PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1894.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9921, 5 February 1894, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1894.

" Fob many years Taranaki struggled to survive the squatter stage of its existeuce. It grew mutton aud beef, and beef and mutton, aud those thiugs, together with a little fungus, kept it going. There was apparently everything necessary in the community to promote prosperity—good men aud women, fertile soil aud a lovely climate — but there was oue thing wanting Taranaki's peculiar destiny was butter." — Oamaru Mail.

The words which we have placed at the head of this article appear in a very kind and complimentary notice of our enlargement in the Vamaru Mail, and we have re-produced them in order that we may correct any wrong impression they may create in the minds of strangers or those unacquainted with the history of Taranaki, or regarding the enterprise of its early settlers. Uad Taranaki in 1852 been as free from the Maori difficulty as Canterbury or Otago was at that time this district would have now been the most populous part of the colony ; and when the question of removing the seat of Government from Auckland more to the South was being considered, in 1861-, New Plymonth, but for the native rebellion then existing within its boundaries, would have stood a good chance of being selected as the capital, being the most centrally situated town ; and owing to the quantity of good lani we possess in the district we should have had a larger population at that time than any othei part of New Zealand. The European population of the colony in 1858, when ihe first colonial census was taken, proved to be 59,328, and in 1861, when the census was again collected, it had increased to 133,114;, the people being distributed through the Provinces as follows: — 1858. 1861. Auckland 18,117 24,420 Taranaki 2,650 2,044 Wellington ... 11,735 12,251 Hawke'sßay ... 1,514 2,611 Nelson ... 1 OI)7O lo , r , Marlborough } 9'27i9 ' 27i 12 ' 2t)l Canterbury ... 8,976 16,041 Otago 6.944 28,893 It will be noticed in the above figures that whilst Taranaki in the Ihree years had decreased iv population, in Otago the number of persons had increased considerably. This was owing to tiro circumstances — the native rebellion, and the discovery of gold in Otago. No part of the colony hns passed through more vicissitudes than this has and no place has had so little done for it. b'rom the first day the "Pilgrim Fathers" landed on these shore till a few yenrs ago there seemed to be some fatality respecting the district's progress. The original settlers, however, remained true to Taranaki. For the first nineteen years the small population made some little progress, and notwithstanding the native troubles restricted them in acquiring land, and the want of a harbour impeded their shipping things away, the settlers managed to export a good deal of produce. In 185 A the New Plymouth exports were valued at £14,010, Canterbury at £14778, and Otago at £6482 ; but the native difficulty prevented any expansion in the cultivation of the laud, and then the war breaking out tho prospects of the district were ruined and its progress stopped. Had we had the same advantages as the settlements in the Middle Island [,O: s:s"ied there is no knowing what position Taranaki would have held at this time, for it is an acknowledged fact that" there is more good land within the boundary of the province than in the s&mi area in any other part of too colony. As we have stated, Taranaki's progress was ictarded for nearly thirty years by the native difficulty, the Maoris refusing either to lease or sell their lands to Europeans. Part of that time was occupied in a ten years' war with the natives, which was the means of destroying the previous twenty years' work of the settlers. In 1870 the ministry of the day initiated a policy of '' Ptace and Public Works," which was not long in showing its Fruits, but it took five years before Taranaki felt any benefit from the work the Government was doing in other parts of the colony. In 1874 the population of the Provincial District of Taranaki (which included all tho land from Mokau to the Wuuganui river inland easterly, and from thence southerly to a few miles the other side of the ii J atea river) was 5, 105 ; it is now estimated at over 25,000, The land under cultivation twenty years ago was 50,000 acres, now the area is nearly 500,000 acres. Twenty years ago enr

exports wore nil. .Now from the latest retnrns (1892) they are valued at £167,151 ; but the product of the district, we are sure, can not be less than £400,000 annually. IE our progress has been so rapid in twenty ypars, what would it have been in the "fifty years, with the advantages the South Island had before the powers and privileges of the province had been taken away from the local authorities. It will be seen from the abo?e brief account, that Taranaki never passed through the " squatter stage of existence." All the settlers wanted was land ; having obtained that, beef, mutton, butter, and cheese they could have produced in unlimited quantities. When we come to look back at the progress this district has made during the last twenty years, it appears Twenty years ago, tho Moa block had only just been purchased from the natives, and was being slowly opened for settlement, and the township of Inglewood had only just been fonniled. A few houses had been erected there, and for fear communication with the new settlement might be cvi olt by the bad roads during the first winter, the local Government had several acres planted with potatoes. This precauti n was wisely taken, for communication was cut off for ordinnry traffic for several week«, and as much as £10 and £12 a ton was charged for the conveyance of flour, &c, to the township. There were no railways in those days, and the country through the bush towards Hawera was a lerra incognita. This, we repent, was the state of the country twenty years ago. Then along the coast towards Opunake there was no settlement at all. Te Whiti reigned as a little King ; and as Titokowaru, the chief who caused all the trouble in 1868 was still active, much anxiety was felt by the settlers, who feared another native outbreak <l How changed things must le now," no doubt, irany of those who have newly arrived amongst us will say. Aye. how changed ! But, we fe.ir the newly arrived as well as the rising generation will never realise the change, in so marked a manner, as those who were here twenty years ago. When any outsider, in referring to Taranaki, speaks of the place «3 being backward, considering the length of time the district has been settled, they should first make themselves acquainted with its history ; they wonkl the» find how the district had been retarded for the benefio of the colony ns a who'e — for here the question ot the supremacy of the races was fought on) — :nd although other parts of New Zealand reaped the benefit, Taranaki was made to suffer by it, and when they come to see that notwithstanding the impediments put in the way of the progress of this district, that it is still making rapid stride?, then perhaps that justice will be meted out to the settlement which it is entitled to, and from which for many years it has been denied.

Mr W. Grayling lost a Government cheque for £17 19s on Saturday night He had the cheque and some notes in his pocket, and in pulling out some money he thinks that he must have dropped the cheque. The police were informed of the loss. Two inebriates, Joseph Hannam and James Murphy, were arrested by Constable Roche on Saturday. We are sorry to hear that Mrs Bleasdale, shopwoman in Mr Bayly's west end butchery, was seized with paralysis on Saturday, one side being affected. We would call attention to an important announcement in another colum by Mr Freeman R. Jackson & Co. to the Wanganui Ram Fair, wherein it states that intending buyers are requested to note that although the Fair is advertised to extend over Friday, an endeavour will Be made, if necessary, to close it on Thursday night. The residents of Waitara will be called upon to-morrow to vote upon tho proposal to raise a loan for tho construction of protection works to prevent the river encroaching on the town. It is proposed to borrow £600 for the purpose under the Government Loans to Load Bodies Act, 1886, and to strike as security a special rate of three-eights of a penny in the £ on all properties in the township of Raleigh East and West.

The overdraft of the Taranaki County Council this (Monday) was £3043 18s, exclusive of £800 for accounts presented for passing at the meeting to-day (Monday). The Chairman deemed it advisable noD to pass all the accounts in view of the increase in the overdraft that such a step would mean.

The Town Band will give an open-air concert in front of the --Government Buildings this (Monday) evening, commencing at 7.30 o'clock.

The Government have decided that the titles to native lands in the colony shall be ascertained without deliiy, and judges will be withdrawn as soon as practicable from the work of subdivision and set to adjudge titles. The districts are being scheduled for allotment among the judges. A measure is to be introduced next Session consolidating the various statutes relating to the Native Land Courts.

A circular has been issued to the heads of departments of the Civil Service instructing them to stop all overtime in future, except when despatch is required in circumstances of a confidential nature. Extra clerks will be temporarily employed when required.

A poll will be taken at Waitara tomorrow (Tuesday) to raise a loan of £GOO ,for certain works required in that town. The Board proposes to expend the money as follows :—(1): — (1) To construct Protection Works at Raleigh to prevent the Waitara river encroaching on the town. (2) To boiTow for such purpose tho sum of £600 under the Government Loans to Local B>dies Act, 1886. (3) To strike, as security for such Loan, a special rate of three-eighths of a penny in the £. (4) To constitute the township of Raleigh East and Raleigh West a special rating district. (f>) The said rate to bo recurring rate for twenty-six years. Those who desire the money to bo raised should not fail to record their vote.

A few days ago a man at Lceston near Oamaru drove his binder into a swarm of bees that had hived or settled on the standing wheat which ho was cutting. The bees savagely attacked tho horses, which bolted, and settled by thousands on Flood, severely stinging him. He pulled his hat down over his face and pluckily stuck to his horses until assistance arrived. Some other men on going to his assistance, were also stung severely.

One of Rudyard Kipling's " other stories." At Simla, a dignified veteran Colonel, familiarly greeted by a peacocky young globe-trotter as " Old Chappie !" sarcastically replied, " Old, perhaps, but chappie, , never, sir !" This was overheard, and passed into ft local colloquialism. People used the phrase whenover they could drag it in by the shoulders until it stumbled on a catastrophe. Tnore was singing and piano playing one night in a bungalow, and tho oil lamp went out abruptly. Witticisms scintillated in the dark. Tho Major's daughter sweet, single, 17, made some stupid ventriloquiiil remarks. "One of the foolish virgins, my dear," reprovingly said bur lather. She, embarrassed, remembered tho phraso and spalco aloud — " Foolish, perhaps, papn, but " Here the story snaps off.

An inquest was held at Chatham, England, on Wednesday, December 6th, on on Walter De Brisac, a man of sixtyeight. The deceased had been widely known for nearly half a century as a most eccentric character. He had never been seen in a new suit of clothes, his garments consisting of patchwork stitched upon presumably an original foundation of tailor's cloth. Years ago he attracted the attention of Charles Dickens, who, it is believed, founded his- character of Barnaby Rudge partly upon the oddities of this person. Deceased, who obtained his livehood by acting as a pedlai 1 , was apparently a man of superior education, and on rare occasions when he would talk of himself he stated that his father was formerly an officer in the Bi-itish army, and that their family, which was of French extraction, onca occupied an honourable position amongst the nobility of Ireland. The deceased was too proud to accept assistance, and was found dead in the wretched dilapidated cottage he occupied, the body being in a very emaciated condition. The jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes, accelerated by want and exposure." Another remarkable French character, the Marquis de Rays, has just died. It was he who conceived the idea of forming a colony in Port Breton, in Oceania. With the aid of fallacious circulars he succeeded in obtaining funds for the realisation of his fantastic enterprise. Unfortunately he put most of them in his own pocket, and spent the remainder in sending to the imaginary colony a number of his victims, who died there of starvation. Prosecuted for swindling, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. It was this case which suggested to M. Alphonse Daudet his amusing " Port Tarascon." A mysterious tree, thought by the agriculturists of France, to be an elm, has just sprung up near tne door of the Paris Opera House. The management are so much impressed with the compliment paid them, that the tree will not be interfered with. The architect has even said that "trees are more beautiful than monuments, that the architecture of God is better than that of his professional brethren." The Gaulois with the inveterate Gallic habit of fostering the tender passion, says, " Who knows but that in a dozen years assignations will be made under the branches of the Opera elm V" The Bank of England presented a return to the House of Commons showing that there were notes of theirs to the amount of nearly £10,000 that were issued more than forty years ago and had never been presented for payment. Bank notes, like other slips of paper, occasionally get destroyed by accident. They get consumed when a house takes fire, and not a few are lost when ships founder at sea. Occasionally one may have heard of their being eaten by rats, and there is at least one story current of ji young spendthrift who, when out shooting with an old muzzle-loader, in a sudden emergency used a couple of bank notes as wadding for his gun. The Bank of England has always proudly declined to take advantage of any accidents befalling their notes, provided they can be assured of the good faith of those who appeal to them. Among the curiosities of Threadneedlestreet, says a London paper, they have, or had not a great while ago, in a little glazed frame displayed on the wall, the charred remains of a note that had been taken out of the fire of Chicago. As a note it had been completely burnt, but the material of which Bank of England notes are made is of such a character that it was still possible to establish the fact that it really had been a bond, and the number and value were still discernible. It was therefore cashed. They also have, or had, some notes that Avent down in the Eurydice, and had been under water till they had become a scarcely distinguishable mass of pulp; but they were carefully dried and put under the microscope, and they were all paid. On one occasion the bank's punctilio in this way cost them £30,000. A bank director declared that he had losta bond to that amount. On his giving an indemnity the money was paid to him. After his death, however, the note for this large amount was presented, and had to be cashed, and the indemnity proved worthless. The Napoleon " boom" in France so far from abating is advancing by leaps and bounds. Even as regards the literary side of the question, the Gaulois remarks that people do not study Napoleon ; they become Napoleonists. Perhaps the most singular proof of the wide extent of the movement is to be found in the publication of an illustrated *work, entitled "The Great Napoleon for Little Children." The pictures are by a well-known artist who calls himself '' Job," so that the book is suggestive of a combined game of " Patience " and " Nap." A dinner party of married women — not to say matrons — was given a short while ago in London, where tho fanciful style of menu introduced by Mr Mallock in the "New Republic" was adhered to. To promote conversation a menu of conversation was provided. Such subjects as "Is life worth living ?" were some of the problems proposed to the languid MiLeslie's guests. This latter day dinner party concerned itself with a far more practical and vital subject. Do you allow- your daughter to go alone in hansoms? Do you allow her to visit friends with whom you are unacquainted? Do you allow her to ride alone in the Park ? were the questions over which this gentle jury presided, and waxed argumentative. The party broke up into two camps, and such a successfully conversational dinner party was never given before.