THE Evening Star. SATURDAY OCTOBER 16, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2012, 16 October 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. SATURDAY OCTOBER 16, 1869.

The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce point out facts in relation to the trade of Otago calculated to lead its inhabitants to look forward with hope for the future. During the last two years trade has been depressed throughout the world, and the peculiar Circumstances of New Zealand have added to the downward pressure there. But Otago has been advancing. Wool has increased so much in quantity that notwithstanding the reduced price, the declared value “for the cm-rent year “ will probably exceed that for 1868,” while the produce of gold, which had declined in the early part of last year, is steadily, if slowly, increasing. To these staple products that of agriculture must be added—wheat, oats, barley, bran, and butter-, cheese, and potatoes having been largely exported. Merchants have also dealt extensively in imported goods, but in this branch of trade they have to encounter competition with Australia, rendered still more formidable by impediments partly created by our own Government, partly removable by ourselves. The Committee say—“ TJntil the mercantile houses “ of Dunedin can compete on equal “ terms with those of the larger Aus- “ tralian ports, in respect to the ex- “ penses on transhipment of goods to “ the Northern markets of New Zea- “ land, there is no remedy for this “ state of things.” The Committee then draw attention to the causes of these heavy expenses. They do not offer suggestions as to the remedy, ap-

patently considering that the nature of the disease points out that so as naturally to force itself upon attention. At this moment the enumeration of the chief obstacles to the development of trade in Otago is peculiarly worthy of notice, because tney point so forcibly to the advantage derivable from the formation of the Port Chalmers Railway. “ chief “ obstacles in the way of Dunedin be- “ coming the commercial emporium of “ the Colony lie in the delays and <« expenses attendant on the import and “ export of merchandise.” These delays and consequent oxpences have several times been pointed out. They consist in the immense labor, loss of time and increase of risk consequent upon the delivery of goods into lighters. It is no uncommon thsng for goods to be longer in transmission from Port Chalmers to Dunedin than from Melbourne to Port Chalmers, and in many instances an equal delay has to be borne with before delivering them from the lighter. In addition to this loss of time and interest of money, goods have to bo turned over at least twice more than would be necessary were it possible to put them at once on to a truck and carry them without furthei handling to Dunedin. But the probability is, instead of twice they are turned over threo or four times for various purposes, at great disadvantage through the absence of those conveniences that would form part of the plant of the Railway Company. For some time it has been a subject of complaint that a shed for the reception of imported goods has not been provided at Rattray street jetty. This however has been done, hut it does not remove the difficulties it was intended to obviate. The Collector of Customs enumerates them as follows ; Ist, That no labor is provided at the shed. 2nd, That lighters usually go to the old jetty on account of the greater case with which they can discharge there. 3rd. That to permit the discharge of cargo from the same ship indiscriminately at either jetty would cntailfconsiderablc trouble, both on the Custom’s Department and importers; and 4th, That the shed is not like those of Hobson’s Bay Railway Company, the property of a Corporation giving heavy bonds to the Customs in respect of the goods stored there; nor is it of such a character that high duty goods could be allowed to remain in it over night; and s;h, That the practice of delaying entries is still persisted in. The Committee add, “ It appears very “ probable that some of these difficul- “ ties will not be practically got over “ until railway carriage is substituted “ for the present lightering system. “ With regard to the delay of entries, “ the remedy was now in the hands “of the owners of ships.” We believe that notwithstanding the obvious advantages that must accrue ty the Province through the construction of the railway, there are to be found merchants still unconvinced of its necessity. We leave out of the consideration those who imagine they have an interest in opposing it, for onr conviction, founded upon universal experience, is that even those who advocate the continuance of the present state of things from motives of self-interest would ultimately benefit by the change equally with the rest *of the community. No single interest can long flourish alone. There must be advance in every community, or there will be retrogression. Dunedin’s maritime advantages, the wealth of its merchants, and their spirit of enterprise, point to its being the “ commercial emporium of “ the Colony,” if those hindrances to advancement are removed. If they are not, it is certain to drive those who arc most able and energetic to places where greater facilities for extension of trade subsist. They who remain would then, if spirited enough to attempt competition, have to contend not only with those who at present compete, but with the merchants who have left the place, driven away by the cramped and limited notions of men who see nothing better than the present. To remove blindness to future advantage is at all times a difficult task. The future is an abstraction difficult to realise, and its advantages, although sometimes over-colored, are often shadowed in doubt. There need be no doubt, however, on the fact pointed out by the Committee, that “every facility that “ can be obtained for the import and “ export of goods at this port must re- “ act favorably, not merely upon the “ trade of Dunedin, but upon the gene- “ ral prosperity of the Province.” So surely would the Port Chalmers Railway tend to benefit every man, woman, and child in the Province, that sooner than let the scheme pass unrealised, it would be better to make it by subscription ; for if the money were given as men give to benevolent institutions, and the Government worked it for the advantage of the Province, those who contributed moderately towards it, within one year after it was in full work would be more than reimbursed the money they had given. In all probability such a scheme need not be thought of, for we hope in a few days the result of the labors of the Com--mittee will show that better arrangements have been made.

Educational. — We believe the High School Commissioners are to be summoned, for the purpose of prosecuting the enquiries remitted to them, week after next. Legal. —lt is notified that Mr Basil Sicvwright, Dunedin, has been admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. Magisterial.—There were two cases of drunkenness brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning: Mary Allen, who was fined 1.5, or fourteen 'lays’ imprisonment; and John Gladwitch, 20s, or forty-eight hours. Forestry. —At the annual meeting of the Otago district of the Ancient Order of Fo esters he’d last evening, Mr W. Branded was elected District Chief Ranger and Mr Waterhouse District Sub-Chief Ranger, and Mr J. Hughes Distrct Treasurer for tho next twelve months. MrG. W. Gcddcs was elected auditor in tho room of Mr F. J. Wilson retired, and Mr Woodland was reelected Secretary. Gaol Return. —State of H.M. Gaol. Dunedin, for the week ending the 10th Oct,, ISG9 ;—Awaiting trial 3 males, 0 females ; under remand, 0 males, 0 foma'es ; penal servitude, 26 ma es, 0 females ; hard labor, 48 males. 15 females; imprisonment, 0 males, 0 foma’es ; in default of bail, 0 males, 0 females ; debtors, 4 males, 0 females ; tot d, 81 males, 15 females ; received during the week, 4 males, 4 females ; discharged, 8 males, 5 females. The Bankruptcy Law. that there is some doubt as to whether the suspension of a bankrupt’s petition carries with it tho withdrawal of protection. In tho Bankroptcy Court at Christchurch on the 12th inst., Mr Justice Grosson suspended two bankrupts, withdrawing protection in both eases. His Honor does not appear to he sure as to whether this cau be legally done, for he remarked that he would consult his brother judges at tho Court of Appeal as to whether tho suspension of the final order of d scharge for any period, did not at the same time withdraw protection, as ho was of opinion that otherwise the order of suspension was a more bruium ftdmen. Military Roads. —A memorandum by Mr T. Kelly, Provincial Secretary at Taranaki, of tho’oost of the construe ion of roads necessary for military purposes in that direction has been recently published. Ho estimates the total length of the roads necessary at 205 miles, and tho total cost, inclusive of the construction of four bridges, at L 23,090, being at the rate of about LI 12 a mile’ The roads proposed by Mr Kelly would extend from Patea to the Waikato on the one hand, and to Taupo on the other. Mr Fitzherbert’s Pickings.— A return laid on the table of the House of Assembly last session, gives details of the expenditure of L3B uOO, the cost of the c nsolidation of tho Now Zealand loans hrom this document it appears that Mr Fitzher b.-rt. the New Zealand agent, was paid L 2,112 as travelling allowances; to this may he added LI,50(1 as his ministerial salary, and a recent vote by the House of L3.00D ; making a total of over L6,0l)0 as his share of the financial loot. Accident. —A painful accident happened to Mr I ittlejohn, of the Ban* of Otago, on Wednesday morning. While riding on horseback, on the road leading to the residence of Mr James Smith, in company with Mr James Sontev, Mr Littlejohn’s horse shied at some object on the road, when the unfortunate gentleman was thrown, and received a severe contusion on the side of the head, as well as a laceration of the ear. We are glad to learn that he is recovering from the injuries sustained.— Bruce Standard. Sugar Corn. — By last Suez mail we received a small package of Indian com from Mr Llewellyn Nash, late of Nelson, and now of the firm of Llewellyn, Nash and Co., commission merchants, Liverpool. In the accompanying letter, Air Nash says : “ During a visit to the linked States of America my attention was drawn to the excellent flavor of the Indian corn prepared for table use. It is boiled in the cob, in a green state, and is largely used as a vegetable. Believing the climate of New Zealand to Vie well adapted to this description of corn, 1 seem ed some seed, and now beg to forward a small sample by post. It will probably require a sheltered situation, and possibly a year or two of time to become acclimatised, and bear largely and well. It is known throughout the States as the Sugar Corn.— Lyttelton Times. We see by advertisement in another page that the tin e forrec iving subscriptions from members of th - Otago Rifle Association has been extended to the 31st inst., on payment of a fine of 2s Under date October 10th, General Orders have been issued by Captain and Adjutant Atkinson respecting Volunteer drill and parade. The arrangements are detailed in our advertising columns, to which we refer our readers for information. The Annual Meeting of members of the Caledonian Society, to receive the Directors’ report for the past year, and to appoint new Directors, is announced to he held at Wain’s Hotel, on Tuesday the 26th instant, at 8 p.m., when a large attendance of members is requested.