The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 18 September 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 1880.

Whkn the Hon. Mr. Olliver first acceded to otlice, he displayed great solicitude for the welfare of tiie farmers of this district. The first indication of the possession by liim of such a disposition was the construction upon Corriedaie —which is, by the way, his own estate—of cattle-yards and other conveniences for facilitating the conveyance of live stock. Hearing that the iion. gentleman was contemplating the construction of the aforesaid yards and appurtenances, the settlers around Ngapara who had long felt the want of similar conveniences, took fresh courage. They saw the nicely-painted yards on the Corriedaie Estate, and with feelings of satisfaction, looked forward to the immediate fulfilment of a promise which Mr. Oliver had made to them that the conveniences which he had recognised as being necessary in his own case should forthwith be granted to them. But "hope deterred maketh the heart grow sick." There is as yet not the slightest indication that the lion, gentleman intends to carry liis pledge into effect. The fact is that he is acquiring the unenviable notoriety of being a good proniiser but a bad performer. In reply to a question put to him in the House towards the close of the late session, ht: said that cattle yards should be erected at Ngapara, and at Peebles if necessary. If our memory is not at fault, he long ago ; recognised the necessity for yards at the ! last-mentioned, as well as the firstj mentioned, place. Their absence is, iu a ! great measure, arresting the progress of both those districts. The season is just commencing when the farmers of those districts would send live stock by rail if they had those facilities for doing so. This is no argument conjured up to fortify the claims of those districts. Only the other day Messrs. Jessep and Elder sent a load of pigs by dray to Oamaru because they preferred to do that to encountering the difiicuities of getting thorn trucked. The same settlers subsequently forwarded two truck loads of the j same animals to Oamaru, but they only | did so by means of the passenger plat- | form. Not only do farmers suffer in- ! convenience by "being compelled to use j the passenger platform rorancii a purpose, | but passengers will naturally object to be j associated with pigs, sheep, or cattle, ! Really the case is becoming one of in- ! creating urgency. Farmers are yearly adding to the amount of live-stock produced by them ; but how are they to get them to market j They can, of course, resort to primitive expedients, but they will not in all cases pay, even if they were not troublesome. We, on behalf of the farmers, make another appeal to the Hon. Mr. Oliver, and ask him to favor us with something more i tangible than promises. Ministers' promises, solemn though though they may be. are more worthless than beggars' scrip. e have had enough of them. The Hon. Mr. Oliver, whose Ministerial career was ushered in by numerous comments upon his straightforwardness of character, lias proved himself tiie most unreliable of all Ministers with which this Colony has been cursed. We attribute this to a defective memory. To-day he makes solemn pledges, to-morrow he repudiates all knowledge of having done so. If his political career is remarkable for anything, it is for this—ft>r the unblushing and innocent manner in which he appears to trample upon that principle which other men uf honor deem sacred. It is not even now too late for him to fulfil at least one of his numerous solemn pledges. His ofiicial career will probably not terminate until after next session. At Ngapara, everything is ripe for the promised boon. The bus}* season is approaching, and the land for the yards has been secured from Mr. Menlove. We might, also, whilst on this subject, add that the Government should carry out its intention of leasing the sections in the vicinity of the yardn to those who might desire to erect buildings upon them for the storage of their produce. These matters should have been taken in hand in a spirited manner by the farmers themselves. They ar,e excellent settlers, and are individually attenii'/o to tiie duties of their calling, but there is an absence amongst them of combination to effect public objects. What has become of the Farmers' Club ?

It is with much pleasure we note that at ihe annual meeting of the Taieri Agricultural Society it has been decided to hold periodical meetings for discussions on agricultural and kindred topics, Our agricultural readers know that we have again and again advocated the adoption of a practice which, in almost everj r club, society, or association having for its object the promotion of agricultural and pastoral porsuite, is now followed. It is singular how apathetic the North Otago farmers are in relation to this important matter, and more especially in suph a season of depression as now exists. There are many most important subjects requiring ventilation and free discussion amongst those whose interests are primarily at stake, and no better plan to attain this can be suggested than monthly meetings of members of the ISorth Otago; Agricultural and Pastoral Association. There have been read lately at some of the meetings of the societies in Canterbury most valuable papers, full or suggestions and reflections that must prove of great educational influence in the direction of improved agricultural practice. The Chairman (Mr. Donald Reid) said the Society had been blamed for not operating on a wider basis than the mere holding of shows and ploughing matches, and proceeded to say, according to the Daily Time 3, that " ft had been njoofead that the Society should extend its usefuL nesa—that it should hold meetings, perhaps monthly, perhaps only quarterly, at which subjects affecting agriculturists might be discussed. For instance, sucli subjects might be discussed as modes of cropping, the sowing of grasses for permanent pasture, drainage, etc. Such meetings would render the Society more attractive and more useful. Thing 3 were run close in farming as in other matters, and farmers would benefit from an interchange of opinions and experience as to methods of growing crops or producing stock.—(Applause). There was a feasibility about co-operating to get a better market. A body of farmers like those in the Taieri would have a great power in the markets, and why eliould they continue to sell to local buyers whilst foreign markets were open to them—say fcfce Cape of Good Hope, for instance. Another thing the Society might take in hand would be to procure fanning periodicals, and until they got a habitation of their own they could doubtless secure a room—say from the County! Council—in which these periodicals could be seenj if it were only one evening a week. After some litrle discussion, Mr. John Allan moved—"That it is that this Society should extend its usefulness by holding periodical meetings for ihe

discussion of subjects connected with agriculture and fanning generally." We would strongly advise our local Association not to lag behind iu the march of progress, but to be alive to the necessities of these times, when co-operation and combination are so greatly wanted to make agriculture a successful-business.

In* yesterday's issue an advertisement appeared announcing the sale by auction of a portion of the celebrated Waimate Plains. The lots to be sold are SS sections ranging from 50 to 100 acres each on immediate payment at L 4 per acre, and 39 sections ranging from 50 to SO acres each on deferred payments at L 5 per acre. The land is better adapted for pastoral than agricultural purposes, and is reputed to be the best portion, as regards quality, of the area known as the Waimate Plains. Not a few eyes have been turned towards these lands since the time when the Grey Government took the initiatory steps which has resulted in their being opened up for sale. But the upset prices fixed are disappointingly high. These lands are in a remote district, which are devoid of 'those means of communication with a market or shipping port which are necessary to the remunerative occupation of agricultural or pastoral laud.

We have received about four columns of telegrams giving in full the cablegrams received by the Melbourne papers, sent by way of Invercargill. As nearly the whole of the " news " has been anticipated by direct cable, while the balance, except the small portion published elsewhere, was telegraphed from Auckland anil published by us on Tuesday last, we refrain from imposing upon our readers by again inserting the news. Amongst the items sent us for the third time is the information that the whole of Ayonb Khan's artillery has been captured by General Roberts, and it is singular that our comical contemporary failed to fire oft" another of its witty pop-guns. Possibly it has discovered that the whole of these telegrams refer to the same battle that was fought between the armies of General Roberts and Ayoub Khan on the 2nd instant at Umsajah, The alteration in the running of trains to Ngapara (s-jys a correspondent) causes some amount of inconvenience, and perhaps loss, to the residents in the district, and they will therefore be pleased to find the Department able ere long to resume the running of daily trains, as formerly. The loss of the Friday trains is most severely felt, as farmers are precluded from attending the cattle sales near Oamaru, acd many from being vendors. There has been somG talk of endeavoring to bring about alteration, but nothing definite has yet been decided upon. Captain Edwin telegraphs to-day : —Bad weather approaching in any direction between north-east and north and 'west, with a further fall of the glass, but it is likely to rise again after twelve hours. The attendance at yesterday's ploughing match was evidence of the progress which the district surrounding Ngapara has made during the past few years. Everywhere throughout this district comfortable, and in many instances, handsome and commodious, houses meet the gaze of the astonished visitor. Nor are these evidences of substantial progre.-s ceasing to multiply. Farmhouses are still being built here and there throughout the district, and land that two years ago was occupied under the cropping system is now covered with sheep and cattle, having been leased for long periods from Messrs. Borton and M 'Master. New settlers, attracted by ths excellence of the prospects of the district, are fast being added to the population. Two capitalists, one of them the son of one of the largest farmers in Scotland, havelately travelled through the whole of this district, and have expressed the opinion that, iu an agricultural and pastoral respect, the Oamaru district is destined to take the lead of any other portion of the Colony. They were especially pleased with the Breakwater, which, after a close and prolonged inspection, they pronounced to be so far a perfect success. After travelling throughout the whole Colony, they came to the conclusion that the districts by which Oamaru is backed up are of such a substantial and superior nature that, with the Breakwater completed, the town of Oamaru and district must be favored with unexampled prosperity. As announced in another column, the Rev. J. Cameron will preach at Ngapara to-mor-row at 7.30 p.m. Mr. F. J. Jeffreys is announced to deliver a lecture in the Volunteer Hall to-morrow evening, the subject being "The Bible, and the results that will follow upon its neglect in our homes and schools." A correspondent at SJgq,para writes: — The farmers in this district are looking forward to a good harvest. The young wheat crops are looking remarkably well, though a little more rain would be welcome. The sov/ipg pf oats and barley remains to be done. Miss Eva Cunninghame, pupil teacher of the South School, has successfully passed the requirements of the elementary certificate in vocal music. We believe this is the first certificate granted to a teacher in the district. Mr. Brownlee was the examiuer. The next certificate in the tonic sol-fa curriculum will entitle Miss Cunninghame to teach vocal music in school. It is satisfactory to know that teachers of vocal music are being trained in our midst. It is most necessary that the voices of our children should be properly cultivated. As is the case in everything else in nature, it is easiy to acquire habits when young which cannot be cured in riper age, Mr. Wm. Gordon, lately of the Oamaru Telegraph Office, has received a medal and certificate of merit from the Sydney International Exhibition for his picture of the " Lord's Prayer "in Maori. This picture is a novelty, the border and ornamentation being copies of Maori carvings. Mr. Gordon was av/arded the bronze medal for pen and ink drawing at t;ie Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition of IS7B. The CB;ti/jcate granted by the late International (says the Taranaki Herald) is the work of our American Cousins, being done by the American Bank Not- 1 Company, New York, and is a beautiful specimen of the engraver's art. Perhaps a description may not be out of place. The picture is surrounded by a narrow conventional border; at the .centre of the top is a crown, from which rays of refulgen.ee emanate, under which are the words "Sydney International Exhibition, JS79,—Certificate of award," with the names of the President,

Commissioners, and Secretary, At the "sides are figures emblematical of the finer arts, agriculture, mining, manufacture, &c., entwined with the vine on one side, and the Waratah! and other native flowers on the o«;er. At the bottom is a fine group representing JJ"taiinia on the globe with the shield and invincible "British Lion." In her left hand she holds the standard, and puts forward New South Wales with the right, •who holds a laurel wreath, and above £-hose head is the constellation of the Souther# Cross. Six beautiful female figures represent the sister Colonies, while Europe, Asia, Africa, and Anierica are represented bringing their exjnj?it£. A± the foot is a neat and- faithful picture ,of the Exhibition Building, with scenes of Sydney in the distance.- . ' .'