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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5159, 2 March 1888, Page 2

Protectionists nevorweary of repeating that after an industry has been fostered by tho State, the internal competition soon bring down prices to the old level before duties were imposod. All that ia required, tliey say, is for tho State to give a helping hand to the struggling industry, and m a short time it will become self-supporting, while there will be no iucrease in the cost to the consumer. It is very difficult to combat that view generally, because so many factors have to he taken into account, such as the altered state of the money market, the relative valu.s of raw material, and the ever changing conditions of countries, moro especially young colonies. We had something to say the other day as to Ballarat engiues, and th. significant cablegram which we published yesterday, as to the Victorian Government having accepted a tender for thirty locomotives at £95,0*00 will not have escaped the notice of the thoughtful student of political economy. The Phumix Company, wo arc told, wero tho

tenderers, and the price was higher than previous tenders. lor nearly twenty years Victoria has pursued the policy of manufacturing her own locomotives, and what is the result r Tho price is higher thun formerly aud there is no competition. Locomotives can bo imported into any of the colonies for £2500, or nearly £800 each less than the colonial company is to receive. The New South Wales Government not long ago received two tenders from Dubbs and Co. and Nelson and Co., both of Glasgow, the figuiu lu-ing in one instance slightly loss than that quoted by us, and the other a trifle higher. Now tho Phoiuix Company of Ballarat has been supplying Victoria with engines for nearly twenty years, and instead of the price having been reduced, as the result of Protection in the early days, it has been increased. That increase does not altogether fully state the case. The raw material is cheaper by at least twenty per cent, to-day than it was when they commenced manufacturing, and the alteration in the cost instead of benefiting tho taxpayer goes entirely into the pockets of tho share-

holders. What a true picture of Protection. In former years other firms competed against tho Ballarat ono for tho supply of locomotives to Victoria, but apparently finding the work unprofitable they have abandoned tho field. In tho early days, when competition was to bo looked for, the rhoenix Company was not a financial success, and if it be so now—of that wo havo no knowledge—it is so at the expense of the taxpayer. As wo have siu'd, to refute tho Protectionist fallacy that eventually tho consumer will pay no more by tho imposition of duties, is v very difficult task, but in this specific instance, with a perfect knowledge of tho facts, we claim we have done so. Let us add that though the engines are colonially manufactured the Victorian Government throw no obstacles

in the way of tho importation of certain parts, hut as a matter of fact the Government import axles and supply them to tho successful tenderer, which meuus that they come i_ free of duty. Now surely in NewZealand, a colony that has not yet gono mad on Protection, there is a lesson to be acquired from Victorian experience, and that lesson is—it is useless to force a particular industry for which the colony is ill adapted, with the expectation of making it a success. Victoria for twenty years has tried to manufacture her own locomotives, and now at tho cud of that period is iv this position—that tho (_ist is higher than when the industry was in its infancy. For wetk-

kneed politicians halting between two opinions, the above facts should he of interest.

The excessive cost of pensions to a country may be aptly illustrated by some references as to what Royalty means to England in the matter of pensions. In the Financial Reform Almanac much space is devoted to a clear explanation of the -whole matter. It is a matter of history how the Grown patrimony has been wasted, but it will be equally surprising to many to learn the large amounts that have been disbursed to members of the Royal Family, excluding Queen Victoria. Will it be believed that tho Prince of Wales, whoso private debts, real or imaginary, furnish so many piquant paragraphs to American papers, has actually received nearly two and a half millions oi public money ? The Royal Family havo already received noarly five millions, and year by year that total is being added to. The Cambridge family— the Duchess of Meeklenberg-Strolitz, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary of Teck—have received from the Treasury in hard cash £910,000 in addition to palaces, tho rents, rates, and taxes of which are paid for them. Many relations of the Queen, who have lived abroad, and whose names are even unknown to the bulk of those who have to provide for their maintenance havo received large sums. Thus the King of tho Belgians, who died in 1865, received £1,367,000. The King of Hanover died in 1851, but had then received £1,066,000, while Queen Adolaide, who died in 1549, secured £1,200,000. Thirteen of those relatives among them were indebted to the British taxpayers for £8,954,000.

Our supplement to-morrow, in addition to the continuation of our serial, will contain a variety of interesting reading matter.

Mr and Mrs M'Diarmid entertained the members of St. Paul's choir last cvoning. In addition to spending a very pleasant evening, how to improvo tho choir was freely discussed. Mr W. T. CaiT, who drove the Governor and party from Cambridge to Napier, was yesterday presented with a handsome fieldglass, as a testimonial from His Excellency of the skilful way in which he handled the ribbons. The Government have intimated to Mr Ormond that duty will not bo charged on coment for building breakwaters. The Rev. J. G. Paterson leaves for Melbourne on Saturday week, for the purpose of spending a threo months' holiday in Australia. He will be accompanied by Mrs Paterson.

In connection with tho Jockey Club's meeting, cheap return railway fares will bo available from Wellington, the return tickets being good for a fortnight.

Tho Railway Band will give one of tlieir enjoyablo open-air concerts at the Spit this evening, commencing at eight o'clock, near the London Hotel. Tho Customs revenue collect at Port Napier during tho month of February amounted to £2917, and beer duty £269, omitting shillings and pence. In "the corresponding month last year tho revenue was nearly £600 better, but no falling off would havo been shown had the Colonial Union Company's boat Baylpy arrived twenty-four hours earlier, for then £600 paid yesterday in duties on her cargo would have gone to swell the February account. On leaving work last night Mr McGregor, in charge of the six inch artesian well that is being sunk iii Munro-street, had got tho pipes down 71 feet. This is first-rate progress, as sinking has only been carried lon four days, while in Christchurch 70 feet of depth is reckoned seven days' work. The vital statistics registered at Napier during the past month of February show births 35, marriages 11, and deaths 16. Tho New Zealand R.M.S. Aorangi, which leaves. Wellington for Loudon noxt Thursday, has had all her berths engaged. . Mrs Fisher, and Mr G. S. Fisher, of Marumaru, Wairoa, proceed to England by that vessel. The Rev. H. W. St. Hill, and Mr Ashton St. Hill, were passengers from Wellington last night by the steamer Australia. Both gentlemen are looking all tho better for their visit to the Old Country. Owing to the Masonic Hall, Munrostreet, being otherwise engaged, we arc requested to state that the date for the holding of -the next Lodge of Instruction has beerrnltcred from Thursday, 15th instant, to Wednesday, the 14th. Tho recent outbreaks of typhoid fever at Auckland have attracted attention to the sanitary condition of tho city. The most extensively affected ward is that of Ponsonby, and yesterday a tour of inspection was made of that portion of tho city, and several fever beds wero discovered. At the meeting of the City Council last evening it was resolved to take measures to remedy this state of matters in ordor to prevent the possibility of an epidemic of typhoid. At the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr J. H, Vautler, J.P., William Pentfold was charged with having on tho Oth February lust, at Kcroru,stolen one saddle, valued at £1 10s, the property of John Anderson. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and asked for a remand, as ho had witnesses to bring. Mr Anderson said that in this charge which was brought against accused, ho bore not the slightest animosity against prisoner. He had only done what he thought was his duty. A remand till Monday was granted. ( It was then found that the witnesses had to ho brought from Putea, and cotdd not be hero by Monday. Some discussion followed between tho Bench and the police, and it was finally decided to adjourn the case till half-past two on Monday, when they could see how long it would require for a furthor remand. ' Tho following aro to-day's mercury readings : —Russell 68, Auckland 64, Thames 72 (highest), Cambridge 66, Tauranga 64, Taupo 63, Gisborne. 69, Napier 70, Now Plymouth 66, Wanganui 66, Wellington 66, Blenheim 65, Nelson 69, Westport 62, Greymouth 68, Hokitika 60, Bealy 61, I/yttelfcoii 58, Timarti 63, Oamaru 65, Port Cnalmers 60, Duncdin62, Clyde 64, Queenstown 58, Balelutba 55 (lowest), Invercargill 59, and Bluff 58. With the exception of Tauraiiga, where it is raining, it is fine weather throughout tho colony to-day.

A very common-sense question and a practical answer are inserted by the Bon Marche on the second page of this issue.

The sale of work in connection with Trinity Church; held yesterday, was very successful, the various articles for sale ou the tables going off remarkably well, and good business being done. About seventy sat down to a substantial tea provided by the ladies, and ample justice was done to the many good things. A promenade concert took placo afterwards, songs, musical selections, and recitations being given at intervals during tho evening. Misses Hutchinson and Mayson (2), and Messrs Grant, Hawkins, Martin, and Nicholson took part.

The Customs returns for last month, tho eleventh of the financial year, are now completed. Tho Customs duties collected at the four principal porta last month wero as follows :—Wellington, £15,775 -Is Id;' Auckland, £29,139 os 3d; Lyttelton and Christehuroh, £18,080 21s 2d; Dunedin, £25,275 2s 7d ; total duties for tho month, £106,U93 3s lid, including some smaller amounts. Tho estimated monthly average of Customs duties for tho year was £104,160 13s 4d. This for the eleven months would amount to £1,145,833 whereas tho amount actually collected has been £1,157,784,0r £11,950 above tho estimate.

The entertainment given by Mr Gillies at Clive last night was very successful, there being a crowded attendance. Miss Gillies was warmly encored in her dances, while Mr Gillies was greatly appreciated, as well as the other performers. In a few weeks Mr Gillies will give another entertainment at Clive, when he will exhibit the "animals." The latest addition to the telephone exchange is Mr W. Kinross White. The number is 101,

Referring to tho sito selected for the Gis

borne harbor works, the Standard says : — " Tho harbor works are progressing merrily, Tho locomotive rushes idong, fetching its load of blocks and running back for more. Tho Hercules pours forth its volumes of black smoke, and swings its ponderous length slowly around in the discharge of its functions. The whole scene is ono of activity and lif_, and tho work so far performed" is excellent. But there is a strong feeling in the minds of many of the ratepayers that tin? money is being wasted in placing the harbor on what is practically the left bank of the river. Wo sco the burden which our bucks aro to boar augmented daily, and we allow it in a hopeless sort of way to proceed, in much the sumo way that an innocent person receives an undeserved sentence; our resistance is quite passive, wo are resigned ; but we do not like it for all that, and if any unforeseen circumstance such as an earthquake or a tidal wave destroyed tho present works we should probably hail it as an intervention of Providence, and take good care that the next harbor began from Maori Point and had some open way in it."

A correspondent writes to the Waikato Times :—" It may be of interest to sonic of your readors to know that the Baron do Hirsch, who is the donor of the unparalleled gift to tho Czar of Russia for tho establishment of schools for tho welfare of his Jewish brethren, at one time resided iv Waikato, and that the present baron is no other than James de Hirsoh, who was a member of Captain Krippner's company of Waikato militia, most of whom arc now located in and around Ohuupo. After tho disbandment of the militia, Mr do Hirsch wont into partnership with a Mr Burra, of Auckland, and traded under the style of Burra and de Hirsch, and subsequently, after the opening of the Thames goldficld, Mr de Hirsch erected large reduction works for treating tailings. On tho death of his father Mr de Hirsch returned to Germany, and became head of tho large banking business whoso headquarters are at Munich." Patronise a house whero Wo___'a &cii_.____ is kept—because you may theu rely upon all things elso. Wolfe's Schnapps would not havo stood the tost of nearly a half century were it not a most superior article. If you drink wive, drink the best. If you drink Schnapps, drink Womb's, which is the only genuine Schxjjtb.

" Puff," in the Press, is seldom caught napping. The other day he described Caulfield, where the duel wasfougMt, as " a shabby genteel suburb about twenty miles from Melbourne, on the Gippsland line." Caulfield happens to be the rival of Flemington, because it is nearly as handy to the capital, being only five miles from the city.

" Rough on Rats."—Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, "beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, sparrows, gophers. At chemists and druggists.

" Buchu-Paiba."—Quick, complete cure, all annoying Kidney, Bladder, and Urinary Diseases. At chemists and druggists. Kempthorne, Prosser & Co., Agts., Wellington.

John M'Vay, being greatly overstocked, is_ offering saddlery and harness of all kinds, portmanteaus, Gladstone bags, &c, &c, at largely reduced prices for cash. Hastings-street, Napier, and at Waipukurau.—[adyt.*]'

1000 inhabitants of Hawke's Bay are now wearing Watches bought of us, and each one_ would willingly give a testimonial testifying to their utmost satisfaction. Bring your watches to us and have them repaired by practical tradesmen. All work warranted for 12 months. V. Jensen and Co., the Old Shop, Emerson-street, Napier. —{advt.]

SAVE THE SHILLINGS by purchasing your ironmongery from Webber aud Wilson.

Weekly rents come quickly round, Unprepared you're sometimes found, Then 'tis well to have a pound Saved by dealing at Webber and Wilson's, Ironmongers, Emerson-street.—[advt. ]

Koromiko Cordial, as a remedy for dysentry and diarrhoea, is unequalled. Care should bo taken to purchase the original preparation as made and introduced by H. Owen, Chemist, Hastings - street Napier, as tho success of this compound has induced others to imitate it. Price, 2s 6d.—[advt.]