OUR RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 233, 11 January 1889, Page 2

OUR RAILWAYS.

About five, months ago the outlook of the district, and therefore for the railway, was as dismal as it was possible to conceive, and it was therefore not surprising to find the Manager of the ATangfinui section looking about to find some means by which the steady deficit could be in some way lessened. The traffic to the port was sinal, owing to the keen competition of the Manawatu Rail way Company, who secured we may say the whole of the passenger trade previously carried by the steamers, and as Town could be reached cheaper and more quickly by Shannon or Kereru, the Government line between Foxton and Longburn suffered. It was only natural that the Manager of this section should seek a reduction in the cost of trainage, and the Traffic Manager therefore courteously met the business people of the town to consult them as to how the reductions, which had to be made, could be carried out to inflict the least annoyance to them. The reduction was opposed, but on the assurance of the Traffic Manager that reductions all through the service would be made, every assistance to frame a modified service was given to him and approved of. During the discussion there was 'one very hopeful remark made by this gentleman, which was that if the traffic improved, the Government would be willing to reinstate the running then abandoned, and it is on these grounds that we would urge a reconsideration of the present timetable. There can be no question that the trade of the district has veiy considerably increased, and the population along the railway between Foxton aud the Oroua Bridge must be five times what it was then. The traffic occasioned by this population is also increased by the output of five mills at present at work, and in another month, two. if not more, mills will be adding their quota. We therefore think that there is no good reason for witholding a daily service, as the engine and her driver are simply lying unemployed in Foxton The townspeople accepted the Government's action in a good spirit when the times were bad, and it is now the duty of the Government to meet them, as the increased trade must fairly warrant them in d"ing, for we cannot suppose that they are desirous of creating an unnecessary agitation aiter the promise, made.

An error occurred in the published lißt of w eights for the forthcoming foxton Bjcesj The Laird being substituted for Kilty Totara in the Flying. The error "rose through the name being wrongly co r"? d for publication in the first instance. The mare's weij.'hfc should have been stated as 7st 81b, Hemp-millera in search of engines w.ll do well to communicate with Mr T. (i. Rußßell, of Chri&tchurch, who advertises good second-hand eight; horse power portable engines by good makers. After a alrua«le of som<» months Mr Reid, the baker' who migrnici from Buls to start in this towudlu'ij, has h>'<i to »uccumb. We regret that h» wns misled in the first instance as to his chance of success agaiust the Bakery Company, atd we hope the uew line he intends taking will result in a more profitable resulr. Mr Arnold, the smith who has taken over Mr Litd'a old established business, intimates that he is prepared to execute all general blaokemi'h work, am' in one p<vrticuht *tf is nut. to he beaten, viz, >n shot-in-.', »« his early naimnsr in r-hr. Koy.il Ho.^e Artillery iv T»dia *ivt; him thorouj/b j and constant practise. We believe he will do very well, being a very obliging and attentive tradesman, Our old townsman Mr Gibson has supplied a want much felt, during his absence, by again resuming his trade of a tinsmith. He promises to supply >< good article at a reasonable price, Mr Hillary offers the house and land on the'.Moutoa rond for sale. The property is an excellent, one, and sis the price is low, will most probably soon be paited with. Mr Daniel! has obtained the grazing which he ad vci Used for. The Town Clerk notifies that Mr P. Guerin has been appointed collector for the do» tax in the Borough. Also that hiß office will be in the old County office, at which he will be in attendance on Mondays . and Fridays. Anyone in search of a little fain, without the encumbrance of buildings on it, will do well to read Mr A. 0. Jensen's advertisement of the one he has for sale. Dr Tripe, the well known dentist, will be in attendance at Whyte'a Hotel on the 23rd and 24th of this month. Last Tuesday Mr M'Lennan sent away about 2000 sheep by rail, a special U-ain of sixteen double trucks being sent to convey them ro Longburn. The engine was {to have come to fetch forty tons of coal for Mr Wylds, of Palmerston, but for some reason did not come. We are in reoeipt of a letter from Mr Castendyke, the Imperial German Viceconsul, thanking us for forwarding him the document alluded to in "A waif from the sea," and further asking us to thank for him, the finder of it. He states that he has little doubt but that it does refer to a German vessel, the "Luna," sailing from Hamburg, and the document will be duly forwarded Home. During the Holidays Mrs Sullivan me', with a nasty accident whilst bent on a pleasure trip to the beach. It appears that Mr Scanlon was taking Mrs Sullivan and family to the beach in his dray with two horses. Half wav down, the leader somehow became restive, und plunged about to the fright cf those in the dray. The horses were hard to hold, and moved along very quickly over some rough ground, and whilst jumping out Mrs Sullivan fell heuvily and hurt hei arm. Of comse all pleasure was spoilt and the party returned normr The children got otf safely, but Mr Sullivan got rather strained in assisting to secure the horses. Potatoes have reaohed famine prices in Sydney, and are new selling al 6d per doaen. The rain of the past few days has been very welcome and will do immense good. Mr Gower, however, would rather that it had been postponed, as he has thirty acres of bis grass seed cut, which the rain necessarily will not improve. One happy mafi there is in Foxton by name of D. Whibley, who succeeded in getting his hay into stack the night before the rain commenced. The Ministers are gecting to work. During the week many Cabinet meetings have been held, the two important questions being the filling up the vacancy on the Judicial Bench, and the nomination of ftailway Commissioners. It seems probable that there will he a surprise in the appointment of Judge, and that, the gentleman recommended by the Agout-Gensi-ral, aud Mesßra Maxwell and Haunay will be the Railway Commissioners. A schooner " went sailing out into the weat " with a cargo of dynamite, with the most illomened name of Buster, and an sailors would .say, naturally came a "buster." She got dismasted iff Gabo island, and as the stump of the mast was grinding the cargo, the crew expecting another " bust abandoned her. A steamer despatched for her, has recovered the Buster and got her safely into port. The sooner her name is changed the better for her owners* Regarding our local about the find <f coal at Shannon we regret that id was so strictly true, in the one sense, and yet irjcorreot i» another. The lad Ray, fossick, iug about as boys will do. found coal and a fairish heap of it too, but it happened to have been deposited iv the place where found, nob by the forces of nature, but by the hand of man. Sometime ago when ihe contructors were forming the Company's railway, they naturally used a deal of coal and in au abandoned siding about a ton was left, and thus enabled the explorer Ray Jto discover it. Therefore there is coal at Shannon, but the seam will eoou be worked out. We must hope for better luck next time. Last night at half past five an interesting footrace for 100 yards took place on the racecourse between Mr J. Whyte and Mr A . Lyford for a stake of £5, but few knew of the ev.nr. coming off. The supporters of the i miners and a few friends were all who were there, but everything went olf very smoothly. Mr Bxiley acted as star er, Mr Thynue as judge, and Mr Purcell was stake holder. Bnth meo stripped in good condition aud in proper racing costume. They got away well together at the start and ran very evenly, Mr Lyford managing to breast the tape by something like a yard in advance. The running was very j;ood, the distance being covered in twelve fcecouds. The race was won by the start, as Mr Lyford no doubt got first away. We are in reoeipt, from the Agents, of the Almanac issued hy the A. M. P. Society, and it is one of th-3 best that we have Been. On the left hand corn***, is n group of statuary, on a dim* ground with the stars forming th» S m them Cms*, iv the centre there is a beaut fully executed butich of flowers, and at tho right a-ind bottom corner a lithograph of the Sydney office. Leigh and Co of Sydney exeouted the work. The Races are drnwing very niyh, and as a caution to owners of race horses, Mr Russell the honomry secretary of the < Mub, reminds them that acceptances are due on Monday evening next at nine o'olock.

lVf ore efforts should be made to seuure artesian water stipply; Geologists seem always at fadlt, probably owing to the peculiar lay of the strata, from the effects of earthquakes. On the West Ooaflt we ha"c been assured that it was ridiculous £o expect to get a flow of water by sinking, yet Mr George Richardson has got a grand supply that way, v pipe having bean drive!) down, and now all he has to do, is simply to turn a tap on, when he wan'B water, In Kairanga we believe that it has aluo been found successful, likewise in Cafnpbeli town, and lastly ws leatn that the Ge;>r Company, being defeated in getting 11 supply from the Korokoro stream had pipes driven to test the ground for an artesian supply. The result was very satisfactory, and they have now four wells, each giving a splendid flow of water, amounting to 70,000 gallons per day, suflicieut for all their present requirements. Two of these wells run into a concrete tank, holding- 10,000 gallons, which supplies the whole of the fellmongery. With such a wide range of country as this, it would be justifiable to raaks an attempt in this district. 'Die Mauawatu Times states that the bridge on the Stony Creek road near Mr J. Herbert Han kins' residence is reported to he in a dangerous condition, and travellers will do well to be careful. It is no use suggesting to the Board the necessity for repairs, as that body is penniless. The settlers within the Road Board district will soon be leading a happy life, with unrepaired roads, and delapidated bridges— and actions for damages pending for which they will have to pay. Yesterday morning a fine mob of fat cows from the Oroua Jowns Station were put across the river, aad will be driven to Wellington under the charge of Mr James Purce'l. Sporting circles wil suffer a loss by the retirement of Mr Donald Praser from the turf. For years past he has been a most ardent sportsman, and bred and raced some .first classs animals. We have not learn, the reasou for his retirement, but it cannot "be from want of success. Mes.rs Hill and Poole have putffcased his Danebury-Dis-cretion filly Prudence, for the sum of £50. The whole of his &ud will shortly be placed in the market, a sale which is bound to attract great attention. Messrs Birchley and Co.evideutiy expect soon to have their heuraßbiitl under way, as they are inviting totiuern for the cutting and delivery of flax, to be in by Saturday, I9th inst. Our gardioers should read what Puff in the Press says — " Talking about cheap fojd, I hear Hume's going over to, Nelson to see if he can't get a supply of apples for Wellington ! It is tim.' somebody got a supply somewhere ! I ' never saw the place so bare of fruit before ! No fruit fit: to eat is to be got for love or money ! That halfpenny duty's beginning to tell ! Yes» the fruit duty is about the greatest curse in the whole cursed Tariff ! It'a a tax on women and children and sick people ! It's awfully rough ou the kiddies, and it'll make a biggish difference in tbc deathrate in time, I expect ! In an article in the Australasian on Dairying, the following system was described and as it might be of use in this district we insert it for our readers to judge — " Any system, therefore, which promises to secure refrigeration cheaply and without the use of ice, is vr.rthy of special attention ; and Mr Witt's process which is conducted by the Atmospheric Refrigerating Company of thi9 city, gee ma to possess many commend iblo point*. The principle of the system ia much the same as that by which s canvas ba^r peenres cold water in hot weather. A canvas U stretched over a roof, leaving an air space between the roof and the canvas. The canvas is kept moist, and the evaporation created produces a supply of cold air underneath. This supply of cold air ia carried by a uction. fan into the dairy or other room to be refrigerated. It is claimed by the inventor that the warmer the weather the cooler is the temperature of the supply of air obtained. The process seems to be quite practicable. A correspondent of the church paper the Guardian writes: — "An oft.tliscussed event in Bible narrative is that of the miiacle of the sun standing still at the pr«>er of Joshua (Joabua x, 12-13). Many explanation* have been offered of this wouderful occurence, but without attempting to discuss any of them, we will turn to ' Whitaker's Almanack'for this year, and on page 531 find the 'Chronological History o f Astronomy.' To the date b.o 1464 is the note, 'In the reign of Yao, the seventh Chinese Emperor, the sun is recorded to Juive stood still.' The dato affixed in the Bible to the event is bc1451—only three years' difference— and the closeness of the two dates makes it almost certain that they refer to oueand the same event. The Chinese were kei-ping written records of astronomical observations 2857 years before Chri«t; and a member of our Royal Society has verified an eclipse that is mentioned in these name Chinese annals as taking place in be. 2158, 700 years earlier than this notice of the sun standing still."