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Evening Star, Issue 14635, 3 August 1911, Page 6

Mr T. W. Kirk told tho Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society last night that during tho last three years there had been added to the area of commercial orchards in this country a total of 5,000 acres, which did not include domestic orchards, and the latest return published by the Government, which was in 1608, showed that there were then 28,000 acres of land laid out in commercial orchards in New Zealand. The following matters were granted by His Honor Sir Joshua S. Williams in Wellington on Monday :—Probates : Ko Christina Manson, deceased (Mr Bedford); re Arthur Mann, deceased (Mr Adams); re Gavin Wilson Smdemau, deceased (Mr Adams); re Alexander Watt, deceased (Mr Wilkinson) ; re Charles Stone (Mr Duncan) ; re Catherine Wilson, deceased (Mr Webb); re Mary Grant, deceased (Mr Lee) ; re. Thomas Mco, deceased (Mr Lee) ; re Janet Cunningham, deceased (Mr Lee). Administrations: Re John ClementAitken, deceased (Mr Longuet) ; re Louisa Slater, deceaeed (Mr Reid); re Thomas Moore, deceased (Mr Tonkinson) ; re Andrew Duncan, deceased, will annexed (Mr Bedford). General: Re Christopher Robinson, deceased, motion for commission to executors —referred to Registrar (Mr Hay). The Mayor of West Harbor (Mr H. E. Moller) and Cr Crawley waited on the Hon. T. Mackenzie this morning, and asked that the Government push on the matter of a site tor a post office at Ravensbourne. It was stated that £BOO was placed on the Estimates for a building 12 months ago, and while several sites had been offered, no finality had yet been reached. The Minfeter said that the matter had not been overlooked. It was purely a question of a silo, and he was getting reports with regard to that at the present time. He would see that it was pushed on. The Government Daily Commiesioaer, Mr 1). Cuddle, erpoks most encoiiragingly at tho A. and P. Society’s social last night. He said that in the last few years there had been a great improvement in the butter and cheese forwarded for export, and he had no doubt that this was a great determining factor in the high prices received for our produce on the Homo market. In his travels in ether dairying countries in the world be could not fail to notice how far behind New Zealand those countries wore in the more advanced sides of the industry. In tho matter of up-to-date and scientific plant New Zealand practically led the world. Particulars of tho purchase of the property of the Van Dieman’s Land Company by Mr W. L. Baiilieu, of Melbourne, reported in our cable news this week, are published in tho Victorian papers. Mr Baiilieu'B object was to promote a strong emigration land company, with a view to subdividing the property, which consists of 350,0C0 acres in Tasmania, and settling on it agriculturists obtained in Britain. Mr Baiilieu pays the sum of £375,055, being £39 per" shave, in the purchased company, plus £9,565 in commission, compensation, and other expenses. He proposes to form a company with a capital of £500,000, which will issue 4 per cent, first mortgage debentures, nob exceeding £260,000, secured on the lands of the Van Dieman’s Land and Bumio Companies, and 4 per cent, second debentures not exceeding £200.000, both issues being finally repayable in 1936. A fund will be established "out of land sales to expedite the redemption of the debentures, lire shareholders of the Van Dieman’s Land Company, instead of cash, will have tho right to be allotted for each share £25 in first debentures, £2O in second debentures, and five fully-paid shares. The working capital of the new company will be £IOO,OOO.

The following Dunedin, estates were certified for stamp duty in tho month of July:—John Tough, £5,098; John Boyle, £3,273; John Houston, £2,140; Jane Thomson, £1,764; James Muir, £1.665; E. C. Somerville, £1,422; David Cable, £1.421; Margalet Davis, £1,385; Jean Wilson, £l,lBO. In the opinion of Mr J. F. M. Eraser, as declared at tho Victoria Hall last night, the time has come when tho whole prosperity of this end of the Dominion rests upon the agricultural and pastoral industries. As enforcing his point, he related that a Dunedin manufacturer, who is turning out a first-class article, recently asserted that in order to sell his had to brand them “Made in England.” Tho election at Port Chalmers yesterday resulted in tho return of Mr T. Scollay to tho vacancy on tho Borough Council caused by the recent resignation of Cr A. M’Kinno'n. There were 273 votes recorded, and they were polled as follows : Thomas Scollay 183, Irvine C. Ishister 87, informal votes 3. Man’s inhumanity to man is illustrated in a case that formed the subject ol strong editorial comment (and rightly so) in the columns of the ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ vesterday. “ Tho case is a rather disturbing reminder that there is a seamy side to life even in this favored country. An old man, blind and incapable, was charged in the Ashburton Police Court with being a destitute person. Ho had been an inmate of tho Tuarangi Old Men's Home at Ashburton, and later of tho Nazareth Home in Christchurch, and the evidence showed clearly enough that his infirmities’, mental as well as physical, had tried tho patience of his guardians rather sorely. On Monday last the man was “ dumped ” on the Ashburton railway station, and the police naturally took him to the Tuarangi Home, an institution maintained by tho North Canterbury Hospital and Cl'iaritable Aid Board. The superintendent refused to receive him, and said that ho was acting under the instructions of the board. The palice then applied to the Court for “an order of some sort,” and the presiding justices very properly decided to send the “prisoner” to the Home rather tluni to gaol. Yesterday morning, therefore, the old man was taken to the institution again and left there. A few minutes later he was ' put outside the gates,’ and wandered about until the police found him. On Tuesday evening he was brought back to Christchurch and taken to tho Nazareth Home.” Mr 15. Breen (secretary of the Trades and Labor Council) leaves for Auckland by tho first express to-morrow morning to attend a conference at which representatives of tho Hotel Employees’ Union of tho Dominion will be present. A deputation ' cf Peninsula farmers waited on the Hon. T. Mackenzie this morning in "regard to the growth of the Canadian thistle on the Peninsula. It was stated that the Canadian thistle was of value to them in the dry seasons, because it was eaten by their stock. The thistle, however, had got beyond their control, and it was difficult for them to keep it in check. All the produce raised on the Peninsula did not contain fodder or seed, so that outside districts could not be contaminated by anything sent out of the district, dairying being their principal industry. Tho Minister, in reply, said that he had been gathering a great deal of information about the habits of the thistle, and he had had bther evidence of the usefulness of the plant for fodder purposes in certain seasons. He was contemplating an alteration in the Noxious "Weeds Act. The first schedule of the Art contained a list of the weeds the spread of which must be checked. In the second schedule there were weeds which, on the resolution of a local body, might be transferred to the first schedule. It was his intention .this session to submit legislation to have the Act amended in tho direction of allowing certain weeds in schedule one to be transferee! to schedule two, thus giving the power of transference by resolution to the local body either way. He contemplated reconsidering the whole question of tho Noxious Weeds Act. The adminisVation of the Act was extremely difficult at the present time. A especial moating of the Tramways Committee of tho City Council will be held next Monday evening" to consider the plans of tho proposed pavilion at St. Clair.

Two firet offenders charged with drunkenness at the Police Court t-hi<s morning wore fined respectively 5s and 7s (2s cab hire), in default, 24 hours’ imprisonment. The case of a third, who pleaded not guilty, was adjourned to the afternoon to allow further evidence to be heard. He was convicted and fined ss. in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, and ordered to pay cab hire (2s). Mr H. Y. Widdoweou was the presiding magistrate. The “ platform” of Mr L. M. If-itt is that of an advanced Radical. Ho told his supporters- that he is opposed to the further sale of Grown lands. He favors the leasehold tenure with the right of renewal and periodical revaluation, but will give the tenants the absolute right to improvements. He favors the limitation of area?, based on revaluation, to ensure an equitable distribution of lands. He will not oppose the cessation of public borrowing except for the redemption of lands and the completion of works already authorised, not by any manner of moans, at? the State had as much right as the individual had to borrow for legitimate development. As to the propce.ll to abolish the Legislative Council, he would like to see an Elective Upper House*, and approves of the adoption of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and supports the Referendum with the Initiative. Ho would make the parliamentary roll the basis of all local bodies’ elections, and would not give full political rights to all employees of tho State. He wants a Graduated Income Tax on something like scientific principles, with a supertax on tmearned incomes. On the education issup' he will maintain the national system, but will support a referendum on tho question of Bible reading. On the licensing issue he is, of course, an out-and-out supporter of the bare majority. He declines to sign the “platform” of any party. Mr Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m. today :—S.W. to S.E. winds, and cold rain showers.

Mr A. C. Iverson, an experienced fruitgrower, to-day brought before tho Hon. T. Mackenzie a proposal to dam part of the Fraser River water for irrigation purposes in. the dry weather. The Minister listened sympathetically, and said he understood the position, but he made no promise, nor, indeed, was one asked for. It is high time the new steamer was placed on Lake Wakatipu. On Monday morning, says the 1 Mail,’ there were some 60 passengers by tho Kingston steamer, of whom probably about 50 were bound for Dunedin to attend the Otago A. and P. Show. The department concerned must have been aware that there would be extra traffic, and that provision would require to be made accordingly. The convenience of the travelling public, however, was not studied, for the Mountaineer was a,way talcing in cargo, and the Ben Lomond, in which it- is inhuman to expect a crowd of people to travel in the depths of winter, was commissioned for the trip. To make matters worse, the Ben ‘Lomond carried a lot of cargo. The point of contact between town and country was specially commented on by Mr Burnett, our Mayor, this morning. The Alexandra deputation to the Minister expressly thanked Mr Burnett for introducing them, whereupon Mr Burnett remarked that their interests were in common, and that though lie belonged to the town he was by experience one with the country folk. The Hon. T. Mackenzie added that everybody knew Mr Burnett as a consistent advocate of Otago Central interests. Speaking at a recent dinner in Melbourne, the State Acting Premier (Mr Watt) said tho Premier had, since the Coronation, been making Inquiries in England on the question of electrification of railways. Up to tho present there had been some difficulty in deciding whether the particular system which Mr Morz had recommended for Melbourne was tho best according to modern experience. They were almost in a position now to resolve that doubt, and information had come to hand by letter and cable from the Premier (Mr Murray) that tho Government would have a policy to announce within two months in respect to the conversion almost immediately to electricity of the suburban railway service.

Our correction on page 5 as to tho Canadian Salt Company’s special prize for factory cheese requires further correction. The final result is : Stirling factory 14 points, T. and P. (Momona) 9. The action in which the British India Company claimed £160,000 from the New South Wales Government in respect to the alleged negligence of a pilot in connection with the stranding of the steamer Waipara, has been settled by the payment of a comparatively small sum. The Crown, while paying a sum in settlement, reiterated its denial of all liability. Mr T. W. Kirk delivered an address, to farmers in tho Victoria Hall this afternoon on ‘ Pests and Diseases to Farmers' Orchards and Gardens.’ Some years ago, he said, fruitgrowing become an unprofitable undertaking on account of the ravages of posts. Tho Government did their best to chock the spread of diseases by introducing tho Orchard and Garden Diseases Act. Growers were now in favor of this Act, and the industry had expanded enormously. There were at the present time a very large number of small orchards that were nothing but/a breeding ground for disease. Ho appealed to the small grower to keep his orchard clean. A spraying outfit could be bought at a email cost, and the job was not a difficult one. Ib is delightful to ran your own railway train. We are exhibiting at the Show the famous Clement-Bayard cars, Triumph, 8.5.A., and Bradbury motor cycles. Look at the engines and look at the bodies. We impress upon you with all the earnestness in our power that these will prove great value for your money. Stedman and Wilson, Cum, bcrland street, agents.—[Advt.] A subscription list in aid of the T. E. Taylor memorial fund lias reached us from the Central Committee at Christchurch. Subscriptions will bo received at our Bond street office. Our baby pictures are among our best specimens. They are natural in pose and beautifully lighted, and charges moderate. Acme Photo Co., George street.—[Advt.] No softer or more beautiful effects in photo portraiture can be seen anywhere than in the showcases in vestibule of Morris, photo, graphev, Princes street. Telephone 859. — [Advt.] The class of instruction for cadet officers will parade to-night, at 7.45, in the basement, Garrison Hal!. Wallace’s Dreadnought Sale of high-class men’s wear successfully launched. A great victory scored on Saturday. Hosts of bargains for this week. Genuine, good goods, not warehouse sweepings Come and see for yourself. Everything reduced in price. Country visitors and patrons specially welcomed at the Golden Hat Shop, Princes street. See Wanted Knowns.—[Advt.J A series of addresses on ‘ The Tabernacle ’ (illustrated by a model) will be given in Choral Hall on Friday evenings. Tho first of these will take place to-morrow. No lady should be without Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia. —fAdvt.l A glass of Speight’s beer at lunch and supner is better than all the tea in China.— [Advt.] The annual meeting of members of the Mulal Help Terminating Building Society will bo held in Trades Hall on Monday evening. What is meant by Fraser’s “full value” system of painting and decorating? Simply this: Every penny you pay is returned to you in work and material. There is no charge for nou-workeis, etc, I give better material, better workmanship, at less cost. Let me givo price. W. Fraser, Box 57, Dunedin. ’Phone 2,972. —[Advt.] Extraordinary bargains in house furnishings are now on view for a few days only at E. and F. Martin's, Octagon, just prior to stock-taking and the alterations to cur premises, Now, don’t forget to call and see for yourself.—[Advt.]