Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 8. 1899. Relief for the Manawatu Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 8 April 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 8. 1899. Relief for the Manawatu Railway.

The Manawatu Railway Company ha? just held its eighteenth annual meeting, and the report made it plain that the results achieved during the year do not compare favourably with any of those of the last preceding five years. It is surprising to find that the shareholders appear contented with the action of their directors, when it is clear that in spite of the fact the Qovernment were closing up the gaps in the Wairarapa line, they did nothing to counteract this action, simply relying on the hope that £? SQQB If tttl Jfaftft*

watu Railway became unprofitable for the company to work, they could foist the property upon the colony by political pressure. Fortunately the colony has at its head a gentleman who thoroughly understands little arrangements of this sort, and could see how the pressure was worked. For a number of M.H.R.'s the Manawatu Rail* ws.y is a shorter cut to Wellington than the Government line is, and the company understanding how useful it is to have a friend or friends in Parliament, most liberally carry members to and from Wellington at all times during the Session free. A cheap ride is as dear to a member of Parliament as it is to us all, and thus when the company appears before the House in any shape, it is not surprising to find so many members believing all that is said about it should only be just that which the company should wish. The settlers residing along the company's line can hardly conceive why during the Parliamentary session the company should break-out in this reckless fashion of, apparently, giving something for nothing. From their experience of the action of the company's management no such recklessness has ever been exhibited, and those districts which are practically under their thumb, understand that they have to pay the uttermost farthing that can be screwed out of them. We have merely to instance that in the way of general freights a storekeeper at Palmerstpn can get goods by rail far cheaper than the storekeeper at Otaki, because there is no competitor with the company to the latter place. This being so, the giving of free passes to members of Parliament has to be discounted by the hope of what their influence may be of value at some particular time. " .

As it appears a settled thing that the present Government do no,t intend to be induced or forced to take over the railway from the Manawatu Company, and _as the past year's business is making it clear to the company that the Government opposition is a serious factor in their business, so serious indeed that at last it is proposed to give increased facilities to the settlers along the line, it would be wiser for the directors to look around the district and see in what manner the diversion of the traffic through the Wairarapa could be stopped by offering a far quicker and cheaper route from New Plymouth to Wellington. Of course such a route exists, no one who has glanced at a map of the railway system but can see that the distance between Greatford and Wellington could be considerably shortened both in distance, and far more in time, by following the Carnarvon- Sanson Tramway to Foxton and thence to Levin. The matter has been laid before the directors at different stages of time, but as they felt sure of the political influence they possessed, theytroubied not at all about having two strings to their bow — that of political power, and a more direct route. The company has been of advantage to the colony and district, but it must not be forgotten that they were presented with a very large a^ea of ground, and before the railway itself is purchased it behoves those who are supposed to care for our funds, t ) find out the exact profit which the shareholders will^maice. As far as we know the circumstances the last holders of this company's shares, on the railway being sold, should be holders ot a very valuable property. The great point of the shareholders should therefore be to safeguard their interests, and they sh( ul 1 therefore be anxious to as* certain the opening,' the route we nav^ mentioned, would offer them both for new trade and for the preservation of that they now have. At one time the bugbear of having to bridge two rivers frightened the directors, bat this is now [ altered, as a contract has been accepted for bridging the Manawatu on the new route, and a bridge will be built at Bulls. Should the Manawatu Railway Company move quickly a subsidy would secure these bridges being sufficiently strengthened to act as railway bridges, and thus the most important expenditure is reduced to a minimum. The directors may urge that they have no power, but if they worked in harmony with the local public bodies, who would be willing to do all they could to assist, the line could be made, nominally by the County Councils, and the company could manage the running. We know that some such proposals have been laid before the: directors a few years ago, but they were blind to their interests, but novf we would recommend the shareholders who have been told that the ought to be satisfied at getting a dividend at all, to take the question up. As we have been for years confident that the route from Greatford, which is practically the junction of the Main Central Trunk line to Auckland, to Levin, must sooner or later be made, it appears that a company which is at present in an unsatisfactory position, and which would be a very great gainer by its construe tion, should take the matter into the most earnest consideration.

The emissary that was sent to Siberia by King Oscar of Sweden to inquire into the alleged finding in Northern Siberia of the remains of Herr Andree, the aeronaut, who set out to reach the North Pole in a balloon, has reported that he is not convinced that the story told by the Tunguses tribe is a hoax. He is hopeful of following up the clue the Tunguses have given.

The London correspondent of the •' Argus " states that a rumour is current in naval circles that the Duke of York will next year succeed Admiral Pearson to the command of the Australian Station.

The Austrian Cabinet has been informed that an Anglo- Russian modus vivendi in regard to China is ready for signature.

The billiard match of 18,000 up, on level terms, between John Roberts, the English champion, and Charles Dawson, has concluded. Roberts, who had wrested the lead from his opponent just before the game was half completed, finished with a series of brilliant breaks, and eventually won by 18 14 points.

The Huddart Parker Company's .new steamer Zealandia' has been launched *t Dundee.

The next English and European mail via San Francisco will close at the local office on Friday, the 14th day of April, at 3 p.m.

Sir Henry Irving has received a letter from Prince, the man who stabbed Mr Terris. Prince, who was adjudged insane, was committed to a lunatic asylum, and managed to send the letter unawares to the asylum officials. In it he threatened to kill Sir Henry Irving when he was released.

Ritualism was the chief question discussed at the annual meeting of Anglican Church parishioners held throughout England at Easter for the election of church officers.

The Taviuni has left Sydney for Samoa. She took a quantity of ammunition for H.M.S. Royalist and H.M.S. Porpoise.

• The whole of the railway workshops in the colony are working full time again.

The Borough Council meets on Monday night when tenders for lighting lamps must be sent in.

Owing to the formation on the Beach road lying wet the Manawatu County Council has sent a man to make a good job of the work by cutting a proper outlet drain. rf

Mr Joe Tos has just received some watches and eight-day clocks, and some splendid jewelry.

Not long ago an Episcopal bishop was a guest at a dinner party in Baltimore. " By the way," said one of the guests, a woman, "do you know that there are times when it is dangerous to enter an Episcopal church ? " " What is that, madame ? " said the bishop, with great dignity, straightening himself up in his chair. " I say there are times when it is positively dangerous to enter the church," she replied. " That oannot be," said the bishop; pray explain, madame!'' "Why" she said, "it is when there is a canon in the reading desk, a big gun in the pulpit, when the bishop is charging the clergy, the choir murdering the anthem, and the organist is trying to drown the choir."

We have been requested to draw the attention of the member. of the CountyCouncil in whose Riding tfie road may be, to the condition of what is termed a road, between Carnarvon station and Bainesse. i i .

The first entries for Messrs Abraham and Williams sale at Palmerston appears to-day.

On Wednesday the railway run an excursion from Palmerston to Foxton

The late Prince Bismark's barber is said to be well on the way to making his fortune, for he has saved no less than eight years' clippings from his master's hair. These he is now dividing into small quantities, and encasing in gold brooches, scarf-pins and lockets, allowing three hairs to each ornament, and selling them to the public. The barker s|ates that he had the late Prroco&i. permission to do this,

Last week Mr Kenny gave judgment in the Fisher maintenance case. His Worship said he had carfnlly considered the evidence, and had cohie to the conclusion that Mrs Fisher was not adequately provided for. He refused Mr Fisher's application, and the order made of £x a week remained uncancelled. Mr Fisher, who was present, said his wife had worth of property ; she could not be described, therefore, as being without means. His Worship replied that there was no evidence before the Court that Mrs Fisher was possessed of property.