WHEAT v. FLOUR.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1741, 12 November 1862, Page 3

WHEAT v. FLOUR.

To the Editor of the New-Zjcalander,

Sir, —The shoo pinches, I see, by a letter signed W. J., in the Cross of 2!)ili ultimo. I did hope that the subject was of sufficient imponancc to induce some of our respectable millet s to take notice of it, but iliat not being the case, it ful's to the lot oi' one of the smaller frv to do so. B. W. J. must hear in mind that distortion of facts can never set a man or a body of men right with the public; and the question has yet to he answered.

Why, with wheat at ss. Gd. and (lorn- £l3 in Australia, should Hour in Auckland be £l9 or even £l7 with wheat at 55.? Some fair allowance should naturally be made for W. J.’s irritable fee mgs at the profit of his trade being exposed, but still he should stick to facts. 1 can give him an antidote to the nuisance of being bored with Old Practical’s nonsense— i.e., don’t read them; instead of which, he not only reads but answers, and thus exposes his own ignorance. It is exactly from the authority winch W. J. quotes (coasters and dealeis in wheat), that I do derive my information. I know a this tint: that wheat is bought at Waiuku by miller’s agents. &c.. at 4s. 3d., to 4s. Gd. per bushel. But it seems to be admitted that millers do sometimes buy at 4s. an 1 4s. 3 I per bushel to sell it again for fowls at 4s. Gd. to ss, Do the millers ready descend to be dealers in chickabiddies food, for a profit of 3d, per bushel? No, no, W. J., this is too much; it may suit the patty dc.ilcis to huxter this chicken's foo l for a few pence profit, but I don’t think our millers of a higher class will thank you for thus lowering their trade. At the time of my first loiter, I did sec the wholesale price of flour was quoted by the respectable firms at £l9; I, therefore, admit myself to to be wrong in quoting £ ’O, ami it was not uniil some days afterwards that £l7 was quoted. And why was it reduced, for wheat continues the same now as then? Surely, the price of wheat should regulate the price of flour, as in England. \V. J. starts with false premises iu quoting wheat at Gs. Gd., and then making all his calculations thereon, when the price is 55., for I shall take the liberty of not believing his statement, whoa I know by positive experience that it is not so. As I do not comp'ain of the bakers’ profit, I shall pass by his remarks thereupon. As my friend, VV. J , is so very jocular and pleasant, 1 will (quiic in confidence) tell him what my position for giving information on this subject is. I have by me an examination of the bakers in London and the large towns in England, before a Committee of the House of Commons, and various detailed information upon the same subject; and as W. J. seems desirous of knowing what my trade or occupation is, I may inform him that at this time it is principally feeding calves, and should he he passing my way at the right time, I shall bo most happy to give him a drink. It is rather singular that in all the millers’reports and the newspaper list of prices, although we have the quotations of flour, bran, oats, and maize, wo have not the price of wheat given. It will he most satisfactory for the public to know what should he the relative prices of wheat and flour, and then they can judge for themselves what should bo the price of flour. But, enough fiir tl)9 present Qfh FIpVCIICAa:

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —I trust you will have the goodness to insert this in your widely circulated journal, in order that the same may meet the eye of our General Commanding in New Zealand. During the war in the Crimea in 1854 and 1855, a certain number of distinguished conduct medals were issued for distribution to the several corps engaged; some I know who got it for their coolness and presence of mind whilst under fire; others for their general good conduct and for having been present in the trenches at all the bombardments. Now Mr. Editor 1 have served in the trenches before Sebastopol, 1 was also present with, one exception in every affair of any importance that occurred in the Province of New Plymouth during the late war (as it is termed), and I admit that no comparison exists between the war in the Crimea iu 1854 and 1855, and that in New Zealand in 1860 and 1861, hut what I think and many hundreds besides me, is, that us there is little likelihood of a medal being granted for New Zealand, it is only natural to suppose that when Her Most Gracious Majesty has been pleased to confer the honor of Knighthood on the General who commanded and that of C.8., on the Field Officers who commanded Corps, and gave a step to Brevet rank to all the Majors and Captains recommended for promotion by the General Commanding—that the Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the several corps engaged think that their service might ho also recognized by some mark of distinction, i am sure Mr. Editor our General Commanding has only to say that he considers it just that a number of medals should he distributed on the same principle as they were in the Crimea and they would he granted immediately. Altogether 1 could enumerate many actions performed of which 1 was an eye witness, and 1 can confidently say from personal experience, if the actors had performed them in the Crimea instead of in New Zealand they would now be in possession of the distinguished conduct medal, and I question if not the highly coveted “ Victoria Cross.” Allow mo Mr. Editor just to give you one instance out of the many.

At tlic attack on No. 3 Redoubt by the Maories on the 23rd January 18G1, when it was found impossible by the Troops inside the Redoubt to dislodge them from the ditch, the expedient of throwing Live Shells over the parapet was proposed, and was immediately carried into effect. 1 did not allude to the execution caused from the bursting of the shells in the ditch as all who saw the dead after the natives were finally repulsed, can testily that many met their death by these shells. Now Mr. Editor surely the man who standing behind a parapet over the top of which he could see a row of rillc-muzzlcs ready to fire a volley at any one, was bold enough to attempt to look over and cut his fuse to 3-10 inch ami alter fixing it, light the fuse with the shell in his hand and pitch it over the parapet among the enemy, deserves something more substantial than compliments. 1 may just mention that the distinguished conduct medal carries £5 of a gratuity along with it. Übique. Auckland, 10th Nov., 1802.