MR SANTLEY'S VISIT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3283, 15 August 1889, Page 3

MR SANTLEY'S VISIT.

\ Cimisiciiußoii, August M. i At a meotiiiEt of tho delegates of the Musicial Societies to-night, a letter was read from Santloy's agent stating San tley was coming to New Zealand in February or March, but bo had mado no arrangements with anyone for an appearanco, 'lhe meeting decided to continue negotiations, A Good Start. Chhistciiurcb, August 11. Eight hundred and fifty persons have applied for 10,600 shares in the Now Zealand Farmers' Co-oponitive Association. The number issued is only 3000. Capital funishmentThe London correspondent of tho Liverpool Post hears a strnngo rumour with respect to what is known as the Babbicombe murder. Tho tragedy tool; place on November 11,1881, tho victim being ono Miss Emma Whitehead Keyos, a lady ofi means, sixty-eight year? of J age, who resided at the Glen Babbicombe. Her establishment consisted of two elderly women servants, a younger women, and a young man named Leo, who, originally taken into Miss Keye's service as a page, had returned after a considerable interval, and was engaged about the house. On the night of Friday,

November 11, the whole establish'

. ment assembled in the dining-room, | % and Miss Keycs read prayers. This was the last time she was seen alive by anyone who was disposed to tell. Tho next morning the house was found on fire, and m the diningroom was found tho body of Miss Keyes, with tho head severed from the body. Suspicion promptly turned upon Lee, who stoutly affirmed his innocence, was found guilty, and sentenced to death, Ho was to have been hanged on February 23,1885, when there followed a tragedy

rivalling in ghastly interest even the murder of Miss Keyes. Tlirieo the pinioned, and blindjT folded man stood upon the trap, listening to tbo chaptain reciting the burial service. Thric*tbeliangnian tried to make the machine work, and thrice Lee was removed, being finally conducted to the cell out of which, on the stroke of eight o'clock, he had been led to what seemed certain death, In consideration of what he had passed through in the twenty minutes lie had stood under the

shadow of tbo gallows, Sir William

Harcourt, then Homo Secretary, respited him, Lee protesting that in this unprecedented occurronco the hand of God had moved to prevent an innocent man from being slain. The correspondent now hears a report that a death-bed confession has entireiy established Leb's innocence, and indicated the murderer in another quarter. Excellence ot an Old ilax Dresser. " Yes" said an old manufacturer, M ll l havo had my turn at flax, and am * now at work at it again, but I cannot say that I feel any positive assurance as to the big things generally expected. I have seen many ups.'and downs in the flax trado. I remember once getting my account sales of flax, Lsl per ton in London. I was just staring off to England to get some improved machinery; and wont home quick by the P. and 0,; but by the time I reached Loudon the price was down to Ll6 per ton, a fall of L3o per ton. I was miking LIO,OOO a year when 1 left New Zealand, and losing LSOOO a year when I reached W London, Then followed tho collapse " of the flax industry, and prices ranged very low for many years, but there were occasional spurts to about LB2 and a fall again to L2O soon after. If you ask uio straight what I think of the present prospect I say that 1 feel assured that the price for decent flax, when tho market has recovered

irorn the inevitable full which tho

quantity of badly dressed flax no» t being shipped must entail, will steady down and rule higher than during the last fifteen years, as flax can now be used for many purposes, such as binder twine, tying lip grapes in vineyards, etc,, which channels were not open to it in 1871 and subsequent fifteen years or so. As to tue cost of manufacture-flax liko many other things can bo made to pay splendidly on paper; Imt I have found that it takes an expert iu tho business and a considerable capital outlay in buildings and proper machinery, to ranko good flax with steum power, and deliver it in London, including salo charges, at

much under L 25 per ton, A man K working with insufficient plant or not thoroughly up to the work cannot produce aa inferior article even at L 5 per ton more, My advice to people thinking of going into flax here, for the first time is to wait till the inevitable fall takes placo and then decide what to do, Any man starting now must hit tho lowest market with bis first shipment. After then it may I trust will, recover: though not to the abnormal extent which late prices havt indicated."