The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1863.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6792, 21 November 1883, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1863.

There lias jusfe como to hand a most interesting and valuable return, which, in accordance with a venerable legislative fiction, is supposed to have been " laid on the table of the House" whilst it was sitting—but was not. It is entitled a Return showing the loss sustained on account of railways during the financial year ending March 31, 1883. It is nob surprising that this return should have been called for by a Canterbury representative. For some time past our Wellington friends have been carping and girding at the reduction of the railway tariff on the Southern Island lines. Not that any difference has been made in the general tariff between the North and the South, for these have been alike all over New Zealand. But the latter has had grain and goods lo freight the railway trucks with, and the former has not. Neither was ib because the Southern lines have not paid better than any others in New Zealand. That our detractors have not dared to assert. The grievance has simply been that the Southern Island railways have not paid more—that, in fact, they have not not yielded enough to satisfy Wellington greed. It is, and always has been, a notorious fact that the Otago railways are the only." paying lines" in the Colony. That is to say, they are the only lines yielding a profit over and above working expenses and charges for interest. Yet whilst these profitable lines have often been assailed and misrepresented by our Northern neighbours, we are unable to call to mind a single instance in which, either through the Presß or in the Parliament, any one word of complaint has been uttered respecting the comparatively unprofitable railways of the North Island. The generosity of our people has, however, been ill rewarded. The cry of Wellington, like that of the daughters of the horse-leech, has ever been, " Give! give !" And the more we have given the more exigeant have her demands become. What wonder, then, that a Canterbury member—Mr White— should desire to place on record the facts respecting the railways—north and south. We have it now on indisputable authority that were the Canterbury and Otago lines worked independently of the rest of New Zealand, the present traffic rates might be yet further reduced, not only without any loss, but with a positive direct gain, and a further indirect gain

ift the increased stimulus that lower rates would give to production, and consequently to commerce.

I In the return to whioh wo allude we find that the net " loas" for the year on Now Zealand raitwayii is sut down at £163,421. But this statement requires somo explanation. Tho receipts over working expenses amounted to |J3G5,8G2, showing an apparent profit to that extent. But the coat of construction was about ten-and half millions, the intorost on which, at 5 per cent., is about £024,000 for the year. The difference between this interest and tho balance over and above working expenses constitutes the nominal " loas " of the l'oturn. So much being understood, we proceed to analyse the figures prosonted, with theae results. There uro two columns, headed respectively " gain " and " loss." In the first-named there are but two entries, and they refer to Canterbury and Otago lines. All the rest, without exception, are recorded under the debit heading as involving a total loss of £208,522, whilst the former present a clear gain of over £45,000, after paying working expenses and also interest at the rate of 5 per cent. This is not mere speculation, nor is there any possible jugglery with tho figures. It is placed on record in an indisputable document, emanating presumably from the Department of Public Works, and endorsed by the Treasury. Unfortunately, owing to the curiously involved manner in which the return is made up, the casual reader will be more or less mystified;, but with a little patience the whole matter becomes understandable. On the WaikariTeinuka main line the receipts over working expenses were £114,158, or nearly 7 per cent, on tho cost of construction; and on the Pal-merston-Clinton main line £87,739, or about 0 per cent, on the cost of construction. Tho clear profit on tho firstnamed section was £29,293, and on the latter £15,805. From tho total of these, however, must be deducted a loss of £15,359 on . the Temuk*Palmeraton section, which, for some occult and not very easily discernible reason, is set forth by itself. Taking the main lino, however, from Waikari, in North Canterbury, to Clinton, in Southern Otago, the net gain for tha year is £30,000. On the other hand, the Northern railways show a net losa of more than £100,000 for the year. Auckland is more than £30,000 to the bad ; and Wellington—the most favoured of provincial districts—shows a loss of £54,000 ; New Plymouth coining in with a modest deficit of £10,000, which is a very fair attempt on the part of that impecunious portion of the Colony.

Now, from all this it becomes apparent that here again, in the most vital and necessary development of our resources, Otago and Canterbury are heavily handicapped as against the rest of the Colony. It is quite clear that were these two provinces, or provincial districts, left unhampered and to their own resources, the traffic rate 3 might be yet further reduced with advantage. But so long as everything is controlled from Wellington, so long will the

earnings of the South go to supplement the deficiencies of the North. We are simply working for others, who not only do not share Our toils, but take our gifts and revile us for not bringing more to gratify their insatiable appetite. Is it surprising that we languish under a general monetary and commercial depression when the working bees of tho community are daily and hourly plundered by the drones who fatten on their labours 1 Rather, let us say, it is astonishing that we have borne so much public plundering and blundering without utterly breaking down under the Btrain. It is creditable to our people that they have borne it without giving way ; bub there is a limit to all things, and it can scarcely be creditable to continue to endure the present order of things. It is quite time that some action were taken to prevent a continuance of the. system by which the funds of Otago and Canterbury are being frittered away elsewhere. We have now suffered from this unpardonable sin of Centralism for the traditional seven years, and the day has come for a change—as a change there must be, if the South is to holdits own in the future.

Several local reports appear on our fourth page. We aro compelled to hold over reports of St. Kilda and West Harbour Council meetings.

Tha Chairman of the Harbour Board stated yesterday that tho To Anau would discharge and receive cargo at Rattray street Wharf this

;rip, and would come up Victoria Channel

this morning. On Monday there was a minimum depth of 18ft Gin at high water in Vie-

The Dunedin Boys and Girls' High Schools will break up for the Christmas holidays on the 17th and 18th December respectively.

The Otago Agricultural and Paßtoral Association's annual Bhow commences to-day on the Forbury racecourse. Nearly all the exhibits have arrived, and there is every likelihood of a good display both of stock and manufactures. Some of the exhibitors from the country have had great difficulty in securing paddocks for their stock, but now all th e animals forwarded have been comfortably located. The weather is still dull, but more promising than it was a day or two ago. Special arrangements for tho conveyance of

passengers on each day have been made both by the Railway and the Tramway Company, and if the weather holds good a large attendance of the public may be expected, par. ticularly on Thursday afternoon. The Mayor has proclaimed a half-holiday for Thursday afternoon, the second day of the show.

Mr E. H. Carew, K.M., sat at tho City Police Court yesterday, and fined two persons for drunkenness. A charge against James Jackson, of obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty, was remanded until to-day.

At yesterday's meeting of the Harbour Board it was resolved by a large majority that in future there should be no permanent committees for dealing with finance and works, but that committees should be appointed whon special circumstances rendered it desirable.

Full reports on the financial state of the Board, and on the present condition of the Board's works, aa woll as projected undertakings, were submitted by the secretary and engineer.

A gentleman writes to us from Honley to say that the ground in that neighbourhood was free of surface water on Monday forenoon,

though some portions of tho plain wore as much as four or five feet under water. Tho whole of the land from Henley to Waipori Lake was thon dry. Mr R, Charters, of Ury Farm, East Taieri, also writes to correct our statement, that " my farm is completely under water." He says: " Certainly a portion of my land was flooded on Saturday night by the overflow from the Silverstream, but the water was all off by Sunday morning." We are pleased to hear that Mr Charters escaped co

lightly, but would point out that he does not quote our report correctly. The exact words were: " The greater portion of the land in the vicinity of the farms of Messrs W. Shand, WKirklnud, and X, Charters is completely under water."

There was no sitting of the District Court yesterday, the Court being adjourned for a month, in consequence of the continued indisposition of his Honour Judge Ward.

Tenders are invited by tho Public Works Department for the Nenthorno contract— another section of the Otago Central railway, Tho contract commences at about 24 miles from the junction with the main line aud extends a distauco of nine miles. It includes formation ef lino and the construction of culverts but there are no bridges required on the section. Tho works are comparatively heavy throughout, though the last threo miles are somewhat lighter than the rest of the contract. All the cutting* avo in solid echist rock, and

aomo of thorn ara of an extensive character. One of the ombankmonts in 100 ft deep and fivo chains long, and it haul cuttings on oach aide whioh aro 35ft and 05ft doep respectively. Sovoral of the other embankments aro from GOft to 65ft doep, and the cuttings aro correspondingly heavy. Tho timo allowed for the exocution of tho work is two yoars from tho data of the acceptance ofHhe tenders, and tenders must bo in by January 24. The Deep Stream contract, for tha completion of 4J miles of formation, will bo re ndvortised shortly. Tho contractors for this section having failed to carry on the work, it haa been taken out of their hands. When tho two soctions just inontioned and tho unemployed section aro finished the formation of tho railway will bo complote to within two miles of the Sutton Stream. Tha heavy rain whioh foil on Saturday caused groat damago at Evansdale, near Blueskill. Tho Waihomo river overflowed its banka, and completely submerged tho flat, which presented more tho appearance of a lake than a township. Messrs Carey, Howard, and Carruthers aro the heaviest loaera, their crops of oata and potatoas being either entirely washed away or completely buriod beneath the mud and shingle brought down by tho flood, Mr Carruthers has also lost several hundreds of manuka rails, which wero carried away before anything could be done to Bavo them. A large amount of fencing has been destroyed, and many of the culverts washed away. At the invitation of Messrs Cutten and Co., of Castlo street, a large number of gentlemen gathered on the reclamation grounds yesterday afternoon to witnesa a public test of Dyke's fireproof safes. Messrs Cutten, it may be mentioned, recently purchased from Mr Geo. Dyke the sole right to manufacture these safes in this Colony. Judging from the result of yesterday's trial, Messrs Cutten and Co. wil^ have no reason to regret their purchase. Two iron safes—one Dyke's, and the other an English article manufactured by Perry and Sous—were subjected to a very severe test> They wero placed side by side in a strong fire for nearly an hour, tho heat being, if anything, greater than that of a burning building, The English safe contained an old sack and sundry papers, and the Colonial safe was made the receptacle of a similar lot of papers, a purse belonging to one of the bystanders, and the patentee's overcoat. The fire was fed with pitch, and after burning for about an hour it Was put out. Tho safes were then burst open. Perry's was found to have suffered considerably, and the sack and the majority of the papers enclosed in it were burnt. Dyko'a safe was not much the worse, and when tha inventor prised open tho lid, threw the bystander his purso, and afterwards hold aloft his coat and the papers quite uniajured, there waß a round of applause. The result of the trial thus proved eminently satisfactory. Henry Basloy, an employe at Messrs Findlay and Co.'ts timber factory, was rathor badly cut and bruised about the legs and arms yesterday, through a stack of timber falling on him. Ho was attorided to at the Hospital. A man named John Ogg was blbo admitted to that institution yesterday. He had been rabbiting at Waikouaiti, and while going through some scrub his gun went off accidentally and the contents .lodged in his right leg at the knee-joint. Tho shot and wadding were extracted after chloroform had beon administered. At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, before Messrs W. Elder and J. Mill, J.P.s, George Groves, a milkman residing at Sawyers' Bay, was charged with wasting his eatata by excessive drinking. Captain Thomson, on behalf of defendant's family, applied for a prohibition-order. Tho defendant stated he was not in the habit of drinking to excessspirits ho never touched, but if ho wanted a pint or two of boer he took it. As to wasting his estate, he had none to waste. The Bench issued a prohibition-order for 12 months. Before leaving tho Court tho dofondant told their Worships that, although they had issued a prohibition-order against him, ha could, if he wanted beer, grow the barley, malt it, and brew the beor for his own consumption. The Eev. \V. Morloy, of Christchurcb, will deliver a lecture in Trinity Church this evening on "Dr Guthrie: Preacher, Author, and Philanthropist." Mr Morley ia widely known as one of the leaders in the denomination to which he belongs, and those who enjoy an able and interesting biographical lecture will be well repaid if they go to hear him. The fourth of a Bhort series of Blue Ribbon meetings was held in the Pine Hill School on Friday evening. Mr Jago and the Rev. J. S, Smalley delivered interesting and very effective addresses. Most of those whe had not already joined tha Blue Ribbon Army signed the pledge. There are now very few on Pine Hill without the blue ribbon. At the nomination of candidates for the office of councillor for West Ward, borough of Maori Hill, tho following were proposed:—John Sheenan (proposed by J. W. Hungerford and seconded by Denni3 Mullins), Edward Rowantree (proposed by Edwin Tanner and seconded by Henry Essex). The steamer wharf at Port Chalmers is to ba extended 300 ft, and tenders for this work will be received by the Public Works Dopartment up to tho Bth of January. The extension will consist of 23 braced piers, each containing nine piles. All the piles, with the exception of tho outside and end one, which are to bo of jarrah, may be of totara or ironbark. The flooring joists and kerbing may be either kauri or matai, and tha decking is to ba of Australian hardwood or matai. This extension will form a very valuable addition to the wharf accommodation at Port Chalmers, A supplementary bazaar in aid of St. Joseph's Cathedral building fund is to ba held on Thursday weak and tha two following days. The large number of chaste and artistic goods remaining from the bazaar hold last Easter will form a considerable portion of the articles to be disposed of next week. It will tak B place in the Rattray street Odd-Fellows' Hall, and on tho opening day a tea-meeting will ba held at 6 o'clock. Mr G. R. West haa kindly undertaken the musical portion of the programme. Mr John Tebbatts, of the Windsor Observatory, Sydney, has drawn attention to a new comet which is expected to be a conspicuous object in the western sky next February. Blackburn and Miller wrestled in Melbourne on November 7 for £100 a side, "catch as catch can above the waist, use of legs, tripping allowed." There were five falls. Blackburn clean cross-buttocked Miller twice, but Miller, with the arm hold, threw Blackburn over his head three times, each time with ease. There was great excitement over the final tussle.

Captain Jeannie White, from New Zealand, who has charge of the Salvation Army station at Williamstown, Victoria, is styled " The Hallelujah Maori."

Pigott, the Melbourne Jockey, who was on The Plunger, with whom Delusion cannoned, ib not dead, as was reported, but is progressing favourably. The Hon. J. White cent him a cheque for £50.

There was quite an enthusiastic audience at the Theatre last evening, when the Court Minstrels repeated their previous performance. The acting of Mr Johnny Cowan in the Hibarnicon comedy, as usual, created roars of laughter. Mr Cowan was well seconded in his efforts by the other members of the company and altogether the performance proved a very enjoyable one.

Tho North Dunedin Rifles will assomblo this evening for annual inspection. Mr Monttgu Pym will Bell sections In St. C]«!r on Saturday, December 8. Messrs Maclean and Co. will sell cattle, horses, and sheep at Palmerst^n en Monday, 26tb inst. Mr Douald St. onach will sell bush land ai Tapanui on Friday, 30th November. Mr J. F.- WntPoo will sell forfeited shares in tho Premier Goldmining Company on Saturday, 24th Inst Mr Montagu Pym will Bel a consignment of bronzo flgiiros on an early date. Moasrs Maclean and Co. will sell shorthorn Ayrshires, &c, on the Show ground on Thursday afterU3on.