THE Thames Advertiser. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1885.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5106, 2 March 1885, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1885.

The ' New Zealand Herald' of Saturday last contained a leading article on/ a snbject of /great importance to the calony and to this district in particular. Some residents of the Thames will recollect very vividly the vastly different appearance the range of hills at the back of the town presented some seventeen years ago to the scene visible now. Then there was a dense, growth of forest and fruit trees, now we have bare, barren hills for the most part, and a decidedly less rainfall with its accompaniment of fertilizing showers. Of course there have been: the usual excuses—firewood and mine props must be had, and had they have been to the full. An old proverb puts pithily the fact that we cannot eat our cake and have it too. But in the case of timber there is a limit to the application of. the rule. You cannot fell a well-grown kauri tree ancUfill up its place in the same generation,, or even in the next. It is therefore a. matter of intense regret that such extensive destruction of specially valuable timber should have' been allowed our,, near neighbour hood, and the more so that not a few believe they have good grounds for asserting the illegality of its sale at all for export purposes. Be that, however, as it may; if irom its prolonged period appears, unlikely that the kauri will secure a plentiful permanent existence in these islands, there is no reason for the land being:left bare. We take it that some legal provision should be made, and if made enforced, whereby those who cut timber should be compelled to, replant trees, if not/of the same kind, then of other verities, that will have the effect of preventing the denudation of our forest lands, We suppose that 'it may be token as , a rule that where trees of one or more varieties?of an "order" are indigenous to.a soil in that same soil, it may be expected that all or .most of the other genera comprehended in the same order will flourish. Now, for building purposes, we know of no timber more valuable in these respects than the red pine of North America. It is comparatively of'quick growth, requires no- attention, is of particularly handsome foliage, and, take it all round, is unequalled for building purposes. The red pine will flourish in poor soil, its life is not destroyed by the cropping of the young growth by goats or other animals, and it appears.in every respect worthy to follow with advantage those trees which'have been destroyed in our neighbourhood. We rejoice in this respect that we have now as ari influential member of the present Government, Sir Julius Vpgel, He has given evidence in;the past that among his other cares the conservation of our forosts has "not escaped him, and he promises to devote still more attention to this matter in the future. We trust success will crown his efforts. Our contemporary tells of shipments of charcoal from the West Coast to Sydney in supplement to those of timber, of the clearing of 15,000 acres of bush in the Hutt' district by fire, our own columns tell of a terribly destructive fire raging for more than a week at Mr Blair's bush, Waipaheke, and still going on, The ' Herald' adds:,—" We aro cutting,down and burning the woods on a sweeping scale and with lightning speed—clearing and selling, idly destroying as well as using, quite indifferent to the woeful want that proverbially follows the wilful waste. It is a good thing to have the golden eggs, but «ifi is not well to .wantonly break them, and atill worse, to kill the

bird that lays them; and it is the duty of the Goveanraent and Legislature to interfere before too late, and see that this is not accomplished. In the practical measures for the purpose, which he has promised, the statesman will ' leave his name not written on sand. It is time to have State reserves, not as heretofore merely on paper, but in fact, properly protected. Let us not forget the grave apprehension the subject is now exciting at Imperial headquarters. 'England's maritime supremacy and position as a first-class' Power'":; (says the report from Downing-streetjr on the forest supply of timber and other forest produce, while her doraestio - ■-•>

industries would be hopelessly crippled if they were even temporarily -suspended., " And then taking for its text the concluding paragraph of the extract we have quoted, enlarges upon the importance to the colony of preserving our timber supplies as all-important to a-, maritime power, which it believes New;, Zealand must eventually become, We have mentioned the red pine, but there are many others suitable for replanting, and the sooner the legislation, takes place to render this , compulsory the better it will be for the future.'^.

Constable Stapleton has just completed the compilation of the jury list for the Thames district for the year lßßs-6, whioh is now open for perusal by interested persona at the police station. A meeting of justices .will be held on April 4th, for the purpose of revising it, when all bbjeotibnsinay be made gOOd. • ■■• ■■■ •■• •--. . : ■■■ ■'!,-.-• ;i ; V

Mr LaTrobe took leave of his pupils at the Waiotahi creek sohool on Friday afternoon,'.' on which occasion he. was presented with a ' handsome writing-desk, on behalf 'of, the',,, teachers'and elder soholars. / Miss Haver- ''l . field made the presentation, and Master ilea read on appropriate address, expressive of'-■' regret at Mr LaTrobe's app'roaohing depar-t ■ ture, ' :■■••,..•■.■.•

We are indebted to Mr S.-. Alexander, who was at Hikutaia on Friday last, for the information that a terribly destructive fire has been raging for more than a week in the workings at Mr Blair's biish, Waipaheke. ■ This locality, it will be remembered, was the'-'i 1 ;' scene of, the; disputes regarding possession,.;? ■between the Union Sash' and door company and Mr Blair, and as ( the latter has now ; ' carried , on operations for a considerable time without an opportunity of removing ' any of the products,, an! enormous quanjity of felled timber has been'staoked in the bushes. It is stated that upwards; .of;two millioD feet have already , been and some £500 .worth .of dams'destroyed, . while the ravages of the fire'are'not yet stayed. Several stores have also been burned;/. .-, to;the ground, and the natives have'lost''" large quantities of gum.' . So faras.weoan .•...■> ascertain, no'other information on the sub".:''

ject has reached town!

A meeting of the, Thames Exhibition .■■- Committee, held on Saturday morning, was 'S attended by the Mayor and Mesers Eenshaw, H, J. H, Smith, McGowan, and Dean, ,, Further ■: applications for space in addition to those- ■» already published, were received from Messrs i v R. N. Smith (preserved fruit),; Grookeru (mineH , boots), : Peel (mineral waters), and H. Fisher (self-acting cradle). It was stated:,-, that numerous exhibits in , 'the 'Home 1 In* i! dustry branch would also be sent from four ' of the public schools—Waio-Karaka, Waiotahi,' Kauaeranga; Girls' and ■ Kauaeranga 1 *"• i t ßoys', the last-named having, not less than *16 articles for exhibition, ..Entriesin this branch will be received until the Ist of ' April. It was resolved that the applications already received—twenty one in number— should be forwarded to the central com* r ■■ mittee at Wellington. .. r -~•■';.;-•.-.,'■', The Customs returns of the.Port of .= Thames for the month just concluded are considerably below the , average. .The amount collected, under the .heading. of general duties was £385 4s 6d;; whikfhe , receipts from beer duty were, £64 8s sd, '' ' Miss Chitty, so long' the respected' assistant teacher at the Girls , High School, who recently left to go to England, is now on her way out here again. We are sorry to hear the '. climate has so affected her:' health that she is compelled'to return, She .•■ '? is expected to arrive about Easter. ;;r ■:.. .i .' ' The usual quarterly competition for the "j; District .Belt took Collarbone .''.' Range on Saturday lasC' There'were'l4; , - 1 " competitors—7 from the Rangers 'and 7 from the Navals. Some good scores'were n ' : ' made, although the light was and not favourable for good ehooting,; '■ Bandsman Gill carried, off the belt'on this'";' : occasion with the score of'B6 points, the fifth' time he has won the belt." The' : ' ranges were 200,300,' and 600 yardsj 1 7 shot's'; " at each range. The following are 'some of the principle sorores:— , '" •;:".! 'i , ' ' : Bandsman Gill, N.A. ...' r ...:86 : ' : •' , : Vol. Hawk, T.R.R. '~.:.: ■";."'B2 ! ""' r "''" * Gunner Floyd, N.A. V.. ,i; 82 : Lieut.Lucat,T.B.B..\...;' ....,,77Gunner. Weir, N.A,.... ... 77 ' 0.P.0. Johns, N.A.,. ... -,74 _. Vol. Downie, T.R.R. '■;,'.. „; ; ..7.3'.; .;■-.* Gunner Herival,N,Aγ... «.|jl;/; '/'*- A match between Holland's, (Auoklandj, and Thames Cricket Clubs 'was'played at ■,« the Parawai Gardens on Saturday lastj!erid l./V----resulted in a victory for the yisitors'.by 86'' : runs. 'They went first .to/ 'the', wickets,' and put together a total of 66, runs, the highest contributors being Burford 10, Beard .B,' and ~ Mills 8. . The.local men we're unable.to' , ~ make any etand a'gainsii the'bowling/of • Thomas (underhand) and 'Be'arcLv'The former proved most destructive,'securing five mckets for very few runs,' ; Pearco contributing 14'(notout) ; ahd'Smith* 8"out"of r ~ a total of 41 runs, At this stage of the

game an adjournment took place for lunoh, < whioh was provided by Mr Mason, ,of the

Bridge Inn. "After ample justice had been done to the good things provided by.the ,y above gentleman, play was resumed. The'''

lunch had evidently revived the spirits of the Auckland men, for upon going in for their second innings they inade a inbstV; determined stand, and put togetherl3oru'ns' 3 before they were all di&posed of. Thomas' l, ; 7 (Captain) put together 57 and Beard 26ouf ? ' ; ' of; the' above;itotali The former; playerVi/j' should have been run out when he had made

about 20.runs,' but > the ball being badly thrown in, he was allowed to escape. The local men, on going in for their second innings, only succeeded in 1 putting together 69 runs, the highest scorers being Smith 15; and Egginton 17. The bowling of Pearce and Buchan for the Thames team was very good.

A very enjoyable form of recreation, whioh has been very largely patronised in Auckland for some time past, has been arrange! ; - to take place here. Two moonlight excurlf., sions, one in the Te Aroha to-night, under the management of Mr John Hudson, en- •. livened by a good selection of concerted *' pieces, and another to-morrow night under the anspices of the Presbyterian Sunday School, and for the benefit of its funds, in the Eotomahana, for which a brass band has/ been engaged to play during the trip, These* ' are holidays which do not interfere with tho daily duties, but should the rather assiet' in the better fulfilling of them by the relaxation and rest afforded. We shall expect .to see both vessels well crowded, as the nature of the entertainments provided, and the low prioes fixed, will be sure t to oommend them \ toall. -~ ~.., ■~'„.': , ."'■'■' * A

Skinny Men.—" Wells' Health Benewep restores health and vigor, cures. Dyspepsia, Impotenoe,' Debility," At druggists, - : Kemp! thorae, Prosser & Co, AgonfajAuoklarii^

In another column appears the Returning Officer's (Mr D. R. Gellion) report of the poll as taken by him on Friday for the Cemetery road special rating, district. Our readers will be glad to note that the result was almost unanimously in favour of the rate, and we trust the County Council will now take all the necessary steps to have the road constructed with as little delay as possible. The long spell we have now had of dry weather is hot likely to last much longer, and if this ; work could be well in hand during good weather, it would not only be done at. a,les9 cost, but would also be a much better road than if it Has tobe made during the wet season of the year.'

A most magnificent display of Thames grown fruit was to be seen on Saturday night in the window of Mr Smith. Pollenstreet., iWe believe that no choicer variety of'shade of colour in apples be produced'anywhere in the colony. They ranged from the pale yellow—almost white—to the deepest red. While their superior size bore testimony to the fact that with care and oulture'j'the Thames district is capable of producing fruit equal to any in the world. Mr Billings has for some weeks past also had a.most excellent display of fruit of his own culture. ■.'•'..."

Seventeen members of Wairoa Rifles arrived in the steamer Planet about 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of firing the return, match with the Rifle Rangers. It being dead low water at the time of their arrival, the Kaval launch was kindly placed at the disposal of Bangers; who met their visitors .and brought them ashore at Tararu. There they were met by Captain Donglas r Lieut. Lucas, and a number of the Rifle Rangers with carriages, and at once driven to Host Symingtons. After a short rest tie"whole'pairty' were driven out to Kopu and other places of interest on the Thames. The matoh. will be fired this morning by-12; men from eaoh. corps, the firing will commence at 9 o'clock, it 5 o'olook a dinner will be given in the Shortland Public Hall, to be followed, by a. concert commencing at 8 o'clock and concluding with a dance. The programme is published in our columns and; contains a number of very pleasing' , items' by amateurs of popular merit.::. We trust a goodly number of onr oicizens will assemble at the entertainment in; the evening to' show by their presence their Appreciation of the cordiality with whioh our men were reoeived when they recently visited Wairoa. •From a lecture, delivered in Dunedin by the Rev. Mr Waddell, M.A.,-we take the following extract:—What caused Gordon's death! The stib of the assassin. True. But why was Gordon there? Probe the question baok to its furthest origin, and you find that .he :f alls'a victim to the wrongdoing of, men and; women who have been dead for "centuries. ■ It is the sins of the Pharoahs and the Ptolemies, of the Caliphs, and the'Suijan's, and the Pashas-men whose very names- are'unknown to us, but for whose errors and erring-the innocent British soldier has;to .die to-day upon the Arab spears. 'Does iiot that fact speak to us of the continuity of evil through the onenessthe solidarity, of the race? We have to realise-our unity iwe have to think that we oannot do.evil and the whole world, not be the worse for it. We must remember that four"wrong-doing reaches far out beyond ourselves, and catches up innocence as well as guilt J in'its wide-winged sweep. Some of iis think sometimes that if we sin, what matter 1 ?HAt the worst we bear our: own burden—we only suffer. It is no concern to others: • Some of us imagine sometimes that we can be indifferent to the want, and sorrow/and crime of the world, so long as onr own house, or city, or State is free,, It is a stupid delusion—very. The race is one. We are all inextricably knit together, and every /wrong done to the minutest member vibratee out , to the furthest limits and pulses down to the remotest times.

A correspondent to the Taranaki Eerald writes:—Amongst other pests which trouble the agriculturist the black leech, so called, which'attaoks our fruit trees is beginning to assume formidable proportions. It is now two years' ago when I first noticed it f n my garden on some cherry trees, few in number, snd therefore no action was taken to check it.-, Thisyearit'has appeared by millions, and threatened to strip the treee of their leaves,:if not exterminated. ' Hearing that hellebore in : infusion was useful in checking it, I procured Borne, and by means of a garden syringe washed the leaves of the tree attacked by it, and the result was very satisfactory j the leech disappeared, it is called a leeoh, , but is really a caterpillar with a smooth moist skin). but it is so prolific that if immediate steps are not taken in this district on its appearance cherry, .plum,, and pear trees will be so enfeebled by its attacks that fruit will bei impossible. I would there-, fore suggest that all persons, with; gardens Or orchards should, on' the appearance of this new plague, syringe the trees with a docoction of hellebore-prepared, by pouring: boiling water on the, powder at the rate of J an ounce to'i the. gallon,'using it when cold. As the powder.can be purchased at two shillings per pound the remedy lie not expensive, aatwo. doses at. the interval of a week will prove a complete cure" if well applied.,

A passage of' arms took place recently between 1 the well-known Freethought leetarer' "Ivo," and the Eev. L, M. Isitt, the Weßleyan.ipastor. at Masterton, "Ivo," in concluding' a' lecture roundly rated all priests 'as lilvrs, and.impeached the churohes as aeif-evjdent frauds. , Twitted with charging of; admission to his lectures," Ivo.". retorted that people paid to go to church and hear lies, and ; they should, not complain of paying, Is to hear the truth. He then added that' W had 'heard he was going to be attaoke'd on the platform, and he thought It would be better for those who spoke loudly of what they intended doing in the streets if they lad met him face to face'. This remark brought up Mr Isitt, who said that if the challenge referred to him, the lecturer was in error, as he had never expressed any wish to debate with him. Mr Isitt then expostulated with "Ivo" on being guilty of arrogance which he had imputed to others. To prove a man a liar it was necessary to show that the.man who was acoused knew that he was telling a lie. He appealed to the audience to say whether, during the three years he had been with them, he had provsd himself a liar and a fraud, When " Ivo "(applied such terms to him he acted strongly ~in .opposition to the Freethought he advocated. '"Ivo" subsequently challenged, Mr Isitt to argue the subject at'an appointed' meeting, but Mr laitfc declined, on the ground that such disputations could do no practical good.

<ffi Marvellous bargains in Millinery, Drapery, and a large lot of Clothing at onethird its ;value, is now Belling at J. Marshall's, Albert-street. The Pollen-streefc branoh is taken over by Mr 6. Boon (the late Manager.)—AdvT)

Good Resolutions.—At the commencement of every new year hundreds and thousands of our young men-and old as wellform resolutions for their guidance for the coming year, Many keep them, while others breakthem, To such we wish to give a word of advice. In order to sustain your determination of leading a better.life in the future you should use Hop Bittora. The judicious use of Hop Bitters strengthens, cleanses, and purifies the stomach, bowels, liver, nerves, and kidney, and is just what you want to build up and invigorate yourself,— Greenhish Dem Bead,

Tii? TM'; Housewife.—The oareful, tidy housewife, when giving her house its spring cleaning, shonld bear b mind that the'dear inmates are more precious than houses,'their systems need cleansing, by purifying the blood, regulating the stomach anibbwels, and she should know that thero is 'nothing- do it so surely as Hop Bitters, , the purest and best of all.mpdjcjneS' fcOOkfor, .<ivf ( ': <;.■;::■ ~,/■■