NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10034, 22 January 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

We print today an interesting interview with Mr. Thomas Salt, the Chairman of (lit New Zealand Midland Railway Company in which the history and present position of the company are very clearly elated. Without entering into the intricate and complex legal questions involved in tin dispute between the Government and the company, or discussing tho merits ol the umpire's award in tho arbitration proceedings, it is impossible on tha statemenb made by Mr. Salt to withhold sympathy for the unfortunate shareholders and debenture-holders who, after expending nearly a million pounds on a railway intonded to benefit the colony, find that their money has gone and that their security has been seized by the Government of New Zealand. That tho Government have done nothing that they were not legally entitled to do is not of course disputed in face of Mr. Blake's award, but there are equities which have a stronger moral force than oven strict cast-iron legalities, and should the claims of the debenture holders bo completely ignored on the plea of legal rights rigidly interpreted it will, we venture to say, be generally regarded as a grievous wrong which would eventually in many ways prove hurtful to the colony. We do not, however, believe that tho Government seriously contemplate confiscating the security on which these British investore lent the Midland Railway Company their money. Such a proceeding would indict an irreparablo injury to New Zealand's credit on the London market, where it is essential to our progress and prosperity that it should stand high and untarnished. It is surely possible that some modus vivtndi can be discovered by which « satisfactory arrangomenb may be come to between all parties concerned without further prolonged and costly litigation.

_ Mark Twain has been discussing to coloninl interviewers the mental habits of Australian audiences and the character!*tics of Australian landscapes, and the general result is flattering to Australian susceptibilities An American audience, it seems, tabs its lecturer on " strictly commercial terms." lb has illusions and no enthusiasms. " They have made a contract with you to givo them something, and they hold you strictly to your part of the bargain, and all the time they are watching to see that you don't g0 back on "it." A colonial audience, on the other hand, shows a fine generosity. They encourage you to give your bast. You feel as soon as you step on the platform that they are your friends, that they wish you to succeed, and that puts fire and mettle into you, and puts you at once on terras with them," Colonial journals, too, move Mark Twain's admiraWon. They are "most admirable and unique," and in their leading articles especially Mark Twain discoters vigorous style, literary grace, and a frank and crystalline logio too rare, alas in journalism out«ide these colonies. No wonder, remarks the Review of Review.., that Mark Twain has been clasped to the enraptured bosom of evory colonial editor! On Now Zealand scenery, in paiticular, Mark Twain prows eloquent, lb is a combination of Norway and Alaska, with some qualities thrown in which neither of those countries possess, In the sea that washes the New Zealand coasts-green in shoal water and purple in deep water-Mark Twain discovers a grace unknown to the other waters of the planet. On the whole, the great American humorist has a pretty gift for compliments.

Tliq volume of trado flowing into Sydney is already very great, and constitutes 8 striking proof of the revived prosperity oi the colony. Thiu, on a Riven day during the month there were 75 deep sea veseols in Port Jackson, including the Westmeath, the second largest! cargo steamer in tho world, and the four-masted Palgravo, one of tho largest cantors in the world amongst sailing ships. The tonnage of the ships in tho harbour amounted to 145,000 tons. Melbourne at the same date had on ly 44 deep sea ships in port; nil South Australian ports together contained only 20 vessels; Queensland, 15 ; New Zoaland, t>\. Sydney harbour alone, that is, held more ships than all tho ports in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia put together ! Tim foreigngoing vesaols-113 in all-lying in Sydney and Nowoastle exceeded by 17 vessels the whole of the shipping in the remaining harbours of Australia. These figures go M prove that Sydney already possesses the mercantile primacy of the seven colonies,

The prosperity of Melbourne might be represented by a curve, which rises sharply from 1886, readies its summit in 1891, and descends oven more sharply than it rosf, till, in 1895, the level of ton years before i>

„,rlv reached. The Metropolitan Board 4 «4s has collected figures showing how I rating value of Melbourne has flue ; td during these years, and the hgures „ke a very instructive schedule, ine ;»al value of rateable property » SS6 was £4.103.853; in fire yean ib greased more than SO per cent,, and in ,891 was £6,806,313. In the four succeedin, years, however, it shrunk more than 40 ' r cent., and in 1895 it was only per rent., and in JWJ "» ' £4 437 070 A shilling rate in 1801 yielded £343,316; in 1895 the mm rate yields only »| 803 When before have the values of a "great city, in a space of time so brief, expanded so enormously and shrunk so tragically? Vet renter Melbourne istill a city of over 100.000 houses, and 4.10,000 inhabitant., and it is the youngest of all the great cities of the globe.

The Town Clerk of Auckland has received ft circular from the hon. sec of the Library Association Committee of the Public L.ornry, Melbourne! M. F. DowJeu) in reference to the proposed Libiary Association of Amtralasia. It appears that recognising the advantages to Library Science which have followed tho establishment of the Library Association of the United Kingdom, tho trustees of the Public Library of Victoria last year decided to take steps to bring about tho foundation of a similar association for Australasia. An organising committee was appointed for the purpose, and circulars were addressed to ail the principal libraries of Australasia, pointing out the advantages liLely to arise from the establishment of such An association, and asking the cordial support anl co-operation of all interested in libraries. The replies received were fo favourable to the proposal, and the promises of support and co-operation woro so encouraging that the trustees at once determined to cull a conference of librarians and others interested in library work to frame a constitution and found a Library Association. Some delay arose, but the matter has been taken in hand, and it has been decided to hold the first Conference in Melbourne on the 14th April next, and the three following days, Sir John Maddon presiding. At the Conferenc papers will be read dealing with various matters of library economy, and discussion will be invited on all papers. Before the conclusion of the Conference a resolution will bo submitted, "That the time is now ripe for the foundation of an Australasian Library Association, and that such an Association be now formed." Persons desirous of contributing papers should send to Mr. Don-Jen not later than the 14th March.

If to be prepared for war is the best way of preserving peace England is doing her utmo't to prevent hostilities. She is putting her naval forces into fighting trim with sleepless energy. Her dock yards are a scene of activity day and night. It is reported that she has purchased two crui'ors intended for the Argentine, and which are at present being constructed In England. The flying squadron is almost ready for sea. Before it sails it will be reviewed by the Queen. The American liorernoient are somewhat anxious as to its destination, but Lord Salisbury has given them assurances on the point that ought to be satisfactory. Another little cloud has appeared on the horizon. Brazil demands the restoration of the island of Trinidad, which England took possession of some time ago. She threatens to break off diplomatic relations unless her demand is acceded to. In that case diplomatic relations Mill probably have to be broken off. affairs in the Transvaal are unexciting. The prisoners arrested on vague charges of high treason have been liberated on heavy bail. It is alleged that the documents seized in the Orange Free State show that in 1594, there was a plot in which the Chartered Company wa9 involved to cause a native rising. The King of Ashanti has been tent to the coast as a prisoner. By a fire in a theatre in Russia a large number of persons lo3t their lives,