The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914.

Evening Star, Issue 15432, 4 March 1914, Page 4

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914.

I A splendid opportunity offers itself I , at ,the present time The Otago Medical to those of our citiSchOOF. srens whoso business careers haVe bean crowned with success to render grateful and substantial service to the cause, of education in our midst. It is an old cause and an old cry, bat, ihanks to the practical response that invarMhly has been made to it, this City of Bunettlh has gained a name and 4 fame throughout the Dominion in this relation that no claims —which dre not always asserted with the best of taste—from rival centres can. rob it of. Educationally and religiously, whether' judged by the quality and character of its buildings, or the moral effects of a its Caching and preaching, Dunedin stands "first amorfg* the cities of the Dominion. In proof of the one we point to our churches, colleges, and other educational establishments; and of the other, we can recall the comments of the Judges when presiding at the criminal sessions in different parts of New Zealand. This City has in a very large measure justified the wisdom of the sacrifices that .educationally have been made on its behalf. It is therefore with confidence that we endorse and direct attention to the appeal made last evening on behalf of the Otago Medical School by the Chancellor of the University of Otago (Rev. A. Cameron) to the City Council, and in his letter to us, which appears elsewhere in this issue. Briefly, what is asked for is the sum of £7,500, being one-half the estimated cost for the erection of a> new medical block near the Hospital; and th« reasons submitted by the Chancellor will, we believe, give birth to a determination to subscribe the needed amount without undue delay. There is at this hour a movement to duplicate the provision made by Otago for medical education by securing, if possible, a medical school in the North Island. We should regard the success of such a proposal with regret, alike on national and local grounds. In the interest of the students themselves it is desirable, at this stage in the history of New Zealand, that there should be one strong rather than two weak schools of medical instruction, and, locally, it would be a reflection upon the community if for want of the ability to subscribe a few thousand pounds Dunedin were to lose that prestige which for so long has been hers."* We, however, anticipate no such result. Viewed solely from the standpoint of civic pride, the appeal of the Chancellor of the Otago University is one that cannot fail of its effect. There can be no worthier reputation than that of being the home where the medical men of the Dominion are trained, and there is no nobler outlet for the surplus funds of the citizens, or the allocation of a genei-ous sum from our municipal exchequer, than in promptly responding to the call that has been made. For our own part we should like to see the City Council more intimately concerned in fostering, if not actually creating, that educational atmosphere which is our greatest, as it is our finest, civic asset. We think Mr Cameron pitched his claims for financial help from i the City Council in too low a key. Some- I thing more than a few hundred pounds a year towards the Museum must be given if'] Dunedin is not to lag behind in the race j for social bettei'ment. We suggest that the Finance Committee take into consideration the advisability of recommending the levying of a Id.rate for University purposes. This would be the most effective and most satisfactory method of meeting our civic responsibilities* in this connection.

Mr Paulin's forecast : —Strong N.E. winds and fine. As there was no business to be dealt with, the quarterly meeting of the South Dunedin Licensing Committee, which was set down for to-day, did not eventuate. A sharp discussion took place, at the Methodist' Conference this morning over a petition from Durham Street, Christchurch, that the Rev. JO. H. Laws be appointed to that church. Mr Laws has been two yeaTS at Durham Street, and three years at- East Belt. These circuits were divided after he had been at East Belt three years. Technically, therefore, Mr Laws has been five years on the.one station. The Conference decided that Mr Laws "must shift, and the petition was not granted. According to the first draft of stations/ Mr Laws goes to Pitt Street, Auckland, now known as Auckland Central. The list of stations at the first reading appears in our report. This afternoon some amendments in that list were agreed to in order to place- the, Rev. Percy Knight, who comes from Victoria in exchange for the Rev. F. W. Burton. These amendment* were as follows : New Plymouth, Rev. Mr Luxford; 'Christchurch (Durham Street), Rev. Mr Knight, ; Christ-church East, Rev. Mr Sinclair; Stratford, second minister, Rev. Mr Harris; Waikouaiti and Palmejston, Rev. Mr Daniel.

In answer to a question last evening as to what the City Council were doing with regard to the raising of the £175,000 loan for street improvements, Cr Hancock (chairman of the Finance Committee) said that the matter had been considered, and all the machinery was in order for the floating of the loan. In due -course it would be raised if the market proved favorable.

The Rev. A. Cameron (Chancellor of the University - Council) brought before the City Council last evening certain matters concerning the upkeep of the Museum. He said that the University was an institution that should be looked on as- one of the great assets of the City, and as the City Council spent money on roads, reserves, and the library for the attractiveness of the City, it should also consider the question of spending something on the University in order to make it more attractive. " There was one direction in which the City Council could help. The University Council had to manage the Museum, in connection with which it had to pay out of the University funds something'like £230 a year for the carrying on of the Museum. The total expenses of the Museum last year were £716, and,.the income was £4OO from endowments, £75 from the City Council, and a few pounds from other sources.' or a total of £483, leaving a debit of £232. In other -centres the corporations bore a considerable amount of the expense for education, and he hoped the City would take into favorable consideration the question of helping the University, to strengthen its finances. In answer to a question, Mr Cameron said that an annual vote would be the best way to assist the University's requirements. He had mentioned the Museum as something that might be more likely to appeal to them as it was a citizens' institution. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.

As indfoatcd briefly last night, the University Council .decided yesterday to appoint a* professor of anatomy (to replace the late Dr Scott), at a salary of £BOO a year, without fees. The following were appointed a commission to interview candidates from Home and report to the council :—The Hon. T. Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Professor J- Symington (Queen's University, Belfast), and Professor A. Robinson (Edinburgh) : ' Professor EUiott-Smith (Manchester) to be asked to act in the event of either of tne two other professors being unable to do so. It .was further decided that the vacancy be advertised in Australia, and New Zealand in addition to abroad. The appointment is to be for five years, and to be renewable.

From information received we have reason to believe that the late Professor $. EC. Scott remembered fch* Otago Arij Gallery when making his will. R-c'uwned, as part of his a,rt.' collection, a particularly fine example of John Gully's landscape painting in water colors—ono of trie beat in existence—and it will, we think, be found that I this treasure is bequeathed to the Dunedin I Gallery. The walls are also to be en- ; riehed by four fine canvases from the \ btush of the lato Van dor .Velden. These 1 pictures belonged to the lato Judge Ward, and were left by him to the gallery. It is stated that the Government intend .to acquire several hundreds of acres of I land in the vicinity of the Tongariro National Park for the purpose of establish- ■ ing a prison camp in connection with the ! scheme of afforestation by prison labor. It is understood that accommodation will be provided for 25 men. In connection with the Congregational Church jubilee at Port Chataiers a new building fund is being inaußjrated. To this fund Mrs M. A. WilliamsTof Wellington, has forwarded a donatior/of J550. The Timaru ' Post' Newspaper Company, Limited, have sold the business as a going concern to a proprietary company, who have entered into possession. It is understood that. the old c<ynpany will go into voluntary wire. A 13-year-old girl was charged in the Juvenile Court this afternoon with stealing a dolt valued at 30s, the property of Joseph Braithwa-ite. Chief-detective Herbert said that the doll was taken from Mr Braithwaite's shop, and was traced by Detective Farquharson to the girl, who had previously been seen in the shop. His admonished and discharged her. The unveiling of the Scott Memorial at Port Chalmers has been provisionally for; the 23rd inst. The' committee asked tho Governor to unveil the memorial, but prior engagements prevented His Excellency from, acquiescing. The Prime Minis- ; ter has been asked to perform the cere--1 moiiy. It has been suggested that, it would be. very appropriate \vere General lan Hamilton present at the unveiling ceremony. The Port Chalmers Congregational Church are carrying out successful jnbilee celebrations throughout this week. Yesterday evening a pleasant tea meeting, followed by a public meeting, proved very delightful, many old friends and visitors participating in the jubilee rejoicings. The Rev. W. M. Grant gave a valuable address, entitled 'The Passing of. the Years,' the report of which is unavoidably held over. .This afternoon the Jubilee Fanwas reopened, and will continue open this evening, a feature of the fair being the pretty March of the Nations. A meeting of the Industries (Gala Week) Committee of the Dunedin Expansion League was held in the league's ofhYe last evening. Mr F. W. Mitchell presided. Letters were received from manufacturers stating that they purposed availing them-selves-of the opportunity afforded by .''lndustries and Gala Week" of exhibiting " Mado-in-Otago " goods, and the. ■Central Otago Fruit-growers* Association also wrote asking the league to arrange for a display of Central Otago fruit, which would be forwarded. Messrs Jas. Dick and F. W. Mitchell were appointed to interview tho retailers and interest them in tho week, and Messrs E. Anscomb© and Geo. Simpson were deputed to wait on the, manufacturers and get them to agree to throw open their factories for inspection bv the public during (he .week. It was decided to set. apart Wednesday night, the 25th, as a promenade night, when all shopkeepers would he asked to light up their premises. At a meeting of the committee of the Master Hairdressers' Association, held lan evening, to consider the question of 7 p.m. closing, (he following recommendation, to members of the association was agreed to: —" That the terms of the industrial agreement at present ,'n operation under the Arbitration Court award and the 8 p.m. closing agreement under the Shops Act hi adhered to, and that the committee do not recommend any alteration to the present arrangements." Our Wellington correspondent wires : The stern official eye of the City Council ha« now been cast on the "beauty parades" of ■ women and girls who promenade on Lyall Bay beach on holidays and Sundays. To tho ordinary way of thinking these promenades in bathing costume are never in any way immodest, but the council evidently think differently, for by a special resolution yesterday all promenaders and sun bathers must wear a complete Canadian costume in future. M. S> Budjevaz, a reserve captain in the Servian army and a member of the staff of a great Berlin newspaper, arrived in Manchester the second week of January on his trip halfway round the world. M. Budjevaz has undertaken tho trip for a wager, the conditions being that in the course of 12 months he has to visit 365 towns, has not to stay in any town more than one day, and, although he speaks sjx other languages, has not to speak any other language but Esperanto. Mr J. Steadman (Acme Photo Co.), George street, would like you to look at some superb enlargements, on the new Acme and other paper. Telephone 965.—[Advt.} WBtson's No. 10 whisky is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is -worth the money. -[Advt.] If you wish the services of Mr Morris personally, he now makes portraits at his home or garden studio, 554 George street; telephone 859.—[Advt.] Speight's ale and stout are acknowledged by the Dominion public to be the best on the market.—[Advt.] ' J Men who like a really first-e!ass whhky will enjoy Watson's No. 10.—[Advr,] A mother of ten healthy children writes that she is nevov without a bottle of Baxter's Lung Preserver. You try it. All chemists and stores stock Baxter's Lung Preserver at Is lOd a bottle.—[Advt.] Just opened, new photographic goods; best brands of plates, papers, mounts, etc., alwavs in stock. At Gill's, Frederick street; tel. 1.144. Agent for Harrington, N.Z., Ltd. -[Advt.]