SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7470, 14 March 1888, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

A VISIT TO MOUNT COOK. TIMARU, March 13.

After a thoroughly enjoyable trip Major Dane and your reporter returned from tne Hermitage to-day. We formed part of one of the largest parlies that have yet been there, which also included Professor Hutton and Mr Dick, Chief Postmaster, of Christchurch. Considering all things the road is good, and the two days’ coaching each way, under the auspices of the Mount Cook Coai.hing Company, was very efficiently and pleasantly carried out. All the way down from Pukaki to the Hermitage, Aorangi (the “cloud piercer”) presented his most glorious aspect to us under the blazing summer sun, and later his severest winter features in a densely wild snowstorm, which draped all the lesser peaks far down their rugged tides. We had a good view of tbe terminal ice of the great Tasman Glacier, and the bases of the glaciers of the Ball and Hockstetter. Mount Sefton, too, lifted his cloud cap and thundered down his aval inches to welcome us. Though actually some distance from the clear ice, free from moraine of the Mueller and Hooker glaciers, they can both bs reached in half a day, unless in the case of the latter the river is unfordable; and there are many less tedious excursions full of interest to the botanist, geologist, or easy-going tourist, as well as more ambitious ones for Alpine climbers. The moraines, ice pinnacles, cliffs, and caves, the birthplaces of the rivers and Birch-treo Gorge, where we gathered the edelweiss, are among some of the many delightful trips we have made this year. The Hermitage is comfortable, and Mr Huddleston and the other directors of the company are to be congratulated on their enterprise in thus opening to tourists one of New Zealand’s choicest spots. When a few additional improvements are made such as a wire rope across the Hooker River, a few more tracks cut, and a hut or two erected —three weeks will be all too short to see the many grand sights that abound there. COMMISSION OP THE PEACE. WELLINGTON, Mahcu 13. The new Commission of the Peace contains 1,489 names. SERIOUS ACCIDENT. Mr James Belling, formerly of Brogdcn and Sons’ farm, last night slipped in the street, and sustained what is known as Pott’s fracture of the left ankle. He lost a quantity of blood through one of the blood vessels being injured, and has now been removed to the hospital. The case is a serious one.

MR MAXWELL ON RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. The ‘ Post' to-night saysMr J. P, Maxwell, the General Manager of New Zealand Railways, has furnished the Minister of Public Works with two interesting reports of his observations on the European and American railway systems respectively. He has during his tour enjoyed exceptional opportunities for observance, and seems to have used them to the best advantage. The detailed information which he gives on various subjects are of value and interest, but the general conclusion which we gather from a perusal of Mr Maxwell’s report is that he saw very few points in which, considering all the difference of circumstances, the management of New Zealand railways could be improved by the adoption of the European or the American example. In fact, he says that “our regulations and instructions for working cannot be materially improved.” As we do not suppose that Mr Maxwell was so prejudiced in favor of his own management as not to readily recognise and acknowledge an improvement if he saw one, and as he is certainly a competent judge in such matters, we accept his testimony with pleasure, although we may still be pardoned if we doubt whether, even in New Zealand, absolute perfection has yet been attained in the ait of railway management.” TORPEDO PRACTICE.

The torpedo men from the various ports are now assembling here for practice together, and for carrying out the scheme intended some months ago but then abandoned through Auckland’s jealousy of 'Wellington. Major-general Schaw and others have insisted on the necessity of getting together a sufficient number of men to learn this drill properly.