The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1889.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 24, 10 August 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1889.

The Commissioner of Police, Major Gudgeon, in his annual report, says the young men of New Zealand .are joining the ranks of '* the foorce " in satisfactory numbers. We are, of course, glad to hear this, as it is intended to be good news, but it strikes the unprejudiced observer with considerable force that the beforementioned New Zealand young men like a Government billet, in whatever shape it presents itself. On the other hand, it may be that the affinity between a lawyer and a policemau is one of the causes of the attraction. It would seem that " Our Boys " mark out a line for themselves after this fashion : "If I can't be a bank clerk, I'll be a lawyer ; and if I can't be a lawyer, I'll be the next best thing to it — a policeman." Anything to escape hard physical labor. An independent trade, or bushfalling, is not genteel enough for the poor things.

An Auckland citizen who is now on a visit to England, writing by the San Francisco mail, says : — " Since my visit to America and England I am more than ever impressed with the exceptional advantages we-- possess over other countries, and in spite of the terrible mess we have been led into by Yogel and others, Ne.v Zealand must come to the front before long. I notice by a circular issued the other day that the arrivals of wool from New Zealand, for the sales commencing on the 18th inst., far exceed those of any other colony, and are almost equal to Victoria and New South Wales combined. >,Then, again, I am assured that we have never sufficient frozen meat here, consequently muU ton from other countries gets the benefit of our good riatn'*.' On the arrival of one of the recent direct steamers from Now Zealand over 500cwt of cheese was purchased by one firm, who acknowledge it to be superior to any of the American cheese, which has a fine reputation here. This cheese of our* was subsequently gold as American cheese and realised a capital price. The same plan has been adopted for mouths ■ past, but it is gradually leaking out, and before long the fraud will .. be exposed. I ommitted to mention (hat on the Saturday before last New Zealand lamb was sold at 9d per lb. This was just prior to the arrival of the ship Wellington. This vessel landed a full cargo of lanabs, and prices have since dropped to 8d and B£d, The day is nut far distaut when there will be a g.ceai demand from Loudouvrs for Nev^Zealand mtrtton, beef, cheese, fruit, etc. ; and with all this looming ahead we cannot long remain under a cloud. When I get time I intend to devote my energies to making exhaustive inquiries as to the disposal of New Zealand produce. At the present time I know our settlers are not fairly treated, and that people at this end are making foitunes out of them." — Dunedin Star.

Some weeks ago in the House, in reply to Mr E. H. J. Reeves, the member for Inangahua, the Premier said he would abolish the post office rule which compels proprietors of newsto frank their exchanges, provided the wrappers of such exchanges were marked "free copy." "It would be interesting to kuow" why the concession has not yet been made. We hope Mr Beeves will not let the matter go by default.

We lflarn from the Post that a public meeting, having for its object the formation of an association to advocate the substitution of a land tax for a property tax, is about to be held in Wellington, and a deputation of residents of Wellington obtained a promise from Sir George Grny aud a number of other members of the House that they would attend the gathering and deliver addresses on the subject, and in other j\ays would do their bftstj to support the; njbvem^ent. Oar e*m- v temporary does not say whether those persons alone who- pay property tax %ill be allowed to speak- or "vote on the question ; ,or whether landowhere will be invited to take part in the proceedings. Tho^e who have neither property nor. land to be taxed.are only distantly interested and therefore ought not to take too active a part -at the meeting as they are too apt; to, do.