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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 226, 29 June 1872, Page 2

The meeting held by the Waiotalii Highway Board with regard to the laying down and formation of a tramway along Bella-street, from the Wai-o-Karaka Creek to the Karaka tramway, arrived at the best conclusion they could possibly have done, not only for the benefit of the mines on the creek, but for their own and the ratepayers’ good as well; for a road such as could be formed along the base of those hills at the present time would take a large amount of money to keep in anything like decent repair during the present winter. Under favourable ciicumstancs —that is when a road gets fair play, and is well seasoned—it costs just six times the amount of money to maintain it properly as it would to keep an iron tramway in order, providing the traffic be the same over both; and we are sure that to keep Bella-street in order would cost more than ten times the amount during this winter that it would take to maintain an iron tramway. The offer of the Queen of Beauty people and the machine owners is, we consider, a very fair one. They ask the Board to form the roadway, (towards which object they themselves have already subscribed £2O), and supply them with metal to ballast the line, which they will lay down themselves, the rails to be of iron throughout. Mr Thomas has gone to Auckland to see his Honor the Superintendent, and request his permission to proceed at once with the line; and the Waiotalii Highway Board have sent by him a letter stating that they approve of the plan, and recommend his Honor to grant permission at once. We trust that no red tapeism will interfere and retard the starting cf this work, as every day is of consequence in the matter. Mr Gillies cannot fail to see the great advantages to be gained by the forming of this line, which we ourselves regard in the light of pioneer on the flat, feeling certain that, sooner or later, we shall see along many of our streets, more especially those close to the base of the hills, lines of tramway which will be connected with the lines running up the various creeks. The stone quarry which is now being opened up in the Hape Yalley could be worked much

more economically if a tramway were laid from the Government line to the •wharf, than it can be if the ordinary method of transport were used. And this is only one of the very many instances on the field in which we can see the great saving to be effected to the ratepayers in general by a judicious formation of lines of tramway.

The p.B. Golden Crown will leave Grahamstown wharf at 3 o’clock sharp this afternoon for Auckland. There are several summons cases set down for hearing at the Police Court to-day, one of them being an action by the Waiotahi Highway Board against Mr Knecbone, of Eella-street, to compel him to remove his house, which is said to stand partly on the line of street. At the Police Court yesterday Mary Robinson was ordered to be imprisoned for 14 days for being drunk and using obscene language the previous day. This was the only case before the Court. It was stated that the prisoner had been three times convicted within the past month. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday the R.M. gave a lengthy judgment in the case of M. McDonnell v. Honiss and Young for £l7 14s 6d damages, and £9 6s costs. The rest of the cases were not important. A report will be found in another place.

Dr. Carr's entertainment was, as usual, well patronised last night, and a great deal of fun was enjoyed by those present. The Laughing Gas was administered to several of the audience with the good effect, those taking it going through many antics which were provocative of great mirth. The Dr. announces that to-night he will perform for himself for the last time, and that on Monday night he will give an entertainment for the benefit of the Thames Hospital. The Kauaeranga River is making serious encroachments upon the Parawni Road, above Banks’ slaughter house. A considerable outlay of money has been incurred for the road in this particular locality, which will be thrown away unless steps are at once taken to prevent the river washing it away. One or two ratepayers have subscribed £35 towards the expense, but this sum will be altogether insufficient for the purpose, and the amount by rate is very small. The Waiotahi Board have put on a man to sweep some of the chief crossings in Grahamstown with a broom, a work much needed, for the state of the streets is terrible, and the smallest boon to the pedestrian will be most thankfully received. It will be seen by reference to our advertising columns that tenders are called for the formation and metalling of Cochrane-street from Pollenstreet towards Bclla-street, also foi kerbing and making good the footway on the eastside of Pollen-street from Karaka Bridge to Cochrane-street. Tenders must be left at the Engineer’s office not later than 10 o’clock this morning. An accident happened to Mr J. Waite yesterday, which fortunately was not attended with serious consequences. Whilst driving past Holdsbip’s timber yard on one of his drays, a piec. of protruding timber hit him in the chest, shaking him severely, but fortunately not breaking any bones. He was taken to bis residence, and will in a few days be able to resume his usual avocations. A disgraceful scene, amounting to a riot, took place at the Queen-street wharf yesterday, on the occasion of the dcpa-lure of the Hero, for t'ydncy. A number of the persons on board the vessel began tossiug coppers to associates ashore, which were tossed back ngain, As the vessel hauled out from the wharf, and the d’stance became greater, the coin was thrown with great force, one inflicting a severe cut on a gentleman who happened to be present. Subsequently potatoes were procured on board, and these were thrown among the crowd on the wharf, with violence,—one uf them bieaking a window in the Government store. We have been informed that the Water Police were present, but did not interfere.— lV. Z. Herald.

As will be seen by advertisement a meeting of Volunteers is called for to-night at the Pacific Hotel, at 7.30 p.m,, to receive the answer sent by the Auckland Volunteers to the resolutions forwarded to them by the Secretary appointed at the last meeting. We published these resolutions yesterday morning, which stated that the Auckland men thought that a fresh challenge should he issued, as they had proved the victors in the two previous contests. We quite agree with them, but cannot depart from oar former assertions that the Auckland men are entirely to blame for any misunderstanding that may have occurred over the match pending now, as they suddenly woke up, after having once refused one challenge and because our men did not carry off all the prizes at their Rifle Association meeting, as they certainly thought they would do, hte Aucklanders sent down to say that they would give us a match. Although they were wrong in their action, wc "eel convinced that the Thames men will do what they require, and challenge them; and as we are accused of bounce, wc will just do a little. We believe that the Thames men will beat them !

The table of “the religions of the people” is a curious section of the census returns. One would hardly expect that in three quarters of a nr.llion of population there should be so many d : verse little by-pa.hs presumed to lead to one fina’ goal. The Spiritists are not so numerous as the noise they make would lead one to believe. They only s'" e 171 all told. Amongst the miscellaneous lot, thc-e nre a few whose religious profession is, probably, as mysterious to themselves as to anyone else. For instance, there are 2 NazareDes, 1 Peculiar People, 1 Dickmite, 1 Seventh-day Adventist, 5 Naturalists, 1 Original Thioke •, 2 Religion of my Own. But, probably, the most honest of the lot is the mau who returns bis religion as “ L.S.D.” I would trust 1"m sooner than the gent emau who for religious be’ief records 4 ‘ The nurture aud admonit'on of the Lord.” — Australasian.