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Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1925, Page 2

The butter market is slightly easier, and all makes have declined, including Danish, which has dropped 8s per cwt. as compared with Os per cwt in respect to Australian and New Zealand. Australian butter continues to command the same price as Now Zealand choicest salted. The shipments to the United Kingdom during February from the three exporting countries were as follow: Boxes. New Zealand ... 293,053' Australia 271,011 Argentine 100,000 Total 064,004 The shipments from Australia continue on a big scale, and Argentine’s shipment of 2500 tons is also noteworthy. These shipments would he reaching the London market during next month, and as March shipments are likely to he large, there will he no shortage on the London market before the European supplies begin to show un. The Continental demand for su]>plies on the London market should also cease presently.

South Ain ha is vitally interested in the use of gold. Her staple export is gold. She finds that her market is contracting owing to the delay by other countries in resuming the gold standard of currency. In order to help the mining industry by which the Transvaal lives the determination lias been come to that the Uiioin shall return to gold as from July 1 next. Yet in South Africa there is considerable division or opinion over the advisability of tlic action until it is certain that Great Britain also intends to do so. Tn determining on resumption the South Africa Government is acting upon the recommendations of Pmfessoi TCemmerer and Dr Vissering, the former an American economist and the hitter a Dutch hanker. A correspondent of the “Johannesburg Star” points out that Dr Vissering. in acquiescing in the recommendation, has departed from the principles which he laid down at the Brussels conference of 1920. There lie regarded it as ahoslutely necessary that before returning to the gold standard a country’s budget must balance. Her inability to do so is the reason Holland is unable to return to the gold standard. “ Yet ” the correspondent points out, “ although, like Holland, South Africa has for years been unable to balance revenue and expenditure, Dr Vissering recommends her to follow a policy which his own principles and practice lead ns to regard as highly dangerous.” 'The gold mines have already shown that they favour the course adopted by selling their gold to the Reserve Bank when they found there was no premium, to lie obtained bv selling gold in London. On this matter a Cape Town correspondent of the “ Economist ” writes: “ A position of stability for the mines is undoubtedly favourable to economic working. It is better for them to know exactly what they can get for the gold than to he able occasionally to secure a small premium at the price of instability. South Africa has such vital interests in the continued use of gold as money that, she is prepared to suffer to a certain extent in other ways for the sake of advertising to the world that the only sound basis for a country’s currency is gold.” I hose who oppose the rot,urn to a gold basis mild ii is certain that Great Britain is doing so urge that if South Allien does not so wait, the action now to he taken may harm the primary producers of the country. When the argument is used that if it suits South Africa to return to the gold standard before Great Britain so should it suit Australia (remarks tlur “Sydney Morning Herald”) account is not taken of the very vital interest which South Africa has in finding a use lor gold. Her production is about £3,000,000 a year, and to maintain that production a bonus of .Cl an ounce is asked. South Africa may afford to risk harm to her pastoral and agricultural producers. . Australia cannot.

Tub fact that yesterday was the anniversary of the end of the Duke < I Edinburgh Theatre in Revell St. some 35 years ago, recalls mem cries of the beginning of what was a remarkably line theatre. Originally the theatre was known as the l’rinec of Wales Opera House, and as such it was opened. Tt was due to the shooting of Ll’.c Duke of Edinburgh in Australia when on a royal cruise in the “Galatea,” that the name of the Theatre was changed. The history of the building was most interesting. Tt was originally lniilt in sections in Sydney, and a ship named the “Colonist'’ brought the structure across to Hokitika direct. It was a very imposing building. The “Colonist” arrived here on the Gth. January, 18GG, and on the 19th. March. 1860, the building was completed and capable of seating 3COD people. There was no go-slow in those days, when in about two months’ so line a structure was erected and in use. Messrs Moore and Bartlett were

the enterprising proprietors of the great undertaking, which was said to have c-ost £SOOO. Probably it would cost £20,000 to-day to replace the old Duke. It was fitted in great detail. There were reading, coffee, and billiard rooms, and a very commodious

lounge. A Sydney Company, the Lentnn Troupe, opened the theatre in March to capacity business. The theatre it is interesting to relate, also, was lit in those far-off days by gas. There was a special plant imported for

the occasion, and a record of the visit of Sir George Grey in January 1867, notes that in the theatre were jets of gas, easting a brilliant light. The gas plant was under the care of Mr John Barton, and the gas itself was produced from fats. The plant was in use till later came the gas supply from the Hokitika Gas "Works in 1874. The theatre was regularly occupied. The first amateur performance, however, was notable for a riotous disturbance, which created much amusement. Near the theatre was a green-grocer’s premises, and some of the gay spirits of those days bought up the entire supply of vegetables. "When the amateur play got well under way a steady bombardment of the actors commenced. Most of the players left the stage in disgust, hut one remained, and he having now plenty of ammunition at hand, retaliated by firing back the vegetables into the audience. One missile hit the leader of the Orchestra, a talented but excitable gentleman, who. when struck, hit out at the nearest individual with his violin and .smashed the instrument to pieces. The Duke of Edinburgh could tell many a tale, ere it went up in smoke in 1890— a most unfortunate less to the town.