A Fish Market.

Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 4

A Fish Market.

I't'DUC bodies aro supposed to exist to

provide certain facilities deemed to bo in

tho public interest. Opinion and practice vary as to the scopo of municipal enterprise in the provision of public services. In some towns markets are under municipal control and administration. Here they aro not, but the City Council is understood to be awaiting its opportunity to make them so. In regard to a fish market the council has even done a little more than tvait. It has maxfo a few promises, a few suggestions, and a few inquiries—and now it has again relapsed into the waiting attitude. It suggested that at a cost of £5,000 or eo it might provide a receiving depot for fish, and sell to the public at 4d per lb supplies whicli it could buy at Ud per lb through three up-to-date shops. A number of other suggestions were made; but the.se aie not vital to the main point, which is that the fishermen are anxious to pell direct to the public in a municipal fish market, and that the public is anxious for the chance- to buy. The public would even be glad to get fish at a municipal shop for 4d per lb. But why the need for tho shops? It would be better'to cut these out and elaborate tho depot into -a fish market. Cr Hancock's reminder that the cost of one would add to the price of fish seems to ignore the fact that, even so, the p ,,: "" -!-on!d not be anything like so hin„ ,-... ; i.'/W when fish is bought

through retail channels. In tho simplest of ways -the corporation could bring fisherman and consumer into direct contact to mutual benefit,' yet it delays to do so. Blame for tho delay is cast on the Board of Trade or on tho Government; tho latter because it will not pay for tho erection of a freezer. If a market wero provided, wholesale dealers could purchase there surplus fish for freezing in already existing works. There seems no necessity for a public freezer; and, even if thero were, it seems to us incomprehensible that thero should bo any claim on tho Government to erect one. A fish supply for Dunodin is not a matter that comes within tho ecope of general government. If tho City Council believes that it is not a matter for local government, then let it say so definitely, and wo shall know where wo arc. But if it decs so decide, what reliance can henceforth be placed on election promises?

Woolbrokers estimate that of the offerings at tho last Dunedin sales about 12 per cent, is now unsold. A number of parcels have changed' hands privately siuco the auctions. ' Vv 7 hat remains in the stores will be included in the catalogues for the next and final of the Dunedin sales for the season on the 31st inst., when' from 12,000 to 15,000 bales will be offered. It is believed that the arrangement between the Government and the Dunedin City Council as to the supply of power to the Government for the purposes of the power boards that are to be set up is now in the hands of the Grown solicitors to convert into a binding agreement tho understanding already arrived at. In the meanfcimo nothing can be done until the power boards are set up. The Education Board was notified by the KuTiwao School Committee to-day that the school residence was burnt down on the morning of March 3. Nothing was known of the origin of tho fire, which took place some time before 8 o'clock in tho morniDg. The building was insured. The chairman. (Mr J. Wallace) and tho Hon. D. T. Fleming were deputed to conduct an inquiry. The postal authorities have received advice that the steamer Waitemata, which left San Francisco on March 8 for Auckland, has on board for New Zealand 279 .bags of mail, including 183 parcel receptacles,

Mr Paulin's forecast : . X.W. to S.W. winds and rain showers.

Probably the next extension of the elecI trinity produced from Waipori will be to Glen-cairn, on the ocean side of the. Peninsula, in the Tomahawk district. Quite a number of houses have been put up ! there lately, and there are a number of j flourishing dairy farms. One or two of the i Peninsula- dairy farmers are gelling ready to use the power as well as the light. As to the extension in the Tokomairiro district, the Phosphate Company's works at Clarendon are now running by electric power, and 'in the course of a. few weeks the Bruce Woollen .Mills and the flourmill at Milton, also the Cement Company's works at Milbuni, will bo similarly energised. The light can, "be switched on to the Milton streets as soon as tho reticulation is finished. Permission was granted by tho Education Board to-day, subject to the architect's approval, to the Soldiers' Memorial Committee at Hawea Plat to erect a memorial on a corner of the school glebe. Numbers of fallen soldiers' memorials have been erected in school grounds or I over school gateways, and their custody handed over to the Education Beard. At tho meeting of tho board to-day the chairman (Mr J. Wallace) pointed out that, while the board was pleased to accept memorials it was undertaking a big responsibility. Jn the case of only one memorial hud the committee that erected it any funds for its upkeep. In further cases the board would have to be watchful.

Methodists, in celebrating tho centenary of their Church in Now Zealand, must have commented on the friendship between the Rev. Samuel Marsden (of tho Church of England Missionary Society) and the Rev. Samuel Leigh (pioneerminister of the .Methodist Church), and no doubt the help given by Marsden to Leigh in those days has been, gratefully born© in mind, it adds very much to Marsdcn's credit to learn from the contents of a hitherto unpublished letter written by him to tho Church Missionary Society from Parraniatta on tho 16th July, 1821,'that in assisting Leigh ho was really acting with fine magnanimity, probably under a sens-o of duty, certainly against his personal desire, unless be changed his mind after writing tho letter. Tho extract upon which wc rely for this assertion runs thus: "T have learned from the public papers that it is the intention of the Wesleyan Society to send a mission to New Zealand. I do not see the wisdom of their doing this. There is a, very large and extensive field unoccupied in the i.-Vicndly Islands which they might have to themselves;. T have always wished that the Church Missionary Society should havo New Zealand for their portion, the Wcsloyan Society the Friendly Islands, and the London Missionary Society Otaheitc and neighboring islaVls,"

A meeting of yachtsmen »v.<\ others was hold in the Overseas Club Rooms last evening to consider the question of suitably recognising the ■effort f- of Mr W. J. P. M'Cullooh (owner of (he Heather) to retain the Sanders Cup for Otago. and a representative committee was set up to move in the matter. "A very distressing ease."' said Subinsporlor Eecles in t'no Juvenile Court this morning, wh.en nskin:: that seven children (live sisters and Iwo brothers) hecommitted to the Caveisham Industrial School to be brought up in the Presbyterian form of religion. The father and mother, tho sub-iuf.pector statod, had lived together for some time; but the father became addicted to (itink, and had left home. IT is present address was unknown, and there was, a warrant out for i his arrest. The mother and the seven children went to livo with her mother in a, four-roomed house, which also sheltered four other people.. Tlicro were* only two bedrooms in the house, and the mother i was receiving relief from the Charitable | Aid Board. The magistrate made the necessary orders. A r;irl, fifteen years of age, 'whose me.t-h.er was deemed not to be a, fit and prr-uer person in liavo control of her. was ah-o committed to the Caversham Industrial School, to be brought up in tho Ansitenn fonn of religion. Interviewed on his reluni to Wellington after a motor tour of the "Fast Coast, the Prime Minister I.Mr Massoy) said that tho district was really good country, sadly wanting roads. The settlers hid staled their difficulties to him stroncdy, but there really had been no need for them to emphasise conditions that ho could see for himself. Tho district needed roads and bridges in order that its splendid resources might be developed. The membr.'s who represented (lie East Coast in P-irr.ament had never allowed this fact to be. overlooked, but he. had been glad of nn opportunity to see the country for himself. The requests placed before him by the backblock settlers wan not extravagant. The.se people asked merely for re.isonr-.ble facilities for transport between their lands and the ports, and he had not any hesitation in saying that the Government would do all in its power to assist them. Wherever Mr Massey went ho received warm welcome. The people of the back country were facing difficulties, but they were doing it cheerfully and courageously, and he did not doubt their ability to pull through. The district* that he had visited contained more undeveloped and paiii ulv-developed land than any other part of New Zealand, and a great future lay before it. The Hon. C. J. Parr opened a new nurses' home at New Plymouth yesterday. In the course of a speech he sard he;hoped to bring down legislation next session regarding some, form of superannuation for nurses. In the afternoo.l Mr Parr opened the new Technical High School at Stratford. Preferring to economy, Mr Parr said he was opposed to economy in education. The rising generation should have all the facilities possible, regardless of the fact that money was short. The Otago Harbor Board is making preparations to drive six concrete piles 60ft in length at the end of the mole, at Taiaroa Head, on which a. ligth will be placed to indicate to shipping the danger point at the mole. It wii! probibly prove a somewhat difficult operation, and the board's engineer is at present engaged in working out a scheme which, it is hoped, will pro\e a success. Dredge 222 will be employed in the undcrta,king, and a derrick has been erected on the stern of the dredge with which to drive the piles. Special moorings will have to be iaid for the dredge at the end of the mole before the work is commenced. It will bo possible to carry out the operation only (luring very calm weather.

The Mornington Miniature Rifle Club opened their season last evening, twentysix members being in attendance. Several new members havo joined the club, and the season promi?cs well. Tho shooting v.t.s very good for the first practice, the Kennedy badge being secured by Mr M'Auslin, Inst year's champion.

"The King, gentlemen I" and the toast was honored in tho King of Whiskies— Watson's No. 10.—[Aclvt.] One of the finest ranges of ladies' winter coals to bo found in Duncdin is being shown by Messrs H. Halhgan and Co. in their sample rooms in tho Octagon. "They comprise all tho latest styles, and their prices ary below tho present wholesale cost. -I'lUWt.] The " Grecian bend" has gone completely out of fashion, likr/wiso tho i washboard, slavery bend, thanks to No-rubbing Laundry Help. "So Bay ail of us" Dun coin " commercials." —[Advt.] U.T.A. Church mission services at Choral Hall, Moray place, to-night, at 3. Fruit, Jain, and Jeliy Jars, Pans, Spoons, Rubbers. Todd's White House, 133 George strect.-^Advt.J A meeting under, tli-a auspices, of tho Women's Missionary Union will bo held in tho Octagon Social Ha.ll to-morrow evening, when Mrs Grrdng.v Hargrcavcs, of England, ■will give an address. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho money.--[Advt.] A concert in aid of tho funds of the Mornington soldiers' memorial will ho held in tho Burns Hall on Saturday, March 25. New season's photographic goods; excel' lent stock now arriving. Cameras from 6a. Send your order early to H. 3. Gill, 11 and 13 Frederick street, Dunedin. 'Phone 1,144. ~[A(kt.]