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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3857, 10 May 1881, Page 2

Possessed, pf .^beneficent climate, and *ndbw€d with magnificent soil, the won^ derjs tfcatNew Zealand is not already one dfthe greatest fruit producing countries in the world, Pur early settlers did not pay much attention''to tfepiopagatioti of fruit trees, and New Zealanders of the ■day arje similarly regardless of the future. The question is one of greater importance than may appear on the face, as' the extensive establishment of jam and fruit* preserving manufactories throughout' the colony would be a source of great wealth besides* employing labor. From no less an authority than the New Zealand Government's return of imports and exports we learn that, for the year 1878 the enormous sum of £129,297 went out of the colony for fruit jams, etp.:—For bottled and preserved fruits, £3#)5; jamss and fellies, £49 ¥ 490; drfed>uite, £^7,97 ; green fruits, £67,445 ;' making'a total of £129,297. Of course something like £10^00 may be deducted from this amount for tropical fruits, leaving the enormous sum of £119,297 for fruits and jams, which could be easily produced in the Colonyjf the people were determined to take up this rery important branch of trade with energy and a will to overcome all obstacles. Of this sum' pf £119,297 the following amounts were sent to the neighboring colonies: To New South Wales, £27;118; tb Victoria, £16,338; to Tasmania,. £6*3,535. The balance to England, America, SouthSoa Islands, &c. Thus our sister colonies... are enriched annually by the sum of £106,991. (tuking the imports of 1879 as an average), of Which £100,000 at least eoiild be saved to New Zealaud. Different districts could make a particular fruit its-speciality, and

endeavor to excel in the art of preserving it or converting it into jam. Oil the Thames, for instance, peaches wotild, no doubt, be the staple production.

Sic Geobcw o BB y Intends shortly to I address a pa bl'c meeting in Auckland. Bpecitlat.)K9 are reminded thafc tickets for Stapleton-u consultation on the Timwu race. should be parchased from the agent, Mr Charles MeLiver tbis evening. We direct attention in Thornton, Smith, and ■SfrJV*.prices cuwent- „.-./•.-.*. - ."-- cA statutoby meeting of the Borough Council wns h'ela at noon fo-day, for the purpose „.<>f, examining,, and confirming Jh*, Council Balance sheet. Madame Lotti WitMOTT notifies that she will lecture on Sunday, •vening, the 15th iitftant, B t the A^ain^'P* 1"8^ her subject being " Forbidden fruit." Ibis lady has been writ received throughout New Zealand, and > spoken of as a talented lectureas, a little advanced perhaps in her views, but an earnest and defce. mined Joe to,many of the abuses of society of the Vpfe*?l^ da| # Sh* will' hold spiritualist seancis during hPtr stay on the Thapps, to which admission will be charged at the rate of,ss per.£icltet, or six tickets fora guinea! '..'■' Mb Bm f*!• #f •«»«*f« d«i- b J Mr Lawjry as accountant^* the Bank of New Zealand here. Mb C. Bow* desires to return thanks to Mrs Bbwbottoin for the present of a handsome chess-board made by her to the Shortland Fire Brigade. The Wairoa Reception CuUiaiittee bare decided to baud over the balance of the funds in their bands, £3 14* Bd, to the Ladies' Benevolent Bociety. ; ,• t A CABlßfti AM says:—News hes been re* eaived that several riots have occurred in Ireland over the service of the writs for the eviction of tenants. The collision between the: police and people have been of a serious character. ..;.••-' . The Grey River Argus speaks of Taranaki »s r " that somnolent settlement at the foot of Mount Egmont, more remarkable for Devon* shire cream and curious family relations than for enterprise." ' . . . A beiobt is current amongst the French* men resident in Auckland that a war steamer is on her way bither for the purpose of transporting them to Fntherlund, from which they have been so long exited.!/ A large proportion pf them intend to embrfc<e the opportunity of returning to France. . ; The aeeoxd prize isthe Wanganui Sweep' on the Cup race was'won by Ernest Wilkinson, who is awaiting his tripl at New Plymouth on a charge of embezzling Government moneys. ItWa strange fact: that a similar occurrence took place n connection with North's; sweep on the Wellington Cup of 1880, the third boree being drawn by a prisoner then tervjng a hard labor sentenceWilkinson will have a nic little sum. to start life with on, bis.relense. - ,-■ rr There was a clean §heei at the R.M. Court this morning. WE.nre informed that in compliance with the often expressed wish of the'inhabitants, and at the request of the Borough authorities, the Postmaster-General has decided that the designation of the Chief Post Office here shall, from the 16th ingtant, be changed from Grahams* town to Thames. „ . „ The Saturday Advertiser speaks as follows of Mrs Hampson s—This lady, who has earned a considerable reputation as a pulpit speaker,, commenced a mission at the Garrison HaH on, Sunday evening lust, when ever/ portion of the building was filled to'the utmost capacity. The lady pbsseses a clear, musical voice of great compass, which she knows how to use to th> greatest advantage, and but for the fast that she falls now* and again into grammatical error?, her elocution would be almost perfect. She appears to be earnest and sincere in her endeavour to do good, but in our opinion the mode she adopts for that purpose is objeo° tionable in the extreme. . Like Father Henneberry, she threatens people with' immediate death in order to nigh ten them into a belief in the peculiar form of orthodoxy of which she is an exponent., This style of converting sinners cannot be healthy, and Mrs Hampson would accompli*^.more go(f(l>if abe appealed, not; to the nervous excitement, but to |he calm intelligence of her hearers.. She is a highly-giit.ed lady, «nd should turn her talents to the best advantage. It is stated oh good authority- that the claim at Blue Spur, Tuapeka, known as Morrison and Company's, recently washed up lOOOozs of gold*as tbe-reau t of o. ly about three months' work. f GiiililEs'lndustrial Exhibition of curiosities models, paintiugs, &c., which has been ex* hibited in Aueklaud during the past- three weeks, will, we understand, open here in the course of a day or two. We shall take un early; opportunity of referring again to this exhibition. ... , The Auckland amateurs, under the combination of the if Grarrick Club," intarid giving I a benefit performance in aid of the Hauraki Ladies' Benevolent Fund, at the Academy of Music en Queen's Birthday. This young dramatic clufT has on. several occasions rendered valuable assistance to various charitable institutions, and their* having responded so heartily to the request of the committee of inaha»ement of the above fund that they should give ti performance in its behalf, shows a spirit of enterprise, and evinces a gratifying desire to combine the utility of its members with , the amusement of the public, which M»K«IL eventually result in a benefit to the object in view. As to the individual members ot the club, by ill acpounts the talent is greatly above the ordinary amateur standard, and we believe, in the piece propaied (Our Boys), there is little, {.o .compare with them and several professional companies who ••star" with the corned.% Several of the ladies being old Thames favorites, and it a'so eventuating on/a holiday nighj ( .,the Academy should hold a bumper, on this occasion. A select dance will'follow, the performance. The following'is the clause in the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, to which the Royal assent has beea given:—Every marriage between a person and, b.i« deceased wife's sister which has heretofore been,., or which shall hereafter be, contracted and' solemnised before any minister of religion or Registrar . duly authorised. ,to >solemnise marriages, Ehall. be deemed to have been and. be valid and binding ; and the issue born or hereafter to be born of such marriagess shall be deemed to have been and to be born in la*ful wedlock: Provided that this Act shift not render valid any such marriage in any case where enher of the parties of such

marriage shall thereafter before the passing of this Act bave lawfully intermarried with any other penpn, nor shall the passing of this Act deprive, or be held to have deprived, any person of any .property which such person may have lawfully; inherited prior to the coining into' operation of this Act or affect any litpendens.

Wi would remind our readers of the Primitive Methodist soiree this evening.

Bt the last mail we received from Dr H. Bell, of Brisbane, Queensland, a copy of his pamphlet on "Dry Clset System, after Nature • with Difficulties in Sewerage Solved." sfei'i 8.-. 1 .a-.li uib.je.(}!.,,.upfln which .the .author hat evidently bestowed a good deal of thought, as the plan he has laid down is applicable to a large or email scale if the pen ns using it have an inclination to be cleanly-in their habits,, He makes provision for separating the solid from the liquid i efuse, and has furnished a number of lithographs made So scale of the several contrivances he employs. In this - principal of separating and. keeping separated by subsequent disposal the two kinds of refuse, liquid and solid, under whatever circumstances they may have accumulated, lies the whole secret of the success of Dr Bell's vystetn. The total cost of the various appiiancoe he uses is from 35s to 40s, the cost:of each being stated as well as a drawing of it furnished. The: Queensland Government have had the plans, and letterpressdesoription printed on a broad sheet, for the purpose of wide distribution, and being stuck up in places to be handy for reference.

Ms Bobkbt Stout, by his able lecture on the " IrUh Land Question, and the Lessons it, Teaches Co'onists," has helped to clear away the cobwebs that have obscured the eyes of numbers of our fellow-citizens, who have been accustomed to regard land in the same light as they would any other kind of property. Me Stout pointed out in a most graphic manner that land is unlike otb«r property, and that the peeple of a country must live upon it. He demonstrated that the aggregation of property in a few: hands must of necessity prove a curse, to a nation. He adduced able arguments to show that peasant propriety promoted peace, comfort, and contentment;. while, "on the other hand, monoply in land has ever been the source of misery, ignorance, and .degradation.' Mr Stout gave, it ne his opinion that the State should never part with the land, and on this point we are entirely at < one with him. The area of the land cannot be increased;. it is there for all time, and those who have been born on it should share its fruits, provided they, are industrious enough to labour on it and improve it. We do not mean by this, that, the land of a country should be divided among all the natives of that country. Such a principle would be simply absurd. But we hold that the State should reap the profits which at present fall to the large landed proprietors, and we also think that no persou should be permitted to-leas^from .Jihe State -very large areai of.land, eicept in cases where the sterile nature of the soil rendered it unfit for agii culture.—S. Advertiser.