THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 4 July 1885, Page 2

THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ol whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political, Here slnll the Press the PeopleN ri(jht maintain, Unawed by influence and unbnbcd b) gam.

SATURDAY, JULY /,, 1885.

The Go-operative Association has already found much work for itself ; but, it has, as we have before had occasion to remark, not by any means exhausted the list. It lias brought about what might fairly be called a revolution in some branches of the import trade. There arc many things, articles of daily use, uhich fanners and other members of the association are now enabled to obtain at prices at least 10 or 50 per cent, hflow the old rates. We have airiple proof ot the usefulness of the society in this respect. We recognise, also, the advantage the organisation has conferred upon the producer, in a small way certainly, in disposing of his I crops, ifcc,, m the Auckland and other local markets ; and by the widening of its opoiations, it may be assumed that a large nujnber of people in the " Northern metropolis" will soon be able to get good meat at low prices. >So far so good, and if the association were to confine itself simply to these branches of trade it would amply justify its existence. But it has much higher w ork to do. We look forward to the time when, associated with other similar institutions, it shall to a very large extent carry on the export and import trade of the colony ; when by its means the producers of New Zealand mny sell, at what will prnotically be first hand, to the consumers of England, and buy direct from the English manufacturer. There is nothing Utopian in this. J t is not to be expected that any such consummation will be effected without diJHculty — there arc too many inosscoverd vested interests in the way — but vigorous and united action must eventually put to the rout all opposing forces. A very significant paragraph appeared in the last letter of the Herald's London correspondent. Little prominence was given to it, and in order, therefore, that the subject to which it relates may be brought under the notice of the settlers of Waikato, we print it in this place. The correspondent says :—": — " There is nothing special to note at present in relation to the market in frozen meat, but a circumstance has just come under my notice which might serve as a hint to those who wish to develop the trade. One of the most extensive, if not the largest, of the cooperative institutions of London, the Army and Navy Stores, has just made an experiment in relation to New Zealand mutton. After

considerable pressure it was induced to establish through the auxiliary stores, a branch of the parent institution, and managed by the same directors, a depot for New Zealand frozen meat, and American beef. This has been attended' with the most remarkable success, the amount of sales of meat having in creased to an enormous extent, and it is significant that while English mutton i.s on sale to its customers at 9.} d per lb for half sheep, the New Zealand mutton is ticketed at G',d. From what I can learn, the tendency on the part of customers is towards entirely avoiding the home-crown article and giving their patronage to the imported. Now, this Army and Navy Store turns o\er in conjunction with its auxiliary three millions sterling per annum, its manager has a salary of £3000 ci year, and its assistant manager £2000 a year, so that the position which it occupies in trading circles may be estimated. Would it not be competent for the growers or exporters of New Zealand mutton to place themselves in direct communication with an institution of such gigantic proportions, instead of allowing their products to pass through the hands of so many middlemen, ench of whom has such a fearful pull at thft profits t This is but one of many such institutions, the Civil Service Supply and other similar institutions doing an enormous trade in the supply of provisions to their customers. It appears to be an undeveloped field for any company or private producer who has the enterprise to take the bull by the horns and dispense with the services of the middlemen." The vast possibilities opened up in this paragraph will at once be seen. There is no reason why the cooperative institutions oi this country should not unite with those of Great Britain. In England there are one thousand associations, with members representing 800,000 heads of families, these in turn representing a tenth part of the whole population of the Kingdom. We cannot expect much aid from the commercial classes in our large towns, but we earnestly hope the rural population throughout the colony will look into the question seriously. The depression in agriculture is owing not to any want of resources, but to the absence of unity.

Commander Edwin wired last night to expect bad weather between north and east, and We understand that Mr David Richaidsou, of Cambridge, has in pieparation a scheme for lighting Cambridge with electricity. An error crept into the report of the presentation to Mr Meachem in our last i"suo. It appeared that Mr Meachom w as proaentod with "a handsome butterknife." Thin should have read, "a handsome silver butter cooler and knife." At the meeting of the Auckland Presbytery on Wednesday laxt a letter was read from the R<»v . Mr Evans, Cambridge, praying that Hamilton be made a separate charge. It was resolved that the lequcst be granted, and the Rev Mr Boyd was appointed pastor in the meantime. Tne following is the order paper for Monday's meeting of the Cambridge Parliamentary Union. — (1) Petitions; (2) NoticcH of motion; (3) Motions— (.v) Mr Cowpei to move for leave to intioduce a bill entitled, "A Bill to encouiage a trade between the colony and the countries on the east and west oants of South America;" (b) Mr Edgar to nune, "That the meeting 1 * of the Union bo weekly instead of foitnightly ;" (4) Orders of the day — (a) " The New Zealand Defences Bill " in committee. The Cambridge Town Board met on Thursday morniug for the purj>ovj of considering certain proposals with the starting of a firo brigade, and the purchase of a suitable fire enrmc. After tho matter had been discußsed at some length, the further consideration of tho question was postponed until after a reply had been recened trom tho Insurance Companies. The companies had been a«ked what effect the starting of a firo brigade combined with a suitable water wupply would have on local insurance policies. The following special messages to the Press Association, dated London, July 2nd h.tte been published: — A syndicate i« piojected in London for the purchase of the interests of the Kew Hebrides Trading Company. — An Australian gentleman offeis to back Beach to row any man m the world ; also, to match an Australian crew against a Biitish crew for £1000. — Two Austialian wheat c.ugoes have been sold, one by an iron vessel at 2(>s and one by a wooden vew<el at Hd lower. — Mr Conrad Starhclm Werner, recently appointed Consul at Sydney for the Swiis Confederation, bails for his destination in September. — Captain A. T. Dale, of H.M.S. Diamond, has been appointed commander of H.M.S. Devastation.— lt it rumoured that the Salisbury Ministry have ai ranged terms with Russia.

A correspondent at Morrinville •vritoß : — A carpenter working <>n the lailway has just I>i ought out and patented a moit simple yet effective machine for boring nleepen% etc. It is a want much needed, as it will do tin much work as three of the antidilmian jigger* in use at presont. A locally made model of only about half |)owor had a couple of days tiial and answered adwirably. All who ha\e seen it at work think highly of it, and wmli the inventor overy -niccest.. It is his intention to make them also suitable for boring the holes in posts for wire fencing, and a stronger make for bonng one end three, quartet inch holes for post and rai fencing. 1 may also mention that the name party has neaily completed a model and drawings of .mother labjur-.sawng machine, which promises to be equally a si>ccew.

A case of some interest to publicans will ho heard at the next sitting of the R.M. Court at Cambridge. A man named Henry Curtice went into tho Criterion Hotel on Thursday and asked to bo nerved with hqiii/r. He was perfectly «obrr, but, notwithstanding, the landlord rpfimed to supply him vtith what he demanded. It is alleged that on prc\iouH occasions Curtice, whilst the worse for liquor aHuaulted Mr Hewitt in hii own house, and Mr Hewitt's reason for not supplying him therefore was that if he did so it would load to further hostilities on the pait of Curtice, and thin, in the interest of l.iw and order »nd the Kood conduct of hi-* house, lie is anxious to avoid. Several witnessen h»ve boen subpiencd and the ca«o will be heard next Friday.

The usual monthly meeting of the Kiukiriion Road Hoard was held yesteuhy afternoon at the W.ukato County Council chauibeis. Present: MesxisPnnirose (chniiman), H. Steele and T. Ruuciman. A u-[)«it was lead from the engineer sUtmg that he had inspected seveial site-. for budges over the Wh.mg.uuane creek, ne.ii Taupiri, and it was resolved to adopt the recommendation made, viz., to build a bridge on the old crowing place at Mr Rice's farm, between Hections Nos. 81 and HO, Parish of Tanpiri, Plans are to be made and tonders called for, to bo in at the next meeting of the board. It was resolved to plant the embankments of the budges near T.iupiri with bitter willows. Satisfaction was evpiessrd at the good state of the tnaiu roads in g^ner.il throughout thr dirttrict. The contractor for Runrnnan's gully contract hns started work, and tho culvert will soon asiume a definite shape. The board rosohed to telegraph to Mr .T. B. Whyto, M.H.R., to the effect that he )io requested to vigorously oppose the " Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill." Accounts amounting to £120 were paised for payment and the meeting adjourned.