The Opunake Times. DECEMBER 31, 1895. THE OLD AND THE NEW YEAR.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 31 December 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. DECEMBER 31, 1895. THE OLD AND THE NEW YEAR.

To-day brings to a close the year 1895, with all its pains and pleasures. It has been a very stirring one in the world’s history, and great changes have been wrought. The China-Japan war, which was in full swing at the commencement of the year, resulted in the total defeat, at every point, of the Chinese, and has brought the Japanese, a previously unthought-of people, into prominence. Since the war, Japanese commissions have been visiting other countries with a view to extending'their trade relations, and at the present time there seams to be a grave possibility that Japanese cheap labor will overrun Northern Australia. Although they are not credited with possessing all the vices set down to tile Chinese, yet they are labor cutthroats, and will create a desperate struggle for ascendancy with the European workman.

During the year Europe’s curse—the Turks—have been giving evidence of their unsuitability for the demands of nineteenth century civilization, and most horrible atrocities have been committed by them on the Armenians. To a certain extent they still succeed in keeping all the powers of Europe in consultation over their case, but no great unanimity to provide a cure prevails. The Ottoman Empire is a huge ulcerous growth, which needs excision, but the trouble is to find a physician to use the knife. When the Bulgarian atrocities stirred civilization against them nearly twenty years ago, after the other powers withdrew, Russia stepped into the breach and administered a sound thrashing to fliem, and we anticipate it will be left to them again eventually to drive the Turks out of Europe. It is only a matter of time until it must a Russian province. * * * The close of the year brings rumors of wars in the new world, the United States having put forward a claim to act as arbitrator in all matters pertaining to the States in that division of the world. The point in dispute is between England and Venezuela, and England naturally resents the interference of the United States, The cables intimate that it must result in war, as England could not be expected to knuckle down to any power. One cable informed us that the United States navy had only 1446 men available. This statement is simply ludicrous, but people, with every faith in the power of England, like to have their palates tickled by such bunkum. When the States were in their infancy they fought the mother country and secured their freedom. In the civil war, although the whole country was virtually on a peace footing, in an incredibly short time huge armies on both sides were mobilised, and one of the bloodiest wars in the history of the world was fought to the bitter end. Now with a population of nearly 80 millions, and immense wealth, their power must be very great, and should a war break out they need not fear the ultimate result very much. Although they do not possess a navy anything approaching that of England, it must bo borne in mind that they have not the same interests to guard on the main. The greater part of their commerce is carried in English ships, and an invasion of American territory is altogether out of the question. Further, a great part of England’s naval strength is fully occupied in maintaining British ascendancy in the Mediterranean and Eastern Seas, and cannot bo withdrawn, as within fortyeight hours of the withdrawal Russia would find a pretext for pouncing on Turkey, and also establishing herself in comfortable quarters in the China Sea. It would be a lamentable occurrence should war eventuate between the States and England, but on the other hand it is highly improbable that the States will recede from any position assumed through any bounce that may be tried on. * * * During the year the Liberal Government at Home suffered defeat, and the Conservatives and Liberal-Union-ists combined secured a very large majority. The Conservatives arc always looked on as the war party, and consequently we find more frequent references to meddling in foreign affairs, which seems to be so dear to the heart of the British “jingoist.” Horne Rule on Gladstoniau lines has, for the time being, received its quietus, but the Irish party are still fairly uanimous in their demands, and it is probable that most they ask for will be conceded by the present party in power.

One remarkable feature of the year has been the plethora of tragedies and suicides. Every day has seen one or more such chronicled. Baby farming in its most repulsive form has been brought to light, and the perpetrators of the ghastly deeds have paid the utmost penalty of the law. Suicides have been of distressingly frequent occurrence, and would appear to be

the outcome of our modern rationalism or materialism. If people have no faith in an after life they think very little of ending their earthly existence, when the burthen of it becomes in any way troublesome. With a belief in future reward and punishment it would be a deterrent from throwing themselves before the Divine tribunal in such a state. This may be termed ingrained superstition, bat if such superstition causes people to more sacredly guard- human life, then we think it is worth cultivating as an antidote. Reason in such cases is out of the question, as the value of a life merely for the sake of keeping intact the number of Her Majesty’s liege subjects is of very small moment to the majority of people individually.

Coming to our colony, the great depression which existed for so long has been partially removed by the increased value of our staple products. Wool has advanced very considerably in value, and the increased income thus obtained will find its way right through all branches of enterprise and industry. It increases the value of sheep, enhances the value of land, and creates employment in all branches of trade. Cereals, 4 too, have participated in these good times with a like effect. Dairy products, also, are meeting with a very much improved market compared with the closing of last season, and have given new hope to the industry. There is, however, still a certain amount of dissatisfaction in many places with the system of valuing the dairyman’s output of milk, but there is only one cure that we know of, which is co-operation on broad lines. This is the only method by which producers can get all there is in it, after paying for interest on capital and the necessary expenses in connection with marketing the manufactured article. There may then be seasons like last year, when they will not be so well off as beiug under contract with a stable proprietary company, but it would assure to them the net proceeds, whether great or small, which is all in reason, they should ask or expect. * * During the late session the public were surprised with further banking legislation, but it is asserted that at last bed rock has been reached, which we sincerely hope is based on good grounds. The whole trend of legislation under the present Government has been to kill monetary institutions by the introduction of cheap money, thus forcing all institutions having money to lend to reduce the rate of interest. By means of life insurance companies and similar institutions huge accumulations of money are beiugmade, and their very nature compels an investment of it in such securities as are fairly marketable or realisable, and under Government competition this has brought about a very material reduction in the rate of interest. There are two sides to the question. As the lending rate has been cut down, the rate paid to depositors has had to suffer proportionately, and therefore the rates now paid on deposits is not more than one half what it was a few years ago. Although money is said to be so scarce, yet it is only now of half value, as it takes double the amount to produce the same income. It has also another aspect, which the small borrower feels. As the interest rate gets cut down, moneylenders become more choice ia the securities demanded and want wider margins, so tiiat more money cannot be got than under the higher rates, thus hampering to a great extent the channels of investment. * * Great dissatisfaction with the autocratic rule of the Public Trustee in his administration of the Native Reserves has been felt, and as he was foimd to be beyond all reason, a Lessees’ League was formed to protect and forward the tenants’ interests. The objects of the League were intended to be to make all the native leaseholds Crown lands, so that the administration of them would be under the Land Board. A deputation of delegates—Messrs Elwiu, Wells, and A. Milne—went to Wellington during the session to advance the interests of the League. Mr Milne returned almost immediately, and did not take part in the fray. As soon as Mr Elwin stated his case before the committee, which consisted principally of his own grievances, he boat a retreat for home, whilst Mr Wells remained and saw the.matter through Parliament, but unfortunately there is not any very tangible result. It, however, has started the ball rolling, and has given evidence of the willingness of the lessees to combine and fight for the .end in view. Before that end is reached the League must be run on different lines, and we think a change in some of the leaders would be desirable. We offered a word of caution to Mr Elwin before it was formed not to try and centre it at the back of the mountain, but rather establish it where the greatest value was represented, but ultimately this was disregarded. At present it bears too much the appearance of trying to right half a dozen individual complaints, whilst the main object, viz., to create Crown tenants, has been variably dropped.

During the year a considerable area of land has been placed in the market in this distsict and several thousand acres taken up, so that solid progress in the work of settlement has taken place, and generally we may safely say that all our settlers have made substantial progress. Building has been busily pushed on, resulting in a number of handsome additions in the form of private residences, &c. Tenders are in for the jetty and we hope to sco the work gone on with early in the coming year, so that on the whole there is the prospect of a prosperous year in the district generally, and we wish one and all of our readers A Happy New Year.

Mr W. Harvey offers a jack for sale cheap. Tenders are called by the Education Board for additions to the Rahotu School.

A boy to learn cabinetmaking and building is advertised for.

Forty acres of Italian rye are to be let on shares by tender.

Messrs Nolan, Tonks and Co notify entries for their next Opunake stock sale, which takes place on 7th January. We are having an exceptionally long spell of dry weather for Opunake with every oppressive heat. On Sunday the thermometer registered 104 degrees in the sun. Mr Olliver’s residence, at Kaponga, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night about 10 o’clock. Furniture and all were destroyed. Mr J. Morgan had a narrow escape on Saturday, when his whare caught fire. He was asleep at the time and had barely time to escape with what he was dressed in.

The infant daughter of Albert Fair, Clive, Napier, was choked to death on Christmas night through drinking milk which coagulated, blocking the windpipe. Mr E. R. Morgan, of Rahotu, has been appointed agent for the sale of the Oliver plough. These ploughs have obtained a first-class reputation amongst agriculturalists, and are now very much in demand.

An inquest on the body of a man burned to death at Coromandel resulted in an open verdict. The victim is believed to have been Mackarell, of Auckland, who had gone to Coromandel to try to get work in a store. A young woman named Fanny Taylor attempted suicide on Friday morning at Woodville by taking ammonia. The doctor holds out little hope of her recovery. She buried her infant at Napier on Friday, and says the grief so unhinged her mind that she did not know what she was doing. Captain Gregor, well-known in the colony, died suddenly on Friday night at Kai Iwi, where he Lad been keeping a hotel for some years. Formerly he commanded the schooners Waihope and Awaioa and the steamer Wakatu. He died without warning, after dropping into a chair.

There were three tenders received for the re-erection of the jetty, but the directors decided not to deal with them until first submitting them to a general meeting of shareholders, which is called for Friday, January 10th, at 1.80 p.m. We hope to see a good gathering of the shareholders on the occasion, as it is advisable that the work should be put in hand at as early a date as possible, A sad fatal accident happened at Parramatta, 16 miles from Wellington. A young woman named Jane Connell, aged 18, of Wanganui, left by the midnight train on December 24, to visit some friends at Pahautanui. On reaching Parramatta station she saw her uncle on the platform, and in attempting to alight while the train was in motion fell under the train. Her head was smashed into pulp, and one arm was almost severed from the body. We give a reminder of the concert, under the auspices of the String Band, which takes place to-morrow evening in the Town Hall. A very good programme has been arranged and the entertainment will- form a pleasant wind up to the day’s amusement. For those who delight in tripping it on the light fantastic tos a dance will be held after the concert is over. The Band, since its inauguration, has always given its services gratuitously for any public object, and w T e have no doubt the public will show its appreciation by rolling up a bumper house. At a meeting of the Waimate Road Board, the Committee—Chairman and Mr Budge—met to open tenders on Tuesday. 35, Oeo Road.—J. Sheerin, £69 10s; B. Sheerin, £sl 15s 6d ; Keogh and Co., £SO; Martin, £45 7s 6d (accepted). 36, Oeo Road—Coxhead, £43 ; Sheerin, £36 ; Keogh and Co., £35; Cole, £2D ; Johnstone, £27 2s 6d (accepted). 42, Lower Mangawhero Road—Mudford, £2 19s 6d per chain (accepted). 43, Normanby Beach Road—McCarthy, 9s 6d per chain and 6s 6d per chain (accepted at Cs 6d). 44, Opunake - Stratford Road—Sheerin, £33 ; Morris, £2B (accepted).

Constable Salmon on Tuesday seized three hogsheads of beer on the premises of Phillip McCarthy, Manaia, because there were no stamps affixed as required by law. Mr McCarthy, upon receiving the beer, noticed the absence of stamps, and sent immediately to the police, with the above result. It is explained that the hogsheads were floated ashore in the surf at Opunake instead of being conveyed by boat, and that the stamps were washed off. It has not yet transpired against whom the proceedings will be taken for a breach of the law.—Star.

Of the death at Marton, of Mr Alexander Milne, father of Mr A. Milne, of Hawera the Mercury says that he enjoyed such confidence from his fellow settlers in early days that he was elected to represent them in the Provincial Council under Doctor Featherston and Sir William Fitzherbert, and occupied a seat on the Council until provincialism was abolished. He took a great interest in the early formed Road Boards and County Council system, and when the latter came into force he was elected a member and also presided as Chairman for many years. Mr Milne was also a Justice of the Peace, and was one of the greatest adherents of the Church at Bonny Glen. His presence will be missed amongst the largo circle of friends and acquaintances he had made, more particularly by those who knew him not only as a straight-forward man in business matters, but also one whom socially it was a pleasure to know and thoroughly respect for many estimable qualities. Certainly the best medicine known is Sander and Son’s Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effects iu coughs, colds, influenza ; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, bo they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling—no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, Ac. ; diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneys, and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy; crowned with medical and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, and reject all others. While at Peekskill, N.Y., Mr J. AScriven, a prominent manufacturer of New York City, purchased a bottle of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy. Such good results were obtained from its use that he sent back to the druggist from whom he had obtained it for two more bottles of the same remedy. When you have a cough or cold give this preparation a trial and like Mr Scriven you will want it when again iu need of such a medicine. It is a remedy of great worth and merit. For .sale by Newman Bros. /