Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 4

Among the arguments that wero presented to the Acting Prime Minister by the deputation at Clyde last week, which represented the desirability of the continued prosecution, without delay, of the Otago Central railway line, was ono based on tlio impairment of the stock-earrying capabilities of tlio Upper Clutha district through the depredations committed by rabbits. Mr R. Poison, of Bendigo, who dealt with this aspect of the case, pointed out that the district in question comprised a tract of country of about 100 miles in length and CO miles in breadth, at present let in about 15 runs and 125 farms, and carrying, approximately, 250,000 6hcep, 4500 cattle, 2000 horses, and 600 swine. . Somo 25 or 30 years ago, Mr Poison said, the district carried throe times as many sheep and oattle, and the reduction in numbers was attributable to the existence of the rabbit pc6t. And as it had been proved that the advent of a railway and the closer settlement of the land constituted t-hb most effectual way of dealing with the rabbit nuisance, the delay in the construction of the Otago Central lino was.responsible for tlio fact that the district did not contain the quantity of stock it was capable of carrying. Mr Poison also pointed out that a like cause operated to reduce materially the rentals derived by tho Crown from the runs in tho district, and ho argued that a3 a number of pastoral leases fall in within the next few years a,favourable opportunity is now offered for the introduction of a system of closcr settlement which, however, cannot bo successful unless tho eonvcnienco of railway communication is provided. Subscribers to tho fund for purchasing pictures from the Exhibition Art Gallery will be pleased to learn that Dr Scott succeeded in securing when in ChristchuTcb on Tuesday last tivo excellent water-colour pictures by well-known British artists. Tlie first is "Among the Hills, North Wales," by Edward Davies, It.]., the price for which was £70. It is a. very fine, strong picture of mountain scenery, and should be of service io Now Zealand artiste iii their delineation of the scenic beauties of their own land. Tho second picture is entitled " A Yorkshire Pastoral," a delicate grey picture with a very beautiful sltv, by Claude Hayes, R.I. This picture would have been among those chosen for New South Wales but for the fact ihat the Sydney Gallery already litis an example ol Mr Hayes's work. The price agreed to be paid for the picture is £55. Dr Scott will, on behalf of tho subscribers to the picture fund, write to the secretary of the Art Gallery trustees and present the pictures to them for the new gallery. In view of the purchase of the Clydevalc Estate by a Canterbury syndicate, which presumably anticipates netting a handsome profit when it subdivides and sell s the property, it will be of interest to our readers to Jear'n what large profits are occasionally made by such ventures, 'i'he most notable instances in Otago within the past two or three years have been the purchase and' subdivision of tho Castto Reek and Moa Pint Hates. In the former ease a profit, of from £30,000 to £40,000 resulted, and in the latter it is now known that.the

lucky purchasers will net something like £70,000, instead of tho £40,000 that was originally spoken of as the profit on tho transaction. Similarly in the easo of tho Tcviot Station a. very handsomo profit has accrued to the purchasers on a recent subdivision and sale by thom of the property. Some clothes caught fire yesterday at midday in a brick washhouee belonging to Mr J. O'Kane, at the corner of Castle' and Hanover streets. The Fire Brigado ' proceeded to the locality, and wit-li the aid of a little water extinguished the fire in a few minutes. the house destroyed by fire at Roslyn on A\ ednesday evening, which was owned by Captain Seville, of the U.S.'!. Co., was insured in the Northern Insurance Company for £400. Tho ciamago caused by firo to tho stock of Messrs Bremnor and Moir, jewellers, Princes street, on Tuesday evening, has not Jyet been fully ascertained, but it is understood that it will run into four figures, Tho adjourned inquest into tho circumstances connected with the recent fatal acoidenfc at Milburu is set. down for to-day, but; 'as Patrick Casserley, who was one of those injured, is unable to leave the Hospital to give evidene, it lias been arranged to have the inquiry further postponed. Tho cehemonics in. connection with tho closing of the International Exhibition at Christehurelt will take place on Monday next, 15th iusl., and in order to give passengers from Dunedin the opportunity of being present, tho Railway Department is running a special passenger train, leaving Dunedin at midnight on Sunday, and arriving at Cliristcluirch at 9.25 a.m. Monday. Tho Government steamer Tutanckai mado a fourth attempt to deliver stores to tlio Cape Saunders lighthouse yesterday afternoon, but after waiting in the vicinitj for somo 1-imo Captain Post had to return to Port Chalmers owing to the strong easterly swell. At any lime it is by no means an easy matter to deliver goods to this lighthouse. In order to do go tlie Ixrat luis to bo taken under the clift's in tho vicinity, whero tho goods aro banded up by means of a dorriok. i Tho swell, rising as high as 12ft yesterday, mado tho landing impossible. Our Clyde correspondent writes:—"Noiv that the railway worl;s are finished tho cry of the unemployed is becoming rather serious. Several of tho men stato that there aro 30 families practically stranded. Tlio money earned on tho works has just about kept them, and' tho outlook for theni is serious. Somo of tlicm have largo families. One mail said he had nine, nono of whom were of age to keep themselves, and all of them state that they have not the means to move away, whilst without work they cannot get goods at. the stores, and thoy do not very well know what to do. A telegram lias been sent io the Acting Prim® Minister sotting out the hardship of their case, and l an answer was leceived that it was under consideration, and that a reply would be sent in a day or so. Meantime the lien do not know where to turn, and ono of them said that the matter was as serious as it could well bo. They would willingly take any Government work going. One man „sa.i(i that things were so bad with him that bo oould not get bags to make, a new fly for. his tent." A 6hark about 14ft long, and measuring 3ft 6in round the body, was caught yesterday at the Heads. It is a species of ground 6hark without tho dorsal fin,' mud may bo seen on tho fishing cutter Myna at the Rattray street wharf to-day. It was caught on ii groper line, and twisted up four other lines and nearly smashed tho cutter's rail when at the surface. , It was got aboard with difficulty, and before it was ono of tho qvow was knocked down by a blow from ils tail. At Outram oil Wednesday, Jonnison Milligan, eight years old, whilst endeavouring to climb a fence, fell and fractured his left leg. He was admitted to the Hospital yesterday morning. * At. tho last meeting of tlio directors of the United Starr-Bowkett Society it was decided to take steps to 'form a No. 2 group in connection with the Society. The advantages to bo derived from tho teaching given in tho Institute for Deaf Mutes at Sumner wero made manifest in a case heard at tho City Police Court yesterday morning. The defendant in a case had tho misfortune to bo able neither to hear nor make himself heard, but by watching tho lips of a relative, who, eo to speak, acted as interpreter for him, ho had no difficulty in grasping tho facts that wero addressed to him. Tho presiding magistrate, Mr C. C. Graham, took advantage of the opportunity to highly commend the good work done at the institution. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that tlio Trades and Labour Council passed a resolution expressing deep regret at the. references made by tho Trades and Labour Conference to tho action of tho Hon. J. A. Millar and the Hon, Dr Findlay in connection with tho slaughtermen's strike, and placed on record the council's entire confidence in both Ministers. following atetract of weather 'at Dunedin for Marcli .is supplied by Mr H. Skcy, observer Mean barometer, 30.072 in; mean clast-io force of vapour, 0,367 in; mean temperature in shade, 57.4dcg; mean solar radiation, 103deg; terrestrial radiation, 46dcg; mean daily velocity of wind, 178 miles; moan amount of cloud (from 1 to 10), 7.1; total rainfall, 2.320 in; number of days on which rain fell, 14. Telephone subscribers who aro in arrears with their half-yearly subscriptions will this morning bo ruthlessly cut off. According to the strict letter of tho departmental edict they should have ceased to enjoy tho benefits of direct telephonic communication with their premises three days ago when tho customary soven days' notice expired. However, they were spared until last evening, and yesterday there was a rush to tho department of tho dilatory with their payments. There arc still in arrears aliout 10 per cent, of the subscribers. Of these it is expected that the greater number will pay up to-day vhc>n thoy find their telephones no longer serviceable. As tho subscriptions come in the old order will bo gradually resumed. Tho number of subscribers who drop out at these peremptory pay times ie only a little more than 1 per cent, of tho total. There are some matter-of-fact people in tho world. Affairs of the greatest moment to many aro of little concern to them. Last week a Dunedin lady posted this notioo on tho door of her shop:—"Gono to bo married; back in half-an-hour." Two young men, aged 24 and 17 yearo respectively, were arrested' by the polico la6l evening on a charge of causing actual bodily harm to a youth named Loggctt by stabbing him in tho back with a bradawl. Leggatt and one of the accused, it is stated, had an altercation at the north end of the city a few evenings ago, and on tho ■following morning tho two aecuscd (who aro brolhcA) met Leggett, and hostilities were renewed. One of the brothers is said to have attacked Leggett with his fists, and as the two were fighting tiic other brother, it is alleged, stabbed Leggett in tho back in three places with a bradawl. One of the wounds thus inflicted was near tho spine, and Loggctt had to be taken to the Hospital for treatment, whero lie still remains. Australian flockowners have been purchasing somewhat extensively in this colony of late, and quite a number of standard type sheep have been shipped to tho Com- - momvealth for stud purposes. Yesterday . a further shipment left by tho Riverina for ' Sydney, inoluding a nico even flock of 120 ram lambs from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's. Totara Estate, and 100 Romnoy ram lambs from Mr J. R. Mackeuizo's Popotunoa Estate,

Although the Technical School tons only boon open since Monday Mia number of free pupils in attendance already amounts to 2/0, and it has ljeen decided not to entertain applications for free places received after Wednesday next. It docs not seem to l:o goner,illy known that students who begin the free courso and fail to attend the required number of limes are disqualified from holding free places in subnoqv.ent years. Several applications for enrolment by defaulting pupils were this week refused. Tliero are over 300 paying students in altcndanoe, but there aro several classes—Maori, cookery, dressmaking, horticulture—which meet for the first lime this evening.

At the monthly meeting of Ihe New Cathedral Board the following motion was pissed:—'" That at tho invitation of tho Primate, ladies from the Duncdin parishes and neighbourhood be asked to meet tho clergy of the diocese at Ihe Cathedral Schoolroom lo suggest some extensive scheme for raising fundi? for the new cathedral."

A social evening under the auspices of the combined Bible classes of tho Wesley Church, Cargill road, was held on Wednesday evening at the residence of Mrs Pawmore, Ihe object being to bid farewell and Cod-speed to the Rev. T. Trcslrail, who is leaving for Kaiapoi. A large number nweinblcd, and during the • evening tho reverend gentleman was presented wilh a silver-mounted umbrella and also a set of afternoon tea forks for Mrs 'l'rcslrail. In making tho presentation Miss Beaven referred to tho high cstceem in which Mr Tro,irail was held by flic Riblo classes, and wished liiiit every success in his new sphere of labour. A handsome silver mug was also given to Stanley Trosfrail, who was the fiivt child bom iii fhe new parsonage of C'argill Itoad Church.

The other day (says tho North Otago Times) a swarm of liecs took possession of a chomietV sliop in Oamarti. ami although the proprietor did his host 1o "6hoo" them out they wouldn't go, and the eoneequenco was that his customers had to make their wants known from Iho footpath, and the chcmist hud to brace his nerves to the sticking point, and run (lie gauntlet of the 'busy boos, who wore prepared with their implements of warfare to defend flic position tlisy had taken up. An offshoot of the same hive obtained ingress to a bank, and buzzed about as if tlioy intended to make a fixed deposit with every official in tho place. Another hive fettled on the stock of a confectioner, and here they were at peace, with all tho world hut those who Tiiolested tliom in their vigorous onslaught on tlio 6ugar. At Kniapoi on Monday, before Mr V. G. Day, S..U, C. P. Baker was charged with selling beer without being licensed. Tho evidence showed that defendant promoted a smoke concert at Kniapoi, with the object of presenting trophies won in a bicycle contest, at Kaiapoi. Upwards of 40 attended,' who contributed Is each at the door. Defendant supplied refreshments, including lieer. Mr Donnelly, for the defence, contended that no salo had taken place, and that tho primary object of the gathering was simply tho distribution of tho trophies. Mr Day, in giving judgment, paid it had not been shown that there was the slightest inducement for those who attended the concert in tho. fact that they were to bo supplied with beer. Tlicrcforo ho could not hold that a salo had taken place. Tho ease wn6 dismissed.

Tho Bishop of Melanesia (Dr Wilson), when speaking at tho prize-giving of tho Diocesan Girls' High School at Auckland on Saturday, spoko about Iraaiwnye. While in Now Zealand, ho said, ho had taken particular notico of this means of locomotion. In Dunedin tlio tram lines wero said to ho tho best, laid in tho colony, find Chrisfchiirel) was said to possess the best care, although they were somwehat difficult for conductors to manage. The Wellington trsmcan wore better for the drivers, whilst the Auckland servico had the reputation of being tho fastest in the colony. Referring to men not surrendering their scats to ladies in crowded ears, the Bishop said it was not always tho fault of the men.

On September 18, 1908, Popo Pius X will celcbratc tho golden jubilee of his ordination to the Catholic priesthood, and as his Holiness takes a deep inlcre.it in Catholic yoilng men's societies throughout Ihe world, it is proposed to hold an international congress of young men in l?omc on Hint occasion. A communication roreived by his Grace Archbishop Redwood (of Wellington) was forwarded to tho Catholic \'onug Men's Conference, which was lately hold in Christehurch. The circular memorandum has been issued well ahead of the appointed date, presumably to advise societies in various parts of the world of tho projected event, in the hope that there will bo a largo representation, and thus do honour lo Ihe visible head of the Catholic Church. Tho Catholics of Italy are' lo provide Ihe ncecssary funds in connection with the festivities and enterlainmenta, which will be carried ont on a somewhat lavish scale. A committcc of citizens of Rome will direct and conduct the ceremonies. Tho question of'representation of New Zealand has been referred to the Federation Executive, and it is quite possible that this colony will be represented.

For sonic time past («vy6 tho Melbourne Argus) ;i movement, has been on foot. amongst ccrlnin business men in Melbourne to induce the Minister of Customs to apply the provisions of the anti-trust law apiinsi an extensive American concern whose business extends to liie Commonwealth. It i« alleged that a firm carrying oil business in Australia is really a. branch of the American business, although the title adopted does not suggest il. Tho allegation is that the firm in question, bv adopting a system of rebates to business pcoplo who deal exclusively with it, has contravened tlio Antitrust Act, and certain facts wore collected upon which it was desired that action ohould bo taken, Tho matter was submitted to tlio Crown Law Oflioers some weeks a"o, hut it is stated that tho facts adduced were not -such lis would sustain any action. It is probable that on Mr Chapman's return the matter will ho moro fully investigated, and a dcc.ision arrived at as to whether action could bo taken.

An interesting bit of gossip is afloat at Westminster (wrilos tho London rorrcspon-1 dent, of the Mcllwurne Age). Mr John Bums is said io l:o utilising bis spare time in writing his autobiography, which, however will not bo published until he has "ceased to bo a Cabinet. Minister." Various largo sums, from £10,000 upwards, arc mentioned as having bean offered for the work. Without- accepting any of the figure; at present as being more than" guesswork, one can readily believe that publishers would set a considerable market value upon tho life story of the "boy in buttons," who Iweamc a courtier in epaulettes and a, cocked hat : who at'one period slept in gaol as an offender against public order, and on another occasion slept in Windsor Castle as (ho guest of tho Sovereign; whose violent stump oratory (still available for spe?inl occasions, has lieen varied by the dulcet decorum of palaces; ami who will go down in history as the first Labour member to attain full Cabinet rank in a country whore the high offices of State were, us they will probably continue to be, to a large extent in tho hands of the aristocracy. Mr Burns has. by the way, discarded t he bine reefer of deinoccarcy at last, lie appeared at the opening of the present session in a black morning eoaf, from which we may anticipate aii easy transition before long to the regulation frock coat of olliml life. The change is duly regretted by tho cartoonists, liilt they are resourceful persons, ami are already making the tails of the new garment fly outwards in illustration of their owner's volcanic energy.

I'irst grand show of autumn and winter now on view at Dallas and Watt's.-

The Otago Rowing Association wilt close its labours for the year on Saturday evening, when the various trophies won during tho Eca«on will Ira presented at a mnOko concert to be belli in the Masonic Hall. An excellent programme contains the names of many of our most popular entertainer.?,

We bsg to direct special attention to the new range o[ boys' Shamrock suits which we have opened. They arc very iip-tb-dsfc, and tho prices range from I,ls Gd tc 21s.—Molliaons Jjld...

Tourists desiring mementos of Xew Zealand vriil find it to their advantage to inspect tho magnificent se'ection of articles in genuine greenstone displayed at G. and T. Young's, 63 Princes street. If you're in tho dark—dreary, dull, and depressed, all you require is something that will restore activity to the ;ivcr and stomach. Loasby's "Walioo" will restore health, brightness, and vigour. "Wahoo," 2s fid; all rh-.-'nid^'.—Advt. For Children's Hacking 'Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is Gd &2s(kl. Wno is I'r.TKP. Dick?—Tho most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller. opposite Cofico I'abce, Moray placc, Duucuiu. Chargor strictly moderate.—Advt.