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Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 4

It was pleasant to learn, as the Catlins League did yesterday, that the work is being pushed on with unlooked-for speed. But there was a fly in the amber of the League's contentment. A restless impulse of suspicion, given fiercer edge by the Lawrence-Roxburgh " slow-down," had been awakened by the whisper borne to the chairman: "Oh, you fellows are bein<r hoodwinked. They are building two miles at the Waimahaka end for every mile at the Catlins end." If such rumor be true, as Mr Chisholm pointed out, Invercargill must get the trade first. And Invercargill is already well supplied with timber country, so that there is every reason whv the Utago end of the connection with the bioCatlins bush district should be opened up first. The alarm of the League was a good ueal soothed by the statement of the chairman that he could not believe there was any truth in the yimor; it was further gentled " by Mr J. B. Waters's report of a conversation with Mr Crosby Smith *h" secretary of the Invercargill League. That gentleman had told him that Invercargill regarded the Tokonui extension as a huge blunder, and that while thev intended to oppose the Lawrence-Roxburgh line tooth and nail, they had no intention of interfering with Catlins. Mr Chisholm and Mr \\ aters have been commissioned to wait on the engineer and learn the facts about the VVaimahaka construction and the position of the whole works.

Cr Walker was loud in his praise last evening of the Public Swimming Baths in Oamaru. They had been constructed for about £6OO, and were paving good interest on the money involved. He was so pleased with these baths that he would like to see similar ones erected in the north and south ends of this City.

In the Balelutha Court on Wednesday, before Mr Kenriek, S.M., Roope and Co.', brewers, of Invercargill, were fined 40s and costs on a charge of failing to send to the clerk of the court at Balelutha notice of liquor sent on February 27 to a resident of Waimahaka, which "is in the No-license district of Clutha. For the defence it was stated that there was no intention to evade the Act. The notice had not been sent within twentv-four hours, _ but had been sent in later." His Worship said his previous ruling was that these notices should be sent out on the same evening as the liquor was despatched, or a not on the following day. Of course, as the inspector said, there was no reason to suspect that the delav was for the purpose of assisting sly-grog-selling, but the delay had been too lons. James Lamb, licensee of the Bridge Hotel at Kaitangata, was fined £5 and costs for selling liquor on Sunday. George Roskelhe, charged with procuring liquor at .Stirling for other persons and failing to give to the vendor of such liquor "the names and addresses in writing of these persons, was fined 40s and costs. Speaking in support of a vote for the improvement of the north end recreation reserves. Cr Walker said last evening that they should encourage as much as possible the _ improvement of recreation reserves. If tney could further the interests of athletics in connection with the various reserves, then they should make every point of doing so. Mr T. Scott attended last night's meeting of the Trades and Labor Council, and gave an address on technical education, in which he urged the necessity of the Council, which was composed of practical men, being represented on the management of the Technical Classes Association. Mr Scott was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. One of the most pregnant of Cr Walker's remarks last night was that in which he advocated the establishment of market* in Dunedm. "Wo have to pay so much for tne necessaries of life," h O . said, "because they pass through so many hands before wo get them. Consider! i„ a place like Dunedin, with a sufficiency of ports from here to Oamaru, it is impossible sometimes to get fish unless you are prepared to pay through the nose for it. In Wellington there are markets- where the working man can get vegetables, meat, and the rest • and though the necessaries of life are supposed to tie dearer there than here, the working clans can live cheaper there than in Dunedin." The annual meeting of the Calton Hill Brick, Tile, and Township Company was held last evening, Mr James Annand (chairman of directors) presiding. Messrs James Annand and It. 0. Clark were re-elected directors, and Mr James Walker was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the lesignafion of Mr R. Hudson. Mt James Biown was reappointed auditor. | A housebreaker entered the Mornington School last night by means of a window, and violently forced open all the cupboards in the class rooms. No money had been left in the building, nor was anything of value taken, so that the only result of the misdeed appears to be that the Committee will have to replace half a doz«n locks. Andrew Percy, the fisherman who was supposed to have been blown to sea from Waikouaiti, arrived safely at Purakanui yesterday evening. If gossip be true, the recent Calton Hill compensation claim against the Government was a costly affair in the matter of legal expenses.. The costs, wo are told, amounted to about £B,OOO, of which it is said the claimants in the case have to pay onefourth. ,

The history of the Corporation's. deal in jarrah timber, which deal has drawn, a perfect fusillade of caustic criticism, was outlined once more by Cr Walker last night. He read the town clerk's and Cr Cole's joint report recommending the purchase of a. portion of the timber offered (the beet of it) at 2s 6d a sleeper. "The next thing we knew," commented Mr Walker, was that- between Council meetings the mayor instructed the chairman of the Tramways Committee to purchase the whole of the sleepers .at a cost of 2s lid each. In committing us to that purchase in face of the Council's resolution and the report furnished, I think the mayor exceeded liis instructions. It has been said that we confirmed the purchase at the next meeting. But the position was that no matter how much we objected the letter liad been written purchasing the sleepers. It may be very injudicious, and if thatha It was very injudicious, and if it lands the City for £4OO or £SOO someone will have to answer for it." _ The queue at" the entrance to the Garrison Hall last night worked most satisfactorily. Seme of Madame Melba's patrons got there as early as six o'clock, and in ordinary circumstances there would have been much bumping and elbowing for the choice of the 5s seate. But the people voluntarily accepted the queue, and this was judiciously superintended by a coup'e of policemen, who impartially sent late comers to the rear, so that everybody's rights were preserved. The turning back oi innocents who tried to squeeze into a forward position provided plenty of amusement whilst waiting. The directors of the Peninsula Shipping Company, together with the representatives of the insurances companies, visited Portobello yesterday afternoon, when it was decided to abandon to the underwriters what is left of the ferry steamer Matariki. It was not considered by the directors to be worth while their attempting to do anything with the engine and boilers, as the intense heat to which they must have been subjected would render their value for any future use to which they could put them problematical. In fact, some wonder has been expressed at the boiler not having exploded during the lire, the opinion being that the safety valves must have indeed acted well. * The directors hold a meeting on Monday to take steps to replace the vessel by an even more up-to-date boat, or at any rate one that will carry a great many more passengers and will be able to cope with holiday traffic. Whether one is built in New Zealand or secured from Australia, it is intended to place it in running early next season, probably in October or November. Pending receipt of advice from Wellington, Mr Sibbald, Collector of Customs, is unable to state whether an inquiry into the fire will be held. Mr J. H. ■ Walkr, chairman of the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, informed a member of our staff this morning that there are at present seven scarlet fever eases in the infectious diseases hospital. Two of them (Green. Island girls) are of so serious a nature that an operation will probably be necessary. The High Schools Board of Governors will hold a special meeting next Friday to consider the designs and plans for' the new Girls' High School.

The reports of the two experts on the condition of the sleepers bought for the George street- track have now been received by the Special Committee aopointed by the City Council to go into this matter. It is rumored that one of the reports is of a higlily condemnatory nature. The Committee will consider them on Monday. Much as he would again like to re-enter the City Council, Mr G. Lawrence finds that hie health will not permit of his contesting the Bell Ward seat. _ It issaid about town that a certain section of the community, who approve of the Government's action in stopping the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway works" are talking of holding a meeting as a counteraction to next Monday night's meeting. "Our Own" wires from Invercargill ■— A burglar effected an entrance into the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Stores about- four this morning, but was disturbed before he could depart with his booty. A person passing saw a light and informed the constable on duty, but as the visitor was about to depart by the trint door he saw the constable approachi#, and quietly decamped through a back cioor, __ leaving a double-barrelled gun, a sack lull of treacle, tobacco, candid, and a ham He was evidently an amateur, and the above was all that w, 6 taken! It l 6 surmised that the visiter was laying m supplies for a duck-shooting expedition ment s "called over the coals," but we hear that considerable soreness and irritation are being experienced bv many business firm* who use the postal fornkin" machine. J.he Postal Department collects wH r* 3^ fces each ™ ek - ana oeducts tlie yake of impressions not used. J-bis week the department has issued a circular that it will not redeem "cut-out" impressions, and has been so imwise as to make ttiis direction retrospective \ s -, result impressions to a. considerable value that the department will neither allow for nor perimt to be- used are at present left ou the bands of holders of these machines «€ imagine that the department will be wiJbns, on further consideration to revise its instructions, so far as their retrospective features are concerned. , Hiss Ada Ward, the evangelist speaking before a crowded meeting in Melbourne the other day, denied the report that «hp intended to again adopt the stage as" a profession. W T hat.she intended to do was to go anion; the stage hands as a theatrical evangelist. Already she had the promises of a great many theatrical managers that she might do what she liked, and "she intends to. Miss Ward said that she had come to Australia to preach the simple Gospel message, and believed that God would honor the effort. Commissioner M'Kie, in thanking Miss Ward for the clean clear-cut statement she had made, added that nobody could misunderstand her intention. "We can only pray," said he, that Divine guidance mav be given to her with regard to her future mission "

For watch clock, and jewellers' repafrs A. a'v , w ', 13 street, is recommended. Absolutely the best in Dunedin.—[Advt.] The winter time-table of the steamer Moerangi, running between Dunedin and Portobello, will be found on our front page. P. and F. Martin, Octagon, urgently invite furniture-buyers to come where the crowd come to for their furniture, because they get quality_and low prices hand-in-hand and in style. Call on Saturday evening and stroll through.—[Advt.] Cr J. H. Walker will address electors in South Dunedin Town Hall this evening. Always an acceptable gift: A bottle of Old English Lavender Water from Wilkinson and Son. chenists.—[Advt.] Maheno is advertised to run to Portobello, Broad Bay, and Russells on Saturday and Sunday. Speight's ale and stout are acknowledged by the Dominion public to be the best on the market. —[Advt.] A meeting of Mr James Marlow's supporters will be held at the committee rooms, 94 King Edward street, this evening. Get Wise: Some people are not aware of the moderate charges for the beautifullyfinished work done by Mr Steadman, Acme Photo. Company, George street.—[Advt.] Members of the St. Kilda Bowling Club are notified that the green will be closed after to-morrow afternoon. If your silverware is dull and requires the lustrous appearance of the new article, we recommend the purchase of Stewart Dawson's Excelsior Plate Polish; price, Is per bottle.—[Advt,] A notice to members of Lodge St. Patrick, 1.C., appears in this .issue.