Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 432, 28 December 1889, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

1 Thli »bor« all— to thine own self bo tru«, And it must follow as the nighfc the day Thou canst nob then be false to any man.' '■ Shakhspkarb.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1889.

Of late " er«*eatdeal of attention has been triven in English" journals", such as Engineering, to the probable development of two great anil almost entirely new industries iv New Zealand, ' those of petroleum oil and iron producing". It will probably be' within the recollection of 'moist of our renders that the Government of 5 this col my some time aoro deputed Mr H. Gordon, Inspeciing Engineer of the Mines Department, to .visit the site' of the alleged petrobum diccoverios on the West Coas f , and furnish a report upon them. For a lon/? time it had been growing more and more apparent that paits of the country, especially in the. New' Plymouth district, are saturated with this valuable product In many "places the oil comes to the surface in considerable quantities, and, in polluting s'reams nnd wells, becomes an actual nuisance. The question whether this nuisance can be turned into a source of iuiii visual arid" 'national, gain presented itself in' such a pressing manper to the Government',' that the result was the appointment w« l have referred to ; and the 'subsequent publication of a detailed report j from th<» lonian appointed. In this report' Mr Goisdok, after having male a careful survey, anil lenj;tliy examination of the localities in question "ays, exists ovjer a- large area, and it. ,is only a question of boring to-tho requisite depth to get- at the source." This, as the .opinion of an expert who' h;»^ |esti>d the ground, sounds very weil for the' fniure, and it' is probable tfiot before very lon's? 'soifipofforf will l>e mailk' t • tap (lie sluice of the oil now running »o \V:i>te?' Tie cr'eat bulk of the oil nsedi in 'the Australian colonie 3 comes from AiiM«r : <'a. In N«»w South, Wales, jvFore ke osj'iie shnlu is found in tol»>al'ly,;l|trge quantities, attempts have been made, un 'er {he }-ro<ection of a lu'#h' l«nff, to produce oil, but the'tjiiality is very inferior and the industry l^s anything t bnt a flt'Uiishin^ one ? quitu Tour«fifths-6f iho

I lighting oil used in that colony Wing imported, in s[iite of ihe heavy revenue duty imposed. If goo. l oil. in sufficient quantity, can be procured in New Zealapd, \\\ove. is hardly any. dnn,bt thnt not only tliia colony, but the wholo .of ,tho Australasian group, will furnish a market for it practically illimitable: Dealing with this subject oncof the ItJnglish papers to wljieh yre have refer-* red got'S on to say,; " Those petroleum deposits have a two-fold advantage — if successfully developed they not only have at their disposal the A ustralaiian market, now dependent on America for oij, but the\' would further provide with fuel the local iron industry, ,at present resting upon limited supplies of coal and charcoal. Along the' shores of the Taranacki district stretch the famous irqn sand beaches of Now Zealand, beaches composed jilnvst e.njtir.ejy, ,o£ pulvedset'l .iron, ore - Ountloss millionsof tons of this material lie alons; the western coasts of the Noith Island of New Zealand. The ore produces splendid iron, but is somewhat re* frnctory. This would be a trifle, however, if an nbundant supply of c'.ieap fuel were available for smelting purosos. This seems to be now forthcoming inthe plinpe of petroleum. For some time past oil lias been largely used in America for smelt'ng, and there is no reason why it eliou'd not be successfully aiopted in' New Zealand, the Tnranaki oil h «ving plenty of body and being admirably adapted for fuel purposes. It may be noted that, while the oil deposits of America and Russia are several hundred miles inland, those of New Zealand are actually on the coast, so close, indeed that the beach at New Plymouth is pitted with petroleum oozings. What is now wanted is some trial drills, to test the quantity and character of the oil supply. A few drills, in the ricinity of New Plymouth, ought to bring to *he surface,- not only enough oil to provide the locality with smelting fuel, bnt also sufficient for several refineries. It h curious thnt, while millions are invested by the public of this ' country in purely speculative gold mines, hardly any funds are devoted to sinking wells for petroleum in Burmah, Ganadu, and New Zealand. In America, hundreds of times over, a single well has proved as remunerative as a gold mine, y.-t, although peti oleum «can be easily enough turned into gold, such is the demand for it, JKnglish investors have hitherto ignored pitioleum undertakings. Presently they will lush into it, just as shippers have riishod into the oil steamer business, building sixty tank vessels in less than five years, nfter a prolonged period of similar indiffjivnee." It is not too much to hope that tbe Government, having already taken some action in tho matter with apparently such excellent results, will not rest until steps are initiated to fully prove the worth of these oil deposits. The V»ctoiian Government recognising tho groat value accruing to nny country from a loc»l supply of coal, hare expended large sums of public money inthoioughly searching for payable seams, and have at last, it is said, succeeded in finding a supply of good quality and wide extent, which, if private enterprise alone had to be depended upon, might have remained undiscovere 1 for years to come. It seems to us that large undertakings, which may confer advantage upon a whole community, such as the (ievelopement of cpalGe-lds- or petrpluem deposits, may fairly be undertaken at public expense, inasmuch as their successful developement is a thing that corcerns the public at large. If, as the English writer suggests, the opening up of tho petroleum wells on the West Const would not only provide a sotrqe of oil supply for the colonies, bnt enable the enormous iron sand deposits of l>ranaki and other .beaches to be utilised, who can say to what a height of manufacturing prosperity the North Island might attain ? This iron-sand problem has already engaged the thoughts of some of the foremost mechanical minds of our time, but no solution has as yet been arrived at. No method of economically treating the immeasurable wealth of crude ore strewn abo,utour sea beaches has been determined upon. Perhaps a ready supply of cheap and efficient heating power such as petroleum would yield is the solution. Some attempt to determine if it is should be speedily made.

Thursday next, January 2nd, has been appointed a special bank holiday, Two services were held atTe Aroha on Christinas day ; Anglican at noon, Wesleyan at 7 p. in, Messrs Hethrington and Ci. announce £liat they will continue their great gift bale diiringthe New Year Holidays. The Wesleyan and Presbyterian services to be held in this district to-morrow will be found duly advertised. A special excursion train leaves Te Aroha for Auckland on Wednesday next, New Year's Day; at 5 .'45 "a.m. For other 'holiday tniin arrangements see advt. A supplementary mail for iLurope, etc., via San Francisco will be -made up at the Te Arojia Postoflice this .(Saturday) morning. Correspondence mi\y be posted up to 1045 a.m. The Post office will not be open on Wednesday next, lt>l January, 1890. f The Te Aroha S: and" G. Mining Com- ! pany'a reductiop/vorkSj.at \\ nmrnngoinni, .have been shut (jown for the holidays, and ,*vill licit resume ««ok,i # k, pending, further instructions from the directors ' WoVk jWill. t be jrtMuned at the. , mines, . however, ufteV the holidayp, a^ befoiW^ *"< • ' J Mr A, W. Edwards notifies l>y advertisement that his dnipory and hoot w.-ire-lumse will Ue'open tilfOp.m'. on Tuesday next, and closed on January lnt and 2nd. ' Tendc.rs closo at 4 p,m., to-duy. for the purch-iso of that neat fom\ roomed hou-e »md garden in full I»enrin7, adjoining, Te Aroha, iiow oi-oupied b^' the vendor, Mr A.' lUissell. ! See adv. I

Tlie following tenders have been received l> t y tlio Boi.rd< of Education for addition!? to P.iero'i School-house :-r-Mr P. McKenzie. P-ieroi, £247 • Mr A. S. Moore, Paeroa, £23G ; Messrs Donovan and Sin r clair. Thames, £224 ; Mr ,J, S\vnnson r ßof>6 Road, Surrey* llill,s, 4ucklnnd (ucecptod), £J97." v : t I • The yonncr Indies appointed to canvass, for subscriptions'for the Te Aroha public school fete on Ne ( \v., Ypav's Day, lmye been most energetic ,. and ijrj,, .their canvas*, having collected close on £20. The catering we learn has been entrusted to Mr J. Ho.it. The children ai;e requested to assemble at the school house by 9,39 a.m. sharp on Wednesday. ' Mr W. R. Wilson, of tho To Aroln S. and G-, Mining Compnny, is expectod at Waiorongomui within the next week or so, on business in connection with the future cpnrse of action to bo decided oft by tho Company, Mr. Wilson's visit will therefore he "ft , very important - one.' and his recommendation with respect to the further development of the Company's mines will be anxiously looked for, The excursion trips to Auckland during the Christmas holidays have been largely availed of by local residents. On Monday over seventy passengers booked for Auckland from Te 'Aroha station, and on Thursday between forty and fifty moTe. The result of such a considerable exodus was to impart quite a deserted -appearance of fmnilitr faces to our township. Thursday's excursion train from" AuoklnnVl brought between . forty ard v ftfty visitors to Te Arolu, most of whom, however, returned the sjune eveninc: ; by the train which left at half-past five. In connection with theTe Aroha School ChiHren's Fete on New Yenr's Day, the following members of the School o<>mmittee met together on Tuesday e"e,nin<r last: — Messrs Menzie, fJeathcote, Annit, and Ahier, and resolved on the motion of Mr Mcnzip, seconded by Mr Tleathoote, that the treat be held in Mr J. Wood's paddock, Te Aroha West, the. children to bo conveyed thither and back by Mr Wibbonß* barge, at n cost of £2. It was stated Mr Q. Lipsey had kindly placed his paddock (used for School Fete purposes on *»e\ernl occasions) at the disposal of the Fete Committee. Unsolved tint a letter of thanks be sent Mr Lipsey for his courtesy. At tho meeting of Piako County Council, on Saturday last, tho Clerk reported that in accor lance with instructions h had re-written the Te Aroha Hidinur account, omitting therpfrom nil items of receipts and expenditure on account of the tramway. The fo'lnwing is tho t ro po|*jt in a cond n^ed f< m fmn tfohniary sfh. TB^l, to March 3l< 18-9 :.H o-i| t* : OoMfiVM., revenue £6307 17s 4d ; gold <lnty, filGOt Tfi-^ I'd ; elaughter-hou«« lit o ises, £104 ; pnbWonns 1 licenses, £1015 To^ 7«l ; auctioneer.*' licenses, £5Q ; subsidies and grants for road«, £1993 13s 2d ;. subsidies under the L. R. L«\ and P Act, £210 10^ lid : douT.->ff>rntion, £73 7s G.I ; mfacelInreous, £7 13-< ; general mt <». £708 9-; 6d ; separate rate--, £943 '5-^ 2d. Total. £13,081 3-: Id. Expen.litui- : Pionds and btidp", £.ri735. r i735 14s 5d ; enfinccr-', £362 13^20,1; mvscollancons, £1031 13^ 8.1 ; expended under the piovisions of snb-sp<-tions 1. 2, 3, section T45 Counties Act, £5951 l 4 2d. Tntd, £13,081 3s Id. It is comparatively spe iking within recent years tli.it, larire as lnvp been our impoits, the attention of colnni-ts has been intflliijt ntly directed to the advanr taa:«-'s of blendinir teas. To the finn of Messrs Nelson, Moatc, and Co. wpowefhointroduction into Ibe colony of the system of blending. Nine years ago this fi-ni became established in business in ChristI'hurclj. Soon their «uoce«s warranted tlicm in extending their operation s',5 ', and at the present day substantial warefiousea, nt which their t. a^ ar.o exposed for sale, are to bes<e>i in all the leading towns in the colony, as well a* in Tasmania. They h.ive agencies in <v ry town in New Zealand. East and \Wt,'from Fussell to the Bluff. Tim w.iv in which their business has expanded has beea little, shoit of wonderfu 1 , and affords' suflioient proof that their goods have met-with the appreciation of the public. As an additional indication of the growth- of their trade, it may be mentioned that hist year Messrs Nelson, Moate, and Co. were the importers | of over a fourth of the total qiianMty of tea that was landed in New Zealand, even when the imports of the larj^e mercantile firms are taken into consideration. Of Indian, China, and Ceylon teas they are the largest importers. The firm has bo firmly established itself in the colony that an exhibition in New Zealand would hardly be complete did it not include a display of their blended teas ; and an exhibit of theirs car. fairly claim to come under the category of a local exhibit, inasmuch as the blending is done ,in, the colony. Messrs Nelson, Moate, and Co. claim to be the only tea expcits in New Zealand. The blending of t^a is said to be a special gift which cannot be acquired, even with the greatest amount of experience, unless the would-be blender has the taster's palate. Mr Nelson is the tea expert of the firm, and was specially trained as a tea-blender. The exhibits of Messrs Nelson, Moate, and Co. are contained in three show cases, which are placed in a row in the avenue between the British and foreign exhibits. Tho show cases are large and handsome, and are connected with arches. At the apex of, each arch there is in open woodwork a we'l executed imitation of the firm's* familiar triangular-shaped trade mark, with its pyramidal design in the interior. The exhibits are neatly arranged in packets and boxes, but open samples of different varieties are shown. ■ They comprise the four standard blends of Messrs Nelson, Monte, ( and Co. — the teas that are sold everywhere, and that have been tried by , nearly everybody, at, the prices* qf £s, 2s 4d, 2o Bd, and 3s. peflb,* jTliqn tjiere'nre "the*" Jumbo" blends, which are of pure Indian teas, nnd are quoted at 2s and 2s ( 4d. The "Ciu^v.lp3o" blends are \.\m\ ( eylqn teas, and an assortment of China 1 teas are also inolml'.d. There, are, some .special )ines in win-dried flower Pekoe, the price of which ranges from^lsrrt.lb;;, sun-dried Oolongs, whichfetdi from IBsa. 1b ; and a Variety of Congous of all grades. ( The iirin also show 10 samples of Ceylon ' Pikoes,| which' are all said to be tens of, excellent <j_i ality.' Anotfier oxhib"t "consists of 10 Rtmtfjleß of Indian Pekoes, which include ?ome of the choicest crown ( tlii.",, season— one of them a" golden Pekoe, costing 4s in ltujui* Amnhft thevfteveral* ' exhibits of teas tLiiit are uinde in the Exhibition, Messrs hejson, Moate, and Co. can certainly chum a foremost place for theirs. — ISxiruct fiom tho -Otago Daily Times.

Mr D.ivi.J Pit kethly, recently appointed Chairman of TliameM'County Council, died on Christ nmq day at his residence, Thames, • from inflatrmtion of the lungs, the result of a neglected cold, his illness only'exit^ndini? over nlxvit ft week. Deceased ! \V.iiB very liinfhly and generally respected.