WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 614, 8 November 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(Prom our own correspondent.)

There is but one topic of conversation in Wellington just now, and that is.the visit of Mr R. A. Proclor, the astronomer. I do not know that the Wellington people have ever evinced any remarkable taste for astronomical studies previously—except, perhaps, just recently, during the "hard times," when several persons found it convenient to go out star-gazing about the time the rent fell due, and became so enwrapped in the contemplati'ou of the Heavens that they .■never came back again. I shrewdly suspect, moreover, that it is not solely a thirst for scientific knowledge which impels the majority of those- who crowd- the Tiieatre Royal nightly, to. spend their four, three, or' two shillings, as-the case maybe. The fact is, the Wellingtoniana are nothing if not fashionable, and just now it is regarded as "tho correct thing", to go* and sit at the feet of. the learned astronoMnwru p ™ ctor rather . dark > with a fine intellectual forehead. Efis ability as a scientific raaii ai)d as a writer has procured for him a world-wide reputation. It is hot generally known that hef is a very able journalist, and was a frequeut .contributor to the. leading columus of j'tho principal 'London newspapers. Even now he finds time to "knock off" [a considerable amount of- workfor the Press,: and (is good enough to remark that he considers the New Zealand climate very favorable for literary labors. I have noticed that it apparently lias the effect of imparting considerable vigor of expression 'to the newspaper articles, especially, when there is strong rivalry between two neighboring newspapers. That, however, is' neither here nor there. Reverting to Mr Proctor, I may. remark that he perhaps showed his ability as an-astronomer most prominently during his now. famous discussion with the Astronomer Royal, with reference to tho transit of Venus, when it is generally admitted that he knocked that learned functionary into a cooked hat, if I may use so irreverent an expression of such a dignitary. Even to this day, I .believe bii'beorge Airey has never forgiven Mr Proctor, which shows that astronomers, as well as editors, fall out occasionally. Speaking candidly, I jmisfc say that Mr rroctor is vary disappointing to most people as a lecturer. The matter of his lee ures is admirable-only unfortunately It has.all been published before in his books ; but his delivery is anything but pleasing; speaking as he does in a strained monotonous tono of voice from beginning oend. Ihe lecture, which lasts about an hour and .a half, i'b illustrated by some nne oxy-hydrogen views of the heavenly bodies Mr, Proctor makes his appearance here under somewhat peculiar circumstances Although in one sense a star °f the first magnitude, lie is really only the satellite of a.less brilliant but very powerful body, in the shape of : a clever pushing agent, who picked liim up 1,11 Australia, and, if I am informed correct, entered into an. agreement by which oen C i l ' l3 '° kctoi'e for two years at i.50 a week, The agent will consequently be making his appearance in various parts Pf the earth during that period, and Mr rroctor will .continue to .revolve round lum and shed 'his enlightening rays at intervals oi; an astrononiically-boniu-hted public, I must confess that,'to nie, there' is something not at all agreeable in the idea of one of the leading scientific riieft of the day.bejng taken , round and exhibited at so much' a head in this way, but 1 may be over fastidious on this subject, •ihe railway, authorities had their eyes opened- -to• a. ■•.considerable extent; -arid' learned--a vory valuable lesson, which it «. tii.be hoped they will profit by, on the inauguration of the extension of the line to Masterton on Monday, On this special occasion, it .was resolved as an experiment, to issue return -tickets for hitherto unheard of prices of 10s first class, and-ss' aecond. This, for a distance of 140 miles w , a3 ,? co .^ rs 0 wonderfully low, and many of the.ofhcials shook their heads in a desponding way, as if they had embarked bu the .sure,road; to bankruptcy. .What was the result ? About 800 persons in all availed thenisolvos of the occasioiij .aud the train mi the best paying one that • i , ln "' on ' fcprebenting about £260 in hard oash. I hope -Mr Maxwell will profit by this experiment;-' and give us plenty of excursions all over-'tho New Zealand railways in the coniirig'summer. No trafhc has beoii found to pay so well at Home as the excursion traffic, and'this has been so encouraged, that .now the Londoner can take a " Saturday to Monday trip to Brighton .for'- 3s. Wliy should not we have similar, facilities in this colony ! That both, the railway department and the public at lar°e would bo very materially benefitted I am quite certain,

From outside sources—and one has always to go from home to hear the news —we are learning a good deal of startling information as to Wellington being " deserted," presenting the appearance of a forsaken gold field," and so on. As a matter of fact, there is no doubt that a con-" m ii? l n r ber of P eo P le have left. Wellington for want of employment, and , ! e ,™ at ere aro about 300 of, socalled houses" to let, many of these are mere shanties," however, run up to meet the great demand for house accommodation of any kind during the flush times. It is most difficult to get a decent house' ;■ even now rents still continue most exhorbitant, although exhibiting a'downward tendency. I was looking about for a seven-roomed house the other day for a friend and could find nothing to quite suit. For such houses, when they are to be had, £7O to £BO a year is still asked. I am not an alarmist, but I cannot help feeling that the present apparent lull inNative affairs is somewhat ominous, It is a curious fact that although the Natives have been very quiet lately,both the Times and the Post—each currently Bupposed' to be under, ministerial inspiration—have been hintiug that it is by no means improbable that the present"armed truce" may give place to war. Tho . fact is, I believe, that the Government aft "distrustful of the preaen t inactivity oE. the Nativ.es. .'At'.the same-time they aredetermined to enforce the settlement of the Plains at all risks, and are getting, hpartly-sick and tired of the. ejpehsive armed demonstration which ha? nowbeen maintained so long. Te Whiti and Tohu are probably somewhat qt a loss to know what to do in the-present juncture; bu(should they decide in favour of attempting to interfere' "with the the Plaiiiß, I believe we. should see action ontho part of the Government far more decisive than any thing which has yet been witnessed, L Time,'however, will show, :