N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1888.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 16

N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1888.

The brilliancy of Wednesday’s weather was aii ! immense boon to the multitudes of and was duly appreciated by them. Their appreciation was doubtless all the keener from tho contrast which Boxing Day, presented meteorologically to Christmas Eve, with its furious norlh-westerly gale, to Christmas night with its heavy tain, and to the last previous holiday

with its combination of continuous rain and boisterous wind. At any rate they had a perfect day so far as weather was concerned, and enjoyed themselves accordingly. While, however, we heartily rejoice at their good fortune in this respect, we confess that our gratification is derived only partially from the reflection that so many good people enjoyed a pleasant “ outing.” That is, of course, very satisfactory in itself, but a still more important point is that in the pursuit of their holiday pleasuring they have contributed handsomely to the flagging and deficient railway revenue. It will be remembered that at the close of last month, the eighth of the current financial year, the railway revenue had fallen short of the Budget estimate at the rate of £102,000 per annum. We then pointed out that the only hope of appreciably pulling up these heavy arrears consisted in the prospect 01. fine weather for the Christmas and New Tear holidays. The excursion traffic on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday was spoiled by bad weather and a loss of that sort is never recovered. People do not travel* one bit more afterward because they may have been kept at home by rain on a holiday, and so should any particular holiday prove unfavourable to cheap-tripping, all the revenue that had been reasonably calculated upon from that source is abso lutely and irrecoverably lost. The item is a very substantial one—much more so than might be supposed. Easter may occur before or after the 31st March, on which date the financial year terminates, and it is found to make a most material difference to the revenue whether Easter comes within a financial year or falls outside it. But none of the year’s holiday traffic is so profitable as that of Boxing Day and New Tear’s Day, because these festivals come in the middle of the summer, when days are the longest and the likelihood of fair weather the strongest. A wet Christmas and Boxing Day would have been a public misfortune, and the opposite experience, which was enjoyed, is a matter for much felicitation. At the same time the Colonial Treasurer will have to make up his mind to a serious shortcoming on this item of his calculations. Even allowing the fullest value for Boxing Day’s traffic and for that of New Tear’s Day, should the latter also be fine, it is hardly possible for so' large a sum as £68,000, the amount of the eight months’ shortcomings, to be made up iu the remaining four months. We do not anticipate that this total deficiency will be increased by the end of the year if the weather remain decently fine during the summer holidays. But the railways will have done very well if by the 31st March they prove to have maintained the estimated rate of return. Taking the most favourable possibilities we do not see how the shortcoming in railway rovenue can be brought below £50,000, while it is much more likely to be £60,000, or even larger. But it must be borne in mind that the failure of the railway revenue to realize the Treasurer’s expectations does not show that the railways have done badly, but merely that the Treasurer was over-sanguine in his estimate. have pointed out in each of the last three years that it is wholly unsafe to estimate the railway, revenue at more than a million. There cannot 1 well be much expansion of traffic at present; and if the railway revenue reaches a million —which slim has been closely approximated during the last year or two—-Buch a result must be deemed very fair indded. It is useless to put down “ Railways ” in successive Budgets ’for £1,100,000, £1,050,000, hnd £1,040,000, when only by some exceptional stimulation of trade could these sums be realised. In our opinion the railways have done quite as well as could reasonably be expected. There has been a falling-off, it is true, in some branches of traffic, but there has been a marked improvement iu others, so this may be set'against that. ’ There is, however, a very marked gain in the net profits, owing to the persistent reduction in the working expenses, which now absorbs only a little more than twc-thirds of the receipts, instead of nearly threefourths, as last year.-' Consequently, so far as the colonial finances go, the state of affairs is distinctly Better than last year, and the outlook in existing * circumstances is decidedly hopeful." We have deemed it desirable to 1 make this point clear in our present issue because, being our San " Francisco mail issue, it' will be largely circulated outside the

Colony, and may thus be the means o f counteracting any unfavourable impression as to Now Zealand which might otherwise have been created by the apparently unsatisfactory return of eight months’ revenue from the railways, in which the money borrowed by the Colony has been largely invested. Unexplained, the figures look somewhat disheartening. Properly explained they wear a aspect, and show a result which, if not brilliant, is quite as good as could reasonably have been counted upon, while the expenditure has been considerably less than might have been anticipated, and this reductiou is of a permanent nature. Therefore, as the depression passes asvay and times improve, the railways will be able to earn additional revenue at afar smaller cost in working expenses than would have been tho case had not the financial exigencies of the last few years compelled the practice of the strictest economy. But tho system of strict economy has now been regularly established and any future improvement iri'revenue will be so much to the good. The new Railway Board, when appointed, will therefore begin its career under very auspicious conditions, much of the “rough” work in the direction of retrenchment having been already done.

We have received from the Government Printer a copy of the New Zealand Crown Landß Guide, No. 9. The memorial stone of the new wing of the Salvation Army barracks in Punt-road, Melbourne, was laid by Sir William Fox, of New Zealand. The Mariposa arrived at San Francisoo on the Ist instant with an English mail. She left on the 16th instant for Auckland, oue day late. The Zealandia arrived at San Francisco on the 22nd instant, time-table date. The annual “ Spiritual Retreat ” of the Marist Brothers is now being held in Wellington, the communities of Auckland, Napier, and Christchurch having arrived here for that purpose. The Retreat is being given by tlie Bov Father Ginaty, of hristchurch, who will also conduct tho Retreat of the Sisters ot Mercy, commencing next week. Wednesday was a model day for marine excursions, and the steamers Mana and Shag, which plied between the Queen’s Wharf and Somos Island an 3 Lowry Bay were kept very busy during the day. Between 400 and 500 people were conveyed to the island and mainland by the steamers, the Mana taking three-fourths of the number. The excursionists appeared to have highly enjoyed the outing, from the fact that the last contingent did not return to towD t’ll 8 o’clock p.m. The steamer Takapuna, which was put on to ruu an excursion to Pictou on Wednesday, was well patronised, about 130 pascengers availing themselves of the trip. The weather was simply perfect, the water in tho strait being without a ripple, and the passage, both going and coming, was most enjoyable. The trip across to Picton was a very smart oue, the Takapuna leaving here at 8 a.m., and arriving at Pictou ataquarter to 12. Arrivod there all sorts of projects for enjoyment were set iu motion. The vessel left on the return journey at 5 p.m., and arrived here at 9.30 p.m., after a very enjoyable day. Says the Grey Star The coiil export at the Buffer the week before last was 3441 tons ; at Greymouth for tbe same time, 4175. The average output from botb ports is about 6000 per week, or 312,000 tons per annum. Before the harbour works were commenced the annual output was about 60,000 tons. Thus, through the improved state of the two ports, consequent upon the harbour works,'an extra annual output of. over a quarter of a million of tons of coal is already attained. Estimating this quantity at 153 per ton we have an annual increase in the value of our exports of £1,875,000. Surely this fact alone iB sufficient to warrant us in saying that the expeuditure on both harbours has been a wise and remunerative speculation for the Colony. We are always tfnxioua to record the progress'of the pastoral industry (siys the Foxton Horald), and believe that the graziers ivould benefit by an interchange of matters of interest in their, pursuits, through our columns', and wo are miioh' obliged by learning from the courteous manager of the Oroua Downs Station that the lambing on the station during the past season has averaged as near as possible cent per cent. ‘Even an Israelite should be satisfied with this. The clip from the same station has been heavier and of better quality than last year, and this has been proved, by the clip from the same number of sheep as at the previous shearing, yielding thirty-four extra bales. This would be about eight tons of wool to the good, we should say to the very good. The Hutt District Annual Catholic Sports and Picnic was held on 'Wednesday at the Lower Hutt in Mr E. J. Riddiford’s paddock, which had been kindly lent for the occasion. There was a large attendance, between 800 and 900 people being present. The results of the various events are as follow : Maiden'Race—Johnson (£1), 1 ; 300yds Hurdle Race—C. Arnold (£1) 1. Christmas Handicap—First f heafc, fOOyds, Love, 1; Piingle, 2 ; Arnold, 3. Second heat, 400yds —Pringle, 1 ; Parrant, 2; Love, 3. Third heat, 600yda—Pringle, 1 ; Love, 2. The prize of £3 10s in this event was won by Pringle with 8> points, .Love taking second prize of £1 10s'with 6 points. Three Legged Race—Parraht and Arnold (10s); Step, and Jump—Arnold, 38ft lm (103)4. Hornpipe—F. . Reed (£1) 1. Mr F. W. London ably officiated as judge, and Mr A. Murtagh -as starter. The Hibernian Band assisted in the success of tlie gathering by performing a number of selections during the day,. 1

A correspondent writes:—l noticed a “ par ” in tho Mail a week or two ago to the effect that as a result in advertising in the Wellington Almanack a firm in Wellington hod received an order for their goods from a firm in the Islands. I hope your friends are not going to be had, as I have recently been to the tuue of £25 by certain parties' who, under two or three aliases, are operating in and about Samoa. Perhaps a hint may be acceptable. An Exhibition of Women’s Industries and a Centenary Fair has just concluded in Sydney, the n*t returns from which amounted to £6040. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the exhibition was “a success from more than a financial standpoint. The people of New South Wales kuow now as they never knew before what handicrafts women engage in here, and can understand better what opportunities there are for the development of trades which would suit women. Through the Exhibition fresh stimulus will no doubt be given to trades that were hitherto but comparatively little known, and above all, it will promote that confidence among women themselves iu their sphere of labour which was never so necessary as now.” We learn (says the Foxton Herald) that Mr Pascal has disposed of his crop of flax at Kereru to Mr Gledall, of Nelson, who intends transferring his plant from that locality after Christmas. Mr Gledall has been for many years engaged in this trade, and has a patent stripper of his own, by which he succeeds in turning out a very superior article. He appears also to know his way very well about, as he has been in correspondence with a large firm of ropemakers in Sydney, from whom he has taken a two years’ contract at the price of £l7 a ton on the Weilington wharf. Tho contract is so large that he haß already offered work to a new firm of flaxmillers for a time. This firm of ropemakers use a very large quantity of hemp—as much as thirty tons a month, it is stated' —and it is further rumoured that they are inclined, if assured of the continuance of a supply, to erect works in this neighbourhood. The beautiful weather which prevailed on Wednesday induced a large number of people to spend their holidays in the country, and consequently both railway lines were largely patronised. On the Government line about 480 passengers were taken through to the Wairarapa by the morning train, the down train bringing about 250 passengers to town. The greater number of passengers, however, were taken to the Lower Hutt, where the Garrison Baud picnic, Hutt Catholic sports, and similar gatherings were held. It is estimated that nearly 2000 people were con. veyed to the Hutt and intermediate stations. The trains were run very punctually, and generally the arrangements were excellent. On the Weffington-Manawatu line the traffio was exceedingly heavy, the whole of the rolling stock being called into use. By the early train about 100 through passengers were booked, and 150 were taken to Palmerston North. About 400 people travelled to Otaki and 600 to Paikakariki, the number conveyed to Plimmerton being about 1000. In addition to this about 400 others were taken to the various picknioking resorts along the line.

There was a good attendance at the Wellington Bowling Club’s green oil Wednesday morning and afternoon. The green was rather soft in the morning owing to the pre. vious night’s rain, but in the afternoon it was in prime order. • Several, games were played, the following being the results : Rink No. I—Messrs Hislop, Mitchelson, K. Wilson, and Lambert (skip) against Messrs Hume, Eliott, Bethuue, and Flyger (skip), the former winning by 21 to 18. Rink No. 3 -Messrs Letham, Riley, Fergus, and Campbell (skip) against ‘Messrs McDougall, McLatchie, Scoullar, and Crovnbie, the former winning by 21 to 12, A second matoh was played between these sides, Mr Crom. bie’s winning by 21 to 11. Rink No. 2 Messrs Gasquoine, G. Wilson, Macgregor, and Blaekett (skip) defeated Messrs J. Blundell, Dransfield, Cooper, and Barron (skip) by 21 points to 13. Several sets of pairs and of fours were played off. The members whose names begin with the letters composing the fir3t half of the alphabet, A to L, have challenged the second half to play a match on Saturday afternoon, and :the challenge has been duly aacepted. Sides will be drawn at 2.30 p.m. The Garrison Band’s annual picnio was held in Mr Chittiok’s paddock, Lower Hutt, Wednesday. The Weather was beautiful, and there ’was a good' attendance. Rdundefs, dancing, etc., were indulged in the pic* nickers, and generally the day'was spent in an enjoyable manner. A programme of sports was successfully gone thrbugh, the following being the results of the various events : 150ydB, open.—King (£1), 1 ; Fox (sa), 2. Three others ran. Ruhning High Jump.— Cowan (trophy, given by Mr J. Duthie), 4ft 6in, -1. Two others competed. 100yds Three-legged Race. —Cowan and Duffy (15s), 1. 250yds. Handicap. Brown, Byds (£1), 1 ; Cowan, 10yds (10s), 2 ; King, scr., 3. Three others ran. Individual Bayonet Competition. Sergeant Roberts (£1), 1. Eight others competed, Hop, Step, and Jump.—Hickey, 35ft (Mr Collins' trophy), 1. 150yds Bandsmen’s Race. —Usmar (Mr Denton's prize, a meerschaum pipe). 1. 100yds Blindfold Race.— King (Mr Flockton’s prize), 1. Egg and Spoon Race.—Tattle (watch and chain), 1. Several races for boys and girls were got up on the 'ground. Sergeant-Major Davis officiated as judge, and private W. Rankin as starter, both performing their duties satisfactorily. The bayonet competition, which excited more interest than any of the other events, was judged by Major Loveday. The Committee were as ‘ follow Sergeant-Major Davis, Setgennts Murray, Roberts, and Madeley, Corporal Rankin,' Gunner Burke, Seaman Hare;’ Privates J. Rankin,. Wood, and Cowan, and Messrs Burnett and Crispe (secretary). • During the day the- Garrison Band, under ‘Bandmaster Cimino, performed a large of pleasing selections, -which-considerably added'to the day’s enjoyment. The sports were got over early, and the picknickers were enabled to return to town before 6 o’clock. The day’s amusement was wound up with a dance inßowie’a Hall, which was well attended.

The s.s. Ruapehu left Hobart at 10 a.m. on Wednesday for this port* She is due here Sunday. afternoon* It is found that there are 20,000 children of school ago in New York for whom no room is'provided in the school buildings. Three, drunkards (first offenders) were dealt, with by Mr Robinson, R.M., at; the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, all th- ; ee being discharged. A mru named William Walters admitted .damaging a tub, table and other articles, the property of a Chinaman named Ah Kin, but said ho did it because - the proseoator was playing “fan tan.” His Wovship explained that the poHce would probab'y endeavour to suppress such illegal practices, and fined the accused 20s, and ordered him to pay. 15s damages. The members of the local Foresters’ Lodges held their annual social dance and reunion at the Foresters’ Hal), Tory-street, on Wednesday evening. There was alargo attendance, quite 100 couples being present, and the dance was one of the most enjoyable that has been held this teasou. An excellent band under Bro. P. Hodge supplied the musioi aud Bro. Mason, of Courtunay-place, catered for the refreshment. The whole of the arrangements were highly satisfactory, and the Committee to whom they were entrusted, Bros. Cole, Knapp, Pyke, and White, deserve, great credit for their efforts to make the reunion a success. - Buyers of cheese (says the Mataura Ensign) have been very pertinacious this year, and, thanks to the genoral state of despondency, have been very successful. They secured the whole of the output of a number of Otago aud Southland factories at 5d per lb, which seemed at the time to be a fair enough price. But those Directors,, or faotory owners, who refused to listen to the voice of the oharmer are not likely to regret their hardness of heart. Cheese, like most other products, is going up, and those producers whose name is a sufficient guarantee for a good article oan now obtain 6d per lb. That price was accepted on Thursday for a parcel of Gore cheese. There ie also every prospect of the value of the product rising yet more. No matter what happens it can scarcely fall. The, trouble at present in Southland ia not the prospect of prices, but the difficulty of supplying orders. The weather is so bad that the milk supply is nothing like what it . ought to be, and as a natural result, there will not be as muoh cheese made this season as could in ordinary circumstances be turned out.