The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1879.

Evening Star, Issue 5230, 9 December 1879, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1879.

In our issue of Saturday avo directed attention to the report of a select committee of the House of Commons in 1878 on the subject of tramways, and demonstrated from this document that the opinion of the Committee, based on the expert evidence taken, was entirely in favor of the use of steam in preference to horse traction. We further quoted a portion of the evidence given by Major-Ceucral Hutchison, C.E., the Board of Trade Inspector of Railways and Tramways, which is interesting and to the point. We now propose to comment briefly on the evidence of some of the other witnesses who were examined, who, from their position and specific knowledge, may be taken to speak with undoubted authority. Mr W. Lystkb Holt holds the position of “Lr Directeur el Vlnyinleur-en-Chef de fa truHion a Vapeur ” in Paris, equivalent in English to “ General Manager and Kagineer-in-Chief of the steam traffic,” and having had considerable experience with regard to tramways, extending over many years, was examined at considerable length and with close attention to detrail. Mr Hour, inter alia, deposed that mechanical power had been used on the tramways in Paris for about two years, and during the whole of that period there had only been one serious accident, which occurred in consequence of an omnibus coming from a side street at a very fast pace colliding with the tram-car, and so being overturned. He declared the opinion from his whole experience that there was far less liability to acccident on a tramway system where mechanical power was used than where horses are employed. It is far more under control, and if brakes on the carriages as well as on the engine are insisted the liability is still further reduced, because frequently the loaded carriages weigh heavier than the engine. He did not think it was 1 necessary for the public safety to advocate any restrictions as to the width of the streets along which a steam tramway system should run, because he held the opinion most decisively that the driver of an engine on a tramway has far more control over it than, the driver on a horse tramway. Neither by light ner day did he consider that there ia any greater danger to ordinary traffic in steam tramways than in ordinary horse tramways or vehicles. So much approved Mr Holt told the Committee is steam traction in France, that the Minister of Public Works was at that date about to bring forward a projet de loi to subsidise tramways all over the country on condition that ateam-power was used. Mr George Hoekins, engineer of the North Metropolitan, tho Liverpool, the Dublin, and other large tramway companies, being asked to summarise the advantages which he thought would accrue from the use of steam-power- on tramways, replied in effect that the tram-lines can bo laid on roads with very bad gradients, where, with animal power, they w\mld not be workable. In the case of irregular traffic the steam system would be of. very great advantage, because no tramway company can keep up a staff of men and % stud of horses to provide for traffic which comes in rushes ; whereas with power to use steam they could accommodate that traffic. In winter the advantage would be great, particularly in case of snow and frost, -when it is almost impossible to keep *iho grooves of the rails clear from frozen vnud, and the work for horses is very severe indeed. The engine would help to clcr*v the rails, or, by running over, would compress the mud in the grooves. With horses the strain ia tremendous. Not the le ast of the advantages arising from tho use >of steam is the prevention of cruelty to 'horses, who suffer greatly from the excessive draught during the winter. The estimated life of a tram-horse is put down by experts at only four years. In another portion of his examination, being questioned -with regard to tho width of streets alonp; which tram-lines might safely be laid, Mr Horims referred to the Vale of Clyde tramway as a notable example of the safety with which the system may ho conducted under what might be considered unfavorahio circumstances. “We have,” he said, a double line working there with steam, «od the whole of that road, throughout if s length, is only 30ft in width. It is a suburb of Glasgow, very much built upon, and enormous vehicles arc coming from the different works, armor plates and castings, boiler plates, ships’ rudders, and all sorts of things. There ia, besides, a rapid street traffic.” This evidence of Mr Hopkins, it may he noted, ia very much to the point as regaa-ds the local circumstances of the tramway system proposed for this City and suburbs ; and we would especially direct the attention of the residents on the Flat to the Vale of Clyde tramway, running with a double line in a street 30ft from kerb to kerb. Dr Alexander Wood, tho chairman of the Edinburgh Tramway Company, at the commencement of his evidence gave a very interesting sketch of the initiation of tramways in "Edinburgh, which was owing to the necessity found to exist of providing a remedy for the enormous overcrowding of the population. The best plan amongst many suggested, was thought to bo the spreading the town out, and bringing all parts together by tram accommodation. With regard to traction power, the width of the streets, and other cognate matters, Dr Wood deposed to the effect that ho was altogether favorable to tho use of steam—one advantage being that the care can bo run at certain hours when they are in great demand, and laid aside when not wanted: whereas, horses in this employment are sure ** b e a t times idle, at other times much overworked. He “ would lay great stress on the preveutien of cruelty to animals ” by the use of steam traction. From his experience of the engines he was satisfied that they can stop within a shorter distance than horses. “ They are under control; horses have wills cf their own, Imfc an engine can have no will of its own.” Tram-cars being allowed to run through narrow streets (in Edinburgh). “They are safer with steam than with horses. Von might limit the speed if you thought it would lessen the danger; but holding, as 1 do, that steam is quite as safe as horses, I do not sec that tram-cars being now allowed to run through uarrow streets should bo forhidden, because they arc drawn by steam instead of horses.” The narrowest street in Edinburgh in which a tramway is laid down is Salisbury place—-21ft from kerb to kerb, Clinton road is only 23ft. The steepest gradient is 1 in 13. Dr Jamku Barbas, a Doctor of Medicine, living at Govan, ncr Glasgow, gave evidence of a very precise character with regard to Dm Vale of Clyde tramway, which, ho eta,ted, paasi-d bin doc and was constantly made use of by him. Tho street or road along which it runs is, he says, a populous street, the average width of which is 30ft Biu from kerb to kerb. The line is throughout a double one. From whet ho had seen of tho working of this tramway, ho considered that steam traction was far preferable to horse traction. Our limited rqjacc has precluded giving more than a cursory stretch of the report oi and evidence taken before the Selcm; Committee of the House of Commoup. We hope wc have said enough at all evi tils to induce people not to be in a hurry to condemn tho system of steam traction, which has commended itself , to so high an authority, simoly because certain members of the City Council choose tu di-iplay li‘ iU igUi’lT.ncc Mil coicj|‘m iimiG', (,m ’ the .Mill jc. t. 1

Wo have received a bundle of Parliamentary papers from the Government Printer, Wellington, We. hear that Mr Crumble, Into nine r m the City tramways, hast been appointed go >ds manager at die Dunedin railway .station iu the place of Mr Norman, resigned. Mr W. D, .Stewart, yesterday telegraphed as follows to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce : —“Debtois and Creditors Amendment P.ill passed in committee, but may be discussed at third reading, or a new amendment proposed, Hill will not be overlooked.” I

The teachers selected by the Dunedin School Committee for the George street school are Mr D. M'Nicoll (ncard-maxler), Miss Jane Pratt (matron), Mr W. Bennett (second-master). From Sydney files we learn that Captain Hutchinson’s sentence was three years’ hard labor, not two as before stated. The Judge said he had ascertained that the prisoner’s military career had not been creditable. The district schools’ holidays will commence on the I2th inst., and the vacation will extend till January 26, on which day the schools will be re-opened. The alteration from the usual time has been made in order to allow the pupil-teachers to attend the examinations. The Junior Civil Service examination was conducted at the Education Office to-day by Mr P. G. Pryde. Thirteen candidates presented themselves in this division, while in the senior, wlrch will commence to-morrow, only two arc announced as coming forward. The. result of this examination will be published when the papers have been marked. To-day’s ‘North Otago Times’ says : “ At a meeting of the Oamaru Jockey Club on Saturday night it was decided to agree to the request of an applicant asking permission to use a totalisator in the paddock on the race days. What will that industrious and hard-working body called the ‘ talent ’ say to this innovation ? ” The monthly inspection of the City Guards last evening was attended by 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 1 bugler, and 35 rank and file ; of the Cadetj—l captain, 1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, and 24 rank and file. The acting adjutant for the month, Sub-Lieutenant Matthews, of the No. 1 Wakari Rifles, assisted by Staff Sergeant Blackmore, inspected the Company. An influential Maori chief, Hatiwera by name, was (says the ‘ Hawke’s Ray Herald ’) last week arrested at Whakariki, on a warrant for debt issued by the Gisborne Bench. On his way down the Natives at each settlement held a (anx/i over him, and Werimu Kuhi, a chief of Waiapu, tried hard to persuade Hatiwera to resist. Hatiwera replied that be had promised to submit to the law, and bo meant to keep his word, and set a good example to the Maoris in the district. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before MrW. L. Simpson, R.M., the adjourned case of Moss Moss v, John G. Harboron was gone on with and His Worship allowed the defendant two months within which to liquidate the debt, The only other case heard was that of Allan Boyd v. Boyd and Lees, in whicl. L6!> 8s was claimed for the wrongful conversion of certain goods. Mr Mouat appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Macassey for the defendants. After evidence had been heard, judgment was reserved. At the City Police Court this morning, before Mr J. Logan, J.P., Nicholas Edwards was fined 40s, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment, for drukenness ; a charge of a like nature against a female was withdrawn. John Walker was charged with being illegally on the premises of James Allan, Maitland street, at 11.40 last night. Prisoner had got through the window of the house, and had got into bed alongside a child. When remonstrated with he coolly got up and bolted down the street; but chase being given he was overtaken near the Imperial Hotel and handed over to the police. He was sent to gaol for two months. Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, Auditor-General, attended a meeting at the Criterion Hotel this morning for the purpose of adjusting claims between the Taieri County Council and municipalities which had formerly formed part thereof, Messrs Rutherford and Bridgman represented Caversham; Messrs Nicholson and Barr, Moruington j Messrs Wales and Begg, Roslyn. Messrs E. C, Strode, solicitor, and Douglas, clerk, appeared on behalf of the Taieri County Council. Mr Fitzgerald found that according to the last balance-sheet the municipalities were indebted to the County, whereupon Mr Strode agreed to withdraw any claim. At the Dunedin Athenaeum Committee’s monthly meeting, last evening, there were present—Messrs Denniston (in the chair), Logan, Lubecki, Bracken, Webb, Hay, Montgomery, Garrick, street, Whitson, and Dr M'Donald. Three recommendations made by Mr W. F. Hewlett, in the suggestion book were read, and it was decided not to take any notice of them. The librarian was instructed to devote himself wholly to the re-organisation of the catalogue, and it was decided to procure him additional assistance. while lie is thus engaged. Mr Carrick reported that a fountain for the institution could be procured for LI 3 13s, and the matter Avas referred to a sub-committee. The ‘ Southland Times ’ reports that on Saturday last, as Mr James Colyer was riding over his property on the opposite side of the Bluff Harbor, he discovered the body of a man in an advanced state of decomposition on Gravelly Point, Awarua Bay. There is little doubt that the body is that of a sailor belonging to the barque Cekeno, who fell over from the wharf and was never found, though the police dragged the spot repeatedly. Constable Coffey, on receiving information of the finding of the body, brought it across the bay and placed it in a shed on the wharf to await an inquest. A fishing boat, containing two men, capsized off Fern Bay, Lyttelton, in one of the sudden N.E. squalls which prevailed during Thursday night. The boat sank, bat the men were luckily rescued by a passing schooner. The names of the men were Johnson and Nelson, and the name of the schooner the Zior. The ‘ Press ’ says : “The men were about three-quarters of an hour in the water, supported by the floating oar.q before they were picked up, and as a consequence wei- much exhausted. They lost their and about LG Avorth of fish, but c«r rtK ] er themselves lucky to have saved lives, and express much gratitude to Captain Norman, Avho rescued them.” The Committee of the Otago Cricket Association met last evening, at fi\-e o’clock, to receive a letter from the Canterbury Association fixing Monday, the 12th January, for the commencement of the interprovincial match. It was resolved to request Canterbury to agree to an alteration so as to include a Saturday in the days of play. The Match Committee decided to hold practices every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening on the Carisbrook Ground from five to seven o’clock, and they desire the regular attendance of the following players to entitle them them to he considered in the final selection of representatives Paramor, Clark, Spring, Haskell, Crawshaw, Glen, Douglas, Parker, Glasgow, Austin, Cargill. Conway, Collinsnn, Cooke, Lowe, and Rose. The first practice will take place on Friday next. The seven-mile walking match between O'Connor and Gleeson at the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute on Saturday <v. ning is thus described by the local ‘Herald’;— The place being too small for two to walk in together it was arranged that each should w.Mk .singly the seven miles, and whoever performed lint journey in the shortest time I should be declared the victor. The competitors tossed up for who should go first, and it fi.ll to the lot of OT nmor. He was smit oil by the timetoop. iand he went away at a magnificent por, making (he first mile in S'oin 30 ■< e am] the last in less than Omin. The time in which ho performed the whole j mney of seven miles was given by the ■’« mokeepers as Ih s,‘jsec, but there were persons present who disputed its accuracy. Gleeson went over the first mile and twenty yards in less than ihnin, and nrver came up to O’Connor’s time Cleeson’s walking last Saturday night, and his walking when he walked agimst time for twenty-four hours, a short time ago, were >xs dissimilar as could well he imagined, Uu the former occasion ho walked erect and manly, hut last Saini day night he kept his head bent fm v.ard, and limped neoasiouallv, s,, tGnt. In.i uKlknie i• < > 11111 iml i Ve> AH er !ot 10-i'AV ojp llt Ol l-llleUim , llii.eidl I/O .’lid iii.i, (ay lot.is. II ..pm 1,. disqualification, Tim official time in Av’.ieh he performed the seven miles >vt‘t Ih I min ,‘W ice, or 37-<:« more titan I'Connor's time. 0 Connor wall ed inagnili-r-'ifly from beginning in end, and appeared

,f ’ ■ii no tpvat doal I Hitter if bo hi 1 ■>. fie f ! ee; dandy one of Dm finest and. fairest v.-Ikera we have seen, and v.dl! doubtless be heard of again. He was loudly cheered at the end of the match, and do came forward to the front of the stage ami said ho was ready m walk any man iu New Zealand for LSO. It has I ••con rumored that Scott, tii.'i gr ad; walker of Dunedin, intends payin:' Tiinaru a vbii, with the intention jf walkin'™ O'Connor, but how true it is we arc pot in a position to say.”

At Oamarii yesterday Judge Ward suspended the certificate of a bankrupt named Harris for two years on the following grounds :1. Misappropriation of tnn-t money. 2. That the debtor had in mi -,y in his possersi m not mentioned in bi> filed statement, 3. Giving a fraudulent preference.

We hear that on the return of Mr Justice Williams from Invercargill Mr Macdonald, acting for Messrs J, (J. Williamson and Gilbert and Sullivan, intends applying for an injunction to restrain the Juvenile Troubadours from playing “Pinafore.” It is also stated that proceedings are to be taken against Messrs Towle and Ogden for an infringement of the Authors Copyright Act.

At a meeting of the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee, held yesterday, the following resolutions were passed ;—“That the secretary and chairman be requested to telegraph to the members of this district and to the member for Mount Ida (Mr De Lautour), stating that a full meeting of the Railway Committee was held to-day, and urges a special effort for the placing of a sum of L6OO on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of causing a complete survey to be made with a view to ascertaining the best route for a continuation of the WiudsorLivingstonc line from Livingstone to a junction with tho Mam Interior (Strath-Taieri) Railway, on the Kyeburn Flat.” “ That a sub-committee be formed, consisting of Messrs Gibbs (convener), Steward, Reid, Brown, Moore, and Sumpter, three to form a quorum, for furthering tho object in view, with power to communicate with the Government by telegraph or letter on the subject, and to take such other immediate steps as they may deem necessary for that purpose, to endeavor to arrange with the County Council, Town Council, and Road Boards to obtain some small pecuniary assistance, and to endeavor to obtain a further sum by private subscription,” “ That it be recommended to the Committee that tho members for the district and Mr De Lantour bo respectfully requested to urge that tho question as to whether the levels at Livingstone of the present line from Windsor to Livingstone will serve for a continuation of the line to Naseby, be inquired into, and that if the line aa at present surveyed is not being run out at Livingstone at a suitable level, then that instructions be given to cause such alterations to be made as may be necessary to enable a through line to be constructed, viz., from Livingstone to Kyeburn.

The Guiding Star, 1.0. G.T., will hold a special meeting on Thursday, the 11th Inst. A meeting of Loyal Unity Lodge, I 0.0.F,, will bo hold in Hayes’s hotel, Kensington, on Wednesday, the 10th inst., at 8 p m.