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New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 20

The Commission appointed in the United States to report on underground wire systems examined in New York nearly 150 different plans for underground wires. A sub-com-mittee also examined about 600 different patents and plans relating to the subject.

A very eminent engineer is now on a visit to Wellington, namely, Mr Price Williams, M. Inst. C.E., whose fame as an authority upon railway matters is world-wide. It is rumored that Mr Price Williams’ visit is connected with some important contemplated developments in regard to the mineral resources of this Colony. The marriage of Mr T. P. Clapham, of the Wellington Postal Department, with Miss Agnes Yates, of the Upper Plain, Masterton, took place at St. Matthew’s Church, Masterton, on Tuesday last week. The affair created quite a sensation, and the ceremony was witnessed by a large number of people. The happy pair were afterward driven to the residence of the bride’s mother, where the guests were entertained. Representatives of the Press who were engaged in reporting the proceedings in connection with the Palmerston railway excursion on Monday have cause to complain of the manner in which they were treated at the banquet held at Palmerston. Not the slightest arrangement had been made for their accommodation, and those who were graciously admitted to. the gallery above when the speech-making began were not provided with either comfort or convenience, or treated with civility.

The Mayor and several members of the City Council went out to Wainui-o-mata on Saturday, stayed there overnight, and returned late Sunday night. The object of their visit was to inspect a block of 2000 acres of land above the reservoir, in order to ascertain whether the Corporation should acquire the freehold of it for the sake of preventing the destruction of the timber on it, and the possible consequent diminution of the natural flow of water into the Wainui-o-mata. Mr Wardell gave a decision last Friday on the appeal of the Taitapu Company against an assessment of their property under the Property Tax Assessment Act, at £29,500, it being already on the roll assessed as the property of an individual at £11,040. Hia Worship said that he held that although the assessment of the property of an individual is unalterable during three years, on passing to a company it becomes, under section 56 of the Act, liable to annual assessment. The property in this case having passed to the Company, had been as3eaßetd for the year. This was a new assessment,, and not an alteration, and did not come wi'chin the jurisdiction given him by section 85. He should therefore make no order.