MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 119, 30 May 1901, Page 1

MAIL NEWS.

GENERAL. According to the Empire, “ Premier Seddon ” could teach the railway directors of England something, and that teaching “ would prove of infinite benefit to the general public.” Commenting upon the New Zealand experiment of borrowing locally, the Financier says the result was only to be expected, having regard to the attractive terms of the issue.- Further, it is hoped that the success obtained will induce other Australasian colonies to depend more upon local and' less upon London support. Akaroa, “ one of the finest harbors in the southern hemisphere, and one such high authorities as Sir William Jervois and Admiral Tryon, pronounced to bo admirably suited for becoming a naval depot,” has secured a champion in “ F.A.A.” who belauds the harbor in the columns of the Standard. And the paper endorses his views. How the Colonial Secretary’s personality seems to overshadow overyouo ! One of the leading illustrated papers in London reproduces some photographs which give an excellent impression of New Zealand’s mutton and wool resources. But they are stated to bo pictures of the sheep farm of Mr Chamberlain’s brother at Waikato. Methodists in England havo been interested in a letter sent to the Methodist Recorder by the Rev. Richard Harding, of Willowby, Canterbury. Au illustration is being given in some of tho pictorial papers hero of “ a curious statute to the late Queen." It is tho statue erected by the Arawas at Rotorua, and is spoken of as “ a fine example of native work.”

Mr J. Henniker-Heaton, M.P., is never weary of citing the brilliant example set by New Zealand in the direction of cheapening postage. "Writing to the Times ono day this week he says : “ A few months ago I had the satisfaction of send-

ing you a cable message from tho enlightened and progressive PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand (the lion. J. G. Ward), announcing the inauguration of universal penny postage, and to-day he (Mr Ward) makes the further notification

that there is established penny postage from New Zealand to Egypt.' So the New Zealander is better off than the inhabitant of these islands.”

According to a telegram published in the Times as to the foundering of the French barque Psyche, 200 miles off the Cape of Good Hope, two of the survivors belong to Auckland, New Zealand. They have been landed at Antwerp. Engineering, in a recent number, devotes a leading article to “ New Zealand Labor Legislation.” In this, it is said, “ the course taken may turn out to be sound or unsound; some will think it wise, others foolish; but whatever the result may prove, other industrial communities can hardly fail to profit by the example. For this, we owe the colony our thanks.”

11 Trout-hatching in New Zealand” is the subject of an article in tho Sporting and Dramatic Nows, on tho work of Mr DeLautour, at Masterton. To the unversed reader of tho paper named a hint is given that the way to pronounce “ Wairarapa” is “ Wire-rappa.”(l). It is stated here that “ one interesting result of Lord Ranfurly’s recent trip to the outlying islands to the south of New Zealand is tho addition of a rare collection of birds to the London Zoo.”

In tho opinion of tho Manchester Courier, it is “ excellent policy, from the New Zealand point of view,” to raise a loan locally, and the colony is congratulated on its “ financial strength.” “ But,” it is added, “ colonial loans are such nice securities that we should bo sorry to see any check put upon their issue in this market.”

Basing his remarks on an article from the pen of Mr Trevelyan, M.P., who some time ago visited the colony, on “ tho splendidly democratic legislation which the New Zealand Parliament has been engaged upon for some years past,” Mr William Redmond, M.P., referring more particularly to “ the land,” says: “Is it not this very New Zealand system of planting the people on the soil which is so badly wanted in Ireland, especially in the West ?”

A highly appreciative articlo has appeared in tho Standard in reference to tho despatch of New Zealand’s Seventh Contingent, and it is said that “ New Zealanders deserve our cordial gratitude for their patriotic zeal.” According to the County Gentleman, “ the condition of agriculture in New Zealand is not encouraging when it is considered that the area of the wheat crop recently gathered in was only 206,918 acres, or 62,831 acres less than in 1900. . . . It is hard to understand that the cultivation of cereals in New Zealand is decreasing, although it increases in Australia, in spite of the fact that the yield in the former country is more than double the Australian average for wheat at least.” - It is estimated that the receipts and expenditure for German-Samoa for 1901 are balanced at £IB,BOO, as against £12,600 for the current year; but it is stated in tho consular report on the German colonial estimates that the receipts from direct taxes of Customs in German-Samoa show an estimated falling off of £4OOO on those for the current year, the Administration having for the present abandoned the attempt to levy taxes on the natives. The failure to draw contributions from the native population has greatly disappointed colonial circles in Germany, and it i 3 feared that discontent may increase among the Europeans at bavin g to bear the whole burden of the taxation.