The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 301, 14 June 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1898.

♦ It is a recognised fact that men who are in the habit of telling Munchausen stories by constant repetition arrive at the stage of believing them. This is probably the case with Ministers and their followers in relation to the progress of land settlement under the regime of the Hon. Mr McKenzie. The Hon. 0. F. Richardson has for some years past been in the habit of analysing the figures upon which this belief is based. He has continued his task and brings his work down to the end of 1897. His figures show as follows : The net result for the year 1890 was 1822 selectors who entered into occupation of an aggregate area of 352,914 acres. Pie points out that the acreage increased each year up to 1894 ; but the number of selectors did not increase in proportion. In 1891 and 1892, there * was an actual falling off and since 1894 the decline in both respects has been continuous. in 1894 the selectors numbered 2213, and the acreage taken up was 561,816. The next year the number of selectors was 1596, and the acreage 264,291. In 1896 the selectors were 1497 and the acreage 132,100, In 1897 there were only 800 selectors,with 77 464 acres. These are the net results for the different years. The applications were much more numerous. Mr McKenzie has of late made a prominent feature of the figures, showing the number of applications ; but when we look at the tables we find under the heading forfeitures and surrenders figures, which show conclusively that the number of applications is not a reliable guide as to the settlement which has actually taken place. In 1890 there were 212 forfeitures and surrenders involving 48,540 acres. In 1891 the forfeitures were 200 of 56,502 acres. In 1894 the forfeitures were 236 and the aban doued acreage 106,195. In 1895 the result was somewhat worse. In 1896 there were 938 forfeitures of 226,132. In 1897 the forfeitures numbered 816 of an acreage of 226,132.

Mr Richardson points out that the 816 forfeitures last year, involving 226,132 acres, do not mean that 816 persons who had settled on the land had thrown up'theirholdings. They never went on the land and the majority never intended to do so They applied for sections on lease in the hope that they would draw an exceptionally good lot and he able to realise a profit on the transactions by transferring to a would-be bona fide settler. If unsuccessful they simply paid no rent and their sections were forfeited. The result of the ballot system has been that the eyes have been picked out of every block offered for selection and the inferior land remains in the hands of the Government. The figures were taken from official returns, - and are, or should be, indisputable. It is not creditable to Ministers that they should by enumerating l»ogus applications and keeping in the back ground the number of forfeitures and abandonments, have created a false impression as to the facts of the case. The figures are given in the returns, but how many electors who attend meetings take the trouble to analyse them, or for that matter have the opportunity to do so. That is our principal reason for giving an epitome of them.

Ministers have asserted with great persistency that the abolition of the Property Tax had emancipated 8000 farmers from taxation, and that the major part of the burdens had been placed on the shoulders of those best able to bear them. The following figures go to show the position in this respect: —In 1889 the " classes " paid in Property Tax £373,830. For the year ending 31st March, 1898, the Land Tax yielded £267,286 ; Income Tax, £115,210 j Property Tax, £lO ; total, £382,506, an increase of £8676. In 1889 Customs Duties yielded, with a population of 616,052, £1,459,608, being at the rate per head of £2 7s lOd. Customs duties, 1898, with a population of 720,000, yielded £1,935,251, or at the rate of £2 15s per head, being an increase per head of 7s 2d. Let us see what this means. A family of five now pays in Customs duties £1 15s lOd more than was the case'prior to the 1895 tariff', which according to Mr Seddon was only introduced to remove anomalies in the tariff. To follow up the deductions to be drawn from the figures, they show that for every £1 of increased taxation drawn from property owners or persons with settled incomes the people living by their labour provide £53 13s. In these are included of course the farmers working on their land. This may not be pleasant reading for the supporters of the present Ministry the people's Ministry—but they are correct nevertheless.

At a meeting of the Hunt Club held at Cambridge on Saturday it was decided to hold the regular meets on Saturdays, instead of on alternate Saturdays and Wednesdays. We remind those interested of the clearing sale to be held by Mr W. J. Hunter at the residence of Mr 1). Maclaren, Ohaupo, to-morrow (Wednesday), commencing at 1 o'clock.

The quantity of milk received at the Hamilton Creumeay for the month of May when the factory was running 14 days was 2679 gallons. The creamery is now closed down for the season, and Messrs Jones and Runciman have left for their annual holiday.

At present Mr C. F. Potter is in charge of the post and telegraph office at Hamilton during Mr Long's absence on holiday. Mr Potter is a son of Mr A. Potter, a former residcut iu Hamilton, and many of his friends are glvl of the opportunity of renowiug past friendship?.

Mr W. J. Hunter has received instructions from the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Auckland to sell at his Ohaupo sale on Tuesday, 20th September, at 1 o'clock, all that parcel of land in the Patetere North Survey District, containing 71 acres 2 roods and 20 perches (more or less). Full particulars are advertised in his column.

In our reference in Saturday's issue to the turnip grown by Messrs Starr and Green, of Ngaruawahia, we stated that the seed and manure was supplied by Mr T. Paterson, or agent for Messrs W. S. Laurie and Co. This we learn is so far incorrect, ns Mr Paterson is not agent for Messrs W. S. Laurie and Co. The seed and manuie were supplied by himself.

Mr Wm. Dey, chairman of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, has given notice of a motion to come up at next meeting, dealing with the appointment, instruction and examination of probationer nurses at the hospital. The motion will come up for discussion at the meeting to be held on Thursday next. The proposal is on the lines of the scheme followed at the Auckland Hospital.

On Friday last (writes our Kihikihi correspondent) Mr Coroner Gresham and a local jury of six, with Mr Mainwaring as interpreter, proceeded to the scene of the burning of the old native (Karipa), and an inquest was held. Several native witnesses were examined, and a verdict of " Accidentally burnt to death, with no evidence to show how the lire originated," was returned. Constable Carroll acted for the police.

We note that Mr Harker, jeweller of Cambridge, has removed into the new shop on the other side of Victoria-street, which he has lately fitted up. The new premises have been very tastefully prepared and the plate glass window serves to show the goods to advantage. The alterations have been done by Mr Pettigrew, and certainly do him credit. An adjoiningshop has been similarly treated, and we have not the slightest doubt but that Mr Harker will soon find a tenant for it.

The rise in the price of flax is already putting mill-owners on the qui vive, and more than one mill that has been silent for years will soon be at wouk again. At Hamilton Mr I. Coates has workmen engaged in putting his mill in repair, and work will be commenced at the earliest possible date, probably the beginning of next week. No doubt advantage will be taken of the long continued spell of dry weather to deal with the green flax iu places which have been hitherto inapproachable.

On Sunday morning Mr William Henderson passed away at his residence «,t Frankton, at the nge of 47 years, he having been suffering for some considerable time past from an incurable internal complaint. Deceased had been employed for a number of years on the railway, where he had proved himself to be a good workman, and had by his industry and thrift provided a comfortable home near Eraukton. He leaves a widow and six children to mourn their loss, and we offer them our sympathy in their affliction. The funeral will leave his late~residence for the Hamilton West Cemetery at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

An interesting experiment is being made in Brazil, in the hope of making up the loss the country has sustained through the fall in the value of coffee This is the cultivation of the grape, which is being urged by Dr. Barreto, a well-known Brazilian agriculturist. On his estate at Pirituba, in the San Paolo province, the doctor has succeeded in growing 600 varieties of grapes, the cuttings having been procured from all parts of the world. In almost every case the fruit has turned out superior to the products of the parent country. In March an exhibition was held iu Rio, and some 300 specimens were on view, comprising grapes for the table as well as for the winepress.

On Saturday afternoon last a young man named Harrison was brought down by train to the Waikato Hospital for admission. Harrison, whose friends are believed to reside in Auckland, was working with a railway gang ou the Rotorua section somewhere near Putaruru, and we understand that while removing some iron on a trolly a portion of his clothing became entangled in the wheel. The unfortunate man was thrown heavily, and while he was endeavouring to get clear the wheel passed over his arm in a slanting direction, crushing it to pieces. On arrival at the hospital amputation was found necesary, and the injured member was successfully removed by Dr. Kenuy. On making enquiries late last evening we were p'eased to hear that the sufferer is progressing favourably.

The Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company closed down for their annual overhaul at the end of Mby, and appended are figures relating to the season's operations. The company began slaughtering on the 16th November, 1597, and clo3cd down on the 25th May, 1898, for the winter overhaul. During that period the following quantity of stock was dealt with :—466,729 sheep and lambs for freezing, and 80,805 for preserving and boiling down. These figures show a total increase of 129,201 on those of the corresponding period last year. The principal increase was in preserving and boiling down aheep, the figures in this department being, as stated, 80,805 head for this s< ason, as against only 9443 tor the previous one. At the time of stoppage there were about 53,000 sheep and lambs in store, which will be shipped per Kaikoura, Matatua and Waikato. It is intended to resume operations on Monday, 13th June. The season just closed has been a record one for the works, the number of sheep end lambs killed being about -15,000 more than was slaughtered during the winter and summer seasons of 1896, and comes very close to the slaughtering for the whole of 1897.

Commenting on the Hon. J. MoKerzie's speech to his constituents the Christuhurch Press says :—As to the statement, about the Bank of New Zealand, surely never before was such an extraordinary Ministerial deliverance made about so important a subject. Briefly put, Mr McKenzie's statement amounts to this, that the Government have resolved again to wony the bank and unsettle the minds of ifs customers, but at present they have not the remotest idea what shape their interference shall take. Either, says Mr McKenzie, the bill of last tession " or another one " will be introduced. Either they will propose more CJovernrreut representation on the directorate or else they will get quit of the bank altogether by selling it to a syndicate. He himself is in favour of the latter course. Syndicates

have a sinister sound in connection with the present Government, ami for this reason, if for no other, the public will watch very closely any proposal lo sell the bank to such a body. Everyone must admit, however, that already the connection of polities and the Government with the hank has been most unsatisfactory, and the importation of more Ministerial nominees on the Hoard will merely increase the chances of political corruption being allowed to interfere with the legitimate management of the bank.