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Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 4

Two Dunedin local Bills were reported from the committee stage in the House of Representatives yesterday without either discussion or alteration. Theso were the Dunedin District Drainago and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill (the Hon. J. Allen) and tho Borough of Mornington Tramways Act Amendmen Bill (Mr C. E. Statham). Another local Bill received very favourable treatment. This wna the Chnsfcchxirch. Electrical Supply Empowering Bill, against which in the committee stage considerable opposition was directed. An amendment by Mr Davey, however, plucked that opposition, and yesterday complimentary speeches by Messrs Craigio and Word alono occupied the third reading stage, after ivihich the Bill was unopposed,

Tho City Fire Brigade turned out to a fire at 4.31 a.m. yesterday,. the building being a shop and dwelling in King street, near Dnko 6treet, occupied by Messrs M'Ra e and Co., bakers. The building and contents were rather badly damaged by the time tho brigade arrived, but tho outbreak was quickly supprtGsed. Tile premises, which aro owned by Misa Allan, were insured in the Norwich Union office for £250, and tlio contents were insured in the National office for £500. The cause of the tiro is unknown.

The Public Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives reported yesterday that it had no recommendation to make regarding the petition of Mr J. T. Sullivan, of Dunedin, for reinstatement as inspector of fisheries, or compensation for services rendered.

At tKo meeting of the Western Taieri Drainage Board yesterday the clerk (Mr W. M'Lean) stated that a oopy of a proposed award for the working conditions of labourers had been received from the Otago General Labourers' Union. Ho stated that if the conditions suggested by tho union were adopted it would mean tihat the wages bill of the board would be increased by 154- per cent. Several members of the board expressed the opinion that if tho .award became law tho board would be compelled to give up office. It was decided merely to receive the letter.

The ballot taken by the members of the Dunedin Tramways Union on the following different issues has resulted as follows:—In favour of affiliation with the United Federation of Labour and the Social Democratic Party, 15; against, 132, In favour of affiliation with tho United Federation of Labour only, 3; against, 140. In favour of affiliation with the Social Democratic Party only, 8; against, 139. In fivour of continuing with tho United Labour Party, 36; against, 109. It will thus be seen that tho local tramway men havo decided to havo nothing to do with any outside labour organisations, their intention being to help to try to re-form the Now Zealand Fedcration of Tramway Employees.

So far the Union Steam Ship Company has not received many definite inquiries for space for shipment of eggs to Vancouver under tho arrangement made, with the Department of Agriculture. Tho only real inquiry has oomo from Christchurch. Unless tho consignments can bo considerably supplemented, tho company will bo unable to provide accommodation for them. Hie prospective cargoes were 203 cases spread over steamers running from August to November, whereas from 270 to 300 cases would be required to fill a chamber on one steamer. An early indication was desired as. to tho quantities likely to be sent forward, and tho department urges private producom and poultry farmers to make arrangements for tho shipment of sufficient quantities to fill the spaco in order to test tho Vancouver market on a proper scale this season,

A story is going tho rounds that ono day this week a young man, with a well-assumed air of dejection, waited on the 6enior member of a well-known firm of undertakers. He stated that Ms little daughter had just died, and that ho wished the firm to undertake the funeral arrangements. He also gavo his name and address and tho name of the doctor who had attended his child in its last illness. The undertaker was professionally sympathetic, and took a note of the information detailed to him. Tho young man then himself of tho fact that he had been employed in the country, and as lie bad had to leave his work in a hurry to come to town, and had not had time to collect his cheque for wages due, ho did not suppose there would bo any objection to the undertaker waiting a week or two for his payment. The undertaker had no objection—he often had to wait for his money. Everything being thus arranged satisfactorily, the young man mado to depart, but with hand on tho fyandle of the door, and with fitting hesitation, remarked that, as he was a bit short of money, perhaps tho undertaker could lend him 10s to tide him over a day or two, and this amount could be returned when the total amount came to be paid.. Seven shillings, however, wero all the undertaker had on him, and this was at onco handed over. The climax is thaj the people at the address given knew of no sick child, and the doctor named had likewise never heard of the case. The ingenuity and impudenco of the confidence trio|j man arc apparently unlimited.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that news has been received that the Pioyal Sooicty has awarded its silver medal to Sir Joseph Ward for the paper on "New Zealand aa a Place'of Residence," which Sir Joseph read before the society. Tho Town Clerk received a telegram from Cr Marlow yesterday stating that he had been delayed out of town, and would, therefore, bo unab'o to attend tho meeting of the Electric-Lighting and Powijr Committee that had been called for yesterday afternoon. Cr. Marlow wired that a meeting was essential, and suggested an adjournment until this afternoon to enable him to bo present, Yesterday's meeting was accordingly adjourned until 5 p.m. to-day, when the situation at Waipori will be fullv discussed.

When Mr Waite (curator of the museum) returned to Chratchurch on Wednesday evening from the Macquarie Islands (says a Press Association telegram), he brought with him four livo penguins and placed them in an enclosure in tihe museum grounds. It seems that tho enclosure was broken at one point, for when the pen was visited yesterday morning it was found that tho. birds had, if not exactly flown, at any rate vanished. A search was .instituted, and two of them were soon discovered marching along Rolleston avenue. A (third was found in one of the greenhouses in the domain, but no trace could be found of the fourth. It was thought possible that it might have got to tho river and be well on his way to sea. Mr Waito received a message from the police station that a strange bird had been "arrested" at 5 a.m. in tho public thoroughfare and placed in the atchHouse, and inquiries were made as to whether the curator knew anything about it. A messenger was and tho wanderor once more joined his companions at the museum.

On Tuesday afternoon, Miss Hetty Wright-, aged 22 years, the eldest daughter of Mr W. Wright, Balclutha, disappeared* from her home. Chi her parents making inquiries in the evening, they learned that she had been seen walking towards tho Clytlha River. Her footsteps were tir.eed to the river bank, and the last of them Showed that the heols had been placed firmly together just at the water's edge, where the river runs deep and swift right into tho bank. Since Tuesday night ihe river has been dragged for several i?-ilcs, but nothing further lias been found, nr.d it is generally feared that the young ladv has come to a sad end. Beyond tho fact that she (had not enjoyed good health lately, there is no known cause to suggest reason for a self-inflicted end to a bright and promising life.

A fully-attended meeting of members of the United Starr-Bowkett Building Society was held last evening at the secretary's office, to dispo6e of the second appropriation, being a sale of £500, in the nevlyformed No. 3 group, which has just commenced operations. The Chairman of Directors (Mr E. A. Rosevear), wno prosided, stated that the succcess of the group had exceeded the expectations of tho directors. There had been a very large number of shares taken up, and the absolute suocess of tho group was assured, and regular ballots and sales coukl be looked for from now on in the group. The sale was then proceeded with', and/ the £500 was disposed of at £50 per £K)Q.

The cutter Antelope is reported to have returned to Bluff a few days ago from the vicinity of Dusky Sound with about 70 sealskins, as tho result of a. seal hunt along the West Coast. From all accounts tho fur seals arc very scarce, and it is freely surmised that more than one well-6tocked rookery was depleted by poaching vessels during tho past year. According to ono statement, a. largo cache of sealskins was discovered hidden in a remote spot on t Stewart Island, and it is said that one enterprising . individual improved the shining hour by annexing 300 skins from the hidden store, but no information has boen vouchsafed regarding his disposal of the booty.

A number of Port Chalmers residents waited upon Mr J. R. Monson on Wednesday evening to discuss a proposal to form a local old identities' Association. The suggestion was warmly received, and it was decided to convene a publio meeting at an early date to form an association of residents who arrived prior to 1870.

A highly interesting lecture was given by the Rev. T. A. Pybus in the Choral Hall last evening in connection .with the Bolivian Indian Mission. Tho title was "South America." Having travelled extensively in Uruguay and Brazil, the lecturer was able to give a series of vivid first-hand .'mpressions of tho various South American republics, the towns, nativo villages and habits and customs of the various tribes, Special reference was made to mission work amongst the Indians in Bolivia, where evangelistic work is being actively engaged in by zealous workers under tihe auspices of the mission. Tho lecture was well illustrated by about 100 lantern slides, many of them being from photographs taken by the lecturer during his havels under tho flhadow of the Andes. The lecture was listened to mo6t attentively by a large audience, whoso knowledge of those remote regions l was increased in a very agreeable manner by tho information supplied by Mr Pybus, who was accorded a very hearty voto of thanks at tihe close. Mr Parker operated the lantern skilfully.

In conscquenco of several complaints that had been made by tramway conductors and others of tho dangerous nature of long, and unprotected liatpina worn by many women (says our Auckland correspondent), the municipal authorities exhibited great activity last week regarding tho enforcement of tho hatpin by-law. Notwithstanding that this by-law was adopted by tho city council two months ago, the practico of wearing clangorous hatpins lias not ceased, Two municipal inspectors spent an afternoon in travelling on different tramoars, with the result that a number of passengers were found to bo transgressing the by-law. Thoy'aro to bo invited to justify their conduot by appearing at the police court shortly. It is -understood that over 40 cases of breaches of tho by-law were reported. ; Our Greymoutli correspondent states that in the opinion of the Greymoutli Harbour authorities, the raising and extending of tho north breakwater wall has already resulted in a marked improvement to the bar.

Mr Hewton, a resident of Ranfurly, who has been engaged in carrying the mails from Palmereton to Ranfurly during the dislocation of the service on the Otago Central lino, met with an accident on. his return journey yesterday afternoon.. He was bringing down the mails in a motor car from Ranfurly, and carried witih him a lady passenger. On' the road between .Kyebum and Pigroct the car skidded and went over tho bank. Fortunately neither of the occupants was hurt, but the car had to be abandoned, and the mails and tho passenger were taken back to Kyeburn in a horee conveyance. It is. understood that Mr Hewton, who has been doing very good work with the mails, secured another car, and hoped to reach Palmereton with the mails at midnight.

During the early part of her lecture on the " Evolution of Worlds" last evening, Miss Mary Proctor made reference to Bome of tho latest developments in solar reseaich, and while doing so referred to tho gift recently made by Mr Thomas Oawthron, of Nelson, which had enabled New Zealand to form tho final link in tfno chain of solar observatories girdling tho earth. The work, said Miss Proctor, was of value not only to New Zealand, but was of international importance.

lix accordance with tho agreement entered into between the Police Department and tho city council, the control of the street traffio in tho city of Auckland will bo taken over by tho department on Monday (says our Auckland correspondent.) The Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) has written to the Hon. A. I/. Herdman (Minister of Justice) stating that the city council lus executed ilio deed of agreement with the government. The agreement, with certain alterations which had been decided upon, has been forwarded to tho Minister, for execution on his part. Mr Parr has asked tho Minister to instruct Superintendent Mitchell, of Auckland, that the new arrangement begins on Monday. Under the agreemenl! tho sum of £600 per annum is to be paid to the Government by the oouncil. The police aro to bo stationed daily at tho fivo chief points at which it is considered traffic is likely to becomo congested, and they will also generally supervise tho traffic at other places.

English files recently to hand show that in Northumberland and Dunham much ia being done to perfect colliery rescue appliances. Three hundred and fifty colKeriea are affiliated with the ooal owners' association in laying down three new stations, which aro to be equipped with the best fire-extinguishing appliances that can be obtained. With one exception, in Northumberland, the whole of the 350 collieries can bo covered by four stations. Distinct from tho firo engines, tihe rescue tenders are powerful motor care fitted with special accommodation for rescue dresses, portable telephones, canaries for detecting tho presence of gas, pumps, and other sundries o£ an essential character. Liquid air is to he carried in vacuum flasks introduced into tho rescue dresses. The fire brigade is extended to cope with pit head fires and protect colliery property. In Durham and Northumberland about 60 per cent, of tho 'miners' houses belong to the ooal owners, and as very ferw villages have adequate firo extinguishing appliances, the coalowners have offered tho use of the fire brigades to tho local authorities. Tho amount of money to be spent on tho scheme \>y the ooal owners is £40,000.

It has been pointed out to us that onr report of ono passage _in Mr Bedford's speech on Wednesday night on the Democratic vote pledge may lead to sonje confusion. What Mr Bedford said. was that in a total vote of the same number as at tho last licensing poll, the prohibitionists would require to secure a majority of over 100,000 above the vote then recorded.m favour of continuance in order to secura national prohibition.

Trains will run between Clyde and Ranfurly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until further notice, leaving Clyde for Ranfurly at 8.50 a.m., and Ranfurly foB Clyde at 1.20 p.m.

Tho writer's pen fails to do justice to the latest B.S.A. motor cycles. Inspect these masterpieces of mechanical ingenuity for yourselves.—'Wilson, Bond street—Advt.

Wo offer a very fine lot of Uncn-fiiiieH pillow oases, full size. Special inducement price, Is 9d per pair—MoUisons.—Advt.

A. E J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.—' Advt.

For Chronio Chest Complainte. Woods? Great Peppermint Cure, 1b 6d, 2s 6d. —Advt :

11. Gunthorp, resident dentist, Balctatha, visits Milton, Kaitangata, and Owaka. Telephone 54.—Advt

"Eczema Cur? 6170" is a rta! boon to eczema sufferers. Made and sold bv Wilkinson and Son chemist* Princes 6treet; is bd, alio posted to all parts—Advt.

"Catching a cold." with its attendant sore throat, nasty oough, and " stuff ed-up" head, is common enough, but " Benjamin Gum " is now "veil known as the one quick and perfect cure. Is 6d bottle. It relieves immediately I—Advt.

Who is Peter Dick?— The most reliabla Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Prince* st.), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt