WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 662, 8 January 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FEOM our own correspondent.) Something like a feeling of dismay fel upon the hearts of intending holida; linkers when, on New Year's Eve, Capfc Edwin —that most infallible of prophet: —announced that a southerly gah accompanied with rain was to be ex peoted on the following day. Ii spite of this dispiriting prognostication however, New Year's Day dawned toler ably clear, and although one shower fell during the day it was not sufficient to raai the enjoyment of the numerous pionii parties who scoured the country rounj Wellington in search—like Dr Syntax—oi the picturesque. For once the gallanl captain seemed to be at fault in his pre dictions, but the faith of the Wellingtor public was restored when it was ascer tained that on the day in < question thf exact weather indicated was prevailing al no greator distance of the city than th< heads. So bad was it there,, in fact, that while the 6un was shining in Wellington] and a light N.W. breeze was blowing, th ship Hermione was unable to get beyonc Worser Bay, having a southely gale will showers of rain in lier teeth. The consil deration for the holidny folks of Welling l ton shown by the Clerk of the Weatlieror this. occasion is indeed worthy of oui deepest and most lasting gratitude. • Talking of holiday making and,p,ionics, may I ask how it i's that someone 1 is not able to invent.somo rational and--appro-prate amusement to be odopted by picnic partjes. Kiss-in-the-ring is not tolerated of course in such a sedate community as ours, while" rounders" is too puerile. I it wore not that the young people are ablo to wander away into the bush am indulge in a quiet flirtation under tin covering of a fern gathering, I am afraic that picnics would be awfully "alow' affairs. However, the interest in practical botany exhibited by the young couplei aforesaid is_ usually immense, and perhaps quite makes up for the absence of nion frivolous amusoments—else why shouk picnics continue so popular. Some little excitement has been causet hero over the alleged ill treatment of thi passengers in quarantine on Somes Island, The statements on either Bide art very conflicting, but I tliink tljerg can bi no doubt that one day at least they wen short of provisions, and the invalidi especially suffered for the want of propei food, I know that one of the passengers —a Wesleyan minister—sent ashore fot bread, milk, and other necessaries, which he distributed atqong the sick at his own cost. Since attention has been called to the matter, however,! believe the passengers have had little to complain of,! A number of persons who sent in valuations of their property, as required by the Property Assessment [Act, hare

been astonished to find that in somo instances largely increased valuations hare been setdown opposite their properties on the assessment roll. This is the plan adopted in England in regard'to the Income Tax. A returns his income Bay at 15400, the .local Inland.Revenue Officer thinks that £6OO is probably nearer the mark, and gives notice to the ratepayer that he has been assessed at that amount. Unless A is content to submit to pay the tax on this amount he 'has- to go the ..trouble and expense of an appeal, the onus being thrown on him to prove that his income only amounts to £4OO. The legality of a similar principle being adopted in New Zealand is strongly disputed., by the Hon';- G'."M'. .Watorhouse, in his' letters to the Wellington Press. The Act seems very obscure on the .subject, but tho Government, I understand, are acting on tho advice of tho law officers of the Crown. Considering all the difficulties that have to be contended with, I am inclined to think that the New Zealand railways are,' on the whole, very fairly managed. There is one point, however, in which there is still room fprgreat improvements, namely, the speedc.of the trains. The Evening Post-which is especially noted for the ability of its articles on railway mattershas just shown how a great acceleration can bo effected by running express trains "'■thToughj' u and not-stopping at every little poky wayside station as at present. Passengers are picked up at intermediate stations by a stopping train, despatched ahead of the express—the plan adopted on English railways. It is showrt, too, that this can be done with scarcely any additional expense—if, in fact, any at all —as compared with the present plan. A trial of the system on the.Wairarapa railway has shown that by its adoption, it is easy to reduce the time of the journey between Wellington from 1} hour's, as at present, to 3Jj, or even less. Unless the puUic, however, take the matter up, and urge it strongly on the Department, tho latter is hardly likely to move very earnestly in the direction of reform, I regret to hear that Lady Robinson was taken seriously ill during tho voyage home in the Orient steamer,.John Elder. Her Ladyship, it appears from the information that reaches me, suffered severely from tho heat on passing through the Red Sea, and partook very freely of ice, which seems to have.rather assisted in bringing on the illness with which she was attacked. Her Ladyship's condition, I hear, was such as at one time to cause considerable anxiety, necessitating constant watching by her. However, she improved on getting into colder latitudes, and had nearly recovered on despatch of latest advices.'