Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 14

Our American Letter.

San Francisco, April 12th.

HARVEST OUTLOOK, ETO.

The Eastern States (I use the term to designate all territory east of the Missouri River, exclusive of the > South) have had an exceptionally mild winter, and tho crop reports are favourable. On the Pacific Slope, that is, generally West of the Rocky Mountains, tho season has been exceptionally severe. Last week we had a very severe snowstorm in the sierras and higher foothills, which kept the snow-ploughs going nighfc and day to keep T he track clear. A block of 12 hours' traffic occurred, together with the demolition of a few Buow-sheds ; but so heavy is the fall that great apprehensions exist aa to the effect of the thaw. In Plumas County, California, an English mining company's property was buried in 50 feet of snow, and a shaft had to be sunk to communicate with the men below. Mining has been suspended in most upland locations aince October, but when fine weather comes water will be abundant, »nd then gold enough will be got to compensate for lost time. California, Oregon, and Washington Territory never had so fair a promise for a harvest, or 30 much laud under crop. All the dry belt of this State is in full bearing, enough water having fallen to ensure a crop. British Columbia has fared ill, tho mortality in Jive stock being exceedingly great, owing to the cold. In many places deer and elk have been fouud standing in snow, frozen stiff ia death. Of course domestic animuls fared worse. I look to a greafc business revival in British Columbia, however, the comiDg season, owing to the expenditure in railroad constructiou aed the development of rich gold-mines. The season for w orking is very ahorfe, v-nA gold Bhonld bo plentiful to pay. Th<3 salmon aeaaon looks promising, also ; but, as usual, the fighermon on the Columbia Rivr have struck for higher rates, demanding 60 cents a fish, which tho 1 cMiiwiefs ««»not g\\o them. You should I soon hi ftb'o t^ fr-r sJnnii in your owi waters, liiv. M'Oloml L'uvc r v.iri"fcy haviug been successfully hatched out ia all your provinces As t* (Uxl fish it f\xods all ofchor wietieidj aud id beh/g tliofcriliufcecl through-

out Europe and in British rivers. Hero great pains are taken to propagate it, and, despite the destruction wrought by Chinese and Portuguese fishermen, we hope, in the near future, to increase our salmon product. However, when a fine fish may be bought in season for 50 cents in the market, there should be no complaint of scarcity. As an article of export it is exceedingly valuable. The fruit supply Will be unusually large. Our wine product is attracting attention abroad, two vessels having just loaded with California wine for Germany. Shipments to France are spoken of; and the agent of an English firm has been here and cleared out some of the best cellars in the State for shipment Home. I think I alluded to the fact that wine-making should become a leading industry in New Zealand in former letters. Grape-vines should thrive well in very many places in Ofcago Province, where they are free from the sea-breeze and fogs. 1 know it is a prevalent notion that Auckland Province and Nelson are the only sections where grapB-vines might be grown to advantage, but I have seen country in other parts of New Zealand, devoted to pasture, which, acre for acre, would grow as good grapes as could be raised in either of the provinces named. Grape-vines need frost to check the growth in winter, and sunshine to ripen the fruit in summer. Much land now comparatively valueless might be planted in grape-vines with profit; and advantage,_ I am glad you repealed the Australian wine • coddling tariff law. There should be no discrimination in favour of South Pacifio rivals. If the tariff is to be of any economio use, let it encourage your own local industries. AMERICAN INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC CHURCH — MORMONISM. Ib is curious, if not very i»sbructive, to follow the thread of religious schism in this couutryof social and moral experiment. Bookmakers like Hep worth Dixon have done more harm than good by their method of treat* ing the more abnormal schianw, such aa the Oneida community and Mormoniam. When one gets near to these peculiar people their ways become better understood, and their motives are at least understandable, Schisms of every kind are produced by a loosening of spiritual ties—a weakening of faith, and a re3tlesB desire for originating or founding something new. No matter how absurd the dogmas or wild the theories, men and women are found to adopt them with zeal, who would turn up their noses at " the form of sound words" with which their ancestors clothed their religious tenets. I am sometimes tempted to write you a sketch of the various sects who hold their own in this city even j but if I did, I fear you would hardly feel edified. To make an honest confession once for all, I have lived to repent oE some heresies, one of which is, that human intelligence is a safe guide in moral and spiritual matters. I find that the accumulated experience of all the ages counts for something ; and that men who think they know almost everything are the moßt unsafe guides to follow. They are capable of every possible vagary. There is no middle course between unbelief and unwavering faith ; no halting place between implicit obedience and open rebellion. The latest schism we have in America is the " American Independent Catholic Church," founded by a former priest, Rev. B. L. Qainn, of New York. It has got a local habitation and a name, and about threescore of priests ©f the orthodox Romish Church are said to be willing to join his standard and preach the Gospel according to their reading of the Scriptures. This is but another breaking off from the old stock, where is the reservoir of faith. Ido not know what; may have been President Quinn's motives. Doubtless they are good ; but if he had been thoroughly unselfish, he might have joined one or other of the Protestant splintera into which the Church of the Eeformation has been broken up. But he has the ambition of all kindred spirits. He seeks to found a sect as well^as to preach the righteousness of faith without works meet for repentance. And I have no doubt he will succeed, as money is pou'Jng into the treasury of the American Independent Catholic Church, 133 East 36fch street, New York. A noonday prayer, meeting is to be held, and a fund is to be raised, one-half of which is to go to build "a(>rand tabernacle." The Mormons have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of the foundation of their Church, and 20 missionaries were appointed for this country, Europe, aud Australia. This heresy is making great progress in the Southern States, especially among the women. Two Mormon miiisionaries from New Zealand and Australia by last steamer report great conversions in those countries, about 140 converts to Mormonism being expected by the next trip of the Australia. I do not know what truth there is in it, but if a word from me would be of any use I would advise them to remain where they are and give Utah a wide berth. They will find themselves in an awkward dilemma when " Uncle Sam " seriously makes up his mind to put a stop to their nonsense. He is halfrainded to do it now ; and as soon as the Presidential campaign is over he will set about the work in downright earnest, when the day of visitation comes, it will be found that the heads of the Church have made off with the spoils, loaving their dupes to, pay the penalty of the unctuous sinner's misdeeds. Life in Utah is not at all comparable to life in Karori, for example.

ODDS AND ENDS.

The Ptesidenfc, having been cornered on the Chiaese question, recalled Minister Seward and nominated Mr Angell, president of a Michigan university, in nia stead j ho also nomiuated v Commission, consisting of Mr Swifc, of San Francisco, and MrTrescott, of Georgia, to negotiate a treaty with China in lieu of the Burlinghame Treaty. This move is regarded as can attempt to block legislation, the Chinese Immigration Bill before Congress being framed in accordance wilh tho President's veto message of last year. The Administration does not want to exclude coolie labour. In this is manifested the mercenary spirit of the North, which precipitated the Civil War for the sake of bringing tho coloured labour of tha freecUnea of the South into competition witb Northern working meo. This could U'/t, be tsoiiO while they rsuuimtd slaves, [fc is now found übab the freedmen don't take kindly to the compotitivo labour syefcem of che North j heaoe the desire to flood the

country with Chinese cheap labour. A bill io before tbe Dominion Parliament for rasMcting Chinese immigration, similar in its provisionß to tbe Queensland Aofc. Ipia coast will not bo satisfied with anythwg which does nois check tUo influx of Mongolians. , „ „ , • 11. M.5. Triumph, carrying f.b?.ila« of AdraxralSterling,isin haibour. SJi° k '<■ lmgnificait ironclad. There is not n gun on any torlmcation in our harbour which cold penetrate her armour. Thousands visitod her. Admiral De Horsey \vould not allow visitors on board when he was on this station. England is sending u« road-engines. A company has been iormed to operate thorn in INovada and Colorado. The cos*: of teaming in remote mining camps is so great a3 to lead to this incorporation and purchase of plant. The papermakers defeated the attempt to reduce the paper tariff, and Chicago and New York publishers are importing from Canada, and save money on their paper after paying 30 per cent. duty. Jt is principally made i f wood-pulp, reduced from sawdust. Before thß fight is over, the papermakers will be compelled to make very large concessions to the printing trade. There is a good story going the rounds about a certain New York alderman who, when a motion was made at the Board of Aldermen for the purchase of twelve gnndolas for the lake iv Ceutral Park, objected. He said he was not opposed to buying a pair and trusting to Nature lor future increase, but could not sanction the extraA r agance of buying twelve. He thought a gondola was a rare kind of goose. The Board of Supervisors of San Francisco have taken the initial step towards impeaching tfie Mayor, Eev. Isaac Kalloch, for inciting to riot— which he did not do. There is a streak of humour in nearly every American. Joseph Singleton, of New Hampshire, died lately, and left 250d0l cash to every cross-eyed person in that State. If Joseph could only have lived to count the number applying for his sinister bequest, he would have been amazed. There are enough cross-eyed people iv New Hampshire to swallow up all his estate. Ho did not count upon their taking him fit his word ond reaching out for the money. Jeve Black is one of the ablest constitu. tional lawyers in America; he is also awit. Someone recently said to the great Democratic advocate that the lines which formerly divided people on religious subjects were fading cut. " Yes," replied Jeve, "and the nice distinctions between right and wrong are going with them. " A palpable hit John Swinton, the Communistio mac aging editor of the New York Sun, was asked at a recent public meeting in New York, "What he would do In the case of a woman who spends £47,000 a year on her own and her household expenses, while a portion of her people are starving."—" I would guillotine her," said Swinton. "1 would have a court convened at Hyde Park, consisting of 12 Irish paupers, would try her for her life, and cut her head off I" Whereat the vast assemblage cheered. This ia the same man who stated at fcha annual Prtsa banquet that Dana, proprietor of the Sun, paid him a large salary to keep the truth out of the paper ! " This was candid if true ; at all events Swinton went out of the Sun for a time, bub returned and is now there. About the same time he spoke at a Communist meeting, at which he delivered some extravagant statements regarding a division ot capital. Mr Dana quoted a passage from the speech, and added the significant comment: "The man who spoke those words should be shot I " Yet he pursues the even tenor of his way, and Dana finds it to his profit to retain him.

Mr Proctor has been lecturing about the stars. He goes to Australia by the steamer to-dsy, where he will lecture. He is well worth listening to, and will doubtless draw very large houses. Give him every encouragement to speak well of you.

Jacob Terry.