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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10, 9 March 1905, Page 15

Mr. P. J. O'Rogan (says the ' Inangahua Times ') has entered the office of Mr. Wilford Beckett, LL.B., of Petone, Wellington, and has been entrusted with the responsibility of conduct iKg that gentleman's business during (his two months' absence on account of illness. It is Mr. o' Regan's intention to commence practice in Wellington dity shortly, and it is regarded as 31 foregone conclusion that he will be a candidate for the Parliamentary representation of the city at the general election. In view of the heavy poll put up by him at the last election, it is generally recognised that he is a candidate to be reckoned with. That he has abated none of his old-time enthusiasm for the principle of land value taxation may be inferred from the fact that he has accepted imitations to deliver addresses at New Plymouth and Pot one, where polls are shortly to be held under the Railing on Unimproved Values Act. Mr. Kirk, tihe (}o\ernment biologist, has (says the ' North Otago Times ') paid a visit to the Oamaru district and discovered the Irish potato disease in several crops, but the extent is not great. Nevertheless he urges the advantage of spraying, even where the crops nave not been attacked. The potato blight, although not yet general throughout the Waimale <listmet t has obtained a good hold (says the Christchurch ' Press '), and already it is estimated by a 'Government official that over £1000 worth of damage has beei> done. At Glenavy, on the extreme end of the Waikakahi, there is only one small patch affected. There is none of the disease tihroiugh the Gorge at Waihao Downs and Kapua, but it is bad <at the Hook, slight at Hannaton settlement, an)d almost every batch near the town is affected. One bea/utiful orop of three acres, estimated to be yielding 15 tons per acre, is completely destroyefl, an,d looks as though a fire had swept it. Mr. Garland, with a crop worth £300, will also lose heavily on it. Those v.\}o grow small patches, sufficient to last them part of the year, will, in the most affected cases, lose half. Growers generally can hardly believe that the loss will be so great, amd even though strongly urged by the Stock Department to spray immediately, they do not seem inclined to take the precautions the situation 'demands. The principal reason is that most farmers are in the middle of wheat and oat harvesting, and the uncertain weather makes them eager, to finish getting it done. If spraying is at once carried out many crops will be saved yet, but the present loss alone will seriously affect the price of potatoes for a time. Crops are very good, and there may be sufficient to meet all demands, but until this is definitely known prices will keep rising.