NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2125, 21 October 1885, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(from our own correspondent.]

. It is_ most gratifying tp notice that some little alteration lja? hean ii]ade in the railway timetable and tariff of the New Plymouth-Foxton Ijn'e, A special train has beep put on between this town and Waitara on Wednesdays, running at Saturday return fares, and many other deviations from the old regulations in regard to parcel rates and carrying of produce, <fec,, have been made, The District Manager, in a communication with His Worship the Mayor on the subject, also stated that the Minister for Railways had under consideration the question of reduction in passenger fares, sheep rates, etc. The above alterations have given much satisfaction so far, and it is evident that all that was required was a little agitation to bring things to their proper groove. One would almost imagine that our Ministers should bo by this time alive to the interests of tho public ; but it is apparent to all that nothing but constant stirring will enliven them, and bring them to understand the why and the wherefore the requirements of a colony of fast inoreasingiinportance should not bo supplied. It was currently reported in town last week that the "pride of New Plymouth" -the breakwater-had almost entirely collapsed, that 300 ft of the great structure had utterly subsided! This report, in fact, found its way oven to the Empire City, and was commented upon by the Wellington papers. Upon investigation, however, the said report proved very incorrect. The rough weather of the week had in a degree damaged the pier, and caused a section of 40ft somewhere about tho middle of tho structure to sink down IB inches. Tho Harbor Board Engineer gives his opinion that this is caused by the foundation (which is of a very volcanic nature) giving way. The damaged part of the pier has apparently been resting on a thin crust of conglomerate, and this shell, with the heavy weight borne upon it, had given way. However, it may be said that the damage, although severo financially, wap so slight regarcjiqg reconstruction as to to enable all' necessary repairs to be completed by Saturday last. The total cost of repairing is estimated at about £290.

A " night staff"of workmen have been put on the Motuera railway line by the contractors. This is due to much delay in work having been met with on account flf bad weather. Gas has been laid along the line to enable tlje men to see what they are about, and a great improvement will doubtless shortly be noticeable by the increaßO of hands, ; A circus troupe has been "billing" the town for a performance this week. The rough weather prevented them from

opening 011 Tuesday, tho tent being blown down and a like event was experienced on Tuesday evening. The troupe, however, opened on Thursday to a fairly audience, They gave afternoon mances <jii Friday and Saturday fortlio benefit of children, and for the public in the evening, securing good houses. The final concert of the season, given by the Philharmonic Society, has been pronounced the mo3t successful one, of tie year. It came off in the Ball'on Thursday Bth inst. Farmer's Mass in B flat composed the first portion of the programme. The music in this ■ piece is superb, and is portioned into quartettes, with full chorusses to support them, It was produced by the Society in its entirety, and done full justice to by both the orchestral and vocal members. The second part was a micellaneous selection,, and as a number of new local pieces recently received were given to the audience, • was most successful. The final has, apparently, given a stimulus to the musical public, for numbers have expressed their intention of becoming members of the Society next year. W. S. Bennett's "May Queen," is the piece selected for the opening concert of the New Year.

The charge of assault brought against the publican (Caldwell by the 1 police occupied the attention of the Police Court nearly the whole of last week. The, person assaulted was a Maori, and from the evidence it appears that the took place in the bar of Caldwell's T&l, and was the result of some hot words re the serving of liquor to some Maories. A scuffle took place, during' which the Maori got his eye damaged, as he and his friends alleged by a kick. Thedefence got up was that no kick was given, but that tho Maori fell upon a glass tumbler which he had in his pocket. The medical evidence was rather uncertain as to whether the damaged eye was the result of the kick or from the fall upon broken glass. Finally the prisoner was oommitted for trial at the next Supreme Court Sittings, which commence the end of Hie present month. Caldwell has been released on bail.

Tho Opunake Dairy Factory was formally opened on Monday. The affair caused quite a stir in the town, and was oelebrated in the evening by a ball. The new machinery was in splendid order, and 191 gallons of milk were put through the vats during the day's trial. The promoters are confident of success, having received liberal support from the settlers in the district.

The necessary accessions to the material of the New Plymouth Bowling Club arrived in the colony by the s.s! Aorangi, and are expected here thjjgeek. Should they arrive, practice will fTcommenced on Monday. The Club are in possession of a splendid green, centrally situated, and have spent a large Bip in reducing it to the proper level, erecting sheds, &c.

Mr Ballanoo, Sfotivo Minister, has not yet made Ma expected visit to Opunako and Parjhaka, He will probably make his appearance during the coming week. At a recent meeting of tho Harbor Board, the Engineer reported as folluwa on the' work done for the fiv;o weeks ending Oct. 10The section gutted at tho end of last season as ooinpleTed, and afterwards as having the lower blocks on the outside displaced, has been repaired, and another 12ft section built, the whole containing 784 cubic yards. 82 blocks have been made, containing 1047.6 cubi? yards. 33 blocks have been laid contain*, ing 423.0 cubic yards. 1 have no,w on stock 424 concrete blocks." This was regarded as a satisfactory progress, H was reported that Sir McGrogor, the consulting engineer to the Board, would he in New Plymontfo this week an a tour of inspection. Hjs report will, no interesting as it will contain hisffeis as to the subsiding of a portion of the pjer, The site of the late lire is now rapidly filling, No less than four substantial buildings are in course of erection, all «f which aye twp litqrep lilffl}. One of |h§ number is being built with brick aide?, All these new promises will be taken UH as soon as out of the contractor's hands, and will help to fill up what has for so long a time been an unpleasant gap in the centre of the town.

For sumo ii)ontha pagfc, a number cif influential residents in this tofftujtava been engaged in collecting &c., for the purpose pf obtaining fufldj towards the fprination qf a new jtfeet from the Qontre of the town to the railway It is proposed to cut tl\e new road through Mount Eliot, and the Borough and Harbor Board reserve? which interyeno between the railway statiqn apt! the town. The street,' it jji believed, will be ft great convenience to tho publjo, bejng the q{ saying ft cqnsjderable distance wl|iph hap at preset to be traversed to the status. The Harbor Board favorably entertains thp project, and has agreed to contribute £3OO towards the cost qf the formation, It is not proposed tp ask the Itorongh Oqiinpil t« contribute any m®, but inerelytp plage fl)e supervisjpnV the work jn tl)o hands of that body, Th? cost of the work has been estimated by the Borough Surveyor at about £SOO, A detaohment of about 30 A.C.'s has started on tho formation of the main road between Opunako and the Eltham dis. trict, during the present week, The Constabulary statioued in this district has had pretty eaßy times of it this winter, and it is thought nearly time they were turned to Borne more remurfrative employment than mere recreation. Tho question of accepting the services of the newly-formed Fire Police Corps, was decided at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening last, The following recommendation of the Firo Committee appointed to report on tho subject was adopted'" That tho Council accept the services of the body known as the Fire Police and Salvage Corp3, and that the rules of the body be approved of and accepted." It was also decided by the Council that the appointment of the captain of tho corps as Fire Inspector would he favorably considered. A meeting of the inaaibbrs of the Fire Police' will be heVfiß-night,' when rules, &0,, will be drawn lip fyr submission to the Borough Council, " I mentioned in my last letter that His Excellency the Governor was expected to pay a flying visit to this town. The roport has turned out to be n]epo rumor, as I notice his Excellency ' has returned to Wellington.