The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1879.

Though the public were aware of the fact that considerable loss had been entailed through the insufficiency of trucks, they were, we think, scarcely prepared for the statement of the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, At the close of the recent meeting of the Chamber, held to discuss the Addington worshops question, that gentleman took the opportunity of impressing upon the members the necessity of urging the Government to remedy the present state of things with reference to trucks. It was then that he gave us some figures, which, we venture to say, were read with astonishment by a large proportion of the community. It seems scarcely credible that so large a loss as £25,000 should have resulted from the Government neglecting to overtake the traffic. But wo have the assurance of the chairman of the Chamber that the loss is not loss than the sum mentioned above. The result of the chairman’s own personal investigation as regards seventeen ships only, goes far to actually verify his statement. The Government cannot, as on former occasions, plead ignorance

or f l:o unexpected development of traffic as an excuse. Last season enabled them to form a very good idea of tho possible requirements of the present one, and, besides, from Chambers of Commerce, Farmers’ Clubs, and kindred societies have poured in recommendations for increased carrying plant. Had tho late harvest been a good one, instead of what it was, tho railway, work how it might, would have been in a dreadful quandary. As it was, tho amount of produce was at a minimum, and yet tho carrying resources of tho department were taxed to the utmost, and complaints as to want of trucks are as rifo as they were during last year. Nor is tho loss confined to that referred to by Mr. Turner. As pointed out by tho Hon. Mr. Richardson, the continuous and never-ceasing work forced upon the engines and trucks in use necessitates frequent repairs. If the department had at its command sufficient carrying plant, such as was urged upon tho Government as necessary, time after time, this would not occur. In the present state of affairs the engines are called upon to do far more work than they should, and wo shall find that tho result of this will bo an increased depreciation of our rolling stock, necessitating its replacement by new at a much earlier period than otherwise would bo the case. Tho dilatory policy of the Government in this matter has resulted, not only in a serious loss to a portion of the community, but an equal loss to the general public by the injury done to tho railway plant by overwork. Both these losses might have boon saved, had the Government acted with common despatch and forethought. They knew perfectly well what the requirements of the traffic wore,And promises wore lavishly made that the loss entailed on the farming and mercantile community last season should not occur again. But we find them in the season of 1879 just as unprepared to cope with the traffic as they wore in 1878. Our trade, apart from the shipment of produce—that is our general import trade —is daily increasing. Tho facilities afforded by the improvement of our harbor accommodation will bring Lyttelton to tho front rank amongst tho ports of the colony. But while this is so, there is tho counterbalancing fact that there is not sufficient rolling stock to enable the vessels thus visiting the port to be discharged within a reasonable time. Owners will, therefore, after a time, either decline to send their vessels here at all or an increased rate of freight will be demanded to cover the loss of time certain to bo incurred. We hope that tho representations made by the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce will have the effect of causing the members for Canterbury in the House to make such a statement as will ensure us against the bitter experiences of the past two. seasons.

The local committee of the Sydney Exhibition has cast envious eyes upon the largest of the moa skeletons in the Museum. They wish to forward it as a central point of attraction in the proposed New Zealand court at the Sydney Exhibition. While wishing to see Canterbury contribute its quota towards the proper representation of New Zealand it will be very necessary that in the matter in question the greatest care should be observed. It must be remembered that should anything unfortunately happen to this skeleton it could not bo replaced. It is the only one of its size in the world; hence unless it could be moved without risk, the attempt should not be made. If on the other hand no danger would attend the moving, it would prove no doubt one of the chief points of attraction in the Exhibition. Probably to many residents in Melbourne and Sydney it would not be strange, but the European scientific visitors would see our gigantic friend for the first time. We hope that the Museum Committee, to whom the general subject of lending articles for exhibition has been referred, will see their way clearly to allowing a selection from objects in the Museum which will illustrate the geology, &e., of this country. With the selection which it is more than probable the Central Commission will be enabled to make from the Museum in Wellington, the geological section of the New Zealand court could thus be made very instructive. There is another point which we trust will not be omitted, and that is the securing of a proper collection of larger specimens of coal and other minerals to be found in the Malvern Hills and other districts. It is not too much to expect that if the attention of capitalists and manufacturers who are certain to attend the Exhibition were fixed by this collection, we might look forward at no distant date to the proper development of many openings for local industry. Even if the Committee find it necessary to purchase specimens it should be done, and a full exhibition of our mineral wealth secured.