The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1910.

Evening Star, Issue 14532, 7 December 1910, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1910.

We aro not surprised at the many expressions of keen disapThe Homo iiointmcut which havo Elections. reached lis in relation to tho election news fiasco. Owing to some extraordinary and unaccountable blundering at the other end of the cable, the Now Zealand newspapers are in possession only of an almost k.sit*nilicant fraction of the detailed iuLel'igenco which should have arrived. On .Monday, when commenting on such ieturns as had como to hand, wc surmised that many of the results of Saturday's polling were mi.ssiug; and subsequent cablegrams, containing extracts from the leading columns oT London, journals, showed our conjecture to bo well founded. The returns which were missing on Monday aro still missing on Wednesday, and we are not much better off in regard to news of the later contests. One. of yesterday's messages brought a solitary return lor " Karri ngdori." a non-existent constituency! It is true that curt indications of the " stato of parties" to date have arrived from time to time ; and, comparing these with similar summaries at the same stago of tho January election, it may be, tentatively assumed that the Government have lost a little ground. Tho almost amusingly contradictory comments of the chief organs of the respective parties show pretty cleaaiy that neither the Liberals nor tho Unionists have done as well as they hope to do; and there is too much reason to fear that the. decisive power in the House of Commons will still bo retained by tho British subject who addresses tho electors of Cork i " from a brake, with tho American Stars and stripes on his right." 'The Times' is probably right in suggesting that the bulk of the electors have not had timo—or, perhaps, have not thought it necessary—to differentiate between the issues of hist January and these of to-day. It may be questioned whether 30 per cent, of the people will havo been in possession of any lucid knowledge of Mr Balfour's new Referendum policy—though at Birmingham tho effect of that departure appears to havo been to discourage the Tariff Reformers. It is rather humiliating to be obliged to gather scant details from cabled comments on events which have not been cabled; but tho 'Chronicle's' ■remarks imply that, though tho Birmingi«Ba..Jteoni^«gay^

seven,' thedr seats have been secured by reduced majorities. It seems probable that the Government party havo held •their own in the London boroughs, but here again we aro almost entirely without details. A good many soate aro changing hands, bat (so far as our information goes) the effect of these changes is only slightly favorable to tho Opposition. There was a. transfer in each of five returns which we published yesterday, the Conservatives wresting three seats and tho Liberals two. But, speaking generally, we ore in the dark, or at least in the dusk; and it will bo well to wait for a littlo light.

A movement is on foot to erect a monument in London to the memory of Captain Cook. Tho British Empire Lcaguo aro circularising, public bodies in connection with the matter. Tho Otago Institute received a circular last evening, and voted five- guineas to tho fund. £3,000 is wanted, and already one-third of tho amount has been subscribed. Tho promoters stale that it is a reproach to tho nation that no recognition should havo been paid to tb>) memory of a man whoso enterprise in exploration resulted in such notablo additions to the British dominions, and whose scientific: work has been of tho greatest value to mankind.

Tho question of pnrifying the Water of Leith was mentioned at last night's mooting of tho Drainage Board. It has previously been referred to in the City Council bvdie of the representatives of Loith Ward. Mr Christio last evening said that they should purify the Leith by compelling those living .adjacent to it to connect with the Board's sewers. Oil Mr Marlow's motion it was agreed to refer tho matter to the Works Committee to report.

'• I think it is a great pity that such a society has been formed": Professor Waters at last night's meeting of tho Otago Institute. Ho was speaking of tho re-cently-formed Otago Astronomical Society. The "professor considered that there was not enough room in Dunedin for two societies doing a like work. Other members said nothing.

Cabinet has decided to call for tenders for the new Hermitage at Mount Cook, and tourists in tho future will havo greater comfort, not only in the matter of acconimodation, 'but of travelling in the vicinity of tho southern resort. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, .Minister in Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts, oxpeebs to reach Mount Cook about the end of the week. Ho expresses the intention of pushing on as rapidly a.s possible with the work. A vote has burn taken to bridge the Hooker ami to do away with the present clumsy and exceedingly dangerous chair. Mr Mackenzie also hopes to expedite the laying of a track across tho mountains,connecting the Hermitage with tho Copland Valley, for which a sum of £2,000 has been voted. The trade will bring tho east and west road svstems into touch.

A conference was held yesterday between representatives of the Bruce County Council and tho Taieri County Council in re gaTd to the erection of a bridge over tho Tuicri River near the mouth. The offer of tho Public Works Department was to enct n bridge at a cost of £5,000, the Bruce :;:'•"! Taieri County Councils ;o pay £2,50'") between them. This offer was accepted. It was agreed-that the Bruce Council should pay two-thirds (£1.666 13s 4<l) and tho Taieri Council one-third (£83") 6s 8d), tho Government paying a £ for £ subsidy of £2,500. The bridge will consist of sixteen spans of 41ft.

An assault case of unusual interest will come before the Police Court on Friday. It ap]>ears that a certain carioon appeared in a monthly journal published here. A young man took exception to the same, and. meeting the proprietor of tho publication in Princes street, demanded an apology, wliich.was not forthcoming, with the result that he is alleged to have struck tho newspaper man on the face, with his hand.

'['he tramway hands are asking for, a Dominion award as to hours, wages, etc. The Wellington award is the first of the existing awards to run out, so Wellington has the initiative in convening a meeting of tramway owners, with the idea of taking common action in the matter. This conference will open at Wellington tomorrow, and Mr C. Alexander left to-day to attend as representing the Dunedin City Council. lie expects to he- home again on Saturday evening. The wages of motcrmen with three years' service is Is l.',d per hour in Dunedin, and the claim is for Is 3d. Conductors here get Is per hour —that is, conductors of three- years' service.

It is estimated that the cost of the proposed additional installation at Waipori, which will give tho City a plant capable of generating 6,000 h.p., will come to £48,000. As' stated in last night's issue,' tho demands made on the supply- of power and light have been so extensive, that thewhole of the power now availablo has been drawn on. There is an alternative. Echemo for the erection of a duplicating plant at Green Island, where coal could be used, but it is understood that this would bo more expensive than the scheme suggested by tho city electrical engineer for a further duplication of the plant- at Waipori.

Mr John Studholmo, in his cable to the Otago University Council, does not mention the name of the person whom he has selected as professor of home economics, but tho Council know, that she—or is it "he''"—is English, and is to leave London to-morrow, tho Bth.

The steam plant at the converter station in Cumberland street, which has been used as a stand by, is to be sold. The probabilities are that a suction gas plant will be installed in its place. A man named Rogerson, assistant inspector of works at Flaxbourne, was brought into the Blenheim Hospital to-day suffering from injuries alleged to have been inflicted by Charles Hegglun, contractor. Rogerson had been severely handled, but the injuries (says an Association wire) aro not considered dangerous. A war-ant has been issued for Heq glur.'s arrest. Of late years our gardening enthusiasts have been giving renewed attention to what aro called old-fashioned things—marigolds, sweet-williams, liiae, myrtle, mignonette, lavender, candytuft., and so forth, and it is a stimulus in that direction to find Mr Tannock making a great display of sweet-williams just now. A bed of tliciic flowers is one of tho features of the Botanical Gardens, and many persons are going to see it. The roses, too, aro at their best. They arc tho finest show wo have ever had there.

•At a Press gathering in Wellington on Saturday night, wlien Air J. J. Grealish. chairman of the Gallery, tendered to Sir Joseph Ward the thanks of the gallery hands for his uniform courtesy to them, the Prime Minister cxpref6ed the hope that tho Press of the, Dominion would be represented at the Prime Ministers' Conference and at the Coronation festivities. We understand that the matter is likely to receive the immediate attention of tho Prccs Association, directorate. Maori curio finds aro not numerous; around Dunedin of late years. Recently one, in the shape of a greenstone weapon, resembling tho head of an axe, was unearthed during Drainage Board operations at the junction of and Hanover streets. The curio was exhibited by Or Ilcnham at last night's meeting of the Otago Institute. It has become the property of tho Museum through the courtesy of the Dunedin Drainage Board At tho monthly meeting of tho Caversham School Committee (Mr J. S. Barnett presiding) the head master reported that the average attendance for tho month was 616. Arrangements were made to canvass the district for tho prize and picnic funds. A very libera! prize-list was drawn up. Tho annual break-up and distribution of prizes will take placo on Wednesday, December 21. Miss Low having been appointed mhstrees of the Mornington School, resigned her position in the Caversham School. A resolution was carried expressing the appreciation of the Committee for the services Miss Low has rendered to the School.

" The demand for fruit is ' humming' now, and will be until after Christinas. Wo aro*" left with an empty store every night, and that's what wc like." So said a fruit and produce broker to-day. We pointed to the floor space, bare but for a few crates of cherries. "' I made up my mind years ago not to import cherries again," he continued. " T was tempted by the prices this year, and imported some from Melbourne. Here they are. I have lost about £4O over them." He lifted the lid of a crate. No cherries were to to seen—only an'unlovely, gossamer counterpane of mould. " These came over in the freezing chamber of this week's Melbourne boat," he explained. " Our people in Melbourne advise us that they were sliipped in perfect condition. Ti they come over as ordinary cargo, it seems," they suitor equally badly, and that cherries will carry in a freezing chamber has been proved by the arrival of some consignments as hard, clean, and wholesome as the day they were picked. Each crate contains 351b of fruit, and the consignee reckons his loss at 10s a crate.

Mr Paulin's forecast:—Squally S.W. to N.W. winds ;md thunder showers. A Blenheim message states that tho Supreme Court opened this morning before the Chief Jrstice In his charge to the Orand Jmy His Honor congratulated the district on the absenco of crime. There were only two small cases, neither against permanent residents. Both were charges of theft from drunken men, which went to show that these cases were the outcome of drunken habits.

Chinamen who go in for market gardening around Dunedin seem to bo devoting a good deal of their ground to potatogrowing. Tho areas they cultivate, situated mostly at Anderson Bay and Foibiny. and to a. small but increasing extent at Green Island, run generally from three to sis acres. One Chinese grower has been forwarding nearly a ton of " Up-to-dates" to a losil produce broker's rooms daily for some timo past. New potatoes aro not expected to rise in price, but-on account of the verydry season, particularly in the Oamani' district, there is no small likelihood of potatoes commanding good prices later in the season. The potato crops in the Taieri iwa said to he looking well, one consolation about the absence of moistuie is llm! it has been accompanied by an abscm-e oi disease. One man, whose firm bandies a great quantity of potatoes, said to-day that ho had not yet seen a ma.rk of disease in any of this season's consignments. As \n horse feed, he doubted whether any coulfl bo picked up between Ashbuiton and Gore at present. Chaff io to-day quoted at £5 10s a ton, and there is every chance that it will go still higher before long. The city electrical engineer h;is been instructed" to make experiments with a new lamp for electric .street lighting. It will be tried on a feW of tho tramway poles in Princes street south. Wireworm is playing havoc in some gardens about Dunedin, and we are asked if we can recommend a cure. An English magazine recently advised life putting of small pieces of oil-cake just below tho_ surface. This acts a.s a trap, and tho pieces mav ho lifted and burned after about eight or ten days. Some people say that this is a good remedy. A new-, point in cricket etiquette was raised by the Umpires' Association at a meeting'of the O.C.A. last night, when two delegates complained that wicketkeepers were in the habit of so "doctoring" thoir gloves with resin and oil that the bowler, when he received the ball from them, had to rub it on the ground, an action which unlawfully raised tho seam. One member of the O.C. Association grasped the point when he. said that the better the wicket-keeper tho moro ho worked over his gloves; and if a wicketkeeper could not use resin and oil, 'why should a fielder be allowed to use resin or a batsman to use a rubber handle on his bat. Moreover, the umpire can order a new ball if tho one in use does not seem to him proper. The Association take no action

"We are still adding to out pure-bred herds," said the Hon. T. Mackenzie yesterday at Christchurch. "We are having a. very successful season at Weraroa, and aro now selling some of our young stock of last year's breeding. We. sold three young Holstein bulls at Palmereton North, and they fetched 30gs, 17gs, and 73gs. 1. am negotiating for tho purchase of some Hoisteins in America, and am just now in communication with Mr Robertson, of the Canadian Agricultural, Department."

Break-up of the Cirls' High School on Thursday, the ]sth ins!., when tho Rev. R. E. Oavies will preside, and. of the Revs' High Schol on Friday, tho 16th, when Dean Fitehe.tt will take the chair. This year bolh functions will take place in the afternoon.

Trains will begin running on the newlylaid, straightened lino near Raveusbourno on Sunday, the- 181 hj.

The Wanganui Volunteer Eire Brigade yesterday received from .Merryweather and Sena, London, a new motor lire reel. The cost is very near £I,OOO. The new engine combines a 42 horse-power motor with a chemical file extinguishing apparatus, hose, and ladders. In" addition to a cylinder containing thirty-five gallons of lire-extin-guishing liquid," there are. two email port,able extinguishers carried. 'Tho hose reel will carry I.oooft, but moi-e can be stowed elsewhere. The ladders are 30ft long, and are carried overhead. Everything is fitted out. mest conveniently, and is thoroughly well made. The mae'hine is the tiit-L to he imported into the Dominion. At the monthly meeting of the .Shipwreck Relief Society yesterday afternoon it wa« reported that" the collection*; on tho Union Steam Ship Company's boatfl for the month amounted to £l9 3s 7d, and that the bank balance war, £IOB 17s 2d. The chairman ami Mr Moore were appointed to draw up a draft annual report. The members present were Mcesrs C. W. Chamberlain (chairman), W. A. Moore. T. W. Whitson, G. Fenwick. F. 0. Bridgeman, and Captain Beaumont. Tho next meeting will he held on January 24. Some woeks ago the ?ilayor of West Harbor had to cancel the permission to use a rifle range granted the Dunedin Rifle Club, as residents had complained that bullets had strurk their houses. Tho sea-clary of tho Rifle Club has written to tho West Harbor Council that the club propose to raise the height of tho slop mound to 14ft above the top of the targets. The height of tho mound at present is Bft above tho height of the target. It was also proposed to lengthen the mound. If was pointed out that the range in its present state was parsed as safe by the local military authorities. The mayor eakl at tho meeting of the Council laot night that when the alterations were mado permission to use the range would be granted.

Health-giving surf-bathing has evidently come to stay. The residents of St.. Clair and St. Kilda are beginning to realise what. a splendid asset they have in their two-mile beach. The number of bathers has increased to such an extent that a meeting ig to be held in the Bungalow Tea Rooms to-morrow evenin',' to fomf a sun bathing club, with the idea of controlling the sport. With a beach of such length it is only to bo expected that there would bo dangerous spnt.«. The marking of such, the acquiring of life-saving apparatus, shelter sheds, etc., are anion? the club's objectives. It is expected that thorn will be a well-attended meeting, at which the Mayor of St. Kilda will preside. We have received' a calendar for 1911 from the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation.

Tho City Corporation draw attention, to tho fast that if outstanding rates are not. paid by to-morrow a penalty of 10 per cent, will be added to the aniouut duo. Bring your wife and babies to Mr .1. Steadman, at the Acme Photo Company, George street. The studio is on ground floor—no staircase to climb. Tel. 965.—[Advt.] Garden party, "Tolcarne," Maori Hill, 3 p.m., Saturday (Roslyn Baptist Church). Tickets (including tea) is, children 6d. Also, sale of work, Xmas tree, etc., etc Gifts of every description gratefully received at The Anchorage, Roslyn, by Rev. F>. H. Hobday [Advt.] Tho Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society purpose forming a No. 3 group, aud a meeting of shareholders and intending shareholders will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street, Dunedin. next Monday coining io consider its formation. Tho very latest and .nest up-to-date photo picture is tho "artist's proof portrait," l>y Morris photo, Princes street. Coll and .&50.

Where shall wo spend tho holidays? is a question that is exercising the minds of the heads of families at the present time. It is a surprising fact that there are a large number of residents in and around Dunedin who have never made the trip to the Taderi Mouth, down the Taieri River, "the Rhine of the South Island." This is undoubtedly one of tho finest outings within easy distance from the City. The journey is a scenic treat, especially the launch trip down the river, and the Mouth itself is an ideal holiday spot, and a children's paradise. Mr Knarston's launches at Tilri arc almost alongside the train, and the luggage is handled by the launch proprietors. A gloss of Speight's beer at lunch and supper is better than all the tea in China.— [Advt.]