MANAWATU.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 1

MANAWATU.

[Fbom oxjb Own Cobbespondent.] immigration.

I am glad to be able to record the arrival of the s.s. Go-Ahead on Saturday, the Bth Ap*s, having on board the immigrants to be located up at Palmerston. She reached the wharf at Foxton between 12 and I o'clock, and proceeded immediately to disembark her passengers and cargo. The immigrants looked stout and healthy, and numbered with the women somewhere about eighty. There is a large majority of men in this party, to what there was in the last. The arrival of the steamer caused a gathering of the townspeople about the wharf, and many went on board to visit her accommodation. In the evening a meeting was held r by the captain to see \vhat encouragement the storekeepers and settlers were likely to g:ve towards the. enterprise by •taking up shares in the company. As the vessel had to. leave by that night's tide, no settlement was arrived at; but no doubt all interested in the keeping of a steamer trading regularly to this port, will arrange among themselves what they will do before she arrives again. I understand that it is nearly in the hands of the settlers themselves to determine whether they will have a steamer or not, as it is not the intention of the company to run her here, unless a certain amount is guaranteed in shares—as they fear that directly they trade into this port others will follow their example, and they have no desire to act as pioneer with all the risk, and nothing to place against if* Perhaps the Go-ahead is hardly the class of vessel that we should like to have—as she is only 101 tons burthen, and her I passenger accommodation is v ( of the limited kind, and. she is hardly the kind of vessel for cattle shipping. Against which must be placed the advantage of having a steamer taking up this trade, and arranging to call in regularly twice in the three weeks—that her draught when fully loaded • is only six feet, and that she s is fitted with twin screws, which permits her to turn in nearly her own length. It must further be borne in mind that we cannot expect a first class vessel to be laid on at once to take up a'trade which, for a steamer, requires greatly developing. Taking all this into consideration, it is much to be hoped that an effort will be made to secure the services of this steamer, as if the settlers miss this chance we may have to wait some considerable time before another is offered. PILOTAGE DUES. A very interesting case was brought before the Bench of Magistrate's on Saturday by Mr. Langley, the pilot at the mouth of the river, against Mr Saunders, the master and owner of the ketch Huon Belle, for pilotage dues, he having refused to pay the same. Mr Langley made his case out very clearly under the whole acts, and the Order in Council of 1869, but Mr Saunders, in his defence, claimed exemption under clause 12 of the Marine Act Amendment Act, i. 870, which states that all vessels of not more than eighty tons registered tonnage shall be exempted from compulsory pilotage. Mr Langley then urged that he had not fulfilled clause 11 of the same act, in which it is ordered that air vessels claiming exemption shall keep a white flag of not less than six feet long and four feet broad hoisted at the mainmast head of such vessel within three leagues of the pilot station: Mr Saunders however proved that he hoisted the nearest approach to what the act required that he should, as he had hoisted a large white table clothe The case was therefore given in favor of the defendant. Mr Langley is very much disturbed at the finding, as it will do away with half his income, and he feels that he has been hardly treated right by the Government, as he received no intimation of this Act

of 1870, but was told (in answer to a letter he sent requiring instructions concerning this case) that he was to levy the dues both inwards and outwards. Fortunately Mr Halcombe, being up at Foxton waiting the arrival of the immi* grants, was upon the Bench, so that he will be aware of the awkward position our pilot has been placed in. It is said Mr Langley tendered his resignation to Mr Halcombe directly after the sitting of the Court. FLAX. The Manawatu Flax Mill has again come to grief, and all workis suspended. It appears, from either mismanagement or faulty machinery, it could not be carried on at a profit by the present lessees, and in a few days time it will be finally closed by them. Unfortunately, some large sums are owing to the contractors for flax and firewodd, which is causing a deal of inconvenience to a good many persons, and it seems uncertain when they can be settled with. There is a rumor that Messrs Johnston & Co intend working the mill on their own account. We hope it may be true, and, if it is so, it will be the first enterprise undertaken by any merchant in town in this district. Mr M'Kenzie talks of starting his mill at Moutoa soon again. The price flax is fetching in England now should encourage owners or lessees of mills to commence again, and I believe that they would if it was not for that ugly bugbear hanging over all transactions in flax, and against which the proprietors cannot guard against, viz., the sea. damage, and of which such a large number of bales have apparently suffered front by the last shipments. This is what, pulls down all profits, and it has in one instance that I know of reduced the average of price on large shipments of flax (the sound bales of Which fetched £3O a ton) to something under £25 a ton. In writing about flax I would venture to suggest that enquiries should be made as to the cost of erecting machinery to reduce the tow at the mills into the stage for paper, known as pulp, thereby reducing the cost of carriage, and perhaps enabling the mill owners to export it in that state, which, in the shape of tow, they cannot do at any profit. With hydraulic presses it is impossible to reduce a weight of more than 2501bs of tow into the same size bale as 4001bs of flax would make, and it takes about twice the time and pumpiug to do even this. .