The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1888. NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1951, 22 September 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1888. NOTES.

The question put by " Enquirer " m our isßue of yesterday anent the Ash burton Jubilee Fund is a very natural and proper one. It is certainly high time that some decision were come to as to what is to be done with it, pr rather with the balance remaining to credit. We cannot find that any balance-sheet has ever been published, so that we have no means of ascertaining what sum is available for the contemplated Jubilee memorial. According to the last published list of subscriptions, which appears m the " Guardian" of the 18th June, 1887, it seems that up to that date the amount collected had reached £185. A considerable part of the money was probably expended m connection with the Jubilee demonstration, and how much was left towards the proposed memorial wo are unablo to say. The last public record m connection with the matter appears m the local news of our issue of November 17th, 1887, where it is mentioned that at a meeting of subscribers held m the County Chambers on the 15th of that month "it was resolved that the funds m hand should be deposited m the Union Bank for six months at interest, and that Messrs Scaly, Walker, and Harper be appointed a Committee to consider the best form for a permanent memorial, they to report to the Committee as soon as a decision was come to." No doubt the first part of this direction was carried out, aqd the balance m hand lodged m the Bank, but there is nothing to show that the three gentle* men named m the resolution have ever consulted together as to what recommendation should bo made to the Committee, Nearly a year has elapsed since the meeting referred to, and subscribers to the Fund cannot be accused of unreasonable impatience m asking for information, first as to what balance is available for the permanent Jubilee memorial, and next as to what form it is proposed that it shall take. Probably the reminder afforded by " Enquirer's " Hotter will induce the triumvirate to whom the matter has been entrusted to follow the example set by Mrs Dombey on a memorable occasion, by ff making »v effort."

The Tillage settlement system introduced by the Hon. Mr Ballance, when Minister for Lands m the Stout- Vogel

the opposition and_ depreciation of political opponents, on the whole proved an unmTstakeable success, a boon to a number of deserving families and a decided advantage to the colony. As a matter of course there have been a few instances m which the settlers have not succeeded, but this would be the case under any system of settlement, but the large majority of those who have taken up land under Mr Bal lance's regulations are, we are glad to know, doing well and are fully contented with their position and prospects. Following is a copy | of a letter addressed on behalf of the village settlers at Hukerenui, Bay of Islands, under date August 28 last, by Mr John L. Home to Mr Ballance :~ "At a meeting of village settlers held here on the 25th ult. the following resolution was passed, and I was directed to forward the same to you : — We, as village settlers m the Hukerenui district, desire to express our gratitude to the Hon John Ballance for the benefits we have derived from- the operation of the village settlement scheme. Within the short space of eighteen months a complete transformation has taken place m this district. What was then a comparative wilderness, with only an isolated whare to be seen at intervals along the main road, has now given place to comfortable dwelling houses and well grassed paddocks, m most oases securely fenced, and the condition of the cattle, etc., grazing therein is ample proof of the good quality of the land. The settlers are, with few exceptions, well pleased with their holdings, and altogether there is an air of contentment and disposition to push ahead which augur well for their future prosperity. We reoognise that the village settlement scheme is the only one which has successfully grappled with the difficulty of placing the people on the land— thereby dealing a deathblow at the iniquitous system of " landsharking," so long a veritable curse to the colony. Notwithstanding the fact that the scheme is looked upon with small favor by the present Government, and that we are absolutely without roads, ! we have every confidence m its ultimate success, and appeal to all who claim to be the working man's friend, to lift up their voices m favor of its extension." Such testimony as the above is highly satisfactory, and it is very much to be regretted that the good work so well begun by his predecessor is not being pushed on by the present Minister for Lands.

We are m receipt from Mr Samuel Yaile, well-known as an enthusiast m j the cause of railway reform, of a copy of a letter addressed by that gentleman to the " New Zealand Herald " under date 14th inst. It appears that his system of fares and charges has been,, tried on the Whangarei-Kamo line, and the following are given as the results as compared with the old system for the two four-weekly periods ending 23rd June and 21st July m the years 1887 and 1888 respectively :— 1888. 1887. New system. Old system. Pasiengera .« .. 2081 1441 I Increase, 640, or 444°/ o Merchandise, tonnage.. 756 454 Inoreaae, 802 tons, or 66*5% Mineral, tonnage . . 2823 ■ 1939 Increase, 884 tons, or 45*6°/, Total tonnage .. .. 3611 2418 Inorease, 1198 tons, or 496% Gross revenue £484 19 , 6 £332 12 6 Inorease, £152 7s, or 45 7% Expenditure .. £291 11 2 £459 4 1 Decrease, £167 12s_ lid, or dQ'3 a f 0 Ti »• .. Wo revenue at all, loss of Net revenue, £193 8s 4d £126 11 7 ; Improved revenue, £319 19 11 "These (says Mr Vaile) are the results of eight weeks' working m the depth of winter, and I say they conclusively prove the superiority of the new system, for as every branoh of traffic has increased by from 44£ to 66£ per cent, while working . expenses have decreased by over 86 per cent., Messrs Mitchelson or Maxwell cannot maintain their position, that the improved revenue is due to cessation of traffic, either m coal or anything else. If such results can be obtained from a line connecting with a small village only, why should they not be obtained from lines connecting with our chief centres ?

The improvement ia equal to £320 per mile of railway per annum, which, for the whole of our lines, would give us an increased revenue or £568,640 per annum. I repeat my assertion that it can, and ought to be done ; nor is there anything wonderful m it, for it simply means a return of 6 per cent on our outlay." It really does begin to appear that there is a good deal m Mr Vaile's contentions, and we confess we should like to see his system given a trial upon a sufficiently extended scale to enable its advantages or otherwise to be clearly demonstrated.