increasing. Mr Morris has a now collection of these pictures on view. Call and see them before they are sent away. The studio. Princes street.— [Advt.] Port Chalmers residents will .this week have the opportunity of practically demonstrating their opinions on the desirability of tho proposed cottage hospital for the Port. In the advertising column is notice of the concert in aid of the scheme to be given by the crew and passengers of tho s.s. Rippingham Grange on Wednesday evening. The entertainment, on its merits, deserves success, and those who may be unable to attend can co-operate in furthering its humane aim by the purchase of tickets. Mr W. Barr has postponed bis political address for Wednesday evening in order that the hall may be available for the concert. ” The superb productions in art photographs which are attracting such atfbntion to the "Acme” Photo Co.’s, George street, are the results of exceeding attention to detail by Mr J. Steadman, manager.—[Advt.] Ladies who are troubled with the unsightly growth of superfluous hairs will find the new method of treatment adopted at Hendy’s Hairdressing Rooms the most perfect in existence, and their successful removal is guaranteed. Expert lady operator in attendance. Consultations invited. 104 Princes street; telephone 902.—[Advt.]