THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKI MESSENGER. “Verine sans peur.” WANGANUI, OCT. 17, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 264, 17 October 1861, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKI MESSENGER. “Verine sans peur.” WANGANUI, OCT. 17, 1861.

A shrewd though somewhat quaint writer has said, that conquest and good husbandly both enlarge the sovereign’s dominions—the one by the sword making tlie acres more in number, the other by the plough making the same acres more in value. There has been a great'deal written and said of late about the former mode of extending her Majesty’s domin-' ions ; the proceedings last week -at the ploughing match, and of yesterday in the formation of an Agricultural Association, gave''an. exemplification of, and an impetus to, tlie peaceful and more satisfactory way of effecting this object, so far as the district of AVanganui is concerned. The Bth and 16th of October Avill henceforth be memorable days in the AYaii-. ganui calendar. In some other parts of Hew Zealand ploughing matches have been chronicled for some years. Here, for several years past, such a display of the .skill of our agriculturists, and the' formation, of an Association like' that brought into existence yesterday, have been proposed and advocated, but have only now been realised. " Tlie settlers have hitherto been too much engaged iii the operations of farming on their own lands to be able to spare much time for the exhibition of their skill. How that so much of the wilderness has been subdued, it was fitting that some encouragement should be given, to those who- have been so usefully employed, and some additional inducement offered- to excellence in that pari of farming which lies at the root of all improvement. This is preeminently tlie grain-growing district of AVellington. The level and rich land of Manawatu, the- fertile valley of the Rangitikei, the wide stretch of upland, that lies between these rivers and the Wanganui, and the broad fern flats of KaiIwi and Waitotara, are all eminently fitted for the production of heavy crops of fine quality. And where the soil is of a lighter description, its being turned over, exposed to the air, and sown down in grass, is a process which adds immensely to its power of breeding and maintaining cattle and sheep. By such a process may he literally realised here what has been said of another less favoured country,—

“ Perpetual spring our happy climate sees, Twice breed the cattle, and twice bear the trees.”

- In. these circumstances the commencement of an-Agricultural Society can only be looked upon as the natural expression of a feeling that had long been cherished by o-uy-agi'iculturists, that their prosperity •and improvement would s be promoted by mutual counsel and co-operation. Scotland owes a great part of the development of hex': agricultural capabilities, and her fame- as a country in which the science of farming goes hand in hand with its practice, to the establishment of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland ; and England has been vastly benefitted by the knowledge obtained and diffused by the Royal Agricultural Society of England—-so. that now she rivals her northern sister., in, agricultural, as she has long set her an example in pastoral pursuits. ,■ No , doubt the Society ixow; .established here will be of equal importance in the 1 advancement of this district, provided the same wisdom and energy ara shown in conducting its business. The judicious selection of office bearers and committee augurs well for its success, aud we have no doubt that at an eai'ly meeting of the Association, the committee will bring forwai’d rules, aud make proposals for the discussion of quesr tions regarding agricultural matters at pei'iodical meetings, of the membei’s, and for holding exhibitions, which will fully justify the wisdom, of theirappointment. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. Wanganui ,Eaces. ; —.'•••The following horses were entered" for the Produce Stakes 'at the,Wanganui, Hotel on Thursday qye hipg last. . 4 Mr, Mussen’s. Robin Hood, aged’; colours, blue, black cap, pink sash, Mr. E.,Lewis’ k g:, Fisherman; : S.yrs old ;• colours, blue, with pink slee.ves J black cap. Lieut. Zewis’ u. c.m. Kitty., aged colours, Hue and’ white striped jacket, black cap. .Mr. A. Cameron’s -he Don John, colours, blue, black cap, Capt. Blewitt’s b. h. Gipsy King, 4. yrs., colours, blue, white ‘

Ploughing Match. —-Thecurtailment of our report of this match last week, in consequence of the arrival of the English mail prevented us from mentioning that

tlie. set of barrows so fcehfcfcolisl/ given nil? competition by Mr, R'. Gray, was gained by David Moriison, wbo took the first prize given to-tlie bullock teani3. )V , , GARRisoN .Blih.—Tite Officers of t.lid Garrison gave, a ball, to the inhabitants last Fi'iday eveniiig: which was numerously ‘-•hew--- ball• room in ' the Commercial Hotel was used for the occasion, ’and'although about 100 were present, there was no overcrowding. The arrangements and courtesy of the hosts gave universal satisfactionaud the very excellent manner in ''which Mr. Howe, the landlord of the hotel} - performed his part in contributing .to the comfort of the company was no doubt thoroughly appreciated. Tlie musicians of the 57tli and '6sth also did their part well, and regret was felt when . the too quick return of the rosy morning * broke up the party.

RAHGITIKEr. Flour Mills.-— Mr. Hammond’s water mill on the . Pore wa stream is hard at work again, carrying out his contract to supply tlie troops quarfered in AVanganui, with flour. It is satisfactory to find that one mill is by; no means sufficient to supply this rapidly increasing district; already another settler Mi*. Galpin, has imported a second, and- witliin the next twelvemonths - a third* and' perhaps a fourth flour mill will be placed on the Tutinui stream, not so good a water power as the Pore wa but nearer to the market, and in a ■ more convenient locality, forming as it does one boundary of the agricultural reserve.

As steam communication creates traffic, so the putting up of these mills will encourage : arid- stimulate I, the growers of wheat, to keep them well supplied -with grist; and visitors who wandered four or five years ago over the flax and toitoi covered bushless plain and ridiculed the idea of its being laid out aS an agricultural reserve will be pleased as well as surprised now to find numerous settlers cultivating large and small farms in every portion of the' block, rapidly converting the overgrown swampy wilderness into the corn growing district—the Egypt—of the Wellington province ; for which purpose the moistness of the climate and the strength and richness of the soil make , this part of the country peculiarly fitted Arguing from the steady yet rapid progress made during the last three years, it may be safely asserted that in a few more years this will be the most prosperous and populous of all'the small farm settlements ‘ hitherto established in the province. . Maori Runs.— Runholdi'ng in the Manawatu has now become-a fact—that block is being rapidly covered with tlieflocks and herds of y stockowners in this and tlie Wanganui' districts; and-, thegovernment allows a system 'it is powerless to contend' against. Indeed under the altered circumstances of the country it would be a difficult question to decide, if, even were-it'possible, it would, be politic, to enforce that pari of Sir George Grey’s land regulations, which forbids holding of leases under natives. It must be better that the maori lands should be producing beef, mutton and wool, and supporting an European population however small who contribute- to the Customs -Revenue, than be lying altogether idle; Moreover if the purchase of lands from the maoris be considered" the chief object to be kept in view, . it, is also a doubtful matter whether the partial alienation of .the land by letting it on lease is not an important step towards its alienation in toto. But be this as it may,. one of the primary measures in the adjudication of land, questions should ■ be tlie protection of the property of these runholders, and even if the government do not deem it expedient t to confirm their long leases in the event of the maoris being willing to sell the land,- every advantage possible should be given to present leaseholders who are running great; risk and only violating a regulation whose legality as well as /policy is questionable. They should, be at least allowed; after tlie land may fall into the hands of the government a right to- occupy the tracts they now : hold, until surveyed and resold: they should also have a pre-emptive right over their homesteads at. tlie- government upset' price. So important are the interests of these runholders becoming, that, at the next election of our representatives, some such protective measures as these will be a point :on which they will, probably he pledged to-a definite action, And measures not impeding the freehold occupation of the district by Europeans,, but at the same, time giving a guaranteeto, tlie runholders that they will not be turned out without sufficient notice, or left subject to the caprice of their maori lessors, will, d.o j ustice to. ; every class. concerned. -

Resident Magistrates Court.—A, quaint old work on natural; history has one of its pages thus occupied—Chap, XIY. “ Of Owls in Iceland.” There' are no owls in Iceland. Exactly similar might be our comments under the heading of this paragraph. “ Thera was no, Resident. Magistrate’s Court this month, at Rangitikei.” , The large proportion of the cases hitherto tiled by the. R-.M. at-his monthly visits .here . have been mixed -Maori and' Eurapeans, In. the present unsettled, state of‘hnaori affairs, however 1 , English law-courts ara held by them in contemptj; they make light of summonses, and in T stead ,pf caring fox 1 warrants would proba-. bly send away the constable who attempted to enforce them in a state of distress himself. Therefore Major Duxle’s ride of 30 miles - to such defendants as . these would be a. .useless trouble.' Indeed until its decisions can, be enforced 1 we should;: rathei*. see a court whose edicts once had power but now have none:among these maoris "removed. 4

altogether -.from: their . neiglifiouiffid'dfi';; and, its sessions 'held at-.Xtirakina for trying cases between > : Europeans ' only. The distaiice would not he rriuclu -greater for the’majority 'of'-the inhabitants of the district, and the magistrates would be spared ; s the insults which ; outlaw maoris clustering -round- his court house door offer to.his authority and office. As yet a desire has been generally manifested among men of any influence bptli among the maoris and Europeans to ayoid any collision various little disputes have been settled satisfactorily without appealing to the officer of the law. But it is to be hoped that this living on sufferance may soon be put an end to, and the supremacy of the law re-established.

Sir George Grey has much to do, and in his maori legislation it is to be - feared that, though fitting measures may not be. wanting, the men requisite to cany out with firmness, boldness, and consistency the measures adopted, and men moreover acquainted with the maori language will not be forthcoming to meetthe demand..

- - TJANGiiucEr -and. Turakina, . Agricultural ;/Association:. /i meeting was held yesterday afternoon in the Rutland- Hotel for the purpose of forming an Agricultural Association. It was.well attended.. ' . hir. Harrison was called to the chair; and . having read the advertisement.calling the meeting, said, that several attempts had been made in the province of .Wellington to form an agricultural- Society, feu„t they had all failed, he supposed because those those who euro Vied themselves as members either took no interest in them, or-'were too much divided iu opinion as .to the mode of . conducting, them.. All admittedvthe usefulness and desirableness of. such- societies ; but unless in our district those who formed themselves into, a society, wore willing to work for its promotion-and- success, it would, be altogether useless to appoint a committee or take any preliminary steps. He hoped that, those present would co-ooperate; and do what they could for the prosperity of the association.. They were all impressed, with a sense x of its importance.. It was what they had long .wanted —a society to forward agricultural pursuits to obtain and diffuse information and to improve our breeds, of cattle and sheep. Mr. Watt "said, tliat after the demonstration that had been made last week, at the ploughing match, he had no doubt of their doing. better than the societies mentioned by the chairman. There was no doubt of the success of the association if properly established, and.he thought that in forming their committee they ..should choose "men having .'a. practical acquaintance not only with agriculture., but with the. working of such .societies at home—such men for instance as Mr. Alexander Williamson.

Mr. A/ontgomery thought, that, they should first elect a president and officebearers, and that in choosing the first they should pay attention to the claims of those who had been long settled in the district, su:h as their respected chairman or Capt. Campbell. : . After some conversation regarding-the mode cf carrying font the object of the meeting,. the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to : I. That this meeting approves of the. formation of an Agricultural Association in connexion with this district, and hereby forms itself into such an Association, 1 ' the' membership of which shall be constituted by an annual subscription of £l. Is, and shall proceed to efcct office bearers, and a committee to draw out to. be ; submitted to. a future meeting of the society; - • ' • ■' , 11. That the office bearers of the society shall consist of a President; two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. 111. That the committee shall consist of seven members of the Association, three to form a quorum. The office bearers were then elected as follows: President—Mr. Harrison, of Warrengate. Vice-Presidents—Mr. McWilliam, New Seat. Mr. Cameron, Marangai. Secretary—Mr. E Lewis,. Wanganui. Treasurer—Mr. Geo. Roberts, Wanganui, Members of Committee —Messrs. Thos. Kells, A. Williamson, Montgomery, Durran, Handley, T: B, Taylor, and Jas. Alexander. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated. Of those present 22 were enrolled members of the Society.