PROTECTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 November 1901, Page 2

PROTECTION.

The evils of Protection are already coming home to our Australian neighbors, who are already realising that they are likely to pay somewhat dearly for their “ fad.” The Melbourne Ago, which, by the way, is the great Australian organ of protection, has had to raise its voice in remonstrance. Dealing with one item, it says: “ New Zealand white pine is mainly used for making butter boxes, and is free of duty under the Victorian tariff. It is now subject to a duty of 2s 6d per 100 super, feet unless imported in logs of large sizes. But, if so imported, the cost of cutting up will be 2|d, which on 600,000 boxes, the quantity used in Victoria alone last season, means £6,250. Now, this charge will fall simply upon the Victorian dairy farmers—that is to say, the import duty on New Zealand white pine properly viewed is in effect an export duty on Victorian butter. The duty is, it may be added, equal to 45 to 50 per cent upon the free on board costs.” Just so, and if any one takes the trouble to investigate the matter he will find that on every article on which a protective duty is imposed, the cost of that protective duty is born by the people for the benefit and profit of a small ring. In this colony through the pernicious policy, living is 30% dearer than it was twenty years ago.

Mr A. R. Guinness, Deputy Speaker to the House of Representatives, is spending a few days holiday in Auckland district before returning home. He is accompanied by Mrs Guinness. On account of the equipments not arriving in time, the Greymouth Rifle Volunteers will go into camp on Monday evening instead of this evening as intended.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt this morning at a quarter to eight o’clock. The “ quake ” appeared to come from the south, travelling northward. The shock lasted twelve seconds, and was the severest felt for many years past. At nine this morning the thermometer in the shade at Bluff, Invercargiil and Bealey, registered 50 degrees. The sea is generally heavy on the West Coast; smooth on the East.

We have been requested to state that “ the L. Anderson arrested at Moana on a charge of theft is in no way connected with L. L. Anderson, late of Moana, but now residing at Stillwater. 1 ’

The Ventura with the British mails to November 2nd left Francisco on Thursday, the due date, for New Zealand. By notice in the Gazette the Judges of the Supreme Court have decided to hold the Supreme Court at Hokitika, on Monday, March 3rd, 1902, and Monday, September 3rd. Flowered tea sets, new vases, Johnston and Lockwood’s cutlery, cups, ruby glassware, etc., Wako's, Taylorville.— A DVT.

We remind owners and trainers that nominations for the whole of the first day’s events at the Greymoutb Jockey Clubs Midsummer Meeting, close with the Secretary, this evening at 9 o’clock. Nominations for the Eeefton Clubs first day’s events also close at the same hour.

Mark Sprot and Co., auctioneers and Commission agents, have leased those brick premises next door to Mr C. Hansen, sailmaker, in Mackay street, where hey have now removed. They have taken over the agency of the MasseyHarris Company for the whole of the West Coast, and have just landed a large and varied assortment of cycles and sundries, and in order to effect a clearance, they are selling bicycles at prices never heard of on the Coast before. .

G. W. Moss and Co held a most successful sale of drapery this afternoon in Eissenhardt’s sample rooms, a number of lines cleared at ridiculous prices. The sale will be continued on Monday afternoon, commencing at 1.30 sharp. Our contemporary is in error in regard to Mr Hales’ plans for the extension of the harbor works. He proposes that the South wall shall over lap the North by 250 feet. The extension of the North wall also provides for a wider space between the two walls. The difference between Mr Bell’s proposal and Mr Hales’ consists in the fact that the former proposes to start from behind the present North wall, while the latter starts from the northern end and widens out, “ the sea room ” at the entrance is very much alike. The many friends of Mr and Mrs Renton and family of Hokitika will learn with pleasure that Miss Renton is making excellent progress towards complete recovery from the effects of her accident at Lake Mahinapua. She has been able to take several excursions in the fresh air recently and yesterday was driven in an invalid’s carrage along the Earner! Road. Mr Allison. Manager of the Brunner Mina, has made very short work of the obstruction af the Company’s bridge opposite the quay. On Thursday morning with his men he started, and in two days cleared all away, the quantity of dynamite used being but 201bs, The task was expected to be a long and expensive one, but Mr Allison, ably seconded by Mr George Miller, showed how logs and obstructions may be cleared in the water at little expense. A number of our dredgemasters who are troubled with submerged timber could with advantage learn a lesson or two from Messrs Allison and Miller. The process they adopted could be applied in dredging, and it is expeditious and economical. In Westland 17,000 acres have been reserved in the Otwa survey district for a national park, and in the Minchin, Davie, Bcaley, and Hawdon survey districts of Canterbury 150,000 acres have been similarly reserved. A dust storm raged at Waihi for several hours last Saturday forenoon. At times the buildings in the main street could not be seen ten yards off. Pedestrian traffic was practically suspouded while the storm lasted.

Tbe down country of South Canterbury has suffered greatly from the late spell of drying winds. Rarely, if ever, has this section of the country looked so bare and brown at this season of the year, and the settlers are longing fcr rain. According to the Wakefield correspondent of the Nelson Colonist, hopgrowers are busy, but with heavy hearts, Last year’s pric?s have hit them hard, and some talk of selling out or grubbing up. The four-year-old daughter of a settler atTe Arai, Poverty Bay, nearly lost her life through eating the succulent shoots of the tutu plant. She endured terrible agony before the medical attendant pronounced her out of danger,

The Gisborne Harbor-Board Engineer has advised the Gisborne Borough Council that the septic tank sewage system is not so suitable for the Borough as the Shone system, which Mr Mcstayer C.E„ has carried out in Wellington.

All the ballast men on the WedderburnBlackstone Hill section of the Otago Central were paid off on Tuesday week with the exception of about a dozen (says the Mount Ida Chronicle). The section is now practically completed.

The rabbit exporting season for the current year is now about closed (says the Mataura Ensign) The total export from Southland will amount to about 94,000 crates, which is less than that of last and the preceding year. Several causes are responsible for the faffing off, the chief being ihe unfavourable weather during the winter.

“It has come to the knowledge of this Department,” says Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, in his annual report, “that cases have occurred where, through the non-disinfection of rooms which had been occupied by persons suffering from consumption, tenants have contracted the disease. Under the new law this evil will be greatly lessoned. I look upon this as one of the most important weapons .granted us with which to combat the spread of the disease.” The continued drought is beginning to have a marked effect on the crops on the plains in North Canterbury (says the Lyttelton Times), and the pasture land in some, eases is beginning to have the the dry appearance associated with the end of summer instead of_ the end of spring. Heavy clouds floating about on Saturday evening gave hopes of rain, but beyond a few light local showers none came, and yesterday rain appeared to be as far off as ever, indications favouring a return of north-west weather.

The Wellington correspondent of the Hawkes Bay Herald says:—“l hear that Mr Morgan Oarkeek, of Otaki, has the best chance of succeeding to the Surveyor. Generalship, lately vacated by Mr Percy Smith, and failing Mr Oarkeek receiving the position, the Hon Mr G. F. Richardson, ex-Minister for Lands, is said to he in the running. Mr Richardson was a most capable Minister for Lands in the last Atkinson Ministry, and at present the position of President of the Surveyor’s Institute. It is not so much to say that if the Institute had the Surveyor-General-ship in its gift, Mr Richardson would receive the appointment against all comer 6•”

An amusing incident is reported as having taken place shortly after MajorGeneral Sir Hector Macdonald’s departure from Wanganui last Tuesday afternoon, The train was etopped at St John’s by a solitary woman, who signalled with her parasol to the guard. The amusement of the General and the other passengers, and the disgust of the train officials, can better be imagined than described, when it was discovered that the supposed passenger was an autograph hunter waylaying the General for his signature. Her persistent importunity prevailed and the signature having been given His Majesty’s express resumed its journey northwards. The portion of the river between Messrs Nelson Bros’ freezing works and the Gisborne Harbour Board is silting up and the small steamers and barges which the firm is employing to convey the meat to the ocean steamers lying in the roadstead, are now only able to go down the stream with small cargoes. Nelson Bros have offered to dredge the river and keep it navigable for £6OO a year. They point out to the Gisborne Harbour Board that unless the depth of water in the river is increased they will probably have to meet heavy claims by the Tyser Company on account of the detention of its steamers. It is stated by a London shipping paper that the contract price of the Union Steam Ship Company’s new steamer for the intercolonial trade is £125,000. It should be remembered, however, that these prices are most jealously kept secret by both shipowners and shipbuilders. Mr Webley, senr„ pianoforte and organ tuner, etc., will be in Greymouth on or about the 14th inst. Orders may be left at the Gilmer Hotel. — Advt.

Mr J. Gofton, the Dresden Piano Company’s tuner and representative, is now in Greymouth. Orders left with Messrs Easson and Co., the local agent, will be promptly attended to, — Advt.

Alarm Clocks, Ansonia Clock Company’s manufacture. Guaranteed thoroughly reliable timepieces. Sale price 5s each. Everything correspondingly cheap at Hobace W. Lloyd’s Jewellery Establishment on Mawhera Quay.— Advt.

To those who are about to furnish—We have just landed an exceptionally fine lot of floorcloths, linoleums and carpets from 18 inches to 4 yards wide. The patterns of these have been specially selected, and being imported direct from the manufacturer we can guarantee the prices to be absolutely the lowest.—W. McKay and Son. — Advt.

For ladies ties, fichus, collarettes, belts ahd every description of ladies neck and body decoration, no drapery warehouse in Westland can approach the infinite variety and chaste styles of T. W. Tymons and Coy’s latest importations. In the firms underskirt division, a tireless endeavour is made to obtain the very latest stylo of garments, hence the department has secured the complete confidence and popularity of the ladies of Westland. T. W. Tymons and Go’s “huge purchases” and “colossal sales” are household words. In no other way of business could the firm afford to sell their goods at such low prices. The magnitude of their trade is the cause, secret, and corollary of their success.— Advt.

Some of the highest living medical authorities attribute the great growth of physical and mental disease which has characterised the last few decades, to the universality of adulturation. They affirm that the taking into the system continually by human beings as food, substances which are chemically foreign and not only incapable of sustaining healthy life, but constitute a perpetual danger to it, is largely responsible for the new and complex diseases that baffle their curative skill. Therefore be wise in time, eat only K Jam and avoid these dangers. Absolute purity guaranteed—Advt.