THE HARBOUR HOARD RECLAMATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15350, 13 January 1912, Page 9

THE HARBOUR HOARD RECLAMATION.

Without endorsing the view expressed by Mr l-'iddis that the discussion last night by the Harbour Hoard in committoo of tho engineer's recommendations for the reclamation of a considerable area in the Upper llnrlwitr savoiuvd of

" hole and corner" work—an expression that generally has a sinister application,--we cannot resist the conclusion that it would have been much more satisfactorv to the community if it had the op|Wtunity of knowing the arguments that wete employed by the tneniKrs for and against the pro|Msal. The undertaking to which, by its resolution, the Hoard now stands committed is one that will involve I'ltcli a heavy expenditure that, apart altogether from the fact that the details of the scheme were submitted so Ion:; ag>; ilia: the public may K excused if it has now forgotten a good deal of iKm. it seems to us that a full explanation should have been afforded in ojvn meeting of the conclusion.? that led the Hoard to its decision. This judgment is strengthened by the circumstance that it was only by a slender majority that the resolution of the ]!o:ird was adopted. Tito ad\antagcs to the Hoard of the addition of an area of 161 acres to its endowment are sufficiently obvious if the undertaking is entirely practicable; but, rightly or wrongly, the impression prevails to

Mine extent that an extensive reclamation of the upper end of the hark-tir will he attended by certain dirticuliies. and that it may ak> involve the danger of alTccting tl:e scour, and in these circumstances the action of the Hoard in depriving its constituents of the means of knowing the precise nature of its discussion upon the nutter is certainly to be deprecated.

A meeting of those interested in the propn?«l social and premutation to Mr J. ]•'. Arnold was held last evening. The. attendance was very sritisfactoiy, and kern interest was displayed by ail present. It was decided to hold (he joeial in the Korlv Settlers' I 101 lon February 2. A splendid programme has been provident for, tx> be followed by supper and dancing.

In tho course of a s|>oc\:)i at a social which was tendered to .Mr C. A. C. Hardy, ex-.M.I', for Sehvyn, on Thursday night -Mr James Allen, .M.P., raid that .Mr Hardy's services as Whip had Imen iuvalunblo to tho Opposition. He much regretted that Mr Hardy would not be in the llou.-e, during the coming tictwicm U> keep tho lieform party in order, lio sjxikc of Mr Hardy's work on various M-ssionul committees, and said that ho was a warm sympathiser with the cause of labour, but his services on the Labour Hills Committers were not recognised, lie cxprc.-scd regret that .Mr Hardy would not bo in tho House this Parliament to roup the rewards of bin labours. The party to which ho belonged, which had been in a minority for many year.-, was now strong—he would not say it liad a majority, for that was to bo proved next 'month, and lie felt suro that tho party which had been in Uppotdlion for 20 years could conduct the oll'airs of the country in a manner tluit would enable, it tn meet any crisis. It would Ik> the task of the Reform party to put the finances of the country on a sound footing. They were entering on an, interesting period, and no one couid eay what would happen next month, lie did not lwlicvein three parties. lio hoped a stable jtirty would be evolved. He did not ox|xft a dissolution within three years. Politicians 111 many cases wen; ton parochial, and ho thought many local affairs fchould Ixi entrusted to local bodies. A national feeling should be encouraged. New Zcalanders should cultivate the ideal of efficiency, and if this was done no people could conipeto with them. They had great op|K>rtitnities, and if properly guided and directed they were; in a position to beronio ,1 great lieoplc. Opportunity ehould bo given to all, and his party would sl.:ive in that direction. That might mean self-denial, but this should ho l>orne cheerfully. )To hcid the most profound respect for Mr Hardy :a a man and as a politician, and a House composed of men like Mr Hardy would lie a better Iloiife than the present one. At the conference of Ihe South Island Dairy Association on Tliuivday (says the Lyttelton Times) n. disewsion artse in regard to the question of itilling amongst, cows. Several of Ihe delegates maintained that inslances were known where cows had failed to puss the required test, und were then pin cm to the market and lxiiiglit up by other dairymen. One of the delegates Mated that he did not think anyone with a little knowledge of cows could make such a mistake. Mr l>. C'uddie (director of the Dairy Produce Division of ihe Department of Agriculture) said that the matter bad not been brought under his ihlice, but he thought ihat if the practice became common there would bo little difficulty in obtaining legislation to prevent it.

Farmers in the Clullki district are just now busy with shearing and turnip thinning. Tlio wet weather at tho end of tho year delayed shearing a low weeks, but now the work goes on day after day without a break. The clips are reported to lie (rood. Turni|w are coining on apace, «ml fanners can afford to hue no time in thinning and weeding, hate-fawn crops luivo fared much better than ihose sown early.

The erection of the. building and tlio installation of machinery for the South Otago Freezing Work l .! are being pushed on expeditiously. Although Mr Lvdcrs has lieen hampered by a. shortage of carpenters and by wet weather, ho lias accomplished oommondaliln progicvs with his big contract. Tlio roofing is now lining put on tlio buildings. All the refrigerating plant is on tbe proimds, and another week should see it in place. The machinery contractors (Messrs Chambers and .Sons) are working a la's batch of men 10 Iwurs a day.

11. is expected that tin' Ralchttha water supply will ho completed in less tlui.n tliroo months. It is the lower euid well system, the pinnping .station being n. few yards off tlio rivor on the town side, ami the water is forced up North llalclutha Hill to tho tower, which will ensure an adequate, pressure for nil requirements. The pumping or |wwer station is now erected, and tho contractors (Miwrs llyrnrs and .lohtison) have made a start, with l.ho reticulation work. On this from 20 to 50 men will ho employed. Messrs .Stevenson and Davics havo the contract for the erection of tho towor, and Messrs Clinnibnrs and Sons for tlii! supply and installation of machinery, lK)th of wlikh will lw accomplished in ample time. Mr J. W. 0. Steel, of Dimodin. has been appointed inspector rif works, being chosen from 12 applicants for tho position.

In conversation with a Christchuroh Tress reporter the Hon. I), litiddo (Minister of Internal Affairs) hi id thai the result of thn Parliamentary provision for Coronation memorials had Iktii undoubtedly benelicial to local efforts, especially in regard to town halls and public Willis. Some localities, old feUloinonls, whore I here has lh>en practically no provision for public meetings, had been wtablrd, with the assistance, given, to provide for themselves public, halls which must be of undoubted lieiidit to thn dfc-t riots. These permanent uirciiorials. Air Iluddn said, were all expected to lie finished by the 31st December last, except |Ikv>o that- exist a largo sum of money. There wore, however, a number of localities which found dilliculty in the supply of ma>i cried. These had asked for an extension of time, and this had lven approved, and it was to iv hoped that a preatrr proportion would he completed by the ulo.v of the financial year. Tlio total cost was exported to be inside the Parliamentary provision of £24,000. There were some applications which had okii« in late atxl coulil not bo considered, but they were very few in murJx'r.

'Hie steamer Clutha. is nl present carryill!.' mi tlw whole "f 'he Clutha. River service, while the Civile is I'fiiir; repaired and overhauls! in view of the coining (irain trallic. 'Hie new .stonntcr is working splendidly and giving every satisfaction. She is fa-uor than the. Clyde, and can run to Hcgg's in half ;-n hour less than the time taken by the old boot, and to Ttiapeka Mouth in two hours less. Plenty of cargo w offering for tiio service. King iiMtftly fencing material, coal, and manures fif the up-river trips, and weol for the return. On Wednesday the ("India brought down 150 bales of wool.

One of the signs of |wpular education is the rapidly diminishing numlier of persons who sign till? snarmge rogistor wish a mark instead of in writing (says the .MelUntrue Aire). Simv 1675 the Victorian records show a marked improvement in this respect. In that. year, of tho persons who were married. T.-16 per cent, could not. sign their names. Hy the year IC3O Iho percentage hnd fallen to 1.52 per cent., and since then there has Iwn a jradii.nl reduction, until the latest, records show the percentage to he .29. The pcrrcmaeo of persons in Knpland and Wales who sicti their marriage register wh\h n marl; is !.£2. In Scot-land i>- is 1.31. and in Ireland 5.75. The progress of elementary education is shown in a marked manner by the irarri.w record*. During the five-year period from 1841 '5 alvnit •'? women in every ICO who married in Ensland and Walrs could not write, bin in 1900 the proportion of illiterates was only a little more than 1 in every ICO marriages. In the rase of men tho proportion was 33 in every 100 in the early period, and slightly over 1 in ICO in the latter. In Victoria the improvement is also very striking. Dunne the period 1853-55 about 27 women and !2 -ix-ii in every 100 nurriages signed with marks, aa Aomjrvrxi wilh «ixmt 1 in 300 in 1910.

At tlm Blueskin A. and P. slk>w at Waitati on Wednesday the weight of tho fchoop, the subject of a guessing ronipi'litinn, was 37J11). This was g Ure *«! by Mr T. O'Connoil ami Mis Thorn, who guessed the exact weight. Tlio range of weight* guessed by other competitors was from 68!b to llllli. The special prize for most, points in light horse.s wne awarded to Mr A. S. Orlwll, and Iho special prize for most |K>int« in Iho |xmy chiF.fia was won Mr .las. Samson.

Definite arrangements for tho establishmeiit of the Commonwealth IJank are hanging lire (says Uio .Melbourne Age). It may be that the Federal Liovornmont is searching high and low for :i thoroughly-equipped bunker, able to fill the [motion of governor; it may bo that it is troubled on some |»int of policy; but it is man probable that Minister* are waiting for the voice of tho triennial inter-.Stato Labour Conference at llobart I'ikjii what ia paid and decided then! tho immediate future of tho savings bank pro|«isala will depend. Tim conference'is in this matter likely to bo a higher court term Parliament, and (ho cam-iis. Federal MimMors maintain iho position of making the. governor, when found, rtspoiksihlo for the organisation and establishment of the bank. Ho will Delect his stall', rent, his ollicoi, and draft liis regulations. Thorn are, however, many points on wlmli tlie Cabinet, through iho Treasurer, will have to give instructions. These are questions to which Ministers aro giving earnest attention.

The machinery and plant, also the engine, in connection with tlie suction pump purcha.-od by tlie (,'lutha River Hoard, <tro lying on tho Ualolutha wharf. It is a big consignment, and all of it is apparently in first-clara order. Tho plant will be placed on one of tho stunners for removing sandbars on the occasions of a. low river.

Federal Ministers draw between £1000 and £2000 a year each, but (remarks the Mellxmrne Age) they oiler only £650 a year to men in whom they expect the highest professional qualifications. That is tho figure fixed for Iho experts to bo n|>IK.inted to control tho settlement of tho Northern Territory--the- Lands Commissioner, tho Dircvior of Agriculture tho Protector of Alxiriginos, the Surveyorgeneral, anil tho Commissioner of Railways. It is the figure for which the Minister of External AlFairs expects to get a permanent railway policy. Mr Thomas has aJinouncrtl tli.it Mr Francis, a Victorian railway expert, appointed at £650 a year to superintend the existing railway of' 150 miles to Finn Creel;, has been instructed to report as to the railway he thinks durable for the development of the Territory. The railways wil' cost, many millions; and they are to bo designed for £650! Mr Thomas will be wise in giving ruasonably-pnid assistance, to Mr Francis in this great task

One of the "old timers" at tho Warepa liicilio on Wednesday was Mr Thomas CuthberU-.n, an active man a few months oli 90 years of age, In 1831 he came, with 363 others, in the Mermaid to Melbourne. He has a wonderful .memory for liis age, and cm tell many interesting wories of early Mellxiurne and the gold digging days of Victoria. He oamo to New Zealand in 1854, bis first job being on the laying of the foundations of the old hospital in Dunedin. He was not lucky in the New Zealand diggings.

A visitor from the country, Louis Truvan, has told the .Sydney police how ho wits the victim of a comparatively novel form of conlidciKo triek. On Tuesday week he wua sitting in Hyde Park, waiting to call at the appointed hour on a doctor whom he wisiied to consult for a gouty foot. Three amiable men entered into conversation with him, and after a drink persuaded Truyan to let himself ho examined by a. fourth man. who was introduced as n doctor and n friend of iho others. It was si id that out of good fellowship this doctor would make no cluitrc. All tho men repaired to an hotel, where in a private parlour Truyan undressed at tho "doctor's" direction and was examined. Then t.lio man gave him something out of a small Iwttle. Truyan remembered nr more till he found himself lying undressed in tho hotel parlour next morning. Jti s gold watch and chain, £21 in money, and a gold ring wero missing.

Grain ami root crops in tho Clullia district boar indications of a Imuntiful harvest. Not for years has iho country l>ecn looking so wnll, and one farnior gave it as his opinion that, with a continuance of <lry weather, the oat and wheat crops will ho as Rood as the host ever yet grown. On all rides fanners are joyful, and for once llio tiller of the scil has no complaint to find with tho weather. The bright position is due to the rains of early summer and the inihsequunt dry, warm weather. Slock is also in very pood condition.

Tho merits and demeriis of tarred roadways wero thus discussed at a Scottish County Council meeting, as rcporte<l in a newspaper jiist l<> hand:—At a meeting of Iho Eastern District Committee of lladdingtnnsliiru County Council in Dunbar Sir Archibald Ihichan liepburii, Hart., prosiding, a number of complaints wero undo tlrcit hordes wore falling on the slippery surfaced of larrc<l roads. The chairman disclaimed liability on the part of Ihu committee, pointing out iliut Iho roads wero being so treated by the instructions of the (lovernmont. Mr Itobertson, of Roanston Mains, asked if it was reasonable that roa<ls should lw made for motor care and not for tho ordinary traffic of the district. Mr Tunnard, factor to I.oal Haddington, said that, coining to tho meeting that morning his horse had dipped twiie. ami he had had to walk half along Hie tarred stretch. One gonlloman ho hud spoken to declared thai a tign wvu'd have to In- erected with the wor>L<, '■ Tltia road is only for motorist;;." Tho state of tho road was perfectly disgraceful. Mr Tunnard niuiouiicrd that if he had an accident lie would certainly claim damages. The road surveyor said it was aji exceptionally warm summer, and the miinoMi surfato was duo to tlie steelstudrled tyres of heavy motor <ur.«. It was rosoivrd to repudiate tho claim for dainag,-.

A meeting of Urn suffragan bishops of the proving of Victoria win* held at Melbourne on the <lth inst. for thu purpose, of to the Holy See nature of thioe ecclesiastics for the position of coadjutor to Archbishop L'urr, cttin juro siictvtsionu. The meeting wa.s iii private, and no announcement as to the result of tlu> deliberations wits made. Tim hLihnrw will Fiihinit three names in the order of their choice, and these, acoomI panicd by the recommendations of the i priests, will bo forwarded to Homo. Whilst j the at this trtape are rej pnnletl as strictly confidential, indications I point strvmdy (says the Argus) to the najnc j of the |>yht Kov. IlanioJ Mannix, D.D., | luisidellt of St. Patrick's College. Mayj nooth (Ireland). Dr Mannix ha.s occupied the position since 1505, and prior to that was profe*or of mental and mora! philosophy and pro favor of theology at the s:vme college. Dr Mannix has a considerai>ie reputation a* a whnlar. and, in addition, is a commanding personality, who has exercised considerable intliicnco in tjio e-.'timeis of the Church in Ireland. He lias Ivon honoured a t the Vatican witJi the title of monsigr.or, which was conferred upon him when he was admitted as one of the domestic prelates Dr Mannix Li credited with Imvin;: broad views in religious matters. an<! those wlio liave had the privilege r-f meeting him tr.ico a rrennhlnnco in hu< cast of mind to that of Archbishop (nrr. In 1910 Archbishop O.rr was in Ireland, and it was then understood thar the qiufition of a pumwor who would adapt hirweK to Australian condition'; was in hLs mind. lV>rn in Charlcville, Co: I;, in !804. Dr Mannix is 47 years <f cge. In his boyhood days he wa.s a pupil nt the Christian Brothers' School at Charlcville. and his secondary education was conducted nt St. Column's Collogc, Formoj.

A plucky rrscuo of a. baby in tho Clarence River (New St>nth Walts) was elfccted last week by two boys. A sudden gust of wind eta-Hod tho child's perambulator, and it ran over tho wharf, fulling a distance of about 10ft into 30ft of water, with tho baby in it. Two wnall boys, Sydney Henderson, aged 10 years, and Clarrnco Either, apod 11 years, were fishing on tho wharf at tho timo. llt>u<lr>r*on jumped in willi his clothes on, aiul anight tho baby, which had floated out of tlie perambulator, and waa Kinking. Ho held tho child up. Meantimo Kather jumped in, ami, by tho combined exertions of tho boys, tho bliy was wived. 'Jlio distracted mo'Jinr was on tho wharf, witnessing tho wholo proceedings.

-Mr 'J'. Stagpoolo, heed master of tho Linton School, proposes to appeal against, his dismissal, and the Wangatmi Branch of tho Now Zealand Teachers' Institute has endorsed the appeal. Tim Institute has nominated .Mr It. M'Nab as a member of the Board of ,\pp,.j,l, and tho Wanganui Education Hoard intends to nominate Mr E. L. Broad us tho tthor member, to act in conjunction with tltn stipendiary magistrate. Lngal counsel may not be employed, but the Feilding Star understands that Mr Thomson, at one time a Presbyterian minister, will appear for tho appellant and Mr Fred. Firani will conduct tho board's case. Tho Board of Education has forwarded the following ground for Mr Stagpoolo's dismal] in acoordanco with tho law:-(1) That Mr Stagpoolo's work, na shown by the inspector's reports and evidence, is of .-.noli a nature as to unfit him for ihr. charge of a grade IV school. (2) That ho dots not exercise willicient control over his pupils. (3) That, his demeanour towards hi.-, assistant teacher is unworthy of a man in his pruiiion. (4) That, generally, Mr Stagpoolo is not competent to carry out, to the satisfaction of the Iward, tho duties of head teacher of a grade IV school. Mr Stagpoolo bases his appeal on the following grounds:—(l) That I am a duly-oualilicil teacher. (2) My' professional record is f stisfuctory. (3) My moral character has never been called in question. (4) I lui\o the confidence of my committee and the parents of my pupils.

Wo aru in receipt of a. wall calendar from Messrs Wliitounbp and T-Jinl*. Tho Morninjrton Hand will (Jay to-mor-row afternoon at iho Jhitaui:' tiiinlciif, and Uiu Kaikoru- Hand at .St. Kildn. Messrs E. G Slavoley and Co., fat stifle salesmen, invito I'lilriw of stock [or tho .sales at Additifrlon. At tile strangers' ton nt iJio Youiifr Men's Christian Ai-sr.oinlinn Hcoms, to-morrow, Mi N. Pater-un will g-iv« an address entitled. '.' M,m> After God's Own I]«irt." During alterations anil additions to tho X K. Valley Presbyterian Church, the «r----vices will lie conducted in tho local Town Hall, oouimcneiti;: to-morrow. Tho United Xtarr-liowkott .Society will dispose, of appnrpriations aiiiouniii:.* to £1500 on the Ml.li ini-t. Memliers iouiinjr now will participate. Notices of the following Smiilay services will lie found in tho advertising columns:— Anjrlicnn: Si. Paul's, All SaimV, Presbyterian: St. Andrew's. Kensington. Kirft, Russell .Street. Knox, Ncrtn-Kiist Vallcry, Ojkilio, .Smtli Dltuoilin, l\cs|vn. Congregational: Moray l'ltico. Molhodi'ts: Trinity. Woodhaugh.' Xort.h-East Valley, Cargill Road, Si. Kilda. liroad liny. Garrison Hall. Primitive MothcdiM: Diuh'.i.h Street. Havi>nsli:nirno, IligholilF, Anderson's P.ay, Glenroy, Kow, Fairfield, and Abbotsford. Thectopliioal S'.iciety. The S'vrolary.nf the Money Club report* that applications for loans to tho amount of £395, and for 17 f-h.-irrs. were received ftl this week's ol trustors. Shipments landini? of tho world-famous Triumpli, U.S.A., and Douglas motorcycles. In England, whero competition j s keniost, it has Iwon proved over and over mjain that, those peorlo-s machines stand alone.— Stcdmojn and Wilson, Diinodin, agent*.— Advt For wrddintr and birthday prciwnli try C. Kastabrook. 71 Princes street.—Advt. Mr A. W. Martin, rupture specialist, will rlcsn hi? office in Samson's iluildimr, Hnivling street, from Thursday, the Hl.li, to t.ho end of January, rofnrninjr to Duncdin on Ist February. Will visit Balolutha on the, 11th, 12th. and l.Hli; Core 35th to lft.h: Lrivorcargill from IEIh to 26f.1i January. All loiters ndtlrcwil to Snnieon's lltiildingswill be sent on. —Advt. Williamson's am removing into Dresden Piano Co.'s building. See big h.rgain? in jewellery and silver-plated ware.—Advt. A. D. Edgar, dentist. Cargill's Cornor, South Duncdin. Full upper or lower rot of artificial tooth. £3 3s. Extraction undor pas. 3s 6d. Painless extraction, 2s od each. Additional tooth. Is 'Phono 3089.—Advt. You cannot do bettor than make our estnblifiiimont your huyintr contrn when ynu renuire a wedding or birthday gift. Reliability in jewellery and (silverware, is alwavs associated with our name.—fj, and T. Young (Limited), 68 Princes street.—Advt. Wo recommend for watch, clock, and jewellery repair* A. J. Shaw, 13 Rattray street. Absolutely tho best in Duncd'n.Advt. An aroopt.iblo Christmas or Now Year rrift is Wilkinson and Son's celebrated Old KnglMi Lavender Water, price 2s, 3s 6d, olc. Wilkinson and Son. pharmacists.—Advt. Ycbl When your Btomnch is disordered, liver and kidneys Bluppish and inactive, tho mind noon becomes despondent and t.h<> liody weak. " Wahoo " is a oomploto euro, taken in timo. 2s 6d, chomisti «nd storekeepers.—Advt. Holiday Handkerchiefs.—sCo dozen ladies' cambrio hemstitched handkerchiefs, size 15J x 13J. Host value offered in tho City. Special price. Is lid per dozen.—Mollisons Limited.—Advt. A. B. .7. niakoley, dentist. Rank of Ani trnlasia, corner of Pond and Rnttra7 kt:eot« (noil Telegraph Ofijco). Tulophono lobOAdvL Wno is Petrii Dick?—Tho most reliabLi Watchmaker. JowelUr. and Optician, o-ino-»ito Palaeo ITotol, Moray olnco. Dur.odin Charges strictly moderate—Advi.