Manamatu Herald FRIDAY, APRIL, 5 1889. LIVE WEIGHT OR GUESS WORK.

Manawatu Herald, 5 April 1889, Page 2

Manamatu Herald FRIDAY, APRIL, 5 1889. LIVE WEIGHT OR GUESS WORK.

How often is it necessary to stir our country friends up to protect themselves ? Every leading agricultural journal at home and in the Colonies is continually urging on stock owners the advisability of selling by weight, yet the persons mo.st intaveeted stand idly by. In England a Royal Couattttteii h«a been sitting enquiring into this veryt[ufc»tion and some valuable evidence was brought before it by Mr Albert Pell. He stated that he was well acquainted with agriculture in America, and there the universal system was a sale by weight, " *nd the citizens of the United States appear to be so satisfied that this is the safest and best method of carrying on business that in every town, evea. the smallest in any place that could be dignified with the name of a town, you will find weigh bridges not only in the market, if there is one, but up and down the main streets, as frequent, I might almost say, as lamp-posts are here in some towns ; so that every opportunity is offered for weighing cattle o itside the majkefc, while inside the market them are the official machines." •

In Chicago the cattle are brought into the yards and the price per lOOlbs having been settled, they are put on the platform, and weighed. In contrasting this S3 'stem of selling with the one in vogue here, it appears that the farmers prefer losing money, to obtaining the actual price their stock is worth. There are very few men, comparatively speaking, unconnected with the butchering business, who have the experience to guage anywhere within one hundred pounds of the weight of a beast, yet by the system of selling stock at so much per head, they actually enter into competition with a man who has very long odds in his favor. In any other transaction, would our graziers act thus ?■ If not, why on the largest item of their income do they permit themselves to be thus handicapped. Mr Pell also instanced, what will readily be understood by stookowhers, the unreliability of market reports — " I cou'd furnish the Commission, if they wished it, he said, with the newspaper reports in relation to the market at Leicester, in which in almost every instance, week after week, the market is described as being better — that prices have risen jd in the pound — s > that at the present moment, if these reports were worth anything, Beef would be standing now at something iike 30s a pound. I looked at the report yesterday, and found just the same thing — that prices were £d per pound better"; but when selling stock in that market the improvement would not be found. So the story goes, the farmer is frightened of the butcher, and actual weights do not pay him so well as the novices' weights. But why need the Btockownors be alarmed about the butcher, he must have the stock, and if the farmers would only agree amongst themselves he would have to buy on their terms, and if at the actual weight, no unfairness would be enacted by them. If all con- ! cerned were on an even footing in making , a bargain, it would little ; matter in which way it was settled, but the owner benerj* hi* oattle

only to be a pertain weight, and sells at that, whilst the butcher knows they are heavier and buys ftt the owners weight. No knowledge of what his beasts are like is learnt by the farmer, and he fancies he 1b obtaining a price per hundred pounds at ruling rates, whereas ho most likely is selling at two and sixpence less. It is time the stockowners aroused from their apathy and took advantage of the profits thy now annually give away. Let them decide to sell by weight, live or dead, and secure a sum per hundred pounds for their meat, for then they will find thaji the times are not quite so hard aa" they have been thinking. No business man could possibly successfully conduct his trade if he sold his stook at guess weights — how then can farmers.

Four Criminals of an advanced age — from babyhood — were arraigned at the K.M. Court on Wednesday for committing a breach of the police offences Act by not wearing breeches. : It was a sad case of immorality, as these offenders ranged from twenty four i iches to forty two inches high, and had been caught in the aqt of bathing in the river on an afternoon. The Court severely admonished and dismissed them.' Thefcmoßt curious portion of the case, was the grave fitatment of the constable, who assured the bench that the place where the bathing took place, was a public bathing place set apart by the Counoil, but that a road ran near it, down which women and girls frequently walked. If the Constable is correct, knowing the position so well as we do, and that there is another road by which females could travel without going anything out of their way, it seems singular that they should always be travelling by the road whioh leads close by the bathing place. We think the statement was only made to show up the offence committed by this gang. We had understood the objection raised at the Borough Council was to men bathing, without having a proper bathing costume, and it would have been more to the purpose if they had been cautioned, than the four little boys who were produced.

The Star Concert Company experienced an unpleasant trip on Wednesday last. They had made arrangements to play at the Public Hall on Wednesday and Thursday evening, and had arranged for a conveyance to carry them from Palmerston to Foxton. They made an early start, soon after noon on Wednesday and after much laborious plodding reached a point about eight miles from here, when the horse gave in. Not a move would he make, so that the merry company of performers had to finish the journey on foot. Two of the fleetest arrived in town about half past seven, and secured a horse to fetch in the trap, and the remnant of the animal they started with, and by one o'clook at night they had all safely rounded up in the hotel yard. The other performers got to town in the manner that the animals are recorded as getting into the ark, by two's and two's. It is hardly necessary to state that the show did not take plaoe that night.

Last Monday being the first day of April, wtta also what is popularly: known as All Fool's day. The absurdities at one time carried on, have their origin a long Way back in history. Even at the present time it is thought amusing to perpetrate jokes, and even to invent lies, for the purpose of disturbing peaceful "citizens on this day, and then to deride them for " April fools " fools indeed, for believing the utterers, We were not aware that the Maori of : the period, tnough up to most of the Pakeha mischief, was sufficiently acquainted with old English lore, to be up to making April fools, but one at any rate is. This distinguished specimen of the Aboriginal race arose in the early and dark hours of Monday morning, and rode into town to inform Mr Giesen that his mill was burnt down. This piece of inteligence immediately brought Mr Giesen out on horseback, without " bit or sup " on the sharp frosty morning, to learn the extent of his disaster, when, lo and behold, he was met half way, by a grinning native, who informed him in language expressive, but not polite, that he was an April fool. Poor Mr Giesen. It would serve our dusky friend right to make him write a good few hundred times the history of All Pool's day. The origin of the custom has been attributed to many causes, one to the mockery of Our Saviour just before the crucifixion, another to the rape of the Sabine women, and yet another, to the mistake made by Noah in sending the dove out of the Ark before the waters of the flood had abated. The Romans held a Saturnalia on the first of the year and the custom was celebrated in France in 1230, and came into England in 1240. It is thought that possibly the date became changed to the first of April. It is in all probability derived from some pagan festival, as a similar practice has been common enough among the Hindoos, at their Huli festival from a very early period. The world having had therefore a very good time at it, we think it would not be amis to let it lay quiet for a time, and if no one else agrees with us, we believe Mr Giesen will.

Last night the Star Concert Company gave their first entertainment here, We have referred elsewhere' to the misfortune that prevented their playing on Wednesday night. Owing to this, the house was not so full as"t w"aß expected. The performers however fulfilled their parts with every oare. The songs were well given, and the dances were very good being well applauded and encored. The iron jaw feats were astonishing and the aots of con* tortion drew forth marked approbation. That the entertainment pleased the audience is not to be gainsaid as the applause was loud, and frequent. The Company have altered their arrangements so as to appear on Saturday with an entire change of programme when we fully expect to see a good house, to appease them for the misfortunes that overtook their entrance into the town. Manchester House is beoome a household word, under the management of the proprietor Mr J, R. McMillan. In our issue today he has an altered advertisement, headed with a view of the premises he occupies, which has been cleverly executed by Messrs Bock and Cousins from a photograph by Mr R. G. Palmer. He is desirous that all should know that the new Autumn and Winter goods have arrived, comprising something very handsome in dress goods, and in Armava and Amazon cloths. For fear of getting out of our depth, we refrain from mentioning the many other lines. Of course he has the usual selection in clothing, and boots. The other department of his business remains the same, being well stocked with groceries and ironmongery. We however notice that Mr McMillan is prepared to give estimates for the erection of one or two stripper mills. Two smart catchers are wanted at once A t th« Pftpftkiri Mill,

Mr Osborne, by a curious co-incidence has also today altered his advertisement, and quotes some " notes worth knowing." them are, that the new winter goods have aiT^ed; that boot and shoe making is a speoiality a *\o»s establishment, and that he has engaged a koy a ssist a nt - We observe that Mr Osborne has started » labor office* which we imagine will not bb ,vefy auMesSfui uillesiJ He lfltefldß to pre cure outside labor, as we know df do dfle in the town Wanting work. However we expect that he anticipates a larger population to be docking in. The' Centre of Commerce is always ttti the " spot " to originate something new, arid the proprietor wisely never hides his light under a bushel.

Mr Stewart, of the Cambridge school, and formerly of Foxton, has been appointed to the headmastership of the Greymouth school. There were 42 applicants The hurricane at Samoa has resulted in an unfortunate loss of life and property, but for all that, it has had a most inspiriting effect on all old England's sons. How proud they felt when the wires flashed the news, that the only vessel in harbor that esoaped was the British Man of War, the Captain of which faced the storm and wisely drove his vessel into the teeth of it, into sea room, than be hampered in harbour. Every eye brightened at the thought that England still possessed men in her servioe who could see and act, and felt that Lord Palmerston'S belief in the Navy when he said " whenever I want a thing well done, in a' distant part of the world ; when I want a man with a good head, a good heart, lots of pluck, and plenty of common sense — I always send for a captain in the Navy " is as true to-day, as when he uttered it. We do not live nigh Mr Nye, but for all that he has not forgotten us. We intended to have visited his Vinery during the season that the grapes ripened, but they were too quick for us. Mr Nye however would not Deny us the chance of sampling his produce, so kindly brought some speoimen bunches to our office yesterday. They were well grown and of delicious flavour, one bunoh being a sample of the Blaok Prince, another of the Black Hamburgh. We regret to learn that tho picking is nearly concluded, other wise, at all riaks, we should have attended on the spot to more particularly report on every bunch. Without doubt Mr Nye has been remarkably successful in the growing of vines. In our Stock and Produce Column Messrs Luxford ■ & Co., advertise a thoroughly staunoh horse for sale. We prediot it will not remain long advertised. An experienced hand at the strippers can learn of an engagement by applying bj letter to this office. Mr Langley advertises chat he u«,a supply good manuka poles. Over the leader will be notioed a card from Mr Hankins. To old settlers it may appear unnecessary to inform the publio that he is still in business, but fortunately this distriot has reoeived such an aooession of new blood, that no one can afford to believe that everybody knows who you are. One more bnsiness man, Mr Bohan of Wellington, is wisely taking advantage of our columns to let the publio know what stock he has on hand, that it is most Buited to their wants. Drays have been in much request, and Messrs Thynne Linton <fc Co. inform us, that the first dray they reoeived from Mr Bohan was sold four hours after it was landed from the steamer. They expect more by thaJfloftming boat. The 'FoXfOD Cooperative Butcherfiijr ComiMoy give notioe of a tea per centdivi* •lead being p yable at th« Compauy's office on Wednesday next. KEATING'S COUGH LOZENGES oura Coughs, Asthma. Bionohitia. Medi. oal testimony states that no other medicine i bo effxHusl in the cure of these danger our maladies. One Lozenge alone gives ease, one or two at bedtime ensures rest. For relieving difficulty of breathiug ihey are invaluable They contain no opium not any violent drug. Sold by all Chemists in Tius, Is l&l and, 2* 9d each.