THE TREATMENT OF COLONIAL PRODUCE AT HOME.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10739, 20 August 1900, Page 5

THE TREATMENT OF COLONIAL PRODUCE AT HOME.

Mr Thos. Mackenzie, M.H.R.. addressing a large meeting of farmer- at Woodville on Friday Bight on th* question of Home teatment of colonial produce, strongly denounced th© Smithfield and adncu«d fair trade, qtricktfr cominimications, *"»ti more care in grading hers. The colony »as now heavily 'handicapped by distance. bet it was antk'ipat-i- that tbe opening of "&• Panama CSuial, six years hence, would reawdv th.*t hx bringing the colony wittiin three weeks"of Great Britain. A great ovation was given to Mr Mackenzie on tha concfcwion'of the address, and a unam- »<»_. resolution of sympat'liy with the Hon. -J M'Kenzio was passed. AUSTRIAN'S MASQUERADING AS SCOTCH-MEN. In reply to a question by Mr Houston on Friday, the Premier said Austrians had lately *te«i arriving it-' _*Ji© colony under assumed ♦names, such and Mackenzie. Wh?n a mu< r was held on a steamer really, at, f ? \T,eir names called out, these men paidir.o attention. They did not re*»gniv'.h.ir names. They were stoPl** 1 *«fr.af comini: ashore, but ultimately the VJhion Company entered into » bond, ana promised that the men would remain in tbe Wellington district. Three of them had •inc. found their war to Auckland. He intended to cKtreat the bond, and would t*ke •tepi to prevent any more Austrian* from *>ag on the gum lands. He hoped Pariia"wot would support him in taking this Jj2"*»e. If Ruch action was not taken the '"•fit would be disastrous,

.-£*■ THE PACIFIC CABLE. ~--,_ "The foUcrw-rng ia tin extract from tbe Post and Telegraph Departments" report, relating to tbe cable qix_*t_o__ _ —"The proposal' of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, in connection with the projected CopeAustralian cable, interrupted the Pacific cable negotiations for a time, and resulted in VVe-tern Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania, deciding to support, the Company's Cape cable scheme. At one tame there was a probability of New Smith Wales and Victoria following tbe kad of Tasmamir. and Western ;md Kotith Australia, but this ha* been dissipated ; at least, the Governments of Victoria and New South Wales have now fallen into line with Canad-.i. Queensland, and New Zealand, in pressing trie early completion, of the Pacific cabled .... lateKt information is to the effect that tenders have been called by tlie Board appointed by the Pacific Cable Comm__tee, for th a manufacture and laying of the cable."

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE

Dealing with the San Franci_co mail service the report of the Post and Telegraph Department says that the Oceanic Company will, no doubt find it necessary to modify its demands in some way because tbe position is further complicated by the fact that Honolulu, being now a port of the United States, vessels trading between there and San Francisco, are subject to the provision- of the American maritime laws, which, among other things, prohibit tlie conveyance of passenger, and cargo between porta of the United ytAtes except in vessels owned or registered in tbat country. By the term* nf last year's resolution, howewr, the matter has to be submitted to the House of Representatives before definite action can be taken. The Oceanic Company's offer will bs considered in connection with the proposals for a new contract which ate to be submitted to the Houw. Tire basis of payment to tho Oceanic Company, und«r the recently signed ten years' contract with the United State., lias not yet been communicated officially, but it in understood to be about £50,000 a year.