OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1029, 2 April 1884, Page 5

OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

(From our oion CorresponeUnt.) For some time past, a discussion has been going on respecting the credit system. This system is, beyond all question, one of great importance and utility to a commercial community; indeed, things would not work well were credit to be abolished. It would, of oourse, be muon better if things could T>e worked otf t&e cash principle ; but there are many circumstances that render this almost in* possible and necessitate the use of credi_ But although the credit system is of c: n siderable advantage, and one of faj ies> the honesty of the contracting R» er of there are unfortunately a large nur> { tne persons who make an improper o j e con . system, and by their reprehe£ truste< i duct inflict injury on those an aomsat them. In this city, maijy dignoneß t trader hai been victimise p aymg their customers, who, instead on tne theatre, bills, squander their rnOjg otner foHies.f o Hies. horse-racing, and VB'i on g suffered in Business-men have to be trusted that this respect, and j nO ulder to the *heel they will put thg c rec kless individuals and make aalderl dcra tch by refusing them come up to $n a done, there would be credit. Wig about bad debts, and no less grun,\,iti have the effect of greatly doubt j> the number of bankruptcies in decrea. To meet the case, it has been Duited that a Retailers' Association

sttid be formed for mutual Drotection.

IB object of the Association will be to ,upply the various retailers with information regarding those persons who do not (to use a vulgar phrase) " stump up" at the proper time. Each member of the Association would supply a list of all persons who came under this category. A private list would be printed and circulated among the retailers, and they would thus have such information as would enable them to deal properly with bad customers. They could either refuse them or give them but. a small taste of credit. If this were carried out, it would no doubt do a large amount of good, and it is, therefore, to be hoped that the retailers will form such an Association.

The Corn Exchange, which was established at the beginning of the week, will unquestionably supply a want that has been very much felt for some time past. The farmers, when the Exchange is in fair working order, will be enabled to exhibit samples of grain to the best advantage, and thus facilitate transactions with buyers. It will likewise enable them to know where they can get a full market value for their produce, instead of depending on offers being made' for it by casual buyers. Many buyers would, of course, prefer leaving matters as they are; for they know 1 full well that without an Exchange they can make a bargain with the farmers which they will not be able to do when agriculturalists are supplied with full information of the market values of corn. Hitherto there has been but very little competition among buyers. They have had almost everything their own way ; but by means of the Exchange a healthy competition will be brought about that will be exceedingly beneficial to all parties. Corn Exchanges are very useful, institutions if properly conducted ; and the fact that they exist in every part of tiie civilized world where grain production is carried on to a greater or less extent, shows that they must greatly facilitate the transaction of business. That ' the Dunedin Corn Exchange will have the same effect there can be no doubt, provided, of course, that the arrangements are carried out in a fair and buiinesslike manner.

It will be remembered that some months ago there was a great ado in the South Dunedin Council over the action of the .Mayor in entering into a contract with the City Council for the supply of gas to ' the Municipality, the said agreement not having been duly authorised (so it was alleged) by the local Council. The question caused many scenes in the Council, ' but the Mayor and his coadjutors would have it that they had been duly empowered to sign the contract, yet, nevertheless, when requested, refused to show - the Council's authority. Since then the Caversham Gas Company have been laying down pipes in the Borough, with the view of supplying the ratepayers with ; gas. The City Council object to this, ' and have intimated to the South Dunedin Council that an action will be brought against that body for contravention of "the covenant made with the City Corporation, whereby the City Corporation was to have the sole right of laying pipes to supply South Dunedin with gas. When the question of the contract was before the public, it was thought that, everything considered, the City Council would not recognise the agreement signed by the Mayor of South Dunedin, but apparently such is not its intention.

The Government have refused to make a grant of money to the newly-constituted Sandhills Domain Board in consequence of there being "no funds available." This, of course, places the Board in a somewhat similar position to old mother Hubbard's cupboard. The Board is quite "bare" of funds to carry on the work that comes under its control. However, Mr Driver," ~M.H.8.., i* going to take the matter in hand, and, perhaps, his irresistible appeals to the Government may bring money to the empty coffers of the Board, notwithstanding the fact that there are "no funds available." While dealing with the Domain Board, it may be mentioned here that the St. Kilda Councillors are far from being pleased with the idea of its existence. They consider that the Sandhills should have been placed under ' the control of the Borough, and with the view of bringing about such a state of affairs a deputation was appointed to wait on Mr Larnach, M.H.R., to urge him to have the boundaries of the Borough of St. Kilda extended to high water-mark. If this is done there will not be much need of the Domain Board.

During the w»ek, Patrick Daly (licensee of the Golden Age Hotel) was charged at the City Police Court with selling intoxicants, to the value of one shilling, during prohibited hours. The information was laid by a woman named Janet Beat, ■who gave evidence to the effect that on Sunday morning, 16th inst., she entered the hotel by a back way, and was served with the drink by Mrs Daly. In crossexamination, witness acknowledged she laid the information because Mr Daly had assaulted her husband severely on St. Patrick's Day, and had also served her with a notice to quit her house, and, as she did not comply, he had put the bailiffs in possession. For the defence, it was denied that any liquor whatever was sold to the woman, and evidence in support of this was adduced. The case was in consequence dismissed, as also was a further charge of selling liquor to Mary Lowell during prohibited hours.

A meeting of the' Otago Licensed Victualler's Associatioji was held on Wednesday last, when new rules were araeed upon for the Association on a be*er and broader footing. The report submitted to the meeting by the Commj* 69 recommended that all persons co" 160^ the trade should unite for poetical action, as legislation iniurio 11 * to *^ c trade had been allowed to oass • ure . l y inconsequence of the licensed jiLfdro in intoxicants not combining Jitically to defend their interests. It /as also recommended that a petition should be presented to Parliament asking that the present system of electing Licensing Committees shouldbe done away with, together with the endorsement on licenses for trivial breaches of the Act. During the course of the meeting, the Chairman remarked that at a future time endeavours might be made to have provisions to legalise the sale of drink during certain hours on Sundays. Mr W. Strachan was elected president of the Association ; MrG. Jacobs, vice-president ; and Mr J. Finch, treasurer.

How small those two doctors of Helensville, Auckland, must feel after the remarks made by the foreman of a jury brought together to enquire, into the death of an elderly widow named Mary Brown. The foreman said he had been requested by the jury to utter their feelings of indignation on learning that a woman in the township had lain for twelve hours in an apoplectic fit without medical attendance, while two professors of medicine were in the district. It /was no use disguising their feelings in the matter. They must and would have a sober medical gentleman in the town who would be available in every case of emergency. The two persons who resided among them were, from their habits, totally unfit and unreliable ; in fact, they were a disgrace to the medical profession. This castigation is a pretty severe one. 1 If the doctors are so bad as they are represented to be, they deserve the censure passed upon them by the foreman. The patients of these " unfit and unreliable" professors must have but little hopes of being cured of their maladies. The proposal to utilise St. Matthews' Church as a Cathedral is not to be entertained after all. Bishop Nevill was greatly in favor of the scheme, but after close investigation the clergy have intimated to him that sufficient support would not be accorded the proposal to make it a success, and therefore the subject ought to be abandoned for the present. The Bishop made a report to this effect to the parishioners of St. Matthew's on Wednesday last ; and after discußßion, the meeting was adjourned to enable a report to be prepared as to the prospect of supporting the church as a parish church. At the inquest held on the body of Oliver Wakefield, who met his death through a tramway accident in Princesstreet, the jury expressed their approval of the action taken by the City Council to have the steam, motors removed from the lines, as they are considered very dangerous to public safety. There i 3, however, a probability of the engines being discontinued shortly. The Secretary of the Tramway Company intimated at the inquest that the motors would be removed in a few days, and their place filled by horse trams. It is to be hoped that this will be done ; for the engines have been a great source of annoyance to the public. On many occasions, the citizens of Dunedin have been promised a reduction in the price of gas, but, like the majority of promises this one has not yet been fulfilled . There is, however, a probability of the price being reduced shortly. At the last meeting of the City Council, it was intimated by Mr Dick that the Gas Committee would in a few weeks be able to recommend a reduction in the price of gas by la per 1000 ft. This will be a very acceptable reduction indeed, and it will no doubt cause the gas consumers in the city to rejoice. On Tuesday last, the election of a candidate for the Port Chalmers Mayoralty took place, and resulted in the return of Mr E. G. Allen, with a majority of 40 votes over his opponent, Mr W. M. Innes. The' voting was as follows :—: — Allen, 156 ; Innes, 116. A good deal of interest was manifested in the election, which took place in conseqaence of Mr T. H. Dodson being compelled to resign the office. His resignation was received with much regret by the ratepayers of the Port.

Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R., in acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the City Council regarding Fire Brigades and the necessity of legislating for their compulsory support, expressed the opinion that the support of these bodies should devolve upon municipalities and insurance offices solely, and that no part thereof should be borne by the consolidated revenue of the Colony. He also stated that, with this limitation, he would support any Bill which the Government might introduce respecting the subject. It is expected that the Government will not move in the matter this session.