MATAMATA HARVEST HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7004, 29 April 1884, Page 3

MATAMATA HARVEST HOME.

The operations for the year on this great estate were fittingly brought to a oloae by a general holiday, given by the proprietor to all hands. The Saturday ohosen for the holiday was a day of unexampled beauty, one in fact, of the grand days we are now enjoying, and such as we have not had fcr many a year. The idea songht to be carried out was that of rest, amusement, thankfulness, instruction, and general enjoyment. How far that was accomplished will be Been from the following reports. THE SPORTS. At ten e'clook foot races commenced. Several spirited contests resulted as follows :— 200 yds. Handicap Hurdle Race, 1 flights.—J. G. Smith, 1; J. WiHoughby, 2. lOOydh. tianbic*p Flat Race.—T. Q. Smith, 1; J. Casildy, 2. 800 yds. Handicap Flat Raoe. —T. G. Smith, X; J. Cu<ldy. 2. Hioh Jcmp.—R. Johnston, 1; Wm. Knipa, 2. Old Uah'c Race (Maorii).—Kerehi te *ho, 1. At one o'clock the. workmeo and guests assembled in the Public Hall, where an excellent lunobeon was provided under the auspices of Mr. James Cole, the chief cook at Matamata. The floral decorations, amidst whioh ornaments of ripe wheat ears were conspicuous, were very prettily done by Mi»a Emily C. Firth: ' After luncheon, horse races and cricket were the chief amusements. We were very pleased to notice the fine stalwart appearance of the men employed on this estate. A finer body of men oould not well be shown in any country. Many of them wore the blue ribbon. At six o!olook tea was provided in the hall, about 100 guests, inelnding workmen, Bitting down to both tea and luncheon.

THK IHANKSGIVING SEKVICE. At seven o'clock a Thanksgiving service was held, at which the prayers'and hymns were heartily responded to and song by the congregation. THE PUBLIC MEETING. At eight o'clock the public meeting wis held, at which Mr. Hopkins presided. He invited the proprietor of the Matamata estates, Mr. J. 0. Firth, to address the meeting. Mr. J. C. Fihth, on rising to address the meetiag, was .received with applause. After referring to the ancient and wholesome custom of Harvest Homes and thanksgiving services, Mr. Firth said : The unforinnate .circumstances attending last year's harvest operations involved a' very heavy loss, when owing to a steady continuance of eleven days of wet muggy weather nearly 1500 acre? of wheat were destroyed; the whole of it sprouting before it could be cnt, and being practically worthless. There was one thing ab .ut it, that however heavy the leas no blame whatever was doe to the management or the hands. Perfect appliances of every kind was available then as now. This year we have had splendid weather. Last year the weathar was wretched, and there is no more to add about it. Before reviewing the labours *f the agricultural year just coming to a close, and noticing some of one conditions which I think will snortly affect this country, it may not be uninteresting to review some of the past circumstances attending the founding ans the cultivation of the Matamata estates. NATURAL CONDITION. I well remember tne time when the whole 56.000 acres ot which the estates consist would not feed-one hundred head of cattle. The whole domain at first was one wild wilderness of fern and ti-tree, not a blade of urass to be found anywhere except at one or two native settlements. Now, this wretched natural vegetation has been euccendeu by many thousands of acres of wheat and clover. In place of the few native horses and native rats of former days, thousands of cattle and sheep are now quietly feeding. (Cheers.) EARLY DANGERS.

In the not distant past, native troubles were a real danger, 'ihank God, we now live in more peaceful times. Formerly it was a common thing for Matamata workmen to go to work aimed, livery .ploughman carried a rifle, every stockman a revolver. Living far bayond the frontier we ha" to depend on ourselves as best we could Again and again threatened by armed natives, I found it necessary to fortify my. house. Outrages of various kinds, tnougu not very serious, wore committed, by wandering parties of hostile' natives. On two occasions, I had to abandon the estates, and leave ail my cattle, sheep, and property in oharge of two I'rinucUy native chiefs. Not far from this Hall, the greatest patriot ui this lsUna—one of Nature's noblemen— William Thompson, the Maori King-maker, died, and it is perhaps greatly due to hie dying injunctions to hia people that I' was able to hold the estates all through the. troublous times. Close to where we are now aanembled, 1 also met the warrior chief Te. Kooti. 1 felt then, that if he were a great sinner, he had been greatly sinned against. At any rate, 1 must say this much for him, thai nothing weuld have been easier than for him to nave killed me and the one or two servants who were at my side. (Cheers.) Al> through these native difficulties, I am grateful to be able to say that no hostile sh.t ha> been fired, or auy blood of either race shed,on the plains of Matamata. In oruer to give confidence to my workmen and . their families, I subsequently ereoted a tower ot concrete, which would enable me to held the country against any of the hostile bands which useu to prowl about. Thanks to-the policy oi the Hon. John Bryce, my fort is now only used as a substantial dwelling, and to hoist on the flagstaff, as ou this occasion, the grand old flag of England, serving also perhaps, to remind all future settlers of the dangerous times through which, we early colonists passed. (Cheers.) GENERAL TOPICS. Let me now for a little while ask your attention to, matters which cbnaern a far wider oirole than the dwellers on this estate. In former titnes, and in moat countries, power oentered in despotic hands. King? and emperors surrounded with despot nobles, cared little for the people over whom ruled, exoept as instruments of their pleasure and ambition. These times have happil) passed .away. In all free countries the people now is King. This happy change has come about by the spread of truer views of Christian principles, and by the diffusion of the knowledge not yet by any means too perfect, of the duties man owes to his fellows. Almost everyone now, more or less, recognises the great truth that we belong to one another; that the true interest of one is the real interest of all. Power has passed into the handof the people. The real king is the working man, who wields a vote. (Loud cheers.) A new and mora practical form of the oldfashioned sceptre. This grand and vital change is, however, attended with a grave responsibility.

THE TRUTH NOT TOLD. In despotic timet kings and emperors rarely heard the truth. Unfortuuatelyfor themselves and for the continuance of their authority, they loved truth little, but flattery more. They chiefly looked after themselves, and too often cared little for others, and as a consequence, the sceptre passed from their selfish grasp into tbe hands of those over whom they nad so luug tyrannised. (Cheers.) We are "now living, as it w<re, in an interregnum. Democracy is on its trial. Class privileges have been practice 11 ■ '■> 1-sh ii p werh»s pass-d into tbe hand- of the people. Let us take care to use it wi«ely au~ .veil. THE NEW UJ-SPOTISII. Let us beware how we set up a new despotism, whether of People or Press. There are not wanting signs that this new despotism, like the - old one, is already beginning .to be impatient of the truth. cor instance, let a man come before an assembly of working men, and let him state his b*-l' hours of dail} labour are not>u£Scient to meet the,requirements of the cuui-u iiiui hint that the present rate ot wages may be too high, will he be quietly listened to ? Will he not be howled down ? Now there are two sides to most questions. In our public meetings do w<as a rule see a readiness to hear both Bides ? JXo! Like the old despotism, the new despotism doeß not readily listen to what may be the truth. It will not hear what is unpltaaant, even though it may be wholesome. Now, let me warn you, and all holders of the sodrage, against the fatal error of refusing to hear both sides—(cheers) —and against the still more fatal error ot disregarding the rights of those, who for the time may happen to be weaker than yourselves.

MANLINESS. Let us advise you to cultivate that grand old English viitne—a love of manliness and fair play. (I.oud cheers.) Let us hate and despise flattery, whether used by a candidate seeking our suffrages, or by a newspaper hoping to increase its circulation, CAPITAL AND LABOUR. Nowadays we hear a good deal, said about, the antagonism of Capital and Labour. Capital is not untrequently desoribeil as some dreadful ogre, seeking only to devour labour.- : such talk an this in a new country is pure nonsense and humbug, hardly worth notice, were it not both mischievous and dangerous. ( heirs.) These people tell us that capital must be manacled, that it must be specially taxed, and that disabilities of varions kinds must be imposed upon it. Few trrqjrs could be more daDgereus or more fatal to the true welfare of labour. Kigbtly considered, capital and labour are mutual helpers, and 1 say, that whoever tries to drive capital out of a new country like this, or whoever seeks by this means to prevent its introduction, •is a public enemy. (Cheers.) Capital is a'coy bird. It is very shy of being trapped and plucked. If we go on denouncing it, and threatening it with special taxation, so that it can no o find profitable occupation—we need not take the trouble to drive it out of the colony by clamour or legislation—it will take itself off soon enough. . THE COW AND CALF. Yoa all know something of cattle; You see enough of them. every ■ day. Well, capital and labour are like the cow and calf. The cow gives milk to the calf until the calf becomes in its turn a cow. So. fed by capital, a labourer may become a capitalist. (Laughter.) Now, aB to the question of wages./ It appears to me that with such low prices as agriculturists have for some time past 'been obtaining for their wheat, wool, and cattle, - ; it is pretty evident that the present rate of wages oannot be maintained. LOW PRICES, When Canterbury farmers are getting about 3s a bushel for their wheat at the nearest rail'"ay station, it is clear that the capital

of the farmers is rapidly passing iatfl the pockets of their labourers. At labour gets the oyster, whilst in too'. many eases, capital gets only the shells. This, you may say, is quite proper and pleasant, and what is wanted" (Laughter.) But it mnst not be pushsd too far, or capitalists will one of these days say, Eka the boys in the fable, what is fun to you is death to us. In short, if the rates of labour, and the price of the products of 'labour continue at their present respective levels, it does not need a very wise man to see, that farmers and their labourers before los£ will have to change places. Auckland, at the present time, is apparently louking well. This prosperity is, however, not so real as ill looks. HIGH WAGES. The great Timber Companies are. ecr* tainly pajing moderate dividends, but-they are not paying them from the results of the skilled labour they employ, but out of the noble forests they are destroying, and which so little is being done to replace. Almost all the great producing industries of this and other parts of thw colony are being strangled by the low values they receive for what they when they have to pay such high wages for producing them. Wheat is lower now in toe English market than for 20 years, whilst woel has not been so low for 60 years* It is quite clear that prodacers must either get higher prices, pay lower wages, or be ruined. It is to be hope J that prices are now at the bottom. Wool, I feel certain will shortly advance. About wheat I am not so clear. Ceriamly if they move at all, it must be upwards, for they cannot well be lower. _ I hope you understand that I'do not complain of paying too high wages myself. (Cheers.). I. want to make a profit, though, which at present, like others, I am unable to do, except to a small extent, by ' the use of the most costly and perfect machinery. -I never ■ did believe in slavery, I don't believe in it. now; I want to make profit by using to : the utmost iron and •teel, directed by intelligent and capable men. I like that better, than like slaves. Though during this year we have produced and stacked on this estate thousands of tons of clover hay, and wheat, no man has lifted a sheaf ot wheat or a forkfnl. of hay on to waggon or stack. MACHINERY. Machinery has dona it aIL Not a man_ of you, so to speak, has turned a hair. (Cheers.) Nevertheless, at present prices, growisg wheat is simply exbanatimg the soil, and getting little er nothing for it. I have endeavoured to treat you more aa friends workmen. I have striven to make you happy and eon* tented. Yon know very well I allow no bullying, no cursing, at Matamata. (Cheers.) If a man won't do a fair day's work without that, for a fair day's wages and plenty of good food, he is no man for me, and he very aoon gets the walking ticket. (Cheers.) TUB BLOK RIBBON.

"Xou kaowl alio who drinking at Matamata. There is bo public house on the estate, and never will be (loud cheers) as long as I hold it. System, order, obedie::oe, and regularity are the aim of the management on this: estate. I see a number of you are wearing the blue ribbon, and I am heartily glad to see trial. The wearer of the bine ribbon is far more likely to fiud a good master, and to get good pay than a man who gives way to .I m . Many have congratulated mo to* lay on the fine set of workmen I hare at Matamata. You can't be beaten, I work is to be done. If any of you have not be-n well treated, get jap and say so. (Applause.) '

HOHOJTR TO WHOM HONOUR IS BUB. I have not much more to say. Sosao of you have been with ma from tha beginning.-of this great enterprise. Yon know~ some of the many difficulties I have had to contend against. .The .native difficulty, the fern difficulty, and the transit difficulty. Thanks to your help and God's biesiing, these have disappeared, and the wild wilderaes of fern has been replaced by the wide spreading fields of wheat and clover around us, and the rocky rives Thames has heen, rendered navigable for steamers. I claim very little credit for myself, [or has so endowed me- that a difficulty co me, is little more than a plate of porridge Co a hungry man, or than a shovelful of coal under a steam boiler. (Cheers.) As I have already said, some of you have been with me from the beginning of this very arduous straggle, and without your- courageous and intelligent assistance, with that of Mr. Wit liams, Mr. Cavrkwell, and others notpresentj all my efforts would have been in vain. REDUCING OPERATIONS. . I greatly regret, that the wretched prices nnw curreat for all kinds of agricultural produce compel me to announce that I intend 'O discharge the greater part of my workmen, and reduce my outlay and operations on this estate to a minimum. Tuough we have had a fair crop of wheat, of exoellent quality for tho season, and most excellent ci ops of clover hay, it does not pay io produce either at present. prices, considering that all the time we are impoverishing the land, aud getting little or nothing for it. Xt is better to cea&e cropping, and let the land retain its fertility, than to exhaust the fertilising elepaents, and get nothing to replace tbem. We have heard almost the last whirr of the machinery. It is a very painful thing for me to dispense, for some time at least, - with as fine a body of men <8 ever worked for any maalfer. But it must be done nevertheless. When times mend, so as to warrant resuming operations, nothing will give me greater pleasure than for everyone of you to enter in> service again if you so please. I am not . one of those, as you know, who think there is any degradation in labour. On the contrary, 1 think a manly and capable workman is one of the noble works of God. I mean to keep in remembrance your names, so that when you have left my em« ptoyment I may not forget you. THE KOLL Or HONOOK. I mean to keep amongst my records, in yonder tower, a list of those who have helped me in the great work of 'conquering the difficulties which have beset me ©a 1.111- estate. I don't want all the credit of if; myself. I waat you and ethers who have nelped me to have at least some of it. And 1 now read ont the names of this season'i hands. As I have already said, a complete list will be° kept, which I shall oall thl Matamata "roll of labour," in which will appear the names of all who have worthily helped me from the beginning. The names are as follows :—

Manager, Mr. W_ T. Firth; assistant manager, v«*. F. Dibble; overseer, Mr. D. Skelly; apiarist, Mr. JL Hopkins ; apiarist's assistant, Thomas Kennedy ; head stockman, J. Teague ; headshepherd, W.Buck; superintendent of machinery Samuel Higgius; blacksmith, Thomas Harris; traction engine driver, James Crooks ; traction engine itearer, D*vid J. McCormick; portable engine driver, John VVilloujjhby: gardener, Ilobert Johnston; dairyman, .Thumas ' Leadbetter; head siaoKers, John McDonnell, .James McDonnell; assistant stackers, Frederick .Bedford, John Brown, T» G. Smith, John Creighty,* James Salisbury, A. Kawau, Herb-rt Jesaop, Albert Lowrey; mowing attendant, William A. Overton; trollymen, Michael Gearer, Ambroie Dibble, Charles £. Tothill, William Smith, Wireqau Tubi (native), William Knipe, Daniel UcGrath; rakers, Thomas Ridgley, . William Burgess, Peter (dumb native); chief thatoher, Richard Bishop; thatcher and head pressman' John Simpson; thatcher s assistant, John. Clarkson; derrickman. W. R. Rayman; hayloaders, Frederick Kellana, Philip Campbell; derrickman and haybaler, Samuel John* son; hay pressman, John Henry Porter; waggoners. Walter A. McDonnell, William Moloney, Tho*. Bod: dick; tankman,. Peter Heslop; storeman and tarpaolin*maker, G. W. Dlcsin; cadets, C. H. Madoc Jones, A: Mo«inie ; head carpenter and joiner, J. Copeland; carpenter, William McGregor; woodman, George Clone; fencer and.ditcher, Kdward Martin; botcher, John Cassidy; baker. Alexander Stronach; head-cook. James Cole (cook, Frank Pearce; stablebey, Albert Lyes; book-keeper and st ward, R. Gutteridge; header drivers, A. Dibble, W Knipe, G. D. Nattrass, J. Wiilooghby ; moving machines, worked entirely b* natives under the superintendence of tho chief Hori Keri. There ia one thing I want to mention bofore I close. As you all understand wall enough, I believe in giving my men good food. It has eometimca been said that "God sends food and the devil sends cooks." Bat so far as Matamata is concerned, we owe nothing in the matter of cooks to his black majesty, for the managers had not only been careful to provide fe ood food, bat to see that it has been properly cooked and served. To the cooks, notably to the head cook (Mr. James Cole) who. has served us 8a well to-day, I am convinced that muoh of the happiness, contentment, and good honest! work which characterises the workmen on this estate is due. I must now say good-bye to you: and if I hear that any of yon get employment more readily, or get a shilling a day more pay because of your training at Matamata, nothing will give me greater pleasure. Mr. .Firth's address was received with deafening applause, again and again repeated. Mr. Fikth then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. ' After the conclusion of Mr. Firth s speech a variety of songs and recitations filled up the evening, and. so closed a, day at Matamata long, to be/remembered. . <