MEETING OF FARMERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1489, 6 April 1886, Page 3

MEETING OF FARMERS.

The meeting convened by Mr Leesmitb, representative of the Farmer’s League, to discuss the question ef State intervention between the mortgagees and the financial

companies, was held in the Timaru Assembly Booms on Saturday at 2 o’clock. The attendance was not so large us (he importance of the subject at this time would warrant.

Mr J. Page was voted to the chair and briefly introduced Mr Leesmitb, who, be ■aid, he had known for a number of years, and who was also a gentleman of large experience in various parts of the world. .Mr Leesmitb said that, although a complete stranger in Timaru, be woald,he knew, obtain a fair and generous hearing. Ha would have liked to advertise the meeting

as under tba auspices of the Agricultural

Md Pastoral Association, but, being unable to'find tbs gentleman in Timaru who'could' give the requisite authority, be was compelled to advertise under the v auspices of the Farmers* League, a body of whom moat t qf hie audience had ’ probably never Jbefor# heard of. He ' hoped nothing wpuld be said that afternoon of a vexing or personal kind towards gentlemen connected with those institutions. It was the system they ad minis- . ttred, not .the men who administered it, thatthey objected to. He would divide the agricultural and pastoral community - into-three clsssdS. First the deferredpayment and perpetual leasing date, .second the large' runholders, and third the . email freeholders. -Mr Leesmith went bir to,point put the. effect the present depression had do these' three 'classes respectively. ~ He ; briefly reviewed the schemes of Major Atkinson, Sir George Grey, and Sir Julius 'Vogel," for dealing .. with the land in New Zealand, jHe partly. held with Sir George irey as to buying up some of the ‘ largo estates and' selling them in small farm's to %ona fid* settlers. He did net agree, however, with the plan for bringing farmers out from the Old'Country. He had asked Sir George what was to bo done for the men who, were already here, but found it impossible to keep their present holdings. Sir George’s answer, - which was to the effect that they would have a chance of getting hold of some of. these new blocks, did hot at all satisfy him. He also apoke of the Otago Central and West Coast Railways, stating that when the Otago Central line was first mooted, a great, deal was thought ' of it, bat now, after a great amount of money had been spent upon it, it was found to be a' mare humbug and delusion. !- As to the East and West Coast Bailway those.present knew more about it than be did, and could there-

fore form a more; correct opinion.

Mr Leesmith then stated that the only • : Way for the farmers of New Z-aland to obtain* just and equitable distnbstion of the. land was by forming a league, to have a central head with branches in every borough in New Zealand. They must baite united action. At the time of the

elections their power was simply nullified on account of their being bo split up. It was with the hope' of getting the farmers qf New Zealand to act together that he 'Waa . before them that afternoon. In united action alone lay their safety. At Home they did the same thing, and as soon as they adopted the principle of .forming leagues they obtained what they Wanted. If they did the same out here,

he believed they would once more see New Zealand in a state of prosperity. He bad been, well supported in Otago •ad the Southern districts and he hoped receive the same support in Canterbury. ..When!-he returned from the North he hoped ..to -be able to tell them that bis mission there had been successful and he would be happy to give them all the information that lay in his power for the formation of the League.

: Mir Agnew naked several questions, but the Chairman thought they were not iftrictjy to the point'before the meeting. ; .Mr J. M. Tworac-y said that though DOt a farntsrhowas deeply interested in alt that cohcsrned the farmers. The 'Government would have to borrow money at any rate, and he considered that it would bo more profitably employed in relieving the overburdened farmers than in constructing unproductive railways. .Mr Thomas Mitchell moved, Mr John Crawford seconded, and it was carried—- “ That tjtijs meeting supports the object of the N,JS. Farmers’ League, in obtaining by all legitimate means State intervention between financial companies and the moitgsgors as well as readjustment of State lands upon.a fair and equitable rearrangement between all parties.” Mr Young proposed and Mr Crawford seconded—“ That this meeting form a County League under the name of the ‘ Geraldine County League.’ ” Carried. The following Committee was elected ; -—Messrs J. Page, J. Goldie, T. Mitchell, J. Crawford,' Alex. Mee, J. M. Twouisy, J-, Healey, R. Kerslake, D. Young, J. jtgoew, • and F. W. Stubbs, Mr Page to be convenor. Mr Twomey proposed and Mr Craw* ford seconded a vote of thanks to the lecturer, A vote of thanks to the Chairman ter* ininated the proceedings, Wuu' “ on Coairs/'—Aik foa Vasils’ “Bough, oh Corns. 1 ’ Quick relief, complete, permanent core. Corns, watts, bunions, Kempthorne' Prosier and do., Agents, Christchurch. I Son’s Du nr thi Horn.—I'* 1 '* Bough on Bats V clears out rats, mice, beetles, roaches, bed bugs, flies, ante, ineeote, moles, jackrabbits, gophers. Kempthorae, Prosier and {toy Cfhwtohweh, l

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

The Mariposa from S«n Francisco, arrived at Auckland at 8.30 o’clock on Saturday evening. She left San Francisco on March 14th.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

[Date* from Europe to March 13th.]

The Pope has appointed Mgr. Josseno to bo chief of the Clergy in the Congo States.

A petroleum well has been struck near Suakim.

The liabilities of Princess Beline of Ypsilante amount to upwards of £BOO,OOO. Her failure is due to the extravagance of herself and late husband.

The fortifications of Metz and Strasburg are to be largely extended. The police of Amsterdam, on Match 12tb, charged with their swords and truncheons upon a large crowd of Socialists, who had assembled in a menacing way in the aristocratic part of the city, and dispersed them. A collision occurred recently between the trains on the Carlo and Mentone Railway. The train from Mentone was filled with English visitors. A number of carriages were smashed and fell into the sea. The number of deaths will, it is supposed, reach forty. Etna is again in eruption. The London and North Western Railway discharged 1000 navvies, mostly Irishmen, on the Bth March. The officers of the company explained that depression in trade made the action necessary.

Ad Immigration information Bureau is to be attached to the British Colonial Office.

Louise Hart, a rich procu r ess io the West End of London, was committed for trial on March Bth charged with providing young girls for a number of aristocrats. Early in March tremendous snowstorms prevailed in the North of England, suspending traffic on many railways. They ceased on the fourth. The Buffering among passengers on the various trains which have been snowbound was very great. Some of (he trains were embedded in snow-drifts 48 hours. The loss of cattle in transit was enormous.

Henry Labouchere moved in the House of Commons on the 4th that a hereditary chamber of legislation ia inconsistent with the principles of representative govern moot. The motion was rejected by 200 to 166.

A despatch says instructions from official sources indicates that the Queen has been parsusded to modify her determination, to remain in private. She has promised to be present at the pnblic ceremonies of laying the corner slone of the New College of Physicians, the driving of the first pile for the new Tower Bridge, and the opening of the Colonial Exhibition. She, however, decisively declined to hold a court at Buckingham Palace even for a short period io Spring. ■ The London Missionary Society have received advices from Zanzibar, dated February 24th, to the effect that two men who returned to that place from Nygena, report that they saw Bishop Harming ton with 60 men of his expedition taken out for execution.

A mob of 700 attempted to run riot in the streets of Birmingham on February 15th, and pillage the shops. The police were prepared, and promptly repressed the attempt. Sir Chas. Dilke has decided to persevere in his policy of silence in regard to the serious disclosures made during the divorce trial. He will make no explanation to the Chelsea electors.

The unemployed working men of Yarmouth made a riotous demonstration on the 15th February. . California wheat reached the lowest on record in the English market on February 17th. A cargo sold in the Mersey at 31s 6J per. quarter. It has been ascertained that the expenses of Sir Henry Drummond Wolff’s mission reached £25,000. Sir Charles Dilke has gone to the South of France, where he will remain six months. Mrs Crawford, the respondent in the Ciawford-Dilke scandal case, has gone into seclusion in Italy.

In the House of Commons on March 11th Mr Labouchere, during the afternoon debate on the Government’s Civil Service Estimates, moved to reduce the grant for maintenance of parks belonging to or used exclusively by Royalty or members of the Royal family. The motion caused a lively controversy, but it was finally carried against Government by a vote of 126 to 114. John B. Gough, the famous temperance lecturer, died on February 15th at -Frankfort, Pennsylvania. He was born at Sandgate, in Kent, England, in 1817. His father was a private soldier in the British army and served under Wellington in the Peninsula, The marriage of Eayl Cairns (Lord Garmoyle) t> Miss Adele Grant, daughter of Mr Beach Grant, of New York, will take place in London in July. London, March 13.

It is officially anounced that Sir Charles Warren will bo appointed Commissioner of Police in London; Malcolm Wood, who had been proposed for the place, being finally rejected. All the Transatlantic vessels which have arrived in the Clyde during the past few days report terrific weather on the passage. The Consorvatires of Birmingham have already had caucuses for the next general election. They have decided to otrnin content all of the seven districts of the city, all of which are now represented with Liberals.

Bradford, in Yorkshire, has liad a dog scare of a serious kind. In January a I dog ran mad through the streets, and bit 20 persons. One of them died on March 12th in terrible agony, with all the symptoms of hydrophobia. The other nineteen have consequently been thrown into a fearful state of apprehension that they may be attacked by the disease. M. Pasteur telegraphs that he is unable to send virus to Bradford from Paris. Two patients were to have- left for the latter city on March l4th. A fund has been sta'ted to defray the expenses and costs. Three hundred unemployed men held a meeting in Hackney to-day. There was also a large gathering of unemployed in Manchester.

Berlin, March 14. The Orphanage for boys in the to*n of Yorrde, in the province of Arraedge, has been destroyed by fire. Five inmates perished in the flames, and thirty > then were injured.

Monte Carlo, March 14. The stationmaster, whose neglect caused the Mentone and Monte Carlo railway accident, committed suicide at Nice, whither he had fled.

Paris, March 13. The French Government has decided to issue a loan of 1.000,000,000 francs to consolidate 616,000,000 of six year bonds now outstanding, and to reduce the floating debt.

LATEST AMERICAN NEWS. San Francisco, March 14. It was announced on the 13th that round trip first elass tickets from the Missouri to San Francisco and Loss Angelos and return, good for six months, were sold for 75 dols; round trip first class tickets from same point, good for ninety days, are 60 dols. The American wool growers are before Congress asking for the restoration of the tarriff rates of 1867, which they say gave them fair living profits, Domestic growers cannot now grow wool in competition with the English growers on Australian lands.

On March 10th the wind blew with hurricane force on the Atlantic. The steamers for America were unable to leave Queenstown owing to the violence of the gale. Ships both outward and inward bound were under bare poles.

Vicount Dupplin, heir of the Earl of Kinnoul, died at Monte Carlo, on March 9th. It is rumored that ha committed suicide owing to heavy losses at the gambling table. He was only 37 years old. MrJßroude, the historian, has declared against Home Rule. The Princess Eulalie, sister of the late King Alphonso, was married on March 13th to Prince Antoine, son of the Due de Monpeosier. The Prince’s present to his bride was a dress that cost £2OOO.

A portion of the Fisheries Exhibition buildings, in process of construction at Liverpool, collapsed on the 16th February, Several scores of workmen were engaged on it. Moat of them were recovered from the wreck with broken limbs, and sent to the Hospital. Several were killed outright. Mr Joseph Cohen, colleague of Mr John Morley, M.P. for Newcastle, writes to the Chronicle, of that city, on March 12th to the effect that Mr Gladstone has changed bis mind about an early dissolution. He will proceed with his Home Kale measures as he did with the Franchise and Kodistribution Bills.

The boiler of the tug Rifleman exploded in Cardiff harbor on March Bth. Her crew of six persons were blown to atoms, and a piece of the cylinder struck a passing Italian ship one quaater of a mile distant and killed the pilot. The well-know* Barnet, Sir Claude da Crespigny, assisted, according to his own admission, the London executioner Berry in hanging the three Nethebry murderers. He said that, as he would probably be sheriff, he desired to gam experience in order that he be prepared in case he should be obliged te act himself in the absence of the hangman. He slept in the prison all night. He fastened one of the culprits himself, and generally assisted Berry. Char'ea Russell, the Attorney-Genera.!, and Horace Davy Eos, who engineered the Mersey tunnel, weie knighted by the Queen on March Bth. Pit Percy and Lady E, S. Bly have entrusted to Professor Davidson all the private papers relating to the poet Shelley, including his diaries, and those of Mary Godwin.

The English Court of Chancery has sanctioned.the auction of the Blenheim collection next June, with the exception of the family portraits. The Rev. Stafford Brooke has formed a Shelley Society in London.

LATEST UN PUBLISHED i

The measure for the immediate expulsion of the French princes was considered in the Chamber, on March sth, and amid great excitement was rejected by 345 to 176. M Clemenceau favored the measure on the ground that the princss were conspiring against the Republic. M. de Freycinet, in reply, said, “The proposed expulsions are needless after the electoral victories gained by the Republic. France is in the midst of a commercial and industrial crisis, and the depresaihn in trade wiil not be remedied by the expulsion of princes. Let us grapple with more pressing questions. France requires calm now.” Despatches at London on March 9th states that anarchy prevails in Anam, and robbers are scouring the land. People are in revolt against the French authorities and have attacked the French troops near Hue, the capital. Thu rebels ate also advancing in numbers on Quitonos. A young student, the nephew of Jules Yerne, attempted to assassinate his uncle at Ameios on March 10. He came down from Paris for the express purpose of committing the deed, One bullet missed Verne, but the second slightly wounded him in the leg. The young man is thought to be a monomaniac. The snowfall in the North-East of Germany this winter is described as phenomenal. Railway traffic is entirely suspended, and were it not for the telegraph that part of the country would be entirely cut off from the outer world. Tbo inhabitants have been greatly harrassed by hordsof wolves, which are so bold as to enter the the villages and farms at mid-day. In Qallina Prussians are extensively boycotted by the Poles. There is a distinction made between the Prussians and other Germans.

The municipal authorities at Paris have ordered that the name of the Deity he expunged from the children’s books issued by the Metropolitan School Committee.

M. Pasteur agitates for a public subscription for the creation of ft Pans international establishment for inoculating and the treatment of rabies, at which patients from all part* of the world can be treated. Seven dogs which "were bitten by dogs that had fa tten the children who were sent from America to Paris for treatment by M. Pasteur, and which iiare been in pound ever since, were released on March Ist. No symptoms of tables had besa developed. Ho a art, u Texas editor, who thought it his duty to assail in his paper saloonkeepers and municipal officers at Kingston, had to defend himself against a pergonal attack on March 6th, and killed three man in d< ing so. Lord Dufferio, Viceroy of India, has decided to garrison Bujgnah with 16,000 troops under General Prendergast.

Military occupation and martial law will be continued unt'l November, as Lord Dnfferin does not think the country ripe yet for the eitibliahmsnfc of civil law. He has decided to send a military expedition to Shan Hill of troops forming the expedition which left Mandalay on March 7th. The British Commissioners in Burmah are authorised to secure the submission of chiefs, either by bribing or fighting them. Bail Dnfferin received a number of Chinese on February 27th at Rangoon. After 'complimenting that people for their thrift and industry, he hoped that large numbers would settle in Burmah.

A London despatch of March la says that there is high authority for the statement that England is treating with China with the view of effecting a settlement to the claims of the Chinese Government to suzerainty over Burmah, tending towards a surety to the British Government of a monoply of right to build and operate railways in China and Burmah for the transportation of troops war materials, etc. A fearful deed was committed near the Assago Mission, Kansas, on the morning of the 9th by a lad named Tom Tell, who murdered his father, mother, brother and sister, and then sought to the crime on a man whom he described as a “ low man, with dark hair cut close.” The boy swore positively on this point before the coroner’s jury,' but suspicion being awakened, a eloper examination satisfied the jurors that he alone had murdered his family. Blood was, found on his clothes and person, but he maintained a bold front throughout. On his way to trial at Erie, where he was taken to escape being lynched, he said to the driver, “ Those fellows, (the jury) tried to get me to say I did it, but I thought it best not to admit it.” The motive for such a prime by a mere child remains a mystery. Nothing was disturbed in the house, and the money and valuables were untouched.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

Mr Gladstone sent letters of inquiry to all sorts and conditions of Irishmen, asking an expression of opinion on Irish affairs. The Government proposal Jo buy out the landlords in Ireland is in substance the same scheme as that approved of by the leading members of the Salisbury Cabinet, -The amount to be raised in consuls to. expropriate landlords will be £150,000,000, involving an annual charge in each year by way of interest of £6,000,000. The expense is to be met by stoppage of Irish grants of £3,000,000, and £2,000,000 from the first charge of rent to come from Irish occupiers. The Conservatives are eager to assist the landlords, and will attend to the details of the bill, but will not oppose the measure. On February loth the Corporation of Dublin adopted a resolucion demanding Home Rule, and expressing reliance on Mr Gladstone’s promises and his ability to secure it.

Dillon, speaking in Dublin on February 16th, said “Wo are now on the eve of a National Parliament for Ireland. Wo will only accept a completed form of Home Rule. When we have that, then Irishmen will join hands with Englishmen." '

Three hundred and fifty-nine Presbyterian congregations in Ireland, numbering altogether 328,100 persons, have adopted a resolution denouncing the project of establishing Home Rule in that country. Lord Uevesey, an Irish landlord, says in reply to Mr Gladstone’s letter of enquiry that he considers the late parliamentary elections were fought on the land plank rather than on the question of self-government. He expresses the opinion that the idea of self-government will vanish when the land question is settled. The Loyalists, hs says, share in the Liberal desire to assimilate the land systems of England and Ireland. A delegation of Presbyterians presented the Earl of Aberdeen at Dublin, on March sth with na address of welcome, on behalf of the General Assembly. The address assures the Government of the unswerving loyalty of the Assembly, and insists upon the maintenance of the Union in its fullest integrity, as essential to the pence of Ireland. It declares that half a million of Irish Presbyterians will oppose to the utmost any attempt to sever the Union. Lord Aberdeen replied briefly, saying that he hoped at no distant day an era of peace would bo inaugurated in Ireland. Mr Parnell will preside at the National St. Patrick’s Day Festival in London. It is expected thi.t he will make an important speech.

DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Ihe Government has placed gunboats at the service of Tuke in hii work of relieving distress among the inhabitant* of the islands along the Western Irish Coast, Indescribable distress has been developed among the people inhabiting the Arran Isle; off Galway, who, besides having hardly anything to eat except moss and sea grass, are without fire, and often without clothing and shelter. It is not rare to find girls of seventeen or eighteen years of age kept in enforced hiding during the daytime, because bereft of every article of clothing, long ago bartered away for seed potatoes or roots, to feed the smaller children. A Fishing Inspector named Brady recently went among the miserable people to distribute the relief furnished by an organisation of the Irish police. His funds ran short on the 11th March, and ho still had so much uitiablo wretchedness to relieve that he appealed to Cusy, who is charged with the distribution of the fund raised in America for the impoverished fishermen of Achill and Boffin Islands and begged him to divert part of his store for the relief of the Arranese. This Cosy was permitted to do, and he reports that in order to save the lives of scores of people now djing of starvation in those western Islands, it is imperative that relief on a large scale be at once organised, A relief meeting at the Mansion'House, Dublin, on the 11th, was attended by all the distin. guished people of the capital, and tne Lird Mayor presided. On their orrival at the Mansion House, the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen were very lust ly cheered, and also along the route from the Castle. Lettets were read from Archbishop Walsh and others enclosing cheques amounting to £IOOO, and at the same time regretting the inability of the donors to be present. Archbishop Plunkett, Bishop Donnelly, Michael Davitt, and others spoke.

COMMERCIAL

TIMARU MARKETS,

The Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Limited, report for the week ending April 3rd as follows . Wheat—The market remains al>OQt same as lust week. Considerable quantities of milling sorts have changed hands at 3s 3d for red chaff and 3s 3£d to3s4l)d for Tuscan and velvet.

Oats—As anticipated, there has not been much doing in, this cereal during the week. Until the present accumulated stocks commence to move off, rates will be more in favor of buyers.. We quote present values Id lower all round than last week, viz,—la 9d to Is 10J for bright long feed, Is 7d to Is 9d for discolored, Is lid to 2a for short feed, and 2s to 2s 2d for short heavy milling. Barley—We have placed a parcel of about 900 sacks at 2s lid per bushel, which may be taken at present top values.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORTS’.

GBRiXDtNB. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. report sales for the week ending Saturday, 3rd April, 1886 At the Geraldine saleyards on Wednesday the entry of stock was the largest they have had for sivural months. They have to reporta better demand for stock, which they suppose is mainly due to the improvement of feed on the pastures during the last few’weeks. The total entries for the sale was 5692 sheep, 161 head of cattlo, and 36 pigs, Trices realised were : For 2 tooth crossbred sheep, fat, 6s 9d ; old crossbred ewes, fat, 5s ; crossbred ewes for breeding purposes, 3s 4d to 3s 7d ; merino ewes, lOd to Is ; good strong crossbred lambs, 3s 6d to 4s 3d ; pure-, bred E.L. rams, 3£ guineas to 6 guineas; old cull rams, 3s 6d to 7s ; pure E. Leicester ewes, 21s each. Cattle—Forward store steers, L 3 to L 4 7s 6d ; 2-yesr-olds, L2 7s 6d ; yearlings, £1 2s ; cows in full profit and close on calving, L 3 75.6d.t0 L 5 ss, with brisk demand for good sorts. Pigs for stubblmg, 10«. At Winchester Fair on Thursday we sold 1 fat cow at L 5 it s, 1 coir' close on calving at L 3 10s, 11 2-ycar-old steers at L 3 IQs, 3 do do at L2 2s 6d, 10 yearling steers and heifers at LI 6s, 22 pigs at 2s 6d to 2e 9d.

TIMARU. ’ Messrs Jonas and Bourn report for the week ended Saturday as follows

Business during the week has been fairly active. There have been no country sales excepting Winchester Fair, but private enquiries made, and a few sales effected give a little hope, and are trust that the depression that the stock market has been laboring under for so long is passing away. Wo’sold privately 526-fat 2-tooth crossbreds at 8s 6d. They were a splendid lot, but this is the highest price obtained for a long time. 746 crossbred ewes, 6 booth, at 4s 2d. Winchester Fair—Toe regular fair at Winchester was held on Thursday,' the Ist inst. There was an average number of sheep and cattle yarded, but very little business was done under the hammer. . They sold 8 well-conditioned steers at £4 16s, 2 heifers at £3 15s, a fat cow at £2l7s 6d, and 17 store pigs at 5s 3d.

Sheepskin!—They held their. regular fortnightly sale on Wednesday, the 31st ult. The sale was better attended than usual, a few Christchurch buyers being present. They had over 2000 skins catalogued, the whole of which were sold—crossbred'skins at 10d, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is ttd to Is lOd, merino do at 9d, Is Id, la 3d to Is 6d, lambskins at Is to Is 7d. Horses—They had a fait entry at their Bazaar to-day, and succeeded in selling the majority of those offered. There is an enquiry for good young farm horses, and a few would find purchasers at quotations. They quote Heavy draughts from £l6 to £22; medium do, £9 to £ls, hacks arid light-harness horses, £4 to £25, according to stamp and quality.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Adelaide, April 2.

Shipping wheal is steady at 4s 2d to 4s 5d per bushel; Adelaide town flour, £8 15s per ton.

ENGLISH MARKETS.

Loudon, April 2,

The tallow market is unchanged. The stock at present held in London amounts 24,000 casks. The third of this year’s wool sales will open on the 16tl» June. 850,00 d bales will be offered during the sales. April 3,

The wheat market is unchanged. The supply has largely increased, owing to the arrival of recent colonial cargoes. The cargoes arriving lately hav#, however, been placed in warehouses, awaiting better prices. One Australian cargo on passage has been sold at 355. April 4.

There is no improvement in the wiol market. 30,000 bales were catalogued to-day, the demand being dull and heavy. Up to the pre but 260,000 hales have arrived.