SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7343, 15 October 1887, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, October li An influential meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day resolved unanimously—"That this Chamber strongly urges on the Government the advibability of taking steps at once for the construction of a branch railway to Taranaki, connecting with the Majn Trunk line now in progress. Further, that in our opinion the Alain Trunk connection with Marton should be postponed until the rail-; way connection with Taranaki has. been effected." In the course of an animated discussion it was pointed out by tyr Nathan (the chairman) that the matter is one of the greatest importance to Auckland. The Main Trunk line was within twenty-four miles of Taranaki, and it was an important point to consider whether it was not better for the Government now to carry the line right through to Wellington, a distance of 210 miles, through an almost uninhabitable country, at a considerable loss to the Colony. Mr J. Aitkeq said it was not too late to amend what has been previously done. It was known what Hon. Mr Mitohelson had done in the matter sinoo then, We were aware that Wellington had obtained full connection with Taranaki and Napier, and was placed at a great advantage over Auckland, The contract was only let a little beyond Kuiti, and a little below that the line could connect with Stritford without in any way interfering with the plans of the late Government. All that was asked was that a branch line should be constructed at once in order to give Auckland connection with New Plymouth. The Main Trunk line could be gone on with subsequently. Mr M'Millan said he believed that when Mr Mitohelson advocated the construction of the Main Trunk-line to Wellington it was his idea that the two lines should be made immediately. Be feared it was impossible now to construct both lines, and therefore it would have to be consid' ered which line was the more likely to be better suited to the advancement of commercial interests. From a monetary point of view, the proposed connection with Taranaki would make a very large saving, which was important in the present impecunious state of the country. He urged activity on the part of the Auckland members in the matter. Mr Vaile said the Trunk Railway was of no real help to Auckland, and would be a burden to the Colony. The line ought never to have been taken right through in the first place, but via Stratford. It would be a great mistake to continue the Main. Trunk line now. It ought to be stopped as soon it got to Te Kuiti. The rest could be done when funds were available. Many other speakers spoke in support of the resolution, urging that it should be carried, on the grounds of economy and the advantages to be derived. It was carried unanimously, WANGANUL October 15. A practical trial of the third period of the class-firing regulations took plaoe yesterday by some members of the Alexandra Cavalry. Captain Sommerville has contended for some time past that it is impossible for a carbine shot to become a marksman under these regulations, but the Council of Military Education poohpoohed the idea. To satisfy himself and other officers, Captain Sommerville asked several of his men to try the third period conditions, which are, that in the first stage ten shots are to be fired at 300 yards each, but on the.man figure; hits to count as three points. In the second stage the carbine is sighted at 250 yards, and two shots fire* at 300,250,200.150, and 100 yards without altering the sights. Captain Sommorville's contention is that the best shots goißg will not get more than seven hits on the figure out of the first ten. This makes twenty-one points, and there then remain nineteen to make to pass. As in the second stage each hit only counts two points, it is obvious that every shot must hit, or else the candidate fails to qualify. Yesterday's trial showed that in the first stage only three out of ten shots were obtained, though there were hardly any misses— i.e., shots that did not hit the target. This conclusively proved to those present that carbine marksmenship is oat of the question under the present regulations, which the Council have, without considering the difference in the weapons, copied verbatim from the English regulations. NAPIER, October 14. An old and much-respeoted settler—one of the pioneers of ths Colony—passed away at 2.30 this morning in the person of Mr Donald Gollan. He arrived in the Colony in 1841 as a surveyor in the service of the New Zealand Company. When the Company's labors were taken over by the Government Mr Gollan repaired to Ohgo. At a very early period he explored the coast-line from Wellington to Hawke's Bay, and was one of the first, if not. the first, who took up country in this district with a view of sheep-farming The country he selected (Mangatarata) extended from Waipukurau to the western boundaries of the Pourerere block, a wild broken waste of swamp and fern and scrub-covered hills. In a desolate solitude he took up his abode; bis only neighbors being some Maoris, and those not of the most friendly character., With the exception of wheat, potatoes, and wild pork, everything that was required for the persons on the station had to be packed'from Wellington, which was the nearest European settlement: > and the journey to and fro, which occupied a,

couple of months, often resulted in the loss of the packs in the swollen rivers. Undaunted by the dreary isolation of his position, and its severe hardships, disappointments, and numerous losses, Mr Gollan, confident in the future ni the country, worked on, undeterred by d ffien't es that would have turned back all but the sturdiest of pioneers. Gradually settlement crept up the coast, and the country was slowly occupied by colouistf, who drove a few sheep before them till they found a resting in <\ sufficient area of grazing ground to give promise of future reward. Thus was Hawke's Bay settled. With the growth of settlement came incr. ased comfort, and by the time that Mr Gollan was elected to the Wellington Provincial Council in 1857 as one of the representatives of the East Coast, the principal trials of the early settlers had been mostly overcome. Mr Gollan in 18 9 married the widow of the late Mr Charles de Peliohet, but shortly after the birth of his only son his wife died, and again he was left alone. It was but for a short time, however, for the rest of his life he was cheered by the presence of his son (Mr Spencer Gollan) and of bin two step-children (Mr L. de Pelichet and Mias de Pelichet), and the closing years of his existence were unbroken by sorrow. Prosperous, and beloved by all, a good a-id brave man has gone to his rest at the age of seventysix years.