THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1881.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1881.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

When Mr Holmes asserted in the Legislative Council that 'farming does not pay in Otago,' he, of course, spoke in the character of a farmer who farms by proxy, of one who employs many labourers in his fields, and who looks for a large return as a reward for his large outlay. There is nothing in his assertion to occasion any surprise. It would be a very remarkable fact indeed if the class of farmers represented by Mr Holmes found their pursuit a very' paying one in the Province. It is not a very common thing for farmers of that class in England to make much of agriculture; and yet the wages paid to their labourers average about ten shillings a week only; the market is within easy reach by rail, and the finest mechanical appliances are employed on their farms. No one ever heard of fortunes made by farming in any country. Agriculture has never been looked upon as a tempting field for the speculator. Flour-bags certainly are subjects for large and hazardous investments, but then the farmer's work has been done and he has no chance of sharing in the speculator's profit. There is probably no part of the world in which gentlemen-farmers obtain any adequate return for their capital. . . . The Europeans in the Taupo district have been warned to leave by an ambassador from the Maoris Many runs have already been taken up in the district "by gentlemen from the South." The poll-tax of ten shillings levied in Auckland by authority of the Provincial Council is producing great discontent among the population The local journals are full of the subject. At a public meeting held to protest against it. the following resolution was proposed by the Rev. Mr Edgar:— "That in the opinion of this meeting, the poll-tax is unconstitutional—(cheers)—uncalled for—(cheers)—and unjust—(cheers)—and that the Provincial Council in attempting to impose it has done violence to the rights of British subjects, and proved its own incompetence to administer the affairs of the Province" Mr Schafer, the traveller, is on the road to the Thames gold-fields. The Tauranga correspondent of the Southern Cross gives the following information wtih respect to his pedestrian exploits:—" Mr Schafer, the well-known traveller, started to-day. with two companions, overland for the Thames. He arrived here two days tgo from Napier, to which place he had travelled from Wellington—a distance of 240 miles—on fcot, alone. From Napier he rode by way of Taupo, and was a month on the way, having stopped at one or two places by invitations of chiefs. Mr Schafer has walked eleven hundred miles in New Zealand, and is by all accounts an extraordinary pedestrian, having accomplished some great feats in that way, in one case having walked six and a half miles in one hour and twenty-seven minutes; in another thirty-seven miles in a little less than five hours. He appeared to be delighted with the appearance and climate of Tauranga, which he said excelled that of any other place he had ever seen. This opinion from an intelligent observer, who had travelled nearly all over the world, is no small tribute of praise to our beautiful district." The Wellington correspondent of the "Southern Cross," speaking of the Parliamentary displays by the Maori members, says:—"The general opinion of the public here is, that the speeches of Tuesday evening afforded additional and conclusive proof of the absurdity of admitting men to seats in the Legislature wbo are ignorant of our language, and are at best intelligent, but uneducated and seminivilised, savages."