THE TAUPO ROAD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 4918, 21 November 1882, Page 2

THE TAUPO ROAD.

It is said that resolutions have been passed by the different County Councils under which no less than seven millions of money have been applied for under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The total amount available for distribution will be about £150,000. It is clear therefore that great disappointment will be experienced. The Minister of Public Works has the power of distributing this pittance. The Act is obscure as to the principle on which the allocation will take place. These facts may not be very encouraging, but it is the duty of the Wanganui County Council to take advantage of the provisions of the Act without delay in applying for the equivalent they will be entitled to ask for against the money they have in hand for the construction of a coach road to the Plains. They will probably receive not less than £2000, and as soon as a reply has been received from the Minister, they might commence at once to push on with the work before the favorable season is past. We need not tell them that if they have £2000 in hand they will be entitled to £6000, if that amount should be available. That it will not be available is no reason, however, why they should not ask for the amount required, and which they have a- right to demand. The matter is really one of the greatest urgency from every point of view. Even before Mr Bield finished cutting his track through to the Plains, a very considerable traffic had been diverted to the line, and, as we are informed, is daily increasing. If a dray road were finished during the summer months to Mason's, and the horse track thence to the Plains improved in places, nearly the whole of the traffic between Taupo and the West Coast would probably come this way. By the end of the following summer it would not be too much to expect that a dray road would exist all the way from Wanganui to Taupo. Next to the harbor, no matter is so closely related to the interests of the West Coast as the establishing communication with the interior. The Council have it in their power to do their part, and they ought to see the priceless value of time in making a move. There is another feature of the case which, when understood, will remove all objection to the spending a portion of the County funds on the line. The Crown and Native Lands Ruling Act gives the power of rating Crown lands, as wel las all Native lands not situated more than five miles from any public road or highway open to horse traffic. So that it is clear that the rates on the land through which the road will pass will do much more than pay the interest on any money the Council may have to raise apart from the Government grant. "We believe the Council are willing to do all in their power to further the work, and will not slacken their energies when they feel that they can do more than any other body at the present time to advance the prosperity of the district.

Before the Rev. Mr Williams, at the annual session, alluded to the spread of spiritualism or " spiritism," we thought the thing was dying a natural death. We had no conception that seances were being held nightly, and that the religion was spreading in Wanganui. We were very much amused reading a few days tince the summary of a lecture delivered by Mr C. O. Montrose, in which the racy newspaper man gave his spiritualistic experiences. Some one naively suggested that perhaps P.B. was partly accountable, and that D.T. had been mistaken for the antics of the spirits. The Rev. Mr Williams need not be alarmed. Spiritualism is a passing hallucination which will soon disappear. Mr Denton, whose science was followed and appreciated, had not a single note of applause when he began on spiritualism. Oh no, if the old faith in spirits is to lose its hold, intelligent men are too much imbued with the scientific spirit to become the dupes of conjurois and prestidigitateurs.

Thb Auditor-General, Mr J. E. FitzGerald, haa become affected with the spirit of the time, and in a lecture delivered before a debating society in Wellington, he deplored the monopoly of the land, advocated a national bank, in which "the depositors would be shareholders," and favored a scheme of national assurance. He deplored the tendency of the rich to become richer and the poor poorer, and said that means must be taken to ensure a more equal distribution of wealth. He concluded his lecture by saying that "one disheartening feature in the present epoch was the great Republic of America, which suffered from the same evils that were the inheritance of old States." "If we were not prepared," he said, "to do something to regulate the distribution of wealth, the scheme of universal education, which many of us cherished, appeared like the dream of a maniac j for whije \\ie gulph between the rich and the poor was allowed to widen, the spread of education among th© lower classes would only be the means of bringing discontent, and the schools would become the hot-beds of anarchy." This is

an awakeniag.and no mistake." Why, Sir George Grey and others have been preaching these doctrines for years. But why did not Mr FitzGerald suggest a remedy ? Had h^ none for this unequal distribution whioh he deplores? Land monopoly wo know is a great curse. No one now seems to cite to deny the stern fact. What we wnnt ia some strong man in power prepared to grapple with the evil. Mr FitzGerald omitted to show how the operation ought to be performed. A national l.ank, b-vsed on banking principles, would, as wo know from tho operation of American national banks, hardly •lifter from the ordinary banks. It is ati ingenious idea to make the depositors shareholders ! Wo fear this at the beat would go but a shoTt way in regulating the distribution of wealth. The scheme of national assurance appears to tend to intensify the evil of releasing wealthy people from their obligation towards the poor, Mr FitzGeiald appears to us to be groping in the dark. He repeats what every Liberal politician has been openly proclaiming for many years, and having clearly noted tho great evils of modem times, he leaves the cure still to be discovered. At this point ho clears the way for the Socialist, who has a perfect "remedy " for unequal distribution, only the world won't see it. The Duke of We3tminst- r reaps the reward of tho industry of mil 1 ions. The New Zealand laud grabber in another twenty years will be «a millionaire, aud the people who live on his land will be scif 8, and their children bond alaves. The nationalisation of the land would prevent the possibility of such people. The equal partition of property among the children would tend to break up the hoards of tho accumulators of wealth. Now here are two distinct remedies, and is Mr FitzGerald prepared to support them ? If not, what does he propose ? Our object is lo prevent the growth of anything in the shapa of socialism, believing that civilisation depends on individual effort, enterprise, and private property. Admitting the evils, the utter inadequacy of a national bank or national assurance is at once transparent. Nevertheless we gratefully acknowledge tho testimony borne by the lecturer to the evils as they exist. The remedy must be discovered in time when tho true nature of the disease has been ascertained.

The Government recently voted the sum of £75 la for subdivision aa district prizes among the volunteer districts of Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Patea. To make the distribution a meeting of volunteer officers was held at the Militia Office on Saturday afternoon, but the principle upon which they have acted is not the most satisfactory to the volunteers as a body. Especially is this noticeable when the object for which the money was voted is better understood, such object being the general encouragement of volunteer shooting. The sum voted was £75 Is, of which £5 183 was set aside for the Cadets. £1S 4a 8d has been allotted by the Board for Carbines ; £17 7s 9d for Wanganui Volunteers ; £19 2s for Rangitikei Volunteers, and £14 8s 7d for Patea Volunteers ; while the prizes run from £5 downwards. In this way seven or eight prizes are allotted to each district. This is clearly no encouragement to shooting, for the inferior shots take no interest in the competition, well-knowing that the prizes will all fall to the lot of the few " crsck " Bhots in the district, and who, as in other competitions, have the matter solely in their own hands; while, by the present arrangement, one or two Companies may have no share in the prize-money at all. On the other hand the best fchota contend that the number of prizes should be reduced to a mini mum and good prizes given, to be open to the whole district, This would certainly be the best thing for them ; but consideration mus.t be had for the majority, whose interests in tbia case appear to have been sacrificed. The money voted for district prizes would, on a pro rala distribution, be divided as follows :— Alexandra Cavalry, £5 16s 6d ; Wairoa Cavalry, £4 12s JOd ; Wanganui Navals, £7 15s 4d ; Wanganui Rifles, £8 8s lOd ; City Rifles,£B ISalld ; Marton Royals, £5 53 2d ; Manchester Royals, £7 Cs lOd ; Palmerston North, £6 10s; Tatea Rifles, £6 18s 6d; Hi.wera Rifles, £7 10s Id; Wanganui Cadets, £3 4s ; Patea Cadets, £2 14s. Now, the fairer plan, and one which should meet the approval of bot h sides, would have been to have devoted a sum (say £15 or £20, or even more) for division into first, second, and third district

prizes. The balance could then be divided into first, second, third, fourth, and fifth Company prizes. By this means no Company would be left out, as some of them are are by the present arrange* ment, seeing that the Company with the greater number of good Bhcta will carry off the greatest amount of prize money. The Companies inferior in shooting have thus no chance, and the greater portion of the men are thereby precluded from taking that interest in shooting which otherwise they should take. The manner in which the vote has thus been applied is in antipathy to the object for which it was granted, and we only give expression to a very general opinion when we say the present arrangement has a tendency to reduce shooting to a minimum.

Mb Rolleston's speech haa not been well received in Canterbury. The Timaru Herald remarks: — "It must not be supposed that there was nothing but padding in the speech of the Minister of Lands. There is a great deal of highly original matter, some of which is of bo startling, not to say alarming, a character that we find it no easy task to comprehend it. Certain passages, if we do not misconstrue them, appear to us to have a most sinister signification ; but, as we are particularly desirous not to do Mr Rolleston any injustice, we shall turn those parts of hiß speech over in our mind again, and give our ideas upon them in a separate article." What was "sinister" it is not necessary to enquire. Mr Rolleston made a very tame summary of the proceedings of the session, but said one remarkable thing, namely, that the leasing principle, in the Land Bill was an attempt to meet the increased taxation which he foresaw aa a result of the continuation of the borrowing policy. He said this by way of apology to the Conservative supporters of the Government, who are opposed to any step that may lead to Land Nationalisation, which his scheme involved. But he made a significant admission which many would describe as sinister. If the prosecution of the Public Works Policy means additional taxation, what about its reproductiveness ? How are all the statements to be reasoned away about the increased paying character of the railways when gaps are filled and all main line connexions finished ? The admission is one that cannot be passed over, and the questions that ought to be answered before railways are made mainly for the benefit of such people as the Hon Mr Robson are these— Is the colony able to bear further taxation ? Should such taxation be met from the land ? and if so, how is the work of colonisation, such as road-making, to be carried on?

The evil genius of Mv Calders must have found its way into the columns of the Wanganui Chronicle this morning, for this paper, after indulging its bad penphant ia charges of falsehood, makes it appear thai; Mr Cajders has been engaged in increasing the hands in the Public Serviceinorderthathemightdraw £25

ay ar. TTere is the defence put forward for Mr Calders. "JAb Mr Calders was then ill, uud had not a staff strong enough to enable him to make a time allowance in the day to the cadets who were to work the railway telegraph, he told them he would let them draw this money, until he could make other arrangements, He broutjht the facts under the notice of the Superintendent, and not long afterwards another cadet was sent to Wanganui to assist in the work. This being the civse, and Mr Ca'ders having improved in health, he made those arrangement;) which he had contemplated from the first — that is to say, he considerably shortened tho day attendance of the cadets, and allowed them a half-holiday every other Saturday. " In other words, while Mr Oalders was ill, the staff did tho work and tho cadets received the £25. When he got well, and another cadet having been sent to Wanganui to assist in the work, Mr Calders drew the £■25 himself. Tho " other arrangements " were an increase to the public service of another cade% to enable a change being made in the hours, and Mr Calders to draw the £25 instead of the cadets I We never said anything so damaging to Mr Coders an this, aud we expect to find him tomorrow morning giving a categorical denial to the statements made on his behalf by his evil genius in the Chronicle. When Mr Calders has denied the statement in tho Chronicle that he got another cadet sent to Wanganui to enable himself instead of the cadets to draw the £25, we may have something to say about the document he received from tho Public Works Department,giving him an " increase " to the salary he was receiving in the Post and Te'egraph Department.

The Auckland Gas Company have received permission to build a wharf in Auckland llarbour.

A lunatic named John Brady, from Palmevston, was committed to the Wellington lunatic asylum this morning.

Mr Gilbert Carson was to-day declared duly elected as Mayor of Wanganui for the ensuing year. There were no other nominations.

An adjourned meeting of those interested in the institution of a Young Men's Christian Association will be held to-morrow evening, at Trinity Church School-room.

Col. Jas. Patience, late of the f sth Regiment, died on Sunday, at his residence in Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, in his 93rd year. It will be remembered that a portion of this regiment was stationed in Wanganui for some time. A special meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club v, ill be h«ld at Mr Jackson^) Pier Hotel, on Monday evening next, to consider a requisition asking that the Committee be authorised to confer with the handicapper regarding the formation of handicaps.

The civil business at the R. M. Court this morning was vory light, only two cases being brought forward. In tho case of Miss A. Gardiner y W. A. Berry, a judgment summons, plaintiff did not appear. The case Barnicoat v Erskine was adjourned until Friday. i

Professor Hugo has kindly consented to deliver a lecture to-morrow evening in the Academy of Music for the benefit of the widow and children of the unfortunate man Boes. It is to be hoped that there will be a good attendance and that a substantial cum will be realised The popular style of lecturing adopted by the Professor has already made him a great favorite in Wanganui.

The competition for the second class of the City Kifles will be held to-morrow mirhing, and the following handicaps have been declared : — Vol Love, scratch ; Bandsman Cox, 2j Drum-Major Ferry, Sergts Spurdle and Carrell, Corpla Johnston and Birchall, Lance Corpl Aatbury, Vols Brough, Cathro, Chisholm.and Bandsman Crichton,4; Vol Haggen, 5 ; Bandsman Richardson, 6. Sub Lieut. Flyger's trophy will be fired for on Saturday afternoon. The Aurora Australia was again to be seen in the Southern sky last night, and information has been received of electrical disturbances in other parts of the colony during yesterday. In Dunedin it is stated that an electric current was working all day, equal to ten times the strength of the batteries usually employed. Messages were sent without the use of the battery, a thing hitherto unknown in telegraph operations in the colony! Business is said to have been almost at a standstill yesterday. 1 k T-he Academy of Music was w ell filled last evening,, when Professor Hugo lectured on >• Mouths nnd Lips." The lecture was evidently appreciated, and listened to attentively throughout. The characters of a number of people were described from handwriting, and personal examination. The professor ia now doing a large practice in furnishing charts of character, and purposes remaining here during the present week, after which he will proceed to Hawera and Patea on a short visit. T&e Christchurch Magistrate has expressed his intention of putting down the larrikinism which haa of late been so rife in that city. On Sunday evening three fellows were going along the street arm in arm, and bumped against a passer-by who vs aa walking with his sister. He promptly knocked the fellow down, and a detective arrested him . He was-brought before the Court and fined £5, the Magistrate remarking that next time he would not get off with a fine. This should act as a lesson to those similarly disposed.

The City Rifles mustered for Government Inspection parade on Monday evening. There was a good attendance, and after inspection the. men marched out, and on returning to the 'Drill Hall were dismissed. The band were in attendance, and played a number of selections, "under, Bandmaster O'Hara, in good style. , Lieut. Purnell intimated that at next parade every member must be in attendance, as the final inspection of arms for the year would be made. A Council meeting will shortly be held to take into consideration the new volunteer regulations.

Mr Willis has introduced something new and artistic in the way of Christmas cards, which appear to possess an excellence not surpassed. The originality of theae cards consists in being painted by the hand, the designs being exclusively of New Zealand flora. The painting seems to have been executed with remarkable artistic effect aud fidelity to nature, one design, the Kaka flower aiid foliage, being very pretty. Tho best of it is that the prices are within the reach of all. For sending to friends, more especially in other countries, we have seen nothing more appropriate, There is no longer any necessity to import such mementos from Home for the purpose of sending them to friends at Home. These cards are the artistic work of a Wanganui lady.

The latest records of the London Police again show numbers to have been " lost in London without the slightest trace." During the past year 11,835 children under 10 years Of age, also 3,416 adults were reported as missing. Of these 7,523 children, and 720 adults were found by the police ; 60 adults and one child committed suicide, and 6,770 returned home or were found by their friends. 25 children and 154 adults are thus left wholly unaccounted for. More melancholy still is the fact, that of 54 bodies found dead and photographed, not one has been identified. These are strange facts, but in the case of tho missing persons there appears but little anxiety, and the polico organisation is so perfect in its search that those of whom no trace can be found are usually set down as runaways-.

At the meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society last evening the President, the Rev. Mr Williams, gave an essay on "Hamlet." Mr YVilliams gave a short outline of the story on which the tragedy is founded, and then proceeded to analyse each character in the Slay. He said that whatever position tho rama held in literature it was evident to every one that Shakespeare's "Hamlet" stood unrivalled, and so long as the English language existed that great masterpiece would be known. The rev. gentleman then went on to say that considerable diversity of opinion existed aa to whether the "Melancholy Dane " was really insane or only feigned inBauifcy j personally, he was in favor of the latter conclusion, and quoted several passages in support ot the contention. The usual criticism followed. The next meeting will be devoted to miscellaneous readings, recitations,"&"c