ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1738, 25 August 1883, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

At the meeting of the harbour board, held on Tuesday, a letter was icail, w Inch proposes a scheme of very considerable importance. It was from Mr Thomas Morrin, and his proposal was that a reclamation and embankment should be made from Shelly I3c<ich to Orakei Basin ; that the embankment should be three chains wide, which would afford room for two lines of rails and a carriage road, and that the southern line of railway should be carried along that embankment to Orukei Basin, and thence to Pen rose Junction, where it would join the present line. This would be an imnienso advantage, as it would obviate the necessity for the absurd plan now in operation of the trains going uphill to Remuera, at an immense cost tor \\ car and tear, only to go down hill to Pen rose. Another thing in favour [of the proposal is that already it is found to be a great disadvantage and source of danger, having all the railway traffic of Auckland on a single line of rails as far as Newmarket. At present the traffic on the Kaipaia line is small compared with that on the Waikato line, but it is increasing rapidly, and will continue to increase, so it behoves the Government to adopt some plan to remedy the evil. My own opinion is that neither line should go to Newmarket. The Waikato railway should be taken down the harbour in the manner proposed by Mr Mori in, and the Kaipara up the harbour and then canied inland, so as to tap the Vonsonby di&ttict. The main objection to the plan suggested is summed up in two words— ripaiian rights. The major portion of the land abutting on the harbour belongs to piivate individuals, and if they make the exhorbitant demands usual on such occasions, it will cost too much to cai ry out the scheme. However, the harbour board lias referred the proposal to the committee, so we shall hear more about it, *■ * Talking about our railways, it is fa.itisfactoiy to know that the Government aic about to take stops to lemovc the dangerous curves in the line near Pokeno. It is full time that this was done, as the strain on the rolling stock necessitates a very large amount of expenditure, to .say nothing ot the danger. TalUmg about those curves at the Cafe a few days ago, I was told by one of the regular diueis : how they came to be made. I will not ' vouch for the truth of the statement, but it seems a feasible explanation. When the line was drawn under the direction of Mr James Stewart, who was then Disttict Engineer, it was almost if not abso luteiy btiaight, but the Broadens, \\ ho had the i ight, under their agi eenient u ith the Government, to deviate not more than a mile on cither side. As they were paid &o much per mile, the longer the distance the more money they received, so they made the line a perfect zigzag, in order to save cuttings, &«., and to increase the distance. As they had the right to deviate Mr Stewait was powerless to prevent what was never intended by the Legislative, though it was within the strict letter of the Uiogdcns' agreement. The consequence is that our valuable lives have been jeop.udit.ed eveiy time we have travelled along that portion of our wonderful railway, and we have had to pay an unnecessarily huge sum for wear and tear. However, it is well that the Government are at last going to make those crooked places straight, aud that without waiting until a few of us have been killed. A few days ago I was talking to a man who was down at the Thames in the early days of the goldfield. There weie an immense number of miners there, including many " bad eggs " ami very rough customers, and only two "numbers ay the foorce " to keep them in order. The natural consequence was th.it the latter were simply powerless, and had to allow the diggers to do that which was right in their own eyes. One of the favourite amusements was a tight, and when one took place the police dared not interfere, but had simply to look on. One Sunday afternoon " Billy Rowe," who wab then a bright and shining light aiiiong the Wesleyang, and a local preacher, was holding foith to a laigc and interested audience. Presently there was a cry of " A ring ! a ring !" The diggers rushed away to see the fight, aud Billy j-oon found that his audience consisted of only three men. Tnose four had the best of it, however, as there was no fight just then, and those who went to see it found that they had been hoaxed. ♦ Almost every day a change for the better is made in the appearance of Auckland, in the outskirts by the building of new houses, aud in the city proper by the pulling down of old buildings, and the erection of better and handsomer premises in their stead. The most important work in this latter direction is that on the city endowment at the foot of Shortland-street. When the block now in course of demolition was erected it was hailed as an important addition to the architectural beauties of the city. Now we cannot see wherein its beauty lies, and are glad that it is to be pulled down, and the site occupied by a handx SOme four-storied building. The majoi ity of the occupants have left their premises, aud those who have not yet done so must dedputsly wish that they had, as there is not •touch of the Solomon's Temple style about --ttoeAVOfckinatis being done there. On the contrary, the sound of the hammers is heard very plainly, and the dust and dirt arc quite the reverse of pleasant. However, we have the satisfaction of knowing that this is a veritable case of doing evil that good may be done. a. Not far from the site of the New Zealand Insurance Company's new block another important improvement is being made by the building of the Evening Star offices on an allotment which lias been vacant for upwards of eighteen years. It belonged to the Hon. James Williamson, and was formerly occupied by the Victoria Hotel, while a right-of-way, called Victoria Lane, gave access from Short-land-street to Fort-street, between the hotel and Hobson's buildings, the said right-of-way hive gate 3 at each cud which were closed once a year, so as to prevent the public obtaining a permanent right te use it. The Victoria Hotel originally faced the beach, where Forestreet now is, and Messrs W. Phillipps' »nd Son's occupied a shop facing Short-land-street. After they removed to Queen -str-^-t. the wholn of the premises weie occupied by the hotel, which was leased to two men named Alkn and Bills. They spent a large sum of money hi furnlshtn'g, so., but found that they wore not likely to get on adequate return for their outlay, so one 'February night {U M^ Allen wt Jim to Ibq hps,' 'flw

fire spread up Shortlaud-street, and along Fort-street, destroying many thousands of pounds worth of property. Allen cleared out for a better land, leaving his unfortunate partner, Hills, a ruined man. The allotment on which the hotel stood lay idle for some years. Then the Improvement Commissioners determined to buy it, and maUe a stioet horn the foot of the Barrack Hill to Fort-street. They could not agree with Mr Williamson as to the price, and when the value was fixed they found that they had not the money to pay for it. He brought an action against them to compel thorn to complete the purchase, but lost it, so the laud remained unoccupied till Mr Brett bought it as a site for the livening Star offices. St. Musgo.

Mr John G. Elmsly advertises for sale choice buildidintf lots., business and villa sites, in the rapidly rising township of Kilukihi. Mr J. S. Buckknd will sell ;it Cambridge on Saturday next, the Ist September, tha well known stallion, President, heavy draught &c , &c , bujjgy and pole (double seated). On lhurs.d.i> ) the ISth October, lie u ill sell .it M.it.muit.i, 200 well-bied rows, lot oi unbroken horses, machinery and farm implements,

Mr H. Norgrove announces that be has resumed the butchering business at Cambndge, and assuies his old customers and friends that they may rely on the same treatment as he\ctofore.