SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1883.

Te Aroha News, Issue 4, 30 June 1883, Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1883.

It is most satisfactory to find that the idea of establishing a Te Aroha Borough Council has met with much favour amongst the residents, and it is more than probable that after the meeting to-night steps will be at once takeu to carry the same into effect. The more the movement is considered the more desirable it appears, as we will endeavour to sliow. Thanks to tiie Koads and Bridges Construction Act, and the result of the poll of ratepayers taken on Tuesday week, funds have been provided for the formation of the main road from Shaftesbury to the boundary of the Thames County, and the proposed Borough would only be called on to contribute its share of interest and maintenance for the length of road passing through it. Thus the expense that would have been serious, at the outset, is avoided, am 1 any objection to Waiorongomai being included in the municipality is swept away. As stated in our last issue, the formation of the Borough will not entail any extra taxation whatever, the only difference being that the rates now paid to the Piako County Council would be handed over to the local body. Bat these, even when supplemented by licenses and other sources of municipal income must prove utterly insufficient to effect the much needed improvements in the townships, whereby the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants will be secured, and the value of their properties enormously enhanced. It is only reasonable to assume that, on the completion of the tramway, and the commencement of battery work, there will be a very great accession to the population of the district, and that both in Te Aroha and Waiorongomai a very large additional number of business and other people will settle down. At present there is not a street in either place. There arc certainly tracks dotted with bogholes, dignified with the name of streets, but that is all. The first work of the Council will be to form and metal at least all the chief streets and footpaths, and this will not be a very expensive work, Whitaker-street being provided for under the loan recently agreed to. Drainage will also be required, but the township is so favourably situated that this can be effectively carried out at moderate cost. Water supply for fire and other purposes is needed, but it, too, will be by no means costly, thanks to the position of the township and the innumerable springs bubbling out of the adjacent range. Still,as considerably more money will be required than the new Council would belikely to command, from the ordinary sources of municipal revenue it is clear that at the outset any local body of the kind must exercise the powers of borrowing conferred by the Act. These are tolerably extensive, and in a rising district like this there will be no difficulty in raising funds for at least a portion of these works. In the Municipal Corporations Act, as passed in V876, power was given to the Governor to grant endowments to boroughs of one hundred acres within their limits, and 2000 acres of country land in the district. This was repealed by an Amendment Act in 1878, as far as boroughs created after that time wont, bat Parliament has power to sanction an endowment. A few days ago, Mr J. B. Whyte, member for this district, asked the Government, in the House, whether they intended to introduce a bill to endow boroughs with land in their respective districts, as originally provided in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. The reply was that they did intend to take steps to secure to boroughs endowments [or land within their boundaries, when there were any belonging to the Government. Nothing could be more explicit or satisfactory than the reply, and therefore the new Te Aroha municipality, should it be formed, may rely that before the end of the session it will posses property from which, in addition to rates, licenses, and Goldfields revenue, it mqy expect to derive a handsome income. In the answer the Colonial Treasurer necessarily made the promise that only in Boroughs where the Government possessed property could endowment be given, and fortunately in the case of Te Aroha, there is a great deal of land in their possession and within the proposed limits. In the first place they own 530 acres in the township on the western side ot the river, all of which is surveyed in allotments, town acres, &c, and when the railway is finished these will consequently become highly valuable. If the Government procure the resuscitation of the original clauses Te Aroha will be lucky indeed, but even if they obtain less liberal terms the endowment will be a most welcome boon. This is in addition to about 200,000 acres in the Piako County that the Government hold. Wo are glad to say that there seems to be a general consensus of opinion in favour of tli3 proposal, anil we hope that the leading people, both of Te Aroha, Waiorongomai, and the district generally will be present at the meeting to-night and affirm without dissent the formation of a borough. Liberal as the Piako Council may be, they cannot be expected to attend to all the details of the wants of the district, '

and a borough is needed in Actual selfdefence. All who support the borough are doing good for themselves, not only in increasing the value of their properties, hut in promoting the health and comfort of the community. We should think that there will be perfect unanimity in pushing the proposal to a completion, with all the haste that the forms of law allow.

In the very admirable address that the President of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce delivered on the 14th inst., at the annual meeting of that body, he warmly cnni>ratu!nted the members on the prosperous condition of the Colony generally and on the satisfactory slate of the manufacturing, agricultural, and mining industries of the Auckland Provincial District especially. (Speaking of the Thames district, he said that " the gold produced from the Thames field continues to average late annual returns and we have in thi future the expectation that Te A rob a will conic to the front and material ly increase our exportation of the precious metal." In this expectation there s not the slightest chance of disappo ntment, for though truly, hope deferred makes the heart sick, there never was a greater certainty than, that on the mining tramway being completed, one of the most productivo goldfields in the Colony will at once be opened up. Unavoidable delays have token place and far greater cost than was at first calculated on has been iucurred in the work, but large as the outlay will be, when finished, the results will amply justify its expenditure, or even a much larger one. Both the Government and the Piako County Council have recognised the great value of the undertaking, the former by a liberal grant of £6,000, and the County Council have supplemented that by nearly £d,OOO more, whilst private enterprise has expended no less than £16,000 in erecting a 40 stamper battery, cutting water races, and in other works necessary as soon as the tramway is through. We hear too that other capitalists are about to put up an additional 20 stamp battery which will also be ready in the course of two or three months. Altogether the actual capital that has been spent in the development of the field is over £60,000, but even that will soon pay good interest on the outlay. The work on the tramway has been most seriously retarded by numerous slips which have fallen from time to time, but these difficulties are pretty Avell at an end though it is hardly likely that the tramway can be in operation under two months. There is yet much work to do and more money than is at present available may be required ; but there is no doubt that the friends of the field will not allow any hitch of this kind to delay aeeomplisninent. The appointment of a Minister of Mines has been attended with the happiest results to the Goldfields generally, ancj though, wlxmi the Hon. Mr Eolleston was entrusted with this portfolio, it was thought that a square peg had been put in a round hole, the very contrary has provod to bo the case, and under his controlling hnnd, solid and substantial aid has been given, and the development of many fields greatly assisted and expedited. In the formation of roads and tracks the Minister has been most liberal, and in direct assistance, when required, such as has been given in the case of our tcaimwiy, he has always afforded aid to the best of his power, khould it beneeessary to make another appeal, which it is to be hoped will not be the case, we have iittle doubt, with such facts respecting the richness of the quartz in claims opened up, and with largo quantities ready for the mill, that any assistance required will be promptly given, or at least recommended for Legislative sanction. It is satisfactory to know that the field has a friend in the Minister of Mines ; further, to be assured that any help he may afford will not be money squandered, and lastly that the " great expectations " of the President of the Chamber of Commerce will be realised to the utmost, and not prove, as has unhappily been the case in many instances on record, a delusion and a snare.

The heavy rain of Saturday and Sunday last, as might be expected, made the ditch roads of the district if possible worse than ever, and divers mischances befell both pedestrians and equestrians in consequence. Amongst other sufferers, Mr Cox of Shaflesbury had some unpleasant experiences. He was riding to Te Aroha,- and on reaching the swamp on the Waiorongomai side of Carrs house, the horse he was on stumbled in one of the holes and rolled right over. Fortunately the mud was soft, so Mr Cox sustained no bodily injury, though on extricating himself he was besmeared, indeed soaked, with mud from head to feet, so much so that on reaching his destination he had literally to be scraped down by friendly hands. As the County Councils have evidently resolved to " let things slide," to borrow a phrase from Yankee vernacular, it han been suggested that, as in rivers and harbours painted posts show the depth of water, poles should be fixed in the most dangerous depths, showing the number of feet to bottom. Thus warning would be given to the unwary, and the chances of horsemen or pedestrians becoming utterly engulfed would be lessened. Seriously speaking there are dangerous places demanding instant attention, otherwise without doubt, on the recurrence of bad weather, some serious, if not fatal accident 'must one day ensue. The Bettlers of the district have lost no time in procuring a substitute for the little steamer Tui, recently destroyed by fire. They have made arrangements with the owners of the s.s. Huia to run through fortnightly trips from the Thames to Shaftesbury on the first and third Monday in each month, carrying passengers and cargo. The Huia is even better suited to river requirements than the Tui being far larger and still not drawing much more water. Khe is 46 feet in length with 9 feet beam and is more powerful. She will, make her first trip on Monday next. We are glad to say that the movement for i the establishment of a publio library at Te

Aroha has found much favor with the public here, and in the "township alone nearly £20 has already beon collected with promise? for a much larger amount. The country peoplo have not yet been personally appealed to, and there are numbers of gentlemen of means who have large interests in the district, from whom liberal aid may be anticipated. In order to reach these the indefatigable hon. secretary, Mr Wilson, has had circulars printed and posted to them, with results which 1 will fihorily be ascertained. There can be no doubt whatever that the Public Library will very shortly be an accomplished fact. Owing to it being impossible to take the coach over the river last Monday, as well as to the dangerous state of the road through the bad weather of the previous days, the mails were not forwarded as usual. On Tuesday, however, the driver, W. Faulkner, took them on horseback to MorrinHvillo, where lie was met with the incoming mails brought by another mailman. After exchange he returned on Wednesday, and again left for Morrinsville the same day. He brought the mails in the same way yettirday morning so at present regular postal communication ■has been restored. Owing to the Waitoa bridge repairs not having been finished in time the coach could not leave yesterday, but will resume regular trips on Monday next. A large .number of persona from other parts of the' colony have recently settled in the Te Aroha district, and we wo,uld remind those who intend to make a permanent stay to lose no time in placing their names on the roll for this electorate of the House of Bepresentatives. Though -their nanws may be on other rolls they must register here if 1 they value their political privileges, and surely every does this. There is no saying what turn of the political wheel may bring about an olection, and, in any case the roll should contain the names of all qualified electors, for by the number of those the importance of a district is frequently guaged by persons living in other districts of the colony. Mr Wilson, Clerk of the Bench, will supply all necessary information and gratuitously supply forms for filling up to all who make application. There is no excuse for anyone who by his own neglect of such a simple duty disenfranchises himself, and when an election is on finds himself a voteloss nobody amongst his fellows. In our eharemarket quotations last week, by a typographical error Welcome shares were quoted at £20, sellers. This should have been £25. Tenders for the erection of Mr Ooleman's new hotel, on '.he site of the one recently destroyed by fire, were received during the week, and that of Penk and Allen, for the sum of £885 was accepted. The iollowing were the other tenderers : — Heathcote, £943 ; West, £985; Farrell, £998; Oolebro-.ko, £1053; Bennett, £1061; Tongc, £1180; Pearson and Sons, £1182 ; Williams and Taylor, £12G0. The new building will be neat in appearance, and have a balcony running along the front. It will contain 23 rooms, the private portions being quite cut off from the bar with a dining-room 30ft x 16, and a hall seven feet wile. Tea week* from the date of signing the contract are given for completion. Mr F. Pavitt is the architect. .^ w , - On Saturday last TeKoofci^ duly paid his promised visit to this^to^n^liip in response to the invitation of Mr Cole nan, hotelkeeper. lie came in a.loublo se.Ue I bvu*qy, with throe of hi 1 * compatnots, a yonm,' intive acting as charioteer. He was accompanied by a Krgo cavalcade of natives of both soxes, mounted r.nd on foot, but there was lit?k curiosity and jno excitement whatevei. A few white people I went to Colcman's to see him, and some, but | not many, drank with the »i-jitor and at his j expense. He appeared to have plenty of money, and certainly did not present the appearance of the bloodthirsty wavajre of the p;ibt. After slaying some t>me he leuuncl to the pah at Omahn, and on Sunday proecoled to Ohinemnri, wheie he v>as the guest of i Mananui. A large quantity of food was prepared for the visiton, consisting of about ten tons of Hour, together with quantities ot sugar, biscuits, pomtoes, liwto, pork, etc. During what may almost be deemed his present triumphal march, he his prove 1 himself nearly as good a patron of pihlicaus as his sovereign, Tawhiao, for he halts at all public-hcuse.3 on route and treats his bod) guards most liberally. This shows that ho must be well supplied with funds, for some of them are exceedingly thirsty souls, and he pays cash for their refreshment. Pie will make some stay in Ohinemuri, and then return to Te Kuiti in the King Country. The Receiver "of "GoldTSevenue KaTTfeen giving notice to owners of licenses for goldmining and other purposes that unless the arrears of rent due are paid by a fixed date proceedings shall at once be taken for recovery of rents. The shareholders in the Pan mure, Pride of the West, Three Brothers, j Diamond Gully No. 2, Emily, and Union Jack No. 2 have already been seivecl with summonses for arrears of rent, and the hearing of these cases will come off in the Warden's Court on Tuesday, the 3rd July. We would again call attention to the advertisement by the mining inspector in the matter of miners' rights, as it is certain that immediate action will be taken against all who commit a breach of regulations, through not being in possession of miners' lights. Mr O'Connell has been appointed teacher at the Waiorongomai school. A house has been rented from Mr Wilkinson, and at the close of the holidays the school will be opened. A man named Henry Brennan was arrested here by detective Doolan, of the Thames, on Tuesday last, charged with larceny as a bailee. It appears that about a year ago a Taranaki resident named Elliott entrusted a horse to the care of accused for the purpose of be'in; 1 : trained, and though he has made frequent applications for its restoration, it hasneier been returned, and hence present proceedings. Brennan was taken down by boat on Wednesi day morning and probably will be remanded from the Thames to New Plymouth to answer tho charge against him. Owing to the late heavy rains, a slip took place on the pack track in the Moa ground below the Welcome No. 1. The slip started when prospecting had been goincj on in the Alphabet Company's property. The County men proceeded up the Hill on Tuesday morning and immediately began repairing the damage. The track was again opened for traffic in the afternoon. It is to be hoped that all householders in Te Aroha, and all in Waiorongomai, who can possibly spare time, will attend the meeting convenod for this evening, Avhen the question of constituting a borough in the district will be considered. Should the decision be favorable, and we should imagine that ouly those who are fit subjects for a lunatio asylum will oppose it, after hearing those in support of i the proposal, the petition will be sent round without delay and the required signatures can easily be procured in a few days. Haste ip speoially necessary, aa the infant municipality will require endowment, which the Government, in answer to Mr Whyte, M.H.R., have already v promisod to all boroughs under cartain conditions, and it may be necessary to obtain Parliamentary sanction for any such grants. The Colonial Treasurer has stated that he hopes to close the Session about tho end of August, though it will probably last I a week or two longer. The petition, when forwarded, must be lodged two months before the Borough can be proclaimed, so it must be evident there is no time to spare. Everything, howeyer, is ready as far as ctm be, and, for

Ikeir own interests sake, householders should attend in force this evening. Tho Thames County Council haa at length been spurred into a feoble effort towards making good ihe horrible piece of swamp road near the Maori pah. Mr Littlejohn, the road inspector of the Council came ui> on Friday and saw for himself its abominable condition. Th« consequence was that he at once callod for tenders to lay down fascines and effect necessary repairs sufficient to make l/he part passable for a few chains in length. A contract was taken by Mes«rs Wood and Guilciing, who commenced work on Thursday morning last. Wo hope the Council will nob rest satisfied with this, for thpre are numberless places in m equally bad condition that need attention quite as much. It was intended to formally open tho new school-house on Thursday last, but the ceremony has been postponed till Wednesday next when there will doubtlessly bo a good gathering of those interested. Mr Alwright, Inspector of school buildings, came up by the Despatch on Wednesday, and on Thursday made a careful examination of the work. This provud highly satisfactory, and tho manner in which the contract has been carried out is in every respect most creditable to George Colebrook who has executed tho work. The new building is really an ornament to the township and is in every respect excellently adapted to the end it is intended to fulfil. There are two rooms, one 40 x 21 and the other 35 x 41 both being closely pannelled th oughout, and each having an ample fireplace in a double brick chimney. The height of tho walls is 14 feet, but it is really much higher, as the rooms have arched ceilings, known, we believe, technically as open roofs. Ventilators of the most approved and ino lern construction are fitted, they are under the direct control of the master and placed so that they cannot be tampered with. The two rooms will accommodate 160 children, and aie fitted with two excellent lavatories, with every convenience, cloak and hat pegs, water laid on, &c, &c. In a school room the object is to hush sound as far as possible, the direct converse to what is sought in ohurcl—s or other public buildings where the conveyance of sound is specially required. In the this end has been thoroughly obtained, and it will be possible to hold three classes vi once, the sound being deadened. The sp&co in very nearly as large as allowed, no room being permitted larger than 40 feet square. This is owing to masters stating that it is impossible to teach more than three classes in one room. Nothing appears to have been forgotten or omitted iv fitting up the school, and it reflects credit on all concerned. Mr Alwiight passed the work readily, but of course there are a few things yet to be done that cause the delay in opening. The public of Te Aroha have every reason to congratulate themselves on the possession oi Mich a creditable building, and parents will no doubt avail themselves to the utmost of its capacity. A tea meeting, concert and dance, will constitute the festivities attendant. The bad weather of Saturday and Sunday last seems to have been pretty general. We hear from Hamilton and Cambridge that tho Waikato is s xid to have risen higher than has hern seen since 1875. The latter place was flooded considerably, a portion of Duke street being under water, and a great deal of damage .sustained by residents in consequence. The Tannhere bridge over the Mangaone Creek, on the Hamilton and Cambridge road was greatly injured and other places suffered more or lesd. In the Nelson district very heavy floods also tooV phce, and great losses were occasioned. Further south heavy rains fell and it seems as though a little deluge had visited the colony fiom north to south. , The weather on Saturday night and the I whole of Sunday last was dreadful. A very I heavy gale blew from the northward accomfpanied by heavy squalls and torrents of rain. The Waihou river soonjbecame flooded and all the low-lying lands on its banks, and those of the Waitoa, the current sweeping down with tremendous force. No material damage, beyond water in the houses of those living on ) the other side of the river, was done here, but [the approaches to the Waitoa bridge on the ll»rnilton road were washed away, some of | the piles being broken in pieces. Mr J. P. I Campbell, chairman of the Piako County \ Council, who happened to be in Te Aroha on ; Monday, at once telegraphed to Mr Sands, nnd that gentleman lost no time in setting [ about the ncces* try repairs, but wheeled comi munication was not restored till yr"*lerday In Te Aroha the front of Mr o'H.aHoran's ) auction mart was blown completely out, con- ( sideraMe damage beiiv; thereby occasioned. ; ifi Vuglar's five roome'l house, a rather large building, was blown off the piles while the inmates were in bed, but fortunately did not topplo over, so beyond a flight and shaking and damage to croukery and furniture, no harm was done. Several fences in various parts of the township wore levelled, and a few zinc chimnies were blown clown, to the great discomfort of the occupants of the tenements to which they were attached. Beyond what is above staled, however, no other mishaps in this district are reported. We feel sure we have only to call the attention of the Waitoa Road Board to the impassable state of the bridge known as Johnscon's, on the Aroha-Motamata Eoad, the floods having carried away the earth forma lion of the approach 10 the bridge. The settlers oil up the vnlley have to depend on tiiis mode of communication with Te Aroha, and a very small expenditure would make pjood the damage. No delay should take place in the Board giving the necessary inafcructions for requisite repairs. Tho two claims formerly respectively known r»3 the Warrior and the Sampson, the licenses for which were recently cancelled, have not been long -left without being applied for. In another' column a notification from the Warden's Court appears, by which it will be seen that an application for the former is put /in, and, \i granted, the holding will be rechristened the ' Shamrock.' Kobert Stackpole is the applicant Pa-trick Farrell applies for the other, which will, if granted, be re-named the • Commercial.' It is evident that residents know the value of abandoned ground, all the I land held under license that has fallen in having been speedily sought after as soon as open. The concert in aid of the funds of the Church of England at Te Aroha has been postponed till Tuesday, July 17th.