The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1887.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2348, 28 July 1887, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1887.

Kqual and exact justice to a!l men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The ofler of Mr J. C. Firth to purchase any quantity of spring-grown Tuscan wheat that Waikato can produce, is not, we trust, being lost sight of by Waikato settlors. Each week the cattle sales show them that reliance on grazing cattle can be less and less depended upon as a profitable investment. Heretofore, spring-grown wheat has been unfavourably looked upon by the Auckland millers, but early in May last, several samples of white Tuscan wheat were collected by a Cambridge settler, and sent to Mr Firth for his inspection, with the result that that gentleman said that if this was a fair sample of Waikatogrown white Tuscan wheat he would be prepared to purchase five hundred thousand bushels of it next season. The ofler was again explicitly made and published at Mr Firth’s request in this journal. The information referred to, the excellent crop of last season, and the improved price obtained for it, have not been without their effect. In all parts of the district some one or two, more, adventurous than the rest, have made preparations for sowing a larger breadth than usual of this grain. On one estate at Morrinsville wo hear of a thousand acres to be sown, and elsewhere in smaller quantities, hut the matter is not being taken up as generally as it should he. Farmers complain of the loss incurred in growing this or that kind of produce, and it has become a well-known fact, that as often as not, the fat cattle when sold do not realise the value of the grass and turnips consumed over and above their first cost as stores. In some cases even they have not realised the latter. This may ho, but if the turnips were followed by wheat the latter crop would pay for both. Dispirited by the low price of wheat in the previous season, much of which, too, was injured by unfavourable harvest weather, Waikato farmers sowed but a comparatively small crop of wheat last season, but those who did reaped the benefit in a large average crop and remunerative prices. Thirty bushels per acre, and even more was no exceptional crop on well cultivated land this last season. In one case at Hautapu wo could mention the name of a farmer who, from fiO acres of laud, after paying rent of about X'2oo for the whole farm, seed, reaping and threshing, and delivery, realised a sum of between £l3O and £MO as a net profit for all labour, other than the above, applied by himself and family to the crop. Scores of settlers have realised this season that there is money in the wheat crop, a fact which should become still more widely realised, and Mr Firth’s altered opinion,

on the suitability of spring-grown whits Tuscan wheat for milling purposes, should remove the only real dilliculty there has been in the growing of wheat in Waikato, its

unpopularity with the millers in competition with Southern grain. But this is not altogether a change of opinion on the part of Mr Firth. Certain alterations which he has lately had made to the machinery of his mill will enable him to deal more satisfactorily with the spring Tuscan wheat than before, and though it will he necessary to use some proportion of winter-grown wheat, he can of course secure that from some other quarter. Recent arrangements will also enable him to deal with some three-quarters of a million of bushels of wheat yearly in his Auckland mill, so that to supply this one mill alone with only a portion of its requirements, to say nothing of the demands of purely local millers, Waikato farmers havo an assured and practitically unlimited market before them.

That matter settled, next comes the question, will wheat growing pay, and to what extent 1 Given a certain average crop and a market, what is the cost of production 1 That is the question more immediately to be considered. Now, some two or three years ago a statement was published in this journal, that an oiler was made by a practical man to do all the work neces sary to produce a wheat crop, and find the seed, for £3 per acre. The work would include once ploughing, harrowing (disc and tine), rolling, drilling, and, when ready for harvest, reaping and binding, stocking, carting, stacking and thatching, and, lastly, threshing, dressing and filling the sacks ready for delivery. This oiler was made by a practical man, who would have had to get a fair profit out of the labour he would havo to employ. It was doubted by a few at the time whether this could be done for the money, but other farmers said that they were prepared to do tho same work themselves for 50s per acre, and a well-known contractor of means, and a practical fanner himself announced himself, prepared to take contracts for the work at tho latter price. This, then, simplifies production, and answers the question of cost in a concise way. If wo take a crop of 20 bushels per acre only, as the lowest quality wheat land that a farmer could venture to crop, and price the wheat at 4s a bushel we shall have a return of £4 por aero for the wheat, and fully i'l per acre for tho straw, or say £5 altogether. Set against this the cost of production 50s per acre, cost of railway freight at (say from Te Awamutu or Cambridge) 14s 4d per ton, about 5s Gd for twenty bushels, and we have a cost of 55s 6d to bo deducted from the £5, leaving a net sum of £2 4s Gd, as the profit on even so low a crop as 20 bushels to tho acre. Every bushel grown over tv,maty to tho acre will therefore give an additional 4s profit less the extra freight, so that with a thirty bushel crop tho figures would stand thus : Thirty bushels of wheat at 4s, £G, and straw £l. Total £7 per acre. Cost of production and railway freight 8s 4d, £2 18 4d, or a not profit of £4 Is 8d per acre. Surely this in either case is sufficient encouragement and will provide even for interest on mortgage or rent, which by the way the settler will havo to pay, whether he grows the wheat crop or not. But there is another phase of the matter, and an important one. Will the farmer’s man and horse power, if he docs not cultivate these ten or twenty, or one hundred acres of wheat, as ths case may be, be fully and profitably employed at other work ? As a rule we may answer no. He has then the opportunity of saving the expenditure of 50s per acre, and earning the amount with his own and the labour of his teams. He will turn into money his own and their waste time, so that in many cases nearly the whole gross value of the wheat crop will flow into his own pocket.

There is not a farm in Waikato on which more or less wheat should not form a part of this year’s cropping, and unfavourable as the season has lately been for getting on the land to work it, there is still time for the- proper working of a large, breadth of laud for the growth of spring wheat. Better a good tilth and a few days delay in sowing than a hurriedly and imperfectly got in crop. A large quantity even of broken up land is not fit for a wheat crop at the present time,being either imperfectly drained, or with too much fern left on it, but there are thousands of acres which might he got ready for the present season’s crop as soon as the weather takes up, between now and the next five or six weeks. Finally we would commend to the attention of our farmers the growth of as largo an area of wheat as possible this season. If every one would do his utmost in this matter we should hear less of individual complaint of scarcity of money, want of work, and of general depression in business, and the community as a whole would be richer by the pushing of this industry to its legitimate extext. If Waikato could import some £20,000 of wheat into Auckland next year we should hear little, of agricultural distress in this part of the colony. Asa regular crop in the rotation one year with another wheat must take its place after turnips. It is the one crop which a farmer can always rely upon turning into money, like gold among minerals wheat amongst grains has a standard value, and is always in demand. There is no better soil or climate than that of Waikato for the growth of turnips if the land is well worked and moderately assisted, and it is wellknown that a good crop of roots consumed upon the ground is—barring accident—the certain precursor of a good crop of grain,

The usual monthly meeting of 1 judge Beta, 450, 1.C., takes place this evening.

It is said that Parnell believes his illn- ss the result of an attempt to poison him.

Mr Thomas Morrin was a passenger for Sydney by the s.s. Mararua, which left Auckland on Tuesday. John Varley, of South Australia, brother of Henry Yarley, the well-known evangelist, lately died in Melbourne. Splendid rains have fallen throughout the South Australian colony, and the harvest prospects are excellent. The Freemasons of the EC. of Christchurch and district have contributed the sum of £54 towards the Jubilee Memorial Home Fond.

Affairs in Afghanistan are anything but satisfactory. It is stated that the revolt is extending, and that the troops at Herat are suspected of disloyalty. The swamp road from Frankton to Whatawhata, has become positively dangerous for horse traffic of any sort, horsemen, now, even, haveHrecour.se to the old road.

Te Kooti with his people left Maketo no Tuesday'for Karikari. In some of the places where Te Kooti stopped the natives havo now scarcely a potato for their own use.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph says: —“Lady Caraington has sent a cheque for £3 to Mr Bissell, of Lithgow, who recently gave birth to triplets.” Wonders will never cease.

Mr Maurice Strakosh. who discovered Patti, has, found another musical wonder in a young lady, Madlle. Nikita, who, though only 14 years of age, possesses a soprano voice of marvellous quality and compass.

The Auckland Poultry Show will be open to day, to-morrow, and Saturday. Saturday return fares, available up to Monday next are provided by the railway authorities.

Mdme. Patti’s farewell performance at the Metropolitan Opera house, New York, drew an enormous audience. It is announced that the total receipts of her seven performances in that city were £23,000, an unprecedentedly large sum. The death of Mr Alfred Willis Smith, commonly known as Charlie Smith, is announced. The deceased had been associated with tho history of Hokianga for over 50 years. He was a native of Wales, and at tho time of his death was in his 81st year.

The result of the race between Hanlan and tiaudaur is regarded with suspicion both in England and America. The latter finished a quarter of a mile out of tho course, but nearly level with Hanlan The defeated oarsman declined to make any statement.

The barque Loch Orr arrived at Lyttelton yesterday from London. Tho passage occupied 102 days. A seaman named James Marconrt fell from the rigging on iho 15th of June, and died from injuries sustained on the 19th. She came consigned to the New Zealand Shipping Company. We have it from very reliable authority that Mr J, B. Toasdale, the Chairman of the Waipa County Council, intends tn contest tho Waipa seats. Electors will therefore have, a choice between tho Major, Messrs Te.vwiale, Campbell, and Wright, if all rumours current are verified.

“How did it happen that the church was an crowded to-day?” “Well, I’ll tell yon. You see tho Professor of Theology preached, and on his account all the students came —on their account all the young men, on their account all the widows, and on theirs all the widowers.”

The returns for the quarter ended on tho 301 hj June show the total value of imports into New Zealand to have been only £1,105,859, as against £1,253,478 for tho corresponding period of 1880. This brings up the total for a twelvemonth to £0,301,704, which is the lowest yearly total for over live years. Sir Robert Stout addressed a large audience at tho City Hall, Auckland, on Tuesday night. Ha received a fair and patient hearing. At the conclusion of the meeting he received a vote of thanks. The meeting terminated with hearty cheers for Sir R. Stout and Sir George Grey. The most expensive head-dress in the British army is tho bearskin, wliich lends such an imposing air to the members of the Foot Guards. Each bearskin helmet costs £4 9s, and lasts six years’. The feather bonnet of the Highlanders coats £2 9s 3d, and lasts eight years. The brass helmet worn by the Household Cal valry costs £1 0s 2d. and lasts for eight years. In another column will be found an advertisement from Mr J. Fernandz, the cheap draper of Karangahape road, Auckland. Intending purchasers of really cheap lines will find a large stock of general drapery on view at Harris’s shop, and not at the Oddfellow’s Hall, as notified in last issue.

A fire occurred at Rimu on Mon day night, whereby a rainers’s cottage was destroyed. The owner, named Neilson, was absent, and tho neighbours rescued his wife and three little children at great risk. They were half suffocated by smoko at the time, and were only saved m their nightdresses. All tho furniture was destroyed.

Mr James Hume, the popular representative of the Bank of New Zealand in Waikato, returned yesterday from an expended visit to the sister colonies. He looks all the better for the trip, and we trust the change of scene and climate will havo had t lie desired effect of thoroughly recruiting his health with which object tho holiday was mainly taken.

The following notices of motion have been given at the Hamilton Borough Council office Councillor Knox to move at next meeting of the council:—!. Ist August, “That when the hour of 10 o’clock p.m. has arrived no fresh business bo introduced.” 2. “That the poundage fees paid by Mr D. Cockhead be refunded.” A fatal accident is reported from Cape St. George, near Jervis Bay. Two young girls named Gibson and Parker were out walking near the lighthouse. They came to an empty hut, whore they found a gun, with which they began “skylarking.” The gun, which happened to be loaded, went off, killing Miss Parker instantly.

Mr T. H. Ismay, managing partner of the firm of lamay, Imrie, and Co., of the famous White Star line of Atlantic steamers, has offered a gift of £200,000 to the Mayor of Liverpool towards founding a Seamen’s Pension Fund. This he does in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee, and also in celebration of the attainment of his 00th year. Information has been received at Adelaide that a man named Jeffries left Corella station for the north six weeks ago, to look for lost cattle, and had not been heard of since. It is feared ho has been killed by blacks, of whom large numbers were about. A search party found three horses, and the remains, burnt, of a saddle, the property of Jeffries, 80 miles from the station.

Miss Seaman, a young lady of Belong, N. S. W., and one of a family of nineteen children, turns the scale at 21st 11b. She is nineteen years of ago. In another couple of years she will be qualified to marry, and we may bo allowed to hope that the man of her choice is in every way an exemplary person. Otherwise she may be disposed to “ sit on him,” and the first attempt would without doubt provide a job for the coroner.—Sydney Referee. A man named Walter William Neale, an English solicitor, who for some time carried on a lucrative business in the. city of Coventry, Warwickshire, has been arrested in Melbourne, charged with forgeries amounting to £30,000. When arrested, he said ho hardly expected to be caught at the other end of the globe, and complimented the officers oh their smartness. The accused is about 42 years of age.

During the reign of Queen Victoria there have been erected 6500 buldings for worship in the Church of England, as against 3000 by all other religious communications put together. Seven now dioceses have been founded at home and sixtytwo in the colonies. Within the last half year of her reign £81,000,000 have been voluntarily subscribed for church purposes, and £22,000,000 for elementary education in voluntary schools. John McMahon, son of Alderman McMahon, of St. Leonards, N.S.W., who has been on a visit for the past few months for the benefit of his health to Mr James O’Brien, of Belle Vue, met with a fatal accident by drowning. It appears that he and Mr O’Brien’s two sons, aged about ten and twelve years, were out shooting. They shot a duck, which fell

nto a waterhole. Deceased divested himself of his clothing, and plunged in, with the intention of getting the dnek, but, owing to the severe coldness of the water, was seized with cramp, and sank. The boys brought the telligence homo. To ths Editor. —Sir,—Your correspondent “Burgess” yesterday draws attention to the fact that the ranger is too forbearing in Hamilton West. Us people in tile Last believe also he has gone to sleep, though some do say he has been choked off by the offensive motions of Crs. Tippen and .Scott in the council. —Yours, Another Burgess. Grey-street, July 27th. —The P.D. says ; He is only waiting for the moonlight, ([ Singing softly to the kyc : " Meet me by moonlight alone.” —Ed.

A small panic has arisen in Sydney among insurance nolicy-lmlders. A man whose life was insured for £075 met with a serious accident, and to give him though his medical attendants were convinced his accident would result fatally, an operation was decided on. He died during the operation, and the insurance company declined to pay, as there was a clause in the policy that if the insured died under an operation they would not recognise the policy. It is said this condition exists in most policies. The company, in a generous mood, voted the widow £io 10s.

A travelling sleight-of-hand man visited an Indian encampment near Lewiston, Idaho, the other day. Seeing a small dog, he asked how much they would take for him. Tho Indians said they did not want to sell. “ Him very good dog,” said the magician, rubbing him down at the back, at each stroke taking a handful of money from the end of Ms tail, also from his month, nose and oars. The Indians looked on in solid silence, but after the magician went away they took the dog down to the river bank and killed and dissected him, To their great chagrin they found that the sleight-of-hand man had milked him of all the money, A Chinaman recently went into a Leadvillo faro bank and placed a paper of gold dust on the ace. The ace lost, and the dealer, weighing the dust, found that it was worth about £5. He was about to throw the paper away when John asked for it saying there were some ‘ washee washee’ account upon it which he required. The next night he returned and het a similar sum. This time he won, and as the dust weighed four pounds, the dealer proposed to pay him upon that basis. The heathen shook his head. ‘You payee all I bet.’ ‘ Certainly,' answered the dealer. Then John carefully unwrapping the paper showed hidden between the folds a ten pound note. I He must havo it,'sighed the lookout man ; ‘ he’s got ns dead.’ The bank note was there the night before, but the dealer handed it back. That was his fault, however, not the Chinaman’s.

The Napier Daily Telegraph says: —The chairman of the Manawatu County Council has addressed a circular to county councils on the desirability of promoting the export of dairy produce. A shipment of butter forwarded in a cool chamber, realised in London a price that netted to tile farmer lid per lb. An endeavour to got cool chambers provided in the direct steamers has been started in the Manawatu district, and it is eminently desirable that all those interested should join, so as to show the companies that there is a general desire throughout New Zealand among dairy fanners that space should be provided for such a purpose. Hitherto the companies have charged the same price per lb as frozen mutton, but as the expense of keeping a chamber cool is much less than keeping the temperature down sufficiently l-.w for mutton, the freight on dairy produce might be considerably reduced if a c ml chamber were provided. If it can be shown that a large amount of dairy produce would bo exported, the Government might in the next contract with tho direct mail steamers stipulate space should he provided, or the companies might of themselves erect cool chambers.