Evening Post. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1884.

Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 88, 10 October 1884, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1884.

THE MAIN NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE. The result of the labours of the Railway Route Committee has fully justified the confidence which we expressed when urging that tho determination of the route for tho Main Trunk Line of Railway in this Island should be left to a Committee composed of Middlo Island members, not personally interested in tho question but qualified to arrive at a fair decision on the merits. The Committee, after making an exhaustive onquiry, and taking an enormous mass of valuable evidence, have recommended the adoption of the Central route from Marton to Te Awamutu, Mr. Montgomery being the only dissentient. He favoured the Stratford line, and when the adoption of the report is moved in the House, it will bo interesting to learn on what grounds he did so. The evidence appears to us most overwhelming and most conclusive in favour of the Central line. The only point in favour of the route via Stratj ford is that tho length of new line required to be made to connect Auckland with Wellington would be shorter. By the Stratford route the total distance from Wellington to Auckland is 464 miles, and by the Central route the distance is 430 miles. The length of new line by the former route, however, is only 142 miles, while by the latter it is 212 miles. The cost of the Stratford route is roughly estimated at £979,178, but the evidence shows that no detailed survey has ever been made and that the amount is little more than a rough guess. The Central route has been carefully surveyed, and the cost, estimated with great care, is set down at £1,293,134, which includes a road line along the railway lino, a work not contemplated in the former estimate. The arguments in favour of the central line in comparison with tho other, as established by the evidence, are that it will open up a larger extent of country, that the quality of the country opened up is better, that the gradients oro easier and the engineering difficulties less, that it will afford greater facilities for opening up further country hereafter by the construction of branch lines and connecting centres of population with tho main line, and that the working exponses are certain to be considerably less, while the easy grades and curves will rendor a higher rate of speed obtainable. On it there will be no curvo of less radius than nine chains, the ruling grade will not exceed 1 in 70, all the bridging will be light, and, with the exception of one of 1214 yards, all tho tunnels will be short. Mr. Knoep, in his evidence, said that a speed of 25 miles an hour could easily be attained over this line — that is, that as good time could be made between Auckland and Wellington as between Christchurch and Dunedin. His estimate of the cost of the line only differs from Mr. Rochbfobt's by some £30,000. Mr. RocnzFOßT .estimates that the central line will open up, within a distance of 10 miles of the line, one million and a half acres of good land fit for settlement, and nearly a million acres of good pastoral land. That the Taranaki and Auckland members will still, in the House, make a fight for their favourite Stratford route is, of course, to be expected, but if honourable members generally will but read the evidence, we have no doubt that a great majority will endorse the conclusions arrived at by the committee. If this be so, it is to be hoped that the advocates of tho other route will accept the decision gracefully, and refrain from acting the part of tho dog in the manger. The route once finally determined on, all ought to unite in urging on the immediate construction of this most necessary colonial work.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Montgomery somewhat amused the House by boldly informing it that every vestiga of Provincialism had disappeared from the minds of the people of Canterbury, who, he said, since abolition, had always taken a wide and colonial view of political questions. The broad grin which overspread the countenance of several hon. members was even reflected upon that of the generally impassable member for Akaroa, who, however, did not blush. The Minister of Public Works in the Honso, yesterday, stated that the Government had no intention of procuring the ironwork for composite bogie railway carriages and carriage-frames from the present contractors at Homo. Thoy would either be ordered from outside firms or, if possible, manufactured in the Government workshops in the colony. In answer to Mr. Seddon yesterday, the Premier said that the Government intended to provide for an extensive circulation of Dr. Hector's New Zealand Handbook, which, he thought, should be widely read out of the colony, bir Julius Vogel said that during his experiences on Agent-General he had never seen a publication which contained so much valuable information in a small compass. A new edition of tho book would bo published, and it would be allowed to bo sent Home post free. Mr. Rolleston remarked that the late Government had intended to publish a yearly edition of the book. Tho news of the destruction by fire of the Royal Palace and Parliament Buildings at Copenhagen on Saturday last has been receivod with regret by those natives of Denmark rosiding in this distriot. Tho block of buildings in question was considered to be one of the finest in Europe, and cost an immense amonnt of money to erect. The Palace and Houses of Parliament occupied a splendid site on an island in the capital ot Denmark, and were designed by Hanson, a celebrated arohiteot, undor whose supervision they were erected and completed in 1828. They were built to replace the buildings erected by King Christian VI., in 1740, and burned down in 1794. The facade of tho palace which was destroyed on Saturday last was exceedingly handsome, and looked towards the Slots Plads, a public square containing a magnificent equestrian statue in bronze of Frederick VII., the founder of the Constitution of 1848. The facade was adorned with sculpture by Thorwaldsen, one of the best Danish artists that has ever lived, the characters represented being Minerva, Prometheus, Hercules, Hebe, Jupiter, Nemesis, iEsculapius, and Hygeia. In the niches adjoining tho portal wore allegorical figures in bronze— Wisdom, Strength, Justice, and Health. The finest apartment in the building was the spacious Hall of tho Knights, or the Chamber of Council of State, which contained a copy, in marble, of Thorwaldaen's " Procession of Alexander at the Villa Sommariva, on the Lake of Como." Tho Charytides on each side of the throne were also by Thorwaldsen, and tho walls were ombellished with sconos from Danish history, by Eskerberg. The palace contained a large picture gallery, tho works of art whioh the latter oontained being principally of the Nethorland and Italian schools. Tho pictures by Danish artists were very fine. The Royal Library was large and valuable, tho number of volumes which it contained being about 500,000. The chapel attaohed to tho palaoo was also very large, and wa3 without doubt the most magnificent edifice of tho kind in tho city. The staircase was of polished marble and tho railings wero composed of solid brass. The block of buildings was ono which cannot be replaced without tho expenditure of a considerable amonnt of money and labonr. We aro indebted to Mr. (J. J. Toxward for the particulars given above, that gentleman having been permitted to go through tho greater part of the buildings during a visit which he paid to bis native country some years ago. The Resident Magistrate intends in futuro to compel tho defendants in all the oriminal cases brought beforo him to take. thoir stand in what ia known as the prisoners' dook. For years past the only persons required to occupy the box have been individuals charged with drunkenness, felony, obscene language, &c. Mr. Wardell thinks that no distinction of tho kind should be made in cases of a oriminal nature, and henceforth the dook will be occupied each time a charge is heard. In conveying an intimation to that effeot to those present in Court this morning, Mr ; AVardell remarked that in tho country which he came from it was not considered degrading for defendants, both in oriminal and civil cases, to take their stand in a box, and he did not see why it should bo considered so in this colony. The following patents have been applied for : — Pianoforte hopper roller and circular hammer, by William Frederick Jones, of Auckland ; tho Excelsior hcomorrhoid support, by Henry William Turner, of Auckland; an invention for destroying plant vermin, namely, tho whole tribe of aphidus, inoluding the Phylloxera vastatrix and other vermin destructive to the products of tho farm and garden, and also for cleansing and disinfecting soil infested with suoh vermin, to be called " Aickin's universal insecticide and plant- vermin exterminator," by Thomas Aiokin, of Ponsonby-road, Auckland ; a machine to control the "froth," which arises through rapid boiling, in jam manufacturers', soap-boilers', and brewers' coppers, from overflowing, by John Paul Miller and Joseph Short Scott, of Nehon ; an improvement in blast-smelting furnaces, by Thomas Gillespie, of Sydney; improvements in gas engines, by Murray Isola Jones, of Melbourne; a hillside reversible plough, by George M'Hattie, of Palmers ton, Otago ; an invention for blasting and boring purposes, intituled " The torpedo blast depositor," by James Ritohie, of Kaikorai, Dunedin ; an improved method of fastening wires to iron fencing standards in suoh a manner that they are readily secured and readily removed, by Edward Samuel Leot, of Oamaru ; the furrow extender, by David Paton Balfour, of Glenrose, Hawke's Bay; the Coventry mechanical swimming instructor, by James Coventry, of Wellington. At the Colonial Museum last evening Mr. W. M. Maskoll, F.R.M.S., delivered a lecturo under tho auspices of the Horticultural Society, tho subjeot being "Scale Blight." Mr. T. K. Macdonald was in the ohair. The leoturer described at length the habits of the blight insects, which are of three classes, and explained the remedies whioh should bo applied to trees and plants taken possession of by tho little creatures. He also exhibited soveral specimens of pots of plants and fruits affected by tho ravages of the insect, together with tho insects themselves in various stages of development. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed. The estates of 20 deceased persons were placed under charge of the Publio Trustee during the month of September. The largest individual estate was under .£SOO. There were two undor £1. Bishop Redwood returned to Wellington by the steamer Manapouri this morning. The arrivals and departures from the several ports of the colony during the September quarter were: — Arrivals—Russell, nil ; Auckland, 1029 ; Wellington, 989 ; Napier, 4 ; Pioton, nil ; Greymonth. 7 ; Hokitika, nil ; Lyttelton, 31 ; Timaru, 1 ; Oamaru, 2 ; Dunedin, 706 ; Invercargill, 674 ; total, 3443. Departures— Russell, 12 • Auokland, 713 ; Wellington, 422 ; Napier, 5; Pioton, 1 ; Greymouth, 10 ; Hokitika, 9; Lyttelton, 462 ; Timaru, 1 ; Oamaru, 7 ; Dunediu, 2 ; Invercargill, 830 ; total, 2474. Of the arrivals, 2945 were adults and 493 children ; of the departures, 2071 were adults and 403 children. The now Cunard liner Umbria, whioh is said to have attained the wonderful speed of 24 knots an hour, was built by Messrs. Jno. Elder and Co., at Govan. She is of steel, and her dimensions are as follow:— Length over all, 520 f t; beam, 57ft; depth, 40ft ; gross tonnage, 8000. The engines for this vessel have been constructed by the builders, and will indicate at sea 12,500 h.p. Great anxiety 13 entertained as to the safety of the schooner Tauronga, which left Port Chalmers on the 11th June for the South Sea Islands. The Tauranga (says the Otago Times of tho 6th mat.) is now 117 days out, and nothing whatever has been heard of her. She was owned and commanded by Captain James Duncan, formerly of the barque Prospector, and a very old resident of Port Chalmers. Captain Duncan was accompanied by his wife and a crew of seven persons. He was well acquainted with the Island trade, and taking this into consideration, we greatly fear some mishap must have occurred. William Poppens, the ex-landlord of the Albion Hotel, Courtenay-place, whose name has figured so prominently in the newspapers during the past two or three months, is once more a free man. At this morning's sitting of the Magistrate's Court he surrendered to his bail on a oharge of having absconded from the colony in Augußt last with more than .£2O of his creditors' money in his possession. Mr. Brown, counsel for the prosecution, stated that ho was not prepared to offer any evidence in support of the charge, a doubt having arisen as to tho legality of tho bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Shaw, who appeared for the defendant, made no remarks on the subjeot, and the acouaed was then discharged. Tho Gymnastic Club, recently formed -in connection with the Guards, mot for the weekly practice last evening. There was a very large attendance. Mr. S. Kohn exercised the members for over an hour, and was gratified to find that they displayed more proficioncy than on the previous Thursday night. Ho is quite convinced that if his pupils will only pay attention to what he has to say, and endeavour to carry out his instructions, a degree of success will in time be attained which will reflect credit upon all concerned. An arrangement has been mode whereby those of the publio who require supplies of legal stamps may obtain them from the chief bailiff of the Magistrate's Court, that official having been appointed deputy to Mr. Sisßon, the licensed agent. The Clerk of Works office, Parliament Buildings, and the Resident Magistrate's Court have been added to the Telephone Exchange to-day.

The Executive Committee appointed at the meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, which was held in the Chamber of Commerce last week, met at the office of Messrs. France Bros, last evening to discuss certain matters connected with the next annual prize firing. Those present were Captains Crowe, Loveday, and Cameron, Lieutenants Hislop, Pteele, Tayton, and Wallace, WarrantOfficer Davy, Quartermaster-Sergeant Scott, Sergeant Hale, Petty-Officer France, Bombadier M'Kenzie, Volunteers Shaw and W. Ballinger, and Messrs. Collins and Steven3. Lieutenant Hislop was voted to the ohair. Dr. Newman wrote asking that his name should be takon off the list of canvassers, as he could not find sufficient time. It was decided to accede to the request. The Secretary read a copy of a memorandum which he had furnished to the Chairman of the Council, who would forward it on to the Minister for Defence, showing the average attendance at each annual meeting since the formation of the society. Some discussion took place with reference to the status of the committee. Captain Loveday moved the following resolution : — " That seeing that tho matter of the fixing of tho amount to be placed on tho Estimates in aid of the rifle shooting has not been decided definitely, no action be taken in the direction of arranging a meeting for 1834, and that a meeting be called directly the Government has decided the matter." The resolution was seconded by Lieutenant Tayton. An amendment was proposed by Lieutenant Hislop, as follows : — " That this committee revise the rulos of the Association, that they got them printed, and that they distribute copies of them amongst the various volunteer districts in tho colony. ' ' This amendment, whioh was seconded by Volunteer Ballingrer, was lo3t, the resolution being carried. Volunteer Shaw, a member of the committee appointed to select a suitablo site for the proposed meeting in February or March next, reported a range could be made at Newtown Park, and two at Island Bay. The committee were instructed to continue their researches and ascertain whether there are other suitable Bites contiguous to the city. The proceedings then terminated. Mr. James Taylor, of Tawa Flat, has been nominated for the vacant seat on the Board of Education. Wo beg to acknowledge the receipt of the now quarterly issue of the Post and Telegraph Guide. Mr. Milner Stephen, who is now in Wellington, has sent us a copy of his pamphlet entitled "An Essay on Magnetio Healing." An advertisement in another column intimates that Mr. Stephen has arrived in Wellington, and may now be consulted at his rooms. We believe he intends shortly to give a free publio exhibition of his healing powers. The rulos of the Wellington and Wairarapa District Acclimatisation Society having been deposited with the Colonial Secretary, it is now a duly registered acclimatisation society under the Animals Protection Act, 18S0. The Star of Wellington Lodse, No. 2, working under the jurisdiction of the R.W.G. Lodge of the World, held its weekly session at No. 9 room, Athonoeum, last evening, when there was a large attendance. Two gentlemen presented themselves as candidates, and, after the usual test, were admitted to full membership ; others were proposed. After the routine of business was over, and it was announced that a social meeting would be he held next session, sineing- was indulged in by the members. The G.W.C.T., Bro. James Edwards, was present, and gave notice that he would shortly conduct a special session of the Grand Lodge, with the object of conferring the Sublimo Degree. A meeting is to be held at Nowtown this evening, for the purpose of discussing the formation of a new Oddfellows' Lodge for that distriot. Tho members of the Aorangi Lodge, 314, aro requested to meet opposite the Newton Hotel, in full regalia, at a quarter to 8. An address will be delivered by Deputy D.G.M. Bro. Higginbottom, at 8, in the Donald M'Lean - street school-room. Mr. Rees-Mogg has made the arrangements for the meeting, which is expected to be largely attended. The annual subscriptions of those gentlemen who have joined the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals aro coming in freely. Sovoral persons residing outside the oity have become members, ana as each of them has intimated his intention to do what he can to inorcase tho number on the roll, it is expected that in a short time the society will be a very large one, and will thus be in a position to carry on its operations more successfully than otherwise. At the civil sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, judgment for the defendant with costs was given in tho caso of A. Egan v. G. E. Prince, a olaim of .£2B 15s Gd, as damages for an alleged illegal distraint for rent of a house in Holland-street. Mr. FitzGerald was for the plaintiff, and Mr. Gully for the defendant. H. Smith, a chimnoy sweep, was nonsuited in a suit which he brought for the reoovery of £A from W. H. Spiller, musioian, whose son, it was alleged, had frightened the plaintiff's horse in Bouloott-street Borne weeks ago, and caused it to bolt, the result being that the spring-cart, to which it was attached, was damaged to suoh an extent as to necessitate repairs amounting to £A. Mr. Shaw was for tho plaintiff, and Mr. FitzGerald for the defendant. In tho caso of J. Fletcher v. <!'. August, in whioh the claim of JSIS was for damagos alleged to have been sustained through the action of tho defendant in removing a fence, Mr. Wardell gave judgment for the defendant, and ordered the costs to be divided. Mr. Brown appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Travers for the defendant. The Court roso at 5 o'clock. The following is a list of the cases to be heard at the civil sittings of the Supreme Court, whioh commence on Monday next: — Toomath v. Graco, Travers v. Davios, Colonial Bank v. Eraser, Tullock v. Fraser, Rice v. Ketlor, Buohanan v. Ngatuere Tawhao, Armstrong v. Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, Littlejohn v. Mulligan, Young v. Harcourt, Evanson v. Farelly, Ngawhena v. Smith, and Boyd v. Travers. In the case of Charles E. Gundry, charged with obtaining an endorsement to a promissory note by false representations, whioh was tried yesterday at the Snpreme Court, tho jury wero considering their verdict when we went to press. They returned into Court after an absence of 45 minutes, and returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The prisoner was accordingly discharged. This concluded the business of the criminal sessions. Wo learn that artioles have been signed for a glove fight for .£SO a side between the well-known boxers Perry and Pettengill. It is to come off within six weekß from Monday last on a day and at a place to be duly announced beforehand. Mr. J. E. Hayos appears to be doing a large business as a manufacturer of totalisators. He shipped ono away to-day for Napier to tho order of Mr. H. B. Cohen, who will use it m connection with tho approaching meeting at Poverty Bay. The machino is one of the improved Jonkin's patent, and registers for a fiold of fifteen horsos. The mechanism is of the most perfeot description, the various connections being so substantial that it is next to impossible for anything to get out of order. The workings are of gun metal, with steel spindles, and the front is of polished carved cedar, with polished kauri panels. The price, we understand, is .£235. Mr. Hayes is now negotiating with the Dunedin Jockey Club for the manufacture of two machines of twenty-horse power each, besides having several orders in hand. Mr. C. D. Barraud's annual Art Union promises this season to be unusually attractive. The first prize is a magnificent oil painting of Kilgerran Castle, Cardigan, by the well-known artist E. G. Dochree. This is one of the loveliest pieces of landscape wo have seen for a long time, and at the recent exhibition of the Art Society, where it was exhibited, it exoited universal admiration. Mr. Barraud purchased it with a view to increasing the attractivenees of his Art Union. The second and third prizes are Bplendid water colour pictures by Mr. Barraud himself, of Mount Cook, from two different points of view, the first being taken from Lake Pukeko and the other from the hillside overlooking the Hooker Valley. Both are piotures in Mr. Barraud's best style. Threo smaller paintings, one a viow of the harbour of RlO de Janiero, by Mr. Barraud, form tho next three prizes, and then there are three pictures by Mr. Barraud's brother, Mr. F. P. Barraud, of London, whioh are charming delineations of old Continental Btreet architecture. A viow of Lake Wanaka by Mr. E. A. Chapman, and ono of Lake Tarawera by Mr. Barraud, complete the series of prizes, the total being valued at 200 guineas. The pictures can be seen at Mr. Barraud's, Lambton Quay, and ore well worthy of inspection. Mr. F. Cohen, who has had the management of Mr. Paul's business in Cuba-street for tho last five years, and who previously was manager for Mr. Lewis Moss for ten years, is about to start in business on his own account. He has taken the premises between the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel and Mr. John Watts', in Willis-street, and intends to open them on tho Ist November, with a well-selected stock of men's and boys' clothing, hats, moroory, &c. Mr. Cohen is so well known in Wellington, and his career as a manager has been distinguished by saoh civility and straightforwardness, that we have little doubt he will bo successful in establishing a profitable business connection. Wo are informed by our Paramatta correspondent, that it wa3 Mrs. Bould, not Mr. Bould, who attended so assiduously on the young man Hays during his dangerous illness. A revised list of prices appears in another column from Mr. A. G. Price, Hall of Commerce, Cuba-street, of the stock of Mr. W. Munro. Mr. Price also calls special attention to his millinery department. Members of football olubs belonging to the W.E.F.U. meet at the Post Office Hotel 1 to-morrow evening.

Dr. Maurice Alfred Chilton is gazetted Honorary Surgeon to the Wellington Guards. We are requested to remind our readers of the sale, commencing to-morrow, of J. Paul's stock of men's and boys' clothing, which has been purchased by Messrs. Shine Brothers, who are holding a clearing sale. The following team will take part in the tug-of-war on behalf of the Poneke Football Club to-morrow : — Astill, Beck, Blacklock, Bishop, Bright, Gago, Nicholls, Robinson, Rigg, and Sim. There will bo a display this evening, between 6 and 10 o'clock, of spring millinery, &c, at Te Aro House. Attention is directed to the fact that, owing to the length of the catalogue, Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. have decided to hold the sale of Italian statuary and sculpture work on Thursday next, the 16th inst., and not Monday, as previously announced. The first display of the goods by gaslight wil be held on Monday evening next, when the whole of the shipment will be open to inspection. Messrs. Laery & Campbell will hold their usual market and horse Bales to-morrow. Messrs. Dwan & Co. will sell to-morrow, horse, cart, harness, milk round, &o. Messrß. Sidey & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, fancy goods, &c. Men op Wellington. There will be a multitude of specially cheap and useful lota in clothing on Saturday, at Te Aro House. Note These :— Men's heavy blue serge trousers, 5s and 7s 6d ; heavy tweed trousers, ss ; coloured mole trousers, 4s 6d; on Saturday, at Te Aro House. Men's heavy tweed trousers and vest, 10s 6d and 12s 6d ; navy serge coats, 5s ; fourbutton tweed sac coats, 7s 6d ; and a splendid lot of West of England paget coats, worth 25s for 103 6d ; on Saturday, at Te Aro House. Not to be Equalled. Men's tweed sac Buits, 153 6d ; blue serge sac suits, 19s 6d ; four-button tweed suits, 255 ; and a grand line of West of England paget Euits at 455, worth 70s, and superior to any tailor made at M los jon Saturday, at Te Aro House. Men's tweed hats, Is ; a job lot of men's sof b felt hats, 2s ; blaok hard felt hats, 3s 6d ; boys' blue Berge hats, 2s ; 600 boys' straw hats, Is ; on Saturday, at Te Aro House. A speoially cheap lot of children's knioker suite, at 5s and 7s 6d, will be shown in the basket at the door on Saturday, at Te Aro House. For extraordinary bargains in men's shirts and underclothing, see advertisemene on next page. Te Aro House. — Advt. Hannah's Old Shop, Lambton Quay.— At the Great Sale of Bankrupt Stock, commenoing on Saturday, 30th August, you can find the following bargains ; — Wide evening tarlatans, all shades, at 4id yard ; coloured silk velvets, evening shades, 2s 6d to 6s 6d ; coloured evening silks, 9d to 3s 6d ; feathers, flowers, and underolothing, equally cheap; coloured satins, evening shades, Is 6d to 3s 6d yard. You can save 40 to 60 per eont. by purchasing at this Clearing Sale of Bankrupt Stock.— Advt. Coughs, Colds, Bronohitis, &c, arequiokly oured by using Baxter's " Lung Presorver." This old-established medicine is pleasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical and clerical professions. Can be recommended. — [Advt.l A glance in the window of Messrs. Rout. Gardner & Co.'a establishment on the Quay will at once convince anyone that crioket will not bo allowed to die out in Wellington, judging by the amount and variety of goods displayed by them, specially for the use of cricketers. Thoy import their goods from the celebrated makers, Cobbett and Bussey. — Advt. Persons whose avocations are sedentary and confine them indoors, are especially in need of some wholesome stimulant ; we theroforo confidently offer them that worldronowned tonic, Wolfe's Schnapps. — Advt.