The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1883. WILL REFRIGERATION TEND TO GENERAL PROSPERITY ?

Temuka Leader, Issue 1173, 13 November 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1883. WILL REFRIGERATION TEND TO GENERAL PROSPERITY ?

We hare read in one of our exchanges a report of a debate which took place in a Debating Society on the question ; Whether the exportation of meat under the refrigerating system would tend to the general prosperity of the colony or otherwise ? Several of the debaters held that the result of the refrigerating system would be that the price of meat would be so increased that it would be out of the reach of the working man, whilst the system would only benefit squatters and farmers, and when a division was taken on the question the majority favored the idea that it would not be generally beneficial. This, we believe, expresses the feelings of working men on the subject. We have heard it said repeatedly that the refrigerating system will yield results such as are stated above, and therefore conclude that this is the light in which a great many look upon it. Workingmen need have no anxiety on that score. The increased price which it may give to meat will make very little difference. A greater danger than this stares them in the face, and it is that it may decrease their means of employment. In that respect, and not in adding a half-penny or penny per lb to the price of meat, will it hurt the working man. Up to the present time the working man has earned a very large share of his year’s income during harvest time, and if refrige ration has the effect of inducing farmers to abandon the growth of cereals, and take to fattening stock for the London market instead, there is great danger that the benefits of the innovation will not reach the agricultural laborer. We have no desire to throw any cold water on the refrigerating system. It is one of the grandest things for this colony that has been discovered ; it will result in bringing back to us a share of the money which we send to England in the shape of interest, and must add considerably to the prosperity of the Colony. But if it decreases the means of employment it cannot be looked upon as an unmixed benefit. Still, when machinery was first invented a great cry was raised against it and the working m&n thought his occupation was completely gone. Yet experience has taught us that there was no one benefitted more. 'Machinery relieved him of very heavy labor, whilst his wages were never so high as they are at present. It may be so with the refrigerating system. It is possible that it may prove beneficial to all. If it even results in farmers taking up pastoral instead of agricultural pursuits, there is still a way out of the difficulty, and it is this There is no doubt but that landowners will be greatly benefitted, their incomes will be increased, and if they invest a part of their gains in establishing profitable industries that will give employment to working men, the colony as a whole will have good reason for blessing the new system. This is a question upon which few have thought. The landowners are quite satisfied that they have gained an advantage in being able to sell their mutton at a much higher price, and the workihg man only grumbles at having to pay something extra for his meat. The effect of refrigeration on agriculture has been lost sight of, but it is a question which will force itself on our attention very soon if the means of employment are decreased. And then let , us remember the rising generation. Let us add op the numbers of boys and girls now attending our public schools, and ask ourselves will there be sufficient employment for these in the district when they grow up ? This is a question which evety father of a family ought to put to himself, for let him remember that in a few years his children will be seeking employment. We believe that there will not be the means of employing the rising generation if industries are not started, and a labor market thus created. A great deal has been done in this district for the last year and a half, but what has been done is calculated to benefit only farmers. No industry which could employ a large number of hands has yet been established, and this is exactly what is wanted. The landowners have certainly been very fortunate. The Dairy Factories in Temuka and Geraldine, the Linseed Company and Refrigerating Company will considerably increase the yearly income of landowners in this district when they are once fairly established. It is to be hoped that when they begin to taste the sweets or increased wealth they will not forget that there is still more to be done. There is one industry above all others which might be estab*,

lished and that is the Paper Mill. That would yield immense benefits to the landowners, while at the same time it would give employment to a largo number of people. A paper mill, linseed oil mills, and many other industries might very well be started in connection with the linseed industry, and we trust that the increased prosperity which is in store for this district through what has already been done will induce those most benefitted to invest their spare cash in establishing them. To do so is to create a means of employment for their own and their neighbors’ children.

THE COUNT! COUNCIL.

There is a petition now obtaining signatures in this district to abolish the County Council. This has been got up by the Levels Road Board, which is £ISOO in debt, We ask our readers not to sign this petition until more is known about it. It has been got up in a hole and corner way, and those who are now signing it may yet regret having done so. We will explain the whole matter in our next issue.

Gbbaldinb Road Boabd. The usual monthly meeting of the Board will bo held to day at 10 a.m. Gebaldihb Racing Club. A special meeting of the above Club will be held in the Geraldine Crown Hotel, on Thursday, the 22nd November, at 7 p.m., to take into consideration the advisability of removing the race .meet ings to the old course. Gbbaldink County Council.— An elec tion to fill the vacancy in the above Council caused by the resignation of Mr C G Tripp, the member for the Mount Peel Riding, takes plao* on Monday 26th November. Nominations of candidates muse be made before Monday next. Peoposbd Watbe Supply fob Waitohi Flat.— Mr John Talbot invites all interested in the above to meet him at the Waitohi schoolroom next Monday, at 8 p.m, to consider the scheme and initiate the necessary steps to give effect t hereto.

R.M. Couet. —At the above Court yesterday, before J. Beswick, Esq, 8.M., and D. Inwood, Esq., J.P., there was only one case —Dr Hayes v G Latimer—set down far hearing, but at neither plaintiff nor defendant was present it was struck out. Mr Aipinall appeared for the plaintiff. The Dairy Factory.— The Temuka Dairy Factory is doing well. Over 300 gallons of milk were received there yesterday, and it is expected that before long it will increase to 400 or 500 gallons per day. An accident occurred there yesterday evening. The press broke, but immediate steps were taken to repair it.

Smithpibld Wool Womb. —We learn from the Christchurch Press that Mr H E Smith, of Winchester, took first prize at the Christchurch exhibition for the best scoured bale of merino wool. His bale of scoured skin long wool was considered too fine in quality for that clan but was highly commended as scoured cross-bred wool. Mr Smith also got first prize in Timaru. Pbdestkianism.— The fifty miles walking match between Edwards and O’Connor, of Timaru, on Saturday resulted in a victory for Edwards, who completed his fiftieth mile three-quarters of a lap (88yds to the lap) ahead of O’Connor. Time—9h 46Jmin< O’Connor offers to walk the same distance for (£100) aside in three weeks or a month.

GUbixdikb PhiiiHAekokic Society.— The first concert given under the auspices of the abore society will be held to-morrow evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, G-eraldine. The programme is a long and varied one, and comprises songs, glees, part songs, quartettes, and pianoforte duets. The society has been preparing industriously for the coming concert, and as they have had several good rehearsals those who attend the concert next Wednesday evening will get a treat. The Chinese at Home.—' The cruelty of the Chinese is,’ says the Foochow Herald, ‘ beyond conception, and it is galling to observe almost daily instances of barbarity in which it is impossible to interfere. Early on a recent morning we witnessed with sadness and horror an unfortunate native (who was unable to requit his pecuniary liabilities) dragged to the side'of a pond in the sequestered spot behind the Santon Club and brutally kicked to death. 'Remonstrance was useless, appeals of no avail, and our endeavours to rescue the unfortunate victim were met by gestures that a similar fate awaited us if we persisted in interfering. Thus were we, involuntarilv, witness to a foul sold-blooded murder, and powerless to rescue a human creature.

Blub Ribbon Dbmonsteat i on in Tikihu —The Blue Ribbon Army, held a grand demonstration in Timavu on Friday last. The greater number of the people taking part in the demonstration were from the country. About one o’clock a conference of delegates was held in the Primitive Methodist Church, of which Mr J Thompson, of Pleasant Point, was appointed chairman. Mr W B Barker and the Rer Mr Slooombe were present, the latter a delegate from Christchurch. After a’sharp discussion, it was resolved to form a Union of all South Canterbury with a representative Executive Committee. The election of officers resulted as follows : — Rot Mr McLennan President; Bros. Sando and Bar ker, Vice-Presidents; and Bros. Graham, Petter, Proctor, Cooper, D Anderson, and Haggett, Committee men, with the addition of others to be chosen by the country societies. At five o’clock a procession was formed at the Barnard street hall, and headed by the Tirnara Fife and Drum Band marched through the town 400 strong. At the tea mealing fully 500 attended, and the public meeting held afterwards also drew a good audience.

Thb Timabu Athletic Club’s Sports.— The following is the conclusion of oar report of the Prince’ of Wales Birthday Sperts at limaru on Friday last Running high -jump ; Ist prize (£1 10s) Rae, sft 7in; 2nd prize (15s) Heney, sft sin ; Wrestling (Cumberland style) ; Ist prize (£3) J Donovan ; 2nd prize (£2) T McAuliffe. Thb Cblket Curb. A correspondent sends the Australasian the following mode of preparing celery as a cuie for rheumatism: — ' The celery should be cut into bits, boiled in water until soft, and the water drunk by the patients. Put new milk, with a little flour and nutmeg, into, a saucepan with the boi!ed ; celery, serve it warm with pieces of toast, eat, with potatoes, and the painful ailment will soon yield. I have suffered many years from rehumatism and, with others, can assert that this remedy is as often effective as it is simple.’

Suicidb.— Flora Webb, wife of Dr Webb, committed suicide at Dunedin, bj cutting hei* ' throat on Friday morning. She came to town about throe weeks ago, and had been living in private lodgings. Dr Webb came from the countrv a day or two ago, but finding bis wife in liquor went to live at an hotel. At the inquest on Mrs Webb, who cut her throat with her husband’s surgery knife, a verdict of ‘ suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity induced by depression was - returned. The evidence showed she had been drinking, though she had always appeared quite cheerful, and was so the previous 1 LOCAL AND GENERAL. | evening. -

Fatal Boat Accident. A sad boat accident, resulting in the death of three men, oooured at Napier on Saturday evening. Captain Setton, of the ship Pleiades, bow laying in bay, with a crew of four men went ashore for the first mate. There was a nasty : ripping sea on the bar, but they arrived safely and started to return with a crew of six. A nasty sea was running, but the cap* tain gave orders to start. On the bar a sea struck the boat broadside on and capsized her. A man named Eraeft and Captain Ton- • quin, of the barque Langsdone, immediately started for the rescue, and the pilot’s boat was on the scene of the accident within three 1 minutes. Only three men, the captain and two A.B.’s, were saved, the first and third mate and one A.B. being drowned. The Metropolitan Show —Despite .the; somewhat unsettled weather, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show at Christchurch on Friday was a great success, the attendance being over 18,000, and the receipts £903. The exhibits were—Sheep 410; cattle, 182; horses, 205 j pigs, 56 j dogs, 1 23; dairy produce, 129; implements and carriages, 433; New Zealand manafactures and wool, 95; total 1533; exceeding last year by 314. The Governor was presented with an address by the committee, and made the following reply : —‘ Gentlemen, —I thank , you sincerely for the loyal sentiments expressed in your address, which you have just now presented to me, and for the very hearty welcome with which you have greeted me bn the occasion of this my first visit to the annual exhibition of your association. I feel it difficult, adequately, to express my sense of the importance of the work in which you are engaged, or my appreciation of, the. success which has attended your efforts. I cannot, like His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales in the Old Country, claim the honor of being an exhibitor here; but I nevertheless take a warm interest in your proceedings, and I trust that so long as I remain a representative of Her Majesty in New Zealand I shall enjoy the pleasure and advantage of being present at your succeeding annual gatherings. W. F. Drummond JibtoiS, Christchurch, 6th November, 1883.* His Excellency then said: Gentlemen —So much as regards my formal reply to your address, 1 should under ordniary circumstances have reserved anything further I have to say till I had the pleasure of meeting you at luncheon at 1 o’clock to-day; but most unfortunately lam suffering from a severe cold, and, therefore, I must ask you to kindly excuse me from being present at the luncheon; I desire to take this opportunity of expressing the extreme pleasure which I experienced yesterday in going round this show. It is such a show as I never before saw in Australia, indeed ft exceeds most shows in the Old Country. I doubt whether the Highland Show, or the Royal Agricultural Show can put in a better appearance than the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Show. I heartily wish you success, as with your sueccss is bound up in a great measure the success of this magnificent colony, and in common with all true New Zealandero, I hope you will go on from strength to strength, till we see millions occupying tbs place of the hundreds of thousands now occupying this land. (Cheers.) In sheep the N. Z. and A. Land Co scored the highest number of points, and Mr W Boag took the prize for the largest number of points in the breeding cla-ses ('ollectivoly or singly) of horses, cattle and sheep. In wool the Smithfield wool from the wool works carried nearly all before it.

The Geraldine poundkeeper, Mr W C Andrews, announces tke sale of a horse next Friday. Tenders for the lease of the Geraldine Dairy Factory paddock, and for the whey close to-morrow. Messrs R Wilkin and Co, auctioneers, Timaru, will hold a sale of skins, fat, etc., on Wednesday next. Mr W Budd has a 4 roomed house to let on the Geraldine Road, opposite Mr Deßenzies. Four acres of land can be bad with the house. The Temukn poundkeeper advertises that he will sell a red and white bull calf at the pound to-morrow if the same is not previously released. Mr W S Maslin, auctioneer, Geraldine, will hold a clearing sale of sawn timber at the sawmills of Mr James Fergusson, Woodbury Gorge, on Thursday next. Particulars will be found in the advertisement. Mr K F Gray, auctioneer, Temuka, will hold his monthly sale of stock on Friday next. Entries may be made up to date of sale. On the 23rJ inst. an the premises, be will sell the' auction rooms and office opposite the Crown Hotel and a quantity of furniture and effects! ■' Messrs Gabites and Plante, drapers, announce that they have received (ex Hnrunui) ■ a large stock of men’s and boys’ clothing, which they have now opened. They quote the prices ef some of the lines, in their advertisement.