The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11658, 18 January 1901, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901.

Ijb' the annual report of the Collector I ©f Cubtomh to the hehd of the Department can be regarded — and we think I it can — jvs any index to the state of trade and production in the district | then Mr Bedford, in his report for fcher year just closed, indicates a very pros* perous state of things. He commences 1 y drawing attention to the continued increase in all sources of revenue notwithstanding the abolition and reduction of many items of duty effected by the Amending Act of Last session, and further to the general prosperity of the district as evinced in a remarkable manner by the largely increased ralue of the export.*. The net Customs duties for the year totaled £21,281 as against £20,350, for 1899, an increase of .£931. The refunds and drawbacks during the year amounted to £210 16s fed, compared with £143 15s 6d in 1899, the increase being principal y accounted for by exports under drawback for the sake of re-importation under the reduce I tariff. .The befer't doty for the ! year amount**! to £1282, as against £1176 in JkJU. A very satisfactory increase appears in t)>e value of goods imported during the paot yenr, the total being £Ci7,Xiß, as compared with fcf>'.i,sls, und Mr Bedford looks forward to a considerable augmentation in tlio current year, as importers are waking up to the fact that it pays

better to pass their entries and^pay fluty here than through anindentor or middleman ;ifc one of the larger centres. But it is when -we turn to the value of exports llmt we find the immense in-ere-ise in tlie material wealtli and prosj>erity. Tlie year 1899 showed an increase of £'81,982 over the previous year, but the yenr just ended shows an even greater growth* the figures being, for 180'J £414,336, and for tOOO £50.VJ*21, an increase tt£ £80,565. , ( These figures include Waitara, and a detailed sWtem'ent, which we publish I \v another column, is attached to the report.) During the past year 582 vos.be 1 ,;., of fin aggregate tonnage of 517.054 tons Mid with crews numbering 10,470, visited the two ports, New Plymouth and Waitf^a, b'dihg a decreaw t*f 3o vessels in number, , tUt aft lnci'easc of tonnage i of 31,107 tons. The sriidler class of vessels, AHpec^ally tr.ose trading t^ Waitara, Have had to give way to the improved &hd larger class of steamers now running, on the coast. Attention is drawh to the very great drawback to the Wtwkihg t)f the port in the totally inadequate accommodation al the examining sheds. " Year after year, ' writes Mr Bedford, " have I been hammering away at the Railway Department for increased convenience, always being put off with the promise o£ a good timo coming, which now dertyinly seems possible to be realised in the Course of aHpfhfcr year ; but^ mentttirae; I fe'Upfioad the pixblip wm iiaVfe put up \vith the f ektfeniely unsatisfactory state of affairs that subsists at present." These rej iiiHrkg will be endorsed by importers and others whose business takes them to the shed, and we trust they will have tho effect of stirring up the authorities to provide the muehneeded accommodation. Mention is iPso made of > the improverrie'nfe rldw bpiilg umWfcaUen at the wharf by the Ttar'bour Board as tending to the better working of the port. The report indicates a lively interest taken by Mr Bedford the welfare of the place, and if importers would adopt his suggestion to pay duty here instead of at Wellington or some other port, thun swelling their returns, the current rear should show even better re.-iultß. The lack of accommodation at the examining sheds possibly deters some importers frcMri parsing then goods lu'ie, but; we understand that two lai-ge soft goods brms intettd to do &o iv fiilare.

Captain Edwin wired this afternoon : — " Strong north to east and south east winds ; glass further fall ; tides incaerse; sea considerable indications for rain.;

It is a fact that the meeting to-night in the Salvation Army Barracks will be led by '• The Wild Colonial Boy"(Adjut Tyler). Don't miss it,*

Mr James C. Bain, the famous comique, will probably visit New Plymouth on about the 16th March for a three night season. After touring New Zealand it Is his intention" td travel America.

The Wellington City Council has apriointed a Committee to consider the question of immediately establishing abattoirs A report is to be presented in fourteen days. \lt was stated at the Harbour Board meeting to-day (Friday) that no application had been received from the Government regarding the section which it was suggested would probably be required as a Post Office site.

The want of proper ventilation at the Theatre Royal was unpleasantly evidenced on Thursday night. The time is coming when New Plymouth will, if it deserves to be visited by companies of any note, have to provide better theatrical accommodation than exists at present.

A London cable announces the death of Mr Samuel Lewis, a well known money louder, who has bequeathed bis widow £1,000,000 absolutely, with discretionary life interest in £3,000,d00 more, most of which is ultimately to bo devoted to charittes,ineluding £400,000 to found homes for the London poor.

Messrs N. Oates and Wildey, with a motor car, accomplished a journey of 108 miles, from Fahiatua to Hastings, on Thursday. Owing to a alight accident to the spokes of the car progress ever the ltimutaka was slow, and a bad road from Takapau to Waipukurau also prevented a spuedy journey. Great interest was taken in the car as it moved through, the country districts.

Property in Queen street, Auckland, is still on the rise. An old mill has just been sold for LIB,OOO, having "a frontage to Queen-street of 90 feet and a depth of 130 feet, with a connection to a lane at the back. During the boom three years ago, the Auckland Stock Exchange Company purchased the property for L 12,000, the idea being to erect a new exchange. That project having being abandoned, the property has now been disposed of at a proiit of £6000.

According to the report of Captain Hood, harbourmaster, submitted at the Board meeting to-day (Friday), 37 Ktyamcr-* and one scow weie berthed ;it t'i».! wharf during the month of December. The imports wore 3206 tons, including 1 180 tons of coal, and the exports totalled 1407 tons. The dr6dge Thomas King w rk<;d 13 L days, makiriglll trips, and removing 6660 cubic yards of sand. The dredge is at present lafd up. Captain Hood added that he expects to resume dredging on the 20th January.

Our Waitara. correspondent writes: — Thare was not a very large attendance at the meeting on Tuesday evening re the formation of a Horticultural Society, but it was decided to proceed M'ith the project and a pro tern. Committee was formed consisting of Mesdames Jones, Bleakley, Townsend, Chapman, Palmer, Miss Boothroyd, Messrs Buchanan, Jones, Brabant, Tate, and Fraser to report as to the support likely to bo received and to supply a list of the ladies and gentlemen willing to take office. Mr G. V. Tate, who is greatly interesting himself in the p:o*» posal consented 1o :u-f as secretary in the meantime.

The first sitting of the Federal Com mission was held at Wellington on Thursday. After a general discussion it was decided to commence the proceedings with a sitting at Invercargill on the sth prox., and so gradually work up through the colony, until arrival in Auckland, proceeding thence to Australia. The press will not be admitted to the sittings of the Commission, but a formal record of its proceedings from day to day ie to be furnished In the interval between now and the next meeting, a quantity of necessary statistics will be obtained from the Government; and placed at the disposal of the members. The New Zealand Herald's. London correspondent writes:-— Tn a letter I have just received from Mr Bad yard Kipling he refers with enthusiasm to the New Zonlanders at the front. He says : *' I came across some of the New Zealandera out in Africa this spring, and they were a superb lot/ Mr Rudyurd, Kipling also makcß a practical suggestion, which I agree with- him in thinking worthy of attention. 'He H*ys: "' IHo hope to goodness New; Zealand "will start up a coldstorage trade with Iho Cape in earnest now, linen ase I don't want the Argentine to come iv tliero." Ho goes on to say, however: •' The great present drawback is lv-!< of rail wiv facilities. The loconiMti\'N iii'i r-iilift; Mock wore in a si:ni<!.v trli.ihtl^ smiu at the end of the summer."

Only pure <lru«,"<. guirantood lreo from all adulterations usud in disputing at tykes' Pharmacy (opposite Theatre).*

The annual rerort of the Chairman of ( the Harbour Board will be found on the front page.,- - ,

The Garden Fete in aid of the building fund of the Bell Block Church promises to be most successful if the weather proves favourable. All sorts of attractions are being prepared, and a very pleasant day's outing may be antici pated. Intending visitors should note tho date of the F«te } Jannary 31, On November 22 tne Sow Industrial Syndicate was registered by Messrs Beacon and Co., London, with a capital of £4000 in £1 shares. The object is stated to be to adopt an agreement \^ith R. Brett, for the acquisition of certain petroleum and other rights in New Zealand or elsewhere, and to bore and mine fof, get, retire, prepare for market, arid aeal in petroleum and other mineral oils, coal, minerals, &c. Table A mainly applies. The registered office of tlie, company $ 4, P^eri Codrt, Fen-church-streetj B:Ci

The jtfew Plymouth Harbour Board intends entering an emphatic protest against the charges of the Yaluatiqn department for adjusting the valuation roU. At the meeting; to-dajr (Friday) ttie Ch»ifmrtri tildfed, "fM whilst ilddef the former system notices of alterations were received direct from the parties concerned by the sevetary, and the rolls altered at once by him, the present system requires receipt by tho Beoretary of notice of alterationßi copying and forwarding to the Valuer-Getieral, atti reflet ttgaitl .irdni the l&ttef, arid finally alteration df" the rolls fey t,lie secretary, \Vttich liieans riope^tharf twjce.tjtte work, in addifion to which' the-, Bp'ard is .rjequired to yay the siim of £p'Ji3 for wdrii wHich is ou*Side the requirements, and Is of no advantage to it, and the Board therefore protests against the charge; and further thafc ; a letter be written to the ActingPremier putting the matter before him. Mr Hignett thought the methods of the Department were preposterous, and he was-'quito willing to hold out until a levy was made on the Board's furniture. The ratepayers all found the district were, in His op\ti\9p\ tag ,"had;: ( .. Tj\efe Wai much taljc about the progressLveness 6f this coudtry, but he was going to watch with muph interest the cost of running the Valuation Department. Mr King did not think the resolution was "hot" enough. The whole thing was, he said, a swindle and nothing else, and he suggested that tho other local bodies should be asked to co opsr.ite and protest against the charge nr.sde. Mr McLean did not think the Government was aware of wkat was going on. The heads of the Department naturally like to make their rgtMrns a 8 gotfd as possible; aid so the cHafges were made. • The' Board passod (he resolution jrab'W by the Chairman, and Mr King's suggestion as to obtaining febe co-operation of the other local bodies was also adopted.