FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1911

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1911, Page 4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1911

The report read at the annual meeting- of the Chamß.-ar of Comme-rce on Wednesday evening must be reg-arded as g-enerally hopeful and satisfactory. While it places on r.ecqrd tha healthy and steady progress that is going on here, it also holds out a most ehcoui laging prospect for the future. That a great deal has baen achieved in :he way of sending- the town and district along- is borne out by the figures adduced by the chairman in the .report. Th," facts not only speak for themselves, they also justify the most sanguine expectations as to the future of the port, th/ 2 town, and the district. While admittedly a great deal of useful and necessary work •remains still to do. the present istate of the trade of the place and the efforts that are steadily being- madfc tp 'secure ,the devel&pmient :oi t.'ie resources of the district 'justify the •most sanguine hopes for :ne future. The facts that are set .-ut in flu annual (report, as well as the anelusions drawn from them, will s-nve to .show the people of .Gneyiriquth tlialU itliey have somfeohing- to loc<k forward to in the way of business activity and a generally prosperori state of industrial life. All who ruefully peruse the report will at crce realise that th Q establishment of the Chamber of Commerce was a {.uV.)C advantagej and that it has a^^.piy afforded abundant evidence :p justify its existence! as an institution, tnat is iiloely to keep a watchful eye <>n at least the commercial interests cf the place. It is therefore ■= a: isf a :ti>ry to se:e . that this is fully recognised by the business men of the town, as is. shown by the list of membe.is; and no doubt this list will be further extended in a .deg-iiee to correspond with the steady expansion of commerce and increase <oi population that are going on. It may not be generally 'known— as .am artual fact it is ohlfy 'known •o-fficgaljliy ias;. yet— that thca-.e is no part of tha dominion that is progressing at the same rate us the West Coast in respect to inacised business and population, as will br recognised when all the figures of the recent census are published. These will show that the attraction oi the solid and enduring re-sources of. the Wiest Coast aTe becoming more •\'id<}ly known and attracting the attention of people outside. The ch?:rman, in his .report, was ■ iully warranted in indulg-mg in the opti.xustic view he has taken of thei existing: position and the outlook of this l ee : tion of the dominion. There aye ahc indications that the Central •."f-vern-mien.t are beginning to- realise tl at the West Coast generally, and thr Grey district in particular', dispUvs a growing importance that lias srirccly been reeognisad hither,to at its full and proper value. This fact is so imani.fest as 'to call for >no eixaggerataon. The facts disclosed -cganding our timber trade, the actual results and pmspects of gold i.jinini/, coal mining, and best of all as U'/mg eternal in dts nature, the occupancy of tho land, all go to ensure the iu-tur-e prosperity of the West Ccast," and most assuijedly of this part cf it. Still, this place is not without its drawbacks. There is work still to be accomplishied that calls for united action, and in Tespect to which the Chamber of Commeiice may afford most valuable aid. The Native lease tenure ds hot calculated to hearten the enterprising business 'men of the town-to continue to put out their best fixei&ions in promoting the general prosperity, seeing that ©6 large a share of, the iresult of their exertdons must go for the special be.hefit of the Native la-ttdlo-rds. A determined effort will no doubt be made to alter the existing tenure, which must.unavoidably be a drag on the spirit^ of. progress that would be manifested undeir mor.e favouorable and equitable conditions. . A remarkable advance has taken place in the unimproved value of the land of th.s town, even after making weary allowance foa the alleged ove,r-assessment. How much greater the value would be if the tenure were of a more satisfactory nature must be iso , apparent to every one as to call for no argument. The chaiitnan therefore struck tho co.r- . re ct note in suggesting the introduction of a bill ill Parliament with the view of obtaining; relief from existing inequitable . conditions of the leasehold tenure. On onci point, and one only, persons of experience will differ with, the .chairman. In closing, his address he, said ha thought that "the office of President should g-o round." It is a surprise that one ordinarily so shrewd .-should thank so. The proposal has n'bthing to. recommend it, as it is opposed to reason. Only peisoiis competent to. fill . the position •should- be -r-aased- to an important office of that .bind. Many who. might make excellent members of the Chamber of Com'meTce. might be quite unfitted foi) a variety of ireasons to fill fch.s office of chairman; and placing 3t. incompetent in a position nature or defects of ability unfitted him to occupy would only, be calculated to burlesque the conduct " of the busiin'tiss. 'Besides, such a position would "be only encouragem«nt to a" -gifted person to qualify himself for tho honour of holding and retaining- so distinguished 1 a place .aimongat his fellowbusiness men. Though the system seems to lead to no very disappointing results in the Grey County Coun-. cil, which is a nemarkably "happy family." we scarcely tlxink that such a; solitary example should iustify the Chamber, of Commerce in adopting the. principle,. whi«ch to our mind -has nothing- in the world to recommend ■i'bJb'ut its . puroj -good-nature,, Tt is no-t busin'iess. -' ■ '

Amongst the various matters ibeamgr on the commercial life of the district that -ths year's report of the Chamber, of Commence did not deal Avith was the boring 1 for petroleum. Most probably the -chairman, regarding the mattes as still in its prospectingstage, did mot consider tha,t it called for any special (reference at present. Taking 1 that view, he was right in passing over an unidettaking that, speaking from a purely industrial point of view, is still amongst the uncertainties. However, it is pleasing" to be alble to inform our readers that those who are engaged in 'boring for* petroleum at Kotu-ku intend to prosejci|te (t;he. search! mloit •vifgoro'us'ty. Word has been received from headquarters in- London that two complete up-to-date boring plants, are now on their way out. O.no is intended to be set up and put to work an th.3 Company's property at' Kotuku. The other will ibe sent to the North ' Island, to be set up and mad© use of on an oil area that the company has acquired -near Dannevirke, where ■excellent p:iospects have been obtained. In addition to this we learn that two of tha • directors of the company have left "London on their way out to this dominion in connection with the oil-boxing interests of the conipany dn both islands. This shows the confidence the company has in the Kotuku venture, and that it is intended to g-o into the enterprise with all the skill and energy required to achieve 'that success all so earnestly hope for. /

At last! The Stats of Maine, after being- a so-called "dry" State for fifty-three years, has abolished its prohiibition law (by a majority of twenty-six votes. It is with no particular feeling of elation that %ye announce the fact, .because the symptoms of a revulsion of feeling- on .the part of the public have long been noticeabk. In any case we looked for the abolition of the law throug-h the ordinary working, .of the human mind. Our faith in the essential g-ocd sen?e of human beings generally is such that we were sure the public would get ashamed' of a system dihat led to so much that was degrading- to human nature. 'All .the worst trickery an.d depravity, that is usually associated with the Illicit sale of liquor was . rife in ejveiry .p^art ; of th 0 State of Maine. The police court business on most Mondays at Portland were proportionally the very' worst in any city in the United States. It will be inte-resting.\to 'learn what good Prohibition enthusiasts will now do fo-4 want of Maine as a shining 1 example of the success of Prohibition. Maine has only followed the example set iby a number of other States of the Union that had tried Prohibition for years. _ The news reached us fnom a private source.

His Honour Justice Denna&ton left by, the M'apourika last evening:.

The mail despatched from Wellington via Brinidisi on 11th August arrived in London on the afternoon of ithe 16th inst.

Big- River will have telephone communioatiom installed shortly. The poles are being- supplied by Mr W. Archer.

One hundred and sixteen co-opera-tive laborors <are employed 'on the VVestpont — Junction railway construct ion works, and 163 on Westport dis-< trict roads. ' ' •■>.

Messrs. S. and R. Atkinson, of .West port, are the successful .tenderers for the erection of ta bridge over the Waiirau rivQr, Marßborough. The priceisi:iO,934.

The Supremei Court has (been occupied for the past, two days i tearing a case of C- Uddstrom v. the Red Jacks Sawrmilling- Company for .the. infringement of a pateiW. The Judge reserved his decision. ' '

The funeral of the laftie Patrick Egam, will leave Mrs j; PitmaTi's. nresiidence, Marlborough Street/ this afternoon at 2.30 p.m. for the Greymouth Cemetcrv.

The patient from Sea View Mental Hospital who Escaped on Tuesday evening was re-captured yesterday afternoon on the HokdtikarGrey railway line and brought back ib'y the train iai t>he evening.

At the Westport Harboar . ■ Board meeting a day or two ago,. Mr Scanlon suggested that a charge of ono sihilling be made f or iadmission Jtio the wharf ; on Sunday alights.. People, lie said, would then find it cheap&r to »go ■to church.

A sperm whale captured off Yahc.ouver Island has been found to cahtain 2501 b. of ambergris, a fatty, substance in great demand for perfumery. At the present market price the ifind is worth •

The Convent School Concort lakes place to-night, 22-nd in the Town HalU at 8 p.m. An excellent programmo has been prepared • aiid all lovers of music arc recommendeid to patronise the entertainment. Tickets 2s, chil T dren Is.

Ini. our advertising- columns. ..a sa\ymalliin^ plant and planing, ma chihery now working about 200 acres of good 'bush which is situated cldse to the iplianjt }%■ ac)Vei*ti>sied! fox 'siale. The plant is one mile from the arising-,. tow.nsh'p of Murchison. For further particulars see advertisement. ./ ,"

Work in the Otira tunnel as goihg along smooithly, and excavators cannot ge,t the -rock out fast enough for the _ lining amd blocking which is -righitl on top of them. The ibottain hciading is passing- through same 'bad country ait present and has to ibe timbered well up .to -tire face, w\4 as it is also wet, ifche niem are. on six-hour shifts.

Owners are reminde'd 1 that <n.prninafcvon fqir the Maryborough Racing" Oluifr's Spring Meeting close-.to-jmor-row, Satuaxlav with L. Griffiths, Blenheim. This Club is f ast ib.ecc4hing\ orie of the most popular .. jCluibs in Nfav Zealand and ilti v as < expected a daa-ge number of North Island /horses will figure' in the ./nominations. . ,

Harley an<l Go., L'tid., ."have received instructions from Mr- Okeby, "who is leaving 1 G-reymoutJb:, to sell. ;by aiit-' itioaiat his: residence, Molan's" Lane, om Wednesday next, at 2 p.m., the. whole iof his household furniture and effects, iiucluddn'g- English- piano--. and' Sioig-er sewing- machine — in fact, the contents of a six-roomed: house. As the . enttiry is a h^.avy one the sale will begin punctually at two o'clock*

We beg- to draw the! attention of the local authority to the encroachimeint of the Teiremakau Rivcir at itihe Blue Bluff on the west side of the bridge-. The river is encroaching so fast that if it s not attended to; theire is a grave danger of Itihe " road lat the foot of the hill being- washed away Tlie old savin." of "a sttich in. time saves nine s'.is5 '.is applicable to this case. Caplbain Hardress Lloyd, polo player was talking- n New York abbot U«e cetesaihion of fliagiging 'at the "great English public school at i-.'on.- ''I am glad," he said, "that flogging . is now done away with. Eon boys used to suffer a ?o(\i ck.,l Irom th«! •birch. There was one Eton master in .itihe seventies who. flogged so severely thait his death, when he came to die, was announced in the papers among the shipping news. They announced it under the head 'Loss of ta Whaler." There is something amusing, not to say ludicrous in the recent meeting of the farmers' Union, when one speaker said ithat if .they wanted the country to be prosperous they should induce the people to occupy the waste lands of the dominion. That I take it, is what the people wamji:i done, yet when there is an attempt at it •the Opposition from one end of the country to the other do their utmost i*o prevent iit. If the. Labour Party had their way there' would be not one aero; of) land available ft-hjat would not be occupied. Mr Fowlds is runnwig the risk of a very sievere castigation from his quondam admirers in not taking the hint to be quieb wand realise that this as one of the occassians when silence is *golden. But the public, we have little doubt, is very g-e.nui.nelv interested in thle silver of Mr Fowlds' s speech for he has been behind the scen.es, and is well qualified to conifirm, as he has been 1 doing, the impressions of the Government's policy of drift, which Mr Massey and oth"r mournimg critics have not" been' backward in expressing,— " Otago Daily Times." A number of land-owners in Canterbury haye 1 received! letters from a gentleman in Londion, staging tliat 'he is making investigations in regard -no the birds of the South Pacific, and asking .them to -send him, skins of •New Zealand birds. He states that ahey are required for scientific purposes, and gives directions for skinnining the birds and preparing and packing the skins. He is apparently ignorant of the fact that all -the native birds of the dominion, except hawks, the keas, several species of shags and a few others, are protected by law, and that <a heavy penalty may b e imposed upon (those who kill protected birds, or who send away the skim of any native bird without having obtained permission fro,m the Minister of Internal Affairs. A relic lof the- old days of Auckland has been met with in the course of dig-ging- a drain opposite 1 the Britemart Hotel in Customs street. The •excavatiodn is fairly deep, and right in the track is the hull of a small 'boat, apparently a dinghy. The wood is kauri and although it must 'tie fully half a century since it was covered up in the course of reclamation the .timber is as sound as ever. A small crowd assembled to watch the process of sawing through the hull, ,-and one old hand remarked: "It's one of old Fred Archer's hookers There used to be a timber wharf just opposite here, .and • the' boats were pulled up on the mud. Further along was an old whaler called the Kaspax, which was' stranded ri°ar Jacob's Ladder, iand a man called Wall converted the hull into a -blacksmith's shop." We would call the attention of all to the advertisement announcing Hannah's "INew Territorial Boot" which has been specially manufactured for this particular use. This class of •boat cannot be beaten for bushmen, navvies , miners, and indeed workers of all classes. The uppers are made of beautiful soft leather. Ths smles of the best English sole leather. The firm intend to get these hoots well iadveirtised on Itihe. Coast and a.re retailing them at wholesale price with this purpose in view. For those in aieed of a pair of reliable hftrd wear, comfortable, easy working boot^ this is th.« linf< to give all these necessaries at the small price of 15s lid, postage Is extra. Look up .the (firm's r'dvextiis^e.mait and see the 'style of bo^t it is. Then nost an order for a pair your! sizfv ?nd r>rove for yourself the truth' of this epistle. What is wanted is that persons occupying and owning laaid should be. compelled ito use that land to its fullest capacity. That is not done mow and thousands of people in the country are anxious ito get on the landHow does the Farmers' Uniom propose that what iy chooses to call the "waste lands" shall be populated? The 'big landlords have got hold of the great portion of land in the country, and whc>n the Government proposes legislation to- break up these estates h, howl goes up all over the counjtry about confiscation, robbery and so on — about a man having spent his lifa in procuring land •tha.t i.s far beyond his capacity to till without employing considerable labour What w© want is legislation that will prevent a man having more land than he cam coimfortiabily till, and allow the people who arc wanting land the samp chance, as the man who has attained or who shortly will attain, a competency.