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On this Page 4
CITY DRAINAGE.
The deputation appointed at a recent
meeting of the City Council waited upon
the Commissioner of Crown Lands oa
Tuesday mornin? to ask for the help of
the liovernment in tne execution oi tne
projected scheme for the underground
drainage of Adelaide. The case was veiy
fully stated by the Mayor, and he was ably
seconded by the other members of the
Council who were present. The reply of
the Commissioner was as favourable as
could be expected, and we hopa when
he has brought the subject under
the notice of his colleagues and it
has been fully considered by them they
will see their way to complying with the
request made by the deputation. The
Commissioner laid stress upon one condi
tion, the force of which we fail to see.
He. urged that it was very desirable the
vote of the citizens should be taken on the
question of drainage, because if it was
favourable it would materially strengthen
the hand's of .the Government. The logic
of the argument appears to us to be alto
gether at fault. The citizens, we contend,
have already spoken out on thesubject,.and
therefore, in any case, there is no need
for further appeal. Again, though on
a proposal to expend the city rates
the citizens should certainly bo con
sulted, the matter stands in a different
category if it is taken in hand by th&
Government. On the latter supposition
the Government would not only become
responsible for the various steps that will
have to be taken, but they would also
provide at least part of the cost of the
necessary works. They may fairly be
expected to adopt this course for two
reasons. The one is that they are under
an implied obligation to do so because
they receive the revenue from the Water
works ; and the other js that the scheme
is absolutely requiredl on sanitary grounds.
The inhabitants of a district would not be
asked to say whether, they Tvlshed to have
the Public Health Act enforced in their'
neighbourhood, another regulations and
Avorks intended to- secure tho safety
and health of the community are
subject to a higher law than the will;
of any number of ratepayers for the tune
being. We do not mean to imply that
there will be any harm in taking a direct
vote of the citizens, but we cannot see
how the result can in any way alter the.
duty of the Government in the matter.
The Mayor very wisely gave prominence'
to two points in favour of the scheme.
The one is that it will effect a saving to
the citizens, besides accomplishing in a
satisfactory manner what is now either
eft undone or done very incompletely.
The other is that underground drainaga ?
has been proved in other places, especially
in those having a high temperature, to
exert a material influence in decreasing
he rate of mortality. We scarcely think
however, that there is any need to adl
another £100,000 to Mr. Clark's estimate, '
as was suggested by Mr. Phvyford, to
cover the cost of the connections with
the public drains. We do not believe
they will cost anything like this sum, and
a portion of the outlay should certainly
be borne by the owners; how much will
have to be dreided by the Act That
they Bhould pay a part of the expense i3
only reasonable, because there can ba
no question that one effect of an.
improved sanitary condition of the
city will be to raice the vajue -, o£
property within its bounds. It is
most desirable, too, that other places
besides Adelaide should be joined in j^ ?
general scheme of drainage. The suburbs
are rapidly increasing, the land is being
cut up into small blocks, and the multi
plication of small houses and narrow
streets will in a few years give rise to a
serious evil if care is not taken to havo
these districts drained. If tho suburbs
were included it might then be wise and
desirable to have two main sewers instead
of only one as contemplated by Mr. Clark
— the one in the direction of Kirkcaldy
Beach as proposed, and tho other in
the direction of Henley Beach. These,,
however, are matters of detail wliich could
be afterwards settled. .
The points which we hope tho Govern
ment will bear in mind are that on
sanitary grounds the drainage of Adelaide
and its suburbs cannot safely be delayed-;
that as they themselves have control of,
the water supply they can most fittingly
undertake this work ; and that an autho
rity independent of the v?tious municipa
lities must be entrusted with the execu- -
tion and subsequent management of
the scheme. This plan would be pre
ferable to the State granting a
subsidy to the various Corporations in .
proportion to their expenditure. It would
not be reasonable that the whole burden
should be borne by the State, moro . par
ticularly as householders would derive a
tangible advantage from the outlay. It
would be an easy matter, however, to
arrange for an equitable distribution of,
the cost. A certain sum could bo charged
annually to each Corporation, which they
could pay out of the rates, or a lixed rate
could be levied by the Government to ?
cover the annual expenditure. Thesa
again, however, are question s of detail
for future consideration. The n?3&
for drainage is so urgent and the
claims upon the Government for help aro
bo strong that we hope they will be pre
pared to take the matter up promptly '
and with vigour. If it is known that they
are prepared to do so we believe much
of the remaining opposition to the scheme
will speedily vanish.
The Stad Amsterdam. — His Excellency tha
Governor and the colonists intending to proceed
to England by tho Stad Amsterdam liad anothec
disappointment on Tuesday. It waa appointed
that passengers should go on board at £5 p.m.,
and His Excellency the Governor was to nave
proceeded to the Semaphore by a special train
from Adelaide at 8.3b' p.m. Tho Bteamec
arrived at the Semaphore at 4 in the afternoon, .
but it was found necessary to put off her Bailing
again till 2 o'clock to-day. His Excellency
remained in town last night. The closing o£
the mail is postponed until half-past 10 this .
morning, Uudei these circumstances tho
Bwearing-in of His Honor the Chief Justice as
Acting-Governor will probably not take place ?
till to-morrow.
'The Bordeb Duties Convention. — 'We be
lieve that the Government are using all efforts
to obtain an early settlement of the Border
duties convention with New South 'Wales. It ?
will be remembered that the treaty, which .
expired a few months ago, has been extended
until March next. No communication with
regard to the terms of a bow convention has yet
been received from the Government of New
South Wales.
Kapukda Model School.— The new public
3chool at Kapunda is to be formally opened to
3ay by the Minister of Education. After tho
:eremony there will be a public luncheon afc
Drase's Koom, and the children will have a treat. .
Port Adelaidb Aktilleuy. — Oa Monday
evening, February 11, Colonel Downes visited
the B battery of the Port Adelaide Artillery to
inspect the uniforms. He also enrolled 16 .
members.
Poet Victoh Agricultueal Show. — The
first agricultural show of the season takes place
to-day, an exhibition being held by tho ?
Southern Agricultural Society at Port Victor.
Charge of Embezzlement. — A warrant has
been issued for the apprehension of A'. Chrystall, .
jun., Clerk of the Truro District Council, who ?
is charged with embezzling the funds of the
Council to the extent of £100. Chrystall has
not been heard of for 12 days.
Peidmoee's Insolvency. — Another stage we?
reached in the investigation of this case at
Tuesday's Bitting of the Court, and on Monday
next the counsel engaged on either side will :
address the Court pro and con. It is more than
probable that judgment will be deferred.
COMFLnBSNTABY BaMQTJET TO De. MAYO.—
The members of the Adelaide Lodge, I.O.O.F.,
M.U., entertr.ined P.G. Dr. G. Mayo at a com
plimentary banquet in the Oddfellows' Hall on
Tuesday evening, February IS, in commemora
tion of the severance of his official connection
with, the Lodge. About 00 guests attended, and
P.P.G.M. Mathews presided. An illuminated
address was presented to Dr. Mayo.
Concert on thb Semaphore Jetty. — The
Band which has been engaged to play on tha
Semaphore Jetty gave their first open-air
concert on Tuesday evening, February 12. A.
number of excellent selections ' of music were
played, all of which were well received and very
much eDJoyed by those present.
The Aiding a. — We are informed that the
steamer Aldinga will not arrive until to-morrow,,
as she did not leave Melbourne until Tuesday. .

Adblaidb Ohudeeh's Hospital. — The general
Committee meeting of this institution took
place at the Union College Class-rooms, Corrie
stree^ on Tuesday afternoon, February 12. His
Honor the Chief Justice presided, and there
?were about 20 ladies and gentlemen present. A
letter, apologizing for non-attendance, was
received from Mr. T. King, SLP., who is at
present in Victoria. The Chairman stated that
the Building Committee had carefully con
sidered the plans of the Hospital, and recom
mended certain modifications in accordance
'with the ?wishes of the General Committee. Mr.
J. Colton, M.P- moved that the recommenda
tions of the Building Committee be adopted,
subject to further modifications that might
ie made by the General Committee. Dr. Camp
bell seconded the motion, ?which was carried.
A letter was received from Mrs. Henderson
asking permission to resign her position as a
member of the Committee; but on the motion of
Mrs. Colton, seconded by Mrs. Corbin, it was
resolved to ask Mrs. Henderson to continue to
act as a member of the Committee till the end
?of the year. The Secretary and Treasurer were
instructed to apply to the Government for the
amount of sobsidy that was now due to the
institution, and the Committee then adjourned.
IsQrasT o» thb Body ForaD at Henley
Beach— The City Coroner, Mr. Thos. Ward,
?J.P., held an inquest at the Pier Hotel, Glenelg,
on Tuesday afternoon, February 12, on the body
of the man who was found at Henley Beach on
Sunday afternoon last. The evidence adduced
as to the identity of deceased was of rather a
conflicting nature. A rnnn and his son named
'Wagner, and another man namedShannon,Iiving
near Eudunda, said they could almost swear that
the body was that of a German named August
Wachter, and from the manner in which they
gave their evidence it was clear that they
thought it was the man. On tlie other hand,
Alfred Warren, manager of the Thistle Inn,
Korth Adelaide,and Emily Macdonnell, a servant
at the same hotel, swore that it was the body of
? a man who 'spoke like an Englishman,' and
who went to the Thistle Inn last Saturday week
with two brothers named 'Warren. The man
left his swag there and called for it on the fol
lowing Wednesday. When he left the swag he
gave a name something like Mithers. The wit
ness Shannon asserted that Wachter spoke with
such a thoroughly German accent 'that no one:
could mistake him for an Englishman. The
enquiry is adjourned until next Tuesday in
order to enable Dr. Ferguson to make a post
mortem examination and to allow the police
time to obtain further evidence.
. Yighbeons' Club Meetisg. — At a meeting of
the Vignerons5 Club, held on Monday, February
11, at Jackman's Dining-rooms, a letter from
Mr. Hardy, who is at present on a visit to Vic
toria, was brought under the notice of the
members present. Mr. Hardy, after careful
inspection of some of the vineyards near Gee
Ipng affected by that dreadful scourge, Phyl
loxera vastatrix, desired the Vignerons' Club to
endeavour to induce our Government to prevent
the introduction of the disease into the pro
vince by prohibiting not only the introduction
of vines from the adjoining colony (as already
ordered by the authorities) but also of all kinds
of fruit-trees, as such having possibly grown
in the vicinity of diseased vines might
be. the means of introducing the ova
of phylloxera. The President (Mr.E.D. Eoss,
MJ?.) read a communication on the same
subject received by him from Dr. Bleasdale, and
alsoiseveral other notes, including a portion of a
report from the Department of Agriculture of
Victoria. After some discussion it was resolved
to instruct the Hon. Secretary of the Vignerons'
Club to communicate with the Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture, Victoria, requesting
information as to whether phylloxera had been
observed on other plants besides vines, and, if
not, desiring that gentleman to cause a careful
examination of fruit-trees growing in the imme
diate vicinity of vines affected by phylloxera
to be made with a view of detecting the
presence of that insect on the roots or other
parts of such trees. A Sub-Committee of the
Club, consisting of Messrs. S. Davenport, E. D.
Eoss, T. Hardy, Wright, Crompton, and the
Secretary (Mr. E. B. Heyne), was appointed to
watch the matter and take further steps if
necessary. The President brought under the
notice of the meeting a letter received by him
from the Eev. Dr. Bleasdale having reference to
the desirability and feasibility of exporting
grapes and other fruits the produce
of South Australia to Great Britain,
the writer's experience whilst in Spain
and Portugal and experiments made in Victoria
having convinced him that certain kinds of
fruit might be safely carried to Europe if
packed according to a certain method known to
himself, especially when they could avail them
selves of the fast-going line of steamers. The
Secretary was instructed to communicate with
the Commissioners of the Paris Exhibition,
aaking them to make a trial shipment of grapes
and other fruits.
Selfish Patiekce.— As an instance of how
patient shareholders can be in prospect of a
dividend, the declaration of which only needed
their confirmation, we may mention that at the
annual meeting of the Equitable Fire Insurance
Company on Tuesday, February 11, it was above
an hour before a quorum could be made up. It
was necessary that upwards of 5,600 shares
should be represented. About a dozen share
holders asssembled at the hour announced for
the meeting, viz., 3 o'clock, but it was after
i' o'clock before a sufficient number of shares
?were represented. After a good deal oi whip
ping np 20 gentlemen representing the requisite
number of shares were got together and the
business proceeded. The reports were adopted
and a dividend of 15 per cent, was authorized to
be paid.
Air Adelaide Peisosee. — An arrest was made
in Melbourne by Detectives Forster and Bishop
on Friday, February 8, of a respectable-looking
joung man named George Tallis Trimnell, who
described himself as a musician, on a charge of
being a criminal illegally at large in Victoria,
and also for having stolen a cheque for £12 and
a 'diamond ring from the landlord of the Free
masons'' Hotel, Adelaide. The prisoner, it
appears (states the Argus), had recently finished
a sentence of 12 menths' incarceration for laceny
in the Adelaide Gaol, and after hi3 discharge
robbed the landlord referred to of the cheque
and ring, both of which he converted into
money, and came to Melbourne by the sj.
Aldinga with the proceeds. In his portmanteau
the arresting detectives found a number of bills,
representing £12,000, signed in the name of
Moffat, and having the appearance of documents
?which should have gone to England by las
rnonth's mail. He stated that he found these
bills in Adelaide, and that he had had them in his
possession for three weeks.
The Susday-Sceool Union. — The monthly
meeting of the Committee of the South Austra
lian Sunday-School Union was held on Monday
evening in the Stow Church Lecture Hall. A
large number of delegates were present, and the
President (Mr. E. S. Wigg) occupied the chair.
The Committee decided to form a Sunday
School Union Choir under the leadership of
Mr. Daniels. Mr. David Murray, the exPresi
dent, kindly offered to send out a further
supply of slides for the magic lantern upon his
return to Europe. The offer of Mr. Liwes to
give a lecture to teachers and friends of Sunday
schools was accepted with thanks.
Death dt a Wikb Vat.— The medical evi
dence, published elsewhere, given at the inquest
on the unfortunate man Groves, who was suffo
cated in a wine vat at Corryton Park by
inhaling carbonic acid gas, shows the great
?danger to persons going in* d wine vats without
first testing the state of the air within them.
Ehthhtaeoient. — A musical and literary
entertainment was given at the Destitute
Asylum by lady and gentleman, amateurs on
Monday evening, February 11, for the amuse
ment of the inmates of that institution. Mr.
'W-S. Moore occupied, the chair.
The Btteb MraaAY. — The fallowing notice
?was posted at the Telegraph Office on Tuesday,
February 12:—' Echnca (Morray),2 feet 9 inches
above summer level; heavy rain and lightning
last sight ; to-day calm and cloady.'
.?White's Eooirs-rThe Georgia Minstrels were
greeted with a crowded house on their second
appearance in White's Booms on Tcesday
evening. The previous evening's programme
was repeated, and all the performers were
very favoorafcly received, several «n=ores being
demanded and responded to. The performance
concluded with the laughable negro sketch
entitled 'Fun in the Kitchen' and ?* a planta
tion walk-round.'
.The 'West HzLBonara Election. — The
Argus snys :— « The enquiries into the West
3felbourne election are being continued, and
they deepen the impression that Mr. J. G.
Rands is entitled, on the legitimate votes, to
theseat. It will tike some time, however, to
M13Ie i™1* decis«-n as to the course of action
to be taken. In the meantime, the case against
AM iof the deputy returning officers has been
Tlaced in the hands of a solicitor, for Mm to
initiate the necessary proceedings.'

Messes. Ivb & Ivb's Insolvency.— The first
hearing in this insolvency caseoccupied the atten
tion of the Court on Tuesday, February 12, and
a great deal of contention took place over the
appointing of the principal creditor, Mr. H.
Stodart, of the Bank of Adelaide, as the trade
assignee of the estate. The majority of the
creditors, including Mr. Stodart, had originally
signed an agreement whereby they nominated
Messrs. Ballantyne and Wilcox for the position;
but Mr. Stodart afterwards withdrew Ms name
in order to secure the appointment himself in
conjunction with Mr. W. T. Dalwood, who is a
creditor in respect of a bill for £250, which Mr.
Stodart held. Mr. Wiglty, acting ou behalf of the
original nominees, opposed Mr. Stodarf a appli
cation, and called evidence to show that he had
obtained what seemed very like a fraudulent
preference over the other creditors to the extent
of about £900. It appeared that on December
30 last the insolvents owed Mr. Stodart upwards
of £4,400, the latter being, in short, _ their
financial prop, lending them money, banking all
their money, guaranteeing overdrafts, inspecting
their books from time to time, and carrying
them on in their business generally. The over
draft with the Bank was £90 on the date men
tioned, and the balance-day being on the 31st it
was necessary to square the account. Mr.
Stodart accordingly received a sum of money
from the insolvent* for that purpose, but instead
of it amounting to £90 it was no less than
£900, which, as Mr. Wigley said, the Messrs. Ive,
who were then insolvent and must have been
aware of the fact, had borrowed and obtained
from their present creditors. The £900 was
duly paid into the Bank and placed to the
insolvents' credit; and then, in a very short time
subsequently, Mr. Stodart drew it all out,
less the £90 overdraft, by cheques he had ob
tained from the insolvents. Simultaneously
with this act he stopped further supplies
on the ground that certain moneys had
not arrived from England, and the conse
quence was that a few days later the
firm had to stop business. Mr. Wigley con
tended that there was at least suspicion enough
of a fraudulent preference to militate against
the appointment of Mr. Stodart to the assignee
ship, and he strongly urged the Court to regard
rthe wishes of the large majority of the creditors
who had declared themselves against it. His
Honor. Mr. Commissioner Downer said that he
did -not wish to express any decided opinion on
the . matter, but so far as he conld at present
judge he did not think the 'transaction
amounted to a fraudulent preference at all. As
to the wish of the majority that some other
person should be appointed, he could only say
that the Act bound him to regard value rather
than number, and as Mr. Stodart was the chief
creditor, and desired The appointment, he had no
alternative but to grant it to him. Mr. Stodart
was asked if he still insisted upon being ap
pointed, and upon his answering in the affirma
tive, the Court complied. Mr. Wigley intimated
thata charge of fraudulent preference would be
laid against the insolvents.
Equitable Fire Thsctahcb Company.— The
annual meeting of this Company was held at the
offices, Hindley-street, on Tuesday, February 12.
Over 20 shareholders were present, representing
5,800 shares, and Mr. W. M. Letchford presided.
The Directors in their report congratulated the
shareholders on the results of the year's trans
actions. There were 1,824 policies current
covering risks amounting in the aggregate to
£1,045,280 6s 8d., of which £69,086 6s. 8d. was
reinsured. The average amount of risks was
£573 Is. 5d. The Company had paid 13 claims
on fire losses during the year, amounting to
£435 10s. The total sum insured by the Com
pany having amounted to nearly the permitted
maximum the Directors apportioned on the 11th
of June last a moiety of the fifth issue — viz.,
2,500 additional shares — upon which they called
up the sum of £1 per share. The financial
statements showed a net profit of. £4,606 lls. lOd.
Out of this a dividend of 15 per cent., which
with the interim dividend paid in August
absorbed £3,218 15s., leaving a balance of
£1,387 163. lOd. to be added to the accumulat2d
profits, which would bring that fund up to
£10,756 14s. 5d. The reports were adopted.
The retiring Directors, Messrs. F. J.Bottingand
O. Eankin, were re-elected. The fees of the
Directors were fixed at £1 Is. each per meeting.
Messrs. A. H. Beyer and D. Kekwick were
reappointed Auditors. Their remuneration
wps increased from 20 guineas to 25 guineas.
The recommendation to declare a dividend of 15
per cent, was confirmed. Messrs. Kauffmann
and Goddard were appointed to sign the
minutes.
City Drainage. — A deputation composed of
members of the Adelaide Corporation waited on
the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. T. Play
ford) on Tuesday morning, February 12, to urge
the Government to undertake a thorough system
of drainage for the city, and if deemed advisable
by them also for the suburbs. It was pointed
out that the cost, according to Mr. Clark's esti
mate, would be £145,000, and that the Govern
ment could borrow money and carry out the
work on much more satisfactory terms than the
Corporation. The Mayor, who made an exhaus
tive speech on the subject, mentioned that the
scheme contemplated the drainage of Mitcham,
Unley, Hindmarsh, Bowden, Prospect Village,
Kent Town, Norwood, and Kensington, as well
as the City of Adelaide, and that therefore it
would in the end be found best for the Govern
ment to undertake the work and manage it by a
Drainage Board, charging to each district bene
fited a proportionate share of fte cost. Mr.
Playford thought favourably of the arguments
adduced by the Mayor and the Councillors who
also addressed him in favour of the work being
carried out by some body independent of the
?Corporation, and for the benefit not only of
Adelaide but the suburbs. He asked that before
anything was done the opinion of the citizens
should be taken about the scheme, and promised
to lay the whole matter before the Cabinet and
obtain for it as favourable a consideration as
possible.
Forestry. — On Monday evening, February 11,
the District Officers, accompanied by some
Past OfBcers of the Order, together with a few
officers and members of Court Foresters' Hope,
No. 1 Juvenile Branch, attended at the Lecture
Hall, Parade, Norwood, for the purpose of
opening a Juvenile Court in connection with
Court Kensington, A.O.F. The whole of the
preliminaries having been satisfactorilyarranged,
D.C JS. Percy, in virtue of his office as the chief
executive officer of the Adelaide District,
A.0 .F., declared Court Progress, No. 4 Juvenile
Branch, duly and legally established. Certifi
cates of health having been produced, twenty
four candidates presented themselves for admis
sion and were initiated members. The officers
were then nominated by Superintendent Thorne,
and were subsequently inducted into their re
spective positions. Thanks were accorded to
the District Officers and visiting officers and
members for their assistance in the ceremonies,
and the proceedings terminated. The favourable
support already given to this auxiliary of Court
Kensington augurs well for its ultimate success.
A Temporary Diffictlty. — Shortly before
2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. Cutter,
the eminent contralto singer, and Mr. F. L.
King, the no less accomplished pianist, were
arrested at the suit of Signora Leonora Fabris
for the sum of £15 due to that kdy for salary,
it being believed that they were about to leave
the colony. Mr. Trew became bail for Mrs.
Cutter and Mr. King, and we understand that
the case will be heard to-day.
Saturday's Storm. — The Kapnnda Herald
says that on Saturday the rain at ' Hamilton,
Bagofs Well, and Eudunda came down in a
torrent, flooding the watercourses and filling the
dams. We are informed that the Light, on the
Anlaby-road, was so high that it could not be
crossed with safety. At Anlaby the hailstones
were something to be remembered. We are
afraid to mention the size we have heard they
were for fear we should be charged with exagge
ration; but our readers may judge they were
pretty large when we say that they pierced the
sheets of galvanized iron on the woolshed roof,
about 90 of which, .we are told, were destroyed
in this way. Of course man and beast had to
take shelter. We heard of some men on the
Light who, to escape the fury of the storm, had
to lay down in the water.'
Thb Thistlb Nuisaxcb. — We (Kaptmda
Herald) regret to say that the thistle nuisance
is spreading with great rapidity. A farmer
informs us that between Kaptmda and Hawker's
Creek nnles3 something is done at once the
thistle will become a formidable rival of the
rabbit nuisance, A species of the evil, with
nettles about an inch long, are growing at an
enormous rate. Surely the farmers should
strive to look after this foe better than they do,
and eradicate it. If they do not, their loss will
be something considerable ; and if the farmers
do not more conserve their own interests in this
respect the District Councils should in duty
lound step in and act with fearlessness and
promptitude until this evil is a thing of the
past. The farmers' avocation is a precarious
one, and they have enough to contend with
already without having their toil rendered futile
by the spoliation of the thistle.

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