THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1904. THE CITY RESERVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12934, 29 March 1904, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1904. THE CITY RESERVES.

The environs of Duiieclin, by reason of their great natural beauty, can scarcely fail to be a perpetual source of pleasure to the citizens of so wellfavoured a city, in addition to exciting the admiration of visitors from other parts of the world. Beyond doubt, Diiucdin lias been endowed in the matter of reserves with prodigal liberality, and there is just the danger that (ho possession of so Kiucli seonie woallli may lead in some instances to an inadequate appreciation of its value. Those who lmike a practice of roaming through our gardens and reserves, and who truly possess eyes to see ran, however, hardly fail to experience a feeliua of

pride and satisfaction in the knowledge that they enjoy a part-pro-prietorship in a. heritage of so much permanent and intrinsic worth. At the present timo the Botanical Garden?! form what is undoubtedly ono of the attractions of the city, and since Mr Tannock, the present curator, took charge there has been such a change for the better as must bo regarded as little short of a transformation. The City Council has allowed for the past few years about £1200 annually for the maintenance of the Gardens and £1000 for the Town Belt and recreation reserves. On practically the same allocation as was made prior to his appointment Mr Tannock has brought the Gardens out of the chaotic condition they had been allowed to get into, and has also shown what very excellent results can bo obtained on an allow-a-neo hitherto regarded as scarcely sufficient for the proper maintenance and improvement of the Gardens. Jn the arrangement of his flower beds Mr Tannock lias introduced several new ideas, which local horticulturists have no doubt noted for their own use and guidance. It is necessary, o f com . sej in the management of public gardens that as ono variety of (lower goes off ib must be succeeded by something else, and in securing this continuance of flowering Mr Tannock has succeeded admirably, and for months past the Gardens have been a delight to everyone who visits them. A week or two back they contained some of the finest dahlias in Dunqdin, and lovers of flowers would be hardly human if they could see. them and still observo tho Tenth Commandment. Outside the Gardens great changes have also been made, the most noticeable example being furnished by the Octagon Reserve, now one of the brightest spots in the city. A good deal of work lias also been done on the Town Bolt, and we understand that Mr Tannock is there proceeding on a definite and a prearranged plan. But for many years to corao not a great deal caii be expected. The Bolt comprises 500 acres, and although there have from time to time bet-n spasmodic efforts at plantation the task of beautifying it is necessarily a slow' one. Complaints arc frequently made that it is overrun with gorse and hipom, but as a matter of fact to eradicate these weeds would be n. costly work extending over many years. Tho better plan has been adopted of planting trees that will eventually smother tho brconij and clearly this, also, is a. slow process. It will be remembered that a good deal of planting war, done some years ago when tcmporaiy relief works were started by the citizens fer the unemployed, while the observance of Arbor Day also resulted in extensive planting of certain portions of the Bolt. The "unemployed" difficulty has to a large extent disappeared, and so has tho observance of Arbor Day; but tho trees have grown steadily, and unless a, judicious thinning-out policy is adopted small forests will soon cover what were formerly broomclad slopes. This applies more particularly to the vicinity of Roslyn. On the other hand, portions oJ tho Belt still under native bush havo been robbed of much of their original beauty through the depredations of school children, and, unfortunately, of a good many older people, who do not seem to have a proper appreciation of this description of vegetation. No doubt damage of this kind is to a -large extent inevitable as long as there is no power to enclose the portions of the Belt most worthy of conservation; but a good deal might be done to protect the bush by making an example of some of those .who wantonly destroy it. It may, further, be suggested that the curator should bo asked to furnish at stated periods a, report on the department under his charge. Hitherto no particular record seems to have been kept of the management of the Gardens and reserves, and the great bulk of the citizens can have little actual knowledge of the exact naturo of the work done during; the year or cf how the money the reserves are costing is being spent. Had such a policy been adopted in the past some radical alterations would probably have been made much earlier, and there would have been a great deal more to show for the money that has been spent for years past. A report such as we "think desirable would be always interesting, and would furnish a useful guide to those public-spirited citizens who remember the Gardens whenever they come across any rare or interesting plants—in. which connection we are. glad to learn that of late there has boon a great increase in the number of donations of all kinds.

LABOUR FOR THE TRAXSVAAL. Sin Seddon is full of ideas. Vufortnnaloly they aro not always practicable or wise. And that to which ho committed himself last week in relation to the Rand labour question seems to have been one of his most thoughtless suggestions. Disappointed, a-; most people in these colonies are, with tiio favour which tho Imperial Government and the. Imperial Parliament nave shown to the proposal for tlio introduction of Chinese labour upon, as a cablegram we published yesterday suggests, a long day and petty wugo system and ;\ system of steady work, without uny day of rest, throughout tlio whole year, Mr Seddou now wants an Imperial Commission appointed to reopen tlio whole question. A week ago it was a petition to the King en tlio subject that he recommended; next week it may be something else; but it will uot. prebably bo anything more impracticable tliiui iiis present suggestion, " Why," he asks, " should not a Commission bo appointed, containing representatives from the United Kingdom, the South African colonics, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to investigate the position of affairs in tho Transvaal, and niako a report upon which should depend the policy to be adopted in the matter of labour for the Rand mines?" The reason why there does not seem to b<! any ground for supposing that any such suggestion as this would be acted upon is , that tho Home Government, by appointing a Commission at this *tago of the controversy, would Ijo proclaiming itself to lie most nareless concerning its responsibilities, iiiul to be even weaker than its opponents generally believe it to be. Certainly) a Government which

has virtually staked its existence upon tiie adoption of a particular policy in tie Trausfiial—for if Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman's motion of censure upon, the Gorerpinenfc for not advising the Crown to disallow the Labour Ordinance had been carried a few days ago, tha Government would havo had to resign, or else to apply for a dissolution—cannot be expected to acquiesce in any proposal thjt would submit that policy to ii Commission for consideration. Ifc would riglitlj forfeit the respsct of many of those who have supported it upon the Chinese labour question if it were to give such an exhibition of feebleness and irresolution α-i this would involve. There can br> no appeal, except to the electors, from the decision of the Imperial Government in a matter of this.order, affecting the future of a Crown colony. In such a case the Government in Downing street has no right to shirk its responsibility. " Thg policy of a Crown colony \ is determined by the Executive Government at tlmhewlqii.vrtcrs of the Empire." In these word* Sir William VornonHarconrfc has succinctly stated the constitutional position. And no Government worthy of tlio name would permit its policy in relation to a Crown colony to be overhauled by any Commission. When the Secretary of State for the Colonies stated that thp Transvaal was to ha treated as though it was ;■. selfgoverning colony, he impaled the Imperial Government on the horns of a dilemma from which it lias not yet satisfactorily freed itself. A self-govern-ing colony if a colony which, through tlio exisleiicd of ronrcsentalivo institutions, is afi'orjled the opportunity of making its vojpo fteard on questions that are of interest to it. Representative government living not been granted to tlio Transvaal, the only remaining method of ascertaining the views of persons who woujd lie entitled to the franchise was the referendum. But this method the Government at Home has rejected. It has chosen, instead, to rely on the opinion expressed by a non-renresoiit{itivQ Chamber, consisting partly of official and partly of nominated members, the constitution of wliich may be, for all that we know to the contrary, quite unsatisfactory to the majority of the residents.. At all events, while the Imperial Government pretends to he treating the Transvaal as a self.goveniiug colony, ifc refuses to the white inhabitants tlio right to declare for themselves what they would wish. And, having now taken up a somewhat determined stand in favour of the importation of Chinese labour, it is not likely to compromise itself further by appointing any Commission to review its own policy. We could welcome such a change of attitude, but we could have no respect for the Government that showed itself to he so fickle and feeble.

Oiir Auckland correspondent wires:—Mr W. F. Massey, leader of tha Opposition, informs mo that bo proposes leaving Auckland c:i Friday en a tour through the colony, going as far smith as Inrercargill. Ho purpusiid Iwirg absent four or five weeks, and will deliver a number of addresses. Tli9 mooting at Cavcrslimn last evening, when Mr AY. S. Bedford dolivored an address on t!;e question of municipal amalgamation, was, on tho whole, orderly, and tlio speaker received a remarkah|y good hearing. Ono man present, however—who, by tho way, is a member of tho Civorsham Borough Council and also a justice of the peace—succeeded in making himself i nuisance. He frequently questioned ?tn*. mentis mado by Mr Badi'ord, whom ho interrupted several times, while he ako defied tho chairman when requested to bo silent. At tho conclusion of Mr Bedford's addrra tho same individual interrupted another gentleman who was speaking, and endeavoured to insist upon addressing those present himself. After he had made- a fov. fruitless attempts from the body of the hall ho ascended the platform, but thosepresent quietly left tho hall, and ho \vn.: left with empty bencko3. The University Council yesterday gave preliminary consideration to the question of extending; tlio University hitikliiifps *o as to provide the accommodation required for the cstidilUhm&ut of a chair ot physiology. Tho approximate cost uf extension was stated ss £4000, more or less, and the question tho council wa; unab'o to decide yesterday was whether the extension should be made to tho front or main building, or to tho back building or Medical School. *' was resolved that tho council's Building Committee should confer with an architect and report to the next meeting. Doubly heavy fines have apparently not had the effect of diminishing the offence of drunkenness on tho Dunedin railway station on a Saturday night. Yesterday morning's contingent of those charged with drinking too well and nos wisely, included two from ihc railway station, wliita .1 third offender was convicted of using , offensive Miaviour to the stationmaster so as to require ejection from his office, too much liquor being said to bo ateo responsible here, and a fourth man was charged with interfering with a constable while his drunken comrade was being anvetcd on the station platform. A sitting of tlio Assessment Court fwthe City of Dunodin was held yesterday hefore Mr C'arotr, S.M. Two objections had been lodged, but the objector not appearing to support them they wero struct out. Mr J. R. Sinclair represented Ihe city valuer (Mr J. E. Morris). At yesterday , * meeting of-tho University Council the liev. A. Cameron advoeatod strongly fiiat a couple of sections on tho council's reserve across TTnion street should/ bo set aside for a students' tennis court, kst at any future time the necessity for building should deprive tho students ci their prwent. c'Otitt. He gave notice of motion to this effect, and that the council's Euikliiilf Ccmiuitteu .should select the sections. Mr Cameron stated that the sections wero not leased at present, ami it would only mean a loss ol about £25 a year to the council. A poll was taken on Saturday at Berwick to voto for or against a proposed ioan by tho lierwirk Drainage Board of £300 for river protective, works, when 23 votes wer* recorded in favour of thi> loan and two votes against. Tho number of votes represented on tiio roll h 29. but the four not recorded were exercisable by absentees. 'file Scottish societies of Dunodin and their friends liavo just sent Homo, through tho local manager of the Bank of New Zealand, tlio earn of £40 to aid in the erection of a memorial in Scotland to tne memory of tlio la to (iiiionl Sir Hector Macdonald. The money has in tho meantime been forwarded to tlie Lord Provoni of Edinburgh, with instructions that he shall hand the money to any responsible persons wl:o arc engaged iu the erecting of the memorial in either Edinburgh or Dingwall, ns may bo determined. JFr T. Parata, M.H.H., has had an interview with Mr 0. H. Smith (reprrsi'nting the Veterans' Homo Fund Committee), and has arranged that tho Msicriii of Olago shall iillicially farewell hi,i Km'llcncy the Governor at tlio doinonitratiou on tho litli'ApnlIt is quite certain that aa this is the last limo the Maoris will sew Lord Ranfurly their part in this function wiir be of a character rctiectiug credit on themselves, and will prove most interesting to tho onlookers,

: '' .■The.'.anmiai taeetinj.'-flf ■ tlio Presbyterian ■' ' Synod "of; Otai;o and:'Southland>.\vi!f bei/hold. iu ■ -jthe- .session, pom-* '■ jneneing on Monday.iiight' .:• ■. . ■ ;;■ I ■ .."sA^correspondent,'.reaidiiig iu-' : iho. .eleoto- j Tatc;i directs■ our■ attcritipn to ■the. (jirounx etanco that;-; ;wo eppW yesterdayof i slr. , .TJ r .,llackcnzie.as the.-luera-j ber for ... The diettict-.rejirGFOiitGtl' by tlieihoni'gontlomah.is •nby ; 'd(Jscr.ibe<l , a.s■ Waikouaiti.'W"'. '"'..,_ ■ :| ■ At.Port Chalmers Polios.Gojir.'Xyes'feriayj 3lessrs;-J..Thomson;■arid. C. Hodge, JiP.'s.,. . presided,' , .;%hei > .,.Jolni a fireman.' , . /ori tJio sJs.-Pu'p'aiiiiii wis-eharEM].Villi- being . ..drunk'oii';the•raihv-ftjr.iplatform.at midnight ■ ,of.!Jlaturdayv ;; i)nd' ; Wiw; : :fincd. ss, ;vvitli tlio.. '■'.'■ ialteriiativo.. of. 2f .-'hours!'., imprisoiiraeiii; On;: ■ V.'secoiidS charge- of 'stealing pno ,: jtair. '■ of. "..'/■■rabbits;: tliepioperty ■loi'-.Mcssrs-Tonkiirand-; ■ ■V,Co;i"'tlia.:bcnrii;:bfdcrpd;:t.he /acfiiiscd 'to .pay; : of;::20s,--"-.br,-, iii!;. defciltl' to ba : : 'iimprisoiied jbr seven.'days. ; i M, ; Thosl)istrict;''liiin& 'and" Survey -Office; i :■:■:■ Invercargili,.*"iiqt!fy:. iliat'. ■ :acrcs ; of'. ■ ; laiulV..:in tlie lEdeadajo; .Sottlenrpnt; classified; ■ -iu; -'be.. ■ ..; : ppon::.-for selection on, lbafeo in vperiwtuitK,: '^on^Friday.iStlv.^firih.;;;: , . V '■.'■■ : ' , !;- , .'■■;''■■ '"'■"-■ '. ■. "o.' . \ ■■■ — '' ■'.■■' ■ij ,'J.■Ari-Pbvioii3! : ;hiispririt loccuned. in ; ..'ilij6.list: '■;■':!'letter' : sent by Dr Ccuglitrey, Us chairman.oi the, ■-.■"Drainage BoariTa "(Vbrks.i.GommiUce. tutlie .'■■'-'Premier, , es-publislied-'"by",«s ye£tphlaj-. 'Bi« ' ;: . '.queatiou put by' ■ili.e\y;r.itpr was:' ''.How.could : ; ...-we have discovere.di'tlie. .dativ furnisUcd :{o. U3.' ■ ■- : ;b}-..otJicrs to ,bo .'(■-editable : uhle3s \ye. hail .token;. !.£sMeasures iojHtfat.. them'?"■'■ Data- jvas-iViiblished , , ::'•'■■'yesterday as"date: : ...,,..■'■. ■ ~■:'.. ~..■ .. ' ;. : ;- : v...llcssis Park; Picy.noldai; , ! .pnl Co.: ; will- Bell. t :; v(Jcyleh' : *teas at"their , iopina pn..l';ridiy,..B'tii: KAprip , ' , -.-: I, '';' , '- '■ ' :■'':"■ ■■■■■ '■' '■'■' ' ; : ;'; ; ;u The; , -Xew./Zealana Express .Company , , ijivifp for ilie.'sitpply of.bfiien. slieat!cfcff. ,; :sh,Qttms Donald : Keid ,and- Co.- ■advprtise ft Jifmiinber af. entries/lor; thetf aii'mial him. .and. fair atß«rnside : yard3vd»,T!iHrsday;: , SJ>t iV,yMflrch> On' Wednesday, 30th,March;.at:Burn : .;'. : :;. ; side, Hhey wilUsell sheep .and cattle: ■, ;. .':■ ■'."-■-.' ilessra' Dalgety niid''Cp. (Uniited) vvvili'sell v^: , .!stock.at Burnsidd ■'ya'rds'cri. Tlijiredaj-j March :?v'Sl; nnd will .sell..stock a.iid fatiii-iuiplernenU .yi^'Bt.Hainpden'outiii'same dale.. . .■■■■■■ :'ilrsJameß;.L; -Pajssmrie' , intimites' liia't.' lie te a candidate, fprWhc Biayoral#:tff:-Miiprr : :>'Hi!l.:for the ensuing teriu. '...' ..■.■.. ... , ;.'..." : ":The".National', ilbrtgago. aiifl, Agency Cpm- ■ -r'' pany-XLimittd) 'lip!d : tlicir'-iicxt -sale- at- Miiidle- ::, L'tnarch on Wednesday;;' Gth-Aprilv .On/thcisamS x>]acd..they:-ivill,spll 320 acres, of lias;..',,:loralUand..':;.].. .''.'.'■■: "'" .~' : - '';'.. ; .:'.■■■.■:;, ..VTh'e .Otago farmers' ;CoHiipdtiitivc Assbci.a.tipii ■: : '..'oi ; Kew Zealand'(Limited) iidveHise a..number 1 ;V'.J ; ; oE'. - sniaH iarm';al!otn!Cßts. at Mqneyhiorc; neat [''vfillilton.- The,association- sell stock'at Biiriir {'•■'Vfiideyards oa.Tlnirsdayi : 3ls't'inst.'.:. ■, . ~.•.. :':>?" Messrs D.':H. Eei aiii will eqll: liouaev ?. : .: : ;. lipid furniliirc-.-.hpii'ej',.'Japanese"iiifnitiire; eta. , , "' at their roonisv..Bntiiay;stTeDt, to-day, ...■' i'i-C. Messrs Wrighj,,SfepliensonV ! and;:Cp'..sel!.stcofe }■■''.■ iiißiirnside saleyards'on Thura'dayl 3lst Jtar.c'h.. :'?: .-■The axemon'a grand.carnival , takes , place at, I. , '. , lnvereargil! oivEftster.lllpnclcy; , ■. .. ,■ .•.■■ ;; ■W'.v'SV-ifessrs Doriald;"!T!e;d\a : ncl , Co..sell stock at! '■■'.vfßuinside-yaidaoul-AyiiSiiM'dnyv-SOth'irarchy.: ;jv <~The .City Corporation invite , teiidcrs, for iiio i , biliind carting,....and , conslruct-ib'ii ofaieiaiiiiiig-.wall in ■• : ',;-: : .CasUe street. ; :.■.■:■•' .-' '. " ' •;' ■' :; •■; : :.-:Mi-H:vl6!ip.iibt:fi(>s tliat Ms shop.. 104 George .:■■■■ 'Etreet,!will from.Tbufs'day-.nightj 31st . ' : insU.tilKJ«esday , niormrts,.^rir.s; ; ; ,; -.' ; ;i : ';, ' : -i meeting of ■../■ : ;Bowkett Society.wil.ite held.iii.,t.lic''piuiiedin ■;,.., Stock'.Exehango. t'lia :(Tuesday) swing- at'B ' :'-'o'clock.- uot.'as previously, adverlisei];. ■■.■ 1 . , . , ■.[-'; Canterbiiry EducStipn. ..Bpa.rd.'inr .■■' : :'- : vite' applications, for 'the,' position 'pE : .iiispectbr ..vUipf'schools-- .■]''"' ' '' ' "■■;■"■'>'.'' ■13i'e;; , Ii«iw , ,.Socie(5:; iioiify' that *hq offices, -of. ;. inrristers and. Eolicitprs.will. be closed for tho. V ; l i st : WiDrili toTues^ ; ,dayi.othvAjiril; botli'.days;inclusive. ■'■: /.''"Expert- specialists,- from , ih(i Dγ liaiigstott ■■:. .Institute , Mclbn'uriie, haya arrivetj in Duu.- ■ ■ fdih.-ajidrniay.-be cohsultcd.- at -the City' Hotel ,■ : .frees: of ' ''■ '■{;Tailoring,':. ; Dep'ar!'men't: at Mpllisons'.-r-Wc i .'have no!v;.op'enP<Tl ;, oii'r new niitnnin ancl'v.'inter .'V,'tvceda.'rind r-uiiiiigs., For .extent nijd .variety :;;:".oiir..stock, willvcoutain all' tliatiis. ; fashiona]ilc; '■::•■..,, All-'girmenfai'sire prodiicca on. 'the. premises : : .. a'mdor. the- , supervisioii■ .ioR-'ohr .cjitfer- ,.Qlv ;Fr«l. ■■■■?/SmilhV'jun.l.; :The prices , cbargeti : are the : !T.: .'lcvvest ; :possible ■ coasistoi'-t.'with Rood- maferial. .'" '.arid wbrkmaiiship;mr6llisonsi Gtorge street. ■■":."'■ '.''■■' ') '■ " : ' "■ ;; : '' ■■■kFfit ihisSinter thp\ : iafest: : .liondoh fnsliipns : /'■ ~. in''bats..'and''-, . dressesj. vjlV 'imly- be , foundl at ■^'';DUla3faßd'.'Watt'ai^''.aii3 ,, fi2''Gc6;go':iitrii;ot; ; -. ■■'■^rt.'i- ■■■ . ■■:" ■ "' . . ■' '.-■MessTa-.-G--.: aiid.'.T; , Young , nhnonnce the i .■;Br.rival. , . , of. , ;a/..larg'e'' shipipept ;of -silyer -and: .'-.-■., electroplated specially in favour V- 'as, we'adin'g 'prsscnts; atfriictiye aliko ; )ii,:q'uality, : 'i.;~Vde'«ijfiV' , and prices^itlvti,!,'.'. .'" . '■ ..''..' '. :';'''--ADeniol ft. li-fragrant/liqinil drafifrie*,- based ■Iv'onVj'scieiitiffcj,"'formula , ;' sitjie'rscdes. the v'M-' ■;. vfashioiied ;,tobtii pastes ap3: pb.wdcis. Bottles, , - J. :, ; ; .2s'eacli; ,ali-:chemists'.'rrAdvt. -. .- ; :;:" :.\Vno -.is- :pETE!i;'-DlCK : ?eTiie...mosi- iefiilil'e ■ ■ : :/. ; Wctchmaket and:.. Jeweller, ' .opposite Coffeef-: :' ; Pobce,; Mprny-place,; PBn'edin-.' .Chargcsstridtiy , : Vi ''.;»u6derat^-Aavt>' %:v. :;■'■ '■ .'■' -' " " '■■