The Waikato Times THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1860, 7 June 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

liqu.il mil e\.ict jiistito to .i'l men, Of wli iKoc\er st.itc or porbU.ision, religious or politic il Here sh ill the Press tho People's rifrh* maintain, Una'\ed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, ISS>+.

Though the cultivation of European flax i.-> not one of the tried industries of Waikato, there can be no doubt, we take it, about its suitability. As we stated in an article in Thursday's issue, flax has been grown successfully in the South, and as the relation of actual experiences is more convincing than the promulgation of theories, we may be permitted to give somo account of what has been and is being done in the sister inland. Linseed was grown in South Cm torbury by Mr Pilbrow as early as 18C3, and that gentleman several times tried to form a small company for the purpose of growing the flax and manufacturing grain-bags. But, as he himself admitted, Mr Pilbrow was before his time, and it was not until the middle of the year 1882 that the idea of erecting a manufactory took definite shape. In Augi^t of that year a mooting of settlers v as held at Temuka, and a prospectus was drafted. The capital was iixed at £LO,OOO, m 2000 shares of ilo each, fn January of lasb year directors were appointed, and set to work in lurnesl. The number of shares ap plied for was between 700 and 800, and the calks up to fcho # present have amounted to i!l 10s per share. A site was selected, duplicate machinery of Iri.sh and American patterns was obtained, and on the 28th of List month the works weie formally opened. The seemingly long period which elapsed between the inception of the scheme and the commencement of operations is, of course, to be attributed to the fact that it takes somp time to induce farmers to embark in any undertaking, no matter of what was nature. Even now, with the machinery in motion, it requires no small amount of persuasion to induce some among the agricultural class to sow a plot of linseed. In consequence of this lamentable apathy the company this season hhiply propose to manufacture binding twine. 13ut the directors are sanguine of success, neverthtless, knowing that though the agricultural mind is slow in making up, it is a superior article for all that. The falling values of grain and wool promises speedily to bring home to the farmer the necessity for cultivating what we have termed auxiliary crops. As the chairman of the Temuka Company remarked at the opening ceremony, it is at least worth the farmer's while to try what can be done in linseed growing. Tt does not require much knowledge, it will not involve any loss, and it may prove to be of great benefit to them. Mr E. Wakefield, who was present, also offered some sensible remarks on the subject. He pointed out how necessary it was that the farmers should as&isfc wheat-growing by mixed agriculture ; let them establish manufactures in country villages. They could never tell what towns like Temuka would grow to if this were done, for it would tend to fix the population. Concerning the value of the crop, it is expected that fifty acres of flax grown at Temuka this season will produce ten tons of fibre, which at present prices is worth something like i!7O per ton. In Belgium (wo are now quoting from the Timaru Herald), the chief seat of the flax trade, a fibre is produced which sells at from £160 to £180 per ton, the value of the crops being far greater than the value of the land on which it is grown. Our contemporary points out that we. cannot, owing to the higher price and scarcity of labour, hope to approach anything of that , sort here. In Flanders, whence comes the most precious flax, the culture of the plant can hardly be called farming. It is, in trui.li, a delicate and laborious kind of gardening. ,The land is prepared with the utmost care, the best seed is sown as thickly as it will lie on the' ground, , and watei'ed' and shaded, and ' constantly tended, , and; the plants a^e.-jiand' weeded every day, and watched and nursed until they arrive at' tnatiirity^, Women and children do most' of this, work ; and the labour of a , whole family, toiling patiently jior :I teiy!

often expended b^pnc^iimifuKplot of In qu^ou^ktjlHy get fthojjjf w^d, £Jn<p|the fesult of ihqi^ industry jaipjS skijpjjmay be , r l><;e^ in fofrtt -form'ijiji tj^th riving ■lionl^s q(ve,t l ho\ | &jg^^pcaHintry, and* in-" anotneW^'in 1 the exquisite lace which adorns the dresses of fine ladies all over the world. But fibr,e is not the only prqdact £f the linseed ; ' it , gives u$ pi\ and cattle food besides, and as year by year tlio nee ssity of providing winter feed for stock is more forcibly demonstrated, it is clear that the flax induslry must ere long assume an importance which so far we, in Waikato as well as in other parts of the colony, have failed to recognise. The figures we have, quoted show that the enterprise is not one requiring a large amount of capital, while the facts adduced afford abundant proof that fl.ix-growing, regarded merely in the light of an adjunct to the ordinary branches of industry on the form, will give satisfactory returns. Like tobacco growing, it really belongs more to the garden than to the farm, and the time necessary to its cultivation need make no serious encroachment on the hours of labour demanded by the main crops.

Commander Edwin wired at 4.7 p.m. yestcid.iy —After 1(> hours expect bad weather from north-east and north-west, with rain.

Sir George Grey addressed a large meeting of the elector* of the East Co-jst at (iisborne on Wednesday night. A voto of confidence in Sir George ab leader of the Liberal pai ty was canied.

We understand that both Mr A. Bnc-kland and Mes-is Hunter iind Nolan ha\e, in deference to the strongly expre-^ed wi»li of the .settlers, decided to introduce t!ie system of selling cattle by real weifrht, :uid have made arrangements for erecting the nece^aiy weighing machinery, &c.

A meeting of the Cambridge shareholder, in the Noith New Z-i.il.md Farmers' Co-opei\\tne Association will be held at the Public Hall this e\eni»g for the pui pose of cmiferung vith the managing director for Waikato, Mr (iillotfc, and dis-cus-.ing somo impoitnnt .suggestions to be bi ought fonvard.

We are in receipt of the current number of that excellent publication the New Zealand find Au-.tiali.iii Bee Journal. The piosent number, which is fully the eqiul of any of its predecessor*, contains a large amount of information tli.it must be of the deepest interest to bee-keeper's.

The many friends of Mr J. B. Whyte, v ill regret to lea in that the state of Ins health will not permit of his going to Wellington for some time to come. Mi Whyte h.is been confined to Ins loom foi some time with rheumatic gout, but w.i«? able ye->tciday to proceed to Auckland, wheiehe intends undergoing a course of treatment at the Tuikish baths.

We were in error in stating that the tobacco heed u&ed by Mr Lewis O'Neill w.is piocurpd from the New_ Zealand Tobacco Company. It was obtained fiora Mr John Knov, who imported it direct from America. It was pronounced to be of excellent quality, and Mr Knox expects a fuither consignment this year.

Mr W. Kincaid, Cambridge, notifies in our columns that ho has removed into larger and more commodious premises opposite Me<ws Hough ton and Son-», Dukestrcet. Ha\ing made some exceptional pmcbases in Auckland for ca«.h he is enabled to offer gi eat bai gains, in clothing, drapery, groceries, &c. &c.

Some of Mr Laurence Cussen's men who airised at Kihikiln on Wednesday for pio\iMoiis lopnrted th.it a party of natives from Aotearoa had iu rived at Wh.ireimlnniSM, wheio Mr Cussen's cam]) is at piosent pitched, with the object of protesting against tl)p continuation i>f the sin \ i') . Tlie objectors belong to the Ng.vtilMiikaw.) tube, and they clonj, it is rel).it.'d, W.iiKUiui'h nffht to dispose of their I,' ids. It is e\pectod that the difficulty will be o\eicomc without niuoh trouble.

The Rotorua correspondent of the N.Z. Herald, wiiting on Thuit.cl.iy, .says: — Yesterday the Bishop of W.iiapu laid the foundation of the church of St. l\uth, on a piece of giound },'iven by the Mdoiihiieai to the cirved hou^e T.ima te K.ipiu. Tlicrc w.i-j .i large number of people present to witne-.i the coi oniony. Off ci ings were l.iid upon tho block to the amount of €(i <K. Mr Lundon's tender of £3!)0 lias been accepted to build the chinch.

The new pastor for the Cambridge Baptist Tabernacle is expected to ai rive in Auckland by the Doric next week. He will enter upon his dutie-. at Cambridge immediately on his arrival. It has been decided to have a public tex meeting and recognition set vice in the Tabernacle on the Tuesday after Mr Wilson's fir.it Sunday, at which all the members of the church in the district are expected to be present. Among the cleigymen who will take part in the pioceedin«?-> are the Rev. Charles Carter, Rev. Charles IXilliston, of Christchurch, and the Rev. Fairbrother, of Ohinemutu, together with the di»tiict clergymen of other denoniiuations>.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Kiukiriroa Road Board was held ,it the Waikato County Cluunbeis, jc-.tcrd.iy. Present: Messis Priinro.se (chairman), T. S. ■Runcinian, H. ttteole, and W. H. M. Lovcll. A ratp of t 'd in the £ was struck. The question of determining what works are to be undei taken during the ensuing vnar was deferred until ne\t meeting. The Oleik lepoited that a nuuibui of notice-, of ludgment for rates had been forwatded to the Government, .so that the board would presently be in a position to lease the lands against which judgment had been obtained. It was resolved to summons a number of persons who have not paid their rates*. A number of accounts were p.v"-cd for payment, and with legard to Coombes' contract on the Hukanui road, it not hanng been passed, it was resolved that the engineer inspect the work to-d.iy. This was all the business of impoitance.

The following special messages to the Piess Association, dated London, June 3id, 4th and sth, have been published:— Tawhiao's mission to England has been placed in the hands of Mr Chesson, Secretary of the Aborigines Society, who has requested an interview with Lord Derby on the_ t,ubject. —Sir F. Dillon Bell will again interview M. Favre, French Under Secretary for the Colonies, on the lecidiviste question.— Earl Spencer, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, insists that the meetings of the Orange and National parties in the north of Ireland bhall be held on separate days.— Tawhiao and his fellow chiefs intend to raise the question of the legality of the New Zealand land confiscations, if they can, while in England. They propose ieaving on their leturn to the colony in August.— The Daily News' article on the New Guinea question is simply a distorted version of Earl Derby's despatch to the Governors .of the Australian colonies.

At Thursday's meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board, the following business interesting to readers in the district was transacted :— Alexandra.— An application for a site for a reading-room and public library was granted.— Chuhchuj. Punt.— The Chairman said the board by i evolution some time ago recommended that the money accruing from deferred payment lands in Raglan district miglit be devoted to thefepairs, &c, of the punt a* Churchill. This had been referred to the Hon. the Minister of Lands, who now wrote stating that he considered it a, proper appropriation of the money.— Whanuapk.— Mr D. A. McKinnon wished to "buy .at cojst pri<?e>a portion of land, about 84 acres, which he was under the impression he had puVcliased with his other section, but which was found to be Crown laud.— The request was agreed to. - «» * * «i *•' <■

A number of the 014 members of 2ndWjMkato regiment mot, an .Wednesaaj evening at Titich's Hotel, to make^arrafljrements for the, .coraniemoration ,of.the 20th anniversary ot* tfte^6"uhdationtoi*the township of, Alexandra.-, Twenty . years will have pasS(sd'*6ri- > tl?e"'2lßt'irtßt.^'Blnce the l|eftd -.qimiJeiCK o£ thq&nd regisißnt marcnea Info* ""camij, where the"* tbwfifiDip now stands and were followed O» the, 27th Qf the same month by tKe "3rd and "other oonipatties. 1 fMvf&bfafo JjSaga, &Te?i§e4' 4 a <i Wvjlue^aay, wh^ iji

decided that the form bbc commemoration should take should be TOtt of a dinner at six p.m., to be followeqffly a dance in the evening, andthat dytfEgagost j$ -tickets . should n()fc,*tpilLi)eSMfirßy a.dfwti«|smentj elsewhere, epceOwl. ea|nj WJiuo tjle b.ilV will be openlto f r ' c^ 8 anMan^ilies of members <>JC;|he r™monn|onlyf^those^ who were §n tho^tron»sn of ni regirnon^'" up to the ttnw^of s aetjulnc me ' th^nni\d t including substitutes and Forest Rangers will be admissable to the dinner. A committee con^Htingqf Messrs Asmusa, Finch, Hallett, W. Higginson, Nabbs, Pistrucci, Sjige.ijT. G. SaiTdes^Re'^nplds^afid. G'prdoa. 1 G« V.|Tisdall were'appojntod a committee tj^ ca'rry'fmt the nec'^asaty arrangements, Mr Pistrucci ccMi^enting to act as honorary secretary.

Hamilton footballers from both side?, are requested to roll up on Sydney Square by 3.80 this afte.moon^as the team for .thu -match, nt MorrinsvilleJ against To Aroha must be picked. It is' v proposed to play this day week. The return match between'the "East" and West Schools will be commenced at 2 o'clock sharp. .

The annual general meeting of theTe Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Factory Company will "be held'- at tho Public Hall on Saturday nevt, at 8 p.m. The business is to receive the report and balancesheet for the past year, to elect directors in place of tho^e rething, to appoint auditor*, and such other matters as may be brought before the meeting. The transfer books of the company will be closed from to-day till the 23rd inst.

We have received a pamphlet on " British Despotism in the South" Sea. Islands, .and thopewecution of Mr W. -J. Hunt by Sir Arthur Gordon, High Commissioner, under the Western Pacific Oiders-in-Council, 1877-70," by "Vox Popuh." .The writer explains in the preface that he has endeavoured to expose the unconsMtntional and disptttic powers conferred on the High Commissioner, powers which, he saya, are of a character utteily abliorient to Englishmen's ideab. He also gives a brief account of the persecutions to which Mr Hunt lias been subjected at the hands of the High Commission!" and the Chief Justice of Fiji, with a moral. Tho nature of the contents will be better understood from the following heads :— " The rulers of the Pacific," "The -Western Pacific Orders r in-Oouncil, and the despotic power-* of the High Commission," "" The New Zealand trade, and how it has been jeopardised by the absurd and aibilraiy regulations issued by Sir Aithur Gordon," " The hounding and hunting down of Mr W. J. Hunt by Sir Aithur," "The action Hunt v. Gordon," " The review of judgment on Hunt \. Gordon." To tho.e wlio desire to gain some in light into the way things wore managed in the Augustan age of Gordon, this litble pamphlet; will doubtless be of much use. It is, of course, written fiom one hide of the question, but so fai as we can sre it is not unduly biassed. ,It may be pi owned at Mr Lennox's shop, Hamilton.