American Minstrels, —The American Excelsior Minstrels have arrived, and announce iheir opening concert at the Princess Theatre for Monday evening next. From the well known character of this troupe a rich musical treat is in store for us. Cricket. —Weather permitting, the match between the University team and the Citizens first eleven wili be played on Saturday next. We understand that a match will be played on the Dunedin ground between the second eleven of theD.C.C., and a Press team. Shipping Telegrams.— The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce have again a>ked to be supplied gratis with shipping information by telegraph, and received the following reply from the general manager ; —I he * ommissioner would point out that the re-estab-lishment of t he system of supplying information of the arrival and dispatch of vessels at all ports in New Zealand would entail considerable loss of revenue, besides greatly occupying the wires to the delay of private business, lam also instructed to draw your attention to the fact that when the charges for telegraphing were reduced to the present rates, the reduction was made on the express understanding that all shipping reports except such as are now supplied shall be discontinued. ”
Religious— The following business, was transacted at the meeting of the Wesleyan district meeting at Chr stchurch on the 16th instant:—The Rev. W. Morley was appointed to accompany the chairman to the Melbourne Conference in January next. At the afternoon session the question of a New Zealand Conference was brought up, but deferred to the financial meeting for fuller consideration. It was agreed to recommend to the Conference that the interval which must elapse before a minister returns to the same circuit should bo six instead of eight years. A lengthy conversation ensued respecting the public recognition of church members and communicants, and resolutions were adopted recommending these matters to the attention of the Conference. The appointment of a committee was also requested for the preparation of a Book of Discipline, in accordance with the constitution of the Australasian Wesleyan Connection.
Fiji.— The new Government of the Fijis evidently do not have very rosy times of it. It appears that they have initiated a pilot system for the chief port of the kingdom, Levuka, and wish to enforce certain fees to pay for its proper carrying out. They find, however, great difficulty in enforcing those fees. Vessels from New Zealand appear to be the greatest trouble to them, as up to very lately “masters of New Zealand v< sscls have invariably refused to comply with the regulations, and, to avoid, as they imagine, any liability, dispense with the service of a pilot.” In their difficulty they have appealed to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to lend them its aid. It is surely to the interest of those trading with that rising port that proper harbor lights and a pilot staff should be kept up. If information were given to tbe masters of vessels in which their goods were shippe !, that for the future they would employ only those vessel’ which used a pilot at Levuka, the wish of the Government would he obtained Insurance Companies might also oidy insure such vessels as agreed to use a pilot. Railways in Wellington.—A statement showing the proposed main and coalfield lines of railway, and the estimated traffic and working expenses of each line, has been laid before the General Assembly. The following are the estimates of traffic on the lines in the Province From Wellington to Masterton. 70 miles. The present yearly traffic of timber, wool, produce, and merchandise an ounis to about 12,688 tons, the carriage cost of "Inch is i 29,224. The pa-s-uger iraffic produces L 750 ; and the cost of driving cattle and idi ep for the home market (i.n.. exclu ive of tin se for exportation) amounts to I 950—maki u a tota l carriage cost of L 31,924. The newly purchased district of the Seventy Mile Bush
will he opened up by this line in conjunction with the proposed tramway from Masterton, and produce a large export of timber.—Manawatu to Wan;anui (Tramway) 45 miles- -The present yearly traffic on the route of this line 1 is—cattle, 2000 head; sheep, 20,000 head; horses, 189 head ; pigs, 2000 head ; passengers by coaches and spring carts, 38,896 ; horsemen, 12,432; agricultural and other produce, 2191 tons ; and merchandise, 620 tons —the total carriage cost of which is L 12,022 2s. During the past year 600,000 superficial feet of timber was imported into Wanganui, which would have been supplied from Rangitikei had there been a rail or tramway, and at the present moment there are many thousands of bushels of grain, and large quantities of produce, which would be sent in to Wang a mi but for the want of cheap carriage. The present traffic would be increased fourfdd if a rail or tramway ■ xisted. The working expenses of the Wellington and Masterton line are estimated at 12,500 for one train per day, and L 16,000 for two trains calling at seven stations. The Manawatu and Wanganui line is estimated to cost annually 1.5600 for one train, and L 9400 for two trains daily, calling at the same number of stations.
Oamaru Harbor Works. Mr, Carruthers, engineer-in-chief for the Colony, has reported upon the above as follows : I made, accompanied by Mr M‘Gregor, the engineer in charge of the Harbor Works, a careful examination of the coast from the mouth of the Kakanui River to the North Cape of Oamaru Bay, and again at the mouth of the Waitaki River, with the view of finding out where the shingle which forms the beach at Oamaru comes from, and whether it is stationary or not. I feel pretty confident that the beach south of Cape Wanbrow is permaneut, and that no shingle to speak of comes from the south into the harbor. To the north the shore consists of shingle cliffs, from twenty to fifty feet high, which are being rapidly cut down by the sea. and there is little doubt that this is the cause of the Oamaru beach. There is also I think, no doubt that on the whole the beach was stationary; with northerly seas, the shingle is heaped up opposite the town, and with southerly seas it is driven away again to the north. The heaviest seas are fro n the southeast, and the harbor is partially protected from them by ' ape Wanbrow. It is found, however, that the waves curl round the end of the Cape into the harbor, and it is to prevent this that Ihe south pier is to be constructed. The pier is to consist of a concrete wall, 1006 feet loi g, and raised to high water level, and is estimated to cost L 35,000. I have no doubt but it will improve the harbor, and it appears to me to be designed of sufficient strength to resist the heaviest seas, It is not unlikely that the shingle will collect to a considerable extent inside the harbor when the pier is completed. At present the shingle brought in by the northerly winds ia_ driven out again by the southerly; the pier will offer no hindrance to its coming in, but by breaking the force of the southerly waves will prevent its being driven out again. I do not think this will cause serious trouble for many years ; and when it does, the erection of the proposed northern pier will stop it. The northern pier is to be composed of concrete, about 2000 feet long, and will cost about L 70.000. As it is not intended to go on with its construction at present, detailed plans have not been made ; but there will be no difficulty in building it, and thus completing the protection of the harbor from all seas. It is not proposed to build the dock until both piers shall have been completed, so neither plans nor estimates have been made.
We see by an advertisement on another page that the South School entertainment, in aid of the prize fund, is to come off to-morrow evening, at half-past seven, and we are requested to state that, owing to the limited space afforded the public, those who mean to patronise the entertainment should secure tickets before the hour of meeting, as no money will be taken atthejdoors, unless for tickets not then sold.
The Mosglel Tweeds are now being placed largely in the market. The great interest taken in the development of this local manufacture will, no doubt cause the resources of this establishment to be fully taxed. The office of the Company is in Stafford-street.
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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2736, 23 November 1871, Page 2
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1,438Untitled Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2736, 23 November 1871, Page 2
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