PORT ALBERT.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 140, 8 April 1892, Page 2

PORT ALBERT.

[PROM our own correspondent.] The long’ looked for rain has come and things are looking quite fresh, and it has come in time to save what small amount of grass was left by those wretched crickets. We a,re also glad to see the district going ahead in the building line : there is quite a mansion being built opposite tdic Post Office by the energetic engineer of the Rikan mill. All is being done in his spare time. We hope soon to sec a few more going up ©n the section of land held by a few of our young men. I was pleased. Mr Edito.i, with the way you wrote a short time ago in reference to the export of Baulk timber. It does seem a shame to see so much of the best timber going away and only the rubbish sent to the mill to be cut up. But then, there is another side to be considered, and that is if you stop the export of the baulk timber you might just as well stop peojDle from sending their wool or kauri gum direct home. One I think is just the same as the other. Wb have factories here to work it up just the same as we have to cut the timber. Again the people on the other side are more patriotic than we are in New Zealand and they would retaliate on us by allowing the American timber to come into their ports free and so destroy our trade altogether. And then again it would not be to the interest of anyone owning a small quantity of timber as it would place them at the mercy of the mill owners, as perhaps it would not pay them to charter a ship for the amount would not make up a load, and then they would have to let the mill owners have it at their own price, whereas at ihe present time there being a fair demand for Baulk timber if one doesn’t give the price they can try another. I hope, you wont let the matter drop as it is a subject that requires some ventilation. Our shipping looked quite busy on March 30th as we had no less lhaiUtbree large vessels and one steamer in port. The Won cm a, barque, has left for Sydney with 340,000 feet baulk timber, and the three-masted schooner, O lii to or, has arrived from Auckland to take her place at the wharf. • Captain Rive has got his wife on board and a nice lady she is, always ready to speak to anyone about the mill, quite a contrast to some of the Captains’ wives. The 'W. C. Wentworth gets on very slowly as she is waiting for timber, none of the logs being suitable, but we hope she will soon be supplied as it is a pity to see a vessel lying so long, and it gives the port a bad name. There is great disappointment over your cricketers not coming down, early in the reason the Aratapu Club promised us a visit at the end of the season. Some people uncharitable enough to say that your players are fright e-nod to come down ; but of course that is all bunkum.

Our Footballers hold a meeting on Friday evening, Ist April, to start a Club. .-p. The Fort Albert Mutual Improvement Society met for the usual weekly meeting on Saturday", Mayffti"26th. the Vice-president in the chair. There was a. attendance of members and friends, and the following programme was gone through : —-Reading, Miss Flatly Isong:, £ lf The Waters Could Only Speak As They Grice ; reading, ‘ The Dignity of Labour,’ croft; song, Mr C.'WalkeE;recitation, ‘ Othello’s Mr Mander ; reading, ‘ Living for a Furpose.’ croft; reading, ‘ The Lay of'the Last Minstrel,’^| M. Gubb.