The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1890. The Outlook for Our Railways.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 17 March 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1890. The Outlook for Our Railways.

At tho close of the present month our Eailway Commissioners are expected to be able to present the best annual return which has yet been made in this colony, The.! result of their appointment has been a distinct step in the direction of reducing the annual loss New Zealand sustains as the fruits of her public policy. Is the colony contented with this unmistakeablemark of progress 1 Wo fear not, On the contrary, there are indications of insidious opposition to the new and improved management which may prove fatal to it. It is said that Victorians, after a seven years' trial, are dissatisfied with the result of running railways by commissioners, and ire willing for the control of them to revert to Parlia-. meut. It'is also suggested that New Zealand should take a lesson from the Victorian example and again subject her lines to political control. Yet, logically, such a course could not possibly be adopted I Parliament, |in handing our lines over .to the | Commissioners, virtually admitted its inability to manage them to the best advantage, and the reason of this was obvious. Every day in the year thero are one or more vacant posts to be filled, and almost every; day in the 'yoar thero were members ot the Assembly privately soliciting appointments for some constituent or other, wanting this man made a station master, and that one a platelayer; asking, alsoi. that some: friendly officer should be promoted, or socio constituent be supplied with a siding, or have a special rate made for freight or passage'.,: A. thousand people worried some hundred legislators, and these m •turn simply had :to worry Ministers, and it was utterly'impossible to. manage the lines in the best interests of.the Colony. Even now.thc Commissioners, tjiougli freed, from many, of-the importunities; fca which Ministers

were'subject, scarcely dareio protect the Colony, Have they, for instance, tho courage to stop the free passes of members of the Legislative Council, and of the House of Representatives, who travel on private business all the year round witliout'payinga sixpence? This is a distinct robbery of railway revenue, but if the Commissioners were, not to shut their eyes.to it they might find their own occupation gone But assuming tho pressure now being attempted in soine'pirtern to -remove our'rail ways from the cputrjoj of the Commissioners succeeds, what js the pujlook? We can seo but one, logical, sojutjon pj the difficulty, and that wouldi bo to sell or lease them, lock, stock and barrel, to a syndicate, Wp have made a step in advance by tho appointment .of Commissioners, and the Colony would--be simply mad to go back I We aya content for the experiment of management by Opm,missiouers to have a full and fair trial, but if this is not; to bo allowed, then New Zaaland should dispose of her railways, • No doubt a syndicate .could manage the linos of this Colony .so as to j:eturu a fair, rate of interest oniheirpost! TJje transfer gf them to .such a mean' the relief of .8 beayy annual charge for interest, and ftflpnserjpnt reduction of taxation; iThis alteration' would be infinitely preferable to a return to the old bad management of political control and political corruption, ,■•.

Messrs Lowes and lorns, announce ealea fots Satntday, the 22nd,6f/ v ut i niturQ l 1 JW stock at'thoif yards. ." , -i A strong nbtivo youth as an appenttca to the blacksmithing is wanted by Mr G. Townsend/oßboTflueru. . ; : \ Theflnvernmontare, wo understand, appealing atainsttho decision of Judge Connolly in the To Kooticaso.

A' man named William Hunter, 30 years of age,-slipped on an Auckland pavement oh" Friday -night last. and fracturedhis sklill;-fib-was takon to the Hospital, but died Bhortiy'aftor being admitted, ' ' -.

Tlio present drought, says an exchange is being very severely felfcm the South Island, aud the Canterbury Plains are terribly parched up. The rivers are nearly all' dry, and tho train crosses miles and miles of bridges with no wator under them—nothing but beds of shiuglo being visible. ; The chief characteristic of a largo proportion of the inhabitants' of Pahiatua appears to be their great tendency to bibativeness, The Intcßt victim to the clutches of the demon is one named

Thomas Peterson, who was on Wednesday last sent to Napior imol by Mr A Reosb.JP, fir medical-treatment for \delimim tremens.

We learn with regret from bur Grey-, town contemporary that our old and osteemed friend, Mr.T. W. Shnte, of Dalefield, has met with' an accident which will necessitate at least the application "of a little "sticking-plastor"' to the injured spot, - It- appears. Mr Shute waa "chooking" n log,'-'when'it rolled back on to his baud, and caused an abrasion of the skin of two fingers. Surgical aid. was fortunately not required. :

One of tho most pleasant trips of the season was made by the.party, who ascohded tho Tararuas ycatorday." The ranges were beautifully clear, and a fine viow of tho whole surroundiug country was obtained.; The tourißts returned to Maatorton tliiaafternoon, having enjoyed (heir outing immensely. The steamer Invercatgill returned to Irivcrcargill from Preservation Inlot on Saturday rooming, the home trip being mado in eight hours, She loft- fourteen passengers, making with tto already at tho-locality forty-one, Gold is got on Coal Island, Iu the mouth of the Inlet six claims havo been taken up, but the precious motal lias also beon found en tho mainland, Somo good results have already been obtained, and those .in. secret allege that fi promising quarts reef has also been discovered, At the Episcopalian Churoh last even-

ing the Itov W E Paige spoke at length upon the Early Closing uiovomont mid upon Trades Unionism generally. Ho doprocated boycotting as'' mean and contemptible," but urged, upon. parentß the necessity of doing thoir shopping early in the oveuing, nnd thus enabling einployocs to enjoy the same privileges as employers, The discourse was listened to by a large congregation witli considerable intorcst.

It is understood tho Early Closing Association intend shortly introducing a system which will enable omoloyces to have a half-holiday once a week. Thursday is the day suggested for closing.

The Rev H. J.Mjohrw, B.A;, tho travelling deputation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, conducted diviiie service in the local Wesloyati Church on Suuday (yesterday) morMng, and in the Presbyterian Church in the evonni}, tho congregations on each occasion being very large. The Rev gentleman referred ufc considerable length and in pathetio terms to the work being undertaken' by the Society, and a deal of sympathy was expressed by the public, A lecture will bo delivered this orening on the subject by the Rev Robjohns, when it is tc be hoped a liberal response will be given to the appoal for help. A number of lively selections were rondered by Pearson's brass band in the Masterton Park yesterday, whon there was a large attendance of tho public, with a'good sprinkling of the fair sox.

Wo uould suggest to tho police, that on occasions such as that of Sunday, an officer be deputed to attend at the Park, as a numlior of urchins mako a practice, of stationing thoraselvis on the seats, and indulging in language of a most profane character, within tho hearing of passers-by. This disgraceful state of things should be immediately put a stop to. ' .",.

Wellington is taking up the matter of a Free Library in earnest, Out of J?3000 required £2300 has already boeii raised; and tho promoters are now talkiuo of extending the original plan and starring with £IO,OOO worth of books Among the subscriptions are ten guineas from the Southern Cross Lodge, 1.0.G.T ami a similar amount from the Welling ton Itnchabites. And thore are some who Bay; that it never occurs to temperance folk to assist in providing counter-attractions to the public-house! -"Typo" In reply to a letter forwarded tho Central Board ot Hoalth, requesting that thp police be instructed to tako stops for tho removal of a nuisance existing in tho Waipoua rivor, tho following communication lias been received from the Secretary:-"lam du'ected to inform you that a copy of your letter has been sent to His Worship tho Mayor of Mastorton, with a request for a report theroon for the Information

of the Colonial Secretary," At a meeting of tho Pahiatua Football Olub held on Wednesday evening last, the following officers wore'oloctod for the ensuing year .'-Captain, Mr F. Perry; vice-captain, Mr J7 McCardle; secretary, Mr J. Gcdfroyj" treasurer, Mr F. Vile. General Committco—

Messrs J, McCardle, F, Vile, .Howell, W- Hall, and J. (iodfroyj : threo to form a quorum. Matoh Coimnitceo—Messrs F. Vile, J. McCardle, and F. Perry. Mr 6. H. Smith was elected President

and Messrs Georgo Moore and J. Hughes vico-presidenta. Russia has ordered two large ironclad frigates, built in England, to be provided with the largest engines aud the heaviest Krupp guns, Four of the greatest firms of Europe estimated for the contract, but tho Czar insisted: the

ships should be built in England; : The Bishop of Eichmond at Bradford the other day, proacbing to ' : something like a thousand men, 1b reported to have said in roferonce to tho game of football, that if Christ, had seou such a great crowd : as 'ajsoinbled in Bradford on Saturday week, aud noticed the enthusiasm and interest in the game, He would rejoice with them in breaking amy. from work, and would have drawn but all the good He could, St. Paul also would have stopped into the field, aud foimd 'his illustrations thero. The Bishop, asaloyerof the : game, urged that it was worth, playing and vatchiug for its own sake, apart fioni betting aud othor evils, !'■ Ooa millinery for many seasons past lias been the finest, best, add most fashionable in thpoity. ,'jOur. fashious for .tlia present autumn season are in ho way interior to those that have preocded thorn, and we can promise' a rare' treat to :< those who '?vill inspect them in the evening in the windows of the To Aro House Wellington, We are 'also making a grand display of now autumu dress fabrics, including oue ot the Breatcst novelties of the season, tho .'.'Jtordafa skirt" together with a very rich assortment of the latest fashions in ladies' tickets anil inaptlcs, fun 1 , lur trimmings ribbons, sashes &c. Everyone should have a gogillookst these jn tho window .of To Aro House Winston this evening. Is dress fabrics for tlie autumn scaison we are prepared to show greator varloty and more- abundant.; ohoice than _cver. Our selection ot different.textures is admirable and shading, and we have a full Biipply of sll tijo most favoured, fashionable shades, atteArbHguß.e l iyelliiigt,Qi!. In rjresss'trimmings we. have all Hump most hi demand,' aud can match to a nicely any dress matorinl that may be selected. This is, 'gonoraUy a diUicult matter in this city, but owing to the explicit issltlictiens given to our buyer, Kid which have beett faithfully earned out, m cm a perfect match to almost .byery Bliaap iffTe Ayj HfliiH?, Wellington. ■ .LiDi'i's would, fflorofor'e, act of aii'"ltesiS' advantages select tWv tlr«?'M.c;}rlya'S mmf, and give their orders, to our dresßuiapg department, so that unnecessary and onplcasinj! delay may be avoided, at Te Aro

!,'■ I'Aliok?.. Bannermanjthe wellkliown; Sydtfey' wiokete), sayVihe 9 ; Melb)pufhb. Herald; who iitos been a ''menibet-'of every Australiau Eleven that has Kithir'.; to visited England, haa writtonto' Mr Henry Bpyle;deolinuigto ! boc6rae.,ohe of tho next Australian team' now beingformed, It is understood that business engagements prevont Banuorman going home.

Harytst thanksgiving services were held yesterday in the Carterton Anglican and Wosloyau ; .Churches, j The v Ohurches we're artistically, 'decbratoi with the trnits of the seasou, and very appropriate sermons wero dolivered; by tho liov. W., Ballaohey iti-tho forhior and the Rov J. Pellow in tho latter Church, to large and attentive' congregations. •.■'■':■

In the HM Court this morning, bofore Colonel Roberts, R.M, a man named .John Smith was oliarged with the larcony of a clock from ono named : White, of Columba road, arid was remanded till to-morrow morning."• " ; ' Wo have to acknowledge tho receipt of tho second numbor of Messrs Harcourt & Coys, Eroporty Investors' Guide, from ivitich wo take the following: —" Bush felling has been carried on to a considerable, extent in the Pahiatua Diatriot during tho past season,.fully 15,000 acres of bush, boing felled. Out 0f.187,000 acres iu,ithe country, iiiore than'Bo,ooo acreß are now. cleared, Tho. country around Pahiatua is eminently adapted tor aheap. In 1888 there wore only about 8,500 sheep in the country; in, 1889 the number had doubled its.lf! and tliis year there will.bo fully 25,000, With the formation of the road line betweon Palmerston and Pahiatua, which is soon to be carried out, arid the easy access that will bo thua afforded of pettiri* stock to the Longburn Freezing Works, the progress of tiny Pahiatua' County ought to be of a permanent character,"