The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. 1892. STATE FARMS. NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIV, Issue 3223, 13 September 1892, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. 1892. STATE FARMS.

NEWS AND NOTES

(It has been announced tbat the Goivernment intend to try tbe experiment of State farms as one method of dealing with the problem, or rather problems, involved in State aid to the poor and the unemployed, the failures on the economic side of our boasted civilisation. We are not aware whether legislative proposals have yet been considered by the House, nor, indeed, what shape the proposals will exactly take ; but we notice in the report of the bureau of industries a sketch of the class of

person in view on behalf of whom it is suggested action should be taken, with some account of what is deemed desirable here, and what ia being done and has been done elsewhere. How far the views expressed by Mr. Tregear, the secretary to the bureau, indicate the intentions of the political head we do not know, but perhaps ifc is not going too far to assume that they have had the Ministerial imprimatur, or they would not heve appeared. They are therefore of interest. He says: — "The GovernI ment has intimated its intention to initiate the experiment of establishing a few State farms in New Zealand. The leading idea in this scheme is to provide places of refuge and instruction for those persons who, not being able to succeed in getting employment in their own trades in towns, may be encouraged to undertake work in the rural districts, and be prepared to engage in it. A State farm is to comprise about 1000 acres of land fit for agricultural purposes, and to this farm will be drafted the surplus workmen of the towns. Many or the ' unemployed ' applying at the Labor Bureau are clerks, stewards, firemen, tailors, printers, &c, who, crowded out cf their regular employments, are in a state of destitution; these being in addition to a large body of general laborers who, though used to the

pick and shovel, have no knowledge of work upon farm or station. All these could be sent with advantage to an institution where, in return for food and shelter, and perhaps some small wage, they could assist in the general work of a farm, and make its cultivation pay expenses, while, in the meantime, the workmen themselves were being trained 'o habits and duties fitting them for the general labor market. It is desired that buildings should be erected by the men themselves, with the help of some skilled assistance, that cottages should be built for married men with families, and that, to those who show | themselves interested and capable, co-operative shares in the profits of the farm should be given. In most cases these farms would be ' transitstations,' through which a steady current of labor, changed from ' noneffective ' to ' effective/ should pass. The farms would each be under the control of a practical * captain of industry,' who would be held responsible for the training and discipline of the men, and who would endeavor to make the undertaking as remunerative as possible to the State without losing sight of its primary object — namely, tbe relief of pressure upon the deserving poor." So far as to Mr. Tregear's views of what can and ought to be done. Then he supports this by the following record of what has been done elsewhere: — About seventy years ago (in 1818), a scheme somewhat similar to this was attempted to be carried out in Holland. Labour colonies were started by a private society, but were taken over by the Government in 1859. There were at that time three colonies, and these are still in existence : one at Frederiksoord, another at Willemßoord, and a third at Wilhelminasoord ; of these we may take Frederiksoord as a typical example. It is now a fertile district about 15 miles in length, an oasis set in the midst o£ dreary moorland ; it has been, entirely redeemed from the waste by the efforts of the settlers

It comprises about 5,000 acres, including six large model farms employing 90 labourers, and 224 small farms each capable of supporting a family. There are five schools (accommodating 500 children), a college for gardening, two Protestant churches with houses for ministers, a Roman Catholic church with priest's house, a Jewish Synagogue and teacher's house. The population averages aboufc 1,800. On a destitute family firsj; arriving in the labour colony, the he&d of the family is given work as a labourer at current wages for three years, and he may then receive one of the small farms and became a free farmer, always premising tbat he has done bis work an a labourer faithfully and well. If he does not succeed as a farmer ho may return to his condition as a labourer, in which capacity he receives a free house and garden. Provision is made for sending away the drunken and the idle. The farming families pay a small rent to the colony, and subscribe to a medical and clothing fund ; the infirm old people are pensioned off. The colonies have been very successful, and there is no difficulty in filling up any vacancies. He concludes by saying : — There is little doubt, however, that if farm.-colonies could be established for elderly and aged persons, a gr^at boon would be extended to many deserving old people who now find their declining days passing away in dull monotony of refuges, or "board-ing-out "by charitable aid. The cultivation of gardens would give them pleasure, healthy exercise, aud sometimes a little pocket-money, while their self-respect; would be preserved and heightened by a senae of usefulness ia the world

The Taranaki Agricultural Society have received a donation of £1Q from the Acclimatisation Society.

Mr. J. H. Hempton, a member of the New Zealand athletic team, has returned to Wellington.

Walter Young accidentally fell into a vat of boilins water at Lawrence. He is not expected to recover.

Children's fancy dress balls in PalmerSton have resulted in profit over o{£Qs Qa, which, with subsidy, means ap addition to the hospital fands of about £14b.

At a meeting of Parihaka ratepayers of the Taranaki County Council, held at Warea on 7th September, Mr. E. Maxwell explained that the Egtnont Coaaty Bill provides for the present boundaries being adhered to, while each riding will have control of their whole individual funds, bo that the present dual control will be done away with, and saving experienced. The objectionable tailgates would be done away with. Although for years Parihaka haa been a bugbear to Taranaki, now that there is a good prospect of the native lands being settled and population multiplied, the tone ia altogether altered. After a long discussion, the New Connty Bill was agreed to by 18 to 5, and most of the ratepayers present signed petition ia favor of JUgmont County.

Tbe tSI of 294,000 trout have been sent out from the Masterton hatcheries this season.

Jarors who have been summoned are reminded tbat their attendance ia required at the District Court to-morrow.

A aupposed case of iooendiarism was the partial burning of an old mill in Queen Street, New Plymouth, on Saturday. No clue.

We were in error recently in stating that Mr. Hart had been appointed to tbe management of the Opunake Dairy Factory. It should have read '• Otakeho."

An artesian well haa been successfully sunk od Mr. Satherley's property at Foxton. The depth is about 166 feet, and water comes from the small shingle strata. The flow is good and rises six feet.

The lambing is progressing rapidly in the Wangauui distriot and all along the coast. It is said that tbe percentage is likely to be high, and the deaths so far are few, notwithstanding the rain.

A London paper states that six medical experts examined a man »s to his sanity, and were evenly divided. After they had wrangled about it for a week, it was discovered that they had examined the wrong person altogether.

Ex-Jndge Edwards is petitioning Parliament to set up a Boyal Commission to enquire into the circumstances under which he gave up bis practice and accepted the judgeship. He asks for compensation if the Commission finds he is entitled, a! 60 wishes to be heard at tbe bar of the House.— New Zealand Times.

A letter received in New Plymouth from Mr. Smith, bead borer at the Petroleum Works, who is now in London, states tbat affairs are being satisfactorily arranged in London by the Company for resuming operations at tbe works, and he expects to be in New Plymouth in about four months.

Members of tbe Hawera Mounted Rifles are reminded of the inspection parade to be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Colonel Fox (commandant of New Zealand foroes), Lieut. Colonel Newall, and Captain Coleman will be present. We understand that there are at present a few vacancies, and anyone desirous of becoming a member should endeavor to be proposed after this parade.

The Herald says there were on view at New Plymouth on Saturday a number of articles made from the iron tun from Taranaki ironsand at Onehunga recently. The articles comprised three backets made at Onehunga, a step for a vehicle made by a prisoner in Mount Cook Gaol, a horseshoe made by a blacksmith in Wellington, and a number of other articles.

Speaking at New Plymouth on tbe Stock Bill Mr. Saddler thought the bill, if passed, would do a lot of harm to the colony. The Contagious Diseases Act at Home was stringent, but it was not nearly so severe as the bill just read. He considered that compensation should at least be paid to the owner of stock which had been destroyed in protection of tho public on account of being diseased. A Btory ia eoing the rounds at tho expense of a Victorian politican. When Minister of Education he visited a certain State school, and was told by the headtpacher that the standard of the curriculum was not as high as it should be. "Indeed," replied the Minister; "that must be rectified. I'll see that a carpenter is sent round to have it raised at onoe." Yet another attempt, says a Sydney exchange, ia to be made to bring to the surface the old steamer Centennial, which has so long rested undisturbed at the bottom of Taylor Bay. For several days past a punt has been operating at tbe scene of the wreck. A Melbourne syndicate has been formed to get the Centennial up, and no time is to be wasted in carrying out the undertaking. An auotion sale of the first direct weekly consignment of Caiifornian frnifc was held in London on August sth. Tbe consignment had arrived in good order, having been conveyed in a refrigerator from New York. The fruit was greatly admired, bat English dealers say that refrigerated fruit will not keep a sufficient length of time to enable the London tradesmen to handle it with profit. The bidding was slack, and prices low. The following business is set down for hearing at the District Court, Hawera, which opens to morrow: — Kegina v. Greenroyd (re moneys in a building coutract) ; Murphy and another v. Stratford County Counoil (alleged breach of contract) ; Coleman v. Coleman (deferred payment dispute) ; Sharrack v. Mehaffy (claim for balance due on oontraot). Bank. rnptcy.— Publio examination of James Ward. At their Hawera yards on Thursday, Messrs. Nolan, Tonks, and Co. will offer

for sale the following first-class stallions :

The thoroughbred horse Komaroff, by Wellesley (full brother to Wellington,

winner of the V.E.C. Champion, 1879; V.R.O. Derby), dam Gitana; pure Norfolk trotting sire Cooko'-the-Walk 2nd; pure coaching stallion Gladstone, by Perfeotion, dam Florence. Komaroff (Byrs.) is a bay horse, with black points, bred by Sir W. J. Clarke. He has been used for some seasons past in that gentleman's stud, and in sold beoause be wants a change of blood, Komaroff is all over an excellent Bgeoimen of the thoroughbred. The purebred trotting sire, Cock-o'-the-walk, is a fine, black, substantial and equaliy-proportioned stallion, and should meet with a ready sale, being admirably suited as a getter of a class of stock at present much in demand. The coaching stallion Gladstone is also a good 'specimen of a desirable Bire. He has splendid shoulders, powerful quarters, and stands upon four very substantial legs. The horses may be seen at tbe Egmont stables.

Normanby Town Board election takes place on 21st inst.

Farmers' Union sells cboice sheep on behalf of Mr. E. Bayly.