The Evening Star. MONDAY, MAY 20. 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2886, 20 May 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, MAY 20. 1872.

Although the produce of Otago is so vast that the export of raw material and manufactured goods amounts to about £33 per head of the whole population, there is much to be done before all the resources of tho Province are utilised. After years of unsuccessful effort, the preparation of flax has so far progressed as to have secured for it a permanent and widening market. We have no doubt that vast improvements will be made both in the machinery and the material itself. Earnest as has been the attention given to flax manufacture by the Government, there has been little done to increase its value by culture, or to ensure an increased supply. The mills are still dependent upon indigenous growth, the area for the production of which must be gradually contracting in proportion to the sale of the waste lands. In fact, we are not aware that any experiments have been made, accurately to determine the advantage or disadvantage of flax culture. As we have often pointed out, the mills are supplied by men who obtain “ leave to cut,” but without exclusive privilege ; so that carter A, who cuts flax for one flax mill, may meet in the same flax swamp with carter B, who supplies another. The object of both is to supply the mills they have contracted with, and thus flax industry, by this primitive rough-and-ready process, may, for what we know to the contrary, be absolutely wearing itself out. This is a point well worthy enquiry by the Government, for it would seem that the uses of New Zealand fibrous plants are only just beginning to be understood. Mr Reid’s expressed intention to place a sura on the Estimates to enable the Government to offer a bonus for the manufacture of paper, has an intimate bearing on the subject, and points to the necessity for adopting some plan for the conservation of plants so valuable. Those of our readers who read the Treasurer’s Financial Statement are aware that the General Government offered £2,500 bonus for the production of the first 100 tons of printing paper iu the Colony, in addition to any bonus offered by a Province. This was done in accordance with the recommendation of a joint select committee of both Houses of the Legislature appointed to inquire into Colonial Industries. That Committee confined its inquires to a few subjects only. One was the establishment of sugar manufacture from beet root, which, however, through special knowledge of the subject, we should not recommend to be attempted. New Zealand capital would almost certainly be thrown away on such an industry, for better and cheaper sugar can be grown and produced in the semi-tropical countries within a few days* sail of us. In all young countries—in fact, in all countries old or young first attention should be directed to specialties, and those in New Zealand are wool, flax and fibrous plants, gold, coals, cereals, various minerals, fish curing, meat preserving, and very probably whaling. In all these, competition may be defied—and there is plenty of scope for the profitable employment of capital and labor in the numerous collateral branches of industry connected with these products. Machinery is a mighty equalizer of the cost of production. Although the wages of labor are high here iu Otago compared with Great Britian, the difference is hardly appreciable in the cost of a yard of cloth, a hundred-weight of rope, or a ream of paper. In fact, that difference is more than compensated by the saving of freight and charges home on the raw material and back again on the manufactured article. In regard to the special article of paper making, many of our Provincial Councillors may not be well informed as to the material lying unused on vast areas of Otago. First, there is the Phorniura Tenax—the New Zealand flax. This plant, ac cording to Dr Hector, is capable of being made into remarkably fine paper. In his evidence he said “ We have two samples of paper which were sent out from home, manufactured from New Zealand flax, and they have very singular qualities, being transparent, as tough as parchment, and very fine and smooth in the grain.” They are in the Museum at Wellington. No doubt the flax plant is in the main more valuable for its fibre than its pulp, but as on auxiliary to the preparation of the fibre in the utilization of what is now wasted, it would add to the profit of a flax mill if a market were available for the waste, “ I will only say,” remarked Dr. Hector, “in addition to that,

that flax waste is a material for paper making that promises to be very valuable, and it possesses peculiar qualities.’’ But Otago has other materials in vast abundance. A grass, Danthonia or Snow grass, grows upon a the tops of hills and upon poor wet clay soil. It is all over the Mataura plains, and over the tops of the hills of and grows sometimes four feet high.” “ This grass ” is almost the same as Esparto grass, which is largely imported into England from Spain, and fetches from £7 to £lO a ton. The most uninitiated in commercial matters will see that competition with Spain for the supply of the paper makers in England is out of the question. After freight, charges, and merchants’ profits were paid, but little would be left for the man who cut the grass. But the case would be very different when it was raised in value to between £4O and £SO a ton, through being made into paper. The freight and charges then would form a comparatively small per centage on its value, and a new article of export might be added to the already valuable products that have enabled Otago to part with more than twice the value per head that our neighbors in Victoria are able to do. Lastly, there is danger, unless we at once take steps to utilise this grass that it will be destroyed. Dr. Hector says “ it is very easily exterminated by fire, and does not recover, like many other grasses.” So far as has been ascertained, Otago is the only Province that produces sufficient quantity to promise success in its manufacture. The probability therefore is, once established, a virtual monopoly would be secured tending to insure success.

Football. —There is some talk of a team going from town to play a match at Oamaru on the Queen’s Birthday. Princess Theatre. The management announce a succession of novelties for this week. To night will be produced “Randall’s Thumb.” On Wednesday. Messrs Roberts and Prosser, the gymnasts, will appear, and an adaptation of Dickens’s “ No Thoroughfare” is in active preparation. Journalistic. — We have to acknowledge the receipt of the first three numbers of the Waikato Times, published at Ngaruawahia, the ancient capital of Maoridom. The publisher is Mr Jones, late of Christchurch, and the journal, which is a triweekly one, is well got-up in every respect. Mutton-Birding. —The present appears to have been very successful as far as it has gone. The cutter Mary Brilliard, which left Invercargill about four weeks ago, has returned with ten thousand birds and a quantity of oil. The oil is worth 4s per gallon, and the birds 4d each, so that her crew have not made a bad month’s work.

Provincial Council Business, — From present appearances, bon. members of the Provincial Council will have plenty of business on their hands for some time to come. No less than thirty-eight notices of motion were given at this afternoon’s sitting, seven of them being by one member (Mr Shepherd). Among the remainder was one Mr Macassey, to reduce the number of members in the Provincial Council to nineteen, and that of the Executive to two. It was twenty-five minutes to three before the Jfirst question on the paper was called. The Railway Mania.—A contributor of “ Free and Easy Rotes ” to the Tua* peka Times says a good story is being circulated apropos of the railway question. When Mr Brogd.cn arrived at Invercargill, the railway committee of that city of “magnificent disappointment” waited upon him for the purpose of favorably impressing him with the Winton and Kingston line. They described, in glowing language, the great farming district it would pass through, the large area of agricu tural land it would open for settle ment, the rich goldfield it would lead to, and drew a flattering picture of the prosperous township at its terminus. Mr Brogden states that on arriving on the shores of Lake Wakatip he was electrified at finding the flourishing town of Kingston consist of two houses and three smaller edifices, erected for convenience and not for ornament.

Masonic Hall.— The entertainment given by the Sable Orphans on Saturday evening, under the auspices of the Early Closing Association, was largely attended. The troupe has received some additions since its last appearance in town ; and now possesses two excellent “ corner” men ; but its members require a good deal of hard pr ctiee to give concerted pieces with the pleasing effect we have been accustomed to bear them rendered. The choruses sung on Saturday evening were remarkable for unsteadiness ; in fact the whole of the first part showed a want of rehearsal. The best vocal efforts were “Jennie who lives in the dsll” and “Kiss me, goood night” by a gentleman who is always worth listening to, and “ The cuckoo song,” all of which were encored. The dancing was excellent; and the entertainment wound up with a most laughable farce, entitled “ The Barber of Seville.”

The Telegraph,—-The following important notice “ to all to whom it may concern” is published in the General Government Gazette of the 10th instant“ General Post Office, Wellington, 26th April, 1872. It is considered necessary to call attention to the inexpediency of the practice which has grown up of making too free a use of the telegraph for ordinary official correspondence, which could be as well conducted by the post—a practice which, while it adds very greatly and very unnecessarily to the telegraph department, is, as compared with transmission by post, extremely costly. Officers of the Government are therefore strictly enjoined to confine the use of free telegrams to matters only of pressing importance, which do not admit of the delay of the mail, and to make such telegrams as brief as may be consistent with their being intelligible. It is further enjoined that the use of Ihe telegraph on Sundays may be avoided as far as possible, in order that the officers of the telegraph department may not be deprived of the privileges of the day more than can be

helped. Any infringement-of these directions will be followed by the officer in fault being surcharged with the expense of the unnecessary work thus occasioned. W. Pox (for the Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs).”

The Colonial Firing.—As bearing on our article of Friday and its extract, we have had brought under our notice a letter which appears in the Thames Advertiser, and which bears the signature of “ T. F. Fenton,” one of the Auckland representatives at the firing. Mr Fenton, on behalf of the Thames representatives, gives a flat denial to the charges made against Colonel Haringtou through the Auckland press. He denies that Captain Wales was allowed more than five minutes, or any other advantage, in the rapid firing match, and satisfactorily proves the incorrectness of the other statements referring to the champion in “ Representative's ” letter. Mr Fenton concludes his letter thus “ I may fay that the letter iu the Herald and the other letters are composed of nearly a tissue of falsehoods ; and, in conclusion, allow me, on behalf of the Thames representatives, to thank Colonel Harington for his impartiality and gentlemanly conduct throughout the matches.” Mr Bassett, a Wellington representative writes to the Independent in terms very similar to those used by Mr Fenton. Sabbath Observance. —The following is the text of a petition to the Colonial Legislature now in circulation for signature through out Oamaru:—“The petition of the undersigned, inhabitants of the Province of Otago, humbly sheweth—Whereas the Sabbath is a divine institution, made for the physical, intellectual, and moral welfare of man as is shewn not merely from the Bible, but also from the history of nations. And whereas various forms of Sabbath desecration prevail in the land, such as dray traffic, sailing of steamers, running of trains, the unnecessary sale of liquor and other goods, &c., all of which interfere with its proper observance, depriving many people entirely of the day of rest, and disturbing the peace aud quiet which should ever characterise it. And whereas a strong desire exists in the community to have pre erved to man and beast the benefits of the Lor’s Day. May it, therefore, please your Honorable House to take the premises into your serious oonsidertion, and to devise such measures as in your wisdom may seem best for remeding these evils, and for securing the better observance of the Christian Sabbath. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

The Natives. — Referring to a telegram recently published, the New Zealand Herald says It is quite plain that the Waikatos are beginning to realise their true position, and that they find they can no longer control the native policy. When William King, “ the root of the evil,” has come in and made his peace with the Go vernment there is little room for Tawhiao and his followers to stand aloof. They have not the active support of the tribes as formerly ; and we are justified in looking forward, at no distant date, to a final and satisfactory settlement of the “ native difficulty. A change in the King policy is reported by the Wang mu Chronicle of the Oth ; —We are informed by Mr Weon, R.M., that a circular has been received from the King by the Wanganui natives which shows a complete reversal of the policy by which the King party has hitherto been actuated. It is generally known that the King monopolised complete control of the native tribes of the island in his own hands. The circular announces that in future all questions respecting the throwing open of the native lands for settlement, the progress of roads, railways, and telegraph, and the working of goldfields is in future to be left to the decision of each tribe in whose territory the above works are to be carried forward. This is a result of the highest importance to the Colony, and comes at a specially opportune time when the prospect of a goldfield being discovered in the interior presents itself. Port Chalmers Graving Dock.— It is now about twelve months since the happily settled dispute between the contractors and the Otago Dock Trust began, respecting what seemed a formidable leak. The contractors, to strengthen themselves in their contention, in opposition to the Dock Engineer, that their work was completed according to agreement, obtained the opinion of Mr W. Brunton. C. E., who, on stating that if allowed the leak would “ silt up, ’ was rather roughly handled by the engineer and other gentlemen scientific and unscientific, and was kindly told thatjfor the sake of his own reputation he would be allowed to withdraw his opinion. He preferred, however, to abide by it, and as time alone could test its value, the question remained unsolved until now. Gradually the leak has become less and less, and when the Omeo left the the dock on Saturday, it had, as Mr Brunton predicted, at length c ased. There is every reason to believe had he wavered in his judgment the Dock Trust would have felt bound to have been guided by their professional advisers ; no dock would have been at present available, and thousands of pounds would have been fruitlessly expended on what is now proved an error of judgment. The retrospect therefore is only bare justice to Mr Brunton, to whom the credit is due for pointing out a danger to be avoided and the means of escape. The result must be highly gratifying to that gentleman who must feel that his professional character has been vindicated by it. The Wakatip Warden.—Public feeling on the subject of MrMaoassey’s action in moving for the removal of Mr Warden Beetham runs pretty high in the Wakatip district. Jt would appear from the Mail’s article that Mr Innes, M. P C., on the presentation to the Council of the Chinese petition, telegraphed to the Municipal authorities at Queenstown, asking for information as to its origin, and the following replies, signed by the Acting-Mayor, all the Councillors, and the Justices in the town, was forwarded to him;—“ Only heard of Chinese petition through Mr G. Barton.” “Haying just heard Chinese petition presented t6 remove Warden. Interpreter never saw it. I am certain that nine-tenths of the miners would sign a petition to retain Mr Beetham. Must have emanated from a defeated candidate or his agent.” In the Moke Creek district petitions for presentation to the Provincial Council are being signed, in which the petitioners say; —We are of opinion that such action is not only unjustified, but is a slur upon this community ; when the European population petition for the removal of Mr Warden Beetham, it will be time enough to consider the question ; the Chinese, as an alien class of the population, by an action of this kind virtually dictate matters affecting our interests—a proceeding both injudicious and unwise,—

Apropos of this question, the Mail’s leading article of Thursday, Which Mr G. B. Barton regards as a libel upon himself, is a very harmless production. The only reference wc find in it to that gentleman is contained in the following sentence:—“ Any action Mr Macassey or his fetes Achates, Mr G. B. Barton, may take in this matter of the periodical removal of the Wardens, we are inclined to think the public will look upon as the offspring of ill-feeling engendered by an electioneering defeat at a very critical period for Mr Macassey’s interests, as an assuming politician.” Provincial Administration, —The Nelson Gas and Waterworks loan affords another proof of the so-called superiority of Provincial administration. At a time when money is remarkably plentiful for investment, the Nelson Provincial Government sold their waterworks G per cent, debentures at 8 per cent, below par. The security is undeniable—the City rates; yet the Government sacrificed L4BOO in the negotiation of a loan, where, under other circumstances, the Province might have received that amount as premium. And this is solely owing to the fact that the Nelson executive would insist upon the interest being made payable at Nelson, instead of allowing it to be optional. Had the interest been made payable at Sydney or Melbourne the result would have been very different. What about Provincial “machinery” in this instance ? The attention of volunteers is directed to a general order which appears in our advertising columns to-day. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society will be held, to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, at 8 o’clock, in the Lower Hall of the Athenaeum.