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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3106, 11 June 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

At the Ashbnrton saleyards the other weel:, amongst a mob (if sheep that had como down fr.iin the Ashbnrtou Gorge, might bo seen several sheep with large scars on their loins. On inquiry from the manager nf Hakatore, Mr Johnstone, a reporter was told that theso were a few that hid survived the attack of that pest ti) the sheep tanner in the back mountain country—tho koa. Mr Johnstone says that the kiss each year is very considerable, and that unless some united effort is made to destroy these bird?, they will make some of the buck ranges almost useless for sheep grazing purposes. The Sydney Morning Herald in a leading article says :—When Victoria and New Zealand began the selfish policy of closing their markets against the produce of neighboring colonies, they probably never looked at the ultimate consequence of their notion. Fortunate it is no doubt for New Zealand that on being driven out Of the Australian markets she lms England to trade with. But if New Zealand had not been a leader in this deplorable policy of her isolation, grain merchants would not have now to complain of the block of trade with Australia. Those who were among the first to enter on this unfortunate policy of isolation cannot look back with satisfaction on what' they have done, and they deserve no sympathy as they look longingly on markets which the adoption of their own policy has deprived them of. There are not a few Freetraders whoregard this retaliatory policy of sections of one State, which the colonies really are, as the prelude to federation, The absurdity of hostile tariffs will become so apparent, and expose the colonies tw so much ridicule within or without their borders, that sooner or later the common intelligence will, through the ballot-buxes, insist on int>'rcolonial freetrade, as a matter of special agreement or

as tho main feature of a Federal policy. New Zealand was unwilling to join the Australian colonies at the recent Conference. But a few years' experience of J the conditions described by her grain merchants will open the eyes of her rulers to the advantages of reciprocity, and when another gathering for the consideration of Federation is assembled, there will probably be more willingness to recognise the common interest she has with the other colonies in a bond of freedom.