The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 129, 15 March 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1879.

Mitch comment I urn boon made by that portion of the Press who arc avowedly opposed to the present Government aaainst what is termed M'vandrowk steam fleet. Several years since Mr James Macatulrc'-v expressed a wish to have arrangements carried ont for having - direct communication with England by steam. During the last session of the New Zealand Parliament the matter was brought up. Since then an offer has been made by a firm at Home to provide a two-monthly steam service, stipulating to bring out a certain number of immigrants cadi trip, and to carry the mails, if the New Zealand Government will agree to subsidise the company for so many years at a yearly payment of LSO.OOO. We think the Opposition papers take a too narrow-minded view of this proposal. They at once begin to calculate, and to sum up, ami at once declare that immigrants can be brought to the colony cheaper, and that it would be a great loss to the country to enter into such an agreement. It is very true that the colony can ill afford to enter into any largo increase of its expenditure at the present time. If wo believed that this project involved a loss to the colony it would bo our duty to set our face against it too, but that is very problematical. A broader view most be taken of the proposal than merely looking at it as a moans of bringing labor to the colony. At the present time a great number are very unsettled in most of the counties of Europe. Taxation is in some instances becoming oppressive, home manufactures a drug in the market, the scope for enterprise getting daily narrowed, so much so that many are turning over in their minds what new fields are open. New Zealand at the present moment ranks high, but the time required to reach it at present is so great that many prefer settling in countries nearer home, he me the great crowds that flock to the States and the Canadas. No v would, not direct steam communication with England draw the. attention to these colonies, and would not numbers of these small capitalists make a trip by steamer which only takes about forty days, sec the country, and doubtless make up their minds to set'le in it '! There arc instances that could be shown where this has taken place over and over ao-ain. Some have returned to the old country, but many have made up their minds to stay, while of those that did return some have undertaken a second voyage and settle here after all. With steam transit hundreds would come where tens only come now. Do we not want capital '] Is not the great cry at the present time the tightness of the money mai’kct ? The sale of land to these new comers, the increase of population, the expenditure of money while only as sojourners would be a boon to place against the LSO.OOO. Then again the dealing in live stock, imparting good new blood into the country in sheep and horned cattle, all help to raise Ijthe character of a country. The chance of establishing manufactories also will be greater, and the consequent decrease in the transmission of money for imported goods, and wo may hero remark that it is the state of the export that shows whether or not a country is prospering. No country is in a permanently prosperous condition whose imports exceed its exports. This colony is gradually shaking oft’ its depondance upon the mother country for supplies. Look at our boot and shoo trade, onr slop goons manufactories, our carriage and buggy manufacture, and many others who are gradually shutting out the imported article. It is but reasonable to think that these manufacturers are making money by their craft. No New Zealand tradesman will long continue at any business if he is not making money by it. Emigration to bring labor and brains, and capital to bring enterprise, would do much to push the colony ahead ; but few who enjoy ordinary comforts at home care for taking a voyage of three or four months. The discomforts on board, the waste of piecious time, is all calculated by those who propose to change to other countries. Steam would alter all this. The sociality, the excitement, the comparative safety and the shortness of the time would cause not only many to step on board that would not otherwise do so, but the glowing accounts of the trip and the attractions of the country sent home by this class of intelligent .men would bring ont shoals of others ; this, also, ought to be snbstracted from lire expenditure in subsidising a steam company. Our hot springs is another thing to be taken into account. How many invalids in search of health -would come to these marvellous works of nature, so efficacious in their cure of diseases ? But tve know that a weak body generally encloses a weak mind, and the very effort sometimes deters the siekty from taking a stop that might secure a cure. If they bad only to step on board a steam vessel that would take them direct to the spot lots would try the experiment who shrink from taking a voyage to Melbourne, from Melbourne to Auckland, Hokitika, or the Blnftj and from that again to have to dauble about for a week in one of onr coasting steamers before they get to their destination. A shaken constitution could not stand it, hence the few who try the experiment. The gain to the conn try-by this passenger traffic is another item to be snbstracted from the subsidy. Moreover, the increased popularity that Now Zealand would obtain by this steadilyincreasing passenger traffic would help the country financially in its dealing with capitalists at homo, causing them to seek investment with greater confidence. In fact, this steam service, instead of Joeing a money loss to the c; lony, would in.our opinion before a year he a monclary gain, and this without calculating the advantages of speedy and direct immigration. Nevertheless, the argument does not bold good that because the service would pay us wo should give the sum asked for. The large passenger trade ' would be their gain, as well as ours, arid it is possible a less subsidy ■would be accepted if all the advantages were clearly pointed out. Money is money at the present time ; it' is therefore necessary to carefully count the cost before embarking in any scheme that will entail increased expenditure at the present time. We throw- out these bints ; others may be aide to sec many more advantages to add to the test and make the whole a no inconsiderable trifle to bo taken into account.

COLMSION ON THE IiAIIAVAY. —A collision occiiiTcil at the Ashburton railway station on Tuesday morning. As the express from Christchurch was coming into the station at slowing pace, it ran off the main line, into a side one, on which was standing waiting for its passing, a loaded goods train bound for Christchurch. The fore carriages of both engines struck violently, and both were considerably damaged, that of the Yankee engine attached to the express beimr most so. The buffers of the two foremost passenger carriages of the express were smashed, some of the glass doors were shattered, anti other injuries were done to the carriages of both trains. One of the passengers by the express got cut about the head through being jolted up against the breaking glass of one of the doors. The other passengers escaped unhurt. The cause of the collision was the points of the rails at the juncture of the two lines being left unlocked. Had both trains been in motion at the time of the collision it would have been of course much more serious. The immediate cause of the mishap was no doubt the unlocked points, but as a matter of fact the rail accommodation at the station is quite in. adequate to the work which has to be done, and it should certainly bo added to with the least possible delay. Father IIENNEiiERr. The Bev Father ITcnnebery will open a temperance mission at Ashburton in the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday the loth instant. The Maoris on Classic Beauty. —The Maori idea of classic beauty in art is naturally largely influenced by a respect for muscular strength and size. As among all semi-bar-barians who have existed for many generations in a state of continual warfare, beauty and delicacy of physique arc not so highly yalned by the Maoris as strength and courage. It is not to be wondered at that the Maoris who have inspected the statues in the Auckland Institute have expressed some singular opinions with regard to their merits. Of the "Venus do Medici, that marvel of classic art, they entertain but a very poor opinion; “Nukikuki” was the comment of the illustrious chief ITokipoki, as ho critically examined its points and tried the dimensions of the limbs with his massive span ; “ He Kotiro ” (a girl) chimed in another great rangatira, who accompanied him. But the gigantic statue and massive frame of the Venus of Milo, excited their extreme admiration. ‘‘ Auc,” said Hokipoki, casting an affectionate look at the model, “ Auc ! Kaitahi to wahino Kaipai teua.” (“ Ah ! what a fine woman that is.”) Ordinations. —lt will be observed from a quotation in another column, from a Christchurch paper, that the Rev Messrs Clinton and In wood have been receiving ordinat ion at the hands of the Bishop into the holy priesthood. We would rather sec the ranks of the ministry filled up from the youth of Now Zealand than depend upon supplies from home. The one wo know, the other we do not know. Unfortunately the inducements to study for the ministry iu any denomination in this country arc nob encouraging. A L2OO or L3OO aycar will barely keep the day and the way alike. Young men, therefore, cannot be blamed if they demur to entering upon a life which presents nothing but hardship, care, and trouble. Ministers are but men, and if wo do not sufllcicutly support them in their work we cannot expect that others that are looking on will bo induced to offer themselves for this honorable and holy work. A pound or two is given with a grudge to support the ministry, when a liver or a tenner is given most cheerfully to support anything that will bring no real benefit to the giver, but just because his fancy directs it. Fires. —What is the cause of all the fires that arc taking place' just now all over the colony. One cannot take up a paper but lie finds a fire in this or that city, town, or hamlet. It used to ho a byo-word sonic ten or twelve years ago when times began to look gloomy, how stands Auckland ? It always manages to got up a fire in bad times. At present there are many Aucklands. Arc they all getting into had times, or what is the cause P Some may say the dry season ; it is not a dry season everywhere ; it is not a dry season at the Ivumara, Tapanui, Southland, Dunedin. What is the cause ? L 95,000 paid for insurances in Now Zealand since Ist January, 1579. Are the people getting too flash, to live in the old wooden houses? Builders are busy, bricklayers arc in full employment at stunning wages, and timber is nob a glut in the market. What is the cause ? Wo give it up. The Accident on the Point Line.—• In reading over the account of the fatal accident tliat took place on the Point Railway on Wednesday last one is' led to ask is (die cowcatcher as perfect a piece of machinery as it could bo made. It seems, as shown in the case referred to, that the unfortunate man was forced up into the air. If a spring were attached, something like the common rattrap, that would act when any object came against it, and a pair of arms something on the principle of the reaping and binding machine, it would secure the obstruction from falling off and getting amongst the wheels, which is often the case, and throws the carriages off the line, and more than once has caused the death of some of the passengers. The hugging that the unfortunates might receive may be a little rough, but whatever might happen, there would he more chance of saving life than otherwise, for it is a fact that in nine eases out of every ten the accident ends in the (loath, of the individual. Improvement, we think, is not impossible. The AcjiitciiETUKAn Association’s Show. —We would remind farmers and others that the Tornuka and Geraldine Agricultural and Pastoral Show and Bam Fair takes place on the Association’s show ground, near Winchester, on Thursday, the 27th of this month, and the Ham Fair on Friday, the 28th, and that entries for the Show must be made on or before the 22nd instant. The arrangements for the Show this year are most complete, and we would urge upon farmers to '

bring forward a greater variety of the different exhibits than heretofore. In dairy and agricultural produce the Show was extremely deficient last year, as was also the show of cattle. The Bam Fair should bo a great convenience to breeders. This year we believe good bargains will be got for really prime stock. It is unnecessary to point out the gain that accrues from breeding from prime sires.