ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1723, 21 July 1883, Page 4

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

s On* Friday last thft .foreshore, with the \ rieceasary concessions p .required by the s , Freezing Comparty/waii Wared for lnnse c fthd bought by Mr, Vy^Ajtken on bvhalf k . \ of the promoters of the proposed compauy, Btt that nothing now remains but to raise the requisite,, capital and to commence operattyftf. /It was neboss^ry, jfi 6r.de> to comply with the law, to submit the lease at auction, but, as a- matter of course, that was only a form, the conditions havifigcblon R arranged- "It is s&isiftetSry-to know" that 'this matter has been definitely managed, as it gives the farmers and graziers of this part of the. colony what is,partically a new lease ot me. " They can how grow crops and raise cattle, both great andsmajl, in the sure and certain hope of obtaining a iriafket'for their produce which is practically unlimited." Judging by recent reports from England, the demand for foreign meat from New Zealand is rapidly increasing, and many who are qualified to form an opinion on the subject, assert that the meat from this portion of the colony will command a higher price than that from the South Island, on account of our more equable climate. That, however, is a matter that remains to be proved. What is beyond a doubt is that, by means of the Freezing Company, we shall have an outlet for all the meat we can produce, unless some untoward circumstance arises to stop the trade. * * Such circumstance would be a war between England and France, which, apparently, is among the possibilities just now, but which for the sake of both the mother country and ourselves we must hope will be averted. Of course, neither England nor France would sanction privateers, but should war between them be declared other nations art sure to take part in it, and some of them might grant letters of marqae. But apart from the risk of privateers, which is merely a possibility, freights would certainly rise to prohibitive rates and there is always a certain amount of danger to merchant ships belonging to a belligerent nation in war time. A war between England and France would have a most disastrous effect on British commerce, as the United States would assuredly remain neutral and would take advantage of England being in trouble to disposess her of a large portion of her Australasian trade, which she would never regain. There are many articles in which the American manufacturer can beat his British opponent, and, should the former once get a firm hold of the Australasian trade, it will be almost impossible to wrest it from him. * * Talking about the comparison between British and American manufactures to a gentleman thoroughly conversant with the subject (an Englishman, moreover) he told me of one case in point. One of the best firms in England in the hat trade sent an exhibit to thn Philadelphia' Exhibition, and one of the partners went over to see whether he could not increase the firms' business in America. He found that his goods did not gain a single medal, nor were they even awarded honourable mention, and he admitted that the decision was a perfectly just one, as the American manufactures beat his firms' goods in every department. He gained all the information he could, and then made an arrangement with the manager of one of the American factories to go to England and teach his men how to do their work, paying him £1000 and all expenses, for six months. England has many advantages over America as a manufacturing country, among them being cheaper labour and cheaper coal, but there docs not appear to bo the same determination to improve in the old country as in the new. The Americans are constantly inventing new machinery with a view to improving their manufactures and lessening the cost of production. So much is this the case that in all the large cities there arc professional inventors, to whom the manufacturers go and tell them that they want a piece of machinery invented to do a certain work. The inventor undertakes to do it for a stated sum, varying from §300 to §10,090, according to the magnitude of the work, and if human ingenuity can devise it, he will invent it and claim his reward. * * I was very sorry to see by .he telegrams from Wellington that the son of one of the bravest of the British officers who lost his life in the Waikato War had petitioned Parliament for compensation tor the death of his father. It is enough to make the dead officer turn in his grave, but, fortunately, he does not know of the son's attempt to make a profit out of his dead father's blood. Of course, it may be said that the British Parliament confers pensions on, and makes grants of money to successful generals, but those generals do not make application for the money, nor do their sons, either directly or indirectly. I believe that English history mentions one notable exception to this rule, as, if I remember aright, (I mean remember my history, as I am not quite old enough to remember the circumstance) the Duke of Marllorough made tolerably direct application for payment for his vietorle«, and got well paid too, receiving pensions which are continued to his descendants, much to the disgust of many of the English taxpayers. # * At the Cafe the other day a number of us were discussing Mr Justice Gilliet's remarks about the objectionable habit that some banks have q£ squeezing all they can out of their clients, and then letting them drop. One gentleman mentioned a case in point. A firm, which had a large overdraft at one of the banks (not the Bank of New Zealand, by the way), dissolved partnership, the wealthier of the two partners retiring from the concern, and the less wealthy carrying on the business. The latter received an invitation from the manager of the bank to go and spend a short time in the "sweat-ing-room." He went, and found the manager very bland but very determined to have thfe overdraft reduced. After a long parley *he manager promised the merchant that if he would reduce his overdraft to £2000 it might remain at ihat amount. It was a herculean task to undertake, but the merchant undertook it, and by begging, borrowing, and stealing (well! I dont think he did any stealing) he accomplished it. As soon as he had done so he received a note from the manager, informing him that he had received instructions from the inspector to call up his overdraft at once. The result was that the merchant was compelled to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court, and that those who had assisted him to reduce his overdraft lost most of their money. . There was a disgraceful exhibition at the, Lorne Street Hall lost Saturday evening., A number of small hand bills were posted about the town announcing that there would be a " glove-fight " on that evening. I believe that it was very well known to a large number of people that •was called a•• glove-fight " would be in reality a prize tight, and so it proved to be. I blush to have to say that the hall whs crowded, there being a perfect rush for admission. The proceedings began witjh a, boxing match between, two local amateurs, which did nut last long 'and was a mere blind, to cover what was the actual business of the evening. That finished the* "glove fight" commenced. I am informed that the shifting had been tfttken out of the gloves, and^ consequently, the fight was nothing; more nqr/'legs'thatt a prize-fight. < Twenty-five ttfatfdif '<ty«6' fought/ before" thei . weaker ofi'tbe tw6;imen' succutribed to his i; opponlntfs * superior 'Strength -and w.ns 'caOTied^bff the] fstage,"stunned' andi '-blee^* %Aoih such^a states , tosfoei hardly,,^ 'dt}knisable;^\Tti\s ;tbolc place in the centre

put. ft word of condemnation, and thn by the mail oh TfutiAiv* What wi they say iv fihglAd, Md whftt wi [they.,, .think . of v us . I » blus ■will.receive. *- v