TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1889. A COLD SHOULDER,

Manawatu Herald, 15 January 1889, Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1889. A COLD SHOULDER,

The agricultural export being the main stay of this colony, everything that bears upon the question is one of much moment, not only to the actual producer, but to each inhabitant. It is unnecessary then for us to offer any excuses for continually bringing the subjects of wool, mutton, &c, up for discussion, as the old saying about the gratitude that should be felt for the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, holds with equal force to the grazier who obtains a halfpenny or a penny a pound more for the sheep that eats the grass. The many estimates made by our contemporaries as to what a grazier would realise for his sheep in the colony, if he accepted the prices that it was rumoured that the combined shipping companies would guarantee, hare all been based upon a want of actual acquaintance with the facts, and we have been at some considerable pains to obtain from gentlemen who have had actual experience in dealing with stock, and the shipment of frozen meat, their opinion upon the supposed offer. It will have been noticed that all mutton is classed in three qualities, and it is important to remember that the first quality, which is a cross be-

tween loigwool and a Shropshire or the Down sheep, is a breed which is not ordinarily to be found. We may therefore dismiss any argument as to the values placed on this class. The second quality is reokoned to be good well fed sheep as will be found on this coast. Another important factor in all these calculations is, that sheep as a rule are not shipped all the year round, and therefore the average price of the skins, shown as part of an asset on the sheep, will not be so valuable as represented. The expenses of trucking sheep, even if sent away during the whole twelve months, would cost a very much higher average per head, owing to the lesser number, to be got into a truck on account of the size of their fleeces. Therefore even if the calculator was determined to adhere to a years shipment as a basis, the extra value obtained for the fleece, would have as large a set off, in the extra cost of freightage. The grafcier has to reckon what the value of any proposal to buy his stock, is to him, on his land, and we will show that the proposals that have been made, are not near so glittering, as outsiders believe them to be. Taking our estimate on the

second quality of mutton we find that it is proposed to pay the owner If per lb. This on a s. d. 65 lbs sheep afc l%\ 9 6j' Skin average for twelve months 2 6 Pat say 61bs at l±d 7> Equals 12 7i Per contra, s. d. Railway freight to works 1 1\ Fr wing chu-gett, atfd 20$ Bsg 4 3 6 Leaving net balance of 9 l£ or something a trifle over 1| per lb. Against this, the grower should by rights, write a sum equal to one and a quarter per cent for losses in freightage, as the Freezing Company reject all bruised sheep, for which they do not give a very large value, and only the value of the sY in for dead sheep, so that the sheep would not return the owner quite nine shillings. It will be seen then that the offers are not of a character to make the sheepowner particular desirous to close with; for to part with prime fat sixty five pound wethers, the best of his flock, at nine shillings, does not hold out prospects of making much of a return. The prices ruling for similar mutton in the colony is much higher. It appears unlikely therefore that much will come of these proposals, the grazier has had to suffer the preliminary losses in establishing a market, and now is not the time to ask him to abandon the profits.

The Race privileges will be offered for] sale on Thursday next by Messrs Thynne l Lin ton & Co., at their sale room, Foxton. Thore Bhonld be a good attendance and spirited competition for this meeting, as there is undoubtedly a much larger population around the district than there hns been for some years past, and the nomi nations and acceptances are unusually large. The rain has very much improved the course, and everything bids fair to make the meeting this year one of the most successful out of the many successful meetings that have been held. We have to thank the Government printer for a batch of parliamentary papers which, are however, of a not very interest* ing nature. A Mr Jacques of Nelson has secured a site for a hemp mill on the Messrs Barber's run, and will soon'have his plant across. The tenders for the cutting and delivering flax close tomorrow the 16th inst foe the Papakiri mill. The annual meeting of the Foxton Cooperativo Butchering Company is called for tomorrow, but owing to the books not being ready will stand adjourned from week to week till next month. The energetic manager of the l&eady Money Store has soon to go into the annual stocktaking, a most necessary toil, in all properly conducted businesses. To make the work lighter, he has determined to hold a wonderful cheap aale of Drapery. Clothing and Boots, so that no reasoaable offer will be refused, as every line quitted, means less work at the stocktaking, a guarantee that it will be no fault of his, if the stock is not very considerably lightened during these next fourteen days. Keen business men understand the value of advertising, and we are pleased to draw the attention of our readers to Mersrs Wollerman's and Go's advertisement in todaysißßue. This firm has been in businoss for some years in Pilmerston and the connection secured by the founder has so in creased, that they have decided to relinquish the retail portion of it, and confiue themselves only to the wholesale branch. With this view it is the intention of the firm to hold a genuine clearing sale of the retail stock, and full particulars are given in their advertisement. After the sale, the business in grain and produce will be largely extended aud conducted oo i purely cauh basis. We wish the firm their full success in this departure. Mr Wyids, of Pahiierston, inserts an advertisement of consequence to our hemp millers, notifying that he has regular shipments of coal to this port. One's nerves in a country subjected to earthquakes become very upset. Last Saturday the passengers in the train to Palmerston had a gentle drive as far as the Oroua Bridge, and from some cause had arrived presumably too soon, as the engine was detached, and the driver and s'oker had un expedition in her towards the Oroua river to watch for the trout liberated by the Acolimilasation Society, whilst the passengers dozed peacefully ; when, at that particular point the doze merges into the peaceful slumber, a fearful jolt was felt, sending the occupants one against the other, waking the most with an ejaculation on their lips that it must be auother earthquake. So long had they been left at the station that most had forgotten when they had sttrted, or that they were in a train at all, and the awakening besame in reality «, double Bhoct to them.

The heavy tain the other day was the cause of an amusing incident. After a day and a half's Bteady downponr, the clouds broke and the tun ahone out, and in the midst of the brightness a well known very tall man was seen making tracks through the towns towards his comfortable little-home, as bard as he could. As he can easily stretoh a yard and a quarter his speed can easily be estimated. His general cccupation not requiring ao muoh impetuosity, his progress elicited comments and on being asked what was the matter, he only replied " I left my tap on," and no one succeeded in checking bis mad career, fortooneani? a I he sternly cried " I left my tap on." Distance is easily covered when you tike in so muoh with one stride, and it was therefore not Ion? before we could feel snre that " He will return, I know he will," as the Irish lassie sung about her young man. Sure euougb, returning at his usually composed pace, came our friend, who after finding out his fears were wrong, oondesoended to calm our mind. The rain was so refreshing, that he had determined to seoure all the water he could, and had in the morning determined to nil his bath as well as bis tank, and wi h this view had turned the tap to run. Occupying himself with other things he had forgotten whether or not he had turned the tap off, and left home to at* tend to his business. The morning passed quickly away, but when the sun shove out, he was struck with the apprehension that hi* tank was still running into his bath, his bath overflooding his house, and that the rain was over for another month or so, therefore he performed the distance to his home benHaij all previous records, as we have indifferently endeavoured to depict. The tap was not on.

In onr Stock and Produce exchange column will he found pHNicukrs of f jur Worses for sale. As an instance of the value of this column to settle) a we mny

a ntfon that lar.t S turds-.y we received by

i-t from Piilmorston enquiries of tbt prices for the cows that aio now ad vertised .

Apropos of orohard robbing, we heard a cry good tale of the tactics adopted by a Wanganui orchardist. He had been sorely ran bled with these pilferers and had tried nearly every dodge to keep them clear, hut -without success, at last, on being Lrtunati to catch two boys he carried out a scheme <vhich bas kept his orchards free to now. Upon obtaining possession of the two boys, he conducted them to hia cellar, and securing their hands behind their buck*, left them. He next proceeded to a lonely portion of his garden, and with a spade dug a trench five feet long and four feet deep. He then went for the two lads and led them bound to the ed^e of the pit, and putting on his 1 fiercest look, araned himself with a long carving knife, and glaring at the youngsters bid them to kneel down and say their prayerc, for direotly he meant to kill and buiy them. For a time the boys prayed and cried and promised reformation, but their executioner continued glaring at them, biddiug them to hurry up, aB he had but little time to wait. After further very vehement promises of amendment the ogre let them go, but such terror has ho iußpired. that, no more attempts have been made on his possessions.

Mr Liddel! is hard at work, having turned 'out eight scutchers, and is now preparing his ninth, an extra large one for Mr Giesen's mill, so as to allow three men to work at it.

In our advertising columns lvlr Nye inserts an announcement which should strike terror into the hearts of those who like to rob other peoples orchards. Some may think that this advertisement is simply to scarce robbers away, and that nothing really will be done, bat we can assure them they will find themselves very much mistaken, if they weakly try it on, as Mr Nye understands the setting of wires and gnns, from experience he gained in the days gone by, when pigs used to come after hia potatoes, and by practice, he at last) Could always make sure, of bo Betting the wires and the that it shot them dead just behind the shoulder. Robbers bad better mind that they meet not the same fate.

Mr Liddell hai secured the contract for the erection of a eeven roomed house for Mrs Purcell on her property on the Wirokino road. It is to be finished within a couple of months. Business is so brisk that Mr Liddell has had to engage two oarpenters out of the district to assist him. Mr Easton is busy ereoting the mill Mr J. W. Stewart is superintending at Mouta. and Mr Jonson is busy at his boat and other work, so much so, that ho has had to refuse a lot offered him. We learn that Mr Jonson's proposal to place a boat on the river, for the convenience of the Flax millers, is thought so well of, that competion is to take place. It is stated that Mr Murray of Wanganai intends placing a launch to do the work that Mr Jonson is building his for, so that soon will come the tug of war. Whilst Mr Murray was arranging about agenoy and other matters, Mr Joneon hearing of his intentions, very quietly stole a maroh, and visited the millers along the bank of the Manawatu, and secured the promise of their support, one or two going so far as to say, that they would rather support a local boat at a higher figure, than see the moieygoontof the district. Mr Jonson has taken a partner, and the two, being both sailors, will be able to work their launch between them and thus save a large outlay for wages. AH the ironwork for the new boat is now landed, and the engines ure promised within five weeks, so Mr Jonson hopes by that time to be ready for his clientß. His lordship the Bishop of Wellington held a confirmation on Saturday afternoon last for Maoris only. There was a large attendance, and the young Maori girls weie prettily attired iv white. The Bishop was most cordially received by the Natives, especially by an old women, who nigh on fifty years ago welcomed his arrival at Otaki, Mr J. Cr. Wilson has written to Mr Russell to say that he will be unnble to forward the bracelet iv time for thu races, hut directly he arrives in Auckland he will send it down. We shall publish next week on Monday* instead of Tuesday, owing to that day being the summer meeting of the Racing Club. We would ask advertisers to note the fact. That greyhouud, reported some weeks ago as perpetrating havoc amongst the sheep along the co»st, has again turned up. On Sunday whilst Mr C. Robin* son was riding through the Herri«g»on run, he came across the tracks of a dog leading into the nwamp, and following them up, with one of bU brother*, came upon a litter of five young pup 9 about a month old, but the old dogs were away. They waited for some time hoping to Critch sight of these, but it getting late, they made sure of the young one?, and destroyed them. They purposed last night to have v grand drive, and by forming* large circle around the home of the pups, hoped to surprise the dogs when they broke away. We have not learnt whether their efforts have been successful.

The Dunediii Star's London correspondent thus refer* to a notorious mem* her of the Englinh s Parliameut . Colonel Hugbeß-Haliett, it «pern's, is in America, and not content with t lie unrjesty of silence gi anted him by society has with characteristic taste been telling the story of his amorous dal lyings to the inevitable interviewer. P:uple nil over to.world will, I fancy, learn with surprise that Colonel Hujrhes-Hallett in a much* injured man. He ne\er sought either Miss Beatrice Selwyn or her money Tbe ' degraded girl ' followed hei too fascinating relative from country house to country house, and absolutely forced herself inro bis reluctant a.ms. Plato himself could have not felt more equably towards Miss Selwyn than did the man who nnwillinijly, und ' with a heavy heart ' seduced her. The Colonel's ex posure at M- Henry Smith's was, sad to xay, the work of political enemies. The Queen knows this, an 4 that is why she did not call oo the gallant colonel to re sign his. commission. Furthermore, Mrs Hughes'Hallett's money i all settled on herself, so that t-hc could have di. voroed her husband bad she thought him in fault. To thoee who, like myself, remember poor Miss Selwyn' it shocking story, the brazen effrontery of these statements is nimply confounding. No wonder Cap'aia Sel wyn'n finders itch to give bis relative some bona fide injuries to 'gas 'about.

In another column wa publish the ac» ceptnnces for the races, and we think the Club is to be congratulated on the result. The fields to face the starter nre five for the H urdles, seven for the F.l* C. Handicap, cix for the Steward^ S ; aWw, and six for the Plying. They •iliow a Inrgor number than the Eangi•ilce Club obtained.

The Besi'lenfc Magistrate's Court opens f or business to-morrow morning at 10 j'c'oclc. The R. M. is expected to arrive Di.i e to-night.