OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 683, 1 August 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

— »» (From the Daily Times, July 26 to July 30 inclusive.) J The Arrow correspondent of the Cromwell Argits Writes regarding mining and agricultural matters in that district as follows :— "In mining matters, things have resumed their old aspect. Damages have been almost aIL repaired, and the miners are once mora pursuing ' the even tenour of their way.' Farming operations have been prosecuted vigorously ; the young wheat seems to have bad rather an overdose of moisture, but, upon the whole, promises an abundant crop, with ordinary luck. Unknown four years ago in the district, its culture is now a matter of supreme importance, as tbe staff of life should be. Oats are plentiful, but held for higher prices ; and buyers at present only buy from hand to mouth at 4s 3d to 4s 6d, which will probably be the highest price this seasonalmost every fanner holding back in expectation of the prices which ruled last year ; but towards next autumn, tbey will probably be more anxious to effect sales • at least, there is no likelihood of a scarcity. The Agricultural Association intend doing something practical. , The forthcoming ploughing match is the topic of the day among the farming community." « -■,'.* By the courtesy of Mr M<Lennan, the manager of the works of the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company, Kakanui, we (Oamaru Times') are in receipt of two tins, containing respectively lib and 2lbs of preserved mutton, manufactured at the Southland estaMishment. The tins when opened showed the meat to be in beautiful condition, and compacted with clear jelly. The contents were entirely free. from the,objectionable odour which is often characteristic of tinned meats. The mutton was stewed and partaken of by several gentlemen, -who •wt?rp unanimous in expressing an opinion as to its excellent condition and agreeable flavour. We are informed that the New Zealand preserved meats are superior to any yet exported from Australia, and for which there is so large a demand in the. London market. Whether this be the case or not,: we thinkajt impossible to improve upon the. sample before us, and we have no. doubt that the New -Zealand Company may safely count upon a largo — indeed, an almost unlimited— -demand for their manufacture. This promising state of things is matter for congratulation to the runholiers and the colony generally. We believe that the manufacture of tinned meats will shortly be commenced both at Kakanui and the Washdyke. | {Amongst the local industries nowestab-

lished in Otago, which are likely not only to prove remunerative to the proprietors, hut a great benefit to the district, may be mentioned a briok and tile work now in operation upon the farm of Mr John Dewe, Tokomairiro. It appears that Mr George Jones, settler, who has had large experience in this line of business, about a year ago determined Upon trying the experiment in the Tokomairiro Plain. He , accordingly for weeks prospected the whole district for the best clay, which he ultimately found on the property referred to, about a mile from the township. He made an arrangement with Mr Dewe for the clay, that gentleman entering into partnership with him in the concern, and a pug . mill, driven by two horses, was at once erected. Some very superior bricks have been produced and which bave been used for the erection of various buildings in Milton. A pipe machine was next procured, and iB at work, driven by one horse. A large quantity of drain pipes has been made with it, ahd used in the district. Indeed the demand is at present considerably in excess of the supply; Four thousand two-inch pipes can with ease be* turned out in a day, the price of which at present is £4 a thousand. The clay is of excellent quality ; indeed some of it is said to bo equal to any ever found in the home country. It is admirably adapted for the manufacture of thilk dishes, earthenware jars, &c, in which trade Mr Jones intends Bhortly to embark. Some ginger-beer bottles have' also already been made but of this clay, and they were found to be quite suitable. There can be no doubt that if the fertility of the soil is to be maintained extensive drainage operations must be entered upon. Hitherto the want of pipes hat, to some extent, tended to retard the prosecution' of such works • hut this want has now been supplied io far as Tokomairiro ia concerned, and apparently there is every disposition on' the part of agriculturists to take advantage of the manufacture of thiß new industry. We published recently an article from the Lyttellon 7 tmes, complaining of the high price which at present rules for beef in. Canterbury, and stating that if the. expectations Of the cattle dealers in that province are realised, that' description of meat will shortly be quoted, at forty shillings per hundred. The reason assigned for this state of things appears to be the refusal on the part of the Canterbury: Provincial Government to remove the restrictions which prevent the introduction of cattle into- that province from Otago, where the market price of beef at present ranges from fifteen to twenty shiUirigs. Reference was made, also, to some understanding alleged to exist between the respective provincial authorities, to the effect that the removal by Otago of the restrictions regarding the introduction of sheep should be followed by a repeal of the regulations which prohibit the crossing of cattle over the Waitaki into Canterbury. At the interview with the Deputy-Superintendent yesterday, no positive evidence of tbe existence of such an agreement was elicited by the deputation. Yet there is undoubted proof that for some time past the belief ih suoh ah underitanding has prevailed amongst those who have had ; occasion to deal with the subject. The Provincial Council always expressed great unwillingness to remove the regulations which provided for the dressing of sheep introduced from; Canterbury, and stockowners here have shared the same feeling. The evil which might result from imKrfect inspection, the possibility of disease ing present, and . yet defying the keen scrutiny of a competent inspector, the inexpediency of running any risk, are arguments whioh have been used from time to time when it was sought to remove the restrictions. When the Provincial Solicitor, about eighteen .'months ago, introduced a BUI with that object, he was met on all sides with the above line of reasoning, the result being that,' on the second reading, the Bill was thrown 'out by a large majority. During the recess, however, parties interested appear to have taken a more liberal view of the matter. The general absence of disease amongst' the flocks immediately north of the Waitaki, and the formation of a meat preserving establishment in the Oamaru district, rio doubt were; causes whioh contributed to this change of opinion. When, therefore, Mr Haggitt brought: forward a Bill during the last sessien of the Provincial Council, repealing the sth section of the Ordinance of 1868, but authorising the Superintendent to bring into force regulations having a similar effect, by a proclamation in the Gazette, no opposition was 'offered,! and the Bill passed .through its different stages at one -sitting/ No remarks' were offered at .that time, except by the Secretary for Land and Works, who is reported to have said ' the Superintendent of Canterbury had intimated his .willingness , to withdraw the regulations about cattle passing from Otago to Canterbury, and to permit cattle to pass be^een the provinces on equal terms. There ir no doubt that the absence bf, any opposition to the measure oh that occasion was mainly owing tp the. fact that members believed that an understanding had been come to by th© Provincial authorities of Canterbury and Otago, that in future there should be no : restrictions ; placed, upon the passage of cattle, either great' or small, over the Waitaki. j Subsequent to the. passing of the Bill, moreover, and when it "was found that ho steps were being taken by the Superintendent of Canterbury to implement his -part -of the alleged agreement, the stockowners yon : the southern borders of . 'the Zt^aitaki memorialised the Superintendent of this prqvinqe tohave the restrictions removed. In that memorial it js related that they took up, during the passing of the Bill, exactly the' position which we. have alluded to as being occupied by a majority of the Provincial Counoil, when they .esolved to abandon opposition. In the meantime the Provincial Government here has not ceased to urge upon the Superintendent of Canterbury the desirability of repealing the prohibitory regulations, but as yet without result. The

'subject is one of some moment to consumers in the neighbouring province as well as to cattle- owners in Otago. As an instance of the manner in which this protective system operates to the detriment of stockowners in this province, we have been informed by a landowner in the neighbourhood of Oamaru, that a few weeks ago he sold a mob of cattle, consisting entirely of bullocks, to be delivered at the Mataura, the price being four pounds per head, and that since then he has become aware of a sale which took place on the same day of a lot of mixed cattle at Timaru, for six pounds five shillings per head. Whatever may be the result of the renewal of the application to the Superintendent of Canterbury at the instigation of yesterday's deputation, we are convinced that sooner or later the expression of public opinion north of the Waitaki, will effect the removal of tbe restrictions. That they are no longer necessary is an argument which cannot be got rid of. That the authorities of Canterbury had ample grounds some years ago for prohibiting the introduction of cattle from this province, we readily admit. At that time, cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia had been imported from Australia, and the herds in all parts of Otago soon became diseased. The disease, which in its nature is an epidemic, las rapidly disappeared, and we are now assured- by the Chief Inspector of cattle, Mr Logic, that it no longer exists within the province. This is the fact which should at once be officially made known to Mr Rolleston, as upon becoming acquainted with it, he can no longer have the slightest excuse for maintaining the restrictions whioh are now in force.