The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 287, 14 March 1874, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1874.

In yesterday's issue tbe Cross comments strongly on Urn Agent-General's management of the Immigration scheme at homo. The remaiks were called forth in consequence of tho character of sorno of the immigrants lately brought to our shores. Either Ur Featherston is not personal \y superintending Uio soloetion of immigrants vo arc receiving, or Ins per.->pieaoily is not sufficiently keen to entitle liim to fill tho onerous position in which the Government has placed him. From that gentleman's •liitcadcnti we aio justified in Hisp'oeting that I lit* t iiinor is tho ense Tho mrtluxl of employing £>übugents, tlic majority of whom cunnofc be made to suHioiently feel tho rosponbibility of the work in which they arc uiga^cil, but perform t>o much work

inr :i gi\eu v>.i»t>, is to bo dcpreea.leil, as it will itinst ft^u'.cclly lio productive b" tli« direst conso- j queiicc* to the culony. The system cf assisted immigration entails a eoir-ulerablc drain on the cj'ionul culii'tnier, ami wo had a right therefore to anticipate satisfactory results in order to compensate for that outlay. But we have not realised our expectations. By the gross mismanagement of our Agent-General we are being the unwilling recipients of a class of persons that have evidently been parted with became they were a burden, if nothing- moVe, upon the country they have left. 'Hie cilect is that instead of tho scheme fiom which so much was expected proving- advantageous, it is becoming ruinous to tho colony. Everywhere the want of labour is beino- felt. Farmers are calling out for farm labourers, and anxiously look forward to the arrival of each immigrant-laden ship to froe them from their dilemma ; but only to suffer disappoint nient. The proper and speedy development of our mineral resources depends upon the manner in which Dr Featherston fulfils his duties. The construction of our roads and railways is being delayed from the same cause. Tho lines of railways which the Government have decided shall be constructed would employ about double tho amount of labour available in the colony. The Publio Works policy 1 and immigration are so intimately connected chat it is absolutely impossible to carry on the former satisfactorily if the interests of the latter aro being neglected. It is possible that if Dr. Featherston felt more tho responsibility that rests upon him he would do less harm- and might bo the moans of effecting a little good. The whole of tho work devolving upon a colonial agent is not to bo performed by sitting in an office and leaving the most important business in the hands of sub-agents ; it is only to bo done by travelling through the agricultural districts, and representing to those who are now labouring for a miserable pittance that a better field, awaits thorn if they will emigrate to New Zealand.

The HiraW, commenting upon a case heerd before the Resident Magistrate and two assessorsof a claim for eompeusation for land required by the Gm eminent for railway purposes, «ays: — "It Ins been determined tb at tlie Court shall inspect the ground, and the decision will, in oil probability, bo determined by the inspection of what the lawyers call the locus in quo. Both the form and substance of tho enquiry follow closely opon the practice m England, although formerly the assessment of disputed value was mado after a Preliminary Committee had authorised tho taking ol< tll ° lan(1 - In ew Zealand, the land is taken upon the motion of the Government formed by their officers a distinction upon which it is not now necessary to dilate. But by the 38th clause of the Act it is open to the Government to oiler evidence as to the manner, nature, and probable extent of valuable improvement that may result, either from tho pacing of the line, or tho erection of buildings, to tho land upon account ot faking which the claim is preferred. The separate grounds upon which the claim is made were srated very clearly by the claimant, and the ground of opposition offered by the Government was also plainly intimated. The case will occupy the attention of the Court for some days. "We draw attention to an advertisement in our columns notifying that leases or permits for tho cutting or removing of timber on lands belonging to the Crown in the province of Auckland have expired. It also states that a reward of £20 will bo given to any person giving such in formation ds shall lead to the coimction ot otl'enderd. This precaution on the part of the Provincial Government is highly commendable. It must be apparent to everyone that if "our forests are allowed to be recklessly destroyed as heretofore our lands will shortly become destitute ol what little timber they possess, and the effect wdl be that our climate will berotue less equable than at present. The visitation of the severe- drought wo havo lately experienced is attributable in a groat measure to the scarcity of timber in i great portion of our district. Tjns fact alone should aot as an incentive to our settlers to plant trees, at any rate, in sufllcieHt quantity to take tho place ot those that are being cut down. We observe that at the great cale of shorthorns at the New York Mills, several of the Grand Duchesses, that laade ! such extreme prices, are closely allied in blood to the two shorthorn bulls bow ab Penrose-; and one of the cows sold I is a sister of 9th Colonel Tregunter, the young Penvobe bull At the late StuithfieM Club Show, the winner of the champion gold Cup was got by lLth Baron Wetheiby, a brother of 25th Baron Wetherby, now at Penrose. The first pii/e at the saire Exhibition, and the best male animal in the yard.", was won by Mr Bult, with an ox got by tho Earl of Fife, and is half-brother to Constant of the Peuioso herd. There arc pictures of these two prize animals in the Illustrated London News, of December 20, 1873. In the October number of the Farmers' Magazine, is an engraving of the magnificent Hereford cow, Ivingtou Rose, and an account of her numerous prizes. She won nrst prize for cows at the Hoyal three years in suoce&sicu, besides numerous other hist-class and" local prizes, and was never beaten. Her sire was got by Sir Benjamin (1387), the same as the Duke of Edinburgh, sire and dam ; the last-named bull is nw in use, in an Aukland Hereford herd. Rain has fallen plentifully during the pa«t few tlay«. Not only will it be welcomed by the farmers wbo, if it had not come, would have been considerable losers but it will swell the rivers and enable those who arc engaged in commercial pursuits in the most populous portion of our district to get their goods without tho enormous additional cost consequent upon having to cart from Hamilton, At a special meeting of tho Auckland Institute, held on Wednesday lost, Mr T. luik, F.Ly., Into Secretary and Treasurer of the Society, wns presented by tho Piesident (Sir G. Arnpj) with a purse of 50 sovereigns, a 9 a token of tho esteem in which that gentleman's services aro held by the Society. The annual report of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society shews that during the past financial year a d«bt of £200 or £300 has been liquidated. This goes far to prove the estimate in which tho Institute is held by the public;, and should be encouraging to thosn who are desirous of seeing the objects of tho society carried out vigorously. It has been decided to erect the new Ngai uawahia telegraph and post-office on tho allotment adjoining that occupied by the old building.