The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 3 July 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and to M. men, Of religious, or political; *\-^ V * \ * * * * Here shall the Fress tfffe right maintaia, UuaWed by iufluence and uubribed by gain,

SATURDAY, JULY 3, X 875.

We have heard that some remarks which have recently appeared in the leading columns of this journal have been construed into an indication of bosility to the existing Ministry. We may say at once that we have no such intention. Believing as we do that the policy of the present Ministry has done, and is still doing great and good work for the country, we shall at all times render them a hearty support. But this does not bind as to slavishly act the part of flatterers and claquers, as soi»e of the public journals of the colony have done. Though we may be kind to the virtues of the Ministry, we shall not be blind to their faults. Sycophancy is calculated to weaken a cause, not to strengthen it. Enough on this subject. We notice that there are rumours afloat that Sir Julius Vogel, having been offered the post of 'financial agent to the house of Rothschild*will not return to tjje colony. This is just one of th'Hjt o^gia^bf canard^ vfl^cli have constantly been spreailjrj^l^poliHcdlVn&private enemies of Sir Julius Vogel. Simil\r stories have been industriously circulated on every imaginable pretence. Quidnuncshaveprofessedoverand over again to know moreof the Premier's business thanhe- could possibly know himself, Penny-a-lining correspondents, at their wit's end for sensational news, have cudgelled their inventions for some new canard, and the Premier has over and over again belie, d reports whichwere stamped with the weight of combined and positive testimony. * -The " Evening Post," a Wellington jouyaaj. i^as^stablished^a reputation for this class oKmrHlftUed ptyplieV* S[ts editor has apparently set ftQnseTfjip ay,a sort of— political Zadikiel, and has wrung the chahges upon eveuy possible and impossible event in the Premier's political career. We believe, despite all these canards, that the Premier is as sincerely anxious to promote the best interests of the ooJony as he ever was. It is not improbable that hehas been offered an important financial post by the Rothschilds. His business tact;, his energy and enterprise, his keen insight into character, and the capacity he has displayed for financp could not escape the observation of suoh shrewd financiers as the Rothschilds^* BS^ wKeil^jSir Julius Vogel accept or refuse any "offer 1 chey mftyj.ua ve made, we have faith in his loyally to the Colony^ndhis regard for that world-wide rejHitation which he has built up. We believe thatiPfe will return to this Colony as soon as possible, and that he will be found at his post in Parliament when the important .pending political changes really come under discussion ; and that whenever he leaves the Colony, if he leave it | at all, he will take care that the great policy which he has inaugurated, amd has so far successfully developed, sli^lL jig*v be\endangered by his withI drawal. We o^seiV»*that\iiiti view is held by the " Southern Cross-,"' whielj possesses, -many peculiar facilities for coming to a rigfrj} judgment on such matters. Our contemporary has reason to believe that letters have been recently received from Sir Julius Vogel, intimating that he will attend to certain matters ou his return to th© Colony, and that he has throughout intended to hasten back as soon as business arrangements and the state of his health would permit^ We trust, therefore, that the canard-mongeftiS^V^patiWlWa^v'ait the issue, instead of agit^pg 'the pußiic fruncl_ and risking their own reputations a's political prophets by 'mere speculations and guesses into the future. Since the above was in type we have found the following telegram, received from the Press Agency, at Wellington, and published in our Auckland contemporaries : - The rumour circulated by the Melbourne "Age" lhat Sir Julius Vo^el had resigne 1 his position, and become one of Ilotlisc'iiLl'd financial auents, hag 1 eceive 1 a semi-official contradiction in, the ' Tribune" and "Times." \."**^~^* r •."-■■> •**. The time foi\Qi^in^ual ei^ptioi> : o'^Highway trustees is rapidly^apprWhing^ut' a3»ryet the ratepayers make no'sign. Are the coming- elections to be characterised by the same dull, listless apathy, the same go-day come-day lethargy that lias been so painfully apparent in the past ? Are there no questions of urgent and paramount importance that need discussion and elucidation, no reforms to be introduced, no grievances to be remedied, no common requirements upon which the united voice of the ratepayers should be heard 1 Are the cominoelections to be regarded as more- formal matters, the selection of mea\) be left to chance 1 Are the offices to goaJbegging,. '^nd tha'^jrustees to regard their electiok as an' act o£- condescension to the ratepayers, instep of m honor cdnfefred upon themselves ? This sameapathy in the people, this culpable indifference to the mostessential elements in the prosperous working of representative institutions, are the greatest curse that can blight any young country. It is the people themselves and not their rulers who are really responsible for evils in administration, for it is the people who elect theadministrtors, and from whom all authority is derived. Apathy and indifference \re the, direajb parent and fosterparent of lnHsgo^erjiment.s T^a*nts^political adventurers and trajtoirsjv.and ro'bber^ wh» enrich, themselves out of the public purse tegarct apathy and ignorance as their best allies. These elections of Road Boards are of more importance than is popularly supposed. They ought to be contested by the best men in the districts, and the electors should see to it that their choice shall bo such as subsequent experience and reflection shall approve. What in the name of reason is the usq of idly railing at misgovernment in Provincial, matters, of impatiently clamouring for the abolition of tlje Provincial system, if the ratepayers display utter indifference to the working of those institutions which come up to their very floors, and »ndcr their every day observation % Is there any hope that those larger powers which are promised under the new constitutional scheme will be cfliciently wielded, when those

Do the ratepayers fondly imagine that they will improve their circumstances by waiting Micawberlike upon Providence \ We do sincerely trust that the ratepayers will take advantage of the corning elections to make their voices heard on matters of vital importance and urgency. By doing so they may materially aid the efforts of those who are earnestly seeking to replace the existing institutions with others more suited to the requirements of the country, but who will he groping in the dark unless the vital and neoessary reforms a.ri3 pressed upon their attention.

When the Whangarei "Comet" first illumined tho previously starless hori2on of the North, the little stranger was weloomed with rejoicings. It set out under auspicious influences, and it was thought that its course would be regular and unattended by those risks which are commonly ascribed to other vagarious meteors These hopes, however, appear to be doomed to disappointment. Whether by conjunction with Venus, or some too amatory planet we know not, but it is oertain that the recent track of the " Comet " has been marked by an appendatory atmosphere in which, it needs no Ross's telescope or experienced^ moral Vstronomer to discern the elements of atftl^ pruriency. Dropping metaphor, *^i\*is Ik aogjsfccgl efiusion printed in the '< Comet " offline whitfh would disgrace the columns of the foulest print that ever issued from the pestiferous atmosphere of Holy well or Grub-street, in the days when ribaldry polluted literature and disgraced London society. Rabblelais, Boccacio, and such noxious emanations are outblackguarded by this precious effusion. In thost; works the authors had the art to conceal in elegant language and. polished style the rough angularities of their obscenities ; even Swinburne, who frequently merges the finer feelings of the poet in a diseased and demoralised imagination » sugars over his pollutions with the attractive finery and intellectual graces of classic lore. But " The Kiss," as this abominable doggerel in the " Comet " is entitled, has all tl;e ,J>rutishnlss of a^foul and sensual mind, withol^W^of cfee niei^S^ refinements of scholarship. r^-tffti§hor, ifc eTcide.ni.ly a blackguard who doe 3 not scrupler'to scatter his abominable poison broadcast. How any individual, however degraded and immoral* could dare to outrage public decency 'by publishing such a repulsive thing as that, is inconceivable. The author must bo an unprincipled wretch, who should be plentously soused in the most convenient stream, or drummed out of Whangarei as a public pest. His gross ignorance is only equalled by his amazing impudence. For decency's sake we draw a " vail " (as the author spells it), over the wretched " rot " to which he has not dared to append his name. He is probably some senile pimp, who has long disgracefully outlived alls that * is manly or respectable. How tlie "editor^f the^Camet" could allow such a palpably pernioibus eflfasion to pollute j his columns is inconceivable. That he has been \ imposed upon we sincerely hope and believe, and we trust thab he will clear himself from the stigma which rests upon him. An editor need not be a saint. He may not espouse any particular sect in preference to another. It is possible for him to discharge his purely seoular functions with independence and fairness to all religions alike ; but he muat at least be decent, ajjd banish that from his columns which would poison youthful minds, or call up a blush on the cheeks of maturer readers?* Kffusions in the stylo of this fellow in 4 the " Gpme^, are infinitely mischievous in a country "journal. Tn^auy isc^afod diatiicts whore books are &cardeVthe nSfcvs^pe^ is^erhaps almost tho only current literature. In those days of rapid interchange of thought and sentiment it is the popular schoolmaster,. — the teacher whose influence is often immeasurably greater and wider th.in that of even the clergymen and the moralist. What a serious responsibility is tha\j then which is wielded by an editor? What widespread insidious mischief may nob the Press inflict in the hands of an nnscruplous or demoralized person? We sincerely hope that even the most fastidious critic will never- be furnished with an excuse tor pointing the finger of scorn at anything which may appear in the columns of this journal ; and we warn any such miserable scrawlers as he of the- " Comet," (of whom, we hope and believe there is not one in the Waikato), that any attempt to foist such pestiferous '-rot" as his upon the Times will bring down swift and unsparing exposure. *»

1 ; < We publish with'^hfi* issue dur^ usual weekly Supplement containiii^fouvteen oolurons""of reading mutter. To agriculturalists we recommend a perusal of the " Garden end Fanning- Calendar for July," and *' Hints for Farmers." To dairymen and squatters, an article on " Yoang Stock," and "Butter for Market" will be found interesting. For the lovers of fiction wo publish '' The Price of Her Folly,'* and the story of "An UnfortunateMan " Those who believe in laughter as a specific for hypochondria will find a prescription in " Food for L: lighter," ' l Passing the Crowd in,'' &o. For our fair readers (bless 'em) we publish •' Widows' and Bridal Veils" (merely remarking that we hope they wi'l have no need of the former, but will go in largely far the latter}, also " The fate of a little man who sat next to a large woman," " A Sunuy Temper*' (and we have a firm conviction that all our fair subscribers enjoy that estimable quality), " The True Belles," and "Photographs in the Harem," whioh show how the camera is making inroads into the Blue Beards dens of the jealous red-breeched Turks, and giving the dear Turkises a chance to " fetch" beaus. " Mrs Gamp's Expostulation" will produce some " broad grins," "We part for ever" (which of course we don't) and "Silence in Heaven," are thrown in for the sentimental, just to season the thing. Those who like more matter-of-fact reading will not be disappointetTin- " 6ur London Letter/* and other miscellaneous- matter. "An Editor's Restrictions*' are just put in as a finishing touch to shew our readers what long-suffering mortals wo are. At the usual weekly Lodge-meeting of the Hope of Wuikato Lodge, I. 0. G. T., on Thursday evening, several influential gentlemen were initiated. The local branch of the Order is rapidly growing in numbers and influence. It will be seen from a notice by Miss Knox, the Deputy appointed by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, that a Lodg<3 will be opened at Cambridge on Tuesday next, where a clergyman, and several influential members of the community are anxious to form a branch of tlio Order. We understand that Mr. Fraser> who has purchased about 3000 acres of land in the Piako district, is making preparations to improve the estate, and reside upon it. Mr. Fraseriias the reputation of being a most enterprising settler with considerable means, which, combined with experience, will make him a valuable acquisition to the district. A Provincial Government Gazette of June 30th contains a proclamation by his Honor the Superintendent bringing the Highways Act into operation within the district of Mdtamata, and appointing the first meeting of ratepayers to be held on Thursday next at 3 p.m., at the residence of Mr W. L. Williams, Matamata. Mr J. C, Firth is to be chairin.in

It is purposed to hold the following religious services in the Waikato tomorrow : — Church of England: Harailtora, 11 a.m. ; Ngaruawahia, H a.m. and 6.30 p.m.; Alexandra, 11 a.m.; Te Awamutu, 3 p.m. j Kihikihi, 7 p.m. Roman Catholic : Cambridge, 11 a.m. Presbyterian : Gambridge, 11 a! in. ;Pukerimu, 2.30 p.m. ; Ohaupo, 11 a.m. ; Alexandra, 7 p.m. Wesleyan Methodist : Cambridge, 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. ; Pukerimu, 2.30 p.m. ; Hamilton, 6.30 p.m. ; Te Awamutu, 11 a.m. ; Alexandra, 3 p.m. ; Kihikihi, 7 p.m. We draw the attention of the residents in Cambridge and country settlers generally to the advertisement of Mr Geo. J. Neal, announcing that he has on sale and to order timber, doors and sashes, and other kinds of building material, breadstuff", produce, garden seeds, &c. Mr Neal has also on sale a large consignment of bone dust and Maiden Island guano, samples and analysis of which may be seen at his store. . With reference to a telegram from a correspondent at JNgarnawahia, published in our issae of Thursday last, impi^g^Uarnfl tiXjhe medical attendant on M?^F^weVe lkfojhed on good authority that ttV^lTte properly attjjfcmtable to other persons tha\ the-*medical 'attendant, who failed to inform him, as requested, of the condition of the patient on the morning after the accident. , We are glad to learn that the Forester's Court at Ngaruawahia has beerfltfsta^tehed o\ a permanent basis. The Seereto]\ Sksrgt^elftdClnvites members of theOrder"in^heVftriou\dis§i3», who desire to join, to send their clearance cilirds or other creden tials to him. The Court now numbers some thirty members. V^ - A Provincial G^^-i^nt^aztett^xJune 30th gives the names oiro^^ auctioneers and twenty-two in tne country cKstricta to whom licenseshavebeenissuedfortheyearendingApril 1 4th, 1876. Amongst the latter we note the following : J\ P, Neill, Te iWan^itu *• Kennedy Hill, Hamilton ; J. Knox, IM^km ; \ BrisVWaikato. We learn that an effrrt is s|ing-nwfe to erect a Presbyterian Church building in Ngiruawahia, and to provide for a resident minister. A suitable site has been selected, tind'the conti'KKftiou list i a being rapidly filled up. wanfc of a'fce&lent minister has long been apparent, and we therefore hope the movement will be crowned with success^ Annual meetingjß*>afirrB|£pajja^& of High'vay Districts £.re co»v^eaVi» \pllo^^*— Alexandra, July lUth, at 2 p.m., at Mr Kirkwoods hotel ; Town of Ngaruawahia. July 21th, at the Central Hotel; Kirjkiaroa^ Wv ~^ty±% P- m -' at tlie Royal Hotel^^^^^ami^o^ Mr JohnKtffe^SuounceVtnnVW'WiH hold an unreserved sale- on Thursday, July Sth, at tho residence of Mr Bellera, o: the whole of the c4ioic3 household furniture, books, <fee. - An Alexandra correspondent writes :—": — " We are pleased with tkesTiJßfis. \E ver^pi^. I speak to on the subject app^a«Siatisn\^. is now a chance of our lebtersV>aing\nsertSfl7 I shall sometimes trouble you.'* The outward mail via San Francis,©©, will close at the post office, HamUton, at 7 a.m. on the Bih inst., next Thursday. \. The annual me'et^n^f trnjimtQ^^ers of theMangapiko High way \DujriH wirWbe* n»lc^-at 1 a^m. today, at Mr Secconabe'a iaxm-,'^terangi. The firing of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers, for the prize star me. lal presented by the officers, will commence at 10 a.m. this morning, at the butts. Tenders for the removal of the Church of England building close to-day. A sale of coii^B^H toWs, teVts, and b«irrows, the property of will be held at Newcastle^ at I! a-.nj. wwday. It is believed that the refunding of the cipitation allowance by the General Gjvernin-snt will enable Auckland to tide- oveu her difficulties. The Minister of Worka promises to modify the railway r^e^if -noJ^ble^ axber tlie experience of a few months* . \ V