THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 21, 18S6.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7569, 21 May 1886, Page 2

THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 21, 18S6.

At a recent meeting of the City Council, when the financial position of the municipality was under discussion, it was evident from the tenor of the remarks of several of the members that they were disappointed at the amount of the profits realised by the past year's working of the Gas department. The amount of the profit or loss made is not very apparent from a perusal of the balance sheet, but several members of the Gas Committee assert that the year's working has not resulted in a loss. We can only conclude it may possibly have resulted in a " profit." In future it would be better were this profit or loss made more apparent to the ratepayers by a clearer statement of accounts, as to the uninitiated—and men of ordinaiy business capacity— they are nob intelligible.

Our object is to see that any profits which may accrue from the working of the Gas department are not misappropriated, or applied to the use of other departmental expenditure. Wh en a concern like a municipal gas works pays out of revenue for all current expenses, together with interest to bondholders, sinking fund and depreciation, and leaves a surplus, the manufacture is paying; and provided the works be maintained in good order out of revenue, these three items would, together with the surplus, constitute the year's profits, were the works to be owned by a private gas company. We are aware a section of the Council are beginning to look upon the Gas department as a concern which ought to earn.." profits," and that these profits ought to be applied to the reduction of city rates or other municipal expenditure. But this view is obviously neither equitable for the present gas consumers nor expedient in the public interest. The main object of the Corporation owning the Gasworks is to extend a great public ■convenience to a larger number of the citizens and to _ supply it of better quality for the price than a private company, which has to pay dividends to its shareholders. We are not prepared to say that a small proportion of the profits may not legitimately be devoted to general municipal purposes in return for the community undertaking the responsibility of an enterprise which only benefits a section; but it should only be a very small proportion. The great object of the Corporation should be to extend the benefits of gas, as soon as profits are made, by lowering the price —not to make a meter the vehicle of extorting cash out of the pockets of the consumer for the benefit of his next-door neighbour who'does not burn gas at all.

The present rateable value of Dunedin property is, we understand, about £280,000, and Is 3d in the pound raises £17,500. An additional charge of one shilling per thousand feet sold to consumers would, if the same amount were consumed, raise the amount three thousand pounds, which, if paid over to the Municipal department to liquidate rates, would reduce rates by about two and a-third pence— which if thus applied would nearly reduce rates to one shilling. Now, for argument's sake, suppose the fifteen or sixteen hundred Dunedin gas consumers paid such a price for their gas as yielded a surplus profit of three thousand pounds, or were charged one shilling per thousand more than it might be sold at were the chai-ge not made. Then a consumer consuming, say, one hundred thousand feet of gas per annum would yearly be mulcted to the tune of say five pounds—possibly to benefit an absentee proprietor or a wealthier neighbour than himself, .who might also not then be a ratepayer. If the Gasworks are paying—and as far as we can unravel the figures it seems that they are—the duty of the city councillors is to see whether the price cannot be reduced, and that surplus funds be strictly appropriated to improvements and extensions of the gas plant. The works ought to be put in thorough repair and be maintained in good working order; but councillors must understand that this done, their first duty is to extend the benefits of gas by reducing its price.

Local reports, including that of yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, and letters to the editor appear on our fourth page.

We regret to learn from Dr de Zouche that Mrs Irwiu had a very bad day yesterday and that at a late hour last night her state was such as to give him grave anxiety.

The inquest in connection with the late fatal accident in Dowling street cutting was resumed by Mr Carew yesterday, and after a great deal of evidence had been taken, a further adjournment was made until the 27th hist. It is pretty well known that the question will be raised as to the responsibility of the Government or the City Corporation in the matter, and that it will not improbably be urged on behalf of the latter that they acted merely as the agents of the Government. The Minister of Public Works, however) replying to a question from Mr Fergus in the House yesterday, said that the relief works were carried on solely under the direction of the Corporation, and that the Government had nothing at all to do with them.

The funeral of the late Mrs Finch took place yesterday afternoon and the hearse was follewed to the Southern Cemetery by a long cortege of people. Starting from Mr Irwin's residence in Cargill street, a halt was first made at St. Paul's Church, where the first portion of the burial seivice was road by the Venerable Archdeacon Edwards. The church was crowdedi and Mrs Finch having been amember of the choir a short choral service was held. The 39th Psalm and the hymn "Thy will be done" were sung, and " The dead march in Saul" was played by the organist as the procession left the church. The altar cloth was in violet and bore the words "In death we are in life," and the frontal of the pulpit desk was of the same colour with a cross in the centre.

There was a very short sitting of the City Police Court yesterday morning, only four cases of drunkenness being dealt with. Mr It. Chisholra, J.p.j occupied the bench.

At a meeting held at Fortrose on Monday, resolutions in favour of the construction of the Seaward Bush line and its extension across the Mataura River were unanimously agreed to.

The newly-elected committee of the Dunedin Horticultural Society met yesterday, when accounts in connection with the recent show were passed for payment. A sub-committee was appointed to draft the schedule and prize-list for 18S6-S7, and it was resolved to hold regular monthly meetings of the committee in future with a view to discussing horticultural matters generally, as well as transacting business in connection with the Society.

A special meeting of the Duuedin Presbytery was hekl yesterday to consider a communication from the Premier regarding the New Hebrides question. After discussing the matter it was resolved to reply opposing the annexation by France, and urging on the Premier the co-opera-tion of his Government with that of Victoria, which had so consistently and forcibly maintained and advocated the claims of the Colonies and the inhabitants of the islands.

A short sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court was held yesterday morning. Messrs Hodgkins and Fish J.P's. presided, and gave judgment in the two following cases for plaintiffs by default:—A. Wallace v. W. Bull, claim 6s 6d; R. A. Lewis v. A, Beissel, claim £1 19s. The claims in each case were for goods supplied.

Our Arrow correspondent telegraphs that a great deal of rain has fallen since Wednesday night, but with blissfully long intervals between the showers, so that although the rivers rose no floods resulted. The weather, he reports, still looks very, unsettled, and more rain is bound to fall before it clears up.

The Presbytery of Duriedin met at Mosgiel on Wednesday for the purpose of inducting the Rev. J. M. M'Kerrow to the pastoral charge of

that congregation. There was a large attendance of the members of the congregation. The

Rev. J. 51. Sutherland preached, and acted as Moderator of the Presbytery. The usual ques-

;ions having been asked and satisfactorily an-

swered, Mr M'Kerrow was declared pastor of the congregation, and received the right hand of fellowship from the members of Presbytery. The Rev. J. Kirkland afterwards addressed the minister, and the Rev. J. Gibb the congregation.

The secretary of the Education Board reported to the Board yesterday tbafc he had received an anonymous donation of £o to be devoted to the scholarship fund. The communication >accom" panying the donation, he said, was in the same handwriting as other letters of a similar nature which he had received. Some reference wa g made to the matter subsequently by Dr Brown, when the subject of members' allowances was under discussion. This -gentleman said he thought the members of the Board could be trusted to refund any surplus the3 r received above their actual expenses, and probably the anonymous donations the secretary had received were given by members who had received too much from the Board for travelling allowance. None of the gentlemen present, however, pleaded guilty to the " soft impeachment." A motion proposed by Mr* A. 0. Begg, that the sc:de of travelling expenses to members while attending a meeting be 10s per day with actual railway fare both ways, did not commend itself to mem. bers, and the allowance was fixed at 20s per day A largely attended tea meeting was held in the schoolroom of St. Martin's Church, NorthEast Valley, on Wednesday evening, in aid of payment- of interest upon the sum of £250 still due. The curate was obliged to make use of the church to accommodate those waiting for a seat in the schoolroom, and occupied the attention of the visitors with an account of burial customs in India, and also a brief account of the siege of Jerusalem. When the tables were cleared, Mr King gate a brief address and presented Miss Hayes, the organist, with a ring subscribed for by the congregation in token

of their appreciation of her services for some

years in the little Valley church. Songs, readings, and an account of West Australia by the Rev. B. M. King concluded the evening.

The North Otago Times states that on the express train from Christchuroh on Wednesday morning, three men supposed to be from Sydney, succeeded in clearing about L2O by means of the three-card trick from some of the passengers. At a well-attended meeting held at Cromwell to consider the rabbit question a resolution was submitted that the Government should establish depots in various centres for the purchase of rabbitslrins. Mr Fraser, county chairman, submitted an amendment recommending Parliament to grant a bonus of Id per skin on all exported from the Colony, that the provisions of the Act be administered most stringently, and that more efficient measures should be adopted to destroy the rabbits on unoccupied Crown lands and reserves. The amendment was carried unanimously. It wa s resolved that the working of the Rabbit Act in Vincent County is not satisfactory, and that Government be requested to appoint a Commission to hold inquiry at Cromwell. A Committee of the House was appointed at yesterday's sitting to inquire into the best means of dealing with the pest. The ordinary weekly meeting of Trinity Church Musical and Literary Society was held last evening ;'- Key. Win. Morley in the chair. The subject for the evening was a debate on the question "Should the liquor traffic be prohibited?" and a most animated discussion followed. Several speakers spoke in the negative, the voting however being in favour of the affirmative. An excellent musical programme was also gone through. The first entertainment in connection with St. Matthew's Social Club was given on Wednesday evening in St. Matthew's Church schoolroom before a very good audience. The Rev Mr Powell, president of the club, occupied the chair and delivered a short address. A very enjoyable programme of vocal and instrumental selections, varied by recitations and a short comedy, was then carried out, the various performers acquitting themselves in a very i satisfactory manner. The lady vocalists wore ' Misses Dallas and Flanagan, and the gentlemen Messrs F. L. Jones and J. Brannigau; Mrs Turton acting as accompanist. The recitations were contributed by Messrs A. Barrett, and J. T. Stewart; Miss Paterson and Mrs Thurgarland rendered piano solos; and Messrs Hopcraft, O'Dell, Park, and Procter took part in the comedy with which the entertainment concluded. There was another large house at the Princess Theatre yesterday evening, when the RickardsRaynor company repeated their popular entertainment. The Raynor Brothers are certainly the cleverest artists in their peculiar style that we have seen here. Their "cat duet," their eccentric instrumental performances, and their numberless other comicalities are all admirably studied, and they are executed in a genuinely humorous manner. Mr Rickards, who works exceedingly hard, is unapproachable as a lion co'mique. A numerous audience was attracted to the Lyceum Hall last evening by Professor Woodroffe's GHassblowing Exhibition. As is invariably the ease, those present evinced keen interest in the processes by which the Professor and his skilful lady assistants wrought glass into articles of beautiful and fantastic shapes, and the explanatory notes by the principal were evidently appreciated. The usual gift distribution took place at the close of the entertainment.

" ahe Economic Defence of our Commerce and Hie Development, of our Industrial Kesourees " is the subject of a lecture to be delivered by Admiral Scott on the 28th insfc., under the au-pieW of the i\ew Zealand Mamitucturers'Association. The lecture is postponed from this evening. A sitting or the Keyision Court for Wnikouaiti C w I '«" b? beld on Jlmo 16 at Hawbsbury. W. 1. Bunting has filed a petition to be adjudicated a bankrupt. Creditors meet, ou Tuesday. fn™!turet mSa t^d ra y oUalld °°' Wl" M" Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will sell lease and plant of City Butchery on 27th inst., and on the following day will sell horses, waggons, buggy, &c. Mr Carew is quite correct in his interpretation of the intention of the legislature. Merchants and traders would do well to study the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act. Its intention is to do away with imprisonment for debt. It is at present impossible to do business without giving credit: vide our cash tradesmen so often creditors in bankrupt estates. Who is to blame ? I say unhesitatingly, our upper class, who take long credit. They should pay prompt monthly at least; then working men would only get a month. Tn the meantime buy for cash from A. DoiixwiiM,.— [Advt.] At Tub london, in George street, ladies can choose from immense variety of Dress Material. Heavy Homespuns, 8f d, 10? d; the new Curl Cloth in all shades : splendid selection Black iCashmeres, 7s fld,9s6d,los Od dress; ladies' rich Cloth Dolmans, i s „'■ X^f ,1? : useful ladies' TJlste rs, 7s 9d, 10s 6d; ,»0 Girls Ulsters, 2s to 3s lid; 100 Stockingette Jackets, tor winter wear, nicely braided ; also long J lam Jackets. The best value in Duuedin; perfect tit in every ease, face our milinery window. You will really be, surprised at the value. All goods mnrked in plain figures.—Prick and BuLr.KlD.—[Advt.] We have much pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to an extensive purchase of black silk finished tust pile velveteens. Over 100 boxes of this beautiful material (oiiml in all respects to silk velvet and far more durable) has been purchased by the well-known firm of J?yir K ANn Cuming at sucn a discount as nothing but the utter stagnation in every industry could bring about. The ordinary retail price <>r this beautiful velveteen is 3s, but I'VFK and Cum ing have decided to give the public the full benefit of their fortunate purchase, and they are marked to sell at Is yard.—Address !)2 and 91 George street.-[Advt.l Tremendous bargains fur ready money. Carter and I Co. are clearing out n largo quantity of odd lines in clothing at one-quarter their usual' price. Holdinc a very heavy sock, they have decided to lower it considerably wuhintlMnext month. Notethe prices—so men's t weed trousers, usual price Oalldaud 7s lid now 2s lid pair; boys' and youths'tweed trousers am] vests, usual price 8s 1 Id, now 3s Cd ; men's coloured mole tousers,2a lid, worth tis«d ; boys' tweed knicker suits 2s lid, worth 5s lid; job lot gents'dress shirts, white, Oxford, and regatta, clearing at Is ll£d each. Thousands of other bargains. Carter and Co., the Great Heady-money Drapers and Clothiers, 60 and (32 George street, Dnnedin,—Advt,

The Coffee Palace is the most comfortable and economical hotel in New Zealand. Visitors have all the comforts of a home, with all the advantages of a first-class hotel, free from the evils usually attending the traffic in svrong drink. Billiards, 6d per game.

The Grand Hotel, Dunedin.—During the winter and spring months a few- permanent guests will be accommodated at reduced rates. Terms according to location of rooms. The Hotel is delightfully comiortable in winter, beiiif,' entirely free from draughts, whilst, the luxury of i,he hc.t spray and hot shower baths is not to be found in any other hotel in the Colony. Special arrangements will be made with any country family desirous to spend the winter in Dunedin.—[Advt.]

Ihe: s.s. Coptic has just arrived with Carter and Co. sfaecond Winter Shipment. Magnificent lot of Flannels, direct from Uiepremier Kochdale mill, from 6^d yard. Heavy stack of Yorkshire Blankets from bs lid Ss lid, 10s lid up to :«s pair. Try Carter and Co. tor Blankets—cheapest in the Colony. Stocks of Shirtings, Plaidings, and ;ill Winter Goods at the lowest possible prices. Novelties in Millinery, Mantles, Ulsters, Dress Materials opening up to-day. New Gloves, new Umbrellas, new Hosiery, Lace, &c. Please note address : Carter and Co. , the Cheapest Drapers and Clothiers in the Colony.—[Advt.] Ihere would be demand for the labour of every man under a well-ordered social system. Our present position is the result of the neglected responsibilities of the capitalists and governing class. Avoid indigestion and all its attendant evils by using Hudson's Cocoa.

To meet the times, G. E. Dkrmer lias reduced the price of his popular Rheumatic Remedies to ss.— [Adtt.]