Something Like Charges.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 19 September 1891, Page 2

Something Like Charges.

Outsiders have frequently a difficulty in understanding why flaxmilling does not pay, but some of the millers can easily explain the reason. One of them has handed us some bills of costs which are perfectly astounding, and if they are a fair sample it bodes ruin to the industry. In February, 1890, this firm sent 'a trial shipment of a very good sample of flax to a well known merchant in New York, through an equally well known Wellington firm. The sample was close on 29 tons, and before shipping a sum of £16 was offered for the lot, which would place its value at £461. The hemp-miller was determined to try the market, and shipped, with the unfortunate i experience of receiving, only two or three weeks ago, his account sales, which have allowed him to nett hardly til a ton ! That this was no fault of tho parcel will bo understood when it is stated that the flax realised £21 a ton in America, but the charges arc something enormous, amounting to a sum of £370 on the 29 tons ! That £18 <i ton is needed for freight and charges and commission on the sale of a product that costs only £2 a ton more to produce at the mill is a scandal, and points stronger than any other argument to the absolute necessity of the hemp-millers joining together for their own protection. In the first transaction in Wellington an advance of a nominal £12 a ton was made, but £2 a ton was at once deducted for charges. In America the lot realised £690, btafc had the following charges debited against it, viz : — Freight, £135 9s ; Customs entry, 12s 6d ; cartage, £6 17s : storage, £100 ; weighing, £2 14s ; brokerage, £6 15s ; commission, £34. The middleman clears £51 in simply selling the material, which is more than the miller clears with all his anxiety. The shipping mulcts him in £162. We do not see that the Wellington agent has made any unfair or unusual charges, though he should have something to say as i to the unreasonable time the flax was kept on hand by his A merican friends when storage was run up to £100. However, if this item for storage was added to tho receipts, the miller would only have netted £14 a ton as against the £16 he was offered, in consequence of the whole of the ordinary charges being out of all proportion to the value of the product handled. We hope that those interested in the matter will make some move to have a decided alteration for the better, made.

It has been reported to thn police at Timavu that some hnman remains were found on Sunday last on a range in the McKenzie Country, which are believed to be those of Andrew Thomson, chemist, who was missed from Burta's lass as long as January, 1882. The remains consist of a skull and bones only, and were much scattered about. His Excellency the Governor ascertaining that a copy of the Auckland Tiur\s of December 15th, 1842, printed on a mangle, was in the hands of a London collector, sent Home and bought it for a good figure, and has just presented it to tho Auckland Free Public Library. Le Temps states that Stanley is organising a Congo expedition on hehalf of t u> Kin;? of the Rfll»»rvn«.

Batoum, referred to in t^e cablegrams as the port at which large firos have broken out in the petroleum reservoirs, is the port of shipment of the oil that is found in the country lying behind Baku, a port on the inland Caspian sea. The oil is worked on concessions from the Russian Government by the Messrs Nobel, who conveyed the cl from the beds to the port oi Botonin in large iron pipes, fov a distance of 300 miles.

To-night the Dobson-Kennedy Company perform at the Public Hall " My Sweetheart," and on Monday evening " Little Lord Fanntleroy." We shall expect to see a packed house on both occasions. To night there will be songs and laughter.

Pleasant travelling ! The captain of the Mildura states it wa rather hot in the Red Soa, but he had to keep time by order of the Admiralty. The highest temperature in the stokehold as 158 degrees, but that was only temporary.

Tho Argus devotes a long article to thp Bry c episode, in which it attributes the blame to the Speaker, and declares that had he shown firmness in dealing with the question of privi ege the whole affair wou d have been avoided.

The Payment of Members' Bill on Tuesday was laid aside by the Legislative Council', the amendment by the Hon. H. J. Miller, to the motion for its second reading, being carried.

We are in receipt of the last number of the Illustrated Sydney News, which is published fortnightly. The paper is well printed and the engravings are very good. There is an interesting account ol arboriculture in New South Wales. The principal pictures are the Bush Cousins, Portraits of Members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia ; Picturesque peeps on the Williams river; Government House, Perth ; besides which there are numerous smaller views. It costs only sixpence, and is w r ell worth it.

Tenders are invited for the erection of a uew hotel. Specifications can be seen at the Foxton Family Hotel till next Wednesday.

A bu lock driver is wanted. The Property Tax Commissioner invites applications for valuations.

We are informed on the best authority, that the statement copied by us from the N.Z. TimtK that the Hail way Commissioners emphatica ly dec ined to make reciprocal arrangements with the Manawatu Railway Company so as to enable them to let their trains leave Wellington later and arrive earlier, is not correct.

The caucus of Ministerialists which was held on Thursday morning, says the Post, for the selection of the Party candidate for the Chairmanship ended in a fiasco. It was convened by Mr Hall-Jones, Government whip, who was in the chair None of the Minist rs were present, but they were understood to be prepared to accept the decision of the majority. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at the failure of the Government to give their followers a lead in the matter, and a good deal of bickering took place. Messrs Fish, W. C. Smith, and Joyce, candidates for the position, addressed the caucus, but Mr W. Kelly, who has also been mentioned as an aspirant to the chair, declined to offer himself. The economists took advantage of the indecision of the meeting to urge that it was not worth while to put the country to an expense of £33 per month for the sake of three or four days' work, and that if the Opposition chose to put up and elect a candidate, the responsibility for causing the expenditure should rest upon their own shoulders. Mr O'Conor therefore moved that the appointment be deferred till next session, and after a number of members had left the room this was carried by 14 to 7, and the meeting br.ke up in disorder. The minority express themselves dissatisfied with this result, and declare that they will support any candidate the Opposition may nominate.

Over the leader, the well-known firm of drapers, Messrs Loveday Brothers, announce the arrival of their new Spring and Summer good's. We can confidently recommend a visit to their establishment.

The A dvocufe thus refers to the performance of " Snowed Iv " at Sanson : — Joe, acted by Mr F. Pi. Young, always came on the. scene when the kissing was taking place between the several parties, aud as a tun producer, was very successful. Mr -T. It. McMillan filled the part of Max Seymour excellently we'l, both as a friend and a lover, and Miss Stansell and Miss Fleming gave quite a natural rendering of the character. Miss Burr, in the character of Miss Kitty Piosemerry, fully succeeded in depicting the feelings of anguish at the supposed duplicity of her lover, Donald Osbor ne (ably acted by Mr Alt' Fraser), whom she had been informed by Tim Stryker (Mr G. Potter) was only amusing himself by flirting with her. The love passages between the charming widow, Mrs Rosemerry, acted by Miss H. Burr, aud the elderiy lover, Mr Fleming, taken by Mr J. B. StanPell, were very well done and ap 1 predated by the audience. Indeed, all the parts were very well filled, and the piece was so well taken t> at the performers were called before the curtain at its conclusion and applauded.

THREE CENTURIES have rolled by since Bacon said " Coffee comforteth the brain and heart, aud helpeth digestion; Use Crease's A 1. Coffee. Sold only in lib and 21b tins.

Many will no doubt recollect at one time 4 mouths was considered a good passage from the old country to New Zealand, but in the early days of the colony six months was about the usual period. Hoiv everything has a'tered since that time, even in the length of passages. Mr .Limes Smith, of Te Aro House, Wellington, left Wellington in November last and even by the roundabout Suez route was timed io be in London within 50 days.

During his stay in London he personally supervised all the buying for our present spring season. That he understood our requirements goes without saying, and that he would manifest taste and judgment in selecting is equally true. The result is the magnificent display of Fpring Fashions we are now making at Te Aro Plouse, Wellington.

Just now we are too busy opening up our new Spring Goods, coming to hand by every steamer, to enter into details. This we shall do in a subsequent issue of this paper. We may, however, say t! at for quantity , excellence, value, variety, no previous spring exhibition has ever equalled the present one at To Aro House, Wellington.

Onr country friends should if possible, pas us an early visit, or we will forward patterns of onr new spring goods, free by post, on application to James Smith, T. Avo House, Wellington.

The annual stock-taking sale at the Bon Mahchk, Palmerston North, is now on. Visitors to Palme iston aro requested to inspect the bargains in every department. MMinery, mantle?, ulsters, household drapery, Men's and Boy's clothing, al at cleaving prices at the Bon Marche, Palmerston North. Ross <t SA\r>Fonn.

STANLEY SAYS: '-After all there is nothing beats a cup of good Coffee." If yon would enjoy such, ilrink Ckkase's A. ]f ("■<»! tim'. No.d only in. lib and 21h tins,