THE Waikato Times OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 277, 19 February 1874, Page 2

THE Waikato Times OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1874.

Iris to be regretted that the Minister for Public Works when in this distnob should have omitted to travel beyond the that township ; a trip along oar Muds jiud over oar bridges could hot have failed to pro<e inslructiro, an*l might possibly have led t,» surne steps being taken by the Government to prevent our main loads becoming impassable at an o irly date. We have often pointed ont, that as the Proviucial Government has never received one sixpence of the proceeds from the sale of confiscated l.i »d, it would be uuiea-vonable to expect them to spend money out ot their very limited fands to keep the roads open, whilst a considerable income Hjws auuuttliy into the colouml chest from the sale ot lands in the Waikato. The subsidy paid to local Boards in, in onr o,,iu:oji, i.npi'u t nrly foiced to be applied to the pro&ucution of new woiks, and is, therefore, often expended uou'iusblv. It appears to wo that it would bo lutKib moiti leaaonable to apply tue mniiuy to keefiiiiff Jn proper ordei the roads .1 1 ready in existence. Theiu is another matter con. nected with tae working uf ti.u Koad iiu^rd system tii at we may us v.e.i alimle to iv uasMing. Ac pieh Tit eveiy cbairmMii of our huiirua is his own c igineer, and, with very *cv exceptions, they make ilieir firbt experiment tv bridge building, or road making, ut the expense 'oP the public. We trust t>iat next seissiuu van bring forth au Act prohibiting mo expenditure of public money on any woi k k not approved by a competent engineer appoiuted by the tiuvcrnmeut. It tho salary for such au officer wore

deducted from the grant, we foci confident ihat veiy taaoh greater benefit would be conferred on the settlers. There woo Id then be concerted action betwee-r. the different Boards, — not, perhaps, from inclination, bat by compulsion, as one of the duties of the engineer would be to see the money expended in a manner best calculated to permanently benefit the couutty. His bod would doubtless be any other than a bed of roses ; he would be about the best abused man in the country. It would, perhaps, not be desirable to invest him with power to deal with the money laised by rates, otherwise it is probable that the settlers in some instances would refuse to tax themselves at all. It should, however, be part of hit duty to give his advice when asked. Had the stay of the Hou Mr Richmond been longer in the district, or timely notice of his intended visit beeu given, he would have been waited upon by a deputation who would have pointed out to him the advisability, eveu in a direct monetary souse, of at once having the road to Alexandra via Whata Whata completed. There is still a large quantity of land in the hands of the Government, bordering on the proposed road, that would be increased in value to a sum quite equal, we believe, to the cost of making the road. Tt must not be forgotten, also, that settlement i=s retarded by thero being no means of reaching the land >uited foi Hie purpose ; numbers of intending settlers have taken the trouble to look at the land, and evpiessed their entire satisfaction at u& quality and suitability for farming. The one difficulty, the want of a road scuds them away to search very often in another province for that which the short-high ted policy of not completing the above road prevented their occupying.

The piessuie of advei tisetnents on our columns has compelled U8 to print an extia sheet with tins number. The Hon Mr llichurdaon, accompanied b\ Mi Carruthers, Engineer-m-ChiH", lias paid u flying viMt to the Waikato. Ho arrived at .Ngaruawahia on Tuesday evening, and left yestorday morning for town. Wo undeist.uid that it is bis intention to inspect tho works in progress on his road down. Some persons — we trust lor the credit of our race, children — have commenced the practice of placing boulders and other obstructions on the railway line between Auckland and Onehunga. We trust thaL one of the culprits w ill be detected shortly and sentenced to tho heaviest punishment that the law will permit. Wo regret to have to report that Mr Rutherford* house at To Awauiutu was completely destroyed bv firo on Tuesday morning last. The origin of tho lire is unknown ; the whole ot the content! are destroyed. The house wos only recently built. Our correspondent does not inform us as to whether the house was injured or not; we trust that it h«» tor the st»ke ot the owner, who otherwise will suffer a severe loss. Tins should be a warning to settlers to insure their bouses sind property ; tho premium is not high on detached buildings. We regret to inform our readers that the Hon Mr Vogel will bo unable to visit the Woikntu In reply to a telegram forwarded to him by Mr MacUy, he stated that his weak •t*te of health prohibited lm travelling so fur ; and further, that, as his stay m Auckland will lieeecsHi ilv be of short duration, he would not hnve been able to spare the time under any circumstances. There would doubtless have been a large attendance at the dinner, and the number of settlers disappointed is proportionate. It will of course, now, be useless to forward a formal invitation ; there is no necessity, therefore, for the settlors to lake any sttps in the matter. It was only m our lust issue that we had to comment upon brutality committed in Hamilton on a horde ; another tale of brutality reached us yerterdar iroui tho same place. Some evil disposed person tied a kerosene tin to the lee of a horse belonging to Mr Clarke. The unfortunate animal ran frantically about the township, and at last took to the river to ! free itself from the appendnge, and was drowned. Surely bomebody must have witnessed the deed, nnd unless tho perp^tiHtors of such dastardly acts me discovered, no little discredit will be reflected upon the wholo population of the township. It w«s said " that for ways that are dark and tricks that are rain that Heathen Chinese is peculiar," buthe has not got it all to himself. The little weaknebsea which were supposed to render him peculiar ate lound to be common to many other* all the world over. E\eii m Auckland there are found thebe " peculiar people." One called on a gentleman at Dedwood the other day, introduced himeolfaa a namesake, und although his appearance t< rifled his confession about being in " low water," he was invited inside to breakfast. Thinking he might go farther and fare noi-be, he resolved on another trial of the Dcdwood people, and a second time introduced hinisell as a nameiake. To make a long story short, he wanted temporary relief— just a few shillings— for, in the man's own word', " nuftlpiVnt unto the day is ihe rvil tlicroof." But this gentleman, having no cash, gave the man a letter to his Hgent in town, authorising him to puy the bearer whatever ho deemed it discreet. The sequel will shew that he deemed it dittcreet to pay him but very little, lor ho had good reason to believe thai the man was an imposter. He •aid he arrived litre in the Hjdaspes, had been up the countn, where hardwork had nearly killed him, and hud oouie back to town la«a night. On being asked where he had stayed the previous night he could not remember — in fact be could not renumber anything But the gentleman who was questioning hi u remembered something. He remembered that although thu man had " only just come in thr Hydaspes," he had imposed on good n.it lire at Mount Albort some months ago. He is " all things to all men ; " he is everybody's namosuke, and knows everybody's business and relations He dresses well, and is educated, has quite a mihUry bearing, and a happy w» T of in '''minting himself into one's confidence. But ho had on this occasion mistaken his innrk, for the agent in question, requesting him to wait a moment, went out with the view of acquainting Detective Jeffrey. The man, however, was too well up m his business, followed, leaving'word with the clerk that he would return in a minute, but he ha* never shewn his face since. The public should bo cautioned against these pests of society, who preter trickery to hard work, and cnusi- people to withhold aid from somo who may be renlly doiervmg assistance — Herald. New Zealnnd war medals are lying at the Militia and Volunteer Office, Auckland, for the undei'montioned persons : -Thoina-. Peel, Ist Waikato Eegiinent ; William Smithi 2nd Waikato Regnuttnt ; John Oainpoeil, 3rd Waikuto Kogiment; G -orgo Lutettt, Auckland Militia ; Greorgo Coaieno, 2nd Waikato Regiment ; William Allan, 2nd Waikuto Ttpgiment ; David Connie, 3rd Woikato Raiment > George <. ooper, Mauku Volunteers ; H. b\ Harrison, A C. ; C tficholsH, A 0 ; X, W Gurney, AX Y. • A Daniels, Ist Wmkato Regiment; Joseph Scott Commissariat; George Cook, Militia j It. Biennau, 4th Wuikato Regiment ; R Coomb?*, A'F Y. j CK>oi-ge Hart, Militia; J. 'F. Hendry \ R.V. ; C Kobinson, Kohp-on ((ps). s ) jJ, Thompson, 2nd W,.iknlu Rogiment j M. Flunagan, T.M S. ; A.Johnson, V,C. j J. Mitchei, Auckland Knginoer Volunteers; E. J. B'nke, P.F.F ; T. A Pfirsn, H.B Vols. ; N. Rcntt, VC ; J. Brown. A.C. ; M. Langnd<r<», A.C.'j 1). McArthur, AC ; W*. Salomon, AC j Suli Inapoctor F. Swindle;, AC ; G Wutus, AC ; William Alfrev. AC j PC. WiNon, A,C; Charles J»tone, Jat Wn.ik.ito heguncnt ; John Crottv, lit Wni» >to Ti^um nt , R. Ea*ton, Ist Waikato Regiment ,• T Mi Innebß, Volunteer Cavjiiry. By ipecmUrratigemtn« with the ».a. Mm ray, madubythe PoMTiistfr-wnei-ni. tie n<> T t European unil v-,X Smpz n-ill probably arrive in thr Manukau on Friday noit, but is tolerably certain to arrive ou Saturday.

We are glad to learn thai Mr I). F. Scott, of Ngaruawahia has tucceeded m obtaining the contract for the supply ot tea thousand sleepers for the Waikato railway. We hope that whenever opportunity oflVrsour settlers will prcvp tliatthrj I are willing and nble to perform any n-ork that may be possible for forwarding the public woik scheme. The following Wosleyau ministers hare been appointed to ofliemte in the province of Auckland : — Alexander Reid, Secretary of the Conference ; W. Olivor, J. Hobbs, J. Walks, J. Warren, H. H. Lawry, supernumaries ; Thames —J. Crumpp, H. Dewtbury ; Otnhubu — B. S. Bunn, O. Buttle, tupernumary ; Waikato — W. O Thotnai ; JUglan — C. H. Schnackenberg, W. Kateno, H Ngaropo, native ministers j Kaipara — W. Git tot, H. Waiti, native minister; Hokianga — W. Bouse}; Wangaros — T. Q-. Carr ; Alexander Reid, chairman of the district. On the lOfh the following items of business were tran^aotcd :—": — " A central board of examiners wo» elected to prepare papers for examination of probationers for th* ministry in New Zealand." The following ministers were appointed a committee, to consider and report upon the possibility of a New Zealand Connexional Sunday-school Union : — The Revi. W. Morley, J. B. Richardson, and J. Lewis. Such report to be made to the next district meeting and Conference.