"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 160, 17 May 1873, Page 2

" OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1873.

"We observe that the New Zealand Herald is strongly advocating the immediate extension of the Waikafco railway to Cambridge. We thoroughly agree with our contemporary ,that the making of the railway thus far into the interior of the country would render us all powerful for agression, and the Maori almost powerless to defend. There is little doubt that a fight is approaching ; if that figLt was likely to be speedily brought to a termination, the building of a railway on these grounds would probably not be justifiable. There is every probability, however, that we shall not bo able to free ourselves from Maori complications for at least two years. We are only free fiom the maze when •we have reduced the natives to a position in which it shall be impossible for them to fight with the slightest probability of creating a disturbance for more than a day or two at the very utmost. Let US however, look at tin's question from a puiely commercial position. The Waikato i^ the place from which Auckland should draw its supplies. Were thero a railway through the delta at the present moment, there is litttle doubt that not a bingle quarter of wheat or oats would be imported into the province at the expiration of two years. The heavy rate of freight, although recently reduced, is sufficient to frighten any farmer from the district ; this may not be the case at the present moment, but it must inevitably become so directly the productions of the Waikato exceed the consumpHon of the resident settlers. It is monstrous that the rate of freight is as high from the Waikato to Auckland as it i« from any poi fc in Great Britain. We feel convinced that a railway would have the effect of stimulating oui fanners to action; our population would increase lapidly; in fact, it is impossible to estimate the benefits that carriage at a reasonable mtc would cuntci upon the district, j

Our farmers would fiiw- a miikrt t'ur t'u ir produce. Our commando, s wou'd bo able I) m ive their forces with r.\pidity .md cort.iinty. 4. railway would reduce the ti.ne that a war would hist as out* to three. We have only cursorily glanced at this question ; in a future issue we shall bring many figures and facts to bear upon it No true settler iv iS'ew Zealand will have- any inclination to quibble at the action of the Government in substantially rewarding Mr Mackay for the services he has rendered to the colony. All must feel alike on the question. He ha-, displayed pluck that in these degenei.Ue d<\\> is <jnito uncommon. He had a duty thiu->t upon him, and he Ims'performed it in a manner th.it cannot fail to command the respect of all eomagrons men. In this instance the old saving, that "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," cannot be applied. No man better than Mr Mackay knew the personal risk he ran when he quietly rode into the very hotbed of Maoridom. His couiaue took him there, and his courage brought him onl, ; he had a great object to gain, and, like all men ot'eharactet, he eared not what risk he ran to attain it. It is impossible to calculate the amount of good that has been done by one determined man coming in c-mt.ict with and explaining to the most bitter opponents of progress the gross error of their ways. We trust that Mr Mackay will not be allowed to leave this district without a public recognition of his services on the part of the settlers.

ThcTc Awamutu Cmulr) unified I heir drill on Wednesday last. A patrol of 20 men it- ••t.ll kept on. The Kawhia natives (Hauhaus) .ire commencing to bring their usual articles of winter commerce (pigs) iuto Raglan. Several were in the township on Thursday. Jt may be recem-d as e\ ulence of the intention of the j Government to vet vigorously, that tenders are invited for the biipplj, of an mdouYitc quantit) of stores necessary for [ the support of a force in the field. A very dangerous game is now fashionable in Ngaruawahia. Nearly every small boy ami girl is possessed of a bow, and a piece of w 00.l with a nail fastened to the end of it to represent an arrow. It is p-jrhaps only natural that our children should take to tho only warlike weapon at tbeir disposal, but wo surest to paroirs and thejpolice that to lose an eye for the sake of gratifying the warlike propensities of our youngsters is moie tlian most of us would care to do. Our correspondent informs us that "shop-lifting" amongst the nativss who visit It iglan is being gradually reduced to a science. An old woman helped herself to a blanket, shawl, and piece of pi nit, which w ero very clevei'ly abstracted from the stoic of MrGilmour. The goods were returned by Hone Watene, who is indignant at his people condescending to commit petty laiueny. Air McDonald lost some of his property, and w.ih not &o lucky as Mr Gilmour, as he has neither seen noi heard of it since. The Ji'anganni Chronicle sa\s that the employment of uneducated boys in the telegraph department is the cause of all the mistakes and delays, and, in the struggle to work the ! department cheaply, good men are iorced to seek other employment. The Chronicle complains of the illegible, mutilated, and delayed press telegrams, and says that t he House should next session appoint a committee to take e^ idenee and report on the working of tho department. On the 15th instant the inhabitants of tho "Waitotuna school district held their first meeting for tho election of a school committee, in accordance with the provisions of tho now Act. The following gentlemen were elected : — Captain Johnston, Messrs Moore, Sutton, and Wilson. Immediate steps arc to be taken to get a public school erected. If the ! settlers contribute liberally, tho building will soon be up, and there will be supplied n want most keenly folt. School has been held for the last nine months in Mr Morris's house, ho having kindly put up with tho inconvenience for the sake | of obliging his fellow settlers. Says the Wellington Independent : — " The two native members of the Executive have earnestly advisod the Government to insist upon tlu> nrw*t of the assassins, and evidences are afforded in other directions of a similar desire for the enforcement of the law. A telegram received by tho Native Minister yesterday evening from tho Bay of Plenty show s that at places removed from immediate influences the well-disposed natives strongly deprecate tho abominable outrage just committed in the Waikato district. So far, it may be said that the course presented to the Government is, that they should employ every available means for capturing Sullivan's murderers, which need not necessarily involve hostilities between tlu> Government and tho King natives. If, however, they exhaust every peaceable means for securing tluM indication of llu 1 law without result there is no alternative but the emplo} incut ol otlicr arguments."