The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1912. MR BEAUCHAMP’S APPOINTMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 2 December 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1912. MR BEAUCHAMP’S APPOINTMENT.

The re-appointment of Mr Harolc Beauchamp as a director of the Bank of New Zealand is causing very much surprise, and the press of the Dominion generally, of whatever political colour, confess to having mot a puzzle. 01 course there is uo question as to Mr Beauchamp’s fitness for the position, because his ability as a financier has been frequently demonstrated, and ho was certainly a very abb Chairman of the Bank’s Directors in the past. 'Wellington’s “Evening Rost” considers the re-appointment is “an interesting development, of whirl the beginning has to be sought in events of last year, when Mr Beau champ was ostensibly a supporter ol the Liberal Government, hut with ; fervour on the wane.” The “Rost” goes on to recall that it was on fill, l.’chruary, 191.1, while in London, Mi Beauchamp wrote his resignation a> the Government’s nominee on the hoard, but according to the ex-chair-man’s statement when he arrived at Auckland, Cabinet bad Jdec’ded, at least a week before the letter of resignation had been received, (hat hit term should not bo renewed. Sii Joseph Ward purported to he acting on the terms of Mr Beauchamp's letter, and the then Brenner did not attempt to rebut .Mr Beauchamp’s main argument. In a comment on CabinetV action, Mr Uoauehamp said: “This war no doubt due to the attitude which J had always assumed as chairman o! t!u> hank. Jn other words, 1 would not, at any time, let my opinions lie isnbservient to political exigencies.” Remarking that it was obvious at the time that the relations which had existed between Mr Beauchamp and the heads of the Liberal Tarty, dating hack' to the days of Mr Seddon, had become strained, the “Rost” concludes its article;—“But before the public curiosity has been satisfied with details of that family jar, another perplexity has arrived. The ex-chair-man has happily recovered bus health sndiciently to ho willing to take office,

and In's preferment lias conn* from llio Government which ousted his former friends. Is lids evidence that the Ministry wishes to honour that spirit of independence which Mr Beaueliamp claimed for himself last year? Is it a sign that whenever the ‘Uefor mens’ have a place to lill they will select the most competent man in their opdiion, irrespective of party? We have already admitted Mr .Beauchamp's possession of ability, but luckily he holds no monopoly of that commodity.

The Government lias powerful supporters who can also point to proof of their financial prowess. How, then, has it come to pass that a supporter of the late Government, has found favour with the new Government? .It is a Cabinet mystery which will promote much speculation for some days.” The explanation given by the “Press” is that the appointment affords a way out of a difficulty which had presented itself, in view of Mr Martin Kennedy’s approaching departure to England, and that “it was felt there was no member of sufficient experience and outstanding ability to take his place as Chairman, but if Mr Beauchamp succeeds to the position, as he probably will, there is no doubt he will discharge the duties satisfactorily, as he did up to the time of his resignation. Mr Beauchamp’s politics are not those of the present Government, but ho had the courage to speak out plainly when he saw a tendency to public and private extravagance, and in this way brought himself into some disfavour with the Ministry who originally appointed him. His resumption of his old post will, we believe, lie a source of satisfaction to the public. We hope also that it will put an end to the differences stated lately to exist among members of the Board. Such differences are hardly likely to conduce to efficiency in the working of the institution, and are apt to weaken the confidence of the public.” Possibly this is the explanation of the puzzle.

SHEEP RETURNS. The Department of Agriculture has prepared a return of the total breeding ewes in the Dominion, and the estimated percentage of lambs for the 1912-13 season. In regard to stud sheep, the return estimates the percentage of lambs in the Auckland, Napier, Gisborne, and the WellingtonWest Coast districts as 95, and the percentage in the Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, Kaikoura, and the Otago districts as 101. The totals under the heading of “stud” in the North Island are:— Lincoln 23,403 Romney ... ... 61,984 Border Leicester ... 3,936 English Leicester ... 4,564 Shropshire ... ... 2,313 Southdown ... ... 7,681 Other breeds ... 4,198 And for the South Island:— Leicester ... ... 25,485 English Leicester ... 24,715 Shropshire ... ... 5,127 Southdown ... ... 4,461 Other breeds ... 11,211 The grand total is: — Lincoln ... ... 81,451 llomnfey ... ... 88,968 Border Leicester ... 29,421 English Leicester ... 29,279 Shropshire ... ... 7,440 Southdown ... ... 12,142 Other breeds ... 15,409

Under the heading of “flock,” the estimated percentage of lambs is 93 in the North Island, and 90 in the South. The North Island total is given as 6,277,381 crossbreds and other longwools not “studs,” whilst the South Island total is 693,661 merinos, and 591,877 crossbreds and other longwools not “studs,” giving a grand total for New Zealand of 11,369,258.

OUTLET WANTED. A correspondent of the “Taranaki Herald,” writing from Ohura the other day stated that the settlers of that district are looking to this coast, as their outlet. At present they are pretty effectually cut off by the want of means of communication, so that, their produce has perforce to go to Auckland and their supplies must be obtained from the northern city also. They are, however, the ‘Herald” points out, looking forward ‘to the time when a road through the Tangarakau Gorge will place them within reach of the railway to Stratford and New Plymouth. “Unless something unforeseen happens the road through the Tangarakau should be available for wheel traffic next summer, by which time also the railway ought to be completed as far as Kohuratahi. The position will then bo that the town of Ohura, the centre of a rich and progressive district, will be within about thirty-live miles of the? railway terminus, which will be about seventy mi!e« from New Plymouth, a total distance from this port of about 105 miles, as against nearly thirty miles by road and 160 miles of railway from Auckland. Every additional mile of railway completed beyond Kohuratahi will give this end an added advantage as the outlet and port of entry for the Ohura country, and when the line i« open right through to the Main Trunk, which Is not likely to be for several years, the distance from Ohura- to New Plymouth will be 85 miles less than to Auckland, an advantage which, other things being equal, must tell in favour of this port.” These facts are pretty obvious, and for the good of all it simply remains for all to work together to get the outlet for our friends in the Ohura as speedily as possible.