36 YEARS AGO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5469, 2 September 1929, Page 4

36 YEARS AGO.

(From the “Ohinemuri Gazette,” of September 2, 1893.) LEADER. Another job appears likely to be perpetrated in the passing of the Tairua Land Bill. We have not received or seen the full text of this Bill, but by the little we have heard of it we should say that it is one of the grossest pieces of jobbery ever attempted to be perpetrated. Just here we should say that the manner in which such Bills are passed through the House before the local bodies interested have time or opportunity to protest or produce such objections as only they may be cognisant of, is most iniquitous. We say that in a democratic country and under such a democratic Government, as the present sets itself up to be, every measure that is proposed and is of the slightest local interest, should be laid before the local body of the interested district a full month before it is brought on, and the Press and public allowed access to a copy of the Bill. The particular one appears to be a proposal on the part of the Government to take over from a body of Melbourne capitalists—the Kauri Timber Company—an area of worked but and utterly useless and barren kauri land, the company even reserving the right to cut the few trees yet remaining on the blocks proposed to be surrendered, and get in return an extended lease of an enormous area of the very richest timber land on this peninsula for a ported of 25 years. There are many millions of feet on these blocks, which are situated on the confines of this county. The land is auriferous and argentiferous, and even now the direction of the most prosperous mining ventures, Komata, Lowries’, Waitekauri, Maratoto (which, by the way, is on the eve of reviving) Whangamata, Tairua, are trending in that direction, and in the near future the almost unknown country on which these blocks are situated will be reticulated with mines and mining works. Now it is proposed to give away for nothing to a foreign syndicate all this grand timber, which will, every foot, be required eventually for mining purposes and for the purposes of the settler' and pioneer, and not only this, but to give virtual control of the gold-bearing land to them also. We know already that prospecting on privately-owned lands is not profitable to the prospector, and this has deterred many good prospectors from making the company’s property the scene of their operations. We believe the Ohinemuri County Council is communicating with the Government to the effect that it would like an opportunity of considering the proposal to see in what way it would effect it. We trust .earnestly that if our suspicions be true that such an alienation of rich timber, goldfield and gum land, worthy of all consideration, will receive the condemnation it deserves, and that those interested—and who is not —will take steps to have such an untoward scheme instantly and permanently strangled. It is no part of a Liberal Government s functions to alienate the natural rights of a communitv for the welfare of a fo*eign company, the formation of which had the tendency to raise the price of timber and reduce that of wages, the marginal profit leaving the Colony. If, we repeat, our suspicions are carried the whole peninsula should rise in arms against it. locals. Mi J. T. Brown, our local Postmaster, has obtained leave of absence for a month. Mr F. E. Egginton, of Thames, has been sent up as relief

Charles Conley, a deck hand on board the Vivid, was accidentally knocked overboard by the tightening of a towline and drowned in the Thames River, abreast of Kiri Kiri Wharf, on Wednesday.

Since the commencement of the cvanide process at Karangahake, it is noticeable that the periodical invasion of mullet up this river has entirely ceased. The white-bait and other small fish arc dying in shoals, and may be picked up in heaps on the banks near Paeroa.

Mr Leonard Harris, of To Puke, near Tauranga, assisted by Mr Richard Tanner, arrived here on Monday with a fine mob of 28 fat cattle ioi the Thames market. Mr Harris reports the roads in fail” condition, considering the unusual amount of rain that has fallen. He considers this route a much better one than via Waikato to Auckland.

Says the Auckland “Star's” Commercial : “The value of the mining industry to fprn.crs may he estimated from the prices paid to Katikati products al Woil-i. It is staled that chaff is worth X 6 per ton up there, eggs from 1/6 to 2/- per dor-.cn farmers get fid), and butter 1./6 to 2/- per lb. If these quotations are correct the special settlers, like their cattle, .should be in clover.” This is too good to be true ; such prices have not been reached yet.

We are given to understand that what is termed leprosy among the local natives is a very bad form of kings-evil. Dr. Friesbourg, who has had acquaintance wirh leprosy in Asia Minor, air! among the Chinese in Western Australia, informs up that it is quite possible that the king’s evil in its local phase—in itself the result of filthiness—may turn to leprosy once it breaks the bone of the patient. It is also possible that there may be cases of true leprosy already developed, as he has already seen natives who will most assuredly develop the full disease in time, and there may be, it is argued, those who have already passed the preliminary stages.

A curious discovery was made at a recent execution of a criminal. The guillotine in use at Noumea was found to be the one with which Louis XVI and many of the Girondists were executed in Faris in 1793.

Here’s an inviting advt. from the Auckland “Star” this week : “Wanted to adopt, a brother, by a lonely maiden : must be sft 7ins, amiable, and move in good society.—Address “Sister,’ care "Star” Office.” A brother We should smile !

The term “Salvation full and free” has just been subjected to a very free interpretation at the local Presbyterian Church, some person or persons desirious of getting their religion cheaper than usual having annexed a Bible and two hymn-books last week. They are hereby referred to clause 8 of the Decalogue. At a meeting of the Ohinemuri School Committee, held last Satjrday, it was agreed, on the. motion ff Messrs Mitchell and Franklin to nass a vote of thanks to Miss Margaret Akers and Miss Minnie Shaw for the excellent manner in whi;h they conducted the Paeroa School during the prolonged absence of the head teacher through the recent epidemic. CORRESPONDENCE. Sir, —In your valuable columns I should be glad if you could find space for a protest against the proposed sale yards being erected near the school. To say there would be no danger is absurd, and even if there were not, the language and surroundings at a saleyard is not the choicest. The yards should be out of the township altogether.—Yours etc.. A PARENT. PASSING NOTES. Says “Mercutio.”—“While J am on the subject of beer, I may mention a story in which it is an important factor. A member of the Dunedin City Council was away from home lately, and was detained at Napier by illness. He telegraphed to His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin as follows: “Please get me leave of absence from Council. Have had a bad attack. Beer very queer.” His fellow-councillors were very sympathetic. They had visions of their friend suffering from severe gripes by swallowing beer brewed in the unfavourable climate of Napier. They granted leave of absence, and were about to pass a resolution that no citizen of Dunedin should leave that place without taking with him sufficient supply of Dunedin beer to last him till his return, when it struck one of the councillors that the telegraph operator might have made an error, and that the word “beer” should have read “been. ’ FOOTBALL. The Te Aroha footballers play Paeroa to-day, at Paeroa. The following are the teams : Te Aroha. —Full-back, Percival; three- quarters, C. Ryan, T. Johnson. F. Pavitt; halves, A Lipsey, A. Keesing (captain), J. Maingay ; forwards, R. Lavery, J. Lavery, Randall, D. Morgan, 1. Carerhill, W. Maingay, F Lipsey, F. Ellis. Emergencies : J. Allen, 0. Smith. Paeroa. —Full-back, J. Coote ; three-c.uarters, C. Johnstone (captain), Scott, Dixen : half-backs, P. Moore, N. Hatton, E. Cock ; forwards, A. McGruer. A. McGuire, J. Stewart, J. Hubbard, J. Quinn, W. Grant. J. McGuire, G. Nicholls. Emergencies : Etu Dickey, W. Towers.

All the critics of the late football match, Thames v. Auckland, give great kudos to the only Ohinemurian rep., Jack Coote, and there is no doubt but that he deserved all the praise he received.