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Evening Star, Issue 15064, 21 December 1912, Page 6

There has been a slump in the local imit. market as regards strawberries. A great quantity came to market this week, and prices dropped to 6£d for the choicest varieties, and 4d for small sorts. It is stated that the Waimate varieties do not cary well. Some of the fruit sold at 4d and 5d per pottle to-day was not of tho quality to make a thief of an honest man.

The Commissioners appointed to inquire into the working of the Public Trust Office wiU begin their sittings at Wellington on January 6.

Captain Drummond, of H.M.S. Cambrian, was welcomed to Port Chalmers this morning by the Mayor (Mr D. A. De Mans), who expressed the pleasure of the people of Otago at having a warship present in the harbor. In responding. Captain Drummond returned thanks for tho kindly welcome extended to himself and his ship and crew. The present stay would be brief, as the ship was leaving next Friday in order to call at the Bluff en route to relieve the Drake ut th. bait on January 4, as that vessel is about to proceed to England. Farmers in the Auckland Province appear to have had a great crop of potatoes this summer. They are sending large quantities to Dunedin, 2,500 bags having arrived by the Monowai this week. The price in tho wholesale market is remarkably low for this time of the year, the average rate being £lO per ton. In Auckland the price is £7. As a result of the large supplies from the North" local growers are not obtaining the rates which were expected. Prices for the best kind run from lJ.d to l|d per lb. It is recommended by the Finance Committee of the City Council that' the sum of £3O be granted to the Otago Central Railway League as a contribution towards the expense of conveying North Island members of Parliament through Otago Central with tho object of enlisting their sympathy in the matter of tho extension of the railway, and in other projects having for their object the welfare of the Central district and the province generally. Grapes arc beginning to adorn the windows of fruit shops in the City. To the majority of the citizens they must remain for some time time yet. as a decorative fruit. The wholesale price is 2s 6d per lb. Extensive alterations are being made to the St. Clair Congregational Church on account of that pest the wood-borer taking hold. This has been going on for some time, and the committee took things in hand, all the.‘boards infested being removed. The beams and studs arc luckily not affected. The alterations, we arc told, will run into about £IOO.

The traffic returns on tho City Corporation tramways for the fortnight ended December 14,' as compared with the corresponding period for last year, were as follow 1912, receipts £2,879 2s lOd, mileage 48,128 miles 3 chains; 1911, receipts £2s?ll 15s 7d, mileage 49,602 miles 12 chains.

It is expected that the final shipment of American apples and oranges will reach Dunedin on Monday. Prices will probably range from 14s fid to 15s fid per case of apples. These are said to be very reasonable rates.

A Wellington P.A. telegram states - Mr Simpson, Official Assignee, referring yesterday to the case of the business of Norrow and Co., which had been placed in his hands for liquidation, said it was the worst case of the land he had ever known'. Francis Rowe was the only mem her of the firm who had attended the meeting. The creditors were mainly jewellers. Norrowand Co. advertised goods for sale on deposit, and it was alleged that although in many cases money was sent the goods were not forwarded, and in those instances where goods were forwarded they were not worth the money paid. It was also alleged that all the money had been drawn by the firm from the bank without the purchase of goods being completed. Tho mooting closed after the Assignee had undertaken, to consult a solicitor. The Assignee’told Reave that if He attempted to leave the Dominion it would bo at his own risk.

The Catllnfl--Tahakppa Railway League decided yesterday 'afternoon to alter the data ol their trip to the. district to some time gaily in February, go an not to dash with the parliamentary visit to the Otago Central,

Fruit premise# to be plentiful and reasonably • priced next week, A shipment of apples and , oranges from California, also a large consignment of bananas (1,000 cases) from Fiji, arrive oh Monday, 'ln addition to these there is a good supply of Strawberries, ■ cherries, and Aucklandgrown plums. It is staled that the prices for all will be lower than they have bean at Christmas for several years. Ip regard to the matter of the poll en the baths loan proposal, arrangements are being made for the necessary prelinEtinary steps to he' tokea in thp e to admit of ‘the poll taking place during the month el February, ' - •

■ Tin attendance at the Public Library for the month of November was as fol-’—-N ewspap or and magazine rooms 15,353, reference department i.848, juvenile department 3i74—total 18,575. Altogether 6,574 leaders’ tickets were issued and 13,153 books for home reading. The books added to the reference department numbered 56 and to the lending department 121. 1

During Christmas week last year a Waimate orchardist obtained for a large supply o- “l olco strawberries an average price of .2a per lb. This year his average promises to be' _a little less than 6d per lb. Luck vanes in the fruit market.

The Bethlehem glory of a.d. 1 was reflected last night in the building on the Dunedin waterside frontage. A Christmas influence mellowed the members of the Harbor Board. It made itself felt throughout the meeting, and when the business book was shut the chairman and his colleagues frankly forgave each other all their little differences during the year, winding up, over a well-laden table, with the toast ot the chairman’s health, proposed by Mi’ Belcher, and supported by the greatest and the least, even including the reporters. iy as ;l very amicable meeting, also a short one. The good wishes were not confined to words. They took the practical form of a bonus to on© member of the staff, and something more may follow, for Mr i- collar mentioned that the tug hands wore of. an extra day’s holiday in view o fb® fact that they are kept within sound of the whistle, and it is understood that this suggestion will he canned out.

Authority has been granted to pay to rhe committee of the Dunedin Territorials the sum of £203 6s 7d out of Andrew’s bequest fund, this being the sum standing to the credit of the fund, and available for distribution to the Dunedin Regiment in terms of the bequest, at the time the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act were brought into operation—i.e., during the month of September, 1911. ■ * ( -' m ' Own” wires from Wellington: There were 85 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards in the four chief cities atm their snburiian boroughs during November, as against 81 in October. The death rate per 1,000 of population was as follows: Auckland Citv, 1.12, and eight snDurban boroughs 0.88; Wellington City, 0.86, and four subirrbsfli boroughs 0.85; Christchurch City, 1.09, and four suburban boroughs 1.08; Dunedin City. 1.11, and six suburban boroughs 1.00. Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest, and at IV oiling ton the lowest'. The total birthe in the four chief cities and their suburban boroughs amounted to 758, _ against 758 in October. Tho deaths in November were 266, an increase of 17, as compared with last month. Of the total deaths, males contributed 149 and frmales 117. Sixty of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 22.57 per cent, of the whole 'number. Pi fly-three of these were under one year of age.

A year ago to-day green peas brought 4d per lb, pods included, and met a keen demand. The price to-day was IJd per lb (wholesale). Lamb is dearer than, it was at this time last year. The General Committee of iho City Council recommend that in order to cope more effectually with the ever-increasing work of the sanitary department, and at the same time meet the periodical requests from the Health Department for assistance in the work of snaking housedo-house inspections, an additional sanitary inspector be appointed with a salary at the rate of £156 per annum, and that applications for the position bo confined to those who qualified at the recent examinations of the Royal Sanitary Institute.

Tho reticulation for the new high-pres-suro water supply at West Harbor is practically completed, and tho final payment in connection therewith has been recommended to the council to be made. The penalty for being late in completing the contract is not to be enforced, the contractors having agreed to maintain the works for an extra month. Altogether the council are well satisfied with the way in which the work has been carried out. The cost has been something like £26 less than contract price, and, besides that, there is about £IOO worth of material over, and that belongs to tho council. The handsome new post office building is nearmg completion, and is likely to be ready tor the opening ceremony, which the Post-master-General has been asked to perform towards the end of February. The local bowling green is finished, and members arc anxiously, if not in all instances patiently, waiting for the gw aid to grow An expert in such matters has' deSared that the green will be playable about the same date that, the post otSoo is expected to be _ opened. . The formation of the recreation ground is nearing completion, and tenders for constructing a pavilion for I f 1 0c l k( 7 and T Clubs wiU soon be called tor as well as for the building of the football pavilion. The improvements down at Burkes and St. Leonards, in the way of better roads and footpaths, as the result of the judicious expenditure of the £1 ; COO recently borrowed for that purpose, are said to be' very satisfactory to the residents ot that portion of the

Xmas, 1912.—F0r tho convenience of their customers, the D.I.C. will close their warehouse at 1 p.m on Wednesday, the 18th, and °? eu “I 9 P on Saturday, the ibis wnl be a splendid opportunity to no your Xmas shopping in comfort. Santa Uaus will welcome the little ones.—[Advt.] t At Knox Church to-morrow special Christmas services wiil be held. At the evening pl ?n wiU sing ‘He Shift Feed His Flock (Handel) and Mr J. Balfour Fergusson Be Thou Faithful.’ At tic conclusion of the service Mr Paget Gale -will play a number'of Christmas carols, etc. Never in this City has there been a better show of beautiful and carefully-finished work than in the showcases ot the Acme Photo Company, George street-[Adri,.] The Most Rev. the Primate will hold an ordination service at St. Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow morning. At evensong, Dr Bowdler’s cantata The Angels and the Shepherds ’ will bo sung by the choir. Tho congregation will bo provided with the words of the cantata.

The new pipe organ will be used at Caversham Presbyterian Church to-morrow. There can be no better portraits done than those exhibited by Mr Morris, of Garden Studio, 554- George street, on left-hand side of the Zenith vestibule, in Princes street. Appointments made in Zenith Portrait Studio or telephone 2,279.—[Advt] ’ The Rev. li. Herbert Hobday preaches Christmas sermons to-morrow at Roslyn Baptist Church. At 8 p.m. a carol service will be given, and a delightful programme has been arranged.

Special sendees suitable for are advertised for to-morrow in the Mornir.gion Methodist Church, to be conducted by tho Rev. T. W. Yealid. After the evening service a choral service will be given by' tho choir, when selections from ‘The Messiah’ will be rendered and solos suitable to the occasion sung. The offerings will he in aid of tho circuit fund.

Speights ale and stout are acknowledged by the Dominion public to be the best on the market.—[Adrt.] The Rev. William Hay will conduct farewel. services to-morrow in tho Hanover blreet Baptist Church. At the close of the evening service a Christmas carol service will be held.

At St. Matthew s Church, Stafford street to-morrow evening the choir will render selections from the Christmas cantata ‘ The Holy Child.’ Give your friend a bottle of Wilkinson and Sons special Lavender Water; a Christmas supply ready in bottles, 2s to 20s each.— [Advt.J

No should be without Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Austraiaßia.—{Advt,] The Maheno is advertised to run to Maori Kaik Suiiday. Christmas Day, and Borin" Day at excursion rates, - "

Just opened, new photographic goods; best brands pf plates, papers, mount*, etc., always m stock, At Gills,' Frederick street; tel *|lW, Agent for' Harrington, N. 2.,' Lid.— [Advt.J

At Messrs Maeassey and Co.'s sale last night ft guessing competition was held In oohnectlon with the sale, prizes being offered for the three guesses nearest to the amount actually realised, Mr M, Twhigg, of gt. Clair, wan the first prize (a bam) with a guess of £1,753, Mrs Perry gained second prize (a turkey', Mr E Parkin, Mia Peart, and Mr A, E Ferguson tied for tldrd place, the prize for which was a gooso, pome and inspect the splendid assortment of new pictures and artistic goods at ChiWR?? • Ppeeiafiy released for Ghfistr mas presents.—j]Advt.] '

Notification of Sunday services as enumerated below appears in our advertising columns: —Prebyterian: First Church, Knox Churchy St. Andrew’s, Green Island, Caversham, St. Stephen’s, South Dunedin, Northeast Valley, Musselburgh, Iloalyn, St. Clair. Ravensbpump. Anglican: St. Paul’s, All Saints’. St. Matthew’s. Methodist: Trinity, Central Mission, Mornington, Caxgill Roadi Roslyn, St, Kilda, Relleknowes, "Woodhaugh, North-east Valley. Congregational: Moray Place, King Street, Leith Street, St. Clair. Baptist: Hanover Street, Roslyn, South Dunedin, Mornington, Caversham. Primitive Methodist: Dundas Street, Kew, Abbotsford, Ravensbourne, Anderson Bay, North-east Valley. Church of Christ: Tabernacle,' South Dunedm, Filleul Street, Mornington. Theo- . sophists.- Christadelphians. Choral Hall. Unitarian. Rattray Street Halt. Green Island Gosp'el Hall. One bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver will prove its power and rapid action. Try it. Is lOd the large-sized bottle, at chemists’ and stores, or post free from J. Baxter and Co., chemists, Christchurch.—[Advt.] Carol service at Trinity Methodist Church at 8 p.m. to-morrow by members of choir, assisted by soloists. The St. Kilda Municipal Band will play in the Gardens on Sunday afternoon. Your attention is directed to the fine programme, whicif has been arranged in our advertising columns. The overture ‘Crown Diamonds’ and the anthem ‘Sun of My Soul’ are two specially fine numbers, and at the conclusion of the programme the band will play the ‘ Hallelujah Chorus ’ (by request}. At Moray Place Congregational Church tomorrow evening the service will be largely musical. Extracts from the ‘Messiah’ will be sung, and at the conclusion of the service a short programme of organ music suitable to the occasion will bo given by Mr David Cooke, which will include the following:—. Choral fugue ‘Ho Trusted in God’ (Handel), larghetto from 1 Symphony in D ’ (Beethoven), ‘Pastorale’ (Wcly), and Grisoris arrangement of ‘ Adeste Fideles.’ At the conclusion of the usual service on Sunday evening carols wifi be rendered by the St. Kilda Methodist choir, and solos by the Misses Bennett and N. Donsem, also Mr Firkin. At the Unitarian service in the Trades Hall, Moray place, to-morrow, the Rev. J, H. G. Chappie (of Timaru) will give a lecture on ‘ls a World Religion Possible?’ The Timaru heresy case of two years •ago is not forgotten, and Mr Chippie being compelled by his Presbytery to vacate his St. Andrews pulpit found a haven of rest at once in the untrammelled religious liberalism of the Unitarians In Timaru the movement is said to have made rapid progress. Some of the Ciiristmas carols to be sung at St. Glair Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening are by American composers, and very bright. Persons about to furnish or wanting useful Christmas presents will find a great variety at F. and F. Martins’, Octagon.— [Advt.] Mr T. H. Kenny will render a. Christmas legend in St! Stephens Church to-morrow evening.

The Rev. W. .T. Ashford will preach on ‘The Message of Christmas’ at tho St. Clair Congregational Church to-morrow evening. The solos will be taken hy MBs Newcomb Hall and Mr David Hutton.

That the 10th Mounted Regimental Band, Blenheim, who won the quickstep competition at the recent contest, have not forgotten the treatment they received while in Dunedin is demonstrated in an advertisement in another column, wherein they extend to the citizens of Dunedin and suburbs tho season’s greetings.

The farriers of the Otago Province who have become affiliated with the Coachbuilders and Blacksmiths’ Association have a notice to horse-owners in this issue. The Tuapefca Agricultural Show is to be held on Boxing Day. Particulars are advertised.

We have received the season’s greetings, which we reciprocate, from the officers of the Department of Labor, tie General Manager of Railways, the manager and staff ot the New Zealand Insurance Company, and the executive of the" Otago District, MAT.