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Evening Star, Issue 13098, 3 November 1908, Page 4

The secretary to the Dunedin Fire Board (Mr J. T. Hamann) lias received a cable from tho chief officer of the London Fire Brigade stating that the Merry weather patent petrol motor chemical tiro engine and hose reel had passed tho tests, and would be shipped immediately. This engine, it is claimed, is complete and up to date in every respect, and will probably bo an improvement on anything in nee in New Zealand or Australia. At intervals Mr Millar’s meeting in the Garrison Hall might well have been appropriately divided into two sections. It was. impossible for those at the back of the hall to know what the Minister was saying, and it must have been equally hard for those on the stage to catch the many interjections that were flung out from beneath the gallery. Speaking generally, we should say that less than a dozen persons indulged in queries to the speaker, and that not more than a hundred started the answering cheering and booing. Some of the questions were humorous", but the majority of them were unblushingly personal. One interrupter, however, spoke in terms of exaggerated politeness, concluding each of his inquiries with the candidate’s name, and all couched in a high-pitched voice. Among the gems were such heart-searching endeavors after knowledge as the following “Do you buy your bread from Muuro, Mr Mill-nr ? Four pounds to the loaf, Mr.Mill-ar! Weight guaranteed.” ‘‘Are you in favor of members of the House getting free State coal?” (This querist was very persistent.) “You ride a motor now, doivt you, Mr Mill-ar?” “You should get a soft’job like Harriet, Mr Mill-ar!” “You look well on your thousand a year, Mr Mill-ar!” These were varied with cries of “ Traitor)” “ More figures,” and “ What about Blackball?” This latter inquiry gave rise to the further one : “ Are you a white hall?” But there was what the reporters are apt to call “roars of laughter ” at the prompt and witty reply of a bystander : “No; he’s a piebald!” There was unmistakable irritation, expressed and implied, over the chairman’s novel dictum that an amendment would only be received in writing, but Mr M'Manus persisted in claiming his right, though what even ho said could not bd distinguished at the back of the hall. Tho City electrical department are adviced that the Outram substation has been completed. The transformers and switchboards have been fitted up, and is now ready to connect with the lines as soon as the wire arrives. The Port Chalmers Council propose to enter into negotiations for the acquisition oh the local gasworks. The Gas' Company have been asked to nominate a valuer, and the Council will pay £25 towards the expenses if the negotiations prove abortive. At last night’s' meeting of the Port Borough Council the mayor expressed the opinion that there, would now be no difficulty in bringing the cottage hospital scheme to a successful issue. A donation of five guineas in aid of tho fund was received from Mr W. H. Bastings, and duly acknowledged.

( -The.Public Baths Committee of tho CityCouncil met yesterday afternoon, wheiv rt was decided to make the following . recommendations to the Council:—“( 1) That in view of tho prospective financial position and future probabilities of the commitments, the proposal to construct swimming baths be deferred until such time as, these aforesaid have been satisfactorily determined by the Council,. but that tho . Council will in the meantime : favorably, consider any suggestions that may emanatd from the. Swimming Association; (2) that' it is advisable that a . reduction in the tram fares be granted to those going to the St. Clair Baths, and 'the Tramways Committee be requested to report upon tho proposal, and if agreed to, fix and regulate the scale of chargee.” , Twenty-seven applications for the position of borough inspector were received by the Port Borough Council. Cr Crawford objected to the applications being -passed over to a committee. He contended that they should be made known in open council, fCnd if n local man applied he should then and there be appointed, provided that he was honest and straightforward. It was no use councillors saying that it was not right to do so; he could not see why' a sentimental policy should be departed from in this instance. The applications, however, were referred to a special committee to select five of the most suitable, the Council to make a' final selection.

On information given by two ladies, Sergeant Foster arrested a sailor named John Lockhead this afternoon. One of the informants complained that when in Sawyers Bay tunnel on the road from Port Chalmers Lockhead put his arm round her waist. To-morrow morning he will be charged with the offence. In answer to a question at his meeting last night the Hon. J. A. Millar said that there was work at the Labor Bureaus for men if they would only apply for it, and that ho would find work for twenty men tho next day if they were there to take it. On inquiry at the Labor Office this afternoon wo were informed that nineteen menhad called there, and that in every case the applicants had been offered employment. In several instances they had had the opportunity of being placed in four different classes of work. It is a significant fact that of the nineteen men who called at the office four of them were Victorians who-hadonly arrived this morning, and they immediately accepted employment previously refused by local men, but of. the remainder of tho applicants only three accepted. There is a decided disinclination on the part of local men to take work other than that on the Government railways, but owing to the nature, of the works in hand at the present time it is impossible to place ordinary pick-and-shovel men on the railways. Competent bushmen, however, can be placed there. A statement has been published giving as the reason for the Mayor of Dunedin not presiding at tho Hon. J. A. Millar’s political meeting last night that the Labor party had threatened Mr M‘Donald that if he took the chair their support would be withdrawn from him in his candidature for the Dunedin Central Seat. Now, it was stated in our issue last night that a prior engagement of some standing would prevent the mayor from presiding last night. In view of the contradiction given to our explanation, and vo .unwarrantable insinuation that His Worship had failed to properly appreciate his duties as Chief Magistrate of the City, we this morning called his attention to the paragraph in question. His Worship’s reply was, as might, havp been expected, emphatic and conclusive. The .insinuation was baseless, and he could nob conceive how or for what purpose it had been put in circulation, fqr under normal conditions it would have given him the greatest pleasure to have presided over Mr Millar’s meeting. The explanation made by the ‘ Star ’ last night was absolutely correct, but for obvious reasons he preferred that the Minister, to whom our representative was referred, should state the position in his own way. The Hon. Mr Millar was accordingly interviewed, and raid: “All I can say is that when on Ihursday or Friday last I approached Mr M’Donald and asked him to take the chair for me he said he would have been very pleased to do so, but he had 'previously engaged himself to take, the chair;, at the Band of 'Hope Union in the Early' Settlers’ Hall.” "

The sensitiveness of the May-Oatway automatic fire alarm was responsible for this City Fire Brigade being called out to a nonexistent lire at the ‘ Evening Star ’ Office at about 2.30 this afternoon. Ordinarily tile connection between the office and the fire station is switched off in the daytime, but it happened that the installation had been inspected this morning by the firm of electricians responsible for its efficiency, and the connecting switch had been left “on.” The vibration caused by a heavy bar falling off a bench was sufficient to' make the machine record a call at the fire brigade station. It may be mentioned that the Brigade turned out so smartly that although a telephone message was despatched to the station as soon us the alarm went .off it wap too late to stop the brigade, who had already left. As proof of a profitable springtime, Penin-sula-grown green peas' were placed on the Dunedin market to-day, and realised 6d per pound. The case against Edward M‘Kenzie, of Moegiol (an alleged serious offence under the Code), was dismissed yesterday. It is worth while to call on H. Sanders, 121 George street, when you want reliable furniture.—[Advt.] We recommend for watch, clock, and jewellery repairs, A. J. Shaw, 13 Rattray street. Absolutely the best in Dunedin.—[Advt.] The s.s. Moerangi is advertised in this issue to run special marine excursions this week for Russells, Broad Bay, and Portobelloalso special trips on Wednesday for installstion at the Masonic lodge. On Friday she will run a late trip, leaving Dunedin at 10.30 p.m., to enable the regular residents to "ct down the bay prior to the holiday. ° TrSiu arrangements for the 9th November (King's Birthday) are -advertised in this issue. While it is generally recognised that the portraiture by Morris is about' the best 'n New Zealand, many people have the idea that only the most expensive' work is executed. This is a mistake. Mr Morris will give you the best possible photos at one guinea per dozen.—[Advt.] A. notice to the officers of the District Grand Lodge, S.C., appears in this issue. The Gaelic Society meet in Stuart Street Hall to-morrow evening. Members of the Cavershara Oddfellows’ and Druids’ Lodges will find an important announcement on the next page. » ?^ r ‘ Steadman, manager and artist of 'Acme ” Photo Co., George street, draws the attention of connoisseurs in art to the excellence of the latest portraits in sepia. Specimens in vestibule.—[Adyt.] Pastor Edmonds, under the auspices of the U.T.R.C., is in the Alhaibra Theatre to-night and to-morrow. To-morrow evening the Rev. T. Fee, a jovial Irishman, will commence a series of open-air addresses at the Octagon, at eight o clock. Subject: ‘ Liquor Swiry Tales.’ It will be seen from our advertising columns that the solicitors of Mr Abe Moss wish to give publicity to the fact that their client has no connection with the firm trading under the name of “A. B. Moss and Co -’ N [l6s] In the South Dunedin Town Hall tomorrow evening a concert will be given in aid of the Presbyterian Young Women’s class room building fund. The Portobello Railway Ferry Company, Limited, will pay an interim dividend of 5 per cent, on Friday. Compound .sulphur cakes keep the blood pure, producing lovely clear skin; Is packets. Wilkinson and Son, chemists.—[Advt.] The Rev. W. Gray Dixon, of Auckland, the lecturer,on ‘Home by Bio,’ to be given in the Burns Hall on Thursday evening, being a very keen observer of men and manners, as of Nature, the various incidental experiences in a homeward trip will-be treated by him in characteristic fashion. The illustrations promise to be unusually effective.