The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1897. ON SKINNING STOCK.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XX, Issue 3549, 16 January 1897, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1897. ON SKINNING STOCK.

Tiie London Chamber of Commerce recently brought under notice of the colonies the damage to and consequent loss on Australasian hides and sheepskins from ill-flaying. A circular was forwarded to Australia and New Zealand on the subject, in which the matter wae fully goue into, and the heavy losses to the colony clearly demonstrated. The author of this circular was Mr Charles Eocke, of the firm of Rocke and Sons, wool, leather, skin, and pelt factors, London —a gentleman of long and practical experience in his particular line of business. Mr Rocke is now passing through New Zealand, and this matter of the proper flaying of cattle being one of considerable importance to the colony, an Evening Post reporter interviewed him on the subject. In the course of a conversation which followed, Mr Rocke said the loss to all parties concerned by the ill-flaying of hides and sheepskins was much larger than would be imagined, and the remarkable part of it was that it was preventable. As showing the loss, he quoted the figures based on the average of the four years ending 31st December, 1805, which showed that the number of hides imported iuto the United Kingdom from the Australasian colonies annually is about 540,000. The number of sheepskins sent from the colonies to the United Kingdom and Europe is about 12,294,000 per annum. Expert opinions show that the estimated loss on the whole number of hides received cannot be less than 2s per hide, and on the sheepskins 2d each skin, and this due only to reckless butchering. In round numbers, this means an annual loss to the colonies of £156,455 —£54,000 on hides and £102,455 on the sheepskins. It will be seen from these figures that the matter is one deserving of serious consideration. Mr Rocke has been through the colonies several times, and practically all over the world, and his experience in Chicago and other large killing centres has proved to. him that the state of things existing in these colonies can be cured easily enough if only taken in hand in a systematic manner, and under proper supervision, Dressers would sooner pay a top price for a well-flayed article than give a small price for an inferior class of goods. Questioned as to the best methods of flaying, Mr Rocke remarked that slaughterers should use more elbow and less knife to preserve the natural characteristics of the skins. It is satisfactory, however, to know that Mr Rocke added that the flaying was much better done in New Zealand than in Australia. One of the largest dressers of sheepskins in the United Kingdom has stated that “ if it were possible to get skins from the sheeps’

hacks without a knife mark on the flesh side, I am of opinion that it would add from 2s to 6j per dozen to the value of the pelts.” New Zealand pelts, Mr Roche says, are far superior to those of Australia, owing to climatic conditions, combined with the breeding. In Australia they go in largely for merinos, which produce the poorest hides, while in Now Zealand the skins of the crossbreds make firstclass leather. We would commend this matter to the consideration of those interested, merely pointing out in conclusion that in Chicago and elsewhere ill flaying is unknown, and yet the work of slaughter is carried on just as expeditiously as it is here.

The Rabbit Inspectors’ repoits and Sporting Scraps will be found on the fourth page. The railway department announces cheap fares for the Wellington races, exhibition and bowling tournament. The Wellington exhibition will be closed on February 3rd with au appropriate ceremony.

Up to the present 3,300 bales of wool i are been sent from the Waipawa railway station this season. Tho Bush Advocate reports, that as a result of bash fires, hundreds of deal trout are to be seen in the streams around Maharahara. The famous tight rope walker, Blondin, never smokes. He regards tobacco os tho enemy of the nervos. Though over seventy now, ho still performs wonders on the ropo. Actiog on tho suggestion of Mr E. R. Young, of its wine depot in Loudon, the South Australian Government has do cided to allot a special sum of money for advertising the wines of the colony in London.

A Viotorian inventor has dovised a “ microbe killer,” for which it is claimed that it will aerate, cool and purify a oan of miik in a minute and a halt. The advantages of the machine are that it is oxtromely cheap-nud easily worked. The secretary of tho telegraph depart ment requests us to Btate that the delay in the delivery of press messages to this office on the sth instant, was caused by “ a heavy gale blowing the wires down, and also to h-uah and grass tiros in the Musterton district.”

Tho drought has played havoc with most of the crops around tho district, especially towards tho coast. We are informed that one station owner, who expended £ISOO in ploughing aud sowing, will not get a crop worth'a five pound note. Wo hoar that several others find that their crops are not worth catting.

Thero are certain secrets in the manufacture of playing cards which are most jealously guarded and which are known only to the heads of the firms. The paper is prepared by special process ; the enamelling is composed of a compound the ingredients of which are a secret, and the ink is made of different stuff from the usual kind.

Tho Hon W. Gisborne is about to bring out a now edition of his “ Rulers and Btatesmon of New Zealand " Tho original volume, which is conceded by most men to be by far the beßt book as yet written about New Zealand politics only carries the reader up to about 1884 ; but for the new edition Mr Gisborne hao written supplementary chapters which bring tho work closely up to dato. A peculiar accident occurred at Raglan on New Year’s Day to Mr D. Galvan, one of the contestants iu tho Needle Race. He hid ridden up to the foaco, and was dis mounting in order to carry the thread to tho lady to thread tho needle, when another horse dashed into him, knocking him down, and breaking the bladoboac of the right shoulder, besides soriouoly bruis ing him ou the thigh and back. After a spell of dry weather extending over three months, tho slight showers which fell on Thursday evening were greatly appreciated. Heavy rain fell in the bash districts yesterday, whiie this morn iug broke with a threatening sky Light showers fell at in'ervals and it appears as though we would got more rain, as predieted by Captain Edwin. It is to be hoped that these predictions will be realised.

Mr J. H. Jull, who has boon station master here for about 18 years, and who recently received notice of his removal to Tinwald, Canterbury, has forwarded his resignation to the head of the department. Mr J nil feels loth to sever his connection with Waipawa after his long residence in the town, and this feeling is accentuated by the fact that the duties expected of him in the south could only be properly discharged by a yoaoger and more active

Tho woman Jessie Hay, who alleged that the seriouß boros she received at Kercru a few days ego were tho act of her lover, has sufficiently recovered to enablo her depositions to bo taken. She persists in the statement that Chape! (who is under arrest) put her in tho fire. She alleges that she bad been engaged as housekeeper by him, and as she resisted improper overtures the accosed placed her on the fire, resulting in her feet being badly burned. The condition of the woman is still critical.

A remarkable story is reported from Batb (Eogland). Nearly two years ago a body was taken from the river Avod, and identified by a sister and neighbor as that of John Adame, an old soldier, aged about 60 years. An inquest was held in dii3 course, and a verdict of “ accidentally drowned ” returned. Tho body was buried as that of John Adams, but on the night of October 23rd, to the groat surprise of his relations, John Adams called at his sister’s house. The consternation that bis appearanoo created, can be better imagined than described. Thero are sensational rumours afloat in Wellington about a divorce ense shortly to come off (says the Auckland Observer). The intending petitioner is a well to do Sydney butcher who has lately arrived in Wellington, having been preceded by his wife. S h .e, he alleges, went into evil ways and fell into illicit association with men moving in the very highest ciroles that Wellington can boast. Too husband declares that he will expose her paramours if it costs bim every penny he is worth. If he does, it will make one of tho most startling cases from the standing of the peoplo Baid to be concerned, over heard in the colony. It is announced that the Catholic baziar will bogin on tha 10th February, and will remain open on the three following days. Great preparations have been made for the supply of useful and fancy artioles and it is anticipated that a substantial sum will be raised. The bazaar will be opened by Mr George Hunter, M.H R. Vooal and instrumental selections will bo given each day. Amongst the performc-rs will bo Miss Brady, a lady, who according to Mr Robert Parker, musical licentiate of Trinity College, would do credit to any musical institution in the world. Miss Brady obtained within a few marks of 100, the highest number possible, in senior honors, at a recent examination in vooal and instrumental mnsio. The Seamen’s Union has asked tho owners for an inorease of £1 per month and Is 6d per hoar for overtime bo as to

reinstate the standard wages that were current prior to 1893. The present rate is Firetmn and groospra, £8 for four hour watches, and £9 for six hobr wntcheß ; trimmers and sailors, £6 At a meeting of the Federated Seamen’s Union the question of an increase of wages to sailors, firemen, QDd trimmers was brought up, and it was resolved that unlees a favorable reply be received before the 20th stops bo taken to bring the matter before the Conciliation and Arbitration Court. The report showed the uuion to bo in a otrong financial position. Thursday’s Post saysA quiet wed ding took place this morning at St. Mark’s Church, when Miss Florenoe E. Parsons, of Birmingham, England, was married to Mr W. J. Standley, of Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay. The bride, wbo was giveu away by Mr W. Mowbray, wore cream, trimmed with silk, and a lace hat with ostrich tips. Miss Elsie Ratbbone (cousin of the bridegroom) attended hor uv briles maid, and wore white lustre with pink trimmings, and a picture hat. Mr J Barrie acted as groomsman The bride groom’s present to tbo bride was a diamond bracelet and to the bridesmaid a gold brooch. The honeymoon is to be spent in Hawke’s Bay The pnblio abattoir scheme recently submitted to the Wanganui Borough Council has been adopted, the terms of the resolution being as follows“ That, gabjaot to satisfactory arrangements being made, an abattoir bo established at the Freezing Company’s premises, Oaslleoliff, in accordance with section 7 of the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1894, and that the Governor be ssked to appoint an inspector thereof in accordance with sec tion 33 of the said Act, and that the solicitors bo P.sked to draw up,a by-law to regulate the various matters relating to inspection and sale of meat within the Borough.” Only ono local butchering firm has declined to fall in with the scheme.

Tho following from an Auatralian paper is of intereet oven in this district this year:—When pricos are high, and far mere have no batter to sell, it is a good time perhaps to remind producers of tho folly of being without a patch of green maize or sorghum at this period of the year for the benefit of their cows. It costs bat little to grow a crop of green Btoff of some kiud, and the farmer who neglects to do so is engaging in a business where be has hardly any right to expeot success. In nine cases out of ten he will, without the provision of green fodder for his stock, be landed in disappointment Green fodder in a dry summer is the lever that lifts the shrewd farmer high above all his fellow cow-keepers, and more particularly in a season like tbo present. Commenting on the remarks made by the Hon. J M'Kenzie at Geraldino last week, when in connection with the recent elections he reproached with ingratituio some of those “ who had been helped by the Government when they suffered through the snow,” the Timaru Herald says“ But in making those remarks Mr M‘Kenzie unoonsciously bore testimony to the rottenness of Seddonian methods and morality. If ths Ministry acted purely and impartially in the interests of the State in getting the Act passed and giving effect to it, they did not thereby establish a claim to the political allegiance of the Crown tenants. If, on tho other hand, they got the Aot passed for the purpose of using it as a means for staving off political opposition, they were guilty of a speoies of corruption which has long been associated with the term Seddoniam, and which, in feet, is one of its essentia] ingredients, and canses it to stink in the nostrils of right minded people.” We occasionally hear a good deal about the love of the Government for tho working man; theoretically it is all very well, but practically there is nothing iu it. The following is an instance, quoted by a Government paper—the Manaimtu Standard —which Bhows how great a regard the officials of our State-managed railways have for their employes: —Wo are surprised that tho Railway Department have not done something to ameliorate the lot of tho surface-men employed in tho Manawatu Gorge, either by lessening their term of service or allowing extended annual leave. The work is not, as a role, by any means hard, but the conditions under which the work is carried out are such that it is ouly a matter of a short time when the men either have to leave the service through ill health or die in harneeß. Tho late Phillip Brady’s death was undoubtedly due to the exposure he was subjected to in the Gorge, and now Mr Jaoob Hewitt, some time ago as sturdy and healthy a man .as tboro was in tho sorvioe, has had to seek admission to tho hospital. Over and over again Mr Brady applied for a transfer, but rod-tape stood in the way of his request beiug granted, yet we feoi suro it woald not bo difficult to arrange for a change every six months in the men employed there.