"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 188, 24 July 1873, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1873.

Tn unother column it is announced that it is proposed to increase in place of cat-tailing the powers of Prnviuoi il Co.moils. By the Provincial Coiincls Powers Bill it will he seen that it is proposed to give t> local councils tlie power to constitute tribuna's of civil or cnniin.il jurisdiction. The above is certainly the most dangerous proposition that we remember to have been brought before the House. If there is ono thing of which we as British subjects have a right to be proud, it is the strict impartiality with which our laws are administered. The judges of onr courts hold their commissions from the Qureu, and are therefore not liable to local influence. It appears to us that tho granting of the pioposed powers to Provincial Councils will go far to bring our judges into the same contempt as tho'e of America, wheie they are elected by the people log.irdless of fitness for the office. To place patronage in the hands of Pioviucial Councils can only on productive of the moat gross jobbery and coiruption. Wo shall uud men sitting on our benches and attempting to administer our lav\s whose only qualification will be their adherence to and support of the party in power for the time being. Wo trust that the good sense of even the most rabid proviucialists will not allow this bill to be n-ad Jf it is impossible to do away with Provincial Governments, as it appears to us must always be I lie case so loug as superintendents and provincial officers are allowed to sit in thej'ouso of -Kepresentaiivrs, the granting ot borrowing powers i? an absolute necessity. As

regards this province provincialism has been played to the very end of its present financial tether. More than one speaker who has addressed his eonstituenta has told us that the rerenae for the ensuing year will do little or nothing more than }r<\y salaries and support oar hospitals and gaols In the event of borrowing power being granted the question naturally suggests itself as to what security we can offer to the lender. Fresh taxes will ha\e to he imposed, or the chest of the General Government will have to go minus some of our Customs' revenne. We have no large landed estate like our brethren in the South to fall back upon. It is, however, abundantly clear that large sums of money will have to bo expended in keeping our roads in repair and making others where absolutely necessary. The General Government will have to provide the fuuds or become security ior the Province of Auckland, as she has none to give.

In our last isaac we published a telegram from Dr I'eatherston, by which ho announced that i>(sso immigrants had sailed from the United Kingdom during the months of M:iy and June. We congratulate the colony on the increased activify of its Agent-General. We are not informed as to the contemplated distribution of the immigrants on their arrival ; it is to be sincerely hoped that this province will receive its full share. On all hands we hear the cry, we cannot possibly enter upon agricultural pursuits because labour is not only excessively dear; but also very hard to op procured. We also hope that the people to arrive are of the right class ; not the scrapings of our large towns, but men and women from tbe agricultural districts. We are aware of the difficulty there is in inducing the ignorant labomer to leave his home, but believe that fit agents couM succeed in shipping them by hundreds. Probably the terms offered by the '•overmiient are not sufficiently liberal for our M<>cnt.s to have a fair chance against thosoof Canada and the United States. If this be found the case, the tei ins inuit he made more liberal, for population we mu»t have at, any cost, otherwise the vast expcmlituio that is now going on will be of comparatively little benefit to the colony.

j Tlio annu d meeting of tho ratepayers of the Cambridge Highway District took placo at tho Duke of Edinburgh lintel, C.un bridge, oa the 10th instant, fl'lie meeting was | well ut toiulcd considering that it was called for 1 p.m. On the motion of Mr J. If. Smith Mr James Runciman took the chair, and, after reading tho notice in tho Waikato Times calling the meeting, he said the first duty they had to do was to elect a secretary. After a little delay Mr W. J. Smith consented to act. The chairman then called upon slr J. 0. Reynolds, secretary of the late Board, to read tho j statement ol receipts and expenditure for the past year which showed us follows . — Hates collected, £133 2< ; Government grant, £83 19i 9 1. Expenditure : Paid for forming rands, £41 13s; metalling and chanelling, £108 4s 10 Ij bridges and culverts, £20 10s Id ; other works, £27 19s Gd ; commission for c Electing rates, £9 19s 6d ; printing and advertising, £1 18s ; legal expenses, £21 5s 6d ; balance in hand, t'3i 7s 7J. Proposed by Mr Booth and seconded by Mr Smith, jun , tlut tho accounts as presented be adopted. The chairman put the resolution to tho meeting, and it was cirried uninuniiisly. Proposed by Mr W. Wright and seconded by Mr John Mortyn, that a rate of one halfpenm in the pound on tin* vilue to sell be struck for tho ensuing \ e.ir. Proposed by Mr Selby and •econded by Mr Forrest, that it be threo farthings in the pound on the v.ilue to sel!. The |ehai-nmn then put thes amendment to the meet ng and called for a show of hands in faror of it, when wry ftiw responded. The resolution was then put and earned. Tho chairman then said tho next business they had to do was to elect five members for tho ensuing year. The follow ing gentlemen were then proposod and seconded : — Messrs W. Jones Smith, John Martyn, jun., Jarcd All will, — Furguson, W. Randerson, JoihuaT. Johns, and Samuel S. Graham. Mr J. E. Reynolds and Mr W. Reid were requested to act as scrutineers. Th« result of the voting returned Mr Jared Allwill, Mr W Jones Smith, Mr John Maityn, Mr Snnuel S. Graham, and Mr Joshua T. Johns as trustees. Proposed by Mr B. Booth and seconded by Mr Reid, that Messrs J. 11. Smith »nd J. C. Reynolds be the auditors for the en*uing year. A rote of thanks haying been proposed and carried to the outgoing trustees, and also a vote of thanks to the chairman for the very able manner m which he conducted the meeting, brought it to a close. A meeting of the trustees took place shortly afterwards, when Mr John Martyn was elected chairman and treasurer, and Mr W. Jones Smith, secretary. We are glad to learn that Mr Kirkwood, of Cambridge, has imported another blood horso into the district. Benatbalath was bred by H. H. Stafford, Esq.; ho is by Towton, dam Symphony ; Towton by Melbourne, dam Cinizelli by Touchstone j Symphony by Slander, dam Princess by Gratis. ; Ho is a brown horso with black point?, stands 15.3 on very short and powerful legs. Towton was imported by Mr Moorhouse, and sold for £1250. Symphony was imported by Mr Redwood from New South Wales, and was the best mare of her day in Nelson, having beuten Zoo and Zmgari. We hare seen tho horse, and should think that ho cannot fad to improve our breed of horses by imparting to them more bone, a point m which nearly all our hack* are lamentably deficient. A serious accident, says the N. Z. Herald, occurred a few days ago to Mr James Runciman, owing to the disgraceful stato of tho Knrnnguhape Road. He was driving a buggy along that road whon the wheeN got into one of those pits which nbnund m the locality. He and the other occupants of the vehicle weio thrown out, Mr Ruurunan sustaining a fracture of the collar bono and other injuries. The portion of the road in question has been in a very bad condition for same time, und should not longer bo permitted to remain as it is. Another road in almost as bad a stato is that in Mechunics 1 Bay, opposite the kerosino store. Theso roads are tho main entrances to town, and should not bo left another day in their present dangerous condition. Even aristocratic Princes-street would be all the better if several 'argo holes in its centre were filled up. It is worthy of note says the Crovs that several Highway Boards at their annual meetings just held, have proposed to lcv\ an ncrengo rate for the ensuing year, a proceeding in duvet contravention of the Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871, of tho General Assembly, which provides (clniiso 3), " All rates hereinafter to be imposed shall be levied either upon the annual value of imy land and buildingi, or upon their viilue for s»l«." In one in^taii'-p, nt loasfc, if not in more, the proceedings of tho innual meeting of the Board have been rendered invalid through this ill-advised action' and it is found necessary to coll another meeting to undo what has been done. This will probably servo as a warning to other Highway Boards in imposing thoir annual rate to keep within the four corners of the Act. No doubt tho prohibition in respect to acreago valuation is in many districts felt to be a grievance, and some modification in tho law bearing upon this point may be desirable. But proper tteps should be tnken to obtain the ncoeisary alteration, and, until this is done, the strict letter of tho law in reipect to rating by Highway Boards will have to be observed. We notice that Mr Walker has taken the Criterion Hotel, TeAwamutu From our previous knowledge of him in the capacity of manager of nn hotel we predict that travellers and others will meet with every accommodation At the Criterion.