NEW ZEALAND MEAN TIME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2485, 9 December 1868, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND MEAN TIME.

TO THE EDITOR 0* LTTTELTON TIMES. Sie,—ln answer to your correspondent I begin by asking, What is time ? and that-That time is that" which wm, which is, and is to come." Mankind established an arbitrary stand-point,from which to measure hat which is passing (to wit)—i the oIJ establishing a mean time for Ne Englishmen reckon from Greenwich, French men from Paris, Hassans from St I ten burgh. Now time, or rather dates, have been brought from Greenwich to New Zealand, both easterly and the persons bringing them find that there . a dav's difference (in' their dates. ) Mr Parker can reckon his time from any meridian he Phases, but he must have some stand-point, "and from that he must reckon Sve sailed round the globe twice east about „Sth.rdo re t»od»,»J. =^« been altered, g TjVanpisco at 11 p.m., sends a telegram to San Fr ghaU and beats time by a day s ■ hare to alter the meaning. tfj B»e worn at now understood, and bung either to the Westward of the stand-point, must be e fasterslowof the time at the Aim And m our-time in New /eaianu »i» C.P« 'JfK an iast of he w i|| fail correspondent goes to Immi he has gained a day in date. t j ie take him there will do as al world does who trayel—te-j upon passing the 180 deg. of S obedient servant, Gt H. WILSON, Master Mariner. Cliristchurch, Nov. 23, 1868. F.S.—The earthy? wav e, w j ] N the not appear to reckon tune „ Wellington papers," at least correct y.

IMMIGRATION. TO THE EDITOR OF 188 LTIIBLTONWMBB. immigration, and lam veiyg expense in Haying gone to consul « x P e affijs3if introducing them.it ffL n g °i U keep tbem. we used our best In all probability the Trill be a reduction in Jf *nd as a consequence of this many w

hands wi 1 leave the country, aud go away w he diggings or to some otSicr colony, and the only advantage that wo; shall get for our Kf^ the very qneationable one Having introduced a raw new chum to push an old experienced hand out. It appears to me that any immigration on a large scale to be beneficial, must go hand in hand with the reduction in the price [ofj our wastelands Unco do thiß and farmers would buy up the land, and a demand for labour would be created, and not only so, but working men would have inducements to settle down here which they now have not. What is there in Canterbury to induce people to settle in it? Laud is dearer, and further off from water, and worse in quality, and the market is as bare of competition as it well can be compared with neighbouring colonies. I think, Sir, if some portion of the balance of the loan were spent upon making a tramway from Kaiapoi to Leithficld, say, and from helwyn to the Rakaia, aud the land thrown opeu for selection at 20s an acre, with some restrictions to prevent its falling into the hands of capitalists, we should soon have a prosperous Canterbury once more. We may depend upon it that labouring men will not submit to any reduction in the price of wages, unless the land is cheaper so as to enable them to get as much for their money as they can in the other colonies, and we must bear in mind that many hundreds of thousands of acres of splendid land are as now only yielding us a rent of three farthings an acre. Your obedient servant, PROGRESS.

DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS. TO TUB EDITOB OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—l see in the financial statement that it is proposed to reduce the grants paid to denominational schools. If this is done as an economical measure, it will be a great mistake. A reference to the returns of the Board of Education will elicit the following facts .-—That the largest mimberof scholar! being in these schools, the average cost per head to the province is less than in any other scheol. That in each of these schools two, and in several instances three or more teachers are employed at salaries in some instances less than is obtained by a labourer on a farm, &c, and in others at a rate very little higher. That at the same time these schools have appeared to be the most efficient if the results of competitive examinations, and inspectors' reports are to be relied on. And we may expect this efficiency to be seriously impaired if the present staff of teachers is to be reduced, which, of course, must be the case if a reduction is made in the grants.

Your obedient servant, A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL COMMITTEE. BALANCE OF THE LOAN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—lt is gratifying amidst the generally depressed state of affairs to know that the Government are husbanding the resources of the province, and bringing the expenditure within the income. They have also given attention to the best method of disposing of the available balance of the loan; but on this subject perhaps some ventilation may be serviceable, as opinions are not unanimous on all the projected disbursements. It is very important that the money should be judiciously spent, for it is the last that we are likely to borrow, at any rate for a long time to come, and the works upon which it is spent should, if possible, be reproductive.

One object, in my opinion, upon which money might be well laid out is, the fostering of local productions. A premium might he offered for specimens of flax, manufactured into wool bags, corn sacks, or other useful articles; or of wool made into cloth, flannels, or blankets, indeed for any article, the local consumption or export of which amounted to a certain value within a defined period. I have been informed that the Wellington Government, wishing to encourage the settlement of a manufacturing company a short time since, made an offer of a site for the works, which, though not accepted because of a more favourable selection elsewhere, had a marked effect in inclining the company favourably to entertain the idea of experimenting in the colony, Let all be done to foster an enterprising spirit and there is plenty to encourage hope for the future of the settlement.

The Southern Railway might even he made to pay, if the farmers could make use I of it. As it is, ouly a very small portion of them are ahle to do so, and then at very great inconvenience. If a tram-way was laid from the Selwyu station to Southbridge, it could run through a district growing thousands of bushels of grain, and in this neighbourhood alone, a very large amount of traffic would be gathered. The cost need not exceed £15,000 to j£17,000 for the whole distance, and the returns would be something handsome. The smoke of the engine is seen and the noise of the whistle is heard by many farmers now in the neighbourhood of that station, to whom it is more convenient to send to Christchurch than to use the rail, partly on account of portions of the road being swampy and partly by their not being direct. A tramway would obviate this, be a feeder^ for the Southern Rail, and might be included among the useful and reproductive works. While on the subject, I may say that a modification in the freight on the present line of railway, would remove some dissatisfaction. Sometimes it is ridiculously low, and at other times just as high, according, as the clerks say, to the measurement, but in reality, according to the peculiar method of measurement. One small package'to Port may cost 35., and 23 of similar size can be taken for 4s * These facts have happened with myself within the last week or two. These matters however, are easily rectified and will be set right in time, no doubt. It is not with a view of finding fault, that they are mentioned, hut as a suggestion that possibly the above remarks may lead to practical good. Your obedient servant^ x. y. z. November 30, 1868.

* Five or six cwt was carried to Rolleston Station for Is 6d, while 13 cwt. to Selwyn was charged 31s.