THE PRICE OF MEAT.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1890, Page 2

THE PRICE OF MEAT.

The butchoru have carried out thoir intention of raising the price of meat, and to-day many of the shops were filled with joints and outs ticketed with the new prices. There is considerable agitation over the inoreaso in household expensea which tho rise means, and from what we hear tho popular indignation is likely to find vent in some practical Bhapo. The committee appointed at the meoting of hotelksepers and restaurant proprietors last night should at once formally invite the general public to join in their proposed co-operative company, for if left to themselves they will certainly be unable to enrol Bufficiont shareholders to ensure success. Tho butchers, as might be expected, are endeavouring to make out a case for themselves. A letter elsewhere from a retail butcher quotes figures to prove that our statements in last night's article were incorrect, and that the rise, instead of 50 per cent, (wo said nearly 50 per cent.), is not 20 per cent. How can this be maintained when forequartera of mutton have gone up from 2d to 3d, legs from 3d to 4£d, and corned briskets ot beef from 2d to 3d ? These are the commonest sorts of meat sold, and these all show a rise of exaotly 60 per cent On carefully examining the now list of prieos the average increase will be found to be about 40 per oent. This, wo say again, is not warranted by the wholesale market. At Freeman Jackson & Co 's sale yeaterday there waß a rush for the few sheep that were yarded, and a big price was obtainod, but sudden advanoes of thia kind have oecurrod before and been counterbalanced at tho next sale. On tho 23rd April the aamo auctioneer in his report said, " Bidding (for cattle) was brisk, but the extreme rates of last week were not upheld ; the market closed firmly at quotations which exceed those of the corresponding sale last year by 3s fld the lOOlbs. Owing to various mishaps only a small proportion i of the sheep advertised came to hand." This i illustrates at once the unreliability of the I quotations at any one sale. It is worthy of note that, in spite of the 3s 6d increase on last year's rates, the price of beef is quoted in the samo report at only 16s per owt. The butoliers appear to us to have arranged their new tariff in a yery olnmsy way. A moderate rise was perhaps Justified, but they have ex- . ceeded all bounds. Wo would caution them against being too greedy. Tbe prinoiple of co-operation' has been rendered lately very attractive by such books as " Looking Backward," and though Mr. Bellamy in his very clever atory pushes his theory to what most pr&otiaaj people think absurd ■ lengths, the book is oartain to have an appreciable effect on public opinion, Tradesmen would do well to be satisfied with fair proftts, or they may find they have killed ' the goose that lays the golden eggs.

An interesting budget of Australian news, news-letters from Masterton arid Carterton, and letters to the Editor on Hours of Clerical Labour and Early Closing, will be found on our fourth page to-day. The returns of Customs revenue collected in the colony are now to hand. The total collections amounted to 17s lOd, ot which Dunedin contributed £32,355 17s lid j Auckland. .£27,338 Is 6d ; Wellington, £24,980 2s Cd; and Christchurch, £19,839 6s. In March of this year the amount colleotod was £123,607 18s 2d, or £2621 19 aBd lees than last month. Tho amount of beer duty oollected in the colony during the month which ended yesterday was £4615 17s 2d, as against £5374 1b 2d in the previous month. The largest contributions! were— Dunedin, .£1239 3s 3d ; Auckland, £902 0s lid j Christohuroh, £831 2s 2d ; Wellington, £530 19s Cd. The Right Honourable Edmund, Lord Hammond, whoßO death is announced in the cable news to-day, was tho son of the late Mr. Goorge Hammond, for many years Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He was born in London in 1802. and was educated at Eton, Harrow, and University College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1823, and was afterwards elected to a fellowship. He entered tho Civil Service of the Crown in 1823 as a olerk in the Privy Conncil Office, being thence transferred to the Foreign Office. Here he rose by gradual promotion until in 1854 he was appointed Uoder-Seeretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He was sworn a Pcivy Councillor in 1806, and in 1873 retired on a pension. In 1874 ho wan raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Hammond, of Kirk Ella, Kingston-on-Hull. He Married, in 1846, Mary Frances, third daughter ot the late Lord Robert Korr, and grand-daughter of William, fifth Marquis of Lothian. Tho Hon. Mr. Fergus lef(L for Dunedin yesterday, but will bo baok again op SunSay. Last evening the members of tho Sweating Commission met at the Parliamentary Buildings, when the draft report prepared by the Chairman (Mr. J. Fulton, M.H.R.,) was considered. Tbo matter occupied the attention of tho Commissioners till 9 o'clock, when an adjournment was made till 7.30 to-night. A paragraph is appearing in the country papers to the eft'eotthat the carriages on the Wellington and liana watu Railway rre about to be lit by electricity. We have made enquiries at tbe head office of the company, and find that there ii n/p intention at present on the part of the directors to adopt electricity as an illuminant in their cars. Some months ago the use of a Email dynamo whioh had boen imported by the Government for tho defence works was obtained by Mir. Fulton, tho manager, and tho dining car ,wm lit by electricity for a week or two. The experiment was a success, , but we understand that, on account of the , cost, the directors are pot disposed at present to adopt the new agent ia lieu of the i existing oil lamps. Mr. Harold Beauohamp, of the firm of Bannatyne and Co., who is now in England, has done good service to New Zealand by sending to the Western Daily Mercury, published at Plymouth, a letter, in whioh he speaks hopefully of the prospects of the colony, and points out that heavy aa its debt is, the facts that the borrowed money has been spent on reproductive works, and of the ability of the colony to meet taxation by the development of its natural resources, have to be considered. Mr. Beauchamp also quotes from the ETBKpr/; P.ost of the 24th January the comparatiyo statement shown in the transparency in the windcv of Johnaton and Co 'a warehouse on Jnb.lee Nignt, to illustrate the progress made by the colony iv its first fifty years. The Redemptoriat Fathers the Rev. and Hon. Lord Plunkett, 0.5.5. R., and the Rev. Father Stokes will open a missionary retreat in St. Mary's Cathedral, Hill-street, on Sunday next. The retreat will last for a fortnight. Lord Plunkett is a brother of the Earl of Fingal. A lady, Mrs. E. Willis, was eleoted a member of tho West Christchurch School Committee on Monday, "standing third on the poll. The Lower Hutt School Committee haro nominated Mr. G. Beetham, M H.R., for the vacant seat on the Board of Education. We have to acknowledge receipt of a new piece of dance music entitled " The Vivian Walts," composed by Mrs. G. L. Cole (nee Wilkinson), of i&is oity. Inspector Thomson returned .to Wellington yesterday afters, fortnight's holiday in' the booth Inland. ' i Mr. Robinson, R.M ,is,at present holding | a sitting of the District Court at Masterton. The Manager of the Wellington Gas Com.* panj notifies, a reduction in the prioe of ooke.

During the year ending on the Slßt March last 107.581 acres 2 roodi 36 perches w eie sold by the "Wellington Land Board, the amount realised being £101,830 11s 3d. Last month the Board disposed of 8267 acres 0 roods 16 pernbes, which fetched JECS26 17h lid. The largest bales laHt month u ere ub follows :—: — Messrs. J. Mowletn and P. \V. Arbon, 2'XlO acres, Pohangina, realising £1500 ; Mr. P. L. M. Cameron, 1340 acres, Hautapu and Apiti, .£lOB4 15s: Mr. W. Boshier, 1000 acres, Hautapu and Apiii, £625; Mr. D. U. M'Kenzie, CeOacreß, Pobangina, £il2 103; Mr. B. Bell, C4O acres, Pohangina. £720; Mr. D. Howie. 500 acres, Apiti, .£375; Mr B H. Carter, 410 acres, Pohangina, .£307 10 c; Mr. A. P. Lindsay, 400 acres, Apiti and Pohangina, .£350. The body of Ernest Peter, son of the Hon. W. S. Peter, which was found a few days ago at the foot of a cliff near Puketapu, Hawke'a Bay, was brought into town yesterday, and taken South by the a a. Penguin for burial. The ratepayers of the Horokiwi Hill District hare for some time past elected a Commit; cc of Works to expend any moneys voted to their neighbourhood by the Wellington District Road Board. At the last meeting held for the purpose, nearly all the motions were carried by one vote, that vote belonging to a resident, of foreign birth, who is said not to have been naturalised at the time. A number of ratepayers are anxions to put matters on a sounder footing, but so far their efforts have been frustrated through the warden of the district agreeing to accept aa legal the action of the alleged irregular meeting. Meanwhile a deadlock has arisen in the committee itael f . It consists of three members — the gentleman whose eleotion is challenged on the ground that he was not naturalised, and two others, who are unable to agree which is to be chairman. Another meeting of ratepayers was to have been held last night, with the view of upsetting the election, but the object failed through the action of some of the ratepayers whose action was to bo contravened, in sending round at the last moment a verbal intimation that there would not be a moetingr. The members of the discomfited party intend to teßt the legality of any expenditure that may be undertaken by the committse aa at present constituted. The traffic returns of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company for the week ending 26th April, 1890, amounted to £1423 16s, and for the corresponding period of last year £1259 6s 3d, showing an increase of £164 9a 9d. Mr. E. H, Smith, who has for some considerable period been connected with the local branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company ia about to be transferred to the Dunedin bnnch. Wo understand the removal means promotion to Mr. Smith, whom we have to congratulate. Tho Wellington Amateur Dramatic Club will suffer a loss, as by his removal it will lose a moet energetio secretary, and also a member who had rendered not an inconsiderable amount of assiatanco in the Club's performances. Mr. Smith loavc3 for Dunedin on Monday next. The Board of College Governors held an ordinary meeting at the offices of the .Education Board this morning, thore heing present Messrs. J. R. Blair (Chairman), H. Bunny, C. B. Izard, M.H.R., Dr. Newman, M H.R., Rev. J. Paterson, and Dr. Henry. Mjss Hamilton, Lady Principal of the Girls' High School, wrote to tbe effeot thac Miss X Krull and Miss May C. Morrah, ex-pupils of the High fccbool, and each of them the winner of the dux gold medal, had just taken their B.A. Degree Miss Krull had studied with Mr. Innes till she passed the first section of her degree, and kopt her three years' terms. Miss Morrah kept her rinal year's term at tho High School. She left at the end of 1838, and was only 19 years of age when she Bat for her B.A. degree, just over the limit of the age for the University junior scholarship examination. Miss Hamilton stated in her communication that Miss Morrah is at presont reading with Mr. Innes and Miss Searlo with a view of sitting for honours and the M.B. degree in Novembor, while Miss Krull intonds to study at Christohurch with the same objeot in view. The Board considered the intelligence contained in Miss Hamilton's letter cm highly satisfactory. The Chairman stated that tho credit balance stood at £547 16s Id, against whioh there wore salaries to be paid for April amounting to £29(> 13a Bd. Mibs Myers wrote asking tho Board for an appointment on the teaching staff of the Girls' High School. The Secretary was directed to acknowledge the rncoipt of tho letter, and suggest that Miss Myers should write a formal application, whioh would be considered on the occasion of a vacancy ocourring on the staff. This concluded the business. Mr. Alfred Herman, who is at presont staying at the Occidental Hotel, has an advertisement in another column, from which it appears that he intends to dispose, on the art union principle, of two separate collections of antique and exceedingly valuable gold, silver, and bronze coins. The coinß, which are the property of Mr. Henry Zander, of Ashbnrton, were exhibited in the Dunedin Exhibition, and, according to the southern press, the collection attraoted considerable attention. There will be two prizes, the first being tho Exhibition colleotion, consisting of 2000 coins, whilst the second prize will consist of 700 coins. It ie announced that tickets for the art union may be obtained from R. Hplliday and Co., Jjambton-qnay. Shortly after the Magistrate's Court dismissed for want of evidence the charge of larceny which S. G. Parkea, of the Oriental Hote 1 , preferre'l against J. Smith yesterday, ft somewhat lively scene betwoen the parties is said to have taken plaoß—outatu'e the Courthouse, the outcome of .which is that a second information has been laid against Smith by Parkcs, who' accuses the former of making use of insulting and threatening language. The case comes before the Court to-morrow. I A report on the Woodville-Mangahao Settlement Biock was laid before the Land Board this morning, by the Hanger. The area inspected was 5256 acres, of whioh 886 acres have been cultivated at a oost of £2214, representing 358 acres and*!£9l6 more than the Act required. The total exponditure on the land Was £3212. Out of 50 selectors only one appeared to be much ia arrear with the required improvements. The Board decided tt> iisne notioes to those selectors who are in arrear. A private information, in which a welldressed young wojnan named Margaret Carroll was charged with the larceny of miscellaneous articles exceeding in value £5, belonging to ponald M'Alister, was called on for hearing in the Magistrate's Court this morningr.before Mr. C. C. Graham, K. M. The Court, however, was not troubled with tho case, Mr. Bolton, who appeared for the informant, offaring no evidence and explaining that the d fendant had undertaken to return the article i. Hjs Worship dismissed the information. Those of our roai ers who take an intorest in football— and th i number is a very large one — will learn wit i pleasure that there is a prospect of the Ka korai Club, Dunedin, the present champion i juiors of Otago, sending up a team to meet ha Poneken at Nowtown this season. The Southerners are most anxious to meet t c redoubtable Ponekes ; and if they again! win the cap this season they will come up to Wellington and meet our craok olub before the summer Beta in. Owing to there being no quorum present, tho meeting of t|e Wellington Debating Society, which was to have been held at tho Exchange Buildings last evening-, lapsed. Steps will be takejj to call another meeting shortly. We learn from Sr. C. Hill that he has by yesterday's mail received from his son Alfred a splendid new orchestral work by Carl Reinecke, the famous Leipzio composer, entitled " From the Cradle to the Grave." It consists of 16 numbers, which are connected by poetry. The idea of combining deol&raation and muaio has not often been taken advantage of by composers, excepting Mendelssohn in "Atnalie," or Maokenzie in " The Dream of Jibal." These works, however, are also choral, whereas Reineoke's work is purely orohestral. It has so far only been performed in Leipzic, where it achieved an immediate success, and the copies now forwarded are the first published. The work has been placed by Mr. Hill at the disposal of our Orchestral Society, and will no doubt bo included iv the Society's programme. The Treasurer jof the Alexandra Home acknowledges with thanks receipt of the following subscriptions :— MrB Russell, £2 2s; Mrß. Frankland, £1 Is; Mrs. Thomas Kebbell, £3; Mr*. Swainson, £1; Rev. H. H. Driver, 10s ; Mrs. Riddiford, £1 j Mrs. Sutherland, 10s; Mrs. Tutohen, 10s; Mrs. Phillips, ss ; Mrs. Grant, £1. Mr. C. C. Grafcam, R.M., prosided over this morning's civil sittings of the Magistrate's Court, arid gave judgment for the plaintiffs in tho following caees : —B. B. Gardener v. W- Imrie, £2 5a Bd, costs 7s ; Grey Valley Coal Company v. James Cate. £3 19s 6d, costs, 6s. The case of R. Gilkes v. W. Hart, in which the plaintiff claimed £2 lls 4d on, a butoher'B bill, was partly heard, and then adjourned until next Monday's sitting for the produotion of rebutting evidence. "Two judgment summons oases wero on the list, and in that of J. T. Folks v. H. Lepper, » claim of £1 18s Bd, the defendant, who failed to appear, was ordered to bo imprisoned for 3 days if the debt vias not paid within a month. In the case of Lowers, Haydqn & Co. v. T. Lorimer, olaim £8. 10s, the defendant was ordered to pay the debt by monthly instalments, or in default g dayje' imprisonment.' ' The mine manager of the Wakam&rina Golden Bar Gold Mining Company reports to the direotorß that the reef iB looking well, and keepß its usual width of sft. 6in. There appears to be a change coming in from the floor of tho drive. The stone is showing very fine gold, whioh he trusts will improve as the work prooeeds. Those who do not avail themselves to-night of the opportunity of seeing "Little Lord Famitleroy" will lose tho chance of witnessing one of the Bweeteat and most tonchmg dramas of the day, played by a company of remarkablo all-round merit. More perfect aotinflf than Mr. Edwards' Lord Dorinooutt, or Miss Ethel Winthrop's Mis. Errol, or Mr. Leopold's Hobb's. the grocer, or Mr. Gladstone's Farmer Higgins, it is not often our lot to see on the same stage, not to mention the wonderfully precocious talent of little Graoie Hopkins and Olive Berkley, who have appeared on alternate nights as the childish lord. There has been a good deal of interest excited by comparison of the two girla' rendering of thi part, each having her corps of admirers. To-night, in winding up tho season, a special opportunity will be given for making the comparison, as tho children will appear as TTauntleroy in alternate' aota. ' Last night's performance was a very gudcesßifarone, a strong orchestra, led by Herr Moseh, performing a number of fine overtures — inolnding 1 some of the" principal items given at the last concert of the Orchestral Society— in fine style. Mr. E. E. Brabazon, of the Customß Department, who has been stationed in Wellirigt'bn for some years, is about to be transformed to Chriatohuroh. During his residence here Mr. Brabazon has made hosts of friends, who will regret his departure. He is to be succeeded in Wellington by Mr. Reynolds, at present in Chriatohu'rch,

A feting of the creditors of the Rangitikei J; ibre Company, now in liquidation is convened to tike place at the office of Messrs. Bell, Gully and Izard, Featherstonstreet, this day week, the Bth inst. The Wes'.e.van oointnuH'y in Y*»!ington intend to celebrate th-ir jubilee anniversary on Sunday, 15th June, when the Rev. J. Aldred will preach. The' rev. gentleman, fifty years ago, preached the first sermon ever delivered to a Wealeyan congregation in this city, and his deliverance on the occasion of tho jubileo will no doubt be regarded • and looked forward to with special interest Tuesday, 17th Jnne, will be celebrated by the Wesleyans with great rejoicings, the entire day being devoted to services and meetings, when addresses will be delivered by Revs J. Aldred, W. Kirk, and W. J. \\atkni, the day being brought to a close with a tea and public meeting in the evening. A, m.6etlner of the creditors of Thomas fticholls, labourer, was convened for this morning, but in deference to the wish of some tradesmen in Gisborne. where the dehtor formerly rpsided, the business was adjourned until next Monday week, the 12th instant, so as to enable them to be present. The debtor has submitted to the Official Assignee a statement to the effect that he left Gisborne about twelve months aso, but owing to slackness of work in Wellington he had been hardly able to earn sufficient to keep his home going In consequence of the prersure of two Gisborne creditors he had bpen obliged to seek the protection of the Court. A well attended meeting of the Oriental Footoall Club was held in the Nag's Head Hotol last evening, Mr. J. D Mitchell being in the chair. A committee, consisting of tho Captain (Mr. E. Gormley), the ViceCaptain (Mr. G. Lorimer), the Chairman, and Messrs. G. A. Tattle, and F. Anderson, was appointed to make arrangements for entertaining a team of tho Albion Club, Nelson, who are to play the Orientals on the Queen's Birthday Mr. L. B. Jordan tendered hiß resignation as secretary of the club, an he waa nnable to devote sufficient time to the duties, and it was accepted. Mr. J. D. Mitchell was elected bia successor. The usnal vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. The case of Morling v. Ward, which relates to the disposition of certain trust funds, is being argued in the Court of Appeal to-day. The legal gentlemen engaged are Messrs. G. Harper and Stringer, of Christohurah, and Mr. Tripp. The Rainbow Hotel, Kaiwarra, has changed hands, Mr. J. Anderson, the late lessee, having sold through Messrs. Dwan Bros, all his interest therein to Meaara. Lynch and Dwyer, who have already entered into possession. Mr. D. Hall, City Missionary, gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following subscriptions and donations for the month of April:—Mrs. A., ss; A.L., £1; V., ss; Mrs. F , 2s; Mrs. ML , £1; K.H.C., £1 Is : D.A., 10a ; Mrs C, 10s 6d; W.W., ss; Mrs. D., sh; R S.L., 103: Miss R., ss; Mrs. W., 53; Mrs H.W., 10s; W.C., 4s; W.G. and C.K., £\, W.F.8., ss; total, £8 2s. Also, with many thanks, a large bnndle of left-off raiment for tho needy, which already has boen utilised, and a parcel of papers, " Faithful Words," and others, for gratuitous distribution. The scenery and costumes for the mountingof " The Mikado," by Williamson, Garner, audMusgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company, arrived from the South by the Rotorua yestorday. Everything will be in readineßs for tho opening performance at the Opera House to-morrow night. The box office is open at Holiday's, and large numbers of seats have already been booked. The announcement that Pastor Daniells would deliver a free lecture in the Exchange 9all last evening on " Tho Eastern Question from a Bible Standpoint" had the effect of drawing together a largo and intelligent audience, who listened most attentively to an able and interesting disconrse on a snbjeot which tho speaker has carefully studied for years. Pastor Daniells, who is a very fluent opeaker, maintained the prophecy of tho Bible, and asserted that the 11th chapter of tho Book of Daniel forecasted the growth and overthrow of the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires, the deaths of Alexander and Julius Ctesar, and the attack on Papal pupremaoy made by the Frenoh in tho yoar 1708. Pastor Daniells will lecture again on the same subjeot this evening, when he will endeavour to convince his hearers that the latter part of the chapter predicted the Frenoh revolution, the triple war between France, Egypt, and Turkey, and other matters of history down to the Eastern question now unsettled. At the conclusion of the lecture last night some vocal selections were given. The manager of the Columbia Skating Eink notifies that to-morrow night ladies will be admitted free, and there will be a matinee for children on Saturday afternoon, with reduced charge for admission and skates free. The Ga/rinon Band will give the first of their popular monthly dances for tbe present season at the Garrison Hall on Monday next. The Committee are working very hard to make it a soiooess. 10-morrow, Messrs. Cunirmham, fiadham & Co. will sell fey auction, at 2 o'clock, at the stables, Abel Bmith-street. the whole of the horaea, carriages, harness, &0., belonging to Mr. Robert SomervtUe. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. Francis Bidey & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, &c. Laery & Co. will soil to-morrow, fruit, &c.