The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5296, 16 March 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1878.

During the great stumping tour of the Premier there has been no end of deputations. Everywhere hungry crowds met him, and pressed upon the Government the necessity of expending the public money in their particular districts. In nine cases out of ten the deputations were promised all they asked. Whether the colonial finances will bear the strain which would bo put upon it by the lavish expenditure which has been promised on local works seems to have troubled the Minister interviewed and the deputations very little. Otago has, as usual, come in for more than a fair share of the good things. The extensive declarations of the Government have astonished not a few of our Southern friends, and grave doubts have been expressed that the words of the Premier and Mr. Macandrew will not bear fruit. Cynics may sneer as much as they like, say the believers in Mr. Macandrew, but the people of Otago may rest satisfied that everything which has been promised by the Ministry will be carried out. Now we little grudge any fair expenditure which will tend- to develop the splendid resources of the Otago provincial district, and only advert to the lavish promises of the Ministry with the object of pointing out that there is at least one work in the Wellington provincial district which is of fully an equal importance in a broad colonial sense as any contemplated undertaking either in the North or South Island. We allude to the projected line of railway from the Hutt, via Waikanae, to Palmerston North, The people of Wellington have of late become somewhat bashful. It cannot ‘ be that they, like a certain politician, have got all they wanted'; for, according ■ to, population, ■ revenue, exports and imports, considered by every element which go to make up the importance of a place, Wellington haadiad not a fair expenditure on public works. The

city of Wellington is now the first in commercial importance in the North Island, and so far there are only twenty miles of railway connecting' it with the interior. Of course this is mainly due to the difficult nature of .the country to be traversed before the Wairarapa is connected by rail with . Wellington. But looking at the immense strides made in the settlements of the Rangitikei and Manawatu districts of'late years, it seems strange that no effort of any moment has hitherto been made to connect these two important districts with a city which is not only the capital of the colony, but the natural outlet for the produce of the districts. There are now over twenty thousand inhabitants in Wellington, and we are sure no other town of equal importance in New Zealand would be content with a single line of communication with the interior. The line from the Hutt to Palmerston North will have to be made sooner or later. The people of one of the most extensive districts in the province will not be content with a railway to the port which is not only fifty miles further than the proposed line, but will per mile be more cosily in working. We hope to see perfect unanimity between the settlers of. Manawatu and Rangitikei and the people of Wellington in pressing upon the Government next session the necessity of making provision for the construction of this line—a line which would from the first day of its completion command a large amount of traffic, and would be the means of opening up for settlement half a million acres of the best land in the colony. In the Bill which was l introduced in Parliament last session in reference to this railway, not a penny of public money was asked for its construction. The Bill simply provided that certain lands should be set apart along the line to pay for the cost of construction. It was greatly against the Bill that it was introduced so late in the session. However, it passed through the House of Representatives without opposition, but it was shelved in the Legislative Council after being read a second time. Those who opposed the Bill in the Council showed a remarkable ignorance of the geography of the provincial district, and the nature of the country which the line would traverse. The Colonial Secretary called it a branch line, and opposed it for this reason, stating they had better stick to the main trunk system till it was completed. Now it is simple nonsense to talk of the line from the Hutt to Palmerston North as a branch line. The only coloring of truth there is in the assertion of the Colonial Secretary is that the proposed railway would join the line to Masterton about twelve miles from Wellington. The Hutt-Waikanae railway would be as much an arterial line as the railway to the Wairarapa. In all probability it will be very many years before the main trunk line is completed to connect with the line from Napier, and it would be both a loss from a local and colonial point of view to delay the construction of the Hutt-Waikanae line till that time. Its construction would not only enhance the value of the Government lands along the route, but would also increase the value of the lands beyond. It is quite true that there is not much settlement between Wellington and Foxton, but there are large tracts of fertile land between the two places, which only require to be opened up by roads or railways to support a large population. It has been said that the proposed line would divert a large amount of traffic from the Masterton railway. Thera is really no foundation for this conjecture. The line via Waikanae would be the means of settling a large district at present almost uninhabited, and as the success of our railway system depends in a large measure upon density of population, it may reasonably be supposed that the existence of a large population—say between the Hutt and Foxton—would materially swell the traffic returns on the Masterton line. In dealing with this subject it must always be borne in mind that the largest portion of railway revenue is derived from the passenger traffic. We hope that early next session steps will be taken to have a Bill passed for the construction of the line, and in the meantime we trust that ample information will be collated so. as to meet any objections which may be urged against the measure.

The arrival of American workmen in England a few months ago created a considerable amount of comment on both sides of the Atlantic, as showing the frightful state of depression which had been brought about in the Great Republic by protection, and the immense frauds which were perpetrated in every direction, from the Senate downwards, I thereby shaking the confidence of the American people in their commercial, j social, and political institutions. During the last four or five years the working classes in America, generally speaking, have had a struggle for existence, and it is a matter tor surprise that the attention of the statesmen of this colony has not been directed to the United States as a field for emigration. The American would not need much persuasion to emigrate. Once convince him that he would better his condition by moving, and he would shift at once. Home ties are not so strong with him as with inhabitants of old countries. We are glad to see that the immigration authorities of New South Wales have made efforts to acquaint the American working men of the profitable field which would be afforded for their labor in the Australian colonies. Once the emigration fairly sets in to New South Wales, other colonies will reap advantages from it. Australasia will be brought more prominently before the industrial classes of the States, and the merits of the various colonies will be canvassed. From a San Francisco - paper we learn that one business firm sent to Sydney, last year, 768 emigrants, and that during the current year he expects to send not less than one thousand. This may be looked upon as only a beginning ; indeed it is regarded as experiment in the United States. Americans have been so accustomed to look upon their country as the home for the starved millions of Europe that they barely realise their true position, and' that if the foolish policy of protection is persisted in, the starving millions of America will be forced to find an asylum in countries where regard is paid to the laws of political economy. We are happy to see that the first batch of immigrants were favorably impressed with New South Wales. And well they might be. They had come from the Eastern States of America, where they had to labor for less than four shillings a day, when the rigorous climate admitted of their working, and where the necessaries of life were fully as dear as in any of the -colonies; The American immigrants must have thought New South Wales-a paradise compared to the land they had left. Oh arrival in Sydney they were allowed to remain several days on board the ship to enable them to inspect the beauties of the capital of New South Wales. They were then furnished with free passages to any part of the colony which they desired to reach. An American'journal says that

the New South Wales Government took especial pains to secure to all the immigrants profitable employment. If our contemporary would make himself .acquainted with the arrangements for the care of immigrants after arrival, ; he would find that the Sydney Government only followed the usual course adopted in all the colonies. The immigrants were furnished with work on the railways at eight shillings’ a day. This high rate of pay appears to have somewhat startled American writers. They could not understand that within a trifle of two dollars a day in gold had been paid to a laboring man outside the Great Republic. Recent telegrams state that fearful distress prevailed even in California, which has hitherto been considered the most prosperous of the States. A generation ago it, was the boast of Americans that a beggar was not to be seen in the streets of the most populous cities of the Union. To-day wo read of soup-kitchens being established in the capital of the Golden State, The San Francisco papers are somewhat alarmed at the success of the immigrants to New South Wales, and are frightened that an exodus may take place from the Pacific States, as the sea voyage would be much shorter than from the Atlantic States. In fact, were immigration to steadily set in from California, the passage to any of the Australasian colonies need not cost more than £lO per head. There has been a lull in immigration to this colony, but as the Government announced their intention to vigorously prosecute the Public Works policy, labor must be introduced. Besides, there is not much use opening up the country by roads and railways if people are not found to settle upon the lands. The Americans are amongst the best agriculturists in the world, they are of the same stock as ourselves, speak the same language, and are intelligent and lawabiding. It is a remarkable circumstance, that most Americans met with in these colonies prefer British institutions to American. This would not perhaps bo a recommendation in the eyes of our present Premier, but it may be some consolation for those who think that our institutions are worth preserving, and who would view with alarm the introduction of any large number of people imbued with republican ideas. The working classes of California complain that they are crowded out by the heathen Chinee. In Australia and New Zealand there is not the slightest danger of the Caucasian being wiped out by the Mongolian. New Zealand democracy may learn a lesson in connection with the Chinese question. The industrial classes of the Great Republic are to a man against the influx of Chinese into the Slate, but the American Legislature refuses to put any check on Chinese immigration. Queensland, a great squatting colony, has passed a law to keep the Chinamen out of the Colony ; and Victoria did the same, even before the introduction of manhood suffrage. However, it is not with the question of democracy we are now dealing. Our desire is to point out that should it be deemed necessary to introduce labor, as well as capital, to develop the resources of this infant colony, America will be an excellent field to procure immigrants, and that the mail boats from San Francisco to New Zealand will afford rapid means of bringing them to our shores.

The San Francisco mail, which arrived in Wellington yesterday afternoon by the Taranaki, consisted of 5284 letters, 845 books, and 9504 papers from London ; and 423 letters, 120 books, and 751 papers from America. The City Council invite tenders from landowners up to the 10th April next for an eligible site, not less than 100 acres in extent, for the purposes of a cemetery. Tenderers are to state particulars as to area, position, distance from town, prices, &c. Yesterday the Assessment Appeal Court for the Karori-Makara District was held before J. 0. Crawford, Esq, II.M. There were only five appeals out of three hundred and eightyfive assessments, covering an area of 78,000 acres. The assessments on Mr. W. Sievers, property was reduced from £72 to £65. Two appeals were adjourned, as a point arose whether the properties assessed, which were at Vogeltown, were within the boundaries of Wellington, city, or Karori-Makara District. Two other cases were dismissed.

A meeting of pei-sons interested in the formation of a Young Men's Christian Association was held in the Woodward-street Congregational Church last evening, Mr. J. G. Holdsworth presiding. Rules for the guidance of the association, the object of which is for the furtherance of the spiritual, intellectual, and social improvement of all within its reach, were discussed and agreed upon. So far 105 members and associates have been enrolled. It was intimated that Dr. Somerville would address the members on Tuesday evening next. The following were elected as a board of management :—Joseph Kitchen, J. G-. Holdsworth, John Knowles, James Smith, Rev. Mr. Trivett, F. M. Ollivier, Luther, Halliwell, and the Rev. Mr. West.

The Manners-street Theatre is rapidly approaching completion. Little remains to be done by the carpenters, and the upholsterers are well advanced with their work. We are informed that everything will be cimpleted within a fortnight, and that it is the intention to open the theatre by the Ist of next month. The decorations will be of the most tasteful and chaste description, and the artists are now busy giving the finishing touch to the theatre, which when completed will bo oxe ef the finest structures of the kind in the colony. The stage is exceptionally large, which is in itself a great desideratum, as nothing so much spoils artistic effect as a narrow, shallow stage. It will also afford ample scope for scenic effect. The stage is in full view from every part of the house. There will be no straining of one’s neck to get a glimpse of the actors, as is not unfrequently the case in other theatres when a party happens to be unfortunate enough not to secure a good position. We have never seen a building in which such facilities are afforded for egress. Were the alarm of fire raised the building would be emptied in a twinkling. Doors from every part of the house lead to broad passages, and at both ends of the passages there are outlets from the building. In this respect alone great praise is due to the architect. Altogether the arrangements of the theatre will be second to none of its size in the colonies.

Between five and six o’clock on Thursday morniug, a two-storey house in Hawkestonestreet, near the Clarendon Hotel, caught fire. The brigades, which had been busily engaged a short time previously in extinguishing the fire which had caught the furze near the Catholic cemetery, once more set to work, and within a few minutes were on the scene of this second conflagration. A hose reel from the station in Hill-street was also brought into requisition, and the fire was soon put out, but not before it had done considerable damage to the house and furniture. The premises were in the occupation of Mr. Flannaghan, whose wife, we understand, first raised the alarm of fire, being awakened by the coughing of one of the children, and perceiving that the room was full of smoke. She then aroused her husband, who went at once to the fire-bell in Hill-street to ring the bell, which ha found out of order, but managed to make sufficient noise with it to be heard by the watchman at the Central Station, who gave the alarm. The damage done by the fire, we understand, is. estimated at about £4O, and that Mr. Flannaghan’s furniture was insured in the New Zealand Company’s office for £IOO. 1 ■ A special meeting of the Teachers’ Association will be held at eleven o’clock this morning. ■

To-morrow (Sunday) being St. Patrick’s Day, the holiday will he held on Monday, when the banks will be closed. The Hutt County Council call for tenders up to noon on the 2nd April next for • leasing the Kaiwarra and Hutt Bridge toll-gates for twelve months. The Salsbury Troubadours had another good house at the Theatre Royal last evening, and it is evident that the performance is losing none of its attractions. The bill-of-fare for this evening is a varied and attractive one, and a large attendance may again be confidently anticipated. A meeting of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society, to which we called attention in our issue of yesterday, will be held this afternoon, at half-past 3 o’clock, at Miss Greenwood’s schoolroom, when all ladies desirous of becoming members are invited to attend. The Engineer-in-Chief invites tenders up to noon on Wednesday, April 16th, for the Kingston Wharf contract, in connection with the Wiuton-Kiugston railway. Tenders are also invited for the supply of 50,000 sleepers for the Wellington and Masterton Railway. It will be seen by our advertising columns that Mr. J. H. Wallace will hold during the next month two of the most important property sales that have for a long time been announced, and from the bona fide character of the valuable property placed in the market, there is little doubt that' parties will embrace the opportunity offered. The sale on the 9th of April comprises building allotments in the township proper of the Lower Hutt, and is the identical spot where the early settlers in the olden days of the colony used to congregate to do trade ; in fact, there are many interesting historical reminiscences connected with this, the first country town established in the colony. The sale on the 23rd of April comprises the beautiful valley of the Mungaroa, Upper Hutt, for years comparatively unknown to the settlers. The advances, however, that the colony has made in consequence of , the Public Works policy, by means of railway communication, has brought this valuable property within one hour’s distance of the city, which in the early days of the colony it took days to approach. It was originally selected for some gentlemen in England by the late Baron Alzdorf, upwards of thirty years ago, and as a large portion formed a swamp of rich alluvial deposit, the proprietors have had it drained and prepared for settlement, and it only requires a visit, which can be accomplished in a few hours, to convince those who are seeking land for immediate and beneficial occupation that there is no more eligible land in the vicinity of Wellington than that we are now referring to, for small farmers, market gardeners, and, in fact for residences for the citizens of Wellington, especially those with families, who desire not to be too far from centres of population. The Wanganui Herald of the 14th inst. says that Cobb’s coach from Wellington to Palmerston met with an accident on Monday evening. The night being dark the coach was taken on to a slight rise on one side of the road, and being well loaded gracefully toppled over. Fortunately the occupants, beyond a shaking and one or two bruises, escaped without injury. Mr. E. J. Duncan, of Wellington, hurt his right arm, but good-humoredly complained, not ot his injury, but of his illluck, by which a rather heavy fellow passenger fell on him instead of under him.

We (Sydney Echo) understand that the Torpedo Corps, which Major Cracknell bad instructions a few weeks ago to increase to or e hundred members, is now filled up to its full complement of men, and that, contrary to expectation, the difficulty experienced was not in searching for members, but rather on account of the number of applications to decide upon whom to refuse, as there were upwards of 450 or 500 applications for admission. The company has been placed under the instruction of Sergeant McGregor of the Permanent Force. On reference to our advertising column relating to sale of land at Petoui, it is notified that this afternoon, and every day until date of sale, the owner of the property will be in attendance at the Petoui railway station to direct the public to the various allotments. To intending purchasers this is a convenience, and to those desirous of looking around the laud at the Hutt and Petoni it will afford an opportunity that many are likely to avail themselves of.

in consequence of the many fatal accidents to miners, resulting from the poisonous fumes generated from the nitro-glycerine compounds in use in mines ; also the serious injuries it is inflicting more or less upon the general bulk of miners who are compelled to use it, especially in close or ill-ventilated mines, attention is again directed, says an Australian exchange, to the new combustible called “ tonite.” According to reports from the mines in the old country, its success has been thoroughly established ; for not only are its explosive properties equal to dynamite, in either wet or dry ground, but, unlike dynamite or lithofracteur, it gives off no poisonous fumes after exploding. It can be held in the hand and ignited, aud beyond emitting a very brilliant flame it is perfectly harmless. It bums with such brilliancy that the light can be seen for miles. The blue lights for ships' signals are likely to be superseded by it. For some time past most favorable reports have appeared in the Mining Journal and other papers. Some of these reports—the majority—have been written by practical mining managers after due trials, in some instances where the tonite has been used for months. Kach report testifies to its superior excellence as an explosive, besides a general approval on account of the entire absence of injurious gases after explosion. Yet, strange to say, whilst such favorable reports are almost constantly appearing in the Home papers, and extracts often copied in the colonial ones, not one of our merchants have apparently endeavored to introduce it to our colonial mines. If all that is claimed for it is true, it must only remain a matter of time before coming into general use here ; but in the meantime there appears a splendid opportunity for some enterprising firm to procure the agency, or purchase the patent right, and circulate it amongst the mines.

The march of General Gourka over the Ktropol Balkans to Sofia appears (says the Spectator) to have been a really marvellous feat. He abandoned the main road, aud took a mountain path from Orkhanie to the westward of Kaba Konak, and thence to Taschkesen. The road for the guns had lit -rally to be made in the dark, for the sappers could only work at night, and the paths were so slippery that steps had to be cut with the axe, as in ascending a steep snow-mountain. The men, ill-fed, and subjected for several days to intense cold, were almost worn out, and after doing their work in the snow dropped down asleep “like logs but still the road was made, and the advance guard, after thirty hours of incredible effort, scaled the ridge and slid down literally to the southern side. The whole force gradually crossed, and, as we know, Taschkesen was carried, and Sofia occupied on the 6th. The exploit was a most daring one, but its record will probably be forgotten in the face of the triumph in the Shipka Pass. It is easy, too, to attract attention to the bravery of the Turks, difficult to attract it to the equal bravery of the Russian soldiers. It is expected of the latter.

The Dunedin Age makes the following extraordinary statement in its issue of the Bth inst. in reference to the constabulary of the city :—“The Dunedin constabulary used to be a cheerful, active, vigilant body. Now they are a dreary, melancholy lot. Ever since their pay was reduced from Bs. to 7s. per day in July, 1877, such a thing as a smile has not been observed on the features of a policeman. Many of the old efficient officers have followed the footsteps of Colonel Moule, and retired from a profession in which there is no longer any hope of promotion, nor the slightest reward held out for good conduct and usefulness. They have been succeeded by a number of doleful, dejected-looking castaways from Wellington, who apparently have accepted the police service in order to escape being arrested for vagrancy. There is a sad expression about their eyes, their upper lip is depressed, and they walk their beats with the sullen, despairing look of condemned felons,”