“ALONG THE LINE.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 32

“ALONG THE LINE.”

Special to the “Mail.”

(By Our Travelling Representative.)

' - . MASTEtRTON, Jan. 30 At time of writing

the one tluing desired most by settlors generally is rain—and plenty of it. Farmers in the Wairar*arpa and the Hutt Valley are experiencing the dire dlisootm.font of the exceptionally dry summer. A decline is setting in, and sltock is suffer'-, ing the effects of a drought. Daily factory returns are decreasing, and a reduction in prices seems inevitable. Thousands of acres of fine pastoral country «re wasted for 1 want of water, and grass fires hoih undisputed sway if once gaining an inroad. Harvesting operations aPe alone favourable, ; whilst here and there S good burn is recorded amongst those

aefctteiß Having to depend upon clearing bush land's for ■ future settlement. All the earth seem® burnt up. ana; parched. The country is enveloped in thick smtoke, amd a Wood-red sun overhead tends to jmake it a heated furnace. A SCENE OF DESOLATION it has become in parts where raging fir es hum day and night with unabated iury tbrouch the land. Rivers run dry and iSrth appeals for moisture, animals languish, and man looks on impotent to move whero relentless-Nature assert® suSemacy. All suffer alike, both man and (beast,- and sigh fo-r ram. Ifc . lS J U9f g where about seven years since «milai weather was experienced, and then it I was followed by disastrous floods throughput the land* of sheep ~ and cattle succumbed) and prosperity- -- was - forgotten. Let us fervently hope a similar period of try-* ingoircumstances among farmers is not in Stirc'' again to niar the prospect of those upon whom, so much depends. -.‘/A FINEI NEW HALL

has beeln. erected by the settlers of the Upper B uttf The other night a dance %:was giveiUi'to celebrate the occasion, of its Member for'the district. Mr.

‘’'Tom" Wilford. was amjongst those prescut, and made eulogistic mention of the enterprise of those concerned in securing to the district such an uniqiie advantage. The building is a costly affair, and when, done with will run into, four, figures at least, including fittings and all etceteras. As a place of public entertainment it is hard to beat for a small town- and admirably adapted for meetings l , to which end it was erected. The dance was in every sens© a success, and afforded enjoyment to many persons present from long distance®, who came to show their appreciation of tno. enterprise. Excellent music was supplied by Minifie's string band, and the catering was all that could well be desired, making the ball and opening ceremony worthy of long remembrance. The committee worked hard, and in all particulars contributed willing sendees to a most deserving object. A SCENE OF MODE,NINO.

was that connected with the burial of

the late Tamahau Mahupnku at Martinboiriugli. The Maoris ara a. peculiar people, and to them a tanigi is stometlrirg of very real importance if connected with the death of one of great repute. I think that, after - all, very little can be said against countenancing the upholding • of such customs dear to the -heart of a loyal people, many com-pilaints are being made against the issuing of free passes to them over our 'lines ot rail, and in various ways we are being asked to look askance at a peopl-a who if necessary would die to uphold our honour and prestige as a nation. Who so ready as the Maori to pay homage to all in authority over us and them,, and quick to discern our hopes and aspirations in regulalang, the fitness of things? Did ever a Maori jeer when the pakeha wept? I think not. Then why should we press 'hardly upon tnem in every particular of their much, revered and truly harmless practices ? TWELVE THOUSAND MILESI AWAY and we hold tangi over the death of a well-loved Queen, and yet many of. us never allow for the ancient traditions of the Maori, and condemn in him a trait fo character in all respect® similar to our own. Any who witnessed the ceremonials

of the past chieftain's demise will hesitate to remove frpan sacred custom the glory of a requiem such as it proved in'mernoi. Lsing the departure) of one who - was great among his people, and I hoipe the day will never arrive in New Zealand when the iron hand of authority forbids a befitting farewell to men of long race and ancient jmoagie in any .part of our land. TJ&urpers though we be to all prerogatives once enjoyed by bond and free, we-will not altogether obliterate th© tangi in case we need one of our own. The Muscovite at the gates of Pekin is sufficient to remind us that a day awaits us when the Maori tangi will not prove more troublesome than the guarding of our land from rude invasion by a relentless and unfeeling people. . THE MEMBER. FOR W At BAR AP A, j Mr. W. O. Buchanan,, is probably one of ' the shrewdest farmers in, his electorateW'hiat Mr. Buchanan doesn't know about sheep and cattle, and agriculture too.

isn’t worth troubling about. Many people Drink because a man own-s a large holding be must of necessity make both ends in'eet. Experience t eaches tha t no such precedent exists, for in reality the responsibility is disproportionately greater. The owner of TupurUpura homestead lands is keen in most things as he is' generous and hospitable, and knows just when to- buy and when, to sell to advantage. He will tell you the pedigree of every stud sheep and bull about the place, and discuss political finance, with wonderful clearness of perception ais a variety to conversation. To him arei known the qualities of the, soil and his reasons, for the great mortality amongst sheep at shearing time, is a study in bacteriology. All the constituents of the -earth’s chemistry is his 1 forte, and an hour spent in his company is one of pirbfit. "If I had had the choosing, I should hatva been an engineer, hut it was ordered! that should be) a farmer.” And a good one, too! THE TRAIN FROM NAPIER, was delayed lor more than an hour the other evening on the journey oyer the Rimutaka Incline. It is usual to have three large Fell engine® attached to an ordinary express triain, eomieibmes four. I have seem, five, and once—New Year’s

night—six were attached to a train of sixteen ears. This was probably the largest train over the hill, and though the journey was accomplished 1 with ease, such is fraught with considerable danger. Generally 140 tons weight is sufficient; for anything .over that amount is liable to cause the permanent way to subside>at its narrowest.and extreme point, hundreds of feet above the ordinary level and between the second and third tunnels'. I do not wish to' pose as an alarmist,' but surely the time will come when fearful disaster awaits some passenger train or other at this pjoint. If any reader doubts the probability of such a happening, let him or her carefully examine the line in passing along between the two breakwinds at “Slibieria." THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFICover the Rimutakas warrants every err© being exercised as bo probable accident from any cause whatever. The increased traffic is a fearful tax upon, employees 1 '

powers of physical endurance. knows the amount of physical; drivers stokers and guards endurebn.account, of the recant stoppage. Em not know why the aiiwailve is not connected with the floor of the cab instead ’ of ; tbo roof. By this means a current;’of.. cool air could be brought from underneath' to revive tli>o firemiaai aiidi driver. < A /blast of hat air from the roof is not the thing for exhausted 'lungs, consequent upon too long exposure to heated furnaces, and sub phiuous fumes. The department could easily remedy this) if approached upon the matter. In the interests, of men who wiprk double shifts in summer, I thxnK something might be done to alleviate tne diskresting circumstancesl under winch. tne men are forced to work. Slo much depends upon their skill and endurance m crossing the Rimutakas that from a niv* manitarian point of view a cool dr aright Of' air in tunnels should be secured, to them.