SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2167, 29 May 1886, Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1886.

The Codlin Moth Act, 1884, after careful consideration, at a meeting of the Waikato Horticultural Association, held on Wednesday last, all of whom present were practical and two of them professional horticulturists, was condemned as being unworkable for the purpose for which it was passed, namely, to provide measures for the destruction of the insect known as caj)sa pomonella. The bringing the Act into force in any district rests with the, local county council or borough, on petition to do so from not less than five orchardists within such district, provided no counter petition, in terms of the Act, is sent in within a month. The Waikato Horticultural Association, however, as representing the orchardists of Waikato, did not see its way to recommend its constituents to move in the matter of introducing the Act, for the simple reason that, as it now stands, its operations, while they would be harrassing and expensive to all, would be completely neutralised for any good by the faultiness of certain of its provisions. The meeting, therefore, took perhaps the wisest course by going to the root of the matter, and appointing a committee, amongst whom are two legal gentlemen, both practical pomologists, and taking a lively interest in the occupation, to draft an amended bill, which after being submitted to kindred associations for comment and suggestions will be forwarded to the member for Waikato, with a view to getting it through the House this session. The first flaw in the Act is its permissive character. One or more districts may bring it into force, but others need not necessarily do so, and so long as this is the case the former will be placed under many harrassing restrictions and regulations while all their efforts would be neutralised by the fact that there is nothing in the Act to prevent the importation into them of fruit, boxes, <ke, from other districts in the colony which, though u nclean, have not been brought under the operation of the Act. Thus, in Waikato, we might bring the Act into force, but if this were not also done in Remuera, in Ohinemuri and in other districts where the Codlin moth may exist, all our trouble, cost and harrassment' would go for nothing if fruit and £mit boxes from those districts were sent into this. While clause 18 giv«s the Governor power to prohibit the importation from outside the colony of fruit or trees likely to cause the spread of any infection in the orchards of the colony, it gives no power to prevent the removal of fruit, trees, boxes, ifec, from any infected district within the colony to any other district within the colony, whether I clean or unclean, unless that in- 1 fected district shall have been proclaimed as such tinder the Act of 1884. So long, therefore, as the Act remains permissive, that is optional with one district to work under it and with the other districts to abstain from doing so, plague spots will continue to exist whence a supply of the infection will be kept up by unscrupulous dealers purchasing from infected orchards in districts not prc jelaimed unclean, or by friends thoughtlessly sending presents of Ijoxes of fruit from one district to another. True, clause 14 provides that "No person shall remove out of any unclean district or convey into any clean district any fruit inj "ected with the moth, or any case, box, barrel, or other receptacle wh ich has at any time containod any fruit so infected, and if any person offends against this provision he sh all be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds." But, as according to the interpretation clau se of the Act that only is "a* u nclean district" which is so proclai med under the Act, and that onl; v a "clean district" which is alsq* so proclaimed,

there is nothing to prevent the removal of fruit, etc., from a district in which not a clean orchard really exists into any other district. A really unclean district, unless making itself legally so by proclamation, can thus remain a hotbed of infection to all parts of the colony. Orchardists, however, provided the means taken are effectual for the stamping out of this infection are willing to suffer much temporary inconvenience and loss, and would submit to measures of a very drastic character. The stripping the trees entirely of fruit in infected orchards in the early part of the season before the grub of the carpoeapsa pomontlla had matured would be willingly submitted to, but to render this operation less harrassing to those so unfortunate as to have infected orchards the county or borough should hav6 power to levy a special rate upon all apple and pear trees planted out permanently, of whatever age, from which fund compensation could be made to the owners of fruit destroyed, the rate being double in the case of all infected orchards as a deserved punishment for the ignorance or neglience of the ocoupiers. The setting at the proper seasons, of night-traps with lights, for the destruction of the moth, and the bandaging of trees for the worm when it leaves the fruit to go into its chrysalis state, should be compulsory on every orchardist, just as vaccination is made compulsory, as a preventive, whether his orchard be clean or unclean, (the Act only makes this compulsory in proclaimed districts), and fruit grown in clean orchards in an unclean district should be allowed to be removed into any other, provided that the growers hold clean certificates from the inspector, granted within so many days of the removal of the fruit. These are some of the most apparent alterations required, but a committee of practical men will doubtless see and suggest much more that needs amendment in the Act. Last, but not least, clause 18, prohibiting the importation of infected fruit from without the colony, needs to be strictly enforced. Hitherto it has been more honoured in the breach than in the observance. It is a well known fact that apples from infected places have, since the Order-in-Council was issued, been landed in Auckland direct, though, in some cases, the precaution has been taken, as with San Franciscan fruit, to send them on to Sydney and receive them back as Australian fruit coming from an Australian port. It is perfectly useless for New Zealand orchardists to associate themselves for the purpose of stamping out this terrible pest, at infinite trouble, loss, and expense if the fresh germs of infection are permitted to be imported from America, from Hobart, from Melbourne or other places where it is known to exist, the greed of importers, and the not unnatural desire for cheap fruit, to the contrary notwithstanding. If the orchardists of New Zealand are willing to be heavily mulcted and suffer great harrassment in their occupation for the purpose of stamping out the infection, the public generally must, for a short time, not more than two or three years at most, submit to some share of inconvenience in the common effort to preserve one of the chief industries of the colony from anniliation. Unless they do so fruit will become scarcer and dearer than ever, and the fruit-growing industry will be destroyed.

Ik the Legislative Council on Thursday little of importance transpired. Another petitien, containing 300 signatures, was read, protesting against the honours heaped upon Cardinal Moran on the occasion of his recent visit to the colony. In the Houie, Sir R. Stout gave notice to move the introduction of the Civil Service Reform Bill. A motion for the production of a return showing the expenditure in connection with the Government of the colony between the years 1860 and 1885 was carried. The Justices of the Peace Act was read a second time. This bill provides that mayors, chairmen of county councils, and chairmen of road boards shall be Justices of the Peace, and covers the regulation! as to rota of the justices of last year.

» The threatened war in the north of Ireland is not likely to eventuate for some time to come. Mr tiladstode, it will be seen by our cable messages, has offered to modify hit Home Rule proposals to this extent, that the proposal for excluding Irish members from the House of Commons, shall be ■truck out of the Bill, on condition it is read a second time, and he further engages to defer consideration of the measure until the autumn session. This, together with the utterances of Mr Chamberlain, referred to in another message seems to indicate that the preat Liberal party, which has been split up, and the. Irish question may be reunited. ♦

A meeting of the executive of the Railway Reform League will be held at the Borough Council Chamben, Hamilton, at 2 p.m. today. The way of reform will probably be made smoother than has been anticipated. Fram last night's telegrams it will be seen that the Minister for Public Works has agreed to receive this session the petition presented last session, and a committee has been appointed to enquire into the matter.

Messrs J. S. Eedgecumta and Philip LeQuesne have been duly elected auditors for the Borough of Hamilton.

Our Taupo correspondent writes : —Mr Joshua is making extensive improvements to the Taupo Sanitarium.— The Land Court in till at work with sub-division cases.— Mr Ellis has bought Mr W. Black's store and business at Takano.

A man named Thomas Shaw was arrested on a warrant yesterday, by Constable Berrinan, near Wirangi, and brought to Hamilton by the late train, on » charge of failing to contribute to the support of his wife.

Mr F. D Eich, managtr for the P&tetere Land Company, informius that he was contemplating adopting a plan of settlement timiltr to Mr Firth's at Matamata, but he was convinced that the present railway system and freights would be fatal to the success of any such course however liberal it may be.

A special meeting of the shareholders of the Rukuhia, Cheese and Bacon Factory Company is advertised to be held on Saturday, June sth, at 2 p.m., for the purpose of discussißg the affairs of the company with the view to winding it up or > otherwise.

i At yesterday's meeting of the 1 Waikato County Council the credit balance was stated at £255, The following are the riding accounts : — Rangiriri (debit), £59 4» lid; Kirikiriroa, (credit), £124;

Tauwhore (credit), £19 19«»; Cambridge £193 12-*; Cambridge Town District, (debit), £39 15s lOd.

The following will compose the Cambridge school team in the football match against the Hamilton East ichool hoyi at Cambridge this afternoon :— E. Walker, Leo Bull, Leslie Bull, J. Howie, Y. Sargent, S. RUhworth, H. KWhworth, E. Richardson, A. Williams, P. Rees, H. Arnold, W. Parr, A. Jones. D. Lee, and Wiremu Henare. Play will commence at half-past two sharp.

By an advertisement in another column it will be seen that the Comus Dramatic Club will give a. performance in aid of the Hamilton Band and Free Library on Tuesday, 15th June, at the Oddfellows' Hall. The entertainment, as before announced, will consist of a series of tableaux vivauts and tho comic diama '' A Rough Diamond."

The direct steamer Kaikoura, at present in Auckland, is a fine and noble ipecitnen of the British mercantile marine. Her huge proportions quito dwarf the Manapouri, which is one of the largest of the Union Company's fleet, and reckoned at one time a " big boat." The Kaikoura's saloon is very handsome ; the second cabin is also comfortable, and her berth accommodation appears very extensive and well arranged.

The following are the rateable values of the various riding* of the Waikato County, according to the Property Tax valuation of 1883, as supplied to the Waikato County Council : — Rangiriri, £80,520; Kirikiriroa, £345,544, Tamahere, £87,492: Cambridge, £167,147; Cambridge Town, £119,120. The present value of Cambridge Town, according to a recent return of the secretary of the board, is, exclusive of Crown and native lands, £117,800. The value of the Crown lands is ■et down at £4420.

The Te Aroha Band of Hope held an entertainment in the Public Hill, Te Aroha, on the Queen's birthnight, which vras a great success. The hall wai filled with an appreciative mudionce, and an excellent programme was creditably gone through. The Rev. 0. Dean occupied the chair. Recitations, dialogues, songs, vocal and instrumental duets, «c. were all well rendered by most of the local talent of the district, and altogether a very profitable and enjoyable evening was spent by those present. The success of the affair was mainly due to the exertions of Mr Vause, the lociety'i indefatigable secretary.

At a meeting of the Cambridge Town Board held on Thursday, permission w«b given to Major Wilson to transfer his interest in Lots 93 and 94, Cambridge West, to Mr W. Tucker. The secretary was instructed to apply to the pound keeper for a refund of moneys paid as damage for cattle trespass in the domain. The chairman (Mr Welli) reported that the ' contractor wai proceeding satisfactorily with his work. On the suggestion of Mr Kirkwood, it was decided to apply to the Auckland City Council and Acclimatisation Society for contributions of shrubs, fish, «tc. Some other routine business was transacted, and a number of accounts were passed for payment.

Generally Australians sneak in terms of great admiration of the natural beauties and climate of New Zealand (writes a correspondent), but they seem to think we are a long way behind them in our commercial and agricultural affairs. I met a party of visitors from Victoria a day or two ago, one of whom was a well-to-do farmer, who declared he saw nothing of real farming in the Waikato ; we are all only amateurs. Another gentleman was an old stationmaster, who had been in charge of a suburban station near Melbourne, where over 400 trains passed daily. He was amazed at the utter absence of all management on our lines, and the fearful waste of time on the road between Auckland and the Waikato. Mr S. Vailc should call on that gentlemen and have a chat with him.

A special meeting of the Cambridge Town Board was held yesterday, Messrs Houghton, Hewitt, Hughes and Ashor being present. The meeting was called to receive from Mr T. Wells a report prepared by him at the request of the board on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, to be introduced during the present session of Parliament. Mr Wells, who was present, went into a general survey of all the clauses of the Bill seriatum, pointing out what he considers thftir defects, and suggesting such alterations as he considers desirable should be made before the Bill is accepted by the House. The report is intended to be forwarded to Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., for him to take action thereupon in his place in Parliament. Mr Wells went into the matter at considerable length, and with hit usual perspicuity he placed his proposals and remarks before the board for them to adopt such a course in relation thereto as they might think fit. Mr Hughes thought the proposed amendment to disqualify bankrupts from holding office as mayor or councillor for a space of one year from the date of insolvency was very harsh, and treated a man as a criminal when perhaps he may only have been unfortunate. No questions being asked Mr Wells, Mr Hughes proposed that the thanks of the board be accorded Mr Wells for the time and trouble he had devoted to the matter, which were of great value to them. This was seconded by Mr Asher and carried. It was resolved to send a copy of Mr Wells' report to Mr J. B. Whyte. In reply to Mr Asher, the Clerk stated that more than the required number of signatures were appended to the petition praying that Cambridge be formed into a borough, which had been forwarded to the Governor. The Clerk read a statement showing the estimated revenue for the current year to be £813 10s, and the estimated expenditure £713 6s, leaving a balance of £100 4s for the reduction of the bank overdraft. The report was adopted. A discussion took place as to the advisability of keeping the run open during the winter, and it was decided to extend the time to the end of June, and t? bring the matter up again at next ordinary meeting. Miss Wilson wrote asking for use of the piano in the Public Hall for the purpose of giving instruction at certain hours on the same terms as she had used the piano in the Oddfellows Hall, which was the property of Messrs Wells and Soutter, nnd had been sold by them. Agreed to. Mr Asher drew the board's attention to the gravel holes in Chapel-street, and the neglect of the contractor, Ry»n, in refilling them. It was resolved that the contractor be written to. Mr Hewitt also called the Street Committee's attention to the state of the Hamilton road. ___^_