THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1889.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9423, 22 July 1889, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1889.

The future of the world's food supply must be an object of interest to us who depend so largely on the world's market as an outlet for the produce which we cannot, for many years, hope to consume among ourselves. The subject is dealt with at great length and with remarkable skill by Mr. J. H. Cross in the Contemporary Review. Mr. Cross lias long been an authority, and shows perfect mastery of the subject with which he is dealing. His chief object is to consider for English farmers, how far wheat and other cereals are likely to rise permanently in price. He shows that although a rise may be reasonably expected and may e'liclure for a time, the conditions are such that the farmer must not look forsuch prices as can alone give him permanently the relief he so much needs. The grave nature of the question as affecting the British agricultural classes may be judged when Mr. Cross places their loss of money in 1885 at a capitalised sum of £740,000,000 as compared with the position they held in 1875. This vast depreciation, during the ten. years, lie takes from the report of a Royal Commission. YTe may iidd that it covers the depreciation suffered, not only by the tenants and farmers, btit by the owners of the land which has fallen so greatly iii value during that time. In 1871 those employed in agriculture aitioimted to one in seventeen of the •svhble In 1881 they were billy one in fourteen, but the falling 6ft* is still more remarkable when contrasted with 1851, and the depreciation is still steady and regular.

Mr. Cross begins ' the report o£ Messrs I?cll"fi f > m 1880 They were U&f d 3 sistant Commissioners to the V As ; Commission on Agriculture and Si the United States to inquire 12flf condition and prospects of the 5 T growers there. After carefully Z gdering the cost of production in?]"' States they reported that if wheat fin in the London market to less tinJ? per quarter, exports from Ami*; must cease. Their calculations S? elaborate and exact, but the advaru* ■ transportation both by railroads ii by ships completely upset their fW? and annihilated their tacts. For sew { years after their report wheat was £2! from America, sold in Great Britain ! 32," per quartet-, and showed no sigh J diajlßulion in quantity, but L\Z the reverse. One hundred pony, weight of wheat are now carried W Chicago to New York for sixpence an 1 the huge ships that traverse the o'cein [have made sea freights proportlohallv low. Ihe poor British fanner ! mR th"to struggle on in the vain hope that this terrible competition must cease Too intent he has gone on hoping till utterly ruined, and deprived of tk means of beginning life in tin; nencountry to which he would gladly ft v Formerly, if his crops were poor hjj prices would bo high. Now, this compensation cannot be expected, for ),jj market is ruled by the outer world's supply, and not by that of his own country. Looking to this aspect of the problem, Mr. Cross discusses the probability of a change, but sees no reason able ground for believing it possible for many years. Looking to America he points out the enormous area of wheat" growing territory . opened by the extension of her railways. In the ton years, between 1878 ' and 1888 slip built 80,000 miles of new railroad of which 20,000 were built during the eighteen months "preceding 188 a The total of the American lines now open is 100,000 miles, and their annual receipts £187,000,000. Mr. Cross had not the means at his command to enable him to say the exact mileage open in the British Empire, including India Canada, Australasia and all colonics but the income of all together was only £105,000,000, showing the gigantic area and producing capacity oil which the American lines operated; Nine thousand miles of the hew lines were opened in one year to the westward of the Missouri Purer, making available a vast grain-growing country,! of which Messrs. lieid and Bell had no idea when their calculations as to the,, future were made. New sources of supply are being thus perpetually tapped', and great tracts of virgin soil made available in Canada as well as in America. The -Manitoba territory in Canada is almost untouched. Its powers of production, as well as that of its neighbour Dakota, in the United States, are practically unlimited, while the comparative sinnllness of their own consuming population will for many years causethem to export the greater part of their wheat to other markets. The Argentine Republic is opening up its great territory in the same way, The wheat product of- Russia, which once occupied the largest figure in the world's markets, has long fallen into a lower place. That of India cannot, be calculated upon as , perimm'ent to any extent beyond its present available surplus. On the contrary, it is known that the people of that country are compelled by their necessities to export much of the wheat which, under happier conditions, they would consume at home instead of the poorer diet on which they are obliged to live.

Looking thus at the various sources of wheat supply in the world, at their enormous capabilities, and at the growing cheapness of transportation, Mr. Cross feels forced to the conclusion that there is little hope of permanent improvement in the 'prices to "which the farmer can look at home. Of course, the same conclusion must be faced by our farmers in New Zealand and in the colonies. Fortunately for .us and for them, the prices, which are so unprofitable at home, pay well in the colonies, and are likely to do so for many years, till their power of consumption becomes commensurate. More fortunately Ave have the growing export of frozen meat also to depend upon, and both these articles are little'likely to fail us before the natural increase of populalation makes our own market the most favourable. That, after all, is the end to which we must look, and at which we should aim—an end which in the natural course of things we shall be certain to attain.

The Servian army is divided into three classes. On a war footing it practically includes the whole of the male population. The Regents have decided that it is necessary to place it on such a footing. Our cable despatches to-day announce that every male inhabitant of suflicienb years is to be armed. The excuse for" this extreme measure is found in the present disturbed state of Europe. But the condition of Europe is nob more disturbed now than it was months ago. Apparently it is more pacific. Affairs in Servia, however, are rapidly drifting towards a crisis, and herein, no doubt, lies the true reasoi for the present military measure. Russian influence is now paramount at Belgrade. Mischief is brewing. The London police have in custody a man who is, according to his own Confession, the veritable Jack the Kipper. He gave himself up to the authorities, stating that he had committed the whole of the Whitechapel murders, and minutely., describing his method in each case. Whether the man is the real murderer or the victim of a delusion is not yet apparent, but the probabilities are against his being the monste who has for so long a time pursued unchecked and undiscovered his career of blood in the English capital. The Parnellites, who are beginning to lose heart, will no doubt make much of the victory they have won in Brixton (Lambeth). A Home Ruler has been returned by a majority of 1719 over the Conservative candidate. Two years ago a Home Ruler was defeated in the sr.uie constituency by a Conservative by over seven hundred votes. To have so completely turned the tables is a victory which there is no gainsaying. The Western Australian Bill continues to attract much attention at home, and is likely to be strongly opposed in the House of Commons. More interesting disclosures concerning _ the Clan-na-Gael are impending, the committee appointed to' " remove," i.e., to murder, DγCi'onin, having been induced by a priest to whom they Confessed as such, to repeat their statements to the authorities. The mails which came to hand by the R.M.s. Zealandia on Saturday bear date' London, June 15, New York, "June '22, and San Francisco, Juno 29. Amongst the passengers who arrived yesterday by the s.s. Rotorua at the Mauukau were Messrs. A. G. Htirto'n and *• Battley. • . The usual meeting of the Harbour Board will be held to-morrow (Tuesday), at their offices, to receive tenders for timber slides, iron steps, and stanchions and'chains !° r Calliope Dock. We understand that Te Kooti has decided to take proceedings against we Government in connection with the ar * made at Opbtiki, and the subsequent am and sentence. Te Kooti has instructed air. Napier, and will shortly visit Aucklanit w promote the litigation. A petition to the Board of Education protesting against the recommendation the public schools' inspectors that "* resolution as tel teaching of temperance » the discretion of the committees, oe r scinded, has been prepared. The petition was signed at a number of the city en " rc . nP . yesterday, and will be for signature during the next few days. It will be presented to the Board of Education at its meeting Friday next. ifl The Rev, Mh Tebbs, of St. MrijttwjJ Church; hab been ill for sorne j»X e P*« and has been confined to his bed em" Wednesday last.

The cable between New Zealand and a stralia "' as interrupted for some time on Saturday, by the repairing steamer, which ,\ remedying a weak or defective spot in i|, e cable. Yesterday evening communication was again cut off, and had not been restored in time to admit of our late European despatches coming through before we wont to press this morning. A party of skilled worker? in iron irriven here on Saturday by the R.M.s. Zealand in. For some years past they have been working in one of the most extensive iron works in the United States, and have come here under an engagement with the Oiiclmnjr.i Ironworks Company (Limited). Ml those who have taken any interest in our local industries are aware that, largo (iiinntities of rod and bar iron of various *'\7.cs, together with tec and angle iron, have been rolled at the Onchunga Ironworks and Supplied to hardware merchants throughout the colony for some time past. There is also a large and increasing demand for sheet iron of various sizes and gauges, all of which has of necessity been imported up to the present time. The opportune arrival by the mail steamer of these workers, whoso specialty is the manufacture and rolling of sheet iron, will add very materially to the prosperity and permanence of this important industry, and at the same time will enable the company to supply the largo orders they have on hand for sheet iron.

On Saturday Mr. d. W. GritHu, who has been re-appointed United States Consul at Sydney, passed through Auckland on his vay to that city, being a passenger from San Francisco by the mail steamer Zealanilia. The Consul, who has spent two or three months in America on leave of absence, states thab there is a marked increase in that country of interest in Australasia, and that a strong , feeling is growing up, which is largely shared by the present administration, in favour of strengthening and promoting the commercial relations between the United States and the colonies.

Jn reference to Mrs. Chamberlin's petition to Parliament referred to in our special correspondent's letter in Saturday's issue, Mr. Mays write? as follows: — "Your Parliamentary reporter in his brief abstract of my report upon this petition forwarded through Mr. Monk for the committee, makes one error which I hasten to correct. It is .-tnted that the solicitors to the Registrar were responsible for the error, or wither omission, in the description of the property against which judgment had been obtained by the Waiteinata County Council. In my report I suited that the solicitors were in no way responsible for the omission in the ct-r----tirieate sent by the Council to the Registrar, although 1 expressed my regret that a more careful search of the registry of deeds had not been made by them before the conveyance was made. As, however, they were not bound either by law or professional practice to go behind the certificate, or even to search tho registry, in order to test- the accuracy of the description of the property, no blame can be attached to them in the matter."

On Friday night the Mount Albert Mutual Improvement Society held its usual weekly meeting at Ferndale, when about 140 members and their friends witne.«>ed a representation of "The Merchant Lit Venice," given by some of the members. All the part.-? were capitally sustained. The proceedings commenced with a pianoforte duet by Mi-s Tucker and Miss Oarlick, followed by a song from Mr, J. Hooper, who \vn= accompanied on the zither by Miss Hooper. Between the various scenes songe were sung by Misses Battley and Maierand Messrs. C. .Tames and Hookey (2). The l.ijtnv.mcd gentleman's last song was " The Queen of the Earth," and he received a rapturous encore, to which he responded with a comic sonsr, and was again , encored. After the usual voces of thanks the meeting closed in the usual manner by singing the National Anthem."'

A somewhat serious accident happened n: Ellerslie yesterday afternoon, to a man named -John Hinders. While attempting to mount a horse the animal swerved, and Hinders falling was trampled upon, sustaining severe bruises and an scalp wound. He was attended by Dr. Erson, who dressed his injuries.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of a pamphlet on "The Land Question," being a reprint of letters to the London Daily News in ISOS by Sir George (liey. The motto which Sir George take." is that of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, " But if the State is harmed thou must not he angry with him who does harm to the State; show him where his error is." These letters are interesting as showing what Sir George Orey's views were on the Irish question so far back as twenty years ago. .Some of his suggestions for a Provincial Parliament, or Home Rule, were afterwards embodied in Mr. Gladstone's" scheme. The pamphlet i? procurable at the local bookseller;?. Malic ton Mataafa has appointed Papalii Folan head Judge of Samoa, and Tuiletufufra Leapai as Magistrate for Apia. Proclamations to that effect were posted around the town on Monday, June '24. According to a Press Association telegram from Nelson Messrs. James Sclanders and Co. of that city have laid four informations against Thomas Mabin, of Auckland, for circulating libellous matter concerning them. At St. Matthew's yesterday morning the Bishop of the Diocese administered first Communion to the candidates confirmed by him on Sunday lash There was a large" Htelsdtuice of the Godparents, parent*, and friends of the young people, as well ftp of the general members of the congregation. a very largo number staying to communicate. In the evening the church was very full, the sermon being preached bv the Rev. W. iJcnttj", Warden of St. John'." Colltsjft. The service was marked by its u:Ui\l excellence. Hit nnntml meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute «;;s held on Saturday. Mr. VVorflnnifton was elected president for the srij»uiijir year ; Messrs. Stewart (the retiring prudent) and Coates, vice-presidents; -Mr. Croniii, treasurer; Mr. Drailin, .secretary ; and Mr. Wells, librarian. A committee of management of seven members was ;i:.o elected. A motion to raise the annual subscription was lost, as it was considered it would have an injurious, effect. A meeting of the Auckland Institute will beheld in 'he Museum Buildings at 8 o'clock this evening, when several interesting papers.will be read. Mr. Winkehnnnn gives a short account of the discovery of an old Maori comb on the Great Barrier Island, »ml Mr. Weetnian is to follow with some copious descriptive notes on the same island. Mr. Mackechnie will then read a paper entitled " A Mysterious Therapeutic Agent," in which he will give an account of the successful treatment of certain diseases by placing the patient in a mesmeric sleep •'iikl then acting on his imagination. We learn that an honour has already teen bestowed on Mr. W. H. Alison Tebbs. -on of the Rev. Mr. Tebbs, of St. Matthew'?. He has been appointed to the otlice of demonstrator in histology at Westminster Hospital Medical School, and enters upon his duties in October. Trie anniversary services of the Pitt and Edwin streets Primitive Methodist Church were held yesterday. The church was very prettily decorated'. Over the choir seats wore the texts, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord," and "Come before His presence Willi singing," in gold letters on a black ground, whilst the pulpit was covered with L. r rc<;nery interspersed with white camellias. The wall., were also hung with wreaths of flowers, etc., the whole- making a very pleasing effect. The resident minister (Mr. Woodward) preached in the morning, and the Rev. A. J. Smith, of Alexandrastreet, in the evening. All the services were largely attended, and the choir rendered special anthems, the solos being taken by -Mrs. Bottany Mid Misses Jennings and weaver. The collections of the day amounted to £5 12s (id. The annual soiree will be held to-morrow evening. Dr. Konucrdine will preside at the after meeting, and addresses will be delivered by Revs, j-jaycock, Smith, and Woodward, whilst Kangj, the Maori chief, will contribute some items (accompanied on the harp) in audition to the fnusic of the choir. The question is being raised by Councillor mT x 8 of removin g the town clock from he Now Zealand Insurance Buildings to f>o Municipal Chambers. The lighting costs close on £100, but there is little doubt unit if removed to the turret of the Free UUUc Library the public would never aI • agitation bill the clock was lit up iu<» '*' as the Position is a very commandlQg one.

By the 'Frisco mail the Rev. A. J. Smith, pastor of tho Alcxnndra<streot Primitive Methodist Church, received the melancholy tidings of the death of his father in England. At Napier, On Saturday, W. Garrett, commission agent, formerly of Wanganui, was charged in the Resident Magistrate's Court with wilfully obtaining money by false pretences, and was remanded till Thursday. Bail of £100, in two sureties of £50 each, was allowed. A very curious case, in which Mrs. H. M. A. Young was charged with having failed to provide maintenance for her two children in the Industrial School, came on at the Police Court on Saturday. The circumstances nro very peculiar, the father of tho children being , a cripple living at Ilokianjjn, while tho mother was in receipt of £50 ayear and was living nt Hollyer's Crook with another person, owing to her being in bad health and requiring someone to look after her. Tho magistrate, after hearing the evidence as to certain stores having gone to Hokianga, decided that he could not mi'.ke any order as the defendant was doing what .she could for the support of her children (eight) at Hokianga.

Speaking on the Imperial report on emigration the Wellington Times says : — " There are numbers of small farmers and others who are doing poorly in the mother country, yet could emigrate with a few hundreds of capital in hard cash, and with that additional capital in the shape of skilled experience, which would tend to render them excellent settler*. To induce them to emigrate the advantages of the colony must be made known. This enn only be done effectually by having authorised agents of the colony in every city and town of any size. Such agents could be easily procured for a small commission. Such a system of local ngency carried on by judiciously -selected agents would be the means of largely recruiting out , population from the most suitable class of the British people, and would provo a, most profitable and beneficial institution."

Tiie Rev. J. S. Hill continued his Sunday afternoon lectures on " Social Topics" yesterday afternoon, at the lecture hall of the Y.M.C. A., tho special topic being tlie " The Use and Abuse of Money." The rev. gentleman laid down the dogma that the Banks are the best friends of the public. Which is somewhat contrary to tho talk of jxjpular orators about " t.ho screw,"' and that the banks doing business in New Zealand were the soundest in the world it a run were made on them. If the people would only eschew land gambling and wild commercial speculation, and stick to industry and thrift, as the two great factors to bring New Zealand out of the Slough of Despond, they would yet have a country of which they might be proud. He strongly denounced the abuse of money.

The Samoa 11 Time?, of .Inly 0, says:— "Since the departures of the sailors and marines from the wrecked vessels Trenton and Ad let , the town has assumed a very quiet appearance. The natives have also left Apia, and with the exception of a few who are with Malaafa, they are all busily engaged planting in their respective districts. I\o doubt, many of the Smnoan? are in sorely distressed circumstance?, find it will he'several months before fruit will be ripe enough to provide them with stiliieient food for themselves and families*; especially on the Island of Upola, which has been stripped to supply the vast number of men who were here for nearly a year engaged in the late unprecedented war. Our attention has been called to some very pitiable case* in Samoa, but we believe the clergymen of both the Catholic Church and the London Missionary .Society are doing everything in their power to relieve those poor persons."

The police have a new white metal teapot, which has come into their possession in a curious way. and for which they want an owner, as they believe it has been taken from a shop by a sneak thief. Sergeant McMahon has also found a gold locket in Victoria-street. The owner can have it by describing it.

With reference to the voluntary levy on the members of the Hibernian .Society, and the vote of £30 from the incidental fund, which amount is to be given to Mr. Dillon, it is explained that the sum is voted, not for political agitation, but for the relief of evicted Irish tenants, a matter of charity, and not to Mr. Dillon other than a* an intermediary for tho transmission of the money. The management fund of the Auckland branch is said to be the largest of any friendly society in the colony, and that it recently took ;CTM) from the general management fund and placed if, to the credit of the general fund. It is admitted, we understand, that if the money were taken from the general fund, it, would be competent for any member to take action and intervene, but that with regard to the general management fund, much greater latitude is allowed by the rules to the officers, subject to endorsement by the members of the branch in meeting assembled. Two instances are given where the Oddfellows (Manchester Unity) devoted a portion of their management fund to charitable objects—namely, many years ago, JJSO to the Tauronga relief fund, and another sum to the National Lifeboat Institution of Great Britain and Ireland.

Last -week Mr. J. Brigham forwarded to Melbourne a couple of fine photographs of his two prize dogs, *' Vigo (bull terrier) and " Patch" (bull dog), to be shown at the forthcoming Poultry and Dog Show there.' The animals being very valuable ones, the owner did not cure to send them on so long a voyage without special attendance. The second anniversary of the Progressive League will be celebrated by a meeting, this evening, in the Forester's Hall, when Mr. A. Withy will give an address on " The Causes of the Present Depression in New Zealand," and tilts other on ''its Remedies," by Mr. 'j'. West. The proceedings will be varied by readings, recitations, and instrumental liinsiu by the members and their friends. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that five valuable original paintings, " by the celebrated military artist. I tarry Payne," will be exhibited on and after to-morrow in the show window of Messrs. •). JI. Upton and Co. They are to be disposed of by Art Union, and consist of three water colours and two oils, which arrived by the s.s. Doric last wee!;. As will be seen by Messrs. Arthur and Buddie's advertisement, a, large sale of fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs and treesmore than 2(),0(X) trees in all—will he held at their mart on Tuesday next. These are from the Clandelands Nursery of Mr. George Mason, formerly of the firm of Mason Brothers, of Auckland. The Claudelaiids Nursery, which is on the boundary of the Borough of Hamilton, is a. comparatively new one; and is unite free from all kinds of blight and insect pests, and the trees, coining from the more bracing climate of Waikato, and with a complete change of soil, will, undoubtedly, stand a first-rate chance of growing right away, and thriving, in the warmer districts about Auckland. A feature in connection with the sale of Mr. Mason's fruit trees will be the exhibition of a collection, of. apples to-day and Tuesday at Mr. Arthur's mart, showing the various kinds of fruit of the several sorts of trees offered for sale—a guarantee .of quality both for appearance and keeping properties. The following facts have been brought under oiir notice by a correspondent, proving beyond all doubt the immense value of a life policy in a truly liberal oltice as a provision lor a " rainy day," and should induce many who up to the present have thought little or nothing of the value of life assurance to prepare for its benefits while they hare an opportunity. A gentleman insured his life in Hie A.M.1 , . .Witty for £1000 in March, 1878, and after paying for five years, in all £154 8s 4(1, allowed the premiums to fall into aiieur. lie paid nothing since March, ISB3, but through the Society's liberal non-for-feiture regulation the policy was still alive at the date of his death (which took place hist month)! and thereby afforded that provision for which it was intended. Not ,long before his death with tears streaming down his face, he said, "One thing Unit troubles nie much is that I have iiiiule no provision for my family. I insured my life, but, through adversity, 1 could not keep up the premiums, and so the policy had lapsed " The fact, however, that "it was otherwise was made known to him before his death, to his intense relief. During the currency of his policy, bonuses amounting to £-280* 12s were added to the stun assured, of which £171 'is was surrendered for cash in reduction of the premium arrears, so that at the death of the assured the amount stood at £1115 10s. ■ After deducting £176 10s 10d for prehiiuiils and interest advanced from surrender valiie, a 3um of £938 19s 2(1 was left available for the representative of the dcceased: In addition thereto, the 1888 bonus will be paid when declared; As showing the promptness with which the Society settles its death claims, the • complete proofs of death .were only lodged in their Sydney office on the 20th May, and a cheque for the proceeds was paid over two nays later. Truly, their motto— ".Amiciis ciriiut Hi H Itlctrtd , '— is bfle to which the Society is justly erititlefl. ■ • .