THE RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 4 July 1879, Page 2

THE RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

+ The traffic letirins on the New Zealand railways for the four weeks ended 31st May, 1879, exhibit no special features. The total results are very satisfactory, showing the receipts during that period to have been £53,937, and the working expenses 69 per cent. The Christchurch and lavercargill Railway stands at the head of the main trunk lines, with a length of 716 miles and receipts of £46,585, the working expenses being only 68 per cent., and the average annual receipts per mile £828. The Wellington aud Featherston line comes next, with annual receipts at the rate of £779 per mile, the working expenses being 70 per cent. The Wanganui line has only £407 per mile annual receipts, but very low working expenses, 63 per cent. The Napier line exhibits fair profit and the Auckland, Nelson, Taranaki, and Picton sections do not show quite so badly as usual, but the West port line is worse than ever, the working exoenses being 30 per ceut more than the total receipts.

Sir George Grey is acting for the present as Colonial Treasurer, and it is said that he will retain that department instead of the Customs, which he has assigned to the Hon. Mr. Gis borne. The circuit sittings of the Supreme Court will commence on Monday next. Up to the present time the following persons have been committed for trial -.— Geo. England, malicious injury to property ; Henry Anderson, unlawfully wounding; Joseph Jameson and William Crighton, larceny from a dwelling; William Thos. Martin, alias Moore, embezzlement ; William Henderson, alias Grannan, larceoy ; Francis Kenny, larceny ; Oswald Worsdeil, larceny ; Robert Cooper and John Brodie, breach of Arms Act ; Cesari Perctti and Antonio Bitossi, cutting and wounding; John Wilson, stealing from a dwelling; Aiphonsus Rush, perjury ; Sarah Phillips, arson; Nicholas Fernandez, attempting to do grievous bodily barm. The s 0. Hiaemoa which arrived here to-day From Auckland, brought 27 members of the irmed Constabulary whose intended destination was Taranaki, but owing to the roughness if the weather it was lound to be impossible to and them. As they have been subjected to sonsMerabte knocking about oa too voyage — tfhlch was rather rough— they will remain

here most likely until Monday to recruit themselves before departing for their destination. Tbe Taiaroa should arrive in Wellington : about ten o'clock to-night, from Onehunga, via Taranaki, Nelson, and Picton, with tbe Ban Francisco mail. She left Nelson for Picton at 7.30 this morning. The Hinemoa, having on board bis Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson, and suite, accompanied by Colonel Whitmore, arrived in harbor at 10 45 this morning. The Hinemoa left thb afternoon for New Plymouth with 25 Armed Constabulary as a guard for the Maori prisoners, who are to be brought down from Taranaki by the return trip of the steamer. Great complaints reach us of the slippery condition of the planking on the Queen's Wbarf during the present wet weather. Horses drawing heavy loads can hardly keep their feet and several have fallen heavily. At times the planking is so greasy that even ped.strians can scarcely maintain their footing. Some measures ought to be adopted, or it is to feared that some serious accident may have to be cbronicled. His Worship the Mayor informed th&Council last nigbt that the Governmeut, in reply to their application for 2000 acres of land, had seen their way clear to gazetting 1601 acres in the Seventy-mile Bush, on the main road to Woodville, to be set apart for the Council. It was stated by the surveyors to be the best land in the Seventy-mile Bush. Captains of vessels tradiDg to this port complains to us that the lights on the Queen's Wharf are extinguished daily at 6 a m., or more than an hour before daylight. Vessels arriving between 6 and 7 a.m. therefore have no lights to guide them, and in no part of the nigbt is the darkness more intense than just at that time It would obviously be a hardship to make the night watchman stay longer than his regular term of twelve bours, but some arrangement certainly could be made with one of the wharf hands to come down at 6 a m. for a suitable consideration. As it is understood that a prison hulk will be required to accommodate some of the Maori prisoners from New Plymouth, it has been suggested that the Government hulk Omega, now advertised for sale, would be suitable for that purpose, and could be fitted up at no very great expense. The idea is worthy of consideration. There was a marked improvement in the appearance and accommodation of the J.P.s Court, at the Athenaeum, this moroing. Hitherto, one narrow board, mounted on two risketty tressels, did duty as a table for the solicitors, reporters, clerk ot the court, and sergeant of police; and the prisoners, prosecutors, and the public were mingled together in a heterogenous manner, perplexing alike to all interested. This ttate of muddle has at length been remedied, and the Court can now boast of two tables, a witness box, and a dock. All the new accessories are suitably adapted to the requirements of those concerned. It will be remembered that at the last Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court a man named Thomas Williams was charged with embezzling certain moneys, belonging to the Court Robin Hood of Forester.-!, and convicted. Pending the settlement of a technical point raised by his counsel, Mr. FitzGerald, Williams was allowed his liberty on finding two persons who would guarantee his appearance for sen-, tence or discharge at the next sitting of tho Court. A few weeks afterwards, however, he was detected in the act of trying to escape from the colony in a vessel that was leaving lor New South Wales. . He was then sent back to gaol, where he now lies, and lie will appear at the Supreme Court on Monday next for judgment. Messrs. Graves and Fleming, drapers, advertise on the first paste of to-day's issue a great clearing sale of the whole of their stock i more or less damaged by the late fire.) Full particulars will appear in a future advertisement. The following is a liffor the cases to be heard at the next Civil Sittings of the Supreme Court, which will be opened on the 14th iustant: — By special juries : Turnbull v. Maysmor; Wond v. Buller; Sinclair v. Daniell; Brown v. Wellington City Tramway Company. By common juries: Sellar v. Stafford; and Beere v. Czerwonka. On this o-casi in the special juries will consist of four men instead of twelve as heretofore. ' The following volunteer appointments are gazetted :— Captain F. C. Ruck (N. Z. Militia) to be captain of the Masterton Rifle Volunteers; J. C. Davies to be lieutenant in the Taranaki Mounted Rifles, and T. E. Hamerton to be sub-lieutenant in tbe same corps. The Normanby Hussars have been disbanded at their own request. The services of the Hamilton Rifle Volunteers have been accepted. Mr. J. C. Gavin has been appointed a member of the Government Officers Guarantee Board, vice Mr. C. Batkin, r signed. The following reserves in the Wellington Land Distr^'t for educational purposes are' gazetted : — Pikopiko, 3910 acres; Mango-" where, 2355 acres. The Domination of a representative for St. Paul's Parish, Thorndon, to the Diocesan Synod, in the room of Mr. H. T. Clarke, resigned, will take place on Monday next, at the school-room, Tinakori road. We would remind our readers that the oftpostponed concert by the membprs of the St. Paul's Church Choir will come off this eveuing, at the school-room, Tinakori road. The concert arranged to have been given at the Arcade last night under the leadership of Mr. Hollister, was, in consequence of the inclemency of the weatlter, postponed until Thursday evening next. Mr. J. W. Boscawen has been appointed a ¦clerk in the Survey Department of New Zealand. Mr. J. B. Hamilton's advertisement re gre t drapery sale, will appear to-morrow. Despite the unpropitious state of the weather last night, the meeting of the Wesleyan Young Men's Improvement Association was fairly attended, and an interesting essay on the works of Tom Hood was read by one of tbe members. The Rev. W. Kirk presided. " All for Her " was repeated at the Theatre Royal last night, when, notwithstanding the inclemency of tbe weather, there was a fair attendances." The drama ran, as smoothly as on the" previous evening, and Mr. Wybert Reeve' «md Miss Beatrice were frequently loudly applauded. The other performers also came in for a fair share of praise. The performance this evening will be for the benefit of Mr. Reeve who will appear in two pieces,- namely, "Engaged" and *« My Wife's Dentiit.". This bill should draw a full house. Mr. Courtney, of New Plymouth, recently sent a telegram to the .Premier and the Native Minister, stating that a number' of natives, with four ploughs, were breaking up his freehold land at Tapuae, and if the Government did not remove them he would shoot their bullocks, and tbe natives If they interfered, To this Sir George Grey sent the following telegraphic reply: — "I am sincerely grieved to hear that you propose to shoot horses and natives. You will act far more wisely; bys leaving the case to be dealt with by the ordinary operations of the law, -which,, though, sometimes slow, is certain. AFthbugfryonr-fight to the land may ba indisputable, the shooting of horses or men would be a very grave offence." A corresponded traquests us to inform him whether the sovereigns coined at the Melbourne and Sydney mints bear the same device. The want of sovereigns prevents us from answering the question from our own personal knowledge, but on enquiring of a friendly bank clerk we learn that, as far as he knows, the sovereigns coined in Sydney bear the Royal Arms at the back, while those manufactured in Melbourne have a representation of St. George and tbe ' dragon. All thesovareigns and half sovereigns coined in London during the last siv years bear the same device. Attention ha* been drawn (says the European Mail, to the valuable properties of the PhormiumTenax.or New Zealand flax, as a plant producing fibre o»' great strength. It, has at various times attracted much attention, but has been discarded because of the difficultyf of " carding." The New Zealand Goyernment (says the European Mail) seems determined "to let no body of colonists remain untaught for want of teachers. They have now empowered Sir Julius Vogel (the Agent General for New Zealand), Dr. Abbott (Head Master of the City of London School), and Mr. WalterKennaway (Secretary to the Department of the Agent-General), to select a teacher able to undertake the education and training of deaf mutes. The salary proposed to be given is £600 per annum, besides an allowance of £150 for rent, until an official residence is provided ; and the cost of the passage out of the person selected will be defrayed by the colony. Sub Leader A match will be played in Mr. Sheehan's paddock to-morrow afternoon by the Reform Football Clubs. Members are requested to be on the ground at 2 30 sharp. H M S. Emerald is expected to arrive from Auckland on Sunday or Monday text. The Hon. William Gisborne was sworn in to-day as a member of the Executive Council, and also as Minister of Lands, Immigration, and Customs Mr. A. S. Allan, Registrar of the Supreme Court, held a sitting in bankruptcy this morning, when the deeds of assignment in the following cases were declared to be completely executed : —William Toogood, and W. W. Orfe. We understand that Mr. James Maekay has been appointed Government agent on the West Coast of this island at a salary of £700 per minim. Messrs. Heary Moss and Co., of this city, have begun business as auctioneer*, and we have no doubt they will receive a fair share of public support Tbefollowing tenders w*>re -reeervad at the Public Works Office, Wdliagtoß,for the Elles-

mere contract of the Little R'ver and Akaroa railway : —Accepted —P. M'Grath, Christchurch, £14,704. Declined— J. F. Leather, Christchurch, £16,168; Downes & Proctor, Dunedin, £16,249; Henderson & Fergus, Dunedin, £17,657; W. White, jun., Christchurch, £17,839; Lake & Beard, Christchurcb, £22,205; F. Denhara, Christcharch, £27,831. In consequence of the hi»h prices at present charged by the breeders of stock, and the probability of a further increase during the winter, some of the Dunedin butchers have arranged to import cattle from Sydney. The Wakatipu will bring a shipment of 60 head on her next trip from Sydney. We further understand that the leading Wellington butchers have also decided upon a similar course, and that an agent of a large firm of cattle dealers in Syduey is at present in Wellington making the necessary arrangements. To-day being the 103 rd anniversary of American independence was observed by the " btates " citizens of the town, who displayed a good deal of bunting on the tops of their premises. One American citizen was "roiliog round," and inviting all and sundry to drink at his expense, and many persons availed themselves of bis kind ofler, but it transpired afterwards that they did "not know he was celebrating tbe anniversary ot the independence of his country ; they thought in fact that he was jubilant because he had persuaded his confiding banker to meet the various little bills that he had made payable on tbe " glorious 4th." Hfs Excellency the Governor has been pleased to make the under-mentioned appointments and promotions in the New Zealand Armed Constabulary Foree :— F. Swindley, late SubInspector, A.C., to be Acting Inspector; C. MaliDg, N.Z.C., late Sergeant Corp3 of Guides, to be Acting Sub-Inspector; Majir C. G. Minnitt, late 18th Foot, to be Acting SubInspector: Sergeant Colin M'Kenzie Taylor, A.C., late' Lieutenant 12th Foot, to be SubInspector; Sergeant Henry Gordon, A C, late Ensign 44th Fo«t, to be Sub-Inspector; Charles Alfred Grubb, late Lieutenant 94th Foot, to be Sub-Inspector. The following team will represent tbe Wellington Football Club in their match with tbe Athletic Football Club on Saturday next. Play at 2.30 :— Bishop, Buttle, Cowie, Davy, Gillon, Gibbes, Hastings, Lambert, Lynch, Pollen (,2j, Rees, Ronaldson, Stewart, and Thomson. Emergencies — Russell, and A. W. Eames. Athletic Club's team : Campbell, Berry 12), Burnes, Williams, Mansetl, Beaucbamp, Cooper, Morrab, Rule, Dumbell, Wright, Thomson, Leckie, and Hickson; emergencies — DeCastro, Kennedy, Snow. The road between Johnsonville and the Local Board boundary is now in a worse state than ever owing to the collapse of a bridge, and tho unfortunate milkmen have to come into town by the Ngahauranga Line, a distance of fully five miles round Instant steps ought to be taken to remedy this disgraceful state of things. The members of Court Sir George Bowen, A.0.F., have addressed a letter to their architect, Mr. C. J. Toxward, heartily thanking him for his handsome gift of £50 towards the cost of erectiug their new hall, and expressing their complete satisfaction with the buildiog, bjth as to design and construction.

The soothing syrups, and -well-known carminatives, bo freely given to infanta to alleviate their paius and induce sleep, are known to incorporate narcotics, that are mote or less dangerous. Nurses and even parents are too prone to resort to theso agencies, and the result is that children addicted to their quieting uses seldom enjoy health and natural sleep and rest. Diminutive doses of Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam AaoarATio Schnapps will allay all disturbing pymptoms, and tone the system to a normal condition. — f AdvtJ