The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 423, 7 May 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1879.

In a recent article we incidently alluded to the great improvement in railway revenue that would be brought about by completing the trunk lines of the North Island. Some returns now to hand will serve to make our position clear. This time last year there were 400 miles of line connected with Christchurch, 105 miles connected with Dunedin, and 164 with Invercargill, making a total of 669 miles. This grand total, however, was in three pieces, and, for that reason, for the four-weekly period ending March Bth, 1878, the average of the earnings per mile was only £57. Since that time 47 miles have been added, and the three lines united into one. The Christchurch and Invercargill line, or connected system oflines, now represents 716 miles, and the four-weekly period ending March Bth, 1879, shows an average income per mile of £77 Is. At the same time the working expenses have been considerably reduced. Now this increase of about 35 per cent, can neither be attributed, in any considerable degree, to increase of population, or to increased production of grain and wool. The true explanation no doubt is, that the continuous line can do a vast amount of work, in the way of carrying passengers and goods, which before was either left undone, or done by coasting steamers. The returns for passengers carried make this very clear. In that portion of the financial year 1877-78, which ended March Bth, the number of passengers carried on the three lines was 89,388. To the s»rao period in the present financial year the passengers carried on the united line numbered 166,057. If we turn to the New Plymouth and Wanganui lines, 21 and 86 miles respectively, we find that, in the above mentioned four-weekly period for 1879 they earned about £3O to £36 per mile respectively, while the Wellington lino of 45 miles earned £64 per mile. All this difference is not to be accounted for by supposing that the country through which the Wellington line passes is so much better than that surrounding the other two lines. The reason seems to ns to be in this, the Wellington line is connected with a groat port. It was found in the South Island that the lines that were connected with a great port, as Dunedin, or Lyttelton, were far more productive than others, as the Invercargill lino. Easy communication with a chief port and city, reduces not only the cost of the carriage of produce, but also renders living cheaper, and thus indirectly reduces and equalises the price of labor, and thus again, indirectly, rendering possible many kinds of production in which an isolated district can have no share. Is there then any reason why the junction of WelHngtorij Wanganui and New Plymouth lines should not produce results as satisfactory as those produced in the junction of the Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill lines? The former linos in the four weeks ending March Bth, only earned on an average £43 10s per mile. Is there any reason why they should not earn, if united, at least £6O per mile in a like period? If there be any reason why they should not, we confess our inability to see it. The line between Stratford and Wanganui would pass through the very finest country in the colony, country that it would render donbly productive and doubly populous. Vast sums of public money have been spent on the fragment of lines that the west coast of this Island possesses, and for want of spending more, that which is already spent is comparatively unproductive. Our ai’gument somewhat resembles that of Bassanio— In my school days, when I had lost one shaft I shot his fellow the self-same flight The self-same way, with more advised watch, To find the other forth ; and by adventaring hoth I oft’ found hoth .... I owe you much .... but if you please Po shoot another arrow that same way Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, :Vs I will watch the aim, to find them both. It is not simply a local interest to have mr lines completed, but a colonial interest. The Patea settler, together ivith the whole colony, is interested in the success of the great lines in the South Island. So is every taxpayer ntcrested in the line that is to connect Patea with Wellington and Auckland. We hope that the new loan will not be squandered in making more unproductive fragments of lines, or in constructing .iranch lines for private ends in the ’avoured South, but that it will be used so as to make itself and previous loans •eprocluclive, used as a “ second arrow,” ;o find the first. We hope that by all egitimate means, it will be impressed in the Government, that in neglecting mr local interest in this particular, they ire neglecting the interest of New Zeaand.

A boiler explosion .occurred at Messrs Duncan and York’s Sash and Door Factory, Wanganui, on Monday last, by which an unfortunate man named John Nixon was killed, .and several others wounded. It has not yet transpired how the accident happened.

The Patea East Road Board Field its monthly meeting on Monday last. The entertainment given in the Council Chambers on Friday evening last, for the purpose of raising funds for support of a school library at Whemiakura, was fairly attended, and the programme being of a varied character, a very pleasant evening was spent. Government seem to have originated a splendid plan for auditing the accounts of different local bodies. It will be recollected that Mr McAllister was appointed Provincial District Auditor, and it is his duty to examine the accounts of Road Boards, County Councils, Harbor Boards, Town Boards, School Committees, &c., on behalf of Government, independent of the auditors that may be appointed by the different bodies mentioned. This is right enough. But when Mr McAllister sits in his armchair in Wellington, and demands that detailed statements, balance-sheets, vouchers, and cerlfieates of Bank balance, be sent to him for examination, we think it is going a shade too far. Is it reasonable to expect that any body will consent (if they have the power to resist) to such important documents as vouchers, &c., being sent as far as Wellington, with no security as to their being returned. Then again they might bo lost on the passage down, and what satisfaction would this be to the auditor or the body that sustained the loss. The Carlyle Town Board have been treated to a telegram from this Provincial District Auditor, with such a request as above, and they have very properly declined to acceed to it. We hope other local bodies will do the same, until some very good reason can be shown why papers should be sent to Wellington. A very taking programme has been drawn up for the Debating Society’s entertainment to-morrow evening, which will consist of singing, readings, recitations, instrumental performances, &c. Buildings of all descriptions are being, or arc about to be, erected in the County, and as a sign of the times, we would mention that three churches are amongst the number. Tenders have boon accepted for the erection of a Presbyterian Church in Carlyle ; the Roman Catholics are about to erect more suitable promises for worship ; and tenders are now called for the erection of a building at Waverley, in connection with the Church of England. Mr F. McGuire will offer for sale on Saturday next, the Hawera Brewery, with half-au-acre of land adjoining ; also horses, dray, &c. The situation of the above property is excellent, and should be an inducement for any wishing to continue the busiucss, or otherwise, to avail themselves of an opportunity that duos not .occur every day. An advertisement elsewhere notifies that Mr F. P. Fookes has commenced business in Waverley as a general agent. Mr Fookes is an old resident of Waverley, and should therefore be iti a position to claim the support of settlers thereabouts, as well as others at a distance to whom he is known.

The Hon. W. Fox requests the electors of the Wanganui District to meet him in the Odd Fellows Hall, Wanganui, tomorrow evening; and at the Waverley Public Hull on Friday evcing.