RAILWAY REFRESHMENT ROOMS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 43, 22 February 1881, Page 2

RAILWAY REFRESHMENT ROOMS.

Dissatisfaction is often expressed at the absence from the Wellington terminus of the usual refreshment rooms, where visitors to Wellington can obtain somethiug to eat and drink on their arrival in town or before their departure thence, without being compelled to go a publin-houae, an alternative to which many people strongly object. We can discern no valid reason why this manifest convenience which Dunedin and Christchurch enjoy should be denied to Wellington. Another cognate grievance which is beginning to find expression is the intended removal of the refreshment rooms from Kaitoke station to Upper Hutt. This is strongly objected to by railway travellers, and not without reason. Upper Hutt is too near Wellington for a refreshment room to be needed, for it takes only about an hour to reach that place from Wellington, whereas three hours and a half are occupied in travelling thence to Masterton. If for any reason not disclosed it is really necessary to remove the refreshment station from Kaitoke, then the Summit would be a much more convenient place than Upper Hutt. It would divide the journey almost exactly in half, and a short detention always must take place there to change engines. As the only reason given in favor of Upper Hutt is the delay caused there by the practice of changing engines, in order that a more powerful one may be employed on the climb up the 15 miles of steep gradients than is necessary on the comparatively level run from town, this reason would equally favor the Summit or Cross Creek, as either place is as nearly aa may be half way on the journey, one being reached in two hours from Wellington and the other in the same time from Masterton. But there is absolutely nothing to be said in support of making Upper Hutt the refreshment stoppage, and to remove it thither from Kaitoke would be a palpable blunder. The usual weekly meeting of the Executive Council was held at Government House to-day at noon. Hia Excellency the Governor presided, and the Premier, the Colonial Secretary, and the Native Minister, were present. The business was exclusively of a formal routine natnre. During yesterday afternoon's sitting of the University Senate, the Chancellor announced that the examiners for the Bowen prize of 1880 had examined the essays sent in, and had agreed that the essay most deserving of the prize was that bearing the motto, " He has done hia best and he leaves the rest." The motto was found to be that of George Francis Irvine, of the Canterbury College. On the motion of Dr. Hector, it was decided that the Bowen prize should be awarded to Irvine. The annual meeting of the members of the Benevolent Institution will be held at 4.30 this afternoon. The substance of the report to be presented has already appeared in the Post. The commitee will meet at 4 p.m., to dispose of the usual routine business. An exceedingly rich specimen of quartz was shown us this morning by Mr. Charles Houchin, obtained, he alleges, from Cape Palliser a short time ago. He and his mate were out on a four weeks' prospecting tour, and the sample shown us was, Mr. Houchin asserts, knocked off a large body of quartz at the foot of the range. This specimen is about the size of a nutmeg, and is literally covered with rough gold. The quartz is of a dirty white color, and the rough angles would indicate that it has been chipped' off the rock at no very disfant date. Mr. Houchin had another sample, said to be obtained from a mullooky reef about 17 miles (by land) east of Wellington. It showed several specks, visible to the naked eye. If these samples have really been obtained from the localities indicated, they prove beyond a doubt that there are very rich deposits of Sold on the ranges eastward of Wellington Harbour. A party of three intend to start for the 17-mile discovery on Saturday, and will afterwards make for Cape Palliser to prospect in that neighborhood. One of the party has obtained, we are informed, a plan of the district, with a view of ascertaining whether it is Crown, freehold, or leasehold land. A- somewhat serious fire has been raging in the Ohariu Valley since Friday morning. It originated through the spreading of a fire, started by one of the settlers for the purpose of burning off bush. A large quantity of grass and fencing has been destroyed, but fortunately the houses and stock of the settlers have as yet escaped. The heaviest losers by the fire are Mr. F. A. Darby, Mr. Best, and Messrs. Bryant Bros. The latter gentlemen nearly lost ten valuable rams, which were with great difficulty rescued from the fire. When our informant left Ohariu this morning, the fire was still burning, having extended over a track of some 300 or 400 acres. Should the wind rise, it is feared more damage of a serious character may be done. The Pegatta Committee held a meeting last night, and decided to retain the prizes in connection with the schooner and firstclass yacht raoes, abont which' so mnch has been heard since regatta day, as a nucleus toward the fund for next year. In regard to the yacht race, it will be recollected that Mr. C. E. Mills decided to give up his title to the -640 and cup, providing the race was sailed again upon a day and Tinder conditions named by him. The day was named, but the wind not suiting Mr. Mills, he declined to sail, and now intends, we understand, to claim the award on the ground that the conditions specified by him were not fulfilled by the Committee. The captain of the Star of tho Sea, which was declared the winner of the coasters' race, intends to proceed againat the committee for the first prize in that race. This schooner was the only one that sailed over the proper course, and the captain naturally thinks he should have been awarded the prize. A third party is now negotiating with Mr. M'Manam&n for the lease of a section in the vicinity of the Albion Chum, Terawhiti. We are informed that the Field Naturalists' Club about to be formed is likely to prove a great success. Several gentlemen, many of whom have be'ore distinguished themselves in natural science, have given in their names as intending to become members of the club. It is hoped that the meeting to be held to-night at the Athenaeum will be largely attended, and that any who feel at all interested in the movement will be there to encourage with their presence and support those who have taken the lead in the matter. At St. Peter's Church, on Sunday last, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Auckland delivered an impressive discourse from Ezekiel xviii., 31. In the course of his sermon the Bishop referred to the exclusion of the Bible and of all Scriptural teaching from our public schools, and remarked on the difficulty of religious instruction being piven at home ¦when both parents and children were tired and disinclined for the task. His Lordship pointed out that the Services of the Church afforded a ready means of supplying the deficiency. The Church of England Prayer Book was literally " saturated" with the Bible and with Scriptural teaching, so that those who attended the Church Service regularly could not fail to learn a great deal. They had not only the morning and evening " Lessons," but blbo the Psalms, the Can* tides, the Epistles and Gospels, all taken direct from the Bible, while the prayers are all founded upon the very language of the Scriptures. The true remedy, therefore, for the absence of religions teaching in schools was regular attendance at the public worship of the Church. " An Old Fireman, W.V.F 8.," who was an eye-witness of the recent collision between a dray and the fire-van, writes in reply to the statement of the driver of the dray, which appeared in the Evening Post yesterday. He states that the dray was standing at an angle of 45deg across Willis-street, and that if th« driver had only removed it a foot out of the way the accident would not have happened. " The return cricket -mateh — Butchers v. Bakers— will take place on the Basin Reserve to-morrdw afternoon. On the last occasion the bakers were victorious, but as the butchers have since then gone in extensively for practice, a dose contest may be expected.

It turns out that the Hon. Mr. Dick did not go South yesterday after all, although his name appeared on the passenger list of the Wakatipu.

At the Opera last night, " Tire" Hermit's Bell " was repeated to a good house, but did not go nearly so well and Bmoothly as on Saturday night. Madame aiklMißsSiinonsen were admirable as ever, and the minor parts were satisfactory, but Signor Bianchi several time 5 ! eang distressingly flat, especially in the lovely dnet with Madame Simonsen, which was completely spoiled. He was encored for his Bong, " Betray me not," which, however, he did not sing nearly se well as on Saturday. A similar compliment was paid to the duet and to Madame Simonsen's second air. The chorus and band were very uncertain at times. The " Bell " trio, however, and the grand chorus which concludes .the second act were splendidly given, and elicited loud applause. This evening Bellini's opera "Norma" will be produced, Madame Simonsen appearing in her great part— the Drnid Priestess, Miss Simonsen as Adalgisa, Signor Paladini as Pollio, and Signor Eiccardi as Oroveso. "With such a cast, the performance ought to be an exceptionally fine one. His Excellency the Governor will be present. The Albion Prospecting Association met last night, the meeting being attended by abont 20 subscribers. The proceedings were conducted in private, the Press representatives being again excluded. We understand that the meeting decided to fix the capital of the association at J67600, in 15,200 shares of 10s each, 1600 paid up scrip being allotted to the Siever Brcthera. It is stated that the original shareholders will retain all the shares until the machinery is erected and the venture fully started. Mr. C. White was appointed legal manager, and the association will probably be registered at an early date. Mr. Deveril was appointed secretary. The Terrace School has been fortunate enough, through the liberality of the Chairman of its Committee, Mr. G. V. Shannon, and other gentlemen, to secure possession of the very fine dissolving view apparatus which Captain Metcalf brought out with him in the Eakaia. The lanterns are of unusual size and power, and of the latest form of construction, and the collection of slides is large, varied, and interesting, being, we are informed, sufficiently nnmerous to furnish 16 distinct evenings' entertainments. There will thus be plenty of amusement provided for the winter evenings, and as it is intended to make a small charge for admission, no doubt a considerable sum will be raised for the benefit of the school, to be expended in prizes, &c. The first exhibition is to take place on Friday evening next, in the new schoolhouse, Upper Willis-street, the TeAro Committee having kindly granted its use for the occasion, as being larger and more convenient than the Terrace School. Captain Metcalf is himself to work the apparatus on that occasion, and an excellent evening's amusement will be provided at a cost of one shilling to adults, and sixpence to children. Mrs. George Waters, of Dixon-street, has kindly shown us the first number of the Victoria Times, published in Wellington on the 15th September, 1841. It is a small lithographed sheet of four pages, and was sold at the price of Is. One page of the paper is taken up with a plan of the city, showing most of the principal streets of today. The Basin Reserve is described as the " Proposed Basin," with a canal leading to it fro* the harbonr. Several native pahs ar9 shown on the map — for instance, Pah Eewa, Pah Jackewai, and Pah Pipitea, at Thorndon, and the Pah Te Aro at the other end of the settlement. The Tinakori hills are described as being " thickly wooded to the summits," and must have presented a very different aspect from their bare povertystricken appearance in the present day. In the advertisements we notice the names of the Eev. E. Davy, 8.A., who, it is stated, "will be happy to supply parties with Bibles, Testaments, or Common Prayer Books," Thoma3 Bluett (printer), Edward Davis (of the Wellington Tavern), Charles Harvey (tailor and breeches-maker), Thomas York (butcher), J. M'Gregor (watch-maker), Pratt and Bevan (rope-makers), Millar (zincworker), Wright and Clare, &c. A cricket match between the teams from the Wellington Guards and D Battery was commenced on the Basin Eeserve this morning. The Guards went in first, and were all out for 27 runs, the highest scorer being Mr. Barbor, who made 7. The D Battery then went to the wickets, and at 1.30 p.m. had totted up 37 for two wickets. No public interest was shown in the match, there being only half a dozen spectators present. A capital opportunity will present itself on Satnrday to those whotlesire to visit the new quartz reef at Terawhiti, Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. having decided to lay on the s s. Huia to make an excursion to the best landing place in the vicinity of the reef next Satnrday. Already a large number of gentlemen have secured tickets. The Prosper Lodge held its weekly session last evening, at the school-room, Johnsonville 1 . After the business of the Lodge was over, the second and third degrees were conferred on four cjadidatto. ;A |emperanoe public meeting then took piaffe, when the District Deputy presided. Bro. Haynes, of the Taita, and Bros. Douse, Hall, and a number of friends from the various lodges gave addresses upon the great evils of intemperance. Bros. Chapman, Eussell, and Kells, and Sisters Chapman, , Backe, and Flaws gave songs - and recitatujqb. A wellattended meeting was brought to a conclusion 'by singing the National Anthem. Another^ very pleasant session of the Pioneer Lodge, I.Q.G.T.> was field last evening, in the Friendly Societies- Hall. Several visiting brethren from various parts of New Zealand were heartily welcomed. Bro. Head, D.D., was received on an official visit, and occupied the chair for the evening. Six candidates were initiated. An appropriate address was given by the D.D., and several songsf by brothers and sister?. A hearty vote of thanks was recorded to Bro. Eead and the visiting brothers. - The s.s. Stormbird, which leaves here for Foxton at 12 o'clock to-night, is advertised to land passengers for the Terawhiti diggings at Ohan Bay. The Juvenile Temple Eising Star met last evening at the Athenseum, when several new members were added to the roll. Several of the children either gave readings or recitations. The Athenaeum (London) of 18th December has the following :—": — " We have had opportunity of examining the prize work — the cantata ' Victoria,' by Leon Caron — and are sorry to have to express an unfavorable opinion on it. It is impossible honestly to describe it as anything but trash ; and the conclusion is forced upon us that either the standard of musical ability at Melbourne must be very low, or that the judges, who, we are given to understand, were mostly amateurs, were altogether unqualified for their work." On Thursday next Messrs. T. K. Macdonold and Co. will offer to public competition a large and varied assortment of pictures, including, the public are informed, some of the most valuable examples of the modern masters." The saleroom will be open this and to-morrow evenings, from 7.30 to 9 o'clock, for public inspection of the pictures. Catalogues may be obtained from the auctioneers. ° Wb can soon tell if a house is occupied by its owner, by its outside appearance. If so, it is neat and tidy, and kept in good repair. If the fence and fittings are tastefully painted, we can feel certain then that he has ,been to Bobt. Gabdnbb & Co.'s cheap sale and procured some of their " Eeady Mixed Paint," which they sell at sixpence per pound, all colors. — [Advt.] t One Pound Feee Gifts.— The proprietors of Wolfe's Aromatic Schnapps, to induce the destruction and prevent the improper use of their wrappers and labels, and thus further protect the public Againts fraud and deception, have inclosed in the bottles, or under the label on the quart bottles, since Ist October, 1878, and continue to inclose in bvebt day's packing THROUGHOUT THE YE AB THESE J>l OBDEBS, which are drawn upon the undersigned, and which will be cashed by their agents. To secure theae gifts, the public must be careful to ask far and accept nothing but the Genuinb Udolpho Wolfe's Schnapps, with our name upon the top label. M. Moss and Co., Wynyard Lane, Sydney. — [Advt.]