OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 42

OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail Office,

Wellington, May 14.

Winter is now fully with us, and the weather has been very inclement of late* heavy rainfalls being the rule in most districts. In Wellington City the rainfall has been exceptionally heavy. There have been no less than 2-1 wot days during April, and the total rainfall totals up to 12T53in, although the average for the month in the past 31 years is only 3773 in. Tho maximum falls occurred on the 27th, 203 ms 28th, 2in; 18th, Lssin; and 4th, Klin. In April last year 11232 in fell on 19 days.

Politically this has been a busy month. The-platform campaign initiated by the National Conservative Association has been continued with more or less vigour by both parties. Captain Russell, tho nominal leader of the Opposition, has spoken at several centres, and Sir Robert Stout, who poses as an Independent Liberal, but who is apparently oven more bitterly opposed to tho Seddon Government than even the recognised Opposition is, has also delivered a series of addresses. As, however, Captain Russell admits, and is careful to point out in every speech he makes, that even if they returned to office (a most remote contingency, judging by the outlook at present) ho and his friends would not attempt to upset tho legislation passed by the present Government, his appeal to tho electors to turn out Mr Seddon and his colleagues fall very flat. As for Sir Robert Stout, it is perfectly well understood that his disappointment at not being chosen the Liberal chief in succession to tho late Mr Ballanco is the jn-incipal cause of his amusingly wrathful, but pathetically futile attacks upon the Government.

Ministers on their side are not idle in meeting the Opposition attack. Tho Premier has especially been alert and active, addressing meetings at Ketone, Wellington's big manufacturing suburb, where ho had a most enthusiastic reception; at Greytown, in the Wairarapa, and other places, Mr Seddon is a trenchant speaker, and his replies to Opposition criticism havo completely refuted the painfully laboured charges brought against his administration by Captain Russell and other speakers on tho Opposition side.

The census returns are now all in, and although, of course, soinctimo must elapso before tho full details are published of tho statistics got together, sufficient is known to warrant our saying that tho results of the census will show that a remarkable increase in population has been mado by the colony during tho last five years. Especially satisfactory are tho figures which relate to tho progress made by Wellington City, whfch has made the very solid advance* of 6000 souls. But the other day men were congratulating themselves on a bare 30,000, and here wo see a grand total of 36,000. This, let us boar in mind, is tho borough proper. Not one of tho other groat boroughs in New Zealand can compare with it. Their statistics outtop ours with the assistance of their suburban boroughs. But wo stand alone with our 37,432. That is one thing. Another is that no other city will show an increase for tho fivo years of tho census period of 20 per cent. A growth of one-fifth during a period of fivo years, three of which were the years of the greatest recorded depression in New Zealand, is an eloquent testimony to tho solidity of tho resources of tho Wellington district, to its commercial soundness, to the substantial advantages of tho geographical position of the chief city. Tho census figures only give exactness to tho shape of the correct conviction which many things havo borno in upon us during the last few years. The growth of the great warehouses, the migration here of head offices, tho spread of the city upwards and outwards, the absence of untenanted houses, the prosperity of tho building trade, the briskness of business, and the prosperity of the finance of the local bodies —all these things have given us eloquent evidence of the city's progress. Tho census return corroborates that multifarious ovidenco by telling us how many new people have come to .stay, and are not doing badly.

Some of tho country districts in tho Wellington provincial district havo also made surprising progress, a progress largely due, as even tho most prejudiced opponents of tho Government admit, to the liberal system of land settlement initiated by tho present administration. The advance made at Fahialua, ill the Forty-Mile Bush district, a district in which tho settlement is in small areas, as opposed to tho largo sheep runs of some of the older settled districts, is especially noteworthy. A few years ago Pahiatua was not even a point in tho wilderness. In 1891 it possessed a population of 782; now its enumeration reaches the satisfactory total of 1851. That is the record of a new district, working out its destiny in the heart of tho old Wellington province without the aid of tho railway system, and with but little

expenditure on public works. There is Masterton with an increase of 12 per cent, on a population of 3114. That this, one of the most pleasant of our inland towns, should havo more than held its own is a tribute to tho elasticity of tho resources of the forest country that borders the great Wairarapa plain.

The banking returns for the colony for the quarter ending 31st March havo been published, tho assets being stated at .£16,021,687 7s lOd, and the liabilities ■£15,474,159 lis Id. The following details may be of interest:—Coined gold and silver and other coined metal, .£3,179,925 6s; gold and silver in bullion or bars, £105,448 lis 3d; notes and bills of other banks, .£40,029 9s Id; balances due from other banks, .£23,713 8s 4d ; landed property, £468,840 lis 3d; notes and bills discounted, £1,735,258 Is lOd; colonial Government securities, £303,418 ISs 5d ; debts duo to tho bank, exclusive of debts abandoned as bad, £9,005,538 3s 3d; securities not included under other heads, £1,630,514 15s -Id. The following were the liabilities :—Notes in circulation, £929,081 0s 10d; bills in circulation, £50,316 4s 7d ; balances duo to other banks, £32,155 13s 4d ; Government deposits,'£l,2l4,l97 2s 2d; deposits not bearing interest, £5,157,295 19s 8d; deposits bearing interest, £8,090,513 7s 9d.

With special reference to tho Bank of New Zealand in whose affairs so many of our Home readers no doubt are interestec 1 , tho following are the salient points of tho quarter's figures :—There has been—l. An increase in tho amount of Government deposits; 3. An increase in deposits not bearing interest, being the natural result of the harvest and wool proceeds being banked ; 3. A decrease in tho amount of fixed deposits, consequent, we suppose, on tho reduction in the rate of interest now given ; 4. A reduction in the debts due to the Bank, tho result of tho adjustments authorised by law, which have been given effect to, and which only now affect the averages, to any apparent extent; 5. A reduction in the amount of other securities, tho effect of the writing down tho Estates Company's shares from tho proceeds of calls and from other sources; 0. Tho coined gold, silver, and bullion on hand shows the largo amount held and available in New Zealand of £1,055,950, apart from Government securities, £303,418, also hold.

Tho rapid and substantial strides made by tho goldmining industry, especially in the northern part of tho colony, are fully and practically evidenced by tho official returns for tho year ended March 31st, 1893. Tho official returns for tho Hauraki goldfields alone show an increaso of £110,308, tho output being .£378,106 as against £201,746 in 1895. 'Tho value of gold received from the various centres on this field is as follows : £ Coromandel 138,897 Thames 03,913 Ohinetnuri 174,355 Piako 911 Total 378,100

In an interesting report on this field, now so well known to English investors, Mr Wilson, tho Government mining inspector, makes tho! following remarks:—Before, however, referring to the returns for 1890, it may not prove uninteresting to refer to the results achieved since, say, 1892, as even passing reference cannot fail to convince tin; most sceptical of the marvellous strides that are being made by the industry. For the year ended 31st March, 1892, the total value of gold obtained from tho Hauraki goldfields was £170,070 10s. 'The next year showed an increaso of £13,323 Os lid, the total for 1893 being worth £189,393 18s lid. This was in itself a most gratifying increase, but 1894 saw this total still further swelled by £30,250 10s Id, tho total of that year amounting to £219,051) 15s. This was mainly duo to tho success that had attended the use of the cyanide process, as applied to tho ores of the Oliinemuri goldfields; but whereas tho value obtained for 1891 was as already mentioned £219,050 15s, this was again beaten by the record for 1895, the value for that year being £201,710, an increaso of £42,059 5s over that of 1894, and no less than £85,070 2s for three years, or since 1892. And now we come to the results achieved for tho year ended 31st March, 1890, which havo beaten all previous records. Tho total value of gold obtained for that period was £378,100 14s lOd, against £261,746 for 1895.

Next year's returns may bo safely counted to show a yet more satisfactory result, as new capital is daily flowing in to tho colony for investment in mining ventures on tho West Coast (South Island), tho Hauraki, and other fields. Our New Zealand mines have not until lately received tho attention which they deserve at the hands of Homo capitalists, but it is evident British investors are now wisely turning their eyes towards a colony where thoroughly settled government, State aid to the industry, and a laudable absence of

"wild cat" mines, which are such an objectionable feature of tho Westralian fields, all afford guarantees for the security of the investments made.

As Postmaster-General and head of the Telegraph Department tho Hon. Mr Ward has introduced many changes and reforms during his term of office. It has now boen announced that the Government have decided to establish a system of Od telegrams. The delayed telegrams will be abolished entirely, and a Od tariff for ordinary telegrams for 12 words substituted, with a penny a word after tho first 12 words. Tho new system will como into operation on Juno Ist next, so as to enable the the necessary arrangements to bo completed.

From statistics published by the Department of Education, it appears that the number of children attending the public schools of the Colony on the 31st December last was 129,850, an increase of 2550 over the number for tho previous year, while tho average attendance was 100,022, as compared with 103,490 in 1894. The pupils on the roll included 1894 Maoris, independent of tho number attending Native schools. The number of children who passed some standard during tho year was 70,287.

Tho advocates of Bible-reading in schools have of late been very much to the front, the party in favour of the introduction of what is known as tho Irish Text Book having held public meetings and adopted other methods of bringing their project before tho favourable notice of tho public, At tho recent school committee elections held here the Bible in Schools Party succeeded in placing several of their members on the various committees. It is understood that a Bill will be introduced in tho House of Representatives during the coming session providing for the taking of a national plebiscite on tho question. This was recently dono in South Australia, but tho result was an overwhelming defeat for those who desired to change the existing and pure secular system.

Tho railway returns for the year ended 31st March last have been completed, and show a very satisfactory state of affairs. Tho revenue totals £1,183,040, and the expenditure £751,367, tho net profit therefore being .£431,073. Tho cost of tho 2011- miles of opened lines is given at £15,352,013, and tho profit therefore amounts to £2 13s 9d per cent. This is in round numbers £IO,OOO better than tho ostimate, and £13,000 better than last year. On tho North Island section, where there are 775 miles open for traffic, the revenue for tho year amounted to £138,810, and the expenditure to £283,550. On the Wellington section the number of miles open for traffic is 94, the revenue was £85,773, and the expenditure £51,389. The NapierTaranaki section has 332 miles open for traffic, tho revenue was £207/107, and tho expenditure £133,889.

Tho operations in connection with tho Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company's contracts on tho Weft Coast are to be started at once. These consist of a railway bridge across the Groy River, and two sections of tho railway and platelaying. The cost will amount to about £25,000. The Company has resolved to carry out tho work on its own account, and Mr 11. Biguell, contractor, Greymouth, has been appointed manager for this purpose. Mr Napier Bell, the Company's consulting engineer, will initiate the whole undertaking. 'The first sod on the No. 5 railway contract was turned on Monday, 4th May. When this work is completed it will enablo the Point Elisabeth Company to place upon the market coal from their new mines at Coal Creek, Camp Creek, &c.

For some time past the construction of a graving-dock in connection with the Wellington harbour has been discussed, and a special committee of the Harbour Board was set up to go into details as to costs, etc. The committee has sent in its report, and states that assuming such a dock as that proposed to lie constructed would pay for its maintenance and working expenses, the annual [expenditure would be £12,000The committee further expressed its opinion that the Board could not at present increase its charges to>n amount sufficient to cover such an annual expense.

Cardinal Moran, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Australasia, has visited the colony during tho month, and has everywhere been received by his coreligionists with the greatest enthusiasm. Monsignor Verdon has been installed as Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, Cardinal Moran presiding at the consecration ceremony, at which several other high dignitaries of tho church from Australia and various parts of this colony were present.

Tho fourth annual meeting of the Now Zealand Rugby Football Union has been held at Wellington during the month. Mr

De Costa was elected secretary in succession to Mr E. D.Hoben, who now resides in Sydney, but to whoso untiring efforts much of the success achieved by tho Union was due. A Queensland team will visit the Colony during the winter.

At tho annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatization Society it was stated that New Zealand must bo regarded as a most suitable home for doer, affording as it does every requisite for their breeding, development and sustenauco. Tho increase of red deer, continues the report, has been especially remarkably in the Wairarapa district, where from a trio introduced into tho province of Wellington in the year 1802 have sprung hundreds that now roam over fifty square miles of country. Tho Council of the Society suggests that further steps be taken to introduce roe, fallow and other varieties of deer into the Wellington district. It was further stated in the report that the native pigeon is rapidly growing scarcer. The report deals also with pisiculturo. Tho tributaries of the Manawatu in the Fiftymile Bush aro now well stocked with trout and afford capital sport" Angling as a sport has been in high favour this year, the number of fishing licenses issued by tho Society being very largoly in excess of previous years.

The obituary for the month includes tho name of Mr E. T. Gillon, one of tho oldest and best known of Now Zealand journalists. Born in Douglas, Islo of Man, in 1842, ho came to tho colony in 1851 with his parents, who settled in Otago, in tho Waihola district. Early in his teens he saw much of the work of station life, stock-riding, cattle-driving, mustering and all rough work, But tho end of tho fifties found him established in journalism, reporting tho proceedings of tho Provincial Council for tho Otago Witness. In 1801 ho was sent specially to the historic Gabriel's, and acquired his first experience of outside reporting in tho rough and tumble of that wildly exciting goldfield life. When tho Otago Daily Times was established by Mr Vogel, Mr Gillon was chief reporter and theatrical critic, and lost no opportunity of qualifying himself for tho higher walks of his profession. After leaving the Otago Daily Times ho was for two or three years a member of tho Public Service, and then returned to journalism. He was one of the first members of the Hansard staff, and was tho organiser and first manager of tho present New Zealand Press Association. In 1881. ho joined tho Wellington Evening Post as editor, which position ho occupied until his death. Ho was the first president of tho Now Zealand Institute of Journalists, and was a very prominent Freemason, the formation of tho now extremely successful Grand Lodge of New Zealand and tho establishment of a Now Zealand Constitution being mainly duo to his untiring efforts. He was also tho representative in this Colony of tho English Dramatic Authors' Society. As an allround journalist he was admittedly tho foremost man in his profession, and his decease at the comparatively early ago of 54 has boen very widely regretted by his brethren of the pen. Mr Gillon, who was a widower, leaves two daughters and throe sons to mourn his loss. Tho funeral ceremony was very largoly attended.

A painful impression has been created in Wellington by tho death at Auckland of Mrs Stuart Menteath, wifo of Mr A. A. Stuart Menteath, barrister, Wellington, and cousin of Lady Glasgow and Major Eliot. Mrs Menteath had been in indifferent health for some time past, and about two months ago she left on a visit to Lady Glasgow, hoping that sho would derive some benefit from tho change. Mrs Menteath, her medical advisers state, was suffering from consumption, and it is thought that a shock sho received through the horses of the carriage bolting while she was out visiting hastened her death. On Friday week last Mr Menteath was sent for, but bis wifo became unconscious before ho arrived at Auckland, and remained so till death ensued. Mrs Menteath will bo much missed in Wellington, where she had a largo circle of friends. Three children —two girls and a boy—are left to mourn the loss of a good and affectionate mother. Mrs Menteath showed great interest in political matters; for somo time sho was socretary of tho Southern Cross Society.

Other deaths which have occurred during the month wero those of Mrs Falconer, wifo of Captain Falconer of the Defence Department; Mrs Allan Ward, wife of a prominent member of tho Labour party in Wellington ; Mr F. Percy, the first schoolmaster in the Nelson district and more recently a resident of Hawke's Bay; Mr J. France, an old and much respected resident of Picton ; Mr J. Pierson, of Wakapuaka, Nelson; Mr F. A. Pemberton, M.A., assistant master at Prince Albert College, Auckland; and Mr S. Slesinger, a wellknown veterinary surgeon of Dunedin,