The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1894.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1028, 6 April 1894, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1894.

According to present indications there is too much reason to fear that the approaching winter may prove a season of severe depression, the effects of which will extend to all classes of the community. Indeed for some months past an unusual tightness of the money market has been felt all over the colony. Rumours attributed the cause to the action of the banks in sending the funds lodged on deposit with them here to assist their impecunious branches on " the other side." There may be something in this and there may not j we believe the latter for there is too much reason to suspect that the money that has left, the colony has gone much further afield than either Melbourne or Sydney. • It is a 1 well-known fact that a considerable [amount 6£ money at one time intended:

for investment here has been withdrawn by Home capitalists. But apart from the effects of this withdrawal of .money from the colony, there are ample grounds for fearing that a season of depression more or less severe is before the country. According to all reports there are at present a large number of unemployed workmen in the several large centres of population, while the Government recently decided to discharge 25 per cent of the men employed by them on various works throughout the colony. Thus the ranks of the unemployed must at once be largely augmented. It is difficult to see where these men are to find employment outside Government work. No new industries are being started, while those now in operation are certainly not progressing at a rate altogether satisfactory." Instead of encouraging the prosecution of local industries the policy adopted by the Government has excited distrust, and has led to extreme caution on the part of capitalists who are either investing elsewhere or are waiting ancl watching developments. The unemployed have but little to hope for in that direction in the meantime. Then there are the agriculturists, but the harvest is past and the burden oi their labour is over for the present. Besides, the events of the past few years have led to (< strained relations " between those engaged in agricultural pursuits and the floating population of workmen. The consequence is that the farmers have had to consider their position, to alter their modes of working, and by the introduction of labour-saving implements and machinery to arrange for carrying on their work during the busy seasons with the fewest men possible beyond their ordinary staff. Indeed, we believe but very few extra men are now employed on farms during the spring or harvest seasons. But although the old system hacl still been continued there is but little encouragement for farmers to launch out and extend their field of operations in the meantime. The prices at present ruling for their staple products are too low to admit of their doing so, ancl the question with many of them is as to how they are to make ends meet. Now that the thresher is at work ifc is discovered thafc the yield of grain is, in many instances, far short of expectations, so that this year both the price and the quantity are deficient. The value of wheat has been gradually but steadily declining for many years, ancl the general opinion of those wlio are in the best position to know is that the bottom has not yetbeen reached. It thus seems a question for settlers to consider as to whether, until some radical change is effected, they should continue longer to grow more grain than they require for home consumption, or than they can possibly avoid. At present prices it will certainly not pay to grow grain. The success of the .frozen mutton, butter and cheese trade makes settlers comparatively independent of grain crops, and this is the direction in which greater attention must be directed. The markets, not only of Great Britain but of fche world, are gradnally opening for frozen meat, and there is ample demand for dairy produce of best quality — a quality this Oolony should certainly be well able to produce. Thus, although seasons of temporary depression may now and then be expected, there is no reason to fear that the progress of the Colony will experience any serious or permanent check. The ensuing winter may bring minor hardships to not a few, but the hope and energy that have characterised the past will again be brought to bear, and renewed prosperity will be the result. At the meeting of the County Council on Friday instructions were issued to the collector to issue summonses for the recovery of all outstanding rates. Messrs Neil and Co. have received a cup valued five guineas from The Sunlight Soap Co., which they have presented to the Olutha Cycling Club through the vice-president, Mr M. Coghlan, to be competed for within two months. To Mr Justice Williams, sitting in Banco on Wednesday, William Knott, hotelkeeper, Mosgiel, appealed against Mr Carew's , decision fining him for supplying drink on a Sunday. Tbe appellant maintained that the magistrate was incorrect in finding tbat tbe person supplied was not a bona fide lodger. The person referred to had engaged a room for a week, but after two days left the hotel and slept elsewhere, leaving bis clothes at the hotel. Tlie appellant maintained that hiring a room for a week constituted lodgersbip irrespective of actual domicile. In the argument it appeared that there are no cases in the New Zealand Statutes defining a. lodger. The-judge intimated that he was not . prepared to support tlie appellant's view, but would look into the matter further. The following business of local interest came before the. Land Board on Wednesday . — Ranger Fraser having reported on forfeited village settlement sections 5 to 19, block XLI, town of Molyneux, the Board decided to recommend that the land he set apart aud declared open as village homestead allotments on lease in perpetuity at L 3 per acre, capital value, with vaiua,tion for house and fencing, ' Ll2. —Mr F. Berry applied to be allowed to acquire, under section ll'4 of tbe act, section 39, block X, Glenomaru district, under the occupation with right to purchase system. -Consideration of the matter was deferred for a fortnight. — Mr J. F. Andrews wrote offering lOs per acre for section 23, block IV, Tuatuku district, under the occupation with right to purchaso system.— The offer was declined. — An application by John Curaine for small grazing run 72a, Warepa,. district, faas appiW^d, .'■:■■. . , „ - l -, l i i ;.y,-.-:yc4<'>- '■:-[.

The San Francisco Mail was delivered bore on Tuesday night. On Wednesday Thomas Quill, hotelkeeper, Christchurch, was fined ISO and costs for having unstamped cigars in his possession. The Govsenment nf Victoria are proceeding apace with the scheme for lending cheap money to farmers, but some details yet remaip to be worked out. The New South Wale 3 parliamentary labour party have agreed to refuse to sign a pledge to the Labour Electoral League under any circumstances whatever. Eight thousand acres of the Greenvale estate, cut up into 38 farms, were offered at auction at Gore on Thursday. Every allotment was sold, prices averaging L 3 2s an acre. The balance of 14,000 acres is to be sold in a month's time. At the Police Court, Dunedin, yesterday, David Joseph Scott, licensee of the Sussex Hotel was fined L 3 and 9s costs, the conviction to be endorsed on the license. The charge was fot selling liquor during prohibited hours— via., at half past 10 on Good Friday night. The American innovation of surprise parties has reached Balclutha. and promises to be popular daring the ensuing winter months. There have been one or two very pleasant gatherings of this nature here lately, the visitors goiDg armed with provisiouH, etc., and after a very enjoyable evening's fun and dancing, finishing with washing up the dishes amidst great merriment. Miss Mawe, late matron of the Dunedin Hospital, has just gone to Cairo to reorganise on her own system the large hospital in that city. The Egyptian Government give her full control and every requisite help. The engagement was to commence in October next, bufc an urgent telegram requested her to go immediately. Miss Mawe was also risked to go out to India but had to decline that offer. A special meeting of the Inch Clutha River and Eoad Board was held on Saturday evening to receive tenders for contracts No. 4, 5, 6, 7, ditching at the lower end of Inch Ciutha. There were j resent Messrs Kutherford (Chairman), Mosley, M'Donald, Henderson, and Smith. Six tenders were received for the work, and that of Mr Hugh M\swan was accepted at Ll5O for the four contracts. Two petitions have been lodged in connection with the Invercargill licensing election. One affects the recently elected committee, and the other|the reduction of the number of licenses. The grounds of the petitions, which will be heard before Mr Kawson, S.M., on Thursday, next week, are gross irrecularities in the conduct of the poll, the principal objection being tbat persons were allowed to accompany voters iuto the polling booth to instruct them, and tbat in other ways an utter disregard was shown of the secrecy of tbe ballot. A correspondent supplies the Arthurton Mail with the following figures regarding tbe local option vote in Otago and Southland. He says;— "lf ;the whole of Otr.go and Southland had been one licensing district, and the majority of those voting had determined the issue, prohibition would have been carried for the whole •f that great area. Tbe total poll in respect of publicans' licenses was approximately 29,313. There voted fomo alteration 7,614- for reduction 5,371 ; aud for no license 16,328— giviug a clear majority of .3,343 for no license, or within 1,260 of three-fifths of those who voted." It is reported that an amendment of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act will be one of the first measures introduced at next session of Assembly. At last session the strength of the temperance members was estimated at about a dozen, but in the new Parliament tbey are set down at 36 or 46. The Premier, it is said, fully recognises the position and will intercept action by Sir Robert Stout, by himself introducing legislation af a character that will secure the support (>f the temperance members. In short, it is expected he will now throw over " tho trade," as no longer serving his purpose. During the planting season the Government supplied a number of settlers with small quantities of imported seed potatoes. Among others who gave them a trial was Mr John Findlay, Urydale. The kinds he received were Bruce, Magnum bouum, Main crop kidney and Imperator. Mr Findlay planted three poles, and the yield was at the rate of 13£ tons to the acre. He used ordinaiy farm yard manure. He secured altogether 251 b of seed, and dug 5871 b of good marketable potatoes of excellent quality. We shall be pleased to publish any similar reports that maybe sent us regarding the various trials made throughout the district with these importations. , A message from Melbourne reports that a serious railway collision occurred on "Wednesday, Cook's excursion train from Adelaide dashing into a goods train near West Footscray. Four trucks in the latter were smashed to pieces. The goods train was shunting at the time of the accident, and the station officials say the signals were against the excursion train. One lady passenger received a severe shock, and a number of children sustained slight injuries. Two hundred passengers were on board the Adelaide train, and for some time the greatest excitement prevailed. The officials in charge of the excursion train have been suspended until au inquiry has been held. In the Queen's Bench Division on Tuesday Mr Justice Sir Roland V. Williams began the examination of the directors of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Mr Falconer Larkworthy {formerly managing director) when in the witness box admitted tbat counsel's opinion in 1879 was that the statements in the prospectus re security were not justified, and he himself was always of opinion that debentures were no charge on the assets. The board, he said, had sanctioned an advance to Mr Thomas Russell against Waikato land which he (Mr Larkworthy) described as a swamp. Mr Russell pledged securities of the value of L 59.000. The Loudon Board had not investigated this advance, but had relied on tbe colonial directors, who, it appeared, were personally interested. Continuing his evidence, Mr Larkworthy said his report in 18S9, disclosing losses of 1348,000, was suppressed, and witness brought it before members of the board individually, but no action was taken. He further statod that, excepting the Right Hon. A. J. Mundella and Sir Georgo Russell, the board opposed all mention of losses nt tbe shareholders* meeting, which allusion Mr Paul, London manager of the company, suppressed in bis official report. Mr Mundella complained of his grabling, and Mr David Elder, general manager of the company in Australia, neglecting to visit the propertiep f

I As an instance of the uncertainty of a farmer's prospects, aud the unsatisfactory return? from land this year, a farmer of many years' sending in the Ashburton district states that t'lis harvest from two hundred acres of probably tbe best land in that county amounted to L7O. This same farm, in more favourable years, has produced as much as LI2OO. But what with the grub, tbe rust aud the low prices tbe above amount is the result of all the labour and capital expended on it this year. Is it any wonder that 1 farmers are depressed, and that there is no money in the country. The day before the licensing election in Wellington the prohibition party published a • table purporting to show the number and '< description of visitors to 12 hotels on Sunday, 1 4th March, According to their published state--1 ment there visited the 12 hotels 1626 men, 79 women, 33 hoys, 19 girls, one licensing committee man ; total, 1753. Tho average number of customers per hour was 12J. The information, which is now alleged to be utterly false, was : obtained by temperance workers acting as amateur detectives and taking a list of all persons who entered the hotels. A meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council was held last evening, the mayor, Mr J. M'Corley, presiding, when tenders wore received i for lightiug east ward : John Walls Ll 8s per lamp ; John Allan (accepted) Ll 2s lid. North and South wards : John Finn 4s per lamp per month, John Allan Ll 14s 5d per lamp. It was resolve* to accept the lowest tender whicli would be Finn's, unless his tender included the lighting and extinguishing of the gas lamps at 4s each, Allan's tender was for the kerosene lamps with the gas lamps given in.— The question of the financial position of tbe borough consequent on the loss of the license fees was mentioned by tbe Mayor, who said that either an extra nte wonld have to be struck or all works suspended. The subject, however, dropped pending a report from the finance committee on the subject.