The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1870.
Thebeis too much reason to doubt if the mercantile interest of Southland is duly impressed with a sense of its own elasticity. It has worked into that unpretentious channel, the force and effect of which is aptly expressed by the familiar phrase, "slow but sure." Our Dunedin correspondent, the sources of whose information are undeniable, «upplied U8 recently with an outside estimate of our commercial capacities, which representation could hardly be called -flattering. It told us plainly that we had^A«jcge field to cultivate, without the energy toao^BQ^^The meeting held on Saturday last to"~o*ganise a farmers' Association, on-J&e-~^-<»^efi3iive--- prio. _cjplb>— g»*o--g~~further insight into the matter. It proved that the trade we are doing, restricted as it is, does not meet the requirements of the case, and rather a novel remedy for New Zealand is pro-, posed. We are not going to discuss the merits of the proposal ; the fact that it has been mooted shows that the time has arrived when a readjustment of our commercial scale is imperative. Candidly spealring, we have failed to find any good reason why the Dunedin market rates should rule lower than those of Invercargill. It appears incredible that a place like Southland, with agricultural capabilities superior to those of any other part of the province, should import breadstuffs and be able to re-mark them at a lower figure than the Invercargill merchant charges. Take the recent shipment of bread to the Bluff. Could anything be more damaging to the place than the paragraph at present going the round of the provincial press, that breaj3 brought all the way from Dunedin could be re-sold twopence cheaper than it is in Invercargill? The thing seems paradoxical, and yet its authenticity remains unchallenged. The direct consequence of such a statement is palpable. The through traffic of the Bluff is one of its mainstays, but after such a notification, we should imagine both sbips and passengers will take good care to have their stores provided before touching at a port where everything must rate at famine prices. The fact is, ever since the crisis of 1864-5, the trade of Southland has been done at second-hand. Direct shipments from the produce market have become so rare that our shipping may be said to be confined exclusively to interprovincial or at most intercolonial liners. That is the secret of our inability to expand the trade to its legitimate proportions. "We import from the importer, hence Invereargil], instead of being a commercial emporium, is content to rate wriltthrliuHoi than a ruliull dop&fc — -(Fo~ say that we cannot command a market to warrant what is known in business circles as direct consignments, is simply ignoring the fact that the market with which we are dealing forwards its supplies past our doors to customers who would be only too glad of the opportunity of trading with us on terms of sale at first hand. The fact that the road traffic to -'the goldfields via Southland has lately increased between one and two hundred per cent., without effecting a corresponding improvement on the local market, proves beyond doubt that we are not making a proper use of our advantages. When we add the dissatisfaction expressed by the settlers themselves^ the matter becomes one demanding serious j consideration. At no period in the history of the place were efforts in this direction more warrantable than they are at the present moment. A repetition of the, mishaps that occurred during 1862-3 heed not be apprehended. The goldfields interest has established itself as a settled industry. They are progressing at a rate which, considering the basis on which it proceeds, is wonderful. The early prejudice with which Southland, as a commercial centre, was regarded by the goldfields has disappeared, and as if to make amends for past neglect encouragement is held out to us for securing the trade. The whole question embodies nothing more intricate than an elementary principle in the law of supply and demand. Hitherto the local trade has adapted itself to the seller, but with an improvement in the appliances at command, nothing is more reasonable than that it should be brought more closely to accord with the views of the buyer. The promoters of the Farmers' Association scheme were mild in their deliberations, ■Hll it -would be false delicacy to disguis* the fact that their- ulaims r/" sto< * upon a demand for lowering tire" price of general stores. On the other hand, nothing like an opinion of monopoly on the part of the local trader was breathed, bo that the mattermust be treated purely as one requiring proper adjustment. Were the local Chamber of Commerce duly impressed with a sense of its responsibility, it would i certainly take the matter in hand so as to bring about some arrangement to meet the requirements of the case. It seems perfectly evident that the supply is not suitable to the demand, and with all the requisites at hand for concentrating the trade of other places, there is no excuse whatever for continuing to hold, so to speak, a secondary place in commerce. With a moiety of the enterprise of Dunedin, Invercargill should place itself in a position to do pretty nigh an equal share of the trade. The following motion, tabled by Mr Shepherd, M.P.C. for the Goldfields, will be brought on for discussion on Monday first : — " That it is desirable that a preliminary survey for a line of railway from Winton Bush to Kingston be made as early as possible, and that it be an instruction to the Executive Government to cause the same to be made."
The total amount collected in Canterbury up to the 3rd inst. in aid of the sufferers by the late fire at Lyttelton, was £1269 Oa 6d. James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne, of London, has applied for letters patent for the Colony of New Zealand for " Improvement in an apparatus for shearing or clipping animals, the said apparatus being also applicable for shaving skins." A well-attended meeting of the committee for carrying out the annual Caledonian gathering took place at the Princess Hotel on Wednesday evening. It was decided to accept the terms offered by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the use of their grounds, and it was arranged that the prize list should be published in i a few days. • The Prince of Wales, writes the London cor- • respondent of the Age, is decidedly unpopular in London, and more than once in private circles ! a song, which has for, its burthen, in place of i The Grecian Bend or The Roman Fall, The j Prince's Stagger, caused immense delight. This is not the sort of ballad which is generally considered complimentary to the hero. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show was a great success. About were present. There was a large number of exhibits of agricultural produce and flax ropej native industries being well represented. The flax exhibited was of a very superior <Jea-? cription, showing a vast improvement in .the mode of manufacture during the past year. The seventh annual exhibition of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association took place at Oamaru on Friday last. The belief is stated that it was the best show of the kind ever witnessed in New Zealand. The principal prizetakers were — best entire horse, Mr M. Holmes, Duke of Buccleuch ; best thoroughbred horn, Mr M. Holmes, Skylark ; best short-horned bull, Mr M. Holmes, Royal Butterfly. The same competitor also carried off prizes for the best dray mare, the best imported short-horn cow, the best ram in the yard ; the best three and four-tooth rams ; the best three yearling rams t and the best long.woolled ram. Messrs Borton and M'Master took the prize for the best ewe in the yard. The Timaru champions were, completely beaten. The show of dairy produce was very good. ......... ■ -■■ In referring in our last issue to the escape of a prisoner from a detective at the Bluff, it seems that we were scarcely correct in the version given of the occurrence. We have since been informed that the true facts of the case are these. The constable in charge left the prisoner in the fore part of the steamer busily engaged washing up the utensils which had been used at dinner. On returning, after a few minutes' absence, his " man " had disappeared, and no one could give any information as to his whereabouts. A search was made of the vessel, the time occupied in this way enabling the prisoner to get a good start, and he was well up the hill before he was observed ; so that, according to this account, leave to take a "stroll" was neither asked nor obtained. The Dangerous Goods Act Amendment Actj 1870, is the short title of an Act which passed the, last session of Assembly. Clause 2 defines the Jiiord^eirsisujnlLteJMftn^^ rock oil, Rangoon oil, Burmah oil, any product of them, and any oil made from petroleum, coal, schist, shale, peat, or other bituminous substance, and any product of them as gives off an inflammable vapor at a temperature of less than llOdeg. of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Clause 3 runs thus : — " All the powers and duties conferred or imposed on Inspectors of Weights and Measures by the 16th section of The Dangerous Goods Act, 1869, may also be exercised or performed, as the case may be, by any officer of police, or within any district mentioned in the 7th section of the said Act. by any person authorised to exercise and perform such powers and duties by the local authority thereof, to which the power of granting licenses is given, shall be construed as if, after the .words ' any Inspector of Weights and Measures,' there were inserted the following words — ' or any police constable, or any person authorised by the local authority.' " The export of butter from Canterbury appears to be assuming respectable dimensions. For. some time past, says the Press, large quantities have been sent from Canterbury to Westland and the Australian colonies, and recently shipments have been made to England. These latter, although not opening in very prime order, owing probably to defective curing, still sold at such a price as to leave a pretty good margin for profit. Only a short time since a shipment of butter, valued at from £1500 to £2000, left Lyttelton for the mother country; and from what we have heard we believe that during this season shipments of butter are likely to be made on an extensive scale. Indeed, we know that every effort will be made to improve the method of curing, so as to turn out an article which will not only stand the homeward voyage, but open in first-class condition upon arrival. Orders to a considerable extent have been given for casks, and these are being made of kauri pine, which when well aeoooned makes -a "watertight and air-tight oaok. Care must, however, be taken iliac only staves of sound and perfectly seasoned wood are used, as any others, such as sappy or spongy pieces, are worse than useless. The total number of miners ?in the several divisions of the Tuapeka district is 1522, of whom 1062 are Europeans, and 460 Chinese. 1030 of the Europeans, and all the Chinese, , are engaged in alluvial mining, and the remaining 32 Europeans in quartz mining. The alluvial miners employ 26 water-wheels, 12 hydraulic hoses, 100 pumps, 2600 sluice-boxes, SO quicksilver and compound cradles, and one turbine wheel - and pumping apparatus. The quartz miners use 1 steam engine of 6 horse-power, 2 crushing machines (both in full work), with 18 stamp heads, 2 water-wheels, and 1 whim. She total value of all the mining plant in the district is estimated at £4600. There are also 205 water* races valued at £25,200, 154 reservoirs valued at £7000, and 420 tail-races, or ground sluices, valued at £16,800. About 5 square miles of auriferous ground are actually being worked upon, but from 12 to 14 square miles have been mined over. The present price of gold is £3 15s per ounce, and there lave been "escorted" by the Banks during the quarter 9164 ounces, as follows : — Lawrence, 52780zs ; Waipori, 1811 ozs j Waitahuna, 126Jk>zs ; and Tokomairiro, 811ozs. The average weekly rate of wages for miners in the .district fe £3. The amount of Goldfields Revenue collected in the district
during the quarter was £1340 3s 7d, and of Judicial Eevenue, £270 3s 6d, mating, together, £1610 7s Id. The total number of ca3es disposed of in the Resident Magistrate's Court during the same period was 110, of which 72 were civil, and 38 criminal cases. 37 cases were disposed of in the Warden's Court; also 135 applications, of which 10 were disputed, tinder the Mining Rules j and 8 applications, 4 of which were disputed under the Agricultural Lease Regulations. We were shown yesterday a tempting sample of strawberries crown in the open air in the garden of Mr Dalgliesh, Gladstone — the first we have seen this season. Although so early in the I year the berries were full-sized, ripe, and well flavored, and we were assured that " baskets-full 'as good could be gathered where those grew." 1 A meeting of the Western District Farmers' I Club was held at Gummie's Bush on the 11th ultimo. Mr James Mackintosh presided. The subject of forming the district into a Road Board, under the provisions of the Otago Ordinance, was discussed at considerable length, and resulted in the following being passed as a resolution- — "That the General Board for the province be communicated with to ascertain if the district can be brought under the operations of the Act before the statutory period in June, and that in the event of the answer being favorable, a public meeting be called of those liable to be rated. The remainder of the business consisted of the rules drawn up by the committee being adopted. A northern paper states that Mr Yogel has caused enquiries to be made respecting the Winchester repeating rifle and carbine. It appears that 18 shots can be fired from the Winchester whilst one can be loaded and fired from the Spencer, and 100 rounds of the Winchester cartridges weigh 30 of Enfield cartridge. The 18 shots can be fired without moving from the shoulder, and the Winchester carries ft magazine of 18 cartridges, which need not be used if other single cartridges are preferred, co that the magazine may be kept as a reserve. The Winchester is guaranteed effective at 1000 yards. It is 3ft. 10in. long, i.e., sis inches shorter than the medium rifle in use at present, and therefore admirably adapted for New Zealand bush warfare. There is also a sabre attached to the Winchester, which is useful either as a bayonet or a bill-book for clearing away scrub on a bush track. The most interesting news in the papers we have, received from the . Cape of Good Hope relates to the diamond diggings. The Friend says that the news from the diamond-fieldß iB more encouraging. Looking down the reports given in that paper we find that they mention 46 diamonds as having been found lately. Amongst these are one of 30 carats, one of 26$ carats, two of 26 carats each, one of 18 carats, one of 16 carats, one of 11 carats, one of 10J carat?, three of 5 carats, one of 3 carats, and the remainder of weights not stated. The diamond mentioned above as weighing 26J carats was found by •Mr Rickets, an Australian. He is said'to have refused £2,200 for it. The 30-carat diamond is of inferior quality. The Friend says in a postscript that there were on the day of issue £5,000 worth of diamonds in Bloem.fontein. The Pniel mission station appears to be "gradually falling into the hands of the diggers. Referring to the proposal to place, restrictions upon Chinese immigration to New Zealand, the Dunedin Evening Star says : — We do not believe ~that the foolish crusade commenced by Mr T. L. Shepherd against the Chinese will find very general response in the mm Is of the people of Otago. It might have found more favor a few years back ; but notwithstanding occasional relapses into fits of barbarism, we are of opinion that the educated world is steadily progressing in recognising social and moral truth. When therefore a man, for his own selfish purpose, endeavors to rouse antagonism of races, his conduct must be condemned by every sound-thinking person. On every ground Mr Shepherd's folly ought, to be condemned. A very large proportion of our gold return is now the result of Chinese labor. What they get impoverishes no man — what they spend tends to enrich all. If they were not here, instead of some of our- digging townships being prosperous, they would bo nearly deserted. The European population either do not understand gold-mining, cr they will not follow it as an occupation. We consider in this respect our industrial organisation incomplete ; but it'is far better that we should have our goldfields worked by Chinese, than that they should be wholly unprofitable to us by ram lining unworked. The second annual soiree of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Sosiety — held as an appropriate " wind-up" to their proceedings for the season — came off very successfully at the usual place of meeting on Monday evening last. In the absence of the president — the Rev. Mr Sfcobo — the vice-president, Mr W. J?. Porter, occupied the chair with his usual efficiency. The hall, a neat and comfortable building enough, had one sad defect — it was far too small. To accommodate the number present, a room twice the size would not have been too large, but the people seemed -to bear the inconveniences incident to the "crush" with wonderful equanimity, and either took their seats at a hastily-improvised table in the passage of the church, or enjoyed the ". cool of the evening" outside altogether while the first part- of the programme was being got through. Tea and its invariable accompaniments having been duly indulged in, a number of the tables were removed, and, by dint of rigidly economising space, sitting room was ultimately found for everybody. Mr Erskine, precentor of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the musical part of the entertainment, A few simple concerted selections were very well executed, and gave general satisfaction, but the songs by Messrs Erskine and M'Kellar appeared to be more highly appreciated still. Mr T. Twinning —whose assistance is always readily given on such occasions — presided at the piano. The " heavy business" of the evening — the speechifying— was wisely limited in quantity, albeit, in one or two instances, it had scope enough in quality. The chairman's remarks were brief and wellchosen ; Mr Dunlop's reading of Wolsey's grand soliloquy was admirable; Mr Waugh's reading— the touching scene between Jeanie Deans and the Queen — from Scottfs "Heart of Midlothian," showed considerable feeling, although the tone was too low to be well heard, and Mr Burns recited most effectively "The Cottar's Saturday Night." A very young orator made a dashing attempt at an address on Perseverance, and, if he follows his own advice, will no doubt do still better next time. The sensation of the evening, however,, was supplied by Mr H. M'Lean^in an
address on "Woman's Rights," which, if somewhat rambling, was certainly original, and but* little hampered by those feelings of delicacy which incommode most men when discussing so tender a subject. The ladie3 present, however, did not seem overcome with gratitude to their gushing champion, but rather sighed their relief when the chairman's bell brought the irreverent harangue to a sudden stop. At s seasonable hour proceedings were brought to a close, and the company dispersed well pleased.
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Southland Times, Issue 1336, 18 November 1870, Page 2
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3,288The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1870. Southland Times, Issue 1336, 18 November 1870, Page 2
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