THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9111, 20 July 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1888.

Adversity has some sweet uses, and in this period of depression it is consoling to find by the report of the Crown Lands Department, as we have shown in a former issue, that during the last two years, ending in March last, more people have settled on the land than in any two previous years since the foundation of the colony. It is fortunate that in regard to a matter so essential and so neglected, common sense has begun to assert itself. Some time ago we heard that the city of Melbourne, like another Babylon, started the enterprise of irrigating the desert which much or most of the Australian continent practically is for half of every year; and when news came that the irrigated allotments, offered at high prices by the Messrs. Chaffey, were rushed by crowds of eager applicants, great was our astonishment at the contrast in New Zealand —where nature is bounteous and there is no desert to reclaim, but where even in the North Peninsula, with a climate admitting of two crops a year,, the desire for settlement 011 the land has been so sparsely exhibited. But it is too true that the gifts of nature where amply bestowed sometimes enervate, and that on the contrary great natural difficulties arc often a spur to the public energy. If it were not so Venice on her sand banks could not have risen to be the ruler of kingdoms, and Holland, wrestling with the ocean from behind her dykes, could not have acquired a similarly wonderful commercial eminence. No doubt the gold discoveries did much to check the disposition for quiet rural pursuits. Their influence was contagious, and made itself felt even outside the immediate bounds of the auriferous district or colony. Habituating a man to the chances of a short cut to wealth, they rendered him impatient of the slow gains of agriculture. They spread through the Australasian colo-

nies something of the feverish, speculative, gambling spirit which we read of as produced three and four hundred years before by the discovery of the goldmines of Hispaniola and of Mexico, and the silver mines of Peru. California did not suffer in these modem discoveries like our colonies, because such of the diggers as really wished to settle on the soil got the facilities, and had not to go elsewhere. But the flush goldfield days have long gone by to be succeeded by a natural reaction from the strong temporary excitement. The Governments and the public of the chief Australian colonies have for some years been showing a wise interest in land settlement, and devoting proper attention to agriculture, and it is high time that we should be found following suit in New Zealand. Indeed, if we were longer backward in this respect we might well be stigmatised as mere lotus-eaters, unworthy of our origin. England has led the way in peopling the wildernesses of the globe. If her ships are on every sea, her farms and pastures and plantations and busy ports are on every continent and on the islands of every ocean. With the colonies she has established the trade of England now reaches annually £186,000,000, while of the other nations which have such possessions, the trade of France with hers reaches only £21,000,000, the trade of Holland £8,000,000, of Spain £5,000,000, and of Portugal merely £317,000.

But all the nations send forth emigrants nowadays. There has been nothing like this movement of population since the wild tribes of Europe and Asia poured down upon the degenerate Roman Empire. It is a great industrial migration, and the waste places of the earth are everywhere invaded by civilised man. Of course the most favoured resort is the immense prairie region of America, in these times . so readily accessible from the old world, and with a fertile soil not needing the axe to prepare the way for the plough. And it is not in the attractive parts alone of new countries that the husbandman now settles. The forbidding wastes which a few years ago were nameless, and only known as the territory of the Hudson's Bay Company, have received an immigration from many countries of Northern Europe, as well as from Great Britain. There, where in factories hundreds of miles asunder the servants of the company used to buy furs from the scattered bands of Indian hunters, there are now —and not merely in Manitoba, but in the still more desolate districts closer to the Polar Sea — frequent ranches, round which in the short summer cattle are grazed, and even fields of wheat are to be seen. Or to turn to the opposite climatic extreme —■over the sun-scorched-because-water-less plains of Central and North-west Australia, where so many gallant explorers left their bones, and where Sir George Grey had his own spell of terrible experience, there is every likelihood that the next generation will behold green fields and fruitful groves and gardens— the repulsive features of the landscape transformed by the magic of irrigation. There can be little doubt of this if success attend the undertaking which is now patronised by the South Australian Government as well as by the Victorian. If successful, .what is being done at both sides of the Murray will be imitated throughout the interior, and in forecast of this we learn by last Melbourne advices that " scarcely a day passes without some fresh announcement of irrigation schemes, founded on the Chafley model, capitalists taking up large areas of land, making arrangements for the supply of water, generally by some pumping contrivance.

New Zealand has not to contend with the long Polar winter of the American colonies or with the waterless summer of Australia, and our backwardness about settlement on the land and natural agricultural opportunities is extraordinary and inexcusable. Of late no doubt we have begun to amend the neglect, but it would be well to accelerate the progress. That such a country should have emigration instead of immigration is certainly a sufficing argument for a vigorous support of the Village Settlement system. The experience of that system has quite refuted the assertion that townsmen cannot be transformed into farmers, and everybody now admits that it is unnatural to have the towns crowded and the country empty. Indeed, it is said in the United States that townsmen are often the best farmers, because they have not to unlearn prejudices which might be unsuitable for the novel requirements of a new country. We wish that our citizens of all classes would turn more readily to farming, as we are told is the case in America, where a leading merchant or lawyer will often devote his leisure to the cultivation of an estate of ten or twenty acres. In face of Dr. Campbell's olive plantation at One-tree Hill, and Mr. Nathan's ostrich farm at the Turanga, we believe it is only by some of our leading citizens, possessing intellectual ability and means, that the high-paying novelties for which there is natural opportunity in this island will ever be established.

In the present temper of the colony there is probably nothing more aggravating than the insolent bearing which Ministers more particularly, and the Legislature in general, assume towards the wants and wishes of the great public without the sacred walls of Parliament. It is born of the traditions of Parliamentary life, and is fostered by that mutual-admiration-society kind of tone which characterises membership in that principal club-house of the colony ; and until it is subdued in some way, the reforms on which the people seem to have set their heart will never be effected. One of the latest illustrations of Ministerial impertinence is that of Mr. G. F. Richardson, the Minister of Lands, who, as recorded in our Wellington correspondence, pronounced off-hand on the resolution of our public meeting of Wednesday night, requesting that a sum be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for resuming village settlement, that "there was not the slightest chance or it."_ This gentleman who thus declares himself as nothing in particular, and was unknown to fame, until, by the chapter of accidents, he was tumbled into the position which he now occupies, and from which he presumes off-hand to snub the opinions enter

tained emphatically by the whole people of this city and district. Members of Parliament and Ministers have come to regard themselves as the masters, instead of the servants of the community. This has come of a long course of years during which they were enabled to play the part of Lords Bountiful from treasures called by the magician's wand out of the vasty deep. But we do not hesitate to say that, in the present juncture of affairs, when the people's necks are put under the screw-press of taxation, and Ministers and members can do nothing but frown, and taxation is squeezed like the life-blood from their bodies, this insolent bearing must go down before the indignation of a people who are at the present moment inclined to look with anger, and even contempt, on an administrative machine, which has been the cause of all the misfortune to which this country has been reduced. I We do not question the right of Parlia- ! ment, after consideration, to refuse £10,000 for placing unemployed people on homesteads, and to expend four times the amount on} relief works after the stupid and fatuous fashion that has commended it-self to the intelligence of the assembled wisdom ; but we rightly resent the flippancy of a nonentity of a Minister who, without weighing the matter or consulting with anybody apparently, declares off-hand that ''there is not the slightest prospect _of it." With that assumption of superior wisdom which is so amusingly characteristic of Ministers, and not infrequently of mere members who are privileged to breathe the sacred atmosphere of the Chamber in which all the wrongs to this great colony have been concocted and perpetrated, the Minister alleges that we have been minimising the costs of special settlement, and that the whole of the charges have not been disclosed. What Auckland declares is that for our own district a sum of less than £6000 has been expended by way of advance in settling over 1400 people, and by that we stand. All the roads and other public conveniences afforded to the districts in which the settlements are, and such as are commonly afforded to rural districts, may not be included here ; but while ten times the amount have been expended in the same time in various parts of the colony, and notably in the South, on relief works—in making embankments and cuttings and highways, merely to give employment and food to the unemployed, it illbeseems a Minister to speak of a very limited expenditure in road-work giving access to the lands of these permanent settlers. The Minister says that " considerable assistance has been given, but as soon as the work had b£en finished, further appeals were made to the Government for continued assistance." Very reasonably so ; inasmuch as to the lasting shame of the Government be it said, they deliberately broke the pledges given by their predecessors to the village settlers, who merely -requested the fulfilment or the promises on which they had been induced to plant themselves and their families in the wilderness. Let the Government first honestly fulfil the promises made to the settlers, and then when the assistance so promised has been exhausted, if the settlers still cry for more, let them be justly censured. Everyone knows that" there must come a time when assistance must cease and self-support begin but it was an unmanly thing of the Government to prove false to its predecessor's promises, and to leave these unfortunate victims of political juggle to suffer by nob giving such an amount of assistance, and for so long a time, as was promised. It may be that the House, as well as the Ministry may refuse to do what is requested by Auckland for resuming village settlements. They have wasted so much time in doing nothing but what after all is a very miserable method of restoring solvency to the finances of the State. They have done j nothing yet to promote settlement, and have shown their utter incapacity for doing anything practical to lift the colony out of the slough. The best of the people are drifting away in thousands from our shores, and Ministers and members, with all their assumption of wisdom, seem incapable of doing anything to stem the stream. I In miserable intrigue and squabble | over place and party that seem absolutely contemptible in the face of the grave requirements of the country, they go on in the same routine, and to a practical suggestion for settlement which has proved its effectiveness, a Minister, the creature of an accidental shuffle of the political cards, says offhand that there is not the slightest chance of it.

In another column appears the first of a series of articles on Technical Education, contributed at our request by Professor Thomas. The subject is one of great and growing interest at the present time ; and believing that but a vague and indefinite idea is generally entertained by a considerable number of people as to the scope and objects of technical education, and the bearing which it has on industrial progress, we have requested Mr. Thomas to place the matter in a clear light for the benefit of our readers, showing not only the relation which it has to the development of such industries as are adapted to _ the circumstances of the colony, but in what manner it may be engrafted on our existing system of education. The Professor has kindly acceded to our request, and the first of the contributions appears in the Herald to-day. To many of our readers it is _ known that attention to the technical education of the people has been the motive force by which continental nations have recently come so rapidly to the front in industrial enterprise, to the no little embarrassment of the manufacture and commerce of England,which theretofore had virtually enjoyed a monopoly in many continental markets, and in the open market of the world ; and that it has become a settled conviction with thinking men in the mother country that the thorough grounding of the people in technical education is the only means by which the nation will be able to hold its own. The age of brute force and ignorance is rapidly giving way to the reign of intelligence, science, and skill in the arts and industries, as in every thing else all the world over: and the people who do not apply trained brain-power to the several businesses of their lives will be simply left behind. There is education and education, and the education which the people want is the education that will fit them for the part they have to play in the great commercial warfare among the nations, which is succeeding to the struggle of the sword and spear. The preliminary article which Mr. Thomas has given us is exceedingly suggestive; and we anticipate that a clearer comprehension of the bearings of the subject of technical education will have the effect of stimulating the public to a more ardent desire after what we believe to be one of the most urgent requirements of this colony.

Cable communication with Europe has now been restored, and we publish to-day a large number of important and interesting messages.

A very pleasant conversazione and gift auction was held last night in Waite's Hall, Mount Eden, by the parishioners of St. Barnabas Church. There was a good attendance, and selections of music, recitations, etc., were rendered at intervals. A large assortment of goods of divers sorts were placed on sale, and were disposed of by Mr. W. Arthur at satisfactory figures, while a neatly-arranged stall of toothsome edibles supplied material for the refreshment of the company.

We shall soon have none left 0 f the Maori chiefs who led their people against us in war. Amongst the tribes of Waikato ; there 5 > are;?" now § only a few who took a conspicuous part in i the campaign which began at Meremere : and ended at Orakau. Now we hear of the death of Titokowaru, who led against us in the fighting on the West Coast in 1867 and following years. About the end of 1866 Colonel McDonnell was endeavouring to get the chiefs of Ngatiruanui to come in. They assumed a hostile attitude, and after some skirmishing the Maoris surprised a provision-cart and killed a trooper. Titoowaru sent a taunting and boastful letter to say that they had eaten the flesh of the trooper. Then Pungarehu was attacked. Titokowaru's most famous exploit was the complete defeat he inflicted upon Colonel McDonnell's force at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manii after which he devastated a large area of country, and advanced to Patea. Subsequently Titokowaru managed to defeat a force under Colonel Whit more. The war then died away, and. it was not till years after, when Mr. Bryee commenced to clear the West Coast, that Titokowaru got into trouble. He was brought up for using threatening language, and ordered to find two sureties of £500 each to keep the peace. For the last few years he has lived quietly at his own place, disturbing no one, and being disturbed by no one. He was rather a tierce and rude man, and had nob the dignity of character possessed by soma of the other chiefs who have led against us. But he was cunning and bold in bush warfare. .

It will be seen by the report of the Council meeting last night that the city solicitor has been .ordered to prosecute Msesrs. Hellaby for the nuisance which has been complained of at Ponsonby. The reports of Dr. Stockwell and Dr. Dawson, upon which we stated yesterday that action was to be taken, are published. It is only fair to state that the.nuisance has now been abated by the Messrs. Hellaby themselves. When they became aware that complaints had been made about the spreading of offensive matter on the surface of the paddock as a top-dressing, they procured a quantity of lime and put it over the ground. But! this plan not proving satisfactory in abating the nuisance, Messrs. -Hellaby have had the stuff gathered in heaps," and buried well under the surface of", the soil. A meeting of the directors of the Moanataiari Gold Mining Company was held yesterday at Mr. F. A; White's office, Queen-street, in order to decide what steps should be taken in regard 'to the property now that the negotiations for its sale to a London syndicate had fallen through. Two suggestions were offeredone that the affairs of the company be reorganised, and the mine worked on behalf of the shareholders ; the second, . that the property bo placed for sale on the Australian market. After some consideration, the latter course was agreed to, and steps .will be promptly taken to give it effect,

.Yesterday afternoon the Rev. • George Brown addressed a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce on The Trade and Resources of the South Sea Islands." An abstract of his speech, which was of much interest throughout, will be found elsewhere. Mr. Brown, and. his". wife leave Auckland by the Wainui on Monday. During the few weeks Mr. Brown has been in Auckland he has been .'fully occupied in disseminating useful and interesting information regarding the islands in these seas. No single individual 'has had better opportunities of "becoming, personally acquainted with many of these groups, and his addresses and lectures have been full of information, and have been listened to by very appreciative audiences, our trade trelations with these groups giving a special interest to the subject. Mr. Brown has been entrusted with the care of. the Tonga Wesleyan Church, and it is anticipatad that, by his experience and conciliatory disposition, a reconciliation fof differences" between the Free and Methodist Churches may be effected. Miss Edna Bavin (eldest daughter of the Rev. R. Bavin) is accompanying Mr. and . Mrs. Brown to "Tonga, where she proposes to devote herself to missionary work. Miss Bavin is well known and highly respected in this community, and the good wishes of many friends will follow her in this new sphere of labour.-

One of those accidents to which thoughtless servant girls are constantly subject, namely, that of their dresses taking fire, occurred on Wednesday at the North Shore, and a fatal termination was only prevented by the presence of mind of Mrs. J. Williams. It appears that Mary Sullivan, a domestic servant in the employ of . Mr. .J. Williams, tailor, was engaged - cooking dinner, and while leaning over the "fire her clothing became ignited. She rushed into the yard, and down the garden 4to a wash-house in which Mrs. Williams was, and threw herself into Mrs. Williams' arms, clinging to her desperately. Mrs. Williams succeeded in throwing the excited girl down, and she then covered her With sacks, - and threw water over her. The whole of the upper portion of the dress, from the waist, is burnt away, but her chest was fortunately protected by thick woollen underclothing, and so escaped injury. The arms, however, are severely burnt. . She was taken into the house and put to bed, and the usual remedies were applied, medical assistance being in the meantime sent for.

According to advertisement elsewhere in our columns there will be a meeting at halfpast seven this evening in St. Matthew's Schoolroom, for the distribution of the Bishop's prizes to - the successful competitors. The Church of England Sundayschool children in the Auckland district compete each year, and their examination is made in respect of Scripture knowledge and Church history. During the last five years the Diocesan Sunday-school Board have done much, we are told, to promote the interests of Sunday-school work; and those parents who take an interest in this work will have an opportunity this evening of judging of the progress made by children in Biblical and historical knowledge. The meeting is open to all person of all denominations.

The difficulty that was experienced in keeping awa y evil odours in connection with the soap and candle works of Messrs. Warnock Brothers, Cox's Creek, has afa ast been overcome. Several efforts were

made by the proprietory which were nob successful. At length it was ascertained that all the smell was due to the escaping steam and vapours arising from the digester, and this source of evil was energetically attacked. Instead of allowing the steam and vapours to escape.into the atmosphere, the pipe by which they ascend is turned down, and when it reaches the surface it is made to go through a sort of worm in a cold-water trough. The result is that; the steam is condensed, and the condensed steam and vapour are carried by a pipe until inoffensively mixed with the tidal flow in Cox's Creek. Since this plan has been carried out, which cost the Messrs. Warnock Brothers a. considerable sum of money, all evil smells, which formerly arose from the boiling-down works, have entirely ceased J

The handsome marble statuette which ¥ r ' , G " ;V Pierce has temporarily- lent to the Auckland Art Gallery, has a little history connected with it which may be worth relating. The statuette is of fine marble, and is named " The Bather " lb was presented by the Hon. G. Waterhouse to Lady Jervois some time ago, as a oift in aid of the funds of the Girls' Friendly society, Wellington. It \yas for a time placed in the Wellington Museum, and subsequently arrangements were made for raffling it. Mr. Pierce chanced to be in Y> Ellington at the time, and of course took a ticket. The result of the raffle was that about £50 was added to the funds of the society. As luck would have it, Mr. Pierce was the lucky one, and brought it on to Auckland with him. He has lent it for a time to the Art Gallery, and a pedestal is at present being made for it, so that it may be exhibited uniformly with the other works of art in the Gallery.*

A chess tourney took place last Thursday evening at Robson's Rooms between the Auckland and Devonporb Chess Clubs. Although the tourney resulted in a draw, it speaks well for the chess capabilities of our marine suburb when they can thus,hold their own, and that against a club with. far more members and of much longer standing. The following are the scores Auckland : Ash ton, 1; Green, 0; Tylden - 0: Blandon, 0; Young, 0 ; Faulkner, 1 ; Quintal, § ; Lennox, 1 ; Tammage, 1. Devonport : E. R. Watkins, 0 ; Brooks, 1; ConwH'j V £ nß ' 1 : Shaw > 1; Cooper, 0; ild, £ ; Vosper, 0 ; Button, 0. A lad named James Donovan was arrested yesterday on a charge of stealing ISlbs of kauri gum, value ss, the property of a gumdigger residing at Cut Hill, Northcote.

The following is the petition respecting this village settlement scheme, read at the public meeting held on Wednesday evening at the City Hall" To the Honorable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives. The humble memorial and petition of the undersigned, resident in the city and neighbourhood of Auckland, fihoweth that we, your petitioners, mechanics, labourers, and others, having been for a lengthened period without employment, are anxiously desirous of obtaining land in the country, on which we may form homes and be enabled to find a means of livelihood for ourselves and those depending on us. That having watched with interest the success of friends and neighbours -who have already gone on the special village settlements, we are desirous of availing ourselves of the same privileges which, unfortunately for us, have now been withdrawn. That in these circumstances your petitioners humbly pray your honorable House to be pleased to make such provision that the village settlement system may be resumed in this district, so that we may be enabled to make a livelihood for ourselves and our families in the country, and save us from the humiliation of becoming a burthen on the State. And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray." This petition is lying for signature at the Town Clerk's office, Municipal Buildings. Twelve settlers have already signed the document. The hon. secretary of the Kindergarten leads most earnestly for boots or shoes, to t children from two to six years of age. A large number of the little ones have to remain at home, in consequence of having no covering for their feet. Staying away deprives them of their good hoi dinner, which is such a boon to them this cold weather. The hon. secretary feels sure that all mothers having cast-off boots and shoes of their own little ones will send them to the school, High-street, and perhaps the generously disposed of our boob and shoe merchants, wholesale and retail, will donate a few pairs each to this most laudable object.

The trees planted last year in front of the Freshwater Baths, have been taken up on account of their small size, and the space planted with larger ones.

Messrs. I. Coates and Metcalfe are the contractors for the Palmerston North waterworks, and Mr. Metcalfe, who has been in Auckland for the last few days, has just completed a contract with Messrs. Morrin and Co. for the supply of the plant. This contract is for upwards of £10,000, and includes the supply of 1400 tons of pipes and 1300 casks of cement. The contract was only completed on Wednesday, and the order for the first portion of the supply was sent by cable yesterday. The plant is to be delivered at Wellington wharf. The pipes v are 9 feet lengths. There are 3000 4-inch, 2200 7-inch, 1640 9-inch, and 2300 5-inch making in all nearly 16 miles of pipes, . which with the flanges and other extras will make up a total of 1400 odd tons. It is an extensive order, and we have no doubt Messrs. Morrin and Co., from their large experience in waterworks plants, will be able to carry it out in the most satisfactory manner.

Mr. G. P. Pierce has presented the library of the Young Men's Christian Assotion with three volumes—" The Fair God," " Ben Hue, a Tale of The Christ," and " Knight Errant," by Edna Lyall.

At the Mount Eden Congregational Church yesterday evening a very interesting lecture upon "Savonarola, the Monk of Florence," was delivered by the Rev. B. L. Thomas, in connection with the Young Men's Association of the Church. There "was a fair attendance, and Mr. Henton presided. The lecturer, in a clear, concise manner, gave an epitome of the life and doings of the famous ecclesiastic, detailing at some length the marvellous effect which his fiery eloquence and earnestness of purpose had upon the men and manners of the splendid yet dissolute court of Lorenzo the Magnificent. The lecture was enlivened at intervals by musical selections, and at its close Mr. Thomas received a hearty vote of thanks. *

We would again remind our readers of the grand Highland entertainment, which takes place at the Opera House this evening. Apart from the splendid programme which is arranged a large audience should assemble, as the object is a philanthropic one, being in aid of the funds of the Auckland Industrial Association, a society which has of late done much good in the community. All the performers are in first-class form, and the different items will no doubt be done to perfection Should the weather continue fine a bumper house should be the result. The next lecture of the Young Men's Christian Association winter course will take place in the large hall this (Friday) evening, when no doubt a • large audience will be present to hear * Dr. Giles, R.M., lecture on "Brain and Mind.' The doctor will give a general outline of the essential parts of the nervous system, as ministering to the functions of life and mind in animals and man, with illustrations of the automatic characters of such functions and discussion of the immateriality of the mind.

By advertisement in another column, the annual meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of Auckland will be held in Robson's Dining Rooms, Queen-street, on Monday next, the 23rd July. The business is to receive report and balance-sheet, and elect committee for ensuing year. All persons interested are invited to be present.

By advertisement appearing in another column, the sixth anniversary of the Mount Eden Band of Hope is announced. A firstclass . programme has been prepared, and with a beautiful moonlight night, a crowded audience should be the result.

The salvage stock of boots and shoes, from the fire at Messrs. Jamieson and Co.'s place, in Queen-street, will be sold by auction today, at 11 o'clock, by Messrs. B. Tonks and Co., at Hoffmann's Warehouse, Elliott-street, where the goods have been removed for convenience. j The greater portion of the stock is very slightly damaged, and some is as good as new. This sale offers special bargains 'for the trade, as the stock was varied and valuable. Previous to the above sale the same firm will offer at their mart in Queen-street, a quantity of denims and dungarees, on behalf of whom it may concern. On Saturday evening the Rev. George Brown, the well-known missionary, will repeat his popular lecture on "Life in the South Seas, at the Good Templars' Hall. The discourse will be illustrated by a series of limelight views, while a magic lantern will provide amusement for the younger portion of the audience.

" Psyche" by the Ponsonby Choral Society, in All Saints' Schoolroom, next Monday evening, at eight o'clock.