OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1191, 28 December 1894, Page 39

OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail Office,

Wellington, December 24, 1894,

The verdict of the Court of Enquiry on the Wairarapa Disaster was precisely what everyone expected it would be. The cause of the catastrophe was declared to have been the direct result of the shocking recklessness of the late Captain Mcintosh, for whose extraordinary conduct in persisting in running his vessel at full speed through a dense fog the Court does not, however, put forward any explanation or even sur_ mise. The chief officer is reprimanded for his apathy after the disaster had taken place, censure falls upon some of the crew, and on the other hand the heroic conduct of the stewardesses is warmly praised, and commendation is passed upon the specially courageous behaviour of certain of the passengers and crew. The full report of the Court will be found elsewhere. It is generally undei'stood that one result of the lamentable disaster will be the introduction of special legislation next session as to boat drill and other precautions for the ; safety of the travelling public.

Politics, which had been in a slumberous state during the two previous months, have recently sprung' into temporary activity. Several members have been addressing their constituents, and the opening l of the Rotorua line has been the occasion of a most important and really excellent speech from the Premier, followed by another from the Colonial Treasurer at Auckland.

The opening of the Rotorua line was celebrated with a considerable amount of festivities, in which the Natives joined heartily with the Europeans.. Detailed particulars as to the history of the line will be found elsewhere. Its completion marks a distinct advance in the tourist traffic, the Hot Lakes district generally being made more easily and cheaply accessible.

In his speech at the inevitable banquet which followed the opening l ceremony, the Premier made an important declaration of the views of the Government on future public works. He announced his opinion that the road and rail connection between Taranaki and Auckland should be improved ; that the North Island Trunk Lino should be pushed on to Hautapu, at which ! point a large area of land suitable for settlement would be tapped; that the Woodville - Eketahuna section must be completed as speedily as possible ; and that it was desirable that the private line i owned by the Wellington and Manawatu Company should be acquired by the State. So much for the North Island. In the South he advocated the completion of the Midland line from Jackson'3 to Springfield, a further extension of the Otago Central, and completion of the Seaward's Bush lineA pretty extensive programme this, one which, if brought forward in its entirety next session, will be the subject of very lengthy and anxious discussion.

The Colonial Treasurer's address at Auckland dealt largely with financial questions. Throughout both his speech and that of the Premier there runs, it will be noticed, a cheerful tone as to the future, and an excellent impression has been created by both speeches upon the country.

•. The population returns for November disclose the pleasing fact that during that month the arrivals in the colony numbered 2802 and the departures 1183, thus leaving a net gain to the colony of 1619. For a time there was a distinctly noticeable tendency on the part of a section of the colonists to try their fortune at the Western Australian goldfields, but a largo number of those who went there have now returned, and, judging by their reports, the new field cannot be considered an, Eldorado,

especially for the working digger, who has

not much capital

The Mayoral elections took place during the month, and last week the usual installations of the new civic dignitaries took place. In Wellington the new Mayor is Mr C. M. Luke, a local iront'ounder and a much —and justly—respected citizen ; in Christchurch, Mr W. 11. Cooper; in Auckland, Mr J. J. Holland (second term) ; and in Dunedin, Mr 11. S. Fish, ox-M.11.R. Most of the speeches made at the installation ceremonies deal with the necessity for an economical municipal policy, and it, is satisfactory to notice that the questions of public baths, libraries, and improvement of sanitarv works are well to the front.

Colonel Fox, the Commandant, whose dispute with the Government has been settled, and who is once again in harness as chief military adviser to the colony, has been inspecting several of the Volunteer corps in different parts of the colony. Ho is an extremely outspoken gentleman, and some remarks passed upon the Auckland Volunteers and their lack of efficiency have caused a good deal of local irritation.

A very sad affair was reported about the middle of the month, when Mr R. J. S. Todd, who held a responsible position in the Government Insurance Department, committed suicide by shooting h'mself. The unfortunate young man—he was only 34—was to leave on a holiday trip to Australia on the very day on which he committed the rash deed, and a peculiarly pathetic interest attaches to his death in the fact that one object of his trip was to visit his fiancee. He had been somewhat unsteady of late, and, it is stated, had suffered a good deal from depression of spirits from the time —only a few months ago—when his brother, Mr Henry Todd, committed puieido, also by shooting himself, at Blueskin, Otago. It was stated, however, at the inquest that there were no traces of insanity in the family.

Considerable attention has been given in the press to the, question of opening up a trade with London in New Zealand timbers, many of which are beautifully marked and exceptionally suitable for fine cabinet and furniture work generally, whilst others ought, it is thought, to find a ready sale for the purposes of wooden pavements, and Mr Freyberg, the timber expert, sent Home some months ag*o by the Government, has reported very favourably upon the prospects of a trade being opened up, and the Government are now arranging- with some prominent sawmillevs for * a large shipment, which will be sold under the supervision of the timber expert and the Agent-General, and which, it is confidently hoped, will lead to an extensive business being done in our timbers. I

A social event in which considerable interest was taken was the wedding of Miss E. M. Gore, daughter of Mr R. B. Gore, of the Colonial Museum, and Mr Thomas Walter, fourth surviving son of the late Mr John Walter, of Bearwood, Berkshire, and chief proprietor of the London Times. The bride is an extremely popular member of Wellington society, and good wishes for her future happiness have been many and sincere. Mr Walter has bought a large holding in the Waikato and intends to settle permanently in the I Colony.

The death of Mr Robert Louis Stevenson was reported on arrival of the s.s. Upolu at Auckland on the 17th, and very general regret has been expressed at the premature decease of the brilliant novelist, whose works are as popular with colonial as with Old Country readers.

The cricket season is now in full swinar and considerable disappointment has been expressed at the fact that the English team now in Australia have not time to visit New Zealand. The reports of their doings in Australia are read here with the greatest interest.

In theatrical amusements we are to be very plentifully supplied for the next few weeks. The B rough and Boucicault I Comedy Company have just finished a short season here, during which they played Grundy's " Sowing the Wind," Oscar Wilde's " Lady Windermere's Fan," and Pinero's great play " The Second Mrs Tanqueray." The ever-delightful " She Stoops to Conquer/' and other pieces were also produced, the season being a most pronounced success, both artistically and ■ financially. On Boxing Night Mr Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company produce the pantomime of " Ali B;iba and the Forty Thieves," and later on we are promised visits by the Royal Comic Opera Company and a Comedy Company who will play " The New Boy " and other recent London successes.