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Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 4

The financial year ends on March 31, and early nest month, after the Public Accounts are available, the Prime Minister intends to deliver a policy speech traversing the financial position. The„ road race at Mosgiel on Saturday was run to a certain extent at the risk of the promoters, who did not obtain the permission of the Taieri County Council to hold the race; but in the face of a recent decision in the North it was decided to proceed with tho race. The local constable, it is understood, took tho names of the officials and the successful competitors. On his way to Dunedm on Saturday the Minister of Railways was met by a Balclutba deputation, who asked for a highloading bank, particularly for turnips, °in place of the present loading-bank, which is about 5a in height. Mr Millar promised to have a departmental report furnished. The Crutha River Board asked for another boat to supplement the boat now running on the CLutha River. Tho Minister said he could not provide the grant asked for (£5,00)) out of tho Marine vote, and (as showing how tho pruning-knifo was being applied) remarked that °if he got £IO,OOO for expenditure on the whole of tho harbors in New Zealand this year he would bo lucky. Ho asked to he supplied with an analysis of tho revenue and expenditnre, showing tho camrnire and the expenditure of the steamer. Tho deputation represented that if Cairn's run, now leased by Mr Begg, was divided into two runs, as suggested by the Land Board, tho rental would be from £IOO to £l5O a year, less than if it were re-let as one run! They asked tho Minister that representations be made as to the desirability of considering the position of the river bed, its revenue, and its necessities. Mr Millar promised to bring the matter under the notice of his colleague, tho Minister of Lands.

At tho Port Chalmers Court this forenoon William Ballantine, for drunkenness, was fined 10s and casts (2s), in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. A week was allowed in which to pay the fine. Mr D. A. De Mans was the presiding J.p. Communication has been received from the British Post Office that mails will be despatched via San Francisco to connect with the new service via Tahiti, thence to New Zealand by the Manapouri. Mails will leave London on April 3, May 8. June 19, Jury 24, August 28, October 2, November 6, and arrive in New Zealand on Mav 12, June 17, July 28, September 2, Oetober 8 r November 12, December 18.

The 'Lyttelton Times' thinks the public] must bo thoroughly weary by this time of the little controversy going on between thp ' Prune Minister and the Leader of the, Opposition, but it is only fa'ir to SirJoseph Ward to point out that Mr Massev has now reduced his formidable list of charges down to a single indictment—that during the election campaign someone suggested that "certain districts would 'be more likely to be benefited by public ex-' penditure if those districts were represented by Government supporters rather than by Oppositionists. The much more serious charges—that the Prime Minister had connived at improper promises being made to the electors, that he had squeezed Mr M Gowan out of the Ministry, that he i • . a PP? mted Mr Ngata to a position for which there was no legal authority, and that he had sent out numbers of electioneering telegrams at the public expensehave all been abandoned. Mr J. M'Donald (Mayor of Dunedin) gave a word of advice at the gaiden party on Saturday. He said he had no doubt that the people of Dunedin would rally round the Young Men's Christian Association and help to complete the proposed budding, and he hoped that the scheme would be a success. The one thing the Association ought to be careful about was to make wandering young men feel at home in the institution. Some younc fellows, ordinarily left to parade the streets at night, might feel backward when entering such a place for the first time and if these young men, who were tie land that it was most desirable to assist, were to be retained and prevented from drifting into evil courses, thev must meet with a genuine and kindly welcome, and get the impression that the Y.M.C A members were religious gentleman and not! religious prigs. He (Mr M'Donald) wished that more men were true to the beautiful teachings of the religion they professed. If there was one thing more than another desirable in a man it was that he should be genuine. In connection with to-morrow's licensing poll it is as well to remind retailers that shops must be closed from noon, as on the date of tho General Election. Factory employees must be given an opportunity of voting. In like manner it is illegal to sell alcoholic liquor in licensed premises on the day of the election between the hours of 12 noon and 7 p.m. Every person whose name is on the parliamentary electoral roll is entitled to a vote. The method of voting also is the same. The voter strikes out the names of the candidates for whom it is not intended to vote, and not more than five names must be left uncancelled. ,'P 10 Hon - T - Mackenzie and Captain M'Donald, who has made many visits to the Sounds as master of the Union Company's yearly excursion steamers, have agreed upon the following itinerarv for the Talune, sailing on April 8 : Proceed from Dunedin direct to Doubtful Sound, visitincr Crooked Arm, Smith Sound, Hall's Arm; from Doubtful Sound pass through Breaksea Sound, Achero Passage, Wet Jacket Arm, and up Dusky Sound, anchoring in Supper Cove on Saturday night; from Supper Cove Preservation Inlet will bo visited, thence proceeding up Long Sound, leaving thero tor Dunedin direct, and arriving here on Tuesday, 13th April A doctor will accompany the steamer, also a string band. This, considering the short time allowed for tho trip, is believed to be the very best route that could be mapped out, tho desire bemg to let the passen-ois see as much as possiblo of the beau til ul scenery of the West Coast and spend as Little time at sea us can bo arranged. Milford Sound will not, therefore, be visited, as the time that would bo taken to steam that distance can bo spent to much betto; advantage in visiting the places mention*!. Application have been so numerous that the Tahme's complement is uracticaiiy assured already, and if they continue to come in as freely a second steamer will be necessarv to take all the would-be excursioniste. " j On (Saturday the Dunedin Hospital Saturday Association telegraphed greeting to the Invercargill Association. A reply received by Mr Logie to-day advised :—" Fifteen more stations vet to Teport. Estimate fund returns will exceed £-700. Thanks for ldndlv message from president (Mr Israel) and" self." "" Owing to the closing of tho telegraph offices at the usual time to-morrow, and the consequent interruption of communication with the polling booths scattered

through tho electorate, the result of the Chalmers licensing poll will not be declared to-morrow evening at Port Chalmers. Tho result of tho voting at the local booth will be available. This afternoon's meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by the cliairman (Mr Talboys), Messrs Le Cren, J. M'Donald (mayor), Moller, Gallawav, Loudon, Larnach, and Tapper. Seventeen applications for relief were dealt with. Mr Sidney Wolf has returned to Dunedin after judging at the bands' contest at Hastings. Nine bands competed. In the A grade .the Wanganui Band won very easily. Mr Wolf says that tho Wanganui performance was far superior to all others. This is a feather in the cap of the now conductor, Mr Wade, who recently came from England. The selection m which the Wanganui men scored so well was from tho music of 'II Croeiato in Egitto,' the opera thai really made Meyerbeer famous. The B grade brought about a closer competition. On the first night the Hastings Band came out on top, with a good performance of J. Ord Hume's _ Songs of Northern Scotland,' but when it came to the "own choice" contest the Petone Band scored well, and came out top m the total. Mr Wolf says that he felt much disappointed with all the solos with, tho exception' of the BB flat bass solo by Hughes of Nelson, and the euphonium solo by Hickman of Wanganui. The faults in the solos generally were of an elementary character, and "in his report Mr Wolf is going to give a few hjnts to the young players as to tho handling of brass instruments. The meeting was well managed in the interests of the competitors, though many thought that it might haw been shortened to four days. The Dominion Executive of the N.Z. Farmers' Union have been approached by an Emigration Association in London, entitled the Central Unemployed Body, who want information as to the field in New Zealand for emigrants from Home, and co-operation on the part of the Farmers' Union should it be decided to despatch any. The Central Unemployed Body started operations in November, 1905, and out of 30,000 cases registered and investigated they have assisted 8.000 people' to emigrate Most of these'have gone to Canada but owing to industrial depression there that avenue is temporarily closed and the Central Body are turning their eyes to Australia and New Zealand In 1906 they sent 151 persons 1o New Zealand, most of whom were navvies, sent in response to a request of the New Zealand irovernment for men for railway ■■•cutruction work. The Body's astern .seems to bo that applicant? register with one of tho thirty or so Distress Committees in I onaon, and the applications are sifted out before being sent on to the Central Body who make further investigation. As a rule the Body send out only those who arc suitable for working on the land, and these are required to givo an undertaking not to remain in the cities of the land to which the emigrate. The expenses are partly covered by a rate of ,',d in the ij levied by tho Local Government Board at Home. The various provincial councils of the New Zealand Farmers' Union have been circularised by tho Dominion Executive and requested to gather information. Mr Hugh Mitchell, secretary to th-> Otago Provincial Council has notified the twenty-eight branches of tho Farmers' Union in Otago of what is afoot, and hopes to get all information available as to openings for immigrants in this part of New Zealand. He understands that farm labor and domestic service are the vocations on which information is chieilv required, and anticipates that there ou"iit to bo no difficulty in getting plenty ° o f advice concerning the latter.

A number of the contestants in the bicycle road race at Mosgiel on Saturday were the victims of a mean and contemptible trick. Between Mosgiel and AlLmfcon the road was covered with hundreds of sharp-pointed tacks, and punctures were numerous, and several capable riders lost all chance of winning through picking up these tacks. In some cases the competitors mended their tyres and started afresh on tho journey.

Some time ago the Drainage' Board de-' aded to remedy a standing nuisance at St. Ljlda by piping the evil-smelling ditch on the east side of the Tahnna Park tramway, better known as tho "railway ditch." As the engineer had a gang of men finishing a job in Bridgeman street, South Dunedin, last week, he suggested the present as an opportune time to begin this work at St.' Hilda, and it was hoped to put tho gang on the job to-day. There is understood to have been some friction in the W-orks Committee over whether the St. Kilda work came next in rotation on the list' of works contemplated. A majority of "the tUommitteo were of opinion that it did. The engineer was instructed accordingly,, but on his putting in his requisition for pipes, it was "hung up." Meantime he has had to discharge the men whom he had hoped to start on the new work to-day. The 'Standard' says that altogether twenty-one informations were laid as the resnlt of the last "sly grog" raid in Gore, five convictions following. The country's revenue will benefit to the extent of £53, the contributors to this amount boiii" Mary Jane Thurston £4O, F. Dickson £3, and Charles Pumpa £lO. Charles George Thurston was fined £SO, but took the option of incarceration. One charge was dismissed and fifteen were withdrawn, imprisonment following in the remaining case without tho alternative of a fine. The St. Clair Presbyterian Church Sunday School's first annual picnic was held at Burnsido on Saturday last. There was a most encouraging attendance of parents and friends of the school. The paddock (kindly lent by Mr Holms, of Abbotsford) was reached soon after ten. It was an ideal picnic paddock, plenty of shade from the broiling sun, and under the spreading willows the children played in coolness and comfort. As the afternon wore on the durorent races were run off under the shade of the sturdy pines. Everything passed off well, and most enjoyably. The best thanks of the school are due to the Rev. J. Kilpatrick and his congregation for their kindly arrangements and tho loan of picnic utensils. The contributions were so liberal that all expenses were more than covered without drawin" on school funds. ° At the first quarterly meeting of the Signal Hill Scenic Reserve Board there was a lull attendance of members—Messrs D. Barron (Commissioner of Crown Lands, in the chair), T. Ross, W. Barclay, I. Stevenson, J. Farquharson, and A. Marshall. The last-named gentleman, who is purchaser for the Government of land for scenic reserves in Otago, was elected secretary. The reserve consists of 220 acres, of which about 180 acres is native bush, most of the i cleared portion being in the vicinity of the trigonometrical station on top of the hill. The meeting decided to ask the Government to allow the Forestry Department to supply from 500 to 1,000 native trees, chiefly Fugus fusca (red pine), with which to plant these open spaces. To protect the reserve from the depredations of wandering cattle, the reserve is being fenced in, and Mr Ban-on reported that tho greater part of this work, which is being done at Government expense, is already completed. Tho principal road giving access to the reserve from the Valley side is that leading from Opoho, and the meeting decided to ask the North-east Valley Borough Council to consent to part, of this road "line being temporarily fenced off, to keep cattle from spoiling the new footpath which has been constructed. The members of the Board have decided to pay an early visit to the reserve. A heavy case is in front of Mr Justice Williams. If His Honor gets through tho Invercargill work in time it will come on on Friday of this week. The case is a claim of £9,500 by the Carton Hill Bnck, Tile, and Township Company against the Crown for damage, alleged to have been caused by tile tunnelling that is part of the railway duplication work. The company state that their kiln is destroyed and the whole of their land depreciated in value. A largo number of witnesses are subpoenaed, and it is expected that the case will last ncarlv a fortnight. Mr Fitzgerald, C.E. (Wellington), and Mr J. C. Stephens will sit with His Honor as assessors. The new dock was pumped out to-day in connection with the unfinished process of making the caisson a watertight fit across the entrance. A number of wooden stays that were bolted to the poles to assure the stability of the coffer dam in the early stages, of its existence are now being removed, in readiness for commencing the removal of the dam as soon as tho fitting of the caisson is completed.

For watch, clock, and jewellers' repairs A.'. J. Shaw, 13 Rattray street, is recommended. Absolutely the best in Dunedin.—fAdTt.]

The public are reminded that tho sale of Indian, Oriental, and Continental goods, tho net proceeds of which are devoted to helping Pandita ltamabai, of Mukti, in her work of helping India's widows, will be opened tomorrow afternoon, at 2.30. Mrs George M'Kenzie, of Queenstown, will direct tho sale, assisted by an efficient staff of local helpers. Mrs Hooper, wife of Canon Hooper, of the Church Missionary Society, who has resided for over thirty years in India, has consented to formally open the sale. A Word to Dressy Men.—The baclrward season has left us with a lot of summer waistcoats, all new season's goods, smart in cut and design; but we won't carry them over. They're going to-morrow at a big discount. Pirst come, first served. Plenty of hot days yet, and you'll feel just right in one of these vests. The place is Wallace's, tho outfitter, Princes street.—[Advt.l The famous M'Ciinton's Soap, together with pictures of his noted model Irish village at tho Franco-British Exhibition, is shown in Waters's, chemist, window, 20 Princes street. -[Advt.] The directors of the Rising Sun G.D. Company have declared a dividend of Is per share, payable to-morrow, the 9th inst. A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and sapper is better than all the tea in China ■ [Advt.] Wilkinson and Son, chemists, stock Dr Cathell's remedy for corpulency and obesity. In boxes 3s 6d, by post 3s 9d.—[Advt.]

The manifesto of the No-license candidates for Chalmers electorate is advertised in this issue.

Undivided attention to details is the powerful factor that counts in the making of our portraits of ladies and children. Acme Photo. Company, George street.—[Advt.] The annual meeting of the B Battery will be held iu the orderly room, Garrison Hall, on Wednesday evening. High-class photography is nowhere better represented than in the show windows of Mr Morris, Princes street. The pencil drawing portraits of ladies attract more attention every day, and the demand for them is constant. The dark sepia photos are also now in great demand.—-[Advt.] Everybody should read the Moderate candidates' appeal and manifesto on another page in this issue.—[Advt] Tho season for straw hats is drawing to a close. We can't sell straws in winter and it's part of our business policy never to hold them over a season and then sell back numbers. Don't wear a dirty straw; you can't afford to when clean straws are dirt cheap. At Wallace's, tho outfitter, Princes street.—[Advt.]