SPREAD OF COMMUNISM.

Patea Mail, 21 April 1881, Page 3

SPREAD OF COMMUNISM.

Mi Hr ndmai.n, a writer in the “ Nineteenth Century, ’’ sees the dawn of revolution in the rapid spread of Communistic aspiration. The danger he considers most imminent in German} - , where every man is a “ disciplined soldier, an educated citizen, with the Moderate Liberals driven to America, and Prince Bismark sitting on the safety-valve. France,’ Austria, and Italy are also in ever-increasing danger. The condition of Europe favours tne Communistic propaganda ; the Jews furnish it with leaders.” Many people maintain that (he persecution of the Jews, which now disgraces Germany, is far more founded on social than religious grounds. Even in Great Britain and United States, writes Mr Hyndmann, and still more in Victoria and New Zealand, the essentially Communistic principal of State management is gaining ground on all sides. It is for England “to lead the way with safety in the great social which is the work of the immediate future, to secure for all the same happiness and enjoyment of life which now belongs to few.”

An extensive bankruptcy is announced in Dunedin. Here it is—“ Bridget Tootl'd!, Dunedin, domestic servant; liabilities, £2919 a6d ; assets, £15.” Bravo, Bridget! It is stated that Westport coal is now solely used for the Hillside Railway workshops in Otago, and gives every satisfaction. A statement of the accounts of the Dunedin Borough Council show its overdraft to be no less than £9928 7a Id, and its total debit balance, after providing for existing contracts, £15,849. There aro also compensation claims against the Borough of £IO,OOO, some of which are likely to be proved. The Wellington Post lately stated that Fielding was nearly depopulated and two out of every three houses empty. In reply to this the Guardian , publishes the average attendances at school for each quarter from March 1579, to March 1881, during which time the attendance.steadily rose from 133 to 200. The local paper then says ;—Figures like these are satisfactory evidence that, though a few of our floating population may have moved on to fresh fields anil pastures new, following the impulse that led them here, the real settlers of the place are still confident in its progress, and determined to stand by a district that has a future before it inferior to no locality in the North Island. By way of comparison it mention that the average attendance in Palmerston for the March quarter was 208, a very close approximation to that of the Feilding school. Frank Buckland. —Mr Spencer Walpole contributes to MacMillan’s Magazine an interesting paper upon his late colleague Frank Buckland. It abounds with genial gossip and pleasant anecdotes about the popular naturalist. “ Once,” says Mr Walpole, “ when Mr Buckland was returning from France, laden as usual with ‘ specimens ’ living and dead, a monkey putting its head out of bis pocket attracted the attention of the booking clerk, who insisted, in spite of al evidence to the contrary, that it was a dog, and must be paid for as such. Nettled at this, Buckland plunged his hand into another pocket and produced a tortoise, and laying it on the sill of the ticket window, said, “ Perhaps you will call that a dog too ?’ The clerk inspected th® tortoise : ‘No,’ said he, ‘we make no charge for them, they’re insects !” If yon want to take the gimp out of a stuck-up man, mistake him for the streetcar conductor by offering him your fare as he comes along.

WELLINGTON MARKETS. The N.Z. Times , 16th instant, reports— Past week has not been a busy one. Rye grass seed has fallen a little, sales having been made during the week at 4s lid to 5s per bushel, and a corresponding reduction is made in quotations from Southern markets. Cocksfoot has also weakened, and quotations are 3d to per lb. Milling wheat is quoted at 3s 8d to 4s according to sample. Flour is unaltered ; local town brand is quoted at £9 10s to £lO. CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE. (From Canterbury Times.') The business of the week in the grain market has not differed in any material degree from the preceding. A fair amount of trade has passed through hands at the rates ruling last week, and values, save in one or two lines, are. much on the same basis. Wheat. —Prices for all classes remain at last week’s quotations. Tuscan, of good quality, still stands at 3s 8d to 3s 9d and other kinds at 3s 6d to 3s 7d. Oats are reported a shade firmer. Not many lots are offering at the moment, growers evincing a disposition to hold for better prices. Several sales of all classes have transpired during the week, and for milling sorts there are active buyers. Best milling arc quoted at Is 9d, and heavy feed at Is Bd. Other descriptions are taken at Is fid to Is 7d. Flout, has seen fair attention at £9 to £lO, according to brand. Potatoes are quoted at 30s to 32s fid. Grass Seed. —Prices remain at last week’s rates, but the enquiry has not been so brisk. Many of the orders have been filled, and buyers do not feel inclined to lay in stocks at present rates.

CANTERBURY STOCK REPORT. (From Canterbury Times,') There was a good attendance of buyers at the Addington yards on Thursday, when 6160 sheep and 258 head of cattle were yarded. Sheep. —The supply of fat sheep was small, and consequently there was a brisk competition. Prime cross-breds sold at from 10s 6d to 14s ; good and medium ditto, from 9s to 10a ; prime merinos realised from 8s 6d to 9s 6d. We quote mutton at 2d per lb. The enquiry for stores was very keen, cross-bred ewes realising from 6s 6d to 8s 6d. Cattle. —A larger supply of fat cattle than usual was brought forward, but no prime or good lots were submitted ; in fact the quality may be classed as inferior throughout. The result was a dragging sale, several lots being turned out unsold. Beef averaged 17s per 1001b. Only a small number of store cattle were offered, and as they were dull of sale the bulk were passed in unsold.