DEFERRED PAYMENTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 22, Issue 277, 22 May 1873, Page 6

DEFERRED PAYMENTS.

(To the Editor of the "Daily Times.") Siu, — I observe that the Waste Lands Board has withdrawn the land recently advertised as open for application. It' is a p.ty that the Board ili I not in the fist instance refuse to consent to sell tiis land, as much inconvenience and sone loss must result to those who may lure prepared to purchase it. However, it is better that a few individuals should suf *er thau that a large extent of country suii ed for settlement should fall into the hai ds of a land speculating company. It ippears to be the intention of the Provincial Council to open this land on the deferred payments system, and if so offered [he> land, or a considerable portion of it, vill doubtless be taken up. But in toy opinion taking up land and successfiilly settlingit in a manner profitable to the settlers and the public, are two "fery differed things, I have resided in £hat district for a great many years, and lave carefully noted the progress of those ]who have already settled there in a small way ; and I feel convinced th^t if settlement is to result in advantage to those settling, and a general increase of prosperity, it must not be confined to the deferred payj ment system, by which an individualWi only acquire two hundred acres of Und. ; It is absolutely necessary that the small settlers should have the advantage of being near men of some capital, owning larger estates than they can themselves cultivate, and consequently giving 1 employment to their humbler neighbors* In this way only has the Tapanui settlement mado progress. Had the people there been entirely dependent on their land, they could nofc have continued to oicupy it ; and if, as is certain, many wili take up land on deferred payments who 1 have no capital to carry them on, and can f;ive no security to the lender for money they wish to b'jiTow, it follows that if tb"ey are not placed in a position to earn moiey by working for neighbors who cait pay them, they will have to atandon thoir holdings, or forfeit then for non-compliance with the law. I trust, therefore, that tho Provincial (Jouncil will not in any case attempt to Iform a very large settlement on the deferred payment system in one spot, but endeavour so to mix up the capitalist and labouring man that each may prove a benefit and helper to the other. [ Should the Council act otherwise, the whole of these lands will in a Mv years be in the possession of those out pf whose grasp it is the object of the new Act to deliver them. — I am, &c, F. W. Mackenzie.

One never knows when Americans are joking, but really the invention of the "horticultural cat" is one well worth noticing. The birds in Americi appear to be wide-awake, having jirobally taken a lesson of Brother Jonathoni Scarecrows and stuffed men, old uniforms aud weird dummies, ignorant rusijics with clappers, bumpkins with blunderbusses, fail alike to protect the crops and the strawberries from the ravages of tiie birds, so an American has hit upon tlie happy expedient of the "horticultural cat." And this is the expedient. A thin wire is stretched across the field, aloii^ which a loose string easily passes. JTo this string is attached a live cat, who runs backward, and forward, teiring at the wire, and frightening: most the small and lar<?e birds. t|io cat is provided with a sentry box in case of wet weather. If the cat gets lazy ana wearies at her work a couple of small tins are fastened to its tail. This is an (invention with a vengeance. f' The Wev. Richard Barham, /author of the " Tngoldsby Legends," whea a youth was, like his companion. Theodore Hook, fond of what is termed a "fcark," and yet he was considered a fit subject for a Church of England pulpit. I In his memoirs we learn that he oice entered the Quakers' meeting-house in/Bisliopgate street with a penny fruit Jpie in " his pocket, and seeing the frienol all silent, he exclaimed, "He that speals first shall have this pie !" old quaber immediately said " Turn that boy oat." Barham shouted > presenting thi pie to the speaker, " The pie is yourarsir.'* The next moment he found himsatf sprawling on the> p£*y.em#nk ajft& hi j£a i# &c £3itto$ v J