The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 473, 1 June 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times. " OMNE SOLUM FO RTI PA TRIA." TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

One of the principal arguments v "~in>&v'our of the Public Works scheme, or at any rUte-of many sections of the works being constructed, was that they would develop the resources of the country. Direct gain by the carriage of goods not to be so much an object as the indirect profit to the colony, by enaiding industries to be profitably prosecuted. A charge made on the Mercer and Auckland line is the exact antithesis of the theory. We learn that the charge fixed for the carriage o^coals from Mercer to Auckland is 12s per ton, or 4Jd per . mile. The rate is absolutely prohibitory of the coal trade with Auckland. Were the freight reduced to 7s 6d, or 2d pet mile, the producers of coals in the Waikato ■would be able to compete in the Auckland market with dealers who el raw their supplies from other quarters. The additional 4s 6d shuts the Waikato coal out of the market. The present mode of transit would be from the mines to Mercer by barge, at which place, of course, it would have to be transferred to the railway trucks. The railway ofiicials may argue of course that it is time enough for the Waikato coal to come into the market when the railway reaches the mine, and have therefore put a high rate of carriage upon it in order to stop the trade till that time. This appears to us a shortsighted policy, as all the coal consumed in Auckland at the present time, reaches the market by means of water carriage with which the Government has nothing to do, and consequently derives no profit. If a private company Vere working the railway, they would, withtJTTi^doubt, make the rate of car. liage as low as possible — provided they made no loss — in order to create a demand for the coal by the lime they could complete their railway to the j nines, when it will doubtle&R prove very remunerative both to the coal owners and the railway. The mines in the Waikato are practically inexhaustible, and the coal is easily got ; there need, therefore, be no limit to the trade, except that of demand and the means of transport. The consumption of coal in Auckland, including sea-going steamers, is at present estimated at 70,000 tons per annum, 24,000 tons of which is consumed in Auckland city and its suburbs. There can be little doubt that at the present moment there would be ready sale for at least 1,200 tons of Waikato coal per month, could it be delivered at a shade lower price than that brought by^yessels from other places. Clearly the Government should at the smallest profit over working expenses, deterioration of plant and permanent way being calculated, enter heartily into the business, and do the carrying which is now done by other people. The question of direct profit, however, as we pointed out above, is of minor importance. When profit can be made, and the resources of the country made available at the same time, the chance should not be allowed to slip. There can be little doubt that for some little time to come the coal trade between Auckland and Waikato will be the principal means of shewing a ■credit balance in the railway books, a thing hardly to be hoped for by any other means at present. The great railway companies at home carry coal at certainly not more than Id per ton, and unless there is a screw loose somewhere the Government railway should be able to do the same work at 2d. Probably those who have had the framing of the tariff consider that 1,200 tons per month is not worthy of consideration, as it would entail the employment of extra material and extra labour. The great principle upon which all the who have money invested in plant is never to allow it to be idle, provided the smallest margin for profit is left. We irust that the railway authorities will act on the same principle as upon it will be made both the largest direct and indirect profit to the colony. We uak them to reconsider whether 4* d per mile for carriage of coal is not out of all reason. The .s^osion of the Provincial Council was brought to u u-uuuuuioJi on JPndiy night. In another t.' pn..t the co^irg adclre.ss of JSir (Jeoige

Grey ; it is very short, and very complimentary to the Council. He recapitulated * the different Acts passed ; there are only two that are of immediate interest to country settlers, viz, " The Highways Act Amendment Act," and the " Sheep Act." We shall explain the provisions of these Acts so so m as they reach us. Little lias been done because there was little to do anything with. The evil day of utter incapacity to meet liabilities has been delayed. The Council, very properly, we think, got snubbed for condemning the course of the Government as regards the purchase of native lands, and afterwards applying to them for information. Dr Pollen reminded the Council through one of his department that the Assembly was the proper place for the Government to answer for their accounts and not to the Provincial Council of Auckland. We believe that the system has been as rotten as possible, but that is no reason why the Colonial Executive should be called to account by a non-'e cript body. Petty Parliament, like small dogs, are evidently liable to the same complaint, that of fancying themselves important.

We remind those interested that the Licensing Commissioner s will sit at Hamilton this day for the purpose of grafting new licenses and renewing those at present in existence. As some doubt has been expressed as to our statement that the Government proposed constructing the bridge alT Hamilton, we publish the following telegram, addressed to Major Jackson, M.H.R. : " Thanks for your letter, 26th April. Clarke will be instructed as to bridge site. E. Richardson." About 1,500 sheep arrived overland from Napier, at Cambridge, on Thursday last. One thousand have been disposed of in the Waikato, and the balance consisting of a fine lot of half-bred wethers have been driven to Auckland. The men who were injured at the bridge works, Ngaruawahia, are progressing favourably. Mr Waterworth is able to look after his department of the work, but is as yet unable to do anything himself. The concrete foundation of the bridge on the Ngaruawahia side of the river is finished, that on the HorGtiuSi^p is near completion. A commencement has been made to place the first set of cylinders in"*p^tion, so soon as the air pumping machinery arrives, the work under water will be commencedIt will be seen by a letter in another column that Mr Jones has withdrawn from the contest for the seat in the Provincial Council vacated by Mr Byron. He would no doubt have made a goDd member, but as has been previously stated, he only came forward in order that tje district should not be unrepi'esented. There are two other candidates in the field with nearly identical opinions, and it is only fair on our part to allow the electors to use their own discretion. They are both untried men, of whose political ahility we have had no means of judging. The English Church at Ngaruawahia is looking quite smart since Messrs Mantell and Menzies took it in hand. The repairs are not yet quite com- '. pleted, but the work is well forward. It is a pity that the harmonium is silent. It is now never heard, except when the Precentor strikes a key-note. This is the only or,al evidence that remains of its existence. a -