Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1889. FREETRADE.

Manawatu Herald, 8 January 1889, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1889. FREETRADE.

The administration of the Government of this colony has been but too frequently characterised by opposition legislation, by which we mean, that Acts have been passed without ! sufficient consideration, and with a view to assist two exactly contrary purposes. Last session was signalised in the like manner, by the introduction of the Custom Duties Bill, and the passing of " the Land Acts Amendment Acts," whereby the first directly attacks the agricultural and pastoral interests, and the second, attempts to assist the settlement of the country- Why the Goverment should imagine that the electors will not resent this attack upon their pockets, is only to be supposed, that they believe there is no limit to the endurance of the farmer, or, that however he may growl he will fail to bite. It is just to this point of biting that we would lend our assistance to bring them to, as a glance at the lists of the exports of the colony will show whether the country man or the townsman, is doing most for the benefit of us all. Last year, from the Kegistrar-Grene-ral's return the value of our exports is givenasofthevalueof £6,896,000, out of which sum, our animals and their produce,- totalled to £4,419,000 and our agricultural produce to £560,916, add to these two sums the value of the products of our forests, which were valued at £507,000, we shall find the country sending away the large sum of £5,486,916 out of the total of £6,886,000 exports. Protectionists must not run away with the idea that the difference between these two amounts, represents the contribution of the manufacturers, for the mines sent £803,000 worth of minerals away, and thus left the small sum of £596,084 as their share. To bolster up a trade of this value the industries represented by an output of millions is to be taxed. In the one session the Government ask the inhabitants to leave the towns and dwell in and improve the country, but tell them by their actions that if they do so everything that they hath shall be taxed to the uttermost farthing; but if, on the contrary, labor will remain pent up in the towns, they will lend a helping hand to oapital by the creation of a Custom duty, such as will enable them to make the poor, poorer, by insistance on prolonged hours of labour at a low tfate of wages. A member of the New Zealand trades and LabouV Congress speaking at Dunedin two years ago, warned his hearers, that when' in Melbourne, just previous to the meeting then being held, he saw

some factories whose existence was kept up by demanding excessive hi.urs of labour, and unless labor was to be obtained at a cheap rate and long hours, the manufacturers informed him that their factories would have to bfe closed. Is it for this, that the electors of the towns have burdened their country neighbours with such clogs to their industry ?

We hear that Mr Dalton has gbt hifc hemp mill on the bank of the Oroua River underway^ and has-been busy stripping. He proposes ne^t week <to commeno* scutching. This mill has A large field of flax on the Oroua Downs estate. Mr Dalton intends Bhippibg bjf way of Foxton, as he can bring his hemp oy Milner's line to the tramway, which would only entail three miles of carting. '

Australia is not the only country that has suffered in its crops thiß year, as in America the Sissal crop baa been a failure, which, though bad for them, is good for New Zealand* and the yield of wool, which will also affect our gtaziers to their advantage, is fifty million pouuds waight short of what the yield was last year.

It is satisfactory to know that men of capital and shrewdness are now taking up the dressing of flax. Mr GHedall, whom we have mentioned as bringing » mill c ver from Nelson and placing it on Mr Pascal's property at Piaka, has been fortunate to secure that gentleman as a partner with him. Thus with the combination of capital and skill, this mill bids fair to be one of the most successful in the district. We are pleased to learn that this firm has n two ye^ars order to supply at paying prices.

It will interest our hemp-millers to know that down South experiments are being carried on to improve the dressing of the phormium tenax by withdrawing the gum from the fibre, and the inventors claim that they have been wholly successful. Of course if they have been so, the whole industry will be on a very firm foundatiou, and become one of the most important of our exports. We have been informed that a sufficient quantity has been worked and sent to London to test the market, and Bhould the advices come up to the expectation of the inventors, the right to use their patent will be open to all millers on a royalty being paid. From what wa learn, the system will require no material alteration to the plant now used in the hemp mills, but will require additional water storage.

Mr Richard Gray intimates elsewhere that he is prepared at all times to run a couveyance to meet the trains at Shannon or^ Kereru, and a telegram at auy time will be promptly attended to. In our Stock and Produce exchange column will be found notice of a pair of horses, and a good cow, lately calved for sale. This column we have placed at the disposal of our country friends at a mere nominal cost, believing that such an exchange was most needed, and when its advantages are realised, will he widely used. A oircnlar concerning it will soon be posed. The money advertised as found, was claimed yesterday. The amount was two one pound notes, and had been Jeft by the owner in a very public place. Mr Lind got his mill properly under* way yesterday, aud we believe it i 3 working very well. Messrs Thynne Lin^on & Co advertise the sale of Race privileges for Thutsday -tfthinsti The Rev. Father Patterson will hold Mass next Sunday at 8 and 11 a.m. Veßpeis, sermon and benediction will be held in the evening. The honarary secretary of the Mi>nawatu Rifle Club informs us, that having failed to induct) any riflemen north of thd Manawalu to do battle with them. A second time, the Ciub has again challenged their old opponents the Otaki Rifle Club to come to the " scratch " at Foxtou about the 22nd mat, where they can see the races as well. Though the Secretary residesin Palmeraton Ills heait is still' with the Club at Foxtou. A general servant is advertised fo The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ageucy Company (Limited) hive received the following telegram from their Louden office, dated the Ist in B tant :— " New Zaaland Hemp— Market quiet. The speculative demand has fallen off." Growers in Palmerston fear that tha late crop of potatoes will also prove a failure in that district unless rain Bets in soon. We are in receipt of a circular from Mr J. B. Harcourt, of Wellington, notifying the discontinuance of his connection with the general merchant business of Harcourt and Co., and his entry into the business of auctioaeer, sharebroker, and commission igent, under the style of Harcourt and Co. I

late elopement of Mr D. Hiokford and Mrs Mudford from Campbelltown is bearing fruit ia family feuds and law. Lately the youug man has left the woman, aud ia again living with his parentsSome r.f the younger Mudfords, it is alleged, have on two or three occasions lately sjone to Mr Hickford's house with the iutention of assulting the youug -nan and hunting him out of the district, and in one or two instances blows have been struck. The matter in to form the subjeot of inquiry before Mr Ward at Bulls on the next court day, as Mr Hiokford took out summonses against four of the other family yesterday. On New Year's eve the young man Hickford was set upon by a number of people at Campbell town, and was obliged to run after having been knocked into a ditch and severely pommelled- Altogether, his position is being made warm for him in Campbelltown by the woman's husband and by zealous social puriscs.

The advertisement of the Papakiri mill calling tenders for flax cutting, has heen altered, 'iXtending the date of tenders to be in to the 16bb inst.

We notice that; Petroleum has be n entered for the Flying Handicap with a weight of six stone *en pounds.