The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 91, 8 January 1879, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

"It has been truly said-tiiafc-the-re exists .AJlifilSLVt-ibpJxP-l^^-'lE 6 -! 11 !* V perusal 'of old letters, Faces long away a.ppef»r o.npp more on- rfttjiupr^s canva<. anil the forms af those, l<|ved stund heFore us at "the sight of tincs^tr-aced by hands that. are "cold, and* dictated by liegrts that arc pu!seloi«s.^ A thon-!vr,d recollections o.f hy-<«onc years, float before us. the long vista of, time, is swept away, while fond memories bridge-t^e. gulf between now and then, JUit as there is no rule withaut an exception, sot-here is rarely a. bright picture aero s. which some dark shadow does »ot fall. ■ The politician who at the .outset o£ hia public Qurerr wins his s.pnrs. with tl c. „ standard of Liberalism m his hand, must inwardly wiftec? ars' lime' has de.velo.ped UuHJ-iula the CouscxxaiixfiJdiui^ter, and | turning back tOL.the pages of Hansar-d. shudder at tho utterances wlijieh new appear- so much , rank heres^. The whirligig of titr^o brings, about c^ieer xlu'ti.Wj. thtV'forc? o.^ circumstances-— ■ -op- -irnep- *Mll» -thoj. pno'iiipfififs (tf-sclf--int£.rest-:=iTeintj a , p.p.wer-fn'l-~njato 1 r vi iurnnXxyr, iyxinm hf--' : s,'fe<*''V'n<j r^cn's opinienp. As we -h«vo said, ir, ina't(<i'r>l pulitiorl- tlris would scarcely be, faod. i'Oj. -womlfrr-ltitfc -that— fe<4ft — pl^in. sg|ui, substantial facts— shouj^ \» R^bj-e^tq .. the^ varying infti^eiur^Vo^f i\\\W, , is sofin??what Siinuular, Twenty yea^s ft.«p^ "" when riiiTuierst r n"vfasi fenawn 1 only by its Maori appclliitian af^f p*ioa ; before a White niatt"h a 'd" p ? c UPV-»<l a- iPi>' . of .ground m the-' Upppj Manama! v, Fp.xton was then the thriving township it T\o«r is, and Mr: -i. T\ Stewart, Pro. Tiiicial District Siirveyor, a, position almost aiujrl'ar to What he hol^s to-day Ax we pen thi^ artieJei w,e have before. \*« a sketch-map, prepared by that oilV?^" af land m the Manr^wahv propostul to be offered fw sA^ei by the. then Provincial Goverp,meut v and the document is invaluable, not oiyy to. shov? how the settlers on tl\o sinuth side, of the Mannwatu who bough t Inn A upoi\ the faith of eerfcnin yiron^ises^ have beep, be' rayed, but also fnr the pi^rppse. of ro-n.paring Mr. Stbw^RT^. o,p*ini«>n m 18^3 and his report i.n; \SJ3;., $n dealing- wjili the first oo l nsidera,tran ll iih.ei\, the s.lfelc'h map b.pf oi 'c. us ha,a foUjr. liropp.sed lines of road\ the town, of Papaioa,. or Prilnicrston, b.evng \he centre at whaili, they all meet. A,t %hfi. time o.f which we writ.', the M J\n, \rat v I^i ver. b.f ing; ; nawijiabtei\9 .f^r. as NgAwlv^kiira'i.'thev censtruetion of a tramway was prcp^^ed from that spot into town, which it \s i.yinecessary to say has si,nco. developed into the r^ih^ay line to. Fo.xioji,. T;h« i second proposed road was Palmerston to Rangitikei,, throngl; Aw.% H-uri ; and this} also, a.s aH our. readers' are a »var<\ has been completed, running tiirou^li Awa Hun, Snnson, Biills, and Marten,, into Wan ganui. Xhf.tliird rotd through Stoney Oreek, O.tanunfei, and the Oorge to tl\e NapieT country, has also been open for year"., b.ut the fourth fjrtfl l.asl, which on the mnp is si-t down as " proposed inland line nf.rm'l from Wellington to RanjQji.tikei." is still a thing o.f tho futuri>. On the strength of the mosk pxonpunceft : Ttr/imtsffs that this J'ollfih rokcl .woul J bxi eqnit viote-1, tlie toTrn»hi^K>i FiUhonbexb j.ygji .-cl I Vith tpluj initl/c. . vicinity, jvl»c.h-i fcched liigl^ faiioes. i, ]tli.>.rts, .fhaixA f db3t 1 of j'ears' > 4Lqi »*p, pa^ited sJDJse.jtwtu/a,^ we by one the settlers — di«gu-ted an^ weary of jtaiUug.-=iiave_ dispos.e(\ af Their holdings h£ ruinous sacrifices., and sought an outlet for. their industry am) energy i'.l*e\vhe«v The Ja.nd is p.orhop.a some of the very best m the country, but without roads or r-jiilwaj s if, was oF just th<» same vMiif ns a mom Vain ftfgald wr>nld havo boen tQ HontNSON CRrso,B 6x\ hi« Desert 1 slam?. Alt hough at first *lii>» r fe*thi >^Vronld-aT'p.oar to be a nritter entirely between the vendors and the vendees — between the Government and tho »eftler* — we hold thnt such is by tv> means the ra.«t». Had the rj):ul, V^hifh vraji so pr^ntsed h-.'on Qr>7iptriiftod, th'iusanfTs of acres would have

the County oE Mnnawatu hare made giant strides m settlement, progress, and prosperity, bi;t Wellington would be the sea into which this grand river woyld drain itself, I Lraring thqt ease of clearly-proven treachery and bad faith towards the .Unfortunate settlers lit Fitzherberton, we next take into consideration the jnerits of the proposed \ine of road Kireh" ohtlie" autliopity of My. J. T. Stewart. Tlie route on the map starts from a point-fur south of Te Paiaka, near Mr. Jvebbell's property Gn the Manawahi, and takes a eoiyso through bush ian,d between, the Tokoiiiarii Kivor: and the Satire Eeservoß»at Kairangi,- whence it dips towards the._J\lajiawatu, crossing that river so. i)eivlierj3.;.at the ai^e oE the present bridge, and so on to Pa^ineraton. To tl^use afc-adistani'e-r-and even to, many m the district— that (jnnouni-e---nietit may not Ue very significant, or carry grca.t w«-'igli.fc. on account, of ignorance pf .the typography;. of the country, but we reckon moat people will prick up. their ear* at- the following fact. We kr\ow that while trees, may grow I antTfiv'ers"wul"cnV it if highly improbable — notr-to say- impossible— for l^nd | to stretclvso that that iv the cour-se of inno^'tho" distf\iice" franv one place to .another shall have increased! and unless snob ho really the Case we aro prepared to pfovo out Qf the. 'mouth of the Disfru't Engineer that the routf w« F\tzX rbert for t ho West Coast Lint' i.s by m> means t lie long one which it hns been alleged to Ue. As wo have stated, the tracing on the ma.p slartsa oonsidcrnble way below Foxtoii on the road to Waikana.e, and while we fee.l convinced that from the. 'starting-point to that place is certain,ly i\at more tli^n twelve mlle<, according- to the scale on !Vlr. Stkvvakt's map^ from Iho starting right into PalincMVston is only twenty-two. Tlu\ tlien, reduces the distance by nearly twelve miles t ouly leiiving a balance m favor- of i,ts rival of four, while as a si-trofK and one 'that far over- balances • sjirl^an advantage, the route through FitzKerbert not only opens up h,U"dreds ,of thousands. o.f acres oj mi\gn\(icent cAuntry, but ist remarkable for the absence of fhose engbieering difficulties with which its, rival »h besot. V[e imagine tho.se . rcs/onsibla for. the fliigrant breach of fajth with the settlers of Fitzherbei't would not like to tee this dananing evidence of their doubledealing d,upl\city. rise up m. judgment.'against them, noj* Mr. J. T. Ste\xaut caro fb.r the disentombment of a dorument so. fatal to the genuineness of his last furm'slu-d- report. Both himself an,d Mr. . KsoiiPP ha.ye b rjie witness to, tha magnificent country fhr-ough which the line to Filzherbert ■ would pass r the absence o ; f all engineering ditßeulties, a,nd con^i-quently its mjanif^t advantage m the muter of cos", a,nd now that the questian of distanci' has be.r>n a-'t ai res), there sho.uld by rnry li'tle hesitation a,s to which way the' line should ti!o. L.i'avin'l on one -lie the opp. rtuiiity thus presented a. doing- tardy but well-merited justice — a mo'ive flfliich should eaivy- weight with a\V hono.rable. men— and considering the matter- piia'ly m the aspect of wil!\t wiU cojifer ll\e greates.fc public benefit',, every co^g-n. af vantage. gr.>u.nd cornea iron\ 'Fitaherbart — spleifdid oA'intry, easy roAstruction,. and mod?ri,to cost., \Yo will not attem.pt to question th.ri.tmth fulness af Mr. Stewakt's last, report, but certainly hi* attctnpt^ to ■ p;T.3-iidi«xe- tha Palmerst >n j ; o. ( .ite by an uncalled-for sidj-'-wi-la refoivnee to.the proposed private railway to San don^ is- pretty «O' ( d presumptive "evidei\c.& • tliat all* hm ' sympathii-s lay -w-Uii_ Eoxtoji, jvnd consVq,iiently his opinion should be. revived wi,tlj. very grea,t'res.ervaiion,.

Tut? -agitation,, which is now being eirried on m tl\e Australian Colonies as to the right of th.a wording men to combine tftg«liieF:tQ resist tlio importation oi (he Chinee, opens up a question which, i* weft 'worthy of cojisiilunit;o;i. Year-after year, a a the reso,uri-es ro-T the colonies ticcoiue developed, their 'associations' and different governing institutions become more assimilated to Mioae. existing m the Mother country and o,fher lands m hpth the Old ami Np^t. Worlds. Trades have got their rules, and ramifications having not only an intercolonial orbit, but m jn.anj- instaiicji'S tlitir .licad-(|i^u-ter.s m Great Britain ; and tho unification is coraplete ns to. blend the whole into one harmonious -Rrorking, This, is the effect Q.f combinatio,'), and it must be almittpd that where combination^ exists, if ih<» o.bjeet be only fair and legitimate, :t -vvill be })roilnc.iivfi of bcneui-ial results. |n cannot b,e denied that the introduction of the Eitrh.t Kours' Movement int^ New Zealand has bj»cn n boon and a blrssinsr to. Hie working class, and a wlipJeretiTio. bjjakn upon t)\a.t indefinite term of Inb.or exists m countries where it lias not been m K«a,y. Then, ■asain. young as this eomimyii y i", it has been found n,eressary toiutrodiyele^i^l.a---t von m tko shape af thn Factories' Act for the protection fr,o.m over work of delicate ymviir siii'Kand thosa of tender. years, and although thank Qo.l we have not reached that .grinding slavery, which is practised towards the white slaves at h'>me, thenicasnre is a wise preventive against the greed of the crnjAoycr and ; the avarice of the cm.ploy.cd. In dealing then, with the. protest against the im r porta'tian of-' the fi<te of )'ellaw-skinned humanity, it may be as woll for. us to consider how an. l upnn what terms such cojidv;et: is justifiable. Strikes should never he entered upon unless as an e3strom.fi measure, to resist an injustice, and when all pacific, joi^orts for re.dresfi^aro unavailablp ;' bu:. tlie .aautipn should be doubly c;rc,a,te when the chanKCVj emanates 'fronv'tho 'employes, ijoo/1 i^nd siibsta^tiaisro! shouhl ,I)'^ fpj't^c'oniin'^ in 1 support )f a.. ela.iii\ "for" a/i y advanr,o. ,A-jt .lj"\it i l &\ eeonopiip|s.''ai ( i o agreed "that a', hi^m standard af living is an incentive or stirnnjajit to industry, and or\ the eon.tran r , that a low standard of living to^ils to indolence. \ demand for. higher M'aires is only the anjitration. ton higher standard of liv.innin another, form, and proyi.lefl thflt it is w»cogni«ed that for th 1 higher wages an equivalent is given ii better and more work, there can, be no abstract objnHion to the demand. . .The concession oi more, wages, without the equivalent m vpork is only possible therf i<* a margin of proQfc available for division among the workman. whtTo that does not exist, and the workman known that he must do hotter, ft? w^ wo^lj m, ozi\e\\ tv sepuyo §'4

vance of wages, the aspiration for a higher standard of living is distinctly beneficial to both capital and labor. The dispute, however, under- discussion does not spring from 3, desire to , secure higher remuneration for labor ar a dp-; crease m the hours of toil. It is a deter? mined effort to resist to the last extre-. niity the perpetration of a flagrant and monstrous injustice ; and as there is a deal of hum,an nature m the mass of humanifj', and the movement one which m.are or- less affects the bulk qf the population, as might be expected tl\e sympathy with the strikers is widespread and universal. "We notice, that the Premier- of. New South Wales lias promised to. grapple with, tlie difficulty by. the prohibition of an. influx of Mo.ngo* Hans m greater- proportion than one to every ten of the Wh;te population. This, Vfe tVnk t will not be sufficient to settle the matter upan a fair_or equitable fo.oting, for m addition to fixing a limit to the number a largo capitation lux of, say, £Ii) should be fixed-' upo,n every Chi.Ra.man landed upon Australasian soil. Suppose for instance the" first restriction wastheQiilyoneimppsedj and that the. population of the seven colonies vras m round numbers 2.si)U,o|>>, the number of of Chinamen to-b<j admitted would be 25'MJOi). Prcsumfti-* that ane-qua/ter o.fr that number, or 150,000 i-lear out for China with £103 saved during their stay m the Colonies, there is tht-n no less sn,m tha,n ),000 10,H.t o- eve. 1 , wherein by the imposition of a £li) poll tax, nearly a third of tl\i\t amount wo\;ld be saved. There can be no doubt the matter is one which will call for legislation from, the respective Qpvarnmenfs of the various colonies, and we trust that m. doing so no mawkish spirit of sentimentality n ill b.e allowed to influence the minds of legislators from; cutting out a cancer which is slowly but eating into, the vitals of the body" politic, and sapping the foundation of ou,r future prosperity,.