LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 64

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The weather report for the month of February constitutes a record, from statistics which go back over a period of 40 years. The rainfall for the past 29 days is set down as .03, or three-hundredths of an inch, an infinitesimal drop on a thirsty land. For February, 1907, the rainfall was 3.94, and the average rainfall for this particular month, going back for 40 years, is 3.34. Th© scanty rainfall since Novem- | ber has been exceptional for New Zealand. I On November 11, according to the Rev. D. C. Bates, of the Government Meteorological Staff, 2.51 in of rain fell, and since that date there has only been a fall of 2.08 in, which is less than one-sixth of the average for the, period (110 days). There have been two absolute droughts, one of 16 days and another of 21 days, and one partial drought, from January 16 to date, 44 days. In view of the country local bodies taking over the administration of their own charitable aid at «n early date, the chairman of Bruce County Council at the last meeting of his council said it would be imperative to discriminate, when giving aid, between those who were able to support themselves and those who were not. Charitable aid, he contended, should only be given to the needy and deserving, and all other applicants should be discouraged. The lighthouses at Centre Island" and Puysegur Point will shortly be connected with the Bluff. A cable is now being laid from Colao Bay to Centre Island, a distance ol six miles, and a gang of 40 men is employed in the erection of a line from Tuatapere to Puysegur Point. The latter work is one of some magnitude. The total length of the line is 80 miles, and for three-fourths of the way the wire runs through the bush, which is now being cleared for it. An application came before the Bruce Couniy Council on the 3rd from a workman for an increase of wages from 7e to 8s per day. The chairman of the council, referring to the application, said he was convinced that the Dominion was on the fringe of a depressed period, and workmen, a3 well as others, would be called upon to bear their share of the burdens of depression. Daymen on county work were not, he thought, killed with hard work as a rule, and he advised that the council should proceed cautiously before increasing wages, with a prospect of having to reduce them at an early date. The application was held over for consideration in the meantime. The old-age pension business done at the Dunedin and district court for the month of February was as follows: — Ten new claims, varying from £2 to £26, were granted, as were 141 renewals, there being no refusal* In the corresponding month of last year 16 new claims were granted, 9 were refused, 132 renewals were granted, and 3 renewals were refused. The Otago District Committee of the Bible Class Union met for business on Monday, 2nd inst., when the class at Alex andra was voted into the union. The Children's Home Branch of the P.S.S.A. has afforded an outlet for splendid work for the members, and all have been most enthusiastic in furthering the interests of the orphanage. The branch convener (Sister Evelyn) asked permission to 6tart a scheme by which, on a certain night a month or two hence, every town (large or small) in the South Island will hold a concert in aid of this home, which is at present overflowing. This was unanimously granted. The young women are also considering how a mothers' creche could be started in Dunedin. With reference to the Otekaike preference cases and the refusal of the Minister of Lands to sanction the i«aue under section 80 of the Land Act of leases to two of the applicants, our correspondent at Wellington telegraphs that the Solicitorgeneral believes that those in Otago who are claiming that the section must be repealed, as it will work havoc with the

i true intention of the act, are indulging in unnecessary- alarm. Speaking at his send-off at Naseby on Friday, February 28, concerning his connection with land agitation in Central Otago, Mr J. J. Ramsay said he wished to refer to the land question. In advocating the subdivision of runs he had been actuated always by a desire to see the most made of Central Otago. He was not so optimistic as some regarding the future, but he had always contended that the only way to make the district prosperous was to settle as many people in homes of their own as the land is capable of carrying. With the absentee land company he never had the slightest sympathy, but no one regretted more than he did the wiping out of the good old-time runholder. If a bona fide runholder was willing to remain in a smaller capacity and be one of the new settlers he ought to have first right to a selection round his homestead. A natural phenomenon in the form of *' miniature whirlwind was observed by two Dunedin residents on the highest peak of Ben Lomond, X*»ke Wakatipu, on Tue&d*j of last week. The sky was almost • aloudless, and there was hardly a breath of wind stirring. Suddenly a strange sound was heard which exactly resembled the ( rustling of, women's skirts; then the loose particles of mica schist lying on the pinnacle began to move round briskly, and in a moment the small fragments of soft rock were hurled in all directions to a distance of several yards. The actual area affected by the whirlwind appeared to be only about aix inohes in diameter, and the period of disturbance was less than half a minute. Such circumscribed agitations of the atmosphere *re said to be quite frequent on Ben Lomond's summit. The Political Labour League ~b*a completed arrangements for the visit to Dunedin of Miss H. F. Powell, social lecturer and labour organiser. Miss Powell has been working under the auspices of the league in the North Island for several months, and is at the present time in Christchuroh. She leaves that city for Invercargill on the 10th inst., and will remain there for about two weeks She will return to Dunedin on the 27th inst., and will deliver her first address on the following Sunday evening, the 29tli. During the past month the cases of zymotic disease reported to ■ the District Health Officer numbered' 42.. The total was made up as follows:— Scarlet fever, ♦ town and 17 country; tuberculosis, 5 town and 10 country; enteric, 1 town and 2 country; diphtheria, 1 town and 1 country ; blood-poisoning, 2 country ; hydatids, 1 country. A patent fresh-air level inlet for use in house drainage has been invented by Mr A. Slinger (Drainage Board engineer) and Mr R. Knox (drainage inspector). Although excellent support was promised the new local mounted corps, the formation of which has been in hand for some weeks past, exceedingly poor interest of » practical nature has been evinced in its affairs, and as matters now stand it would appear as if a worthy endeavour to form a mounted company is to prove fruitless. Originally promises of membership to the number of\ 80 were received, but since then only 26 have signed the roll. A meeting will be held this day week, and it has been decided to abandon any further efforts to raise a corps unless something like encouraging support is forthcoming at that meeting. At the Magistrate's Court held before Mr H. Y. Widdowson at Mosgiel on ther4th, William Roherty, a young man, pleaded "Not guilty" to a charge of throwing stones to the damage of insulators and wires on the electrio line. Mr Webb appeared for the defendant, and submitted that the fact of his client throwing stones at birds resting on the wires could not damage the insulators. Only a. post had been hit. The magistrate thought otherwise, and fined the defendant 20s and 7s costs. A little boy of seven, said to l><s entirely beyond hJs fa+her's control, was before Mf C. C. Graham, S.M., at the Juvenile Court on the 4th. He was committed to the Industrial School, to be brought up as a Protestant, and the father was ordered to pay 6s per week for maintenance. Seventy-five and nearly blind was the case of one sueing two of his sons at the Police Court on the 4th for failing to contribute to his maintenance. Out of a family of 18, 11 children remained alive, and the Benevolent Trustees had refused him relief, thinking it lay with his children to support him in his declining years. Counsel had been retained by both sideß, and it was shown that the children wtre little better off than their destitute parent. The high cosfc of living was taking its toll. One son had a wife and seven children to support on £2 a week; another seemed in the coils of the serpent of poverty; and a daughter earned a problematical 16s a, week at a match factory. All were willing to help, but could not;. The ; magistrate did not make an order, but advised the old man to make another application to the Benevolent Trustees £ he meanwhile would acquaint the secre* tary with the state of affairs. It was reported at the last meeting ol the Benevolent Institution Trustees that a centenarian in the person of Louis Adotphus Beresford had died in the institution during the week. Deceased, who was 100 years of ago, re3ided for a lengthy periods in King street, where he carried on a second-hand clothing shop, and was sakj to be well-con aected at Home. His ogA

was io fire fci * hundred years," $n$ Jie attained that advanced age on the 17th February. His death was due io Influenza and bronohitfc. ' Recently In ihe judge's room at Dun- ! edin there took place the final act in the drama in which the lat* " Elijah " Bowie | fit at one time a prominent actor. It will be remembered that Mr Frederick j Sufcton, of Thornbury, made a will in | lavoar of Mr Dowie. After protracted ! litigation in America this- will was upset, : »nd the result of Ihe decision was to revive J a, former New Zealand will under which all Mr Button's relatives, except two, bene- ' £ted.. Tite Salvation Army also came in Jar • share. On the evidence adduced at ti» trial in America ihe next-of-lun and the Salvation Army agreed to treat the will as a nullity. Accordingly, an application was made to his Honor Mr Justice Williams to declare the will void, and grant letters of administration to a brother of ■ the deceased. Mr W. C. MaeGregor i (instructed by Messrs Hall, Stout, and Lilli- j OTap, of Inveroaigill) appeared for the ' in the estate ; Mr Macdonald (of Invercargill) for some of the relatives ; and Mr J, Wilkinson for Colonel Bailey, who was 'trustee for the Salvation Army under the will set aside. His Honor made an order granting letters of administration to John Bennieworth Sutton, of Invercargill, by consent, a monetary payment being also directed to. be made to the Salvation Army. This motion also disposes of the action Hawke and Fraser t. Sutton and others. A Press Association message from New Plymouth -states that it is understood that the report of the officer of the Geological Department who has been prospecting the Mount Egmont ranges for .gold reefs is highly satwfactory. The Arbitration Court sat in Oamaru inn the 4th for -ihe purpose of hearing final evidence in the Shepherds and Musterers' Union dispute, Mr S. Boreham appearing for the onion and Mr W. Scott for the employers. Both Bides had subpoenaed j witnesses, but only one, a worker, put in an appearance. His evidence was taken briefly, after whioh Mr Scott and Mr Borejham respectively addressed the court, closing their cases. Decision was reserved. At the Magistrate's Court at Mosgiel on the 4th, a middle-aged married man named Walter Hughes was charged before Mr H. Y. Widdowron, S.M., on two informations- for indecency toward* females J in Duke's road. Mr Burnard appeared for accused, who pleaded "Not jruilty." inspector O'Brien, prosecuted, and three women gave evidence disclosing; a third act. The magistrate^-oonxmented strongly on the danger 6uch a person was to the morals of the community, and sentenced accused to 12 ' months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. The Dunedin Fire Board at its meeting on the sth, on the recommendation oC the Finance Committee, resolved to order from Messrs Merryweather and Sons, London, a patent SO horee-power petrol motor chemical fire engine and hose reel, at a cost of £1395. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade of .London is to be asked vto inspect the engine' when completed, and failing this to employ a competent engineer to do 60. In considering the report of the delegates who accompanied the officials who -visited the various factories in the city about the insanitary state of which complaint was made to the Inspector of Factories, one delegate at the last meeting of the Trades and Labour' Council stated that he had been informed by a person employed in one of the factories concerned that Hie value of the visit was to a large extent discounted on account of information leaking out that a visit was to be paid. It was -stated that, ac an outcome of this, intelligence, attention was directed to some existing insanitary spots, and a cartload of rubbish was removed from the place- Other assertions related that, on the information as to the existence of insanitary factories being published, quite "a^ ndbnber of firms adopted "springcleaning" measures, the occupies of such places, it was affirmed, being in dread that they were the ones aimed at. Thus, it was held, the complaints that had emanated from the council aeemed to have created a cleaning scare, and were responsible for a considerable , amount of good. The laudable custom of making bequests to public institutions is becoming more general. The Dunedin Hospital is the latest to benefit by such an' act, a lady .who died recently at Paisley, Scotland, having bequeathed a respectable sum for ; general hospital purposes. The legacy ie -. free of duty, and becomes* payable six : months after the death of the testatrix, tWhkh occurred on January 14. The New Cathedral Board met at the Diocesan Office yesterday afternoon under the presidency of the Primate. The Secretary reported that the amounts paid in during February represented £106 13s Bd, including the following new subscribers:—Mr E. W. Parker, £25; Mr G. E. A. Fell, £5 ; Mr J. Howlieon, £5 ; Rev. T. G. £ay, £5. The Rev. W. CurzpnSiggers handed in a cheque for £100 from Mr J. T." Wright, which "brought the total payments to date up to £5865 4s 4d, and the promises, exclusive of the S.P.C.K. grant, to £8962 16s sd. The Dean gave a report of his interview with the architect, who is expected to reach the Dominion during the latter half of this year. It is desirable, in view of the proposed vkit of the architect, that those churchmen and

mend's who have act yet subscribed" or promised anything to the Building Fund should aid the Board by announoincr their intentions, to that the architect's visit may eventuate la come definite work being done on the new cathedral. A Wellington telegram states that the Government has approved of the reappoint9?ent of Messrs Beauchamp and Milne to the directorate of the Bank of New Zealand. /There arrived from England by the s.s. Karamea a shipment of 31 lobsters " and eight crabs for the Otago Acclimatisation Society's marine hatchery at Portobello. We are informed by Mr G. M. Thomson Ihat the shipment arrived in splendid condition, having received every care on the voyage, and that Mr Anderton has taken charge of the crustaceans, and hopes to successfully accomplish their acclimatisation in local waters. The Burns Hall, in Macandrew street, was well filled on the 6th, on the occasion of a lecture entitled " Life and Work in the New Hebrides," by Dr Bowie, a missionary in the New Hebrides group. The proceeds of the lecture will be devoted to extension works in connection with the hospital on the island of Ambrim, of which Dr« Bowie is in charge. The remarks of the speaker con- ■ cerning the nature of the work of the : mission were most interesting, and bis , accounts of the successes of the missionaries ' in their efforts to raise the natives to a higher plane of civilisation were greeted with hearty applause. He had also something to say about the prospects of British settlement and of British trade in the group. The lecture was illustrated to great advantage by a large number of photographic slides, which weie shown by a powerful electric light lantern. A meeting of the General Committee Diamond Jubilee Celebration was held in Boaid Room, Early Bottlers' Hall, on the 6th inst Mr Denniston was in the chair, and there was a large representation of members of the Early Settlers' Association and assisting societies — the Burns, Caledonian, and Gaelic. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and all details were gone into in a most thorough manner. The secretary (Mr Langlands) read a letter from the traffic airperindendent of railways notifying that excursion rates would be granted to Dunedin from -Clinton, Oamaru, and intervening stations (including branches), and that tickets would be issued on Saturday, 21st March, and by morning trains arriving at Dunedin -op to 2 p.m. on Monday, 33rd Marob, available xmtil Saturday, the ,28th. This, with the programme, will beduly advertised. Speaking at a social meeting of the Cricket Umpires' Association, held on the 6th inst. Mr F. H. Campbell, in proposing ' the toast of " Kindred Sports," said he considered that the acquisition of the Carisbrook Ground by the O.R.F.U. was the best thing that had ever happened for sport in Dunedin, notwithstanding the fact that it had placed th© Rugby Union in a position financially such as it had not been in for very many years. But it -was hoped to make an early recovery. The Rugby Union had finished the year with a debit balance of from £200 to £300. Some £750 had been swallowed up in purchase money, and the union had to go before the New Zealand Union and borrow money. It had" expended about £600 in the way of improvements to the ground, and the speaker believed that it would take another £1000 to put the ground in Ihe condition in which they wanted it, and that they hoped to be able to accomplish in the course of another two or three years. The Dunedin fruit traders complain somewhat severely about what they term the arbitrary manner in which fruit is condemned by the Government inspector. An instance is cited wherein a case of pears was condemned and sent to the destructor because a few were marked by " black spot," though the greater proportion was absolutely clean. The complaint is that the firm against whom this course was taken were not allowed vo pick over the fruit and eliminate the clean from the spotted. One of many petitions that have been forwarded to members of Parliament touching on the losses sustained in the bush fires was shown to a representative of the New Zealand Times by Mr A. E. Remington, M.P. It came from Ohakune, and was the prayer of 11 distressed settlers (all Crown tenants) for Government aid. Amongst them they had 800 acres of their holdings swept by fire, with the loss of 117 sheep, nine ton 3of hay, and 770 chains of fencing. Mr Remington states, by way of illustration, that in the Upper Waimarino he knows of between 35 and 45 settlers who have been burnt out, and will have great trouble in getting on their feat again. Many have lost their whar-es. and several have^ suffered to the extent of losing valuable houses, of six and seven rooms, which it will be impossible to rebuild with the amount they receive from the insurance companies if they are so lucky as to have them insured. Mr Remington considers that in these cases there | are legitimate claims for Government assistance. Mr M'Nab, as Minister of Lands, has refused preference to two of the applicants for land at Olekaike, and as an addendum I to his refusal intimates that his decision cannot be reviewed by a court. Mr M'Xab is {says the North Otago Times) <\ lawyer, | and an ordinary la\man would hesitate to j set up an opinion contrary to- that of the | Minister, but it certainly appear- &trange . iha.t. such proceedings as those that have

taken place fa connection with Iho matter ' cannot be Teviewed. In the first place th© Land Board informed Mr M'Nab that the two applicants were entitled to preference, and he granted it accordingly. The two applicants were thereupon informed that preference had been granted them, and they set about making the necessary arrangements for the occupation of their sections. That was all done in accordance with the law, which is a bad one. The Minister, after the manifestation of public displeasure, again reviews his decision, and on exactly the came evidence decides that the applicants are not entitled to preference. The applicants were practically in possession of their sections, and naturally it will be asked whioh section of the act entitles Mr M'Nab to dispossess a settler of his section, if that settler complies -with all the conditions of a lease that he has obviously been granted. There probably will be litigation; but as the Hon. T. Y. Duncan said to a Timaru Post interviewer, the Minister having- granted preference, should not now have attempted to withdraw it. The law is a bad one, and will be amended, but Mr M'Nab is responeible for it, as he is for the peculiar wobble by which he has crowned the objections •to it. There were five deaths in the Dunedin -Hospital last week — namely : Wan How, Mary Fraser, James Balsiel, David Miller, and William Barry. ■ During the week 31 patients were admitted and 20 discharged, the total number remaining in the institution at the close of the week being 115. - ; The yacht Ventura,, owned in Ander- j son's Bay, came to grief when beating down against the heavy north-east breeze blowing on Saturday afternoon, capsizing well out in open water off Turnbull's ,in ' the Upper Harbour. Being unballasted, the yacht fortunately did not sink, and the J orew> which consisted of five men, named Alexander Weir, James Marshall, Clarence ' Bell, John Low, and Edward Scott, were able to cling to the submerged hull till rescued from their very dangerous pre- ! dioament some 15 minutes later, Mr Daw- j son's oil launch, which was cruising in the ' Victoria Channel, crossing the trainingwall and making & timely arrival on the scene. Valuable aid in the work of rescue was also lent by a jachtman'« dingey. The Ventura was successfully brought .ashore about 8 o'clock in the evening, i when the tide and wind were favourable. The question of the irrigation of the Maniototo Plains is one that haß caused much iSiscussipß, and fanners' are hopefully waiting for the realisation of some profit* able soheme. Up to the present Mr Dobson (surveyor) has almost completed, the survey" of the big race through the plain from the Taieri River, but the recent dry weather has shown that the water supply from such a source is hardly such as could be desired. As the result of certain correr spondence and articles in the Mount Ida Chronicle a deputation waited upon the Naseby Borough Council at its last meeting and showed the possibilities of a much better and more' permanent supply being obtained from the Ahuriri River, a branch of the Waitaki, and the deputation asked ' that the council allocate part of its funds for the purpose of having a flying survey [ (estimated to cost about £30) made to woertain whether the water could bo ' brought into the Maniototo from this source. The council decided to vote £10 for this purpose provided the Maniototo County Council voted £20, and the ' Mayor and councillors then ap- | proached the County Counoil in the matter, and the scheme met with such ( hearty approval that the necessary grant ' was readily made. The .survey is to be made by Mr A. E. Inder, who is to ' report upon the feasibility of the schema, the probable cost, the water approximately available, and the fall. The conference of members of the various Slaughtermen's Unions of the Dominion to consider the question of | federation is to be held at Wellington on Wednesday. Mr J. Porteous, Inspector of the Native Schools Department, has just completed an official tour of the island schools. Leaving the Bluff by a motor cutter he proceeded ( to Ruapuke. From thence he crossed to ' the Neck at Stewart Island, returning to ] the Bluff on the afternoon of the second j day. Mr Porteous re-ports the schools at both islands to be in a satisfactory state. The city tramway returns for the' fort- , night ended February 39 show that the ' mileage run was 42,739 miles 3 chains, and the receipts £2474 9s 9d. For the corre- j spending period last year the distance run was 41,631 miles 8 chains, and the revenue £2305 7e 7d. At Ophir last court day W. C. Pitches, until recently licensee of the Shamrock Hotel, Ophir, was charged with selling br-andy 'without being duly licensed to do so. Defendant had become subject to the bankruptcy laws, «nd had neglected to obtain a permit to carry on signed by the chairman of the Licensing Committee. Sorgeant Crawford, of Cl\de. who ap- ' peared to prosecute, mentioned that the case was brought ac a test one. Defendant had quite openly cairied on the business of the hotel as ueual, and justified his action by stating that he had a letter from his Dunedin solicitors advi«ing him that a p-orniit was necessary. Mr Kirk (of Naseby) appeared for the defendant, and admitted the fads. He staled that his instruct 'ons were that, as stated by the serge-an*. defendant had been so advised from Diiriecliu. He (counsel) on being consulted had, however, advised that a permit should be obtained, and ac this had

since been done be submitted that a nominal penalty would meet the case. The presiding magistrate (Mr "M'Ennie) agreed that a permit should have been obtained, and inflicted a nominal fine of ss, without costs. At the hearing of certain cases under the Rabbit Nuisance Act at Ophir last court day a theory as to the lighting of some of the bußh fires in the North Island was brought forward by the defence, who alleged that the defendant in the case before th© court neglected to lay phosphorised pollard in his tussock country during the recent very hot weather fearing that it might cause fire, which would clear his run of all the feed on it. A lonely old man of 73 made a pathetic figure at the City Polio© Court on Saturday. He had once been a bluejacket, and had settled down with a wife and family. Subsequently he had been granted an oldage pension, but had lost it. Recently he had been, discovered drunk on the Town Belt, and now he faced the court. *' But," he argued, "they allowed me to drink on board a raan-o'-war. All hands drank, and no one said anything. I had my grog every day." The following notice to mariners received from the Board of Trade, London, is published in the New Zealand Gazette by the Minister of Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) : " Several instances having been reported recently in which merchant vessels have omitted to answer signals made to them by H.M. ships, the Board of Trade desires to call the Attention of masters to the importance to merchant vessels of answering signals made by warships and of practising communicating with warships. Masters are reminded that when the red ensign is hoisted on a warship it means that the warship wishes to communicate with a merchant vessel." The ' tjreologioai Department denies a report from New Plymouth to the effect that an officer of that department" haß submitted a highly satisfactory report on gold reefs in the Mount Egmont ranges. No such officer has yet prospected in that locality, but it is intended that one ahaH do so in the nesx future. Dr Bashford, director of the Imperial Cancer Research Institute of London, has forwarded to Mr J. A. Gilruth, the Chief Veterinarian in NaW- Zealand, a consign-, ment -of white mice, -consisting of variouß breeds and some - particularly interesting "cases" for demonstration a-nd experimental purposes. Unfortunately, owing to the heat of the tropics and to the prolonged voyage of toe, steamer by whicji they came to the Dominion, nearly 11 weeks having elapsed from the time the mice were placed' on board in London to their arrival in Wellington, the whole of the experimental mice of the consignment succumbed before reaching the Veterinary Laboratory at Wallaceville. Similar shipments have been sent from time to time to the principal laboratories dealing with cancer research in different parts of the world. There is (says the Western Star) every likelihood of a good goldfield being discovered on the west coast shortly between Green Island andtheWaiau River. During the past few" months several miners have been out, and some heve been successful in obtaining good prospects in quartz and alluvial. Mr M. Macdonald, who recently returned from a tour of this country, informed us that the Government track is in a very bad state at present, being overgrown in many places. The chairs across the Wairaurauhiri and Waitutu Rivers have fallen into disrepair. In fact, the wire ropes across the latter have been removed altogether. The difficulty has been overcome by making rafts of supplejacks, by which the river is crossed. The country abounds in native game of all descriptions, wekas being particularly numerous. From Green Island to the Waiau, and up as far as Cavendish Hill, numerous tracks of red deer are to be met with, and it will only be a matter of a few years before excellent sport will be met with out west. The attachment of a dog to his ma6ter is proverbial, and this canine trait received a further illustration («ays the Tuapeka Times) in connection with the death of James Quinn, which occurred on Wednesday. When the party which went out on , Thursday morning to bring in the body reached the scene of the aocident they found deceased's dog mounting guard over his lat© master, and no amount of coaxing would induce him to relinquish his poet, and it was with the greatest reluctanoe that the party was oompelled to destroy the faithful animal before they could get possession of the body. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) and Lady Plunket, accompanied by three ohildren, the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, Miss Cre6swell, Major Hughes, and) Captain Hon. N. Gathorne-Hardy, A.D.C., arrived in Dunedin by the- second express from Invercargill on the 9th, and were met on arrival by his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Loudon) and Sir James Mills. His Excellency and party are staying at the Grand Hotel. One of the greatest difficulties the New South Wales authorities encounter in dealing with the fruit pests is the number cf email "orohards," often consisting of a solitary tree, in the backyards of suburban residences. These places are notoriously the most dangerous breedinggrounds of pests such as codlin moth and fruit-fly, and about Sydney they are a. standing menace to the fruit industry, in spite of the most strenuous efforts that may be made to keep the regulation orchardi free. Mr Swinburne,, Victorian

Minister of Agriculture, recently stated that he found a similar trouble around Melbourne. Suburban "orchards" wcra often the most badly diseased, and he was taking action to compel owners of diseased fruit trees to out them \lown. " There ir no other way of overcoming' the difn< culty," he said, " and we are therefore going to insist upon the destruction of tht trees if the owners will not take the trouble to keep them dean." A visit to the hydro-electric works at Waipori was made on Saturday a return being made on Sunday, by Crs Walker and Keast, Mr E. E. Stark (city electrical engineer), Cr Miller (ohairman of the Taieri County Counoil), Crs Freeman and Stevenson, and Mr Couston (engineer to the County Council). The object of the members of the Taieri County Council making the trip was to discuss the question of an indemnity against accident to be granted by the City Corporation in respect of the Loch Loudon dam. -The matter wax fully discussed by the representatives of the two bodies, but the city councillors were, oi course, unable to take it upon themselves to accede to anything in the way of in> demnity. The question is accordingly set down for hearing before, the Warden'! Court at Lawrence on the 16th inst. It is highly probable, however, that a settle* meni of the .point in question will b« effected before the matter ' goes before th« court. It is interesting to recall that when, the City Corporation proposed to dam thf Taieri River for the purposes of i's electric generation, an indemnity was given* th« Taieri Council to the amount of one million and a-half pounds. On the occasion of tht present visit the sites of the Loch Loudov and Lake Luella dams were inspected* In regard to. the Looh Loudon dam, Ci Walker is of opinion that if the present dry season may be taken as a criterion of. what ie likely to be encountered in future^, the conservation of water by means oi Looh Loudon| is necessary to maintain c regular 2000 h.p. under adverse climatic circumstances, whioh might at any tinwj mean a serious shortage in the supply in the Waipori River. The Dunedin members of the Austr.vlasian Federated Seamen's Union held a special meeting on Saturday night in tha union's office. The meeting was held for the purpose of considering the terms arrived at by conference with the shipowners for a proposed industrial agreement. The terms were closely discussed by the large number present, but the pro^ posal respecting the 'members' attitude towards the" terms has not y«t been decided owing to having to await the receipt of iha votes of members of the union who were afloat when the meeting was held. It is stated that the voting is likely to result itt an acceptance of the terms. An Auckland message state* that Six Joseph Ward was initiated into the mem* •bership of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows at a special meeting of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge on Satur« day night. He was also presented by tbt lodge with a hlandsome silver-mounted cigar case as a memento of the occasion. Mr D. D. Hyde, Chief Poultry Expert* along with Mr F. Brown, assistant expert, arrived in Dunedin from Christchurch by the firsi; express on the 9th. Next morn? ing Mr Hyde, accompanied by Mr Brown, left lor Milbqn,' where he will spend two days in connection with the State poultry farm there. It is intended to effect an increase in the plant, also" to make tho first experiment in regard to open-mouthed poultry houses. Milton has been selected as the farm for this experiment by virtu* of the fact that it is the one, farthest south, and where the coldest periods of. weather are likely to be experienced^ The new system will be given a trial in »M weathers. A careful selection of th« best egg-laying strains of hens will be made, -and an equal number of each placed in the closed and open-fronted houses, by which it is hoped to be able to demonstrate ■which is the better system of housing. We understand that Messrs Mitchell and M'Kellar, who secured preferential lease! of portions of the Otekaike Estate, on 'h* grounds that they losf^ employment through the sale of the estate to the Government, and which leases 'were withheld by tba Land Board and have been publicly offered again by the board for selection, will, in the oourse of a few days, make application to the Supreme Court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the redisposal of these sections. Nine years was the collective age of three children before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.. at the Juvenile Court on the 9th, and i.hence committed to the Caversham Industrial School, to be brought up ns Presbyterians. The father was ordered to pay 5s a week for each child. Their respective ages were two, three, and four. The case of an aged ex-bluejacket, who on Saturday as an excuse for drunkenneirf babbled to the bench of battleships ana the grog he was permitted to drink thereon, was met yesterday by being committee for 12 months to Pakatoa. There he wil( find that, unlike the navy, stopping a manY grog Is the rule and not the exception. The secretary of the Dunedin Hospital on the 9th received through the Rev. A^ Don the handsome donation of £38 3s 663 collected by the Rev. W. CBan from thqt Chinese of Dunedin and Sawyers' Bay to* wards the funds of the institution. At the meeting of the School Committees' Association on the. 9th Dr Don referred t£ the fitting up of the chemistry roam in ths Dsnedia Technical School. He said b« had worked in many experimental room< in England, but for ite size he. had m£

forked in one that was batter fited up than tthe Dunedin room. It had been arranged by Mr James Bruce, an old student of the association, and the Technical 1 Classes Association was to be congratulated on the fckill whioh Mr Bruce has shown in making Tthe arrangements. Communications to hand at the Bluff -from Northport (Chalky Inlet) report the £xing up and reworking of the fisheries station and freezing works to have been most successfully accomplished. The Inlet blue cod are esteemed a very superior fish, ftnd at present they are exceedingly plentiful. His Excellency the Governor, on his recent fiord trip, visited the inlet twice, spending two nights at Northport. He Beemed much taken with the enterprise as an important step in the industrial settlement of the place. He must have made himself particularly agreeable to those re-motely-situated settlers, presenting them with a store of literature much -needed in a $lace like Northport. '• A Thames resident who has just returned from a -visit, to the King and Urewera Country states that by the instrumentality of the Maori prophet Rua the prospecting operations of" an Auckland syndicate, which have been proceeding for some time, have been, stopped. It appears (says the Auckland Star) that an arrangement was arrived *t with the Natives that a concession should be granted under certain conditions. Prospecting work was carried on, but the reBults. though not altogether of a negative nature, as has been stated, were not sufficiently encouraging or definite to warrant the syndicate in doing more than continue Id prospect. Whether the Natives became fmpetient, or suspicious as to the probability of the specific performance of the contract on behalf of the syndicate, is not known'/ but the final . result was the stopping by the Natives of further prospecting work on behalf of the syndicate. Now young Natives have seized the pick and •hovel, also the pestle and mortar and the pan, and are endeavouring fto locate the precious metal. So far they have secured a nice tail of antimonial and copper yyrites. The Bluff Dramatic Carnival in aid of the., Brass Band funds cloned on Saturday evening, after having run for one week of six nights. The sum realised amounted to d 8223, which, together with art union tickets worth, say, £120, may be reokoned as the net proceeds. The Tnvercargill fipe Band was present at Saturday evening' b gathering. The following abstract of the weather at Dunedin ior February is supplied by Mr H. Skey:— Mean barometer, 30.174 in; mean elastic force of vapour, .340 i n; mean temperature in shade, 57.4; mean solar radiation, 119; mean terrestrial radiation, *♦; mean daily velocity of wind, 224 miles; mean amount of oloud (from 1 to 10), 6.1; total rainfall, 1.76 in; number of days on which rain fell, 7. The Natives are very much concerned (says an exchange) about the competition of Kh« Tasmanian muttonbirds. It appears that Dominion dealers can procure these at 2£d eaoh, and they are therefore not prepared to pay«6id eaoh for the New Zealand birds, whioh are larger and better than the Tasmanian variety. It is even alleged that the Tasmanian birds are don* up in imitation of the New Zealand ones, and thus palmed off upon the consumers. .'The position is a serious one to the Natives, as thit is the only source of income to a large number. Last week Mr George Howell waited on Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., and asked him to bring the matter before the Minister. Mr Thomson said he would explain the matter to the Minister, and probably he would take steps during the jensuing session of Parliament to protect the Natives from unfair competition The muttonbird industry was an important one, and they must -not allow it to be tilled. Mr Paul Kennedy, vice-president of the International ' Tuberoulosis Conference, to fee held this year at Washington, was present during portion of the proceedings of dressing the conference, he said that the treatment of ihe Maori was & matter that could be studied with advantage. The way the American Indian had been treated was a disgrace to the people of the United States. The red man was dying out rapidly owiiup to tuberculosis. Though there was not so much tuberculosis in New Zealand, still there was a great deal more Hhan there ought to be.