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Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2573, 8 January 1889, Page 2

In this issue will be found a letter from the Chairman of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, in which he very straightforwardly and candidly expresses regret that the remarks 110 made at the late meeting of shareholders should have left the impression it did upon the minds of Waikato people, as pointed out by us in our leider of the 3rd inst. We are very pleased indeed that Mr Bull has put himself and ihe Company he represents so far right with the persons aggrieved, and as before expressed we, in common with their well-wishers in VVaikato, sincerely trust that some satisfactory explanation will be forthcoming to account for the discrepancies in the quality of their manures which have »ivcn rise to the remarks we passed thereon. We have always been most anxious to further the interests of this Company, particularly in this branch of their business ; but, wl.ilsfc keeping this steadfastly in view, we consider the protection of the fair fame of our neighbours a duty far and away more paramount ; and we believe the Company will acknowledge the justness of our taking upon ourselves this position.

In another column the dates ol nominations and acceptances for the Waipa Racing Club's annual meeting are advertised. Mr Gelling, Town Clerk of Hamilton, has gone on a few weeks' leave of absence. Mr J. S. Edgecumbe will till his office during Mr Gelling's absence. The imports of Australian wines into England during 18S8 were 70,000 galltins in excess of the quantity imported in the previous year. The National Board of Trade of America has petitioned Congress to suspend the operation of the mints at present, to relieve, the glut of coin in the country. A Native Lands Commissioners' Court will be held in Cambridge to-morrow, and Chief Judge Macdonald is expected to preside. Yesterday was settling day for the Boxing Day meeting of the Waikato Jockey Club, and the stakes were paid at Mr Bach's Criterion Hotel. Mr R. J. Creighton, the wellknown New Zealand journalist, was a passenger from San Francisco, by the Mariposa. A member of Congress named Spring lias introduced a Bill extending the Presidential term of office from four to six years, but making a man once chosen President ineligible for re election. The Agent-General has submitted the name of Mr Roes, Assistant-Deputy General Manager, of the North-Western Railway, for the office of Chief Railway Commissioner of Now Zealand. Te Anau, the finest of the many fine lake< in New Zealand, is now open to tourists, a steamer having been success fully launched on it. This steamer, which had a highly satisfactory trial trip, will connect with the Milford Sound track. Mr Mahon, of Hamilton, has left at this office a sample of flax grown from the seed. Competent authorities consider it a very fair sample and that it proves the adaptability of the soil of Waikato to the growth of this plant. Through retrenchment the Public Woiks Department has been abolished, and ttie whole of the offices of District Engineers are closed. Mr Hales, District Engineer, Auckland, has gone to Porotorau, being appointed to the charge of the northern scctionof the North Island Trunk Railway, to which he will make periodical visits of inspection. We regret to have to record the death of Mr W. B. Morgan, of Hautapu, an old and esteemed Waikato settler, who died at the Waikato Hospital on Sunday morning. Mr Morgan had only been a few days in the Hospital, whither he had been brought to obtain the advantages of medical skill and attention not available outside an institution of the kind. As Mr "Ward, of Ruapuke, was coining in to the annual gathering at Raglan, accompanied by his sons, and when within a mile or two of Raglan, going round ft sharp corner of the road, he had the misfortune to be thrown from his horse, by which ono of the small bones of his wrist was broken. Fortunately Dr. Bay was at hand, and at onco set the broken limb in splints. The Mariposa arrived in Auckland on Saturday with the mails via San Francisco. The disturbances in Samoa continue, the Germans taking a more active part in aid :>f the usurper. A large party of Germane which landed on a part of the island, was defeated with severe Joss, A German war-ship next bombarded a native village, but the inhabitants had previously abandoned the place. There is great'excitonient at Apia as it is feared tho Malietoa natives will attack the place. The gentlemen initiating the movement to raise funds for Mrs Abbott, Pukete, about which a paragraph appeared in last issue, have expressed a desire that subscriptions on this behalf should be left at this office. We have much pleasure in acting as the medium in this deserving cause. In due time a statement will be published, showing the disposition of the funds. Up to tlje present the following promises of help have bean I'epeivedCol, Forbes, 2s Gd ; F. J. von Stunner, |s j J)r, Ifenny, Is ; Friend, Is, weekly.

We have received a reprint of the trenchant letter, written by Mr S. Vaile, on the Victori.in railways, which was published in a late issue of the Herald. It is beyond 11s to express any opinion on Mr Vailo's criticisms and conclusions on the working of tho railway system in that colony under the management of an able man like Mr Speight. It is a case of audi alteram parti before wc can venture to do so.

On Saturday evening last, a private running match of one mile took place on Sydney Square, between Messrs F. Hammond, (winner of the mile race at the Claudelands sports), and H. Bowen, (winner of a similar race at the Sydney Square sports). The stakes were £0 a-side. There was a large concourse of spectators to witness the match. Capt. Reid and Mr Fleming acted as judges, with Mr Penn as referee. Bovven was in excellent condition, but Hammond had apparently overtrained, and appeared to be very stale. The start was by mutual consent; Hammond held a lead of about a yard until commencing the last lap, Bowen contenting himself with keeping that distance between them. On complettng the second lap, Bowen went up to, and challenged Hammond, and after a short spurt passed him, gradually increasing his lead until about half-way round when Hammond retired, and Bowen finished an unexciting contest as he pleased. Tho time was very slow, Bowen not being called 011 to make an effort.

A matter of importance to the Calcutta trade has presented itself for consideration. The cornsacks used in the colonies vary in weight, South Australia generally taking 2jj-lb sacks, Victoria 2Jlb, and New Zealand 2|lb. This want of uniformity leads occasionally to some little trouble and slightly increased cost of production, and the Calcutta mill-owner naturally asks why the colonies cannot fix upon one size and weight. In addition to this view of the matter, intercolonial transactions in cornsacks are hampered by the differing requirements of the three principal consuming colonies. The question therefore suggests itself whether the grain merchants of Victoria. South Australia, and New Zealand cannot agree to use the same sacks. The advantages to bo gained in the way of placing orders more easily in Calcutta and in the distribution from colony to colony, as occasion arises, aro obvious.

On the subject "Does Farming Pay? a contributor to the Sydney Mail says:—" Does farming pay ? If you ask the question from a commercial standpoint, with its strict lines of Dr. and Cr , with every hour of labour placed on the oue side and every mince of produce 011 the other, the reply mint be "No 1 '; but if your object is to make a home and lead a healthy life, while providing that great want, employment for your sous, it does pay. The land, which 25 years ago was worth onlv 20s, is now saleable at as many pounds. Then as we sit on the Sabbath afternoon in the spacious, lofty kitchen, which is also the dining-room, with its spacious fire place, the bust of its class in the West, and gaze upon the fields, while from the drawing-room, wafted with the perfume of the flowers, come the sweet strains of psalmody, we feel that there are other considerations besides those strict ledger lines. They are peace, health and wealth, and the verdict is for the plaintiff."

As one of the outcomes of the severe drought lately experienced in Australia, it is anticipated that the price of meat, in Melbourne will advance enormously. The Melbourne Herald has been making inquiries into the matter and gives the result of certain interviews members of tho staff had with the leading butchers. Mr Bennett, head of one of the leading butchery establishments, says:—l fancy immediately Christmas is over the price of all kinds of meat will have to be sent up considerably. I would not be at all surprised to see that meat now !)d per lb will then be Is 3d or Is fid, and even then the meat will not be obtained. I know a man with GOO good bullocks. He is in a position to keen tt.em for a time, and if I offered £12 per head all round, they would not sell. There is another thing to be considered also, and that is the rise in horse feed, which affects us to a great degree. In inv business it means an extra expenditure of over £1000 per year, which, of course will have to be added to the meat, l-jeiiig asked by the reporter what arrangement" ho had been making for his supplies Mr Bennett said—" Well for wpoka I have been in communication with New Zealand and really cannot make them out. 1 wish to do just the same thing as I had to do three years ago, and I believe there must be a good surplus stock there. My olfer was to take 100 bodies of beef, and 500 or 1000 sheep per wedc, but for some reason or other the people over there do not seem to take much interest in tho question. 1 know myself it would be far better for exporters there to stop sending to England, and forward their stock here. Taking everything into consideration, the price they would realise by sending to Victoria would be fully equivalent to that obtained in England, and five bodies could bo sent to Melbourne for one that could be sent Home. I should say that now was the chance for New Zealand if they would take advantage of it, and it is the only place we will be able to look to."