The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 348, 6 August 1874, Page 2

The Waikato Times. " OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1874.

The address of Mr Byron to his constituents bjing .simply a history cf his proceedings in the Council <lo<s not cull for any lengthened notice from us; he has spoken for Limtclf, and we are fully in accord with the meetii.g in feeling confidence in his will and ability to scr\ c the disti ict well. His remarks, however, in leterence to Mr Roches motion in the 'Council condemning the native policy cannot be allowed to pass in silence. He tells us : — "Although thoioughly prepared to endorse it, he hud asked him to withdraw it, as the only chance of the province getting its fair share from the General (jhmTimu'iit was to maintain amicable relatioi if). " Thtre has been a gieat deal too much of this sort of thing ; it was all very well for Mr Williamson when stumping the country to make capital of the

fact ihiit Mr (Jillies was nutigoniscic io the pi^ent Government, mid therefore not likely to reecho many favors at their hands. Candidates during election jines are not generally very particular as to what they say or promise, and little weight is attached to their speeches. It is too much, however, when a member ot our Council tells us that it would have been injudicious lor that body to express an opinion upon the native question, the one of all others that affects the welfare of the province over the affairs of which they had met to deliberate. He thoroughly endoi'sed the opinions expressed, yet felt to embody these in a motion would be disastrous. Poverty prove- -bially makes men less independent and outspoken, for the reason that the poor man has to ask favors of others to enable him to mend his position. In the case, however, of the relations of the proi vince with the General Government, no want of independence can exist with reason without the fact being dishonorable to all concerned. In the first place, the province has no right to ask a favor ; and in the second, if the request be complied with as one and not as a right, an injustice must be inflicted upon the rest of the colony, and if only justice is asked, nothing should prevent its being dealt out regardless of the political opinions of Superintendents and Provincial Councils. The constant allusion to the relations between the two Governments having a beneficial effect on Auckand gives color to the correctness of the opiniou held by many that Superintendents of provinces should be excluded from seats in the Horse, and still more strongly points out that the system of Provincial Government is vicious. A man may be a very able Superintendent, yet if he is antagonistic to the Government of the day his province is to suffer in order that the offending member of the Assembly may be punished. If this system is pursued to the extent we are led to believe, the sooner a fresh set of men is found to govern us tlie better.

The report that Mr Searancke was about to leave the district, to which we gave publicity in our la-jt issue, was premature. We learn however that some change is not unlikely to take plaee. It ■will be seen by advertisement thnt the business of the National Bank is now being csnducted in their new premises, a commodious and imposing structure. The strong-room ia constructed [on the most approved principles, and affords perfect security to the property of the bank and that of depositors. The building greatly adds to the appearance of the township of Hamilton, which is daily increasing in size and assuming an affluent appearance characteristic of the Waikato generally. A letter (says the Coss) has been received by Mr W. FBuckland from Melbourne, which announces that it is the intention of eleven cricketers from that pl.ice to make a tour through New Zealand, commencing with Auckland, ploying twenty-two of each province. We believe they 1 iteivl starting about the end of the present year. It behoves t'ic Auckland cricketers now to practise well during the coming season, so that they may be able to elect a strong team. A meeting of cricketers will be held in the Thames Hotel on Friday evening, for the purpose of arranging matters and forming a committee to select the team. It is to be hoped that a really good cricketing team may bo found. We regret to have to report tho painfully sudden death of Mr Thomas Hook, of Ngaruawahia. Tlie deceased was at work yesterday morning about eight o'clock. Shortly afterwards he felt 6ick and took a glass of brandy, this mnde him vomit immediately, he went home ami got gradually worse, and expired at an early hour last night. The deceased was one of the oldest residents in Ng.iruawahia. and was the first Telegraphist and Postmaster appointed. He left the Government service some jeart back ; since that tune he lias followed his trade as a carpenter. Hi? was very much respected, and great commisseration is felt ior his young wife. The annual meeting ot ratepayers in the KiriLiriroa Highway District was held on Friday, the 31st July, m the Royal Hotel, Hamilton East. The meeting was a large one, nearly every ratepayer attending. Mr Henry Mullions was voted to the chair. After some discussion it was unanimously re. solved on the motion of MrThoinas, " That all lands in the district be valued at £2 per acre." Tho accounts as audited bj Captain McPherson and Mr Mullions were rend and adopted. A motion was then brought forward, " That the amount of £27 due to Henry and others be a first chareo on the rates to be collected, but it whs postponed till after the Trustees had been elected. A motion "That the nite of Id in the £ be the rate for this year," win put and carried uranimously, The following gentlemen were then duly proposed and seconded as|fit and proper peieons to act as Trustees : — Captain Steele, Messrs Henry, T H. White, J. Mullions, E. Pearson, F. Thomas, Tea?, dimming, W. White, andW. Coleman. The first five were declared duly elected. The motion that Mr Henry and others be paid wns again brought forward and carried unanimously. Capt McPberson and A. Primrose were appointed Auditors, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Secretary (MrPotler), concluded the meeting. At a meeting of the Trustees elect, held immediately afler, Captain Steele was elected chairman. A lengthy statement of many figured pages showing the area of lands purchased and leased (transactions complete and incomplete), with the expenditure thereon* under the Immigration and Public Works Acts 0"f 1S70 and 1873, has been laid on the table of the House, by the Governor's command. A summary will suffice to show wh 't has been done, and what land the North Island has obtained aud will shortly receive under votes for North Island Land Fund. Tho negotiations completed show that tho land purchased and leased for the different provinces is as follows : — Auckland purchased 136,061 acres j leased, 170,142 ; total, 400,203. Hawke'sBay, purchased, 183,430; Wellington, 342,330 ; Taranaki, 113,870. Total purchased, 857,691; leased, 170,142. Negotiations in progress : — Auckland purchase, 1.328,927 ; leaso, l,S15,650 ; Wellington purchase, 45S.911; lea 'e, 7835. Taranaki purchase, 53,000. Gross totals completed and in progress for North Island, 2,690,529 ; lease 1,9 )5,627, in all 4,634,156. The cost to June 20 is as follows: — Auckland, negotiations completed, 32,7102; in progrew. 39,6972 ; general expenses, 31,4522; totnl, 103,8612. Ha vke's Bay, total, 242442. Wellington, comply e, 34,5662 ; in progress, 16,4392 ; general expenses, 19,9052 ; total, WO122. Taranaki, total, 16,739?. Tho total amount expen led to date is 215,7572. This is out of votes ol 200,000, m 1870, and 500,0002 in 1873 for providing a land fund for the North Island. Of this 700,0002 the Auckland proportion is one-half ; Hawlie's Bay, 70,u00Z ; Wellington, 200,0002; Taranaki, 80,0002. The balance remaining unexpended and to credit of each province is — Auckland, 246,1382 ; Hawke's Bay, 45.754J ; Wellington, 129,0872 ; Taranaki, 63,2602 ; total, 484.2122 Tho figures are considered of great interest, as indicating the growth of a possible rich and large land fund for Auckland and other provinccs of the .North Island. — Crobi. Two well-known young sektlers of the Wairarapa, lately visited tho Hurunuiorangd pa. Arrived there they commenced paying polite attentions to tho dusky ladies of the Maori village. Their conduct was narrowly and jealously watched by the malo portion of the native inhabitants who, finally coming to tho conclusion that the pukehaa "were coming it a little too strong," seized our young settlers, stripped them naked and tied them to t ees. To obtain their release a hundied pounds had to be paid to the oflended Muoi is. The above story reaches us by private letter — Body Telegraph. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Pirongia District Board was held at the residence of the chairman, Mi J. H, Thompson, Harapipi. Mr E. Neil w as voted to the chair. The chairman then read over a statement of the receipts and expenditure. Eeceipts: Rites collected, £66 19s 2d ; amount received from Colonial Government, £77 18s; miscellaneous, £3 10s ; total, £H8 7s 2d. E\pendi turo : Paid for iorminS roads, £100 19-. 2d ; bridges and culverts, £40 15s lid ; other woi ks, £8 5s 6d ; salaric, £22 109 ; printing and advertising, £4 6s j miscellaneous, £1 5s 7d ; total, £181 2s 9d. The accounts as audited were passed. A rate of 2d in the £ was passed on tho value ol all land in the district fixed at £1 per acie. Tho following 'ratepayer! were elected Trustees :— Messrs E G. McMinn, I 1 . Eosborough. W> Gordon, H. (.toucher, and J. Slierrott, Mr J Sherrett proposed, and Mr 1). Hollo seconded, ' ' Tliat the distiict be extended to the Ivaniw'iaiiiuwlm Creek," which was carried, an.l the incoming Hoard requested totiike proper proceeding to do so. A vo e ot th,inks was passed to Mr McMinn ior the trouble he had taken in collecting some of tlie rates in town. A vote of l uanks was also passed to the old Board, and one to the chairman of the meeting, this concluded the business. A mectiiin of Trustees was afterwards held and Mr McMinn clcc.eJ Chairman, Messu | H. Neil and J. Morrison, Auditors.

A i.-\v cl.133 n»o (->a^» the Dad if Telegraph) a complaint was heard in t he Re^iJi-nt Magistrate's (Jomt against a licensed publican, who wtis charged with the sale of liquor on Sunda\, in contravention ol the Licensing Ordiuunc*. In dismissing the ease, hi* Worship li'-oived for consideration the point us to whether or not liquor so oidercd and paid for by a lodger 111 the house, and supplied to n stranger, eunie within the prohibitions of tlie Act. At Thursday's sitting of the Court his Worship gave the following deliverance on llio rescr\cd point : — " I am of opinion that the supplying of liquor on a Sunday to a lodger in an hotel, when it is paid ior by him and partly consumed by a friend who is his guest for the time, 13 uot in contravention of the 33rd section of the Ordinance 1 . Licensees should, at the same time, take cire that no abuse occurs under the proviso of that section, a* this may militate against them if reported to the Licensing Court. On Thursday, the 30th July, the ratepayers of the Htitnilton West Ilighwny District met tit 3 p.m. in the Hamilton Hotel. Mr A. Cox was voted to the chair. The clia.rman of the retiring Trustees, (Mr Vialou), reported to the meeting that as Messrs Hough and Longbottom, tlie Auditors elected at the last annual m >eting wer? not present, it would be requisite to elect two to serve in their stead. Mes9is Gaudinand Calderwood were then duly appointed, and tlie meeting adjourned forhalf-an-hour to allow the Auditors to go over tho accounts. On the meeting resuming, they reportrtl the act o ints to be correct, and on the motion of Mr Knox, seconded by Mr Jos?ph, the accounts as audited were passod. Mr Vialou proposed that the rate be Id in the £ on the to sell, w'uch wa* seconded by Mr Colder wood nnd carried without a dissentient voice. Messrs Vialou and Beere wero appointed Auditors. Me-srs AVilson and Vialou were then voted to the onerous ofliceof Scrutineers, after it was known that neither of them would consent to be nominated for a Trustee. The following gentlemen were then duly proposed and seconded as candidates for trusteeship : —Messrs Graudin. Martin, Morris, K.iox, Hinton, and McPherson. The Chairman declared the first five to be duly elected. We are happy to say that the meeting was throughout the most orderly one we have seen in Hamilton West at an election of Trustees ; at its close a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, who, in reply, thanked the rntepayers for atoiding all personalities during the meeting. At a meeting of the Trustees elect subsequently held, Mr F. Craudin was elected chairman. Tlie annual meeting of the Pnkekura District wa9 held on tbo 27th nit. Mr Caky was voted to the chair. The Secretary read a report to the rueetiug bhowing the receipts and expenditure to 30th June. Amount of expenditure ior the year, £399 ; receiols, £660 11s 7d, leaving a balance to the credit of the Board of £261 14s 7d Accounts still to pay estimated at £4 10s. This will leave the Board about £150 in dabt. "The rate fixed for the ensuing year is — Town acres, Is ; country lands, 3d per acre, and bwamp land, l 5 d. The accounts were bid before the meeting, audited, and adopted. The following compose the new Board : — Messrs E. B. Walker, (chairman). Caley, Howie, Hicks, McKinnou, and William Marshall, Secretary.