Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 8

When the Works Committee’s report was under consideration at last night’s meeting of the City Council Cr 1:1. L. Tapley bro'ught up the matter ,of the Duncclin-Port Chalmers _ road. He uuuirstooc' they were-, going to spend £3,000 odd in maintenance. To go lending money in mai iterance seemed to him T.c. be u waste of money, considering tho present state of the road, and the Highways Board, ho thought, w mlci bo well advised to make a construction job of it first, and go into the matte of maintenance afterwards. In reply, tin chairman (Cr J. Wilson) stated that this was not wasted money by any means Supposing tha|, a road was laid down, then maintenance would take up a large sum for tho year in any ease jUo’-eovcr, the West Harbour Borough Council was not prepared supply its share of tho cost in the meantime.

In moving t!io adoption of the Gas Committee s report at last night’s meeting oj tho City Council, Cr Marlow said tint supplie of coal had been coming to lian.l very satisfactorily and tho stringency war nearly over. Curing the stringency 20 per cent, of lignite coal had been used, but that proportion had been reduced to 10 and it would bo still further reduced. The committor was influenced by two things in trying to use lignite coal. In the first place it was produced locally, and in the second place, those producers had stood by the city .when it was in very sore straits, and the committee was going to try to use 21, per cent, of lignite and lie trusted tluy returns would justify them in continuing that proportion of lignite coal, ,

Batterers' from recent floods in tho southern part of the city will be pleased to loam that the Drainage Board has received advice that the Railway Department has commenced the work of constructing a protective bank on railway laud on tho eastern side of the flume carrying tho Concord Creek across the railway cutting at Burnside. ' A bank and a ditch will also be constructed from tho west, side of tho Hume along tho boundary of the City Corporation’s property, so as to lead ail flood waters towards the fin me. It was stated by Cr Shaddock at last night’s meeting of tho City Coiuicil that the earth movement at VYaipon had. practically stopped, and that_ the water was being taken charge ol in a thoroughly effective maimer. Before any work was done in this locality, however, it was considered advisable to ascertain just where hard rock was to bo found, and so investigations would bo snread over tho next mouth or two.

Bringing up the question of flood protection for the lutiire, Cr La ploy spoke to tlio Works Committee’s report at last night’s meeting of th© _Uity Council, ami asked tlio chairman if he had any idea, when the report was likely to be brouglit before the council. !io added that,the people who were in the flood area wove in fear and terror every time it rained. Cr Wilson, the chairman, answered that ho could not say for certain when the report would bo available. Mr Wilkie and their own engineer had had to side track a bit on other reports, and altogether there had been unavoidable delay. 'A resident of Green Island who made a count of motor traffic on a recent Sunday, counted 30(J motor ears going in both directions in an hour.

At a preliminary meeting of the committee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the position of the wheat industry in New Zealand Mr C. A. Wilkinson (the member for Fgmont) was elected chairman. The committee decided that the meetings should he open to the Press, and that all sections of the community should be invited to place evidence ■.’rough their organisations or otherwise. It was agreed that whore any section of the community had an organisation much time would bo saved if

■ views of that section were placed before the committee through its repre sentatives, hut that no interest should bo debarred from expressing its opinions til rough lack of organisation. It was also agreed that interested parties might bo represented by counsel. Tim next meeting of tho ‘committee was fixed lor Wednesday, August 1. In view of its possible hearing on Urn next season’s sowing, tho committee intends to present its report before the close of tho present session of I’arliamout.

1 ho Lniou Steam Ship Company announces the. placing of a contract with Hawthorne and Co., of Jlobbern, N’cwcastle-on-1 \ ne, for the construction ot new oil-burning cargo steamer tor tho Now Zealand coastal trade. The vessel, which is being built to carry 1,65 Q tons deadweight, is expected tc he ready for delivery in February next.--Press Association.

_ The eng no .shed at Waiotira Junction, North Auckland, was destroyed by h’’e or. Tuesday night, and a W. I'. type locomotive iusid< L ' was damaged to t!io extent of about £IOO The loss on the shed is estimated at over £3OO. The lire apparently started in the roof. The ongim crew had been off duty for several hours Efforts to move,, the engint out ot the burning shed had to be- abandoned A bucket brigade succeeded in saving a large stack of timbei and two water .tanks.—. Press Association,

The Kawarou Hirer fell steadily yesterday following the dosing of tho dam raid small parties were out on the strean lato in the day, but the level ■ls not sufficiently low to permit; of payable worJt. - ' The stream fell slightly during the night, but from present appearances' no general work will bo done There was another ■ hard' frost last night but there were signs of (•"hanging conditions this morning.— Cromwell correspondent. Air Leslie V. Harvey’s ■ contract as organist at the Empire Theatre has been renewed. The announcement to that.effect by Mr Stewart,.Pitt, manager of the theatre, will make pleasant reading For the thousands who have • 'ivtam-d musier 1 entertainment n»ni education by tho Anwricin organkt. Tin se.-reuvy ot the Otago Motor Club ha.- bee> advised by the clerk to the Lake County Council that tho bridge 0,. the main Cromwell-Queens-towr roau nil’ be closed to all traffic between tl. hours or 9 a.in. and 4 p.m; while' undergoing repairs,, . ;

At the Conciliation Council sitting yesterday afternoon to hear the dispute of tho general electrical workers it was decided that the present award should stand as far as the power boards were concerned, but that tho City Council and tho Harbour ' Board should be struck out of the dispute, in order'that a new agreement might be drawn up between the bodies and the union.

In tho Police Court this mdVnmg, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., Catherine Josephine Williams was charged with being found drunk in Lome street, and also that she was deemed to be a rogue and vagabond in that she bad insufficient! lawful means of support, and bad been previously convicted as an idle mid disorderly per sou in 1927. She pleaded guilty to both charges. Senior-sergeant Quartormain stated that an old man had a small .bouse in Lome street, and bo placed a notice in the window stating that he bad a room to let to a man. This woman had pestered him to let her have the room, but be bad refused. How over, whenever she bad some drink she postered him, and bad obtained some sums of money from him. He com plained to the police, and she was ejected from the bouse at Ins request ami then arrested. She was convicted and discharged on the charge of drunkenness. and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months on tho second charge.

Our London correspondent writes:— Yon may bo interested to hear that a trout weighing 161 b was caught in the River Test during the spring, ft was from the Test that spawn was taken and introduced into New Zealand some sixty years ago. which has led to your country being the paradise for anglers who want very largo trout. Satisfactory progress has been made with the building, of the boiler chimney and other matters connected with the installation of the new laundry at the Benevolent Institution, Gavcrsham. and it jy expected that tho modernised appliances for the washing will he in operation in about a mouth. /

All tho ordinary business sot down for this month’s meeting of Iho Otago Laud Board was got yesterday. One of the items,of public interest was ns to section IBs in the Poplar Grove Settlement at Middknnarcb. Two applications were received for the renewable lease of this section, which measures oa 2r Kip—namely, John Podolsky and W. 15. MTvegg. and the board decided to recommend MTvcgg’n.

Asked tin's morning ns to how he is contriving to carry on bis philanthropic work in Dunedin, the Rev. V. G. Brvan King said that the finance was in a very precarious state. Owing to tho many calls upon the generosity ol tho public recently as a result of the local flood and the West Coast earthquake. the various philanthropic _agencies arc experiencing a serious falling off in donations, and the stress caused hv unemployment and sickness, shows no diminution." The position i:s serious. As a fact, lie is behind hai.M jo the Inno of 0150 for current liabilities. Going round to try to ease the financial strain he is meeting with encouragement and a free response from many persons, ami for this help he is profoundly ful ; but this is a time when the responsibility rests on ail who can assist, and he is continuing in full faith that the duty will be adequately shouldered.

'That deer arc proving a serious menace to the country was the view expressed by Mr R. lodhuntcr (if let liven) at tins annual meeting ot iho Canterbury Sheep Owners’ Union. Oner were breeding extensively on tho \\ 'cst Coast, he said, and were coming over toy Canterbury. Five thousand had been killed m Rakaia Gorge this year, and they bad increased so much that they had decreased the carrying capacity of tho land by 50 per cent. “Ji we are not careful",” Mr • Todhuuter added.

“ chamois and thar will ho just as had. Wo will wake up some day and find ourselves oaten out of house and homo by these pests, ■ that arc kept there lor sport. 1 know one run on the West Coast that had to he _ abandoned tin account of the. depredations of rlwr ” Mr K, Hay : “ it’s all ri'dil. Mr Todhmitor. If this Budget gets through yon won’t lie there.” (Laughter.) It was decided that it ho a recommendation to tho executive to make representations' to tho Government to deal with iho menace.—Christchurch correspondent. .Mr 0. S. Broughton, railway passenger agent for tho South Island, retained to Dunedin lust night alter a comprehensive visit to the earthquake area on the West Coast. Ho reports that the Bailor (Jorge is now quite dear, and in use for daily motor Lradic. Tho breaks in tho road between Inaiiga him and Murchison, though being diligently repaired, make impassable the short route on the journey from Westport to Nelson. Two cars that were raged in there are still whore the ’quake caught them. But tho deviation route by way of Ileefton is answering (he needs of passengers between Westport- and -Nelson. It rejoins the old route ar, Murchison, whence the road is clear to Nelson, The communication is so complete as to cnab’lo one service to ho re-established between West*sort and Nelson. The restorations generally are being gone about systematically, improving every day tlio situation for travellers, and anyone who contemplates a lour of the district may conlidently proceed with his plans. So far as the railway system" on the Westport section is concerned, it- is prclty well buck to normal. Mr Broughton added that the Scddor.villc settlers are returning to their homes. Forty-four of them departed from Christchurch oii Thursday of last week;

A New rjymouth Association telegram states that the settlers at Okoko and Uruti have been alarmed by a man, apparently deranged, .who has been wandering the bush country for some weeks. Ho has visited homesteads when tho men have been away, aiMhas terrified women. A heifer, found killed with a slasher, was apparently used as food. The man is thirty years old, and was formerly employed by, Mr P. Darke (of Olcoke). Search parties have failed to find him, and renewed efforts arc to bo made.

The Otago and Southland Sheep Owners’ Union has forwarded the following resolution to the Premier:—“ If additional revenue is necessary wo arc ot opinion it should be raised by altering the incidence of income tax . by substituting farmers’ income tax in lion of land tax. or even increasing all round tile income tax rates, .The proposals now made will undoubtedly cause unemployment, as all except absolutely necessary, expenditure will be avoided. Money will bo withdrawn from rural investments, and production reduced. Many' landholders \vhose properties arc unsuitable for subdivision! will be ruined, and the inevitable ail round re dilution in land rallies will seriously affect even th - small farmers, disturb nig their land mortgages thro::gh-mort-gagees tightening then limits, and to a corthip extent making farrii-rs’ tern porary finance more difficult! The few old est blished and wealthy land owners will 'ho the last to suffer from the proposed super-tax. If is the best class ol settler—energetic young men who have’ not been afraid to assume; large re ipousibilitios—who will suffer most:”

John Bonrkc, a bankrupt farmer, of Waverley, for failure to keep books, was ordered by the chief justice to come up for sentence within three years if called upon. The judge intimated that ho adopted this course solely on account of the excellent character accused had hoi ne.—Wanga uni Association telegram. With keen competition prices’lor fat cattle at Burnside yesterday we^e ; from pa'- to 10s a head better than previously.

Your eyes are Nature's most precious eht T’kc cars of them Consult W V fiturmer, optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin - fAdvt.l Your diamonds are valuable, and require excert attention. Take thenj tn the experts, Willwmson's, nest The Bristol Piano Co.r.'dvt.i A dance will bo held in tho Vcdic to night. Intending .competitors at the Dunedin Competitions are reminded that’ lato entries will be received until 5 p.m. to-morrow, IT-idav. Tins will be the last opportunity.