THE SYDENHAM COMMITTEE. (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9139, 11 June 1891, Page 2

THE SYDENHAM COMMITTEE. (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Chbistcbtjbch, June 10. The Sydenhatn Licensing Committee met to-day and sat for four hoars hearing the eight applications for licenses in the district. Petitions and counter petitions were presented in reference to all applications, and Messrs Harp6r, Fisher, Stringer, Hoban, and Hunt appeared to support them. A large quantity of evidence for and against was heard, and the committee reserved its decision till 10 to-morrow morning. The Eev. L. M. Isitt, the chairman, stated they would proceed on the lines laid down in Mr Justice Denniston's judgment, and not refuse licenses only on prohibitionist grounds. Napieb, June 10. The Licensing Committee, met to-day. The Chairman announced that,the committee had personally inspected' every hotel ia towr Several were particularised as suitable in every respect, but in the case of others the licensees were warned to make improvements generally in 'connection with conveniences and drainage, or in providing more fire escapes. The license of one house, Napier Hotel, was withheld, but would be issued on, the hotel beiDg entirely rebuilt. AH other licenses were altered from 12 to 11' o'clock. The-Ciiairmah stated th&Uhe committee were'quite aware" there was no yirovision for 11 o'clook licenses?and that holders of such could go on selling np to 12 without punishment for trading after hours, but a strict watch would bo kept and any publican selling after 11 would get only a 10 o'clock license whan applying for renewal?.) Hoeitika, June 10. The licensing committee met to-day to deal with applications for.-license*. The Chairman informed the meeting that he had applied to the borough council, as the local body receiving the revenue arising from licenses, for copies of the act. These were not forthcoming, and as he, was ignorant of the intricacies of the law relating to licensing, he did not think he was justified in dealing with application?. Other members concurred, and the meeting adjourned for a week to enable copies to be obtained. It is understood the police report is favourable, and that all licenses will be renewed. At Boss all the applications were granted. IHB ENCROACHMENT AT ST. CLAIR. TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —In view of the late breach in the sand hills by the sea, I wish to give you my idea of what may possibly be the true cause—viz, a gradual sinking of the coast It is well known to geologists that the surface of the esrlh ia subject to changes of elevation, the land sometimes sinking, sometimes rising, and the changes sometimes sudden and sometimes very gradual, and extending over long periods. I have absolute proof that the sea has encroached considerably of late years between the mouth of the Molyneux and the Nuggets. This is easily seen by comparing the maps of 1847 with recent surveys in the same locality. Indeed, anyone can see for himself by taking a ride along the beach, as several telegraph posts that were erected along a line of sand hills, are now washed by the sea at every tide. The last time I was in that locality I drove a buggy along the beach, between high slow water mark, but on the landward side of the telegraph poets. I have made various inquiries during the last 12 months, with a view to seeiug if the encroachment was general, and Mr Strauchon, late district surveyor at Mataura (now chief surveyor of Westland), informed me that at various placed along the S.B. coast, from Tautuku to Port Molyneux, he noticed that the sandhills were being gradually washed away. I was also informed, a few months ago, that the sea had encroached to an alarming extent at the mouth of the Waimakariri, north of Christchnrch, though whether the encroachment was only temporary or permanent, I am not in a position to say. I have also heard, this morning, from Mr F. A. Joseph, of Taieri Mouth, that a line of sandhills that had been in existence there since the district was first settled has gradually disappeared within the last few years. I do not wish to be an alarmist, or to put my views forward in a dogmatic manner, my sole wish is to stimulate inquiry and provoke diecuision, with the object of discovering the true state of the case. Now the greater part of the encroachment along the Wiltshire Bay, north of the Nuggets. has occurred since 1886, and I tbiuk this has been the caeo at St. Clair, also; and in this connection, I may remark, that the eruption of Mount Tarawera, and the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces, took place on the 10th of June 18S6. It may be merely a coincidence; on the other hand the volcanic eruption at Tarawera may have relieved a stress that has allowed this island to settle down a little. It will probably be objected, that it is well known that the east coast of New Zealand has risen considerably in recent times. This is quite true, and the evidences are very palpable along the coast (I believe the auctioneer who sold the first lots on " tho Flat" used tbi.4 argument to encourage prospective buyers); but, all tho same, we maj have paEEed the turning point, and are now on the down grade. I believe the Harbour Board has evidence in its possession which should go a long way towards proving or disproving the assumption I have put forward. If all the available records of the self-recording tide gauges, both et Duuedin and Port Chalmers, were tabulated, and the mean sea level deduced therefrom for each month from the time they were established to the present, wo should have some very reliable data on which to corns to a conclusion one way or tbe other.—l am, &o, Dunedin, June 9. C. W. Adams. P.S.—Of course, in a question of this kind there are a great many possibilities. It may be that a small subsidence of tho land took place in 18S6, but that it is again stationary; and the next movement may be an upward one. Let us hopß 6O| for the sake'of; the .St. Clair people. Come along, old fellah, just had a big divvy; join me In a bottle of" Lebeau " Dry Champagne. —There are more than 8000 buildings in Philadelphia wherein elect.'io currenta are used for li«ht and power purposes. Of this number 287 buildings have their own apparatus. —Edward 111 introduced gold six shilling pieoas, and nobles of 8s 3d, Hence the lawyer's tee, The Champagne world ravoiUtionUsa bsr I<9beßi!"Oh,MTigßßP.ei. T ■ .