The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2249, 7 December 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equ.il and 1 exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

TUESDAY, DEC. 7, 1880.

Spevkixg at the Agricultural Show dinner at Christchurch, the other day, Mr .John Grigg said that we must look to the expansion of outdairy produce export trade as one of the most important means for regaining our prosperity. We have in these columns long advocated this view. It is unquestionably the right one. New Zealand, from one end to the other, is p 'culiarly well adapted for dairying. Our cl invite, so eqdMble, with a genial rainfall spread over the whole year, is in striking contrast to that of Australia and most parts of America. This fact was noted by Mr Firth during his recent visit to the States, and commented on in the third letter of the series which, with his consent, we are now republishing in our Saturday's supplement. But climate is not everything. Before dairying on.n bpoonio the profitable entprpi'Ho it ought to bo wo must, in the fust pl.ier*, see that we prepare tlip ri<r l >f, sort oP pastures )

secondly that we use the proper breed of cows, and thirdly that the methods adopted for uiuiufacturing butter and cheese are calculated to produce th« maximum of quantity and the perfection of quality at the minimum of cost Speaking generally, our pasture lands are by no means what they ought to be. In the vast majority of cases they do no yield anything like what they might under proper treatment be induced to do. Having ploughed the land and sown the seed, the common practice is, in colonial phrase, to "let it sweat" until it becomes absolutely necessary to break it up. This necessity is seldom recognised until the succulent grasses have disappeared or until meadow has returned to a state of nature. It goes without saying that dairy farming cannot be successful under such a system as this. Then again, as regards the class of cows oin ployed, we say most emphatically that, until a radical change has been effected in this regard, nothing like profitable results can be looked for. We have some first class animals in Waikato, it is true, but taken as a whole it would be difficult to find in any otherpart of the civilised world a more unsuitable lot than we have. The labour and thought of generations upon generations of men who have devoted themselves to the study of selecting and improving the dairy cow have, so far as we are concerned, been expended almost in vain. We have tried very hard to reverse the processes of these philanthropical breeders, and we have in most cases succeeded wonderfully well. They, by careful breeding and obedience to the law of the survival of the fittest, raised the bovine to a standard of which our forefathers could have had no conception ; we. in this country, by carelessness and inattention, have brought it down again and threaten to bring it still lower. Let farmers reflect on this, and they will admit that we do not o.vershoot the mark. Concerning the question of manufacture, we intend to say little just now. Whatever faults may have characterised the working ot our factories in the past, and it must be admitted that they are many and grievous, it must be borne in mind that the conditions precedent to their success have been absent, that is to say, the quantity of the milk supplied has been insufficient, while the quality has been too low. What is wanted, in our opinion, to make the cheese factories of Waikato pay dividends, is good milk and plenty of it. The factory authorities have, of course made mistakes in their endeavours to dispose of the product ; huge losses have, we know, been sustained on shipments to England and to other places, but these were in the nature of the case perhaps unavoidable. Such reverses are not likely to occur again. If only we could make a first-class article, whether in butter or cheese, and guarantee a steady suppty, no loss ,we are satisfied, would accrue in the long run. But these two conditions are indispensable. But how, it may be asked, is the required reform, upon which we have insisted, to be carried out ? Well, we are free to confess that the subject is surrounded with difficulties. Much must, of course, depend upon individual effort. More might be done by a union of forces, such as could be accomplished by the establishment of Farmers' Clubs or some kindred institutions in Waikato and other districts of the colony. The placing of the present (though almost defunct) Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association on a wider and stronger basis Wvduld also produce a good effect. In his remarks on the recent show at Auckland, our special reporter gave it as his opinion that the time had come when, if the annual exhibition is to retain its usefulness, it must be made peripatetic. We are inclined to go a little further. That time arrived long ago. The show has degenerated into a mere exhibition of the wares of the Auckland manufacturers, with a horse parade to give it a rural aspect and athletic sports to draw the shillings of the Auckland townsfolk. To such base uses has it come at last ! Held one year in the neighbourhood of Auckland, another year at, say, Pukekohe, and a third year in Waikato, and by this means brought within hail of the whole rural population, the show might be made to exercise its proper fanction, and teach where it now serves only to amuse. Some objections have been urged against our proposal, and to these we shall return in a future issue. . Further than this, it is a fact that the agricultural and pastoral affairs of the colony have not, and do not receive at the hands of the Government the attention they deserve — which is theirs by right. We do not grudge the attention given to the mining industry, but its importance, though undeniable, is subsidiary to that of agriculture, and yet the latter does not receive a tenth part of the care bestowed upon the former. While thousands arts spent every year upon that higher education which is to fit our sons to become schoolmasters and lawyers, doctors aud politicians, little or nothing is expended upon teaching them how to win from the earth its golden treasures of milk and grain, m.wt and wool, and yet the two objects aiv at least equally worthy of consideration and support.

A very successful dramatic entertainment was given in the Cambridge West achool last e-veninf?, of which a report will appear in our next issue.

The R.M-S. Alameda arrived at Auckland on Sunday, from Sydney, bring, inpr the Suez nnil. She left again for San Francisco yoaterrtay.

We would remind our Cambridge readers that the Hisjh School conceit takes pLcu un Pricey next. Mrs Jarley's Wax-

works will also bo exhibited, and no doubt it will bo a great success, tho various eh uMctcra being taken by the children.

It another column will be found dm full progrwnme °f the Christmas Carnival and mtorn.itional fete to bo hold .n Hamilton on December 27, 28 and 29th, to liquidate the debt on S. Peter's Church.

Mr S. Jagger, the well-known Aucklind brewer, who left by the Alauwda \esterday on a tiip to Europe, was entertained nt dinner on Saturday evening. Amongst those present were most of the leading cituens of Auckland.

The following ten lers were opened by Mr D. Richardson on Saturday for building' a house for Mr W. Seinmens at ()haupo:--Riuch and Ohye (accepted), £141); C. Potterton, £150 Ws; Hogan and Morse, £153; .T. 1). Ainaboldi, £1(10; R. Kerr, £18."); W. McFarlane, £180 19s Gd ; H. Carter, £193; T. Chapman, £200; P. Murphy, £210; A. McLeod, £248 10a.

As there appears to be a roisap ])vehension in the minds of some of those who purpose taking part in the various entertainments in connection with the carnival at Hamilton during Christmas week, we have been requested by the committee to state that it was never intended that the children taking part in the Maypole dance and pantomime should be charged for admission to Sydney Square and the hall.

The usual monthly meeting of the Kirikiriroa Road Board was held on the 3rd inst. Present: Messrs Primrose (chairman), Lovell and Thomas. Correspondence inwards and outwaids was read, and tenders opened for drain work at Ngarawahi* north, and for rebuilding the bridge at Nicols on the liver road. For the first (contract No 20) four tenders were received viz., P. Rice, £14 ; Z. Owen, £13 10d ;G. Brown, £13 7s 9d ; W. H. Goodwin. £9 9s 6d (accepted). Contract No. 21 : D. Henderson, £46 ; A. Nicol, £45 (accepted). Accounts were passed and the meeting adjourned.

The subject of charitable aid incidentally cropped up at the Hamilton Borough Council last night. It came out that the Mayor had relieved several cases, and that an account was being kept of all the moneys paid, which it was expected the Waikato Hospital Board would refund. Some amusement was caused by some of the councillors asking whether the cleik was sure that the sum of 5s paid to a certain man, who came in from Piako, had not been expended in drink. The Clerk said tho money had been given to carry the man on to Auckland, as he wanted to go to the hospital. One of the councillors said the man was still in the town, loafing drinks. Another case was that of a woman who was recently confined, and whose child would have died had not relief been given. Cr. Knox said tho woman had a husband who was in good work, and who had several times been before the R. M. for deserting his wife. He would take steps to sco that this man was brought to book. He thought it was time the council ceased to act as a charitable aid board. Several other cases were mentioned,. A suggestion that the council appoint a relieving officer was not entertained. The Mayor said he had always exercised the utmost caution. He had authority from the newly-formed Hospital Board of Waikato to deal with pressing cisos of distress. It was resolved to apply to the Hospital B ard for a refund of moneys expended.