The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume 492, Issue VIII, 15 July 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men. 01' whatever state or persuasion, religious or political ; # * # * * Here shall the Pi ess the Peoplr's right maintain, Unawed by influence an<l unbrioed by gain.

*VT^UR^DAYNtIJ(JV 15, 1875.

Therr is % clask-of people in this world who are always rushing into print They are afflicted with a chronic grievance, and they can find no other outlet for their injured and outraged feelings than the columns of some newspaper. The sight of so much letter-press with their signature* appended appears to act as a balm to their wounded sensibilities, and to calm the pertubation of their agitated souls fora brief space, but the disorder is sure to break out again ere long with increased malignity. Any editor who attacks a public scandal is sure to bring down upon himself an undisciplined horde of these scribblers, wlio^ ho*ifir\|x)uci*is^Hanks, and harrass him like so manj^no^quitos^ Occasionally the mania breaks out wixfc greater v^uleace, and the columns of the newspapers are tlib battle-field upon which the combatants discharge their Parthian arrows, their paper pellets and floods of ink at each other with remorseless ingenuity. Our strictures upon the mismanagement of the Auckland railways h a ve brought into the field a miscellaneous horde of these sufferers f -o:u cacoethes scribendi, all "eager for the fray." Foremost amongst the motley array is some hasty writer, with an indifferent knowledge of the Queei^s Baglish, wkp^ uses the signature " Maung^ta^ifeL" % <JIi<L letter appears in the " Star," ai^^xhUijt^ fl^^ajjnen table confusion of his mind. - mdeed his argunient^fare as lame and loosens the management of the railway has been, and there is internal evidence that the effusion is the handiwork of one of Mr Passmore's selection, and no doubt a man after his own heart. We admire " Maungata whirl's devotion to his chief, but he displays more zeal than discretion in his impotent letter." He assNaes first all that " Waikato Settler,"^K^o^Wetc^ apj^eccved in our columns, accused the^poft^ty offi^akTof dishonesty. Now, no sane person-,, possessed 6f even an- ordinary acquaintance with the meaning of words, could have wrested such an accusation from the letter. But in another sentence this precious " Maungatawhiri " stultihV himself, and refers to " Waikato Settler's " charge' as "astonishing revelations." Further on he ap" paars to suffer from hallucination in respect to the s case of she dog t>o brutally thrown out of a carriage byoa^f tJ|£gulta'ds. will remember that " Vv*J^pl!<^J"sgttle!W > ' dm.nofcsitteinpt to justify the conveyance ofjlogsin "^twseflrger carriages. In the case he described one of the guards at the starting point ordered the animal into the carriage, there boi'ig probably no other place for it, and it was a guard at a station further on who refused to listen to explanation, ahd threw the dog out on the line. > Perhaps the dog-destroyer was this very " Maungatawhiri." v Atto^hei^cloTWhty i^ai^l^on of bungling uiismanf^en^t*,. wb^pigiMk himself " Reader" writes to tho s< |Star.!i.. LiTse ballast he is evidently some touter or hanger-on oKtho railway depirtment, in all probability some billet-hunter who hope 3 to secure the favour of the Managers by attempting to gloss over their incompetence. " Reader's" effusion must have been " unfit for publication," as the reporters say of the evidence in certain Police cases, for the editor merely published one sentence from it. " Redder" asserts that the articles on railway mismanagement published in this journal have been written because one of our staff was charged 8s upon certain "extra luggage." To characterise ti.is assertion, as it deserves, wo should have to employ a strong Anglo-Saxon monosyllable which is unmentionable to ears polite. The articles in the TiME!J*n^rN{licn^ted IS^a^aiii sense of duty. They \vere^isrl^64^byN^tti»i:s ahd complaints from all quartet^/ ->Et v was Hp^rioi*^ that the Auckland r.iilways'were^sb.Vndalously mismanaged, that there was an utter disregard of the comfort and convenience of the trading and travelling public, and a perverse obstinacy, amounting to defiance of aim »st unanimous protests against the shameless and wasteful mismanagement of an important public property. The ' Southern Cross,' the ' Herald,' the ' Star,' and the * Echo' teemed with complaints, iv which distinct charges were adduced. Wo are, however, thankful to " Reader" that he has afforded us an opportunity of letting a little daylight into the matter which he has referred to, and we challenge the Government and the railway authorities to institute an inquiry. It iaa fact that a member of the staff of thia journal was charged 8s by a railway guard at Mercer: upon personal luggage. The statement4bat H^waUL" extra lu^age" is simply untrue, and we^wu^repaisedUp pfbye" it. The passenger carried vto cfclxei' luggage. TH6 sune parcel was afterwards conveyed from Mercer to II unillon by the VVaikdto S. N. Company, audits wuigut on arrival was found to be, 80kib. Now, o-i tins lu t^the guard at Mercer charged tU, or ac tho crushing iate of Eleven pound* four shillings pa Urn I But this is not ail. The re^ulaiious allow each passenger to convey free of charge OO'lbs of luggage. I hovr-fin'P t.iu» Hi wim ftliHi'tri-'fl UUOII the " OXtl'U/'

2 libs, bomg at the enormous rate of Thirty Seven Pounds Six Shillings ami JfirmrpflflCE per ton And yet we are told that the railway does not pay. The statement cm only be VeaonciUble with b9lie upon one hypothesis, and we should be sorry to entertain, it. We are charitable, and we shall suppose that the guard, having no means of weighing or measuring luggage made a desperate guess, and being unused to the business, and perhaps a man of little or no muscle, magnified the"parcel into 4981b5, or nearly a quarter of a ton, which is the weight of luggage that may be carried for Bs. But under such a loose system as this, the door is opened wide for peculation and imposition, and we know that even railway officials are not all saints. We should no r have noticed the matter had not the writers rushed into print, and for the future we can afford to treat their effusions with contempt. The old proverb about throwing water on a drowned rat applies in this case. " Let the galled jade wince ! Our withers are unwrung."

We are glad to See that the settlers of Hautapu are bestirring themselves in the matter of education, which has hitherto been sadly neglected in that distiict. A meeting is convened at the instance of the local coragmf4tee r %q y& hj4d>fct the National Hotel, CamViridge^Vn'SatuVday^jaejct, to commence at the close of the annhai mee*Hig\iif ratepayers, >vhen it is to be hoped that some definite measures will be adopted to provide for this pressing want. There has hitherto been no school between Hamilton and Cambridge, and the need of one has frequently forced itself upon the attention of parents. We learn that there are .about 40 children within a radius of two miles. That so many should be permitted to grow up without the benefits of education is surely lamentable, and though the settlers of Hautapu may have to submit to some sacrifices in the present condition of affairs, we trust and believe they will do so cheerfully. It must be admitted on all hands that the residents in Waikato, despite the diffiqnlties with which they have had to contend, hara \pnerf4JyNlisplayed praiseworthy willingaeaNjp^vail thejaselv^es of such facilities as the existWA^provifta 8^ ahd to voluntarily bear additional \expehSe in order to supplement the meagre contributions from the Central Board. We have been kindly furnished with a report of the firing which took place at Cambridge on Saturday last, by members of the local Cavalry Corps, for the prize medal. The winner was Trooper Reynolds, with a score of 88. Sergeant Fisher, and Trooper Turner made an equal score, but in firing off at the 300 yards range, the following were the scores : — Trooper Reynolds, 17 ; Sergt Fisher, 15 ; Trooper Turner, 14. The first -mentioned therefore carried off the prize. The victor has the reputation of being a most zealous member of the troop. The prize wtiaclosely contested throughout, tK^^A^fcil av^a'ga* iras excellent, and towards tii* c\§j& of tb^\^cc\jfen\ent was intense. When the firing 'was jmTsheS^Capt Runciman onned the £roop, into line,Nind after a few appropriate remarks decorated Trooper Reynolds with the handsome prize, which will be again tired for in November, immediately after the drill. We understand that the Cambridge and Te Awarautu troops will brigade on one day in November. The etficieuoy of the Cavairy does infinite credit to the espi it de corps which exists, and to the eneouragment afforded by the officers. We are obliged to hold over details of the firing, owing to the lateness of the hour at which they were received, but they will be published in our next. Bravo Alexandra ! We are glad to see by the telegram from our correspondent that there is some " £o" "S^iii l«Ct in\you,^uid that in spite of -wind and weather, y^W^uie aofcemJrnß^o have a Public Hall, where yourloCaloraWsVia^laold forth, your leading men congregate for deliberation on matters tending to your advaneerneat, your amateur sons of Thespis strut their hour upon the stage, your devotees of Terpsichore indulge in their favourite gyrations, and your seekers after knowledge find mental nourishment. Your praiseworthy efforts deserve the sympathy of all true settlers, and we trust that the j^WJud\rhidk levelled your half, finished edific^yih^aye Wov^rt some good after all. We have received' a^opjn^ the "Sydney Punch" which contains an excellently executed wood engraving, the impression from which was taken from ake ake, a New Zealand wood. The engraving was cut by Mr William Gordon, of tho Telegraph Department, Wanganui, who has achieved a reputation as a caricaturist and cartoonist. We understand that the ake ake has been found to be eminently suitable for wood engraving where clearness of outline and beauty of finish aro required, and that the proprietors of the " Sydney Punch " have ordered a large supply of the wood for the purpose. Mr Gordon's political cartoons were the admiration of every one in Wellington some years ago, and we are glad that he has hit upon another industry, which by proper development may be made profitable to the country. The hardness of the ake ake, and the ease with which it takes ink render it peauliaik adti^ea^or the work. WeJeJtte tnat tnferaktive^f Te Kuiti are now bringing down largeNonantitjea of produce to Alexandra. On Monday they came"down the river with twelve canoes laden with native-grown tobacco, hops, oats, wheat, maize, &c. The hops are said to be of excellent quality, and much in request by the brewers. The disposition of the natives to trade indicates the happ^ change that is coming in their re lation with Europeans, and is, no doubt, the forerunner to the early dtsappearance of those artificial barriers which liave hitherto obstructed the opening up ef a vast are^ of magnificent country, and the devolepment of . all extensiva trade. The list of Justices of the Peace for the province of Auckland, just gazetted, contains the names of the fol*o wing gentlemen : — D. Bucket, Rangiawhia ; W Clare, J. Wilson, Cambridge; T.CDrbett, Tuakau; A. Cox, Waikato ; P.De Quincy, Waikato; F.Forde, Bombay Settlement; R.H.D.Fergusson, Waikato; H. Goodfellow,TeAwamntu; R. W. Hammond, Hamilton ; W. J. Harris, Waiuku ; W. Harsant, ttaglan ; R. H. Hunt, Waikato; T. Jackson, R.Pioude,Maungatawhiri ;W. Jackson, Rangiawhia ; P. Leslie, Hamilton ; \V. \ Mair. A^xaudra ; S. J. Seddon. J . Me^TS^rsc^ W>, N^T^oarancke, Hamilton ; G. X, ijnier^N^ruWah\; p: Scatmell, Taupo ; G. 0. Y. Tisdurt* Alexandra, v * -- v^ Annual meetinga of ratepayers are convened as follows .-—Hamilton West Township, at the Hamilton hotel, on July 29th, at 3 p.m. ; Cambridge North Township Board, at the National hotel, Cambridge, on Mon lay, July 26ih, at 2 p.m. ; Newcastle Highway District, at the Delta hotel, on Saturday, July 24th, at 2 p.m. ; Rangiaohia Highway District, in the Volunteer hall, TcAwamutu, on Saturday, July 2 teh at 2 p.m. ; Pukekura Highway District, at Monnavile, on Saturday, July 24th, ;it 2 p.m.; PironghiV iJighway^Dwtiict, at tho B.oclcliou^e^ar.J^M, (Vs.itl^aj\Juiy 30, .it 2 p.m. Th\ jf^iitftl me\ L ng n 'wf the (JeuU-al WaUato A^ncu\ttTal AssocialSuu -^ttll '**<*. .held a^ Te Aw,im.iiii, o\. Sat ualay next, 17th instant, au ihivu o'ciwek p.m., wueu the annual report vvnl im pie.soiited, iKoe bearers will l»& elected, and the program mo for the nexr, show will bo considered. Our To Awauiutu letter is unavoidably held over.

The " New Zealand tierald," of the 13th inst., ' aaya :—« : — « We understand that' Major Keddell and Inspector Thompson, A.0., have returned to Auckland from the Thames, the enquiry upon which they have for some time past been engaged in the Ohinemuri and Thames districts, oetc.,0 etc., relative to the alleged illegal issue of miners' rights previous to the proclamation of the Ohineumvi goldfieM, having now terminated. The conclusions they have arrived at are not known yet, but we suppose the same will soon be public property, as we hear that in accordance with the terms of the Governor's special commission, the evidence, etc., has been duly transmitted to the Wellington authorities, and will doubtless be called for before the ensuing session of Parliament has been long open. A correspondent of the 'Star' says that since the raiiway opened the proprietors of 'busses plying between Otahuhu^and Penrose have raised the fare to 9d, and they get two-thirds of the passengers, because they go right into the township, the walk from the raiiway station being over a mile. The same correspondent says: — Mr Wallace has to payrlO.s pei' ton to send hischaff into towu by dray, not by his j own buiT^L- tjfoniltao's;lly the railway he p.-iys 10s 6d \ith^fcrt»d per o^n^iO-th^ station and 2s 6d per ton fr\m-che station \tftw-frStkeg 15s 6d. Truly we ought tto be very thaflkful to Mr Passmore." The foregoing needs no comment. We understand thaHya discovery of considerable importance^W 2|**e w\jch,JsNjkoly to prove of great beneffijj fends lVSiVWaikato, has been made by Mi| y cMftm-tm ht§ fartk^Hai-apipi. He has found a firm seam of limestone, which has been tested by the Rev. Mr Maclaurie, who has pronounced it.of sujrericStquality^ We trust that this importantjGiSltoVOTr w^li bVu^ized. We undebtaVrShatX football match is on the tapis between- the Hrimilto^N?tub % *and the A. C, or a Cambridge team. The matter is not yet definitely settled. A practice of the Hamilton Olubwill take place on Satwqkv^ne\i on^he^new ground, which is expected\Djby^ro\ff^j.ilw}ondition .by that A large number of the residents of Hamilton evinced the respect in which Mr Hammond is deservedly held, bv attending at the last sad obsequies a^j^fuWalS^ ij^ij^nt daughter yesterday. Th% se^vfee Wa V itopreesively read by the ' Rev. T. C.^oydS—- \ w The recent gales were felt with considerable severity at Waiuku,Vhere the ,Whiriwhiri school-house was blo**^^n,\nd^WeKl panes of glrfS.? were blown ivi^Tows^of the Presbyterian church. \'• „ , S sV Y.- J A Paper ' Hunt is advertised to start at noon, on Wednesday, t^e 21st inst. at the cross roads, Mr Taylors co*mer, near Te Awamutu. Mr "Mmi^an^punc^ his store will continue alos^'tt>daySuirfSo-m^i-row for stock -taking The nWia^fe^of the WaikabcrS. \ . Company notifies that trie time table is temporarily suspended.