The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1882.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6501, 13 December 1882, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1882.

The Harbour Board havo at thtic nuxt meeting to ooiaitier what coura-j they will pursue with rejjn-rd to the bar. They havu before them Mr Dare's oireful re port »ud recommeiwlations ; they have also a vague and indefinite offer from Mr ■Fbiijiob Willson ; and they lnvo Mr Baitx's n..tioe of motion that competitive designs bs called for. It ia quite niani fest that Mr 'Willson's proposal to d>-epe» tho bar to a depth of 23 feot at low water for £12,000, by soiua . plan kiiewn only to himself ami ouo or two mippuitorn, is quite iundmia>ib!u ia its preeent. shape. It is, of course, posaibli: that Mr WiLtsoy, though not a professional ei)£.;:neer, may bo a he:iveri-born »oaius, ilwugh wo Sihoukl not jiid^o s> by his conmii nts on tho Oaviuu Breakwater. But the .Board cannot afford to apfcc.il.'ite in experimental eiigiiieerinir, nor, as we beliovn, \v)n-n it cornea to the point', can Mr Witasoit, however strongly ho nvy be n iiked up. Tiie Koavd h -.ye. an engineer in whom, we presume, they have ei>hti(lei)O'", and tl\ey could not, without iiiouriiiia: grave reaponeibility, j-.ci c •»■ ti-iiry' to" lita adviie. But, beii'le: this, t!ii:y are b'unul to atibmit plans of- all tvi.rks to the Governor in-Oouncil for hi» approval ; and unlusj Mr Willsos ii prepared to submit his plain, the Boavd am absolutely puwerU-.as to act. The propo3il for c.'Uipetidve designs is worthy of. oon.siclsration, but it would involve a good deal of delay, and,, after a:l, the designs must bo alibmittod firat to the Board's engineer, and then to tho Engineer inCiiief of the Colonial.G,,weni(!ciifc. We have very little fahh iti tiny good resulting; but if the delay caused should not c-Xiioed two moiiths it might bo wonh while to go as far as this to set at i\»l, oulaide chimoui'. It ia a molauchuly fact t'nat nothing to speak of lias beeu done for im.nths, and thai ti3 the time ap proachea for decisive action tho Board members themat-lvea are divided in opinion r.a to what should be d^r.e. A decision of sojrio kind must, however, bo arrived at, and we cannot see why it siiould be further delayed. It may not be necessary that detailed plans should in the first instance be submitted, should competition be re3Orted t», if enough information is givun to enable a judgment to be foiraed by the responsible engineers of the Board and the Government on the feasibility of the respective schemes, and a single month should be suißcient to b:injj out any local talent we havo on tho spot, while many months must el.ipae if competition be sought for outsiilo the Colony. For oar otvn part we consider the Board will bo quite justified in abiding by the plan of their engineer, particularly if that plan can be shown to be in accordance with iiir John Ooode's reports ; but we once again rapeat that liin-j h an object; and timt delays are danger iw. We arc now certain to havo one lina of steamers established by tho New Zealand Shipping Company.,'and others may follow : are the Bvard prepared for the possible contiugency of being unable to take these steamers in at our port when they come '?

We have beon puthnfiy waiting for tlie list of possible candidates for the Peniusula scat being filled up. Mr Stout cannot, as wo understand, bo got to declare himself; and although the "Liberal" party are greatly in want of such a. leader, ivo may conclude that professional ties aro too strong fi.-r him to break through, and toe sacrifice? too great for him io fcol cil'.ed upon to make it. Eithtir Mr Larn'ach or Mr Cuttkx would make a very good member, and it would bo a pity t!vt they should oppose each other, and so give a chauco for an inexperienced candidate like Mr Donnelly t'j sl:.p in. Wo strongly advise those electors who are favourable to tho present Government, and those who are opposed to them, to endeavour io agree on a singlo candidate on either sido, and have a fair fight without thuso crosa issues which cud in the worst man getting ii;. If Mr stout stood we .should know quite well oa which ■ side he would be; so, also, with Mr Cur TEN. As regards Mr Larnacu v.'!> i are not po certain, though ho would hardly pledge himself to the extreme views of some ultra Liberals. We want a fresh nomenclature to express the divisions of political opinion. Thu terms "Tory" and " Liberal" by no moauß represent these divisions. \Ve havo no Tories in Colonial politics. The terms "Liberate" and " Radicals" would better represent the two extremes, with perhaps a middle party of Moderates. Tho Rvdic;il", led by Mr Stout, have been doing all they can to alfix the stigma of Toryi3tn to their opponents, and we thiiik it is liuio lliit a protest were mado against this species of warfare, which is equivalent to giving " a dog a bad name, and hanging him." We miy be quite sure that there will be no " Tory " candidate for tho' Peninsula, but them in?.y be "Liberals" and "Radicals," and oven 3 " Moderate" or tsvo not willing to cast in their lot absolutely with either party. What the electors of tho Peninsula have to look to first of all, in judging of tho candidates, is honesty of purposa ; secondly, capacity ; and thirdly, political bias ; but they are, we hope, wise enough not to be misled by a mine, particular y a name invented by political opponents. With reference to some remarks in our recent article on prison management, to the effect that the Inspector of Prisons was to blame for not calling the attention of the Minister to the state of thingn which has existed so long hore and nowhere else in iha Colony, our attention has been called to the following comments in that gentleman's report for 1881:—" The present system of detaining prisoners for prison offences after their sentences havo expired is, I think, moat objectionablo, and open to much abuso, and in my opinion uo person should be, under any circumstances, kept in prison after tho sentence awarded by tho judge or magistrate has expired. [ presume it will be neeesaary to have a now Prisons Act brought before the House during the cmi ing session,- which would enter fully into details as to sentences, remissions, powor3 of giio'.era, punulnneuti, &c., a;id i therefore refrain from making further comments on these points at prosent. It \vill be noticad that I have made no allusion to the visiling Justices or their duties in this report, but [ havo carefully avoided doing so iv consequence of the Government not having us yet issued any orders on the subject, or defined my duties or status in reference to them." Notwithstanding this reference to the matter, the Government last session passed'a Prisons Act through^ tho IJouae without making any alteratiou_ in the objec iona'olo c'suse which gives the visiting Justices aucli undue power. It v the Miiiiatar, then, rather than the inspector who is to blame, and we trust our now Minister of Justice, Mi Conollt-— who, as an experienced lawyer, cannot fail t) s«e tho important bearings of tho question at issue—will direct his attention to the matter with a view of making the needful alterations next session. The nublic will not ba content to lat the mat-

ter rest where it ia, ita something like a feeling of horror has .beon displayed all through tho Colony at tho revocations of the remarkable return on which we have repeatedly commented. We are strongly of opinioa, too, that now the Dunediu Gaol is under other management, a careful aud impartial inquiry should ba instituted to ascertain what is the state of things winch has led to auoh extraordinary results, and wo trust the Government will not shrink frerft their duly in tho matter becausa they have been unjustly ..charged with political moiivoa. Tiio position of the inspector shemtd also bo clearly defined, and should, in our judgment, include reports on tho acts of j visiting Justices, that there may be some check on abuses of power. If an inspector's duties 'are "to bo oflicionlly p»r[ormeu, ho should hivo tho fullest scope, subject to the conli'ol of thu 'Minister, who is responsible to Parliament. It is only thus thai hia lHness for his post can be fully tesluU, and that wo can havu any certainty that our prison mauaj-emont will bo improved from year to year <ia defects aro discovered.

A quantity of San Francisco mail news anil letters to tlic editor appear on our fourth page this morning.

As was expected, tho accession of Lord Derby to the British Cabinet has caused a redistribution of portfolios. Mr Gladstone resigns the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, although he is expected to retain office as First Lord of tho Treasury. Lord Havtington becomes Secretary for War, handing over tho India Office to Lord Derby ; and Mr Childors succeeds Mr Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

An accident, bringing to mind by its results in loss of life tho Kaitangata colliery explosion, has occurred in the Ballarat district, Victoria, where a.gold-mine has suddenly been flooded through the bursting- of a water-race. . Of 40 miners who were in the underground workings only 14 escaped, and 20 met a fearful death — at least all hope of their recovery alive is given up, as it has boen found impossible to get the water in the mine reduced at anything like an appreciable rate of speed. The cable message giving the above particulars adds that the scenu at the mouth of the mine was a very .distressing one, which it can well be imagined it would be, for doubtless many of the men had wives and relatives residing in the close vicinity.

The steamer Taiaroa, with tho Southern portion of the San Francisco mail, crossed the Mauukau bar at 11 o'clock yesterday morning, and is expected to reach Wellington about 7 or 8 o'clock to-night. The Wanaka will be detained there to carry on the Southern mails to Lyttelton, but it is.unlikely that they will catch Thursday morning's express.

Our Arrow correspondent telegraphs that a fire occurred there on Monday night about 11 o'clock in Buckingham street, by which a cottage, owned by Mr R. D. Owens, was totally destroyed. At the time of the fire it was occupied jointly by Mr Stoddart and Mr Wedlock, both of whom lost all they possessed. Mr Owens was insured in tho National for £100, and Mr Stoddart and Mr Wedlock were insured for £75 each, both in the New Zealand Company.

Councillor Spedding at last night's meeting of the City Couucil referred to the unsatisfactory nature of the tenders received recently, through the insufficient publication the Corporation advertisements received. He considered the pennjMvise-and-pound-foolish system adopted thoroughly absurd, and advocated that, at any rate in casos where important tenders were invited, an additional advertisement should be insertod in tho most generallyread paper.

The Hon. Secretary of the Carnival desires to acknowledge receipt of the following moneys in aid of the Carnival account :—Through the agency of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners' Society, £11 10s Gd ; from Outram (per Mr William Snow), £7 10s ; from the Licensed Victuallers' Association, £20.3 (per their president, Mr Court), to whom, and to Messrs Golder and Baxter specially, are thanks due for the very efficient and orderly manner in which the refreshment-stalls were managed and conducted during the Carnival.

Summer after summer passes away and still tho citizens of Duiiedin are denied, what certainly should be a cheap luxury, the use of proper swimming-baths. It is to be sincerely hoped that something practical is at last to be done. At the meeting of the City Council last evening an instruction was given to the Finance Committee to consider whether £1000 can be spent in the removal of the old Pelichet Bay baths to tho new site granted by the' Harbour Board. Failing the possibility of expending this large sum for tho purpose stated, tho Council might with advantage adopt a suggestion put before them by Dr Stonhouse. Tins is to convert an almost naturally-formed basin amongst the rocks at Lawyer's Head into a safe bathingplace. The expense would • not be great, and until baths nearer the city can be obtained, this spot would be very suitable.

Particulars are now fully advertised by tho Railway Department of their excursion-train arrangements for the New Year holidays. The cheap tickets are available for return up to tin?. Sth January. Special night trains are to luave for Christchurch and the Lakes on the 23rd December, and in every possible way the department seems to be setting itself to meet the public convenience and encourage traffic.

The meeting of the City Council last evening being the last ordinary one at which the present Mayor could preside, GV Eliott, at its conclusion, took the opportunity of referring to tha manner in which Mr Gore had performed his duties during his term of office. He remarked that tho meetings of the Council during the year had been particularly well conducted, and attributed the satisfactory way in which things generally had gone on to the wholesome influence exercised by th* Mayor. Other councillors made highly eulogistic remarks, and all joined in a hearty leave-taking. His Worship expressed tho pleasure he felt at being the subject of so much congratulation, and mentioned that although ho was loth to leave such pleasant associations, he would experience considerable relief in throwing olf the responsibilities of the office which ho had endeavoured to faithfully fill. Cr Spedding expressed a hope that Mr Goro would take the earliest opportunity of again taking a seat at tho Council as a ward representative.

On Saturday last, as the boatswain of tho Naval Brigade was cleaning tho launch at Pelichet Buy, a shark about six or seven feet long suddenly made its appearance, and then 'made off. It is well that tho youngsters who constantly bathe near the spot should be warned by this occurrence not to be too venturesome.

Our Waitahuna correspondent, writing yesterday, says:—" Steady light rain from south or south-east quarter, without wind, lias been falling since about 2 a.m. to-day; temperature 5S Fahrenheit. The past weelc has been extremely dry and hot. Day after day the temperature reached a maximum of from 75 to S5, and on Sunday was 91 for some hours, and yesterday it was SO odd, lowering to 08 at 10 p.m. The drooping vegetation is refreshed, and this' chaugo is already remarkable, flowers blooming and fruits swelling. If the moist weather continues the ground will receive a much-needed moistening, to the benefit of pas. ture and all crops. It will be pleasing to hear that the change is general throughout the comitry."

Daniel Batmatyne, who was charged before Mr J. N. Wood, R.M., at Milton yesterday, with having maliciously assaulted and beaten James Borthwick at Waihola on the 23th November last, has been committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, Dunedin. Bail was allowed.

At the regular . meeting of the Hand-and-Heart Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., hold at the Coffee Palace last night, there was a large attendance. Two new members were initiated. It was proposed to hold the summoned meeting on the 22nd iusfc., the usual lodge night falling on Boxing Night. "

Mr Forbes leaves D. uuedin this morning, lecturing in Waimate to-night, and in Tiinaru on Thursday and Friday. He takes steamer from Lyttelton on Saturday night, reaching Wellington on Monday, and lecturing there for the first time that evening. Christchurch' has had to bo passed by in ths meantime, no hr.ll being vacapt.

Tho Dunedin. district schools break up on Thursday and Friday. Prizes will be presented .b.y the members of Committee and the President of the Ayrshire Association at tho George street and Union, street Schools on Thursday morning about 10 O'clock, and at Albany street on Thursday afternoon about 1 o'clock ; at Arthur street on Friday morning about 10 o'clock, and at William street in the afternoon about 1.

Tho City Council, at its meeting last evening, decided to invite tenders for the supply of 14----inch pipes for the construction of an additional watennain from the Cavershain tunnel to Rattray street, as recommended by the Water

Supply-Commifctee^,. A considerable discussion .took place overtho matter, and. the Mayor, as well as some members of the Council, deprecated greatly tho calling, of tenders in preference to importing through a local firm, on] account of tho risk attending the fdnnereoimse. Several councillors took tho opportunity, when ' the City Surveyor's report cams before them of criticising' rather severely that officer's action in cutting off, on his own responsibility, the water from the northern portion, of the town during the evening, in order to afford a supply to the resident! of the high levels. In his report he explained that owing to the low doptli of water at the Ross Creek Reservoir it was absolutely necessary that this should be done; but to Or Barnes' practical mind it was inconceivable why, with a depth of over 30ft, in the reservoir, it should be necessary to totally deprive himself and his neighbours of their evening supply. The Mayor said that about a week ago the depth of water in the northern reservoir was only 2ft, and could not understand how it had increased to such an extent since; but Cr Barnes produced a note from the caretaker, showing the depth on Monday evening to be 37ft 3in. A suggestion emanating from Messrs Royse> Stead, and Co., to turn tho Water-of-Leith during Sunday, when their mill was not working, into the reservoir, has been referred to the Water Committee for consideration.

Mr E. 11. Carew, R.M., presided at tho City Police Court yesterday, when three cases of. drunkenness were dealt with. An adjourned summons against Thomas Montague, for failing to comply with an order made compelling him to contribute towards the support of his wifo and children, was further adjourned until Tuesday next, as the defendant did not appear.

The following fire brigades have signified their intention of sending delegates to tho annual meeting of [the'Umtcd Fire Brigades' Association, to be held in Napier, January li-th, ISB3:—Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Tiraarii, Christchurch, Greymouth, Nelson, Wellington, and Wanganui. There will most likely be one from the Thames. Twelve brigades have yet to send in replira to the circulars forwarded them.

Tho Waikaia-Riversdale Presbyterian congregation have given a unanimous call to the Rev. Panton Brown.

It will be remembered that Mr W. George, the English champion amateur runner, sailed for America in October, with tho view of running against Mr Myers, the American champion amateur. The pair were to meet at half a mile, three-quarters of a mile, and a mile. By the San Francisco mail we learn that the mile race was run on November 11th, at New York, and that Mr George won easily, coming in 1G yards before Mr Myers. The winner's time was 4 mm 25 sec, or about six seconds longer than Mr George has previously done it in. As to the two other distances we are loft in the dark; possibly they were "to be run on different days.

In connection with the concert to be held this evening in the Garrison Hall in aid of the schools' prize fund, the programme contains a novolty. A hunting-song and chorus,'' John Peel," will bs given, and to give full effect to the item, horses and hounds in full cry will bo brought on to the stage.. Besides tho huntsman, some youthful members of the Hunt Ctub will gallop their ponies over hurdles erected on the stage.

Mr Maccaba repeated his entertainment, " Begone, Dull Care !" at the Lyceum Hall yesterday evening to another full Inuss. His success was in every respect as complete as on the opening night, and the laughter throughout tiio performance waa hearty and frequent. As before, tho sketches in the first portion of the programme, especially that of the London .street musician, were especially appreciated. The audience display nightly a unanimous desire to encore Mr Maccabi for his irresistibly humorous rendering of "■ Tiio bloom is on tho rye* in this character, but it is not surprising that the performer declines to add to his arduous task by granting encoros. The ventriloqnial portion of the entertainment was aho given with tho same marvellous skill raid humour. It will bu singular if many people allow Mr Alaccai>« to leave Duuedin without-making his acquaintance, as his claims upon public patronage are certainly far greater than tho.io of any artist in a similar line who has ever visited these Colonies.

Messr9 Wright, Steplionaon, ami Co. will sell store cittle on Tuesday, Wth iirat. .Mr D. iM. S'pciUliiiL' will so1.! boots, &o. on Friday. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. wilHell Mr John AurterBon's propei-tiw in Sloped jwii ami Alukoruia districts on Suturiayi 1-lih lust. Mr Monta'ru i'j'm \vi!l tell china, porcelain, and crystal goods on Friday. . MtW. 11. Churtoawiil sell fnn:y goods on Thursday. Mes;rj DonaU Reid aid Co. will sell Mr D. Henderson's UiDauowiie proitoty, Uiufchi, on S-iturdiy, liith An extraordinary nwftin? o[ the Queen Victoria Gold-mining Company will 'be held on Friday, 6th January. Massru M'Lindres', Hepburn, and Co. will sell cflije furniture, &c. to-day. Mr J). Stronaoh will sull store *attlu at Mosgicl on Thursday, 21st inst. Nomirnlijms for a councillor fir lli<rh Ward. NorthEast Valley, will ha revived on Tuesday, lath inst. The haft-yearly mcc in;* cf the OiribalJi Galdminirtff Cnm;;any Takes vlmc to-i)ay. Ada Mantua's " Cnampion'' rapidly fiiling ; will c'.oau about aoili.—fADvr ]