"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA."

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 233, 6 November 1873, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA."

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1873

Tub importance of the question as to who shall be <>nr chief officer for the next four years justifies our retorn to the Superintendental election. We shall not comment on the speech by Mr Lusk which wo publish in another column ; the facts stated therein . — facts which are incontrovertible— must speak for themselves. He explains pretty clearly Hie rise and fall of two of Mr Williamsons Acts. The first Act was a denominational one po to npeak, the second was secular; both f»iled. Why ? The first, becanse it was (leriotnint Monti !, and led to all kinds of dodgery and «• >n uptioii, and the second, althong-h purely secular, tvota the power having been vested in the people to tyx thejaseh&j.fur tlio" prosecution of education

Jhc iio.»plo would not tax th«.nw*lveB, consequently I we luid no education. Both tbce Acts were tho children of Mr Williamson, and unruly children they have proved. He has endeavoured to sweeten those residing in the country districts, whose tempers, tho very mention of denominational education conld not fail to hour. He is now between the proverbial two stools ; he has been to each extreme and is now trying to sleer a middle course. And us reg.uds the country districts, there can be no snch thing as a middle course. Introduce religious instruciiou of auy kind into our schools, and our schools must fall. Experience should h.ive taught Mr Williamson this lesson, and no doubt it has, but votes just now are very valuable. There is, unfortunately, s class of politicians who look npon overy dodgo to secure election as justifiable. One diy Mr Williamson spoke most dtrongiy for the dedenominational system, and by the last account we find him on the other B.de. We sincerely trust that all electors will cirefully weigh the question before them. Election cries are not often so absolutely true as in this instance. To us the total of votes recorded means education or no education. If Mr Williamson occupies the chair, education will only be within the reach of those who reside in town. If Mr Dargaviilo were elected to it, it is impossible to calculate what would result. There is a class of persons of whom it is said that a man had bettor deal with than rogues. We 'can easily afford to ignore the existence of such, and pntting aside all old association*, we are unable to comprehend how auy man can vote for either Mr Williamson or Mr Dargaville. For the first on account of his education j notions, and for the second because he talks nonsense. May the best man \rin is a very free and easy expression indulged in by the majority of settlers ; we remind them, however, that it is their duty to find out who that man is.

Yesterday niornin<j was most favourable for the observation of the eclipse of the moon. Very few who witnessed it have over had a better opportunity of observing the phenomenon of the earth passing between the sun and the moon, and robbing the latter so far as our observation goef, of her light. The eclipse had not terminated when the tun rose and hid from our viow altogether the lesser luminary. A meeting of chairmen of District Boards in the Waikalo wai held at Ohaupo on Monday, 3rd .November, 1873— chairman, Major Wilson (Newcastle). The following districts were represented :— Hamilton (country), Town of Hamilton East, Town of Hamilton West, .Newcastle, Town of Jfgaruawahia, Cambridge (country), Town of Cambridge North, Pukekuro, Bangiaohia, Pirongia, Mangapiko, and Town of Alexandra. Resolved, — That in the opinion of this meeting the District Boards are absolutely unable even with tho temporary assistance afforded by the House of .Representatives to construct the necessary culverts, bridges, earthworks, &c, on the mam roadß throughout the Waikato districts, oven in n temporary manner, or to ieep in proper repair tho portions already made 5 much less are they able to perform any work* of a permanent character. The whole of the iunds at the diiposal of the Boards would be barely sufficient to construct the byo-roads by which the farms in the occupation of resident settlers would be connected witli tho main roads if made. Unless these bye-roads can be made the main roads will be comparatively useless. If the Ooa ernment do not come to the assistance of the District Boards by taking out of their hands the construction and maintenance of the main road* — leaving to the Boards the formation of the bye-roads only— communication between tho different settlements must very toon be completely stopped, and the influx of settlers indefinitely retarded. If the Government would consent to this it would be one great step towards carrying out the 'Immigration and Public Works policy' of the present Ministry." Resolved, "That Mnjor Wilson be requested to draw up a memorial embodying the foregoing resolution; 1 and that he be authorised, as chairman of this meeting, ,tq sign the said memorial on behalf of the District Boards here represented, and to forward the same, through Major Jackson, M.H.R., to the Hon the Minister for Public Works." A meeting of the committee appointed to manage the Alexandra Christmas Races took place at the Alexaadra Hotel, on Saturday evening last, the following gentlemen being present :— Messrs Wetherill, Moncrief, Ems, Chitty Thompson, E. K. Brown, Pioche, and W. Higginson. Mr Wetherill, upon being requested, took the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read aud adopted, and the following resolutions were passed :— That owing to the absence of two of the committee, the names of Mr Foster and Mv Smith be added to the committee list. That unless the owners of running horses are subscribers of 20s to the race fund, they must pay double entrance in every event that their horses may run for. That the first race shall be the Maiden Plate, prize — soys, entrance 20s added, 1± miles, for all horses being bonafi.de property of Waikato settlers at least one month before the races That the second be the Pony Bace, 14 hands and under, once round the course, catch weights ; prize — soys with 10s entrance added. That the third be the Alexandra Stakes, and the race of the day, horses to belong to Una fide Waikato settlers in the same teims as in the first race and if winners of any previous race worth 15 soys to carry 71bs penalty ; weight for age, twice round the course and a distance ; prize — soys, entrance 30s added. The prizes are unavoidably left blank, but it was unanimously agreed that the last named race should not be for less than £25 with entrance money added, if the subscription list would allow it. That the remainder of the programme for hack *nd other post entry races be decided upon at the next committee meeting, to bo held on Tuesday December 2nd, •econd horses in all events to save their stakes That a deputation consisting of Messrs Foster, Wetherill, and Eoche, wait upon Major Jackson and other owners of blood entries in the district, asking them to act in conjunction tho committee in making up a prize for a J.mile race, to be run for exclusively by two-year olds the stock of Derby, Wairba, Prince uharlie, &c. ; and thatm the event of this succeeding, that the race shall be, the next to the Alexandra Stakes. It was thought by the meeting that this race would be the prettiest and most exciting race of the day. On Tuesday morning passed down the river by steamer a pen of : six half bred sheep that cannot fail to reflect credit on Mr Buttle at the forthcoming show in Auckland, and through him on the Waikato district We refrain from criticism till after the judges have awarded the prizes. Mr Gubbins passed down yesterday with his magnificent sborfc-horn bull. We sincerely hope that cither in cattle or sheep a blue ribbon will fall to the lot of a, Waikato settler. A Cricket match was played at Te Awamutu on Saturday last between eleven of tho Hamilton Cricket Club and eleven picked Frontier men. Some excellent play was o'xhibitea on both sides, and the result would, no doubt, have been in favor of tho Frontier men had there been sufficient daylight to have finuJied tho game ; as it was, the game fell to the Hamilton Club, their opponents having 12 runs to obtain to j win, and 7 w ickets to fall. | On Thursday evening last, the members of the Waikato Dramatic Club gave an entertainment in aid of the Catholic Church, Alexandra. Notwithstanding the unfavorable stato of tho weather, a full house attended, und the whole affair was a success. We wo Klad to find from an advertisement that tho rounc men of JVgnruawahia have awuluied from their lethargic condition, and are going to evidence their recovery by pluymg cricket every Saturday afternoon.