HINTS ON GATHERING FRUIT. [From the Gardener's Weekly.]

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 6

HINTS ON GATHERING FRUIT. [From the Gardener's Weekly.]

iWost people are disposed to gnther the autu'nn fruits too soon. They hear ths trees cracking in the wind, and they find tha ground strewn, with windfalls ; and from these premises they jump at the conciusion that the fruit outrlit to be gathered. But a certain percentage of a crop may fall, from various causes, before the crop is ripe. The diseased portion will lose its hold, or the wind may dislodge whit isound, long before the portion which re'iiatn fiivn i< lit to gather. A rule is generally adopted by era: Ideners, that if the pips of apples or re.irs are turniii-c brown, fiecrnp may ba taken : but we should rathe say tint a decidedly dark and settled hue of tho seel is n safer criterion. As to the objection tint w.iiting late iuto tho autumn causes a loss of tLe fruit h\ faliins:, it Ins little weight, bscause it is by this p>-o-cess thnt the weaker and lea=t sound fruit is jrot rid ot while the best remains. T«l> ing the crop taa earl.\ will not only injur v the good iruit by causing it to shrivel, but will also render frequent removals necessary in order to separate from the stock the rotten ones, which would ot themselves have fallen from the tree if more time had been gircn. A most important matter is gathering the fruit without brufeing it in the slightest degree. Apples and pears bought iv th market are generally much specked, by which then beauty is spoiled ; and most of this is occasioned bj blows received both in gathering and in rolling th< fruit from one basket to another. This can scarcely be avoided when orcharding is carried on largely, but amateur gardeners cannot well give too much iitten tion to gatheiiug their fruit. Any falling should be obviated, and what does fall should be placed .eeparately. We find a coat with deep side posketq honor than a basket hung to the ladder— the usual made of gathering ; such receptacl s are quilo under coihnnnd, aidmaybem ide to hold a great deal. Thekindo wtather.-'uriug which the gathering is p;rfui-ned ia matter of importance. The trees should be. thoroughly dry, and a windy day is to be cluteu il possible.

MANUFACTURING DISTRESS IX EXGLAND AND SCOTLAND. A public meeting to "consider the distress in the manufacturing districts of E.igland and Scotland," was held on We.lncsdiy "in Dr Burns'; Church. The attendance was not very numerous, but the proceedings were enthusiastic throughout. His Honor tiie Superintendent, who onh arrived in Dunedin alcr riic time fixed fjr the meeting, occupied the chair, and amongst the others piesent we noticed— The Bishop of Cnristciiurcb; T. Dick,E«i,M.n.R., Provincial :-ecretary ; E. B. Cargill, Esq, M H.U, ; F. Walker. Esq. M.P.C. ;J. C- Gillies, Esq, sheriff ; A. C Strode, Esq. R.M. ; the Keys D. M. Stewart and Isaac Harding ; Messrs 11. B. Martin. J. A.

Douglas, 11. Cooko, John S.vitzer, J. J. Ham, fit. John Brnnigan, E. dc Carle, M. Sholl. G. P Clifford, &c. His Honor called upon the Bi<hop of Christchurch to open the proceedings with prayer. This having been done; His Honor apologised for haying detained the meeting. He left the Clutba, nearly 70 miles off, that morning, and only on his arrival did be know of the invitation to him to preside. He could assure the meeting very sincerely, that on no possible occasion could he be placed in a position which lie i'elt to ba of so much honor, and which afforded him such high gratification, as on^ the present occasion. It was a distinguished privilege to be amongst a class which could afford to give liberally ; and it was a distinguished honor, also, to be amongst that class who -were able to invigorate others, and strengthen them in the performance of the duty they were called upon to perform. Each could give accordiog to his mean's to help the sufferers in the manufacturing districts of England and Scotland ; but whatever they gave, let them give heartily.— (Hear, hear). He knew that the Province of Otago bad by some been represented to be somewhat backward in this good work. He believed this to be a slur on our character, not justified by the circumstances of the case. We were, he thought, somewhat early in the field. Our donations were not very large, but they were prompt ; when, if he remembered rightly, there was a rumor that, in all likelihood, the distress would soon vanish, and probably there would be no more necessity for our exertions. Unfortunately, that hope had not been realised, and we were once more called upon to help our suffeiing brethren in our native land. He was sure that the rich amongst us, with whom God bad dealt very graciously, would be amongst the foremost to come forward and give very liberally. But it was not tj the rich that lie looked principally. He looked upon the widow's mite as peculiarly acceptable, not only to Almighty God, but as sure to be peculiarly gratifying to the sufferers at home. He was quite sure that if there was a regular organisation throughout our gold fields, we should receive, in small sums, so large au amount of money as would establish the character of Otago, as a province of a large heart. (Applause.) The meeting was a small one considering the interest and importance of the subject ; but he was sure that he might look upon every one present as a missionary "in the good cause— (hear, bear) ; and if that was so, he was sure that our donations would be correspondent with our wishes.— (Applause.) The Right Rev. the Bishop of Christchurch moved — " That this meeting views with the deepest sympathy the position in which the cotton manufacturing districts ot England and Scotland are at present placed, occasioned by the closing of the American ports; and for the purpose of assisting as far as possible the alleviation of the distress, pledges itself to promote a general collection throughout the Province of Otago." He was in some icspects a stranger amongst them ; for be was not a resident in the Province though officially connected with some membeis ot tho community ; but the cause alone for which they bad met v«s quite sufficient to iuslifv him in taking part in the proceedings, 'indeed, he felt that be should be backward in doing an act of Christian charity, were he not iorwaid'on such an occasion. He was sure that the resolution he had read would meet with the concurrence of every one present, and he believed it would do so aso with very many outside.— (Hear, bear.) We all re-dily admitted that it was our duty to be forward in relieving any case of real distress. All suffering had a chim upon our sympathy, whatever might be its description or however it had been occasioned It might arise from thoughtlessness, or folly "ingress misconduct ; but even that did not destroy the claim for sympathy— we were not allowed to look upon such distress, and to turn aside without relieving it. But the case before the meeting wis altogether of a very different character. there was great suffering, hitherto unmitigated brought about by no misconduct of the sufferer but by that unhappy war in America— a wa' between brother and brother— which even the combatants must most deprecate on the score of humanity, apart from their own sufferings. (Hear hear.) The last reports showed that all" that bad ii } £ en , done had failed to mitigate the distress. While we were enjoying the blessings of summer' and of abundance, the sufferers ac home were in want of food, and of fuel, which was almost as essential to life as food, seeing that all their sufferings were aggravated by the severity of . winter.— (Hear, hear.) And how had those sufferings been borne ? Theie bad been no complaints but perfect submission to the law, and cheerful obedience to authorised regulations. I>e accounts from thef suffering districts must indeed make us pvO ud of our fellow countrymen.-aiear, bear.) Here were reasons enough why , ye should come ■ forward and give liberally. Those reasons were stienßthened when w« contrasted our condition with thcirs-the condition of the operatives with that of those at home. It was as stril in" : and distinct, as Hint between the reasons with us : and with them. We wore surrounded on all sides with blessings ; and especially was that true of this particular Province, which now ranked amongst the most pnpulons and richest of the Provinces of New Zealand. In 1857, when he '< came here, be found nothing but a seaside village of a few scattered houses, supphed, no doubt, as ' had been the ease in all our colonies, with abun- i dance of the necessities of life, but with i »wch greit difficulties in transferring them i from one pait to another, that many, : "*«• I m ' dst of abundance, temporarily i suflered. Now, he found buildings that might i compare with vomy }n the 4nwt c#e» of Ep^ ;

-•ind — wealth marked on every fide — the people actively employed and enjoying the fruits of their labors. Smely, this had been brought abo'it, not by the human sagacity of rulers, or the industry of those who -worked, though both, under Go<!, might have had their share in producing that prosperity, which prosperity, with all its bLs-ir.gs must be tiaced to the providence and the goodness of God. Riches and tho power of enjoying them were irom God ; and they were to be devoted, not simply to lust or to sj.f enjoyment, but ' His glory and the good of our bretlnen. (Hear, hear.) The present was a true and Christian call for hl>eralit\ r ; and he could nol doubt that it would be nobly responded to. lie was tbanklul that the appeal was to b« tnado t> the operatives and laboring men, as well as to the rich ; an 1 he w.is satisfied thaf if a jnoper machinery w,«sorganiaul, and a direct uppj.il m id e to tliObj who were now getting the fruits of tho earth so abundantly, in the sb'ipe of gold, it woul I be responded to with a noble libel ality. — (Hear, hair). In the province of Canterbury, they bad already moved in th& matter ; and be felt that Ulauo had now an opportunity of fully and fairly doing her duty.— f Applause;. The- Rev. I). M, Stewart seconded the motion. As a sou of Britain, be felt a sort of pleasure in having an opportunity of helping the Fufll-icr? at home ; for be was extremely anxious that there bhould be as mnn_v bonds of sympathy as possible between us and the mother country. As a Christian man, he felt that iie ought to look up m this call, in Providence, as a direct call upon hunseif ; and he trusted his fellow-countrymen would all feel similailv. He remembered, too, bow forward the people of England were in helping others ; for he knew from experience, tint even schoolboys went without a meal, and even voluntarily fasted ti whole day, on condition that for each meal not eaten, lie should fonviiid a shilling in aid of the famine in Ireland, in 184 G. At the same time, England did nobly in the relief of the suir'orcrs in the highlands of Scotland. Here, we weie in a position which enabled each to contiibute fairly towards feeding and clothing the sufferers in the mamiaicluriug district] of England and Scotland, without dunging ourselves a meal or even any lawful enjoyment. lie bolieml, indeed, that ie would do us pood to send ;i large contribution — tint we di I not ghc enough to

i eh» ion and to charily — and that it wo pave moie, we should be nclier both morally and spiritually. Let residents in Otago think of ie ! In Engi.nd and Scotland, fomiiu-s weie subsisting on Is G<l .i»d 23 Gd ;ivcnk 1 lie tutted that the Pio\ii,ee which llio Honor fo worthily governed, would send a \ery handioiiio contribunon to relieve the digress at iiome. The motion was imunimously adopted ; as were all the subsequent ones. MrGill.cs ni)vcd — "Tint the following pc:it!emen be appointed a working committee to carry out the previous resolution : — Mc-^rs IT. J3. Martin (Tre;t<.urer), Thomas Dwh, George M'Lean, C. 11. Street, Dr. llockca. J. J. ILiu', Geoige Greeninl'l, John Switzjr, C. G. Smith, Martin Siiolf. L. Saiiipson, G. P. CiiJbr.l : that comnmnication lie taaue v\itli Iho di(ievc-nt di-'tiiet'S and inland towni 1 , soliciting their co-operation ; that power be given \> tho committee to add to their number." In three counties, as we were told there wore 300,000 people, and in England and Scotland upwards ot halt u-iuillion, requiring to be supported from day to day and fiom week to wook. Surely this was a sufiident call upon us ? But neither the existence oi the ability to give, nor tho undeniable urgency of the demand, would bj of a-, ail, unless there; were the proper men 1o do the icquisile work ; and bis reauiutioa met that fact. If the Committee did not succeed, be held that it woulJ bo the greater L disgrace and dishonor (hat couid fall upon men. They would be e::alted high and honorably, as the recipients of our free-v\ill oll'urings ; and they must timplv determine to succeed. "We were aware that fr.uii one end of the conununity to the otlur, there was a willingness to give ; and if there was a failure, it must rest upon those now appointed. They would have considerable labor, but no anxiety; they would require great attention, but very little pressing. — (Hear, hear.) It was a case hi which they would only have to go forth and present themselves to the community, ;md they would be received with gratitude, almost with joy. (Hear, bear.) Why bad we not been giving? Simply because we had not had any opening through which to give. He nelievcd that the

whole community felt in some such way as this ; that they were locking for those appointed to receive what they were willing to give, lor this great and good object.— (Applause.)

Mr 11. Cooke heartily seconded the motion. Upon the whole, it was not to be regretted that we had been a little backward. The giving power of many places had been exhausted, "but the distress had giown vaster ; and Otago's contribution, which be felt sure would be a large one, would be all the more valuable when it reached home.

Mr J. J. Ham (at the request of Mr CiiSord, hon. secretary) explained that the gentlemen named as the Avorking committee were only those who had consented to act as such. There was a much moio numerous committee nupointed at the meeting over which Mr Justice Richmond, presided whan this movement was initiated. By that Committee the present meeting had been called ; and of course, every member of ir, was in fact, it he so pleased, a member of the working Committee. He would read the list of names which av,is as follows : — The Superintendent, Mr Justice Richmond, Messrs J. 11. ILiriis, Jno Carf>ill, Alfred E cles, J. P.icklum, C. G. Smith' St, John Branigun, J. T. Wright, 11. Driver, C.' 11. Street, 11. llcynolds, J. Vo>jel. F. Jones l)r Hewlett, W. W. Tickle, 11. Law, F. J. Mo.s S " G. M'Ltod, A. M'Landiesp, J. C. Cumpbell. J. J. Ham, G. Greenfield, A. L. Thomson, J. M'Kenzie. J. Alderson, T. Dick, A. C. Strode, Rev. E. Edwards, W. C, Young, J. Switzer, A. Jackson, J. Barker, C. It. Swjer, J. Royac, II Farley, Rev, J. Haidin?, R. 1> Martin, L. Sampson, E. Chalmers, J. Finch, Dr. Iloaken, J Reed J. A. D.mglas M. Sboll, \V. 11. Reynolds, J. Lonnie, G. S. Brodiick, L. Gaiter, G. P. Clifford. llh Honor s-iid he thouirht the whole Province was included in the list. But he kit considerably relieved by the exphuiatton ; bteiug that he <;ertiiinly dosircd not to bo shut out" from woik— > (bear, hear)— and be hud thought of presenting a humble memo: nil, praying to "be allowed to join the uo'kinj: Conimittee.— (Hear, hear.) The llcvl-aac Harding said that we ought to remember that we had been free irom any lax f.,r the nviintenanco of tho poor. We ' had our IloMut.il ; but. so f.ir as lie kne.v, we ha I set up no in^'uution or machinery for the nuinicnance of the poor; neither, so far us be could see, v/.-is there any occasion that we should do so. Under tlufee ehcumstancL's, with all our other tie;, to the land of our f.uiurs, we could not but tic ply sunpathite with the .suf Fears there, and 10-olveto help them as abundantly as our means v, oul 1 allow. It was useless to say that the suiibrers Mii^ht have been provident; forw.ij.es in tho manufacturing c!b-t'-iets weie general ly net more than enough for comfortable living. It might be said tint the wealthy mair.ifaeturerb and merchants, the aristn-c-acy.theyeominiy.and others in England, o'ii>ht to have done more. They bad (hue much, atid'n.) doubt would do all that could bo expected from Christian men. But neither on this, nor on any other ground, could we ese.ipe the duty of contributing liberally ; and be was sure "that none would think of escaping it. Rather, we should look upon it as a blessing that we wciw allowed t) come in and assisfc. Li-t us recollect #ii:it we should have paid to poor rates and to clinritios, had wo been at home during the last few yeais ; and let im think that, therefore, we had arrears to make up, which alone would make Otiigo's contiibution to this good woik a very largo one indeed.— (Hear, hear.) He had pleasure in moving :: — •

" Tlmt for the purpose of rnauvim? the proper application and distribution of the fund raised, it be devoted to the purchase of food and clothing only, and be divided in the proportion of two thirds to England and one third to Scotland.''

Mr F. Walker, M.P.C., seconded the motion, lie knew that in such a cau?e zeal was best signalised by acts, not by words. But he felt, and he was sure that many others also felt, that we wore called upon to peiform no common duty merely -, but that it was a privilege alid an honor to be allowed to contiibiue to a fund like tlii.-,. He could not help feeling' that it was wiih considerable justice that the Province waß supposed not to have taken the position which shu ought to have taken in this matter. He regretted that tins should be so ; but he believed that the action consequent upon this meeting would remedy the ddtct. The contributions hitherto sent home had been limited indeed ; whereas he and a great many others, could not help feeling' that the pecuniary resources at the disposal of the Province, and. of individual members of the corn,-

niuiuty, were exceedingly larjfe. There were veiy few communities in the world which, in proportion to the number it contains, represented and produced ro large an amount of matciial wealth no tin-: Piovince ; and be thought that the eonrrinufjons lutheito sent did not represent the ljeling winch we all entertained as to our duty in this and similar matters.— (Applause.) There was au impression, and there bad been statements ma..c, thiii p Sr .on.j ensued b-re in the busy puS'lwsolinercaniileavocations.andiiarlictilarlvthosc engaged m tho search after gold, were so" swallowed up in those pursuits or that search, that their hearts were not as open to the impulses of Christian i-iurity, and to feeling of sympathy and kindness tou-ards their fellow inaii, as they ou^ht to be. lie could not think th.it su:h was the ca-c ; and be hoped tlmt t'so contriimtion from tno 1 rovmce loward-, this nation il fund would be such as at once to do away with any suchimprcs.^oii as.ar as we were concerned/ (Hear, hear.) Lhe eoiony of Victoria, which owed its prospolity mmnly to the same causes whence our's had sprung, bad r.hvay.s been tisnaliscd in worki ot benevolence of all kinds. He supposed tbat tiicrc was no community that bad contributed so lur-icly io the relief of distress, whether within or ft-jthoul its borders, as bad Victoria. (Hear, hear.) II J believed that when we bad perfected our machinery, and come before the public with tho appe.il for aid, wo should wipe awuy tho stain —lor stain there undoubtedly was, to some extent—and prove that we weio not oblivions to the great Christian principle and precept, that we were to succour and help our ahlicted and unfortunate brethren He need not say anything as to the reality and intensity of the Buffering existing at borne; for all mu&t feel the profoundot sympathy with those who had so long been reduced to the yen extremity of want— the positive depuration of the actual necessities of life— owing to circumstances over winch they had no control. Wo could find in history very few instances recorded in which suitenngs of tins kind had been borne with such patience, fortitude, and Ciristivn resignation, and vata an entire absence of public disorder. The record'! of the suill-rinss in the manufjctiirin«r ai>,tnctt, were the highest honor to thouatimal character. Bhould the merchants bore, tU nirmers tho inmcrs-w ho weie gelling gold in quantities t.iat hid not often brai equal ltd— should any of us, h,tL-n to the tulo of the unpimlieled dbticss of hundreds of thousau'ls of our fdlo-v coautnmen, lacking tho aclu-il neces=aiics of life s-u'l n.a give ot our abundance to help our iireth'en ? •io v.as, suio Ihas the re^ponw to (he appeal would row bo all | hat could bo wislicd. Mr L B. Cai-;ill .said that be a-recd with the !."t opinion of the prcuous speaker; but still UiCT'; was a dililoiilty in en.iblinsr ali. iu'a country so situate. 1 ., to know what was bi-lug done, and to cmiblc them to help. We bad j?othirt«j to do witli tbequ:3tion v.-heiher thrice t home, v/ho could help had d<>n 2 their du!y. We mi .ht take oome share of tl.eblamp, with 'oMicr pares of rhe empire, but ba felt that tho unfortunate suiTurers had been left 100 much to tlioir suftVrinps. It was, scarcely creilitable that they should iiavc boon allowed ro subfcist i.Don the raibcrable pittance doled out to them. When nearly 70 millions sterling a year eoul i be rai^d a> taxation, this dole to* people who bad maintained t,o manly and 30 truly praiseworthy an atlitu ! c in the midot of their suffciiu^ and misery, was not very creditable to the couii^ try. Ie b,;d, ho thnu-hr, k.en very truly raid, that in this country, bitted as we were witli great present ])ro,perity, we had, perhaps, anything like t-ullLiiug too fer icmoved from us— that we had not the opportunities of .sunpathy and charity vrliich it was sometimes g,)(id for us. iv every way, that we should have. He moved— " That a subscript on list be now opened as. a practical cotnmenceipent to the movement." Mr I);ck saconded fie motion.

Upon the motion of Mr E. do Carle a vote of thinks to bis Honor for presiding was carried by acclamation.

In respondius J»s Honor said that Mr Justice Richmond had offered to contribute LjO, provided five others would do the same, He had been requested to mention that there were two volrnte ts ready to follow ; and he felt that there was sure to be groat emulation to be of the si\-, a:id was therefore fearful that he should be shut out he would say .at once that he was very happy to follow so worthy an example. (Loud applause.) A list was handed round, and before the meeting separated, there were four subscriptions of •CSO, in addition to Mr Justice Richmond's ; four of £23 each ; and £23 5s was put down in smaller sums.