Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 24, 5 February 1873, Page 2

'Parliamentary.—We have to acknowledge the receipt of VuL 1. Appendix to Journals of the House of Representatives. General Government Contracts.—Mr. Simpson, the District Engineer, will be happy to give information to intending contractors for work on the Opotoki and Ormond road. Vide advertisement. Doo Tax.—We believe authority has been received by the ‘ Officer Commanding from Colonel Moule, to allow Sergeant Shirley io carey out the provisions of this Act, under instructions from the Road Board. Cutter Margaret.—The result of an enquiry under the “ Enquiry into Wrecks Act 1869,” made by G. F. Harris Esq., Collector of Customs, was forwarded to the Government by the Rangatira last week.

Election of Superintendent. — Messrs. Williamson, Sheelian, Lusk, Boylan, Mackay, and Phillips, are mentioned as possible candidates for the Superintendency. Additional war steamers ordered to Honolulu, in order to render United States squadron in the Pacific equal to British. President Grant has explained that American vessels sent to Honolulu were intended to protect American interests in that quarter, and prevent others obtaining undue advantages. Stop my Paper!—The following is an apt illustration of a very foolish and impotent revenge which has been applied to ourselves during the last week. “By his course in regard to some public matter, Mr. Swain, when he was proprietor of the Philadelphia .Ledger, offended a number of his subscribers, one of whom ho met, who thus accosted him:—‘Mr., Swain, I have stopped the Ledger.' ‘ What is. that, sir?’ ‘ I have stopped the Ledger' was the stern reply. " Great heavens!’ said Mr. Swain, ‘My dear sir, that won’t do. Come with me to the office. This must be looked into.’ And taking the man with him he entered the office at Third and Chesnut-streets. There they found the clerks busy at their desks; then they ascended to the editorial rooms and -composing rooms, where all was as usual; finally they descended to the prfess rooms, where the engineers Were at work. ‘ I thought you told me you had stopped the Ledger' said Mr. Swain. ‘So I have,’ said the offended subscriber. ‘ I don’t see the stoppage; the Ledger seems to be going on.’ ‘ Oh! I mean to say — that is, that I—ah—had stopped taking it.’ ‘ls that all ?’ exclaimed Mr. Swain. ‘ Why; my dear sir, you don’t know how you alarmed me. As for your individual subscription I care very little. Good day, sir.” We are not told what cause the offended subscriber to the Ledger, had to withdraw his Support from that paper, but it coidd not have partaken of greater pusillanimity and childishness than the reason given to us, which was, that our subscriber could not think of supporting a paper which alluded to a horse named Marquis, running in the Ladies Purse, at the late races, as the “ Aristocratic bay!” As the reason given is so very very, puerile, and (h) ostensible, we too “ care little for the individual subscription.”

"Old Colonial” writes thus:—l have just learned that farmers are no more free from the sin of procrastination than are people in town. The Universal Exhibition to take place during this year at Vienna has long ago been announced in each newspaper in the colony —I might say in the world—has informed its readers -of this coming event, and given what encouragement it could for its readers to become exhibitors, so that the products of that particular district might be fittingly represented. It has been so with the Weekly Netos. Again and again have its columns conveyed such intelligence to its readers during the past year. The solicitations were unheeded at the time; months rolled on, and now when we are within a few days of the last opportunity of sending articles forward to Vienna a great fuss is made in almost every quarter to get exhibits prepared and forwarded in time. My especial readers are in the same predicament. They have allowed time to pass needlessly by, and now when they want their exhibit fittings got up, it is impossible to get it done. In connection with this I have heard, an incident or two which should be a warning to the members of the New Zealand Agrioultural Society, A number of the member? of that Society desired to exhibit at Vienna samples of their finest fleeces. They desired , to have the samples got up in the best style, but the gentlemen connected with that SnriMy were not equal to the task. They appealed fo woolbrokers in town, who readily .promised. assistance, but put the matter off from dav to day, from week to week, until despair had almost seized the intending exhibitors. Special

visits were made to town, and every persuasion used to induee the broken to “ get up ” their wool. Even the most tempting money offers were made, but all in vain; and when the broker could no longer make excuses the would-be exhibitor’s offers were absolutely refused. An explanation of course was demanded, and the brokers replied they were not such fools as to get up wool for exhibition on farmers’ account, for if they did so, European manufacturers would send forward agents to our local markets to purchase wool direct from the producer, and thus the broker’s trade would be done for. This is only what might hare been expected, and it speaks little for the efficiency of the organisation of the New Zealand Agricultural Society when its members had to depend upon such chances as they resorted to for having their wool fittingly got up for international exhibition. The Society ought to have a person connected with it thoroughly competent as a wool-sorter, and who should be at all times ready to assist the members of the Society in circumstances similar to those I have referred. * * Mr. Mechi crows a bit, and well he may, about the position and prospects of agriculture in England now compared to what it- was 30 or 40 years ago:—“ Awaking from her sleep, what a stir at last in agriculture! Beet-sugar companies, steam' cultivating companies, land improvement . companies, land drainage companies, irrigation companies, agricultural tramway companies, and nobody knows what beside; not forgetting class schools, agricultural colleges, tenantright and laborers’ associations. AU new in my time, and some predicted by me in my early letters some 30 years ago, Antiquarian unbelief is gradually disappearing, and is being succeeded by intelligent considerations as to whether the new moves pay ? Of course they do, thanks to steam power. High farming has come in, and rents increased, and Mr. Mechi’s ‘ false idea ’ about poor grass land has proved to be a correct one. Poor grass land and no cultivation will not pay ‘improved’ rents, and rates, and taxes, although cultivation, corn, roots, and artifical grasses wiU do so. The right thing is to breed, feed, and fatten, and thus grow plenty of meat and corn concurrently. .That is my practice with sheep. SeUing lean stock means impoverishing the farm, unless much artificial food and manure are used.”— Weekly Netos.

“ The Blind eyes, and the Bar’d mouth; and the Educational robbery considered,’’ is the florid designation of a pamphlet we have received from the author "Looker-on” with a request that we would make any remarks on it, that “we think needful.” We commend the subject-matter of these letters to the careful consideration of all those for whom they are intended, “ those who have their eyes open—have tongues to speak;—and, in their own rights are determined to use them.” They speak for themselves (the letters we mean) more eloquently than we can do, upon the allimportant questions of Education and Taxation, and if “Looker-on” has succeeded in waking the people up to a sense of their duty, he will, possibly, have gained his object which he says is that of truth and not for GAIN. But if anything be “ needful ” from us we should say that the letters descend from the statement of a carefully prepared diagnosis, to a mere personal recrimination, in which, were we in the Star’s place, we should consider we had the best of the Argument. The writer has pursued his subject with a warmth that admits of no opposition, and he becomes so rabid at length that he turns the laugh upon himself by paying for “ each of his letters, and gets posters printed drawing attention to them.” Hence we are not at all surprised to find that the Editor of the Star refused the writer’s seventh letter, “remarking that he thought him injudicious in extending the subject beyond what the public took an interest in.” We think so too. No writer should be annoyed if he cannot always make others adopt his views. But let “ Lookeron ” take heart, and save his cash. The persistent dropping will achieve more than the violent contact; and although we have not space to “ fight the battle o’er again,” we shall gladly aid in the good cause as the writer suggests.

Christchurch Choib Pic-nic.—The Rev. E. B. Neville, the Incumbent of Christchurch entertained the members of the choir at a pic-nic on Tuesday last at Rusthall Manor which had -been kindly placed at his disposal -by Messrs. A. and G. Sheriff. Some five and twenty ladies and gentlemen availed themselves of the opportunity so kindly afforded them, and were taken safely to and fro by Mr. C. Gordon in a large coach. Arrived at Rusthall the company proceeded to a shady nook in the bush which had been specially prepared by the Messrs. Sheriff. After an alfresco lunch, the company adjourned to the house where music, singing, and other rational amusements made the time pass most pleasantly. Every one enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and a cordial vote of thanks was accorded, to the rev. gentleman for his kindness in providing so enjoyable an outing, and to the Messrs. Sheriff for their kindness in placing their beautiful house and grounds at the disposal of the pic-nic party.— Wanganui Chronicle. A correspondent of the Herald says: “About farmers being so well off. As far as I have 'been (I speak of the north of Auckland, and can speak I think, with certainty), it is a life of awfal struggling. It is common to hear of settlers telling of living on nikau and sow-thistle.' It is quite common to see deserted farms. People in Auckland need not go further than Riverhead; and all the farmers that I speak to are trying to get to California, «r any other place where, 3 they work, they have a dunce to get recoupment for their labor. What can poor fello—of their forty acres of pipe-clay ?* the Pope has refused to intertan <m ’behalf of the Galway priests. He dedares he will not leave the Vatican so long as he is able to govern the Boman Catholic world therefrom.