The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 269, 10 November 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1877.

Tim coming Agricultural Show is at last beginning to bo talked about, and from the tone of those present at the committee meeting held on Saturday Inst, there is reason to believe that the Show will be a

credit to the district. The district being wide ami thinly peopled, having several tnwnshi} s of varying importance, and each anxious to have the honour of I e'ng the show place, leads to some little differences of opinion and in some cases to exhibitions of petty feeling. Hawera people may justly complain that the show being held at Wavcrley is altogether too much for them. They cannot even pay a visit and return home again same day, much less can they drive stock or take produce except at a very heavy expense. Should the Show be held at Hawera the same objection would then hold good for Waverley people. Then again, there is a feeling that it is conferring too much of a favour on Carlyle, for the Show alwa} sto be held at Kakaramea. Objections to a fixed show place, are many and various, as also to shifting Shows. As much as possible the inconveniences consequent on a wide and thinly peopled district, should be borne with good hnmouredly, and instead of fretfulness being shown, there should be a general desire to bond to circumstances, and share the advantages and disadvantages fairly and without murmur. There can be no question as to the good resulting from, regular Shows of stock, produce, and agricultural implements, in a district like Patea. The Rangitikei-Manawatu second annual Show held last week, in spite of wretched weather, though having made no great advance in the way ot entries, still showed marked improvement in the quality of stock and produce of all kinds. Such improvement is chiefly due to the stimulus given and to the information gained at the previous show, and to the natural desire of settler’s to compare favourably with other districts. The fame of Hawke’s Bay Shows, one of which was lately held, proved suffiicient to draw members of Parliament from legislative duties, and also to attract runholders and settlers from the South Island. Again in Waikato, the fate show hold at Cambridge, and which attracted large numbers of Auckland’s leading men, was something for the district to be proud of, and will in no small degree add to the good repute of its numerous settlers, Wanganui people have been straining every nerve to show well in cattle and products. The success attending the late art and industrial exhibition has stimulated them to gain distinction in other ways, and we have no doubt but the show, races, &c. now on, will prove eminently successful. If the settlers of the Patea County would resolve to pull together, each doing something, as suggested by * Agricola’ in last issue, either as a competitor, exhibitor, subscriber, or visitor, success would be certain. There are good specimens of all kinds of stock—horses, cattle, sheep—in the district, and many useful implements have been introduced, •which fnejothor with farm products would help to make a good show. The capabilities of the county are not yet fully known, and it is only by comparing stock and products that any proper idea of its capabilities as a stock-producing and agricultural district can be obtained. We trust that the letter of ‘ Agricola’ will have the good effect it should have on. all interested in the good repute of this County, and that there will be not only a good muster of live stock, but also a good show of products, and a large number of visitors.

In last issue we reprinted from a Taranaki contemporary’s report of Waste Lands Board meeting, application by 11. F. Christie, Esq., for 5,000 acres of land as a special settlement, on same terms as Mr Fookes and for same purpose. The Board decided that it would bo prepared to receive such application. Since then we Hear that further communication with the Board has taken place, and that 30s per acre has been asked for the land applied for. Mr Christie appears to have been willing to go another 5s per acre, but the Board, in a sort of bartering spirit, now desires to got 27s per acre if not 27s 6d. We have lately stated our opinions as to the imperative need for settlement in the Patea County, and our desire to see facilities provided and settlement of all kinds encouraged. The special settlement scheme of Mr Fookes received our support, as being a step in the right direction and a means of providing for a class of settlers who would be unable or unwilling to deal direct with the Lands Board. The Small Farm Settlement scheme received our hearty support, and will continue to do so. That scheme will meet the requirements of men, many of whom are somewhat suspicious of taring up land even on what may be deemed liberal terms from any private person, and who would scarcely ever trouble to apply to a Board or body, miles away, almost of leach, the members of which were unkown to them —working men, who would make the very best of settlers, if ready facilities for acquiring land by small regular instalments were afforded, and whose case would be best met by an Association presided over by local men in whom confidence was felt, and with some of whom as neighbours they would like to settle near. Small Farm Settlers are the class who should be most liberally dealt with. Indeed, there are cases, and we look upon settlement on land between Normanby and Inglewood as one in point, where it would be wiser to give the land away to bonajide settlers, with stringent stipulations as to improvements, rather than allow it to lie idle.

The application made by Mr Christie is of the class which we think, under, present circumstances, should be liberally dealt with. On the same principle that we favored Mr Fookes’ application, so we should favor Mr Christie’s or that of any other person similarly interested in the progress of these parts. The applicant has considerable local interests, and would profit, largely by any general scheme of settlement. It. is to his interest to promote settlement. !

The policy of Sir Julius Vogel has been to connect chief centres of population and

ports with the country by roads and railways and so stimulate private enterprise and develops industries. There are'many kinds of work which it would be profitable for the colony for the Government to undertake, but which would be better done by private enterprise, on account of the larger number of interests which would be thereby stimulated Government has seriously failed in the land settlement portion of the Immigration and Public Works scheme. There is in the colony an abundance of waste land, yet proper means have not been taken to get it well peopled. Lands Boards, in many cases, have been so constituted as actual!} 7 to have been adverse to working up to their powers in the matter of peopling the land. While cases of downright incapacity and indifference could be pointed out, there are instances where perverseness has had most to do in causing land to be withheld from settlement —a determination not to do what the bulk of the people desired and would have been best for the particular district and the colony. So far as the Patea County and the Taranaki Land Board is concerned, we consider the members of the Board, knowing but little of the district, and being as well much occupied and interested at their own end of the provincial district, have paid but little heed to the requirements of Patea. Land not being banded over by the General Government to be dealt with, shelters them somewhat from blame. At the same time, it makes the necessity for a local Land Board, or representative, more apparent. With a local representative, or Board, pressure would have been brought to bear to induce Government to forward negotiations so as to be in a position to hand over land to be dealt with ; and no doubt with good effect.

A Taranaki contemporary, noticing our opening article on this subject, finds some fault, though but little, with our remarks. If it could but take a z - everse view of the eases of Taranaki and Patea, and imagine what would be the feelings of Taranaki settlers if control of land was vested in a Board at Patea, completely cut off from each other as the two places are, for trading and other purposes, for want of road communication, we think our contemporary would find still less room to find fault. By taking the view suggested, the justice of the case of Patea should be made plain. Our contemporary gives credit to the Taranaki Board for having obtained the sanction of Government to the survey of land in the Patea County, before it had been formally gazetted as Waste Lands. We were not unaware of that matter, but instead of giving the credit to the Waste Lands Board, should have given it to the Civil Commissioner (Major Brown), as being the gentleman whom we believe prevailed upon the Premier to allow the survey of the land to be gone on with, without waiting for the formal handing over by the Government, and who, in a letter to the Board, stated that he had urged that the survey, sale, and occupation should proceed without any apparent hesitation or delay. Major Brown understands the necessities of the County, and his endeavours on behalf of settlement are known and appreciated.

Our contemporary points out that there is a District Land Office at Patea, over which Captain Wray presides. It is an office only in name. There are no means of obtaining information except through the Taranaki Board, and we believe the officer supposed to be in charge of the local office is without pay in z-espect of such office. We quite admit that Captain Wray is well acquainted with the land in Patea, and with the requirements of the district. - At the same time, if we have been coiTectly informed, he knows no more about land under the conti'ol of the Taranaki Board, the position of surveys, and land sold or open for sale, than any private person.

In onr opinion, the Taranaki Land Board has failed in its duty to Patea, and should readily avail itself of outside help, and instead of checking private enterprise in the direction of throwing open land for sale and settlement, should be prepared to deal liberally, and encourage such enterprise.

lief erring again to-Mr Christie’s application, we will give a sample of how much the Taranaki Board understands and has at heart the interests of Patea. Wc will make no mention of the trouble and expense the applicant has already been put to in reference to site, though it is considerable. A block of 6,000 acres is now under offer, having a frontage to the Mountain Hoad of about If miles, and a depth on one boundary of about 5 miles. The price paid by Mr Fookes, a Taranaki man, for land on the Taranaki side of the Patea River, was £1 per acre, with a lump sum for improvements. Mr Christie, a Patea man, for land on the Patea side of the same river, is asked £1 10s per acre, with a lump sum for improvements, same as Mr Fookes, amounting to 8s per acre, thus raising the price to £1 18s per acre, or as the offer now stands, and about which the Board seems inclined to higgle or haggle, £1 15s 6d. Sections of land on the Manganui Block, within three miles of Mr Christie’s application, on the Taranaki side of the Patea River, lately offered at auction, proved unsaleable at £1 per acre. Out of over 100 lots offered less than 20 were sold. The extreme depth of the Manganui Block from the Mountain Road is less than three miles, while one side of the block for which the Board wants 27s 6d per acre, with an additional 8s per acre for improvements, runs live miles back from the main road. Mr Fookes’ land is about 10 miles from Inglewood, and the railway will shortly be opened to within 5 miles of it, and is expected to be running through the block soon after it is ready for occupation. A market is thus within easy reach—saw mills and other industries may be established with profit, and the necessaries of life can be transported quickly and cheaply from New Plymouth. The site of Mr Christie’s application, at the present rate of progress, will not be tapped by the railway for a year or two, and prospects as to getting main road formed and metalled are remote. Hence immense difficulties to contend with. Price per acre to Taranaki man £1; to Patea man £1 10s, or* possibly, as a great favor by Board, £1 7s 6d. If the Small Farm Association’s application is as illiberally treated, it will be certain effectually to stamp out the present movement to promote bush settlement.

We fail to see that the Taranaki Board studies the interests of Patea County, judging by the difference in treatment of Taranaki men applying for Taranaki land, and Patea men applying for Paiea land. The idea seems to be to treat liberal ly on the one hand and bleed profousely on the Other. Such unfairness will work its own cure—meanwhile we suffer.

To the list of class stewards for the Patea Agricultural Show published in last issue we have been requested to add—for horses —Messrs Newlandand E. R. Morgan, to whom exhibitors will apply for information.

The Billiard champion (Mr Herbert Roberts) has had successful performances at Wanganui, and will be in Patea district next week, commencing at Mr Price’s Welcome Stranger Hotel, on Monday, and playing again on Tuesday, coming on to Carlyle for Wednesday-and Thursday. Yesterday (Fiday) being Prince of Wales’ Birthday, was observed as a holiday as Carlyle. The Post and Telegraph was closed as on Sundays. At the Canterbury Spring meeting held on Thursday, the Jockey Club Handicap, £SOO, was won by Mr H. Redwood’s Mata. Mata is a son of Dead Shot, the entire owned by Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson, Kakaramea.

A correspondent from Hawera writes— Mr G. McLean is spoken of as the coming man for the County Council, in place of Mr Middlemas. If he will consent to stand he will be sure to get in.

A. car respondent writes—That he and others had an intention of exhibiting produce at the Agricultural Show to bo held at Waverley. As however, the committee would not condescend to define the points of butter, as already asked by a correspondent, he is quite in the dark in the matter, and says “I, with other, neither intend to subscribe nor exhibit at this show. Referring to (I Agricola’s” letter, correspondent says “ Surely if ladies and children are expected to attend the Show, there should be a good exhibit of produce and poultry. The omission simply means a loss entrance money, exhibits, and visitors.”

The amendments of the Legislative Council in the Wanganui Harbor Endowment and Borrowing Bill were agreed to in the Lower House on Wednesday evening.

The Patea Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill passed through committee on Wednesday last. Applications for allotments in the Midhirst Special Settlement will be received up to Thursday, the 15th instant. Tenders for earthwork for Patea Road Board West will be received by the secretary (Mr W. Dale) up to Monday. Enterics for stock, &c., for the Patea Agricultural Show must be sent in today. Mr W. Cowern will bold large general sale to-day. Right to gate and booth at Agricultural Show will also be offered.

The Wanganui Jockey Club Spring Meeting, held on Thursday, passed of sucuusafuily. Tho following are the winners! ■—Produce Stakes —Stent’s Legacy, 1 ; D. Fraser’s Chandler, 2 ;Wheeler’s Expectation, 3. Handicap Hurdles—Campbell’s Bully-for-you, 1; Champion’s Te Whetu Mararna, 2; Chadwick and Belcher’s Gazelle, 3;Wanganui Stakes—T. Rowe’s Opawa, 1 ; Chadwick and Belcher’s May Moon, 2 ; J. E. Stent’s Maid of the Mountain, 3. Town Plate—T. Rowe’s Opawa, 1; R. Wheeler’s Expectation, 2; Pollock’s Folly, 3. Consolation Stakes —Chadwick and Belcher’s May Moon, 1; Handley’s Flora McDonald, 2; Champion’s Te Whetu Mararna, 3. Councillor Dale, who did not attend the County Council until after five o’clock on Tuesday, explained with reference to his name having been used as surety, that he had not been asked by Messrs Bowie and Dalziel to become securely for them in the event of their tenders being accepted for gravelling, and that he had on a previous occasion declined, on the ground that he did not consider that Councillors should become sureties for contractors..

The s.s. Clyde, which has been loaded up in Wanganui for over a fortnight, weather bound, arrived in Patea River yesterday morning. The manifest is unavoidably held over, as also several letters and other items of general interest. The following letter, received by Robert Horner, Esq., chairman at meeting held re Scab Petitions, from John Bryce, Esq., M.H.R., is printed for general information — tl Wellington, October 11, 1877.—Dear Sir, —I have been seriously ill almost ever since receiving the petition to which you allude in your note of the Bth instant, and have only within the last few days been able to hold a pen, which I trust you will accept as an excuse for not keeping you better advised. The petition in question was, however, duly presented by me, and referred to the Select Committee on petitions which has not yet reported its opinion to the House. When it does, I will forward a copy of the report to you.—l am, dear sir, yours faithfully, John Bryce.”