North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1893.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7899, 13 June 1893, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1893.

A pujiTJO oflicor cannot take advantage of tho newspaper press to put himself right in the eyes of the public should ho bo attacked in his oiticial capacity, and wo, therefore, deem it fnir to make an explanation regarding .1 portion of the proceedings connected nith tho interview Messrs Murdoch and Hutton recently had with tho Minister for Lands on tho r.ibbit question. In order to ascertain how tho matter stands, and how far the officers of tho Department had exceeded their duty, if thoy had oxcocdod it at all, wo have made enquiries, and wo find that so far as the notices nerved on Mr Murdoch are concerned, tho officers of the Rabbit Department were acting strictly within tho four corners of tho Act in all thoy did. As wo havo repeatedly said, tho Habbit Nuisanoo Act would suit the despotic (Jovornmout of Russia better than a democratic colony liko New Zealand, but the officers havo to administer the l,i ir. If thoy did not do bo, thoy would quickly bo told about it, and they thercfoic find it much more politic to be seemingly harsh in carrying out their duties than to bo neglectful of that duty and apparently lenient. Firstly, it is necessary that the ofiiceru Hhould servo notices on l.uidPWiei'fl and occupiors in rabbit infested disti icta to clear the rabbits oft. In doing this they are morely carrying out tho expressed terms pf tho Apt, and it docs not follow that thoy will prosocuto unless the owner of tho land is remiss in the statutory duty imposed on him of keeping his land clear of rabbits. With regard lo the notices havii q the cl.iusj struck out allowing the owners and ocuup ers of the land the opportunity of calling evidence I in mitigation of the penalty, it appears that these aro old notico foims which are boing used up by tho Department for economy's sake, and the obliteration takes place in Wellington bofovo tho forms are sent out. The Act of 1882 huw been amended in «ovoral particulars by the amending Act of 1890, and while tho latter Act still allows of ovidence being ca'led in mitigation of tho penalty, the clause on the notico does not fairly .specify tho terms of tho Act, and has therefore been struck out. It may bo a question whether it would not havo been better to issue new forms, and thus rcmoro any doubt from tho minds of landowners on tho point, but as wo said the Department is evidently husbanding tho public funds, and it and not the inspectors is to J/amp for tho doubt that has arison by tho' obliteration of the paragraph in tho notice form. Whether the rabbit nuisance would ,bo more judiciously handled by local bodies than by the Department is a matter that is open to discussion. We do not believe, however, that tho Act was passed for tho purposo of jji/vpssing settlers, or that its provisions \vcve ovei' njeajjfc to bo enforced at harvcat time, when woik of 9 more urgent nature than killing rabbits has to be undertaken. Nor yot was it ever intended that tho Department should allow rabbits to inoroa^o on unoccupied Crown lands while settlers woro being pelted with notices and summonses for failing to kill the rabbits on private lands, Nothing could be more unjust than this, and if .settlors rebel against such a one-sided administration of tho Act it is only what might bo expected.

The bud stato of the wator flowing through the Corporation tuning at tho present time is occasioning a good deal of grumbling amongst, consumers, who voty reasonably think they art) tyot being treated fairly in having to tako so indlft'eiont an article at so high a price. To say that the water is unfit for human consumption is only saying what ocular demonstration revoals to the most short-sighted, individual. The water is of a rich yellow, and would lead to tho impression that the Waitaki had been attacked with an incurable jaundice. Citizens who have water tanks are fortunate in their possession, for tho corporation water is, at the present time, unlit for a^y olhor purpose than irrigation. All this is duo to tho mining operations at Livingstouo, consequent on fcho Muerewhenua being declared ft sludgo chalinel. Members of tho Borough Council visited tho intake tho other day for tho purpose ojt ascertaining if anything could bo done to remedy th^'mattor, &i}u wo bolievo the general conclusion como to was Jthat the C?st would be more than tlio Council could bear". Jt is impossible to say what tlio coBt> of tho works revered nece'jaary by the pollution of tho river would be, for that would require cwoful calculation by an expert, but it was plainly seen that the cost would bo beyond tho means at the disposal of Iho Corporation. Our opinion is that tho Corporation have no right to find a penny of tho money for tho work, Tho Government are responsible, mid to the Government tho Corporation should look for tho full cost of providing mcanuros for placin it in the position of commanding asuppl of clean water similar to that which

enjoyed previous to tho Maercwhonua being doclarod a nludgo channel, othorviso tho largo Rums of money spent in bringing water into tho town will have been spent to no purpose, for the water is utterly unusable. Tho equity of tho case entitles the Corporation to mako a domain! on tho Government to placo it in a position of being ablo to command a supply of clean wator, and this, wo think, is tho lirftt tiling the Corporation, in tho interests of tho ratepayers, should do. Tlioro is no practical good in (ho Corporation devising schemes, for it has no means of carrying them out, and if it had it could not fairly be asked to f pond money in the attempt to remedy a state of affairs purely the result of the Government's declaring tho Macrowhenua a sludge channel. It is not compensation tho Corporation ask for. It is simply that the Government shall remedy tho injury done — an injury that the Corporation from various causes is nob in a position to remedy itself.

A woman named Annie Wilson has been fined L2O ut Melbourne for having posted two letters containing indecent writings. Among tlio now disease* are listed typewrit ers' backache, telephone earache, gumohewcrs' lockjaw, and cigarette-smokers' insanity. A crinoline crazo in threatened ako Several of the Bon Lomond small grazing runs were not applied for on Tuesday, but immediately after the drawing inn 17n wan applied for and secured by J. R Murray at the upset of G^d per acre. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before A'aj t Keddell, R.M., Stephen Moynaban, who had been in since S.ituiday, was dischargedjwith a caution for diunkenness. Thomas Baker was fined 5s with the alternative of 24 hours for a similar offence. The (lov'crnmcnt dairy expert, Mr Saweri, addressing a meeting at Makaretu, in lcplying to a question as to whether cocksfoot country was suitable for producing butter and cheese, stated that tnc soundest all round milk which he had met with in New Zealand was in cocksfoot country in Banks' Peninsula. Some newspapers are evidently never at a loss for an expression by which to designate nn opponent. The Wellington Press evils the newly-clcctcdjj member for Wangnnui, Mr Willis, an "inflated political pillowBlip." Tho Daily Times says Mr Willis worked in the Times office in 1862 63. Mr Willis is therefore a pretty old colonist. The Woodville Examiner denies that throe hoys who are to give evidence in a sheep-stealing case were sent to prison to prevent their being " got at." When their father was arrested the boys were absolutely homeless, and were taken to gaol not as prisoners, but merely to be housed, fed, and cared for till the trial, when step 3 will lnvo to be taken to place them in an industrial school. The Hawkes Bay Herald of the Bth inst. says : Mr J. H.JTodd, formerly well known in Napier as an outdoor preacher in connection with tho Young Men's Christian Association, and who took chargo of a Presbyterian church in the Wellington district, is leaving New Zealand for Chicago. He goes there to study for two years at a theological institute founded by and conducted under the supervision of Messrs Moody and iSankcy. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, limited, have received tho following cablegram from thoir London office, dated Juno 10 ! " Frozen Meats— Tho matket is overstocked for mutton. Wcl lington mutton is worth 35 per lb, but other quotations aro unchanged since last telegram. Tho lamb murkfl is overstocked, and prime New Zealand lambs arc now worth, per carcase, OJd per lb Tho beef market Is fiim, and New Zealand beef, fore and hindquarters, aro respectively woith 3(jd and fljd per lb. Tallow — There is a rather better demand. New Zealand tallow (mutton) has declined la 3d per cwt since last report, but other quotations are unchanged since last telegram." A meeting of the Middle School CommitJ>oe took place last evening, whon there weie present Messrs Cunningham (chair-man), Malian, Einslie, Harwoocl, flel>bio, Mai tin, Pocklington, Edwards, and Irvine. Tho minutes were read and approved, and sovo i.il small accounts were passed for payment. The visiting committee repoi ted that everything was in good order, The headinastor reported a considerable falling off in the attendance owing to sickness and bad weather. Messrs Martin and Emslip were appointed the visiting committee for the month. It was resolved \>O hold an onter. tainment in aid of tho school funds at an eat ly dato, Tho mooting olosod with a vote of thanks to tho ohair. The police have received information that on Saturday morning two stacks of grain and a threshing mill, belonging to Clark Bros., wore destroyed by firo at Kauroo. From information given by Mr A. Clark it appeals that tho mill and engine were put into the paddock alongside the stacks at 4 p.m. on Friday and started work at 5 p m , and continued for about an hour. After stopping everything wa» put right, the dampers being put down, and all secured. David Clark says he got up between 4 and 5 a.m. on Saturday, but tho weather was too lough to Jighttho fires, and he went back to bed. Ho got up again * about fj, and found the stacks' on fire. All the men iit oamp, which was about a mile away, rushed to tho place, but they had to cross the river. By the time they got to the spot the stacks and mill were partly consumed, and were ultimately destroyed. The stacks would contain about 80 bags of wheat, or 320 bushels, mid were insured in tho South British otlice for L 33, ant} the mill for L 273 in the same ofiico. Alexander Clavk •aya'tho mill cost L3G4 in Mahono last year. One hundred new bags were also destroyed. These were i mured, for L 2 10s in the Soutli British oflice. The mill was new this season, having boon purchased from Anderson l}ros M of ( 'ln isi church. We arc informpd that four (hes havo occurred in the Kauroo district this season, and tho resident! of tho place are beginning to think there is a "fire-fiend about, whose mission it is to set firo to stacks. It is a peculiar thing that tho four flies havo all been within a short radius of each other. The regular monthly meeting of tho Committee of tho South School was held last evening. Present, Messrs Mackintosh (chair), Winsley, Singleton, Thomson, Pinel, (iienfe.ll. Reid, and Hamilton. The minutes of tho last mooting woro 'r<iad 'and coir firmed. The headmaster's ropoit was read, Tho attendanco of children at the sohool had fallen considerably on account of the lmd weather and the measles. It was considered inadvisable to close tho school as yet, but if tho (attendance continued to dccrcaso on account of tho measles tho chairman was instructed to call a special meeting to deal with tho matter. The headmaster was instructed to prohibit children of families affected by moaslcs from attending school for a time. The visiting committee repouod thqff tho asphalting contiaot had been satisfactorily complete^ and pointed out some neccbSary repairs and improvements, which were left to Messrs Macintosh and Reid, tho now via" ting committee, to sec carried out. The secretarywasinstruotcd to wiitc to the Education Board, stating thfit something further must bo done to tho vcntilatois as they act as baifly as befcic. It was rcsolvod to hold a' concert in the school to provide funds for school requisites, ivnd Messrs Singleton, Pinel, and Hamilton ■were app6intcd a committee to carry out all anangements. Accounts to tho amount of Lifl v.cro parsed for payment. A vote of thanks Co \)w ohapnun ty;ougl f l f,lje inceting to a close While evidently willing to help "the cause " along with speeches, Madame Sterling does not boliqve jn ringing for nothing at temperance gatherings, Recently tho contralto publicly rebuked Mr Wood, tho secretary of tho Adelaide Temporanoo Union, for giving it out that she would ling fttft Suaclay *ftoraooa meeting. Iq aidi-

lion to objecting to thin unauthorised uso of her name, Madame Sterling complained that on paying a visit to the local gaol she found a programme had been made out for her to sing, " 1 had ncv. r consented to anything of the kind," naid Madame Sterling, "but when I saw the prisoners I was so touched that I felt compelled to sing to them." A« everyone knows (adds the Sydney Daily Telegraph) the talented lady has a strong religious "turn." She frequently assists vocally iv the churches. On a recent occasion when her turn came she simply rose from her seat »nd, without any accompaniment, filled the church with the rich melody of her voice. She sometimes picfers to have no accompaniment, as sho remarks, "When ono has built the edifico one docs not need the scaffolding; one puts it away."

•Spring Blo«som Teas are the begt in tlio inurkot — Sec advertisement. Ask your grocer for Spring Blossom Teas. Basket and Mat Manufactory.— Oamaru in ly now boast of a real basket and mat shop. Clothes Baskets, Nursery nnd Ea»y Chairs, Baby Cots, and any kind of liaiko Work lequircd mado on the promisoo. Buy of! the maker direct, and save the middlo mini's profits. Our mats arc well known to wear out any imported article. Uuc speciality Ladios' Afternoon Tea Tables.— Author Wakkkn, Teen street (cloio to Mr While grocer.) The attention of business men, farmers, and otlieis, who require a really roliablo Suit, is dnected to a large consignment of Pure, Sou nd, Cheviot Tweeds, suitable for winter wear, cx Otcrama and Tainui, jusfc ai nved, at Jamks Gkmmkll's Tailoring and Outfitting Establishment, Thames street. This establishment has long bcon noted for the first-class character of its productions, and this season gentlemen will havo largo ranges of Oamaru, Mosgiel, Iloslyn, and otlier colonial makes to Bclect from, also English (Joods in Suiting, Coatings, and Trouserings, the best that can bo piocurod. Suits fiom 70s upwards.