THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1697, 12 June 1884, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

"■ The Spirit of the Times shall teach me speed.' —KING JOHN, ACT IV.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1884,

THE GOVERNOB'S SPEECH. The speech of His Excellency at the opening of the Session is spoken of in some quarters as not being remarkable for anything except its length. This, of course, means that it partook of the indefinite character which usually distinguishes such productions, but happened to say a little more about the questions of the day without saying anything greatly to the point. There may be a deal of truth in this, because, as is well known, the political portion of a speech of this nature is always written, or, at all events, finally shaped by the Ministry of the day, who are not supposed to show their hand. Still, honesty compels us to admit that there is much less reason for speaking of it as colourless than is usual in the case of such declarations. It* contains a pretty substantial outline of the ' Ministerial policy, and though the details of the measures indicated were not, as indeed they could not then be, supplied, the importance of them, was nevertheless quite apparent. There is even a certain measure of daring displayed in connection with some of the topics introduced. Notably among these are the questions of Australasian federation and new railway tariff. With regard to the former of these, it has been generally understood that it would not be dealt with as a Ministerial measure ; but, as the representatives at the Sydney Convention undertook to recommend the draft Federation Bill to their respective Colonial Legislatures, it seems incumbent on the Government to espouse it to a certain extent. It is not at all likely that it will be adopted, at least in its present formj but, from the prominence given to it in the speech, it looks as if the Ministry were to endeavour to secure an affirmation of the principle of federation, to the extent, at least, of having an authoritative body to represent an Australasian concert in matters affecting the interests of all these Colonies in commerce. Even in this form the idea will evoke a good deal of opposition ; but the Ministry could not, without being chargeable with timidity, have refrained from bringing the matter prominently forward. The allusion to the question of the railway tariff is one even more likely to raise debate, inasmuch as it was the action which the Ministry took in this matter that aroused such hostility" against them on the. part of the Canterbury members. In referring to this part of the Speech the New' Zealand Times regards it in the light of a

challenge to those >I rn etofbeife Who have made tk'e new tariff the ground of their

desertion ffom tho Ministerial ranks, to jjusfcify that desertion by asking the House to condemn the action of the Ministry. It is not, however, at all probable that, even if so meant, it will have the effect of inducing the Canterbury members to excite a debate on this head, as they are pretty well aware that the country is not ill -sympathy with them and that the action of the Government would be approved by the House. They will prefer the more prudent course of joining in a general condemnation of the Government in! the event of an amendment on the| Address-in-Reply or a, no-confidence motion being brought forward. The insertion of this questidu in the Speech will, however, have this effect, namely, of forcing the Canterbury members to state their alleged grievance with the certainty of finding little sympathy, or of compelling them by their very silence to admit that their desertion of their party was unjustifiable on the groundalleged. In either case a decided moral advantage will be gained by the Ministry.

The subjects touched on in the Speech, of greatest interest to the North Island generally are obviously those of the Main Trunk Eailway and the resumption by the Crown of the pre-emptive right over native land. The preliminary surveys of the lines meant to connect the southern and northern portions of the railway system of this Island have been completed ; and, unless the Wellington and Auckland members take to quarrelling about the route to be selected, there is every prospect of this important work being authorised this session and forthwith commenced. For the Bay of Plenty District, however, the question of pre-emptive right over all Maori land is of decidedly greater interest than that of the North Trunk Railway. In view of the injury which has been inflicted on the East Coast by the delays and uncertainties connected with dealings in native land, people are anxious to know whether these obstructions to the settlement of the country will be removed or reduced by the proposed change ! Some allege that they will ; others that they will not. One thing is certain that matters cannot be much worse than they are, and it is not unlikely that the proposal for a change, even if not carried, will have the effect of remedying, to some extent, the evils complained of; Much will depend on the details of the measure which the Government have prepared. The subject is beset with difficulties ; but the consideration which is of vital importance to this district and to the North generally is that it may be so dealt with as to receive a speedy opening up and settlement of the unoccupied lands of the country.

Mr Masfen tells us that as a result of the meeting with the farmers at Menzies' Hotel on Saturday evening last, several have undertaken to grow the leaf during the coming season, the areas varying from half an acre to five acres. Mr W. C. Gilbert, dentist, whose expected arrival was announced in our former issues, is unable to carry out his plans for the present. We acknowledge the receipt of the second annual report presented to the members by the Sooiety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, together with a copy of the balancesheet for the year ending 31st March, 1884 ; also, a detail of the prosecutions and general statement of work for the year. We draw attention to Messrs Mann and Co.'s amended advertisement in another column announcing produce on the way, and reduced prices. Through a clerical error in our report of the meeting to confer on tobacco culture, Mr Masfen is reported to have said that the two companies were about to amalgamate. What was intended was that the question of amalgamation had come up, but no definite issue was reached. The amount of Mr Lundon's tender for the new church at Ohinemutu is £390, we understand. It is rather a disappointment to the trade that the whole of the amounts tendered have not been publicly notified. A large number of tenders were sent in, and it was hoped that .the various amounts would have been declared. Perhaps it is not too late ? It is greatly to be desired that the books in the public library should be properly catalogued. There is no valid reason why this should not be done. The public have a right to look for it, and anyone who knows what a public library is intended for cannot fail to appreciate the result. A public library is either intended for reference or it is a mere ornament, and as an institution for public benefit it should be one of the first steps taken to have a list of the works available so that all frequenters may know, by reference to the catalogue, what books are on the shelves for purposes of research or educational queries. A catalogue can always be added to, and the custom is to have a standard list, and every year, or half-year, as may be required, a supplement is added.

The Tauranga natives at present engaged digging gum along the Coast on to Mercury Bay will return home this week, when Mr Brabant, R.M., will open his commission to investigate title to the Matakana lands. The usual monthly meeting of the Directors of the Mechanics' Institute was held on Monday evening 1 , when it "was resolved that the list of new books and bank draft for same be forwarded by the outgoing 'Frisco mail. Sir Samuel Baker, who has lately been in Cairo, has, it is reported, left Alexandria for England. He urgently insists on the necessity of making immediate preparations for a campaign to relieve Khartoum. He proposes a scheme for supplying the route through the Korosko Desert with water, in tanks placed at 25 miles' distance from each other. It is considered certain that any distinct manifestation of our intention to rescue General Gordon, or even the definite assumption of authority in Egypt, would do much to render unnecessary so trying a campaign. The Government having admitted its responsibility at a given period, and General Gordon having defined that period as two months, it seems difficult to understand the hesitation to declare what they propose doing. We call attention to the notice issued by Mr F. A. Purvis as to the Church Mission Registry. "We understand that the baptismal registry contains entries of some thousands of Maori names, amongst which are to be found the names of many of the older European settlers of the district. There are also many of the earlier marriages recorded, evidence of which, as well as of the baptisms in proof of births, it might be difficult to obtain elsewhere. We are glad to see that the Gray street stagnant water nuisance is at last being taken in. hand and abated. The gutter was found choked with willow roots. A meeting of the Committee of the Blue Ribbon local contingent will take place this afternoon at 2.30 o'clock, in Mr Turner's residence, Wharf street.

The Board' of Education at last Friday's meeting agreed to appoint a qualified assistant fomalo teacher to the District School. b R. M. Heighten and Co. report as follows : — Ouv orders from employers hare been very numerous during- the last week, and many good men and women servants have been engaged. Our new system of engagement works Jwell. and in every case meets with public satisfaction. There was a very thick fog yesterday untr* noon, when the wind changed to another quarter, and the weather seems to have settled down to the usual Tauranga type. The contractor, Mr W. H. Smith, has bogun work at the N«'ae BridsS. T&6 has cut off the ,sti;eani from its present course and turned it back into the old channel, from whence it was originally diverted to serve the requirements of a flour mill, This mill has been deserted for years. The old stream had a bridge across it. Mr Brain, the contractor, is erecting a new bridge over the Atuaroa River, at the end of the swamp on the Tauranga-Te Puke road. He has been obliged to erect, a temporary bridge for the traffic) but if the approaches are not made solid there will be some nasty accident, as the temporary provision is not sufficient for the traffic. The road to Ohinemutu via Te Puke requires surfacemen to keep it in passable order, as all the water-tables are now filled up, and there is one heavy slip on the new outting close to Lake Kotoiti, which, if not removed, at once, will soon divert the rain water from its proper channel and Cut the road away. Something had better be done to this at once. Major Swindley, with about 70 head of fat cattle, arrived at Maketu last night. It is his intention to take them overland to Cambridge, via Ohinemutu, the distanco being 100 miles. The holders of game licenses at Ohinemutu state that pheasants are very scarce indeed this season, and Mr J. H. Taylor, the indefatigable sportsman, has been the only one who has had any success. After all, the best bag he got was seven brace. Wild ducks are scarce also ; they seem to have deserted their usual haunts.

The natives at Ohinemutu have at last agreed to accept the offer from the Government of five shillings per acre for 26,000 acres. This land is to be handed over, as our readers know, to the Thames -Rotorua Railway Company. We are informed the money was to be paid yesterday. The adjourned licensing meeting at Maketu was held on Tuesday last. The new applications of Mr Cranswick, for Wairoa, and of Mr W. Rogers, for Whakarewarewa, wore refused, A telegram had been received from Mr H. W. Brabant, R.M., stating that] the Government were going 1 to purchase the Whakarewarewa block from the natives, and that they did not wish tho latter to lease any of their lands. This settled the fate of the new applications. There was a good deal of soreness about it, naturally. The rest of the applications were all granted. An American exchange says that the owner of Bay Island farm, Alameaa County, found a curious root-formation of the Eucalyptus at the bottom of his well, about 16ft below the surface. The trees to which the roots belonged were 50ft distant from the well. Two shoots had pierced the brick lining, and sent, off millions of fibres, forming a dense mat that completely covered the bottom of the well. Most of the fibres were no larger than thread. Tho mat when first lifted was so water and mud soaked as to be all that a man could lift. When dry it was nearly as soft as wool, and only weighed a few ounces. This was the effect of the insatiable thirst of the Eucalyptus, which led it on this quest of water. It is a proof of its efficacy where swamps are to be drained, or house sewage counteracted. But it is clear that near wells the Euoalyptus may prove as mischievous as in the other case it would be useful.

The Agricultural Department of the British Government has published an account of certain inquiries regarding the production of wheat which have been latterly undertaken at the instance of the Secretary ot State. From this document it appears that the area under wheat in British India comprises about 20,000,C00 acres, yielding between 5,500,000 and (3,000,000 tons. The corresponding area in the native territory is about 6,000,000 acres, and yields 1,500,000 tons. The prodnctioa per acre varies from an average of 13 bushels in the North- West Provinces and Oude to 7 bushels in Berar. The soft white wheat which commands the highest price in the European markets grows to greatest perfection Jin Northern India, Rajpootana, and Guzerat. The soft red wheat ranks next, and comes chiefly from the Nerhudda Valley. It is estimated that when the railway system is in a more developed state, one fourth, or [possibly more, of the total outturn will in good years be available for export. The cost of production varies greatly in different provinces. It is calculated for Northern India at about 12s the quarter. Some doubt exists as to whether the soil has not deteriorated under wheat cultivation ; but the answers on this point are described' as being, on the whole, encouraging.

In an article on " Phenomenal Cricket," a writer in a Melbourne paper observes : — '• Batting seem to have now acquired an undue ascendancy over bowling, but there is no telling how soon the boot may be on the other leg. It is, we think, in the matter of bowling that there is room for improvement, and some future Spofforbhs or Palmers may be clever with ball'as Roberts is with the cue, and it may be as difficult then for a batsman to obtain his fifty runs as it is now easy for' him to score his century and more. It was said that old Lillywhite could pitch a ball on a spot the size of a half-a-crown a dozen times, in succession, and who knows but that bowling may be brought to even greater perfection in a few years then he ever attained, and that the art of p\itting on spin or break from either side may be attained by bowlers witli the same certainty and precision that Roberts can now execute his famousspot stroke.

Lord Rowson, Earl Beaconsfield's literary executor, has found no memoirs among his effects, only a mass of parliamentary arranged notes and letters, selections from which will be published in the autumn. It will take two years to prepare a memoir of the deceased earl. A small piece of resin dipped in the water which is placed in a vessel on a stove, says one who knows, will add a peculiar property to the atmosphere of the room, which will give great relief to persons troubled with a cough. The heat of the water is sufficient to throw off the aroma of the resin, and gives the same relief that is afforded by a combustion of the resin. It is preferable to combustion, because the evaporation is more durable. The same resin may be used for weeks. The " Society for the Study and Cure of Inebriety" is the title of an association recently formed in England to investigate, from a scientific standpoint, the various causes of inebriety, and to educate the professional and public mind to a knowledge of those causes. A recently issued Parliamentary paper gives particulars as to the arrests for drunkenness on Sunday during the year ended September 29, ISBS, and this shows that 17,222 were convicted of drunkenness in England and 27 1 in Wales, According to the Feildiug Star a resident in that locality named Tyrel grew 48 varieties of apples, and he is satisfied that planting onions among the trees has thoroughly eradicated the American blight. The plan is simple, and worth trying by our gardeners. The death is reported of Anne LiSonie Baronne Daumesnil, widow of the general who defended Vincennes against the Allies in 1814.