"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 364, 12 September 1874, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA."

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1874.

A considerable number of the inhabitants of Auckland met on Thursday for the purpose of forjning that which they have christened the New Zealand Reform League- The expense of becoming 'a member is small— only ss— yet we learn from our contemporaries that only s>, very few came forward with the money to entitle them to membership, rllie name of the society is an imposing one, and jvould naturally lead the uninitiated to the belief the duty of its membois wuuld be to watch jthc politicians of the country, — ready to support ihoxu wiit ii in the light and oppo&e them when in ilie wuir;. Tlic eltect of I'rovincialifam exhibits i-f,d', .it c\ciy meeting of settlers in thJK colony, gfidiha mtctuig on Thursday evening was by no

'i"o )»-., ;i:i i\i- j)tK)ii. Oiu ,v, ,iuji vi' pi'Uy (,jwni- j un.it : I), uic,: i ■(] L }ie i.iajnmy of (ite p^opl- 1 of this i o »i'»-ij to o. M> „, vi lutltcr co only one idea' ■ t a. tiiii". We quite 1 i.-) a. ith the meeting in j tlio only r"suiiiL,on the/ pa.-jsed ; but a body of iii?u oai'mg them .oh ess llio KVw Zealand ll'jfo. [••> L?a, ;uo should lunc hoea pi^juir.l fcj show in what direction their ideAs of reform head. ILul they cvillcd themselves '• the Opposition to Abolition League," or something synonymous t'aj name would have conveyed their object. We take it that there would have bean many more on the roll had this been done. The absurdity of belonging to a Reform League with one idea, only, must have struck many. It is exceedingly unlikely that the kn:;ue will ever play an important part in thi3 country. Wo wish that it were otherwise. There is nothing so much required as an organised body of men constantly exchanging ideas on colonial questions in order to lead those who are too la&y to think in the right direction. This is the more j wanted, as the newspapers of the colony are, as a rule, wiitfcen more to serve party ends, than for the .•oal enlightenment of the people. Mr Vogol very nearly hit the truth, when he stated that an appeal to the people only meant a&king them what they wanted in the shape of a bridge, road, &c. So long as public opinion is split into an indefinite number of atoms, it will continue powerless to reform anything. The people must think as New Zealanders before their voice will be heard and felt. So long as they only think from a provincial point of view, they do not deserve to be listened to by any politician.

It appears to us that the emigration officers in the old country are not very energetic, and allow opportunities to slip of procuring- emigrants of the class required in the couulry districts of this colony. The system of paying commission on the number secured is calculated to procure numbers ai:d not quality. Those sent up here as yet are not Buited to couulry life, having for tho most part been picked up about the large manufacturing* towns, and h.ive brought with them the habits there acquiied. "We give the following extract from a letter in the limes of the 26th June, written by Mr C. Fraser-jMacluutosn, a member of the House of Commons :—: — "Aid is urgently required to procure clothing for several pour but excellent families irom the Highlands of I?oss and Inverness .Shires proposing to emigrate to New Zealand. These families represent about 80 souls, of a total proposed emigration of 500 peoplo, many of whom are ulterly unable to provide the outfit required on the voyage 1 , while a few can partially help themselves. About 2/ each, over all, will be needed to meet the necessities of tho ease. Physically these emigrants are very suitable to tho requirements of the colony, their moral character is excellent. Mr G. Eraser, agent fot* the Caledonian Banking Company, at Loch Carrou, Ko<=s-shire ; and Mr Fraser-Maokintosh, M.P., 287, Regent street, London, will be glad to receive and acknowledge all contributions sent, for the ' Emigration Fund, Loch Oarron.' Tho poor people in question, now living in great poverty on the western coast of that county, have made up their minds to emigrate It would, in these oircunistances, be an act of great kutlmess if the small sum now asked were contributed, in order to ci able them to obtain new and better homes be)ond the ocean, where labour is now in gieat demand." These men are of the very ci.tss we require; Now Zealand would by contrast he a very parudis»e; thov hive been accustomed to work h.ird for very little pay, and on very po-ir food. What was tho agent doing whose duly it, was to .scour Ross-shire for suitable 0111141 m.ib, — had he boon a man of energy the appeal for help would have come from him. In looking over the art mils by the Oxford we find that only d-5 agricultural labourers are included. The agitation in ihe ••onntry districts had been proceeding for monili:, before the ship left home, and we feel convinced that had men ol the right class been acting for New Zealand in the disturbed districts, the ship could have been laden with men suited for farm work. The class of agent required is a man who will enter upon his dulies with a clear conviction that by doing his work properly he is conferring lasting benefits upon those he induces to leave the old country. Ho should lecture in every town and \llhlge ; it is only necessary to tell the nnvarigbed (ruth as to Ihe different position his hearers would hold in this country to that which they occupy in the land and village of their birth. If men were picked out for agents because of their suitability for the appointment rather than to reward political support, immigration would soon be placed on a nioro satisfactory footing.

In reference to n letter in another column, we nre sorry to lose Mr Mandeno as a subscriber more for his sake tlmn ours j us hud lie continued to peruse our matter there would bi) lome hope of His becoming acquainted with newspaper ctiquotfe, as we pride ourselves upon never deviating from it's strict rules. We lmve never ii. suited any man in our columns. How very Ihin-skinued Mr Mandeno roust be j much more bo wo take, it than the gentleman for whom he has dubbed himself champion. We regret that Mnjor Jncks-on should have been compelled to immolate himself upon the political altar. It would lmve been a shumo for the district had it sent a represent ntive to tliellonso of " 111 tie education and no btanding." Wo appreciate Mnjor Jackson's kindness, but as the mouthpiece of the electors, we cannot omit lo remind him of the duties that appertain to the office he has undertaken. Tic electors hato a right to expect instruction in political matt op troni their member when fresh from the jeat of G-ovcrnment. The following immigrants arrived by the ship Oxford . Married men with iamihes— 2 miners, 15 farm labourers, 1 smith, 1 miller, 1 biicklayer, 1 engineer, 8 labourers, 1 pollen constuble, ] shoemaker, 1 mason, G carpenter', 2 painters, 2 tailors, 2 [farmers, 2 gardeners, 1 gunsmith, 1 ropemaker. Married men without families — 3 miners, 2 butchers, 1 groom, 1 baker, 1 mason, 1 ploughman, 1 curppnuir, 1 millor, 1 smith, 5 farm labourer*, 2 bricklayers, 1 engineer, 3 lnbourors. Single men— 23 lubouicrs, 3 smiths, 12 carpenters, 2 grooms, 1 shoomaker, 1 railway machinist, 1 telegraph lineman, 1 herdsman, I baker, 1 brass ship castor, 1 telegraph clerk, 1 pattern maker, 25 farm labourers, 1 printer, 1 engine fitter, 1 engineer, 2 bricklayers, 3 sawyers, 1 boiler maker, 1 gardener, 1 servant, 2 fciiilors, 1 gunmaker, 2 mefcBPnger 2 miners. Single women — 43 general lervants, 3 housetn.iids, 2 nurses, 1 laundress, 2 d«irj maids, 2 cooks, 1 governed. Applications to be made to the Depot Master, E. Brophy, at Iho Immigration Depdt, Auckland. Wo are not. certain whethor tho following may bo looked upon as pointing a moral, serving as a cuution, or a 9 something which '8 desirable to be followed as an excellent example. It ha 3 nothing whatever of the ideal or the romantic or the abstract About it, but very much ol tho practical. So i c time buck a young man landed on our wharf from the Bay of Hands. He was in u very despondent frnmo of mind, t.ir ho had, in the lnngungti of roinir.ie, courted a young woman and the young woman having wurmsd up consider™ ably Hi hid favor, s'ie, as young women and old women included have done before und will do again, jilted him. Then lie came us statfd. Ifc was at the very hour nt which the female immigrants wore being lande'l from the Milliades. The thought struck him — a happy thought, ai it has since turned oul. Ho walched tho young women as they Mod along tho wli.ul, until one struck mi g.izc and seizod upon i- i. ' 'tinition. Jfu followed her to ilie b trracks, sought 1 < •'• i <•■ n, und |i3k«l her lor an iulrodiielion. This granted . mil then proposed mnrri.igp. The girl was unable hi answer on that day, but would, •Oieh.iid, the ncxi. ! -tr day cune, and the answer win favorable. The day fo:i .Ming the clergyman had made the tuninoii". Then the young husband took Ins young wifo buck to t»io Buy of Inlands and introduced her to tho lady who had jilted him. And the lady did not like it, nor does she like it unv the more that the young couple nit belore her in church every S.intiny, by which her devotions nrp not so fervent asunder other circinns'nnces would perhaps bo the ci-o. Tho Noting man says he hits got the be«t of wives. and tho you ig woman declnies to pome^mg tho betl. ot husbands, do moto it bo. Mairiugo is a lottery, tho onlj- kind of lotte>-» wl.iul. is m.i illegal. Tho imnngrar.t girl went in and drow a pruc. — Ilirnld, j Mr IJolloway in in Auckland. Wo trust that he will not !e«i\o tiio proMiice beforn having visiled the Waikato. Wo fear that if he does so, his roport will not do justice.

Al a mmting of I lie JSe«" Z-'ilancl 11 lonn Lcugu< , on Tliuiiday, tie Jollon nip m-iolulioiih hoic ea/i <.■ I tin, mi lnou^ly — " Tliml llii' linii- is now :im\cd \ilicn l*i ov mi i.il Intuitions in hew Zealand should be nbolisVd through- l oul both Islands, and tins meeting plnlgca itself to support tiio league in acpoinplishmi: that object." "That the niemU'l.i of tho Reform lvalue be enrolled up'jn a subscription <>l live shillings urinu illj ; that an executive council be [ c reed by the members us soon as one hundred members , shou'd be enrolle I." A lettoi- will bo found in another column, in which the v uter complaint* that hid horse received very serious injury l uhiUt crowing the Whafuw hutii punt lie wants to know I against whom he should proceed for damages. W« huve ( not received a feo for legal ad\iee, but wo do not mind tolling him that the Chmrinan of the Road Board, if anybody, m ould be a proper person to tuko action against. We have often oallod attention to tho disgraceful state of tho \> mt at the above crossing, and pointed out that there 13 a punt at Nguruawahta, which has been sunk for the last twelve months which would answor all tho requirements of the place. Tho Lyilelton Times says : — Tho Premier's remark about tho eleven, provincial executive representatives who voted against him is not alone an insult to these men ; it is an insult to tho colony and a brand on ''imself. He has said, in effjot, that office and tho emoluments attached to tho office, are tin moying-apr n^s of political action. Mr Vogtl has limply projected an old and very practical idea, but he should bear in mind that tho gun may be turned against huneelf. His argument is that go many men voted in a atiiled wav because they are deriving so much money and a ro-itiou from the maintenance of provincial institutions. The argument either cuts both ways, or does not at all. If these eleven men voted in opposition to his proposals became they hold provincial executive offices, thon it is fair to say that Sir Donald McLean, the lion Mr Vogel, CM.G-, the lion Mr Liichimlaon, and the lion Mr Reynolds voted 111 another way because they are members of the Colonial Executive. We understand that a match nmongst the members of the resuscitated Ngaruawahia Chess Club will take place shortly. We wish that a room for chess, reading, lectures, concerts, &c, could be orectcd. It is only by finding rational amuse«nr»fc for the people that there can bo the slightest chance of lessening their drinking habits. We tire g'nd to announce that Mr Murray, M H.R., has purchased lund in the Piako to the extent of 12,000 acres; it. was the property of Mr T. B. Gillies. It is gratifying to iind that capitalists from the south are able to appreciate the prospects of the Waikato at their proper value. Mr Murray, we understand, intends to commence work, on his n«w acquisition at onco. Many remarks have boen made in referenco to the terms of purchase ot the Piako swamp by tho company of that name ; as a set off against the departure by the Government from tho rules laid down for their guidance in the disposal of land, we may point out thub it is the intention to employ two hundred mon in draining, &c, during the ensuing summer. We should like to see a little land given to men of the stamp of the company for nothing. It is purposed to hold the following religious services in the Waikalo district to-morrow : — Church of England — Hamilton, 11 a.m.; Ngaruawahia, 6.30 p.m.; Alexandra, 11 a.m. ; To Awamutu, 3p. in. ; Kihikihi, 630 p.m. Catholic Mercer, 11 a.m. Wesleyan Methodist — Cambridge, 11 a.m. ; To Awamutii, 11 a.m. ; Pukerimu. 2.30 p.m.; Alexandra, 2.30 p.m. ; Hamilton, 6. 3D p.m. United Presbytonan and Congregational— Kihikihi, 3 p.m. Wo learn that the whole of the Engineer Volunteer Militia will shortly be brought to the west side of the rivor to work on the line between Nguruawahia and Ohaupo. ' We believe that it is intended to let the unfinished portion of the line to N^aiuawahia by contract. We learn that the p.s. Lunn will shortly ,tovr a hulk of about 600 tons into the Waikato Heads, to bo used as u de|>6t for railway and brid»o material, largo quantities of which will be brougnt to their destined place by river.