The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 480, 17 June 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal .md exact justice to all men. Oi whatever *t te or persu oioa, religious or pol>ucai , * * * * * Here shall .ho P ess f c Peoples right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

THUIISDAY, JUtfE 17, 1875.

In a recent article ref^ence was made to the advantages ofSfce voute vi?u i\^VYaikato for tourists and invalids JWefeJing to' thXTajip" o^ and Rotorua healing kpimg&^V Bulwve now propose to deal with the same questioi^rorn a larger point of view. At present the communication between Auckland, Wellington, and Napier is by steamer, which is at all times costly and uncertain, and in stormy weather subject to vexatious delays. Steam communication with Napier can only be obtained at comparatively longjnterv^ and to go by this route entails a voyageVWflB£ dl^g. iDuring the winter months the pa&s'i^^^ofte\v%jv\fougb, and the delays long. The srsamerS'are' frequently weatherbound in the Manukau, the Waitemata, or Port Nicholson, or compelled to Leek shelter off the East Capo, under Kapiti, in the French Pa&s, or other havens. While those proceeding South on urgent business are often subjected to' delays which entail heavy loss, ii^ySlkl^infi^Deiatins^^weak constitution have to enduW^ll^e ha^an^p" shaking incidental to a rougn sea vo^ago^.v^ At present there is overland communication upon an excellent road between Wellington and Napier. Andrew Young's coaches make the trip in all weathers in two days, proceed-

f , ...... „w , ... l)k i ; l> ' ■ _ T— » ing via Foxton, Paloaerston, and Waipawa, to Pakipaki, whence there is railway communication into Napier. From the Auckland side there is railway communication as far as Mercer, wheuce passengers are conveyed either by steamer or coach to Cambridge, There are good coach roads also from Napier and TaurangatoTapuacharuru,on the borders oi Lake Taupo, but between this point and Cambridge there is a blank of about sixty miles as the crow flies, without a coach road. The engineering obstacles to the construction of a road are, we believe, comparatively slight. There would be no heavy cuttings whatever, or necessity for expensive bridges. Packers now use the tiack to Tapuaeharuru without any groat difficulty. The amount required would be comparatively insignificant compared to the advantages of through overland communication with TaurangH, Napier, and Wellington. The trip could easily be accomplished in three days, and when the railways now in course of construction arc completed, in two days. Such a work would vastly benefit the VVaikato, but the advantages would not be merely of a local character. The entire travelling public of New Zealand would derive the benefit of increased facilhtes, and capital and population woulcbJeS^cteJtp tta intense areas of land which awa\thshffid of N th\ag^<*ilturahst and the grazier. W^can^fctrdly^oriteefre *of any work more calculated Jo produce a beneficial^influence upon immigration. With the inauguration of through communication between Auckland and Wellington, the bugbear of a native difficulty would disappear. The announcement that coaches ran from end to end of the North Island, would appeal with greater conviction to the minds of readers abroad than any other fact that could be published. We understand that some slight objection on the j part of the native land owners prevents the work being begun at once, but a very little tact would suffice to oveicome this obstacle. The matter is one of paramount coloinalNimportance, and it is to be hoped that no Bp^jJ^n,^h^k .cX^euergy will retard its completidfcL - \L, • * J *^-

As the period is approaching for the general election of Highway Boards, the time appears to be appropriate for the consideration of one or two matters vitally affecting their efficiency. The limited character of the means at the disposed of the Boards has hitherto formed an insuperable obstacle to improvements on any large or comprehensive scale. Districts struggling under difficulties entailed by recent war, with no profitable market within a practicable distance, and with comparatively slight aid from Government, could not be expected to bear heavy rates, and this with absenteeism, and various other obstacles have impeded fche progress of the Waikato, and retarded those exteusive agricultural operations for which a large portion of the soil is eminently adapted. We have not at hand the return of the receipts and expenditure of the various Boards in the province of Auckland for the year 1874, but those for the .previous year shew that, while the Provincial Government contributed the miserably small sum of £5,062 17s 3d for the entire province, the Colonial Government aided the Highway BoarcH"N^^kextS|xt of <£1iL424 14s 7d, the total receiptsWr)tt^Jßoii\|s \(wsv^iil sources being a little over 3^(^L. isHring^tW Jlighway districts in the Waikato, we find that their total receipts, including Provincial and General Government subsidies during the year 1873, were as follows : —

Comparing the insignificance of this sum with the extensive area over which it was expended, one can fully realize the immense difficulties with which the Boards have grappled, and their dissatisfaction with the existing Hirstem of Government, under which the^l^^dis^acts^ro^tarveclj and the interests of t?^ raJfVckbVe\( w?e province ignored. But, small dli~ thV-aniount at the disposal of the Boards has beert> much of it has been frittered away in nseless and unprofitable works. The gentlemen serving on these Boards are worthy of all praise for their voluntary sacrifice of time, and their efforts for the advancement of their several districts ; but there has been a manifest lack of co-operation between neighbouring Boards, approaching too often to antagonism, and in some cases an unskilful application of the fumls.V Members of ttig'iway Boards, albeitW&lfcii^ inW Vul^ibued with necessary public spkiy c^nharojv »c expected to combine a knowledge of the pTactic\l science of engineering, which is so essentiilin the judicious and economic expenditureofmoneyon.loc.il improvements. This defect might have been remedied by the appointment of thoroughly competent engineers, maintained by pro rata contributions from Boards co-op&r.iting for the purpose. The saving in other re3p«cts weuld more than compensate for the outlay in the shape of salary. Wasteful arri inefficient work would be prevented, a'v^Ni guaraWeot be provided for the execution of c^tm;^wiHWeS^n>^ny, promptitude, and skill. Improvements would"* "not be of a temporary and piecemeal, character, dictated by the emergencies of the moment, or wrung by pressure, without regard to any comprehensive provision for the ultimate requirements of the districts. We trust the ratepayers will give their earnest attention to this subject during the forthcoming elections, and that the new system of local Government wkisijLii^^toV replace will embody s^cl^chwjsesS^ro^ding. for the appointment of cUstferei^iaeerS', under'" some easily workable and comprehensive plan.

Dr Knight, Auditor-General for the colony, is now in Hamilton, on his official tour of inspection. The monthly meeting of the Masonic Lodge Beta, advertised for this evening, has been postponed until the 24th instant, St John's jJay. We learn that Major Mair will take up his permanent residence in future at Te Awamutu, which place he considers more centrally situated in the district^over jrkitih his duties extend. Mails tfegp!^£he,<i from Mercer to Hamilton andNLata^niediateXffices-by the steamers of the W.SJi". CoT, ' on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Thersteamer will leave Mercer-^10.15 a,m. on those days. *^ We understand that ifc is not improbable that an action for libel will result from the recent case of Vialou v. Geo. Jones, junr, heayk in the Resident Magistrate's Court last Thursday. Mr Jones has been telpg^anhuig %far a ve^rbatim copy of the evidence ad^cSfw. tl^c^sV*Jh the object of taking proceeding^gaJhsHf tne pvopfictors of the " Evening Star," whose report of the easy he considers libellous.

We are pleased to learn that a party of surveydite; have been at work during the past day or twct making a trial survey of the river bed at a short distance above the punt, with the view of testing tbe suitability of the site for a bridge. We are glad to observe that the Waikato S. N. Co. is alive to the requirements of the district in the matter of increased communication. On and after Saturday next their steamers will run up to Cambridge, returning on Monday mornings. This will enable passengers from Cambridge to reach Auckland in one day. The alteration will be a great boon, and we trust that this example of enterprise ou the part of the company will receive the suppofc it deserves. The election of a member of the Town Board of Hamilton West, to nil the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr John Knox, took place at the Hamilton Hotel, at 3 o'clock yesterday. There was a moderate attendance of ratepayers. Mr Mclntyre proposed, and Mr Davis seconded the election of Mr Henry Lowther Kingley, as a fit and proper person to ser* on the Board, the motion being carried ultaninMWj^jNo other candidate being prop§*^. Wv KfflcsleXXas declared duly elected. Thi^wSka^the bWnejisA The " New Zealand 4leH4tl " of yesterday says : "We notice, with sonfe degree of satisfaction that the " Waikato Times," under its new proprietorship and editorial control, has made an imprdveirent in the reading material of that journal, both as regards its original and selected matter. The approach of the railway to the centre of the district, the increase of an industrial population, and the extended desire for news, has rendered the adoption of the present course necessary on the part of the proprietors of the "Waikato Times." We learn that some portions of the road between Hamilton and Alexandra are in a most dangerous state. Two of the bridges near Alexandra are very dilapidated, and the planluiig being laid along the bridge instead %j£*llttiiOTerseljr in^easistho danger. A few days ago oney^fche w^eeftL o£n& dray got caught in one of th£ hofoe between ~tfc^ planking, and in trying to extricate it the driver dislocated his knee, thereby being rendered probably a cripple for life. The bridge urgently needs repairs, and we trust the attention of the local Road Board will be directed to the matter. A good story is told in connection with the recent visit of Rewi to Alexandra. Passing Mr Duffus' store, the worthy vendor of sundry articles of merchandise, ran out and enthusiastically greeted the distinguished visitor. " You are a Queen's storekeeper," said Rewi. " No," replied the Pakeha, anxious to secure the patronage of the great chief, "I am a Hauhau." Rewi's eyes twinkled mischievously, and ho-«^ll6d some of his nearest followers or henchmHft^fii^the\stoSe. taking down three shawls hVfialklsd tfeernio one of them. The storekeeper brightened up at the prospect of an extensive order, and s*ecretly congratulated himself upon his adroitness. Rewi again took a rapid survey of the contents of the store, and his quick eyes fell upon some more gaudy shawls. These he transferred to his followers. The storekeeper rubbed his hands and began to prepare an account. Two saddles, one a side saddle, attracted the chief's observation, and went with the shawls. The storekeeper had the bill ready, and wj.th a bland smile was about to present it, when Rewi said quietly, " good-dye, Duffy, you all the same as Hauhau, all right, Kapai," arid walked off. Mr Duff us rubbed his ejijfswiru'rVisKVd hvnsoif whether it was alia horrid drearaSafrd if cKtf illation, was an utter failure. He has smcestriedlo mdt!6e~ Major Mair to give an order upon the Native office for the amount of Rewi'a small bill, but in vain, and poor Duffus has now to mourn the loss of nine very tine shawls, and two saddles, which the wily savage has carried to Te Ivuiti, as the spoils of his visit to the Pakeha. Hap-Swap, a chocolate-coloured heathen Chinee, washerman, at No 91, Michigan avenue, awoke the other night from his bright dreim and uttered a cry which was heard across the street. He is getting along in age, and the toothache had come skulking down upon him that soft sly way peculiar to nothing else. He stuffed the sheet into his mouth, prised around the tooth with a hairpin, and drew the clothes over his head and tried to remember all the doo"s and rats he had ever eaten, but it was no go. The polar wavehad *\ orß^d itself under a double tooth, and Hap^Stf»*5 v . as wep \tanc\ng before the uncurtained wimJpws himself up in the shap^fe of iFs ana" S's ancT D's. All day Tuesday, and Thursday he roamed up and down, groaning and sighing, and the shirts of hit customers hung against the battered walls neglected" and forgotten. Such nights as Hap-Swap put in were enough to tnrn his hair grey. He sat by the redhot stove, got into bed, got out, walked around, but there was no rest for him. The next morning a <*rocer advised him to go to a dentist and secure relief, and the Chinaman put on his hat and followed a boy to the tooth-puller's. He was as brave as a lion, and he jumped into a chair, leaned his head bank, and cried : " Come along" — ■ pull 'em quick !" "I'll have that out in a York miuute," replied the dentist, getting his tools together. " Take a stling- ! Take a stling !" cried the Chinaman^ &<* he rose up and caught sio"ht of the tools. uWe don't pull teeth with a string iv this country," was the reply. " You just hold still for a moment, and you'll be all right." Hap-Swap fell back with a groan, shut his teeth hard, arid it took five minutes of soft talk to make him open his jaws. The dentist then inserted a lance to cut around the tooth; but at the first dig* his patient slid over the arm of the chair to the floor, shouting : — " Hap-Swap stabbed in the mouth-ooli !~ooh!" The dentist explained to him that the catting would make a tooth pull easier, but as he talked a soil; and beautiful smile stole over the .Granny) 's wtfe, and he said. "Tootheaehe alleVpnV^te g°V WW a n', ** c skipped around theXomciX and Bolte* dtwja. staira, but as soon as tHp colH air struck it he uttered a yell and came back on the bound, leaped into the chair, and exclaimed : " Git him out quick !" The dentist went to put in tho forceps, but " John " grabbed them, sat up, and begged that he might stand up and have them drawn. "If you want that tooth out you must stop fooling and lean back." replied the impatient doctor. Hap-Swap opened his mouth, but before the forceps could reach the tooth he sat up again and called : — Take stling — put him right round — pull hard !" " I can't use a string. Come — lean right back." Hap-dwap leaned back, opened h^s mouth until a hat would hardly have covered it j but sn^ppe^d, hisiawj^ together the next instant, and Twgte?k^"'Qi^nleihing — tie up his eyes so it can\a?e H£ hurt ! " The- dentist blindfolded the man a" towel, got his mouth open, and the forceps at last clasped the tooth. Hap1 Swap began to move round, but with a sudden pull the tooth was brought out on the gallop. " W-o-o-s h-o-u-g-h !" howled the Chinaman as he danced around, and as soon as the towel was removed he grabbed the tooth and his hat, went downstairs with a whoop, and as he ran up the avenue he held tho molar up to everybody's gaze, and cried out : — " Joop ! Who's afraid to have he J tooth pulled !"

Alexandra Cambridge S Cambridge N Hamilton Road ... Hamilton E Hamilton W Kirikiriroa MangapiLo Maungatauliiri '."V ••; Pirongia X \-\. Pukekura \ ..^** .A Rangiaohia Tamahere Ngarua.vv.ilua £ a d 127 12 5 219 1 9 80 11 2 378 19 0 09 8 10 ]87 0 4 323 5 2 476 9 3 87 10 8 435 12 3 C\2»)4 17 3 \>93 11 2 350 15 10 112 0 3 160 16 5 Total £3,474 18 9