FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FKOM " THE POST "

PURCHASE OF RAILWAYS

"The Premier, yesterday, mado a very important announcement in regard, to the course tho Government intended to take in regard to tho acquisition of tho five district railways, the Bill authorising their purchase having been thrown out by the Council," remarks "The Post" of this date fifty years ago. "Tho resolution given notice of by the Colonial Treasurer a few days ago would not be removed, but on Monday Sir Julius Vogel would movo that or. tho following day the House go into Committee Jo consider tho following resolution: —'That tho difficulties surrounding tho railways constructed under tho District .Railways Act, and tho hardships to which the ratepayers are subjected in connection therewith, aro such that this House considers that tho Government should seize a favourable} opportunity to enter into agreements to acquiro the said lines by lease and purchase, the cost not to exceed the value ascertained by a Court of Inquiry, presided over by a Judge of the Supreme Court, based on the actual cost at which, at tho time of construction, the railways could have been constructed, less tho depreciation and deterioration since construction from a reduction in tho market value of materials and wear and tear, plus any amounts the company owners of tho said railways have-been or may be authorised to levy on the ratepayers up to March 31 last; it being mado a condition that all proceedings against ratepayers shall be stopped, and all amounts received from ratepayers returned to them. The Government to have tho option, up to one week after the next session of- Parliament, to pay for the railways by 4 per cent, rent-purchase bonds, or by a payment of due-third in cash; the balance to bear 4 per cent, interest and to be .paid in four equal annual instalments. The Government next session, in the event of such agreement, to introduce a Bill to make tho ratepayers liable for one-half of any amount short of -i: per cent, which the railways yield after paying working expenses, plus the cost of raising the rates.' Mr. Bryce characterised this resolution as a most unprecedented one, involving constitutional questions of a startling character, and he urged that it should bo discussed in the House, a course to which the Premier apparently had no objection. There will evidently bo a warm debate over the matter." FROZEN MEAT TKADE. "The recent advance in the prico of .New Zealand frozen mutton in England has no doubt inspired those engaged in tho trade on this side of tho oceau with fresh hope. It is evident, however, that if tho trade is to become established as a permanent success it will have to be conducted in a much more systematic manner than it has been heretofore. It will not do to send shipload after shipload of meat to arrive in London almost simultaneously, in tho hottest season, and at a time when English mutton is always cheapest and most plentiful. Neither will it do to leave tho market bare of New Zealand mutton when, as autumn grows, the supply of English grass-fed mutton decreases, and the price naturally rises. Kvcr since tho trade was inaugurated the price of New Zealand meat has been low in June, July, and August, and has improved-thence up to Christmas. The English buyers naturally prefer the ■Homo, article if they can get it, and the English farmers during the summer months place in tho market all the mutton they have been able to grow and fatten on the spring feed. When this supply begins to fail, consumers are glad to fall back upon the imported frozen moat, and the price rises. These facts naturally suggest the propriety of shippers so timing their cargoes as to avoid as far as possible landing-them in London during the summer months, and arranging to keep up a constant supply during the autumn and winter months. This, however, is just what has not been done heretofore. Our "Wellington refrigeration establishments have actually been idle for some time past, just at the very period when they should have been-most active in preparing meat for the autumn and winter market in London. This should not be the case, and it is hopeless to think of a trade so managed turning out a very profitable one." THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT. "The release of the Tichborne claimant, news of which was cabled yesterday, makes another important stage in the history of one of the most extraordinary cases ever known. A brief record of the sequence of events connected with it may not bo without interest, for although everyone knows something about the claimant, a new generation has grown up Hincc the-wonderful trials connected with the case were the chief, almost the only, topic of conversation in all English-speaking communities. Roger Charles Tichborne, son of Sir James Tiehborne, Bart., was born in 1829, and entered the Army in 1849. In 1853, having been refused by his cousin, he left Havre for Valparaiso, and in the following year he left Bio do Janeiro in the brig Bella which was supposed to have been lost at sea with all hands. The fact of his death was legally established by a chancery suit, but his mother absolutely refused to believe that he was dead, and in 18G5 she advertised for information concerning him. In 180G tho claimant was discovered at AVagga Wagga, in Australia., and asserted that he was Tichborne, and that he and eight others had been saved from tho Bella and brought to Australia where he had lived for 13 years under the name of Castro. He claimed tho Tichborne estates, went Home, and was acknowledged as her son by the Dowager Lady Tichborno. None of the rest of tho family, however, acknowledged him or recognised him. The claimant started a chancery suit. Tho trial lasted 103 days, the Attorney-General, for the defendants, speaking for 26 days. The plaintiff claimant wns nonsuited, the cost of the trial, which was £92,000, being paid out of the estates. Tichborne, alias Castro, was then arrested on charges of perjury and forgery. Tho case for the prosecution lasted from April 23 until July 10, and on its 124 th day the en so for tho defence closed, and then there was rebutting evidence. Counsel's .speech for the defence lasted from December 2 to January 14, 1874, and (he reply from the Crown from January' 13 to 28. The Chief Juslice's summing-up'lasted from January :_'S to I'Vbrunry 28, and on tho latter .lay, this, the longest criminal trial rm record, terminated with . a verdict or; guilty. Tho sentence was one of '] I years' imprisonment with hard labour, and this was afterwards confirmed, on appeal, by the House of Lords. Since that time the claimant has been in paol, but has never for one moment fullered in the assertioi that he is really Roger Charles Tiehborne, and there are still a great many people who believe that ho is that person. The mystery will probably never be fully cleared up. His 14 years' sentence has been reduced to a little over ten vefirs by good behaviour, and once 'more he: is a free man. What will follow his release remains fo bo seen. A number of addresses are being propared for presentation to the claimant, and we should not bo surprised if some moro strange phases of this great romance of real life will yet present themselves."