The Waikato Times. UNKNOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 309, 7 May 1874, Page 2

The Waikato Times. UNKNOWN.

Thl Message of tlie Superintendent to the Council touring upon several questions of great import. The first matter alluded to, which is of immediate intetest to the settlers in the Waikato district, is (be rapid progress being made towards the complttion of the Waikato and Mercer Railway. It is gratifying to lenrn that arrangements have been trade for the acquirement of land by the Colonial Government on behalf of the province. As regards this question, we tiust that sleps will be taken to jirerent private speculators from obtaining titles from the natives to property that is daily immensely increasing in value by the Public Works being carried on at the expense of the colony. Native lands, when open to purchase or acquisition, should he treated as the property of the colony, to be acquired by private individuals at a reasonable rate. The days of native land speculation more or less at the expense oJ the colony, it is to be sincerely hoped, have jessed. The taxation consequent on the prosecution of the Public Works that will put thousands into the pockets of many speculate! s, will have to Ijo borne equally by all, consequently, justice de*nands that all should participate. As regards the Jli^hway Boards' Bill the sketch of its provisions js so very scanty of details that it is impossible to |orm an opinion. Till vciy lately it was considered dangerous to allow Pioviuei.il Councils to borrow jnoney on the security of taxation. It appears to iis, however, that each pioposed Cenlnl Board will be allowed to anticipate its revenue, which can only arise from dhect taxation. Each Central Board v ?ij!l become a miniature Provincial Council. The

present Highway JJoarJs U\e not manage I their bi^iuess in such nn cminrntly satisfactory mannei as to justify our J e^Llare in gmnj them power to liypa'iecitethc jiroperty of otber people. Wheu the ]lills ato printed we t\u\\ be able lo form our opinio.i 0:1 their merits, until then, it would be idle to dilate upon them.

In nnot'icr column w ill be found a letter from our JTarat i,>i c.rres.wn.ient, giving det il s of a meeting held at that pl.itv by the late member* |of Major Yon Tempsky'ts company ol ron^rs. Provided the men %ere enlisted under the same confhtinn* as those of Major Jackson, nn injustice lias elearl vbi en done. "We cannot lie-lp thinking that there must bo some renson other than appears for the refusal of the Government to grnnt timber or money in lieu. We trust that the letter to Major Jackson will f licit an inswer. Ha 6iircl t > unit be cognisant of the facts, as it is difficult to believe that, as member for the Waikato, bo omilted to assert the r^ht* of others equally with liis own and tlioso of bia men. When liio reply j3j 3 before us we shall be in a position to write on the matter. The meeting of the members of the Wailato Turf Club is indefini'ely postponed, pending necessary information as to race course, &.c. Up to the present time nothing but formal business lias been transacted by the Provincial Council. Several notices of motion have been given. We shall reserve our notice of them till they are brought for« arJ.