AUCKLANDER ABROAD IN MELBOURNE. [By J.W.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 310, 24 October 1888, Page 5

AUCKLANDER ABROAD IN MELBOURNE. [By J.W.]

AMERICAN TIMBER. As I wrote you lately, American tim" ber has the exclusive trade with Australia, and whether from rings or other in. fluences means to hold it, for the supplies come from San Francisco, Pugeb Sound, and Humboldt Bay. The annual imports may be computed at abput fifty or sixty million feet, the exact import tor 1886 being 57,675,693 feet, and tor 1887, though much less, 48,111,053 feet. This is pretty consider able. But there is not only imported a large quantity of "pitch pine " lumber, sawn and planed, but also doors, sashes, etc., of "spruce," the import of which in 1887 numbered 28,830 ; iv 1888 the number was 32,537 ; and the whole value of lumber products imported from 'Frisco $216,897, and that from the States $366,897, and from the entire coast $868,101. In 1886 it was about a round million dollars' valuo, but though nearly approaching that since, has not reached it. In 1885 there was the largest import, 6,652,993 feet, but two years later (1887) the number of feet imported was 4,585,976, and in 1888, up to two months ago, 4,220,700 feet. Coupled with this was the import of sashes, doors, frames, etc., of "spruce," a wood, it appears, admirably adapted, being easily worked, for general building purposes, where strength, stiffness, and lightness are combined, and supplied cheaply to builders. It is grown in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and the Adirondack region in New York, and lower Canada, including New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Between this pitch pine of the Southern States and the spruce of the Northern States, the lumber trade in Melbourne is almost monopolised. The pitch pine is used largely in Melbourne „ for heavy purposes, mills, bridges, and warehouses, and, as I wrote you, it is claimed that the fibre of the timber is longer and stronger than kauri, and builders say, " superior from transverse strength and less liable to shrinkage, and stands the climate better." It that were true, and I very much doubt it, why should spruce take the place of such a fine timber as Auckland kauri for sashes, doors, house - building and the 101 things that this timber is useful for and is well-known to Aucklanders? In days gone by our mills were paid very handsomely for the supp y of good kauri, and more supplied it too. Why is our noble kauri not in more general use here, and its utility and use made known ? However, I believe that the last spark of enterprise hao not gone out ot Auckland, but will rekindle again in her true interests. Kauri, coal, especially oats and barley and other agricultui'ai produce, fat and breeding stock ought to be pushed here, and I should be glad to get the shake of the hands of o!d Aucklanders.

FREE TRADE Y. PROTECTION. However, I hope that new life will be put into the sluggish veins of Auckland's languishing industries through the new departure from free trade to protectionist principles, though I always believe in safeguarding the consumer. Yet, no intelligent man free from prejudice, but must agree trom what he sees around him here, and in the Victorian Court, of their enterprise, industry, and skill in most branches of manufacture, coupled with the fact that commodities for consumption, through keen competition, are kept lower in price than those ruling in free-trade New South Wales. The amazing rapidity with which manufacturing industries increased in Victoria and America begat an interest calling forth world-wide discussion of the most talented political economists. There is great truth in the remark that protectionists are more practical, and though there are profound thinkers free traders, when they in many instances turn their thoughts into practical shape they realise that their views were theoretical.

THE LAND BOOM. In Melbourne new firms and. corporations are springing into existence, mill?, factories, and furnaces are constantly increasing everywhere, and the prospects and probabilities of the coming year are exceptionally promising, and the Treasurer may have a much larger surplus. Though I don't want to write down or in any way throw cold water on the " land boom," yet I should advise caution. The papers anyhow are making "siller" through advertisements and post printing ; and if they only puff, you know, it is matter of business in a quite natural way. " Well, ib is all well that ends well," a very wise saying indeed. How many have been hard hit in Auckland, and many an industrious man may betaken in here. I don't like the style of work done here. A man buys a piece of land, he pays his deposit, and immediately borrows on prepared plans te put up certain buildings ; money (borrowed) being plentiful, he is enabled to get perhaps £100 or so, and that will exceed thecost of carryingoutthe work, and in very many instances, I am sorry to say, from foundation to roofing, is carried out in such slipshod fashion, after the manner "that the thing will pay me as it i 3, and let the propeity rip." I have seen brick work put up, and atter being a certain height, to plumb it, knocking the bricks out at about a yard below, breaking the bond and carpenter's work through bullock driving (no fault of the men), and turned out as if it was the said animal that they were butchering. True, money is plentiful; but there is no real and solid prosperity on borrowed money, and it is also true that success commands success, and a good name is everything. If money is spent reproductively, and the affairs of the State administered wisely and prudently in a young country rich in minerals, and all sorts of ores, and a shrewd, go-ahead, industiious, manufacturing and agricultural people, they will no doubt be on the high road to pay off the national or colonial indebtedness, and finally have permanent prosperity. t I may be becoming imbued with their spirit of going too fast here. For recent ugly disclosures relative to the Government's administration of public works have shaken the public confidence, and the Vogolian system of New Zealand would not be difficult to find here. It is suspected that certain landholders and speculators have had their interests improperly promoted by the I diversion of new lines of railways, and that these things were accomplished chiefly by the operation of political influence

THE NEW PRINCE'S BRIDGE. The new Prince's Bridge, that was available for foot-passengers since the Governor passed over it to open the Exhibition, was opened to-day without public ceremony, and the usual "guzzling" orations, over well^filled bumpers, etc. ; only a semiofficial inspection, the thing being done before I went over it to-day and had a look at St. Kilda tramway line, a total length of four miles, the terminal points being at Grosvenor - street, St. Kilda. Passengers desirous of continuing tho journey k will be allowed to transfer to a line of horse cars, via Swanston - street and .Queenlberry - street, Carlton. This line, on the St. Kilda side, branches off to Windsor, and connects Prabran, and through to Toorak.

TIN AND KAUftl GUM. It is often said that' a man who has got plenty of tin — money — is considerably \»eli off, therefore a country (Tasmania) that is rich in pig tin — money in another form — and can monopolise some of the American markets, is not so far behind. In early days America (California) had its supply from the Sbi'aibs, Japan, etc., but in 1882 Australia exported there 1,719,9681b, and in 1887 1,693,7601b, and for four months of the present year 544,7111b, the price running up to 40 cents, and varying less according to demand and requirements of market. New Zealand export of gum to California in 1877 was only 19,3671b, bub swelled out in 1883 to 304,9251b, or a value of $29,029, and in 1887, though much less, 119,4841b, but for the four months of the present year 63,8601b, or for 1888 191,5801b. Now, I merely refer to these bwo articles to show what can be done, and that a trade can be built up. New Zealand's export to other j placos is very considerable, and, Mr Editor, you can readily supply that information on the spot.

AGRICULTURE. Victoria has a small area, and all arable ancls ought to be cultivated on the latest cientia'c principles, i.e., analysis of the soil, supplying it with "what the nature of the crop requires ; in fact, farming with the object towards the greatest possible results. Victoria is better adapted to farming practically on the small holding principle, as the population has so increased that the country becomes limited, and is too valuable for merely stock-raising on the old scale of so many acrea.of grass per head, when the squatber like Robinson Crusoe was "lord over man, fowl and brute." In Queensland, stock can be raised for £1 per head, and from the oxtent of grazing country in New South Wales stock can be sent across the border cheaper than there is a possibility of raising it here. New Zealand ought to enter the list. I send you an interesting pamphlet of what is being done in other labouring industries, with the quotation: "From these sunny lands, where our sons and daughters have made their homes, we shall draw our future supply of fruit, in quality and quantity probably exceeding that of any fruit industry the world has seen." How is that for North Auckland? This little work, however, "The Development of Agricultural Settlement in Australia," " Messrs Cbafley's Irrigation Colonies on the Murray River," " Mildura," and " Renmark," in Victoria and South Australia, will no doubt be perused with interest. Something like 40 agents have been appointed throughout Great Britain, and when these get to work the propaganda will no doubt soon assume business shape. Messrs Chaffey Bros, deserve credit for their enterprise, and if they can only get the sort of population, small capitalists with means to buy the land, and enough to maintain themselves until production is assumed, the scheme no doubt may have possible success.

DIPHTHERIA. Just now there is a little variation in the order of things, but people are not often treated to advice and medicine gratis. Dr. Murray - Gibbs, from Taranaki, is here, with that extraordinary specific for the cure of diphtheria, viz., blue gum leaves. Owing to the moisture of New Zealand's climate, the growth is more luxurious with richer aromatic qualities. "Dr. Gibbs's process is steaming--nopre-paration of the plant, simply throwing a handful of the leaves into boiling water. He says : " Fix an umbrella at the head of the bed to support a sheet that drapes down to the bed ; a jug of boiling water is placed alongside and a handful of leaves thrown in, renewing every half hour and the atmosphere of steam kept up, the patient breathing freely till the disease, disappears." There will be a prevalence of zymotic diseases in the various municipalities, owing to no system of drainage, the practice of sweeping into the gutters, and in many places being unswept till the filthy water becomos green, giving off unhealthy emanations poisoninsr the atmosphere. The streets are not planted with trees to purify the air and the earth, and this, with the condition of small back-yards to the houses, and in many places from the greed of owners rows of houses being built with only a passage between, causes the insanitary state, and the poisonous carbonic acid gas given out of the lungs, in close weather to become a source of alarm, and whether such a state would produce the germ of typhoid de novo or be carried to these places (as has been disputed by the medical faculty in Auckland) there is this fact patent, that decaying animal or vegetable matter produces poisonous gas that is antagonistic to health and life. More on this matter again.

THE CATHEDRAL SITE. j Opposite Prince's Bridge, at the corner of Swanston and Flinders-street, is the Church of England property. The trustees have refused an offer of £800,000 for the site without asking to utilise the stone of the edifice, the business being in an incomplete state. From a business point of view, one cannot see why a church should be there at all, for it is more natural to go where the people are ; and the trustees should profit by the occasion, and remove the "house" to a more convenient aud picturesque place, for have we not the assurance that '• where two or threo are met together in His name, etc.," and in a Christian's sense this should meet their requirements, if the worship is held only in a plain building. It is not outward grandeur and vain show of hollow religion in these degenerate days that will avail much. Christ preached in the highways, on the mountain, etc., and it will take a goodly number of these so-called clerics to preach a better sermon, speaking to the heart and reason of man.

MILITARY. The Government have increased the capitation grant of the Mounted Rifles from £1 to £2 10s, and they will be treated as other corps, either in service or while in the camp. There are about 300 of the permanent force and about 3,000 volunteers in Melbourne. Auckland, look for decent clothes while you give your services for nothing.

It is said that Mac, the Hamilton Jehu, was upset while crossing the river in a boat, but having a packet of Pearson's carbolic sand soap in his pocket he washed himself ashore. GARLIOK & CRANWELL are selling Furniture and Carpets very cheap. Iron Bedsteads and Spring Mattresses at greatly reduced pi ices. Bedding of all kinds ready for delivery. Oil Cloths from Is. square yard. Linoleum from 2s 3d. Blankets, sheets, quilts, curtainb, and all furnishing goods splendid value. Wire Wove Mat tresses much cheaper than they used to be.A strong Iron Bedstead and Wire Wove Mattress for 55s cash. Simple Iron Bedstead and Wire Wove Mattress for 38s cash price. Our goods are carefully packed, evei -j attention paid to" prevent damage by transit, ■ Buy all your household goods from QARLICK and CRANWELL, Cabisg^ makers, Queen street. Auckland"*