TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 195, 19 August 1870, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

(from our own correspondent). Dunedin, 19th August, 1.20 p.m. Claud Hamilton arrived at tbe Bluff" this morning, having left Melbourne on 14 th. The Victorian Government on the arrival of (he Rangitoto issued an announcement that in consequence of the New Zealand Government having refused to accept their terms, they should decline to forward correspondence via San Francisco. This caused much dissatisfaction, and it was thought that the correspondence would be smuggled via Sydney. New Town Hall has been opened by a grand concert, at which an immense number were present. Horsley's Cantata was greatly eulogised. A Fancy Ball which has been held was a gorgeous affair, 4.000 being present. There are 56 entries for the Melbourne Cup. Manuka is the favorite. Flour and wheat continue firm, the former being quoted at £12 os to £12 los, and the latter at 7s. Sugar is not so firm consequent upon the receipt of advices from Mauritius stating that a large quantity is being exported thence. The Sydney Protect iouists have held large meetings and resolved to petition the Parliament. The Government has had a narrow escape, Martin's amendment being lust by only two votes. The Speech promises ad valorem duties, and loans for public works. Clyde Rop.rery. — It transpires that a man at Queenstown suspecting Reunie got him to drink with him aud extracted from him information which led to his arrest.

For remainder of News see Fourth page.

It appears from the agricultural statistics of New Zealand that, in the whole of the provinces comprehended in the three islands, the aggregate yield of the last wheat harvest was 2,349,914 bushels ; and as the estimated population may be taken in round numbers at 250,000, there were nearly 10 bushels of wheat grown to each man, woman, aud child in tbe colony. As the average cousumption of each person is between seven and eight bushels annually, — probably less, where meat and potatoes are so plentiful and cheap, it follows that the New Zealandera have this year a sur- | plus of breadstuff's available for exportation. Under these circumstances what I does the Government propose to do? j Some of our readers will imagine we nre endeavoring to impose upon their credulity when we state that Mr. Vogel deliberately contemplates imposing an import duty on foreign cereals for the protection of the New Zealand farmer. Agaiost what formidable competitor is he to be protected ? The Californian wheat-grower. We are asked to believe that the agriculturists of Marlborough, Otago, and Canterbury are undersold in Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson by importers of wheat aud flour from the Pacific slope of North America. Surely.a more humilating confession was never made by any body of British colonists. San Francisco is 5,000 miles distant from New Zealand, and the freight alone upon wheat or flour transported for such a distance, to say nothing of the cost of conveyance from the interior of California to the port of shipment, would operate like a protective duty to the corngrowers in the Cauterbury settlement. If we examine the elements of cost, we shall find that farm labor is actually dearer iu California than in New Zealand. According to the Weekly Alta California of the 12th of May last, the average wages of 1,762 farm laborers who had been furnished with employment through the medium of the Labor Exchange were as follows ; — £6 per month in winter, and from £8 to £10 per mouth in summer, besides board and lodging. If we take the average yield per acre, we find that it is 30 bushels in California, and 27 and a fraction in New Zealand, so that there is no great difference on that score. Once in seven years, on an average, the Californian farmer has to contend against a drought. Owing to a high tariff and a war taxation, the cost of everything the agriculturists on the Pacific slope use or consume is much higher than the price of corresponding articles would be in New Zealand. In fact, as regards the competition between the corn-growers of Oiago and Cauterbury and in the valley of Sacramento or San Joachim, the latter are heavily handicapped, and yet we are told that these must be protected against those, while, by a process of reasoning which is charmingly characteristic of muddle headed protectionists all the world over, we are assured that protective duties will not increase the price of the home-grown wheat ir New Zealand. On the contrary, they will lower the price in future years. Rare logic ! Wheat-growing at present prices does not pay the Canterbury farmer but when it is still cheaper be will be able to cultivate it at a profit. Who, after this, will venture to insiuuate that there was anything satirical or extravagant in Dean Swift's description of the philosophers of L:iputa ?