The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1909.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1009, 10 March 1909, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1909.

It is interesting to- observe the excuses which the liquor advocate the beginning makes for the successes of the end. scored by the No-license Party. The wisdom claimed by our larger contemporaries ought to be demonstrated in some other way than by constant failures to gauge the public mind on great questions. A metropolitan paper, prior to the Licensing Committee election, which took place yesterday, ridiculed the idea that the heaviness of the last licensing poll for Dunedin meant that the people desired a maximum reduction in the number of hotels in Dunedin — 10 out of 40—and it still questions it, though the election .of the Committee put up by the United Temperance Reform Council is undeniably equivalent to a command to the elected to close as many o* the hotels as possible. Our metropolitan contemporary accounts for the success of the temperance section by alleging that it was better organised than the force opposed to it. But, conscious of the weakness of this notion, it adds that "The frank declaration of the Moderate candidates that they would, within statutory limits, withdraw licenses from houses which fail to comply with the requirements of the law in respect of the provision ol adequate accommodation must have been highly disconcerting to a section of the hotelkeepers." Are we, then, asked to believe the absurdity that the hotelkeepers were not aware of the sympathies of the Moderate candidates with "the trade," and that they, expecting more gentle treatment from the temperance committee than from their fast friends, helped to secure their return. The Temperance Committee declared their intention to reduce the licenses by 10, and is it to be supposed that the worst will not be selected for sacrifice? Another excuse given by our contemporary for its erroneous reckoning is that the public were less afraid of the shutting of 10 hotels* than they were displeased at the considerable increase in the number of convictions for drunkenness m the district which was coincident with the administration of the late "Moderate" Committee. We should think so, indeed. But why was this feature not taken into consideration by our contemporary when estimating the chances of the temperance candidates, and why did it not, because of the increase of drunkenness under "Moderate" incitements, throw into the temperance scale the weight of such influence as it might possess. It is admitted by out- contemporary that it is necessary to check breaches of the law and 1 that people on the verse'of intoxication have been served by publicans of Dunedin whose cause it espouses by methods of arguments to which it is impossible -to apply any term, indicative of clearness or decision. As for our contemporary's comments in the state of the law relating- to bottle licenses, the provisions which it deems incomprehensible, the Consolidating Licensing Act of 1908 does nothing more than safeguard the provisions which declared that no bottle licenses should be granted after a certain time.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have Received the following cablegram, dated London 10th, igo9 : —"There was a good attendance at the opening of the sales to-day, competition by Home, Continental and American buyers being spirited, and prices as compared with-the close of preceding series ruled about 5 per cent, higher. The opening catalogues were fairly representative." The Hon. T. Y. Duncan, who has been appointed Chairman- of the Government Commission set up to inquire into the position of timber matters generally in the Dominion, regards his position as no sinecure. The Commission is composed of men of varied ideas and interests, and it is possible that its itinerary from Southland '.to North of Auckland will occupy a lengthy- period,- and. will involve much serious work, so that it is improbable that its- deliberations will have, assumed .a concrete state when the House is again called together in June. Mr Ashley Duncaii, an old Waitaki-High School boy, has-been informed that he has passed the first 'section of his LL.B degree- . s . . At the Courthouse this morning, the Otagd Land Board conducted', a ballot, for a- small.-farm of-31 acres-3 roods 30ipples on -the being sections 18a and 20a. The. allotment' is composed , of two small sections which were originally I opened separately, but were found to be too small. The Land Board therefore placed' the two together, and offered them as one small farm. The successful candidate was William Ravenwood, of Otekaike. There were nine applicants. Mr Roosevelt's Cabinet is sometimes called the "Tennis Cabinet," and athletes, whether Japanese wrestlers or American boxers, were always sure of a hearty reception witnout the formality of an introduction at the White House. It is often slyly said that the late German Ambassador at Washington, Baron Speck von Sternberg, owed his popularity at the White House to the fact that he was a good lawn tennis player, and invariably allowed Mr Roosevelt to beat him. Mr Taft, the President, will follow Mr Roosevelt's strenuous example, as far as his 2501b avoirdupois will permit. He is a devotee of golf, and his Cabinet will be a Golf Cabinet.

Mr Edison's long-promised new storage battery, with the details of which he has been occupied for some time, is, says the New York correspondent of the Times, about to be practically demonstrated. For a long time the inventor has been engaged; in perfecting such a device for automobiles, and this has been the subject of frequent premature announcements in the press. The new battery, however, is for use on street car systems. He is satisfied a car will run a whole day without recharging. He expressed the opinion that the use of the new battery would revolutionise surface car traffic. He predicts that street car lines will employ none but cars equipped with the new batteries when he-has demonstrated their commercial value; the tracks will be without either overhead or underground wires, or rails for the transmission of current, and comparatively cheap stations will only be necessary where the storage batteries may lie charged after they have exhausted their store of current.

The nervous strain of household care wears out even the strongest- women. Take Steam's Wine, the peerless tonic which builds up the body and makes the weak strong. Pleasant to the taste.

Mr S. J. Davys, Dentist, will visit Kurow on Thursday, the 11th inst., and may be consulted at Mr Spiers' Hotel. " 296 £2OOO worth of high-class Drapery and Clothins to be sold "in three weeks. _ Mr Penrose" has decided to give up business in Oamaru "owing to starting in a big way in Dunedin, and to make a clearance has decided to have a Huge Clearing Sale. The goods will be marked at- prices the liko of which has never been heard of in Oamaru. Judging by the crowd that visited the store on Eriuiiy and Saturday, and all aoiiig away well pleased with their -arcels. there will be very little left at the end of three weeks. The public are advised to shop as early as possible, and sret the pick of the goods, as every; purchase you make shows a clear saving.— PENROSE'S Drapery Establishment Are you sunburnt? Put a little ''RED CROSS'' OINTMENT. It relieves the smart, cures the burn. Boxes, Is 6d.