The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1883. THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 7 May 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1883. THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

We had a lecture a week ago in Masterton on the South Sea Islands which suggested that New Zealand ought to establish an extensive trade with these groups. As this colony is the Queen of the Southern Seas, it'might be expected that we should take a lively interest in our satellites, but we fear that we are more indifferent to them than we are to the welfare of antipodean realms, We were told that we ought to cultivate specially fcho Tonga group, but if a hundred persons in this district were asked what was the name of the principal island in this cluster ninety-nine of them would have to consult a cyclopedia to find out that it was Tongataboo, We learn from our own work of reference that the dwellers in this group number 25,000 persons who are well educated and are nearly all Christians. In point of population we are their superiors, but in other respects they appear to have the advantage of us. We were informed that it was desirable that we should export to this community and others of a like character our surplus produce, and take in exchange oils, fibres,-and sugar. 'We are probably not particularly anxious about getting rid of our produce now we have opened up in London a regular and remunerative market, and we could not possibly make a profit out of fibres unless, as the lecturer suggested, we should manufacture them. It is no' matter of life and death that we should force the growth of. new industries in New Zealand. The hundred thousand or so of males who constitute the working population of this colony are better off as. occupiers of land than they can possibly be as toilers in a factory. In sugar too, we cannot expect to make much, Sugar in "Colonial pliraze" means money, and no doubt the educated and christianised Tonga natives understand the exact value in pounds shillings and pence of a cargo of this particular product, and any profit to be made in a bargain with them would be a very modest one. If New Zealand were over-populated, if its merchants had more capital at their disposal than they could profitably invest at home there would then arise a necessity for cultivating Tonga, and fraternising with Tongataboo) but we bow that vie are short-handed in New Zealand; and that' all the money our merchants possess is insufficient for the trado which they have undertaken within the limits of the colony. As yot New Zealand will-not listen to the voice (of the., charmer who paints the possibXtradeiglories of, the South Sea Islands." TKe day,no doub't, will come

when Now Zealand will have -means and leisure to link with its fortunes the productive :islea which istud thepceaii around her; but at present:' we?have wje catido t» hold A;slow and sure growth m: a colony like New Zealand is healthier andraore permanent in its: character than a forced and speculative career,

The Gteytown School Committee meet on Tuesday evening, .; V ■To-morrow.availing the usual oompany drill of the Qreytown Bifles takes place, after whioli a meeting will be held' to ballot for election of officers and other business in connection with the Corps.

Mr George Beelhara invites the electors of Wairarapa North to meet him at the Theatro Royal Masterton on Saturday evening next.

A Maori tangi was hold on Saturday morning at Papawai, on the. occasion of he death of an old woman. ' A great number of natives were present, on account of the native meeting. On Saturday last a new Board for the Castlepoint Highway District was elected without a contest in a single ward. Mr' James S. Langdon is deolared duly elected for No 1 ward, Mr Thomas W. Telford for No 2, Mr Hugh Bellis for No 3, Mr John Williams for No 4, Mr Thomas Maokay for No 5. Although these gentlemen have had a walk over'it is evident that the right men aro in the right place. Mr Edward Potts, formerly of this district, has been appointed manager to the Ashurat sawmill, the property of the B, and 0, Aid Association. Mr Wardell, E.M., sits at Featherston to-da?.

On the occasion of the Druidical Feto at Mastorton, some larrikins amused themselves by destroying sume Ohineso lanterns suspended in front of the Theatre Royal. We hear that the offenders are likely to bo brought before tho B.M. this week.

Conversation lollies, with the " conversation" in Maori, is a novelty hit upon recently by an Auckland tradesman. He disposed of a ton of them very quickly, The Masterton Rifle Volunteers and the Masterton School Cadets will parade at 9 a.m. on the 24th inst. in front of the Theatre Royal, and march to the Railway station, on route for Clareville, where Her Majesty's birthday will be celebrated by tho various Wairarapa Corps.

Governor Kennedy, in taking official leave of the Queenslandeis, said: "From 1827 to 1883 I have never been a day idle, I now go home, and I will retire my own master. I retire a contented man. I go with olean bands, and not very full pockets." In compliment to Miss Kennedy ihe ladies of.Brisbane mustered in great force at, the valedictory banquet, at which the Mayor of Brisbane (Mr Groom, M.L.A.) declared that Sir Arthur had been the soundest and most constitutional Governor Queensland had ever had'

The New York Times, writing of the rabbit difficulty, says :-Why the mongoose should be relied upon as an exterminator of rabbits does not appear. In his native India the mongoose has nothing to do with rabbits, but is exclusively in the snake business. His whole time is taken up in killing snakes, but in spite of his devotion to business the snakes still constitute a large majority of the inhabitants of India, If the' mongoose is brought to New Zealand, and he can be convinced that rabbits are snakes, he will undoubtedly kill them to some extent, butthe difficulty will be to convince him againsc the evidence of his souses. He is a docile and credulous beast, as is shown by the fact that the Indian jugglers can induce him to allow himself to be bitton by cobras, but there must be a limit to his credulity; and unless thoNewZealanders can paint their rabbits the color of the cobra, and induce them to coil themselves after the manner of snakes, the probability ia that the mongoose will refuse to view them in any serpentine light. If the mongoose does not kill the rabbits, and if he multiplies as rapidly as the rabbit has multiplied, he will soon become as great a nuisance as his predecessor. In that case the New Zealanders will have to import some new animal in the hope that he will prey upon the mongoose. The jackal might possibly meet their views or they might come to some arrangement with the hyena. Thoy will probably, however, lose all heart when they find that in importing tho mongoose they have simply brought a second quadrupedal pestilence upon themselves, and will abandon New Zealand in despair. It is rather odd that they have nut thought ol the one remedy for their all-pervading rabbits. What they ought to do is to import a few regiments of white ants from Africa. These able insects can be thoroughly entrusted. They tvill eat up every living thing in the country, including the colonists themselves, if the latter do not secure their safety by temporary flight. After having destroyed all the vegetable and animal life in New Zealand the ants will themselves perish of starvation, The colonists can.tben roiurn and stock New Zealand with plants and animals of unexceptionable character, among whom they can spend their lives in peace and quietness. White ants are the only cure for excessive rabbits and mongooses, and the sooner the New Zealanders appreciate this faot the bettor,

A certain little Pharisee, who waa praying for .his big brother, had a good deal ot human nature in him, even if he was only six years old. He prayed "O, Lord, bless brother Bill, and make him as good a boy as lain."

InaDublin paper Borne time since was a biographical notice of Robespierre, whioh conoluded as follows;" Thia extraordinary man left no children behind him except his brother who was killed at the same time,"

After this week the coach between Maaterton and Castleuoinfc will be discontinued in consequence of the impassable state of the road for vehicular traffic,

The Prince of Wales who has been assisting at the celebration of the silver wedding of the Crown Prince and Princess at Berlin, has brought back with him a field marshal's baton. The event is looked upon as a- matter for triumphant congratulations, and yet it is not easy to understand why it should be so regarded. If our prince had shown any transcendent millitary talent, tho baton might very properly be regarded with pride, but in the absence of such merit the award seems something like amockery. These things are no doubt viewed in Germany hi a very different light to that in which they are seen in England, and it is therefore' right that that the baton should be received in the same spirit as that in which it was bestowed. If, as many are disposed to think, the compliment is to be regarded as an indication of a desire for a close amity between the two countries, the gift is invaluable./ Germany is moro desirable as an ally than either France orjKupsia.j and in the hope that this: interpretation is the true one/ England: should be well content.

./Fresh 'written tbiidera'are mvitedfby; the tho ; Island for 46,000 sleepers, v '■■;. We hear -that ; Detedtive ■ Ohrysial wa using highest endeavors to detect Sunday trading among the Mnsterton publioaris yeaterday, but without buccseib, :0;

I A telegram from Wellington this afternoon Buys.:—'" Sky too cloudy to observe eclipse of the sun. It has been decided that Parliament' will be called together for despatch of business on June 14th. Eclipse dearly visible at Oastlepolnt and Whangarei, At Dunedin solar eclipse totally invisible owing to cloudy weather." We hear that Miss Dunne, an accomplished, highly educated, and successful teacher, has taken Miss Best's, house, and will conduct for the future the ladies' boarding and day sohool established by' her predecessor. The second term of the current year will commence on May the 28th, Miss Dunne, we are informed, has for nn assistant a talented sister, and there is every prospeot of this seminary maintaining the prestige which: it acquired under Miss Boat's'suporintendniico. The following will no doubt be interesting to our lady readers:—We learn that the most fashionable materials for making ladies dresses for the present season aro Brocade, Satin Cloths, Checked Woollen Fabrics, Indian. Cashmeres, Vigogne Cloth, Velveteens, Stockingette Oloths, and are to bo had at the Bon Mavche „L. J. Hooper &■ Co are also showing a very, large stork of Jackets, Man ties, Four in-hand UUIGrB and Jackets, Paletots, Itidin«oto Jackets, Alpaca, Felt Cloth, Sateen, and Satin skirts, also a. beautiful stock of French and English trimmed Millinery, Hats, and Bonnets, We beg to call attentiou to their advertisement.—Advt.

A Word in Season,—Wo would call special attention to somo new black drosa fabrics for autumn wear, more prominent among these being—lst the Chevron Cloth. This is one of tho latest novelties, is all wool, and though not heavy it yet soft and warm, ami wears well. 2nd. The Crepe Cloth, in appearance is verj inuoli like tho Australian crape cloth, but ii is much more durable, and makes a very effective dress. 3rd, The Reversible do Lyon is quito a novelty, being Cashmere on oho side, and a fine Grecian cord on the .other—a charming fabric and warranted to wear well, 4th, The Watered Beige is a really handsoino-looking material quite uniquo as a watered wool fabric, and can be depended on for wear. Ladies requiring black dresses for either ordinary or mourning attire should inspect these specialities at an early date. Some of the handsomest dresses, quite pictures in their way, have been and aronow being completed to order in tho dressmaking department at Te Aro House, Wellington,—[Adyt.] .