OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 35

OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail Office, June 14. Within two weeks the new Parliament meets in Wellington. Great interest of course always attaches to the first sessiou of a newly elected legislative body, and for this reason the proceedings of the House uf Representatives this year are likely to be more closely followed than usual. The Government programme in the approaching session will include important labour legislation. Amongst these Bills will bo those rejected by the Legislative Council last year, the chief one of them providing for the establishment of industrial boards of conciliation, with an arbitration court who shall de cide in labour disputes, and whoso decisions shall be compulsory. Another Bill of the highest value, foreshadowed by the Government, will be a measure under which money shall be lent to farmers at low rates of interest. The Pre-, mier, in a speech at Palmerston South, referred to the financial difficulties in which many farmers had become involved owing to the payment of heavy rates of interest, and said that something should be done for their relief. The native legislation introduced by the Premier is likely to be of great importance.

One of tho events of the month has been the Agricultural Conference, which began its sittings in tho Colonial Museum, Wellington, on May 29. The attendance of representatives from tho various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations of the Colony was large, and showed that the agriculturists are taking a deep interest in everything which affeds their welfare. It was truly an' agricultural and pastoral parliament, wherein sat men of extensive practical experience in all that pertains to the cultivation of the soil of New Zealand. A letter was read from the Hon. J. McKenzie, Minister for Lands, expressing his regret at not being able to attend, and hi 3 pleasure at so much interest being taken by the agricultural and pastoral associations in matters of so much import to themselves and the Colony. The retiring Chairman (Mr H. Overton, Canterbury), delivered an excellent address in which he dealt with tho duties of the farmer, the frozen meat trade, the advantages of such a conference, dairy produce, grain growing, and other matters of immediate interest. The election of Mr W. H. Beetham as Chairman of the Conference was a tribute of appreciation of that gentleman's connection with the farming interests of New Zealand for many years, as well as a compliment to tho Wellington Society. Amongst the subjects first dealt with was that of sheep and cattle stealing, which, from the remarks of some of the delegates, seems to bo only too prevalent in some parts of the Colony. The question of providing public abattoirs for the large centres was discussed, and a resolution suggesting their establishment agreed to. Perhaps one of the most interesting questions to New Zealand farmers at the present day next came up for discussion —the dairy industry. Mr Henry Reynolds, who lately arrived from England, contributed a very important paper on "New Zealand Dairying," which contained a large quantity of useful information, and produced an interesting discus sion. The other principal subjects dealt with during the first day were " Noxiou3 Weeds" and "Railway Charges on Stock." On the morning of the second day it was announced that the breeders in the North and South Islands had determined to establish one Flock Book for the whole Colony, a resolution which was heartily approved of by the Conference. "Grub and Rust in Corn " next engaged the attention of the delegates, after which " The Quarantining of Stock," "Manureß and the Manure Act," and "Dehorning Calves," weie discussed. The question as to the "Most Suitable Sheep and Cattle for Freezing" was intro. duced by Mr J. Grigg, who read a valuable paper dealing with the subject. " The Rabbit Nuisance," and " The Small Birds Nuisance" were subjects of no small importance to the delegates. On the third day the first question of impcrtance that came up for discussion was " Mortality Among Sheep," which was introduced by Mr Gray, who read a very able paper on the subject. The other subjects on the order paper were " Cattle for Dairy Produce," "Rabbit Fencing," "Promotion of Irrigation Works," and " Foot-rot in Sheep." On the fourth day the questions discussed were mainly of local interest, but nevertheless many of great importance to those directly interested. Perhaps tho moat important resolution passed on that day was the determination of the Conference not to v**"* aAW *rn-

Imcnt assistance in future in tho matter of travelling expenses for members. A brief and neatly turned address by the Chairman, with votes of thanks to various persons, brought to a close the ra« st interesting and representative meeting- of agriculturists and pastoralislis that has ever bet-11 held in this Colony. Probably the chief sensation of the mouth was the removal of the names of Messrs George Harper and T. W. Maude from the rolls of barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. They were two of the members of the j legal firm of Harperand Co., Christchurch* whose failure in March, 1893, with a deficiency of over L 200,000, was the greatest collapse that has ever occurred in this C lony of a private iinn The [ other partner, Leonard Harper, the head of the firm, and the man chiefly, if not altogether, responsible for all that has occurred, is absent from the Colony. His exact whereabouts a-e unknown. The application, to have the names of Messrs George Harper and T. W. Maude struck off the rolls was preferred by the Canterbury Law Society, and was argued in the Court of Appeal, Wellington. The Chief Justice delivered judgment for the Court, reviewing closely the history of the failure, and pointing out that though Leonard Harper had exclusive supervision of the financial operations of the firm, the other two partners, when, in 1885, they realised the peril, ought to have taken the necessary measures to ascertain the exact position of affairs. Apparently, burdened as they were with their own departments of the business, they allowed things to go on, accepting the assurances of their senior, and convincing the-nselvos that all would be right again in time. It was here that they sinned ; this was the weakness of which they were guilty, and it has brought them the degradation of having their names struck off the rolls, whilst. Leonard Harper, far more deserving of punishment, is scot free in some other part of the world.

The hotel traffic has been under closo review during the month, at the first meetings of the Licensing Committees elected under the Liquor Act of last session. Generally speaking tho committees have acted moderately, and though in various electorates hotels have been closed, in obedience to the local option vote, the number so deprived of their licenses has not been unduly large. Though the Act was denounced in unmeasured terms by a certain section of the community, practical experience of the moasure has shown its usefulness. It has greatly improved the liquor traflic, and has sensibly diminished the Sunday trading evil.

At the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the P*esident, Mr James McLellan, said that he could not point to any colony better off than New Zealand in regard to trade. He and other speakers at the meeting referred with extreme satisfaction to the news that wool is to be admitted free into the United States, and pointed out that this is a matter of tho largest importance to this Colony.

The "social" at which tho Hon J. McKenzie, Minister of Lands, was the guest at Palmerston South last month may be accepted as a unique indication of the lively interest of nowiy-enfranchised woman in the march of politics. The " social " was given by tho women electors of Waihemo, which district Mr McKenzie represents in Parliament. A lady presided, and another lady occupied the vice chair, and both made excellent speeches. Three of the Ministry, including the Premier, were present, as well as other members of Parliament.

The chief dairy expert, Mr C. R. Valentine, who has been doing excellent work in lecturing throughout the Colony on the dairy industry, has left for Sydney, en route to England. The Government have appointed him to watch the interests of the Colony in London in developing a market and supervising the trade in dairy produce. Meanwhile the dairy industry in the Colony will not be neglected, as it has been decided to appoint several competent experts for the coming season, and a more extensive system of practical instruction is to be undertaken throughout the Colony.

Miss Bessie Doyle, the young Australian violinist who studied at the Leipsic Conservatoire, where she won the Meudelssohn Scholarship from a host of other competitors, is going to America, and on her way is touring New Zealand. A visit to England is also talked of. Miss Doyle, who is a young girj not much over 21, has

a great career before her. Her chief performances in her New Zealand tour have been the Mendelssohn and Paganini concertos, both of them works demanding power far above the ordinary. Except for the visit of Miss Doyle, the amusement world has been quiet. The HoweSpong Dramatic Company have concluded their New Zealand visit at Auckland. A comedy company, of which the principals are Messrs Charles Arnold and Frank Thornton, are in Christchureh.

The unemployed difficulty, which it was feared was of largo proportions, has, as subsequent events have proved, been greatly exaggerated. Though public relief was offered by the benevolent organisations to those ia distress, the number of people applying for help did not exceed in any of the towns 50 or GO. With the opening of the bush-felling season the great majority of those genuinely Bceking employment will be able to find it in the country, and some necessary public works which are to be begun in the towns should give employment to the remainder. This congestion of the labour market in New Zealand is largely due to the distress in Australia.

The directors of the Gear Meat Company, Wellington, have declared an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per aimumJor the past six months. 11 ■■

The death of the Rev. Dr Stuart, the pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church, Dunedin, and one of the most popular and revGred men in that city, occurred just as our last month's summary went to press. The funeral was the occasion for a great public demonstration in Dunedin, people of all denominations and classes uniting to give expression to their sorrow and sympathy. Since our last summary was published there has passed away a man who for years was notable in public life in New Zealand—the Hon Vincent Pyko. member of the Houro of Representatives for Tuapeka, who died on the morning of June 4th. Mr Pyke was a native of Somersetshire. He came to the colonies in 1851, and held many public positions in Victoria and New Zealand. He was a member of the House of Representatives of this Colony from 1873 to 1890, and at the last general election, in 1893, was returned for Tuapeka. He was noted for his wit and geniality. Early on the afternoon of the 6ih inst. a valued public officer, Mr C. M. Crombie, the Commissioner of Taxes for New Zealand, died at his residence, in Wellington, from typhoid fever. Mr Crombie started in life as a bank clerk, became a bank manager, afterwards took to journalism, and finally entered the public service iu the Tax Department, eventually becoming Commissioner of Taxes for the Colony. His character was distinguished for the highest integrity and unwearying industry. Mr Henry Blundell, one of the proprietors of the Evening Post newspaper, died suddenly on the evening of May 27th. He was not a public man, but as a Wellington citizen he was very popular, and one of the most generous of men. He was also a business man of exceeding ability.