The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 175, 21 June 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1873.

We some time aq-o caliel attention to the unsatisfactory position in which settlers In country districts are placed ns leqwda medical attendance. It is not that there is an insufficient numher of medical men, hut that very often these men are given to over indulgence* in alcohol, and their existence in the district often keeps good men away. We trust that at the r.ext sitlingof the Assembly some member will introduce a bill to deal with irabibiug doctois. If the master of a vessel drinks to excess he is liable to have his certificate suspended. Lives and properly arc entrusted to his care ; it is thei'eforo very proper that such should be tho case. The lives of Her Majesty's subjects are almost equally at the mercy of dranken doctors. We are not prepared to suggest the best means of dealing with theso men, bufc think the power should YCSt ' in two Justices of the Peace to temporarily suspend the cettificato of any medical man guilty of drunkenness whilst on duty, and that after two temporary suspensions ib -should be competent to bring the guilty party before a superior tribunal, in order to his prohibition to practice in the colony. We have had more than one glaring- instance of the evil above nl hided to in this district. *

The Waikalo river, in consequence of the lowness of- the water, is almost unuavigable between Ngaruawalna and Point liussell. Every steamer that has attempted lately Jo pass up and down, has stuck on some sandbank or the other for a i greater or less period. It is true that the water is exceptionally small in quantity for this time of the year, yet not lower than was the case for some months during the summer. It is clear to us that unless something is done to remedy the washing away of *the banks, the river will become totally uunavigable in a few years. If our surmise be correct, and if to protect the banks would cost a largo sum of money, we are of opinion that the river should bo left to its own devices, and the construction of the railway pushed on with all possible speed. The Waikato river is navigable at all tunes from Ngaruawahia to Cambridge; not m the Waipa from the samo place to Alexandra, the town from which a large section of om- farmers draw their supplies. This, of course, is an additional argument to those already urged for the construction of the line as nearly aa possible through the centre of the Delta.

Wo are gl.ul to 1 \°rii that Mr Cu.nming, of Hamilton East, lias successful!; launched another local industry. Ho turned out 1.13 iiist br<nv on Tuesday last. The beer promises to be of excellent qualify. Wo have no doubt thai Mr dimming will mret w IUI a f.iir shaic of encouragement. He has en^acjCvl fie sei vices of Jlp Wdllnut, wlso n considered ono 'of the best bren tvs in the province. We learn that it is the intention of the proprietor to use a ' quantity of ingredients thai will ensure a fir->t rate article. It Mill br 1 c oen bv advertisement in another tolumn that on application at tho Superintendent's office, seed of the sorghui.i saccharaliun v. ill be given to gpttlcrs. The following is a letter received from Dr Hector by Iho Superintendent :—: — " Colonial Museum, Wellington, New Zealand, May 29, 1873. — Sir, — I have the honor, by direction of the Colonial Secretary, to for.vjrd per 3.3. Wellington a parcel containing sreds of. the sorghum sactharalum from a supply of tho best quality which has been obtained from Amenya. The object of the distribution of the seed is to aseeitain whether, tho plant, when grown in New Zealand, will have the same valuable sugar-producing property that it has elsewhere. For information respecting tho ciivumstauc ?s unil^r which the seed has been obtained, I would beg to refer you to, the appendix to the journals of the llousc of Representatives, 1871, g-, No. 14, p. 10. I have to request that you wdl bo good enough to distribute tho seed to thp settlers in the districts of Kaipara, Tauranga, and Waikato ; and whoever undi rtukes to grow tlie seed should be requested to, furnish a few stems of tho ripo plant to the laboratory for tbo purpose of determining the amount of Bugqr which they produce — I have, etc, James HfiCTOjt — His Honor T. B. Gillies, Superintendent of Auckland." The following directions for planting, fertilisation, and cultivating cane aro from the Sorge Journal (Cincinatti, U.S.A.) : — Plant a3 early a* the season and condition of the ground will ensure vegetation. If tho season is cold, aud tho ground wet, tho seed is liable to rot. Plant shallow 5 if in heavy, wet soil, barely beneath tho surface. Rich bottom lands may be planted or drilled three-and-a-half or four feet between the rows and eighteen inches between hills. Lighter lands should he planted four by three-and-a-half or four by four feet. Six or eight seeds to tho hill are usually required to give a good stand. The germination of the. teed is hastened by soaking or scalding before planting, provided tho seed, after heing thus started, is planted in damp, w oll- iprepared pround; but if tho condition of the soil and weather, after planting, is not such as. to favor tho immediate? growth of the seed, it is raoro liable to perish than if planted in the natural state. Tf desired to, soak and start tho seed, put it into a coarse sack, immersed in a tub of hot water, allowing it to remain an hour or two, then, after drawing the water from tho iced, pnt the sack in a basket in a warm room, covering with old blankets to retain heat and moisture. The seed will germinate in from twenty-four to forfcy-eight hours, and should then bo planted. Fertiliso, if necessary, with any well-rotted manure, avoiding rank, stable, or hog manure. Where the lands have been long cropped artificial fertilisers and guano are often used, but they are not appropriate ou comparatively new lands. Ground plaster, lime, and ashes are believed to be appropriate anywhere. Cultivate early and often until the plants get a good start. Most varieties of cane aflbrd a weak, sickly looking growth for a few weeks after the shoots appear above the ground, and the weeds are liLely to geb the mastery ; planters have, in some instances, when not acquainted with the habit of the cane, become disgusted with the puny appearance of the young plants, ana ploughed jjhem up. There is no occasion for uneasiness if tho «eeds get minate. The plants seem to hang fire for a few weeks, but they arc only waiting to get a "good ready," and then they shoot up astonishingly. As soon as possible after the cane comes up, thin out from four to eight plants in a hill. Use only shallow working implements, after tho cane bpeomes two or three feet high, as the ropts by this time permeate tho whole ground from row to row, and the growth is dwarfed by deep ploughing. Late cultivation prolongs the growing and retards maturity, henco if the season is backward, cease working, and let the cane hasten to matmity. Do not make the mistake of allowing the cane to bu fully ripe before harvesting. Cut and work I it as soon as the seeds or the majority of them are formed, and before they begin to harden. The Nelson Colonist, writing on railway extension, I says :— " Tho Government ia urged by a large public I meeting, at which Mr Gillies, the Colonial Treasurer of the Stafford rlinistiy, assisted to push railways into the centre of the North Island as rapidly as possible to 'secure tho peace of the colony, and thereby avoid the wasteful expenditure of tho taxation of tljo colony iv a war. The doctrine that railways aro ' to be pushed on to secure peace and avoid useless expenditure, forms a tolerably complete finish, and shows how vain is the attempt to excite the fears of the people. ' Peace and Progress are believed in by the whole colony. Disappointed men may both in the Press and on the platfoim indulge in abuse snd doleful predictions, but they know well tho people ai c not wi Mi them. Prom end to end of the colony it is felt that we have been sleeping too Jong, and that the so-called prudence of Mi SLaflord is tho prudence of the miserly manuhtcDuici who will not borrow anything to enable him to pui chase improved machinery, and finds himself left behind while his competitors are enjoying the fruits of their entorpiUe; as in tho past it was the prudence of the town that to economise dismisses its policemen, and leaves tho property of its inhabitants, a defenceless prey to the robber. In consequence of the ambiguity of a telegram, we erroneously advei tised Mr Knoxs cattle sale to take place after the Government sale this day. Wo lefer our readers j for an explanation of the ej ror to our advertising columns, by which it will be seen that tho "cattle sale will be held as previously advertised, and tho sale of. Mr Joseph's stock held immediately sifter the Government sale, His Honor Mr Justice Johnston has rescned judgment in i tho caso of Greenwaj v. Lusk (on behalf of the' Superintendent, respondent). It ia to be sincerely hoped that no legal ludiiiicalily will slop the education system of the province.

It will be seen from our telegraphic intelligence tlint (lie Elizibet'i Curie sailed from L\ Helton for Wii.kalo Heads with 500 sucks of whe.it and .'5OO sno\s of ouU We ho.ir that Mi G. E. C'arko, of Cambiidge, lias ijot the contract foy the supply of telegraph poles for the i.ew line from Alexandra to (Jamhudgc. The pi ice has not transpiieil. We observe that Mr W. IJ. Biiilgman, late of this disti iet, has entered into partnership vfiuh ?>lr Eushbioolc, linen draper, of Auckland. We wish th.it he jnay be as successful in this hia. last undertaking a 1 } he was last season in the growth of ■wheat. The meeting of the Alexandia Township Highway District will ha held in the (Joint-house on Saturday, the 28th July, at 2 p.m. ; and that of the Mangapiko Highway Distiict, in tho same place, on the 2oth July, at 2 p. m. At a meeting of the Committee of the B >nrd of E lucation, held on Thursday, tho salary of the teacher of the lininilton West school was fked nt £120. An a*Msl:u\t te.ichci 1 will ba appointed if warranted by number of bc'iolai s, £c. The ship Woodlark commenced to take m her homeward cargo yesterday afternoon, and it is expected, as tbe greater portion of the 'ship's freight is aheady engaged, that she will bo ready to proceed on her voyage to London towards tho end of tho ensuing moDth. We havo heard, nnd wo trust the pepovt is correct, that the Woodlark will return again to this port from London. This \cssel, a com- ' positQ built one, and holdnfg tho very-highest class register, I wasbiultinlB7OatDundoe,andmay therefore be called almost a new ship. She is no mean sailer, and is in every way suitable for the Auckland trade, she having, although not a ship of very largp tonnigc. great]stowagc capacity. Tho Woodlark also holds ou.t great inducements to passengers, the slup having superior accommodation for saloon and other class passengers. Her saloon is a most comfortable, roomy, and airy one, whilst her state-rooms and her bath-rooms are unusually large and lofty for a vessel of her size. She has accommodation for 20 saloon p.i9sengers, exclusive of two state-rooms aft (for families). Intending passengers woulJ do well to inspect tlio ship, and should they elect to proceed home by her they w»ll under the hmi.la Captain Wood and hw officers havo every attention and comfort bestowed upon thorn — Crosi. Mr Trollope, in his bonk on " Australia and New Zealand," give 3 the following short account of Taranaki, where ha staged a few hours on his w.iy to Auckland. He notices the beauty of the «etLlemcnt, and has a word to say about the iron-s'nn 1 : — '* Tic little town is beautifully situated under Mount Esjmont, which is 10,000 feet high — with a lovely summit of gnqw, sharp almost as a church steeple. The land around Mount Egmont is grandly timbered, and said to be of hisjh quality ; but at thirty miles distant from the town it is held by tho mtivea and is inaccejsible. And then there is no harbor at New Plymouth, a want which must go far to mar the prosperity of the settlement. All along the coast the sand is rompo3Qd of iron, or, as the people there say, of steel ; so that when you handle it, though it be as soft as sand, it is almost as heavy as iron. I was told that from somo of it seventy per ivnt of pure metal h.is been extracted. Works h.ucbopn established at New Plymouth for utilising tho iron and making stool, Wufc have never as yet prospered, fiom«tho w.nit of iv proper flux, for the metal. I heard the matter discussed there, nt Auckland, and elsewhere, and the opiu on seemed general that ultimately these sands would become the source of great w ealth. They are found along the sea shore of the Koi th Island as far as Manukau harbor, m the province of Auckland. The sensation of weight when the soft stuff is gathered m tho hand is very remarkable."