The PLOUGHING on Mr HUNTER’S LAND at OTAKEHO.

Patea Mail, 3 October 1881, Page 4

The PLOUGHING on Mr HUNTER’S LAND at OTAKEHO.

Press Association Telegrams. „ Hawera, Sept. 30. The ploughing difficulty near Otakebo has been satisfactorily settled. Mr Adam Hunter (the owner of the land) yesterday interviewed the Native Minister j- and asked what he should do. He was informed that if he desired the natives to. be removed or arrested that should be done; but if he preferred to make arrangements with them the Government would not interfere. It was entirely in bis (Hunter’s) hands. Hunter thought under the circumstances he could hardly be expected to bring his wife and family to live on deferred payment land. The Native Minister declined to mix up the question of residence with that of Maori trespass. If Hunter wanted the Maoris removed ho had only to say so, and it would be done. Of course it was possible that the Maoris might make further trouble. It was pointed out by Captain Wilson that the Maoris ' AVer© ■willing’ to give si slmro of the crop, and said that they had no other ground to cultivate,” After a delay Hunter agreed to accept one-third of the crop as rent of land. Captain Wilson and Hunter thou proceeded to Otakebo, and saw the Maoris, who had not ploughed since the previous day. Tairna Ivena, a returned prisoner, objected, but ultimately gave way, and consented, with the rest of the Maoris (about half a dozen) to pay this rent in kind. Hun ter still declines to take his wife and family on to the land, and consented to the arrangement,-■ partly to avoid the responsibility of being the first to bring possible trouble on the Plains, and partly so as not to incur personal odium from natives. , SOUTHERN OPINION ON WEST COAST AFFAIRS. After making every favorable allowance for possible mistranslation of To Whiti’S late speech, the Canterbury Times admits that the attitude of the Maoris and the evident fears of the Government as shown by the Native Minister’s speech to the House, point to something of serious import, and says— The probability is that the speech informs Government that if the settlement of the question by force is persisted in, the natives will tight. Under the circumstances, the Government should pause. Fanatic journals in the North are hounding on the dogs of war. But in the South ihe public opinion is that the whole of the West Coast lands are not worth a drop of pakeha or Maori blood. Southern'public opinion will not accept a war of aggression. If war is necessary in self-defence, nothing will be more loyal than the support of the South. Government must remember that they have never properly followed the advice of the West Coast Commission last year tq come to terms with Te Whiti, without whom the Commission declared any settlement to be almost impossible. Against the Government policy of forcing a settlement the native mind has at last risen. The duty of the Government is to show sufficient greatness of sonl to try and conciliate the native mind. In that case, and in that -oase only. can war be averted-.

While the native rumors from Taranaki are sensational, those from Waikato are satisfactory. In Taranaki we are asked to believe that war is imminent for the sake of a few hundred acres of land. In the country between the Mokau and the Waikato we are offered a million acres on easy terms. If money has to be spent, let it be spent in buying the million acres rather than'in- blowing off millions of cartridges. WORMS IN SHEEP. A writer in the Field says a very efficient method of treatment of worms in sheep would he to expose the affected animals to the fumes of either coal or Stockholm tar in a hovel or other partially enclosed place, when the car-

bolic acid and creosote contained in the fumes- would certainly’be fatal to the parasites. A convenient method of producing the fumes would be to put a red-hot laundress’s heater or other Jump of iron among the tar in an old pan or other vessel, when, by inserting or withdrawing it at pleasure, the strength of the fumigation may bo regulated as desired, the operator’s own feelings being an efficient guide. During the operation, care must be taken that the fumes are not too strong, otherwise the epiglottis or valve at the entrance of the windpipe would be instantly spasmodically closed, and the fumes prevented from entering the air passages, whereby the intention would be defeated.

WORK FOR FARMERS’ CLUB. In concluding an article on the present high railway freights for agricultural produce, the Canterbury Times says—The remedy lies chiefly in the hands of the farmers themselves. The required machinery is already in existence, or.rapidly assuming a definite form. Farmers’ Clubs and Agricultural Associations arc to be found in almost every district, and a great co-operative movement is going on throughout the country. The farmers are showing that they fully understand the importance of united effort, and this spirit of cooperation may be as readily applied in one direction as another. It may be utilised for keeping the Government well supplied with information bearing upon the progress and the requirements of agriculture. If it is found that the ignorance in high places is of that sort which refuses to be enlightened, another step may be taken, and the farmers by their united action have it in their power to exercise great political influence. Taxation in any shape, however necessary, is unpleasant, and direct taxation is regarded by the general rnn of British subjects as peculiarly obnoxious, but when it takes the form of.excessive and unfair railway charges, it is direct taxation in the most injurious form. There is much more to bo said in favour of a liberal railway tariff than for the reduction of the Property Tax.

THE COLONIES AND HOME. At a recent banquet given by the Lord Mayor of London, formerly a colonist and still retaining large colonial interests, the Duke of Manchester in responding to a toast referred to the wealth of the colonics, their exports and imports, fo Australia having produced thirty-six million bushels of wheat, to to its wool having beaten the English production out of the market in quantity and in value, and said ” not only have the colonists done so much, but as consumers they have benefited English manufacturers to an enormous extent. It is calculated that Australians and New Zealanders per head, man woman, and child, consume £8 lOs worth of British goods, while France only consumes at the rate of 7s 8d per head, and the United States only at the rate of 7s per head. These are facts showing that, if for no other reason, there are very forcible financial reasons why we should consolidate, encourage, and promote in every way the prosperity of the British colonies.”

The mechanic’s fair—His wife. . 111-gotten gains Doctor's fees.