THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3422, 10 December 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1879.

The Statement delivered by the Hoa. R Oliver in the House last night reads very well, and appears a straightforward and business like one. Ifc apparently deals the money at the disposal of the Governruent eren-handed throughout the colony, as far aa can bo judged without the table ■bowing the amounts of the appropriations asked for. It, however, repeats the •tatements made by Major % Atkin*on, that liabilities to the extent of £2,356,729 were found in existence when the Government took office, and a large portion of the remainder of the appropriation is for works which are necessary to make available thoie sections already in eourie of construction. To turn to that part of the Statement in which we are more particularly interested, we find the first mention made of the Thames and Waikato lin« in the following words:—" It is intended to construct a bridge over the Wai kato, and a section from Hamilton East. Orders for the. bridge material will be sent to London by an early mail." In order tbat no misunderstanding should exist, we telegraphed to Wellington for the amounts of appropriations, for ali North Island lines, and the reply will be found in another column. In the return furnished, it is stated the f sum of £5600 is asked for a section from Hamilton railway station, but no mention of any sum for the • bridge ; while it is said that £100,000 will be required at a future date to complete the section fr»m Hamilton to Te Aroha. The sum of £35.000 is asked for that portion of the line between Grahamstown and Te Aroha, and the balance for future appropriation is stated to be £87,000. After looking, at the* figures from the most favorable point of view* we are not at oil satisfied that any new works are intended to be constructed from the* Thames end of the line. It must be remembered it was the Grey Government that asked for, in their statement of 1877j £68,000 for the Thames and Waikato line, and of that amount some £20,000 has been expended on oontracts and an engagement for sleepers for the line to the extent of £12,000 has also been entered into, both sums together making £32,000. When the views of the Government upon the legality of the action of the late Ministry in entering upon works at this end of the line is borne in mind, it need not surprise us to find thai-the £35,000 mentioned is included in the list of " liabilities found in existence when the change of Government took place," and that the sum is intended to cover the outlay up- to the present time, which can be conveniently called the unauthorised expenditure of the late Government. If sneli a construction be put upon the position of affairs, the Thames has seen all the public expenditure npnn railway works that it is likely to see for some years to come. We are sorry to have to cast a doubt upon the intentions of the Government, but from all the circumstances within our knowledge, the opinion of the Government upon the action of their predecessors in reference to the Thames line, the capital made out of their reckless expenditure in other department!, and the amount of unauthorised liabilities entered into by them, it may appear right that we should be made to bea r some of the sins of commission of our friends now in Opposition.

The Rer. Mr Neill will lectors on Thursday evening; in the Presbyterian Church upon Thomas Carljle. In Mr Neiil's hands the subject will be well treated, and we expect to see a large audience. No.charge is made for admission.

Tee examination for prizes at tho Waio'Karaka school was commenced this morning, Dr J&lgour acting as examiner in the Boys', School, and the llev. S. J. Neill iv the Girls'. The papers set in" the senior classes included, Arithmetic, Com position, History and Geography. The Drawing and Sewing will be examined by judges versed in those branches. H. C. Lawlor Esq., Chairman of the Waiotahi School Committee was present throughout the day. •

The Mayor telegraphed, to Sir George Grey this afternoon, asking that the Government stato definitely their intentions with respect to the works on the Thames railway line.

In our Parliamentary news it will be seen the Government have promised tbat they will abolish the system of paying court fees in stamps, which has been in vogue for the past year, and has been found to cause a great deal of inconvenience to the court officials and the public generally.

The Mayor received the following telegram from Mr Speight this morning m reference to the rumored alteration to line of railway :—" No change of route is intended. I have questioned Ministers."

Mb Maurice Casey bad a narrow escape this morning. He was '* breaking " three loaded tracks across a reised tramway on the reclamation works when the treaties gaTe way, the trucks falling a distance of some six feet out to the stone sewer now in course of erection. Mr Casey fortunately was thrown clear of th» trucks into a hole of soft foreshore mud, in which he was immersed from head to foot. He was thrown a distance of 7or 8 feet, aud his escape without nerious injury is wonderful. lie just missed striking the iton* wall by a few inches.

In committee on the Property Bill Mr Serfdon moved the exclusioiwof all property vested in persons for purposes of goMraining, but it was lost on the division — 28 voting for it and 50 against.

The anniversary soiree iv connection with the Shorfcland Wesleyan Sunday School took place ; last evening. There wero about 400 parsons present. After tea, the Rev. Mr Watkin presided, and addressed the meeting, as also did tlie Eevs. Laishley and Smith, Mr Ashby, Mr Kenshuw, and other gentlemen. . The report shewed the average attendance during the year to have been 38 in the forenoon, and 197 in the afternoon. The teaching staff numbered 23. The balance sheet shewed the receipts, including a balance of £18 lOi froisa last year, to have been £53 10s lOd ; while the expenditure had been £12 17s, leaving a balance of £40 16s. It was proposed to enlarge the present building, and with this end in view, the Sunday School had purchased tlie old Kauaeranga School lor £30. The children's festival tree entertainment had produced £28 10s. The report was adopted unanimously. During the evening the children sung hymns especially prepared lor the occasion.

Readers of our last County Council report will remember an application made by the contractors tor the Karuka road that the Council take over tho road in its unfinished state, as the surveyor con demned the metal they proposed using. Since the meeting various attempts have been made to effect a compromise, but tlie contractors would do nothing, and the claim holders of the Una Hill were pro testing against the delay'—several of them having quartz in their paddocks for the Christmas crushing*. Unable to brook the. delay any longer, on Monday night some of the miners took it upon themselves to spread the condemned metal, and when the contractors arrived on the scene they were surprised at seeing drays going over the road laden with quartz. Th>*y were enraged thereat, presumably because they hoped the protests of the miners re the non-completion of the road would induce the County authorities to accede to their demands. They consequently set about erecting a wall of large stones across the road to obstruct the drays ; but the miners were not to be baulked. They speedily demolished the obstruction, and proceeded with their work. We hear that the contractors intend taking legal action against the parties who spread the metal.