CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9013, 28 March 1888, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

CONSULAR AGENTS.A SUGGESTION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is admitted that tho heroic period of our colonisation has passed. New Zealand has made railways enough for generations to come, has spent many millions in public works of more or less utility, and has piled up a debt which is a very real burden. To improve matters various remedies are proposed—a retrenchment policy has been inaugurated : protection of the industries of the colony is expected as the result of next session's work ; and we are all hoping for the mining boom which seems likely to come. But , sir, I hold that something else is required — we arc too limited as regards the markets for our exports. In ' a word, we require to open trade with other countries. Parliament meets in a few weeks, and it is to be hoped the retrenchment policy will not become a craze. Recently the Government have been issuing wholesale notices of cancellation of grants for tracks on goldfields. This is retrenchment run mad ; for when things are depressed in agriculture, and trade is down, causing our population to leave the country, our rulers should be more careful to spend well a few thousands in opening up auriferous country to prospectors than to save a hundred or two for e fleetsake. The colony cannot put the shutters up, and stop trading. Our salvation lies in development of natural resources, and in that development being hastened in every possible way. Believing this to be sound policy, I would suggest that Parliament take steps during next session to appoint, say half-a-dozen consular agents. They would need to be men of special quality and fitness, and ought to be located at say Rio de Janeiro, Calcutta, San Francisco, Yeddo (Japan), and some one or more convenient centres in China. The duties of these agents would be less political than commercial. They should bo required to report constantly on the field the particular countries allotted tothem presented for the special products of this colony to stimulate interest in and spread knowledge of New Zealand by every possible means at their command, to advise the colonists of openings for trade, and to forward particulars of inventions or features of trade, which would have a beneficial effect if introduced here. In fact, to active and observant men immense fields of usefulness would be opened, and they might do a great work for the colony. Their reports would of course be sent direct to the Government, who would print and distribute them through the Chambers of Commerce and press of New Zealand. It is often asked, sir, why the merchants of this country are so lacking in enterprise. The reason is not far to seek. Every man knows what his neighbour is doing ; and if Mr. A. sent his traveller to Japan to open up a market for New Zealand woollen goods, Mr. B. would spot his customs entries and follow suit, thus taking advantage of the trade A. had made. Hence A. does not send his traveller, and the trade is not done. All this goes to show that if the colony is to progress the Government must take this question up, and help the manufacturers and producers to find outside markets. I can think of no better way than of appointing consular agents, whose special business it would be to interest outsiders in this colony, and acquaint the colonists with particulars of the country they were located in. I may add that the secret of Germany's commercial success in distant markets of late years has been that her consuls are all trading agents as well as political emissaries. New Zealandis specially adapted for the production of food and live stock. Our records in these departments can challenge the world ; and the present yield can be multiplied ten times without requiring further expenditure on railways or harbour works. Therefore we ought at once to put ourselves into direct communication with the teeming populations of South America, China, Japan, and India, and fix a man at 'Frisco to watch our interests in the great American Republic, whose duty would be as far as possible to train trade to and from our coasts to the great North American continent. Of course such a proposal as I have made involves expense. Well, suppose each consular agent cost £1000. would not that sum be well spent? I think it would. It is to be hoped retrenchment will not be allowed to close our eyes to the duty of development. We have developed internally, now let us develop an external trade. It will be absurd to sit down and cry because we are stuck in the mud. Jove told the drayman to get up and push, and that heaven helps those who help themselves. The wisest policy for this country is not to content ourselves with cutting down expenses merely, but to do whatever can be done to increase our trade with outside markets, so that the balance of trade may be more largely in our favour.l am, &c., " G. W. Russell. Cambridge, March 24, IhSS. LAKE TAKAPUNA. TO Til EDITOR. Sm, —There appears to be some misconception in the minds of the mayor and councillors of the Devon port borough, as well as in those of many others interested in the question of the Devonport water supply, including your usually well-informed contributor " Pollex," as to the ownership of Lake Takapuna, and the so-called "riparian rights" of the property - holders on its boundaries. It may be desirable, therefore, to venture to say a few words which may tend to remove a little of the haziness that appears to exist on the subject. Thefundum or soil of Lake Takapuna, and consequently the water resting thereupon, belongs not to the owners of the adjoining lands, but to the Crown (i.e., according to Mr. Justice Park, the public), for in the words of our law, jus est solum '■jus est usque ad velum. The grants from the Crown of the lands bounded in part by Lake Takapuna do not confer upon the grantees any special rights to the waters of the Lake, and in the absence of an express grunt all such persons have merely such rights as the common law confers upon the whole of Her Majesty's subjects. Such rights would seem confined to the right to fish ("Com. Dig. Tit Prerog," D. 50), the right to bathe, the right of highway, and the right to use the water for domestic purposes (vide Phear on Rights of Water, and cases there cited). The error with regard to the socalled "rights" of the Lake propertyowners appears to have arisen from confounding the rights of the owners of lands on the banks of fresh water rivers with those of the owners of land abutting on a lake. It is true that if the Lake were a flowing river, the boundaries of the properties on its banks would, by a presumption of law, apart altogether from a grant, coincide with the centre or medium Jiluvi of the river. But this is not so in the case of a lake. In the case of land abutting on a lake, " the riparian proprietor takes only to the edge ot the water in its ordinary condition when unaffected by winds or other disturbing causes, the proprietorship of the bed of the lake being in the State." (Per Mr. ,] ustice Clark in Delaplaine v. Chicago, R. Co. '24 Amer. Rep., 388.) Under these circumstances the golden dreams of compensation which have flitted across the fertile brains of some of the Lake people vanish into thin air, and the Devonport Borough Council may discard with a light heart the threats of claims for heavy damages which have recently been showered upon them.—l am, &c., W. J. Napier. March 27, 1838. THE WIND GAUGE AT WELLINGTON. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—lf Admiral Fairfax gets the records of the winds your reporter says he wishes to have, care should be taken to explain the position and situation of gauge from whence these records are taken. Some time ago I heard the following anecdote related. A certain Auckland gentleman was at Wellington. He said he was always puzzled how it was that Wellington compared so favourably with Auckland in regard to wind. On going to the place where the wind gauge was erected he found it was the most sheltered situation that could be got in Wellington, and surrounded by houses on all sides. Our gauge at Auckland is open to all the winds of heaven, and in the most exposed situation that could bo found. Whilst writing on this subject I will take the opportunity of calling the attention of those highly-paid I official's who are supposed to look after-! these matters to the neglect they have ! always shown towards the sun. In the ! Times newspaper the number of hours , which the sun shines out to gladden the : , hearts of the Londoners is recorded by the I

■Un itself. The apparatus for doing this is of a very simple and inexpensive . character. If Professors Hector and Kirk had done their duties properly you would in the Herald's summary have been able to contrast tho number of hours the sun shines in Auckland with the number of hours the Londoners have had. I think it , would have a good effect on immigration for people who like to come to a country where there is plenty of sunshine. If our late Ministry had 'spent a few pounds on these sunshine recorders instead of wasting thousands on new furniture for their houses about every six months, the country would not be in the state it is now.— I am, &c., Ellerslie, March 26. Alius Martin'. MR. JOSHUA JONES AND THE MOAI7 NATIVES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l much regret that your want of space would not permit the insertion of my letter in your last issue, for the reason that by the report previously published by you respecting the alleged assault by myself ana son upon a native with an axe, a great injustice has been clone us, and in all fairness I ask you to insert the following brief points ponding tho meeting of Parliament, when the cases will be investigated :—I. There was no assault attempted by either of us upon the native. 1 had an axe upon my shoulder (having been fencing) and the native seized it, whereupon 1 twisted it out of his hand and gave it to my sou. There was no blow of any kind attempted. 2. Information was laid against me under section 181 Justices Act, 1882, for assault detaining the ringleader until the facts of the fence-breaking were ascertained. It was clearly proven and admitted (in crossexamination) that the natives—complainant included—were parties to destroying tho fence to dispute my possession, and section 185 uirects that Justices shall not adjudicate in cases of assault where title to land is involved, ami my counsel raised the point, but Mr. Rawson decided that no such question was involved, and that the complainant and other male natives knew nothing about the fencebreaking, notwithstanding that his own children and other relations were destroying the fence under his directions, and that he went with the hapu from the kainga to the destruction of the fence, and returned with them after it was done—fine, £1 lis and costs, in all £7. 3. Information by myself against the natives, under The Malicious Injuries to Property Act, 18(37, for destroying the fence—-women charged as principals, and men as aiders and abettors : It was proven that the men went and returned with the women and children, and were seen and heard inciting them in the act of breaking the fence. The magistrate ruled that the men were not aiders and abettors, and he ruled that I had no rights to occupy the land, notwithstanding I have been several years living upon it under lease from these very natives, and with the approval of Government and a special enactment of Parliament ; and he ruled that the women were justified in destroying my fence because a tew natives (not the defendants) had not signed my lease, and that the same had not pissed the Trust. Commissioner, although sanctioned, so far as it has gone, by Parliament. Thus the natives are told they can destroy any of my property and forcibly eject me without process of law, by a magistrate who has no power to decide questions of title at all—and £15 costs is given against me. 4. The decision is contrary to every other decision in such cases upon this coast. In other cases where the natives have committed fence-breaking to assert a supposed right, they have been punished. 5. It was clearly patent to everyone in Court that the natives had been prompted to commit gross perjury—material to the issue—and when the magistrate (Rawson) was requested by counsel to caution them, he replied, " What does it matter what they swear," and when requested to take the evidence down, he pointedly refused to do so. 6. The police had previous to the decision in Court come on to the ground anil given the natives possession, despite my remonstrances, and when I was about to direct the natives to leave the police interfered and threatened me, and told the natives to remain and "do as they liked " upon the land, and the Inspector previously informed me that the natives were "perfectly justified" in destroying my fences to test my title. This is the condition of affairs in Taranaki, and behind these natives, who have hitherto been friendly with me, are a few blackmailers.—l am, &c., J. Jones. Mokau, 22nd March, ISSS. SANITATION FROM A PLUMBER'S POINT OF VIEW. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Now that cases of typhoid fever are so prevalent in all parts of the town and suburbs, every householder should satisfy himself that there are no causes of impurity and infection about his residence. A great many diseases are due to preventable causes, and typhoid, especially, has been traced to taints of sewer gas in the air breathed in our houses. Plumbing work is only a branch, but yet an important one, of the great science of sanitation. The object of this science—as Richardson very properly and clearly lays down—is "to give us pure air, pure water, purity from damp, pure light, and equable temperature." These are the five fingers of the light hand of health. To give us pure air sewer gas must be excluded from our dwellings ; no drain or pipe should be allowed to communicate directly with the main sewer. Every soil pipe should be continued upwards above the roof, clear of chimneys and windows, terminate with a proper ventilator, and not allowed to be used as a rainwater pipe. Waste pipes from all sinks should discharge into trie open air over a trapped drain sink, and waterclosets of good construction only should be permitted to be fixed. An elaborate system of sewers for the streets is of no avail if the branch pities in connection with them and the details of house sanitation are not effectually carried out. Much can be done in the way of proper ventilation, pure air of an equal temperature being as necessary as pure food. Cases are constantly coming under our notice of bad workmanship through ignorance, carelessness, or scamped work, whereby, in some instances, the socalled plumbers have most successfully ventilated the sewers into the dwellings, and maae many similar blunders. Some of our architects are to blame in many cases, owing to the bare and inadequate way in which they specify plumbing work, and in not thoroughly testing and examining the work before giving their final certificate. If plumbing was tendered for separately, better work would be done for the same or lower prices, giving architects more power to insist on this most important part of any building being satisfactorily done, and we feel confident that if plumbing work were more carefully looked after, we should have less cause to regret so many cases of typhoid and sewer gas-poisoning in Auckland.—We are, &c., | F. Forster and Co, Plumbers. March 27, 1888. SANITATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your correspondent "Hygiene" is no doubt right in many of his conclusions as to the cause of fevers being so prevalent in the Ponsonby district, but lie is not probably aware that the slaughterhouse he alludes to is outside of the city, and tho City Council have no power to supervise it or order its removal. It is for the local authority of* the district within which it is situated to take action. Some of Dr. Erson's suggestions for a Provincial Board of Health are good, but it must be borne in mind that nothing can be done unless by Act of Parliament in that direction. Most of our troubles arise here from defective legislation in the direction sought, and of power to compel not only the city authorities but the local suburban districts to take action. There are several cases of fever in the Hospital that; come from the suburbs, and doubtless a large number are not reported to the various local Boards, and they avoid enforcing such notices, by which they save tho half-crown fee payable to the medical men ! If the city was all that could be desired it would be unavailing if the surroundings were fover-stricken. What .is required is, that provision should be made by Act of Parliament, dealing exhaustively with the public health subjects, as is the case in Victoria, and other Australian centres, and not merely, as with us, power to make by-laws. This is rarely done, and when it is done is expensive, and leaves plenty of room for litigation and legal difficulties. These are systematically evaded by the smaller local authorities, who can ill afford to pay the cost entailed. All should be provided for by statute, and some i legal officer empowered to pub the law in \

operation, if not done by the local governing authorities. Your correspondent, Mr. • D. R. S. Galbraith, seems to infer that if the City Council do not advertise all they are doing, they are therefore doing nothing. Is this not rather a foolish inference ; and because in the very dry and hot season complaints wore made of bad smells arising from the cesspits (caused by the rapid evaporation of the water between the times the pits were flushed or repaired), bags soaked with carbolic acid were temporarily laid over them, the said bags wore therefore traps to catch the germs of typhoid. Can nonsense further go ? The milk question has also, I am informed, not been overlooked. Mr. Galbraith's facetious (?) comparisons are unfortunately not applicable, which, no doubt, must be a source of regret. The question of the public health is a large one, and it is as well we should have discussion on the subject, but let the discussion be of a practical kind.— am, etc., Exfekientia Dooet. PROFITS ON MILLING. to the editor. Sir, — notice in your paper several letters by millers and others, re the relative price of wheat and flour in Auckland. Now, as an old Australian, 1 trust you will allow me to air my opinion on this matter, as I have had a good many years experience in the grain trade in South Australia and Victoria. In the first instance I was much amused at Mr. Firth's letter, in which he states that the miller would be satisfied with a profit of S per cent. Now, this is how I would calculate the profits made by the millers of Auckland at present quoted prices. I will deal with it in parcels, as that is how the millers usually do, that is, in one ton lots. In Australia it is calculated that it takes 50 bushels of wheat to make a ton of Hour, or 4()lbs of flour to the bushel of wheat, with about l'2lbs bran and olbs pollard, the other 3lbs being allowed for waste, which does not amount to that. Now the first cost of 50 bushels of wheat at 3s Id per bushel is £7 14s '2d, and the quoted prices charged by the millers is, one ton of tlour, £11 5s ; say, GOOlbs bran, 30 bushels at 9d, £1 '2a 6(1 ; I*2 bushels pollard at Is, 12s; or a total of £12 10s Od— or, say, we quote flour at £10 per ton, £11 14s 6d, taking the first cost £7 14s 2d from this amount leaves the miller the handsome profit of £4 Os 4(1 on each 50 bushels of wheat purchased, or a fraction over Is 7d per bushel, that is quoting flour at £10 per ton, or with flour at £11 ss, a fraction over '2s Id per bushel. I do not know what is the charge for grinding a bushel of wheat in Auckland, but in Australia it is 9d per bushel for parcels of 50 bushels and upwards, under that amount Is. Now, suppose each farmer paid for grinding what wheat lie required for his own use, lie would save on that quantity of wheat the diligence between !)d and '2s Id per bushel. But why do the farmers sell any wheat to the millers who rob them thus ? Their remedy is simple. Let them form co-operative associations in each wheat-growing district, and erect their own mills, and divide the whole of the profits among themselves. If through any cause this plan cannot be carried out, let each individual farmer have the whole of his grain ground instead of selling it to the miller, and any surplus he may have for sale in either flour, bran, or sharps he could sell at a considerable reduction on present prices, and still pocket at least 20 to 30 per cent, more for his crop, as well as benefitting the consumers, who would be only too glad to deal with him direct. Although the price of farm produce is very low at present, farming will pay still if the farmer will only protect himself against the sharks who prey upon him in the shape of millers and retail traders, each of which make at present more profit out of of his labour than lie does himself.—l am, Settler. Swanson, March 26. THE TEMPERANCE PARTY AND PROHIBITION. TO THE editor. Sir, —The only one of your correspondents who seriously sets himself to defend the issue of prohibition which is now being raised, is Mr. John Buchanan, and those who feel with him must, upon reading his reply to Mr. Nathan, nave exclaimed in earnest chorus, "Save us from our friends." Assuredly this same reply, which is to be taken as expressing Messrs. Buchanan and Co.'s well-digested. opinions is a wondrous production. The laws of mental and political science, and the concordance to Shakspere, have been brought into requisition, and the result is truly marvellous. Cassio gets drunk, and therefore prohibition is right! An injury is born into this world, and therefore prohibition should bo carried ! Truly, Mr. Buchanan must have reached these astounding results, by what is known as "unconscious cerebration." Mr. Buchanan says that there are many excellent, spacious, and gorgeous furnished hotels where alcoholic liquors are not sold. We (the temperance party) mean to have such, etc. Now, to one so well versed in the laws of social science as Mr. Buchanan, it should not be necessary to {>oint out that the survival of the fittest is now universally received as one of the ground principles regulating the phenomena of all systems. All things by means of competition will find their level, and no one seeks to prohibit the temperance party (save the mark) from meeting the moderates on their own ground. \\ ould it not bo a glorious triumph for the advocates of the system if they could demonstrate its superiority by tho success of hotels in which no trace of the good red wine" shall be found. To the temperance advocate who shall so thoroughly believe in what he says as to inaugurate such a policy, the thanks of his party and the respect of all shall be due, and no doubt right heartily accorded. Seek then, my friends, to accomplish your end by the legitimate means of competition which lies to your hand. Let the whole world know that you are in earnest in this matter, and intend to educate your opponents up (or down) to your level, without having recourse to the strong hand of tho law. Show that you respect the rights of property —rights which havo grown up under a system often spoken of by you with well-deserved praise and pridetoo much to act the part of spoliators towards your fellow-citizens, more especially as the very size and splendour of the edifices which you now seek to render (according to your own showing) useless and unremunerative, are the outcome, tho sought-for, and desired outcome, of your own legislation, acting through committees, composed, in many instances, of prominent members of your own party. Let me warn you, friends, that your very triumph in Ponsonby, were it a possible occurrence, would bo a heavier blow to you than you could well repair. You would indeed have cause to say, "God preserve ua from such another victory," for every right-minded man in the colony would rise up in arms against you, and at the first opportunity reverse your decision by overwhelming numbers. But this will not be necessary. I have too much faith in the electors of Ponsonby to believe for one moment that they will allow some of their own members to be ruined by tho action of those who seek to blow hot and cold with one breath, endeavouring to destroy, under cover of law, tho very edifices which under the same law they themselves have been the cause of being built.—lam, &c., Fairplay. RETRENCHMENT. TO THE EDITOR. ( 'Sir, —A deal of commiseration has been - shown lately in the public journals at the forced retirement of Mr. Shearman, and perhaps naturally so, if he retires without either premium or pension after many years' j service, for if ho has not been careful in i saving money during the many years he has j enjoyed a competent fixed salary, he will ! have to begin anew, which at his time of life will come hard on him. But what should be said of those who, independently of having worked hard in the performance of their duties, have also risked their lives daily and hourly for years in defence of the colony What have Colonels Roberts and McDonnell to fall back upon, and yet what journal has taken up their cause ? Believe me these are the men, not to speak of the many more I could mention, whose claims on the settlers of New Zealand can never be repaid, whereas all our sympathy seems expended at the present moment on an Inspector of Police. —I am, &c., An Old Soldier.

A great many neuralgic diseases, when aggravated, become spasmodic, and it is in this par- ' ticular stage, or type of the disease, that the great liiollitier, known as Udolpho Wolfo's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps, asserts its supremacy. It soothes tho nerves by its gently diffusive properties, allays irritation by its quieting effects, and toning the system, strengthens the organs, so as to perfect fimc- i tioual action. 5