A FARMER'S FRIEND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7219, 20 September 1890, Page 2

A FARMER'S FRIEND.

Captain Robbmson, of the trim-built barque St. Kilda, during his recent trip to Quoensland, has been visiting the wondorlands of tbafc warm and somewhat radical region. Sir Samuel Griffiths, the Premier of Queensland, has just created a sensation in England by tho publication of what 13 known as his " Bill to declare the Natural Law relating to the acquisition and ownership of Private Property." The application of such a law is not likoly to bo acceptable to Now Zealand, and certainly not to this district — not for several generations. So we paas UlO Bill — let it slide. In a lesser way- very considerable interest will attach to " specimens " of one kind and another, hard and soft, which Captain Robertson has brought ovei. Ono particular specimen equals seventy tons. That i« soft. It is not protonded that the captain has brought Mount Morgan along, though that is ono of the wonder spots, and from whence come the hard specimens. These comprise gold and otbor minerals, and they lmvo been considerately placed on view with Mr Drew. These were particularised yesterday. They will not interest the farmers much, because, though gold, tho specimens are not presented in minted form as sovereigns, and cannot be sampled, like the soft spocimons, by handfuls. All the same, application was made to the Gold Warden at Bockhampton, by a 'cute business man, for a mineral lease over ground in which lay depositsof a. kind which in 1885 was imported into England, solely for the use of farmers, to the quantity of over three hundred thousand'tons. In a sonso, the ground would have proved a veritable gold mine. In a partioular cave, which was ontered by Captain Eobertson on the Ist of September, it is estimated that there are four million tons, as per soft specimen, nhioh in tho oolony is valued at £5 per ton, and which sells readily in England at £8 per ton. Thero are Inrger areas cloße at hand in the samo district. The millions of tons can be totted up by such as aro expert at figures. The sura is too big for tho "Sixpenny Beady Beckonor," by which wa find it most convenient to tot up monoy. Tho Gold Warden being quite unablo to sco anything of a mineral nature, much leas goW, in tho specimens on the ground over whioh a later discoverer desired to acquire a mineral lcaso, the application was handed orcr to tho Land Commissioner to settle, and he decided that it whs a manurinl and not n minoral deposit; and that is where the interest should come in for tho farmors. Some sixteen miles to the north east of the town of Bockhampton, among the hills of the BersorkorKange, are what arc known as Olaen's caves. Uho Guide Book says: — " Wo find ourselves at the baso. of v sorubcovered mountain. Bisicg up, ono above tho other, from a back-ground of dark green foliage, minarota and turrots of marble limestone, piled up tier upon tior in symmetrical grandeur, suggest to the onlooker a noble architectural pile, of more than ordinary dimensions, designed on the lines of a Mohammedan mosquo or Indian tomplo, and dedicated to tho service of the Deity." That is tho outside aspoct. The caves are still more wonderful. This is not a Phnroh's chariot-whoel story : it is the description of a locality visitod on Ist September by Captain Robertson, to whom doubters, if any such there bo, may refer. Of course ho didnV take tho ship thero. It is eleven milos by road to a sign board on tho brow of a ridgo, and anothor threo miles to Olson's homestead, then two miles further over broken country. That mnkce up the sixteen miles as statod in tho Guido Book, and that is where tho eaves are. Captain Eoberston did not take his ship there, but he brought seventy tons of tho manuiiol deposit in the ship to Wanganui, as n spooimon and as a speculation, being pretty cortain it was just what would suit tho farmers on this Coast, just indeed what is wantod at tho prosent time. The caves aro something wonderful, and aro very oxtensivo and variod. For agos and agea bats and suoh like birds have made thoso caves thoir abiding place — hence tho now valuable deposits, and this is tho analysis : — No. 1. No. 2 Tricalcic phosphates ...12 038 2915 Ammonia 10 64 95 Water 32 1 236 Organic mattor, oxcess of water 16'G8 26"i6 A veritable fanners' friend. The above is tho result of analysis by two exports in London, and, as guano can be procured either from Messrs Hatric'i and Co,, or from

the Loan and Mercantile Agency Go. Speoniens may also be seen at Messrs F. R. Jaokson and Oo.'s and Mr Laird's, and it is intended generally to make exhibits at other places. Captain Robertson has formed a very good opinion of Queensland as a place for trading to with farm products. The difficulty of malting paying trade, that is to run at freights to suit the farmers, is that there i» very little in the way of return freight. But if what he has now brought over as a speculation is found to be suitable and useablo by the farmers, then there can be no difficulty eithor way, and a mutually profitable trade will as a consequence spring up between Wanganui and Queensland ports. We throw this out as a suggestion worth consideration by all clases of landowners.

At the Bank of New Zealand meeting held in London on September 18th, extreme satisfaction was expressed at the improved position of the Bank. The debentures of the Estates Company are now quoted at a premium of 2 per cent. Australian mining exhibils are being distributed at Institutes and Museums in London and provinces, and New South Wales collections are being sent to Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and France in tho hope of securing exchanges. News from Ponang is that four million Chinese at Chilili and Lantang have been rondored homeleas, owing to floods. A Montreal reporter invented tho wonderful story of Prince George's arrest in a street quarrel there. The inventor has been committed for trial. Supreme Court sessions commence on Tuesday next. Third term of St. Helen's Ladies' School comuiencos on Monday. Annual meoting of tho Press Cricket Club at oight o'clock to-night at Steam Packet Hotel. Wanganui Cricket Club hold their annual meeting on Monday evoning at Chavannes' Hotel at eight o'clock. " Christian Positivism " is the title of the Eov. H. E. Dowsbury's lecture at Trinity Cliuich to-morrow evening. Mr David Peat addresses tho ratepayers of Waitotara Biding at the Maxwelltown Hall on Thursday next at 7.30 o'clock. Bey. T. Spurgeon (late of Auckland Baptist Tabernacle) commences an Evangelistic Mission here on 28th September. It is considered probable that ' tho Pirates " will bo reproduced hero by the Musical and Dramatic Association at an early date. Tho anniversary of tho establishment of tho Napior Working Men's Club was celebrated by a smoke concert. Thero aro 500 names on the books as mombors. Mr N. Fernundos, a woll-known Wellington fishmonger, distributes a boat load of fish e\ery day among tho Unionists on strike in that city. Sir George Grey is to address a public meeting under the auspices of the Knights of Labour at Palmorston North on Monday night.. An 'Amerioan paper has the following item' of news :—": — " The Maori women of New Zealand aro killing themselves trying to wear conete, since they have soen them on the missionary women.' 1 The TVaipawa correspondent reports that Mr W. F. Howlett intends to stand for the Mastorton Electorate, that Mr Hunter's friends are busy canvassing, and that Mr W. C. Smith has announced dates for meeting electors. The gas " struck " during the progress of tho Caledonian meeting last evening and those present were left in comparative gloom until Host Foster shed light on the darkness. A nativo named Kohat'.i has been killod by falling over a precipice at Slippery Creek, Tairua, in tho Auokland district, and a remittance man named John Hewitson has cut his throat at Nguriguru, Bay of Tslands. Consequent on tho South British insurance Company retiring from the unprofitable business of the United States, and to placo the Company in a dividend-paying position it has beon agreed to reduce the paid-up capital by £1 per share. The reinsurance and genoral resorves fund will remain at about £70,000. The New Zealand Herald is pleased to learn by advices received by the Now Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company thnt tho business of tho Company in Buenos Ayroshas not boon prejudicially affected by the recent disturbances. The company's investments aro mado on a gold bnsie, and are not thoieforo affected by tho disturbances in exchanges. His Grace Archbishop Redwood is on his way to Auokland with a view to visiting the island 'of Futuna, tho scone of the mnrtyrdom of Pierre Louis Chncel, IVoto-Martyr of Ooeania. Othor Bishops belonging to tho Society of Mary aro also intending to meet thero. At prosont it is doubtful whether any vessel will bp found on tho point of sailing for the island. If not His Grace will return in a few days to Wellington, otherwise ho will be away upwards of a month. Tho Advocate Bays :— Tho long talked-of and much-needed dray-road from Hunterville northwards through tho Mxirimotu is now in a fair way towards accomplishment. Mr Murray, Government Surveyor, who w working undsr direct instructions from Mr Percy Smith, Bui'veyor-General, has just finished plans and specifications for ten mileslof tho road, and there is a wellfoundod rumouv that he has been instructed to preparo plans and specifications for about forty miles more, in fact right up to Turangariri, and to get tho work ready for lotting tho contracts as soon as possible. The session of Parliament, which was virtually closed on Wednesday mß'ht,m B 'ht, says tho Taranaki Herald, has been a shorter ono than usual, being only of nino weeks' duration ; but it has not boon a barren nor an unprofitable one. More has been accomplished during thoso nino weeks than during some of tho former sessions of much longor existence. Thero have been some spooial influences at work whioh havo helped to bring about the termination of tho session quicker than uanal. It is the last of tho present Parliament, which expires by cilluxion of time in about a couple oF months, and the mombors, no doubt, were vory anxious to get back to their districts to commence operations for the coming election conflict. It is usual at the termination oi 0 session for the leader of tho Opposition to review tho business that has been done, and Mr Ballanoo on Wednesday performed those duties in a manner which, wo think, left tho Governmont little to complain of. Tho Lender of tho Opposition, Bays the Nolson Colonist, has rendered another great sorvico to New Zoaland. Without tho oxample of a sound-tliinking, moderato man, there is no saying to what an oxtent the House might havo been misled, and tho Colony committed on the question of Federation. That Captain Russell is sincero in his advocacy of the resolutions ho brought forward, nono who know him would dispute, though his wisdom is quite anothor mattor. Having with his co-delogato, Sir John Hall, given his word to the Australian Federation Conforonce to rocommond our Parliament to send representatives to tho coming Convention, ho seems -by some inscrutable mental procesß, to have persuaded himself that language should bo used implying, if it means anything, approval of tho entire scheme, tho only question reserved being as to tho opportunonoßS of the time. Tho position taken up by Mr Ballnnco is, in contradistinction to this, consistent throughout. While Captain Russell indulges in amiable platitudes abont a great alliance of English speaking people us v moans of putting an end to the d'vj-lnting wars that occur in the Old World, Mr Bullanco proves that anything in tho nature of tho union projeotod by tho Australians, however well suited to them, must be in the highest dogi-eo injurious to them.

Some persons assert that the testimonials published in praise of " Bonshaw's Monarch of Pain " aro bogus ones. Tho proprietors will give name, addresses, and full paitieularsof all tho autnors of tho testimonials on application, to prove tho falsity of tho above assertion.

Mr R. J. H. Reeves, M.H.R. (Inangahua) left town this afternoon after a brief visit, The Chief Justice and Mr Cooper will arrive here by Monday's train for the Snpreme Court sessions. Mr Stephen Carrick has decided to proceed with tho case against Mr Ashforth at the ensuing sessions. Messrs J. H. Keesing and H. Baker assisted materially in the realistic "make-up " of " Tho Pirate " performers. Martini-Henry match between the Cavalry and Druids ii exciting great interest in local shooting circles to-day. Tho Collegiate schoolboys returned yesterday from their holiday trip along the coast, expressing themselves as well pleased with their sojourn. Jnmes Pettengell, champion middleweight boxer of New Zealand, waa recently defeated by Molloy, a Sydney boxer, in two rounds. Charles Thorburn who has been missing since sth September has turned np at laet, and waa admitted to the Hospital this morning. A private letter states that John Leydon (late of Wanganui) has secured the first prize and a silver medal, at tho grand Agricultural Exhibition at Melbourne for a " Lorry." Eev. A. 0. Williams was announced to preach at Christ Church to-morrow evening, but having been unexpectedly called away to Feilding, will be unable to keep his appointment. Four railway carriages for the line between Napier and Wellington have beon constructed at the Newmarket workshops, and are to bo sent to Wellington by the Hineraoa. The organ at Dr Talmage's Tabernacle in New York is to cost £6000, and among its novel effects will bo a Chinese gong, a chime o£ bells, and three drums. Owing to the non-receipt of an expected communication from Hawera, the Rogby Union Delegates meeting whioh was to have beon held last night, was postponed until next Friday. Captain Edwin telegraphed nt 12.41 p.m. to-day -.—North to west and southwest heavy gale within tho next 12 hours, with j heavy sea and much rain. Glass will fall soon. A cleverly-skethohed and coloured cartoon was exhibited this morning, showing in all about twenty comic phases of the present labour difficulty, and having special reference to the railway servants. It is the work of a platelayer at Okoia, and is shown in Mr A. D. Willis's window, The annual meeting of the Fire Underwriters' Association was held yesterday at Mr F. R. Jackson's ofßces, when the report and balance-sheet for the past year wore read and adopted. Mr F. R. Jackson waa re-elected chairman, and Mr J. Notman also re-elected secretary and treasurer for tho ensuing year. After routine business had been transacted, tho meeting closed. Mr H. Sandon, who is leaving the Sanson district, is to be banquetted by his many friends on Tuesday 7th October. It is eipectcd thero will be fully 100 present, Jand tho catering has been placed in the capable hands of Mr W. S. Du6tin. Mr Sandon, it may be mentioned, was a prominent member of the original Manawatu County Council, and a member of the Wanganui Education Board since its inception. Good times are coming to thoso who are subject to Rheumatism and Deuialgia, bub who have decided to try "Kenshaw's Monarch of Pain," the most powerful remedy of the ago. It is a notable fact that the firm of Pitt and McGuire have beon successful in inaugurating a system of cash trading in our midst. It is nofc to be wondered »t them so doing when one notices the very great saving to be made by dealing with them. Their stocks are large and yell assorted as also aro the prices exceedingly low. We understand that although several articles have advanced they, to meet the times, aro still selling at the old prices. — Advt.