THE PROPOSED MAIN NORTH RAILWAY LINE. (TARANAKI BUDGET.)

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1805, 31 January 1884, Page 2

THE PROPOSED MAIN NORTH RAILWAY LINE. (TARANAKI BUDGET.)

We have given a detailed statement of the nature of the iccent pxplorations carried on by Mi* Carkeek in connection with the main line of rail was 7 Noithward. W<» have m.ule further enquiries, and we find that Mr R. Donkin, C.E., who has been engaged prospecting in the Mokau district for several years past, states that he lias an intimate knowledge of the country, and could find a good route, but not in the direction which Mr Carkeek explored, as stated by us yesterday. Mr Donkin is positive on the question, and it is not merely a matter of conjecture. He states without any hesitation that he can point out a good route, and in that case we should lose no time in communicating with Mr Donkin on the subject. We have every faith thnt the Chief Surveyor has the administrative ability to carry out such an important undertaking in every detail, and in the most economical manner ; and if he were permitted to avail himself of MrDonkin's services, by appointing him as one of the surveyors, we should then have the benefit of Mr Donkin's practical acquaintance with the country, It must be evident that in a work of this nature, requiring considerable time and expense, a great deal of the success depends upon the facilities in which which the explorers can be supplied with provisions sufficient to keep them at work for several months together, without the necessity of returning to town after short intervals for further supplies. Anything like system in this matter^ appears to have been entirely ignored in the past, but we are sure that the gpntleman now having charge of the affairs will not make such a blunder nor waste such valuable lime. We have heard from persons not connected with the Government departments that arrangements are being already made for the purpose of forming a kind of small commissariat transport corps to deliver provisions in the bush at a central point, from which the various survey parties can be supplied, and thus no time will be lost by them in returning to town for supplies. Any one having the least idea of what exploration is in a bush country will at once perceive the importance of a systematic means of victualling. We would here refer to a letter which appeared in our issue of the 17th June, 1882, from Mr Donkin, who states that he had found a route, via Mokau, which would entail little or no tunnelling, and that a line could be constructed at a fair average cost. This decided statement coming from Mr. Donkin.who is a gentleman having many years experience on the railways in England and Australia, should carry great Aveight, and we trust the Government will give him an oppoi tunity of verifying his words by entrusting him with the survey of the route.

" Atlas" says in the World : In casually opening the authorised editionof Webster, I hit upon "wicket-keeper," who is therein described as " the player in cricket who stands with a bat to protect the wicket from the ball." One does not often meet with humour embalmed in the pages of a dictionary. Remedy for Worms in Swine.— One of the best remedies for worms in s\\ me is spirits of turpentine ; dose, oue-fourth of an ounce, or a teaspoonfnl, for a pig under six months of age ; over six months and under a year, double the amount. For a full grown hog, an ounce or two tablespoonsful will not be too much. The turpentine should be diluted with milk, and given in a tin horn. The dose should be given before eating, and should be repeated, if necessary, till the hog is cured. Blinkers on Horses.— The Lancet stoutly opposes the practice of putting blinkers on horses. It says :—" It seems to us that they are useless, ugly, and to s^me extent injurious to the eyesight. The most beautiful feature of the horse is the eye. If it were not hid from our gaze, it would serve to denote sickness, pain, or pleasure. Many a time would the driver spare the whip on seeing the animal's imploring eye." The Value of the Land in France —The French Inland Revenue Office publishes an account of the value of the land at the present momant, as compared with 30 years ago. In the department of the Seine, during this period, the increase has been more than tenfold ; in the Allier, Aude, and Landea, from 100 to 150 per cent. ; in the Eastern Pyrenees, Indre-et-Loire, Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Vendee, Cher, Loire Inferieure, Deux Sevres, Indre, Maineet-Loire, Vienne, and Tarn-et-Garonne, from 68 to 100 per cent. ; in 29 other departments, from 33 to 65 per cent. ; in others the increase has been leas that 33 per cent. ; and in five only is a decrease n6ted — in the Haute Marne, Ardeche, Drome, Garde, and Hautes-Alnes. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell at the Cambridge yards on Feb. 7th, steers, store cattle, fat heifers and- cows, sheep &c. On Saturday, the 9th Feb., they will sell ?t Cam* bridge 4Q useful horses, of al sorts, taddlery Ice,