Untitled

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 760, 31 July 1894, Page 4

The proposal of the Government to dispose of the steamers Hinem’oa, Stella and Terrauora—a bad purchase, except for the vendor —and to replace the three with one good steamer, on modern lines, and fitted for both lighthouse and cable-repairing services, should meet with general approval.

An instructive Leaflet valuable to Gardeners and Fruit Growers —has been issued by the Department of Agriculture regarding ‘ pear and cherry slug ; leech ; slug worm,’ dealing with the symptoms, and advising the remedy and treatment. Mr Collett, Stock Inspector, will be able to supply copies of the leaflet. It is the general opinion of many commercial men of Christchurch, that trade has never been so bad there as it is at present. Speculation and enterprise appear dead, and judging from the number of men walking about, who have the appearance of being workingmen, the damand for labour is at bed-rock. I. angiora Standard.

Summarised, the business transacted by the Dairy Company Directors was the receipt of applications for the position of manager ; enquiry from an exporting produce merchant, with the view of securing the cheese manufactured at the factory ; a telegram from Mr Sawers making enquiry as to the progress of affairs ; the passing of accounts—including progress payment of £l5O on building account, and an item for fencing. It was decided to ask Mr Sawers to revisit Kaikoura in about a fortnight’s time, prepared to advise the Directors on various matters. The 'Treasurer was authorised to request shareholders (by advertisement) to pay up calls at once. It was agreed that action would, if necessary, have to be taken for the recovery of unpaid calls. A builder’s risk of £3OO in N. Z. Insurance Company was approved.

The Postal and Telegraph Department contains a number of • real, live men,’ who are ever watchful of the interests of the public, and it is, consequently, the most popular branch of the public service of this Colony. That it is under able management anyone who has any dealings of moment with it can readily see, and the people of Kaikoura had an instance last week of the observance paid to public wants by the P. and T. officers. The Southern mails, up to date of Thursday, were sent round via Wellington, and reached here by the Wakatu on Saturday morning, four days earlier than would have been the case had the usual mode of transmission been adhered to. Yes, the ‘ scaling wax and sparks men ’ know how to push ahead, and it is much to be regretted that tlieir energy does not receive a larger measure of the reward they are ustly entitled to.

The meeting convened by Mr Walter Gibson for the establishment of a Debating Society here has been adjourned until his return from Wellington. At the Rangiora market last week a very fine four-tooth half-bred wether was sold for 275. When killed it weighed 1381 b, and as the skin was sold for Ils the purchaser of the sheep did very well out of it.— Lyttelton Times. Though Mr John O’Malley is no longer Clerk and Inspector to the Amuri County Council, that body gives evidence of its entire confidence in him by appointing him Inspector over the water-race works now in progress above Culverden. The Parliamentary special of the Marlborough Express wires that journal: ‘The Minister for Lands told Mr Buick that the land recently purchased at Blind River (Awatere) would be open for selection towards the end of the year.’ The attention of sheep-farmers is specially drawn to a notice in this issue reminding flock-owners that sheep rates must be paid before the Ist of September to escape the addition of a penalty, by way of fine, for negligence. The success of the German Bay Dairy Factory with its shipments of cheese will be encouraging to Kaikoura farmers. The Akaroa Mail of the 10th inst. says: ‘The news that the German Bay Factory’s cheese has reached such a price as sixty-one shillings per hundredweight has given such a favourable impression that nothing but the increase of factories is talked about.’ The addition of four more in the Peninsula is predicted. The Members for Ashley and Wairau are urging the establishment of a triweekly—should it not be a thrice weekly ? —mail service between Waiau, Kaikoura and Blenheim. Let tenders be invited, and if the Government can get the service performed at a reasonable rate —no ‘ sweating ’ —we shall not offer a word of objection. The cost, however, will, we opine, defer the matter for a year or two. We hope that the Postmaster-General will invite tenders for a twice weekly service when he asks for tenders for the three times a w’eek service.

Mr R. Brown returned from Wellington on Saturday, having been North with the object of furthering the use of Brown & Co’s Bronchial Astringent, for the cure of scour and lungworm in sheep. We understand that his efforts have been fruitful of thoroughly satisfactory’ results. A firm of wool brokers, etc., having dealings throughout this Colony, Australia, and the Argentine, have undertaken to introduce the Astringent and promote its use by flock-owners. It is admitted that the specific is a valuable one, its efficacy being freely acknowledged. All concerned arc to be congratulated on Mr Brown's success.

The Domain Board decided on the 21st inst. not to do anything this year on the South Bay Domain in celebration of Arbor Day. This determination was arrived at in consequence of the Board’s funds being too small to admit of anything beiug carried out on an extended scale. However, before this time next year the Board’s funds will have been increased nearly 50 per cent, so that the accrued amount, which could be supplemented by a County vote of a like sum, would enable the Board to commence a plantation scheme calculated to add materially to the natural features of the Reserve, and thereby increase its attractiveness as a place of public resort. Being mindful of the financial state of the case, and having regard for the general position of matters, we thoroughly endorse the Board's action herein.

There is probably not one felhnongery in the whole Colony worked under such disadvantageous conditions as those obtaining with regard to that of Capt. Davidson’s wool works, yet its products obtain prices in the London market equalling the foremost in the country. This is mainly, if not entirely’, due to the skill, ability and industry of the manager, Mr J. 11. Walters, who deserves great credit for the excellent manner in which he sends to market the wool passing through bis hands. Farmers’ lots are not good ones to deal with, owing to want of uniformity, the variety and grade of the staple, and, generally, absence of the characteristics marking the clip of large flocks. In buying, these discrepancies have to be taken into account, yet vendors invariably consider them of no moment—their ducks are swans, and they ask prices accordingly. Remembering these things, it is surprising that such good results are obtained by Mr Walters, and while complimenting him upon his success, Capt. Davidson is to be congratulated upon having such a good manager, and farmers ought to feel pleased that they have such a well-managed institution in their midst as the convenience theieof is of considerable value to them, though some may not thiuk so.