The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1883. NOTES.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1100, 17 October 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1883. NOTES.

To-day’s cablegrams inform us of a terrible massacre perpetrated upon a tribe friendly to Cetewayo by Usibepn, the Zulu King’s rival. Affairs at the Cape seem to be in a very unsatisfactory state, and likely, from appearances, to grow worse.

There is a melancholy telegram from Dunedin. Three seamen washed off the jibboom of the Jessie Headman, and lost, the sea being too rough to allow any attempt to save them from a watery grave. Considering the number of men who have lost their lives under precisely similar circumstances, it seems strange that some effort is not made to improve the method of “ taking in ” the head sails of vessels whereby the risk of life in heavy seas would bo avoided, or at any rate lessened.

Six thousand pounds have been granted by the French Government to the Rev Mr Shaw as a solatium for indignities suffered in Madagascar at the hands of the French. An apology has also been tendered to the British Foreign Minister, Lord Granville. No doubt the latter will he accepted as satisfactory by ilie British Government. We imagine

Mr Shaw will have no objection to his part of the transaction. Mr Shaw was accused of giving intelligence to the enemy and acting in a hostile way towards the French soldiers, for which he was arrested and confined on board a French vessel. The representatives of Mr Gladstone have, however, brought about a change in Mr Shaw’s affairs, and he now finds himself a richer, and probably at the same lime a wiser man.

A Manufacturers League has been formed in Dunedin. Wo confess that when the news first came, we thought the League was merely a combination among masters to obtain power over their employees. In this we are glad to say we were mistaken, although the name “ League,” is apt to deceive. The objects of the Manufacturers League arc worthy of all support. Briefly they are: (1) Encouraging the development of the natural rescources of New Zealand, and diffusing information thereon. (2) Fostering New Zealand manufactures and developing industries, so as to afford increased and steadier employment of labour. (3) Obtaining the removal of revenue duties from raw material, and also from goods which cannot bn profitably made in this colony, and placing moderate duties upon all articles which can be so made that arc now admitted free. (4) Discouraging the suicidal policy of purchasing out of the colony, whether by Government, or by municipal, or by both bodies, goods which can be advantageously produced in New Zealand. (5) Keeping before the Government the advantage of giving their work to firms provided with suitable plant instead of expending revenue in adding to the Government workshops and machinery, thereby needlessly increasing the present heavy burdens of the taxpayers, and hindering the due development of trade—a course which tends to the continuance of the commercial depression. Except number three, with which wc cannot altogether agree, the platform of the League is one sure to command sympathy throughout the Colony. We should like to sec branches of the League, or kindred organisations, established in every town in New Zealand. Well directed offo-ts of bodies such as this must result in good in the long run. Christchurch owes the starting of several industries to the investigations of the Industrial Association there.

Wanganui papers are lamenting the “abortive attempt” to start a refrigerating company there. A little extract from the leading columns of the Herald, wo specially commend to the farmers of the Patea district. It runs thus: “ They”—meaning Wabganni settlers “ thought Wellington could do all they wanted, ns they had been assured in a most general way, but with an exuberance of sentiment, that it was only necessary to snbsc.ibe a certain number of shares in the Wellington company to ensure a return in the shape of every local want being promptly met. The blandishments succeeded, and the great sheepists were won. They subscribed to a Wellington company, and when an attempt was made to float the local concern, they were coldly indifferent or directly hostile.” We could add a little to this if we liked. The “ blandishments” have been pretty strong about this part of the Coast, but they have’nt succeeded very well, so there is no need to hurt anybody’s feelings. Our farmers, we are glad to say, have not been “ coldly indifferent” to the local project. The result is that they are in a position to be “ coldly indifferent” about the Wellington companies. Patea has come out very well in this matter and prospects are brightening. Latest cable intelligence reports the success of the cargoes by the Catalonia and British King from Lyttelton. This is encouraging news.

The Opunake paper thinks that a great deal of the success of Waitara is due to the farsightedness of the local Harbour Board in abolishing all unnecessary charges. Patea made twenty-four hours stoiage and other “vexatious” charges, although no longer pursuing the same suicidal policj'. “As a consequence Waitara has taken a firm grip of the Hawera trade, which Patea will find it very hard to loosen.” There is a deal of truth in our contemporary’s remarks about the policj' of vexatious charges. But we think the main reason of Waitara securing so much of the Plains trade is because the railway connects the port with Hawera. Consignees can have their goods transferred from the steamer to the trucks and brought to their own doors, so to speak, without trouble. By way of Patea, goods have to be unloaded, first from the vessel to the trucks and again to the waggons. There was an uncertainty even about their reaching their destination to within a day' or two, and that uncertainty is just the very thing a business man does not like. He does not mind a little extra expense sometimes to ensure delivery. The certainty' of the railway therefore has had preference over the uncertainty of the road and in our opinion has been the chief means of drawing trade in the direction of Waitara. If wo are right, it may be anticipated that the completion of the railway between Manutnhi and Hawera will take away' a good deal of Waitara’s carrying trade. Patea will then stand on an equality, so far as convenience of land transit is concerned, with the additional recommendation that it is closer to the chief town, Hawera. It will be odd, indeed, if traders there are content to pay more railage than is absolutely necessary.