MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD. POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1904. THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7939, 21 October 1904, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD. POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1904. THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

The meeting held at Palmerston yesterday at which it was decided to resuscitate the' New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association should, •if the project is carried to fruition—and there appears no reason why that result should not be attained—have a. very beneficial effect upon the industry in New Zealand. It is now generally conceded to be one of the most important of the colony's industries, the total exports this year already aggregating £800,000, while in addition to its monetary value it gives employment, at a satisfactory rate of pay, to thousands of unskilled workers who otherwise would be scattered the length and breadth of the land looking for something they could.turn then- inartistic fingers to. There are, however, several directions in which the lot of the flaxmiller could be improved and< chie f among them is the question of the cost of grading the hemp. At the. present time, beyond the appointment of graders at each of the chief shipping centres, the industry is receiving very little attention at the hands of the Government, particularly so.when compared with another of the colony's industries, dairying. The latter, taken in hand when it was in a very imperfect and undeveloped stage ; has been, by the closest attention to every detail and the appointment of a competent staff of graders, raised to a high point of perfection and the finished article is rapidly gaining a reputation that cannot fail to exert a.beneficial influence upon all concerned.

The question has naturally arisen among flaxinillers and others interested in the expansion of an industry that promises so much for the colony, not only in the utilisation of unskilled labour but the profitable employment of huge tracts of swamp that for decades past have only supported the übiquitous pukeko: why cannot the flaxmilling business be fosteredto the same extentj and with the same end -in view as the dairying industry? It.is for this purpose, primarily, that the association' has been, resuscitated, and it will urge upon Government the claims the industry has upon its care and power to' develop. At the last meeting of the association a 1 resolution v/as passed asking the member for Mariawatu, Mr J. Vile, to ascertain from the Minister for Agriculture the actual.cost of the grading system as at present carried out, and the receipts from the same source; A reply

has been received from Mr Vile stating jthat the.'cost of : adminißtration :was :dE3,014^ and the receipts JE3,490 leaving :an : actual profit to the department of £476. This is _ in: strong contrast

with the treatment meted out to dairying companies, who are subsidised by Government, while the unfortunate flaxmiller, whose business is barely less valuable to the colony, is. penalised to not only the full extent of the cost of administration, but at a figure that leaves a handsome ..profit to the department. With the formation of the Association it is naturally expected some of the \present inequalities and handicaps to the business may be reduced without in any way impairing the quality of the.output, and at the next meeting the whole question of grading will be exhaustively discussed preparatory to making representation to Go vernment on the subject.

Mr Jickell, Borough Engineer, was today engaged in taking levels in connection with the drainage pipe laying contract, for which a tender - has been accepted by the Council.

Yesterday a man named Charles Wapp, a roadman employed at Feilding, was struck in the eye by a piece of stone. He was brought into the Hospital by the afternoon train and operated on, but it is nofe known yet if the sight of the eye will be saved. ■

Mr Donald Mclver, who has returned to Mohaka (Wairoa district) after spending four years in travelling round the world, informs the Wairoa Guardian that he is quite satisfied New Zealand holds its own in almost every way for all classes.

A man named Benjamin Olsen was severely injured at Rongotea this niornine by a couple of logs rolling upon him and crushing him. The full extent of the injuries are not known, but they are sufficiently severe to necessitate, the in-' jured man being brought into the hosr pital at a pace.

The steamer Baden-Powell, -which stuck in a mud-flat in the Manawatu river, got off yesterday, discharged her cargo at Foxton, and returned to Wellington. The Himatangi, which went ashore inside the bar during the gale last week, has also been floated, and is now lying at the Foxton wharf.

The electric light at Hawera is not giving satisfaction. The Star states that the Borough was again left in- darkness on Tuesday night owing to the failure of the light. It gradually went out about 10 o'clock. It is reported that there was a cry for candles in a local hotel, which illuminates with electricity, and during the periods of the light's failure the feeble glow of the candles did faithful, if inadequate, service. Later on in the night the light was renewed.

Messrs S. Sanson, O'Loughlin (Manawatu Drainage Board), Clarke (Horseshoe Drainage Board), Amon, Donald (Sluggish River Drainage Board), Tattersall and Gower (Aorangi Drainage Board) met at the Kairanga County office yesterday afternoon to consider the formation of. a set of bye-laws, applicable to each district, in accordance with the requirements of the new Drainage Act.- Mr P. H. Cooke was.in attendance and explained the various clauses of the Act, but no definite action was determined upon.

It is remarked that Palliser Bay, where the Addenda was wrecked on October 13th, has probably been .the - scene of more shipwrecks than any other part of the New Zealand coast.- The spot where the vessel went ashore is some miles from where the ship Zuleika was wrecked, with the loss of twelve of her crew,- during a great gale in April, 1897, and at which the barque Ben Avon was stranded in November last. Palliser Bay is: exposed to the full force of a southerly gale, and the Cape has often been mistaken in thick weather for Wellington Heads.

The Blenheim Times, in commenting upon the, fact that the agricultural combine has decided to " cut out" the Marlborough A. and P. Show, alleges that "a far greater quantity of agricultural machinery is in operation in this (Marlborough) district than in the area represented by the Palmerston North Show; and judged on this basis the Marlborough Show is deserving of more attention from the manufacturers than the northern event. The "experts say,'. 1 continues our contemporary* " that they do more business on the local grounds in one day than in three days at Palmerston N."

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of Loyal Manawatu Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U.. was held last night, W.G. Bro. L. G Horn presiding. It was decided to call a special summoned meeting for next lodge night to deal with some important questions. The next meeting of the Lodge will be: held on November 10th instead of the; 3rd, owing to the show. During the evening P.G. Bro. Sharman. on behalf of the Lodge, presented the prizes Avon by the members who introduced the most, new members during the year. The receipents were Bro. L G. Horn (sash), Bro. Eickard (medal), Bro: Gardes (medal) and Bro. S. 3 "Watson (cigarette holder). It was announced that 40 members had joined during the year, the membership now totalling 170. :

On Wednesday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., th» rainfall totalled 1-15 inches equalling 26,055 galldns of water on every acre in the borough, or 4168 cubic feet of water to every acre of land^ In the Square alone, which has an area of 16} acres, these figures work out to 429,907 gallons of water. It is therefore small wonder to learn that the borough sewers and watercourses were unequal to the exceptional downpour, and that certain localities were flooded. It is, on the contrary, remarkable that no damage was done. The borough workmen were engaged all day endeavouring to keep the channels clear and get fid of the accumulation of surface water. ..

. The Railway; Department has made excellent progress with its portion of the work of extending the railway line to the Awapuni course. They have practically completed the twenty chains of siding from just below the Awapuni bridge to where the Racing Club take on the work. A start has not • been made with the bridge over the lagoon yet, but it is estimated all the piles can be driven in three weeks and fully 100 men, it is stated, will be put on by the contractor to do.the necessary top structure,' screw up bolts, &c. The railway extension will, no doubt, be used to carry the bridge timber to. tne lagoon. Between the lagoon and. the racecourse there is about eighteen chains of formation to be ! done. There Is every probability the work will be completed for the Christmas meeting. ,

i An effort is being made to start, baconcuring works at;Wairoa;V";-i";^ '~:^ ; 'H--i

"_The office of .the Defiance"Giißa^ry;, will He rempved from Main-streeii to new, premises'next to ihe^New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ean- ; gitikei-strfeetj on-Monday next." •/:

A three-year-old son of Mr J. Oliver, o£ New Plymouth, was .attacked' by a rat whilelying asleep on Saturday night last. 'The child's cries attracted the other, inmates of the house. ' -

'Yesterday Mrs Allan Strahg won the Ladies' Championship of .the Manawatu Golf Club; defeating !Mrs JRutherfurd. Mrs Jamiesbn defeated: Mrs Freeth and. Mrs Mellsqp in the final-of the junior competition.- ;\ ■'■;'.'■■'..••.;':.-■..".■';■..■

1 At. the meeting of the Philosophical Society .] as t, night, Mr D. Sinclair said that as soon as the society got a room of its own, he would be pleased to hand over a number ,of geological specimens •collected by him in different parts of the world. •'

Mr W. Welch produced for inspection at the meeting of the Philosophical Society last night, a daily barometric and hygrometrie record, together with maximum and minimum thermometer readings, and rainfall and cloud observa-

tions. The records were, taken by Mr Welch and extend over the last four years. • ■ .

The Settler says: —The Taihape section of railway is still a long way from, being completed. The various sawmill, sidings are still in the crude. There are no. buildings at Utiku as yet. TheTaihape sheds are not completed and general appearances indicate furtherdelay.

A valuable harness mare, owned by Mr Jas. Little, Oroua Bridge, reared up and fell yesterday afternoon while being driven out of Mr H. Hall's stables. The mare strnck her head on the kerbing and died in an hour... Mrs Little was in the trap at the time but escaped without injury.

A fine display 61 miscellaneous horses will be witnessed at the Wairarapashowon Thursday next and there will be keen competition for the coveted challenge cups for best hack in the show, and the second day's jumping competition. • The judge will have a difficult task in decide ing the former competition. A special general meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club will be ■ held on Thursday, 27th inst, to elect three members of committee. The following nominations have been received:—Messrs P.

Daniell, H. G. Moore, H. Cooper, J. Strang, A. Nathan and C. Louissoo. Mr F. J. Nathan has been elected treasurer.

The municipal . election returns at Capetown include one man of colour, Dr. Abdurrahman, a Mohammedan^ who is a graduate of Edinburgh, and a very able man. It is believed that this is the first instance of the return of a man of colour to any European representative body in South Africa.

Sidney Gardiner, the prisoner who r while engaged on the Government treeplanting works at Waiotapui \ near-Rotorua-escaped from custody about aweek ago, was captured at Tarawera on. Monday by Constable Riordan (Taradale) and Constable Ryan (Rotorua).. Another escape.from prison has occurred; in the same district. This .time • t-he-prisoner is James Cripps, who was sentenced fpr. : stealing letters some .timelast year.. He had been, transferred tost small gaol at Waipu, .about fourmiles from Rotorua, and made.his escape at about 7 o'clock,on Tuesday evening.. The body of Roberts, the Government co-operative labourer, who was supposed, to have been^buried .beneath .a^Blip on Thursday last on the Ruakokopotuna, road, thirteen miles from Martinborou<*h,. was found by a search party led by Constables Armota* and ShearyV After- several hours'digging,-Roberts': body was found embedded in aelay.slip.> He was quite dead. A tree lay across his body. Roberts had a wooden leg and his remaining natural leg was broken. There was a smile: on the old fellow's face, and it is evident that death had come suddenly t« him in his sleep. /

A correspondent of the Free Lance is responsible for the following :^-" Your •Taihape mud-scramble, in last week's issue, is really a bit good, but it 'doesn't quite come up to. an; incident that happened at Foxton, near the Wirokino bridge, a few weeks ago. A man was driving a four-ton: load of flax out of the swamp, when he drove into a mud drift. On his non-arrival at the mill, a search party went out to look for him. They found the lash-en.d of a whip-thong lying in the mud. Further mvestigations prd'Ved that the man was sitting on the top of his loady holding up Imwhip as a signal of distress. . It's really true, too." . . ... "

The monthly meeting of the Terrace End School Committee was held on Thursday evening. Present—Messrs G. Scott (chairman), Dewar, Gollis, Smith, Jarrett, Robbie, and Eev. S. Baker (sec ). Messrs Smith and Bennett reported satisfactorily on their visit to the school. A letter was received from the, Education Board informing the Committee that the school and outbuildings would, be painted early nest year, and asking for a detailed statement of necessary repairs, with an.estimate of the cost. TheEev.S. Baker and Mr E. Dewar wereappointed the visiting committee for the month. The headmaster's report showed, attendances as follows :^—Average bn.the roll, 303 ; average attendance, 244; highest attendance, 266 ; nmnber of tunes school opened, .20. The wet weather ot the past month had seriously affected the attendance. The Chan-man intimated that aii entertainment for the piano fund and school prizes would b& given at an early date in December. It was agreed that the school be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in Show week.' -. '■• :

ifcCormiek Big 4 Mowers have strong gearings,l< big gears mean long hfe to a niower." p ; • • ' : •.... .w :■. .

French all wool,' summer dress material, Is 6d and Is lid, Collinson and/ Cunriinghaine's.* ." .■'.•'."■; .Vv . Centaur cycles -£20;; terms-or ■ 'exchange .£23:—Clarkson's'.* ; .■..•:.:\, . Ask for Pupon'ga coal, it makes the best, fire, no ■ soot and littlecleanin" in the grate, or range.. First-class for steaming purposes.* ;;' ■ ' ' ■.'■■ ' _ Spotted deknies:;.for and dresses 6d per yavd. CoUinson and vunmnghames.*•■'■■ ':.■-.■■ • :'•■ - to:suit-airsigtts, at Whiteford's Phamacy,;,the. Square.- ~ _ See them, sample lace curtains is lid, 2s lid, pslld^up to 12s 6d per pair at Collmson and Cunninghame's.* " v There's, notning humble about our boots except the prices.—Payne's.^ _ Usmar.merchant tailor, Main-street.. Palmerston North, late Begent-street London.—Advt.

. On page 2: Cables and telegrams; on page 3: Sporting news; on page 6: Report of the meeting of the Presbytery of Wanganui, Pohangina notes;, on. page 7: Report of meetings of Philosophical Society and Poultry Association last night. . ' ;;■'■■•; -.'.■•",•■".' .■*": . : , ..■'. ■

Captain Edwin telegraphed to-day :— Strong winds to gale from between northeast and north and west; glass fall; rain probable.

In the.transmission by the telephone of . the names published yesterday of those nominated. for positions on the Horseshoe Drainage Board, Mr Clark's -iiame was made to read Mr " Trask."

■The Hon. Hall-Jones says the unemployed trouble at present existing is only of a temporary nature,, and the ■winter being practically over, this present surplus labour will soon be absorbed in the ordinary labour market.

The many friends of Mr C. 'Cornish "will regret to hear of his mother's death, which took place at St. Alban's, Christchurch, yesterday after a short illness. Mr Corbett, telegraphist in the Palmerston office, received the sad news yesterday that his sister had died in Wellington.

A solitary flag, flying over the Post Office to-day, indicated the amount of interest that was taken locally in the 99th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, in which Lord Nelson with 31 ships, inflicted a decisive defeat upon the combined fleets of Spain and Prance, off Cape Trafalgar, Oct 21st, 1805.

• In the local centre examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Eoyal College of Music, conducted by Mr Graham P. Moore, this morning, all the candidates passed their respective examinations. They are as follows :— Intermediate, Miss Ethel Cook and Miss Ethel Stace;. local school examinations, higher division, Miss Linda Stace, Miss Doris Fitzherbert, Master L. Jeriks; e\ementary division, Master G. L. Mellish. The subject in each case was pianoforte playing and the teacher, Miss Scanlan.

At a meeting of the Veterinary Association beld yesterday afternoon, Mr O. Monrad presiding, intimation -was received from Feilding that Messrs N. Gorton and G. P. Banby had' been nominated members of committee. It was decided to register the Association under the Unclassified Societies' Act. The chairman expressed the hope that now satisfactory arrangements had been made, and they had secured the services of a competent surgeon, farmers would give their best support, since by doing so they would be studying their own interests,

The following gem from the Belfast News-letter, in connection with the return of Lord Ranfurly to his ancestral home at Dungannon (Ireland) will interest New Zealarjlers:—As indicating that the life of a New Zealand Governer is a somewhat strenuous one, our readers will be interested to learn that his Lordship's annual travels amounted to about 11,000 miles, a little over one-half being made by rail. From one end of the colony to the other the distance is about 1,100 miles, so that his Majesty's representative has no easy task set him to keep in touch with those whom he governs. The amount of routine work, too, is really very great, and the post is far from being a sinecure. „

In spite ot the very wet weather the lectures on " Prophecy and the Gospel,'' given at Tokomaru Hall and school,.by Mr Corrie Johnston, have been largely ' attended • and the interest was such as was- seldom or never■ seen in _the district before. '• The lecturer-' has returned :to Pahnerston to further arrangements for commencing ' the series of timely subjects announced for the Lyceum Theatre next Sunday. ■> It seems he throws out some suggestive thoughts from the* Bible that niay cast light upon Germany's sympathy with Russia, and indicates the trend of events towards a clash of arms between Russia and Britain, sooner or later, as to who is to dominate the East.. He also remarked at Tokomaru that if the people of Palmerston showed'anythiriglike half the interest .manifested in the country, there would be no building large enough to contain the audiences. Then it would only be as it ought to be, as coming events are indeed casting their shadows before.

At the Magistrate's Court, Peilding, on Wednesday a case_ was ■ heard in which F. C. Wilson claimed £8 6s from A. D. Hathaway on account of'money won on thatotalisator at Fbxton races in June, 1901. Plaintiff stated that; he, defendant, D. Goughlin and another took a ticket on a horse, paying 5s each, and Coughlin took one on his own account. The plaintiff and Coughlin having to | leave the course hefore the race was run, the tickets were entrusted to defendant. The horse the party bet on, won and paid £5 10s, and defendant retained the money. As plaintiff had told Coughlin to hand dyer the tickets to the defendant he, Wilson, paid Coughlin what was due to him, namely, £6 17s 6d, and he now sued, for this amount and his one-fourth .share of- the winnings. ;Mr Cooper appeared for defendant. The defence set up was that the transaction, having ■been a betting one, no money-was recoverable by law. His Worship said plaintiff could not. legally .claim more than his own share in the'ticket in any case. He reserved judgment.

A valuable block of buildings in Dannevirke, owned by Messrs Barraud and AbraHam, known as the Cosmopolitan building's, was valued by the Assessment Court at £4100, being .£I7OO for the improvements and £2400 for : the ■ land, or at the rats of £40 per foot for 60 feet frontage to High-street, unimproved value. Thejowners. wished the unimproved value reduced to £80 per foot, but the valuation was sustained. Within fourteen days after the. decision the objectors gave notice to the Valuer-! General to reduce the capital value ,to £3500, viz., £1700 for improvements and £2400 for the land, or to buy the property at that price.. The Valuer-General replied by reducing the capital value to £3500, but he did it by taking £500. off the improvements and £100 off the unimproved value. As the reduction in value of the non-taxable portion" of. the capital value was of no useto.the owners, they declined to accept his reduction, and the matter was referred back to -the .Assessment Court under section 32 of the Government Valuation of Land Act, ,JL9OO, for ; the Court to decide how the reduction in the capital' value of' £600, • agreed to by the Valuer-General," should be apportioned^between the improvements and the unimproved value. The hearing took place on Wednesday when the unimproved value was reduced to £33 6s 8d per foot as against £40 per foot, the former valuation. • . • :

Kia 6ra hats tor ever at 8s 9d and 10s 6d; each hat guaranteed to keep its olotir.—Millar and Giorgi, sole agents — advfc. •'■'' :';'. .' ■■;. ' ■■'" ■■ ■' - "■■'.' .-.