RAILWAY REFORM.

i REPLY, TO' " CHARING CROSS." > " ■ ■-■"..

WILL MR VAILE'S FAKES PAY ?

POST OF TRANSIT WORKED OUT.

(Tq the Editor.)

Sib,-I have read with care, attention, and a feeling of disappointment your correspon dent's long letter. I had hoped to find something new to reply to, but he has ad vanced nothing that I have nob dealt with in most of the leading papers of the colony, from Auckland to Invercargill. All the statements made were also dealt with fully by the Committee in Wellington, the result being that they reported that the system " Charing Cross" thinks so perfect je never theless not satisfactory as a system. They also reported that they were "of opinion that a trial should be given to the system" (my system) " on an isolated section pf our railways." This Committee sat from the 2nd of June to the 12th of August. The chief officers of the Department were as semhled in Wellington several weeks before I was summoned to at tend. Their evidence was most carefully prepared—no argument on their side was omitted; bub the verdict was against them.

"Charing Cross" starts out by saying that the rural population does not travel "to so great an extent as workers and residents in town." Certainly! Bec/iuee they have not the same facilities affo/rded them, except at excursion times, when>they eagerly avail themselves of thai oppor tunity. He says: "Mr Vaile claimed ipr his echerne that ifc would result in the rapid migration of the town population to the country." It will puzzle the writer to show where I have made any such claim. Nor have I ever anticipated any such result. I do not claim to be very different from my fellow-men in general, and as every pound I possess is invested in city securities, it is not likely that I should |*pen,d _so much time and money in advocating a scheme that I supposed would result in ruin to the property of myself and children. What I claim for my system is that it will enable us to retain in the colony the great number of people who come here with the intention of settling on the land, but are unable to do so oiving to out? ridiculous toinsit system. I also claim that it must tend to the creation of inland towns, and that the location of a large inland population must ajso greatly in crease the size of our seaport cities. Aftier arguing that country people cannot foe induced to travel, he "says that if the guards and ticket clerks hfid been examined it would have been " found that the indi viduals not recognised by sight by the guards, etc., using the line Outside a 7-mile radius wei-e few, so much so that when a railway employee sees a new face in a rural district he wonders who the person is." Here wo have a rail'vvay man distinctly stating that under tfhe existing system neither town nor country people can be induced to travel. Could any language of mine pronounce so emphatic a condemna tion of it ? Further on, when trying to prove something else, he saye that the tariff is " unfair to the short-distance tra veller, as it does not take into account the fact that the train?, are full between Auckland and Drury (22 m&esj." Which of his con tradictory statements are we to believe ? He next revived the old season ticket ar gument-, and says: "Hβ (Mr Vaile) has been compelled 'to admit that in order to prevent a decrejise, instead ofproducing an increase, in the, suburban traffic, he would be obliged to attack the existing season ticket system, to hie- plan." In the most emphatic man ncr I deny that I ever made any such admission. Throughout the whole argument, I ja&rs refused to dej?,i Mfch aivy thing but " -ordinary fares." Nor could I liave included season tickets in the calculation,. ha<J I wished to, So ,co, for the reauon that there is not, indeed there cannot be, any re cord kept of the number of tripe taken by season ticket-holders.* From the very first I have propoee/i to use a season ticket system, but it' would be far simpler and cheaper than the " existing." one j the re sults expected from thisr have, however, never been taken into the calculation. ; The reason of the failure of the present season ticket system will be very apparent to anybody who will take *ihe trouble to think/ The head of tlie family takes a ticket, but how about the wife, the children, the servants, the friends all these want to go to and from the city, but who could af ford to supply theni with season tickets, or pay the present single faFes ? If season tickets are to succeed they must be . accona panied by cheap single fares. . . We nexfcoome to.this statement: "Aβ the increase required in the number of tickets outside the seven-mfle radius is so. great—in some instances six for one—ifc would be im possible for the scheme of fares by stages to prove a financial success." The best reply 1 can give is the following table, which was prepared by the officers of the Department to the order of the Parliamentary Commit tee In *• Sl|»s 2 & * i §| g ! gifgf I £ p © Sμ fe _! § • JHIOOW 0>O<_»»-« ,CM v d m■'■ _£• . aas* roSftj2s o 2 w 5 eo<H s °^: ,H . ""ft a>, <3 05 t rieS"Sea etfooe- , * g fi .:: , t j.4,4itf ' 'I' '■ ■' • :■,■"■-"" ■ ag-^*9. il ; iffs?i ■§*'#*. 1 2 , §_ _______ eA " . '' '■■ ■ ■'■■'■' : J " . 2$ . : 3 •f • I s - ffi' $ a '■ •"■ ■ - S & § P. ;. 1.. |y O '&' I "Sμ ■ .M ■?■ ; ,*' S 3 b « 0 ; ■ § ■ c- ■ |*m vi to ■ ■ • ,„•,-, -S-β ?e g S ■ ■■-■• 83 ■ 1 s C . '--8 ". S.. .too o Accountant's Office, Wellington. (Signed) A', & Fife, ■.'■! ■ Accountant. My assertion has aiways been that two (not "three") of my fares would give a better financial result than obtain now, »nd this table conclusively proves thattoy calulation has been sound and correcfc There is no speculation here ? npr question of "average," but. the Department hp proved that if my system had been running in 1886 instead, of tfieirs,, and the passenger traffic had beei> doubled, jye shoujd hpe ha 4a; very coneideratde increase p| reyenpe. , . . '♦Charing Cross" saye tkp people WI3O feside from 3Q to 100 milefl P«t> "dp so entirely jfpv tW l ' 9Wji. (T^ 0 italics are bis.) Do hot thoep vbp isesiae within the, 30-mile radius do the paine? Or, a stipferi^r' eejb of pjprtals, who; live apm|ortable honiee for ijie of 'other tiepple ? , ; TheTfendifuJ ca|cul||j|o|i of .Jβ* ceipts from various stations | nw unAbJ© fo||pw, bu % f. $ ijffli rtaJ^if' ffTff-WPi chow Jiow absurdly wild fjbey arc. Tlijs bookinge, ft'om evevy"' fcp ev«F!Btfi'> tip» 91? m Moklaud Mu. end I th(ni fcjiftfr I boVe a rip! cp 6§#|fWilft of 4 " t&mm\ ©xyeit" gotojK into euotj a ridioaloui emtt

purely imaginary calculation, eaying it is what my system would do, and then speak ing of its " gross inequality and injustice." The increases I require for the various dis tances are as follows :— 3 miles and under, l-14th of a fare. 3 to 5 miles, J of a fare. 5 to 7 miles, 3-sths of a fare. 7 to 10 miles, & of a fare. 10 to 30 miles, lfc fares. 30 to 50 miles, 1£ faros. 50 miles and upwards, 4£ fare?. It does not appear to me that this either does or can impose an unfair burden on the cities. This is how the burden as between, town and country is adjusted now. During the year 1884-5 on the Auckland $nd Hurunui-Bluff sections of railways, 914,187 passengers travelled distances of over ten miles. These represent the country interest, and they paid to the revenue £207,923. ; : The ten-mile and under travellers, who represent, cities and suburbs, numbered 1,455,823, and they paid to the revenue but .#57,029. Is there any.justice in this ad justment? Is there any common-sense in it)? When we remember that all goods rates are paid for on the same basis, is it any wonder that we have depression? The only wonder to me is that we can exist at all. Country districts are utterly crushed, and hence the depression in the cities.

■ •• Charing Cross "jjives a table of some of my second-class fares with distances, and says that they are unfair. I may remark jn passing thafc throughout his letter he has only quoted my lowest fares, and has Bought to convey the impression that I rely for my financial result on a fare of 4d for 5(3 miles. This part of the subject brings us face to face with the question—What is or ought to be the true basis on which fares and rates should be reckoned ? "Oh, a mile, of course," says your corres pondent, and the rest of the rail way men. They, however, know right well that two-thirds, if not seven-eighths, of the railway goods traffic of the world is carried on by stages, and so is a large pro portion of the passenger traffic. What is their differential rating system or excursion .system but a stage system? "Station to station," they say. And a stage system based on what ? Merely the whim, caprice, or self-interest of the controllers of the rail ways. Jt is the enormous power this system gives thenj that makes railway men cling to it so tenaciously. Do away with differential rating and you kill the " railway expert." There would be no more " inquire at the station for your rate.'' The difference between the railwaymon and me is this : They profess to work by the mile, but really do most of their work by stages fixed when, where, and how they think proper. 1 abandon the mile alto gether, anil fix ray stages permanently on a population basis. Let me now sort out and arrange the table given, and sec if it is so very "unjust." ■ Miles. Ist. 2nd. 8. (i. !i. 11. Auckland to Otahulni (city to suburb) 9 10 8 Newmarket to Auckland (suburb to city) .. .. 2* & 4 Ellersl ie to Papatoitoi (suburb to suburb* .... .. 6 10 8 Auckland tx» Wairangi (city to country) .... .-5* 2 6 18 Pulcokohe toHamilton (coun try district to country dis trict) ~ 51 6 4 Hamilton to Papakura (conn trv district to country dis trict) 66 10 8 Tβ Awamntn to Pnkeftohe (country district to coun try district) .. .... 70 10 8 I know fcjiat in the opinion of railway mon it is rank hereey not to pretend, to reckon fares and rates by the mile, but if popula tion ie the true- basis, then the above ad justment of fares is a very just one. For my part I can see nothing either just or wise in placing ft iriile of railway outside a city like Auckland, and a mile outside a station like Wairangi—where there is not even a Village—in the same category. When we despatch a letter or a telegram we never-think of the distance passed over, and the average result pays for the average cost. Is there any sufficient reason why we should'not do the same with a ton of goods 1 The question might also be fairly raised whether in a country where tho railways belong to the people, every man has not a right to be taken to hie home at the same price. I am not prepared to argue that under Existing circumstances he lias ; bub this je what ib will surely come to before long. We next come to the remarkable state ment tha,t *j Suoh a fare {as 50 miles for 4d) has never been attempted in any part of the world, even in steamboat traffic." Surely this railway expert has been doing a little ' Rip Van Vi'inkle businose and taking a quiet dose for the last 20 years. We need not trouble the steamers, but will stick to the rails. Allow mo to inform •fCharing Cross" that on the elevated railways of New Yprk—which I pre sume is somewhere in the world— every mile of which cost £168,743, it is daily work to carry hundreds of thou sands of fares at a less rate, for they take them 32 miles for or equal to 67 miles for4d. This, rate pays splendidly. In 1885, after paying £291,808 for rental and inter est, this Company disbursed £312,000 in dividends. If "Charing Cross" wants other instances of cheap railway fares I re fer him to the Indian system, and to the costly London Metropolitan. He quotes their lowest fare as 2d for half a mile, bufc he ought to know that they daily carry multitudes 16 miles for 2d. This line cost £655,000 per mile to construct; ours cost less than £B,OQO. f The New York Company have only their 2Jd fare for tfye whole or any portion of 32 miles tq rely on. They have no higher fares. I by no means rely on my 4H fare for the whole qr any portion of 50 miles, but have numerous cjther and higher farep to help the financial result, although " Charing Orqss " chooses to ignore them, but we will see wh&t tho SQ-mfle stage will do for us. On it there are 15 stopping stations. Supposing a change of pasiaeji gers to take place at each station, this would give a firet-clasa through fare of 7s 6d, and a second of ss. Of course, I do not expect this, but think that ib would be a very moderate calculation' J»o suppose that, taking- both , cjasseg, it would at least reach an average of 2s 6d. WiU this pay ? The governing load of a train for this Stage, Pukekbbe to Hamilton, is with a J engine 125 tone going ©üb, and 105 coming in, average 116 tone. - The cost of running it at 4s 3d per train mile for the 50 miles would be £10 12s 6d. After making ample provision for tlio weight of rolling stock it would carry 440 passengers. These at 2s 6d would give £55. It will thus be seen that if nay carriages were? only one-fifth full there would be po loss, wjiile. if they were a quarter full this dreaded 50 mile etage wpuld yield a handsome profit. It mqst be borne in mins that fn addition I have the vast profit that must be made in the shorter stages- I have no fear whatever as to the financial result. I call attention to the fact that the above calculation is worked oat 95 tH very worst-paying portipn of the lines, tho 60 mile stage, and that it is based on the cost of the tram mile, This is what .*' Charing Cross,", says, and he is right: " AIJ rs|way expenses all the world ;py§r are calculated ftt* par train mile run, and necessarily so calculated—there, ie np ofeJio* rational way of reckoning thorn." Let " Charing Cross P upset my calculation if he can. It should be borne in mind that under the pruqent eyaj;em ail that Gan be earned by a seat i/i a carriage is the By my eyuftem it ie possible for each seat to cam the through fare flora here to Tβ Aw&mnttn five and α-half titnee over, This Jβ wh#re the comes in and the '^mingmem* --Mjert Hn Urn very f )F /the „, mtm $P ■ W ®9m*l -the w»Wwing» «-» "?b wIH

be seen that ' although 97 miles (ft railway was opened during the past three years, the revenue received per mile of rail in 1883-4 was actually £169 more than during the year 1886-7, while the expenses per train mile were less, being 3s 9id in 1883-4 against 4e 3d in 1886-7, As in 1886-7 the train mileage was I,7<M miles per mile of railway, this means a loss per mile of £210 14s 8d for an increase in the investment of £2,809,637. Surely no one but a railway expert would argue for a continuance" of such a system, and think he could make It a success by taking a halt penny per mile off passengers' fares. I have now only to reply to the state ment that my system tends (i solely to en hance the value of distant land at the cost of landholders in the vicinity of cities, the townsman, and the taxpayer." No one who has honestly studied my system could have made a statement like this. It strikes me that "Charing Cross" has studied my system on the same plan that Freethinkers study the Bible. The smallest amount of reflection will show that no districts could benefit so much by it as cities and their suburbs. If, in addition to an efficient season-ticket system, single fares from Auckland to Mount Albert or to Penrose were 4d, and to Henderson or Manurewa Bd, what would be the immediate result ? Just this: all the land within the 15 ---mile radius would speedily be sub divided and taken up for residence sites. Could anything increase its value like this ? Are not residence Bites more valuable than dairy farms ? Everybody will say yes. This 15 miles so occupied, what follows ? Simply this, that the second 15 miles must take the place of the lirst, and so large a population being spread over the first 30 miles, the effect must be to enhance the value of the more distant lands. Every class of lnnd would rise in value, but the relative value of city, suburban and rural i land would remain us at present. Roughly speaking, under the present system, the inau whose house is 100 miles from the market pays 100 times as much for the transport of himself and his produce as the man who is only one mile out; he is 100 stages or removes away. This crushes him.

Under my system ho would be oniy nix removes, nucl only pay si.v times as niuch. In other words all our up-country towns for all purposes of. trade unci commerce would practically be brought to Penrose. Would not this lead to a vast increase of trade for both town and country? 1 think I have fully answered my opponent, who, .1 am of course aware, is a trained railway man.-—I am, etc., Samuel Vailk.

Auckland, sth November, 1887.

[With every desire to give reasonable space to this interesting discussion, we must, with Parliament sitting, limit further correspondence upon it to ono mqro letter nob exceeding , half a column from each correspondent.—Ed, E. B.]

DIOCESAN SYNOD

AFTERNOON SITTING,

The Synod met again nt 4 o'clock yester day afternoon, the President (Bishop Cowie) occupying the chair.

Photog RAimv. —ThePresidentstated that a Mr Mercer had written minifying his desire to photograph the members of the Synod in a group. CiiunoH Bku,s. —The President read a letter from Messrs Gar lick and Cranwell, drawing attention to their importation of musical tubes, which were a cheep and very elective substitute for the old-fashioned church tubes.

Pahochial Assessments.— The Synod re solved itself into committee to proceed with the consideration of Mr Rice's resolu tion, viz., ■'That in <tho opinion of this Synod the payment of assessments due from parishes or districts'for diocesan or genorql objects, and the payment of sums due for interest and sinking fund, Should be made a first charge upon any moneys accruing to such parishes and districts from funds under the administration of the Standing Committee."—Mr Upton in timated that in deference to the views ex- Sresged by Mr Marshall the other night, to ie effect that the proposal would bear harshly upon the country clergy, he wished to withdraw his amendment to strike out the words after "upon any" apd insert in lieu thereof "theparishfundsunlessother wise ordered by the Synod." Leave having beon given to Mr Rice for reasons similar to those mentioned by Mr Upton, he wished to withdraw his resolution.—The Rev. W. Tebbsobjecteduntihehadhadan opportunity of speaking. —The Rev. Mr Wilson insisted upon the eacredness of local endowments. They would serve as a check upon that spirit which found expression in the abominable words "to starve the minister out" when he would not preach as the parishioners' caprice mkrht elect to deter mine. Hβ advocated the establishment of a Clergy Sustentation Fund like that which the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland had in existence. However existing inequalities might be ad justed, there ought to be no spoliation.— The Rev. W. Tebbs-explained that the reason why St. Matthew's parish Imd not paid all the dues of the Church was not disloyalty, but inability. brought about by the heavy expense entailed through the re pair and renovation of the schoolroom. There was a minute upon their vestry records, however, binding them to pay as soon as possible. There were other direc tions or the Synod which had riot been mentioned in the debate, and which had not been generally observed. There were, firstly, the Benevolent Society ; secondly, the New Zealand Alliance candidates in the general election ; and, third, the cemetery chaplains. !He would like to know how many parishes -had contributed -to tho first and third of these objects, and how many had supported the Alliance candidates? Not many ; and yet he would be sorry to charge them with disloyalty. He had sat in seven Synods, and in none had heat tended without hearing a slur cast upon his parish in. some shape or other. As Churchmen, it. was a disgrace for them to assemble there and make insinuations unless there was good ground for .them. It,%vas highly improper that. Synodsiuen should come there, and with the sacred wine of the Communion hardly dry upon their lips become accusers of their brethren. —Mr McMillan hoped some definite rule would belaid down with reference to the subject at issue so as to obviate these un brotherly discussions for the future.—Mr jßafcger reminded the Synod that the dis cuasion had wandered far from the simple point of procedure with which it started. He moved, "Thatthe Synod should now pass on to the consideration of the next paragraph of the Standing Committee's report."—The proposition was put and car ried. . ' . ' '•

Home Mission. —The Rev. J. Hazelden moved, "That this Synod request the Standing Committee and the Home Mjeeiqn Society Committee to confer together with regard to the best means of improving the state of the Home Mission Fund, and take Buch steps as they deem desirable."-—The Rev. F. Goujd considered the,motion un hece9Bary, as the members of the Standing Committee were also ex offlcio members ojthe Home Mission' Society Committee, ~-Mr McMillan seconded the motion, which was put and carried, r-Colonel Haultain then reported atid the Synod resumed, when Mr Hazelden'te reeolution was adopted, St. Bbidk's Parsonage.—Mr H, Orlepe m&ved; '' That the G«merftl Trust Board be, authorised, to pay. >H rant derived from Bb, Bribe's jpaiwjiage to the Pomtnittep of St. Bride's OhwrQh, to be devoted by to keeping fchft Jq rfpas!, Ifly balanco to go to the stipend fund. Tho

mover ftsked and obtained Jeave tC> omjt thj| words "any balance to go to thpsttpena fund."—Mr Upton contended thftb Wie Trust Board had no right to do what the resolution proposed—The President con sidered the resolution unnecessary, as W only asked the Trust Board to do what it had so far done and.still intended to do.-- Mr E; Hesketh said that as it was a ep e "£ c trust it could not be interfered with.— lhe Rev. R, Burrows said that the point really was that Mr Crispe wanted the rent handed to the Committee for expenditure upon the property, while the Trust Board intended to spend it themselves upon the < property. —Toe motion was pub and negatived.

Evening Sitting.

Standing Committee.—On the Synod re sumine at 7 o'clock the Standing Commit tee was elected as follows, consisting ot seven eleven elected lay members active clerical members :—The Bishop, Arch deacon Maunsell, Archdeacon Dudley, Key. F. Gould, Rev. CM. Nelson* Rev. G. H. S. Walpole, Messrs M. Rawlings, V. &■ Rice, H. G. Seth Smith, Batger, Heeketn, Percy Smith, Colonel Haultain. Statute ll.—Mr Rice moved the second reading of a bill to amend Statute No. 11. (Election of Synodsmen). Clause 6of Sta tute No. 11. is hereby amended to read as follows :—" The Returning Officer shall be appointed by the Bishop or by his Com missary duly authorised on his behalf. Mr Rice explained that the object of the bill was to leave the appointment of Returning Officer in the hutida of the Bishop. — The second reading of a bill to amend Statute 11. by' Mr Rawlings was agreed to at the same time, viz. :-to make certain amendments in the statute. The Synod went into committee, Colonel Haultain in the chair. After a lengthy dis cussion the Chairman reported that the Committee had considered the bill to amend Statute ll>, and had rejected the bill. The Committee reported progress on a bill to attend Statute 11. to provide for the elec tion of Sytiodtsmen, and asked leave to sit again. Leave was granted accordingly, and the Synod resumed. Regulation of Parishes.—The Synod wont into Committee, Colonel Haultain in the chait, to consider a bill to amend Statute IV., regulation of parishes, as follows :—Sectioi) 6 of Clause 20 of Statute No. IV. is hereby amended to read as follows:—"To transmit totheStandingCom mittee during the first week of the month of March in every year, and at suoh other times as the Standing Committee may direct, a list of the names registered in the cjuirchwnrdens' book ut such time." Also abilltoamendStatuteNo. V. (Election of Lay Representatives to General Synod). Clause 9of Statute No. V. is hereby amended to read as follows :—■'* It shall be the duty of the churchwardens of every parish or parochial district to transmit to the Stand ing Committee during the first week of the month of March in every year, and at such other times as* the Standing Committee may direct, a li*t of the names registered in the church wardens' book at such times." These bills were passed without amendment, and were adopted by the Synod. The third reading was fixed for Wednesday. Rβ-akkanokmknt of Statutes. — The Rev. C. M. Nelson moved the second read ing of a bill entitled "A statute to give effect to a re-arrangement of the statutes of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Auckland." —Some discussion took place on a question raised by Mr Speight, aft to whether it was open to accept any ameridmente, and the Bishop ruled to the contrary. The Synod then went into committee, oivthe sugges tion made by Mr Rice that if any difficulty arose they could then report to the Synod.— On the motion of Mr Nelson, consideration of the following clauses was postponed :— "(1) The Statutes- of the Diocesan Sj nod mentioned as the first schedule to this statute are hereby repealed.. (2) Tbe enactments of the several statutes of the Diocesan? Synod, with the additions and amendments thereto, contained in the digest of canons and regulations? set forth in the second schedule to this statute, shall be the statute law of thedJocesoof Auckiand." - The Chairman proceeded to call over the other clauses, and Mr Batger protested against the Committee being asked to vote against a bill they had not read. He thought they should have time to peruse the bill, and thus be enabled to give an in telligent vote. —Mr Upton pointed out that this was impossible. The bill was not the work of an hour or a week. The bill bad been left to Mr Seth Smith and the Rev. C. M. Nelson to make a codification of these statutes, and a vote of thanks bad been ac corded to these gentlemen for their services. Mr Nelson wonld explain any clause of the bill.—Mr Speight and Mr McMillan pointed put that they might as well adopt the bill as a whole, and Mr McMillan moved, "That the bill be taken as read."—Mr Spoighc seconded the motion, which was lost. Other clauses were then considered. A proposal to have the election of churchwardens and vestrymen changed from January to July was dis cussed, and the former month was adhered to. It was also decided to expuage Regu lation 37, which read : "In case the vestry of any parish shall have failed for two suc cessive years to pay the stipend due to the minister, and the Standing Committee shall report to the Diocesan Synod that there is no reasonable prospect of the stipend being duly paid, the district com prised within the boundaries of such parish shall cease to be a parish from a day that may be fixed by the Synoc 1 for that pur pose." Regulation 49 was postponed for consideration later oh. It referred to the election of Synodemen., At 9.45 the Com mittee reported progress, and .obtained leave to sit again; Prorooation.—The President stated that the Synod would be prorogued after the fourth day's sitting unless a motion was carried fixing the prorogation for some other day, and oh the motion of the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley it was agreed, " That the, Synod be prorogued on Thursday. "— Several notices of motion were given, and the Synod adjourned ; ajb 3,0 o'clock.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE DOMETT PENSION.

1 (To the Editor.) I see by the Star of Saturday that Mr Domett has ceased to enjoy his pension. It amounted to £659 iOs per annum; and commencing as it did >in August, 1871—he then being over fifty years of age—induces the inquiry what eminent services he rendered the colony to obtain such a guerdon. He was first appointed Colonial Secretary of New Munster in February, 1848, and tip to the date of his retirement in 1871 he held lucrative offices in the Civil Service. The last three years his pay was £1,000 a-year. He has, as a pensioner of the New Zealand Government, drawn over £9,000, which he has spent out of the colony, contributing naught to its cost of administration. . I have been told that the "Amohia" of his poem was a daughter of (<! Potatau." Can any of your readers kindly inform me if such ft state ment is true, and whether, if such were the case, she was, a full or hajf-sieter of Tawhiao ?—Yours etc., i Ignoramus. Poneonby, November sth.

188 AUCKLAND 11TEN1NG STAR. TUESDAY. NOVEMBER & l&U

2



Suite of Onehunga Tweed made to measure fro?n Superior. Tweed |n Wt patterns at 09s 6d ut Smith and Caughey c. npAKS yeq? Ohelee, '■ w' % \ wli)1 yw ffly at Tpousere, wltfi yflttf feu. ....... D&lfcqß, Tallei', Viotoriatßtpeefc Jflaeo.



Architect* | p' HBRAPATH, F.1U,8.A.l [k M, HKRAPATO PH E, RAPA TH - A#» B0 N, • ARCHITECTS, qoi-owiAi* Bank JBy«,.pi»f(jß, ppWAUD BART LE V , ARCHITECT, STICHBURY'S BUmDINGSI QUJSaN-STJ-iEET. TTTIDWARD MAHONEY AND SONT ABOHITE TJ, QOKKN-STKEET, APCKEANP INNER AND SON, • Builders, Carpenters, and Joiners, Vulcan Lane. AlJßranohes of tbe Building Trade exeoated by Experienced Workmen. Shop Fronts, Office Fittingajjco. R7~PrF. M. BURROWS, ARCHITECT AND BUILDING SURVEYOR. 317. Victoria ahcade. err in gto n, M. lnst. C.K., M, Inst. M.8.. CONSULTING ENGINEER, AUCgJUANa "Tjrr ¥. BURR OW S, DRAUGHTSMAN. HERALDTC ARTIST, ILLUMINATOR, DESIGNER. International Patent and Trade Mark Agency. AufKtAND Offices: HILL'S CHAMBERS, QUEEN-STREET (next A.M.P. Insurance Buildings). Eiisincss Notices. gTRAWBERRY QARDENS! WILLOW GROVE STRAWBERRY GARDENS, Next the Upper Wharf, Devonport GARDENS NOW OPEN! STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM! MARK P ARRIS H, In returning thanks to his (supporters, for past favours, begs to inform tfaeto and the public generally that, he has great* pleasure in announcing that these well-known and popular Strawberry and Tea Gardens are now open. Mark Parrish being one pf the largest strawberry growers in, the eqlonv, will always have a large and fresh supply on hand, and can guarantee patrons the ripest, the largest, and most deliciotis fruit in the market, giid they will not be stinted in quantity either. FRESH CREAM TWICE DAILY 1 Tea, Coffee and other Refreshments always oh band. Three hundred visitors can be seated lat the tables at one time/ Lawn Tennis and Croquet Groiin'd, a*d other amusements for the convenience of yjpitore. STRAWBERRIES ANf) CREA^ML! WILLOW GROVE GARDENS DEVONPORT. School Treats and Picnic Parties provided for by special arrangement. Family orders, dinner parties, and for jam, promptly attended to, . Trams will run to tho Gardens at half-price; return from Gardens, Threepence. ! M. PARRISH. PROPRIETOR. STRAWBERRY SEASON. CHEAP BOXES. To enable the growers to givo the away THE AUCKLAND TIMBER CO., Ltd., Are Prepared to Supply Two-Quart Boxes (square) at Id each. For convenience of pack ing, Skeleton Crates, contain 100 will be supplied at Is eat h and returnable. De livery Free to Wharf or Railway Station. , A LARGE QUANTITY NOW ON HAND. Also, BEE HIVES at 7s 6d each. A Specialty* Inspection Invited. N.B.—-Every kind of Packing Cases made at Lowest Kates, and with Despatch. Apply at the Mill, Customs-street; West. mO SEEDSMEN AND 'OTHERS. On hand, a few Bales (assorted sizes) of Superior Seed Bags.—Apply STAR Offices. XTTTE know that Wolfe's Schna??s |s >■ T T itlrst-class article, and can recommend it as such toour rcade's. '■■';'■■.. ! FISH !-Rakino Smoked .' Fish, wholesale in Is parcels at theboaV on Thtirsrtays, , 'Fridays, and Saturdays.— Address. A. San ford. Rakino Island. ■ BE certain you make no mistake. Ask for apd take no other but the pcennine Wolfe's Schnapps. Demand VPoljtk's. ' I EAVE your Order with J. H. Dalton, : Tailor, for a Suit, and he will give you a pair of Cricketing Trousers made of the best flannel. : RICH MO N D HOU SE, PONSONBY ROAD, AUCKLAND.-; * " W. CQCHRAN, Sen R., . FAMILY BIJTCHE& : , The American CORN BROOM QQ. EXMOUTH STREET. piHOOSE for youwelf. An Extra Palp of V^ , Trpueore on? ft Watorbupr' WMfik with oaoh Suit at J. H, Dalton's, Tallop, VlStopla et. T> ONES,—Our pHoe. deltypred jil) t^ x> Works Ratlwav Wharf, in (juantlUeiino| leea than haU-a-ton, in SA J6e 6d pef ton i ei\ M per ton at Ot>6mloiil \Vorks, WeitfleW Blake, Otahuhtv Bftge •upplled pr returned ,to p&rt| or Rail Station. -Freezinff Company, Aubkt knd and Weetneld, PACKET of SALSALIKJS will prefidrv* TWENTY feed, To bo obtatnaa of all Chemists and <Jreoers, ib -^n d eSeea^ k Agent, BIOHA»|I 4, QA$% _^^.■'l^. l '."" '^.'"!.', IS £3 aad&9ef ell raerohante,



Kn*l«es* Netted 1.. 'in i ■ '~--- T - ■ rft'i . lijTTr ill jiij ■ ■'■ •piREWORKS! TOREWQRKS! ■pIREWORfeS! D. KHTT Offers w usual a largo stock of James Pain's Fireworks, imported direct from the maker. Selling cheap for cjish. CBINBSS NOVEJiflia . Guys, Barws, E?yolvbbs, asm α^muwrhon 01 every description. PISS ttf G TA,Q EL Q. ,;;,;,„ A . New Invention for Sportsmen :— John's Patent Automatic Sporting Shrapnell Sheli, FOR FOWLTNG-PIEOES. : WILIi KILL AT W YABDIg, REPAIRS and every description p| Quuwoik done at the lowoat possible prices, and eatlßfaction guaranteed. J), * * *■ - # IUfPORTKII, 254, QtTBBN-STBEisT, AvaKhkNp (Opposite the Market House!. . , EDWIN JON JE S (Late K. and A. Joneu). House, Furnishing, and General ■ Ponsonby Road and Pompalller Terrac*, . Auckland, N.Z, Agent for the Phoenix Fire Office. Advertisement Agent for Aoe|tL4Nis EvaNraq Stap. Foßt-offlee Savings Bank, Money Ord,er Osee. ■Telegraph gtatiQn, Telephone JJuremu ; JUST T ANDiJp, — ROLL BACON .' ~ AND HAMS, CHOICEST FEED ANPCURE. ■ ; . ; ' FrEDK. "WHITiHEAD, i TgA IMPORTS^, VICTQEIA STREET '''■.&s&£ss§&s&% - '-■-- Friende who declined other brands pftq be supplied RQff, . J. J, SWIMfiRTQN, YfOf>D, TURIJJ)R, WYNDHAM-STBiB?'. Established 1866, A reduction of 25 per cent, on all common work, Billiard Balls Exchanged. -*" ' - Special care given to Re-turning and Staining. Pool Pins, Marb}ejß, and Chalk Pockets always on hand. iSTPfc idriCKER CJKIRT rrnV ,ff ; , ; , . : k5" ""■*" vOvV USEFUL, PPRABW. CHEAP. McLEOD BROS.', Wholeeale and Retail jianufftotOf era of Wicketf Furniture, Perambulators, and every description of Basket ware, ! THE AUCKLAND BASKET AJiiBERT STREET (near V.M.C.A.), 1869. -"■ '■^■ | : GEE * POTTER, COAOHBUILDERS, . \ :i - Coaches, PQhy O»rrlaieci. Carts. Drays, and every de floriptionpf vehicles , kepjfc In stock, erbuUt to order. The tri4e supplied, \ ; it ;; N.B.T-Trafcejentto *hil»s repairs are being executed. ■' ■■•.,.' ... ~'.' .' aO •«p O BA-*T ' H to ROTH'S PUBLIC HOT, COLD, A||> SHOWJBR BATHS, YiOTOBiA-BTllEasrr IlAefc ChargeVyNE SHILLI|I&, from 6 aim. to 9 p,ni., arid MpRN-, INGS from 6 Ul\ 10 &.m. Thb bath-yo6msftrc *U; private, and supplied wifch "every ;conyei)lence,] Turkish Towels, flesh and hair brushes: joombev: respirators, soaps, etc. Select Bata; 10 !?"? forfyate) for ladies every day. at all hours, with female »ltenaaade.OnfShming and Sixpence. Please, note the J?ast,i above thei Greyhound Hotel, and next|ne Gueap, Beddinjc and Furniture Auckland. N. 8.: Barber in attendancjß. , \ us %/ VgLOSEBROS.' BLENDS OF ftj \pTJBB . a Ateas I/I 0 V AY& . / ■ '\ . ■ ft; ff' a Jβ JF. \ flbwM / PERLB, \^P ProptOiincjed felie l?es|i yali|i<3\ in \ Q. Lit H Ihl'B ; JERAfEp #AT?!R. CJOBpIAL ' FACTOR^, %JTORJA S S9?3a?I|3f 35AST WJ J*A VSJ fOR SALE,-.; Ktoß% Wplgittfl, Huckets, luw - ; ! : ■■ ■ :•■ v > ' W|fS9 ftl»4 S l«0 mil: ,i ' %,,,_._. 1,-; WBilTsaeaStfißiirepei P«>. 'WPffj TBUKeifosf b til,] .



(0pp0.,1, A. Cto|l Wm. 8. Cochrane. oSirane^'^JjW Bills Dusooonted at cnmnfiettjH E Interviews and nTtnffi'TnicTitwW to strictly confldenti&L I ~■■'. OfficeSOpt } -^$3m& reasonable terms.. All laid eol^W^l^M WEEKLY OR " Loane on Loans may be repato & I BiUe Dieoounted »t Current Vrft ■^β