The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1880.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 622, 18 November 1880, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1880.

On the,longer lines of the Middle Island, the Railway Department, for adistanceof 250 miles, cany 100 feet of superficial timber at one farthing per mile. On the Wellington and Masterton" railway, .the department charges the same quantity at the rate of one halfpenny per mile. There cannot-be any great difference in the cost per mile of crying timber between the longer and the shorter distance. -The loading and unloading -is.done by the owner, so that thisjitem cannot be taken into' consideration. On- each raile that timber is carried an equal amomitof coal is required whether the distance be long or short, and a proportionate length of line, has to be kept in working order at-an equal rate. If it pays the Department to carry timber for 250 miles at a farthing per" mile, it would pay it to cariyit"7o miles at a very small advance on the farthing. The Department must either lose heavily on the farthing per mile; or gain heavily on the halfpenny per mile, We fail to see the principal on which railway rates are based, unless it be that the Minister, like a Providence watches over the trade of New Zealand and directs its various channels, according to his idea of the fitness of things, By a stroke of his pen he can alter a. rate in such a way that one district is raised up and another pulled down. We would like to see the Hon Mr Oliver act more in the spirit, not of a special Providence, but of a common carrier, who is anxious to secure all the" trade he can. A leading line, such as timber, must be taken at a low rate, He could ascertain readily • the mint mum price per mile at which lie could, carry it profitably, and having obtained that he should not, perhaps, lose money by carrying it at a farthing per mile in the Middle Island, and make the I North Island recoup the Department with a halfpenny per mile. At present timber cannot be sent at a profit from Mastertdn to Wellingtohat a halfpenny per mile, but it certainly could be at a farthing per mile, or even at two-fifths, of a penny per mile. As far as we can j judge, the Department might carry ; timber from Masterton at a rate which would be profitable both to it and to the mill-owner. The. same remark's will apply to firewood, which is also cheap and plentiful in this neighborhood. If, instead of the tables of rates which emanate from, the Cabinet and rule the trade of. the country, Mr Ashcroft/'the District Manager, had power to arrange contracts'for carriage with millownis"arid"others,.the freight ■from Masterton. would soon.be doubled, We never "see a private carrier, suchas Cobb and Co., decreasing the rate per mile in proportion as' the ■' distance' .is increased; This method of; coaching, would prove unprofitable. Wheu rates •are lowered, they are reduced to-secure' a greater amount of traffic, and.it is: •precisely on-, this principle thatjie ; railway .business of the colony'lhould' be conducted. ..> ' '.

P. fl. Wood & Co,, of Gr'eytown, ad? vertise for sale 60 head of Btore cattle, also'2 pure-bred yearling bulls by Fdther phristmas.

Mr J. 6, Muokay, tl\o Kuripuni.baker, announces that he hus lowered the price of bread to suit the times, ' Schroder, Hooper & Co. announce that their advertisement of new goods will 'appear in a few dayst • Mr Incuall has drawn attention .to the growth of gambling in Victoria, and said' he was informed £200,000 sterling had changed bands on the .Cup day, and that one man held £34,ooo'in-' £l'sweepstakes.* JFho Government are not expected to take any action, The great sculling race between Edward Trickett, of Sydney, Now South Wales, and Edward Hanldi), of Toronto, Canada,' for £2OO a Bide, the Championship of the world, and the Sportsman Challenge Cup took place on Monday hist, over the usual course'on the Thames between Putney' and; Mortlake. The greatest amount of interest was taken in ' the race, The attendance of the public was enormous, crowds of people lining bo.th banks of the river along the course. The betting at the start was greatly in favor of Banian, who was in splendid form, The weather was fine, but cold, there was no wind and the water was smooth. The men got away to a good start, Hanlan commencing with 28 and Trickett with 31 strokes to the minute. They kept together for half a mile, pulling evenly'; but at ! the Crabtree Hanlan got clear away from Trickett, who was uuable to recover his lost grouud, despite the great efforts which he made. At Hammersmith Hanlan\inoreased his advantage, and thencefprward-drew away from Trickett whenever ho approached—playing with him, in fact, for the last three miles, and coining in an easy winner by fully two lengths, The' winner • was enthusiastically cheered- at the' finish; The raco was rowed in 26. min 12secs. '

A Russian gentleman, who spent years collecting the lead paper of champagne bottles in order to make a coffin for himself out of theso relics of his favorite beverage, went lately to Now York, and was drowned in a canoe' party. By a strange irony of Providence he remains withouta coffin, the body not having been found.* The monument of his folly is to bo seen in the Bhape of a leaden coffin, bearing the mark Uliquot et.Cieall over it, •■'.'■

A lively episode occurred at a.marriage ceremony which took place at Leadville, U.S.A., recently, The big brothers of a young lady compelled her lover to fulfil his promise of marriage, and they brought him by force into the church. During the ceremony the bridegroom, being dissatisfied with somo performance of the clergyman, fired his revolver at the divine, but ho missed his shot. The latter continued the discharge of his sacred functions until the twain were one flosh. Thereupon, in order that all things might be done in the best style, and according to old fashioned rule, he stepped forward and kissed the bride. At this the jealous bridegroom was wrath and smote him. Whereupon the rev church militant—a brawny priest of some [six feet in height -sprung over the chancel "railing, and seizing the newly-made husband by the back of the neck, gave him, under the Cover of the pistols of the newly-made brothers-in-law, such a dreadful drubbing that he will remember it as long a3 he ■lives. This closed the marriage solemnities

America possesses four hundred colleges, all endowed with the power of granting degrees! Dr McCosh, in despair over "this intolerable evil," trusts that the principle of " the Btruggle for existence" and "(he survival of the fittest" will come into play. Wo should think (says the New Zealaucj Presbyterian) that that was very probable; but why cannot man's hand in such a case give some help to struggling nature? Four hundred, colleges empowered, to make men I/M/.D., or any thing of. tlia,t nature they like! We shall now know at •what rate to' estimate academic honors. It is pleasant that'a very large number, of these colleges have been founded and endowed •by private munificence. The., day:for that kind;of thing, has not dawned in this'-very young country; when the hour-comes'-we trust'that, our successful merchantsand land-owners' wil| not so squander'.their gift's,-'-but' vather concentrate them to scholastic .institutions round .which''the wholeititeilectuallifeof the cbun'trygather. ■ It is a somewhat curious feature that.very. niany'df 'the colleges are situated in villages,' where the" students are shielded froni many-temptations, and have specialadvantages for health .and morals and Btudy; and it.may certainly be questioned whether a large, mercantile city is in every respect-fitted for an university, ' . Commenting on the method of teaching science in schools; the Scientific American says : He (the pupil) learns the sciences as he learns geography and history. Jtle Is not put to any direct mental work upon the subject of science, or. taught to think for himself. As thustreatedthe sciences have but little value in education. They fall below other studies as a means of mental cultivation. Arithmetic rouses mental reaction. The rational study of language, by analytical and constructive tasks, strengthens the mental processes; but tlie sciences are passively acquired in their results. This is not scientific education, because there is no practice in the scientific method. Science, as a means of traijning the faculties,' hi' the various ways to- which they are severally adapted, is not taught in the public schools, - It ■is r not made the means of- cultivating the observing powers, or of stimulating inquiry, or of exercising the judgement- in weighing evidence, or of forming original 'and independent habits of thought.- As remarked by Agassiz, the "pupil studies nature in the school room, and when lie goes out of doors lie cannot'find-her," This mode of teaching science, which is by tto keahs confined to public schools, has been condemned in the most unsparing "manner-by all men of science as a dectption, a fraud, an outrage upon the minds of the young, and an imposture m education.

The following description of the furnitureof the Livadia, the new steam yacht of the Czar of Russia, was published in the London .Times ;—the. furniture is of mahogany, richly carved.enamelled white, and relieved with colors-of 'gold, and includes cabinets, a grand/piano, the works of which-are by Broadwood, and card tables. -There is ample provision of sofas,settees', and' easy chairs, covered with an amber ground silk relieved with ornamental designs in many colors. These are admirably blended, and the richness of the colors is greatly increased by the judicious introduction "of rich plushes and heavy fringes. . The draperies of the windows areiweir selected,-and the doors are protected by fittings of.'plush. There are also table-covers" and-draught screens of plush'enriched.with' needlework. The, furniture.of- the'briudior is- composed of: satin-wood-, amboyna,.; and gold, real .rtedgewoo'd being introduced, and.the Louis 'XVr ;style being adopted.. • The curtains (are of...ailver/j grey, brocaded/ and the .coverings of pale blue. The .carvinp is particularly, delicate, an'dHhe inlaying, .'hits" been-'accomplished with' much dexterity.'; The other' apartments--comprising-bed and-.dressing rooms, will: display, much; magnificence".'. The provision. made for 'the furnishing of -the apartments of the Grand DukeVdisplaya a sumptuousriessscarcely inferior to.thatdis'i played intke part of the vessel, specially designed for his imperial Majesty;, ...The wholo of the metal;work'is lilver. vf^:'-: : .,-'; : :;;,;;K::

M. Casolberg & Co.'s great sale at Oar .terton is postponed until Saturday, 27th inst.

250 licenses for trout fishing have been taken out in Otas»o.

Edward .Kelly, cooper, Carterton, has filed his schedule,

Mr Wardell holds a sittingV his Court at Masterton i Some interesting cases are set down for'hWihg. h •' '' '

The collector of rates due to the Mas. terton Rabbit District will attend at the County Chambers, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to-day "and to-morrow, for the purpose of receiving rates. Mr E. B. Bell, of .Greytown,'notißes that he has a hearse on hire at reasonable terms; Mr Bell is also about,to undertake the business of a timber merchant, and. advertises that he is prepared to quote timber from ; 2s 3d per 100 feet.

Five scholars-Lily, Marshall, G. Sykes C.Wilsone, J. Niool, and" F; Hill—will represent Masterton School in the examination for scholarships now being held at Greytown. Messrs Gilpin and Pardon are now turning out over, two hundredweight of cheese per diem at their factory, Featherston, and expect shortly to double this quantity. We have received from Mr J. H. Corbett the first onion of the season,'a fine specimen of the Mazajold variety, but how are we to sample a solitary onion 1 We must decline to certify to the merits of anything lesi than a rope of onions.

We understand that Mr Proctor, the "star" lecturer of the day, is willing to give popular lectures at Greytown and Masterton, on December Ist and 2nd, if he is assured that he will have satisfactory audiences. ' ■

On Tuesday Mr A. W. Renall was the. only candidate nominated for • the Mayoralty of. Masterton, and was'declared by. Mr R. Wilsone, the Returning Officer, duly elected. His installation will not take place till the 15th of December.

A general meeting of the' Masterton Borough Cricket Club .was held at the Club Hotel last evening. Mr F. W. Green was elected Captain of the Club, in the place of Mr A. R, Bunny, resigned. A challenge has been recoived from the Peatherston: Club to play a match at Masterton on Saturday next, which has been accepted by. the Masterton Club. Names of players will be published tomorrow,

A man slightly the worse for liquor was robbed at the Club Hotel, Featherston, of a pocket-book containing between three and Tour pounds. He called for a drink, received his change, and went out into the yard; and a few minutes afterwards complained to the landlord-Mr Faberthat he had been robbed 'of his money. The purse was found in the yard empty. Two well-known loafers were suspected, and Constable Brunskill is investigating the matter. / ' '■' .'•..'■

The Minister of Railways in Victoria has'about 1000 tons of old rails on hand, which he intends to use' in making tramways iu the agricultural districts, to act as feeders to the Hues of railways. If the experiment' prove as successful as it is anticipated that it. will, the- system of tramways will be carried out on a more extensive scale. This is an idea which might with advantage be copied in New Zealand.

The latest application of electricity in America is to stone-breaking, and if found suitable for this purpose it should be available for quartz-crushing. Both processes require the exertion great forces ■through small distances, and the work ia precisely that for which electro-magnetic nmchinefurniahee the power to an electror maguetic .chopper, capable of deliyering from 1000to2000blowsper minute. The information about it is meagre, but .the hint may be worth something,'

. Mads Brodison, a Scandinavian con;tractor at Kaiwaiwai, meeting this week t»o_ young men who he suspected of having some of-his property iii their possession, . attempted to,"oyb'rhaul their swags. A struggle, ensued, in which •Brodison was knocked into a'deep ditch, aiid-his leg'broken by the two ruffians,' : who decamped, leaving the unfortunate' man in the ditch, where he'was found some three hours afterwards by. a boy in the employment of MrJohn To'cker. , 'A case of unusual intereatiwill be heard' in the R.M, Gourb to-day, the plaintiff being Mr A. galloon,a,well-known,con-tractoiy'and the defendant, Mr D. McGregor, a member of the County, West Council The action is laid for a breach of the Contractors Act, 1876, which provides that a. person concerned in contract with or work done for the Council is incapable of being a councillor, and a ponalty not exceeding LSO is the liability that is attached to this breach of the Act, Mr Skipper will appear' as counsel for MrFalloon.

Aclergyman who has recently come out from England says the extraordinary spectacle of a Roman Cardinal sitting in the British House of Lords will be witnessed before many years. It seems that the heir apparent to the title and estates of the Petre'peerage, is a Roman Catholic priest, upon whom the Pope has recently conferred the title of Monsignore, The rev gentleman has already renoun'ced his claim to rhe estates, but of course he cannot dispose of the title in the same way, and when the present peer dies the'Monsignore will succeed to his seat in the House of Lords (of course if he should survivo him), and beyond doubt will receive the Cardinal's hat from the Pope,

Speaking of Canada the. American cor•respondent of the Otago Daily Times says:—Somehow it d6es"not.get along as if should; The-, protective tariff, passed in the interest of the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, has had the effect of ruining the maritime provinces, and emigration from Quebec into the United States Is progressing at such a rate that there are fears the country may become depopulated. Everything is stagnant. Employment is scarce and wages low. So very general has this movement of population become that the Catholic Archbishop of. .Quebec has just issued a pastoral to his clergyinvoking the patriotism, charity, and benevolence of the people td provide means to check it. But no steps in-that direction are taken, and the Kanuks still cross the St. Lawrence bridge into the United States and find themselves inan'ewworld.of hope, energy, and emulation. .

; A .meeting of. the committee of the Mastertou Horticultural and-Industrial Society was held yesterday.- Present :- Messrs Everett (President). D'Arcy, Cole, Osborne, Payton.; dnd ;X ; ,Brown"( Secretary). The following were: appointed Judgesfor the coming show, viz.'.. Messrs Barratt, Brooks,- Kempion, jun;,l Gray, Briggs, Osborne, and McLeo'd. "Messrs Vile, D'Arcy, Parsons, and Everett were appdintMi stewardsj and...Mr|_Gardner was asked fir take charge of fh'e- door .Messrs D'Arcy,'Gorbett, and. the" secrotary; were; requested.-".to. make arrangements for: the services of theStribg Band'. The''Secretary was requested to Ipply fo Eailway.pepartmerit for. a spiecial train at oheapfaresfromFeatherstori, Greytowni and Carterton, rAn-application, from j' ; .iQrns>tid-oov''for.peimisßioh--:to''sell : -'eV the Show was acceded to.- ' ,:•' 'V.:/; >* ; : -'.