THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3622, 20 June 1873, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

The opening of the Auckland market, which takes placo to-day, is an important event iu the progress of tlie province. For many years past it was matter of general complaint by producers, that there" was 110 market where they could dispose of their goods without the intervention of middle-men, who pocketed all tho profit. The City Council, feeling the reasonableness of this complaint, have erected, at very considerable expense, a large and commodious market, and it is to be opened this day, as wo have said, with becoming ceremony. Tho list of exhibits which we published yesterday, gives promise that tlie exhibition will bo n success. It comprises in some respects, a fair representation of the various productions of tho pro- > vince, together with specimens of raw products and local manufactures. With regard to tho agricultural and horticultural division there is little left to be desired; but we cannot help thinking that our local manufactures, and raw products are not so well represented as they might have been. At the same time, looking upon this as a beginning merely, we are content. The importance of such exhibitions is so great, however, that we would suggest to the City Council, whether arrangements should not bo made for having one yearly at which specimens of the entire productions of Auckland, north and south, would be properly classed and catalogued. Immense good results to all classes iu America, by tho State fairs and County fairs, which are held under the direction of commissioners appointed for the purpose by tho Legislatures of tho several States. A stranger has only to take up the printed catalogue of any of these fairs, and lie will be able to L ell pretty accurately the industrial development of the district in which it is held. Tlie warmest interest is taken in these exhibitions by all classes, because they create emulation, and by comparison of results, often leads to new ideas producing useful inventions. Is T ow, what has been found to be of so much practical advantage in tho United States cannot be of less relative value to the settlers in Auckland, where so little is practically known of the extent, variety, and distribution of the raw materials of manufacture, or the influence of climate and soil on the growth of farm produce, plants, and fruit.

To carry out this idea properly about £1000 would be required. AVe do not think that any of the ratepayers would object to an annual appropriation of £250 by the City Council for this purpose. Tho Provincial Government should also be requested to co-operate and subscribe a similar amount, leaving the balance of £500 to be guaranteed by the Agricultural Associations, or raised by private subscription. A fund would thus be created for the purpose of defraying the expenses connected with tho annual exhibition, and of rewarding exhibitors for special merit. It is likewise worth considering whether a portion of the market building, (if there is any vacant space,) should not be permanently set apart for the purpose of establishing an Agricultural Museum, open to inspection at all times to strangers visiting the province. We think a section of the market might very properly bo allotted for such a purpose, because it would indirectly add to the revenue of the city by disseminating useful information of a practical character, thereby leading to increased production and trade.

Having thrown out these hints, we trust that some of our agricultural readers will take the matter up, and move in it. We have every reason to suppose that an appeal to the citizens of Auckland on behalf of such a project would be liberally responded to. The Auckland Museum is out of the way, nor does it meet the necessities of the case. It is a very excellent institution, and, no doubt, does a great deal of good; but an Agricultural Museum such as we have indicated, would be of incalculably greater benefit to the community at large, preventing many persons from buying their experience, as farmers, at too dear a rate.

Tne Thames Advertiser has an article on the water supply question, in which it censures the G-oldfields representatives generally, for not looking after the interests of their constituents. Doubtless there is some truth in the complaint, but we hardly think it is so to the extent our contemporary supposes. However, the conspicuous default of the Government, in the

matter of expending £300,000 in the constmction of water-works for mining purposes on the goldfields, is sufficient to excuse a good deal of strong writing by newspapers specially devoted to mining interests. There cannot be any doubt whatever that the want of a supply of water, for crushing purposes on the Thames goldfield, makes a difference of from ten to twenty per cent on the actual receipts; but there is an enormous indirect loss to be taken into account as well. If there was abundance, of water to use as a motive power in lieu of steam, a vast quantity of mining dirt which is now cast aside as worthless, would pay to put through the crushing mills. What is now absolutely a dead loss to companies would then pay working expenses at least, and in this way tend' to raise, mining investments in public favour and value. The long-promised water supply for the Thames is apparently no nearer accomplishment now than It was twelve months ago. The delay, as we understand it, has arisen from the fact that the original plan was changed by the Government Engineer for the North Island, who determined upon using iron pipes instead of timber fluming. The material has been ordered, but when it may arrive from England is quite another matter. It does seem most absurd that in an undertaking of such immense local and general interest as that of carrying out a comprehensive water supply for the Thames goldfield, the material 1 which nature provided on the spot for its construction should be overlooked, and additional heavy cost and unnecessary delay be incurred, simply to give effect to the idea of a professional gentleman who is not in any sense responsible. If the American people had not taken advantage of the natural products at their hands, they never could have made such marvellous progress as they havo done in developing the resources of their country. At all events, no American would ever dream of sending sixteen thousand miles for iron pipes to lay them down through the heart of a kauri bush. The timber would have been used ; and the difference in durability would have been more than compensated for by the saving to the mining interest, in the cost of crushing and increased production duriug the period which otherwise would bo wasted waiting for the iron to arrive from England. We trust the Thames people will press this matter on the attention of the Government. It may be too late now to countermand the order which lias been sent to England, as we understand; but a strong remonstrance may have the effect of preventing a similar blunder being committed again. What is said in the Advertiser about the Thames constituency is quite true. It ought, in fairness, to have two members ; but there is little chance of its obtaining additional representation while the Southern provinces possess the majority of votes in the Legislature. A hard light was made by the Auckland members in IS7O, to secure increased representation to the Thames, but it was ineffectual. Every additional vote given to Auckland is regarded by the South asi a point against its interests. It will only be by the increase of population, and development of our latent resources, that Auckland can ever hope for increased representation.

"With respect to a permanent supply of water for tliis city, we entirely endorse the statement made by our contemporary, tins Gross, that the City Council must waive all futile and unscientific schemes of supply. But the tirsfc thing to be done ia to decide which of the proposed schemes are futile and unscientific ; and this has not yet been done. "We caunot, however, see the force of the reasoning by which it is assumed that " the pump- " ing project must be sent to the " limbo of exploded fallacies." . The author of this happy thought should first have informed his " unscientific" readers what pumping project he alluded to, or whether he alluded to pumping projects generally when lie consigned them to " liinbo," — wherever that place may be. If he characterises as an " exploded " fallacy " the supply of London, with its three and a-half millions of inhabitants, the whole or nearly the whole of whom depend for their daily supply of water on tho pumping engines of the eight London water companies, then he has certainly made a discovery of an astounding nature ; also as regards tho supply of most of the cities and large towns botli iu England and on the Continent, the great majority of which are supplied by " pumping " projects." Or, to come a little nearer, the supply of the 120,000 inhabitants of Sydney by pumping engines, must also bo regarded, in the light of the Cross, as a great, but not as yet " exploded" fallacy. And, as regards the cost of the two methods of supply : by gravitation from the Nihotopu, or by pumping from the Western Springs: we have it stated in Mr. Bell's report — presented to the City Council in 1872—that he estimated the cost of the works of the former at that time at £131,689; but he afterwards stated that onethird more was required for the iron piping, which brought his estimate up to about £150,000. The annual charges he estimated at £2,100; so that if we take the cost of the works, as per estimate, at £150,000, the interest on this sum, at 6 per cent., will amount to £9,000, —and, adding the annual outlay, we have a total charge, per annum, of £11,100. And with respect to the supply from the Western Springs, the whole estimated cost of the works—including the reservoirs at Kyber Pass, two steam engines, (of 85 horse-power each, with pumps,) the cost of the piping for the city, and the cost of a 10-horse-power steam engine to substitute for water at Messrs. Low and Motion's, and ; including all building and preliminary expenses, amounted to £70,013, or i less than onejhalf that of the gravita- i

tion scheme. The annual charges, including engineer, and coal to work Messrs. Low and Motion's engine, were estimated at £3,955. The interest on £70,000, at 6 per cent., amounts to £4,200, and adding the annual charges, we have a total of £8,155, — showing a difference of £2,915 per annum, in favour of the pumping project. This is the result of the investigation, by a competent engineer, in the matter, which is simply one of first cost and of annual charges, and no amount of false reasoning on an imaginary " exploded fallacy" can make it n.iijthiug else. We recommend tilie writer in the Cross to a reading of Mr. Bell's report.

- telegrams, published by us elsewhere, leave no reason to doubt the return of Mr. Macandrew as Superintendent of Otago by an overwhelming majority. This election is of great political significance, as we have already pointed out; and if Mr. Macandrew uses his victory with moderation and judgment, he may be able to modify Provincial Government with a view to increasing its direct responsibility to the people. "Whatever may be said of the Government granting the dissolution of the Otago Council by Opposition newspapers, the Otago and Southland constituency has unmistakably declared its approval of that step. It is to bo hoped that the Provincial Councial returns will show a working majority in favour of the Superintendent. The Canterbury Provincial Council has been prorogued. The session was short aud satisfactory, owing to the very flourishing slate of the finances. Ample provision has been made for education, and the establishment of a free public library. A movement has been set on foot by the working masons of Christchurch, which may be attended by important results. They simply propose to supersede the master-builders, by acting on the co-operative principle. We have no doubt the experiment will bo successful, and that the workmen and the public will derive mutual advantage. Other trades threaten to follow the lead of the masons. We should not be surprised to find the example of Christchurch followed by other large towns in the colony. The more largely the co-operative principle is applied to the ordinary pursuits of life, the more will production be increased and capital saved. There is nothing to prevent skilled workmen in the colony from ! becoming their own employers.