PUBLISHED TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1886.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7170, 14 September 1886, Page 2

PUBLISHED TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1886.

The manufacture of butter foi export is again being talked of in Wellington, and from the remarks of a correspondent to a Canterbury paper, people there seem to be !very ignorant of what is being done at this end of the district in the matter. Tho writer says: — " Spme of the sellers there (Turanaki) are now engaged in the manufacture of butter for the Australian markets, but with what success I am not in a position to say. It may be presumed, however, that they have abundance of hope, seeing that one of the reasons given for spending another £60,000 on the breakwater at New Plymouth was that it would enable the Sydney steamers to lie alongside oiad take in consignments of butter." The quantify b£ butter that has been sent to Australia, and the fair price the farmers are obtaining for it, have proved, we should imagine, that the market has been a profitable one; but if over there they have some favourable seasons, then our farmers will have to look out for other markets to which to send their dairy produce. This correspondent points out that China and Japan consume great quantities of butter, those places at present being supplied from Denmark. He says that none is used on tho Chinese steamers but the Danish butter, which is sent there in tins ; the price realised for it in those countries ranging from Is. 3d. to Is. 6J. per Ib. The Taranaki butter surely might find a market where the Danish can, and it i.i worth while those in the butter trade giving the matter their serious consideration. There is almost a clear field, and comparatively little expense, if advantage be taken of the steamers which bring ten to New Zealand, to send back a return cargo of our butter and cheese. This winter has been a very severe one ; and the etorms have been more than ordinarily severe. Notwithstanding the tempestuous gales we have experienced, the harbour works at Moluroa have shown their stability, for nothing seems to affect them ; but it is very evident that the addition of a few more hundred feet at tho end of the breakwater is required for perfect shelter ; also, that a jetty is a thing that is absolutely necessary. We nro sorry to learn that at Timaru they have been very unfortunate, for the Harbour Board and the contractors for tho extension of the breakwater have sustained a great loss through tho late stormy weather. Two of the monoliths wero so damaged before tho concrete had time to set that the heavy seat) have washed them away. The loss to the Harbour Board will be about 120 tons of cement, and the contractors will have to pay for all the extra labour. At Port Chalmers tho continuous spell of heavy weather has had an effect on the bar, and the Dunedin harbour muster reports that there is now not more than from 17 feet to 18 feet of water on it. This is a very serious matter for Dunedin after the lurge amount of money that has been spent ia trying to make the entrance to that porl available for the admission of large steamers. Tub people of New Plymouth are indebted to the Colonial Secretary for the opportunity of subscribing towards a fund for procuring a memento of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition to be presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Excessive liberality is proposed to be' checked by declining to receive subsorip; tions of more than two guineas from any one person. The prospect of an inordinately large sum being raised is further jeopardised by the desire " that this mark

of r&spect should come only from the people who recognise the great services that His Highness has rendered to the Colonies." His Highness has doubtless rendered many, but unfortunately most people here have not yet had an opportunity of recognising them, and the class from whom the subscriptions are mainly to be drawn will therefore neoessarily be small. However, in compliance with the Colonial Secretary's desire that the matter should be brought prominently before the people in the district, it was decided' by the Borough Council on Monday evening, oa Mr. Hughes' motion, seconded by Mr. Oorkill, " That a sabsoription list be opened for the purpose of adding a sum, however s'nall, to tho fund which is being rnised to provide a testimonial to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in recognition of his valuable services in connection with the Colonial and Indian Exhibition; and that to permit all to join in this movement subscriptions be limited to from one shilling to two guineas."