The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1498, 9 February 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE

Kqu.il .itul evict justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or pclittcal. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed bj influence <md unbribcd by gain.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9, 1882.

The approaching visit of the Premier to this disti-ict suggests to our mind that something ought to be done with a view to introducing the means of agricultural education into this province. The spirit of the age proclaims that he who is best informed must take the lead of his fellows, and this is as true of agriculture as of anything else. It is, moreover, becoming more necessaiy every day that our farmers should possess a fair knowledge of the chemistry of soils and manures, the principles of draining, &c, and of many other matters, their perception of which is at present extremely hazy. Were the need of education in agriculture more readily acknowledged we should hear of fewer failures through mistakes in the purchase of land, or through the lavish — because injudicious — use of manures. It is surprising that while nearly all other branches of human industry have from the earliest times been experiencing continuous beneficial changes in their direction and aims, the farmer's calling remained, until comparatively late years, very much the same kind of occupation as that which our Angle-Saxon progenitors followed. The old rule of thumb methods are, however, fast going out of fashion. The reigning, and still more the rising generation recognise the inutility of working upon the old lines. They feel that at length, the world has made great strides in agriculture as in everything else. The natural desire of those whose tastes and associations tend in the direction of the cultivation of the soil is, consequently, to acquire the requisite amount of knowledge to fit them for engaging in an enterprise of which physical strength is no longer the sine qua non. This want is to some extent provided for in the curriculum of our common State schools, but the instruction in agricultural chemistry there provided is of the most elementary sort — to be considered only as a preparation for more solid instruction. To prove of much use, the practice as well as the theory of chemistry must be taught, and this can scarcely be done in our national schools without making an already fully grown system unwieldly. To be plain, what is wanted is a school of agi'iculture, on the plan of that sometime established in the province of Canterbury, where for a moderate outlay the sons of farmers in this part of the colony could receive instruction. To give some idea of the advantages which might be expected to accrue to pur youth from sucli an institution, wo will liere enumerate a list of the subjects in which students at the Canterbury schoool are grounded :—: — 'Agriculture. — Principles of construction and use of implements — origin and physical properties of soils — effects and cost of cultivation by the various implements — effects of air and rain on fallowed soil — use of manures— draining ; cultivation of, and harvesting the various; cereal and .other crops— rhabits and peculiarities of the cereals— rotation of crops — cost of cultivation aad

value of root and fodder crops gonoraliy — laying down to grass — grasses in general — cultivation of crops occupying small areas, as dya plants, fibre plants, &c. — fences and fenco plants — diseases of crops; labour — task work — the management of stock — farmliousos, sheep, cattle, pigs — wool — bacon curing — dairy management. Chemistry. — Chemistry applied to agriculture — the constituents of the soil — their condition — the plant and its constituents — the food of plants, whence derived, in what condition it must exist for absorption and assimilation by the plant — fertile and infertile soils — chemistry of vegetable products — composition of flesh, of fat — chemistry of the growth and fattening of animals — manufacture of starch, of sugar, of vinegar, &c — the chemistry of milk, butter, and cheese — of food — of manures, &c, &c. Biology. — Physiological Botany. — food of plants — absorption — diffusion of fluids in plants — elaboration of the food — reproduction of plants — influence of external agents on plants — distribution of plants — diseases of plants. Entomology. — principal divisions of the animal kingdom — structure of insects — character of the orders and more important families of insects — life histories of injurious and beneficial insects — proposed remedies against the injurious effects of insects. Geology and physical geography, veterinary medicine and surgery, mathematics, surveying and bookkeeping. The institution is situated near Lincoln, about twelve miles from the town of Ohristchurch and, according to the prospectus, the buildings comprise lecture theatre, library and museum, chemical laboratory, dining hall, seperate bedrooms for twenty students, lavatories, bathrooms, &c, together with quarters for the director of the school. The farm contains 500 acres of land of various qualities, from rich swamp pasture land to light, comparatively thin soil overlying shingle. The farm buildings comprise stables, granary, cowhouse, dairy, piggeries, implements sheds, &c. The machinery and farm implements have been carefully selected with the view of saving labour, and the dairy utensils include the improvements introduced in the most recent systems of butter and cheese making. A portion of the farm is devoted to experimental purposes to test the value of different methods of cultivation, the effect of manures on various crops, the qualities of indigenous and exotic grasses, the suitability and comparative worth of new varieties of cereals, roots, fodder, and other plants. The charge for board, lodging, and instruction, inclusive of all extras, is £40 per annum, but resident students may receive payment at the discretion of the director for work done as follows : — First year, £15 ; second, £25 ; third, £25. To some extent, of course, such an institution must be self-supporting, but it has also the solid support of the endowed Canterbury College. Placed under similar conditions, there is no reason why a school of agriculture should not flourish equally well in this province. Abundance of suitable land could be found in this district for the purpose, and the students list would be speedily filled up. Towards an object of this nature, affecting in a marked degree our chief industry, the Government might fairly be asked to contribute in money and in landed endowments. "We trust our leading agriculturists will at least take steps to bring the matter under the notice of Mr Haxl during his visit.

It will he seen by a telegram in another column that fever, both typhoid ami scarlet, is largely on the increase in the neighborhood of Auckland,

The members of the Hamilton Cavalry will parade for church on Sunday morning next* at the county council chambers, East Hamilton, at 10 a.m.

Mr E. M. Edgcumbe has been appointed manager and editor of the Bay of Plenty Tunes. We understand that in consequence of this the promoters of the intended opposition paper have resolved to take no further steps in that direction.

"Sanitary" writing from Cambridge yesterday, wishes to draw the attention of the authorities to a very unwholesome smell which arises from the back of Mr S. Blight's pig house. He describes the same to be so bad at times as to be almost sufficient to create a fever.

The weather yesterday morning bore a very gloomy appearance, and a downfall of rain was expected. After a light shower about midday, the sky cleared. Last night, however, the rain appeared to set in steadily with a lowering glass.

Considerable progress is being made with the Hamilton Railway bridge. The contractor has nearly completed the erection of one of the cylinders which will form the western pier, and a start will shortly be made with the other.

Intending contributors of flowers, grain and fruit, for decorating S. Peter's, Hamilton, at the harvest festival on Sunday next, are reminded to forward grain and fruit on Friday, and the flowers on Saturday afternoon.

At the R.M. Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before His Worship the Mayor and Captain Steele, J.P., the business done was unimportant. Judgment for plaintiffs for amount claimed and costs was given in the cases, W. J. Hunter and Co. v. McGavin and Duncan (claim, £20), and W. M. Hay v. J. Thompson (claim, £7 4s 6d). In the case, B. and J. Coleman v. J. Hackett (claim, £8 15s), defendant was ordered to pay £1 per month, and, the cost 3 of the action.

The new committee of the Cambridge Public Library have already carried out some very valuable improvements. A stand has been made for the daily papers, and fileji have, been procured, so as to prevent from carrying] them "'away^ Heretofore the , different •journals have all been;put l orf -the I ' 'table' together, but now they are kept separatee, which is a great ' improvement. A large '

consignment of new books for the libraryis on its way from London, and is expected to arrive shortly.

A Maori named Kerei was brought to Dr Oiislmey at Cambiidge early on Tuesday morning last, suffering from a dislocated shoulder blade. It appears the unfortunate native got druljk>' the night previous, and fell of his horse on the roadway, where lie lay until morning, when he was picked up. The shoulder was put right again by Dr Cushney, and the native is fast recovering the effects of his accident. One of the employes of Messrs E. Maclean aud Co.. at Fencourfc, had his arm badly fractured while engaged driving a young horse on same day. He was brought to town and placed under the care of Dr Cushney,and is now progressing favourably.

Our Raglan correspondent writes : The Rev Mr Phillips, of To Awamutu, has just paid us his usual quarterly visit. He held services at Ruapuke, Te Mata, Okete and Raglan, which were faiily attended. His ministrations in the district are held in high estimation, while by his kindly and courteous manner, he continues to maintain his position as a christain gentleman, and by his intelligence, holds a first place in the people's mind as a minister of his church. The Rev. Mr Slade, who is the resident Wesleyan minister,still makes himself popular with the residents, and the news that the Wesleyan Conference have again entrusted him with the care of this district has been received with pleasure by a number of the inhabitants.

With the object of making the streams in the Raglan district more attractive than they now are for the disciples of Isaac Walton, steps are being taken by some gentlemen to have them stocked with English trout. The boxes which are necessary for the hatching process have arrived from Auckland, and the ova is nearly expected. Mr Cogswell, of Waitetuna, is to attend to the hatching and teeding of the fish until they are fit to be transpoited to the vaiious streams which are most suited for them. Mr J. L-iTrobe, who appears to take great interest in the matter, informs our correspondent that he has seldom seen any streams better adapted for trout than those found here. He is very sanguine as to the success of the experiment, and we sincerely hope that he will ultimately reap such a reward as his energetic labours in this direction appear to merit.

The advantage in using seed drills, both in saving seed and in regularity of sowing, is every day becoming more universally recognised. We were shown yesberday a very compact and serviceable drill built by Mr Cochrane, agricultural implement maker, of Hamilton, for Captain Steele. In this machine several improvements have been made, suggestions of Mr Henry Reynolds, of Woodlands, who has had a large practical acquaintance with these matters. The drill in question, drawn by a pair of hoises, is arranged to sow either seed or grain, or both, and at the same time any kind of manure. It is able to cover an aaea of fourteen acres during the day, and, by a change of cog-wheels, the quantity of seed per acre can be regulated from half-a-pound to one or two pounds, as required. The price is about £30 j this should bring so useful a machine within the reach of most of our settlers, or it might be made a business of in the same way as the threshing machine, by one party keeping two or three on hand and contracting at per acre, as is done in the old country.

Want of space precluded our giving even an outline of the arguments used by the different members of the Hamilton Borough Council, when the question of freeing the traffic bridge on _ Sundays was under discussion. The" Mayor, in moving that the bridge be declared free between the hours of 7.30 am. and 1 p.m., said he did so in the interests of the country residents desiring to attend church. Cr. Hill, in seconding the motion, said an extension of the time would merely operate in the interests of the pleasure-loving class, who were in the habit of going for a drive on Sunday, and who could well afford to pay the amount of the toll. Crs. Gaudin, McGarrigle, and Jones were strongly in favor of making the free period extend from 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m., so as to afford the same privilege to those attending evening as morning service. Cr. Bradley, in moving his amendment that the bridge be declared free from 12 o'clock on Saturday night till 12 o'clock on Sunday night, wished the council to make no reference to religious services at all. Some went to one church, some to another, while others performed their worship in the country. He thought Sunday should be a clear holiday, so that the toll collector might have some time to himself. Finally Cr. Bradley's amendment, as before stated, was carried. From some words dropped by the Mayor at the close ot the debate, it might be inferred that he disapproved of the decision come to. He stated that the burgesses would not agree to the change. Rome of the councillors hinted, also, that the Commissioners of the Trust Funds might have a word to say in the matter.

The late Dean Stanley has left legacies of £4,000 each to certain unmarried ladies on condition that they shall not become members of any religious order, either Protestant or Roman Catholic.

It is stated that the publication of the Melbourne Evening Mail (issued from the Argus office) ha 3 caused the proprietor of the Melbourne Age to contemplate issuing a farthing evening paper. In order to supply the necessary change, he proposes sending to England for £1000 worth of farthings.

The telegraph wires in operation in New Zealand are 9587 miles long, bringing in a revenue of £83,000. The Oolony of Victoria has 6578 miles of telegraph wires in operation, yielding a revenue of £85,000 ; New South Wales, 18,689 miles, with a revenue of £84,000.

Baron GK F. Kolb, in his lately compiled book of universal statistics gives the following figures on this subject :— Taking 1000 well-to do persons and 1000 poor persons, after five years there remained alive of the prosperous 943, of the poor only 655 ; after fifty years 557 and 283 ; at seventy years 235 and 65. The average length of life among the well-to do was fifty years, and among the poor 32 years. One of the most potent shorteners of life is the anxiety of providing for bare subsistence. The lack of sanitary conditions also shortens a man's life. Idleness as compared to intense industry, prejudicially outweighs all the advantages of ease and abundance.

The " Norfolk Times" thus records the death and funeral' of a centenarian : —We have to record the, death of Joseph Ashton, a tinker, and an inhabitant of this parish, at age of 112 years, on the Bth The deceased' was buried in this quiet churchyard on the 13th inst., followed by his sons, daughters, ' grandchildren,' and .great grandchildren, and a large number of people from all' parts of the country.' The'rector, the Rev J. Spqrgin, officiated ,at the grave, and, as r he waa^leaving^the ''"churchyard 'he said, '''Pe&bet»'th'4e,memi)rame old.frienH.'.' : ton/died' .October, ,B^ ]188^ iiaged- 112*-' years, " jina^an^enffraTin^ 1 'ofc*tf*kettle, , stewpan r aa4 a'bpwi: The deceased has.

for a great number of years, and up to a few days of his death lie was never known to have had a day's illness in his life, and to the endjie was in full use of his mental' powers." The poor old man was lespected by all who knew him.

Notice of the dates for the election of licensing committees for the various licensing districts in Waikato, created under the new act of last session, will be found in our advertising columns.

We are informed by a gentleman who examined the loose pile at the Whatawhata bridge that the pile is not broken at all, but has come ont of the ground, evidently through the scour during the recent floods. At present, whilst there is little water in the river, the pile lies quiet with the point just resting on the bed of the river, but when any rise takes place, it swings and bumps against the others. It is quite clear that this pile never was driven to a sufficient depth, or if it was, all the rest of the piles must be in a dangerous state, as the river is the same depth round the whole tier as near the loose one. The matter should be seen to at once, as further damage may accrue at any moment.

Mr Federli, whose services in connection with the successful establishment of sericulture in New Zealand are well known, is at present in Akaroa, his object being to take the necessary steps to interest the inhabitants of the Peninsula therein. He has with him the silkworm grain imported from Japan, and also some laid in the province and preserved by him. It is worthy of notice that the worms are hatched out twice a year, and that a better kind of mulberry tree grows on the Peninsula than on the plains for silkworm food. Mr Federli is commissioned by the Government to do all possible for the successful acclimatisation of the silkworm in this colony, and his visit will give the residents of the various bays and other parts of the Peninsula the chance of becoming practically acquainted with his improved system of management.

A Lyttelton Times correspondent writes : "In making a necessarily hurried and imperfect synopsis of the number of votes polled at the late general election, I put it at about 60,000. I have since ascertained that the exact number is 73,155, viz, 69,061 tor European members, and 4094 for Maori members. Of the European votes, 57,53S were polled by successful candidates, and 35,617 by unsuccessful ones. Successful Maori candidates polled 2296 votes ; unsuccessful, 1678. The successful candidates who polled the largest number was Mr Levin, "Wellington, 772 ; the lowest, Mr J. E. Brown, St. Albans, 218. The unsuccessful candidate who polled highest was Mr F. Guinness, Grey mouth, 653. The Western Maori electorate presents the anomaly of being represented by a member who polled 900 votes, while 1855 were recorded in favor of the other candidates. The only candidate whose successful poll is represented by one figure is Mr Seymour Thorne George, Rodney— 4 repeated thrice, 444. Mr Young, Coromandel, scored a duck's egg ; and several candidates obtained one, two, or three votes only.

In a letter to the " Madras Mail" of September Bth on the use of gigantic-sea-weed as a protective agent for shores, Capt. J. H. Taylor, the Master-Superin-tendent of Madras, gives the following interesting "sea-serpent" story: — "A notable incident connected with this seaweed is recalled to my recollection by Dr. Furnell's letter. About fifteen years ago, while I was in my ship at anchor in Table Bay, an enormous monster, as it appeared, was seen drifting, or advancing itself round Green Point, into the harbour. Tt was more than one hundred 1 feet in length, and moved with an tmclulating snake-like motion. Its head was crowned with what appeared to be long hair, and the keen-sighted among the affrighted observers declared they could see its eyes and distinguish its features. The military were called out, and a brisk fire poured into it at a distance of about five hundred yards. It was hit several times, and portions of it knocked off. So serious were its evident injuries, that on its rounding the point it became quite still, and boats went off to examine it^and complete its destruction. It was found to be a specimen of the sea-weed above mentioned, and its stillness after the grievous injuries inflicted was due. to its having left the ground swell and entered the quiet waters of the bay." Eoote, the great wit, shot many an arrow that remained quivering in the wound for a long time. When some one, with bad taste, raised a laugh against him on the subject of his lameness, he turned on the intruder and said sharply : " Why do you attack my weakest part ? Did I ever say anything about your head ?" Emigration to the United States has for some time past been on such an extensive scale that great complaints have been made of overcrowding, and ot the treatment of passengei-s during the voyage. A steamer has just arrived in New York, bringing a large number of immigrants, and fearful exposures have been made concerning the hardships to which they have been subjected. The Press has taken up the matter indignantly, and the authorities have promised that a full investigation shall be made.

Tenders for draining are invited by the Hamilton Domain Board. A meeting of the trustees, committee, and members of the Hamilton Band will be held this evening to consider matters of importance. Mr W. F. Jones, pianoforte tuner, of Auckland, has arrived in Waikato on his usual periodical visit. For the present, orders for him nuy be left at Gwynne's Hotel, Hamilton. Meetings of householders, in the districts of Harapepe, Ngabinepouri, Pukerimu, Ruapuke, and To Awamutu, for the election ot school committees, are notified in our advertising columns. The Piako County Engineer invites tenders up to the 14th inst., ior widening the present pack track up the Waiorongomaicreek, and continuing the same. Further particulars are given in the advertisement. Shareholders in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company are notified that a dividend of 10 per cent., and a bonus of 5 per cent., will be payable at the Bank of New Zealand, Hamilton, to-day. Messrs H. B. Cotton and Co. have received positive instructions to offer for sale, at their rooms, Victoria-street, Cambridge, on Wednesday, the 22nd inst., the valuable property of Mr H. M. D. Pearson, in VictoriaThe members of the Hamilton Troop, Waikato Cavalry, will assemble at the Volunteer Hall on Saturday next, the nth instant^ at 7.30 p.m., for sword drill and single stick practice. All members are requested to attend punctually. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the foods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must c a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, millinery, and clothing at such prices for cash aa gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk ofbeing called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the 3earjs business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell- will aim to -retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are determined to give the pure cash system a fair trial; whether theygainor lose the first year ' Country buyers on remitting: cash with ordet will be supplied with goods atco-operatve prices ;> just the same as though (they ( they made a personal se-^ lection. 'Furnishing goods,^.such^ as ,carpets,floor!'cloths; "bedsteads, 1 bedding "and general ' house ■ furniture^ 'thej largest portion of which\is turned gut at'ourjiwn fcctory, ; wHlbe marked' at :i theJowestremuuerative prices, and^a discount oft five' percent? wm^^e'allowed^ojhbse^hq pay a)' >thetime of puWase.i^G.aM C7haying realised' the entireilvsilfierofthejr, stoclc ' during ' their late cash Rale/ithft presehfstbek is,N»w and cheaply iWoln^Aff inspection Garlick and CkANWKti; CityTSaUFuraish'ingitrcade Queen