The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 299, 9 June 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1898.

Tiirc Premier is still on the sturup and has favoured the " free and enlightened " of Blenheim with a three hours' oration. The telegram announcing the fact is very brief, so it is to be presumed that the speech was after the old familiar pattern —abuse of the Opposition and their supporters and the assertion, without any attempt to establish it, that the accusations of maladministration against the Government are unfounded. He appears, however, to have returned to his old tactics of threatening " that if those who opposed the Government would persist in accusing them of corruption he might be tempted to give them such exposures as would make them regret their charges of mal-aduiinistration." This of conrse is, to use a theatrical expression, \" gag," and '' g a n " a description calculated to deceive those who have an indifferent or no knowledge at all of the " lines" of the political drama in which they are taking a minor character, generally only that of walking gentleman—to the poll. Mr Seddon has put forth this threat on previous occasions, and on one was challenged in the House by Capt. Russell to formulate his charges and lay them before the country. We go further than this, wo distinctly state that if the men against whom his threats are uttered, are s*.i 11 in public life, it is his bounden duty to expose their political misdeeds, if they have committed any of the gross nature which Mr Seddon insinuates. If he did this the public would know the men in whose favour they have recorded their votes. To insinuate that a public man has been guilty of a gross offence and not boldly state what the charges are is cowardly, and conduct most unbecoming to a man in the position which Mr Seddon holds. Such innuendo is tantamount to stabbing a man behind his back, as it is impossible for a politician or any other man to reply to a charge till it assumes a definite form. Mr Seddon's conduct in this respect is less that of a patriotic head of a Government, than it is that of a mischief-making village gossip, who does harm not by direct accusations, but by insinuating that she could if she liked tell a story which would take away the good character of a neighbour. Nobody who has tvatched Mr Seddon's career will believe for one moment that he would allow a sense of delicacy to prevent his dean. nq: iin 7 every blow ab a political opponent, and as we pointed out above, jl;he can divulge disgraceful political proceedings on the part at men now on the Opposition benches he owes it to the country to do so>^uey

have treated him fairly by giving him definite charges to answer, but the only reply the people have received is in the form of a threat to ' a tale unfold," which would go to show that his accusers are as bad as, if not worse, than himself. It is certainly not in accordance with the laws of logic, justice or morality to raise up a screen composed of other men's misdeeds, place' it between yourself and those who have the right to judge of your conduct, and claim that it should make your misdeeds invisible to the eyes of your judges. This is practically what Mr Seddon's tactics amount to.

• If only for the sake of the credit of the Colony let him raise himself from the dishonourable position into which he has sunk, and say what he has to say quickly. If he cau show that there are members of the House who are unfitted on the grounds of misdeeds to enjoy the confidence of the people, he will render a service to his country. If he fails to do this, the threats he has thrown out will remain as a stigma on his character for all time. There is no escape from the position, he must either establish his charges or remain under the cloud which floats over the head of every man who makes false accusations, which he either knows to be false, or lacks the courage to attempt to substantiate.

On our fourth page this morning is printed a report of an address delivered by Mr Bollard, M.H R., to his constituents at Dcvonport on Monday last, Raglan news, a letter to the Editor, and a number of telegraphic items which appeared in our extra yesterday morning. The Tutanekai will repair the broken cable next week. Mr Coleman Phillips will contest the Wairarapa seat at the next election. The Maori Congress at Papawai is still proceeding, and about 1000 natives are now assembled there. Mr "W. J. Hunter has received instructions from Mr C. Frodsham to sell at Te Kowhai, Whatawhata, on Thursday, June 30th, the whole of his live and dead stock, etc. The sale will commence at VI o'clock. The final results of the HamiltonNgaruawahia chess match are to hand. The referee, Mr Lelievre, of Auckland, decides that the three unfinished games are drawn. Hamilton thus wins the match by 4J to 1£ games. The Te Kuiti lime is apparently gaining daily in public estimation. The proprietor, Mr Alex. Fergusson, notifies in this issue that he has forty tons on hand for sale at 18s per ton on the truck at Te Kuiti. Mr Fergusson has, we understand, just completed the despatch of 10Q tons'to the order of Mr*J. J. Craig, of Auckland. The Good Templars of Cambridge held "Open Lodge" in the Public Hall on Tuesday evening, when Dr. Hosking, of Hamilton, exhibited a number of views by limelight, and explained them as they appeared upon the screen. The Doctor also gave several songs, and he was further assisted in the vocal department by the Misses Garland, Peterson, Cannell, Slaarp and Jarrett. A lecture on " From Sal tash Bridge to the Land's End" was delivered at Cambridge West, in aid of the Sabbath-school, on Monday last. The church was well filled, and Dr. Hosking gave the views and description of the country, interspersed with many humourous remioiscenses, much to the delight of all present. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the doctor for his services. The sugar-beet question is again coming to the fore. I understand some Cambridge gentlemen intend cal'ing a public meeting in Ohaupo next Tuesday, the object being to strengthen the hands of our member, who has been invited to attend along with Mr Herries. Evidently the matter is not going to be let die out. All honour to those energetic men who are putting their shoulders to the wheel for the public good. It is to be hoped there will be a good attendance an we are all more or less interested in the industry.—(Ohaupo Correspondent). The swedes exhibited by Mr Hunt, which took the champion prize against all comers yesterday, were grown fiom "Monarch" seed imported and supplied by the New Zealand Loin and Mercantile Agency Company, and the manure used was a mixture of Kempthornc, Prosser and Co.'s bonedust aud superphosphate at the rate of 2cwt. per acre. From the repeated success of the Monarch swedes at European as well as loc-1 shows, it will be apparent that it maintains its claim to rank as the finest swede procurable.

Between last Sunday night and yesterday a burglary was committed at St. Peter's Church, Hamilton. The vestry was entered and a bottle of t>ac rameiital wine and a pair of shoes stolen, while the alms box in the body of the church near the door was wrenched ofl and taken away. The theft was apparently committed by some one well acquainted with the building, as the keys were taken f.iom the other doors to open the vestry. The key of the door leading from the vestry to the church was also taken.

On Tuesday morning the interment of the late Mr H. L. Hooper took place at the Hamilton East Cemetery. The whole of the staff of this journal attended to evidence the high respect and affection which all had entertained for him in life. There was also a considerable attendance of the public, notwithstanding the inconvenient hour which circumstances made obligatory. The chief mourners were his aged father, brother, brother-in-law and stepson. These were followed immediately by the staff of the The Waikato Argus. lour of whom bore his remains to the grave. The service was conducted by the Rev. R. O'C. Biggs in a most impressive manner. Seldom has a man gone to his grave followed by men who held so high an opinion of his character.

A very pretty wedding took place in the Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, on Tuesday, when the Rev. Thn° Scott joined in wedlock William Arthur Croxford, of Pukekura, to Jane Agnes, fourth daughter of Wm. Wallace, Esq., of Pukerimu. The bridesmaids were Miss Croxfjrd, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Wallace. Mr W. T. Wallace was " best man," and he was assisted by Mr W, Clark. The bride was given away by her father. She looked chaiming in a dress of creamfigured lustre, and af course the orthodox veil and orange blossoms. The bridesmaids wore silver grey lustre. After the ceremony the happy couple and their friends returned to Pukerimu, where a high festival was held : they then left for Hamilton, en route for Dunedm, where they intend spending a month's honeymoon. The presents were numerous ami costly.