DUNEDIN ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7728, 11 June 1903, Page 3

DUNEDIN ITEMS.

. « [From Our Cokbespondent.] DUNEDIN, June 11. It was stated at a meeting of the City Council last night that since the adoption of the check syßtem on the tramways the takings had increased by ten pounds a. day. Ward Street, connecting with Lower Hanover Street and with the wharves, was opened for traffic to-day. Stuart Street will be now closed, in consequence of the new Railway Station being built at the foot of it. A telegram from New York, via the Pacific cable, reached Auckland yesterday in eight minutes from the time of presentation. Such quick despatch is quite without parallel in the tele; raph cabling world. Telegrams yesteiV were being received from Sydney in foui'.ocn minutes, aaid from Melbourne in under half an hour. Mr James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, will leave for London by next week'a San Francisco steamer, in connection with the building of the company's new steamers. Ho expect to be absent from the colony for six inon(*i?. Mrs Mills will accompany him. [Per Press Association.] ' DUNEDIN, June 11. The Special Committee of the City Council appointed to inquire into the alleged disorganisation of the engineering department submitted a report last night. The committee came to/ the conclusion that Ward Street was not pitched in accordance with specifications, that there was great want of oversight, that Adequate steps were not taken by the department to see that the work was properly and efficiently inspected during its progress, that no one appears to have understood 1 that he was instructed to watch the progress of the contract, an omission 'which throws the onus of the faulty way in which the work was performed' on the City Engineer. The committee recommends that in future important contract* an inspector should be appointed. The report was adopted. A memorial to fallen soldiers was unveiled at Palmerston in the presence of a large gathering, by Mrs Gow, wife of the Mayor. Addresses were delivered by Mr T. Mackenzie and others. The monument of a handsome carved! Carrara marble figure of Zealandia holding a wreath in the left hand, the other pointing skyward, surmounting a block of marble beautifully moulded, on which is inscribed the names of fallen soldiers. The whole is supported on bases of blue stone: The total height is 16ft, the figure being sft high. The cost was defrayed mostly by shilling subscriptions.