DAILY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7727, 10 June 1903, Page 2

DAILY NOTES.

* All fear of an epidemic of A clean bill, small-pox may now be said to be at an end. The Health Department officially announced yesterday that the patients at Lyttelton and Dunedin were making .excellent progress, and that nc\ extension of the outbreak need be anticipated. This eminently satisfactory ending to a trouble which at one time seriously threatened the health of the public may be largely attaributed to the forethought and energy displayed by the Health Department in attacking the outbreak. Now that the disease has been expelled we shall probably hear it asserted that ifc never existed on board the Gracchus, and that the " scare " was merely created to give the Health Department a little work and a. big advertisement. This is nonsense, of course. No sane person would think of doubting that the cases on the Gracchus were small-pox, The •, Tramway Board's the tramway campaign is making good toll. progress. In addition to the meeting held in the Canterbury Hall last week, Sumner, New Brighton, Pa.panui, Spreydon, Woolston and Linwood have all been visited. In every case, there is reason to believe, the results of the- meetings were favourable to the proposals of the Board. The proposals appear to have been well received and favourably commented upon. There is, now very little doubt that they will be sanctioned by the ratepayers. The only chance of their being defeated lies in the invariable unwillingness of the great mass of the public to go to the poll on such occasions. Not only the members of A well- the Presbyterian Church, but earned rest, also the members of other denominations will endorse the regret expressed by the Christchurcb Presbytery, at the decision of the Rev Dr Elmslie to resign his pastorship. For twenty-seven years Dr Elmslie has laboured in Christchurch, and during that long period he has been a powerful factor for good. His congregation, the Presbyterian denomination, and, indeed, the whole community, have benefited by the seal with which he. discharged his dujicsj while private individuals with whom he has come;, into, contact have invariably \. been impressed by his charm of manner and kindliness of heart. It is no exaggeration to say that the Church of God, no matter what sect, will be the poorer when Dr Elmslie retires from aa active share in its ministration. We hope that the pn&sent A' necessary agitation in favour of repairwork. ing and improving the Dyer's Pass Rood will bear fruit. Not only is the road indispensable to persons interested in stock, bub it is also a necessary to the general public. Each year, as the Port Hills grow in popularity as a jJgSfft for the dwellers on the plains, the

I traffia on the road undergoes a proportionate increase. And as the hills become a plfloo of residence there is a correspondingly greater demand for a good road. We know of no country highway in the vicinity of Christchurch on which greater care ought .to be expended. If it is true that the Heathcote Road Board is unable, owing to a lack of means, to maintain the road in a fit state, it would bo advisable to apply to tha Government for funds. At all hazardsj^ the road must be kept in repair.