The Ministerial Tour.

Evening Post, Volume XXXLX, Issue 84, 11 April 1890, Page 3

The Ministerial Tour.

I BY TBLKOttAPIJ. I IuNITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 Ojiaufo, This Day. Tho Ministerial party divided at midday on the sth April in Hautapn. Captain Rus(loll, and Mcssra. Fergui, Christie. Murray, and H. D. Doll going a ahort track to Moanlmnga, (tolling atßattley'u and slooping at Birch's Btatiofl, Erebwon. Mr. Bruco and Dr. Newman, rode through Paonßaroa to Studfaolmo'B, tho romainder, with tho paokhoraeH, keptalong tho railway lino, camping on Sunday. All partloß unitod at Karioi in tho afternoon preparing for tho march to "\Vaimarino._ Tho country as far as TuranKariri, 05 miles from Marton junotion, all a first-rato main road, ia felled and sown with cookdfoot, clover, and ryograsa. For 40 miles there is tho mo«t luxuriant sward of grass, greatly astonishing tho Ministerial party, all of whom oxpressod thoir immonso Hurpriso at the richness of tho noil. Thore in rich luxuriant gratia along tho roadeido without a break, showing that tho land ia first-class. Tbo party woro also much nntonishod at the splendid forests of whito pine, matai, and occasionally totara. Tho whito piuo is especially magnificent. The breadth of tho country is vory great, etrotchinff 25 milcß aoroas eastward to Ituahine, and baing bounded westerly by the Wanganui River. It is mostly forost, and will make nplondid grazing country when clearod. Thoro is a great bolt of country of limestone, Hlioll, and papa, reaching from Ruahino to the Wanganni Kiver, and running northwards betwoon it and Ruapohu aa far as the Boa, and tho Mokau Elver, Marton Junction, and Inland Patea. The road passed magnificent riyeis and forest scenery, tho ffangitikei Rivor. with its towering white papa oliffs, tho clear water below and tho bushoovorod terraces being splondid. It will form a favourito tourist track. At Turangariri the main road from Napier strikes the North Island railway lino. Many othor roads convergo here, and it will bo an important townßhip. Tho land east and west is clear of buah, all first-class. Inland Patea ia a vory oxtonsivo and clear country, being all voids capped with, shelly limestone and othor shells, all in perfoot condition. It in 'JO miles inland between the confluence of the Hautapu and Kangitikei rivers. Thore is particularly flue grass golf Bown running right ovor tho land. On Sunday night all patties unitod at Karioi. Captain RuHsell addressed a publio mooting of his constituents at Moawhanga. He spoke for half an hour. The mcotin» was much ploased. Boing questioned about tho North Island Trunk Railway, ho said he was in favour of speedily buying Maori land along tho road, and settling tho lino. His policy was to open aa speedily as pmsiblo Buoh a oplondid country. Tho party woro much fitrack with tho strong resemblance of tho vogetation of tho Murimotn Plain with that on tho Otago Central. ThoMuriraotu Plains oro tho only poor country on tho railway routo. 'ihe party, visitin? Ruanui, wero much struck with the wide scopo and the "olendid country in the watersheds of tho Turakina, Wangaehn, and Wanganni Rivera. It is mostly capital forest land with rich Hoil, and useful timber very abundant, including white pine, totara, mairo, maitai. It is the large st primeval forest in tbo colony, affording work for tho mills for half a oentnry, all this tralfio drawing into tho Central Railway. At Karioi Station thero aro4o,ooo ahoep, and at Erewhon over 50,000, and on othors very largo numbers. All tho stock is in capital condition. Tho strangers in the party aro highly delighted with tho whole oountry, and are astonished at its extent and quality. On Monday tho party Btartfd for Waimarino. 20 miles distant. Leaving Karioi there were three milrs oloar, and then came six miles of bush. They camped at Ohakune, having travelled till nightfall through denso bush. It is good oountry, and splendid bush. The scenery was very fine, especially tho Gorge at Makakeko which wai really magniflaeut. The party saw a fine bolt of bush sloping down to tho Wanganui River. This is very good oountry from Ohaknno to Tautnaranui, 05 miles through Crown Landa, it being the Waimarino Block of 40,000 acres bought by Mr. Balance. On Tuesday tho party left for Taumaranui, riding nil the day through donso bush and soaking rain. They reached tho Wanganui Rivor beforo dark dronohed. Messrs. Maoarthnr, 8011, Christie Murray, and Lindaur stay at Taumaranui till the Ministers' return, and will then canoo down tho river. All the rest travelled to Porotaroa Tunnel, reaohing there on Wed. nesday night. On Thnrsday morning Dr. Newman rode to Te Kuiti, travelling thence to Auokland, the Ministers ridinj ai far as the Mokau Railway Station and back to tbo tunnel. To-morrow tho party ride back to Taumaranui. They oxpeot to reaoh Wanganni at midday on Tuesday. Tho whole trip has b?en very successful^ Tho average day's jonrney has been 27 milrs, over bad roads nnd largely over bush tracks. Very fow Maoris have been seen along tho routo. All looked very poor — almost squalid. This ia a wrotohod placo, and ruined whares line the road from Taumuranui to Mokau, through very poor open country, ohiefiy fern. There is a good deal of pumioo in On?aruhi "Valloy. The party greatly admired tbo nplendid totara forost, which is tho finest in the Waimarino Blook. The trees are very thiok and very tall, and this forest covers 700 acres, all big totara. All the party wore very much ploased with the trip, whioh has been unmarked, so far, by a single accident. Everyone is delighted at seeing now country evory day, but somewhat wearied with so niuoh bush riding. Thoy camped each night in Government huts or in tonts, slooping on the fern. Soveral horses were knocked np, but were roplaoed by fresh ones. The party is looking forward gleefully to lazily gliding down Wanganni River after suoh hard work. The party, with their paokhorses, is the largoat white cavalcade whioh has ever explored this conutry, and much tßtonished the Maoris. Tho country is astonishingly uninhabited. Tho Government surveys mako tracks throngli land where Maoris never darod to pouotrate, though now they are alwayß using tho Govornmont roads.

Four of the tcachors of tho Potono School aro laid up with influonza, and a largo number of tho children are alno absont for tho pamo reason. Tho Kov. Canon Howell arrived from tho Pouth this aftornoon to take tlie duties of St. Paul's Parish, Thorndon, for tho ensuing six months, during the absence of the incumbent, tho Key. Mr. Still. Inspector Thomson received a tolpgram at noon to-day to tho effect that a hoy named Shearer had his left arm taken off by tho scutoher at Dowman'a flazmill, Pahantara, near Feathorston, yesterday. Tho lad is now in the Groytown Hospital. Tho boy's parents, wo believe, reside in Wellington. There will be a practico at tho Onera House to-night of thoso who are taking part in the" Catholic concert to come off next Monday night. The long standing Bait of Stewart and Co. v. J. Goodfellow. in which the plaintiffs suo to recover i!!)l 19s 8d for timber, Ac. , supplied for a contract, was again before the Magistra' o's Conrt to-day. His Worship reserved decision until Monday next. A matoh will ho played to-morrow, on the Railway ground, between teams from the Sydenham and Clifton Football Clubs. The latter will bo represented by— Donnelly, Lridson, Burnett, Worth, Smith (2). Soffe, Kothonborg. Avory, Plimmer, Mouat, Crowe, Fibher, Lawlor, Mnnro. A vory plucky action, by which one boy Buvod anothor hoy's life, ba* just come to our knowledge, ai.d although tho incident happened last Monday wo haston to make it public. It appears that a party of ffve boyn, throe of them sons of Mr. A. GrimsloT.n, were out for a picnic at Wadestown. During tho afternoon Lionel Grimdtone, Mr. Grirnjtono's youngest son, a boy of 8 years old, was standing on a log which was lying clost? to tho bank of tho stream when the piece of timber turned over, and the boy fell over tho bank into the stream, which at that point was very deep. His companions, who were all nnablo to swim, wero paralysed with fear, a.nd could render no nirt, nnrl tho youngster wonld infallibly have bean drowned but for the prompt assistance rendered by a Jad named William Tobin, who was sitting on tho grass somo distance from the scene of the accident. This lad immediately ran to tho cAgo of tho stream, and, jumping into tho wator without hesitation, soon dragged young Grimstono to terra firma It wan arranged among tho boys that nothing should be said about tho affair, but it soon leaked out. Too great praiso cannot be given to littlo Tobin, who is only 13 years of age. Singularly enough both rescued and reaoucr attend tho Marist Brothers' School. The usual quarterly social meoting of the Star of Wellington Lodge of Good Templars was held in No, 11 room, Exchange Bnilding, last evening, Bro. W. Johnston, C.T., in the chair. A. long programme was gone through, consisting of songs, dnots, and recitations by Missea M'Nair, Mnrdock, and Tinnoy, Mrs. Bell, and Mr. C. Hale, Sistors D. Smith and A. Sawyer, Bros. C. Sawyer, T. Jones, Evens, Emborley, G. Eigarlsford, W. J. Weston, Nelson, and George Petherick. The overtures and accompaniments were played by Mr. Barlow in his usual efficient style. During the intorval tea, 4c, was handed round by the committee The meoting, which was well attended, was brought to a close with tho National Anthem. Townsend & Paul, grain, wood, and coal merchants, Adelaide-road, have had their promises connected with the Telephone Exchange Mr. Golledgo, of tho British Phrenological Association, will doliver the third of his course of lectnres to night in the Control Hall, Manners-street, and will deal with the subject of matrimony, among other things. This is the last but one of tho course. " Kennelman," a contributor to the Australasian, and who is considered tho best judge of fox torriprs in the colonies, writes in a very complimentary strain regarding two locally owned terriers— Harowood Safoty and Shelford Jack, belonging to Mr. Robert Triggs— in a recent issuo of tho journal named. Both dogs were shown at tbo recent show of the Kennel Club at tho Garrison Hall, Harewood Safety taking first prizo_ in the bitch class, and Shelford Jnck gaining thp championship for tho second time. In criticising the former " Kennelman " says: — " This grand littlo daughter of Now Forest Danger made her dchut in the puppy class at Wellington last year, and was afterwards exhibited in tho open class at the great Molbourno Exhibition Show, whoro aho was placed second to Melbourne Vixen previously mentioned. As a true model of stylo and type sho cannot be bosten, but when out last year sho was only a model, and wanted moro size and strength to compoto against Buoh a ono as her Melbourne opponent ; if, as I havo been informed, sho has largely grown and thickened, I shall expect to hear of hor doing great things this season. Even in her last year's form she can be taken as a rather diminutive sample of the truo stamp, and it will always bo a good ono that justly beats hor." Writing about Shelford Jack, the same authority remarks : " This son of Eiehmond Jack has a lot of his sire's style about him, and in general appearance he is nearer the true type than anything we have, being compact, yet strong, and of the right tize ; ho fails, however, in several points when taken piecemeal. For instance ho has similar faults to those mentioned in New Foreßt Danger in head, and is a trifle wide also in front, which will always bo against him as a high-class champion ; yet bis genoral good points and style will always mako him a dangerous opponent, and nothing bnt real flyers oan fairly beat him." Summing up a detailod oriticism of eleven of tho best known terriers in the colonies, " Konnolrnau" places Harewood Safety second in order of merit in tho class of bitches, and allots Shelford Jack the same distinctive position in dogs. Mr. Triggs has reason to be proud of his possessions. Mrs. Potter and Mr. Kyrlo Bellow were advertised to finish their season at the Prinoesa Theatre, Melbourne, last Saturday sight, whon they were to be suoceeded by Mr. J. L. Toolo, the English comedian. Tho change inaugurated at the beginning of tho year by which proprietors of refreshment room 3 at railway stations in and around Melbourne were not allowed to sell intoxicating liquors at their bars seems to have operated with some effect. A few weeks ago the lessee of the refreshment rooms at Flinders-street Btation threw up his lease, and tho Department advortised for fresh tenders, which were returnable on the 31st ult. When the tenders came to he opened it was found that not ono had been received for the lease of the rooms. A Wask worth storekeeper (R. H. Donso) writes as follows :— lt affords mo pleasure to tostify as to the curative properties of Bonshaw's Monarch of Pain, haying Been it tested on young and old for eolio, rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains, <fee &o. My customers speak hi? hly of its merits. — Advt. Far continuation oi reading matter toe fourth vaae.