The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1891.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 307, 29 December 1891, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1891.

For tha cause that laci?. assistance, .For tho •pTons thac uccils resistance, For tho future in ths> dirtaaco, And tfc , * ifccd tlut ■Wβ c.n io.

The vigorous action of the Northern Railway League, and its success in letting daylight in upon the manipulation of the Norlh island trunk railway Wn, has occasioned considerable dismay in Wellington, where it was fondly believed thac the battle of the routes was over and that the people o' Auckland, with their customary lassitude, would allow the game which has been so successfully played by Wellington officials to go on unchallenged until tne last shilling of the loan was expended. The Wellington " Times " calls upon the people of that city to smite the Northern organisation " hip and thigh," and in furtherance of that end it challenges the figures published by the League, more especially those relating to its assertions—(i) That the Stratford route is 153 miles shorter than the Cential; (2) that the land is far superior; and (3) that the rise in grade is less. . Now, so far as the first and third propositions go, the figures given in the League's circular are simply those furnished by the Public Works Department, which is not at all likely to place the Stratford route in any more favourable light than the facts warrant, when contrasting it with the central line, which received parliamentary sanction solely through the gross misrepresentation of officers ot that Department. Of course the "Times" q.iibbles over the question of length, and asserts that the distance between Auckland and Wellington would be 47 miles longer by the Stratford than by the central route. The League have nowhere asserted anything to the contrary; what they have stated, upon the authority of the Public Works Department, is mat to connect the Auckland end of the trunk railway, so far as it has, been constructed, with Stratford, will.involve the formation of a line 53 miles shorter, and will cost lt-ss than to continue the railway by the central route. These figures are easily capable of verification. To Wellington people, perhaps, connection with their city represents the sole object for which the line is being made. Aucklanders, on the other hand, regard that as of minor importance ; it is of infinitely greater consequence to establish communication between the port of Auckland and the fertile districts of the West Coast,

while the difference in the distance through to Cook Strait is comparatively trifling upon so long a journey. The statement that the highest point on the Stratford route is 969 feet; or an avuage of about 640 feet above sea level, and the nighest point on the central route, 2,680 feet, averaging nearly 1,200 feet above sea level for the whole line, also merely repeats information contained in the official records of the same Depart-, ment. A mere statement of these figures indicates the character of the country through which the central route passes, when taken in connection with the knowledge we already possess in a general way of the great pumice plateau exteading around E.uapehu and Tongariro. A poor attempt is made by our Wellington contemporary to counteract the effect of this damning fact by adding together every little rise and fall, and exaggerating every curve upon a rough survey of the Stratford line, and offering the sum total as a set-off to the summit height of the central route. The answer is very simple. Curves and tunnels by the score exist on the New Zealand railways, monuments of incompetent engineering; many have been removed, and others will yet be rectified. We trust that these lessons have not been without some useful effect upon the present engineering staff of the Public Works Department. Their education has been a costly business for the colony, and we may fairly hope that when the detailed plans of the Stratford railway are prepared for tender the line will come out in a very different shape from the jagged line which has been marked out on the plan furnished by the Department to the League. The main contention of the Northern Railway League, however, is studiously ignored by Wellington critics. It is neither proposed nor anticipated that Parliament will for several years to come authorise a loan for the completion of the railway by either route. The League acknowledge the success of Wellington machinations so far that they have abandoned hope of obtaining railway connection with the Southern railway system for several years to come, but what they do ask for is the immediate construction of a bridle road from Stratford to the point of divergence on the trunk line. The cost of this road, according to the estimate of the Public Works Department, is only while the sum of .-£58,155 has been spent from this loan upon roads in the Wellington district, some of the appropriations for this purpose being scandalous breaches of the conditions upon which themoney was raised. The expenditure upon native lands has been equally scandalous. Of the spent on this object up to the 31st October last, had been applied to the acquisition of lands in the Wellington provincial district, some of them not even remotely connected with this line. The expenditure for native lands in the Auckland provincial district was only The liabilities on account of land purchase on the 31st March were which with the amount expended represents in excess of the Parliamentary authorisations to the 31st March, 1892.- That the Government should hesitate for a moment in authorising the construction of the bridle road now that the facts have been fully laid before them, and the maladministration of the loan by their predecessors in office laid bare, we can only attribute to the extraordinary influence which Wellington officialism still exercises over the public administration. In view of the fact thab bobh Friday and gaturday next are public holidays, and thab the San Francisco mail closes on the latter day, wo shall publish our Summary issue to-morrow evening. This will give our subscribers bobh in town and country an opportunity of posting the copies they may wish to send to their friends before tho break in business caused by the New Year holidays. The Summary will, as usual, comprise four pages of the abridged news of the month in addition to the ordinary eight pages o f the Staii, or a total of twelve pagea of matter, at the ordinary price of one penny. This edition is specially compiled to give people at a distance a history of the progress of the colony for the month, and a fair idea of the state of commerce and industry, and ib will be found both reliable and interesting. Commercial men can procure copies of Brett's Auckland Almanac and Diary for 1892 for Is, in wrapper, for transmission by the San Francisco mail on Saturday. It contains the fullest and latest statistical information relating to the whole colony, a nd has an entirely new descriptive a ccounb of tho provincial district of Auckjand. Nominations for the East Ward vacant seat in the City Council caused by Mr W. Crowbher being elected to the office of Mayor, foil due at noon to-day. The candidates proposed were Mr Alfred Kidd and Mr James Butcher. The election for the scab takes place on Thursday, 7th January. Mr Samuel Brooking is returning officer. On Thursday last tho annual children's sports at Maketu were held in the paddock adjoining the Public School, under the supervision of Mr VY. H. Nicholson assisted by the School Committee. The children turned up in force, and several of tho parents also appeared on the scene. The races were contested strongly and kept up with great animation, each child receiving a prize of some port, all going home thoroughly satisfied with their day's amusement. The school re-opens on the 18th January. Ab the meeting of tho Newton Borough Council last nighb a letter was read from Mr Chas. McMaster pointing out an injustice to tho ratepayers of the Richmond ward. Ho stated that Mr Casey having leased that portion of the estate from the Assets Company, had pulled up the crossings over the creok which the people had erected for their own convenience in crossing from one side of the street to bhe other, and had fenced the crossings with barbed wire, and nailed up the gates which gave access to the streets. The Mayor explained it was that portion of the borough on which there were no houses erected. It was resolved that letters be fcrwardod to Mr Casey and-bhe Assets Company stating i that if they lease the land, gates raudt be 'erected "where streets cross the land,

Ab the Police Courb this morninc, be* fore Mr H. W. Bishop, R.M., one firsfi offender for drunkenness was fined ss, or 24 hours' imprisonment. Elizabeth Williams was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment, for the same offence. For being drunk, Kate Hinch was fined £5, and for stealing a shirt, the property of some person unknown, she wa3 sent to Mounb Eden for three months. . On December 20th, 1369, Mr P. A. Philips first: took office as Chairman of the City, Board of Commissioners, which position he retained until January 3rd, 1872, when he was elected Mayor, and rev tamed that position thence until July 6th, 1874, since which for 17 yeare he has occupied the position of Town Clerk. Ho haa , been 45 yeare this presenb month a resident of this city. Amongst tha passengers who arrived here to-day from the South by the s.e. Wairarapa were the Hon. Geo. McLean (managing director of the Union SteamshipCompany) and the Hon. J. D. Ormond, of Napier. In connection with the Christmas festivities, the Knights of Labour are to hold a social on Wednesday (to-morrow night), a3 a bond of re-union of town and country ■ members, and friends of the order, in tha" Cook-screet Hall, when a large and varied programme will be eona through, consisting of pongs, recitations, speeches, violin > solos, microscopic and magic lantern exhibi-V tiona, etc. Refreshments will be provided " at 9 o'clock. It is expected that there will' be a large number of members and their wives and friends present. Previous to the supper the meeting will be of an educa-, tional character, afterwards ' the evening, will be given up to jollification. Mr Brehen, tourist ab Waiwera, has con" tributed £1 subscription through Mr P. A. Philips, the Town Clerk,' towards the funcl being raised for the -Russian Jewish refugees. Ab the close of the service ab Sb. Barnabas 5 Church, Mount Eden, on Sun* day evening, an illuminated address from' , the parishioners was presented by Judge Williams, on their behalf, to the Rev. T. H. Sprotb, who has accepted the incumbency of St. Paul's at Wellington, and who leaves for that place in a few days,, after five years' most faithful work here. The address, which was Eigned by upwarde of 70 of the parishioners, and would have been signed by many more bub for want of space, spoke of the deep regret of the parishioners at Mr Sprott's leaving them, but, recognising that he had been influenced by a sense of duty in the step which he had taken, of their thorough appreciation of the work done by him, and of a very earnest wish that both he and his family might be blessed with health and strength for their life's work. ' Ab a meeting of the Pasturos and Stock Protection Board for the Sydney sheep district, the Board unanimously agreed to the following resolutions:—" 1. That as there is a very large increase in stock in the colony, and the prospect of glutted markets for some time to come, it is necessary thab steps should be taken to provide for the establishment of an exteneive export trade in meat." "2. That with a view to that end a shorb Bill to amend the Pastures and Stock Act 3be introduced, under which a special rate of nob more than %d per sheep bo levied on all sheepowners with 500 or more sheep, and 3d per head on cattleowners of 100 head and over, to provide funds for the paymsud of such subsidy on the exportation of meab, as will induce those now engaged in the trade to extend their operations, and lead others also to take the business up." Thomas Bray, who died quietly abhiß eldest daughter's residence, Newmarket, on tho 25th inst., ab the ripe age of 93 years, arrived with his family at Taranaki in 1840 in the ship William Bryan, : and afterwards came on to Auckland, where he commenced farming in the Mount Alberb district. Fop many years he was successful in hie undertakings, and, by habits of industry and thrift, was enabled to keep himself and family in comfortable circumstances. Hβ leaves one son and two daughters to moura their loss, besides 38 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. Hie youngest son, John, was killed in the Waikato 28 year* ago ; his eldest son, George, wae killed ia the Mount Albert gravel pit 17 years ago ; while the accidental death of his third eon,, James, last March, will still be remembered by many. He survived his wife by 9 years, who died on 25th December, 1882. A cricket match was played in bha Domain yesterday, between teams representing married and single, and after a most enjoyable game the Benedicts won by 46 runs. The following were the mdi« vidual scores :—Married : H. B. Lusk, 69 ; J. Young, 24; W. L. Rees, 2 ; H. W. Lawson, 1 ; Jno. Ansenne, 1; Rev. I. Eichards; 50 ;C. Z. Clayton, 17; C. E. McCormick, 27 :A. Brown, 0; W. Howard, 3 ; E. C. Forbes, 0 ; D. Hay, not out, 2 j extras, 21; total, 217. Single : O'Brien, 56 ; I. Mills, 2; Lieut. Abdy, 11 ; Harden. 0 ; Harkness, 0 : F. V. Kelly, 4 ; J. Ball, 56 ; H. Taylor, 9; A. Rees, 11; Dr. Forbes, 0 ; C. Kissling, 3 ; A. M. Beale, not out, 1 j extras, 18 ; total, 171. Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, bhe aubhor of "Hyde and Jekyll," says ho will live and die in his Samoan paradise. It is a veritable dreamland where the novelisb lives. His homo is two miles from Apia, on tho island of Upolu ; and the site of tha house was, when he bought it, a virgin foi-esb, through which tho foob had never trod. The house faces on the sea ; aboub it are the great leaves of the cocoanut, palm, and bread fruit trees ; within, it is all that civilisation can furnish to minister to creature comfort. One who visited Stevenson there two months ego says :— "He is still very thin and fragile; his shoulders are bent, and his chest seema hollow. But his voice is strong and hearty, and his grasp tirm. His complexion has lost its deathly whiteness, and is now a healthy bronze. He still wears his hair long, and his delicate effeminate mouth is shaded by a drooping moustache. His eyes, too, seem to be half closed and dreamy, and he talks with a slowj languid drawl." He believes he has found a Eafe haven from consumption at the island b£ Upolu, and hopes to live to a ripe old age. He has no thought or care for affairs on the other side of the globe. If there should be a massacre of Europeans at Samoa because of tho heavy taxes imposed on the natives, he has no fear of personal injury, for ha believes that the natives respect and trust him. He may use his spare time in writing another book. In fact, he has already a 1 deal of manuscript ready for the printer. Bub he has no desire ever to change hia locus, and with his wife and mother he will dream away existence amid the ghosts with which his fancy has peopled his house and its surroundings. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day a series of amusements were held at Arran, in Cowes Bay, the well-known holiday *esort at Waiheke Island, which proved very enjoyable. A large number of visitors from town were present, including the crew 3ot the Spray and other yachts, and the gathering was a pleasant one. Oα Christmas night an impromptu fancy dress ball was held in Mrs Rowbotbonvs residence, in which <; number of ladie3 and gentlemen from town took part. On Boxing Day, three of the yachts conveyed about thirty of the party across to Captain Ruthe's Island, where a cricket match by ladies and gentlemen (reds v. blues) waa played, the blues winning. A party of officers from the Russian warship Djighit were shown over the Free Public Library and Art Gallery yesterday by Sir George Grey. The literacy and artJ treasures in the building nroused their admiration considerably,

Mr A. E. Pago, Mayor of Wellington, ia at present in Auckland on a holiday visit, accompanied by two of his daughters. The R.M.s. Rimutaka's English periodicals and small portion of cargo will arrive here from South per s.s. Australia tomorrow, and the balance per s.s. Wakatipu on Saturday. Passengers per s.s. Australia and s.s. Mangana on Thursday. The brigantine Parnell, whose wrac-k ab Frederickshaven, New Guinea, is announced, is a well-known visitor to Auckland, and was formerly owned here by Stone Bros. She is wow the property of Mr Alex. Burns, of Sydney. She waa built at Prince Edward Island, in 1879, and at the time of her wreck she was bound to the Kaipara. Dr. Wilkins has requested us to correct a small discrepancy in our yesterday's issue, in the evidence relating to George Egern's case, when the latter wished for his candid opinion. It should read : "If you do, I can only repeat what I told your friend —that the operation had been delayed too loner. The disease had gone through the body, and a cure could nob, in consequence, be made." Another new pearling ketch for the Torres Straits fisheries is now in this port, about to start on her voyage across to Thursday Island, via Whangaroa. She is the Etiine, of 12| tons register, and was built on tho whence she arrived here yesterday. She is of exactly the same description as the other numerous email pearling yachts recently built in this province for the Torres Straits industry, and is a woll-modellcd smart-looking little vessel. She is built of kauri and is copperbottomed and copper-fastened throughout. She is very snugly rigged as,a ketch, setting three sails, and sails well, and she is expected to make the trip up to the Queensland rendezvous in about three weeks, with favourable, weather. She is built to the order of Mr James Clark, of Brisbane. Captain Gregory C. Norris, late of the barque Northern Star, will navigate her across. Last evening the annual meeting of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and I)o£ Association was hold in Mr T. MeEvvin's Dining Rooms, Queen street. Mr Grainger presided, and addreesed the meeting, reviewing the past year's operations of the Socif by. They were, he said, at the present time virtually out of debt, with valuable assets on hand. He remarked :that no show could, in his opinion, be successfully carried out without the incentive of an art union. The balance-sheet, presented by Mr (J. Phillips, treasurer, showed th'\£ the assets amounted to £125 3s US,) and the liabilities of members £25, leaving a credit balance of £100 3s 10c)' T/;.ere were debit balances totalling some :€k, ? on tho last poultry and dog shows. The report ,- was adopted. The election of offienrs rcsu.H-eJ as follows : - President, Mr 4.. Kid(i ; vi/:e-presidents, Messrs W. H. Cooper find B. Haywood: committee, Me-sr* F Holmes, W. Waddel, T. Shewriii<r, T. McEvvin, T. Bach, E. J. White, C. A. Fan cor r, Tbo3. Phillips, G. Towler, and A. A. White. At the termination of the bui-inesa Mr Grainier was presented with a JiancUome marble clock by Mr Kidd, on belmlf of the Association, as a memento to remind him of his connection with the Society. On his motion it was also resolved": "Th.ih Mr Grainger be elected a life ixvmHei' with all the privileges of membori?!)if, ami chat tia committee be empowered ro obtain a medallion recording that foot."

Last- evcnhifr the entertainment given by £l)c "Great A'lied Show Company" was rof."?dfced in Abbott's Opera House to a fair ntxL'enco, and proved as successful as the opetWny performance. The clever acrobatic foiUH of the members of the troupe were vory cleanly and neatly done, and created cmi'sirlembjV) admiration. " Little Taylor " and " Young' Dick," tbo juvenile performers, were exceedingly clever in their .circus- feats. The clowns, too, were good in dheir funny business. The misfortunes -which have befallen the Company of late should bo an additional incentive to the. public to patronise the show, apart from its own merit?. The entertainment will be repeated this evening. On Now Year's Eve the ferry staamers Eaa 1" a» f l Britannia will cruise round the harix/ur. leaving the ferry tee at 11 o'clock, reiorru'f'K tv lne wharf at a quarter past twelve, Hunter's Artillery Band will be on board. The January issue of the " New Zealand Farmer" always assumes to a certain extent tho ni.uracter of a holiday number, and this yeai as usual tliere are special literary features in keeping with the festive seaeon. Still business is r-of !>y any means overlooked, a>- may be gathered by the titles of the following articles in the number just publisher! and now before us. "The Stunt of Oats," "Treatment of s'ootiofc in Sheep." " Breeding for Wool in the North," a short bub thoroughly practical article c!ealin<r with the causes for the lower soiling vakie of Auckland wool as comparod with Southern prices. Other .articles treat of our tjul*er export rtrode, a now kind o? disc chum Xately exhibited in England -:ba spraying >of fruit trees for fungoid blights, tbo .management of lemc.n and ""■ •;*-.?£■« pip.nt.iMr Dobbio, of W two ■excellent , .contributions on pon'tr/ management, etc. The illustrauer. l -: wiclude a apcciul engraving by a French urtist, entitled " A Mouthful o: Hav/' depicting a young woman in a field vrit.;i *.n armfv.t of Tiay, feeding: a groun of call-!*. Thore are two splendid engravin£?e oi';;vro bred Hampshire Down sheep, ft ••"-"• of ti.a celebrated St. Bernard dep PKnliminon, and ■(another of a pure Led trumpeter pigeon. 'There is also a collection of Xinaa stories, verses and game*, and » Xijirs letter from •' Uncle Nod " ;.<"■ his nephews and niecee in connection with the Children's Post Office department of the journal. Wβ have only enumerated a small parb of the contents of a thoroughly good number.

Mias Au>y V-iughan baa " struck oil" in the South. S!:e wires from Gisborne as follows :—" Opened to a magnificent house. People wero turned away Everyone is delighted with the performance. ' Little Monte Ciirnto ' to-morrow night."

Tho "A" Battery have chartered the e.s. Paeroa for their annual picnic, to be held at Motuihi on January 2nd. The Battery provide all refreshments, and excursionists may rely on being well cared ior. Tickets, which are limited, may be had from J. D. Webster, Lower Queenstreet.

The matron of the Jubilee Kindergarten acknowledges the receipt of the following donations :—Bread : Mr Cowley, Welling-ton-street: Mr Evatiß, Hobson-street; Mr Wallace, Parnell; Mr Waters, Qucensbreot. Mor.b : Messrs Hellaby, Shortlanclstreet: Mr Salmon, Queen-stroet, Mr Kilgour, Newmarket; Mr Luinpkin, Newmarket ;M r Heclgor, Kyber Pass.* Vegetables : Mrs Kernble, Queen-street ; Mr Impey, Newmarket; from a Friend. sClb Hour. Mrs Sealey, Parnell; onions, Mrs Wall, Penrose; dripping, Mrs Yon Stunner; milk, daily, London Dairy ; cake, bread, and sugar, from St. Luke's Bund of Hope, Kcmuera. The Committee of the Jubilee Kindergarten also desires to thank all those kind friends that contributed cakes, lollies, and fruib for the children's breaking-up ■ii'eat.

We are requested by Mr C. Ranson, manager of the Northern Steamship Company, and Capt. I£. IT. Anderson, one of Lhe "directors, to state that the lesser speed yf the Clansman as compared with the Wellington on the excursion trip last Saturday was owing to bad coal. Furthermore, the .nanager states thab racing between boats of the CornpaDy'a fleet is (ilisti:;r;Uy prohi'oitcvl

In accordance with her usual, custom, Mrs Yandle, of Hobson-streefc, held her usual Christmas bazaar or art union of goods manufactured by herself and daughters during Christmas week. The articles, which were without exception of a value equal to or greater than the amounb paid for admission, wore distributed on the same principle as usually prevails at Sundayschool Christmas trees. The police, howover, interfered, and a summons is pending against Mrs Yandle, who by the stoppage of her Christmas tree was deprived of the fruits of her year's labours and also put to very considerable expense. Robert , Askin, of Papatoitoi, was shoeing a horse yesterday when the animal roared, and Mr Askin in endeavouring to hold him was thrown violently to fche ground. This morning he was taken to the Hospital in the, Otahuhu 'bus and it was found ho had sustained a fracture of the thigh. He was ab once attended to and is doing nicely. Ab the late meoting of the Onehunga Regatta Committee, a programme of events was submitted and approved of. The prizes to be given have nob as yet been decided upon, bub from the amounts coming in, no doubt the result will be most satisfactory. Tho 20th of February is fixed for tho regatta, and tho programme and prizes are being advertised. ' ' The fishing yacht Yon Moltke, which was launched ab the Thames a few weeks ago, has had quite a series of misfortunes already. Some three weeks ago she capsized in a squall near Waiheke, and was afterwards raised. She waa chartered by Mr W. McCormick and others for a yachting cruiso during the Xmas holidays, and on Sunday afternoon was caught in a heavy squall off Turanga Creek, Wairoa South, while returning to town. The gusb carried her mast clean away, breaking it off below the hounds, and left her helpless. The s.s. Argyle, bound from the Thames to Auckland, sighted the yacht shortly aftorwarda, and, taking her in tow, brought her safely up to Auckland. One of the best of the Christmas editions of the various weeklies in the colony is that of the "Canterbury Times." It is issued in a pretty coloured wrapper, and comprises 48 pages of well-selected and entertaining matter. Christmas competitive tales are published, and tho awarding of the prize 3is left to the readers of the paper, who are allowed to vote by coupons.