The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1886. AN UNPROFITABLE RAILWAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2329, 24 June 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1886. AN UNPROFITABLE RAILWAY.

The House of Representatives, by im overwhelming majority, has virtually carried the East and West Coast Railway Bill, and authorised a gigantic undertaking, involving the construction of 235 miles of railway, and the expenditure of two and a-halt millions of money. We presume that tbf. House in so doing lias accepted what it deems to be the less of two evils. The Canterbury ring has ken at the throat of the Colony so long that the House is glad to shake it oft'and allow it to bleed an English syndicate.. The fflaitl consideration in the whole affair is that this railway for many years to coire is likely to prove an unprofitable venture. There will be a serious loss on the undertaking, and the question may well be asked, on whose shoulders will it fain Ol course the. members who voted for the measure will hope that there will be ho loss, biit 6veri they must admit that the chances of making the line pi\y are very poor. The Company which . has undertaken the construction of the line may be supposed to bear the probable loss, Should it do bo, the worse that, will happen will he that we shall get a bad name in England, and any failure in ' the undertaking will injure at London the credit of the colony. ■ But the Company may save itself by construct ing the easier portions of the line, and. after securing a due proportion of the Janri grants,, retire from ; the. field' ■leaving the.line in'such a position that, thecolony would be obliged to complete it, In that case,-the loss would mainly fall on the colony, and it may be taken for. granted that if the line does prove to be a bad investment, it

will in some form or other be thrown back on our hands.. Aland grant of 2,500,000 acres is.supposed to be given to the Company as a bonus, each acre' being of the nominal value of ten shillings, The land to be thus disposed of is in the main bo rugged and sterile that probably a shilling,au acre would be afair equivalent for it : Wr sinceroly trust that the English shareholders have not been misled an to ■. the character of the land which they. are to •acquire. . Howover; a bargain has been i 'Struck;,and we shall be delighted as well as .surprised if the issue of. it benefits either the colony ,or the English syndicate, .

Tenders are invited for alterations and repairs to the Masterton Institute. Plans and specifications lie at the Town Clerk's office. ''J

. At a meeting held m Ohristchurch to discuss the best means of coping with the small bird nuisance, a motion was passed affirming that poisoning was the most effectual method of dealing with the nuisance. A Committee was appointed to wait on the various' local bodies with the view of obtaining the necessary funds for the employment of persons in each district to distribute the poisoned grain.

Young William Johnstone, the medical student who was drowned on board the Ly-ee-moon, had. some strange forebodings as to tlie fate of the vessel. His father is dead, but his mother resides in Sydney, arid he contemplated. a -visit to her. He took passage in the Ly-ee-moon but after doing so gave expression to' a strong presentiment that the vessel would be wrecked and he be drowned. He was expostulated with, but persisted that lie would be drowned; and so strongly was he possessed by this; conviction that he apportioned a number of small articles which he owiied to be given to various friends as souvenirs as soon, as his fate was known, and he directed that when the news came his letters should be burned, AMr Moss and others asked him why, if lie felt thus, he did not wait for the next steamer, to which he replied that his father had held shares in the A.S.N, Company, and he would go in the Ly-ee-moon. Young Johnstone's presentiment was' thought so little of that it was projected by several of hia friends that they would accompany him., AMr Hamilton and Mr Myers were among these. Mr Hamilton's; wife and family went, and have perished, but Mr Hamilton himself missed the steamer and went overland, Mr Myers also concluded to ?o overland. Mr Moss thought of going in the Ly-ee-moon, but, Saturday being, a Jewish holiday, Mrs Moas objected to his sailing on that day.—Dunedin Star. Professor ludd lays it down, from a critical examination of the records in connection with Vesuvius—(l) That a long period of quiescence is generally followed by an eruption which is either of long duration or of great violence; (?) That a long continued or very violent eruption is Usually followed by a prolonged period of repose; (3) that, as a general rule, the violence of a great eruption is inversely proportional to its duration. These conclusions, saya a contemporary, indicate that the terrifying outburst of Thursday last means that we may look for a Ions; period of freedom from such disturbances in the future, and that before long the tourist public will recover from the scare which the outburst will, no doubt, produce.

The monotony of life in Tiinaru says the evening Star, has been agreeably diversified by a little sparring between two reverend gentlemen.' One the them, a Baptist pastor, advertised as follows in the local papers" To-morrow,(Sunday) evening, the Rev.—, will defend the practice of believer's baptism. The great Scottish Presbyterian minister, Dr Chalmers, says (lectures on Romans, chap, vi., v. 4) " The original meaning of the word baptism is imnieraion—it was an actual submersion of the whole body under water,'" Thereupon tho Presbyterian leader replied in another advertisement thus: "Tho original weaning of the Greek word baptism and its scriptural use are two different things. It is the latter we have to do with. Mr Brown has challenged to produce Dr Chalmers's waris where 1 thiß professed quotation is to be found as it appears ill his advertisement. There are three lines of qualifying context left out in the middle of the sentence. The head and tail are stuck together without the body. Treat a dog after that fashion and have you a representation of tho real animal ?"

At a conference of School Committees in Dunedm last week, the following resolutions were passed That the Conference view with alarm a Bill recently introduced by Sir Julius Vogel authorising local bodies to borrow 1 money for the erection of school buildings. The Central Government have seized our land revenue -our education reserves, and tax us to the extreme point of our endurance. The object of this Bill, we apprehend, is to withdraw the public grant for school buildings. We resolve, therefore, that the Chairman of this Ooiiference send a petition against the Bill to Sir R. Stout for presentation to the House of Representatives." " That the Education Board be requested to support the application of this Conference that the Education Department should at once appoint for Dunedin and suburbs & truant inspector, who should be charged with the duty of enforcing the compulsory clauses of the Act," ' 'That in the opinion of this Conference, the regulation of the Education Board requiring twelve square feet space for each child in average attendance will entail 100 great an expenditure for the erection of such buildings, and that in practice eight feet would be found sufficient."

Tlie want of ammunition which is at the present time felt (tmon? the Volunteers is explained in the report of the Commander of the Forces laid before Parliament. Ho says the colony pus sesses on issue 9000 rifles. The regular allowance of ball cartrigea is 100 per ami. In June last the stock was under 600,000; 300,000 rounds have since arrived, which, with what was on hand, barely sufficed for practice, and the magazines throughout the colony are nowquite barer Including the ammunition paid for by Rifle Associations and Rifle Clubs, tho annual supply required is 1,200,000 rounds, and there should always be a million rounds in store. Indeed, but for the fact that a factory had been started, the Commander of the Force* considers even a million rounds a very small reserve, to keep; Judging; by the report, the Christccurcli Teletrraph remarks, the delay in sending ball cartridges from England seems almost unaccountable, unless the. demand there is greater than the supply. Our local Volunteers are being kept very close at present, and the Rifle Clubs seem as though they cannot for a .long time get supplied. 1 ■; . !■' • v' '■

Studt evei'ypne I met that the Wairarapai Clothing Factory was the cheapeet and best House m the district ,for Mens',.Boy's and.Youth's clothing, I thought. I would give it a tiial, which I did, and to. my surprise. I got a tweed suit, all wool; Crimean shirt, flannel undershirt and pants, a French felt, iiat, collar, handkerchief and • sox,. for ' the small Bum of Csa.' I've paid elsewhere for . the same goods £5. IDs, My advice, therefore, to everyone is' to call at .' the .Wairarapa Clothing Factory, next the Empire Hotel,. where, everything is good and very cheap,—Abvr.:.-

'Venetian Blind and Revolving Shutter mariu factory.. All Blind* guaranteed of the very best'description,. Price list on application to R. W. Herin (late Henn and Hansen.) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Factory, WollinJton,-AiiVi.

The fire-bell rang out an alarm thiß morning, the cause of which proved to be the result of a foul Hue.

Messrs Lowes fi'lorns report an extensive sale'of produce, fruit trees, etc., at their rooms yesterday, all- lines being quitted.

Information as to where the wants of the public in the book line can be supplied is given by the American Book Company in our Wanted column.'

At a meeting of bakers held in Wellington, it was resolved to increase the price of the 21b loaf by a half-penny, on and after Monday next. Messrs Ralph and Dixon having purchased the business of Mr J. Billington, butcher, notify that they will continue to supply meat'at the same prices as their predecessor. O

The special attracion of the Volunteer Band drew a very large attendance at the usual weekly dance of the Private Quadrille Assembly, at the Theatre Royal, last .evening, Tho usual meeting of the Loyal United Friends, takes place this evening in the Temple Chambers Lodge Room. The business advertised is the nomination of officers for the ensuing term. MessrsLowes & lorns announce another sole at their rooms' for Saturday next, being the balance of Mr McGilvray's stock removed from Eketaliuna, and in consequence of the quantity of goods already advertised for Saturday, these will be sold at one o'clock. The return football mateh between the Public School team and tho third fifteen of the Red Stars was played in Mr G. Dixon's paddock yesterday afternoon, and resulted in a win for the school by a goal to nil.. E, Yates secured the try, which he converted into a goal. The Stars played several short. The regular monthly meeting of the Masterton Farmers' Club will be held in the Temple Cnumbers on Saturday afternoon next, .

The lessees of the Masterton Theatre Royal have decided to give an entertainment on Friday next, when Miss fieorgie Smithson will appear, assisted by Mr James Holloway, in her celebrated Maccabian entertainment, for one night only. New characters, songs, and dances will be produced. The sale of trees advertised by Mr P. H. Wood to be held at Carterton on Saturday should prove a great success. Mr Collotte, oil whose account the trees are to be sold, has made a reputation in that district as well as in Masterton, and judging by his successful sale in the latter town last Saturday, the forthcoming Bale may be looked forward to as likely to be a satisfactory one. This year the season is more favorable for transplanting than the last, and the price fruit is realizing now is a sufficient inducement to settlers to extend their orchard plantations. We, Pahiatua Star, learn on good authority that the Mangatainoke Block will be in the marKet in about two months. The block comprises 8000 acres, .and will, be sold in sections varying from one to' two hundred acres, The country is mostly flat, with light bush, consisting of tawa, rata, andrimu; and a heavy undergrowth. This is considered one of the richest pieces of Crown laiids yet dealt with, and will no doubt be the means of inducing many valuable settlers from various parts of the colony to settle in our midßt, Tho opening up of the Crown lands surrounding Pahiatua, and more especially the blook above referred to, must add to tho importance of this township. Our local contemporary in his last issue accuses us of unjournalistic and unbusinesslike tactics, or special appeals for Road Board advertisements. Our contemporary, however, misstates the affair, We have never asked any Road Board for advertisements. The .only begging letters to Road Boards ever sent from Masterton newspaper offices have emanated from our contemporary. Some time ago our contemporary reduced the ordinary advertising rates in order to obtain a share of certain Road Board advertisements. These reduced rates were forced upon us, and as we objected to charging one Board one rate and another Board on a higher scale, we issued a printed circular to the various Road Boards with which we were connected, giving a uniform scale on which all future advertisements would bo charged, Our efforts to deal honestly and impartially with all Road Boards appear to have given offence to our local contemporary, who possibly prefers to charge differential rates for Road Board advertising. We do not object to his doing this, so long as he does not misrepresent our action in taking a more straightforward course. An interesting exhibit will shortly be placed in the Colonial Museum. We, (Post,) refer to a stuffed specimen of the Tasmanian wolf or dog-headed thylacimus which has been presented by Mr 1. 6. Reid, Assistant Crown Law Officer. The Taamanian wolf is not a large annnal, but it is very tierce. It is sometimes called tho zebty wolf, on account of the zebralike stripes which decorate its back, and its natural subsistence consists of smaller animals, mollusces, insects, and similar substances. Mussels and the remains of dead seals and fish are favorite articles of diet, When civilised people took,upi their abode in Tasmania, the animal great havoc amongst sheep flocks and 1 hen roosts. The settlors,' however, Ipe driven it back to the ranges and now experience little trouble from it. Its fierceness and determination is shown by the fact that when attacked it fights in the most desperate manner. One of the animals has been seon standing' at bay surrounded by a number of dogs, bidding them all defiance. Not a single dog dared venture within reach of the teeth of so deadly a foe.

Messrs L. J, Hooper & Co., of the Bon Marche, received their first instalment of autumn and winter goods on Saturday, these goods have boon imported direct from the manufacturers in England and Scotland, and are now -being marked off at prices that will compare with any wholesale house in the colony,-Advt.

Couohs, Colds, Bronchitis, &o„ are quickly cured by using Baxter's celebrated Lung Preserver." This old established, popular. medicine is pleasant to'the palate, adn highly extolled by the members of the medical, legal, and clerical professions. Sold by all Patent Medicine Vendors. See testimonials in advertisements,—[Advt.l I am going to make a speciality ot certain lines during the next monthfl. At. the present time I am running Macintoshes and Overcoats at prices which defy any house in the Wellington District to approaoh. By sending the length which you require in inoheß, you can be supplied with a grand Tweed Macintosh for 27/0, honestly worth £3. Give me a trial, JOHN Thorburn, the People's Clothier, Willisstreet, Wellington,—fADVT.l