RAILWAY RETURNS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 3

RAILWAY RETURNS.

Returns of traffic for four weeks ending 10th March, 1877 :

Wellington to Masterton Railway.—Passengers, £729 18s. sd. ; goods, £225 9s. 3d. ; total, £955 7». Bd.

Eoxton to Manawatu Railway.—Passengers, £254 4s. 9d. ; goods, £336 7s. 6d.; total, £590 12s. 3d.

Auckland to Mercer Railway.—Passengers, £963 2s. Bd. ; goods, £657 Is. lOd, ; total, £1625 4s. 6d.

Picton to Blenheim Railway.—Passengers, £157 os. sd. ; goods, £326 14s. sd. ; total, £483 14s. lOd.

Kaipara Eailway.—Passengers, £lO6 Bs. 3d.; goods, £ll4 14s. 3d. ; total, £221 2s. 6d. ° Napier to Waipukarau Kailway.—Passengers, £896 ; goods, £B4l ; total, £1737. 0 Brunner Railway. Passengers, £241 ; goods, £296; total, £537. Rochfort lino— Passengers, £33 11s. 3d.; goods, £l3 165.; total, £47 7s. 3d. Nelson to Foxhill Railway. Passengers, £402 18s,; goods, £lO3 7».; total,£s7l ss. Dunedin Division.—Passengers, £2989 14s. lOd. ; goods, £3503 9s. lid. ; total, £6492 4s. Od. 4,

Invercargill Division,—Passengers, £1237 17s. Bd.; goods, £2467 3s. lid.; total, £3605 Is. 7d.

Good progress is now being made with the building of the new Club-house on the Terrace. The excavating and levelling has been finished and the foundations laid, the timber is being carted on to the ground, and iu a short time there will be much more to be seen than there is at present.

Our Tauranga correspondent telegraphs : There are many inquiries for Tauranga land, and a considerable amount of property has changed hands during the past month. Improved farms of 200 to 500 acres are fetching from £4 to £l2 per acre ; unimproved good laud, £2 per acre. We understand that it is the intention of Mr. Edwards, of the Waterloo Hotel, to erect a new hotel iu Kaiwarra ou a large scale. The plans have been prepared by Mr. Chatfield, and the building will be proceeded with at once.

A Gazette extraordinary issued on March 27 further prorogues Parliament till the 15th June ; hut as nothing is said about meeting “ for the despatch of business,” it is to be assumed that there will be a further prorogation. It is therefore probable that the House will not bo called together till about the middle of July. The now road or terrace leading by the Grammar School, which is now iu process of formation, promises to be when finished one of the finest promenades in the city. The Hsspital trustees undertook the work to enhance the value of the property owned by them along the line of road. It is, wo believe, the intention to lease the land in sections for the erection of private residences, for which there are a number of beautiful sites, within easy distance of the city. There is a splendid view of the town, the harbor, aud sm - rounding country. The road extends from a point nearly opposite Plimmer’s steps to Thorndon. The annual meeting of members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held on March 28th, and the report of proceedings, which appears elsewhere, discloses a highly satisfactory condition of affairs. The institution itself, is in a most flourishing condition, not only as regards financial resources and a goodly list of members, but as having on more than one occasion been in a position to do the work which it is the privilege, and which it should be the duty, of such institutions to effect. The annual meeting, too, afforded an opportunity, of which the Chairman availed himself, to point out how the general condition of the colony and of it* national finance really stands. Wo shall take an early opportunity of commenting at more length on this portion of the proceedings. The Otayo Daily Times of a late date says : —Wo yesterday examined samples of paper from the Mataura Paper Mills. The paper was of two descriptions, one sort being a coarse wrapping paper, very tough and thick, and of a whitey-brown color ; the other was a little finer in texture, and intended to be used for making paper bags. As first productions we have seen paper of better qualities turned out iu these colonies, but the Mataura specimens were not specially intended for exhibition, and may not be a fair criterion of what the average qualities of the manufacturers’ produce will be. At a late meeting of the Diocesan Standing Committee of the Church of England, the hymnal question was mentioned, and on the suggestion of the Bishop it was agreed to refer the matter to the three vestries in Wellington, to take such action as they might deem desirable. The feeling seems generally to be in favor of the adoption of “ Hymns Ancient and Modern,” on the express understanding that the doctrines of some of the hymns are rejected. The vestries will have a conference on the subject shortly. The Auckland Diocese, we believe, have appointed a committee to draw up a hymnal, and it has been suggested that nothing should be done in Wellington till the Auckland hymnal shall have been seen. However, there seems to be some disagreement in Auckland, and it is expected that it will be fully eighteen months before the hymnal can be got out. As the present “ New Zealand Hymnal ” is out of date, it is generally considered unwise to wait any longer. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Caselberg and Lucas, of Greytown, waited upon the Hon. Minister for Public Works on March 23, and represented to him the impecunious condition of the Waiohine River Conservators, and applied for help. They stated that a large amount had been spent in necessary protective works, and that they were now prevented from going further, owing to the want of funds, the overdraft at the bank being nearly £7OO. If they were not assisted, the money that had been expended would be so much thrown away, as the incomplete works would go to ruin. It was pointed out that under the Act of 1875 they had large borrowing powers, and that they had a revenue of some £6OO or £7OO a year to offer as security. Still the Government had no objection to assist the Board by an advance, and if the Board could borrow £IOOO, the Government would give an advance of half that amount. Subsequently Mr. Bunny, member for the district, who had introduced the deputation to the Minister for Works, accompanied them to the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and the requisite overdraft was arranged for.