Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 286, 3 December 1878, Page 2

Mr. Ollivier Is doubtless a very acute and clever lawyer. He would hardly be his father's son were he not clever; but when he says, as he did in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, that the tramway i 3 a " nuisance," we must crave leave to differ from him. In strict legal phraseology it may be so; but the experience of all classes of the public is that the tramway is one of the greatest public conveniences that Wellington has ever enjoyed. People, in fact, in regard to the tramway, entertain feelings similar to those they hold respecting the water supply. Now that they have got it, and experience the many advantages it affords, they wonder how they could possibly have done so long without it. It is true that Mr. Hales has reported to his Excellency the Governor that the tram-cars and engines are eight inches wider than the provisions of the Act allow. If that be so, then the Act will require to be altered; for, we venture to affirm, that if the running of the cars was to be stopped because of such an objection nineteen twentieths of the public would feel that a great public convenience was taken away, and they would at once petition for the continuance of the cars as they are now. Regarding the particular case tried yesterday, we find no fault with the decision of the Magistrate, but we hold that it is equally the duty of any driver of a horse-vehicle, to see that he is prompt in getting out of the way of tho tram cars, as it ia for the engine driver of the latter to exercise a like promptitude in stopping his engine to avoid a collision with any passing vehicle. Both are bound to observe such a duty; and while it is right to oblige the Tramway Company, by their Eervants, to adhere to the rules as regards low speed in narrow streets, it ia equally necessary to endeavonr to get out of the way of the engine in good time. What is wanted is to impress on drivers of horse and steam drawn conveyances the necessity for each side doing its best safely to carry on the growing traffic of our streets; and this can best be done by both sides acknowledging accomplished, facts, and exerting themselves to avoid collisions and prevent the recurrence of court cases. Arrangement" are in progress between the Government and the Union Steamship Company for a modification of the San Francisco mail time-table as regards the coastal part of the service, which will have the effect of giving a gain of a clear day to every port in the colony south of Napier The proposal is to despatch a steamer from Dunedin and Lyttelton to Wellington a day after the departure of the Rotorua by the East Coast, while steamers from Pictou, Nelson, and the West Coast would bo timed to meet the latter boat at this port. A fast steamer then would leave Wellington on Sunday evening (instead of Saturday at noon, as at present) for Mauukau direct, calling only off New Plymouth in passing, and catching the outgoing San Francisco mail steamer. Similar arrangements would be made for the inward mails. It is possible that the unfortunate loss of the Taranaki just now may delay for a time the execution of this plan, but we hope means will be found to bring it into ea-ly operation, as it undoubtedly would be a great convenience to the public. " A correspondent writes to us suggesting —as Christmas l»ay falls upon Wednesday this year, and as the following day, Thursday, being Boxing Day, will also be a holiday, while Saturday, of course, is a half-holiday, that the banks, merchants, and other establishments might as well give the other half of the Saturday and thn whole of the intervening Friday as holiday?, thus completing the week, and giving five clear days (including Sunday) as a Christmas vacation. The Hydrabad has dropped somewhat out of public notice latterly, being superseded in the general interest by the more recent wrecks of the City of Auckland, Felixstowe, Taranaki, and Southminster. All this time, however, energetic operations have been carried on towards getting her off the sandy shore where she has lain so long, and we now learn with great pleasure, from Captains Holmwood and Gibbons, that these operations have proved so far successful, that the Hydrabad has been moved bodily seaward to the extent of 100 ft. Under these circumstances, if the weather be only moderately favorable in the future, as it has been exceptionally unfavorable in the past, the ultimate floating of this fine ship may be regarded as practically certain. We mentioned some time ago that Mr. King, the emcient-iuid popular station-mssttr &t Featherston, was about to be removed to Marton. We regret to learu that Mr. King, on receiving notice ofrhis intended removal to so much less important a post, has sent in his resignation. We are glad, however, to find