"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 375, 8 October 1874, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1874.

f'Tni: indiscriminate giving of credit, by tradesmen, ■ )a. brought about an unhealthy state of affairs, — in .fact it is now the exception to pay cash for any goods procured from a store. This is not un1 naturally the case, as every purchaser is aware that lie has to pay indirectly for the bad debts contracted -.by the storekeeper ; he pays for those debts, of course, in the shape of additional charges for everything he purchases. An Act, bearing on this matter, passed the Assembly last session ; by it, imprison'nient for debt is abolished- New Zealand has been rather late in following the example of all the other polonies in this matter ; it is curious, however, that rhe Imperial Parliament threw out a Bill, during its last session, to free debtoi-s from liability to imprisonment. It must not be supposed, however, that the dishonest debtor can now escape all consequences <o(Mh di«h<meaty ; in place of being imprisoned at the expense of the person he has swindled, he will receive punishment at the cost of the State. Dishonesty, before thiß can take place, must of course be established. The power of a creditor to imprison a man because he could not pay him has often been vindictively used ; if the law allows a man to be puni&hed as for a crime, he should certainly be tried as an ordinary -criminal To punish, either justly 'or from spite, is the object in ninety-nine cases out ojf a hundred ; in that of the hundreth, perhaps, a man is imprisoned on the grounds that he can 'pay but declines to meet his just liabilities. We trust that the passing of this Act will lead to a more wholesome system of credit ; it will, without 'doubt, make tradesmen more careful, and it is to be sincerely hoped, lead to the punishment, as criminals, of many .dishonest debtors.

I r will be seen in another column that the lion Mr Reynolds arrived in the Wuikato List evening . there are many connected with the district that require the attention of Ministers. Wo are hot aware of the object of his visit, or of the programme he has sketched for himself, but he could jfloubtjess spare time to listen to the representations bf settlers on questions affecting their rhtercbts; niore could be explained vk& vocc in a quarter of an hour than can bo written in half a day. It is to be -regivf'ed that notice of the -visit of a Minister does not precede him. Ho will havo experienced, at the time wo are -writing, a good sample of the Waikato Voads. Wo suggest for the consideration of the iettlers, the fact that bodily incom union cc is calcn-

lated to open tlio mind to lusting impressions. The absurdity of the present Road Bo.u-d system, which compels the Boards to keep, or try to ke<jp, the main postal roads in order, was no doubt painfully apparent to him when undressing for rest at Hamilton. We can assure the lion gentleman that the Boards implicated have done their best with the funds at their disposal. He will likely inform any deputation that waits upon him on the above matter* that the Colonial Government subsidises the Boards to a considerable extent ; this is true, but the money is only applicable to the making of new roads or the constructing of new works, consequently the money granted by the colony for subsidising flood Boards cannot be appropriated to keeping in repair the roads upon the condition of which depends the carrying of Her Majesty's mails. There are many other matters which could be with propriety brought under the notice of the Minister, and we trust that he will not be allowed to leave the Waikato till he has had fairly represented to him the wants of the district, the supply of which can be legitimately asked from the Government of the colony.

Information has been received that Doyle, who lately broko out of the lock-up at Hamilton, has passed thiough Ngaruawahia, going in the direction of the Piako. ° Constable Haddock, accompaniod by Warrenne, tlie native policeman, have started this morning in pursuit. It is to bo hoped that their eftbits to capture the fugitive will be crowned with success, as there is no telling what mischiei such a desperate man may do if suffered to remain at largo. Efforts are being made by some gentlemen residing near Hamilton to establish a Waikato brunch of the. Auckland Acclimatization Society. Seeds, bud 3 of diffcront kinds, trout and salmon ova have been promised by the patent society when the branch shall luivo been put upon a proper basis. We should imagine a movement of' this description would meet with the mosl cordial support throughout the Waikato. To have a constant supply of good seeds must bo a great boon to any country district, so sparsely timbered as this, and the followers of Isaak Walton must be sufficiently I strong here to afford great suppoit to a .1 society which will undertake the introduction of finny subjects upon which to practice their "gentle art." The want of labour in this district i* not likely to be felt much longer if settlers look after their own interests, by iaducing suitable nren into the district. In riding through the country we have noticed a great dearth of suitable cottages for the accommodation of the labourers required to work tho land. As a rule, the steadiest aud best workers are married men ; thoy are prevented at present from coming into this dissrict, owing to tho farmers not having provided suitable houses to live in. This is a matter that should have tho attention of every farmer; more labour will soon beiequired than is now employed, as it ia clear that farming in its true sense will soon bo more remunerative than grazing. The railway will mako tho growing of crops lucrative. The want of a market out of the Waikato has hitherto prevented owners of land fiom doing more than fatten cattle and sheep for the market. We learn from an Auckland contemporary that the Mikado ss. with the inward San Francisco mail is expected m Auckland to-day. Tho Cyphrcnes has left Sydney direct for San Francisco with the mails for Europe- and America. Poor New Zealand has paid pretty dearly for an American mailscrvice.and it is to be hoped that some day she will benefit by a leally efficient line of steamers. The credulity or incapacity of those who have hitherto undertaken tho management of her postiil arrangements have caused her to bleed fref ly to very little advantage. It will be eceu by our advertising columns that a meeting will bo held an the loth instant at Hamilton, for tho purpose of impressing upon tho Government the nece^ity of constructing a bridge acros« the Waikato river at Hamilton. We have already pointed out tho justice uf the demand, and shall, therefore reserve further comments on the subject till after the meeting, at which we hope to see a largo gathering ol'setthrs. We noticp that our appeal to the settlers of Waikato to look after their interests in the nutter of opening tho railwny to Diury has nlremdy borne fruit 1 , 03 a meeting la called for Saturday next in Ngnruawahia. The Hon Mr Reynolds, ''oniuii&siouer of Customs and Mr Seed of that department amved in tin* Waikntu lust niylit. At the lottery drawing last niuht, at Ngarimwalna, the following numbers won prizes : — No. 5, 9i h ; No. 33, 3rd ; No. 36, 10th ; No. 17, 12th ; No. 24, Bth ; No. 32, 11th ; No. 31, 61 h ; No. 50, Ist ; No. 26, 4th ; No. 53, 7th ; No. 56, 2nd ; No. 12, sth. Mr Skellie on Saturday aflernoon was an hour and six minutes running the ten miles which he had promised to do within tho hour. — Crois.