LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 15

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The health authorities last week seized tome eight rolls of bacon, from a city produce mart and condemned them as being unfit for human consumption. The births, deaths, and marriages for the Dunedin district for the past month show a slight increase over those of the corresponding month last year. In July of 1905 the figures were-: Births 122, deaths 66 and marriages 41. Lost month they were: Births 130, deaths 82, and marriages 44. The cases of zymotic diseases reported to the District Health* Office during the month of July number 24, the country contributing 20 and the town four. Included in these are 16 cases of scarlet fever, seven o£ tuberculosis, and one of enteric In addition to the above, there have also been reported 15 cases of measles," the town Jupplying 11 and the country two.

Our Clyde correspondent telegraphs, as follows :— " Owing to the requisitions of the three- local hospitals having been thrown out by the Central Otago Hospitals Ajid Charitable Aid Board, a commission to inquire into the respective requisitions is to sit at Clyde on the 11th met. The institutions concerned have appointed Messrs Smart, Inder, and Irwin to act on their behalf, and the Government has appointed Mr Burgess, S.M. and warden, to preside at the commission."

TMe Auckland Trades and Labour Council has passed a resolution urging the Government to restrict the operations of the Standard Oil Trust in the colony by nationalising the Moturoa (Tara&aki) oil

The death in England is announced of Lieutenant Tulloch, who was, along with others, commissioned by the Royal Society to conduct investigations into the cause of the disease known as "sleeping sickness" ai Entebbe. Lieutenant Tulloch was himeelf attacked by the disease, and succumbed after a three months' illness, which progressed with unparalleled rapidity.

The question of the episcopal oversight of the Anglican Church in Fiji and the South Pacific Islands generally has been the subject of negotiation for some time past between- the. Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London (who at present exercises jurisdiction over Fiji), and the New Zealand bishops. The Bishop of London is desirous that the New Zealand bishops , should exercise episcopal supervision in Fiji, but the matter has been complicated, owing to the presence of Bishop Willis in Tonga, «id the proposal tk*t he should become Bishop pfriji and the adjacent

islands— a proposal which has been supported by the Primate of New Zealand. The other New Zealand bishops, however, are not, under present circumstances, prepared to agree to this course. The Bishop of Auckland recently received a commission from the Bishop of London to exercise episcopal functions in Fiji, acting upon which he sent a letter to the clergy and church wardens of the churches in the Fiji group asking what ministrations they desire to avail themselves of under the commission. The absence of the Primate in EngIsnd , at present will necessarily involve delay in executing episcopal ministrations under the Bishop of London's commission.

It is not generally known (says the Napier Telegraph) that- in breaking down the old Presbyterian prejudice against the introduction of instrumental music in divine service St. Paul's Church in Napier holds a unique position, being the first church in the colony to make the innovation. Thereby hangs a tale. At a choir concert last week the Rev. J. A. Asher stated that 40 years ago negotiations were first made for the union of the Church of Otago and Southland and the Northern Church, now happily consummated. In those days the fathers and brethren in the South had strong Calvinistic leanings, and their advances to the Northern Church were marked by the ruling passion of conservatism. Events, however, might have come to a head but for one sad fact. The fathers and brethren of the Church of Otago and Southland suddenly decided that they could not share the joys and sorrows of the Church of the North because — St. Paul's Church in Napier had an organ I

Mr T. H. Davey, M.ELR., who in an address at St. Albana on Friday night advocated a system under which the State would assume direct control of hospitals and charitable institutions, and the present boards would be abolished, intends to urge the Government to take up the proposal during the coming session- Speaking ta a Press representative, Mr Davey stated that the late Premier had informed him that he intended to introduce a measure dealing with the hospital and charitable aid system of the colony, but did not say what lines he proposed to follow. Questioned as to the amount of support the proposal was likely to receive at the hands of the members, Mr Davey said that he thought the country membeis would favour State control, but the city representatives, and possibly the members for large boroughs, would support the extension of the franchise for the election of members of the hospital and charitable aid boards. Already members of several local bodies in the Christchurch district had expressed to him their approval of his scheme, and

entirely agreed with him that the management expenses of hospitals and charitable institutions under State control would be considerably reduced. Mr C. M. Gray, M. H.R., who was also interviewed, while of opinion that the present system was not the best, said he was opposed to direct State control and direct State aid. He thought that the system of inspection was capable of impi-ovement, and that more latitude should be given to the officials of the charitable aid boards to give immediate relief to urgent cases. On the question of the control of hospitals, Mr Gray said that he did not see why the hospitals should be under direct State control. Mr G. Payling (chairman of the Christchurch Hospital Board) said that it was all nonsense for Mr Davey to talk about abolishing the hospital boards, and Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., also opposed Mr Davey's proposal*. The . latter expressed the opinion that the various boards should be elected on the parliamentary franchise, say every two years, and that there should be one election day for the whole colony.

We have recehed from " Seabird " £1 in aid of the Blind Orphan Fund.

For the fortnight just ended the city tramway returns show a profit of £162, or £80 a week more than for the corresponding period last year.

The qvestion of the acquisition of Forbury Park by tlio city was considered by the City Council in committee last; week. The recommendation of the special committee set up to consider the matter was as follows: — "Your committee recommends that the Dunedin City Council purchase Forbury Park at the sum of £14,750 after th© question has beon referred to a plebiscite of the ratepayers of the City of Dunedin." In committee there was. a full discussion, and eventually a resolution was carried in the following terms: — "That the Dunedin City Council purchase Forbury Park at a sum not exceeding £14,000 after the question has been referred to and approved by a plebiscite of the ratepayers of the City of Dunedin."

Criminal business occupied Mr Justice Cooper's attention in the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning for an hour. Six prisoners were dealt with. Martin Paget and James M 'George, who were found guilty in May of stealing liquor from Mr Francis Gorman's premises at Alexandra, were called on for sentence. It will be remembered that the question as to whether there was evidence to go to the jury that the goeds found in the men's hut were part of the stolen property wae reserved for the opinion of the Court of Appeal. That opinion having been against the men they were again brought before his Honor. After hearing (ho statements of counsel on behall of the accused, hio Honor admitted

them to probation for one year. Harry Anderson, charged with hou^jbreaking and theft at Dunedin, - was sent to gaol for three years. Robert Henderson, for forgery and uttering at Duneddn, received a sentence of nine months. Hugh Fox, charged with housebreaking at the Taieri, was released on his father's bond for £50 as a guaranbee of the youth's good behaviour for 12 months; and Thomas Haroourt, charged with the theft of partnership moneys at Invercargill, was admitted to probation for a term of two and a-half years Subsequent to the criminal list, his Honor took a divorce case and two important banco matters. To-day, at half-post 10, Dewar v. Brady, a special case, will be heard, to be followed by the Waikouaiti licensing case, Outred v. Keddell and others a motion for mandamus.

The building- at the foot of Stuart street which does service as an orderly room for the Dunedin Navals was on Wednesday rein^v<?d on railway waggons to a position at the foot of St. Andrew street in <jjder' to make way for the advancement of work in connection, with the new Railway Station.

Mr Duncan Wright, the capable and kindly missioner of the Dunedin City Mission, completed bis Sunday evening- services in Russall Street Hall last Sunday. Mr Wright has worked in this particular field for about 10 years, and now retires in consequence of First Church, whose property the hall is, having decided, in deference to the request of the Dunedin Presbytery, on 'taking its full responsibility of the work in this part of the district, and appointed a home missionary for the purpose. Mr Wright, however, purposes commencing weekly services on Sunday night in th<a Albany Street School, the committee having granted the use of a classroom for the purpose. It is interesting to note that this indefatigable missioner conducted Sunday evening services 30 years ago, when assistant to the late Rev. Dr Stuart, in a small hall, erected by Knox Church, in Union street, only about 200 yards from where he now purposes recommencing his labours.

A much-ch«tressed wife, who evidently ron~:ders that the earth hunger of her lord and master has outrun his discretion, has addressed an unusual hufc earnest appeal to the Auckland Land Board. In the letter, which waa read a.t Friday' 3 meefcing of the board (says the Herald), tie lady stated that she was convinced that her husband was acting foolishly in putting in on application for two sections of land, somo milc3 apart, in the- Auckland district, he not being possessed of a. sufficiency of eitheT capital or experience to enable him to make a success of the holdings. She asked the board to throw out, the application, a-nil her reque-.t uas backed up by & letter

from her brother, who stated that h» brother-in-law had no knowledge of fannying conditions in this colony, and that it would be in the interests of the applicant and his family if the application were refused. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr J. Mackenzie), said that the applicant had already been approved as eligible for the ballot, and that the board should be careful in approaching the question of interference at the present stage. It was decided to hold the matter over for further inquiry. The Public Works Department has decided (says the Gore Standard) to vigorously proceed with the construction of the Waikaia-Switzers railway, and; gangs of men are to 150 put on in the course of a.

The Public Works Department has decided (says the Gore Standard) to vigorously proceed with the construction of the Waikaia-Switzers railway, and; gangs of men are to 150 put on in the course of a. week or so. The expenditure of the vote of £5000, which, so far, has not been encroached on, should provide for the construction of the line to a point to justify the building of a siding, so the settlers in Wendonside and Waikaia may be enabled to cut off five or six miles in the carting of their next season's crGp.

The Boys' Home in connection with the V.M.C.A., Dunedin, which has been in. existence some four or five months, has lately, owing to the need of increased accommodation, moved into new premises in Moray place, opposite the present V.M.C.A. Building.

Tasmania is losing a number of its youn^ men, especially those of the farming class, and sons of farmers. On her last trip from Hobart tlie Moeraki brought a. number of young Tasmanians to New Zealand. Two of them had not been more than an hour at the Bluff before they had their coats off and were> working on the wharf. Others stayed in Otago to investigate things with a view to going on the land. The re* mainder of the party went north.

The honorary treasurer of the Dunedin; Public Art Gallery acknowledges receipt of £5 ss. from Mr Job Wain; Mr Alfred Hogg, £2 2s.

Probably no other sitting of the Arbitration Conrt ha& ever drawn- together such a large and mixed assemblage as that whicu flooded the Supreme Court at Christchureb on the 31st ult. (flays the Press). Besides thflr usual and easily-recognised manufacturers and artisans, fi. host of faces foreign to th# court showed up out of the crowd. Can* epicuoua was a well-known medical man* and opposite, in the jury box, fiat asA honourable member of the Legislative Council, squeezed between two gardeners in a position which lent little dignity and less comfort; and not far away was that city's respected Mayor, Sir John Ha.lL Then there were grey-haired old gentlemen in from th<s calm rural retreats to which thvy had retired to spend in well-camel