THE New zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1875.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4127, 4 February 1875, Page 2

THE New zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1875.

I>" .i recent articlo we drew attention to the rapid progress being made ill the settlement of .New Caledonia aiul of the ell'ect which that settlement, under a foreign llag, cannot fail to have as a disturbing element in Australasian politics hereafter. Looking at the small bjginr<ngs of a greater difference perhaps in the future, involved in the existence, in the cc.itru of the Pacific, of a French colony with a powerful military and naval empire at its back, we can the more readily understand the resolution with which the Yankees adhere to the "Monro" doctrine that no European nation shall effect a new settlement on the Nor:hem Continent so long as they are able to prevent it. The French settlements i;i tiio distant Eastern Pacific (iroups are on sniai! islands and can never become important. In New Caledonia they have however a colony enormous in size as an island and as compared with any of the groups or islands of the Southern Tropical Seas. Larger than the islands forming the Fijian Groups taken altogether, New Caledonia ranks in extent with New Britain and New Ireland, two great islands over which as well as over the adjacent island continent—if we may use the term—of New Guinea we hope to see the British flag yet waving. We hope for this as tho ultimate result of the missionaiy expedition now being organised at the suggestion of the Itev. George Brown, a Wesleyan minister whom Auckland may feel proud to have contributed lo the cause.

"Witli reference to New Caledonia, we have now before us u very wellpiinted and portly volume, being the almanac for the colony for the year 1572, the latest we believe yet issued. Considerable changes must have taken place din ing the two years since that date. Thousands of Communists have been ponreil into the Colony with a proportionate number of guards and soldiers. In its general features the colony must still however he pretty fairly represented by this almanac and a few references to it will give a fair idea of what our neighbours are doing anil tlie mode in which they do it. Even at that date a coasting steam service had been established round the island under Government subsidy. The entire trip was completed in ten days ; the distance gone over being nearly TOO miles. An itinerary of distances of certain places by land, leads to the inference that -racks and roads are available for nearly 180 miles in various directions from tht chief city of Noumea. The local revenue, i.e., exclusive of subventions for convict management from France, was over 30,000. Of this £7,000 was derived from Bales and rent of land, and tlio remainder from licences and various other direct sources, i'4oo was the amount of gold export duty and we observe that no Cus-

to ma duties of any kind exist. The expenditure is maJo to balance the revenue which wo suspect is intended rather as ail aid to the grants from France than a source o£ self-depen-deiice ami sii]>i>o]*fc. In connection with Customs dutic3 we see that light French wines are to be bought in hogsheads at piices ranginy from 2s '.Id per cjalloii, ami ill cases at 7a per dozen. Fowls are minted at -Is each, and turkeys at lUs i«l each, while fresh eggs are worth :5s per dozen, and butter 3s 4d per lb. With light wines at so low a price we should like to know whether drunkenness is common in New Caledonia, an inijuirv we recommend to our friends the Oiood Templars if any of their Order are making a voyage in that direction. There is a theatre in Noumea, under subvention like everything else apparently, from the Government. The latest agricultural statistics were to the Ist of May, 1870. There were then horned cattle, 000 horses, and S-tO/i sheep in tlie colony, numbers no doubt much increased since that date. The imports, in 1871, were £"170,000, and the exports— ehieliy of French manufactures re-ex-ported—were only £21,000. The balance no doubt is represented by expenditure on convict and military account— an expenditure which must have increased manyfold since 1871. The cattle interest must be important, as the proprietors of cattle are alphabetically given in the almanac, and we observe there is a special Order in Council authorising them to elect a board for the regulation of all matters connected with I grar.ing. Regulations for gold milling arc ! given at full length, and "concessions" to certain miners, of the right to mine for nickel, are, we observe, getting numerous in thu newspapers of the latest dates to hand. The regulations have no doubt been considerably altered since they were published in tlie almanac before us, as we observe, even in the one year's operations which the almanac records, the same strong tendency to amend Goldtields' Acts that there has always been among ourselves. The almanac gives prominence to a notice, among other tilings, of the Life-Boat placed on the Elizabeth Reef —a reef midway between New Caledonia and Sydney on the voyage to the latter place. The boat is described as being provided "with all the necessary articles for making a voyage to the Australian continent," and every piece of wood used in the boat's construction, as well as her stores, is branded " Life-Boat, Elizabeth lleef," while the water-tight chest is supplied with " provisions, pannikins, knives, lishing-ti'.ckle, medical stores, matches, tools and blankets." Charts, compasses, oars, ink and paper are also provided and all parties are requested when visiting the reef, to leave a report of their visit. They are also informed that in tlie N.E. segment of the reef there is a clear channel with deep watttr. We are not aware if this life-boat is still kept on the Elizabeth Reef, but if so there are probably some of our own navigators who can give further information about it.

The Island of >7u\v Caledonia in itself is evidently less fertile than the islands of the Pac'tic usually are. The native population numbered only 2~>,000 to 30,000 while that of Fiji for example, with a less area approached 200,000. The exports of Now Caledonia with all the Government expenditure were also less than those from Fiji at the same date. The interior is occupied with mountains of great height and to all appearance great barrenness so far as agriculture is concerned. There must however be among them many beautiful and extensive valleys, while the existence of gold, nickel, and other minerals is undoubted. The fertile land is found along tlie coasts or at the foot of the spurs leading from these mountains. The country is well watered as might be inferred from the lofty ranges of the central portion, and it is evidently capable of becoming a prosperous and important colony. In English hands it would assuredly be a centre from which English inlluciice Would quickly spread to the great islands lying to the northward. Happily our French neighbours are less active in these matters and the missionary expedition which the Wesleyans are fitting out will probably do the work for England instead.

Tiikkk is nothing more welcome to tho columns of a newspaper than a well and tem-perately-written letter coming from an intelligent outsider of the Press upon some subject of general interest. Unfortunately there are few things connected with newspapers which so seldom conic to hand. We have in our drawers and pigeon-lioles, ami on our ollice table, some score or more of letters, addressed to the Hkhai.l), which, if inserted, would bring ridicule on the paper, or would cause deep pain to imli\ iduals, or would subject the proprietor to line or imprisonment, or both, which if he did not deserve— the editor certainly would. And what grates so harshly upon the feelings is, that when the question of religious or sectarian difference is the subject introduced for discussion, it is always accompanied with so much sharp acrimony anil bitterness of feeling. Men appear to be able to keep their temper when the subject relates to social or political matters. They argue with moderation, and conduct themselves with gentlemanly courtesy, a fact which never lads to add interest to the controversy. We shall instance a case in point. .Some weeks back the important subject was debated in our columns as to whether a Provincial or Central form of Government would be more suitabb- for tho colony. The writers were Mr George Grey, Messr.-. Hugh Carleton, Ormiston, and " I'lovincialist." These writers, taking very opposite views, expressed themselves in very decided and unmistakable language; but tluie wis not a line which was out of good taste, or could give oll'enee. The quartette of disputants could have wiitten many mole letters before they hail expended their subject, and then could have met together upon the most friendly footing, liut we have letters before us upon the Education Act, and upon Freemasonry, and upon German religious oppression, written by J lonian Catholics and Protestants, in which the strongest epithets arc mod, and the most improper motives are imputed. The writers appear to throw eve;y kindly feeling to the wind. There is no charity ; no allowance made; no believing there can be any two sides to a question. Were we to publish these letters as they come to us, there would l>e no end of heart-hurnings, reproaches, and biltcr replies. Therefre wc do not publish them. Why A. M." should call " Nemo" a perjurer or "Nemo" call " W. X." an apostate and a lickspittle, while another writer informs " Fair-play" that he is a defrauder, we cannot conceive; for upon a perusal of these letters we liml that there is nothing more to justify the calling of such harsh names than a mere dilKrcnce of opinion upon the interpretation of some doctrinal matter, in which the n.ost learned and erudite of men have ililiereil I rom time almost immemorial ; and because we do not publish these letters, the amount of abuse and calumny heaped upon the editor only those can know who have been accustomed to sit in a chair which is oftentimes so very hard and uncomfortable.

The advauces made iu the construction of agricultural implements and machinery duriug the past few years have been most marked, occasioned probably bv the increase in agricultural labourers' wages, and principally by the freijuei.t occurrence of '"strikes." Machinery

is the capitalist's safeguard against the vagaries or unjust demands of labour. Tho following extract from an Australian journal will interest our readers connected with farming aud agricultural industries : —" The inventiveness o£ the agricultural implementmakers of the worlu has been engaged for years past in an endeavour to produce an engine that would biud corn into sheaves besides cutting it down. In Australia, particularly, the search after an engine of this kiud lias been anxious aud persistent, but without any result worth mentioning. If, however, the accounts we hear of an American harvesting machine, which has been at work near Rochester, in the Bendigo district, for some time past are correct, the diliieulty has been overcome by foreign talent, and in a quite unexpected manner. There is no longer any need for a mechanical binder, because the corn doe 3 not require to he bound at all. It is carried to the stack loose like bay. Four horses propel the cutting machine and also elevators, which lift tlie cut corn and empty it into a two lior.se waggon travelling by its side. In the Rochester experiment three pairs of waggon horses were employed —it is not stateil how far the stack-yard was from the cornlield —which made ten horses in all. With tlie aid of the machine and these tell horses, nine men cut down, carried and •stacked 35 acres of wheat per day, which is undeniably good work. If further experience confirms the good accounts of this ne>\' American harvesting machine—the ' Ilains Header' it is called, and its name should not be concealed —our farmers will be rendered less dependent upon the caprice of the working man, or the ignorance and greed of the anti-immigrationist."

A iiumokoi'S writer addressing a Melbourne journal, gives an amusing description as to the way lie deals with that insolent bird, the sparrow. The writer has a great respect for the little fellow—as much for his impudence as the devil-may-care manner in which he commits his depredations. But he likes the sparrow only up to a certain stage, and that stage stops when tho .sparrow begins to attack his fruit as the fruit begins to ripen. Still lie says, he has never had recourse to gunpowder, and never shall. He has made scare-sparrows of wire, with outstretched wings, covered them with black crape, and hung them round with red streamers, which, lloating about in tho air, seemed ready to pounce upon anything within their reach. But his enemies, not recognising in them any-i known species, at once discovered the trick, ard amused themselves by teaching their youngsters to swing upon "them. He tried the black "liell-toppers" mounted upon old black coats, with outstretched sleeves ; bat they only noticed them by repeating the treatment which their ancestors bestowed upon a certain " apocryphal" celebrity of old time. This year, however, he adopted a plan which has been entirely successful, which he ilhistrates as follows :—Get a reel of Clark's black "cable thread, No. 30," tie the end to an outlying twig, and throw the reel loosely over the tree to someone on the other side ; then let the person throw it back again, continuing the process from every point of the compass, now and then twining the reel in and about among the branches and under them. Don't make the threads too tight, to allow for the play of the wind. The sparrows will not touch the fruit so protected." lie has now ripe plums and apricots surrounded with sparrows, but not a plum or an apricot touched. Let those who profit 1-y this hint send a basket of their protected fruit to one of the hospitals, and lie says lie feel assured that those institutions will he well supplied.

Tin: Nelson 1 Itv Councillors are in disgrace and pecuniary ilillicnltics. Tlie ratepayers convened a meeting and declared that they had neither contideiicc in nor respect for them. The bank has refused to honor the Corporation cheques, and there is much of municipal trouble. The Council met on Tuesday night, when all the members but two adjourned in consequence ot the motion which had been passed by the ratepayers. \\ e believe the sins ot the Councillors arc that they have been trying to do too much with means which were too small. Nelson has the name of being the best municipal city in the colony. Thej*o is a good water supply, moderately cheap yas, admilrably laid out and well-formed streets, ol" all of which the ratepayers have had tlie benelit. But Nelson has long been in a state of somnolency. The people, after a long sleep, have been amused from their slumbers. They had no representatives in Parliament to watch, criticise, or censuro. The Provincial Council is out of session : no immigrants are to hand : trade dull ; money tight ; and there was nothing left to the ratepayers but to attack tho City Councillors. A few months ago the members were in high favour : but times were good then, and there were other things to distract the people's attention. Now the councillors are told they are not worthy of the confidence of the ratepayers, while the bank manager lias caused "no funds" to be written on their cheques. The local journals may be delighted, because there will be subject matter to write about which they had run out of weeks ago, but it is not pleasant for the fact of tlie lost credit of the Corporation to be flashed along the wires to every centre of the colony by some heartless and unfeeling " Knocker."

Tiik action taken liy the public meeting held lust night will, to some extent, make amends for the treatment the representatives met with upon their arrival in Auckland, • fii routi' for the Thames. It was decided last night, with some show of enthusiasm, that upon the return of the representatives from the Thames, they .should be accorded a suitable reception • and a committee was ;ipp.)inted to make arrangements for ;t public hall arid supper at which to invite them. It was further arranged that subscriptions should be collected for the purpose of presenting a suitable and substantial testimonial t<> the Champion, not necessarily, however, to be presented on the occasion of the ball and supper. It was suggested that, after all. the reception in Auckland would only be a secondary atlair ; but with this view we altogether dissent. Under any circumstances, it would not be at all creditable for the citizens of Auckland t > allow their .Southern friends to pass through, on their way home, without in some manner displaying their hospitality. We trust, therefore, that the reception will be made as complete and cord at as possible, and that the committee will lind no ditliculty in meeting the expenses of the contompl:i':ed ball and .sapper. The .subscriptions for the testimonial to the Champion, we are sure, will be liberal ami wide-spread.

An'yj'.ody having business in the Insurance UniMing will soon* become sensible to the intense heat distributed hy its glass moling. We have heen informed of a feasible plan to obviate this inconvenience, and make the place a really pleasant resort for business people. We certainly know nothing to prevent the idea proposed being carried out. It is a luostisihipleexpedient. Itis. inetVeet, thefollowing : —liarden pots of considerable size illicit be dintributed through the building — in places, of course, where they would oilier no obstruction—in winch should be sown or planted seed or slips of tropical plants, or any fruit requiring heat and exclusion from atmospheric disturbance. The idea, is the same as that carried out in the Crystal i'alaec, which was so great a success. We are not sullieiently learned as naturalists to direct how the thing may be done, but we can see nothing against its practicability. The result would be very desirable, —a pro toutoil ami shady walk, instead of one where, as now, the concentrated rays of the sun fall on the heads of the public. We think the oxpuriment is one worth a trial at the hands of the proprietors of this fine building.