The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 486, 1 July 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

,-t Equal and exact justice to all men. /J^ • t - Ot whitever ettte or persuasion, religious or political;\'vs # # 4* *'" # # \ Here shall ihe Piess t'le People's right maintain, Unawed by influence -and unbribed by gain,

THURSDAY, JULY J, 18;.).

In the discharge of our duty as- a public journalist we lately animadverted- somewhat severely on the management of th<f railways. Our strictures were based uponfc facts which came utider our personal observation, j^jid upon information furnished by .j^iiaH^e and^o&petent witnesses. We had i^naiiyes^fbr Exaggeration on the one hand, orVwo cfocealtnenVon* tho other. We were simply in!Liencted-by a platyvse^se of duty to the coaimunity in exposing the grass* and culpable Hiismrinagement of an important public institution. We foresaw that our ceiibiire wouid be distasteful to the persons implicated, but were little prepared for the bungiiug attempts at refutation by 7 a\ horde ot hired anonymous scribblers, who appei^jlAang like Helots about the skirts of the v railwaJ^Kfcrtment. One of these we effectually sileW|^|^J^^bhs!iing

Minister of Public Works would be attracted to the matter, and that further comment would be needless. Let the reader now attentively peruse the letter of " A Waikato Settler " published in J another column, and ask himself whether further sUence, in the face of such grave and apparently well-founded accusations as are preferred in that letter, would not amount to a culpable 'abnegation of duty. The tone of that letter plainly^ indicates reluctance to assume the role of a public accuser, and a sincere spirit of earnestness and moderation. Our correspondent is evidently impelled by a sense of public duty in making his charges, and, serious as they are, we are constrained by the same considerations to afford them publicity. Where a gross public scandal exists it is out of place to use the language of mere compliment. Such abuses as appear to disgrace the railways in this province call for plain unvarnished terms. Therefore we shall not mince words. We shall call a spade a spade. Nevertheless, we desire to specially guard against our language being construed into a wholesale condemnation of the officials employed on the Auckland railways. It is the system, or rather absence of system, and notthe men, that we must denounce. Amongst AjL pg^so^s employed in the department there are n^ln^^fiN^yjjTC'S^vants, imbued with a conscientious seftse oft^fr l^Rjjnsibility, and an earnest desire fo faithfully aW courteously perform their duties ; but in the midst of an utterly demoralizing disorganization, destituteof even the semblance othead or intelligent control, punctuality, efficiency, and even ordinary civility and regard for public convenience are impossible. Nor is it possible to conceive that the Minister for Public works can be aware of the deplorable confusion that exists. It is not credable that the General Government can be so wilfully blind to the best interests of the country, so careless in the administration of that great policy upon which the weal or woe of the Colony depends, or so recklessly callous of the convenience and comfort of the travelling public, as to ignore the notoriously scandalous mismanagement of the Auckland railways. The wretched jumble which has characterised the working of these lines, under their present control, has rendered them a public disgrace, a by-word, and a laughing stock. The management is palpably destitute of the merest rudiments of business method. There is an incompetence observable alike in the most trifling details, and in the most essential self-evide^principles approaching to imbecility ; an atsfluntaqf %ntemqt fjgyfche efficiency of an important of almost marvellous thickhe^eal|fipiar^^n%|A degree of callousness to public . con Wiiience\nd commercial interests indicative of a wilful, crass, and obstinate determination to ride rough-shod over the people, from whom all authority emanates. Were the control of the railway relegated to an incurable lunatic from the Whau Asylum, it could not sink into a more hopelessly abandoned and chaotic condition. How any n;an gifted with ordinary common sense, or imbued witWj^ticMLof do|enj^ega"rd for the opinions and nl^N»B o^^ifcj/ieH^te, could wilfully close his eye\][anH»aars\o^te universal reprehension, the almost unanimous appealsror reform, for compliance with even the clearest perceptible necessities, we utterly fail to understand. Were it not that this astoundingly barefaced contempt for public convenience is attributable to a lamentable incompetence, there would be reasonable grounds for suspicion that some deep and unprincipled conspiracy is at work to ruin the railway, and throw it into private hands for speculative objects. Or any person led away by prejudicej udice might fall into the error of suppQsing^tha^t the ma^agpment is secretly sustaincdi^^COTS"?^ 01^ 11^^ insolent and high-handed de^crffi^ltion^o^et Jjj^public at defiance. Of course^ve (ItTnotVf^ose anything of the kind, and we are far from suggesting any such unworthy motives. But such occurrences as are described by " A Waikato Settler" are a burn ing disgrace to any civilized community. In any other country in the world they would evoke such a storm of popular indignation as would consign the guilty persons to spe«|dy and disgraceful banishment from the piT^ic'Wv\. Ibr\ny railway in the world to pay^ii»siT«h utter disorder and confusion is absolutely^mjfofcsibler \ continuance of the existing management can result in nothiug short of a calamitous collapse, accompanied with heavy financial loss, disastrous interruption of public business, stagnation of trade, and the possible ruin of hundreds, if not thousands of already overburdened and struggling settlers. For our own part, we have dischatged our plain duty in bringing the matter thus prornitten^v fj^fore the public. If they choose to remain i^^&ersHkidal'Vpal^', we wash our hands of the reS^mJ^ilUj^k Ttare*is only one course open. If tire existing stafce oLtnmgs should unfortunately continue another day,^let the people send a monster memorial to the General Government, and their grievances must enforce attention. It is evident that mere complaints through the columns of the Press are unavailing. Nothing short of a stroug remonstrance to the superior authorities will avert those disasters which are the natural and in<^Sl^ti^riSfcof gu^ss-^nd shameless mismanagement clt^l^oi^»^t>|mbli^service.

We would remind those whom it may concern., that the tenders for the removal of the Chuieh of England building, purchased as a printing office, i will close on Saturday. v< JWe laust go from home fcoiiear news. A ruTairua reached Auckland lately that an ou^^^p^ffTongst certain tribes at Maungatautari wasr"tareatened. It is needless to say that the umour is destitute of a shadow of foundation. We omitted in our account of the Waikato Swamp Company's operations to describe an interesting ceremony v^iicfltoook ptaice^on the site of the future home\sHi<ta. jMtetOkpt^Sn Steele and his guests had '.ptfrtjjken the company resolved tfeemsfetfes fnto\a committee for the purpose of naming the place. Capt. Steele was voted to the chair, and after an entertaining discussion, during which a variety of names — all more or less appropriate — were suggested, being mostly founded upon the names ef the ladies of tho party, " Eureka " was proposed by Miss Steele, seconded, and unanimously agreed to. The word is appropriate, inasmuch asS^he site was found by Capt. Steele ii^Sk^ouiW.of|^hia search through the district. \^ T \ *. X In the list issuA of £naJ?iMHIL reference was made to the dangerous condition o*the Wangamarino bridge. A letter from Dr. Pollen to his Honor the Superintendent, dated March 18th, says :—": — " I have the honor to state fliat the Resident Engineer in charge oi road and bsMge work in the Waikato lias renrese"hted to the%linister for Public Works, the Hwrstute of repair the bridge over the Wangajriaiin'o, on thfe-Meflsei*4lh(l ]%w«asfcle main road, is in. As the Genei^i^Q^riVment arc handing over to thfi Pro^i^ciy^r^surv little sums from the sale' cj!^^^si|e^ii^siia the Province for roads, > y our attention to this lirtM'fßHWr&t the samb. time to inform you that the (^^ral£j^|Lament have 1% ftvid.s out of which they jM^HPslpfc<£keep this in repair." The Supe^^Bßpi^PtepHed, stating that up to that ' . q a 7 TOr. }A Ivwl l»pf»n ivp'Mvpfl from

We are aware that considerable difficulty is often experienced by Highway Board rate-collectors in obtaining payment of the assessments. It was doubtless for this reason that the machinery of the existing Act was simplified, so as to enable the rates to be more easily and cheaply collected. The Act provides that after particulars of the assessment have been posted at the office of the Board, and the fact advertised, the various amounts imposed shall be payable without further notice. There are cases, however, in which the practice may operate harshly. For instance we have been informed of one in which a number of respectable people in Hamilton had no means of inspecting the assessment list to asoertain the amount of their liability to a certain Board, without proceeding many miles to the residence of the chairman, which is situated in an out-of-the-way place. They would have promptly paid the rate, had any intimation been forwarded of the amounts due, but the first notices they have received are a number of polite but pressing invitations to be present on a specific date, at a certain Court not a hundred miles from Ngaruawahia. In future it would be a mere act £f ctortesy either to send notice by letter, or tt^pb^o^Dlicgte <fc^e3^£ the assessment roll in soo^.c^i^nienroniße near their residences. \ ' a% L As an illustration of the difficulties with wh ich some of the Road Boards have to contend, it may be mentioned that the one at Ngaruawahia has to maintain a main road as far as the Halfway Hoose between that township and Hamilton, besides fifteen miles of the road towards Alexandra, and a number of bye-roads, out of a total revenue of A'27o per annum. The Board is now slightly in debt, and will scarcely be able to expend any money for the next three months. Under these circumstances public woiks'or repairs on any scale of magnitude are entirely out of the question. Nothing but temporary patching can be effected out of the means available, and the travelling public must therefore grin and bear it. It is to be hoped that the deplorable condition of the roads in the Waikato will be brought promineil^Jy^nder th^-^atWlation of the Asseinb'y during the appVoacnpig>session, and that means will be provided for**hose- w^rks *which are absolutely essential to the continuance of traffic, and the progress of the districts. The gaol at Ngaruawahia has been allowed to fall into a most neglected and delapidated condition. The accommodation is miserably inadequate, and the prisoners are obliged to sleep in a damp and noisome cell, to the great injury of their health. The platform surrounding the interior wall is in so decayed a state that it is quite unsafe to walk upon it. The entire building is in urgent need of repairs and improvements. At the meetingof the >snecial Committee appointed by the HowSfir^ail||tOkAdgl|kl.O.G.T., to draw up a report ftc3bl%j feasr^irikv ofsjorming a company to build a Pablic^ttall, coo^birieiivwith a Beading-room and Library, in Hamilton, held afc the office of Messrs Madden and O'Neill last evening, there was a full attendance, and, after considerable discussion, a report was drawn up which will be submitted at the meeting of the Lodge this evening. At the annual meeting of ratepayers of the Mangapiko district, on Saturday next, at one o'clock p m., at Mr Seccombes farm, Paterangi, it is proposed after the business of striking a rate and electing trustees and auditors for the ensuing year, to discuss the following Provincial measures :—: — Cemetery Reserves, Fencing, Branding and Dog Nuisance Acts. In view of the importance of these matters we trust that there will be a well-attended meeting. We purpose sealing a representative and reporting the proceedirigsfiri^. Professor Bruce has adverted n^the Auckland " Echo " complaining that the*Cnarges for use of a hall for three nights, and advertising, amounted to £18 12s. He says professional performers cannot bear such exorbitant charges, and concludes thus : " I shall leave Auckland to-day disgusted witn the treatment I have received as others have done I before me, and I trust a day will come in Auckland when science and instruction will be more appreciated, and professors treated in a more liberal spirit in their endeavours to instruct the public. , Since the famous telegrammiad the Hon Dr. Pollen has telegraphed to his Honor the Superintendent stating that the General Government is doing all it can, consistently with its duty to the colony, to assist the province of AucWand out of its embarrassment, but that^io will affect the course which Alinfe^rf^havV laSx tJNvu for themselves. The Su^nrfte^dent apples reiterating a claim to £6000, ami stating that n\£hin£ will be accepted but legal lights. The mortal remains of the late Mrs. Sellers were interred at half-past two o'clock yesterday aftei- ; noon. The pall was borne by members of the ■ Armed Constabulary, to which Mr Bellers belongs. The funeral cortege numbered about thirty of the most respectable residents in Hamilton. The ! ritual was most impressively read by the Rev. F. C. ' Lloyd, and the remains were interred iv the Masonic Burial Ground. The Inspector of Schools met the Hamilton East School Committee yesterday evening, to confer on school matters in that district. It was decided that measures should be taken to ascertain what sum can he raised in the district towards the erection of a school-house. The Inspector has given a day and a half to the inspection of i>he schools in Hamilton East and West. A person named Peter Fawcett, late of the E. V.M. has recently written a letter to the Auckland " Star" in which he charges one of the officers with having last year bullyingly ordered him to march up and I down a road and salute him, for having neglected to salute him in the twilight after sunset. He also charges the officer with •■having been drunk, and siys that enquiry 4ntQSwie HMttterwaffQiushed up. The " New Zealand Herl^d\states that Mr Beckham has ruled as to the CTtets in Highway rate cases : — " In -every case where the amount sought to be recovered is under 20s, the plaintiff is entitled to the sum of 18s and no more, no matter what expense he may be put to. „ If the amount sought to be recovered is over 20s, then the costs « ill be as in any ordinary case." We should have thought that the province had enough on its hands already, but wo now learn that from and after the 29th tilt, the Superintendent takes charge of the police. The " peelers " will have to look sharply after their pay. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Printer to the General Government, at Wellington, of further abstracts of the Census of New Zealand for 1874, which shlWl be noticed in a future issue. r^ ,"V fN, The annual of^je'.^ratihpa'yers of the Newcastle highway" district is^^emve^aed by the chairman to be held at the DeltaVlotel, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the 24th July noxt. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Highway District of Cambridge will be held at the National hotel at one o'clock p.m. on Saturday the 17 th inst. Owing 1 to the fact that the charter for the openxner of a Good Templar Lod^o at Cambridge was