The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3582, 24 March 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1886.

Mr Samuel Vaile, whose recently published pamphlet on the management of the State railways m New Zealand we briefly noticed a few days ago, invites us to review the scheme which he puts forward, and to point out wherein we disagree with him. He tells us that if we comply with his request we shall have a fair, candid, and courteous reply. " You must not think," he says, " that I would reply to you m the same style I have replied to Messrs Richardson and Maxwell. Their insolence and want of truth have, I consider, justified me m striking them without mercy." We may at once state that we cannot afford tho space necessary for nn exhaustive examination of Mr Vaile's scheme. We must, therefore, decline what appears to be intended by him ns a challenge. We have no objection, however, to add a few words to the little morsel of criticism m which we indulged m our previous notice. It was all contained m the following sentence: — "Wo disagree with a good deal of what Mr Vaile advances, as being inapplicable to the present state of New Zealand." We acknowledge that we might have been more explicit, and have disclosed the nature of our objection more clearly. That defect can be supplied without entering on an eluborate review of the scheme. But ita author must bear m mind that it rests with him to establish his position. He gives publicity to a scheme of railway management, and declares it to be excellent. That is his proposition, and it is incumbent on him to prove its truth, or to create a very strong probability m its favour, before he blames the department and the public for not accepting his teaching. We shall say nothing here with regard to the present Bystem, except that it is certainly not giving satisfaction ; but it does not follow that Mr Vaile'a scheme is good because the railways are not now managed as well as they might be. The idea which underlies tho whole of his case is " cheap transit." At the very outset he says that cheap transit lies at the root of all commercial aud social prosperity. He repeats himself twice on the next page. He says m one place : — " If we greatly reduce our transit charges we should at once reduce the cost of production, secure an increased number of buyers, and thus immediately bring about increased prosperity." A little further on he again says •.— " What we want is cheap and easy transit." But Mr Vaile is not so much possessed with that ono idea as to disregard the fact that the railways have cost a good many millions of money, and must bo made to contribnte as largely as possible to payment of interest on the outlay. Put m the briefest manner, his contention is that a wholesale reduction of rates would have the immediate effect of creating such an enormous amount of traffic (passengers and goods) that the railway revenue would not merely keep 'up to its present standard, but would largely exceed it. He produces for the outline of his scheme a favourable certificate from three gentlemen who have had a good deal of experience m the working of railways. One of those gentlemen, he says, has had seventeen years' experience on the Great Northern and other principal English railways, besides large colonial experience. Another was trained on the great Western line, and for some time was chief clerk on the Hurunui-Bluff line. The third was twenty-one years on the Great Western line, four years on the London, Chatham, and Dover line, and five years on the Bombay and Baroda and Central Indian line, holding important positions on all of them. We have no reason to doubt that the particulars given of their antecedents are quite true, but nevertheless we regard their united testimony on the point at issue as of little or no value. If Mr Vaile, or these gentlemen, or any one of them, could have adduced a case parallel to that which has to be dealt with m New Zealand — if they had told us that they had seen such a scheme as that proposed by Mr Vaile given effect to and succeed under like conditions, there would have been something substantial to go upon. But not one of them professes to have seen anything of the sort, and their experience, with one exception, is confined to countries m which there are tena of millions of people, a considerable proportion of whoui are so poor that a trifling alteration m railway tariffs would seriously lessen or increase (as the case might be) tho sum of the travellingpower of the community. Here there

is a mere handful of population, and, m onr opinion, the number of those who are. debarred by present rates from using the railways i 8 comparatively small. Very much lower rates would no doubt bring moro traffic, but there is, as far as we can see, no reason for supposing that the increase would swell the receipts to a larger figure than at present, or even maintain them at the existing standard. Mr Vaile neither proves his case nor creates a probability m its favour. That being so, it would be useless to review any of the particulars of his scheme, even though we had the space at our disposal.

A FEW days ago the public was informed that the Agent-General had written a letter to the Times stating that, if the New Zealand Government borrowed during this year, the amount would be limited to one million and a half. It now appears that his authority was the Colonial Treasurer, who sent him a cable message to that effect. Here then we have a distinct announcement which finally disposes of any doubt as to the intentions of the Cabinet with regard to one of the most important portions of the programme of the coming session. It is true that the message to the Agent-General refers only to the amount (if any) which is to be actually raised, and that the Colonial Treasurer might nevertheless propose and carry a very much larger loan, a provision being inserted m the act that not more than the million and a half should be negotiated during the year. That course has before been adopted m New Zealand. It is improbable, however, that Sir Julius Yogel has any such intention just now. The latest rumour is that the Government will propose a very moderate schedule of public works, and that, m case of success during the session, the dissolution will be postponed until after another very early session m 1887. The present Parliament would, we believe, expire by effluxion of time about August next year (that is three years from the day fixed for the return of the writs at the last general election). The Houses -will meet m May this year, and might be called together still earlier m 1887. There would then be time to get through the business before the expiration of the three years. Such is the rumour, but for our own part we put no faith whatever iv it. Tho Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association win hold ita annual ram and ewe fair to-morrow m Christchnrcb. An abbreviated report of a very pleasant evening spent m tho Congregational Church will bo found m another column. Mrs Edith^O'Gornian, " The escaped Nun," lias taken her departure to Sydney m the Wakatipu. She is to lecture m Australia for about a year. The glare of what appeared to bo a largo straw stack flre, some miles to the north-west of Timaru, was visiblo about 7 o'clock last evening. Tlio work of removing tho old buildings known as Quinn's Corner is being proceeded with very fast, and wo hopo to see this eyesore completely removed m a day or two. Tho Post-office box erected at Anderson the grocer's store was broken down yesterday by a horeo and cart backing into it. A now box was immediately put tip. Tho Harbour staff are to a great extent occupied just now with picking up boulders alongside tho Moody wharf, so as to make the work easier for tho dredgo when her services may be required thero. The Colorado Beotle3 were so favourably received at Waimato on Monday that they have made arrangements to return again on Friday, when they will doubtloss bo greeted by a bumper house. They play tonight and to-morrow m Oaniaru. A sale of work m connection with the Baptist Church will bo held m tho Oddfellows' Hall, Barnard street, on Thursday and Friday Dext. Full particulars m regard to it, as -well as to a tea meeting, etc., arc advertised. Tho dredgo Progress resumed active work yesterday, and during the day made four trips m eight working hours, taking out about 800 tons of Bpoil. Tho principal repairs to her wero dono by Mr P. Sinclair, under tho superintondauce of Mr Bain, her engineer. A largo shark was noticed yesterday afternoon swimming about closo to tho blocks m front of tho outlet of tho Strathallan street sewer, between the Xanding Service aud tho root of the Breakwater. Several small boys wero fishing off the blocks m happy ignorance of its proximity. Tho election of a Councillor to represent tho North-west Ward m tho place of Mr A. J. H. Bower, resigned, will take place on Wednesday, April 14th, at tho Town Hall, Timaru. Nominations of candidates must bo eout m to tho Town Clerk before noon on Wednosday, March 31st. Somo splendid fish wero caught off Timaru yesterday, including moki, kawai, buttor Sbli, etc. A quantity of theso wero on view at Mr C. Crane's chop last evoning. Tho fishing industry is ono which wo believe, if properly carried out, will yet afford employment to many people m Timaru. The " unemployed agitation" is, many persons regret to see, spreading m all directions, and has now broken out near the boundaries of South Canterbury. Tho town m which the "cry" has just been heard is Greraldine, and this evening a meeting of those men who are out of work is to bo held at a well known spot m tho township. Lately things have not worn their brightest look m many of our country towns, and the prospect of winter before them has prompted many men to tako action m tho direction of getting employment. The übuol weekly sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court is to bo held this morning at the Court-house, Teniuka. Tho number of cases that aro to come keforo the Court promises to bo large, and comprises one or two of a serious nature The assault caso Chamberlain v. Whitohead, junior, which was adjourned Bomo days ago till the sitting to-day, is expected to prove very interesting indeed, and it is rumored that should tho caso be fully opened, somo strange and rather startling revelations will be made. Wo ore glad to learn that tho stock soles at Goraldino are daily increasing m favour, and that buyers from nearly all parts of Canterbury are to bo seen transacting business at them. The yard accommodation is certainly first-class, as is also that for tho use of the public. To-day at tho yards a very largo sale of sheep and horses is to be held, and as many of the later aro thoroughbreds by Leolinus, Trump Card, and other famous sires —tho competition should bo keen and prices good.

Yesterday morning a horse belonging to Mr Hardy, attached to a dray, was standing m High street, Waimate, awaiting its driver, who was engaged m the Btoro. Some passing objoct startled the horse, which bolted down High street for a few chainß when it turned Bharply, bringing tho dray into contact with tho front of a shop occupied by Mr Jackson, shoemaker, and doing considerable damage. Two small children were m the dray at tho time, and onoof them had a very narrowescapc from serious if not fatal injury, it being just about to fall out of the front of tho dray among the horso's feet when tho animal was stopped by Mr Watt. Mr Thomas Amos, who for five years has filled the post of Superintendent of the Timaru Fire Biigade, and m that capacity has rendered faithful and very efficient services to his fellow-townsmen, is about to resign as he purposes leaving tho colony. It is thought that ho ought not to bo allowed to depart without receiving some substantial acknowledgement from those whoso interests he has done so much to conserve. Tho Borough Council will present Mr Amos with a cheque for £10, and it is expected that a subscription list, which is m course of preparation, will bo handsomely filled by tho householders of Timaru. The occasion is one on which they ought to afford to be liberal, for the office of Superintendent of the Fire Brigade is a very onerous and responsible one, and wo need scarcely say that whilst Mr Amos has held it he has not allowed it to degenerate into a since ure. If tho ancient proverb that " tho nearer tho kirk, the further from grace " be true, then tho Waimato County Council is Bincerely to be commiserated. The hall adjoining the Council Chambers is occupied by tho local brigudo of the Salvation Army, and the peculiar religious fervour of their services lends variety to tho proceedings of the Borough Fathers. The rhetorical efforts of Mayor and Councillors derive a peculiar piquancy from the audible exhortations and " experiences " of their neighbours, and tho reading of the minutes is pleasingly diversified by the mellow notes of tho war whoop of the Army. At one time, indeed, tho frantic efforts, happily unsuccessful, of an enthusiastic full private to master the intricacies of the slide of civic business, but latterly the voice of the trombone is no longer heard, and tho voices of the Army alone iaterfero with the comfort of tho Councillors. A meeting of thoso interested m tho work carried on by tho Blue Bibbon Army, was held on Monday evening, m tho school-room, Orari. There were fully 150 persons present, and the Bey. Mr Cecil, of Temuka, occupied the chair. Tho entertainment consisted of recitations, reading?, hymns, and addresses. Tho latter were delivered by the Bey. Mr White, Presbyterian minister of Pleasant Point ; the Boy. chairman, and Mr Stewart of the Orari. The subject of the addresses was " Temperance," and each speaker handled it m a masterly manner. The united choirs from Temuka and Winchester, nnder the leadership of Mr Jas. Harrison, rendered ?ankey's hymns m a manner that gave the greatest satisfaction to all, and Miss Blyth presided at tbo organ very efficiently. Those who gave readings and recitations wero the chairman, Miss McCaskill (of Temuka), and Master Cook (of Winchester). At the close of tho meoting about 35 persons responded to tho chairman's invitation to come and take the pledge. The meeting was brought to a close by the chairman pronouncing the Benediction. Tho half-yearly meeting of tho Court Southern Cross, A.0.F., was held last evening m tho Hall, Georgo Btreet. Over one hundred brothers were m attendance. Bro. P. Kelly, C.8., occupied the chair. The election of officers for the ensuing sis months resulted as follows : — Bro T. Winter, C.E. ; Bro Logan, S.C.B. ; Bro Ascot, S.W. ; Bro Chiffey, J.W. ; Bro. J. Baker, S.B. ; Bro Connor, J.B. ; Bro A. Whittaker, Minute Secretary (re elocted) ; Bro Harris, Pen Secrctury (re-elected) ; Broßurd, Permanent Secretary ; Bro Bennett, Treasurer (reelected). Drs Lovegrovo and Hogg were appointed medical attendants to tho Court. After other business had been transacted, Bro. P. Kelly installed Bro. T. Winter as 1 Chief Banger. Tho latter thanked the brethren for the honour conferred on him, at the same time expressing his intention to vie with his predecessor m upholding the dignity of the Order. Bro Wiuter then said ho had a very pleasing duty to perform, that was to present P.C.8., Bro Kelly, with the silver star and ribbon of his office, and also with a Past Chief Banger's certificate. Bro Kelly said his only desire while m office had been, and would ever be to further the interests of Forestry, and ho felt satisfied that his successor would not depart from the same path. The Wellington Evening Press says : — Wo understand that the expressmen on tho stand m Grey street are arranging to havo a telephone fixed m somo convenient adjacent building for the convenience of their customers. Tho idea is a very good one, and the cost divided between all would amount to but a trifle each. Through the promptitude of ono of our tradesmen (says tho Oamaru Mail of Saturday) and the activity of tho police, a swindler was yesterday caught red handed m tho act of pursuing his nefarious operations. The individual referred to went to one of our places of business and called for a blank cheque, stating that a tradesman had sent him for it. Tho person to whom the request was mado at once doubled tho hoiia fides of tho applicant, and on making inquiries of the tradesman whoso nanio had been mentioned, he ascertained that his suspicions wero well founded, for tho applicant had not been authorised to ask for tho cheque. Tho police were at once apprised of the occurrence, and, as a result of their timely investigations, they discovered that tho swindler had already obtained a blank cheque, filled it m, and attached to it the eignituro of an Invercargill firm, and had raised monoy on the strength of it. Tho culprit was at once arrested and placed m tho lock-up Apropos of the title of Mr Froudo's book, a correspondent write? : — During the sway of Cromwell, Harrington occupied hiinsolf m composing tho " Oeeuna," which was published m 1656, and led to several controversies. This work is a political romance illustrating tho author's idea of a republic constituted so as to securo that general freedom of which he was so ardent an admiror. It is thus characterised by Hurao : " Harrington's ' Oceana ' was well adapted to that ago, when tho plans of imaginary republics were the daily subjects of debate and conversation; and even m our time it is justly admired as a work of genius and invention. Tho stylo of this author wants ease and fluency, but the good matter which his work contains makes compensation." — Chambers' " Encyclopedia of English Literature." Hume, m his political discourses, sajs : — " Tho ' Oceana ' is the only valuable model of a commonwealth that has yet been offered to the public,"

At tho last meeting of the Napier Harbour Board Mr Ormond stated that it would be necessary to go to Parliament for authority to raise a loan for the purpose of reclaiming tho Omaramii Eeserve, if a good job was to bo made of it. It would cost a lot of money, but would be a Taluable property. The Telegraph states that the Napier Harbour Board's crane should hare been erected threo months ago. lho penalty for delay is £20 per week, co it is only a matter of calculation now as to the date when tho Board will receive the finished article for nothing. Western Australia is going m for a vigorous railway policy. On tbo 2nd instant a contract was eigDed for tbo construction of a lino from Guildford to Greenough, a distance of 280 miles, for £800,000. Governor Broomo when turning the first Bod, eaid that there was every reasen to hopo that the railway would be finished and opened at the expiration of three years. Six hundred miles of railway were now m hand, and the progress of tho works would bo watched with interest by tho neighboring colonies. At tho conclusion of a freethoughfc lecture at Gieborne recently by s female professor, the audienco were invited to ask questions of lho learned lady. An Jlnglish barrister, travelling for Ms health, thus encouraged, demurred to the Socialist theories that the lecturess had advocated, and remarked that anarchy was not government nor mob law desirable. Thereupon the lady, m accents of withering scorn, replied, " Young man, go home and road your history ; where would England's Magna Charta have been had it not been for Wat Tyler and Mb associates ?" Loud and prolonged cheers ! In the London circular of tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, dated 15th January last, the following paragraph occurs on the subject of the export meat trade : — "As regards New Zealand consignments, it may be eaid that, speaking generally, their quality and condition on arrival have continued to make Bteady progress towards improvement. The only preparation possessing sufficient style to render it oligible for insertion m the list of preserved meats accepted by the British Government is still, however, the ' Peach ' brand of compressed corned beef prepared ot j&.uclilatida As such insertion is tantamount to an authoritative ' certificate of merit,' it is hoped that the maintenance of the requisite standard o£ excellence will be secured hereafter. This can only be achieved by the consistent rejection of all inferior ' cuts ' of beef or mutton, by the bestowal of constant care on the pro> cesses of tinning and cooking, and by tasteful labelling of the tins." The Hai/p-holiday Movement. — The employees of Timaru thank tho public of South Canterbury for their hearty sympathy m supporting tho Thursday half-holiday movement, which under their continued patronage, will prove a laßting benefit. Customers aro requested to -complete their purchases before one o'clock on Thursdays, to ensure punctual closing. — [Abvt.J If the sufferers from consumption, scrofula, and general debility, will try Scott's Emulsion of Pure Cod Liver Oil wiih Hypophosphitea. they will find immediate relief, and without doubt a permanent benefit. Tho medical profession m the various countries of tho world universally declare it a remedy of great value, and as it is very palatable it can be readily taken by the most sensitive Btomach, and never fails to give relief and comfort to the sufferer.— [Advt.] 4Ambbican Co's Hop Bittebb are tho Purest and Best Bitten ever made. They aro compounded from Hops, Malt, Buchu, Mandrake, and Dandelion, — the oldest, best, and most valuable medicines m the world and contain all the best and moßfc curative properties of all other remedies, being the greatest Blood Purifier, Liver Eegulator, and Life and Health restorer on earth. No disease or ill health can possibly long exist where, they are used, so varied and perfect are their operations. They give new life and vigor to the aged, and infirm. To all whoso employments cause irregularity of the bowels, or urinary organs, or who require an Appetizer, Tonic, and mild Stimulant, American Co.'s Hop Bitters are invaluable, being highly curative, tonic, and stimulating, without intoxicating. No matter what your feelings or symptoms are, what the disease or ailment is, uso Hop Bitters. Don't wait until you aro sick, but if you only feel bad or miserable, use Hop Bitters at once. It may save your life. Hundreds have been saved by bo doing. £500 will be paid for a case they will not cure or help. Do not suffer or let your friends suffer, but use and urge them to use American Hop Bitters. Remember, American Hop Bitters is no vile, drugged, drunken nostrum, but the purest and best medicine ever made. Try tho Jiittors to-day. Get at Chemists or Druggists. Beware of imitations. Genuine has Dr Soule's name blown m bottle. — [Advt.] SYNOPSIS OP NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. James A. Grade and Co., with D. Maclean, auctioneer— Will sell cattle at tho S.C. Saleyards on. the 251h inst. K. Tunibull and Son, on the 27th inst., at 1 p.m.— Will sell a buggy and harness. Wax. Evans-Advertises the s.s. Pelham to sail on the 2Gth iiiat. District Land Registrar— Ko H. P. M. Aynsley, Fulbert Archer and J . Ryan. Dr Neil— Wants the public to buy his Dandelion pills. Baptist Church— Notice re salo of work and public tea meeting. 11. J. Carmichacl- Advertises reduction m tho price of oysters and fresh fish at tho Al oyster saloon. C. Crano-Notico ro fresh fish. Wanted blacksmith's bellows by Anderson.