The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1882.

Temuka Leader, Issue 917, 14 February 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader T UESDA Y, FEBRUARY 14, 1882.

One of the objects which we have set before ourselves, and of which we never lose sight is to show our readers as far as we can the advisability of starting new industries in this district, Temuka is favored by nature with everything that is necesssary to make it rich and prosperous. In face we are beginning to think that it is the easy circumstances and the prosperity of its inhabitants are its drawbacks, because they are so well oS at present that they do not bother themselves with the consideration of local industries. It is all nonsense to say there is not enough money in the district. The more correct way of stating the facts of the case is that the people are so well off already that they are not ambitious of doing better Necessity is the mother of invention. Poets have written their finest poems while starving in garrets, the gretest men that ever lived, and who have benefitted mankind most, have been driven to exercise their talents to preserve themselves from want, and it is very seldom, anything great has come from persona with luxurious surroundings. We believe that that is exactly the case with this district. As we have often before said theie is not in New Zealand a place better fitted by nature for many industries. It has a beautiful climate, splendid roads, railway communication, a richly productive soil, and plenty of water-power to turn machinery. What more does it require 1 Absolutely nothing except a little enterprise in its leading men, and for the want of this it is fallling into the back-ground. We have shown how profitably a butter and cheese factory could be established here, and also its subsidiary occupations. It lias been shown how profitably a paper-mill might be worked here, and now we have to point out how profitably a meat freezing company might be established. We believe that a company established for that purpose could find in this and surrounding districts about 300 head of cattle and 30,000 sheep to export every month, which means, at the price which has been obtained for Australian meat in the English market that between £6OOO and £7OOO per month would be brought into the district. What an enormous sum that would be in a year. Besides in connection with such an institution tanneries, and other industries could be started and a large number of people be employed to work them, thus creating a market at home as well as bringing the money from the English market into the district. A company of this kind not necessarily have a large capital. It could ship On behalf of ownerr of stock ; and if it ran short of sufficient to make up a cargo it could buy enough to make it tip. There can be but little doubt that such an enterprise would pay. Tiiere would be very little risk, the returns would be very large, and the benefit to the district would be incalculable, Such a company will soon be started somewhere and we should advise our readers to have the first of it, as it is evident that many such institutions cannot be started in South Canterbury.

We desire to call the attention of our readers to the notification under the new Licensing Act, which appears in another column, from which it will be seen that the date for nominating candidates for the Licensing. Bench of this,tliQ Geraldine, the Mount Cook, and the Levels districts, has been changed from Monday the 20th inst. to Saturday the 18th inst. It may not be uninteresting to our readers to know who are not qualified for being members of a Licensing Committee. They comprise all persons engaged or interested in the liquor traffic, all paid officers of. the Government, or of a county or borough ; and if any of these be elected and take their seats on the Bench they shall be liable to a penalty of £SO. for every time they sit. Women are evidently eligible for election to the committee. The Acts says that the persons who are eligible must be residents within the district and gives the definition of “resident” as “ all males and females of 21 years of age and upwards.” The Timaru Herald with its usual accuracy gives a quotation from Clause 56 of the Act, but there is not one syllable of what it quotes in Clause 56. There, is however, something like it in Clause 57, which says that every person who shall desire to obtain a license under this Act, at least twenty-one days before he shall make his application, shall deliver to the clerk of the Licensing Committee of the licensing district wherein the premises to which such license is intended to apply are situate, and, not later than as aforesaid, affix on the outer side or front of the principal entrance door of the said premises, there to be kept until the day upon which the licensing meeting shall be holden, and publish on three consecutive days in a newspaper circulating in the place where the premises are situate a notice in writing? signed by such applicant, setting forth the applicant’s name, abode, addition, and such dpsfre. In all cases the notice of application shall be in such one of the

forms in the Third Schedule as shall be applicable, or to ; the like effect, and shall be delivered in duplicate to s.u,ch Clerk qf the Licensing Commit,te, * * f Every application fora public-art’? or New Zealand wine or accommodation or bottle license (but not for any renewal thereof) shall be accompied by a certificate signed by at least ten householders, in the form in the Fourth Schedule hereto, in rpspect of the fitness of such applicant to have such license.