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Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 48

The much-vexed question of introducing a rating area in Otago to enable the Harbour Board to extend its powers of raising money for the carrying out of works for the improvement of the Port of Otago, and to increase and enhance the value of its securities, was discussed by the Standing Committee of tho board on the 21st. It wae finally decided to hold over the proposal for six months, and a sub-committce was set up to draw out a report detailing the full particulars of the rating scheme, such report to be forwarded to the local bodies interested, so that they may be placed in possession of evidence which it is hoped may tend to help them to view rite board’s proposals with more favour than they do at present.

It is notified in the Gazette that the Hon. J. R. Sinclair, Mr J. F. Arnold, and Dr James Fitzgerald have been appointed members of the board for the purposes of “ The Kaiiangata Relief Fund Transfer Act, 1892.” The Dunedin Coursing Club intended to hold a coursing meeting at Forbury Park on Friday and Saturday, but as tho heavy rain experienced since Sunday has made the condition of the Plumpton very bad, and as the club wishes to avoid the likelihood of a prosecution, which it considers might possibly be instituted if the hares were run under circumstances which would bo decidedly in favour of the dogs, a postponement has been decided on. Another meeting will bo held on Friday night, when dates for the meeting will probably be fixed.

The revenue received from the two docks at Port Chalmers for June came to £397 11s Bd, as against £583 19s 4d for the corresponding month last year. The expenditure for June this year totalled £930 2s lOd, while in June, 1912, the expenses were £BOO 10s 7d. From J unitary 1 to June 30, 1913, the revenue from the two docks reached the sum of £4097 and the expenditure £5288 Is lOd, while for the corresponding six months in 1912 the receipts were £3297 and the expenditure £5055.

’The Acting Secretary of the Dunedin Expansion League is in receipt of advice from the district traffic n anager of tho New Zealand Railways that in connection with the two excursions from Dunedin on July 26 and August 9 an excursion will bo run from Queenstown to tho head of Lake Wakatipu on Mondays, July 28 and August 11, leaving Queenstown at 8.30 a.m., and leaving the head of the lake at 4.30 p.m., and Elfin Bay at 5 p.m. The excursions are at a very cheap rate and offer an opportunity of seeing the magnificent scenery of the Cold Lakes region in its winter grandeur. Our Oamam correspondem advises that the company designed to acquire and transform the North Otago Times has been sue-OL.-tfully floated. A Press Association message from Wellington slates that the shareholders’ representatives on the board of directors of she Bunk oi New Zealand tMessrs Martin Kennedy and Wilburn Watson) have forwarded to the Minister of I malice a letter submitting their views and opinions (already expressed) with respect to the proposals by tine chairman relative to increasing the capital of the bank.

The lion. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, stated to a New Zealand Times representative on Friday night that he was not yet able to say when iie would be in a posh ion to make iris promised announcement on the naval defence policy of the dominion. He was awaiting a certain communication from the Home authorities which might arrive at any time, and until it came to hand lie would not be able to disclose the intentions of the Government in tills respect. An Auckland Press Association telegram states that the resignation of Dr Crossiey as Anglican Bishop of Auckland has been accepted by the Primate, and steps can now be taken towards the election of his sucCfssor. A meeting of the Standing Committee will be held on Thursday evening, when tho method of procedure to be adopted will be discussed A sub-committee may possibly be appointed to report on the matter. If it should be deemed necessary to call a special meeting of the Synod this will probably be held immediately prior to the ordinary meeting of Synod to be hold early in October. Tho running of such steamers as the Wahine and the Maori in the ferry sei vice entails an enormous expense, running into thousands of pounds per month. The monthly coal bills of the two steamers total about £SOOO, and tho wages bills are also a

] very big item. The Wahinc carrms a complement of nearly 120 men, made up as follows:—Master, three navigating < dicers, boatswain, 10 able seamen, two ordinary seamen and a boy, two pursers, a wireless operator, seven engineers, 34 greasers, (hemen, and trimmers, and 45 stewards. There are also four stewardesses. Mr Okoy (Taranaki), who apparently believes in the principle of universal pensions, asks that there be laid on the table of the House of Representatives a return giving an estimate of what would bo the cost of providing every man and woman in the dominion with a pension of £26 a year on attaining the ago of 65 years.