The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 3782, 8 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1876.

The address ot the Superintendent of Canterbury, on opening the Session of the Provincial Council, is a very unpretending document. It deals mainly with facts, contains very little of a debateable character, and, apparently, for form’s sake, just mentions the probable changes in the Constitution of New Zealand. No exception can possibly be taken to its contents. Not even the most determined grumbler could find fault with what is said; and were he determined to make himself disagreeable, he would have to find out something that was left out. It is very much the fashion among our local politicians to look with a jealous eye upon the prosperity of other Provinces, as if it were necessary to our well-doing that they should be poor. No doubt it is a very pleasant thing to hold the first place in a community; but it is fur more creditable that it should be a rich than a poor one; just as it is more glorious to be Queen of England than King of Ashantee. It is also more profitable and more respectable to have rich neighbors than poor ore*, and to enjoy the benefits of exchange of products with them, than to have to enact the Lady Bountiful part to keep them from starvation. When, therefore, we have reliable statistical data before us showing the rapid advance of Canterbury in settlement and wealth, next to our own progress, it is matter for gratulation. Commencing with a general view of the chief industries of the Province, the Superintendent points to the effect of certain changes of practice which have tended to increased production. He points out that there is an increasing tendency to combining pastoral and agricultural pursuits, “ the recently published returns ” showing “ that the growth of this product (wool) is far more largely combined with that of grain throughout the country than in previous years; so that the prosperity of the agricultual interest is far less dependent on one class of produce than heretofore.” Nearly 50,000 acres have been laid down in artificial grasses during the past year, making a total of nearly 300,000 acres so laid down : while the growth of other crops than grain and grass has been more than doubled in the past year, thus largely increasing the producing power of the country, and showing a marked advance in the conduct of fanning operations. On the whole, an additional area of not less than 90,000 acres has been brought under cultivation and crops during the past year. The result is gratifying, as indicating a steady increase of industry and settlement, simultaneously with the increase of population and the alienation of the public estate.

It is plain that those who have so largely invested in industries connected with land cultivation have good reason for expecting profit. It has not been a merely experimental process. For wool there is always a market, and it will be a constantly widening one, so long as the manufacturing countries of Europe openupnewmarkets for the produceof their looms. The cost of carriage by bullock drays to a port of shipment is not so much per pound as seriously to affect its profits. It would pay to cart it across a country where not even a bush track was discernible. But it is not so with agricultural produce. In the estimate of probable profit, the cost of transport is an important element and forms a distinct and marked line in a country, beyond which a farmer cannot pass. When, therefore, we read of large areas of country being brought under the plough for the cultivation of cereals, we naturally seek the cause. In Canterbury it is to be found in the rapid development of its railway system. Within nine months, the Superintenstated, fifty-three additional miles of railway have been opened j within a few months hence ninety-six miles more will be open for traffic. On the first of July, last year, the length of line opened

was sixty miles; it is now 113 miles, and very shortly there will be very nearly a total of 209 miles. When first railways were projected in this Colony, nervous policitians trembled at the prospect of laying out so much money with the possibility of having to pay part of the cost of working them out of the public revenue. They never contemplated the possibility of a profit, until the slow growth of population and trade brought paying traffic to them. It was beyond their conceptions that, almost coincident with their formation, or almost in anticipation of it, land would be taken up and fern and scrub be superseded by grass and corn. The favorite argument, as if the community were a railway company, was, will it pay? It did not enter into their heads that a country should be regarded as a large industrial organisation, requiring, for profitable prosecution of the varied processes of trade, the best plant and most economical machinery; and that even if they had to pay a small percentage to obtain it, it is only acting upon the plan followed by manufacturers in conducting their special business. Such startling and rapid advance has been made since the initiation ©f the system of railways, that croaking has ceased for the present; but scarcely the most sanguine were prepared to imagine that they would yield a profit over working expenses so soon after being opened. Yet in Canterbury, notwithstanding the heavy cost of some of their lines, this is actually the case. The returns for twelve months show that from April, 1874, to March 1875, both inclusive, the earnings amounted to £123,058, while the cost of working was £102,744, leaving a balance of over £20,000 above working expenses; and it must be remembered that a large portion of the traffic is under nine mouths old. The remainder of the address deals with works projected, with education, and immigration, the details of which are not given so fully as to afford room for reliable comment.

The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, accompanied by Mr Colin Allan, to-day inspected the Quarantine Station ,on Quarantine Island.

The only police case hoard at the City p ohce Court this morning was a charge oi drunkenness preferred against a young man named tdward Cottar, who was fined 6s, with the alternative of twenty-four hoars’ imprisonment. Messrs H. Bastings and Ritchie, J, P’s, presided. Judge Bathgate sat in the District Court this morning to consider applications against assessment on Corporation property made by the City Valuator, Mr \l. W. Hawkins. Thirty-eight appeals had been lodged, and in eleven cases the appeals were sustained. We learn from the Returning Registrar ( Jr W. P. Street) that during the months of January, February, and March he received the following number of applications to be placed on the Electoral Roll. For ! h Q Dunedin distr ct, 154; for Roslyu, 94 ; and for Caversham, 251.

At Waikouaiti, on Monday, a boar got loose and attacked a Mr Paterson, of '■’leasaut Valley, ripping him in a frightful manner, exposing the femoral arteries of the high, and laying bare the tissues. The infuriated animal also inflicted a large wound, extending from the side towards the ribs, aud nearly touching them. “Prompter” informs us that Allen’s Opera Company are playing short engagements in the inland towns of Victoria, and will afterwards visit Adelaide The Company has been greatly strengthened by the addition of Mr Armes Beaumont, as leading tenor ; and Mr Allen contemplates making mrther additions.

’hj his route overland to Dunedin the Honorable Edward Richardson, Minister of Public Works, inspected the Waitaki Railway Bridge, and expressed much satisfaction with the rapid progress made in its construction, and approbation of the substantial manner in which the work is done. It is likely to be completed within the contract time.

A special meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Council was held last night for the purpose of electing an-Inspector of Waterworks, The Mayor and all the Councillors were present. A letter was read from Mr Blair, C.E, recommending the following persons to the consideration of the Council: —Messrs John Campbell, James Styles, and William Moir. After some discussion, a show of hands was taken and Mr William Moir declared duly appointed. The following extract from the Wellington correspondence of the ‘Wanganui Herald’ has reference to a person who figured at the last Caledonian Gathering at Dunedin “ A walking race between Mr Purdie of this city, and a Mr Ashton, of Victoria, took place a short tune since. Purdie has en several occasions proved himself a rather warm rival for such encounters, but no one seemed to be acquainted with Ashton’s capabilities until he walked in a race at Grey - town against Purdie and several others. There he showed :fine style, but seemed to lack strength, while Purdie won easily. This victory made the latter gentleman the greater favorite for the coming event, and plenty of money was offered in his favor by Wellingtonians, which was instantly accepted by Ashton’s backers—travelling companions. AH went well until the day arrived, when Pnrdie’s and his bankers* suspicion was aroused by the Victorian gentlemen betting three and five to 0.-.oon their man. They were quite right, for our local champion proved no match for the Australian, who walked splendidly, beating Purdie as he liked. Ashton beat the celebrated walker, Lyle, of Victoria, be lore leaving for -. Z. No one knew this till after the match, when it leaked out that he had been taken in hand by several sharpers, who brought him here on a prospecting expedition.”

If we except her Mercy Merrick, in “ The New Magdalen,” Miss May Howard has not, to our thinking, yet appeared to greater advantage than she did last evening as Camille. If her representation of the heroine lacks the force which some old playgoers regard as the charm of a previous impersonation which they consider perfection, we prefer Miss Howard’s, because it is less demonstrative and far more qatural. Prom first to last she was excellent, and by a grand effort in the final scene of the third act worked her audience into a sympathetic mood, which found vent in vehement ap plause at its conclusion. She was ably supported by Mr Steele, who made a capital Armand; by Mr Musgrave as Duval pb. e j Mrs and Miss Stoneham, and Mr Clinton. The representative of Wichette is to be commended for the creditable way in which she (chough quite a novice) acquitted herself. To-night the “ Octoroon ” will be played.

Hie Licensing Court sat for a few minutes at noon to-day, Messrs Bathgate (chairman), Strode, and Fulton presiding, to couaider the adjourned application by William Baird for a transfer of the license of am hotel at Porto hello held by Mr Fairbank. The chairman reported that the police had furnished a favorable report, and the transfer was granted. The Court then adjourned till the first Tuesday in June. Go the evenin' of Monday the West Taieri congregation assembled to bid farewell to their late pastor, the Rev. W. Gillies, who was presented with a purse containing 120 sovereigns and an address, whijh read as follows:—“We, the members and adherents of the West Taieri Presbyterian congregation desire, ou the occaasion of your translation from West Ta eri to Timaru, to express our great esteem for you as a man, and our high admiration of your deportment as a Christian minister. We have not failed to observe and appreciate your fidelity and diligence as our pastor during the ten years ••{ your residence amongst us. and we have goed reason to believe that God has abundantly blessed your labors. In conclusion, permit us to say that we will always cherish the memory of the pleasant and Christian in tercourse we have so long enjoyed together, and remember your untiring efforts for our spiritual welfare; and we earnestly hope and pray that God may more abundantly bless your future labors, and that you may have the pleasure of seeing His work prospering in your hands.”

Through Mr Varley, the well known electrician, we have received a copy of the * Echo ’ (London) of January 1, which contains a scathing article on the “ Katie King” swindle. The article concludes thus:— “ We fear, however, that Katie’s confession will not convert all Spiritualists from the error and folly of their ways. The mass of Spiritualists will go on just as before, swallowing all the lies and nonsense which their mediums choose to put upou them. The persistency with which people stick to their belief in Spiritual Manifestations, after the frand has been revealed over and over again, is one of the most surprising things that we know. It is also one of the saddest. All these believers in Spiritual Manifestations are educated to a certain degree. Many ot them are educated up to a point far higher than we can within any reasonable period of time, if ever, hope to raise the education of the artisan and agricultural laborer. And yet, in spite of the education they have received, they are as open to be imposed apon by the nonsense of the medium as if they were naked savages or untaught clowns.” There are in one of the fashionable suburbs of Melbourne two or three almshouses built by the Jews of Victoria, who have also provided a fund that would give LI per week each, in addition to the free quarters to the objects of the charity. But no one can be got to live in them, and “M. or the contributor of socialities to the ‘ Australian Sketcher,’ tells us of the shifts’ the committee of management were put to to secure tenants:—“A personal canvass was made by the promoters of the charity on their poorer brethren, but none o£ the chosen people could be found mean enough to ,-wcept the terms. ‘ Say L 2,* at last a feeble old marine store dealer said, ‘and I’ll go in. ’ His offer was thankfully closed oa, aud the conductors, in their annual report, congratulated the subscribers on the nrogress the good cause was making. But even for L2 they couldn’t get a tenant to go next door. Determined to make the thing a success, the benevolent president bribed an aged pedlar and his wife with the offer of an extra LI out of his private pocket to become partakers of the charity. The rage of the original pauper when he heard of the transaction surpasses belief. * It’s a downright swindle,’ he cried to the committee on their next visit. ‘ I’m done out of a pound a week, and I won’t stand it. Loi k ht;re ; if I don’t get the same wages as the other cove, I’ll go out on strike.’” The Committee, of the Caversham Public Library have resolved to open a free reading room, on Monday evening next. . Mr A. Barrett’s popular lecture on “ Elocution,” will be delivered in the Temperance Hall to-morrow evening, and should attract those who delight in hearing our best authors well read.