Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1899. Unfair Tactics.

Manawatu Herald, 18 April 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESD AY, APRIL 18, 1899. Unfair Tactics.

Business is business, but when unfair dodges are imported into it, not so much to benefit the user of such dodges, but to injure a trade rival, everyone must condemn the use of them. We are very sorry to learn that Mr John Holmes, who was sent home by the Government to inquire into the state of the hemp market, owing a good deal from the wish expressed by the public in this district that he should be chosen, has been the victim of a mean underhanded attack, which has caused him considerable loss already, and as to the ultimate amount it is impossible to estimate. During Mr Holmes' trip he not only widely advertised the productions of this colony, but did not forget that he had a business here also, and thus took occasion to secure valuable connections. As this in no way interfered with his, work he was appointed to carry out, but rather, on the contrary, assisted it, no one can complain of his action. No one, as far as we can learn, has had the hardihood to attempt to do so, which would however have been far more manly and English like than the course they thought fit to pursue, Some business people, for reasons best known to themselves, but which can also be very fairly surmised by those having a knowledge of the hemp trade, were much opposed to Mr Holmes' appointment, but having failed to secure their desire, seem to have awaited an opportunity to stab him in the dark. A chance was seized when in August the Hon. John McKenzie in reply to Mr Buchanan, was re* ported, in an uncorrected proof, to suggest that Mr Holmes had no authority to represent the colony. The opponents had copies marked and sent specially to the correspondents of Mr Holme*, who thus was made to

appear as having strutted about the world in borrowed plumes, the mere thought of which has caused the oldfashioned and stable business firms to doubt the other representations made by him. Thus harm has been done not only to Mr Holmes but to the colony, as a Representative discredited means that his assertions and his information will also be discredited. It is very unfortunate that there should be persons engaged in business in this colony who cannot fight an opponent in a fair manner, but has found it necessary to resort to such disgraceful tactics, though their having resorted to such ways is most complimentary to Mr Holmes' ability as it shows that they were afraid of his keen competition. Those who have been guilty of such action have not succeeded in guaging Mr Holmes' pluck and fighting feapacity, or otherwise, perhaps, they wonld have thought twice before acting. Mr Holmes, on finding out from his correspondents what had taken place, lost no time in putting himselt right .with the Government, and the Hon. John McKenzie, who had in June, 1897, given him an open letter stating " The bearer, Mr John Holmes, has been appointed a special Fibre Commissioner to inquire into the fibre trade of the world as affecting this colony. Any assistance rendered to him will be received as a favour to the colony," is not a man to draw back from any action, and states his regret to learn that a false and manifestly unfair impression is sought to be made out of the answer given by him. He mentions that his reply meant te convey " that you did not hold the position of a Civil servant under the Crown, or that you could in any way commit the colony to any engagement. It is however, made quite clear that you were appointed a Special Commissioner by the Government for a specific purpose?' Here we have as clear as we can have a statement from the - utterer of the supposed damaging statement which has been used to discredit Mr Holmes, that it "is false and manifestly unfair," so that it is not surprising that the distributor of such false statements is difficult of discovery. It would be well if those who believe in fair dealing, knowing anything that might elucidate the matter would communicate with Mr Holmes, as though at present it is Mr Holmes who has suffered, yet no one knows whose turn it may be next, if the utterer of false statements thinks he can advance his own interests by making them against anyone else. It is a sorry piece of business and throws a blot upon the good name of all business people and every effort should be made to find out the person so lost to all sense of honesty as to act thus. The Government think very differently of Mr Holmes' work, and in a letter of the 18th March the Minister for Agriculture informs Mr Holmes that " recognising the good work so ably carried out by you, the Government has since your return supplemented by the substantial sum of £300 the amount originally paid towards your expenses." We have put this matter before our readers, though not in any way connected with Mr Holmes beyond having been one to urge his being despatched on his mission, in common with very many of our readers, because we feel sure that Mr Holmes did good service to the colony at Home, and has been but poorly remunerated for it, and that he deserved far better treatment from his brother colonists than to be damaged by the issue of false statements. We do not doubt that truth and uprightness will triumph in the end, but that, though consoling, does not lesson the labour of a man who has to correct a lie that has had months of a start of him.

A revolution has been proceeding for some time past in the South American Rebublic of Bolivia. News has just been received of a battle between the revolutionary forces, under their leader (Colonel Pando), and the Government forces under the President (Senor Ferando Alonzo). The engagement resulted in the defeat of the Government army with the loss of 200 men. In two months the Union Company alone transported 12,000 sheep from Wellington to Lyttelton, besides those being taken by the Huddart Parker line. The export of pigs has also been large, 1559 having been to Canterbury, in the same time. Uncle Sam and Bull beamed upon each other affectionately. " Let's take something," urged Uncle Sam, as is his custon when his heart is full. " By all means," replied John Bull, cordially. " I suggest territory ! " The Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Monday, the 24th April in celebration of St George's Day, which this year falls on Sunday, the 23rd inst. President Kruger has refused to allow out-door meeting of Outlanders at Johannesburg, being apprehensive of serious consequences from such demonstrations. The Government Dairy Commissioner has arranged for a conference of his staff stationed throughout the colony, for the purpose of arriving at an absolutely uniform system of grading dairy produce and instructing people in the manufacture of butter and cheese. He was a professor of chemistry, and wore the bland look the distinguishes university profs, generally. He was explaining to his class the action of certain chemicals on glass, and said, " I shall write my own initials — A. S. — and in a little while you will note the effect." The .noment his back was turned a mischiefloving student added another S., and the whole class patiently awaited the " effect." It came. You could have heard a hair drop as the gentle professor lifted the piece of glass and resumed : " Now, gentlemen you will notice that —ha — a complete change has — hum — occurred, for some ingenious student has converted my initials into his own name by the addition of a single letter." The recoil was heavy, and that is why that particular student has since been known as the " Ass " of toe University.

Mr Tos informs the public that he has engaged a watchmaker, a reliable man, and that he will undertake to clean and repair watches and clocks at a reasonable rate. Mr Whitehead gives with twelve cabinet portraits, one enlargement. He also announces that his studio will only be open on Tuesdays and Wed- 1 nesdays unless an arrangement is made. He will thus have time to take ' views out doors. The British War Office has just | taken a departure of considerable im- ] portance. In future every cavalry ( regiment will include a certain number of trained telegraphers, and, inasmuch ' as increased pay and brighter pro : spects of promotion are to be accorded | to troopers and non-commissioned p officers who have mastered the science ; of telegraphy, the result will be that in , the course of time nearly every cavalry- : man will know how to telegraph. In { modern warfare cavalry are used alt most exclusively for reconnaisance, . and the idea' is that each trooper shall be sufficiently expert, not only to be ' enabled to tap the wires with a view ! to obtaining valuable information re- ' garding the enemy, but shall be able . to send important news which may be ! secured. It is known that both Ger- | many and Russia keep large bodies of , cavalry on either side of their long I frontier with the main purpose of cut- ' ting and tapping the enemy's tele- ', graphic wire just across the boundary , line for the purpose of interfering with [ the mobilising in case of the outbreak ' of war. It will be seen, therefore, that a knowledge .of telegraphy is indispens- , able to the cavalry man of the future, \ and in view of this fact, the new rule inaugurated by the War Department '. excites universal approval. The Aramoho railway station and ! refreshment rooms were burned to the i ground shortly after 1.30 on Saturday > morning. A strong north-west gale ; was blowing, and it was impossible . to save the building. The station- > master (Mr Walsh) saved all current s documents, cash, and tickets. The f refreshment room was in the occupaf tion of Mrs Jubal Fleming, who was > insured for £1 50 in the United office. ; Her loss is estimated at £100 over that s amount. According to " Winnower " in the Hawera Star, the potato yield will be • exceptionally heavy in the Hawera district. Digging the main crop has not 1 yet started, but it is estimated some ' returns will be over 20 tons to the acre. : Some of the tubers have grown an ■ enormous size, and he is informed that ' potatoes i2in to 15m in length are ! quite common, and five and six- \ pounders have already been unearthed. ', What magnificent thing are promptip tude and forethought— and, alas, how . rare ! A constable in Tasmania possesses them in a remarkable I degree, He saw a man fall over the . end of the pier at Hobart into the . water, and ran with all speed to the . place where the accident occurred. > The unfortunate had been down • twice, and the constable, leaning over . the pier, at soms considerable risk to r himself, shouted, " Bsfore you go [ down again, what's your full name r and address ? " I Where is London to bury its dead ? s That is a question that is puzzling 1 members of the London Borough : Council and many others interested in 1 the health of the living as well as the ■ proper disposal of the deceased. . Careful estimates show that each • year there are interred within the i limits of London, about 130,000 human 1 bodies. Thus a population corres- ■ ponding to such flourishing towns as 1 Cardiff or Brighton is burried at or near the city of London every twelve months. Good authorities say that in from five to ten years London will have » no places for public burials. ; There has (says the " Sydney 1 Morning Herald ") been in existence : for a long time a "popular error" ■ owing to the copper used in its t manufacture being very rich in gold • and bronze coinage of 1864 has an • intrinsic value very greatly in excess » of its face value. It is uncertain how the idea arose in the first instance, but there is reason to believe that within the last month or two it has 1 received so much credence in Sydney '. that pence of this coinage hav>e been eagerly sought after by many persons [ in the community, who have paid prices raging from od to 7s 6d each, the average price as far as we can be 1 ascertained, being about 2s each, i There has been a constant succession ; of applicants at the Mint for some weeks, who have purchased these pence on the understanding that they could there be disposed at a profit. It may be mentioned that in 1864 32 tons : of bronze were coined into about 3^ million pence. One authority states : the impression got abroad that a i mistake was made at Her Majesty's Mint, with the result that gold was included in the composition of the 1 pence. Of course the impression was 1 an entirely erroneous one. : The many friends of Mr Frederick 1 Loveday will be pleased to hear that he has purchased the drapery and , clothing establishment of Chelmsford , House, which has latterly been carried ! on by Messrs F. W. Eure and Co. Some' three years ago Mr F. Loveday - was compelled to take in hand the I business of Chelmsford House, the step being necessitated by force of circumstances. On taking up the business under the then existing circumstances ! Mr Loveday found that the largest portion of his 20 years' saving was : lost and he was practically a ruined man. This wa3 naturally a severe blow, and his friends, who were in the j know, strongly advised him to throw up his business. But as he had not done anything to warrant such a course of action, he decided to face the trouble, and now, thanks to his many friends in New Zealand and ! others as far away as England, he is : now able once again to carry on the 1 business for his sole benefit. It is : to be hoped that he will long live to i reap the fruits of his labours, and that the business of Chelmsford House will prove a prosperous and flourishing 1 concern. Mr Loveday has just opened up a large shipement of new season's ! goods, for all departments, which are , now open for selection.— Chronicle.

The Town Clerk gives notice that the Burgess List is now open for inspection.