THE Grey River Argus, PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1901, 19 September 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus, PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874.

We resume our remarks on the second annual Report of the Victorian Secretary for Agriculture, made in a late issue : Those who remember when the question of making sugar from beet-rooi was raised in Victoria will recollect that very great expectations indeed were indulged in as to the benefits which would accrue from the establishment of this new industry. Some sanguine people asserted that the day was not far distant when the supply of sugar, manufactured locally, would be quite enough for all the requirements of the Victorian population, no matter how sweet-mouthed they might become. Elaborate calculations were entered into, showing the exact number of pounds sterling which would thus find their way into home pockets, instead of being sent away to foreign countries. All this considered, it must be keenly disappointing to the gushing ones to find that now, after the lapse of years, almost nothing has been done towards the accomplishment of the splendid visions. The fact i 3 undeniable that labor is too dear in Victoria to permit of beet-root sugar being made remuneratively; but there is another barrier as insurmountable as this, namely, tiinf. ..« opnnWHncr t.n t.hfi rfiturnssenkin. it appears that the roots manufactured into sugar and spirit gave, on an average, 7 '09 per cent, only of svgar — quantity much too small to render the manufacture of sugar from beet-root a profitable industry in Victoria. The average quantity of sugar contained in beet-roots used for the manufacture of sugar on the continent of Europe is 10-13 per cent." We draw attention to the failure of our neighbors in order that New Zealanders may profit by their experience. For though the climate and soil of this country are different from those of Victoria, there raay be similar deficiencies in them ; and it is certain that the argument, derived from the high rate of wages, may be urged with far greater force in New Zealand than in the sister Colony. Touching on the wholesale waste of timber in one of the state forests, the reports saj s: — "A liberal estimate of the ratio which the timber used bears to that wasted, calculated from the boards alone, gave the proportion of about one to eight. Trees, that would each cut many thousands of feet of sawn timber, lie about in numbers, and it is painfully evident that reckless destruction of a valuable asset of the country is taking place." Those who know how ill off Victoria is in the matter of timber will be astounded at such wanton prodigality as is here disclosed. And though our own forests are of vast extent, it would be not unwise, certainly, to prevent any similar waste. It is undoubtedly the part of a prudent Government to look to the future as well a3 to the present. Our arboreal wealth is partly held in trust for our descendants, and we shall fail in duty if we squander the heritage that is theirs of right. By these remarks we do not counsel stringency. We merely advise against the waste of vast riches. Attached to the Department of Agriculture in Victoria is a chemical laboratory for the purpose of analysing the soils of the various districts, ascertaining the component parts and values of manures, &c. It wonld be difficult to overrate the importance of such an establishment in a new country. The report says on this subject, "What is more common in Victoria than to see a selector striving to battle with the evil qualities of the soil of his selection ; often truly such as no man of experience would attempt to cultivate, but at other times fair enough to look at, especially at the season of the year when the choice was made, and yet more or less sterile, owing to excess of peaty vegetable matter, or to the existence of some deleterious substance that is often instinctively felt by the man of experience in cultivation of Australian soils to be the case. This man has a vague feeling of distrust on viewing such a soil and the quality of its vegetation, for has he not seen similar soil cultivated with disastrous results? Yet the active cause of Bterility is unknown, and therefore the proper remedy; and the man wanting experience spends possibly his all in repeating the same experiment tried by others previously upon similar land with like unfortunate result." Here chemical analyiss would show what the real nature of the soil was without more ado, and the farmer would ascertain what kind of manure he ought to use to remedy its defects, or which is the more.likely he would discover

that with the present means of obtaining a supply of manure the Land would not pay for cultivation. When the laboratory has been a year or so more in active operation there will have been made a complete analysis of the soib in all the districts of Victoria, and the selector may at or-co find what is the quality ot the land where his selection is, and it that be not sufficient he may forward samples of the soil and have them analysed, and have the results sent back without unnecessary delay. In addition to what might be called strictly the "report," the volume contains a score of papers on various subjects, more or less connected with agricultural or pastoral industries, all by persons well up to their work. There are also numerous illustrations excelhnb)y executed, and a very good, map of Victoria, giving besides the information contained in ordinary maps the positions of meteorological stations, telegraph and railway routes, &c. In " Some Notes on Home Diseases on Sheep," Mr Wallis makes observations that may be of use to sheep-farmers in this country. " The chief causes, however, for the spread of parasitic diseases among our flocks are, in my opinion, to be found in over-stocking, and the gradual disappearance of saline and bitter herbs from our native pastures, which follows upon such a system. It will probably be found necessary at a future time to direct attention to the cultivation of saline and bitter plants, such as the varieties of salt-bush which are indigenous to Australia, and the sheepbush, which is found at the Cape. . . . It is well known that the injurious consequences of fluke can be stayed, if the disease cannot be absolutely cured, by removing affected animals to salt-bush country, but the travelling of fluky sheep over previously sound districts tends to spread the disease, and the practice is therefore undesirable." It is an alarming fact that this disease destroys thousands of sheep annually. Indeed individual squatters have each lost many thousands in some years. And it was confidently asserted a short time since, that more than half the mutton consumed in Melbourne was fluky. The existence of the disease is not observable to any eye except a connoisseur's till it is very far gone. It promises to prove as great a j scourge to the Victorian sheep-farmer as the scab pest did years ago. We shall conclude by remarking that flax culture in Victoria has been far from successful, but sericulture, though yet on a small scale, gives evidence that Victoria may one day become independent of foreign countriea for her supply of silk. Some cocoons aent to Vienna were pronounced "to be equal to the best Italian silk in days before the disease made its appearance." The main object for which the Department of Agriculture was called into existence, was to endeavor to introduce an improved system of cultivation amongst the farmers ; this important class having hitherto gone on devoting their energies to the production of the ordinary cereals and tubers, and that in the most unscientific manner. No attention was paid to the rotation of crops. The land was worked and worked till quite exhausted. It was a repetition of the old story, killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. The Secretary is doing his utmost to check this sort-sighted policy. Here are some of his remarks on it : — " Just as the disastrous results brought about by the uninterrupted cultivation of one plant on the same land, and its inevitable exhauslif&MfWiPM^ ■$$$& tato famine in 1846, and led to the establishment of a National system of Agricultural Education in that country, by the instrumentality of which a knowledge of the rotation of crops has been introduced into districts where rotation cropping had been preyiously unknown, and where the potato and tae oat were tlie only crops formerly cultivated ; and as the exhaustion of the soil in America, and the estimate made twenty-five years ago, that to restore the land then under cultivation in the United States to its original fertility would cost a thousand millions of dollars, or, in other words, about two hundred millions of pounds sterling, led to the foundation of Schools of Agriculture throughout the length and breadth of that land, so is it probable that like circumstances will lead to precisely similar results in Victoria ; but it is high time, now that the church, the law, and the sword have their colleges supported by the State, that the plough should have her's ; for I contend it is as much a matter of national policy to teach the people how to feed men scientifically as to kill them, and that a knowledge of how and upon what we subsist is as essential to tlie moral well-being of a nation as is a knowledge of divinity and law." There is, we may add by way of supplementing the arguments of Mr Willis, no other industry, nay, nor are there any other two industries combined, which give employment to so many members of the human family as agriculture. Surely then here is an additional reason why men ought to be taught to farm upon principles the most enlightened that science in her present condition can teach. Mr Wallis intends his remarks for Victoria, but they might be applied with' equal cogency to New Zealand. We may state, in passing, that we hope Mr Yogel, with that farseeing policy which is so characteristic of him, will deem it expedient at no distant date to establish a department in this country similar to that which Mr Wallis so ably directs in the sister Colony. We notice with pleasure that New South Wales is about to found a Department of Agriculture ; and we suppose the other Colonies of Australia will now follow in her wake. There is another object which Mr Wallis has greatly at heart. — the establishment of Farmers' Clubs. He says : — " Steps have been taken towards the establishment of Farmers' Clubs in connection with the leading Agricultural Societies of Victoria. The good which such institutions exercise, when judiciously directed, for the advancement of improvement in the practice of farm management, and for the promotion of the agricultural interest generally, is brought yearly more prominently. under notice by the proceedings of Farmers' Clubs in foreign countries." And further on Mr Wallis says : — " It is desirable, indeed imperative, that farmers should meet together at the appointed times and places, to discuss the several matters which regulate and influence their avocation ; to discuss the cultivation of the different crops grown, the breeding and management of stock, the treatment and prevention of diseases among cattle, the growth of new and important plants, the establishment of new rural industries, the

subjects which opposes the agricultural interest, and likewise those which are essential to its advancement. Discussions of thi3 kind come within the province of a Farmers' Club, and if agriculturists will receive their just rights, they must learn to unite, as other sections of the community unite, and advance their claims. Farmers' Clubs tend also in other directions of good. They render lesa isolated the occupation of the farmer, and by placing standard works on agriculture and its allied sciences, the leading agricultural journals of foreign countries, and the transactions of foreign clubs, within his gcasp, tend to elevate him. intellecfctt&Uy, or at least to keep him informed regarding the improvements made in the practice of agriculture in every quarter of the globe. The establishment of Farmers' Clubs in connection with the Agricultural Societies is a subject worthy of attention i — on© ■which, in my opinion, is equally, if not more, entitled to consideration from the Government than the subsidising of Agricultural Societies for the holding of annual shows." Mr Wallis proposes to get from each Agricultural Society, through its secretary, quarterly reports of the state of agriculture in the district it represents, these reports to contain information regarding the condition of the cross, the diseases and mortality among cattle, the prospects of the harvest, and other particulars of a similarly useful nature. This too, is a step in the right direction, and we wish it every success.

The members of tne deputation, which recently proceeded to Wellington in re harbor works and Mr Moriarty's report, met the members of the Borough Council last night, when full explanations were made by the Mayor as to their interviews with the Minister of Public Works and the Premier. A full report will be found in another column. With regard to the recent importation of immigrants, we are glad to learn that all the married men receivei engagements; and it was expected that by last night all the single men would be engaged. So far this immigration experiment has proved successful, but it is to be hoped that when any future shipments are to be made for this port, the Government will also make some provision for their proper reception, as it is certainly no part of the duty of the Mayor and Town Clerk to act as immigration agents. In consequence of the state of the weather for the last few nights, Miss Aitken (Mrs Bunten) did not give the announced entertainment at the Vo'unteer Hall last night. The Greymoath Early Closing Association held a meeting; at Gilmer's Hotel on Wednesday night, when it was resolved that a deputation should wait on the principals of all mercantile firms, requesting them to close their establishments at one o'clock on Wednesday afternoons. Other business of a more formal character ; also, the election of Presidents and Vice-Presidents terminated the meeting. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that Messrs Roche and Co., contractors for the Nelson Creek Water Race, are offering 12s per day for pick and shovel men. Two hundred men will be employed on application at the works. An excellent sample of fire-clay has been procured from the railway cutting at Green Island, and the clay is now for sale at Dunedin. The Auckland City Council are applying for tenders for L 20.000 secured on the city endowments, which are daily becoming of greater value. We perceive, says the "Thames Advertiser," that the Auckland and Th lines Mining Association are about to undertake the publication of a Stock and Share List — a -. I- ,«U 4--J -c— --£-— ~»u Xur BUQI6 time past. We learn that although the injury sustained by Mr W. Jbjvans, of Hokitika, the obher day is of a serious and rather peculiar character, he is progressing as favorably as possible It will, however, be several weeks before Mr TSvans will be able to be about again. The Queensfcowa correspondent of the "Daily Times" states that Mr Warden Beetham intends to resign his position, and to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the Wakatip district in the House of Representatives at the next General Assembly. It appears to have been established to the satisfaction of the people of Sydney that their capital is built upon a great coalfield, the depth of which is calculated at 960 ft. It appears probable that an attempt will be made to work the field, as the depth is trifling compared with those of many coal mines now worked profitably in England. We notice by our Otago files that the subscription in aid of the widow of the late Captain Hart amount to LI 2OO, and further siims are yet to arrive ; these, in all probability, will increase the amount to LISOO. It has been resolved that the funds should be invested in the_ names of trustees for the benefit of the widow and children. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, Sarah Lynch, on remand, charged with having no lawful and visible means of support was brought up, reprim ended and discharged. William Bolger, changed with having been drunk on Thursday, was fined 10s, or in default, ordered to be imprisoned for three days. The fine was paid. There was only one civil case, and that was adjourned until Tuesday next. Journalistic rivalries are sharp and decisive in Chicago. A young man acting as reporter of the Chicago "Post" called to see Mr Storey of the "Times," the other day, and asked him if he had shot Dr Johnson, as was rumoured. The old man pulled off his spectacles, squared round to the reporter, and replied : "Young man, do you think I am fool; enough to do it in time for the evening paper ?" The Surat passengers have gained a victory in Dunedin, and learned by their final effort that " the last straw breaks the camel's back." An action for trover was brought by one Outroi to recover L4O, the value of a sewing-machine which was declared by bim to be luggage, and as such he was entitled to it. Mr Bathgate looks upon it as luggage, and gave judgment for plaintiff. Notice of appeal was given, and the lawyers may yet reap another harvest before the matter is entirely settled. During the week ending the 21st ult, the shipment of coal from the port of Newcastle amounted to not less than 29,842 tons. Of that quantity, 8229 tons went to Sydney, 4447 to Melbourne, 1328 to South Australia, and not less than 2061 tons to New Zealand. New Caledonia was a customer to the extent of 466 tons ; China for 1922, Manilla for 1200, and San Francisco for 6792 tons. The "New Zealand Times" says; — "These figures should give confidence to the steam coal miners at work on the Grey River." From Naseby, Otago, we learn that Capt. Baldwin's station house at Vatearoa, Upper Taieri, has been burned down. Most of the furniture was saved. This is the second time within a few years that Captain Baldwin has been burnt out, as it is not very long since his residence at the North-east Valley, and a good deal of his personal effects,, were destroyed by firo, The station house at Patearoa was insured.

Lately the Dunedin police took proceed it.gs against a carpenter named Hopcraft for working at bis trade by building a house on the Lord's Day. Mr Barton defended, and addressed the Court at length, upon the applicability of the English statute to this Colony. He contended that thsre was locality in the statute, and it did not reach New Zealand. His Worship differed in his opinion, and while deciding that the law was quite applicable, dismissed the case in consesequence of it being the first of the kind. In Anderson's claim, Inangahua, crushing is proceeding steadily, the machinery working very satisfactorily since the recent alterations were completed. Unless some unexpected occurrence takes place, tbe batteries will be kept constantly goiDg until Christmas. It is not yet decided when a thorough cleaning up will take place. Stone is being obtained from the middle and raaia levels and from five stopes, We are glad to be in a position to state that the stone a of good avarage quality, and that shareholders vnay now look forward to the receipt at no distant date of regular dividends. A great deal of harm is sometimes done by deliberate misstatements ; and more is occasionally the result of thoughtless and hasty misrepresentations of fact. We observe, for example, that a correspondent in New Zealand has written a letter to the "Wallaroo Times," warning working men against proceeding to that Colony. He says "if a man with a family once gets there he can never earn sufficient rroney to enable him to get away again." Whether the unfounded statemrnt thus made was wilful or accidental matters little ; it is a flagrant untruth, and unchecked, calculated to do a deal of harm in prejudicing men's minds ignorantly and unfavorably to the Colony. A North of Queensland journal, the " Cooktown Courier"— the nearest to the Palmer and Endeavor River Gold-fields — states that the natives lately killed, cooked, and ate a miner who was at work in Gregory's Gully. They afterwards killed another at the Upper Camp. The latter was a native of New South Wales, but as he was Hot in eatable condition the savages contented themselves with mutilating the body in a frightful manner. .It is bad enough to risk the chance of being starved on those far away fields without being used to keep aboriginal cannibals from starving. The " New York Tribune " says :— " The Prince of Wales made a little speech at the Koyal Academy dinner the other day— a speech kindly and grammatical, but little more. Plunge the most clever and excellent piece of royalty into the literary and artistic element, and he is nearly always uncomfortable or intensely unappreciative. Said the late Austrian Emperor gravely to Liszt, whe had been playing before him : I have heard Htrtz, and Thalberg, and Oopin, but I never seen any one perspire like you.' Wher Landseer went to Portugal, the King senl for him in order to compliment the greal painter of animals. Ah, Sir Edwin,' saic the Royalty, 'I am glad to see you. I am sc fond of beasts. 1 " The "Auckland Star" states that Mi Grattan Sebastian M'Cabe was, on the medical testimony of Dr Lee and Dr Hovell, committed to the Lunatic Asylum. Mr M'Cabe is very well known as having been connected with the press of New Zealand for manj years. He was on the staff of the. "Ney Zealander" at the time Mr John Williamson, the present Superintendent of Auckland, was the chief of that journal, and was afterward) on the " Southern Cross" and other papers until he obtained, by the Superintendent's patronage, the appointment of Registrar anc Receiver of Gold-fields Revenue .at Coro mandel, in succession to Mr Scott, J.P, noy the Rev. T. Scotb, incumbent of the Pro testant Episcopal Church at Coromandel. Says the Wellington "Post":— "Oui semi-official contemporary, the ' Times,' has been ' authorised to say that the statements which have appeared as to what took plac< or transpired in the conversation betweei correct. We do not attach the slightest; lm portance to this contradiction. Mr Voge never hesitates to contradict anything th< publication of which does not suit him. Ai excellent example of this is on record in re spect of the great South Sea scheme. Wher a whisper of this got abroad through the medium of the " Otago Daily Times," it was authoritative^ contradicted io. peculiarly worded terms. Yet the result proved thai the information wis substantially correct, In like manner our statements regarding the 2'ecent negotiations between Mr Yogel and Mr Stafford are, we have reason to know, substantially accurate, the authorised contradiction of their perfect accuracy notwithstanding." A special issue of the Brighton "Gazette,' 1 dated May 30, has been received, and contains a report or! the annual meeting of the delegates of the iodges of the order of Oddfellows of England. We notice that during the proceedings a gentleman, occupying a high position in the order in the Australian Colonies, and who was recently presented in this town with an address, on the occasion of a flying visit, was honorably received. The following account, under the head of " A Visitor from the Antipodes," is from the report above-mentioned :— " In the course of the afcernoon proceeding the Deputy G:M., Mr Watson, announced that they had the honor of the presence of the P.G.M. of the Unity in Victoria (Mr Joseph M'Lean), and read several testimonials and certificates of merit, which he (Mr M 'Lean) had brought with him. These documents were received with hearty approbation, and he was invited to take a place on the platform. Mr M'Lean, having intimated his desire to speak a few words, was formally introduced to the meeting, and said he need hardly tell them that coming there that day a stranger amongt them, as one who had not been in England a great many years, he was heartily delighted t > see so many true good Oddfellows before him. It was so exceedingly pleasant, after sailing some 13,000 or 14,000 miles, to .find that he could hold up the hand of good fellowship to these gentlemen. He was glad to see that the Units was progressing in England, Ireland, and Scotland. He would tell them that in the far distant Colony of Victoria, the M.U. held the highest position of any Friendly Society. There they had not come to the important position of considering their financial position, because they had fortunately been able to let out their money at a very high rate of interest, so much as 6 or 8 per cent. They numbered 12,000 members, and had a reserve fund of L 130,000, though they had only been in existence for about thirty years. The lodge he had the honor of being trustee to for some eight years, had during that period increased their capital from L2OOO to L 5030, for a lodge of 200 members, showing that for some time at least they would be able to provide well for their poor. He should be most happy to write home by the next mail to the officers of the Order information of the very gratifying reception he had had. He had rushed off at the first moment to attend the A.M.C. to testify to them of the progress of the Order in the Colonies, and that he was proud to tell them they were as loyal, good fellows in Victoria as there were to be found in England. He , concluded by thanking them for their kind reception of him, by assuring them tliat after having gained a very good position in the Colony, by industry and peraeveraucej he had come to England for the benefit of his health, and by recommending anyone who wished to benefit himself to go to the Colony of Victoria," ■•<■ : — -- ;