RAILWAY RETURN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2189, 9 January 1886, Page 2

RAILWAY RETURN.

Tub railway returns for the four weeks ended December sth, are published in the last Gazette, and show a satisfactory increase upon the corresponding period last year. The total amount of the receipts were £79,967 5s Gd, as against £74,698 4s 2d, during the corresponding period twelve month previous, Nearly the whole of the increase is due to the North Island lines, ; The expenditure was £48,666 9s, as compared with £51224 lis lid, On the Wellington Masterton section the revenue was £5850 8s sd, as against £4712 10b 4d, an increase of £ll3B. Not a single line in.Nuw Zealand can show such a rapid increase of business, But the returns look still better when the receipts per mile are taken into consideration, for it will then be found tliatit eclipse's even the coal Held lines, The receipts on the line in this district were no less than £923 9s 2d for the

twelve months, the Westport line coming next with £8.92 19s 7d per mije, It might fairly have bjen assumed that the opening of a section of the Wellington jlunawatu Railway Company's. line would have affected the number of passengers, a considerablenumber of whom travel for pleisure only, The figures, however, speak for themselves, During the four weeks ended'.December sth, 1885, there were 24,730, and in the corresponding period only 17,845. There has also been, a considerable falling off in the working, expenses, the percentage for the respective periods being 69.48, and 77,82. These results speak well for the district, and are a strong argument in' favor of another train. The necessity for this will appear in the more forcible, light, when it is remembered that t.wq passenger trains have been running to, t}ie Wairarapa ever since the line' was opened to Featherston. ,'"'■ t

Tho Kev Mr Oliver'ffiliprfliich in tho Mnsterton. , ; Wesleyan 'Ohu.roJi'. ihorriiug and evening to-morrow. ;

The Masterton Preethought. Society, holds its weekly meoting to-morrow overling, when, as usual, a select musical programme will be presented. •'

Tenders are invited by the Chief Surveyor for contracts Nog, 1 and 2, Makakahi road, consisting of bushfolling and clearing on road lines. Tenders close o ; h tho 19th insfc. .

Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R. for Wai'/ rarapa South, announces in another column that he will address his constituents at Carterton on Thursday next, at Greytown on Friday, and Featherston on Saturday.

One of the drawbacks of nearly all the amateur performances in Mastorton is that too much is attempted, Last night the audience did not get away till nearly half past eleven. We think it will be found that a smaller programme will suit all parties better, as it would prove less of a tax on the performers, and permit the public to get home in good time.

In an Auckland paper a girl advertises for a situation to take charge of alaundry or dairy. Blio can cook, and understands housekeeping, and adds-" None but a respectable mistress, who wishes to leave her servant in uninterrupted discharge of her duties, need apply."

Complaints are being made by bathers that the water in the Waipoua is being polluted by wool-scourers, who have fixed up their plant just above the only pool in the river that is available for ablutions. Though the'industry of wool-scouring is one which wo should like to see firmly established in the place, it should not be allowed" to become a nuisance, and we trust that some other locality will be found that is suitable for carrying on the work.

A peculiar accident, which we regret to say ondcd fatally, occurred on the Opaki to the year old daughtei of Mr A. Stewart on Thursday afternoon. The little girl was playing * with' other children near a large boiler, which was covered with a.lid, .and not in use at the time. In the course of her childish gambals, she got on the top of this, and was dancing, on it, when the lid suddenly turned over, and she dropped into the water below. An elder girl who was present immediately pulled her out, and her father, who was not far away at the time, also attended to her. She does not seem to have been hurt in any way, nor could she havo suffered much from the immersion, as she was pulled out without the least delay ; she, however, gradually sank, and died early yesterday morning, being apparently unable to recover from the shock which her nervous system received. An inquest will bo held on Monday.

The meeting of the Town Lands Trustees yesterday 1 evening nearly lapsed through the members missing each other, the Chairman arrived to the minute of the time appointed f'pr proceeding with the business, and seeing no one else in the room, spent the time walking up and down the street for a few chains and talking with a friend or two. While so engaged two of the Trustees arrived and took their seats in the Council Chamber, whero they waited for nearly half an hour, not knowing the Chairman was handy. Eventually they concluded that there would be no quorum, and were in the act of leaving when the Chairman saw them. An explanation followed, and the business to be disposed of was then proceeded with.

"Martindale," in the Sydney Town and Country Journal says ;-A correspondent at Byrock informs ino that a horse performed a great feat of strength at Byrock on Wednesday last, A wager of £25 was made that a horse standing fifteen hands one inch and a half would not draw five tons of common loading. The horse started off and drew it fully 300 yards on a tel, but dusty bush road, amid great pxitement, The Iqad wag' drawn in' an 18ft wagon which, when empty, weighed 2 tons 2cwt, which the horse drew. The horse's bodily weight was flcwfc and it was grass fed, The feat was witnessed by over 200 people. Something of this kind was done in Sydney many years ago, and, if I remember right, the owner was prosecuted for cruelty to the animal.

The Evening Press regrets to record the death of Mr Ebenezor Fox, Secretary to the Cabinet, which took place at an early hour yesterday morning. Mr Fox had been resident at the Wellington Club for many,years past, but was removed to the Hospital in order that ho might receive greater care and attention during his illness, He had not been able to attend to his duties at the buildings for tlio past'B months, owing to an attack of bronchitis, which was the cause of his

death. He was about 63 years of aiu} was a bachelor, without any "relations in this colony. Ho came 'from Jjiigland nearly 30 years ago to Australia,, having previously been connected with the' Manchester Guardian, on which well appointed paper he gained a thorough knowledge of journalism, He came to New Zealand in 1862, and joined the (Hugo Daily Times, wish which journal Sir Julius Vogel—then Mr Vogel—was connected. He was an expert shorthand writer and

a first-class reporter, and Ins reports, especially of law cases, were remarkable for their accuracy and trustworthiness. Ho frequently distinguished himself in stenographic feats. Ho became a member of the Hansard staff, and on the Gl.h June, 1870, he was appointed confidential clerk ,to..the Treasury, and Secretary to tho Cabinet, appointments which ho held lip' fci his decease. His familiar face at tho. buildings will be greatly missed, We believe he was in fair circumstances when he died.

There was, we were sorry to see, only a moderate attendance at tho Theatre Royal, ou tho occasion of Miss Lena Wyatt's benefit last night, though a very attractive programmo was presented. "The Young Widow," anoxcollentcomedietta was first put on tho boards, and performed in a manner which showed that all the amateurs who took part had carefully studied'tlieir-parta. Miss Beaufort, as ** Aurolia Fa'irlove," the. widow, who occasionally took it into her head to'dross as a young officer who vfas supposed to be paying ( 'attention to her, created much amusement in her dual part, while _ Miss Wyatt represented her maid to. perfection, MrG. Armstrong as ''Mahdevillo,'! and Mr Marter as ,: ' Splash," his' valet, made the most of the perplexing circumstances into which they had been led, and created roars of laughter. Miss Lena Wyatt next gave a song and dance, for which she was deservedly encoied. Miss Jennie Sutherland followed with the'song "Jessie's Dream," for which she was encored. Someone, however, rushed on the stage to put up the wire for Master Bacon, and •sl)o was prevented from responding to tho compliment. The ma'pner in which Master Alfred Bacon performed his part of the I programme almost took away the breath of the audience. With the utmost sang 'fwidths little imp walked from the dresscircle to the stage, returning baokwards. .Having gone through several other feats, ;he lay down on his back, and got up (again, without the slightest difficulty.' The performance\ concluded with "Milky" ■White," in which the various characters were' taken by' Miss Beaufort; Miss Jennie "Sutherland, 'Mr" ftvetion, jil

:■. Captain Bates, of the Salvation Army, is about to make a third effort to establish the Army in Carterton, ''■•.' • We direct attention to a new advortisoment from Messrs L. J. Hooper & Co., BonMarche, which appears in another column.

Iho funeral of tho late Mr Richardson will take place this afternoon, leaving his late residencoJanuister-Street at 4 p, m . MrG. Bectljanji, M.H.R., invites tho electors of Wairarapa North to moet him at Pahiatua on Wednesday, Eketahuna on Thursday, Alfredton on Friday, and Mauricevillo on Saturday.. Wellington papers;; persist in Baying that the Special Settlement Association which is beirigjformedfin the metropolis ]usfc now is thirst iri! Wellington. They forget that -(tho Associations winch settled Maßtertiift Greyfcown, and a large block of land in were formed there. % v:,; ;-^S,

Messrs'B'wes'iS; lorns add to their stock sale for Wednesday'next, a line of four fat bulloc% Theirjilist^of.entries will now be a veryjyattractive one, tho principal items tbjaing 75 store'bullocks, several pens of : |eef, aquantityof storecattle and dairy'cpws, store wethers, ewes and lambs, 20|iorses of 1 "all classes, butcher's cart, implements; pigs,' etc. ■

It appears thjvt,.t!ie reports 7 which reached the Slips at the Taueru were exaggerated. Although the township wa3 in'danger, Mrißogers informs us that it was, not found necessary to protect the hotel with blankets. The fires died down yesterday, and to-day everything is said to be ; v The Secretary of the Sports Committee of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies has received a telegram from.the Railway Department, informing him that the time-table on the Wellmgton-Mas-terton railway, for. Anniversary Day provides for a morning; train from W e l; hngton, which is to arrive'in Mastcrton at 10.5 a.m. Residents in town who wish to attend the sports which are to bo hold on the Pari? Oval will, therefore, have an opportunity to reach Masfcertbn in excellent time, ,

The ade of privileges' in connection with the Friendly Societies' sports to take place Oil the Masterton Oval on Anniv«i'sary Pay, will be held at Mr F. H. Wood's Masterton Auction Rooms on Wednesday next. The Committee having arranged with the Railway authorities to havo" a special train runnhitfto convoy membors of the Wellington Societies, should havo the effect of creatins.' eager competition for the different rights. Particulars of the sale appear in our advertising columns. .

Wc have to acknowledge the receipt of a volume entitled " Bush Pilgrims, and other Poßiiu." 'flu book contains a number of poems from the pen of Mr. Thomas Walker, the Frcethought lecturer who visited Masterton the other day. .The various pieces are written in popular, metro, the rhyming is good throughout, and here and there w'e find some good original thought. Mr Walker may claim a fair place among colonial poets, and his works will, no doubt, be frequently read when they become bettor known,

A young native has made a most interesting discovery of Maori relics near a long-deserted village in the Waikato country. The accidental setting on fire of the fern on a hill side revealed the entrance to a cave which, apparently, did the duty at one time of a Maori mausoleum. The quantity of human remains is not great, but some of the skulls point to the existent of, giants in those days. Scattered among the human remains are woapoiis, implements, and ornaments in vast variety, but these the Maoris guard jealously, and will not allow the removal of so much as one. Many of the implements and weapons are of a familiar type, both of whalebone and greenstone, but some are mi generis, and none of tlio present generation can tell their'nse'. The walls of the cave, which occurs in limestone formatiqn, have been covered with rude drawings, but time has almost obliterated these. Doubtless tlio cave had been used as the burial place of some important line of olu'efs in the days spoken of by the Maoris as before the time of Captain Cook, The long looked-for rain still holds off. Time after time the Meteorological Department has sent messages giving warning of the approach of "bad weathor," but all we get in this district is clouds, which come up from the south, and bear no promise of moisture from their very first appearance. Last night the sky looked exceedingly black, and it was generally believed that a change was impending, This morning, however, it was again almost clear, and the only change for the better was that the warm northerly wind had been replaced by a cool breeze from the South. Many farmers say that they are not now anxbus for ram until they have garnered' their crops, as it could only do damage to.them, while it would do no good to the grass.

Venetian Blind and Revolving Shutter Manufactory. All Blinds guaranteed oi tho very heal, description, Price list on application to ft. W. Henn (late Henn & Hansen,) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Shuttor lactory, Wellington, —Anvr

Coughs, QMs, Bronchitis, <k, are quickly cured by using Baxter's celebrated "[,ung Preserver." This oldestablished, popular medicine, is pleasant to the palate, and liigldy extolled by the members of the medical, legal, and clerical professions. Sold by "all Patent Medicine Vendors. See testimonials iu advertisements.— Anvi,

Strangers paying a visic to Masterton, and country settlers arriving in fcoivn, are often at a loss to know where to purchase Drapery, Millinery, and Clothing, to the brat advantage. L. J. Hooper and Co. oilur special advantages' in this lin« that cannot he met with elsewhere, their stock being the largest in tlio district to select from. Being direct importers, all middle profits are saved, and customers receive the benefit. The services of one of the best dressmakers in the colony lias been secured, for the Dress, Mantle, and Habitmaking Department, and perfect .fit, style, and finish is guaranteed. The name of the shop is the Bon Marcho - ADV3V