THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3416, 3 December 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1879.

The following notice of motion, proposed by Mr Porter the Councillor for the Ohinemuri riding, comes on for discussion in the County Council meeting to-morrow : —" That in the opinion of thia Council it is deemed advisable for the better local control, and for a fair distribution of all moneys that the ridings of Ohinemuri, Totara, and Hastings, be created into highway districts, and that steps bo taken for the amalgamation of the ridings of Parawai, ILauaoranga, and Waiotahi with the other local governing bodies of the Thames, and that a joint meeting of the local bodies be held for that purpose." We say at once we hope the motion will be carried. The Thames has had an overdose of local ?elf-government added to a most unjustifiable and extravagant system of management in several of the Corporations ; and the time has arrived when an alteration should take place, if the future^ prosperity of the district is to be secured. The County system, as exemplified in this district, has been lauded and held up for the admiration of the colony, as an evidence of the wisdom of our legislators, end the suitability of such a form of Government; but with the cessation of tho marks of favor, in the ihaps of large votes of money and subsidies, from a paternal Government, the excellence of the system seems to be doubted, and its most earnest supporters admit that, as far as this district is concerned, the Highway Eoad Boards were better adapted for the outlying localities, and the Municipal form for the more settled and central portions. The fact has been apparent for some time to those acquainted with the working of the County Act, that alterations would have to be introduced, and at no distant date, either in the direction of granting to Councils large borrowing powers, in fact making them Provincial Councils to all intents and purposes, or increasing the subsidies payable by tho Central Government; or, on the other hand, curtailing their present functions, and intrusting them with power little more than that possessed by the Highway Road Boards. The first mentioned course has been seriously entertained by prominent members of our Legislature and may probably be carried iuto effect; the second, the policy of the present Government, is to:ally opposed to, aud therefore is not likely to be adopted. If borrowing powers were granted to Councils it could only put off the evil day, for, of a surety, the time would come when the credit of Councils would be exhausted, and appeals would have .to b« made to the General Government to tuke over their {labilities, as was done in the case of the bankrupt Provincial Councils in the past, and the debts incurred would have to be added to the indebtednf.^.of the Colony. This would not necossarily bo the result with all councils, but we may venture to say such might be anticipated in the majority of cases in the North Isiaud. In the favoured South several of the Councils have large balances to their credit, and the ordinary revenue from rates, owing to the settled and daily increasing prosperity of the districts, would probably be sufficient fortheir ordinary requirements. If the Legislature hold the view that such results may be anticipated from the operation of the County system if borrowing powers were granted, it would be manifestly absurd for such powers to be given; for if the Colony had it to pay in the end, the legislature should rttaiu to itself the distribution of the money instead of trusting to the inexperience and the extravagance, not to use stronger terms, of County Councils and County official. The circumstances of this district, with the majority of the

fore yielding no revenus in the shapo o rates, together with tho other drawbacks, will render the management of the County a work of more than ordinary trouble, and calling for a system of management much more economical than that of the past. This fact seems to be apparent to the Council, and suggestions have been made to reduce the ollice expenditure, but even if the greatest economy is exercised, »nd tho most careful supervision of the expenditure of funds, it will be found still impossible to carry out tho requirements of the Counties Act, or of the district, and the result will be disappointing and unsatisfactory to all interested. Under such circumstances the suggestions contained in the notice of motion given by Cr Porter are worthy of consideration, and if adopted by the Council we are inclined to believe the result may be for the future welfare of the Thames district.

The fates seem to be against the opening of the Upper Thames lands for settlement. From a period almost coeval with the opening of the goldfield, these lands hare been under negotiation, but no sooner one obstacle has been remored than another springs tip, and the consummation of the wishes of the would-be settlers of Te Aroha seem as far distant as ever. The latest phase of the difficulty, or rather addition to the chain of obstacles, is that published in our telegrams to-day —the claim set up by Mr Thomas Russell, C.M.G, to 7000 or 8000 acres of the pick of the block. The claim, our telegram informs us, is made to the Waste Lands Board, who must, of necesssity, now postpone the intended sale of the land till a settlement has been made. The circumstances on which Mr Kussell bases his claim are, we believe, as follows :—Some eight or nine years age, Mr James Mackay, Native Lands Commissioner, was in treaty with the Native owners of the Te Aroha block for its purchase on behalf of the Government. Mr Thomas Eussell had also been carrying on negotiations with the Natives, and with some degree of success, as it would appear that Mackay, to insure the block for the Government, felt constrained to give Russell a written promise to cede to him 7000 acres when he had completed the purchase. These are, as far as can be ascertained at present, the facts of the case. Of course we have only Russell's side of the story, but we have no reason to doubt but that the facts given abovo are correct in the main. However the matter ends, it is bound to cause considerable delay in the settling of the block, as the Government will not hand over the land, or cempensation for it, without first instituting a searching investigation.

We learn that Mr Kenrick, It M. hns gone to Hikutaia to endeavor to amicably settle the dispute between Mr H. Alley and Taraati Paetai and his hnpu. From facts that have come to our knowledge we feel confident that unless something ii done soon the consequences will be serious, possibly blood will be shed.

We believe our Maori landlords intend claiming, from the contractors for the railway reclamation, compensation for the remoral of earth from the bill sides. This is not a bad idea, and has, no doubt, been suggested by some of that class which, in America, would be called " low whites " ot the community. The natives should be contented with receiving the whole revenue from the district, in the shape of rents for leases, miner's rights, and timber licenses, and for ever bless the generous Ministry who consented to such a one-sided arrangement when this field was opened. The peculiar circumstances of this field, in the above respect different from every other goidfield, should receive more attention at the hands of the Government than it has in the past, and our natire land proprietors, if they do not intend to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, should remain contented with what they have, without attempting fresh impositions.

Mk Hawkins will preach at the Templar Hall tliia erening at half past seven o'clock.

In a late budget of Parliamentary pa pen we have received the second annual report of the of Friendly Societies containing a large amount of statistical and other information of interest to members of Friendly Societies. In looking over at table in the report vre find the total strength of those societies who had sent in satisfactory returns to be :— Independent Order of Oddfellows, M.U., 5210 ; Independent Order of Oddfellows, 81; A.0.F., 2255; Ancient Order of Shepherds, 27; l.O.ll:, 183; Sons and Daughters of Temperance, 118; H.A.0.8.5., 310. Miscellaneous, IU6. Grand tolal, 8366.'

Til£RE was a clean sheet nt the li.M. Court this morning.

Our public spinled legislators have succeeded in having tho honorarium question up again for discussion, with the result that the previous decision, reducing it by f/10, has been reversed, nnd the sum of £210 ordered to be paid to each. We publish the division list which is worthy of study.

A meeting- is called by advertisement for this evening for She purpose of taking steps to procure from tho trOTernqjent a block of land for settlement in the upper Thames upon a plan similar to that proposed by the Wellington Association. The present Government are favorably disposed towards special settlements, and if energetic steps are taken on tho Thames and the matter is gone into in a bona fide spirit there should be few obstacles in the way of having a block of land obtained for a special settlement. It is to be regretted that another obstacle has turned up towards having the Thames Valley laeds thrown open for sale and settlement, namely, tho matte? referred to in our telegrams—Mr JRussell's claim. We believe there are also other claimants for portions of To Aroha so that if a section is to be obtained application should be made at once.

The survival of the fittest! Is it really true that a thing of beauty is ajey for ever ? Test it by purchasing gome cito co artiole from M. J. Wilkes, Watchmaker end Jeweller, Short'and, for he lias many be utiful thing* in gold and silver suitable for Christinas presents, selling at pricei to pfteet n tlearanue. Eettib-

Our culoj»ratns to-day announce the death of John Arthur Roebuck, Ml*, for Sheffield. Of this gentleman, n well known authority suys : He was a grandson of Dr John Roebuck, of Sheffield, maternally descended from the post Tickell, wus born at Madras in 1802, went to Can-da in boyhood, and left that country in 1824 for tho purpose of studying law tv England. Ho was admitted a barrister of the Inner Temple in 1831, and chosen member for Bath at the first election after the Heform Bill. Tho character of m thorough Reformer, which he won in this arena, led to his npp >int> nient in 1835, as agent for the House of Assembly of Lower Canada during tho dispute pending between the Executive Government and the House of Assembly. Mr Roebuck cotuine ced the publication of a series of political " Pamphlets f< r the People," in which, having assailed the whole body of political editors, reporters, and contributors to the press, particularly those of tho Morning Chronicle, he became involved in what is called an affair of honour, and fought a very harmless duel with tha late Mr Black, the editor of that journal. In tho country he was a popular favourite, though the plain speaking he had practiced towards the Whigs, whom he regarded its false to the cause of progress, lost him his seat.at the general election in Aug., 1837. He regained it in June, 1841, but was again defeated at the general election in Aug., 1847, and since May. 1849, ho h»s represented Sheffiold. Mr Roebuck is a bold and unsparing orator, and has particularly distinguished himself in his replies to Mr Disraeli. In Jan., 1855, he brought forward in the j House of Commous a motion for inquiry into tho conduct of the war, known to history as " tho Sebastopol Committee." The Aberdeen Government resisting the inquiry, was beaten, on a division, by a majority of 157, and compelled to resign. Mr Roebuck had no place in the new cabinet, but acted as chairman of the committee appointed through his exertions. In Dec, 1855, ho was an unsuccessful candidate for the chairmanship of the Metropolitan Board of Works at a salary of £1,500, standing third on the list at the close of the poll. In 1856 he accepted the Chairmanship of the Administrative Be form Association, from which great things were expected, though, after publishing a luminous programme, the society became extinct.