The Taranaki Herald

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3516, 18 August 1880, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald

PiHUSHEO DAILY.

WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 18, 18S0.

" Is there a market for our butter?" is a question often asked, sis well as the one " Will it pay ?" To give some idea of the importance of the trade in butter, we may state that about 60,000 tons of foreign butter are annually imported into England, representing a value of between four and five millions. "Of this quantity," says our authority, "the United States sent about one-fourth, the remainder being obtained from France, North Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy. About 450,000 firkins, equal to about 14,000 tons, and of the value of £1,600,000, pass annually through the Cork market alone, and there are other Irish ports — Waterford, Belfast, &c. — from which very large quantities are sent to England, a great deal of which is subsequently exported." The manager of the Aylesbury Dairy Company in England, writing to a gentleman in Canterbury, says—" A. gentleman who is a large shareholder informs me that the price of butter at the Cape has varied from 2s. to 7s. per pound during the laßt few years, the present price being 4s. per pound. He further tells me that the butt er obtainable even at these prices is exceedingly ba»!.." Again, it is asserted that most of the butter of English commerce holds a low rank in the estimation of consumers, in consequence of its being preserved solely with salt. The second great point iv the line of reasoning for dairy farmers here, is the well known fact that " A great number of countries — India, the Cape, South America, the West Indies, &c, — are entirely dependent upon imported butter for their supplies. At present, Denmark, North Germany, and France have a monopoly for these countries. This butter is preserved in hermetically sealed tins, thus necessitating the immediate consumption when once the tins are opened. For common purposes Irish and French butter is used, and most of this is so heavily salted as to be exceedingly nauseous. A great field is therefore open in these countries for a better supply." This is from the same authority as we quote above, and if means therefore can be obtained for preserving the butter, a large trade is open to our farmera in Taranaki.

The s.s. Wanaka crossed Manukau bar nt G. 30 this morning, is due in the roadstead this evening, and leaves for Nelson at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The s.s. Rangatira went aground in the Wanganui River yesterday, and will therefore be unable to arrive in the roadstead until to-morrow. The musical and literary entertainment advertised yesterday to take place at Wai. tara to-morrow evening, has been postponed to Monday next.

The schooner Maud Graham, which put to sea on Monday morning last, is beating back to the anchorage. A fore-and-aft schooner, the Colonist, passed the roadstead this morning, bound to Wai tara, laden with a cargo of coal from Greymouth. The schooner Nelson left the Wai-tara this morning's tide for Hokianga, to load the balance of totara timber for constructing the Waitara wharf. Conveyances left town this morning for the camp, for the purpose of bringing in fifteen native prisoners who have been arrested within the last two days. Captain Edwin telegraphed at noon to-day that bad weather was probable in any direction between north-east and north, and west. Glass fall very soon. Sea making within six hours, and heavy after twelve hours. The s.s. Rowena was hove off the north beach, at Waitara, this morning, and is now lying in the river at the cattle wharf. She has received comparatively slight injury, and will leave for Manukau in all probability tomorrow or next day. Mr. Mynott met with an accident on Monday afternoon, a horse kicking him in the face. He was one of the first to take out a policy in the Accident Insurance Company, paying £1 ss. 6d. premium, by which he will I be entitled to receive £100 in case of death, aud £1 per week during the time he is laid up. Mr. My.-iott had his wound dressed by Dr. Gibbes ; and the agent of the Company settled his claim this morning by payment of £3. The policy does not lapse, and Mr. Mynott, if he meets with further accidents during the year, or is killed, has still a claim on the Company. The promptitude with which claims against the Company are met should commend itself to the public. A soiree in aid of the Circuit Fund of the Primitive Methodist Connexion was held last evening, at the Kent Road School-room, and was largely attended. Conveyances left town at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and were well patronised, and, the weather being fine, a most agreeable drive was afforded to the excursionists. The attendance was so numerous that four different relays had to be provided at the tea tables. After the tables were cleared away, the meeting was held, the chair being occupied by Mr. Beale. During, the evening, addresses were given by Revs. Mr. McNicoll and Sharp, and Messrs. Bassett and Collingwood. Selections of sacred songs were also rendered by an efficient cheir. The Constabulary still continue to arrest the natives at the camp, although it is done very reluctantly, the natives having in several instances been released after being arrested. It is stated that the Government have issued instructions to the A.C. Force not to take the natives prisoners unless after repeated admonitions to desist fencing. This has led to a new feature in the mode of arrest, and it not unfrequently happens that the constabulary and the natives play a school-boy game of " wrangling," before the natives are taken into custody. A would-be genius has suggested that if the Government wish to frighten the natives away from the fences, a number of frogs should be taken to the camp, and freely distributed in the vicinity of the fences every morning, when the^natives would soon take their departure, as they cannot staud the sight of a frog. We learn from Aucklaud of the death of the Rev. C. H. Schnackenberg, Wesleyan Missionary, stationed at Raglan. He has been in the colony for upwards of 35 years. After arriving from his native country he was employed by the Wesleyan Foreign Mission as a Catechist, and his district was Mokau. Here he laboured among the Maoris for six years most successfully. He was then publicly ordained, and set apart to the Mission work. After the retirement of the Revs. Whiteley and Smailes, he was appointed to the district of Kawhia, taking charge of the whole all along that Coast from Raglan to Mokau. For some time he complained of being ill. It was thought desirable to remove him from Raglan to Auckland. He was accompanied by his wife and brother-in-law, < Mr. Allen, but he died on the passage, on the 10th instant. It appears he thought himself he would never see Auckland. We have had lent us a copy of the prospectus of the Wanganui Harbour Board Loan of £100,000, of which £60,000 has been recently placed in the market by the National Bank of New Zealand. The prospectus is well drawn up, not a point likely to tell being omitted. The loan is at the rate of 6 per cent., and the Board agree that until they can show a surplus revenue proportionately as large as in the prospectus that the balance of £40,000 will not be issued. The loan is secured by rents, tolls of bridge, and dues of the Wanganui Harbour Board, also endowments. The assets of the Board are shown to be £139,694, against liabilities amounting to £32,796 ; the estimated income being £7,080, and expenditare £6,775. With the proceeds of the loan the Board proposes to pay the balance to the contractor for the present river improvements, the over draft at the National Bank of £8,699. the Government claim on the bridge £20,000, and the balance being devoted to dredging or other works necessary to deepen the channel of the river. The minimum was fixed at £95 for £100 debenture, and the loan was successfully floated at from 95 to 99,