The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1889. A South Sea Bubble.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3202, 11 May 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1889. A South Sea Bubble.

We have beard a lot of late of a I project which seems to have found a good deal of favor at Home lately, namely; the establishment of the Imperial and Colonial Trading ComI pany. English papers and English i correspondents have furnished any amount of information about the probable first Directorate. They have further told us that the oapital of the Company is to be no less than ten millions; that it is intended to build a special fleet of steamers, which are to be larger than any at present trading to the Australasian Colonies; that the promoters of the Company expect that it will absorb most of the trade of Australia and the Pacific; that it will monopolise the New Zealand meat trade, which is to take a sudden jump to two million carcases of mutton per annum; and we are a]so told quite a long M of other things which it is intended to do,. But there are points upon.whiol) no explanation is offered, namely, Ist, whether it is the intention of the promoters that the Company shall confine itself to the purchase, transport, and 6ale oi goods, or whether it is intended to aot merely as agents, or both together; and 2nd, by what means the Company is to get the enormous trade which, it expects to possess almost at the outset ? As to the fuel point, the nape of the concern would indicate that it intends to acl as a buyer and seller on its owi: account; though thp prospectusdoof not appear to throw any further ligbj upon the subject. If the Company is formed, and intends to trade of its own account, it will, of necessity have tp establish branches and ware houses at every port of call for iti steamers, and then wait for buyen end sellers to come to it, We d( not want to frighten any Nev Zealand capitalist who may bi inclined to invest some of his span cash in the concern, but will mere!; point out that there was once i scheme, the history of which wi'llbi handed down to posterity under tin name of "The South Sea Bubble,' and that the present one appears t us to bear just a trifling resomblanc'i to it. The principle of putting trad into the hands of a big compan; appears to us to be a mistake because it leads to monopoly, am fends to prevent liberty of tra'de There are several trading compaiiie already jn exigte(|ce- ; we mean ..com paWes that buy'and Bell entirely oj their own a«obrihtr-and their par

oiplejriyaiiably.ia to get everything within grasp', 'to obqke off those wlio dp ■ not deal with them, arid to protect from opposition those.wbodo. /Concerns like these; send ia traveller over the country, whose business it is not only to ascertain the wants of, their customers, but also to visit those who do not deal with them. If the tradesman applied to does not care to come into the Company's fold, lie is straightway confronted with something like " Well, if you won't deal with us, we will soon put up someone in this town, who will;" and if he isa little unsound in his finances, he can generally depend upon having opposition in a very short time. On the other hand, if a busine'ssnian tries to establish, himself in ' a place where his line of business is already represented byaconstituentofthoCompany, and he attempts to purchase his supplies, from jhe Company, heis politely informed that" We have already one of our constituents in Blankville, and, in fairness to him, cannot supply you.". Companies of this desorip* lion aro.-evidently of opinion that competition is not the life of trade. We shall leave it to the intending investor'to solve for'himself the Becorid point',' namely how the Imperial and Colonial Trading Company expects to get the trade at the outset. For our own part, we are of opinion that trade in New Zealand is healthier now, in the hands of a large number of merchants arid the three Shipping Companies which ply (heir vessols between it and England, than it would a great Bhare of it were to pass into tho hands of a gigantio concern whoso only objects would be to crush out alt opposition aud to pay as .largo dividends as possible to.its shareholders, Monopoly, rio matter in what Bhapo it comes, is always objectionable. There is freetrade and liberty of trade, aiid'we agree with the principles of both. If the bulk of the trade of Xfew Zealand were to fall into, the hands'of a single house, we should soon see a large number of retailors bound down to sell at prices fixed for them by their masters, perhaps for their own. ruin, We have seen quito enough of the princible of binding retailers to wholesale houses to convince ub that it is very objectionable, and should therefore be sorry to see it assume undue proportions.

Rumor has it that there, have been Berious differences of late between the Colonial Secretary and the Property Tax Commissioner, The former, it'is said, expressed himself to the effect that everything relating to Road..Board elections had to be looked after by the latter, who replied that he had nothing whatever to do ■with these matters. Tho Colonial Secretary reiterated his statement, but iouhd that Mr'Sperrey firmly adhered to his own opinion. We give the rumour as we heard it, hut cannot help remarking that differences of this Irind, which orop up frequently enough over Government work, are not exactly calculated to show that every officer [has his work dearly defined.

The Colonial Secretary has sent a circular to all the Eesident Magistrates in the Colony, in which he states that his attention has been drawn "to the evils which attend the excessive use of the totalisator all at race meetings all over the colony." As a remedy he advises Magistrates to whom applications for totalisator licenses are made, to observe a number of rules which he has drawn up, To begin with, he carries the folly of giving the big clubs control over the country clubs a step further, by saying that tho Metropolitan Clubs should also decide whether a totalisator is to be/ used 'at any meeting, aud, alter giving various rules of minor importance, proceeds:— " Licenses should novor bo given to use tho totalisator at a pony raco, a trotting race, or hack race meeting; nor at a meeting proposed to bo held in an isolated plaos whero the surrounding population is not sufficiently large to furniEh a tolerably numerous attendance at the meeting," Horse racing is generally defended on the ground that it tends to improve the breed ofhorseß. It will, however, be admitted that the

gambling element far exceeds every othor at all the large 1 meetings, and that the question of breeding hi only oonsidorod. from one standpoint, namely, whether the horses running at the meeting are calculated to produce other good race-horses. From tho point ot view which a breeder of really useful horses takes of tho whole subject, it would undoubtedly appear that the trotting meetings serve by far the most useful purposo, and it slictild probably be added that the haok meetings come next. Yet theso are the very two which have been singled out by the Colonial Secretary.' Perhaps the

Colonial Secretary has no intention of smothering them, though it looks remarkably as if he considers them as something that ought to be rooted out. If ho thinks them objectionable, why does he not amend the Gaming and Lotteries Act so that the m of (he totalisator would be prohibited in all trotting and hack'races? If lio were to do that, ho would at least bo consistent; As it is, ho tries to put' his foot on the unpretentious meetings in country place's, to the advantage of thoae of the Metropolitan Clubg. As tbo Colonial Secretary himself admits, the rules he has drafted, are not binding on .Resident MagistratesVbnt he strongly recommends their adoption. ..The officers concerned .will, it is to. be hoped, exerciiee their own judgment in the matter. '

The' election bt Mr H. B. Elder to the chairmanship of the.Whareama Eoad Board should be a matter for congratulation to the ratepayers in that district.' Almost ever since the establishment of the Board its legitimate work has been seriously interfered with by factions, and the election of a olisirman was invariably the subject of a;very hot party fight, The ele'otiou of an independent member like Mr Elder to that position should do.' good deal to"" bring matters into a proper groove. Even at the last meeting there were indications of a : oharjgefor the-b'etter,,'for the business was dispoped of without undue debating, and without a display of personal feeling, ■

Mr John King, ' architect, invites tenders, to close on Friday next, for roofing and painting a house in Dixon St. Owing to the absence of ' ratepayers, the annual meeting of the Whareama Road Board, which was to have taken place on Friday, lapsed. Dressmakers are busy at the present time preparing,fancy dresses: for the forthcoming Masquerade, Ball,, to be given on Tuesday, evening next, under the auspice's,if the Ojjeratio Sooiety, Tho acceptances' to the invitations have been- 'extremely:';large,'',,anij. we are informed tho fanoy dressss'on this occasion will greatly eioecd anyttltipjuf' the kind y ej jeen'in Masterrpn. Duripp tjje 'ovenini; several limelight efec'tiyc tableaux will be displayed, and they yil), no doubt, tiaTO a very pretty effect, , :: I

:;. A. writer/ in;;the; Portjahd^;Maine, Exchange, vrhibh 1 liquor ib sold in Portland,' as fiJlows :- h The bar-kedper;was bringint! beer from a holein the wall, 1 baok of/the: counter,! Suddenly.a watoh'er rushed in and cried I "Here dey. cutiVr'~ Presto, change : In an instant the hole in"'the wall .was covored with a picture of " Washiugtbn Crossing the Delaware," Glasses' were thrown down a trap-door in the cellar, and, when the deputies enter,, the smiling clerk is busily engaged in selling Cigars,".

Anexcitin? scene took place on board the schooner Lisrnore, at Townsville, on the 20th inst, Several men were drunk, ana one, named Sheridan, attaoked tho mate, both falling down the cabin stairs during the struggle; Captain Reid went to the mate'B assistance, and the othor seamen went to assist 'Sheridan; .Both men were | severely punished by Captain Reid and the mate. Sheridan then procured a revolver, and was rashinc; about the deck with it when the cook, considering his lifo was in danger, struck him withan American axe, inflating a big gash on his temple, This quelled the row. The Canadian Art vauce says:—"On tho day following the municipal elections m Toronto not a single case ot drunkenness was before the polioe magistrates. This remarkable circumstance is accounted for by the fa'ot that the. saloons wero closed, Rooently the number of police court cases have reached as high asonehundredaday when the saloons were in full working order. We leave our readers to put' this' and ' that' together...

. The Board of Roviewers for tho Road Districts of Masterton, Upper Taueru, and Castlepoint concluded its sittings this nnrning. The following cases were heard: -Masterton Road District.— G. Blatchford, 3a lr 10p, L 432 reduced to L 400; same, 211 acres, 1,1055 reduced to' L 1030; In tho following, cases the valuations wore sustained:—Kobort Donald, 55 acres, 155b;'W. Adams, 81 aores, L 1630; P. Carr, L 699; AV. James, he 3r, LBoj J. Ewington, HOao L 1050; W. Humphries, 2ao, L 100; Emma Jeanes, 40ac, L 360 ; J. Joseph, 194a0, L 177.; J. Matthews, (ownership .sustained); H, Munro, 105 ac, L 360; A. Petersen, (ißao, LIBO j Murray Roberts & Co,, (question of area only); O.H. Osborne, L 870; N. Tone, 4ac, L 305; G. W.Woodroofe, L 1268. UppcrTauem.F. M. Ollivier, 829 aores £673 reduced to 12s per acre. The following valuations were, sustained. J, M. Cloland, 814 aores, £814; Cuff and Grnbimi, 884 no £1105; H. N. Nalder, 519a0, £lll9, R, A. Nicholls, £600; estete.ofJ. T. Rouse, iUSac, £313. Castlepoint, Rev J. C.Andrew, 18,170 ac £27,276 7s 7d; 0. F. Richardson. 2,086ii0 £3836; R. & F. Mauus'ell, 18,1505 c, £28,000, all sustained.

With a Remington type writer, Mr Frank McGurrin, a stenographic writer in Utah, recently wrote to dictation at the rate of 112 words per mmute, and when blindfolded succeeded in writing at tho rate of 105 words per minute. But to show that still more rapid work may bo dime, ho thumped away on the keys iigainet time with this ono sentence:—" Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party " andtherato of manipulation was 162 words per minute. Inn.sustained contest he fc wroto two and a quarter newspapor columns in an hour being at tho lateof 76 words per miuutfl, • j Mr J. Carpenter has several new notices in our wanted column in reference to his durable boots and shoes, The Native Rifle Volunteers aro inaugurating a grand soiree to be held at the Fnpawai mooting house on Queen's Birthday May 04th. No expense will be spared to make tho event a succoss. A Begonia Rex on view in Mrs Taylor's fruit shop is well worthy of inspection. It was grown by Mrs W. H. Beetham, and in size each leaf is about oqual to a yountr elephant's ear. Brother Sutherland, known amongst the" Gods" aB the "Hallelujah Masher" bids farewell to his Masterton friends at the Barracks to-morrow (Sunday) evening, His next etation will be Wellington, Messrs Brilt and Co,, bdvo finished their road contracts on the Mastortou to Wairaata road, Judging from appearand the whole of the work has been faithfully carried out and reflects credit alike on the contractors and the County 'Engineer, Mr C E. Bremner.

Rabbit poisoning is now in full swing on most of tho largo runs in the Wairaiapa North, and in consequonce dead bunnies can. bo counted by hundreds, Inspector Drummond aud his staff are visiting all out stations and forcing landowners to employ extra hands to exterminate the pest. To-morrow, Sunday, tho' Masterton Salvation Army Barracks will be illuminated with gas. The cost of the fittings have been subscribed by persons outside of the Army people. There will be special Thanksgiving Service tor the gift, it being the fashion with the Army to praise tho Lord for everything. At the annual meeting of the Social Reform Association it was stated that an been invitation had sent to Henry George to visit the Colony. A. resolution was passed in favour of land nationalisation. The Society has been started to consider the question of social reform, and it has already taken an active part in connection with tho sweating system. The rain whioh has been falling 6inoo Thursday night should do an immense amount of good to the country. There has been a steady fall with no wind, aud tho fcliereiu«noter outside has not goue below 55 at night, so that the rot should make very satisfactory growth. The downpour seems to be. a general one so far as tho Wairarapa is concerned, and will, no doubt, be appriciated by farmers and graziers from one end, of it to the other,

Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Literary and Mutual Improvement Society was- held on Friday evening last, tho President (Rev. W. Rowse) being in tno chair.. A very good programino of songs,-. readings, recitations, etc, was gone through, Dr D. G, Johnston delivered an instructive and interesting dissertation on the vocal chords, and also on the relative merits of physiognomy and phrenology. An address by the President concluded a very pleasant evening's enjoyment. &. novelty, in the shape of what is known as "s nap debato," or "sharp practice," has been decided on for the next meeting, whioh is fixed for Tuesday, May 21st, . .

Dbaf.-A Pokoii oured of Deafness and noises jn the head of 80 yean standing by a Simple Eemody, will «tm a dnacriptiuu of it jree to any perßod who applies to Nicholson, 175 Willianw street, Melbourne. Evidences of the .maroh 0} progress aro evinced in those days by the attempt so worthily made to bring the great body of consumers into all but direct eontaot with tho noted manufacturers.of Britain and the Continent, through the medium of the proprietor of the celebrated Te Aro House, Wellington. Not-content with having' erected ono of liargost, most Convenient and ■ Magnificent Family Drapery Warehouses to bo found this side of tho Equator, and which attracts as it should largo concourses of Customers, he seeks still further to influence the public by sending his, representatives throush the various-Country districts, to make known to the residents the manifest advantages of dealing with To Aro House, Wellington. .

All parcels will bo sent, carriage paid, to any Blation, on the Govomment and Monawatu liailway Company's Lines that may he nearest to the customer's residence, and thus country purchasers will bo placed on tho same footing as those resident in the City, and enjoy all tho advantages connected with doaling direotly with tho Impoiter, James Smith, To Aro House Wellington.-iAnvT. A representative • is now in this district and will call .upon all and sundry with patterns of Seasonable Dress and other Fabrics,, Housohold Drapery, Tweeds, Coating, Ho will take orders of Dressmaking, Tailoring, and everything conneoted with the drapery trade, and the Proprietor tats that every, courtesy will be estended to him with large numbers of orders to bo exeoutod at Te Aro House, Wellington.- - -"'Kopg'h on Cosns. :.:.".■.'-■ ABklorAVeU's "Sough on Corns." A complete, permanent cure. Quick relief and corns and bunions;' Atall chomist andDrtißfists,

:.Mt W.:l J erty vhad a show'of beef in: his Bjiopa on Friday lijght-tbat would bo: a credit 'to thb' Suiithfitfld -tuarket in London, He had;: killed/•and dressed' two ofjthe prize ftbullcfcks/vwhiolit .lio' recently purohasod fronfMr :Horefordßto6kVVnh4 ;6tt!weighirig them ho fouiid; that.eaoh turned ihe scale'at MOOIbs. It is worthy of roraark, and a credit to the breeder that they ran within a faw pounds ofeabh other. Some three months ago, Mr Pony informs us, he 'bought twenty head of rattle iroin Mr J, Stuokey, : andin taking them home one,; a; young heifer, broke away. and. .was' never heard of until three Weeks ago when she'tumed up at her old pasturaep. This same heifer was hangin? in Mr Perry's No. 2 shop yesterday, and Mr Holloway, the manager, said it waa tho best fleshed animal be had dressed during his residence in Mastertoh, It ouly-shows what a grand breed the Hereford! are when a bjast that had wandered at large for ten weeks during such a dry season as the present, when all the "long" paddooks are bare, should have retained her flesh and fat and been fit: for. the butoher's knife after, a three weeks' nursing.

The Welsh schooner Pursuit, Captain Williams, lias had a most eventful voyage of nearly six months' time from Weston Point, near Liverpool, to Carloway. The vessel left the Mersey laden, with salt in the endof September, 1888, and put into Stornaway '.on 23rd of Oct. There she remained forsmno timn wind bound, and made two ineffectual attempts to make her destination, which is only about fifty. miles distant. Ultimately she sailed from Stornaway on the 23id December last, under ohargo.of a pilot, but when near Oarloway that evening sho was caught in a heavy westerly gale which drove her towards the Orkneys and the master succeeded, after losing most of his sails, iu getting, her into Thnrso,. Unfortunately- tho mate, who, had been most reluctant to leave in the vessel, dropped down dead during the height of the gale. After getting a new supply of sails from Wales the vessel left Thurso, and advices have been received at Stornaway that she Imb now arrived at her destination. It may be stated that the exaot distance between, the place of loadinp and discharging is only about 410 "miles.

MrCunybeare, the Separatist MP., was present at a dinner of Cornishinen in London held»(the Holborn Hcatan- ' rarit, and presided over hy Mr Bolslho. M.P. The Prince and Princess or Wales i wore toasted aa Duke and Duchesß of Cornwall, and the 800 persons present rose to thtir feet and drank the toast, continuing to stand whilst "God Bless the Prince of Wales" was aung. Mr Conybeare kept his seat. Someone shouted, "Stand up, Conybeare," but' thehon. gentleman took no notice. The shout was now taken up fromall parts of the room, bur' the member for Oamborue remained in bis chair. This roused a perfect storm of disapprobation, which grew in intensity every momout. "Stand up,'' '• Disloyal," " Turn him out," were some imongat many stronger expressions hurled at the offending ijucst by hia fellow dinors, whilst a volley of hisses drowned the voices- of the musioians, At last Mr Conybeare rose, but the «x----citement only subsided after Mr Molesworth, St. Aubyn, had made a personal appeal to those present not to allow political dislikes to intrude at a social gathering, and not to forget that Mr Conybeare was a guest.