LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2715, 28 March 1906, Page 16

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the present rate of progress it is expected that the power generated at Waipori Falls will be ready for delivery in Dunedin and suburbr next August. Thus early, energy equal to 320 horse-power is being arranged for on behalf of two firms at present using steam. One firm will require 250 horse-power, the other 70 horse-power. In the latter case 20 horse-power was added to a previous requisition to allow for further development of the works, for which it is required

At the sitting at Mosgiel of the Compensation Court on the 20th, at which the claims of the Momona settlers are being inquired into, the contribution and criticism of expert ■testimony and the civil and hydraulic- engineer and surveyor element were largely an "evidence. Mr L. O. Beal is at present under examination, and after him Mr Hall will he called in the defence, while on the other side on Tuesday Messrs Noble Anderson, Wilmot, and Paterson watched the evidence, Messrs Stark and Hutcheson having ©a. other occasions supplemented this array of expert .talent. There was a great putting together of legal and expert heads over plans when matters of levels and such like were under discussion. The particularly patient and efficient lady typist engaged has already recorded evidence to the extent of well over a hundred closely-typed sheets. and is likely to record a great deal more tefore proceedings are finished.

Judging from present indications, scarlet fever appears to be spreading over a wider area every week, and seems to have got a good hold on Otago and Southland, in spite of energetic measures adopted to prevent further contagion. Within the last six days additional eases of 6carlet fever •have been reported from Kaitangata (twq cases), and one case each from Mosg-iel, Pukerau, Merton, Winton, and Lawrence. Inspector Gladstone visited the latter place yesterday for the purpose . of making inquiries, and to arrange for the usual precautionary methods to be observed ; but, although the latter have been attended to in previous cases, scarlet fever is still on the

The Southland County Council's claim against the Otago School Commissioners for £10,000 for "thirds" and "fourths' from lands within the county administered by tho Land. Board, came before the meeting of the commissioners on the 20th, when 'it was resolved to inform the council that the matter will be inquired into. The claim is evidently one for a very strict inquiry, extending over payments made for the last 20 years or so. The Government has all alone been in the habit of deducting

5s an acre from the rents of the commissioners' endowments, and this deduction the commissioners have understood waa for the payment of "thirds" and "fourths" for roading, etc. It would appear, however, that the County Council contend that this payment is a separate thing. The question will come up again at the next meeting of the commissioners.

At a meeting of the local Advisory Committee of the International Exhibition on

the 20th, Mr A. Moritzson stated that tho Government had agreed to hold a horticul-

tural, pomological, and forestry conference in connection with the Exhibition, and that the conference would probably be held in March, 1907. The various bodies in the Paeifio Islands and in the Commonwealth States would send exhibits of fruit and produce from their orchards and plantations for a special fruit and produce show to ho held at the same time. Mr Moriteson has for some time DGen in communication with the various Horticultural Societies in Australia, and the matters referred to have been brought prominently before them, and also under the notice of the Planters' Associations in the Pacific Islands. As scon as the schedules -are issued these o societies and associations will make arrangements for sending delegates. The fruit and produce exhibition will no doubt be very interesting and comprehensive, and should attract a good deal of attention. Mr Moritzson is also communicating with the Government with the obj-ect of having a fishery exhibition, and thus demonstrating the possibilities for the future of that industry. It will thus be seen, notwithstanding the impression of Mr M'lntyre that Otago is apathetic in matters relating to the Exhibition, that this province is doing something in. the direction of promoting the success of the project. Both Mr Tannock'e and Mr Montzson's proposals have shown good result*, and will no doubt be of great seruce.

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times wires: — "Reports are current that the pruning-knife is to be applied to certain blanches of the Defence Department, which, if carried into operation, will involve the retirement of two officers now stationed in Wellington, and two in Auckland, in v, hich ea=© a yearly saving of over £1000 will be effected."

Speaking at a meeting of the Inv-ercargill Temperance Reform Council on the night of the 19th, the Rev. F. W. Isitt said that it was recognised that the next campaign muet be provided for, and that a scheme had been drawn up to raise the necessary funds, and al=o extinguish the Alliance's present debt of £1500. There weie now over

200.000 no-license voters in the colony, and ii systematic contributions were received from cAen 40,000 or 50,000 the financial jaosi-

tion for the campaign of 1908 would be placed on a sound basis. Under the proposed 6cheme there would be one general fund, three-fourths of which would be devoted to the prosecution of local work, and onefourth to the colonial work undertaken by the New Zealand Alliance.

In response to a letter asking what steps the Government was taking towards water conservation in Central Otago, a reply has been received (the Dunstan Times reports) elating that the matter of water conservation and irrigation of lands had not been lost sight of, and that two officers, Mr D. Barron (Commissioner of Crown Lands) and Mr Wither (District Road Engineer, Canterbury) had been instructed to make a full report on the whole matter. These officers Tiad found that there are a large number of private rights over water races which hare been granted by the various wardens, and it has been found necessary to refer this question to the Crown solicitor in order that the Government may be advised of the legal position. This is all that i 3 delaying the matter, and the Minister hopes to receive the report very shortly.

The Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Ltd.) has (the Christcburch Press states) arranged for the purchase of £50,000 worth of Christchurch Tramway Board debentures. The same company has recently purchased £250,000 worth of New Zealand Government debentures, and has during the past 12 months invested half a million sterling in the debentures of the New Zealand Government and local bodies.

With reference to the proposal to establish a French convict settlement in the Eastern Pacific, the Rarotonga correspondent of the Auckland Star writes that the feeling in Tahiti itself, and especially amongst the mercantile portion of the community, is to the effect that it would be an unwise proceeding if a convict settlement were established nearer than the Marquesas Islands, 600 miles from Tahiti. It is recognised that if proper representations are made by the New Zealand Government through the Home authorities to the French Government, backed up by newspaper opinion, the project ie not likely to be gone on with. The less and disaster caused by the late hurricane has, however, for the present prevented the people in Tahiti it-self from taking any action in the matter.

A remaikable lawsuit has (says the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) just been undertaken against a trades union. Mr Grieg, a well-known provision merchant in Brixton, discharged a man named Rumins for dishonesty. Rumins communicated with, the National Amalgamated Union, of Shop Assistants, who caused a claim to be- made SLaain.it fjj: Grieg for wrongful dismissal.

Mr Grieg paid a week's salary into court in lieu of notice, and wrote to the society explaining his reasons for the man's dismissaL The society then aeked Rumins if he wanted to bring an action against Mr Grieg for defamation of character on the contents of his letter to the secretary of the society. Rumins said he did. An action

for libel was thereupon commenced, but after a time the trades union withdrew its support, and the case was struck out. Mr Grieg then claimed against the trades union for £78, the costs which he had incurred in defending himself, on the ground that the defendants had floated the action for Rumins without reasonable cause. The Lord Chief Justice held that there was evidence of instigation and maintenance, and gave judgment for the amount claimed.

The Westport News, in referring to what it calk " the absolute lack of business methods in the matter of controlling the sale of Seddonville coal " from the State mine, says: — "The Premier must recognise the necessity for an immediate change of policy and probably management. The failure of this mine is not so much a reflection on the mine as a reflection on the management. The coal, if put on the market in a way that the people could get it at small cost, as is possible under good management, would find a ready sale ; but if the present policy of inactivity and pessimism is continued, the sooner the State withdraws from the business the better. Some enlightened management will then be able to take the mine in hand, and run it on business and profitable lines."

The Compensation Court inquiry at Mos. giel into the wrongs of the Momona settlers is still far enough from a termination, and the majority of the witnesses have still to be called for the defence. The crossexamination of Mr L. O. Beal occupied th« whole of Wednesday, and was still unfinished. The patjenoe of the witness, who, like the chairman of th<» Otokia Board, has been now two days answering questions, was admirable up to the yoint on Wednesday when he was examined by Mr Fraser on the subject of explosions, and at that point an explosion in court seemed not unlikely.

We understand that the Drainage Board has decided to advertise for applications for the position of engineer, shortly to be vacated, at a salary of £600 a year.

Our. Naseby correspondent writes: — "A jouruey on horseback that few would undertake under the conditions was made by one of the litigants (Mr W. Brady, of Ida Valley) in a case heard at the Distriot Court at Naseby on Tuesday, 20th. On Monday Mr Brady took his team from his residence at Moa Creek to the Ida s*liey) through to

the Ida Valley Railway Station, then on to the coalpit at Idaburn, where he loaded his , waggon with coal, and proceeded thence to Rough Ridg«, a distance altogether of 32 | miles. He had to be in attendance at the 1 court at Naseby at 10 o'clock next morning, but at 8.30 o'clock on -Monday night found that he had firet to go to Clyde. He started, therefore, and rode to Clyde, a I distance of 52 miles, commenced the return journey to Rough Ridge almost imme- ! diately afterwards, and arrived in Naseby I before the court sat, having, from the time ! he left his home at Moa Creek, covered a distance altogether of 146 miles, 100 of which he did in the saddle." The usual half-yearly sitting of the District Court of the Otago goldfields ' commenced at Naseby on Wednesday, his Honor Judge Ward presiding. Our Na&eby corre. spondent writes : "On his Honor taking his eeat Mr Cutten (on behalf of the local Bar) referred to the fact that his Honor did not anticipate again presiding here, and in appropriate terms referred to bis Honor's long occupancy of the District; Court Bench-, and expressed the hope that he would enjoy for many years o period of well-earned rest. In acknowledging the remarks of counsel, his Honor referred io the changes that had taken place during the very many years that had elapsed since he first presided in the court, and thanked the members of the Bar for their words of I kindly appreciation and good wishes. Hia | Honor then heard the appeal from the Warden's Court brought before him (a report of which appears elsewhere), and after delivering his decision expressed hie satis» faction on this, his last visit to Naseby, with the highly creditable manner in which' counsel on each side had argued his case." Several large gaps have been made in the half-tide retaining wall in the upper harbour by the thoughtless or by persona desirous of taking a short cut across the bay. The- consequence is that owing to the undue rush of outgoing tide at the points referred to large quantities of sand are being continually washed through the gaps into the deep-water channel. It is only natural, therefore, that the Harbour Board officials should regard the matter in a very serious light. As there is a proba* bility bhat legal proceedings will be instil tuted for the purpose of preventing further damage in the direction indicated, 6ome* thing further may be heard about the subject later on. A point upon which stteas had not previously been laid, in connection with tho success of Mr R. A. Farquharson, of Mornington, in winning the third Rhodes scholarship' awarded in the colony, was strongly emphasised in a letter forwarded to the Mayor by Mr James Allen, M.H.R., apologising for his inability to attend tb#

meeting in the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of instituting a movement to mark the citizens' approval of the honour achieved by Mr Farquharson. It is that, Mr Farquharson, like Mr J. A. Thomson, the first Rhodes scholar from New Zealand, is a student from the Otago School of Mines, and, again like Mr Thomson, a student who has given special attention to his geological studies. Mr Allen justly regards with pride the fact that the Otago .School of Mines has produced two out of the three students who have been nominated from New Zealand to Rhodes ■cholarships, and he expresses a hope that, an the face of this success, no one will ever again breathe a suggestion that the school should be removed from Dunedin.

At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Port Chalmers on Wednesday, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., Richard Harrhy (for whom Mr Platts appeared) was fined £2, with lls costs, for entering the Saratoga Hotel, Waitati, during the currency of a prohibition order against him. Several civil cases were either struck out or adjourned.

Mr J. A. Park has presented the Tourist Department with a large panoramio photograph of Queenstown and surroundings, taken in 1876. The photograph will be ihung on the walls of the Dunedin office, and will enable visitors to institute an interesting comparison with Queenstown as it looked in those days and its present appearance, the most noticeable, perhaps, being the improvements effected by treeylanting during the past 30 years.

Various improvements are contemplated in connection with our trans-alpine tourist routes, as" the result of Mr T. E. Donne's recent visit to the "West Coast. It ia proposed to place facilities in the way of climbers crossing the divide between the head of the Great Tasman Glacier, on the eastern slopes of the Mount Cook alpine group, and the Franz Josef Glacier, on the ■wrest, by erecting a mountain hut at the De la Beehe bivouac, high above the Tasman, and another on the Kallerey Ridge, above the Franz Josef. These huts will enable climbers to make the crossing of Graham's Saddle (the pass near the head of the Tasman Glacier) with a much greater degree of convenience and safety than is fcbe case at present. The alpine journey from the Waiau Accommodation House at the foot of the Franz Jo&ef to the Mount Cook Hermitage, or vice versa, by this route, will take about three days. It was while crossing the Alps' by this route that Mr Low met with his recent accident, and it was at the De la Beohe bivouac that he was .found. Another route on which shelter huts are to be erected by the Tourist Department ie that from the Mount Cook Hermitage to Karangarua, in South Westland, via Fitzgerald's Pass — the easiest and most generally used pass in the Aorangi region. It is proposed by Mr Donne to erect a hut at Welcome Flat, up the Copland Valley, 12 miles above Scott's Accommodation House on the Karangarua River, and another at the snow-line on the main alpine range, on the western side of the approach to the pass. The crossing from the Hermitage to Scott's takes three days, and the proposed huts will be of much advantage to trans-alpine travellers, and will greatly mitigate the present discomforts of h-e tour.

An incident which is rather remarkable as illustrating the motion and rate of progress by our .New Zealand glaciers came under Mr Donne's notice when at the Franz Josef Glacier, on the Wcet Coast, the other day. About four years ago (1902) the Rev. Mr Newton, of Ross, a wellknown alpine climber. lost his ice-axe on thia glacier by accidentally dropping it (down a deep crevasse when abotit a mile up on the ice, abo^e the terminal face. The axe happened to have been a present from his mxfther, in England, and was of special make, and bore the name of a manufacturer at Cornhiil, London. Mr Newton made the remark at the time, when fee found it was impossible to recover the «xc (he was lowered down the creva«e for •bout 3Gft on a rope, but could not find ft), that he supposed it would come out Ja 300 or 400 years' time. But exactly four 5»»r» later, in the earlj part of this yeaj,

Mr Bateon, of Waiau, who had been one of Mr Newton's companions on the ice in 1902, was making his way over the glacier just at the terminal face, when he discovered the lost axe sticking up in the rubbly moraine, on the verge of the glacier snout. By the marks on the axe it was identified as the implement whfch Mr Newion had dropped down the crevasse, and that gentleman was greatly surprised and pleased when Mr Batson, a short time later, restored the axe to him. The axe had travelled a mile down the ice in the four years, and had gradually been forced nearer the surface by the action of the ice until it appeared on the top of the glacier. The steel portion of the axe was brightly polished by the ice and moraine action when it was found. It is stated that during the last three years the terminal face of the Franz .Josef Glacier has advanced about one chain and a-half — that is to say, the ice has come down that much lower during the time mentioned. The Fox Glacier (17 miles south of the Franz Josef) has also advanced somewhat during the last two or three years.

Our Oarnaru correspondent writes: — "The Oamaru Borough Council on Tuesday evening opened the competitive designs which had been received for the new Town Hall. Twelve designs were before the council, comprising a great variety in styles of architecture and general arrangement, some providing for quite ornate and others exceedingly plain structures. There arc several very suitable design?, and the council should have little difficulty in getting an attractive and convenient building. The alternative scheme to include a social hall resulted in estimates of additional cost from £600 to £2000. The council had previously decided to obtain the services of an outside architect to advise as to the best designs, and one is to be secured who will place the plans in order of merit."

One hundred and fifty-nine candidates will be presented for the Royal Academy practical .musical examination to be held in Dunedin next month, being an increase of 59 over the preceding year. School entries number 101, and local centres contribute 58. The former number comprises 35 candidates for examination in the higher division, 27 for the lower division, and 39 for the elementary division. Thirty-five candidates will be examined for the advanced 'grade, and 23 in the intermediate grade of the local centre examination. The date of the examination has not yet been fixed, but arrangements are being made with a view to having the bulk of the work completed before the Easter holidays if possible.

On Thursday Captain Mitchell, of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, received from Mr R. Chisholm, managing director of Seoullar and Chisholm (Ltd.), a letter enclosing a cheque for £20 for distribution among the firemen present at the fire in the firm's factory on Saturday, 17th, with one guinea additional for the foreman who remained all night, and, with thp assistance of the company's foreman, prevented a fre6h outbreak. The firm also asked Captain Mitchell to accept a walnut plate-glass overmantel as a memento of what they state they regard as his greatest achievement in fire-extinguishing during the years ho has 60 creditably filled the position of captain oi the Dunedin Fire Brigade.

Letters have been received by the Sydney branch of the Chinese Empire Refoim Association, ghing detailed particulars of the arrangements made by the Chinese Government for fhe eommi^ioncis to vint Europe, America, and Japan, for the purpose of inquiring into the different forms of government, with a \ie\v of adopting an up-to-date constitution for the future government of China. The Chinese Government has voted the «urn of £60,000 to cover the costs of the commissioners, besides pro\iding them with a retinue numbering clcee on 100 persons, guch as interi/retere, private secretaries, And others. Two of the commissioners will tour Japan and America, while three will direct their attention to the whole of Europe, and the fi\e will mec-t m Switzerland next summer. On their return to China a grand council, consisting of the Chinese Ambassadors and Consuls from ell. parti of the worjd, the oojaaiis-

sioners, and the leading Government officials will be held for the purpose of framing a new Constitution. The members of the Sydney branch of the Chinese Empire Reform Association are desirous (says the Telegraph) that the commissioners should visit Australia, and with that object in view a general meeting was held j^^ other night, when it was decided to «able to both the Chinese Ambassadors at London and Washington, asking them to urge upon the commissioners the desire of the Sydney Chinese, and promising them a cordial welcome.

Particulars relating to the division of the Otago Education District into wards were laid before the Education Board at

its meeting on Thursday. The North Ward includes the whole of the area north of the

town belt, Dunedin, and comprises the Waitaki, Waihemo, Waikouaiti, Maniototo, and part of Vincent counties the boundary coming down Ida Valley by Matakanui, then over to Lowburn, and up to Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. The schools at Wakari, Pine Hill, and on the Peninsula are also included in this ward. The Central Ward comprises the schools in DunedLn and a few suburban schools. , The Southern Ward extends from Green Island to Chasland's Mistake, taking in the Taieri, Bruce. Tuapeka, and Clutha Counties, and also the Vincent County as far as Blacks, and through by Bannockburn and Ne^ is.

A now terror is added to the already sufficiently grim possibilities of arbitration oases At Mosgiel on Thursday Mr Stephens asked an expert witne«s, Mr Beal. a simpleseeming question. Mr Beal asked for time to make a calculation. Time was freely given. Mr Beal sat down and surrounded himself with books and papers, nursed his head with his disengaged hand, and forthwith plunged into an abstui&e sea of computation and formulae. He was not prepared with his answer when the court had waited two hours.

Objection was raised by the Deputy Registrar of Old-age Pensions at a sitting of the Old-age Pensions Court, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., on Wednesday, to the renewal of the pension of a female applicant on the ground that the pensioner was addicted to drink and mis-spent her money. A renewal of the pension was refused for this reason.

At last week's meeting of the Dunodin Hospital Trustees ilr J. - M. Harrow forwarded a copy of a letter fiom Sir "Wolf Han-is, in which he acknowledged receipt for £200 gi\en b\ him towards the Hospital Extension Fund. He was pleased to notice they had bcr-n successful in making a collection of the amount required, and that the bulging was to be commenced at once. It was mo<-t essential they should have proper hospital accommodation. In connection with the. privilege of donors of £100 naming a bed in the new -ward, ho desired to take advantage of it by naming one after hi» daughter-in-law (Mrs Leslie W. Ham-), and another one for his wife (Elizabeth Harris) Should the funds be short ho had no objection to giving another £50 if it would be of any service, but he only named it on these condition*. — Received with thanks; agreed to name the cots a« desired. The Premier wrote le the training of nurses, and asked if the trustees would cooperate with the Government and assist in maturing a scheme which would be of frreat service to suffering humanity, of advantage to the nurses themselves, and prove a benefit to all concerned. He asked what the number of nurses now required on the oidinarT staff was; whether the trustees would agree to take on a number of probationers for the purpose of being trained, the Go-ternment paying: £25 per annum for the keep of each one up to a number to b-'' agreed upon, on condition (he nui-Fos had the same training a-, every regular nurse ; those who passed examinations to obtain certificates, moneys to be paid quarterly on certificates being given as to attendance and training. — Mr Mill regarded the offer as a good one ; but it was pointed out that the £25 a year would have to cover the keep in the Hospital. — The matter was referred to fh<* Houfp Committee and Mr WilN. Mr J. M. E. Garrow, in a communication dated 12th inst.. mentioned that the total of the Hospital Extension Fund was £67*2 He 7d.

Captain W. H. Kidlev, R.N.R., so long known in the New Zealand maritime trade as commander successively of the steamers Coptic, lonic^th« earlier one — and Gothic, has retired on superannuation, as he i" a, year pver the age limit for commanders in the White Star Company's service In the course of an tntemew Captain Kidley said:

" The Xew Zealand ports have improved out of all knowledge. When I first started running to Wellington we used to land our passengers at a little bridge up by the Post Office. Now they have there as fine wharves as any in the world. Wellington has improved faster than any other New Zealand port in the matter of harbour accommodation and facilities, and next to Wellington, Timaru. . . I have never been in a shipwreck. In all my time at sea I have never had an accident — a serious accident that is. On the New Zealand running our machinery broke down on two occasions. We had to be towed into Capetown on the first occasion, and the other time we sailed back to Lyttelton. . . I shall never forget the time when we sailed out from Wellington in the old Coptic under sealed orders. That was during the Russian war scare of 1885. The Coptic was converted into an armoured cruiser, and carried 1 guns and a crew of 164 men. She was accompanied by the Britannia, which was also armed, and we sailed to Chili, and joined Admiral Baird's fleet, which was cruising on the American coast. It was Admiral Tryon who Rave me sailing orders — he who was drowned in the Victoria years afterwards. I had previously served under him when on transport duty in the Abyssinian war. The Russian war scare never came to anything", but the excitement was intense at the time." Captain Kidley is anxious that his thanks should be expressed to his New Zealand friends for their great hospitality and many kindnesses, and his .regret that he cannot make in person his~~adieux and acknowledgements.