'CYCLE PATHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 127, 30 May 1901, Page 4

'CYCLE PATHS.

We publish in another column a letter from Mr P. A. Vaile on the subject of 'cycle paths in relation to the working classes. We do not propose to express any opinion as to the merits or demerits of the 'Cycle Koads Bill. All we can say. isthstf it seems to be of such a nature that nothing can be done under it without a very great majority of cyclists showing that, they desire to have the Bill'put in operation, and even after it is in operation, without the consent. of. the various local bodies, through, whose; districts it is desired to lay the proposed paths. There can be little doubt* as our cor- : respondent says, that 'cycle paths such as those proposed, would be a boon to the working classes. It is a wellrecognised fact that our roads are not | fit for cycling, especially in the winter, but with these paths laid down to our suburbs, our population would have an | easy and clean means of travel in all seasons. Mr Vaile's idea of a cycle path to Eotorua may at first glance seem rather in advance of the times, but we doubt if it really Is so. Mr Donne, the head of the Government Tourist Department, in a recent interview, fully recognised the important part which the bicycle is now taking in the daily life of the community, and said that he would lay his opinions on the subject before Ministers. There can be little doubt that if the Government could see its way to lay a track to Eotorua, provided the expense did not exceed the sum named, that the path would recoup the outlay on it in many ways. There would be a great increase of tourist traffic to Rotorua, not only from Auckland but from all the intermediate' towns and villages. The track would form the main trunk line as it were, and would soon begin tp throw out its tentacles to outlying districts. The path would serve an immense district, and a large population of both cyclists and pedestrians, and must unquestionably be productive of increased trade in cycles, and also to accommodation houses and otheTß .along the route. The idea is certainly a very attractive one for cyclists and tao#e living

on the line of route, and the money might easily be spent to worse advantage, ft is claimed that if such a track existed the travelling money saved would enable many who cannot now afford to do ho to visit our wonderland. Captain Edwin advises: "'Strong north to west and southwest winds, glass fall, tides ordinary, indications for rain." The Kawhia "Settler" says that j some large deposits of coal of very good quality can be obtained at Te Awaroa, a short distance from the township, across the harbour; which is being- used on the steam launch Hauturu. It is easily got, as a good deal of it can be hewn from the sur- j face. It will be necessary to convey j it to deep water in punts for large steamers or vessels, and they could easily enter the harbour for supplies. A remarkable feature of life on the beach at Kawhia is presented by the exceeding indifference to man's presence of the. aquatic birds which frequent the shores and swamps. A very j fine specimen of the native blue crane j daily parades his slender and elegant form along the edge of the water within a 'few yards from the door of the "Settler" office, and shows quite an indifference to closer inspection by now and again darting into the water in pursuit of small fish. A correspondent writing to a Waikato paper says that four years go. when the restriction was taken oft" deer in Waikato and Piako districts, owing to the destruction which they were doing to young and old pastures and fences, it was not unusual to see < mobs of from 100 down to 10; in some I instances 170 have been seen. Those j numbers used to be seen over about j 20,000 acres. I do riot suppose (he | says) at the outside there have been ! 3000 deer killed in Waikato since the ! restriction was lakea off. And you. j can now have an ideaVjf the number of deer still protected, at the very least 400,000 between Cambridge, Ti-ra-u. Matamata. Richmond Downs, and Scotchman's Valley, taking a circle. '•Every deer that is depasturing on turnips will destroy more than several sheep will use." On Friday afternoon, the 24th inst., Mr. Spragg, tbe manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, met the suppliers of the Drury creamery in j the Public Hall, there being about 25 persona present. In his address to the suppliers he stated that; there had been a weekly average of 2293 gallons of milk, the. average test of fat being 3.818, so that it did not quite come up to the quantity to re- j ceive the first bonus. Mr. Spragg j acknowledged that he was very well j satisfied with the results, and thanked suppliers for keeping their promise to him. The price offered for the coming season was 7?d. with an advance of id should the weekly averI age exceed or reach 12501bs of butter fat. By all accounts the amount is almost sxire to exceed this, as a great many more farms are contemplating supplying the creamery. During the month of August the company offers 9id per gallon, irrespectiveof quantity. Mr. Hay proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Spragg, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Spragg proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. j Clarke for presiding at the meeting. | which Avas also carried, thus tennin- , ating the first annual meeting of the j Drary suppliers. j The report of the Law Union and! Crown Insurance Company for. 1900 j shows that during the year new life policies were issued for £565,120, the income from which amounted to £30,920 12/1. The income from the life department for the year was £503,628 13/2, and the life assurance j fund was increased to £3.937.707 7/5.j j.Tlin clnims met during the year to-| i tailed £301,035 7/4. Fire premiums I amounted to £188,799 8/4, while the losses were £103,550 13/1, or 54.8 per cent, of the net income. The profit balance for the year was £20,31S 4/6, expenses having totalled £64,930 10/9. The reserve fund was increased to £207,500. The premium income from the accident department was £9358 1/10, and the expenses left a balance of £1855 8/10. The company's funds at the close of the year amounted to £4,688,764 17/6, which sum was amply secured. The directors recommended a dividend of 6/ per share, being 50 per cent, on the paid-up capital. Messrs. McMurray and Jackson inform us that, they have secured the contract from the Auckland Harbour Board for plastering the engine-room at the Calliope Dock, not Mr. Jenkinson, as mentioned in our yesterday's issue. The Westport Coal Company are under a contract to Supply 900 tons of coal to the United States flagship Brooklyn at Wellington. The Parnell Literary and Debating Society held their annual meeting in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening, when the following were, elected for the ensuing year: President- Eev. H. Kelly, M.A. (in the chair), reelected; vice-president, Rev. J. T. Pinfold; treasurer, Mr. W. A. Cowan; and secretary, Mr. James Gordon; Messrs. Caleb Wood and Chambers were elected on committee. The night of meeting was altered to Friday. There was a large attendance at the V.M.C.A. Hall yesterday afternoon, when Mr and Mrs M. Hamilton Hodges' pupils gave their first recital. A programme of fourteen, items was submitted, and the vocalists, some of whom had had but a few months' training, acquitted themselves very creditably. Miss N. Sibbald, who scored the success of the afternoon with Bishop's "Tell Me, My Heart," deserves special mention, as a young singer of considerable promise. The sale by auction of the property in the estate of the late Dr. Philson ! fronting Wellesley, Loflne and Goburg streets, takes place at Messrs Samuel Vaile and Son's rooms, Queenstreet to-morrow, at 2 p.m. Dr. A. Challinor Purchas gave the first lecture on "First Aid to the Injured" to ladies at the office of the Auckland Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association last evening. Although the subject of the lecture was the "dry bones" which constitute the framework of the "human frame divine," the lecturer succeeded in interesting, as well as instructing', his audience. Mr Samuel Vaile is to address the Single Tax League to-morrow evening on the "Unfairness and Unworkable Nature of the Single Tax." Linen oilskin coats, extra light weight, walking cut, 19/6; riding cut, 22/6; at Smith and Canghey'*.—(Ad.)

Captain Grogan, who travelled from the Cape to Cairo, is giving- a lecture in the Choral Hall on Friday. June 7th. for the benefit of the Queen Victoria School for Maori girls. He has already given one in Wellington I and one in Napier for the same obi jeot, and his experiences are most I varied and thrilling. He tells of giants and of dwarfs, of people who wear no clothes, but are covered with hair, of hair-breadth escapes, of vast tracts of swamps, of beautiful country, which will hereafter carry large populations of Europeans, of wonderful hunting grounds, swarming | with elephants and various game. ! There is no doubt that those who go Ito this lecture will be glad that they j went, and those who did not will be sorry that they .stayed away, when 'they read accounts of the lecture in ! the papers afterwards. Captain Groj gan is the only person who has ever gone from the' Cape to Cairo. An excellent number of the "Graphic" is published this week. It contains among its pictorial attractions more pictures of the Royal progress, and of the preparations now I being made in the colony to welcome I the Duke. The humours of the occasion—and it certainly is not devoid of humour —are treated by the cartoonist. A beautifully clear full-page engraving of the Public School Cadet Corps drilling in the Domain on Victoria Day, with other pictures of the same gathering, will be of interest to both children and parents. The new Maori house at Porirua gives matter for a page of engravings, and j among the scenic views are fine pictorial descriptions of Coromandel and ! Cabbage Bay. The literary contents jof the number include serials by An- ! thony Hope and David Christie Muri ray, "short stories by Frank Aubrey j and others, and all the latest social j news of the colony. Every depart- ! ment of the journal teems with inj teresting matter. The ladies' and children's pages, the racing and sports columns will be found to be of the best. Teachers salaries will be payable at the Education Board's office from Saturday next, June 1. Just received a special job line of Charley's Auat shirts, new patterns, at 4/9.—Smith and Caughey, Limited^— Ad. Lecture Postponement.—Mrs Ainsworth's lecture to ladies in Y'.M.C.A. | Hall, billed for Friday. May 31st, will be postponed until Monday, June Ist, as be postponed until Monday, June 3rd, at 2.30 p.m. Lecture on June 7th as per invitation.—Ad. Hats and caps, new and up-to-date, easy fitting, light and durable, at lowest I cosh prices.—Smith and Caughey, Ltd.— j Ad. ■ i Long live the King. Honour liis representative by suitably decorating your premise;? during his visit. Court Bros, are landing1 100 pieces patriotic muslin in red. white and blue?— Ad. White undressed shirts, pure linen, cuffs and fronts, 3/11 and 4/11, special. —Smith and Caughey, Ltd. —Ad. Those wishing to drape in honour of "Royalty should" call on Court Bros., who are landing 100 pieces patriotic muslin in red, white and blue..—Ad. ' Just arrived, an immense shipment of best English oilskin coats, excep- ! tional value. —Smith & Caughey. (Ad.)