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Otago Daily Times, Issue 14757, 14 February 1910, Page 5

Tiioro is now a marked improvement in tho, health of the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), who hopes to be. able to leave for tho south this evening.

The list of business for tho sitting of the Arbitration Court, commencing in Dunedin on tho 28th inst., closed on Saturday. In addition to tho cases mentioned in theso columns on Saturday morning, two others havo been filed with tho Registrar of Awards (Mr T. B. Robert6)-nainely, application to add parties, Dunediii carriers' award (214 parties to bo added); compensation ease, in ro James A. Sharkie, deceased (Messrs Downio Stewart and Payne), motion for apportionment of fund amongst dependants; Charles Trevor M'Goun, storeman, Dunediii (Mr C. E. Statham) v. Patcrson and Ban- (Ltd.), Dunediii, claim for compensation.

Two burets occurred iii tho. jDunedin water maina during Saturday mid Sunday. Tlio liret occurred ut 10.30 on Saturday night,"in King' Edward road, between Cargill's Corner and M'Brido street, ,ai\d a fairly largo volumes of water was discharged on to tho street beforo tho main was cut oil'. Shopkeepers in tlio vicinity were kept busy for a timo sweeping tho water back from the front' of tlioir promises, Dut no danugo was sustained, Kepnirp woro clfccled yeotorday morning. Much more wrioua was tho second buret, which occurred at 1.35 p.m. yesterday, in p f i nMS sheet, immediately in front of tho Post Office, and bot,wceii two sots d tramway rails, Tlio.'incrcnsod pressure in the main consequent upon tho reduced quantity of water, used'on a Sunday evidently found a flaw, and a fairly largo blow-out was Iho result. A huge volume of water gushed out from the break, and flowed out on to tho footpath on tlio west eido of tlio street. Two or tlirco minutes more would have scon several cellars flooded, but Mr Crawford, water inspector, was promptly on the scene, and had tho main turned off beforo any serious damage was done. A start was mado almost imlnediatelv to effect repairs, but tlio liar* nature of the grounds be broken through and the frequent interruptions caused by tho'running of the trams, made the task a .-Jifficult one. Shortly after 10 o'clock lust evening, however, the main had been repaired, nrid tho filling up of the excavation'that had been made followed Bhortly afterwards. I

Information, was received by Inspector O'Brien from Kaitangata yesterday that . young man named Thomas Shore, employed as a guard by the Turatu Coal and Railway Company, had committed suicide at 1 o'clock yesterday morning by pluchi" a gun in his mouth and discharging it° the top of his head being blown oil °Tho young nian was a sou of Mf Thomas Shore, mine manager for tho Taratu Company.

Passengers by tho Peninsula Ferry Company'siMoorangi had a rather anxious lime on tho journey down tho harbour on Saturday night Tho Mocrangi left Dunedin at 9 45, us usual, but some alarm was caused thoso awaiting her at Broad Bay when twfl hours slipped past the appointed time for her arrival and there was still no appearance of her. Constable Fox then decided that it was timo somo action was taken to ascertain the cause of tho delay, and, in con/pany with several week-enders, wont out in a motor launch in search of the ferry boat. At 3 a.m. .they found her stuck hard and fast on a mud bank in the vicinity c[ Russell's Jctly, where she bad boon since 10.15 p.m. After considerable trouble fihe was towed oil' by the motor launch, and reached Portohello at 4.30 yesterday morning. There were some 50 passengers on board, and if sbo had not been assisted .qfF she must have remained there very much longer. The fact of hor running aground was duo to the cxtromo darkness of the night, and tho absence of any lights in llio harbour, a matter about which passengers/complained freely. It has been pointed out that a light is required at Macandrow's, also at Grassy Point. These would serve au excellent purpose, just as

tho ono at tho Three Legs has done. Though tho position of tho Moerangi was apparently at no time it dangerous one, and she actuolly sustained no damage, the action taken by Constablo Fox is to be highly commended, as is also that of thoso who assisted him. These wero Messrs Somcrville and White (owners of the rescuing launch), 11. Seblaadt, B. Buckley, J. D. Thomson, J. Carman, and N. Moore.

There was a good attendance of men at the strangers' tea . at, tho rooms of tho Young Men's Christian Association 'on Sunday afternoon. An address was given by Mr 11. Brand on "Tho Consciousness of God." Tho subject was based on iho text referring to Moses—"For ho endured all things ae seeing Him who is invisible." Interesting and instructive lessons were drawn from the lives of some of the Old Testament characters, and from the lives of such men as Gladstone, Washington, and Lincoln, men who wero conscious of God's presence. Tho speaker said that, years- ago, people recognised tho hand of God in everything, but at the present time materialism was rampant., To bo successful, wo needed a knowledge of the consciousness of God, for by this knowledge '& I man was lifted and dignified, and his life was mado a, power.

- Owing to Iho engine of fhs early morning train from Outram to Mosgiel failing near Wyllie's Crossing on Saturday morning, passengers who would- otherwise have connected with tho Mosgiel train, and reached Dunydin ut 12 minutes to 9, did not arrive in town until 10.30 a.m. During last week 29 patients were admitted to tho Duncdin Hospital, and 35 discharged, leaving a total of 120 remaining in the institution at tho close of the week., There were no deaths recorded during the week. Cr Taplov informed a Times reporter on Saturday that ho had definitely decided to be a. candidate for the city mayoralty at the forthcoming election next month. Cr Colo has also announced his candidature. It seems reasonably, certain that the contest will bo confined to these- two candidates. Dr Vnlintino, Inspector-general of Hospitals, returned to Duncdin from luvcrcargill on Saturday evening. Subsequent to Ins arrival ho was mot by members of tho Hospital Board, and the question of representation on the new board for Otago district was again discussed. It had been decided at a conference held on Friday night that tho now board should be constituted of 15 members, but it was afterwards found that a slight mistake had been made in computing. the representation on a population and valuation basis. As a result of tho reconsideration of the matter on Saturday night it has been decided that tho Otag<i Board shall consist of 14 members. The minimum number of members allowed on boards ( under the now act is eight, and tho maximum 20.

Attention has been 'repeatedly directed to tho ravages caused by black swans to the Bluff Harbour fishing interest, moro especially amongst tho young flounders. Of lato it has been very serious, and tho fishermen have.now interested themselves in the matter to the extent of promoting a petition asking for the removal of, the protection afforded to the swans. The petition, -which is being numerously ,-igned, will be forwarded to tho authorities shortly.

Tho Supreme Court case Scott Bros., oi Christchui'ch, v. Waikouaiti County Council, has been fixed for; tho 21st inst.

The quarterly criminal session of the Supremo Court will commence this morning at half-past 10. There ore seven owes on tho list, comprising charges of vagrancy, theft (three cases), breaking and entering, and indecent assault (two cases). In tho case of theft against the three men (Ernest Burgess, Edward Pylo, and John Healcy), whoso c<ise stands over from tho last session on account of the non-appeara.rice at that timo of the prosecutor, it is understood that tho Crown prosecutor (Mr J. F. M. Eraser, K.C.) will U sk that tho aeouscd bo liberated, as the prosecutor has not come forward.

Our Pembroke correspondent states that on Thursday tho, members and certain officers of the Southland Education Board yisited that district, and made nn official inspection, of tho board's property, there. Tho party did not reserve all its admiration for the scenery whilst havelling there, for tho magnificent grain crops of tho district excited its wonder and enthusiasm. The, travellers included in their number two. M.P.'6—Messrs G. J. Anderson and ,T. C; Thomson-and the member for Wakatipu, Mr W. Frascr, has also recently been a visitor to Pembroke.

The chairman of tho Southland Frozen Meat Company, at Invercargilt on Saturday, in reviewing tho prospects of tlio company for iho forthcoming year, said that, the most, and probably the only.' disturbing fcatmo was tho vory light ramfull experienced in the province during some time past. There was at present a largo area that, was not watcrod,/and tho grass'might better Do dcicribed as hay. There- was plenty of feed, but iii msuy places there was not a drop of water for. the sheep, owing to the springs and creeks drying up, and tlio fact that the moisture in the subsoil had been drawn away. They badly needed a large quantity of rain to rcchargo tho subsoil.,- That, of course, had affooted tho stock, which, without water, became unhealthy, took the diseases to which young; lamb flesh }vas heir, and disappeared. The result was'that a large numbor of 'lambs and sheep were boiii? frozen that should never have been placed in tho freezer, and that fact would, of course, affect the price, and also the freezing companies. Wo crc informed that Mr W. Barclay has given jiotico of tho following motion for the first ordinary or extraordinary meetin:,' of tho Otago Harbour Board;-"That a committee be appointed to inquire into and report on the circumstances under which occupation of tho reclaimed land at Kayeiisbourne was given to Messrs William Barclay and Thomas Ross, and ako the conditions under which (hey now hold that land, the committee to have power to call for all- papers, and to take such evidence as it. may consider necessary. Tho inquiry to lie open to the public.'-'

At the Pohangiua-Komakti Farmers' Union annual picnic, on Saturday (says a Piiluierston North telegram), •Mr Guthrie, member for Oroun, referred to tho need for developing farmers' education.' 1 ' He said:—"The farmers produce seven-eighths of tho wealth of the Dominion, and should have special consideration in education, ivliilo town-dwellers have primary, secondary, university, and technical education avaii-'.ble, farmers' families usually have only'primary cdiionion within Uieir reach, The farmers of other nations uro being educated on sciontiiio lines, and if we could not lead, at least wo should not bo left ioo far behind. An endeavour should be made to have agricultural education spread so that wo would have not one, but several, agricultural .colleges for 'ho sake of tho future of New Zealand," »lr Guthrie was formerly u teacher, and *Poko as an educationist a* well as a farmer.

Mr F. It. Hallam, fruit inspector of tho Nelson district, left. Wellington for Tasmania last week. This is tho first visit paid to his native country by Mr Hallam since Jus appointment to the Department of Agriculture. His mission is to investigate tho Tasmanian methods of shipping fruit to oversea markets, in view of the trial shipment of apples ».o be made from Nelson lo London in March,

During tho four weeks ended Saturday last 13,700 bales of wool wero,conveyed by rail to BlulT. Tho dumping and despatch of that quantity was responsible for the employment of ■ a good deal of manual labour ut tho southern port.

The Labour Journal for February, reporting ,on the Women's Employment Branches, states that ■ in Wellington during' January. 70 engagements were made, including 19 generals, 21 charwomen, six housemaids, and six cooks. Tho Auckland agent deplores that there arc so few, domestics available; 210 applications were made for domestics, and 70 women applied for work. Out of these 56 actual engagements were made, the remainder proving much too'difficult to please. A branch of the department has now been established at Nelson, and during the month nine engagements wero made, 30 applications being received from employers, and 16 from employees. The same difficulty appeal's to exist in Nelson as elsewhere—there are more places offering than there are applicants for. ' In Christohuich 80 persons applied for employment, of whom 69 were sent to positions. There is still a great domain! for dressmakers, tailoresses,. machinists, and girls for preserving factories and laundries. At Duncdin 36 workers wero placed, out of 99 applications from omployers and 42 from workers. The agent reports that great difficulty lias been I experienced in placing assistants, the majority of whom havo a decided objection to accept situations ou' of town or in private employment; and of these, especially in the country, there are a, goodly number of vacancies on tho books waiting to be filled. '.

Tho rates on the. New Zealand railways, said the Hon. J. A. Millar to a deputation at Wellington on Friday morning, are lower than thoso in any of the Australasian States. Ho was, ho added, having a comparative return prepared showing tho freight charges for different classes of merchandise in all tho States, side by side with the New Zealand rates, and ho would havo it published as soon as it was complete, and let the people know exactly how much lowor the charges are in New Zealand than in Australia. Even with the recent increases in long-distance charges, our charges were now 15 per cent, lower than those of New South Wales, which wero tho lowest in Australia. Tho fare from London to Glasgow was about 5s or 6s higher than the fare from Wellington to Auckland, although tho distance was live miles greater. If tho public, ho added, wanted all facilities that were asked for, tho only way to give them was by increasing tho rates They could have anything they liked if they would pay for it, but they wanted to get facilities without paying for them.

Tho Sydnoy Daily Telegraph recounts an exciting episode which ocourrod last week at Clontarf, where the Maori village (tho inhabitants of which left subsequently xon their return to New Zealand) was located. A picnic was in progress, during the course of which throe constables, attempted to arrest, a man- for drunkenness, and were assailed by the crowd. Wjiat would have happened to the .police had assistance nob arrived from an unexpected quarter is hard to say, but just as the mob was about to "deal it out" to them, a. blood-curdling war cry rang clear •above the din—the MaoriG had come to the rescue, Nearly a dozen stalwart warriors, who wero preparing to give a haka for tho amusement of tho public, rushed in full array from their village, and were soon in the thick of the fight. At first it was uncertain which cause they intended to embrace, but, much to tho relief of the police and lawabiding citizens, all doubts were soon settled, and with many fearful cries and bellicose gesticulations, they fought their way to the sido of the guardians of tho law, and formed a cordon to protect thorn. Their weird cries and ferocious appearance blunted the zest for battle previously shown by tho ringleaders of tho mob, who did not cave to match their bottles and other impromptu weapons against the murderous looking granite meres which the warriors deftly wielded. At this stage tho" police again arrested their prisoner, and while tho Maoris covered their retirement, and held the crowd at bay, managed to haul him to the wharf. Tho wharf gates were then barricaded, and the prisoner was safely 6hipped to Sydney./ During 1909 the Dominion passed through a period of financial, strain (says Ihe Government Insurance Recorder for January), especially during tho earlier part of the year. "It would have caused no surprise, therefore, if our agency force found it impossible to equal the results of the previous year. The condition of things improved, however, during the latter part of the year/ and the new business procured was considerably greater than for the previous year, amounting to £795,000 (approximately), which is a larger new business for 12 months than has been secured at any time during tho last 24 years." At the sale of the Waikare at Livercargill there were' about 50 business men present. "Forty-five thousand' lies there," said the auctioneer, " and I have the very best reasons for saying that the vessel can bo floated for only £2000. Not only will the purchaser ho buying this fine vessel, but, he will also havo 600 tons of coal and 40 tons of railway iron as well." Bids commenced at £50 and rose in tens to £100. Mr J. K. Jamieson (Invercargill) increased it to £150, and to £170 when Miller Bros. .(Port Chalmers) bid £160. The Port Chalmors firm increased their offer to £180 but Mr Jamieson went up to £200, at whioh business remained at a standstill. "If ever anything was thrown away," said the auctioneer, "it was the wreck of tho Waikare. For this vessel to change hands at £200 is «. disgrace to Southland." There was a clean sheet at tho City Police Court on Saturday.