AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2213, 14 September 1886, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. _ .

TUESDAY, SEPT. U h 1886.

In a letter received last mail from Mr John Roche, formerly of Te Awamutu, but now in Kansas, United States, the writer states that owing to the drought there would be a great falling off in the. wheat crop. He said that if the dry weather continued for a couple of weeks longer the corn crop would suffer also. There has been a great mortality among the hogs owing to cholera. The export of wheat and bacon from the States will therefore show a considerable falling off this year. Not only will there be a

falling off in those articles, but in beef also. The population of the United States is increasing so rapidly by immigration that there is not the surplus of beet there was a few years ago. Many of the immigrants are now producers, and these must be fed. As regards those who intend to be producers, some little time must elapse before they can raise stock ready for the market, and as the population is increasing so rapidly it is more than probable there will be a still greater decrease in export of agricultural produce of all kinds, at any rate of beef and wheat. Some of the home papers referring to the matter give statistics showing the decrease of imparts of American meat both live and dead. To the farmers of New Zealend these will be welcome facts, for if the English markets are eased of the competition of American farmers there will be a better chance of colonial produce being sold at remunerative rates. About a year ago one of the New York papers predicted that all home raised produce would be required for their own population, as the I Government statistics showed it was increasing enormously from external sources. Land there has always been so easily obtained, and the Government offered such easy terms to selectors, that the heavily handicapped British and Continental farmers eagerly availed themselves of the liberal terms offered. Latterly, however, there has been a certain anlount of depression felt there as in other countries. The late strikes have done a great deal of harm, not only in loss of production, but in other ways. The investment of capital has been retarded, for capitalists, in view of the possibility of the recurrence of these disastrous strikes, have been shy of investing their money. From pulpit and platform strikes have been fulminated against, and among thinking men there has been an earnest desire to see these labour disputes settled by arbitration. Looking nearer home we can see the mischief worked by them. The late strike among the bootmakers in Auckland has resulted in boots advancing ten per cent, in price, which is a serious thing to men with large families. Anything which tends to cripple or interfere with our industries is to be deplored. The loss of wages to the artisan class means a loss to the agriculturist in proportion as the purchasing power of the former is diminished. Again, the action of the unemployed in refusing to work unless for high wages, is practioally a strike, for it is simply impossible for farmers to continue paying the price for labour ruling hitherto. It was remarked in our hearing the other day that if the single men came into the country and offered to work for 7s 6d or 10s a- week and found, it would be better for them than loafing about Auckland ; it would not only enable the farmers to work their land, but would give the married men a chance of getting work in the city. As times improved more | wages could be given ; till then men could at least get enough to feed and clothe them. Such a proposal as this will no doubt be thought to be dreadfully heretical, but there is a good deal of sound seuse in it nevertheless. The farmer must either get higher prices for his produce or he must get cheaper labour, if he is to continue working the soil.

The incoming 'Frisco mail steamer is due at Auckland on Friday next.

The death is announced by cable of Mr Samuel Morley, the woll-known politician, aged 77.

The Hamilton Choral Society will meet for practice this evening in LeQuesne a Hall at 7.30.

Miss M. R. Roy of Tasmania has been appoiuted lady teacher of the Thames High School.

Commander Edwin wired at 11.50 a.m. yesterday :— " Watch barometer. Expect bad weather between east and south and south-west. Glass further fall, but rising within 12 hours."

The manufacture of blotting paper has been established at Dunedin, and recently the first samples were turned out. We wish the new industry success.

An influential requisition has already been signed, requesting Mr Wadel to allow himself to be again nominated for the mayoralty of Auckland.

The Auckland footballers have presented a red flag with N.S.W.F.R. worked on it, to the New South Welshmen as ajmemento of their visit to Auckland.

There was an excellent gathering of members of the Hunt at the meet of the Pakuranga hounds at Devon port on Saturday, which proved a very successful affair.

A narrative of the first war in New Zealand, 1845 6, specially compiled from the diary of an officer of the 58th Regiment, who served throughout the compaign, will shortly be published.

The full programme of the Waikato Hunt Club's Steeplechase meeting, to bo held at Gwynnelands, near Cambridge, on Wednesday, the 13th October, will be found in another column.

During Mr O'Connor's, Undersecretary for Railways, stay in Auckland, he has arranged with Mr Hales, District Engineer, to put in hand at once the extension of the Trunk Railway to the North. TheN.Z Shipping Go's. R.M- s-s. Ruapehu arrived off Port Chalmers on Saturday morning last. She left Plymouth on the 31st July, and brings London dates to July 30. She is due in Auckland early to-morrow morning.

At tbe Ponsonby Wesleyan Church on Sunday morning the Rev. H, Dewsbury, in the course of his sermon, took occasion to pass a hij?h eulogy on our State gystetn of education, as being a credit alike to the Legislature and the people of the colony.

Judicious investment in properties is strikingly illustrated by the fact that a sum of £420 invested in city property in Christchurch thirty years ago has already realised £80,000, which either has been, or is to be remitted to an absentee owner in England.

At the Auckland Police Court on Saturday, the man Archibald Smith, who attempted te commit suicide at the Governor Brown Hotel on Friday night by cutting his thro it, was remanded. Fortunatply tho knife selected by the accused was too blunt to have the desired effect. He had of Lite been drinking.

It appears that the applicants for military and naval grants are perplexed as to the best means of getting their claims in order, and has suggested the appointment of some Government officer to receive tho applications and to assist in preparing them in advance for the commission that is to enquire into them. We trust the suggestion will be acted upon.

Beach, -when presented with the first prize of £1200 after the late sculling matches, spoke a few words in response to

some complimentary remarks made upon bis jrowing, in the couroe of which he expressed regret that Edward Hanlan, exchampion, had not competed for the sweepstake.

An adjourned meeting of the ratepayers in the Manga pi ko Road Distriqfc'will be held in the old school-house on Saturday, the 35th hwt., at 2 p.m., to consider the matter of levying a rate for the current year, the mode in which'the Rabbit Nuisance Act is boing worked, and the Hospital and Charitable Aid question. The meeting is convened by the board.

Judgment was given for the plaintiff in the case W, K. Carter v. Nepift Te Ka«, th« hearing of which wan concluded at the R.M. Court, Cambridge, on Friday afternoon. Mr John Gwynneth, creditor*' trustee in the insolvent estate of Arekatera, produced plaintiff's proof of debt in Are-katera-'s estate, which showed that the account was entirely distinct from the subject of the present action. Judgment for £50 11s 3d, and £6 17«, less costs.

As Mr James Watt was backing his horse in the endeavour to shoot a load of rubbish over the brow of the hill opposite Mr D. Carnachan's residence, Cambridge, on Saturday, the ground at the edge gave way, with the result that horse and dray went baokwards down the hill. No damage, however, waß done, the horse on being extricated proving none the worse for his involuntary acrobatic display.

Referring to alterations in the Bankruptcy Act, his Honour Mr Justice Richmond remarked during the sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, Wellington, rocently. that he was quite timid about alteration}* in the bankruptcy law. In fact one had to ask every time now whether any fresh alterations hcd been made in it. The official assignee had informed him that none had been made during the last session, which he considered was lucky, as alterations were made in the sessions of 1883, 1884 nnd 1885 1

There is * prospect of Wairoa being again re-occupied. Mr Humphries, on examining the wreck of his hotel, tinds that some half dozen of the rooms are in a fair condition, and can be easily repaired. It is his intention to Again go back to Wairoa, and the Tuhourangi state that if he does so they also will return to their old settlement. During the coming sutmnor it is believed all supplies, pastures, &c., needed for stock, can be obtained at Kaiteriria, while as to other stores these can be got from Rotorua by the old road, which will be then sufficiently hard to admit of traffic to and fro.— Herald.

A painful accident occurred yesterday to Mr Booth, of the firm of Booth and Roberts, butchers, Cambridge. Booth was engaged rounding up cattle to the slaughter-yards, when one heifer got into the ti-tree, and an Booth ' endeavoured to cut her out, she charged him, striking him with one horn on the shin, and nearly unseating him from hit saddle. The horn glanced off the shinbone and penetrated the calf of Mr Booth's leg, inflicting a serious lacerated wound of an extremely painful nature. Dr. Cnshey was sent for, and afforded all relief in, his power. His opinion is that the sufferer will be six weeks before he can put his leg to the ground.

At the ordinary meeting of the Birkenhead aud Northcote Fruit-growers' Association recently, Mr Wilson read a paper on "The Preparation of Land for Ciops," which proved how thoroughly he was acquainted with practical farming. During the meeting Mr Wilson exhibited some white Belgian carrots, weighing over Gibs each, being specimens from a crop of 40 tons to the acre, grown on poor land on his farm at Birkenhead. An association such as the above is much needed in Waikato, which, if started, would be the means of imparting useful information, not only as regards fruit-growing, but root crops also, to those interested.

To the Editor.—Sir,—The report under the title of " Okete " in your issue of the 11th inst., rather surprised a good many of its reader. A query might reasonably be inserted as to the amount of reliance to be placed on the remarks. In the first place, the " official looking document" referred to, at the time of your publication, had not made its appearance before tha public. In reference to the comments passed upon the "ambitious sweet sixteens," their lofty aspirations, &c, we can only say "A Corespondent " evidently knows nothing at all about the contemplations of these fair damsels. Trusting you will find space for this in the columns of your valuable paper, —I am. yours obediently, Nimpoute.

A capital game of football was played on Saturday afternoon in the Government paddock, Cambridge, between teams representing the East and West sides of the river. The game was a fast one throughout, and the result proved the teams to be very evenly matched, no score being recorded for either side. Mr N. Hunt captained the Cambridge West team, and Mr Porter the East. There was some capital play, and the two captains with Messrs A. L. Sout«r» Morrissey, Wood, Pilling and Moon did well for their sides, as also did a young player named Stewart, who played in his bare feet, and displayed a considerable amount of Bpeed and ability. A selection frotn the combined teams would be hard to beat anywhere.

The Khedive of Egypt has a country palace at Helwan, fifteen miles frotn Cairo. There are celebrated sulphur springs at Helwan, and all the tourists who flock to the land of the Pharohs during the winter months, spend a short while at these springs. His Highness was taking a walk alone near the palace, closely followed by two very determined-looking ladies. The royal personage seemed annoyed at the intrusion, and suddenly turned, seemingly to escape them, in an opposite direction. The ladies, however, were not to be thwarted, and striding up to the Khedive with a Fifth Avenue swing, one ot them said "Aren't you the Khedive?" His Highness politely replied "I am." The ladies said "We thought so." And then, with a smile, "We ace from New York." The very innocent sovereign said "I thought bo, and, bowing, walked

away. The following paragraph is now going the rounds of tho Colonial Press, and has already appeared in most of the New Zealand papers ' — " Lord Charles Beresford is almost as fearless * soldier as his friend Colonel Burnaby, and consequently a great favourite. It is related of him that during the hot fighting in South Africa, as he waa riding back after an engagement, he overtook one of his troopers, wounded and slowly making his way afoot, He stopped and told the trooper to get up behind him j the trooper refused, on the ground that if he got up they would both be taken by the enemy, but if Lord Charles Beresford rode alone he was certain to escape. Lord Charles having looked at him for ft moment, then said, 'If you don't get up I shall have to get off and knock you down,' whereupon the trooper mounted and both escaped." The incident, of which Lord William Beresford is the hero, was related first in 1879. Lord Charles is an officer in the Navy, and had no " troopers."

"Puff" thus writes in the Wellington Press :— " Auckland Frozen Meat Company lost £15,421 in a year ! " " Just what they might have expected! They were warned that frozen meat couldn't be shipped from Auckland at a profit ! The country isn't a sheep country, and it's no use pretending it is ! " " They attribute their losses to the depressed state of the markets of the world ! " " Well, of course, if frozen meat had fetched half-a-crown a Eound in London all the while, it would aye paid to ship it from Timbuctoo, or anywhere else ! But that's just the question ! At what price can the Auckland company atford to sell meat ? At 4jd or 5d it pays to ship it from Wellington or Lyttelton or Dunedrn, but. shipping from Auckland left a loss of £15,000 ! " " Still they're going on ! They're determined to carry the business to a successful issue ! " "We can admire their pluck without approving their judgment ! They're fighting against nature, and nature will be one too many for them ! "

Some splendid returns have been received from samples of ore vent on to London from the Tui mine, Te Aroh*, and others at Waihi, such as the Union ; and the great question in our mining districts now is to devise a process which will profitably extract our gold and mlver. There is a great want of scientific knowledge to analyse our various ores, and classify them in such a way that we may know which process is likely to be most successful, We have just heard of a new patent brought out in London for extracting gold and »ilver from ores, more particularly from quartz containing base minerals that sicken quicksilver, such as antimony, arsenic, sulphur, etc. This process jg known as the hydrogen amalgam process, and is very favourably reported on by Messrs. Johnson and Son, assayerd to the Bank of England.— Herald. Mr W. Wilson, Whatawhata, advertises a red steer running on his farm.