THE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 4

THE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS.

We may not all subscribe to the doctrine expounded by Dr Osier that a man's usefulness begins to decline when he has reached the age of forty years. This astounding belief is refuted indeed in the experience of all countries. Most of the distinguished judges, statesmen, warriors, poets, artists, surgeons and physicians, and men of business are of an age when, according to Dr Osier's theory, their mental powers should in large measure have failed them, and many of the most striking achievements of the majority of them were performed at a time in their life when, if the view expressed by the American professor were to be accepted as at all sound, they should have been incapable of any noteworthy accomplishment. There inevitably conies, however, in the lives of all men who are spared to reach old age a. period when the necessity for relieving them of certain of the duties they have been in the habit of discharging has, in their own interests if for

nothing else, to be recognised. Apparently this time is, in the judgment, of

the University Council, approaching in the caso of the professors who have occupied chairs in the University of Otago since its establishment. The Council lias not yet adopted the report of the committee which has recommended that provision should be made to relieve tho professor whose years number the greatest at the session of 1908, but there is no reason to suppose that tho proposal of the committee will not be adopted. It will, we are sure, be with the deepest pain that the Council will take the step that will involve the severance of the active connection between it and the professor who is indicated in the recommendation of the committee, but wo are also sure that tho professor concerned will himself ncquiesco in tho measure as being one which is dictated by no consideration that is derogatory to himself. The University of Otago was .singularly fortunate in most of the earliest appointment;! that were made to its staff of professors, to the excellence of which, in point of fact, it owes tho high reputation it enjoys of being the foremost University college in the colony. Certainly not least qf all has the institution lia-d cause to be congratulated upon having secured the services of the professor to wliom the recommendation of tlio committee will apply. For thirtysix years lie has performed the duties of his responsible oflice with unflagging dovotion. and with signal ability. In him the ripe scholar and courteous gentleman hare been combined with the successful teacher, His services have gained for him ajike the warm recognition of the Council and the profound respect of his students. It is necessarily a matter for great regret that the time is approaching when the infirmities that are growing upon l)im will lead to his relinquishment of the chair which he has qcctipied so long and so honourably. Unfortunately 110 general provision exists for the payment of retiring or superannuation allowances to the University professors who may be held to be incapacitated by advancing years.' In the case, however, of the earliest appointments in the University of Otago, as has been ascertained' from a search of the records, there is a • contract on tho part of the Council to pay annually to any professor incapacitated from that or any other cause one-half qf the salary of which he had been in receipt, the other moiety of the salary and the whole of the fees going to his locum tenens. The arrangement is not so satisfactory as might have been desired, but it represents, at anyrate some recognition of the services rendered to the institution by the professor during the period when he faithfully discharged liis duties as a. member of its staff.

Dr Fullon mentioned casually at tho Drainago Board meeting last night that tho domestic water supply at present used in I ho city and suburbs was so impure, owing to the drought, tliaf tliero must bo close on 70 per cent, of tho population suffering to a greater or less extent froin English cholera. This points out (he necessity for filtering drinking water, or, belter still, boiling it before using it.

Up lo yesterday morning' the northern rc6orvoir showed a gain of 1,891,780 gallons as a result of the recent rain, 'and the southern reservoir gained 411,16} gallons. Tho storage in the northern reservoir now 6tands at 27,356,665 gallons, or over half ils holding capacity, which is 50,000,000. gallons. Tho capacity of the southern reservoir is 22,779,888 gallons, and tho storage at present is 6,178,360 gallons. In view of tho improved storage and increased inflow tho wator supply to church organs and lifls has been resumed, and. firo brigades aro to bo allowed. water practice under close supervision of tho water department. Tho Leith is stil) Hooded and cannot bo gauged, and fluming and dams in connection, with the water supply aro all overflowing, tho most of Monday's inflow from Silvcrstroam being too dirty to take in. One-fifth o'f an inch of rain fell on Monday.

Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, arrived in Dunedin by the second express from the north last evening. The principal object of liis present visit is tq confer with tlio authoVities in rogard to tho erection of an

Infectious Diseases Hospital at Pcliohet Bay. In tlio course of a. short chat with ono of our staff last evening, Dr Mason paid a high tribute to the manner in which tlio chairman of tlio Hospital Trustees (Mr P. Miller) |iad worked to secure a most desirable site, and said there was a general consensus of opinion as to the advisability of erecting this necessary building, and the only difficulty now in the way was to decide upon the allocation of the cost among the bodies interested. Dr Mason said that when tho last-named difficulty was overcome lie had no doubt a suitable building for tho purposes required would scon bo crected.

In connection with tho races at Wingatui the sßailway Department draiys attention to the fact that to-day and Saturday, SOtli'. and 23rd Inst., tho usual 5.15 p.m. train from Dunedin to Mosgiol will leave Dunedin at 5.0 p.m. This arrnngemont is nccessary in order to provide suitable train services for the race traffic. Intending passengers are particularly requested to note this alteration. > Tho ordinary meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was? held yesterday under tho presidency of Mr Tapper, thero being also present Messrs Larnarh, Arkle, LeCreii, Kempthorne, Bmiicll, Callaway, and Captain Easthcr. Thirty-one applications for relief were granted.

Two of Hie employees of the Drainage Board yesterday morning found a young blue-backed shark on the foreshore opposite the Caledonian Bowling Club's green, on the Anderson's Bay road. The shark, which was 7ft long, had evidently been left 6tranded by a high tide 011 Monday night, and it was still alivo when discovered. The fact that it was found in such a place conveys with it a warning, for a number of boys aro in tho habit of regularly bathing in tho portion of tho harbour that washes tho foreshore where the shark was found.

Several cases were disposed of in tho Supremo Court yesterday. Mary Kearney, who had been found guilty on the previous day of concealment of ,birth, was allowed out on probation for 12 months on condition that sho returned to her homo and remained tiiero for that period. Androw Soutter, for assaulting a nine-yoar-old girl, was sent to gaol for two years. Joseph Michael Davidson pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a Chinaman's hut in the Kaikorai Valley, and received a. sentence of nino months' imprisonment. Daniel Smith, who was arraigned for the theft of a £5-note and other money from ono Simpson Dunn, asked tho jury to accept the evidence for tho prosecution cum grano salis. Ho cross-examined nearly all tho witnesses, and forcibly addressed tho jury in defence. Ho was sent to gapl for two years. Frederick St. Ciair Sinclair and Jane Dunsmuir, who appeared to be barely out of their teens, were charged with tho theft of a valuable brooch and with illegally pawning it. Sinclair pleaded guilty and the female accuscd not guilty. His Honor deferred passing sentence on tho male accuscd until ho had heard the evidence againflt the girl on Monday. Tlio only other ease on tho list is that of Lee Sun, who is charged with selling a pak-a-poo ticket in a Ohinesq lottery. This case, which stands over from last sessions, when .the jury disagreed, has been fixed /or Monday.. ,

Tho illustrations in this week's Otago Witness, published to-ilay, aro varied and attractive. Tlioso who provide themselves with tho number will find it difficult to decide which to admire most of (he two halfpago views—tho restful picture of an avenue in tho Chrislchurcli Botanical Gardens or (ho suggestivo coastal scene at Wangaloa, whoro tho eea lias worn away tho coastal rock, leaving an isolated bunch locally known as Lot's Wife. The views secured at tho Hussars' sports are full of life and niovemont. The laying of the foundation stone of tho Free Public Library is commemorated by three capital illustrations. Tho groups of delegates at tho recent annual conference of tho Congregational Union will to regarded as an excellent souvenir of the gathering by those connected with that body. Not the least noteworthy of tho views is a group of iho crew of tho wrecked French barque Marguerite Mirabaud, who reached Dimedin by the first express train from tho south on Monday. Bowlers will find some capital viows secured (hiring the visit of Iho New South Walesloam; wliilo engineers will prize Iho two pages devoted to views of the bridges on tho Otago Central railway, showing, as they do, (ho engineering difficulties successfully overcome in opening up the interior. Tliero aro a number of illustrations of various phases of the dairying industry, a picture of the Brydono memorial cairn to bo unveiled next Saturday on the Totara Estate, and a striking picture of the results of llio disastrous railway accident near Arbroath, Scotland, towards tho c|oso of last year. Six views secured in and about t|ie pretty township of Duntroon aro included, and also six views in and about Clinton. Tho picture of Ihe capsized barque Wai-iti in Kaipam Harbour depicts perhaps one of the most remarkable incidents in connection with shipping which has over occurred in colonial waters. >

. 'A prohibition order was granted at tha Port Chalmers • Police Court yesterday bj Messrs D. A. I)o Ifaus.and A. Thornton, .I's.P., against a man upon his wife's application.

j A sitting of the Bankruptcy Court will be held on Thursday week.

Nominations aro being asked for by the executive of the Trades Council Conference »for tho position of workers' representative on (ho Arbitration Court for tha three-year period following the next annual Trades Council Conference. Tho Welling;- • lon Trades Council agreed to nominate Mr J. M'Cullough, of Christchurch, for the position, and Mr W. T. Young, of Wellington, for that of deputy representative. Tho jwsition of workers' representative, now filled by Mr R. Slater, of Dunedin, had a salary of £500 a-,year attached to it under the amending Arbitration Act passed last year.

On Friday morning, tho Hon. J, A. Millar, Mimstori of Marine and labour, accompanied by Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., will proceed by tho first express to Waikouaiti, where he will bo entertained, at lunch by tho mayor of tho borough. After lunch Mi' Millar will visit the Domain, and then bo driven by Mr Buckland to tho mouth of the Waikouaiti River with a view of seeing bow best to expend tho vote sanctioned last year by Parliament. Afterwards the Minister will be :;ho\vn over Karitaiie, and will join (ho south-going express at Puketeraki for Dunedin.

Messrs Coom (chief engineer), Boattie (chief mechanical engineer), and Buxton (chief traffio manager), of the bead office staff of the New Zealand railways, aro at present in Dunedin. having arrived by tho first express from Christchurch last oveni|ig\ They aro on tho periodical inspection' of the permanent way jand tho railways ill general, and Icavo for Invercargill ,on Thursday morning. Mr Ronayrio (general manager) will join the party at Invercargill on Thursday night.

Mr T. W. Allen/(chairman) and Sir John Sherburn, members of tho English board of directors of tho New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, are at, present in Otago visiting the ehalo oil works at Orepuki and the ooal mines at Kaitangata. Tho New Zealand inanagor, Mr R. Lee, lias been piloting the visitors over tho various works. They lcavo for Quecnstown at the end of the week, after which tl|oy }vi!l again visit Kaitangata. Sir John Shorburn is an ex-mayor of the City of Hull, and Mr Allen is a merohant engaged in the timber industry in tho sajiio city.

The visitors to DUnedin this week have taxed tlio hotel accommodation to tho utmost, and lust night the loading hotels of tlio cjly wore unable to provide rooms for anything like tho number of patrons who were forthcoming on the arrival of tlio later trains. Tho fact that this is cup week seep to have been overlooked by a great many regular travellers, who, not having telegraphed for rooms to their customary hostelry, upon arrival had to hustle round to find quarters where best they could. Tho result was that private hospitality had to be - evoked to a considerable extent, whilst hotels outside the usual zone had to bo very largely availed of.

A correspondent wriles 6tiiting that the shower of raip '\vhic|i fell on Saturday night in Moeraki and Hillgrove districts was the first that had fallen in that locality this year, tho last rainfall having taken place on December 28—seven weeks and ono day previously.

An inquest was lield at' Begg street, Musselburgh, yesterday, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, coroner, and 'tho usual jury, of whom Mr Wm. Fleming was chosen foreman, on tlio body of a child 11 months old, which had died suddenly in' Mrs Wentworth's licensed infant home the previous evening. Di' Church, who had attended the child, deposed that it had been suffering from diarrhcea, and from a careful examination he mado lie discovered no evidence of other disease, tho appearances and symptoms all pointing towards the diseaso mentioned, whicl) iyas epidemio at present, and particularly fatal among very young children, Mrs Wentwortli had evidently looked after the child well, and tho body was well nourished. The child had been weakly from birth, and ho had no (jloubt that it liad died; from diarrhcea. Further evidence was given by Minnie Wentwortli, Marian Hill (inspector of infants' homes), and >tho mother, after which a verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony, the jury adding an opinion that every attention had been given tho child from her inception into tho home.

At Mornington early yesterday morning Detectives Cameron and M'Lcod effected a smart capture of tho third man wanted in connection witli Iho breaking and entering and theft of liquor from tho Victoria wharf store. Tho trio—Tressider, Rayner, and Footc—havo bean remanded to appear on Friday. ( By last week's San Francisco mail Mr W. G. Garrard, secretary of Iho Canterbury Rugby Uniot), received a letter from Me R. P. Merritt and Mr W. K. 'fuller, president and captain respectively of the Associated Students of tho University of California, which suggests tho possibility of &' visit from a football team during tho present year. According to the letter, the University of California contemplates sending its Rugby team for a tour of Now Zealand and Australia. The team would! consist of at least 20 players, and it is proposed to arrivo in Auokland on Juno 10, leaving for Sydney on July 22, and commencing the return journey to America on August 5. Tho team would be prepared to play matches in tho chief centres y in this colony, tho principal match of the tour, if possible, to bp played in Auckland just prior to the date of departure for Sydnev. Tho expenses of the trip such as is proposed being heavy, tho writers aro anxious to obtain all possible information as to tho financial prospects. If thoy receive an encouraging reply the tour may bo looked 011 as certain to tako ptaco, Every member of tho team, it is stated, would bo a strict amateur, and tho tour would be undertaken with tho sanction of the American Athlctio .Union.

Another kctnrc was given by Mr M'Chire in the Gospel Hall, Moray place, last evening, in tho prescnco of a largo audience. The subject was "The Church in Sardis, - ' and ils moral condition was pointed lo as a picturo of Protestantism commencing with the Reformation. The speaker's remarks were listened to with a great deal of interest.

The tent mission at North-East Valley was continued last night, when a splendid meting was held, Mr Hamilton prcnclied on "Tho Conversion of Saul." He spoke of Saul's honesty in persecuting tho Church of Jesus Christ and (after his conversion) of tho honesty anil ■' zeal with which Saul ivorkcd for and with tho Church. Mr Garmong sang "A bird with a broken wing" with much feeling. Tho meetings will bo continued till Sunday night,

Tho welcome rain on Saturday had the effect of raising tho water in the Port Chalmers rcsorvoir fully 2ft, but, tho Water Coniinitteo consider tho increase insuflieient to warrant tho granting of tho application for an extra supply for the concrete mixing machines at tho new dock ut present.