A LETTER FOR HOME.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 168, 12 July 1888, Page 3

A LETTER FOR HOME.

My Dear William,—l find my new plan of communication is an improvement on the old style, because where I had before to pay sixpence for postage it now only costs me a penny, besides I am told that others largely avail themselves of my correspondence, so as to keep their own friends posted up. A penny is a penny now-a- days, and by nature we are all too lazy to do more than we can avoid. Latterly we have been almost ISOLATED FROM THE OLD WORLD, The two cables which connect Port Darwin and Singapore have both snapped, leaving us in a perfect blank as to what is happening beyond the Australian colonies. In Melbourne and Adelaide the simultaneous breaking of the cables was sufficient to create a war scare, and in those places preparations were actually made for any enemy that might put in an appearance. These precautions have given rise to much merriment at the expense of the “ precautionists,” one cynical critic taking it for certain that if a foreign man-of-war had actually shown itself, the colonials would have either crawled under the beds or run about screeching and firing off torpedoes among themselves. Of course this is only a take-off, but th© Australians carry on such a blustering policy of political-larrikinism that they are always getting “ chiacked ” and never seem to know it. The interruption of the lines will, I believe, have one good effect, and that is to show us we are of so much less importance than we imagine. Some colonials have got an idea that the outer world cannot get on unless we have our say in. what is being done, but now we are beginning to discover that we have about as much influence in oreign affairs as —we ought to have.

THE CHINESE TROUBLE still looms on the horizon, and will no doubt assume a very troublesome shape before it is done with. Some, indeed, affected to think that the Chinese had, in a spirit of retaliation, cut the cables. A conference of delegates from the different colonies was recently held in Sydney. Our delegate was behindhand, and did not arrive till the conference was over. But the remainder of the representatives sat in solemn conclave and came to a decision that it was advisable to keep a cheek on any extensive Chinese immigration.. To this end it was considered sufficient—without imposing any further poll tax—to restrict the number of Chinese to be carried in each ship, according to the tonnage of the vessel. A transcrinfhas been published of what purports to be an edict from some high official in China, commanding all Chinese subjects to wind up their affairs within three years. This it is said is in expectancy of a war with England, but the whole matter requires confirmation.

A CURIOUS INCIDENT. Perhaps the most curious affair that has happened during the month has been the wreck of the coastal steamer Hawea. The Hawea is by no means one of our representative steamers, and a number of such might have been wrecked without receiving anything beyond a passing notice. No passengers were lost, and the loss of property was not a great one. She was wrecked while entering the port of New Plymouth (in Taranaki). and what attaches especial interest to the affair is the attempt made by the Harbor Board officials to prove that it was no fault of the harbor. An investigation was held and numerous theories were put forward to account for the wreck. The harbor authorities attempted to prove that the steamer had overridden her anchor and they even called a streak of paint on the fluke of the anchor into requisition to show that it had grazed the keel of the vessel; Evidently, this was not convincing enough for the Court of Enquiry, as eventually they exonerated the Captain from all blame, and returned him his certificate. The sequel to the Hawea’s wreck is to be found in the fact that the captain of another steamer of the same line refuses to enter the New Plymouth harbor unless the Harbor Master of the Port takes all responsibility. We are apparently drifting into the same position with the

GISBORNE HARBOR. It was at first intended to make it suitab’e for vessels of a large tonnage, but funds will not permit of this, and it isj suggested to continue so far as the funds will allow, making it suitable for smaller vessels. Several sea captains have declared that, even were it finished, they would not use it. There seems as great a desire here as thfcre is in New Plymouth, on the part of the authorities, to defend the harbor from all and every allegation brought against it: with what success I am not competent to judge. We still manage to keep the matter before Parliament the latest phase being the appointment of a committee, by the Legislative Council, to enquire as to what has already been expended. Our harbor and petroleum industry are OUR TWO HOBBIES in Gisborne, and with each we seem to be continually in trouble. The latter appears to be always near being brought to a successful issue and just as often something happens which prevents it. One Company—the Minerva —had bored several hundred feet, getting good indications, when the; pipes bent, necessitating the putting down of a new bore, and thus losing all the work ajuready done. The contractor of the South pacific Company is still in America, and it is uncertain when he will return. Meanwlfle, the Company have met in Sydney, and f( >r some unaccountable reason, the proceedings have been kept secret. This circumstance has excited suspicion in Gisborne, owing *.o the fact that it is believed that there is a movement on foot to dispose of the property, and Ipcal shareholders are desirous of a proper trial of the bore being made before anything <pf the sort is done. At one time the hea4 office of the Company was in Gisborne, but subsequently it was removed to Sydney, whence all the business of the Company is directed. Not only has the oil industry passed into the hands of the other colonies, but so have other industries of New Zealand. The latest to pass has been

OUR KAURI TIMBER FORESTS. A Melbourne syndicate Jias purchased all the various sawmills and bushes (as they are called in New Zealand); in the Auckland district. The consequence of this monopoly has not yet been severely fdlt, but no doubt before long we will be repenting the bargain. Already, I understand, timber merchants are preparing for a rise, and; 5 per cent, advance upon mouldings and one shilling per hundred feet upon sawn kauri timber has been the effect in at least one case I have heard of. Perhaps this may have its'bright side in encouraging local industry in-the utilising of the kahikatea timber, of which we have a large quantity in this district. AN ANTICIPATED BOOM.

With regard to the timber syndicate, there is another anticipation which is entitled to consideration. It is said that the capitalists of Victoria are beginning to turn their eyes towards New Zealand as an outlet for some of their money. From their point of view I wonder that something of the kind has not been previously thought of, for with a large amount of capital I believe they could make such investments at the present time that there would be a surety of success. Things have got to a level to which some profess to believe there can be no lower level, and any number of properties could be snapped up at about half their value, or even less. The capital mentioned is a million and a half, and with this sum an enormous undertaking might be madq, t The worst of it is that these speculators are’ not likely to do for New Zealand just that which it is sadly in need of, to introduce capital and energy into our back country. They wosd rather, I am inclined to think, go in for buoying the town lands up to a fictitional value, and then take advantage of the fever that_ would ba created. In Melbourne the price of land has been raised much above its actual worth, but so far the fever has been sustained. It we could only get about 500 good energetic and practical men, with the sama amount of capital divided between and- get the native lands freed from the restrictions which hamper them, it would send the colony ahead amazingly, besides making the advancement a permanent one. There is always something suspicious about speculative concerns of the nature mentioned. The colony would have been in far and away a better position Jo-day had there been less of the “ ring ” influence, which has had much to do with the borrow* 1 iquander-and-iax policy*

PARLIAMENT is still sitting, but the end is near at hand. The Government have held their own, but not without being once or twice in imminent danger. The tarriff has been passed with but few alterations. In one case—that of tea—the Government had to bring the whole weight of their authority to bear in order to save its being thrown out. By making the question a party one, we have no# to pay more duty per lb on our tea than any of the other colonies. All other business was delayed till the tariff was settled. An attempt to bring on the estimates immediately afterwards was met and prevented by those members who are desirous of further retrenchment, and especially in the Civil Service. A CASUS CELEBRIS in the shape of a £lOO,OOO will case is just now occupying the Wellington division of qur, Supreme Court. The testator, a native chief, died a short time ago. For some time prior to this he and his daughter, who was married to a pakeha named Donnelly, had not been friends, but it appears that just before his death they were reconciled, and a will leaving all the property to the daughter was accordingly made. Great care was taken to prevent such a thing happening, but like the schemes of men and mice that “ oft gang aglee,” this appears to have miscarried. The other relations of the old man are now fighting the matter with the daughter, and the affair has been a considerable time before the Court. Your affectionate cousin, “Bob.”