ghciiayaualuiictall PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1891.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9252, 30 November 1891, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1891.

We hardly think the people of New Zealand would care to part with their railways, even if the golden bail was twice what Mr Witheford offers. Ttiat an English syndicate is prepared to give £15,000,000 for what has cost the colony more than that sum we are not surprised to learn, but we do not thibk Parliament House will ever contain such an idiotic majority within its walls as to sanction a measure to hand over to strangers such a very valuable asset for so trifling a sum. Mr Witheford having failed to interest the Government with his offer, is now trying to bring pressure on the local bodies throughout the country, and thinks now that by adding a bribe of £5,000,000, to be spent within three or four years on lines to be hereafter agreed upon, that he will gain their support. The net public debt of New Zealand at the present time is about £36,000,000, on the greater portion of which we are paying 3£ to 4 per cent, interest, whilst the railways are only yielding about 3 per cent. We are, therefore, losing at present from half to one per cent. But the Commissioners state that next year they will have a bettor report to make, and will then be able to show a profit instead of a loss. Had not the strike taken place last year they would have been able to have shown a different result now, but additional cost in wages has brought about the loss. With the increase of traffic now taking place on the lines, the result next year should bo such as will settle any question as to the disposal of the railways to strangers. Mr Morton, the Chairman of the Barrett Road Board, in his reply to Mr Witheford, in a very concise manner puts forward the salient points why New Zealand should not part with her railways. In a few words he states why politically as well as commercially it would be most injurious to the colony to sell for snob a trifling sum a very valuable asset. Whilst tUe railways are colonial property

it is competent for the Legislature to ! uevoto what profit may 09 derived from them in a reduction of the charges made, by which the public genorally would be inncfUed, b;:t if the lines were owned by I i company that profit would go into the p > tats of private individuals. Besides if the railways were sold, the people would still have to pay interest on them, although it^ would be indirectly. The freight on all kind of goods would necessarily be raised, and the public thus have to pay the stranger owners. No, Mr Witheford, your offer is not good enough; and the people of New Zealand, we think, will in a very decisive manner decline it.

The programme for the Fire Brigade Sports Carnival will bo published in to-morrow's issue. A train to meet the Takapuna and Gairloch from the north will leave for the breakwater at 5.45 a.m. to-morrow (Tuesday). We are indebted to Mr Murphy, the Co'lector of Customs, for the following I monthly statement for November, which shows a large increase on the same month last year:-Spirits (15s), £84 19s 6d; spirits (16s), £37 4s 6d; tobacco (3s 6d), £129 10s; wine, Australian (ss), £21 7s; wine, Australian (6s), £121352 d; tea (6d), £68 9s; sugar (£d), £37 6s 8d; weight, £76 3s 2d; ad valorem, £136 9s 9d; other duties, £7 9s. £611 11s 9d. Beer duty, £35 16s 6d. Total, £647 8s 3d. At the Horttcultuial Society Committee meeting on Saturday night, the Secretary stated that the Show had resulted in a deficiency of about £10, and the Committeemen had in consequence waived all right to prizes won by them. A discussion ensued on the subject, and the hope was expressed that some of the other prize takers would do as the Committee had done. The question of altering the rules so that in case of a deficiency all prizetakers will be compelled to abate proportionately, was disenssed, but no resolution was arrived at. The holding of a Chrysanthemum Show was then discussed, and one of the Committee finally undertook to find out if those who wished the show to be held would guarantee the Society against loss. A special meeting of the Horticultural. Society Committee was held on Saturday night. Tha first business considered was a protest against W. Nichols that he was not an amateur, and was therefore not entitled to compete for prizes except in the open classes. After evidence had been given, and Mr Nichols had replied, the Committee considered that the protest had not been sustained, but considered 1 at the same time that those who lodged /.be protest were furtheriog the interests of the Society in doing so. Another matter brought before the Committee was the fact that six children, who had been awarded prizes in the hand bouquet competition, were over the age of 14 years. It was decided not to award prizes to those over age. Messrs Murphy, Goodacre, K. Stuart, and C. W. Govett were appointed a sub-committee to revise the rules and regulations of tho Society, and report to a general meeting. Mr E. E. Gilbert notifies that he wil visit the district on or about December sth, remaining some weeks. Orders may be left with Messrs G. M. Brasch & Co. The Bail way Commissioners have accepted a tender for tbe supply of 1000 tons of Greymouth coal at 22s 6d for this section of railway. The Mokau Coal Company also tendered, their price bring 14s a ton.