The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1897. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 576, 29 November 1897, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1897. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Following the expedition to the South Seas undertaken by a party of Americans in a vessel which eventually put into Noumea in distress, resulting in the break up and dispersion of the party, another company of subjects of the United States has reached Samoa in a vessel named the Sophia Sutherland. There aro eighteen of the party, and these comprise the passengers and crew of the expedition, which, in tins instance, is visiting the Solomon Islands in search of gold, rich beds of which they have heard exist in the group. A description of the prospectors, forwarded from Samoa, is that of a well-intentioned body of hardy men seeking an opportunity to explore virgin country. Of that there is an abundance in the Solo mons, land never beforo trodden by the foot of a white man, but of the auriferous nature of the islands not much is known. That gold is there has been proved to the cost of one or two Sydney speculators, who, a few years since, chartered a steamer, fitted her out, and sent reliable, co.mpotont men to prospect. They brought hack bags of gold-bearing quart/., but ;t would not pay for crushing. The American party on hoard the Sophia will perhaps be surprised to find a«i, the Solomons a port of entry, customs and a tariff in existence, with a Resident British (Jpmmissioncr, a body o f native police, and a gaal.

In viow of the ii r < , • . ,t which is now hung taken in tlu> question of diseased meat, the monthly return of the number of animals monthly condemned at Globe Island, Sydney, contains some instructive figures. Tho number of bullocks condemned as diseased was Hi per cent, for tho month of September. The percentage of diseased cows was 1-8. Pigs stand very low in the scalo of healthiness, Out of 4270 slaughtered, no less than i 0 per cent, wore condemned as diseased. Sheep, on the j other hand, aro extremely healthy. Out of 76,000 slaughtered, uuly ton

were condemned as diseased, or the extremely low percentage of -018.

We notice that several of our contemporaries have published statements to the effect that the Maori ploughing disturbances in Taranaki were caused by the administration of the native lands by the Public Trustee. From the Taranaki Budget (a paper published right in the district in which the disturbances have occurred) wo learn that there is not the slightest particle of truth in the assertion made against the office. Our contemporary has made an exhaustive enquiry into the whole matter, and has carefully investigated the whole of the dealings of the Public Trustee with the natives; and is thoroughly satisfied that in the conduct of the office there is no cause for complaint. The Budget concludes :—We hold no brief for the Trusiee, but it is only riadit that the true facts of the case should be made public, not so much in the interests of the Trustee, who is quite able to defend himself, as in tho interests of law and order, for it is to be feared that the sympathy which has been so freely expressed for the convicted natives will have the effect of encouraging others to follow their examplo. It is true there has been some dissatisfaction and grumbling by the recipients of rents at the deductions made, while others refuse to take what is due to them. There is evidence, however, that the discontent is fanned by Te Whiti, who is never tired of prophesying that the whole of tho land will come back into his possession. Happily the old prophet’s mana is almost broken, and the failure of his latest effort to re-instate himself as supreme at Parihaka will in all probability break his power for ever.