WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 56, 11 March 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

» (from our own correspondent). BAILWAYS AND TIJAMWAYS. Our railway authorities have beeu taking a lesson front the Wellington Tramway people in tile flatter" rtt r*Ulliiig\ fittjbicj dtid hare despatched an order to England for some engines and cars on the same principle as those used on the Tramway, the engines to be a little more powerful, and the cars a little larger. I hear a whisper that these tram trains will run in connection with the City Tramway, so that passengers from the Hlttfc; ftc , can be taken to their own doors, if they only live anywhere aloiig the j tramway route, without change of carriage. i This would be a capital idea, and would I popularize the railway wonderfully. i FUKTKEU RECLAMATION. Air Macandrew in bent on having a | line of powerful steamers running between Great Britain and New Zealand direct, and a flrst-chfls firm of shipbuilders at home have made proposal* to take the matter up ; one of their conditions, lioweVer, id, that there must be a graving dock in the Colony of sufficient capacity to admit their steamers -—and this the Colony at present lacks. But not to be beaten, Mr Macandrew suggests that Wellington capitalists should reclaim another 100 acres near Pipitea Point, making a large graving dock a por« tion of the scheme. This is very likely to develop into something more than an idea directly, as pre- | vious reclamations in Wellington haVo paid handsomely, and land is higher in price now than ever; and further, it would ensure Wellington being made the port of arrival and departure of these vessels. NATIVE DEPARTMENT. It is announced that Mr T. W. Lewis is to succeed Mr Clarke us Under-Spcretary for Native Affairs, and that Mr Youag, at present Interpreter to the House of Representatives, is to be made a Judge of the Native Lands Court. SCANDALOUS INSOLVENCY. The Evening Chronicle recently came out with an exceedingly strong artiole on the bankruptcy of Mr A. M. Smith, Assistant-Under-Seoretary, headed an above. Thecase is a bad one, no doubt, but the Chronicle's remarks passed all bounds of lawful comment, and have engendered a feeling of sympathy towards the insolvent. The liabilities in this case are stated at £3,200 (£1,200 secured), and assets £[00. MUNICIPAL lOAN OF £100,000. We had quite a lively meeting of the City Council the other evening, lasting till after midnight, and some rather strong expressions were made use of by some Councillors. So strong did feeling become that the Mayor vacated the chair for a quarter of an hour, to allow the City Fathers to cool down a little. After the adjournment, things went on better, and at length it was decided to submit to the ratepayers the proposal to borrow £ 100,000 for the purpose of forming all the unformed streots within tlie City boundary. There will be a hearty fight over this, for it so happens that threefourths of the money would be spent in Te Aro and Cook Wards, and as might be expected the residents of the other wards, will oppose this to the death. CITY CJUNCIL's OVERDRAFT. At this same meeting of the Council, timorous Councillors got their nerves desperately shocked, for the Hon. Mr Waterhouse wrote, informing the Council that their bank overdraft exceeded the limit allowed by law, and further that the law empowers any burgess to proceed against the Councillors privately and individually, for the recovDry of the excess, and that it was his intention to avail himself of the power thus given. One Councillor re* marked, " It's really getting serious. Can nothing be done?" Nothing was done, however, and so Councillors may " look out." Woe betide any poor ratepayer who may ask the Council to undertake any small public work for some time to come. WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS. We have had a great scare here lately about our bad water, and when one runs out mud, and great worms, and eels, and fishes, from a drinking tap, the water may, I think, be justly termed rather bad.. But we are going to filter it now, or at least the Council is considering the propriety of resorting to filtering beds as a means of purifying the water a little. May their decision be speedy and favorable.