The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 1883.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 4450, 19 September 1883, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 1883.

TnE Ministers, when dismissing tho members at the end of tho session, supplied them, like so many schoolboys, with lessons to Btudy during the recess in tho shape of bills which will be introduced when the Wellington Academy is again opened. Tho measure tho Minister for Public Works has circulated is " Tho Rail-

way Improved Land Bill," which will share the fate of similar bills when it comes to be discussed. The title of the bill is "An Act to impose on lands traversed by railways constructed at public expense a charge in aid of such construction." This substantially sets forth the whole principle of the bill. The rest is mere detail, but important.. All privately owned lands (not within a borough or town district) situated within five miles of a Government railway, are to be subject to the provisions of the bill, and on the opening of the raihyay are to be liable to contributions in aid of its construction. The amount of such contributions is to be assessed by the Property Tax Commissioner, who is te have the power of purchasing property at 10 per cent, over its assessed value if the owners object to the assessment. The owner may either pay the contribution on demand, or allow it to remain as a charge on the property at five per cent, interest. All lands subject to the Act may be resumed by the Crown for settlement on payment of 25 per cent, above their assessed value, as determined by the Property Tax Commissioner. The power of resumption is, however, not to apply to the site of the owner's private residence or to so much of adjacent land, not exceeding 640 acres, as the owner may select, or to gardens, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, plantations, or ornamental pleasure grounds, to the extent of ten acres. The proclamation of resumption is to be subject to the approval of Parliament next session, and is to lapse if such sanction is not accorded. All this will look very fair, no doubt, to those who live in districts where the country is a net work of railways — but to those who have not a railway near them, and are called on to pay for the benefits others are reaping, the proposed Act will not be very acceptable.

At the aieeting of the Harbour Board on Wednesday last, Mr. Newman showed considerable forethought in suggesting that the Engineer should be empowered to increase tho number of hands at the Harbour Works. The weather baß proved favour able for breakwater construction, and woi k is now going on steadily. Mr. Rhind has materially added to the strength of his men, and thus not one moment has been lost in carrying on a work of such paramount importance to the district. Had the Board neglected to pass the resolution giving power to take on additional men, a month would probably have been frittered away in working short-handed, and the result would have been far from satisfactory. The members of the present Harbour Board are clear headed, practical men, and we look forward with confidence that during their administration of affairs the breakwater will be pushed forward with all speed. It has been suggested that during the ensuing summer months two gangs 1 of men should be employed, so that the work of block-laying may be continued without intermission from day light till dark. If this can be effected then it will ensure a large extension of the mole this season; but we have ascertained that there are one or two objections to this course. The chief objection is that it would necessitate a larger number of men being employed, some of whom would be almost idle during unfavorable weather for working, as they could not all be employed at the quarries and other works. The question, however, is one o£ serious importance, and it will probably be discussed shortly at the Board meeting, when the difficulties will be gifted to the bottom, and it will be ascertained whether they are insurmountable Oi" otherwise.

The Governor has appointed Mr. Alfred Trimble to be Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Manaia. Inspector James, of Wanganui, formerly of Wellington, has been seriously iil with liver complaint. Mr. Thomas Luther Shepherd is again to the fore. He has now been appointed Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, and Vaccination Inspector at Ahaura. The schooner Maud Graham arrived in the roadstead at 5 p.m. yesterday, from Lyttelton, with a cargo o£ wheat, oats, and potatoes consigned to Messrs. Webster and McKellar. She was discharged this morning by the Lighter Company. The following is the team chosen to represent the town in next Saturday's match — Taranaki Football Club v. Parihaka Football Club : — Atkinson, Bourke, Carrington, Cliff, Gray, Hempton, Holford, Honeyfield, Loveredge, Macdonald, Perm, Rogers, Skeet/ Stohr. Emergency : Henderson. Umpire : Mr. A. H. Holmes. Referring to the Public Petitions Committee, the Dunedin Herald says — " It is only fair to Bay that this Committee is officered by Mr. Kelly, a' Taranaki member, who has occupied the chairmanship for many years, receiving the insignificant sum of £100 per annum for devoting his attention to and exhausting his mental energies on the comprehensive business entrusted to the post." The natives complain bitterly this year of the destructiveness of tho small birds — many acreß of wheat sown this season by the natives having been almost entirely destroyed. One native, who spoke feelingly on the subject, exclaimed : " D ■ the Government ; they fine us for keeping dogs, but we should fine the Government for bringing the birds here to cat up our crops." The natives who were unsuccessful some time ago in gaining admission to Parihaka have determined to make another attempt, and a considerable number of them were in town this morning on their way to Te Whiti's settlement. This is their annual meeting, and thoy say that they will not be so easily turned back this time. Their determination appears to be Btrong, and, in the event of their being stopped from entering Parihaka by the ordinary, road, they will enter the bush and get into Parihaka from the rear under cover of the night.

Persons in tho vicinity of Queen-street have no doubt been curious to know the cause of the explosions that have occurred at certain intervals during yesterday and to-day. The explanation is this : The Acclimatisation Society are causing to be constructed a pond at the rear of Mi-. Uoneyiield's mill, and men are busily at work blasting the huge boulders in the bed of the Mangotuku stream so as to afford sufficient room when tho stream is in a state of flood, and the young trout, which will be shortly placed there, will be secure from harm. Mr. Honeyfield has kindly placed the pond at the disposal of the Society, and we hope the renewed efforts that are being made to introduce trout in our streams will be more successful than heretofore