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Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 9

THE LICENSING POLLS. • The bogey of a dissolution has not been very impressive for some years. A certain semblance of substantiality. has been given to it this • week, however, by tho introduction by the Government of a Bill to make amended provision for tho faking of the licensing polls throughout the colony in the event of the occurrence of a .dissolution. The action of the Government in bringing down this Bill on the day. succeeding a defoat, which is keenly resented, on the Tariff Bill is of a rather theatrical order, and it is difficult to dissociate the event of Thursday afternoon from the episode of Wednesday night. The introduction of the Bill will, indeed, be widely regarded as a tlireat to Ministerial supporters in the House that any such demonstration of independence, as was afforded by several of tKem, when they joined forces with the Opposition to carry Mj Herries's proposal for a reduction of the duty on mining machinery, may in future, if attended by a like result, induce the Ministry-to seek a dissolution.- Whether the issue of the tlireat will havo tho effect of securing that the Ministerialists will be moro submissive to tho behests of the Government and of the party whips than some of them, have been lately is not a point we need discuss, nor shall we offer any opinion upon the propriety of the courso tlic Government has seen fit to adopt;. Though the occasion chosen for the introduction of tho Bill may be unfortunate, the legislation itself is, in our judgment, not desirable only-but absolutely nocessary. Under existing legislation the occurrence of a dissolution this year would involve the postponement of the local option poll until the general election following the conelusion of the next Parliament, if, indeed, that should run its natural course. In other words, an interval of five years would elnpsA between one local option poll and another. Moreover, if tho next Parliament should, by some odd chance, liappen to be dissolved before it had been in existence for two years, then, in the absence of a provision such as is made in the Rill now before Parliament, the effect would be to postpone the local option poll for an additional period of three years. Obviously tho law, as it exists, is quite unsatisfactory in this respect, Tho proposals of the Government seem, too, to bo well adapted to protect the rights of the electors? in the event of the' occurrence of a dissolution at any time. They contemplate .that, if the dissolution should take place before Parliament has been in existence for t\v6 years, the local option poll shall be held simultaneously with tho poll for the election of members of Parliament, but that it shall not take effect until the day on which Parliament would ordinarily have expired by effluxion of time. If, therefore, there wero a dissolution this year the local option poll would be held on tho day of the general election, but the decisions arrived at by the electors in the various districts Would not come into operation any sooner thau they would if the poll were tajien next year, as, but for the dissolution, it would be. It seems to us that this proposal is ono which may reasonably commend itself to all parties as a sensible arrangement. It would, upon various grounds, no doubt, Be a desirable thing if the local option poll were separated altogether from the parliamentary elections and taken on a different date and in a different year. But we realise that the expenditure which this would entail would be a very serious matter. The returning officers' expenses would not by any means represent the whole of the cost, since special rolls would have to be printed, at great outlay, for every district in the colony. Upon thd whole, the factor of expense may be said to put the idea of the separation of, the two polls out of the question,

' Our attention has been drawn to tho fact that' the returns as to tho teaching staff at the various city and suburban schools laid before the School Committees' Association are, in some instances, misleading. Surprising as these returns may be as a revelation of undor-6taffing, the true position is, in some cases, worse than they would lead one to beliovo. A ease in point is that of a largo suburban school where tho alleged supply of two teachers and two pupil teachers allotted to tho infant department is absurdly at variance with tho actual staffing, and doubtless this is no isolated instance. Naturally teachers profer not to be predated with assistance they do not receive.

With reference io the tragic occurrence at Nightcaps on Tuesday, Dr Trotter reports that both sufferers aro still unconscious, and that there is no perceptible change in their condition. Tho revolver used was found in tho well on Wednesday afternoon. It was a very small one. Tho ■points of tho bullets had been cut off so as-to allow tho chambers to revolve freely. Apparently thrco shots had been fired.

Beforo commencing the cross-examination' of John Lloyd, manager of the mino at Nightcaps, yesterday Mr Maealistor called tho attention of the Royal Commission totho tact that on two former occasions ho had asked for tho production of tho plan of tho mino that was produced at tho coroner's inquest. This ■ documont was thereupon supplied by Mr Green (Inspector of Mines). Mr. Maealistor further requested to "seo a •report made to the manager by Somcrvillo (ono of the deputies) on June 20. Mr Hanlon (counsel for the company) promised that this document and any other doouments a«ked for that might be in the company's possession would 'bo produced.

Work is progressing steadily on the Houipapa section of tho Catlins railway (says tho Olutha Leader). Although tho ballast'ing is not yot done, still any produce is taken along to Catlin's River by the Public Works Department. Mr W. Hondereon has the honour of sending tho first produoo over tho lino, On Friday tho plant used' by Anderson and Co. to construct tho bridge across tho river was railed away.

, Tbo condition of tho Taieri Mouth punt has been for eomo time past a vexed question with tho local bodies interested. Recently the chairman of the Taieri County. Council, together with Or Stevenson and iHa engineer (Mr B. 13./ Coupon) paid a visit of inspection to this somewhat uncertain means of transit between hank and bank of the river, and in a report to yC6torclay's meeting of tho council they recommended tho council to take stops to terminate its contribution for upkeep at an early date, deeming farther expenditure on repairs and staging inadvisable. A number of Bruoo ratepayers waited on tho visitors at tho time, and \vere unanimous in tho opinion that a bridgo should bo crected without delay. At tho council's meeting it was agreed to ask the Bruoe County Council to oonfer with tho Taiori Council regarding the c'rection of a 'bridge, and to take immediate ateps to make a requisition to Parliament for a vote of £2000, tho Taieri County offering, subject to usual clauses regarding approval of design, either to oontributo'onethird of balance of cost of bridgo or submit the question of proportion of cost to a commission of inquiry.

A enso of some local interest was heard in the Magistrate's Court at Waikouaiti on Thursday, before Major Jackson Keddell, S.M. It was brought by Mr A. S. Orbell, a sheep farmer, against Mr M'Fie, a looal carpenter, and was a claim for £20 for a wrongful detention of timber alleged to bo tho property of the plaintiff. Mr Stilling appeared for tho plaintiff and Mr Bedford for the defendant. Mr Stilling, in stating the ease for tho plaintiff, said that in November, 1906, tho plaintiff gave delivery to the defendant of a Wclliiigtonia tree, along with three Pinus insignia trees, on the stipulation that the defendant should get tho Wellingtonia tree cut into timber suitable for furniture,' and that in return for this ho was lo bo given tho three Pinus insignis trees. Tho defendant oarried this out, 'but subsequently appeared to have changed his mind, and refused to givo delivery, and said that Mr Orboll was only to have enough timber from the Wellington! a. tree to provide for a writing desk. Tho case, in whioh' considerable local interest was 6hown, was hoard at some length, and various witnesses were called for tho plaintiff. Mr Bedford addressed tho oourt for tho defendant, and called the defendant, who was examined and crossexamined at considerable length. In giving judgment, his Worship said that ho thought that in eases of this land it was a great pity that parties who wore supposed to bo business moil, did not make some attempt to .raluoo their contracts into writing to avoid misunderstandings afterwards; but that had not been done in this case, and it remained for him to woigh the probabilities, and after reviewing the .cvidonce at considerable length his Worship said That, on tho whole, ho considered the probabilities were in favour of the plaintiff's statcmont, and that ho should givo judgment • accordingly for the return of tho timbor and for £1 damages for its detention, and in oaso of non-delivery of tho timber judgment was to go for a further sum of £19, .and costs (amounting in all to £5 Us) in favour of tho plaintiff, Tho Southland Frozen Meat and Export Company (Lt<l.), which, besides using eleotri 0 energy for its own use, supplies the town of Goro with current for power and 'lighting purposes, intends to ninto extensive enlargements and' additions to its hydro-c'eotric works at Mataura. It is its intention to increase tho carrying capacity of tho main race to enablo an additional quantity of 21,000 cubio fett of water per minute, to bo utilised on the now units, a new rase branching off from the old ono some distance back from tho old- turbine. Heavy canal gates are provided to allow either the old or the now units.to bo worked separately or together. The water-wheels' for Iho now units will bo of tho reaction type, and supplied by tho Dayton Globe Ironworks Company, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A. Thoy will probably bo tho largest reaction wheels used in tho colony, being a pair of 42in special turbines to work under 25ft of head i.t 123 It.P.M., and guaranteed to give 756 horse-power on the turbino shaft. A feature of tho installation will be a largo cotton fopo drivo on the English system, replacing the usual beiting* or gearing. Tho tender of Messrs M'Laughlin and Curwood, of tho Bluff, has been accepted for tho hydroulio improvements, and they make a start immediately on tho construction. Mr P. J. Williams, of Duncdin, well known in connection with tho Waipori Fa:lls hydroelectrio installation, is tho designing engineer for tho company. Tho sequel to tho recent case of mistaken identity in Tespcct of the perpotration of offenccs against women and ohildren in tho Town Belt is shown in tho following extract from tho Now Zealand Timc3 of Wednesday last:—"lsaao Taylor, of Olakou, Otugo, who was wrongfully arrested for t series of indecont offences at Duncdin, and for which another man was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment, petitioned Parliament for compensation. Tho Petitions Committee yesterday reported to tho House that,, taking into coMueration tho unfortunate ciroumstanoe of the petitioner being arrested by mistake for an'other person on tho evideneo of several independent witnesses, and that he was put to considerable trouble and expense before it was proved to bo a case of mistaken identity, it was of opinion the petitioner should bo granted, a sum of £75."

A well-known sheep-owner jn tho Olutha district, who has 10,003 sheep on turnips in Southland, had (cays the Lender) rather an unfortunate experience with them lately, hut as it happened it turned out .not go badly for hiin. A dog gx>t off the train near tho plaeo whero the sheep were and, instead of going to its own home near by, went to a neighbour's place. Here it met tfith angther do#, and ih®Bg tho Right

the, two of them sot off. for the shoep. Then they played havoo with tho mob, killing 30 of I hem outright and .mauling and maiming a lot more, besides destroying the turnips, a 6 10,(500 sheep would do whan being raced backwards and forwards over them for half a. night,. The dogs wore caught and identified in the morning. The owner then looked for satisfaction. There was no blame attached to the . railway people, but tho owners of the dogs were clearly liable. Assessors were appointed on both sides, and the damage agreed upon at -£240, and this amount was paid in full satisfaction of tho damage done, Buildings erected by the Government for the uso of tho publio have usually some little deficiencies, however well intentioned tho builder is, and however anxious the Government is to meet the wishes of the people of the locality, but the now courthouse at Waikouaiti seem 6 to havo fallen considerably short of the ordinary requirements of a courthouse. At tho sitting on Thprsday, Major Keddell, who presided, came forward at the. opening of the court and, gravely seating himself in the place usually occupied by tho. clerk of the court, explained to the various mcmbere of tho Bar that ho was sorry to liavo to say that it ho took lus eeat on the bench thoy would probably bo unable to see that ho was sitting there at all owing to the height of tho bench above tho seating accommodation. Ho said, with somo humour, that ho thought it was highly desirable that they Ghould know that ho was thoro, and that' lie also should ,bo awaro of their presence, and that he should ho able to got an ocoasiohal glimpse of tho witness to see his demeanour during examination. All tho members of tho Ban fully cympa.thised with his Worship, Mr Stilling 1 remarking that if any professional man wished to reach tho. solicitors' table from the body of tho court lie had the pleasing option of clambering over tho top of a rather formidable-looking barricado or of cftwling underneath it. His Worship looked a little sceptical at this statement, but was subsequently oonvinced that it' wa6 quite accurate. Not the least amusing featnro of tho courthouse- is a. door which has a most extraordinary method of closing itself. This was shown when his Worship was leaving tho bench at the hmohcon adjournment, and it was discovered that the door leading to his I'oo.ni had closed 1 itself, and could not bo opened without tho assistance of tho constable, -who explained that the door was frequently guilty of tho eaiw conduct.

Messrs A. Thomson and J. Mill, J.P's., preside! at the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, when William ' Sadler was charged with damaging proporty by smashing a window at Sawyers' Bay, and also with having made use of .obscene language on tho Sawyers' Bay Railway Station and on an adjacent rodd-on August.3l. Tho bench held the charges proved in each case, and fined aocusod £3 or a month's imprisonment on each charge, and ordered him to pay the amount of damage done, tho sentences to "bo cumulative. Accused, who had previously been before tho court, haile from Sydney, and eloctcd to go to gaol. To-day is the centenary of the-arrival of Robert Morrison, the first 1 Protestant missionary, in China, In ocksbratioh of tho event memorial services will bo hold tomorrow in many of tho churches. Tho Rev. G. H. M'Nenr, the missionary of the Presbyterian Church to. tho ; Canton. Villages, will take tho service in First Churoh in the morning and in Knox Churoh in ■tho evening. . ,

Tho honorary treasurer of tho Public Art Gallery acknowledges, receipt of the following subscriptions to the Building Fund:- 1 Brisooo and Co. (Ltd.), £10 10s; Mr John Oook (Port Chalmers), £5 ss; Mr A. D. Bell- (Shag Valley), £5 ss; Mr John Gibson (Ashley Downs), £5; Messrs lies and Poole, £1 Is; and Mr F. G. Cray, £1 16, •

It would appear that provision is already 'being mode in regard to the appointment of a valuator by a Crown tenant, to aet with tho Government valuator on tlio expiry or surrender of a lease. It will be remembered that tho Dunedin Branch of the Farmers' Union passed a resolution suggesting this.' In tho now Land Acts Amendment Hill now under oonsidoration tho appointment by a Crown tenant of a valuator is provided for in sections 12, and 18.

The fanncHi in Soutli Canterbury have been roused by the measures taken by tho trades unions to get farm labourers included in the Arbitration Aot. A farmer from tho vicinity writes to say that the unionists avo vehemently attacking "not only employers, but all our existing institutions," At present, the local Farmers' Union consists of & solitary branch at Fail-lie, but it is understood that- after tho Canterbury Arbitration Court case, is over an effort will to made to revive -the union.

It may bo remembered that edme time after tho memorablo naval conflict in tho Japan Sea which resulted in the destruction of tho Russian fleet by Admiral Togo, a number of Dunedin gentlemen who wore impressed by the great skill displayed by the Japanese Admiral decided to show their admiration of him in some appropriate manner. A warmly congratulatory illuminated address was prepared,- and this and a very handsome silver casket were in due course sent to Japan, through the British Ambassador at Tokio, for Admiral Togo's acceptance. It has been -matter for surprise for some time that no a<4mowlodgincut of receipt of tho address and caskct had been received, but yesterday this came to hand in the shape of a faosimilo letter addressed by Admiral Togo to each of tho gentlemen who signed the address, accompanied by an excellent portrait of tho great naval officer, with his signature attaolicd. Tho following is th© text of tho letter, 'which is written from the Navy Goneral Staff Department, Tpkio, and dated '25th February, 1907:—"Allow mo to tonder to yon my most sinoare thanks for the very kind address you have sent' mo in recognition of tho plight services I rendered to my country during the Into war, Thobcantiful silver casket which I'received through his Excellency Sir Claude Macdonald I shall ever treasure as a memento of the kindly feelings whicli have been 6h'own towards mo by unseen friends beyond tho seas. I beg in- conclusion to thank you once more, and request you to do me the favour of accepting my portraits, of which I herewith present one, as a slight'token of my gratitude, to eaoli of tho gentlemen who ■havo lxen good enough to 6ign the addrc&s. —I am,, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Admiral H. Tooo." The portraits will, no doubt, be treasured by the recipients. . • ~

A deputation from the Competitions Society waited on the Finance Committee of tho City Council yC6tcrday afternoon to solicit tho support of the council in ita aims and objects. Mr I*. J. Stilling, who aotcd as spokesman, said, among other things, that they sometimes heard it said that tho competitions wore,of no valve. So mo people had even gone so. far as to say thoy were positively hampering. Those opinions had oome from peoplo who were more fortunately circumstanced than others, and whosolohildro.n would not have to make their own way in life unaided. Competition, Mr Stilling .maintained, existed throughout (he realm of Nature, and expressed tho chilly, but corroct, doctrine of tho survival of the fittest. Wo understand that as an outcome of the conference a recommendation will be'brought before tho next meeting of the oounoil to the effect that the society be granted a donation of £25 in aid of its funds. Accustomed as wo aro in tliese tithes to quietly acquiesce in the dogmatio statement that these aro degenerate days, when physical prowess is ona different footing from that existing in the palmy daj-6 of half a century ago, it would yet 6eom that thore still exist a fow hardy spirits who do not admit of tho general chargo of degeneracy. This

hard old Covenanter preachers and their reoords of Sunday marches and -expounding performances will -bo comparatively familiar. 'An instanco has come under our notioo which would indicate that in t-ho giving forth oE the Gospol tie clergy art!' still prepared to perform physical toil, and ■that, too, under adverse circumstances. Without mentioning any specific locality boyond eaying that- the district in which this incident occurred is not 100 miles from Duncdin, on a recent stormy Sabbath, when tho rains descended and the floods came and tho wind howled dismally across dreary and wast© spaces, a preacher left his homo to walk seven miles to a house of worship, there to conduct the'service, which done, ho oontinuod on his • ray a further three miles for aftornoou and evening services. Having delivered three sermons (not short ones) 'he sturdily set forth on his 10-milo tramp homewards, on reaching which ho might justifiably claim that, with 20. miles to his credit and three sermons addod, he had not idled away tho Jay in vain stirmisingp.

Whilo pluokily attempting to 6top a runaway horso harnessed to a butcher's cart yesterday morning in the city, a young man named Arthur Botting was knocked down, and one of the wheels passed over his body. He was removed to the Hospital muoli shaken. Inquiries at a late hour last night showed ho was favourably. Tho estont of his injuries has not yet been ascertained, but it is thought that no bones have been brdken.

A correspondent who read Mr Hargroaves's views on tho ravages of the white pine borer, published in our issue of yesterday, lias drawn our attention to the following paragraph in the "Soionce Notce" in tho July number of-Chambers's Journal, in which tho efficacy of a preservative of timber known as solignum is set forth: — "The claims of solignum, a preservative for wood, stone, and brick work, appear to'deserve attention, especially in tho first connection, for the reports which are coming in from various countries arc of a highly favourable character. It is a protootkm against docay, fungus, dry-rot, and tho ravages of insects; but it is moro especially in rolatioij to its power of protecting wood against the onslaught of the white ant that tho reports are principally concerned. As is only too well known to those who have lived in countries whore this terrible insect abounds, its ravages among woodwork of every description axe a very serious matter. In a report from Mr A. L. Butler, of tho Soudan Government, a description is given of a comparative test made with stakes of wood treated with solignum and other similar stakes untreated. In a week or two the latter were addled by whito ants, and when withdrawn from tho ground wore found to bo practically oonsumed, luto the eamo hole? tho solig-num-treate<l stakes wore- then driven, and 13 months later, when 1 tho report was made, the stakes wero found to bo absolutely as sound as on the day they were put in. Photographs of the treated pegs and tho sections which remained of those' which had not been treated form a convincing accompaniment to;fh) report. In another report from Sydney, Now South Wales, a wooden curbing is described as having been in position for five years, and remaining perfectly sound at tho ond of that time, while a temporary curbing of similar material untreated had previously been destroyed utterly in six months. Solignum is a preservative stain which is made in three or four different colours, and tho makers are Messrs 'Major and Co. (Ltd.), Hull." t « ' TO-MORROWS CHURCH SERVICES. St. Paui's Cathedral.—B a.m., holy communion; 11 a,m. and 6.30 p.m. (preacher, Rev. H. J. Edwards). First Church.—ll a-, in., Rev. G. H. M'Neurj 6.80 p.m., Hev. Dr Nisbot. All Saints' Church.—B a.m., 11 a.m., 6.30 p.m. (preacher, Rev. H. H. Bedford). St. Andrew's Church.—ll a,in., Rev. A. W. Kinmont; 0.30 p.m., Mr Lyman L. Pierce. North-East Valley Prestyfteriam Church.— 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., Rev. H. B. Gray. Knox Church.—ll a.m.';' Rev. W Hewitson; 6.30 p.m., Rev. G. H. M'Nenr. South Duncdin Presbyterian Church.—ll a.m., Mr T. Miller; 0.30 p.m., Rev. R. Jfetckie. Moray Place Congregational Church.—ll a.m., Rev. W, Saunders; 6.30 p.m., Mr J. W. Shaw.

Moruington Methodist Circuit.—Mornington: 11 n,ni, and G. 30 p.m., Rev. D. J. Murray. Belleknowes: 11 a.m., Mr J. P. Sinwn; 6.30 p.iii., Mr W. Clydesdale. Methodist Oontral Mission, Garrison Hall. Services as usual.

Trinity Methodist Church Circuit. —Trinity Chuich: 11 tun., Rev.jO. H. Laws; 6.30 p.m., Rev. D. Dution. Woodbaugh: 11 a.m., Mi A. E. Stevens; 6.38 p.m., ftllr S. F, Bonton. Wesley Church (North-East Valley): 11 a.m.. Rev. D. Mason; S p.m., Rev. R. H. Wylio; 6.30 p.m., Kev. 1?. F. Williams, Primitive Methodist ' Churches—Dundas street: 11 a.m., Rev. W. Laycock; 0.30 p.m., Rev. C. A, Sims. Kcw: 11 a.m.. Rot. C, A. Sims; G. 30 p.m., Hov. S. Ijailey. Abbotsford: 11 a,in., Mr J. Ifilbum; 6.30 p.m., Mr A. 0. Harris. G-lcnavy: 11 a.m., Rev. S. Bailey; G. 30 p.m., Mr J. L. Robinson. Fairfield: 11 am., Mir W, J. Collison; 6.30 p.m., Rev. W. Laycock. ,Salvation Aimy—7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. Dowling street-: Lieutenantcolonel Knight and (Mhjor Bickerton. South Dunetftn: Ensign and Mib Robertson, North Dunedin: Adjutant Goodwin and Lieutenant Powick.

Cargill Road Methodist Circuit.—Wesley Church, CnrgUl road: 11 a.tn. send 6.30 p.m., Rsv. J. W. Griffin. St Kilda: 11 a.m., Rev. R. F. Williams; 6.30 p.m., Rev. R. H. Wylie. Broad Buy: 11 a.m., Mr T. Ashton.

The Otago Mutual Starr-Bowiett Society will dispose of two appropriations o£ £600 each—£soo tree, £500 sale—oil Thursday, 12th September, at the Trades Hall, Moray place, at 8 o'clock.

Mr Lyman L, Pierce will toio the services in St. Andrew's Church to-morrow evening. This is lilsely to be the hist opportunity the public will have of hearing Mr Pierce from the platform. The Progressive Society will hold an open meeting in tho Trades Hall to-morrow evening, when a programme consisting of musical items, readings, and iccitations will he submitted. '

Young men and strangers to the city are invited to tho Sunday .strangers' welcome toa held in till Young Men's Christian Association . Rooms at 5 p.m. to-morrow. Mr H. N. Hoim&s, the .general secretary of tho Wellington Associafibn, will spealc. The . Sunday school anniversary services in connection with the Glenaven Methodist Church will bo held to-morrow. There will he special singing by the children, and tho preachers in the morning, afternoon, and evening respectively will bo tho Revs.. D. Mason, R. H. Wylie, and li, F. Williams. The usual weeknight gathering, with a. programme of music and addresses, will bo held on Tuesday night. Dorothy, milliner, High street, has on view some lovely costumes, in grey, brown, cream, and green; beautifully made; reasonable price.—Advt,

We havo pleasure in announcing our spring show of season's novelties. We ore making a special feature of our millinery. A visit of inspection is respectfully solicited.— Moliwons. Ltd.—Advt.

Why not have it modernised or repaired? It is surprising what cm be done with oldfashioned or broken jewellery. Have you any put away in a drawer and probably never usod now? We will be pleased ta make suggestions and quote prices.—G. and T. Young, 83 Princes street.—Advt.

Influenza! The present epidemic may be bc3t combated with " Lsuicer " Influenza Cure. The rapidity with which it acta is simply astounding 1 Not a quack, but a scientific remedy. A few doses cure. Prove it; 2s, all chemists.—Advt.

For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is 6d &2s 6d Who is Pmta i)ics?-The most reliable Wr.tohmakar and Jemillcr. oppoiita Coffee r&Uct, Moray place, Dunlin, Ohargo* strictly moderate.—Adrt.