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Evening Star, Issue 14965, 27 August 1912, Page 4

Steps are being taken toward the reclamation of Lake Logan- The work will involve the purchase of another pump, us the lake is beyond the throw of the Harbor Board'* suction pump, which will bo shifted about 200 yards north from, its present moorings, in order lo take part in the work of pumping the dredging,? from the harbor juto the lake. The old pump will throw the stuff a part oi the distance, and the new pump will finish the work. '1 he matter wae discussed Just night at a meeting of the Harbor Board's Works Committee, who decided to recommend the board to call tenders for the supply of a new pump. Ail the world over shiping docks are not expected to be as profitable as publichouses, and harbor authorities do not fret over debit balances. The most that such authorities can expect, it would seem, is a reasonable debit on the working of docks. That, at any rate, is the expectation of the Otago Harbor Board, whose debit balance on the working of their two booked for docking at Port. And the year only £2,097. The lose for the past month was £332. The prospects are good, a number of big steamers having been boked for docking at Port. And the ■contractors for the erection of a powerful erane are making progress on the foundations. The material for the plant is on board the steamer Essex, which is due here about the end) of this month. It will tako three months to erect the crane, which will cost ovct £2,000. -When it is erected the dock will be one of the best-equipped docks in the Dominion.

Four huts for the temporary use of anglers have been provided by the Otago Acclimatisation Society. One is on the Pomahaka; another at Puerua, recently shifted to a site granted free by the owner; the third, at Mimihau, is left under the control of the Wyndham Societv: and the hut at Rankleburn is looked after by the Otago Society themselves. For the past year the sum of £6 odd was received as rents from anglers who occupied the huts. They are supposed to pay 2s per man per night. At yesterday's meeting a proposal to build huts on the Waikouaiti and Shag Rivers was discussed, also a suggestion to lengthen the chimneys of the old huts, so as to stop the smoke nuisance. Some members opposed any further expenditure on huts, and eventually it was resolved that the Angling Committee make full inquiry and report.

The question of whether the hansom cab stand should be removed from its proicnt position :n Water street, was further considered by the General Committee of the City Council last evening. It was decided to recommend the council to leave the cab .stand where it is at present. The sewage reticulation of that part of St. Clair which has been authorised by the Drainage Board is nearing completion. The Works Committee are bringing that fact under the board's notice in their report to be presented at to-night's meeting, the inference being that authority will be soutrht to proceed with the reticulation of a further area in the s<-iv,e suburb—viz., from the northern boundary of the area now nearing completion to the hill on which the clay pits for the brickworks are situated. This area will connect with the recently-finishzd Bay View road sewer. The committee also report having authorised the engineer to submit alternative proposals for the removal of disabilities complaint of in sewage area No. 26, Maori Hill. The commit toe have authorwed improved storni-watcr provision on the Andersen Bay road. The Finance Committee's report shows the amount at credit of the aggregate fund to have been reduced to £2,473.

The St. Clair pavilion was lit up for a. few minutes last night in order to let Cr Myers and the officials fiee how the electric installation worked. There are about 50 lamps, eome of 100. the others of 50 candle power. The lamp* are all placed high, out of the visual range., and the eoffc light is nicely diffused. The installation has been carried oat by Mr E. E. Stark *nd Mr M. C. Henderson.

Tho .applications by the Broad. Bay Amenities Society for the provision of a. handrail and a loading hank at tho new jetty came before the. Work* Committee of the Otago Ha-rbor Board last night, when it was decided to recommend tho hoard to put in a loading bank, at an ■estimated cost of about £ls. In regardto tho request for a handrail, the committee -vvero of the opinion that it was not advisable to erect- one, as it would interfere with tho berthing- of boats. The petition of 35 residents of the Catlins district that fishing licenses for the Owaka and the Catlins bo granted at 10s each led to a discussion at tho meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society last- night. It was pointed out that the Southland Society issued 10s licenses to fish in only one l'iver, and Messrs Pattison and M'Oarthy expressed tho opinion that this principle might be adopted so far as the Catlins estuary was concerned, thus giving a chance to residents who did not want to travel about but simply to fish near their own homes. Ah- 1). Russell (secretary) said that of late years the revenue from licenses in that district had dropped from between £SO and £6O to about £25. Mr Rutherford reported that the Lauder settlers asked for the same concession. Mr Islip said that if the society broke away from tho £1 license, for one district they would be bombarded with claims from all other districts. Other members took the same view, and the petition was negatived on the voices. The Reserves Committee- of tho City Council yesterday approved of a report by the superintendent of reserves for the improvement of tho old cemetery in Arthur street. Plane trees will he planifid on the Arthur and Rattray street exles of the reserve, and a clump of trees (eilver birch and mountain ash) will be placed on each aide of tho monument. A holly hedge will he nut in on the- tcrraco at the base of tho monument. The hedge wjll only be allowed to grow a few feet, so as not to obscure the view of tin monument. A certain amount of top dressing will be done, and tho paths will also receive attention.

Labor trouble at Home has retarded the work of building the Harbor Board's new tug at Port Chalmers. No advice as to the shipment of material at Home has yet been received. The board's Works Committee have recommended a- progress payment, (tho first) of £5,000 odd to the contractors (Messrs Stevenson and Cook). The cost of the tug is estimated at £22,000.

The plans of the residence for the harbor master at Port Chalmers have been approved by the Harbor Board's Works Committee "who" recommend tho board to call for lenders for the erection of the dwelling. During the June quarter of this year 19 places in the Dominion boasting police courts had the distinction of having clean sheets, as regards criminal charges, on each successive court day. They were: Ahipara. Kaeo, Mercury Bay, Waimato North, Waiuku, Bulls, Brunnerton, Charleston, Lyell. Goldsborough, Okarito, Stafford, Chatham Islands, Hampden, Hyde, Macraes, Patearoa, St. Bathans, and Stewart Island.

The railway returns for the Dominion, published in the current issue of the Government (Ja/.ette, show that the revenue on both North ami South Island lines from April 1 to July 20 exceeds that received during the corresponding period of 1911, the figures being £1,209,890, as against £1.106,715. Thus there is an increase of £103,175 in the revenue, while the expenditure has increased by £96,457, which is greater in proportion than the increase in revenue. This is shown by the fact that for the 12-monihly period ended July 20 tho percentage of' expenditure to revenue was 66.24, whereas for a similar period ended Julv 20, 1911, the percentage was 63.7.

Three residence* for tho harbor pilots are to be croc-ted on tho north spit and connected with tho signalling station at the Heada by means of a submarine cable. The Harbor Board's Works Committee have decided to recommend the board to engage an architect to prepare plans and specifications for the houses and to call for tend-era for their erection. Mr Tannock made another start yesterday with the top dressing ot' tho Oval, which is now completely filled, in. Me reel ens that he will have sufficient money in hand to provide two playing .grounds for the Association footbaUeia on tha Pri-nces etreet. side. '

A meeting of the Membership and Finance Committee of the Dunedin Expansion League was held to-day, at 12 o'clock, Mr S. Solomon, K.C., presiding. The interim secretary reported that subscriptions received to date amounted to £732 7s. Tho secretary was instructed to circularise another list of firms soliciting subscriptions to the league. It was decided that members should meet on Saturday afternoon to proceed to Ocean Beach, to see the work done there by the Domain Board, and to consider how the league may assist the board.

The monthly meeting of the Country Development Committee of the Dunedin Expansion League was held yesterday afternoon, Mr A. Morit/.aon presiding over a full attendance of members. Replies were received from the Prime Minister, Minister of Railways, and from the Otago members promising to r.upport the league's resolutions regarding the extension of the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway, awl the resumption of work on the Otago Central line. Many other matters were di*cussed, including the questions of the subdivision of Moutero and Galloway runs, the condition of the Silverstream, and Silver Peaks district, and the utility of dynamite in the work of subsoiling. The secretary was instructed to secure information from the Agricultural Department and other sources regarding expsrimen's with dynamite in this connection.

There was much discussion at the meeting of the Works Committee of the Harbor Board la.st night over the system of .harbor lighting. It was decided, however, to do nothing further until next March, the engineer having promised to have installed before vin-t time a system which shall give entire satisfaction. The new lights, like the moon, will have a life, of one. month. They are known as " tidal lamps." Some time ago the City Council decided to allocate a. subsidy of £l5O to the bands. 'I Iris -matter was further considered yesterday, when a sub-committee was appointed to'draw up conditions in connection wi'h the subsidy and submit them to the bands for their approval.

Members of the Dunedin Fire Board witnessed an exhibition by the brigade yefterday afternoon -with the K'astman deluge set. 'L'he object of the plant is to concentrate two or three streams of water into one, and thus obtain greater pressure. Two ti'sts were made, and tho results achieved were remarkably successful. Without going into -details, it may be said that tho new appliance will bo sufficient to contiol any building in Dunedin, and should be a decided acquisition to the brigade at bit; iirea, such as that which occurred recently at Nimnio and Blair's. This tiro, it is eaid. with the vantage ground at tho back, could have, been Hooded with ease by tho Eastman set.

At the Port Chalmers Court to-day Alox. 11. Laurenson was fined 10s and costs (7s) for driving a motor car on the Bench road to Poi tobello, contrary to tho Road Board's bv-laws.

The Kaitar.gata correspondent of tho Bnlchnha 'Free Press' writes :-—Tho executive of the Kaitangata Coalminers' Industrial Union .have opened a voluntary subscription on behalf of the Waihi enginedrivers. In a- circular which has been posted up tho executive put forward the position thus : —" The engine drivers at Waihi aT6 fighting in a good cause. We realise that owing to tho istand they have taken wo have been ah'.e to withstand successfully tho forces of tho federation. To show our appreciation we have decided to ask for a voluntary contribution." The appeal is meeting with a ready response. The Customs officers at Dunedin wharves have- been remembered by the Harbor Board, who are at last providing better office accommodation for "the Customs." The office at tho cross wharf has been renovated and better equipped, and tho •other on tho Victoria wharf is to bo changed from * hu* into cornmodioius premise*.*

It is expected that by the end of next week there will be a depth, of 18ft at low j water in tho steamere' basin near tho site of the old tongue wharf- Since the dredge hm been at work about 12ft of material has been removed. There was so much, wire and the like in the stuff that it had to be dumped l at sea. A plan showing the proposed subdivision of Lake Logan was forwarded to the Peeerves Committee of the City Council by the Harbor Board yesterday. The plan trnvo the area proposed to be set asido for recreation purposes, and tho committee decided to refer it to the City Engineer for a report. On Sunday afternoon Mr Ralph Gebbie gave his second Sunday afternoon talk to young men and women. Tho meeting, which was held in the Warn tali Tea Rooms, was attended by about 70 persona. Tito subject dealt with was • Success—The Thing Worth While.' In tho course of his address the- speaker pointed out how true Kuccess in life depended not upon the accumulation of riches or other material possessions, or upon reaching tho ton of the tree in any particular branch of industry or art, but -upon the development of a true I ajid upright character. Success in the financial world and in the realms of literature, art, and science availed .nothing if one did not possess fine character. At the end of the address an opportunity was givejr for asking questions, and during the course of the meeting a 6aerod solo and a quartet were contributed.

Before long the astronomical branch of the Otago Institute will have their observatory on Tanna Hill fixed up. The iron house, which is to revolve, has been built, and is ready to place in position a» soon as the foundations- are ready, and Mr P. W. Pay no has taken pains to" put the telescope in "order. In a couple of months or less the members will be at the practical work. We understand that some local residents have formally objected to the observatory being built- on the site chosen. They urge that Tanna Hill is already the retort of evilly-disposed persons, and that the hill blocks the sunlight and ought to be re moved. The answer made bv the astrono. mere is to the effect that the erecting of an observatory is likely to discourage rather than encourage wr:>t is;-minded prowlers, beoause some extra h.-hl will come from the building; and as. to the other objection, it is ]>ointftd out that if Tanna Hill is ever dug away it will probably be to make room for <i tall building that"will be more of a block to the sunlight than the mound is.

The swings and extra seats for the Wcodhaugh Reserve will be erected in the course of the next week or two.

At to-night's meeting the DunedinDrainage Board will consider a report from a special committee set up by them to consider certain matters connected with the drainage of Tainui and Sunshine townships. Residents in those subdivisions are petitioning the Governor-in-Council for in. elusion in St. KiLda Boiough, as, under the divided control of five local bodies, it is found practically imposible to secure amelioration of extremely unsatisfactory conditions obtaining, particularly as regards drainage. 'The Drainage Board are involved because it is possible that inclusion of Sunshine and Tainui in St. Kilda may mean their coming automatically within the drainage district, and thus adding to the board's responsibilities. The petitioners asked the board not to oppose them, and suggested that the board might ascertain in advance their position on tho pciut mentioned. The committee, however, have not been able to satisfy themselves as to how the board would be affected, and to safeguard the board from being committed without duo inquiry to tho task of undertaking the disposal of stormwater and sewage in the two districts, thev recommend, the board to oppose the petition. But tho report does not stop short at that. Residents of the two districts named, and of the suburb of Anderson Bay generally, will welcomo a further recommendation contained in the report — viz., that the board instruct their engineer to prepare rough plans and estimates of the necessary stormwater provision, of sewage provision to serve Tainui and Sunshine, and of the extra cost of a main sewer to provide for an extension that will include the Bay township.

The Otago Early Settlers' Lady Descendants' Club held a- gift evening last night. These evenings aro held for tho benefit of some charitable institutions. Last night's function was for the Patients and Prieonens' Aid Society. The gathering wa-i a large one, nearly 100 people being present, and the gifts were arranged on a largo table at the side of the hall. They consisted of packages of groceries, etc., and useful articles, of various kinds. Mr F. G. Camming, agent and chaplain of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, _ attended to receive the gifts on behalf of that body. Mr J. Wood (secretary of the Early Settlers' Association), Mrs Hayward (president of the club), Mr C. Duke, and Mr Camming gave short addresses. Mrs Hayward, in the course of her remarks, thanked the members for the gifts they had brought, and also the various firms for the handsome donations they intended to give. Up to the present each of the orphanages about Dunedin had had presents front the club, and these had been greatly appreciated by the children. Next month it was proposed to devote the evening to the Industrial School, but, owing to the. methods under which the institution was run, it would not bo possible to accept toys, as in the case of an orphanage, utid deviations would have to take a moic useful form. Mrs Hayward also mentioned tliat the club wero arranging a nig picnic for the orphanages. The committee of the Invercargill Middle School decided last night to resign in a bodv, as a protest against the refusal of the ■"Education Board to supply information asked for. There was a dispute* some time ago between the head master and tho first assistant of the school, and tho board appointed a commission of inquiry, before, whom the chairman, and members of the School Committee gave evidence. The board now re-ruse to supply tho /committee with a copy of the Commissions finding. The committed claim that as the representatives of the householders they arc, entitled to information concerning tho efficiency of the teaching staff.

There can br. no bettor portraits done than these exhibited by Mr Morris, of; Garden Studio, 554 George street, on left-hand sido of tho Zenith vestibule, in Princes, street. ApDointments made in Zenith Portrait Studio, or 'telephone 2;Z79 [Advt.] We have received from an anon.yniojis donor postal notes of the value of 5s 6d | for the Paitison fund.A glass of : Speight's beer at lunch and Flipper is better than all the tea in pUina.— [Advt.] Ladies, —Mexcolized wax. sultbine depilatory, sanatogen, nltulactin, obtainable Wilkinson and Son, proscription chemists.—[iidvt.J No sla.ughte.rinp will be done at jßurnsitte after Saturday, September 7. Farrniers having stock for Yreezing please note. \ Never in this City has there been!a better show of beautiful and earefully-nnisfSied work than in the showcases cf the Acute Photo Company, George street.—[Advt.] ! JCo lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pil's Sold by all ehen lists and stores throughout Australasia.--[Ad\ t.]