NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7875, 6 April 1889, Page 2

NOTES.

The inhabitants of both town and country ,"* have reason to congratulate Keiliimr themselves on the reduction of Kates/ railway rates on small parcels of produce up to one hundredweight. If it is not all that has been asked for, it is at least a considerable concession. Formerly the charges were prohibitive. All kinds of garden, farm, and dairy produce can now be sent by rail at fairly reasonable rates. Taking the four Otago termini, wo find that to and from Oamaru the charges are from Is 2d to Is 9d per 28lb, according to the clas3 of goods carried, and in proportion for greater weight. Similarly, to and from Kingston, Is 2d to 2s 9d; from Lawrence, Is 2d to Is Cd ; and from Invcrcargill, Is 2d to 2s 3d will be the future rates for 281b. From intermediate stations the charges are in proportion. These include delivery within a mile radius, or thereabouts, from the Dunedin Railway Station. Those who live beyond will have to pay express hire, which for small parcels means an addition in most cases of nearly 100 per cent, to the cost. It is not easy to understand why such a redundant classification of articles similar in character should have been resorted to. It would save much trouble to the railway officials and weariness to the general public if all the articles enumerated under six i distinct headings were grouped in one. But let us be thankful for small mercies. It will be possible now to have fish from the Lakes and fruit from the Teviot sent down at reasonable prices.

Notwithstanding the boastful vaticinations of Protectionists, the FreoA Frectrndo traders of New South Wales Victory, have secured a substantial vic-

Tory thus early in the new Parliament. It has long been a reproach to that colony that import duties have been levied on farm and dairy produce, notwithstanding the general tendency to Frcetrade. This reproach has now been wiped away by the adoption of a motion for the abolition of duties on butter, bacon, and cheese. Corn, potatoes, and onions have always been admitted free of duty, and the last vestige of taxation on agricultural producehasnow been swept away. Meantime Victoria continues tolevy2dperlb on bacon, butter,and cheese; 2s per 1001b on grain of all kinds except maize, on which there is a duty of Is; 10 per cent, on flour ; 6d per cwt on potatoes ; and 20a per ton on onions. It needs no prophet to tell which colony will receive the largest proportion of the surplus produce of other countries, nor in which the population will be most cheaply fed. As the value of a shilling is only what it will buy, tho working classes will be better paid in New South Wales even at the same rate of wages.

Wiikn in Auckland recently Mr Fergus is

reported to have said that the Hallway Government would proceed Oi>i>okUloii. w ith tho construction of three

railways only—the Otago Central, the North Island Trunk Line, and the North Auckland Railway. If ho expected by this to propitiate the Aucklanders, he mado a grievous mistake. For some inexplicable reason—if any reason at all exists —they entertain a deadly hostility to the Otago line. The Auckland 'Star,' in a vehemently-worded article, declares that Ministers " weakly yield to the clamor," as it iB pleased to term the demand for our Central Railway; "the prudent section of tho House " should combine together, and " put them out neck and crop." Rather than see this necessary work carried out, the 'Star' would absolutely consent to forego the Northern railways, " In Heaven's name let them go " ! exclaims the' Star.' It may well be asked whence this fierce opposition ? No cause is assigned for it, and we should bo loath to ascribe it to provincial or insular jealousies. Yet these must laigely enter into the angry spirit displayed. The only pretence of argument involves an uneconomic fallacy : " When the land already opened has been well settled, it will he time enough to prosecute theso schemes." If there is any forco in this, it applies with much greater strength to the North Island Trunk Railway—which traverses a wild, inhospitable, pumicc-atrewn desert—than to either of the others. But true economy would dictate tho building of railways beforo and not after settlement, always providing thero is land fit for the purpose, The value of the land would thereby be enhanced to the benefit of tho Public Treasury, and tho cost of building roads, which the subsequent construction of railways running alongside renders comparatively useless, would be saved. It is a fitting matter for consideration whether it would not be better and cheaper in all cases to build light railways in the first instanco instead of main roads, which frequently involve aB large or larger expenditure of money both for construction and maintenance.