NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1973, 24 April 1885, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

P?rQni our own Correspondent,]

Work at the Breakwater prooeeds merrily. On Wednesday all hands were temperorily "knocked off," the Harbor Board having run out of cement. By the arrival of the ship Akaroa, yesterday, however, a good supply was obtained, (about 3000 casks), consequently operations are now as vigorous as over. The breakwater presented an unusually livoly appearance this mornings there werp a large number of visitors from to\yn, and lip less than four vessels, the s, s, RingaI'ooina being amongst tho number, Thie is the first visit of the above named boat, but I hear it is the intention of her owners (the Union Shipping Company), to allow

her to take up the West Coast trade, in conjunction with those of their vessels at present running. The other vessels in port are the St. Kilda, Oroti, andAkaroa, The latter, is lying off, and is being tendered by the Harbor Board Tug, and a couplo of surf boats. The Captain of the Akaroa decided not to come alongside tho pier considering a great loss of time would be involved in having to haul the vessel to and from the moorings to suit the tide she drawing a considerable depth of water, It is expected the work of relieving her of cargo will be completed about the middle of the coming week, should the weather continue favorable.

Great excitement prevails hero at the prospect of an outbreak of war between England and Russia. Numbers of old campaigners may be observed at the street corners, eagerly discussing the latest intelligence. The press officers are rushed every minute of the day with inquiries as to proceedings at the probable seat of war. The police are at present engaged in enrolling those eligible to serve in a first-class militia; and should a colonial contingent be required, I have no doubt this district would be well represented, judging from the numerous applications to serve our worthy police sergeant has received. One hears some curious expressions of opinion as to how Colonial trade would be affected by a rupture between the two great powers. Some people emphatically declare that the Colonies would derive immense benefit from'the outbreak of war, that it would give a stimulus to trade, improve commerce, and require the payment of a much higher wage to the working man. Others affirm, andl believe rightly, thatwarwould throw the Colonies entirely upon their own resources, a responsibility they are scarcely in a position to sustain just now, and would cause such a depression of trade as would require many years' increasing toil to overcome. They say, " Should Russia think fit to send a few of her cruisers to these waters, what would become of our commerce ? We should be cut off from all foreign trade, and be compelled to maintain our position by our own unaided efforts, and as the result of this the colony would be thrown into a state of bankruptcy, and possibly cause the outbreak of a famine." However, the crisis is at hand, and a few weeks will decide whether the present" bone of contention" is to be fought for, or an amieablo settlement arrived at. 1 most fervently hopo, for tho good of all, that should there be an outbreak of hostilities, our peaceful little Colony will not in any way'bo affected,

Woodyoars cirpug performed here on Thursday and Friday evenings to very good audiences. They open at Waitara to-night (Saturday), from whence they proceed to Manakau by the s.s. Oreti tp-mqrrow. For next week the Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company announce a season of six nights, As the company produce many favorite operas, the hall will doubtless be well patronised. On (lit a visit from Radqliffe, the famous flautist; he is expected some time during the presentments. 'Mr W, A, Ellii (President of the New Zealand Psychological Society), medical psychocmetrist, lectures here to-morrow (Sunday), evening. I hear he has been astonishing the natives down south by Ins truly wonderful gift of mind-reading, We, tlierefpr.fi, aye jjkewjpe prepared to be''astonished.".

A successful show by the Taranaki Agricultural Society was held last week. There ,vas a large number of exhibits in every class, all being of really first class quality. The attendance of the public was large. Large parties qf torts, have been W\\\}\tl Pie accent qf Aft, EpQltf du.yl.ng the week, A few days, sinoe a, party of 21, including several ladies, successfully olimbed to the summit. Tho ascent was made by a newly formed track, and the party report having had an excellent view of the surrounding country. Egmont is now beginning to present a rather wintry appearance, and I hear the snow is several feet deep, and very soft qn. parts, qf the |i'aolv. This, wjll floubtlef. causa many who have a visit in, view to, postpone it till nex| Spring, Publio feeling is running strongly here just now at the apparent.injustice of the Government in regard to long service men of the A.C. Force, The Press have taken the matter up, and a free ventilation of facts in connection with the subject will doubtless, have, the efjeqbqf makjn.g pur legislator aljye tq ftp sjt.uatiqn. It flVes, indeed., seem §trango thai) vjjile \ye jiave men of competence'in, ftq Qolony, the Gqyarrimcut should deliberately overlook those men, and import (if it might sobo termed), from home persons to fill military, positions that might well he fillet}'by men equally qualified, from the colonial ranks. To my personal knowledge, there are mon in this district alone who, for more than twenty years, have faithfully served in the vaukj.of the A,O, Fprepj'inen whp have had years of foreign, as well as colonial experience, who have borne their share of the hardfibipii of the early days of the province, and who, by their bravery and good conduct, have risen from tho ranks. And yet those men have to give place to those who, although they may bo efficient officers, know lifcblo or nothing of colonial warfare, and who, simply because they have influence at their backs, are placed in positions for which they are not in thelcast degree.fitted'. Is'this right?—can tl|!3 !}i! pnpgifleraj jljstjiio'i Mur-ely tho iiiMiijiial ''nation pf the colony is not so flourishing as will allow of such useless expenditure. And again, in the spooial settlement scheme mooted by the Hon, Mr Bajlitupe, jn which jjo proper \\\ «]• lot gortain lands to members of tho A, 0. force in lieu of payment, no mention is made in that schoino of long-service men receiving extra grants of land or being in any way'recompensed for their past services, 'if this is considered British )W----tiQQ, we ]\\m teve Indeed fallen Ibw> Jt must np.fc lip taken that 1 am agitating f fiV Wy P,wii pev§qniyi benefit, rafter is it to the I stowly wMted by that true apjrit qf justice felt by every Englishman, and because these old campaigners are forbidden to give expression to their own opinion, upon tho subject. My great hope is that your Wellington contemporaries will see fit to take this matter up, and that our representatives will, during the coming session, use their bent endeavors to bring this important question under the notice of tho Government.