LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13940, 27 June 1907, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE LAND PROPOSALS. Sip.,—l would like to remind workers in both town and country of the fact that men who own largo estates aro comparatively few, and that, most farmers aro persons sprung from their own ranks who, by their industry and sobriety, together with tho carefulness of their 'womenfolk,' wero enabled to buy a couplo of hundred acres or so of Crown land-land lying wasto from timo unknown, and of Tittle value until labour and money had been expended upon it. It is all very well for tho loss self-reliant, lest self-denying, who now see cvgrthmhuk( mfortablo homesteads, to protest against the unequal jiosition of these farmers and themselves. Let them go to .some of the back-block lauds still open and waiting for then), and compare tho waste lands to the farms in tho Taiori, and then consider, if they can, what it would cost, in effort and means to transform such land into freehold farms and manfully follow iu the footsteps of the pioneers; and if it should bo thought that the back-blocks bear no comparison to tho Taieri I would point them to the farm of Mr Jall'ray, a practical farmer, one of the very few men alive who saw the Taieri as waste land, and rather than face the difficulties and drawbacks of tho plain, preferred the easier, the moro secure, and comfortable heights of Saddle Hill to the lioggy flax and .scrub land. Restrict the acreage by all means: none but the syndicates and speculators will object. But to assist in passing a law denying the freehold of moderate-sized farms to persevering men is, in my opinion, folly and wrong, for on tho intelligent labour and money devoted to production front the country depends the comfort and prosperity of the towns. Prosperity in the country enables settlers to employ labour to erect good buildings, to purchase furniture for their homes, to buy cOstly implements and machinery, to dress better, and to contribute largely to tho revenue and tho upkeep of government. Arc our legislators and unions so limited in vision as not to see that the conditions of country life aro now lass attractive in tho country than they are iu the (owns? Let- me draw the workers' attention to the competition in all industries if the conditions of the backblocks are made less attractive and satisfactory. It is a truism to say that for years there has been a steady stream of country folk into the towns. The fact has been deplored again and again. Only a few days ago Mr Laurenson deplored the fact, and would trace it to land mono|»ly by a wealthy few, and there is somo truth iu it. But tho real reason is this, that fanning life is a most strenuous one, and for tho best- part of the life it is a self-denying, self-sacrificing one; for on 200 acres, where mixed farming is carried on, tho man, wife, and children are all hard workers, and to insure success it must for many yeara ho h\rd work from early morning till late at night—not as with town workers, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and on the Sabbath, when many town workers find t.lio 11 a,m. services too early, their country brothers must, be up early to attend the needs o! til-; indispensablo cattle and horses, and yet some of them aro in timo for Sunday sorvico in some school a oouple of miles away. The condition of the Rons and daughters is uninviting, for farmers' returns in most cases aro to small and uncertain that the children liavo no fixed wages. They get what the parents get,— home, food, and clothing,, with a little pocket-money from their mother. Now, when these young men and women come to the towns they see moro society, greater ease and comfort, and the steady wages of all workers, and are charmed, and thus slowly but . surely they stream into the towns. So with my. plea for tho freehold I would also strike a note of warning and say: Ma!w tho condition of tho cultivators less attractive and the town moro inviting and you will increase the exodus from land to tho labour markets; members of Parliament will bo besieged for servico in the police, railways, and post offices, and there will b,) an overwhelming body of intelligent, strong young people of both sexes competing with foundry and factory workers, and in every branch of work and service, until both town and country will languish, and depressions known of old will he intensified. And will not the present practice of demonstrations and of appeals to the Government be unavailing? I think under the promoted alteration of the land laws the Government would find the markets of the money-:enders closed to it. Such a radical»change would bo viewed with distrust, followed by neglect. How could any Government under such conditions relieve distress or bring back the present prosperity of the workere? I would, therefore, with all humility and respect, urge ou those who have done, so much for Labour to let well alone, and, instead of faying a good working man may have a freehold ii he will only stop or come to town, but may not have tho same night if he endeavours to make a home in tho back-blocks, to encourage self-re-liance and let the freehold bo an incentive to effort and endurance, for it will fall to the working man mostly to cultivate the back-blocks and stock and work tho small grazing runs. It is a' mistake to think that the labour of a man, his wife, and children will bo heartily given in order that the towns, and not themselves, may ultimately get the benefit: it is contrary to human nature.—l am, etc., A Back-blocks Freeholder

DUNEDIN STARR-HOVREIETT • SOCII'7I T Y. Sin,—At the inception of the above society great stress wn6 laid on the fact the expenses of management should consist of levies—first, Is per share every half-year and fines for non-payment of dues. I find 'by the annual report that levies, lines, withdiawals, and transfer fees amount to £330 2e 3d. The expenditure includes—Secretary £210, director.* £103, auditors £31 10s. Other expenditures addem make a total of £467 19s for management, which leaves a loss to ho taken from the shareholders' profits of £117 16s lOd. I think it is about time that, the ' Government insisted on these societies, like friendly societies, keeping the expenses within the management fund. 1 have taken tho balance from Nos. 1 and 2 group jointly.—l am, etc., ' Shareholder. [We are informed, ui>on inquiry, that tho figures given above do not entirely correspond with tbo?o contained in tin? published balance sheet, and that our correspondent has omitted to take into consideration Iho item of interest earned, which is a large factor in determining the amount of profits,—Kd. O.D.T.]

THE DESTRUCTION* OF TITLE DEEDS. Sir,—lt. is reported that at a meeting of the members of the Church of Christ held on Thursday evening last for tho purpose of celebrating the paying off of a mortgage on the church property, tho mortgage was publicly burned amid a sceno of enthusiasm. One reverend gentleman hold the deed up while another of the cloth applied a match, and after tho dooumont was consumed the audienco rose and joined heartily ill singing "Praise God from whom all blowings flow." There is always more or less excitement, about, any Ixmfire. but one of title deeds is, perhaps, as costly as but few would caro to indulge in. It almost goes without. saying that the rccoipt would have l>ccn indorsed on tho mortgage, and as mortgagees are in almost every ease most particular about having their mortgages registered, it is to ho hoped that at least the mortgagors took the precaution to liave the receipt or reconveyance, registered. There would then be evidence that tho mortgage lmtl been destroyed. A titlo must consist of original documents. If any of these are lost or destroyed there is no end of trouble to get tho title put on a- satisfactory footing, and purchasers (including mortgagees) are always charv of having anything to do with faulty titles. Perrons acting in the capacity of trustees cannot he too careful in preserving trust property, and more especially titles connected with trusts.' However, I am not, writing this as a letter of advioe, but rather to warn anyone having titlo deeds in their posiession, consisting inter alia of discharged mortgages, not to destroy thorn, but preserve them as carefully as umk deposit receipts. It is safer not to labour under any delusion that a property will always regain for the same use as it is at present. No one can tell what a day may bring forth, and the purchaser of any property is satisfied with nothing less than reading his titlo clear. —I am, etc., U.S. LABOUR AGENTS' PRACTICES. Sin,—There appeared in Tuesday's is™? | a letter from Mr Steve Boreham accusing certain labour agents of this city of illegal ;i:a:ticc.s, and stating that he has recovered from some of them certain fees which were iiv.properly charged to persons seeking employment. Would this gentleman kindly ; .-late or name the oSlices guilty of suob offences laid down for our guidance .irc.ojirling to "The Servants Registry Office ■ Act, 1896 I gin, .etc., I Jim 2£u ft, Bbsw.

TEMPERATURE OF TIIE EARTH. Sir,—From tho history of our planet wo arc presented witli threo £reat climatic eras:—(l) As ivarmod by botii internal and solnr heat, (2) as experiencing an eitremo cold, and (3) as warmed by euri heat almost entirely. 1 shall confine myself to the proof of an increasing temperature over the last period. Our evidences arc drawn from tho natural conditions of tho earth's surface, from organio life and astronomy. It can be shown that in comparatively recent times the South Island of New Zealand and part of the North Island were covered from shore to shore with a mantle of ioe, with rivers of ice of mountainous altitude, ploughing their way from the alpino heights to every coastline. If a thermometer had been placed on any of our shores thon it would have stood below the freezing point. It has been said that the ancient glaciers were confined to tho alpine regions; but such was not the case. Wo liavo a terminal moraino forming a cliff on tho coast at YVangaloa; again, a series of moraine mounds lie along the eastern margin of the Lower Taieri; there is also a moraine at Waikouaiti, at a littlo distance from the bay; ami thcro aro several voches-moutonco3 in Pleasant Valley, on the flat at Goodwcod. a few chains from tho beach, with their bases lower than tho tidal water. We liavo tho same phenomena all along the Canterbury and Marlborough coaste, an<l on tho West Coast to Stowart Island. Climatic conditions were the same in that ago on our sea margins as they are now at the present snow-line, 5000 ft or 6000 ft high. The returning heat dispelled the enow over that wide spare. The area of human occupation has been increased, and settlement has followed closely the retreat of tho snow-line. Modem glaciers aro now confined to the higher valleys, but tho ancient glaciers passed over tho sub-alpine ranges and slid over deep gullies on tho top of ice, with which they were filled. Thoy eroded lofty mountains. Wo have now a mass of heated air 6000 ft in vertical depth on tho lower plains and hollows. Tho increased heat ha* caused tho glaciers to shrink to their present dimensions, driven back tho snow-line, limited the area of snow, and rendered tho polar regions and mountain summits more uccessibjo to tile explorer and mountaineer. Had tourist? como to New Zealand during the frosty rigour <Jn>y would not lwvo found thou way to Mount Cook anfl Tongariro so easily. The tundras of Northern Russia and parts of Canada have only recently become amenable to cultivation. And if wo turn to Caithness, in Scotland, there aro underground houses that some prehistoric people bill t. (o escape the bitter cold, like the Kamsehatkans of the present time. The climate was as severe for them in their day as it is now at tho Arctic Circle. ■ It is possible that some of tho hardier pro-glacial plants and animals that perished at the glacial advent might now live in most parts of the North and South Islands, the glim that, lives in the higher temneratnre of Australia flourishes in the latitude ot l>tinedm. Hie nikau palm (areea) seems to be making its way south by the West Coast, to (he latitude of Christohnrch. The kauri that flourished onco in South Otago. as seen m the moraines and lignites, has not returned. A young kauri, about 14ft o, i- K .!• ' surv ' vc< ' a few years in Dunedjn Jrubhp Gardens. Some of the animals, and especially (he larger birds, were exterminated by the cold. A few of the smaller survivors have returned to the ancient abode of their ancestors. There has ken no opportunity of recruiting from distant islands. None of their descendants have reached tho development of their predecessors. Perhaps some of tho delicate ferns might aid m tho elucidation of this part of tho problem. According to astronomers, the sun was distant from the earth 95 million miles in 1857. In 15307 the distance is reduced to 90 million milee—that is, five million miles less in half a century. Tn 1857 tho light of the sun reached the earth in 8J minutes; in this year of grace, 1907, only minutes aro required. This surely intimates a shorter distance from the sun, and gives t-lio reason for a higher temperature on tho earth. Tho earth has now more heat and a stronger pressure of light on her surface, but. these aro modified bv the reduction of her disc. Our warmth is kept down by the thickening crust preventing heat from within, hindering radiation, loss of heated master from her interior, <liousfh volcanoes that _ continue their activity. Earthquakes intimate that the earth is iu an unsettled state. The forco of light opposes the great, law of gravitation, and these two forces maintain the rotatory motion of the earth oil her axis.—l am, etc., J. Chkistie.

SWEEPING STREETS AFTER 8 A.M. Sin.—Quito recently you called attention to tho disgraceful state of our roads and footpaths through their being covered with mud; but, bad as mud is. a still greater danger lied in the way certain shopkeepers in Georgo and l'rinccs streets allow the pave- j monts in front of their premises to be swept j between 8 and 9 a.m. I have seen a boy sweeping in Georgo street, and a cloud of dust arising in consequence and finding a lodgment on the fresh carcases hung at the door of a butchcr's shop! It is most annoying to pedestrians to bo smothered with dnst just because certain shopkeepers will not take the trouble to comply with tho Corporation bye-law. In case it may be ignorance on their part, it runs as follows Sub-section 36 of seotion 161 of part IV of Bye-law No. 1, City of Dunedin: . . . Omit daily to clean before 8 o'clock a.m., and to keep clean so much of tho footway as is opposite to the promises in front of which the footway is asphalted or otherwise paved." The maximum penalty for any olfeneo thereunder is not to exceed £5. Perhaps our city engineer might devise somo means of minimising tho danger arising from tho way in which the roadway is swept bv tho corporation employees. I am astonished that people waiting for cars opposito tho Post Office have not protested long ago. A sprinkling of water before tho brcom, if applied, would amelorate matters considerably.—l am, etc., Saxitas. ADVERTISING NKW ZEALAND. Silt,—l sec by to-day's Times that Mrs Isabella Menzies, of Edinburgh, denies the truth of my letter to the Glasgow Daily Mail and Kecord of April 30. I may inform you that her contradiction is not worth the paper it is written on. She evidently knows little or nothing of the state of the labour market in Xew Zealand at the present time, and she cannot vouch for the genuineness of all the advertisements which appear in the papers from time to time, as there are tricks in all trades. Mrs Menzies says she was 25 years in Dunedin, and she dees not say when she left, If it. is such 'a favoured liuul. and, as the lato Mr Seddon said, " God's own country," and as she speaks from experience, why did she leave it for such a poor starvation place as Edinburgh? Perhaps she made her pile in the good old days of the gold rush or land. She is like a gocd many more of the absentees, -who, when they have made enough to retire on, return to the land of their birth. She asks, do I want tho land for myself? Xo; but I do not want to see our streets like those of Glasgow and London, with halfstarved people at every corner: We have enough poverty in our midst and unemployed without importing more. Mrs Menzie.3 says there arc no free emigrants and very few assisted. If she will apply to the Agent-general in London for the pamphlet issued to intending emigrants, she will read tho following on page 2flAssisted emigration—Ney Zealand has spent over £2,000,000 sinre 1871. Such expenditure ceased for many years, but lately it has been resumed by the Government contributing towards the cost of passages of ])erscns approved l>y the High Commissioner under the reduced rale passage system, particulars of which are given on page 26." I am just much interested in the prosperity of New Zealand as anyone, but cannot shut my eves to facts, though it. might suit my_ pocket to do so. I speak of facts which are patent, and may refer to a letter sent to the Manchester Guardian and 25 other papers from the president and secretary of the Canterbury Trades aral Kabour Council last year, warning English workers against coming to Now Zealand. If you will read the pamphlet, on page 7 vou will seo the following:—"Potatoes: The yield was 5? tons per acre in 1905, as against 61 in 1901. The average price is from £2 to £6 a ton. As potatoes often cost nearly £5 to £6 an acre to grow, their production does not always pay." We had for the first time in New Zealand the potato disease in'l9os. and last venr we had the driest season we have had for more than 40 years; consequently potatoes have been very dear recently, hut thousands of tons ! have often been unsaleable and have | rotted in st<-«e and in the land, and havo | been dumped into the bay and river beds, i I do not think T need say more at the J present, and if Mrs Menzies w'il rf>"<! the i letters published i" to-day's Time--— i "Stranded in Dunedin" and "The T'n--1 employed"—she may perhaps havo her vision somewhat cleared.—l am, etc., Ajjbub K.. Hiticr.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION. Sin,—Mr Braithwaite's remarks in your issue of Thursday aro but a rehash of matter that has already appeared in tlio columns of the Times. Air Uraitliwaito lias i ? 1M ! y parta in h ' 3 t'mo, but is hardly likely to shine as a "reconciler" of scienco and religion at (he present distressful moment. He has given u s a beautiful example of that kind of argument which consists in a counting of heads-a poor kind of argument at best. In his hands it is particularly so, emphasising as it dees tho fact that scientific men actively favourable to the claims of Theism may fco reckoned upon tho fingers of one's hands. Waiving the main questions altogether for tho moment, I maintain that, were tho aetual opinions of Mr Braithwaite's champions to bo set side by side, they would exhibit hopeless diversity, ono with the other. Orookcs is a spiritualist, Lord Jiolvm is a plain-going Presbyterian, and Komanes returned to tho Anglican fold before he died, broken down in health and seriously affected by the loss o[ friends, etc. Ho himself eajd that his return to tho Church was made "at the sacrifice of my intellect," or words to that effect. His early "Jissay on Theism" is justly considered one of tho acutcst and most destructive criticisms ever penned, but his later attempt to uphold the Thcistic position should ill pity be left to oblivion. Wo should all bo pleased to see those storm-tossed subjects included in tho term religion brought into calmer waters, but while tho professional theologians keop in heaving controversial billows it is quite useless liopmg to find quiet Michorago under tho Ico of this or that scientific man's opinions. Science is in essence an instable intellectual quantity, and its concern is with tho province of natural phenomena. Within that province .a. great deal that confronts tho serious onlooker appears moro liko the outcomo of diabolical design than of beneficent purpose. Upon this aspect of things I will not dilato at present. Religion has for alleged domain the super or extra-natural. For us, however, tho Old and New Testaments form the acknowledged basis of our faith, such as it is. Now, what is the state of opim'on upon theso old books? Chaotic so far as anyone may see. Professional theologians— many of them very able men-rare, and have been, busy with labours that for the bulk of people have made confusion worso confounded, and arc destructive of faith 1o a vastly greater extent than they aro to its upbuilding. Take, for example, Sir Oliver Lodge, a man for whose ability I feel profound regard. Ho is so well satisfied .with the New Testament that ho has recently published a newer one of his own. Sir Oliver is one of the best writers of the time, and hi 3 testament is a remarkable production; but after reading both it and his essays in the Hibbcrt Journal, one cannot but see that author's now religion would be a. sort of cross between Thcosopliy, Unitarianism, and Ethical teaching. A few may be suited by the eloquently presented "New Theology" of tho gifted Sir Oliver, but tho majority will have nono of it, perhaps, if I may whisper it, for the reason that it is too good for them. Thoughtful men, at anyrate, want not fluctuating statements of belief in a vaguo and vapourish Theism, but some definite contribution that will re-establish faith in the Christian Trinity, and even Sir Oliver Lodge draws the line at the third person in that august trio! I think lam right in claiming that the Trinity is the only religious ccntropiece in which our portion of the race ran bo expected to take a, really living interest. For many years I have taken somo interest in matters of science ajid philosophy, and have como to the conclusion that to expect any help upon religious difficulties from the ever-changing opinions of scientific men is utterly futile. May I remind Mr Braithwaite that Haeekel is 110 "materialist," but a monist, as all acquainted with his writings aro well aware. The Rev. R. J. Campbell seems to be a monist also, but no doubt with a difference.—l am, etc., A. M.

THE "REJECTS" AT THE ABATTOIRa Sir,—l desiro space to correct a statement made by Or Smith at tho last meeting of tho City Council, When the monthly report was presented relating to the number of cattle, sheep, lambs, pigs, and' calves dealt with at the abattoirs, a very largo number appeared on tho list as rejects. At this one or tivo of the councillors seemed to he slightly alarmed, whereupon Or Smith— for the reason. I suppose, that he is in the trade—rose in his place, as I presume, for tho purpose of throwing oil on the troubled waters, but he made a statement that is altogether inaccurate. He stated that these rejects were condemned outside before they came into the abattoirs at. all. This is entirely at variance with fact. I nm at the present time, and havo been for months past, putting through the abattoirs from 700 to 800 head of cattle per month. Theso cattle arc bought in the country, delivered to mc at Rurnside, and put in the abattoirs for slaughter, and Mr Snowball has the entire right to say what he will allow to go into consumption and what ho will not. I may bo permitted hero to remark that if ovcry abattoir were as strictly inspected at the "Dunedin City Abattoir is no citizen need bo afraid to eat tho meat presented to him.—l am. etc., Charles Sauson. Burnside, June 24.

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. Sir,—ln your artielo of this morning on tho " Dairying Industry," you say that tile Minister of Agriculture did not make it clear that tho new system is intended to benefit tlio private consumer of milk aa it undoubtedly will tho dairy factories. Tho milk supply of towns and boroughs is, by tho Dairy Industry Apt, placed directly under thecontrol of the Minister of Agriculture. flio now departure is, as Mr Clifton, chief stock inspector, explained to the committee and members of this association, to bo Tiut an extension of the work that the Stock Dop'artmont has for a long time carried on in connection with tho inspection of premises of dairy farmers supplying the towns. The department has both inspected and instructed, and gradually them has been very considerable improvement. You may rely upon it that tho scheme docs/ cover the milk supply to private consumers. Tho Health Department will have its work, no doubt, but Mr Clifton and his inspectors and instructors are to doal with any evils existing at. Ihe source of supply—that is, at tho milking sheds. At Palmerston North Inst week, as well as in Dunedin, Mr Clifton made what I have above stated abundantly clcar. He said: "It was proposed that the system of city inspection should be extended to the country districts. All milk suppliers would, therefore, bo included. Tho feo tentatively ,t>ro]:osed was 2s 6d for 10 cows, and 6s for 50. Testing would be included under supervision ol Mr Cuddie. Pigs, which ouirlit to bo largely raised on dairies, were often found at factories affected with tuberculosis, proving the rxi«t<*nce of disease among the cows. Ultimately coercion to prevent a email minority menacing the whole industry would lwve to bo applied." I am glad to see you cordially 6upport the scheme disclosed by the Minister of lands, and am also glad that Cabinet has sanctioned it, and allocated £12,C00 to carry it. out. For tho benefit of the dairy industry, as it concerns manufacture and the export trade, nothing so important or beneficial has ever been done by the Government since, under Sir John M'Kenwe, the Dairy Industry Act and tho grading 6vstein were instituted. Since then factories "have struggled to minimise or remedy the evl of bad milk supply. Now tho cause, not tho effcct, is to bo dealt with, and the town consumer will benefit as much as the manufacturer. Year after year many tuberculous cows are killod. The number is not lessening year by year, nor will the killing of cattle lessen it. Tho cause of the evil is in the milk supply, and it is to the improvement of this that Mr Clifton and his men will direct their energies. The Health Department deals mainly with remedies and palliatives for the evil. It is bccause the scheme devised and announced by tho Minister of Lands deals with tho evil at. it root—or, I may say, with tho causo instead of the effectthat it deserves the cordial support of tho town consumer as, I believe, 't has of everyone interested in ihe dairy industry. I value tho work of tho Health Department, and see no need for any clashing of interest. From what I know of the Minister of Lands and of Messrs Clifton and Cuddie, I am quite sure they will not let any departmental red tape or jealousy spoil their scheme. Tn this matter all can co-operate as practical men.—l am etc., James R. Scott, Secretary National Dairy Association 'South Island). Dunedin, June 25.

ABERDEEN ANGUS CATTLE AND THEIR CROSSES. Silt,—While Aberdeen Angus cattle and their crosses have not gone to the front; in the south as bcef-producers, on tho other hand, in tho north they aro going ahead very much in tho samo manner as tho population—viz., simply leaving all othor ' breeds You want no better roforonoo than is supplied by tho broodoia of shorthorn going in for thorn now in all directions. As beef rattle, a glancc ac their show performances for 190? at Homo "'", be of interest to lovers of tho blacks. At tho omithfiokl Club show during tlic Inss 25 years tho champion plate for tho best beast in tlio show has been won eight times by Aberdeen Angus hoifers and threo times by Aberdeen Angus orossbrcd cattle. Tha gold medal for the best steer has been won threo times by Aberdeen Angus steers and five times by crossbred steers. Tho got 3 medal for the best heifer has been woa 10 times by Aberdeen Angus hoifers and sis times by crossbred heifers. At tho dmithfield Club show in 1904 the championship prize for tho best animal under two years old was won bv an Aberdeen Angus crossbred heifer, a crossbred stoer being reserve. Iho champion plate and the gold medal also went to an Aberdeen Angus heifer. lor tlio King's challenge cup—for tho best beast bred by tho exhiuitor—tho Aberdeen Angns crtxssbred heifer that was champion 111 tho younger classes was rcsorvo. At the* samo show, in tho c&rcaso classes (judged by butchers), the carcases of Aberdeen Angus cattle and their crosses won the champion prizo and reserve, tho Orst three prizua for steers under two years, tho first thrco prizes for steers under threo years, and the first two prizes for heifers under three years—a fact which affords sufficient proof of tlio valuo of tlio breed and its crosses m tho eyes of tho butchers, the ultimate and most important judges, as their estimation rules tho market. At Birmingham, Norwich, York, Leeds. Edinburgh, lloval Dublin Society's winter show, and at Chicago tho blacks and their crosses havo taken all the .princippl prizes. At tho Chicago " International"—tho great Christmas ehow of tlio United States of' America, where these cattle aro extensively bred and thoir merits fully recognised— tlio grand champion of tho show was an Abordoen Angus steer under thre; years, and tho championship in tho car-lots (all brcods and grades competing) was won by a load of two-year-old Aberdeen Angii9 cattle, doelared by tlio judgo (Mr Jolm Rcss, of Meiklo Tarrel, N. 8., tlio wellknown breeder and feeder of these crosses) to be tho best lot of fat oattlo 110 had , over seen; and tho championship prizo for car-lots of yearlings was also won by a lot of Aberdeen Angus steers. Iu tho foregoing I have not mentioned such places as Tuuhridge, Faversliam, AsVtford, Edenbridge, Maidstone, Rochester, Hailsham, Stcyning, Pulborough, East Grimstead, Settingbourne, Gloucestershire, Malmoahury, Teclidale, Chelmsford; Suffolk, Bath, and many other shows, whoro theso cattle havo got the principal prizes. Again, in 1905, at Smithfield, tho champion boast was an Aberdeen Angus heifer, which gained, besides tho champion plate, tho cup for the best heifor and tho ICing'3 challenge cup for tho best beast bred by tho exhibitor.—l am, etc., Alex. M'Kikkon. lliddlemarch. June 25.

TIIE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC) FUNDS' ON. COUNTRY ROADS. Srß,—l see by the report of the last meet, ing of the Waihomo Comity Council that tho chairman strongly objccta to tho Government giving grants, {or roads unless those are approved by the council, as such votes wo a waste of public money and not required. ■ My experience of Government grants is that a fair-minded Minister or M.H.R., with no bigg or local interest to serve, is more likely to give the grants where tlioy aro required than a selfish council whore everyono is trying to get as much as po&sjble for his own particular district. Take tne road botween Dunback and Palmerston, ono of tho best roads in New Zealand,- yet tho council annually applies for a grant for this road. Government votes must not ba spent on maintenance on tiiis road, but they can bo spent in no other way. It is thoreforo not only unfair, but it is dishonest of tho council to make the application. There is also the road to tho limo kiln. Is that required? "With a railway to tho kiln, would it not bo a waste of money to make a road? So far the Government hsn refused all applications for grants on theso roads, and I think it. is right. Last session 1 the Government gave a vote of £300 to open a road between Moonlight and Rocfo and Pillar, which would save a number of settlers in the back-blocks eight miles of railage and eight miles in tho return journcy to a railway station. The council, howover, after applying for the vote, refused to spend it on this much-ncoded road. It Boems to mo that it is the council that ■would waste public money by applying for votes on roads that are not required and refusing to spend it on roads where it is ranted. There is another point in the remarks of the chairman that should not bo overlooked. At t,he time of an election and before tho meeting of Parliament members address the electors in tho different centres, and any votes that may bo required in their locality tho electors ask the member to try and get for them. This the chairman calls button-holing a member, and he -would put a stop to it if he could. He would muzzle the ratepayers: bhev don't know what ia wanted in the district they live in, and the member must not apply on their behalf r.or tho Minister grant any of their requests; except with the consent and approval of the chairman and his cliquc in tho council. I hope ratepayers will take a noto of this attempt to"interfere with their rights.—l am, etc,, Ratepayer.