The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JUNE 9,1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3104, 9 June 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JUNE 9,1881.

Our telegrams recently informed us that public meetings had been held at Dunedin aud at luvercargill for the purpose of forming companies for the export of frozen meat ami produce. Since then we have learned that at both thoie places the proposed companies have been fairly launched. At Dunedin 1200 shares out of 4000 have beeu taken up, while at Invercargill provisional directors have been chosen and the prospectus issued. In the welfare and prosperity of these two companies the whole of New Zealand is interested, their object being the opening up of an immense field for tne enterprise ofcolcnists. The nature of this field is aptly eketcbed in the Melbourne Age in

the following words :—" With the aid of the new process for freezing food and transporting it from one side of the world to the other, there is no limit to the trade which will spring up between Australia and Europe for fruit. The seasons in the one hemisphere are exactly opposite to those of the other. In March and April, when grapes are almost unknown in England and the United States, a shipment despatched from Melbourne or Adelaide so as to arrive iv London in May, the very height of the season, would command prices which would astonish the growers in this colony and South Australia. A similar result would be secured from shipments of oranges in June and July, pineapples in April, and peanhea in Jan ary. A traffic srn i]ler, but quite as profitable, might be carried on between Australia and India, where the inhabitants are only prevented from becoming large consumers of British fruit by its excessive price." So much for fruit, for articles of luxury; but for homely dairy produce there is an equally remunerative market to be found in the crowded centres of English population. Advices from London recently stated that some 2000 retailers have already enrolled their names as customers for a regular supply of Australian frozen butter. There is a very strong probability that the demand will far exceed what we shall for some time be able to meet. Of course the fact that these colonies can supply the English market at a time when dairy produce everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere is scarce is an important factor in our favor. If the delivery in London of sweet and sound butter in December, January and February can be assured, there is no competition to fear from outside. Concerning the meat trade which the freezing process has opened up we need hardly say anything, but the following will show how successfully mutton can be placed in the London market:—We are assured on perfectly unexceptionable authority (says an Australian paper)that the moment the carcass of an Australian sheep enters the shop of a London butcher it becomes transformed by some mysterious process into " real Scotch mutton," and is sold as such, the purchasers being unable to detect any difference in the quality or flavor. We are perfectly serious. Australian mutton has been successfully retailed in London as Scotch. With such a fact before us, what a future does it not conjure up ! It proves that when once our surplus beef and mutton is properly placed in the English market it can successfully take its place with the best produce of English and Scotch pastures. This ought to furnish an additional inducement to our squatters to come forward and assist in developing the export meat trade. When Australian mutton can be so early mistaken for the Scotch article, it shows that it is possible to retain a remunerative rate of prices and in a manner which must render the scale of profits unusually favorable. Well may the Melbourne Age say that the year 1881 will long be memorable in Australian annals from its being the year in which the Melbourne Exhibition was held, and in which the feasability of transporting perishable commodities in ice was first established. There eeeras to be no limit to the career of prosperity upon which we are now embarking.

We mentioned the other day that it was contemplated to alter the existing railway time-table, but as we then did not know what alterations were intended we refrained from making any comment. Little by little, however, it has leaked out that it is proposed the morning train leaving Napier shall proceed to Hastings only, and return at once to town. Passengers from Napier to Makatoko will change to a train at Hastings, which will be ready to start on arrival of train from town. The afternoon through train, it is proposed, shall leave Napier at 3 p.m., aDd the present 4.30 train proceed to Hastings only. We do not see what advantage the travelling public will derive from these proposed alterations, while in the matter of the conveyance of the mails great public inconvenience must result. At present mails close for stations along the line at 3.30 p.m.; which enables the Wellington and Auckland maile, which arrive here by steamer at mid-day on Saturdays, as a rule, to be despatched up country by the 4.30 p.m. train. If the through train, however, is made to leave town at 3 p.m., the mail must closs at the Post Office at 2 o'clock, and sea-borne mails will be shut out; thus for all places beyond Hastings the* northern and southern mails would have to be held over till the Monday. Then as regards passengers. Persona from the country beyond Hastings would arrive in town in the morning, and would have scarcely time to transact their business before they would have to leave for the 3 o'clock train. The banks remain open till 3 p.m., and it would be of great to compel people to leave town before that hour; the extra hour and a-half now allowed is of very considerable importance. Two years ago the last through tram from Napier left at 3 o'clock, but the arrangement was found to be so inconvenient that it was not maintained for more than a few days. Considering that there have been no public complaints we fail to see why any alterations are now called for. If, however, the traffic between Napier and Hastings warrants an extra train by all means let it be put on, but the con venience of settlers and traders beyond Hastings should not be interfered with, and the present time-table for the first and last trains most certainly suits them.

The Poultry and Canary Association intend holding their next exhibition on the •Ith and sth of August.

Wβ understand that Mr Lamb has received a third order of merit for a number of designs for country churches which he sent to the Melbourne Exhibition. The mudr'y stato of Hastings-street should suggest to the Corporation the desirability of having proper crossings constructed. The tarred metal is a great improvement on the dazzling white limestone sand, but it does not allow the rainfall to dry so quickly, , ! and in wet weather the traffic soon ploughs up a sea of mud. There appears now to be every prospect of fine weather to-morrow for the opening of the Redclyfie bridge. The formal opening of this bridge will be made the occasion of a demonstration on the part ol the County and the other local governing bodief. Mr Rymer's coach leaves Newton a corner at 10 o'clock in (he morning, and will return immediately after the ceremony is over.

The football season will be opened on Saturday by a match between the two following sides selected by the committee, namely, Whitcorab, Thompson, Begg, Gibbons, Gillies, Weber, Edwards, Hovoll, Humphries, L. Newton, Arrow, Levison, Parker, Vautier, Waterhouse, Rich, Tilley, and Black. The names of the other side aro Mowbray, Westeura, C. Kennedy, Ormond, Hanna, Clarke, Graoie, Moynahan, Pram, Sidey, Cato, St. Hill, Chapman, Miller, Smith, Tabuteau, Ingpen, and Boyle. The game will bo played on Clivo Square, and players are requested to be in attendance at half-past two o'clock. Should the rain keep ofi a very good gamo may bo

A cablegram from Melbourne published by us yesterday stated that a " bulwark consisting 1300 beam ends" had been blown into the Yarra and had become waterlogged. Wβ tried to make some sense out of the message, but failed dismally. We received a correct cable this morning, which, as will be seen, makes quite a different story: —" Owing to a severe gale which blew here last night the ship Bulwark, 1300 tons, is on her beam endain the Yarra, opposite Fisherman's Bend. She is completely waterlogged. A very high sea ie running."

It is reported that some of the importers of this town have if; in contemplation to form a steamboat company for the East Coast trade. The proposed plan of operations is to purchase a steamer, of suitable size and draught, to run down the East Coast from the Bay of Islands to Dnnedin, calling at all intermediate ports. From the Bay of Islands more than sufficient coal would be obtained for the vessel's use, and the balance would be sold at the lowest remunerative rate. We understand that the proposal for the formation of this company comes from those who have suffered inconvenience from their goods having been carried on by the Union Company's boats, and who feel that they run unnecessary risk of loss and delay through their imports not being landed direot from the steamer on to the wharf.

The second "gathering" of the Working Men's Club took place last evening, and proved to be one of the most interesting ever given bwhe institution. It commenced by a mncb/admired waltz, arranged as a quartettA fior piano, flute, violin, and cornet. ThisVwas followed by a discourse on. " WimL" given with great clearness and conciseness by Mr Thomson, of the Napier district school. This gentleman was particularly happy in his subject, which he fluently and graphically explained. Dividing hie subject into three divisions, viz., constant, periodical, and variable, he proceeded to explain their peculiarities, those of the latter being , , very remarkable. Mr Thomson concluded by observing that, by the small outlay of os in suitable books, and the devotion of a little leisure time, every one might make the study of the phenomena of nature both instructive and amusing. Vocal and instrumental music brought a very pleasant evening to a close, a solo on the euphonium by Mr Tancred being much, admired. <>n the 22nd instant His Lordship the Bishop of Waiapu will give his services at the entertainment.

The Rodclyffe bridge will be formally opened to-morrow at 11.30 a.m. Mr B. Lyndon will sell to-morrow, tea, cheese, &c, at 11 a.m. Messrs Banner and Liddle will sell tomorrow, at the Spit, 60,000 feet of kauri and other timber, at 11 a.m. Herr Bandmann will appear at the Theatre Eoyal on Saturday next in " Eichelieu." Impoundings at Taradale are notified. Mr E. Lyndon will sell on Saturday next; household furniture, &c, at 11 a.m. The ordinary meeting of the Philosophical Society will be held on Monday evening next. A butcher's shop and dwelling-house at Woodville to be let. Tenders are invited for supplies to the Napier Hospital for the year ending 30th June, 1882. Messrs Monteith and Co. will sell on Saturday, horses, produce, &c. Messrs Kennedy and Gillman will sell on Monday next apples, pears, &c. Messrs Combs and Co. have a bankrupt's stock which must be sold. Mr T. K. Newton will sell household furniture, land, houses, &c., on the 16th instant. Messrs Blythe and Co. notify special lines in ladiee silk umbrellas. A number of new advertisements will be found in our " Wanted" column.