THE MAYORALTY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2068, 9 October 1880, Page 3

THE MAYORALTY.

To the Editor of the trlohe. Sib,—There is a deal of interesting conversation going on over the telephone wires, if ■ von have the mach ne open, listen. Who was elected to the presidency of the Working Man’s Club ? Mr John Wykes. of tho Bant, Hereford street. Any other nominated ? Yea; Mr Aaron Ayes, hair-dresser. High street, at his own request. What was the m j >rity in favour of Mr Wykea over Mr Ayers ? About ICO. Was there a treasurer elected ? Yes ; James Gapes, E.-q, ex Mayor. Are Gapes and Ay -rs going for the Mayoral •hair of Christchurch ? Yes; there are committses appointed in each quarter canvassing for some time past. Are yon sure ? Yea ; listen. Which, in your opinion, will bo returned ? I cannot say ; I suppose the Club will go for Gapes; tho Church and others for Ayara. Why the church for Ayers ? Oh, he presents the altar boy with boquets of flowers when at a church not his own. Do you think he will succeed in the church • line ? No; the congregation have seen through his little game. Wifi his vaccilation prove a success in tho church lino ? Honestly I may so no. Does Ayers feel certain of his return F He has great hopes He declares he will 'he Mayor of Christchurch before he dies. After which he says he will and can die happy. “ Glory Hallelujah ! Amen.” Do you think it creditable on the part of Gapes and Ayers, E q»., to j in the Working Men’s Club, and that on the eve of an election when both intend to run for Mayoral honors ? ' No, Ido not; and I think tho members of the club see their little game. Whioh of your Christchurch organs is in favor of Ayers ? The “Star.” What does the paper say in favor or otherwise concerning the candidates ? It says, 11 Mr Aaron Ayers is a hairdresser,” after which it exclaims, “ Shade of Moses, is not this enough ?” and further on in the same article, “ Neither Mr Ayers nor Mr Gapes are gentlemen.” Then it again declares that every burgess not supporting Mr Ayers mast be a snob. Are yon there ? Yes, listen. Ghost of Moses and Aaron both, what does the writer mean ? Can’t say. Telephone ball sounds again. I* the machine open ? Tea, listen. Is Sir Geo'ge Grey convalesoent yet, or has he left Kow Wow ?

I can’t say, but a good thing for the country at large if ho does not. What mak«B you say so ? A leaped able M P. and one of the opposi* tion tella me there will be no peace nor yet can there be any good done for the country at large as long ag Sir George or any of his relations have a Beat in the Parliament House of New Zealand. For the present, Mr Editor, good bye. Next week I will be able to give you more information in a general w«y. Yours, &0., TELEPHONE.

formed of New Zealand a* a flil growing country is baaed on undeniable results 1 would instance that recorded by Mr Edwd. Pilbrow, of Temnka, Canterbury, and published by that gentleman in your issue of the 20th ult., wherein ho states that he has been a successful flax grower for years, and thaf his last crop “yieldedforty bushels of seed or the finest quality;” fifteen bushels is considered by no means a poor return in Britain. Mr Pilbrow would bo conferring a great tavor on those desirous of growing trial patches ot flax if ho would give them the benefit of his expsrienoe, ti e kind of soil he has x°nnd most suitable, his mode of prepmng it, the quantity of seed per acre, the time ot cowing, and how harvested. Xhe season for sowing is fast drawing to a close, and I would urge upon ell these who are putting in any quantity, much or little, to ere l hat the land is reduced to a fine tilth, and rolled before and after sowing, as flix delights in a firm seed bad. The »mouther the surface the closer the mowing machine can be set to the ground, thereby saving much loss. I am, however, of opinion that it will be found to pay bettor to pull the crop than to mow it, for reasons patent to all who have had any experience in the matter, a fact I hope to demonstrate at a future tim®. The system known as the “ Oourtrai " will uhdoub'ediy be found the most suitable to our conditions. It is, shortly, the growing of the fl»x plant for the seed and fibre as well. Returning to the quantity of twins required annually in Now Zealand, vis., 563 tons, a considerable percentage we may fairly presume will be supplied by native fibre, still there is ample scope for both industries, as twine is but one of a numerous list of articles which can be supplied for home consumption from both plants. One statute acre of well grown flax will pro_ duoe sixty e'.ones of scutched flu, or scwt. of fibre fi r for spinning, and 2swt. of refuse in the shape of tow, valuable for paper-making and a variety of other uses. If flax culture is to assume the importance it deserves, such a system as I have already indicated in a former letter will have to bo pursued. The grower's share of the work will have to o.uise when the crop is ready for harvesting and the subsequent operations taken up by experienced hands. There would be no difficulty in inducing the class of men referred to to come out from the North of Ireland, men who would not only supply the requisite knowledge but who would bring the necessary machinery for carrying on the industry. But a reasonable prospect would have to be held out that flaxgrowing was likely to he an established fact. I may here state that I have communicated with some of the leading men in connection with the flax trade in Belfast on this important question, and I hope for some valuable information in return. With your permission, sir, I shall revert to this subject at a future period, as this letter has already far exceeded the usual limits of an ordinary communication. Thanking you for your space, I am, &0., M. Mpbput, Secretary Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.