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Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 19 December 1872, Page 2

Wc arc happy to be able to say thai Captain Steele, who met with a serious accident a short time since, is progressing favourably, and it is hoped will shortly be sufficiently recovered to attend his usual avocations. It was promhed some time baek that a. telegraph office should be opened at Te Awamutu. Great inconveuience in experienced bv the settlers in that neighborhood from having to ride long distances whenever they require to use the telegraph. Wc trust soon to learn that tho necessary budding is commenced. The Waifcato Steam Navigation Company have lately erected a store at Hamilton West, which is used for goods in transit, and is found to bo so convenient that the settlers on the East side of the river intend holding a public meetiug for the purpose of electing a committee to collect subscriptions for erecting a store on that side. The Waikato Steam Navigation Company, with their \uual liberality, having promised to convey all the material for constructing the store free of charge'if the Bettlers get it erected. On Monday evening, a lecture on the "Origin of Man" , was delivered in tho Presbvterian Church, East Hamilton, in aid of its funds, bv the Rev. T. Stewart; Mr A. Primrose occupied the chair. Wo are sorry to say that it was thinly attended, although the reverend lecturer had been at threat pains and research to make his subject aa attractivo as possible. Tho chairman, at the close of the lecture, announced that another lecture would be delivered in the same place in about a month's time by the same gentleman, subject to be | " Tho Philosopher's Stone." A hearty vote of thanks to [ bjth the reverend lecturer and chairman brought proceed ings to a close. The proceeds are to be devoted to erecting a belfry, the bell (a line one) having arrived some time Bince. During the year 1870-71, there were imported into NewZealand 666,964 lbs of manufactured tobacco, valued at 49 4372, and on which 83,3702 duty was collected ; cigars, 36,529 lbs, valuo 13,3-13/, duty 91322; snuff, 526 lbs, value 3862, duty 1342 ; and shcepwash, 8,941 lbs, value 3332. dutv 10112. It will be seen by this that tobacco, to tho value of nearly 156,0002 duty paid, is disposed of by the different importers, and that after passing through their hands it nearly doubles its priee beforo passing into tho hands of the consumer. At this rate, not less than 300,0002 a year is spent by the people of New Zealand on tobacco, which is mainly imported from elsewhere and for which 70,0002 a year in hard cash is drained out of th« country. This should afford encouragement to Mr Gotch and others in this province, whom ho may succeed in persuading to engage in tho growth of tobacco. The above statistics give 784,9701bs of tobacco consumed annually here in its various forms. The profitableness of the crops may easily bo seen. Tho above is equal to-about 350£ tons of cured leaf. As lOcwt of cured leaf can be obtained from eacli acre in tobacco crop, even with a moderate yield, it follows at that rate that a tobacco crop will give a cash value of about £10Q per imperial acre. This return is certainly better in a money point of view than the general run of crops grown in this province.— Cross.