Evening Post. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1894. NELSON AND THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 67, 17 September 1894, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1894. NELSON AND THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Sleepy Hollow is sleepy no longer. It haß shaken off somnolence, and risen from its slumbers like a giant refreshed. It is very wide awake indeed just now, and is apparontly determined to mako the Ministry, tho House, the colony, and the Midland Railway Company open their eyes also. The cause of tho awakening is the proposed revision of the Midland Railway contract, by which Nelson will bo cut out of tho contract, and left in its prasont isolated position bo far as railway communication with the rest of tho colony is concerned. Tho Nelson people strongly object to this, and a deputation of two — Messrs. Trask and Baiqent — has come over to try and plead the local cause. This is o distinctly peaceful deputation, and as such may bo welcomed. It at one time seemed as if a deputation of another kind was contemplated , in whioh caso it might have been necessary to call out tho Defence Force to protect Ministers and Parliament from the force of NeUon's wrath. There was a meeting in that City on Thursday night, when some very tall talking was indulged in, and the sending of a deputation in foroe, and of numbers sufficient to ovorawe the House, was Btrongly urged. One of the , speakers who urged that a largo deputation should bo sent, openly avowed that "he would not,even stop short of breaking the law in a mild form" to carry the point at issue. Fortunately for tho peace of the colony and the safety of our Constitution, theso bellicose viowb did not prevail, and there is no danger to the State involved in the presence here of Mr. Trask and Mr. Baigent, even though Mr. Trask informed the meeting that " the Premier had assured him that no action on his part would make any difference in their private friendship." It is indeed consoling to know this, for the friendship of Messrs. Skddon and Trask, it is known, throws that of Damon and Fy'ihias quite into the shade. Messrs. Trask and Baiqent want to compel all parties to carry out the original Midland Railway contraot in its integrity. We fear their task is an absolutely hopeless one. The Midland Railway Com- j pany cannot carry out the original contract. It has not the means at its command to do so. Tho money is not available, and oannot be raised, for constructing the unprofitable Nelson section of the railway. The Government does not hold securities to enforce the contract in its original termß, and even if it had, seenrity could not enforce it, because the colony haa itself broken that contract in a variety of ways, and given the Company ample grounds of action for breach of contract. Tho enforcement of the original contract is absolutely impossible, and no new contract to include the Nelson section could possibly bo negotiated. All that is left therefore to Nelson, is to accept its fate with such protest or resignation as may seem best, or to act the part of the dog in the manger, and use such influence as it has to prevent the East and West Coast line being completed if the Nelson line is thrown over. .Possibly, although not probably, Nelson influence might sneceed in doing this, but certainly the interests of Nolson would be in no way advanced by its being done. They might even suffer in other ways. Although wo strongly object to money being wasted in making a railway whioh could never pay for the grease on the wheels, we are inclined to Bonie extent to sympathise with tho way in which Nelson has been made use of in this Midland Railway business. We doubt whether there over was any real intention on any hand to complete the preposterous line which was included in the contraot to bribe Nelson into supporting the scheme. A considerable sum of money has been spent to save appearances, and as a sop to Nelson, but it has been quite thrown away, and the extension of line now proposed under tho new contract will be equally unproductive of good results. It will be of little or no use to Nelson, tho Company, or the colony. It is of course galling to Nelson to find itself now thrown over, but it should have been wiser than to have beea bought for_ such a price. The whole Midland Railway scheme was an exceedingly bad one. It should never have been entered on by the colony. We opposed itfrom the first, if it involved any responsibility to the colony. If the land affected would pay the cost of tho railway, well and good ; but the colony should not have bsen committed to a risk of a penny to get even the coast-to-coast line constructed. Tho colony has, however, been most unwisely and improperly committed to a great and grave responsibility. The present Government haß so committed it to an enormous extent, and the only thing now to do is to get tho colony out of tho mess as cheaply aB possible. This, we beliovo, will be done by accepting the new contraot. Tn any oaso tho Nelson line must be thrown overboard. Unfortunately, it iB too late to treat the whole project in the same way. The colony is committed to the transinsular line to connect the East and West Coasts, and the new contract omitting tho Nelson section offers tho means of reducing the liability of the colony to a minimum. We fear that the eloquence of Messrs. Trapk and Baigent will fail to convince anyono that tho Nolson lino can bo prudently or properly included in the new contraot. It is somewhat singular, but by no means inopportune, that a striking story of Bank absorption in a neighbouring colony should have been made publio while the quostion of Bank amalgamation is tinder consideration here. A good deal of instruction may be derived from the history given by the Chairman of the Union Bank of Australia, as to tho incidents connected with the taking over by that Bank of the liabilities and assets of tho Bank of South Australia. There is absolutely no similarity in procodure between what was done there and what is proposed to bo done here. There was no pretence of amalgamation there. Tho local Bank went into liquidation. Tho Union Bank purchased its business on certain terms of valuation. The carrying out of theso terms, and the result of 'the valuation, shows that the shareholders of the local Bank have to make good a deficiency by means of a call. This oall the liquidators aro unwilling to make. That, in a nutshell, is the South Australian story. It will be seen that the shareholders of the local Bank acquired no interest in the Bank which, on conditions, acquired their business. They had apparently lost everything when the Bank went into liquidation, and were liable for still furthor sums, which liability continued to attach to them after the conditional transfer of both assets and liabilities to the purchasing Bank. Such a transaction, of course, cannot admit of comparison with what is proposed here, whore the Bohemo includes a union of the capital and interests of the shareholders in the two contracting Banks, and whore there is no intervention of official liquidators on either side. The New Zealand scheme is one of fair amalgamation between two going concerns — the Anstralian transaction was the absorption by purchase by one Bank of the business of another Bank, which was already in liquidation. But although comparison is impossible, instruction may be gained, and a very little reflection is needed to show how preferable in the publio interest it must be that two suoh institutions as the Colonial Bank and the Bank of New Zealand should be amalgamated, their shareholders, capital, and business being united, than that either Bhould go into liquidation and allow the other to absorb its business only. The termß of the agreement como to will provide equally as well as those in South Australia for a virtual liquidation of the bad business on oitbor side, while at the same time they render absolutely impossible the recurrence of suoh difficulties aB have arisen between the Union Bank and the shareholders of the Bank of South Australia. The Bank of New Zealand is not. under the proposed Boheme, buying the businoss of an insolvent bank, but is greatly strengthening itself by union on just and equal terms with another fairly prosperous institution. A report of the annual general meeting of the Union Bank of Australia (Limited), and sporting news, will be found on the fourth page. A number of letters to the Editor are unavoidably held over. A slight shook of earthquake was felt in town yesterday at 0.35 p.m. The direction was from east to weßt. The Countess of Glasgow, who has been on a visit to Great Britain, returned last evening. Her Ladyahip, who oame down from Onehunga by the Hinemoa, was met by His Excellency the Governor and the Premier. Captain Campbell-Preston, the new A.D.C., and Miss Thurston, daughter of the Governor of Fiji, arrived in Wellington by the same vessel. The Publio Works -Department has at ength re-covered the floor of the Magistrate's Court — this time with a new material called felt oarpet. His Grace Arohbishop Redwood preached yesterday at Petone. After morning service he held a meeting and arranged most satisfactorily to begin the new churoh and sohools at once. H.M.S. Curacoa is oxpeoted to be replaced in Australian waters by H.M.S. Pyladeß, a warship similar in construction and tonnatre to H M.S. Rapid. Tho Union Clothing Company and Messrs. . King, H. and J. Crespin, and H. and J. Baillie, have promised donations in aid of the Bports on Eight Hours Day. Walter Walsh, junr., Petone, carter, who was adjudged bankrupt last week, sets down his total liabilities at £15, whilst his only available asset is a book debt of JEl lßs. G. W. Smart, pawnbroker, ia the scoured creditor, under a bailment on furniture for £lh. The debtor attributes bis position, to Bcarqity of work, sickness in his family, and pressure on the part of a creditor. '

Discussing the amalgamation proposals, the Dtmedm Evening Star says :—": — " If such a scheme as that now formulated can be carried out, a powerful banking institution will be established, and the colony relieved from the uncertainty surrounding the Bank of New Zealand by the attachment of the Estates Company to that Institution. Clause 4 of the agreement states that the principal Executive Officers of the new Bank ahall include joint general managers. The names of the gentlemen who have been selected to fill theie posts have already been announced in these columns, and been received in financial and commercial circles with a good deal of satisfaction. It may, we think, bo assnmed that tho new Board, acting on the advice of Messrs. Henry M'Kenzie (Colonial) and J. N. Bntt(New Zealand), will take care that the amalgamation of Btaffs shall be undertaken as equitably as the new conditions allow. There must of necessity be a weeding out, but it n to be hoped that in the process as little individual hardship as possible will be inflicted." " One on the Drainage Works " writes us as follows :— " A motion has been before the City Council to stop payment for holidays, excepting Christmas and Good Friday. Now, sir, I, as one of the workmen on tho drainage, was under the impression that as the City Council paid a shilling per day less than contractors it was simply as a set-off against the holidays. I trust the present rule may still hold good, viz.*, 7s per day, with usual holidays, or 8a per day if the holidays are done away with " If the facts are as our correspondent represents them, it is certainly nnjust that the usual holidays should now be interfered with. An able and interesting lecture on " Liberalism— True and False," was delivered in the Rechabite Hall on Saturday night by Sir Robert Stout in connection with the Forward Movement The Rev. C. H. Bradbury was in tbo chair. A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer, and a similar compliment was paid to the chairman. Tho Bontley season at the Opera House terminated on Saturday night with another performance of " Friends." The company left for Blenheim to-day. The chorus and orchestra of the Musical Festival are notified that the rehearsal thia evening will be held in the Exchange Hall, aa Thomas' Hall is not available. The workß required will be the " Lobgesang " and " The Spectre's Bride." Rehearsals of " The Mikado " are advertised for to-night and to-morrow night. Wo remind our readers of the address on " Carlylo and Ruakin on Political Economy," by Mr. J. Gifford, M.A., and dUcuasion, at the Citizen's Institute* tonight. Tho Petono Debating Society notifies a discussion on tho question of "A State Bank " to-morrow evening, alßo an alteration in dates of meetings. The largest quantity of prints and washing costume novelties ever opened by Warnoek and Adkin is now on view at Thorndon House. Hyde and Co. advertise that they have just landed a big stock of fishing tackle, cricketing, tennis, golf, and billiard goods, and tobacconists' sundries. Pranciß Sidey and Co. sell to-morrow, at their rooms, at 2.30 p.m., several building allotments and freehold cottage property, without reserve, to wind up estate accounts. W. P. Shortt will sell to-morrow, furniture and sundries. Among the many spring and summer novelties now being shown at To Aro House may bo seen a wonderful display of sunshades. Tho charm of these goods is enhanced by the fact that they are extremely inexpensive. A very protty shot silk parasol may bo obtained for 3s lid ; parasols with frilled edges, parasols with gilt ribs, parasols trimmed with lace and with lace insertion, are only marked Gs lid at Te Aro Houao. GLOTEd are almost, if not quite, the most important item in an effeotivo toilet. A magnificent selection may now bo obtained, from the fine lisle thread summer glove at 6d per pair, or tho tan or black taffeta, with irresistible tips, st BJd, to tho beat makes of French and English kid, in tho newest shades and colours, at To Aro House. In view of the great popularity of lace aa a trimming this season, ladies should not fail to inspect the wonderful stock at Te Aro House. There are Normandy, guipure, Irish point, and blonde laces, in white, cream, and two tones, from 3Jd to 2a 6d per yird ; real Maltese, from 9Jd ; real Torchon, from 2s 6d to 183 per dozen ; and an infinite variety of every other make, at Te Aro House. — Advt. A very useful little article has jnst been introduced by Messrs. Wilkins & Field, of Manners-street. It is a skeleton frame for holding empty kerosene tins, and thus converting them into buckets. When tho kerosene tin is emptied the top is cut out, and it is then simply dropped into the flat iron frame or holder, which has a round iron handle to carry by, and it thus becomes a Btrong and usoful bucket, which will bo found very handy about the house, garden, stable, or farm. Messrs. Wilkins & Field have the sole right to manufacture and sell this invention. Tho retail prico iB Is each. — Advt.

There are now (Captain Edwin advises us) strong evidences that there is low pressure to the westward, and that hard gales generally from the northward, and with rain, may be expected in most parts of the country between noon on the 20th and midnight on the 22nd inst. In opening the annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Aria on Saturday afternoon, His Excellency the Governor (who had been received on arrival by Sir James Prendergast, Mr. C. D. Barraud, President, and the members of the Council) said that though he could not pretend to be an art critic, he certainly con» sidered that the paintings exhibited this year showed avast improvement on.tho3o of former exhibitions. There was greater breadth of feeling and more delicate treatment than hitherto. Nor should this be a matter for surprise, for New Zealand had the most beautiful ekies that any artist in tho world could desire. Hia Excellency then declared the exhibition open. Mr. C. D. Barraud thanked His Excellency for being present, and read a letter from Miss Holmes presenting two pictures to the Academy, to which the had always been a good friend. He proposed a hoarty vote of thanks to Miss Holmes for her donations. This concluded the formal proceedings. About 11 o'clock on Saturday night a fire was discovered on the premises on Waterlooquay jointly occupied by Messrs. Dymock 8r05.., bacon curera, and Mr. John li. Morgan, butter merchant. The Fire Brigade was soon on the spot, and experienced little difficulty in suppressing the flames. Ihe fire originated in tho boilerhouse, and had spread to the main building before the Brigade was able to be present. The buildings and the greater part of the machinery in it aro owned by Mr. John Kirkcaldie. and are insured in the Commercial Union for and .£BOO respectively, the total amount of the damage to his property being .£IOO. Messrs. Dymock's stock of hams and bacon was damaged to the extent of X2OO. The insurances on it are as follows : — Liverpool, London, and Globe, .£IOO ; Victoria, £200 ; Royal, .£IOO. An addition to the main building was recently put up by Mr. John R. Morgan, and it and a butter refrigerator are covered by a policy of .£350 in the National Insurance Company. His loss is estimated at £5. The fire is supposed to have been caused by the ignition of some bags of sawdust which had been plaoed on the boiler to dry. _ Mr. W. A, Varnham, well known in this city in connection with the business side of newspaper life, has become joint proprietor with Mr. W.F. Roydhouso of the Wairarapa Standard. We wish the firm all possible Buccess. Seven candidates wore nominated on Saturday for the Johnsonville Town Board — Messrs. M. Atkinson, E. G. M. Corlett, W. D. Dawson, G. Lambert, Jas. Moore, J. Rod, and J. Rickards A poll for the election of five will take place next Saturday. The Government steamer Hinemoa returned from her visit to the Northern lighthouses last night, after an absence of nearly three weeks, during which a distance of 2084 miles has been oovered. A Bteam launch formerly employed in harbour work at Kaipara was towed down. Her work is to be done by private contract, and sho will be employed for Burvey purposos in Cook Strait. A number of lighthouse keepers under transfer also came down. The weather during the trip was unusually bad. The stock brought out from Home by tho s.s. Pakeha for Mr. J. Stuckey, of the Wairarapa, consisting of a Hereford bull and a Southdown ram, were taken over to Somes Island by the Duco thin morning for the usual quarantine detention. They are in excellent condition) and Air. Stuckey ascribes great credit to the man (one of his own emplyds) in whoso charge they wero during the voyage. News comes from Home that Captain Charles Whymper, formerly of the s.s Duke of Sutherland, is now London manager of the British Anti-Fouling Composition and Paint Company, Limited. The mortal remains of the late Mr. Henry Collett, who was one of Wellington's old identities, were interred in St. James' churchyard, Lower Hutt, on Saturday afternoon, a large number of relatives and friends attending. The Rev. J Jones officiated at the grave. Amongst the mourners was the Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt, a very old friend of the deceased. Wreaths were sent by the Mayor and Mayoress of the Hutt (Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Fitzherbert), the employes of the firm of Collett Bros., and many others. Three first - offending drunkards were punished by Mr. Martin in the Magistrate's Court to-day, and Albert Hurd and Richard Williams were fined 10s each, or 48 hours' incarceration, for drunkenness. This was all the criminal business. Mr. A. Matthews, the well-known Romney Marsh breeder, of the Wairarapa, has just received advice that Mr. C. Elgar has purchased for him in England six pure-bred Romney stud ewes, first prize winners at the Canterbury (or Royal Counties), the Royal (at Cambridge), and the Tunbridge Wells Shows. Three were bred by Finn and three by File, and all were exhibited at the three shows. Finn's were first at the first two shows, and File's beat them at Tunbridge Wells. The introduction of such high-class sheep should be hailed with satisfaction by all interested in the breeding of Romneys. The Queen's Drive Committee visited the works on Saturday, and decided, as a matter of safety to the public, to widen the road in the neighbourhood of the Hermit's Cave. This will necessitate about 3ft of the entrance of the recluse's retreat being cut down. Judgment for plaintiffs in the Magistrate's Court to-day was entered up by Mr. Martin, S.M., in the following undefended cases :— Levi & Bolton v. Patrick Mcllroy, claim £20 10s, judgment for £5 13s 6d ; E. A. Hoad v. H. Chester, £121 4s 6d ; J. W. Hope v. Mrs. Fraser, 19s; M. Mackay v. T. H. Garbutt, £1 16s 3d : E. J. Montor v. J. H. Stott, £3 15s. Sheepfarmers in the Pahautanui district will be glad to learn that the ferocious wild pig known as " The King of the Forest " has at last been put to death. For the last seven years this huge brute, which stood about 4ft high, has been roaming over the settlers' runs devouring the young lambs, and has even been known to kill large sheep. On many occasions it has been hunted by the settlers, but it would never stop for dogs, and what dogs did lay hold of it were dangerously wounded by the brute. Poison was also tried, but without effect— hence his name. On Tuesday last one of the Bradey brothers, in crossing their run, saw this animal catching and devouring the young lambs. Mr. Bradey returned home and informed the other brothers, who immediately set out armed with rifles and dogs, determined to capture the pig. They surrounded him, and it was not till after two or three shots had been fired, and one of the dogs had been badly wounded by the pig, that Mr. F. Bradey, jun., made a splendid shot as the brute was disappearing over the hill, which brought him to the ground. News has been reoeived by the San Franoisoo_ mail that Mr. F. A. King, the young Wellington violinist now in London, who succeeded in taking the bronze medal of the Royal Academy of Musio, London, for 1893, this year won the Diploma for the Degree of Associate of the London College of Violinists, whioh was instituted in 1890, and is fast gaining note in the musical world in London. The College of Violinists is the prinoipal institution organised for the purpose of examining and granting diplomas to performers upon stringed instruments. It has the support of many of the greatest professors at Home and abroad. The examiners are selected from the leading professors of the instrument, and are gentlemen of acknowledged standing in tho musical world, including Sarasati, Chas. Dancla, Guido Papini, Berthold Tours, J. J. Carrodus, and Polonaski. Herr Hans Sitt, of Leipsio Conservatoire, has lately become one of its patrons. Mr. King iB now entitled to aflix the letters A.L.C.V. to his name He returns to New Zealand at Christmas 1895. Mr. Bonner (son of Mr. Bonner, chief officer of the Waihi), who was second officer of the brigantine J. C. Hamlin, is now third officer of the s.s. Indian Prince, employed in the American trade. The Trades Counoil held its weekly meeting on Saturday evening, Mr. Allan Ward (President) in the chair. Messrs. D. P. Fisher and W. Mills were appointed to give evidence before the Labour Bills Parliamentary Committee. The Committee appointed to wait upon the non - affiliated unions reported that the interview with the Coachmakers' Society had resulted satisfactorily, but that the Cabinetmakers' Union had deferred giving a decided answer until the Society was firmly established. From the annual report which was read, it appeared the work of the Council had been very heavy, and had resulted, there was every reason to beliove, to the satisfaction of the unions affiliated, while it had tended to the public entertaining confidence in the Council. The Council now consisted of six affiliated unions, with a total membership of over 500. The report, which was adopted, concluded by expressing the hope that before long the remainder of the non-affiliated unions would join. It was resolved that the delegates from the Tailoresses Union, should attend the next meeting of the Union, with a view to endeavour to remove the apathy which was stated to exist amongst the members. There was a large audience present at the Criterion Theatre on Saturday night, when the Fredo children, Bubble and Lar, took a benefit. A capital programme was presented, the Roselle Surprise Party and others lending aid. The Petone Band, under Bandmaster Knight, played selections on the Esplanade yesterday afternoon, and attracted a considerable gathering. The inmates of the Home for the Aged Needy received a visit on Saturday evening from the Old Virginny Minstrels, who repeated for the old people's entertainment the minstrel part of the concert lately given for the benefit of the Home. The performance was hugely enjoyed, and not less so was an impromptu dance afterwards held by the inmates and sundry visitors. At the close of the evening cheers were given for the Minstrels, and also for Mr. and Mrs. Short (Superintendent and Matron) and Mr. Powles (Secretary). The Superintendent and Matron request us to record their and their charges' thanks to their entertainers. The annual meetings in connection with the Wesleyan Home Mission will be held in Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, to-morrow evening, and in the other Wesleyan churches on Wednesday and Thursday. Three European missionaries and five native ministers are employed, and 22 circuits are helped, from the fund. The totalincome last year was £2226, towards which Wellington contributed £158. The expenditure was £2607. Wellington is assessed this year at £l50. The Newbury-Spada company gave the last of its series of secular concerts in the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. Last night the company, with the exception of Mr. Philip Newbury, who was too ill to appear, and whose place was taken by Mr. Prouse, gave a sacred concert in the Opera House, every seat being occupied,