THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8758, 21 March 1890, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES

FRIDAY, MARCH HI, ISSO.

Whatever confirmation the MaUhusian theory may receive in the future, it is quite certain that at present there is no evidence that population is pressing on the food supply. On the contrary, the tendency for some time past has been in the direction of a reversal of the anticipated undue proportion between the number of the people and their means ot subsistence. .Scientific farming, the opening up and placing within easy communication with the chief centres of consumption of vast regions of agricultural land, have so far dispensed with the necessity of giving any serious concern to a question that formerly attracted so much attention. On every side there are signs of a greater abundance of the necessaries of life than has ever previously been witnessed. Taking as an instance the case of the chief food staple—wheat, —its production, notwithstanding an increased consumption, in respect both of individual requirement and growth of population, appears so far to bs outpacing the world's necessities, periodical estimates of stocks showing an ever accumulating surplus. Moreover, in any computation as to the possibilities of supply, there must bo taken into account the restrictive influence which the constant downward tendency of prices must have had, the movement of the market having in 20 years shown a mean decline of 18s per quarter—4s Gd in the first decade and 13s Gd in the second. Has not this proceeded beyond the point of adjustment between supply and demand? On a correct appreciation of the influences which will either prolong or arrest this movement will depend the value of any forecast o£ the future, and as the question is of much interest to the farming community, we propose pointing out some features of the subject which we think are worthy of consideration. In the first place, notwithstanding the fact that in America,'1 India, and the colonies the area of /wheat sown land has shown an almost regular increase, there are now some indications that this increase will not be continued. In America the advanced outposts of cultivation are now within a near range of the Eocky Mountains on a wide frontage, and the Californian side is almost filled up, whilst the population is increasing at a rate that will soon overtake a non - progressive surplus of supply. But the restricting influence of low prices has had the most telling effect in Britain, where it appears to have forced large quantities of land below the point of profitable cultivation, there having been in the aggregate a diminution of crop to the extent of 1,366,000 acres within 20 years, although in the same period there has been an increase of 2,390,000 acres under general cultivation. The relative positions may best be shown by stating that whereas in 1869 twelve acres out of every hundred in cultivation were then in wheat, in ISB9 only about seven acres were so. This decrease, accentuated by the needsof a fast increasing population, is yearly placing Great Britain more uudci- the control of a foreign supply; and if the shrinkage continue, which, with present prices, is probable, one great factor—the imperative needs of a concentrated and enormously enlarged market—will be brought into active operation in the direction of checking, and possibly reversing, the decline in prices. In. close alliance with this phase of the question is the recognition that must be given to the influence which the labour movement will necessarily have in determining the cost of English agriculture. It is quite evident that an era is approaching when the value of labour in the old countries of Europe will be more closely approximated to that in the colonies. As yet the advanced rates have been confined to clock labourers, miners, and artisans; but as further successes are gained by the better organised employes, the improvement must certainly extend to the agricultural classes, who are probably the most poorly paid within the whole circle of wage earners, and whose present incomes warrant a greater percentage of advances than can be made in any other. In this way it is quite possible that in the absence of any immediate improvement in prices an additional cause of restriction in growth may for a time be brought about. Again, there is the much disputed silver question. It has long been a contention on the part of the bimetallists that the depreciation in silver has practically had the effect of giving the Indian wheat grower a bonus equal to the difference in its currency value. Without entering upon any discussion as to how far this assertion is tenable, it may nevertheless, we think, be reasonably assumed that this depreciation has materially stimulated the growth of wheat in India. Although it would occur to the ordinary observer that the operations of commerce would bring the purchasing power of silver to a level in the two countries between which there was so large an interchange of commodities, it was, however, almost unanimously asserted by those who were examined on the subject before the Currency Commission that the rupee had not lost any of its value in India, notwithstanding the continued silver depreciation. It is difficult to realise this, but as the evidence was not controverted, and moreover has been used by the bimetallists as an argument in support of their cause, the obvious result, if the facts be so, of any turn in the silver market must be to reduce the Indian wheat growers' returns by the amount of the silver appreciation, making the business less profitable, and thereby tending to check the competition i'or outlet in the English market. As there is already an indication that the price of silver is likely to advance, the expected influence on the Indian wheat trade may soon be realised. If the above sketch is in harmony with the features which the facts present, there are reasonable grounds for inferring that the adjusting influence of falling prices has gone too far, and that to provide for increasing consumption the stimulus of higher rates will be required. A slight reaction on the lowest point is already visible, the markets generally exhibiting that

peculiar sensitiveness which is so often the precursor of an upward movement. How soon and to what extent this may occur will very much depend on the absence or otherwise of tho outside inllucnces which so often disturb tho grain markets. Independently of these, however, there is, wo believe, an inherent soundness in tho wheat trade that is in marked contrast with tho past, and which points to the probability that wo can at least rely upon experiencing no further decline.

The exhibition is to bo closed definitely on the lf/th prox.

The influenza epidemic appears to havo spread with wonderful rapidity, but, go far a3 can Ijo ascertained, in nearly every oi\so nothing more serious than confinement for a day or two has followed tbe seizure. It is probable that Borne of tho city schools will have to be closed. The epidemic is spreading iuto the country, and we are informed that yesterday a largo proportion f thosa who ate engaged at tho freeziug works at Burnside had to leave oil work. A Wellington telegram Etfttes that tho lleprcscutation Commissioners have finished their work, but their report and accompanying maps will not bo ready for some days. The shooting season will not open until the lit of Hay, the Government having disregarded tlio recommendation of tho Acclimatisation Society to fix the Ist of April as tho opening day. The search for the old silver which went down in the ill-fated Tararua has not been abandoned, Mr H. Shenvil! having taken up the task abandoned by Mr Sutherland. Tbe Southlaud News state 3 that Mr Sherwill was down at the bottom of the sea on tho 7th inbt. for half an hour, and Gome 41) yards astern of the wreck ho came across a piece of iho ship's keel. The wind then commenced to blow and the work for the time was abandoned, The run of the sea on the reef is very heavy. We le.irn from the Ciomwell Argus that at a meeting held there on Saturday a committee was appointed to draw up a petition to the Government asking that a clause be added to " The Selectors' Lands Revaluation Act 1889 " to bring agricultural leases under the operation of said act, and that the necessary steps be taken to get the petition drawn up, signed, and forwarded to the member for Wakatipu for presentation to Parliament. It wa3 decided to secure the co-operation of the settlers in tho Wakatipu and Blacks districts. For come unexplained reason the following Auckland telegram was not scut to Dunedin: — Tho irawata, from Fiji, brings newa that the Chief Justice delivered a very exhaustive judgment in tho appeal case of Cornwall and Manaecia v. M'Arthur and others. Hi 3 Honor found for the respondent Cornwall, one of the plaintiffs in the court below, and assessed the damages at £15,000, at the same time giving him an order for possession of tho land now held by tho appellants, defendants in the court below, and costs. The plaintiff declines to accept the amount of damages, and a new trial is to take place at Samoa. Manaema was declared to have no right of action, and costs both of proceedings in the action and appeal were given against her. They are now appealing to tho Privy Council. Tho following translation from a Portuguese paper is given by the Lisbon correspondent of the Standard, who does not, however, mention the name of i he temperate journal:—" War upon the Englishman! War, yd war, upon the gang of thieves, war without truce or quarter, I war in every shape and form. Destroy Bugland's commerce, show up her dishonour. Let ] Europe know what cowardly rascals live in its midst —rascals who eringfjto powerful Bismarck aud to the United States, but are iusolent when they feel they can be so with impunity. The English aro a me?.n race, who have got oa by deceit, embezzlement, villainy, robbery, and corruption. Let every Portuguese who loves his country regard the Dame of England as synonymous with the vilest vices. We call upon our countrymen under pain of defilement to shake no Englishman's haud. If a Portuguese woman listens to the addresses of nn English thief she will be dishonoured. It is our first duly to our children to teach them to hate the accursed spawn of Norman and Saxon pirates, ami to grow up to avenge the affront given to their fathers. Villains ! Villains, all! Aud if a squadron of thesa wretches dare enter our Tagus to affront us for hnmg roor ;n warsliipy, and to threaten ua with their guns, let tho people without hesitation make prisoners of the whole English colony, sparing neither women nor children, and tell the admiral that, if one bombshell falls in Lisbon, every one of these hostages will be put to death without an hour's delay. The wretches may then do their worst. Lisbon will not have died without wreaking vengeance." With reference to the reply of his Excellency tho Governor to the Masonic Convention to the request to accept the office of Grand Hester of the Masoaij Grand Lodge of New Zealandi which appeared in our telegraphic columus of the 19th inst.,a telejrain has been received from Wellington which states that even 120 lodges would not be considered by his Excellency as practical unanimity. The Schulerinennspiel advertised in yesterday's issue to take place at St. Joseph's School this evening has been postponed for a few weeks. Wd have been requested by Mr David M'lntosh to explain that the letter of Sir Walter BullerV, which we published on the 27th ult., is cot an exact copy of the latter a? it appeared iv the Mining World, although it purports to bo bo. The explanation 6i this probably is that certain words, to which Mr M'lntosh takes exception, were eliminated by tho editor of the Mining World. The letter, as it was published by us, is in strict accordance with Sir Walter Buller'u manuscript. The Tablet state 3 that the Rev. Father O'Donnell has been appointed pa3tor of the Port Chalmers district. At a meeting of tho North Uuucdiu Rifles on Wednesday evening Lieufcenat H. Myers was unanimously elected to the position of captain. -« i Messrs Lorie and Koy cell poultry aud produce to-dtirat.il o'clock. Messrs E. C. Itcynolda and Co. sell four bales Brussels carpet (all faults) at noon to-day. Meesrs James Satueou aud Co. soil brass and copper kettles, &c. to-morrow at 2 o'clock. Messrs James A. Park and Co. sell '10 cases cssorted apples to-Jay at half-past 11; and at 2 o'clock household furniture and effects, piano, &a. On Tuesday the eatne firm sell house and land in King street; and on Thursday and Friday next week hold a clearing ssle of Mr Montague's stock of fancy goods, &c. Mr Horsburgh lias forwarded vi a copy of " Lippiucott's Monthly Magazine," which contains an excellent assortment of hiyh-elass literature aud a few illastrations-nllfor la. The following will represent tlie second eleven of Hie Albion O.tJ. against the Warehousemen Second at the Oval on Saturday :-M'Master (c-.ptain), Finuigan, Dob!e. Hobson. Alexander, Bsquilant, Ireland, M'Oormuck, (Jilko, Kemnitz, Downes ; emergency, Mauley. The Selection Coramitteoof the Biunsidn Association Fooltoll Ulwb, at a meeting held on Wednesday evening, picked a team to play sgaiuet all-comers. Players are requested to be oil the ground at 2.30 sharp. La Grippe.-Tbe epidemic still raging. We lind from experience that our No. 1 is a splendid preventative. To mnnigers of factories, bunks, aud wholesale warehouses we will supply half-dozen bottles and upwards at special prices. Item eraber the maximal) ounce of prevention is better than ft pound of cure. Single bottles of No. 1 mixture Is 6d Rt Marshall's, 64 Princes etreet, only.—[Advt.l Tho "Purity" Cigarettes have taken hichest award at Exhibition.—[Advt.] The bouquets designed at George Matthews' mirseries, and exhibited at the recent flower show, were awarded four first prizes. TheHorul design also secured first honnura.—fADVT.] We advise visitors to be pliotoe.raphod by Eden George, as hiß are the best photos in. Dunediu.— [Advt.] Sausage (pronounced eaweij by the polite, and sasij by the vulgar) is on article of food ninde of meat minced and seasoned and enclosed in a cylindrical ease. So siiya the dlctlouarv; but how about the reality ? This is a question which has troubled thoughtful mankind for generations, and all p.grce in deploring the fact that there is reason for doubt in tho matter, llovreyer, such has always been tbe case, and a sausage continues to bo a doubtful subject. But this is no longer to be the case, in Dunedin at least, as Messrs Wilkie and Kay's beautifully clean, commodious, and altogether inviting premises at 73 Gcoige street defy suspicion. The lovers of porlc pies imd Cambridge and poik sausages and mild cu.?ed hams aud bacon aro oiife and contented at last. - [Advt.] tv fr Bakky's Tmcopheiuus fou the Hair.—The only article which will thoroughly cleanse, beautify, and improve tbe growth of t.Le hair. It is Keommended by the first families in tho laud, mid used by all cla3S2s throughout the universe, It stands alone as regp.rds its immense and constantly increasing consumption. There is no oil ov pomatum, or any other preparation for the hair, 501i.,1 or fluid, which approaches it in popularity, besides it is very reaaoi able in price. 0 A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC. There are some unscrupulous persons who endeavour to palm off inferior and poisonous liquor for that popular stimulant, WolfeV Schnapps. Purchasers should be careful that they obtain the genuine article. 83