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Evening Star, Issue 14497, 23 February 1911, Page 4

When the Reserves Committee's report was under consideration at last night's meeting of tin? City Council Cr Tapper said he had a grievance to moot. Some timo ago residents bordcrng tho Town Belt were allowed, and even mooted, to improve the portions of the Town licit adjoining their property. One gentleman went to the expense of planting shrubs and trees, and putting an open fence round them at an expense of £lO. Recently it was mmored that tho fence was to be removed, and the gentleman then came to him about the matter. He made incmiries, and was assured by the. chairman that there wis no such intention. Yet, in spite of that, within the. last few days someone had taken that fence down--and ho would like the chairman to explain. Cr Burnett said that Mr Tannock had, on an arrangement, improved the place and put up a manuka fence, on tho understanding that in time it would be taken down. This had now been done, and naturally tho ratepayer objected. The curator told him that the arrangement had been that the fence should he taken down when the shrubs were sufficiently high. A mass meeting of citizens was held in tho theatre at- Invercargill last night to bid farewell to the Prime Minister prior to leaving for the Coronation and Imperial Conference. The mayor (Mr Ott! presided, and the theatre was crowded. Sir J. (J. Ward was presented with an illuminated add'-css. and cordial speeches weiv made by the mayor and Mr J. A. liannu, M.l\ Sir Joseph Ward, in his reply, covered mn?h the same ground as Unit traversed in his speech nt the Bluff on the previous night

The United Press Association are holding their annual meeting at Queens-town. Delegates from all parts of the Dominion aro in attendance, those representing Dunediu being Messrs U. Fenwick (chairman, ' Otago Daily Times') and C. Stanley Smith ('Evening Star'). Alterations wero approved in the articles of association increasing tho number of directors by two for the. purpose of representing papers outside tho four cities. Messrs Carson and Pirani wero elected to these positions without opposition, and Messrs Brett and Horton, who wore the retiring members of the old Board, wero also reelected unopposed. Mr Fenwick's presidential address dwelt on the great development of the cable service and the work of tho Association generally, which the meeting ordered to be printed and circulated to members. At the invitation of Mr F. 11. Kilgour it was agreed to hold the next annual meeting at (Jroymouth. The Newspaper Proprietors' Association held their annual meetiiig to-day, and to-moiiow those of the Master Printers' Federation and tlt9 Xew Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union will be held. While the party were in Queenstown last week they were te.ken for si picnic to the Greenstone and Lake Rero by Messrs Fenwick and Smith, on behalf of the 'Daily Times' and 'Evening Star' Companies. The Dunedin Liedertafel, under the conduotorahip of Mr Jesae. Timson, serenaded Hifl Excellency tho Governor and Lady Islington at the residenca of their president, Sir George M'Lean. last evening. Several part <iongs wero 6ung, including ' Comrades in arms,' 'Spin, spin,' and 'Absence.' Lord and Lady Islington thanked the members for thoir attendance and their excellent singir.g, and trusted that they would havo tho pleasure of hearing the society at nr.o of thoir conoeits. Tho members were entertained by Sir George and Lady M'Lean, and the toaa't of their health was heartily responded to.

There was only one casa in the Police Corrt this morning, when n first offender was fined 10s for drunkenness, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Mr 11. Y. Widdowson, S.M., presided. The Committee of the OUigo Agricultural and Pastoral Society this morning decided to invite tender* tor the erection of new haildfnga ou tho site of those recently destroyed by fire. The schedulefor the forthcoming winter show was carefully revised, and a largo amount of detail business attended to. The meeting was a lengthy one.

Cr Tapper mentioned at the City Conn oil meeting last night that a sub-coin-mittec had been appointed by the General Committee to go into the question of :,n arrangement being made for tho uso ot the Y.M.C.A. baths. A minute on the matter would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee. If there is even the semblunce- of truth in a considerable amount of evidenco taken in the Auckland Supremo Court on a recent afternoon, Prohibition in the Taumarunui district is not the success which its supporters would like it. to be. Several witnesses declared on oath that many residents of tho district] brew their own beor whenever they think fit, and without let or hindrance. The formula of tho ingredients used was freely quoted by one witness, who paid he had made the af© himself; that it was distinctly intoxicating, and in all respects resembled brewers' beer, except that its flavor was somewhat sweeter. Another witness, with equal frankness, said lie was well acquainted with, tho local brew, and added : " It is not only as good, but a great deal better than air/ beer that ever came out of a, public-house."

"If the construction of the South Island Main; Trunk Railway is continued at the, tame rate at which it has advanced during the past ton years, it will not be completed in less than fifty vears," said the Hon. C. H. Mills, M.L.C.,' to a _' Lyttelton Times' reporter. "We are convinced of tho urgent need ior pressing forward the line, and wo consider that tho Government should make a greatly increased expenditure upon this national undertaking." Speaking of the connection between the two islands, MiMills said that there was little doubt that tho ferry service linking the two railways would bo run between Picton and either Titahi Bay or Plimmerton. Only thirtyeight miles of sea lay between the Picton wharf and Plimmerton. It was desirable that a ferry service, which formed an item in such an important public service, should not bo liable to interruption, and the passago from Charlotte Sound to Titahi Bay could be mado in all weathers, and at times vhen the strait was impracticable. He estimated that the journey from Christchurch to Picton by rail would bo mado in eight hours, and the ferry would bo crossed in two hours, so that tho saving) in time would bo considerable.

Cr Whito told the City Council last, night that tho state of the Water of Leith was a disgrace to the north end of the City, and said that if the Drainage Hoard would not do anything to abate the stench then the Council should see to it, Cr Burnett said that plans had already been prepared for obviating the troublo in the Leith.

Tho Christchurch police have received an anonymous letter directing their attention to the exceptional facilities offered by " crystal ga/ang'' for the unravelling of such mysteries as that connected with the death of Kthel May Bradley. The writer, after rehearing the details of a case in which ho says the perpetrator of a series of robberies w'as discovered as the, result of clow scrutiny of a crystal, discreetly stales that lid (or "she) refrains from mentioning the name of the '•medium" who extracted this hidden information, but hints that in•quiries from members of a. sect interested in the occult will result in the name and addic-s of this medium being made known. The police, however, show no desire to avail themselves of the assistance of the seer.

Tho following is the resolution that will lie moved at the Ward function at the Garrison Hall, and be spoken to by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, tho chairman of the 11 arbor Roard, and Mr llcskiug, K.C. :—"That on behalf and in tho name of the citizens of Dimedin we desire to extend to Sir Joseph and Ladv Ward a most hearty welcome on tho' eve of their departure for England, and, further, wi.di the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence (itodspeed and success in his .mission as tho representalivo of the people of New Zealand at the King's Coronation and Prime Ministers' Conference, feeling confident that on all questions affecting the welfare of tho Dominion, and in all matters making for the advancement, and solidarity of the°British Kinpire, we will be ably and faithfully repiesented by him." The Kaikorai Band, who have volunteered their services, will supply two items. T.ar-t nicht was not the first occasion upon whicii Vallov Ward meml>ers of the City Council, have referred to tho disabilities under whicii the Villey l.'itepayers labor in regard to concession tickets; but if was ori'.v last night that the matter came in determinable'fashion before that body in the shape of a resolution by Cr Rhodes to rescind a former resolution making both St. Clair and Vallcv concession tickets nontransferable. Cr Rhodes pointed out that when a poor man wanted to take his wife and iamilv to St. Clair on a holiday he had to procure a concession ticket for each member of tho party (which cost a substantial sum), instead of which he should be able to hand up his own ticket and hnvotlio requisite number of snips taken oft' it, 'I he first motion, which dealt solely with the question of transference, was referred to the Tramways Committee for report; the second, 'which read—"That the St. Clair and North-east Valley tramway concession tickets bo hereafter transferable, and that tho same lie available for use over cither tho St. Clair or Normanby mutes"- -was ruled out of order till the former portion had been settled.

Lieutenant-colonel Cossgrove leporls that applications for Major Gut-rim's medal for the most chivalrous act performed by a Roy Scout during 1910 are coiuim.' m very -dowlv. A writer in the ' Lvtteltmi Tunes' states :—There is a danger of tho medal being awarded for some very insignificant act unless scoutmasters will bestir themselves at once. The, medal is a very handsome gold one, worth several pounds. Ino generosity of the donor should bo rewarded by a keen competition'for it. One scoutmaster writes that- there has been no chivalrous act performed in Ids district equal to those, reported in the Press in other places, and encloses a certified account, ot a very scoutlv act indeed. 1 am afraid that many "other scoutmasters tako the same view, and imagine that any district but their own will win the medal. Provincial commissioners have- sent out tho notices to their district, commanders without, loss .n time. It is. to be hoped that the scoutmasters will send in their accounts as soon as iwssible, and that they will not refrain from doing so because they imagine some other scoutmaster has a. stronger case.

For several years past the Government have been trviiig to obtain live specimens of tho huia. "and several expeditions that have been fitted out have, returned without meeting with any Nucceps. Among many pcopl'' it is thought that tho lnn.i has gone, the same wav as tho moa and other native birds. 'nii's opinion, however, seems to bo a little premature. Wo have, met several enthusiastic export ornithologists (says tho Hastings 'Tribune') who are qui to certain that tho huia. is not extinct. Tho latest information is that in the direction of Mount Holdsworth (Wairarapa) tlio distinctive not© of this bird has been hoard. The American moose which wore convoyed by tho Hinemoa to the West Coast six years ago, .and were landed (it tho head of George Sound, have, says tho 'Now Zealand Times,' .apparently come to stay. About eighteen animals were landed, and since then a. couplo of skeletons have been found on the beach or a little way inland, and at odd times tracks of tho animals have been seen. On the last trip of tho Hinemoa, whilst the vessel was lying at George .Sound, Captain Bollons, Mr Ailport, and some others made an excursion into tho bush, and within a short distanco of the shore tho party eamo across the recent spoor of the moose, and followed It for about a couple of miles. Tho hoof imprints indicated that young deer were with the older animals.

Tho L'.S.S. Company's scheme for tho training of officers seems to havo been attended with success. The accommodation on the training ship Dartford, which is now at Lyttelton, is to be. enlarged, and twelve more cadets are to' be taken on board. The Dartford will then have thirty-six cadets in training for a life afloat. It is said that the Dartford will come down to Port to be docked and to have the extra accommodation fitted, but no official announcement has been mado on that poinJt^et.

Cr Keast liad no hesitation in assuring the City Council last night that the £307 ])-,- which the February train receipts this Year topped those of last year Wis largely duo to tho interest taken in surf bathing, and the increase in the popularity of the St. Clair and St. Kilda lieaches as holiday resorts; and ho expressed/ his belief that when) tho time came the Tramways Committee would recognise the value of this source of revenue by spending a reasonable sum of money on beach improvements. Karlier in tho' evening; Cr M'Donald had suggested that £3OO might be spent at St. Clair by the tramways department alone in recognition of the revenue derived from tho beach's popularity.

Tho Mothodisl Conference- opens formally at Christchurch this evening (says a P.A. telegram), when the retiring president (the Rev. C. H. Laws) will deliver an address. Among the quostion6 to be debated, by the Conference aro the confirmation of'the resolutions regarding the separation of the New Zealand Church, a proposal to out out one of the three readings of stations, and the establishment of a Methodist College or a Theological Hall. A citizens' meeting is to be held to-morrow night in connection with the Conference. The Governor has promised to preside. Bishop Julius and tho Hon. G. Fpwldsarc among those who will deliver addresses. The breach of promise case Susan Cameron v. Alex. Ness was mentioned in the Supreme Court this morning, Mr Irwin (instructed by Mr Hay) informing the Court that a settlement had been effected.

An interesting collection of portraits and busts of men prominently connected with New Zealand history is gradually being brought together at the Parliament Library jsays the"'Post'). In addition to several oil portraits, including those of Sir Julius Vogel, jjjir George (hey, Mr Hallance, ami Mr Seddon, and portrait shields representing past Parliaments dating back to the commencement of responsible government, the Library already contains marblo busts of tho late Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir John M'Kenzie, and Mr Seddon, and bronzed plaster busts of Six John Hall and Sir George Grey. An interesting and valuable addition to tho collection has recently been made in tho shapo of three beautiful miniaturo portraits, purchased on behalf of tho Government by the High Commissioner, and presented to tho Library through the Minister of Internal Affairs. 'these are portraits of Lieutenant-colonel George Grey (Sir George Grey's father), of Sir George's mother, and of Sir George himself when a young man of twenty-two. The miniatures arc to be refrained in a uniform style, and placed in a conspicuous placo on the walls of the main reading room.

An luvercargill syndicate recently invested £IOO in a sweep, in the hope that they would annex one of the four-figure prize;;. The result of Ihe draw was that I hey were, successful to the extent of £95, leaving a small deficiency of £5. The £95 was reinvested, and the result of the draw came to hand on Monday, when a further drop in the capital of tho syndicate was recorded, the return being £35. The question of the hour (says the 'Southland 'News') is whether tho reinvestment of tho £55 will cause augmentation or i'uither diminution ; but whether or not the sum finally disappeais, it will be admitted Ihat tho syndicate have had a big run for their money.

During the course of an interview with a Christehureh 'Press' repoiter, Mr ]{. P. Vincent, who ha* been for some years Mayor of Perth, referred to the apathy of electors in regard to municipal elections. "1 believe,'' he paid, "(hat there is in New Zealand a lack of interest in municipal elections similar to that which we lincl in Australia. There is always any amount of criticism of what is done by those who probably sacrifice a good deal of their time in accepting the offices of mayor or councillor, but, strangely enough, the people rlo not exert themselves to any marked degree at election timca. Rut it seems to me that when tho control <>f a city is amalgamated by the corporation of the various municipal councils, the natural result will be that, a somewhat improved type of councillors will lie selected by the ratepayers." Mr Vincent added that plural voting was still retained in Perth, and he expressed much doubt regarding the experiment made in New Zealand and in New Smith Wales in extending the adult suffrage to the municipal polls. Steps are being taken to organise with a view to the second annual meeting of the, Librarians' Conference, which is to bo held at Auckland at .Master. At a meeting held on Saturday last the Recess Lihrarv Committee, of' the Parliamentary Librarv decided that .Mr Charles Wilson, the. Chief Librarian, should attend the Auckland Conference. Mr Wilson will Tend a paper on 'The Selection and Purchase of Second-hand Rooks.' Mr Herbert. Raillie, chief municipal librarian, who will be one of the. delegates from the-Muni-cipal Public Library, will read a paper on 'The Selection and Choice of Periodicals.' It. is probable that the Confeience of 1913 will be held in Wellington. Tho Dork Committee reported to the Otago, Harbor Hoard this afternoon that only one vessel (s.s. Sussex) had been docked since they made, their previous report. The actual" revenue for January was £591. 9s 9d. whilst the expenditure was £M6. The Committee also reported thatfish, poultry, anil general goods were being received in* fair quantities at the freezing works for freezing and storage.

A denutntion from the Otago ('eni.riil '{ailway Lc-u'iic. will wait on the Minister of Railways to-morrow morning. Members of the League are requestccl to inert in the. Board loom of the Agricultural Hall at 10.45 a.m. First show of autumn goods, representing new designs from British unci Continental o'ej-'res of 1 fashion, Simon's Continental Root Depot! Princes street (opposite Post Olficc).-[Advt-1 Tho very latest and most up-to-date photo picture is the "artist's proof portrait,' by Morris photo, Princes street. Call and soo specimens. Telephone 859.—-[Advt.J Speight's ale and stout ara acknowledged by the Dominion public to be the best on the market.—[Adyt.] Our aim in portrait photography is to keep ahead. We keep ahead, and intend to keep ahead. The Acme Photo Company have moderate charges only. Tel. 965.-f_Advt.J No lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia.—[Advt.J