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Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 498, 29 July 1875, Page 2

( Our readers will hail with pleasure tho announcement that the new Bill for the readjustment of the representation of the various constituencies in the General Assembly provides for the election of an additional member for the Waikato. Whether or not this act of justice should be done at the expense of Auckland City Eisfc, is a question which we have not, now space to consider, Uit there can be no V:tinsaying the patent fact that Waikato has long suffered under the injustice of inadequate representation. Should the new Bill pass, Waikato will be enabled to exercise tlfat influence in the Councils of the Colony to which its resources, its extent, its population, and its rapidly increasing trade and settlement fairly entitle it. Wo shall refer at length to this matter at an early date/

We publish to-day a full report of the inquisition held on Monday respecting the origin of the fire which destroyed Mr Reids mill at Tamahere. A perusal of the evidence will show that Mr Hay &H«wl-to contend with many obstacles improperly espiifi&lfyr: 'toy the foiemanqf tliejury. who persisted~iir dictating to Mr Hay as to his line of examination. The result effc the inquiry' is in many respects eminently unsatisfactory and inconclusive, as all such investigations usually are. "We think, however, that the attempt to implicate Mr Shaw in the origin of the fire signally failed. His very reticence on the questions relative to the destruction of the dam, the answers to which he thought might tend to criminate himself, proves him to be the witness of truth, and this, coupled with his emphatic and circumstantial repudiation of all knowledge of the fire until after the occurrence, in our opinion remo\;e him beyond the sphere of suspicion. -As to the real origin of the fire we offer no opinion. Our readers may form their own conclusions from the evidence.

A meeting of gentlemen favorable to the proposal of forming an Amateur Dramatic Company was held at the Hamilton Hotel last evening. A bout a dozen gentlemen attended, and apologies were read from some who were unavoidably absent. We are informed that a few others did not attend owing to some misconception as to the Tiour or the place. The proposal of forming a company was warmly advocated aud fully discussed, 'but it was ultimately agreed to postpone the meeting until next Tuesday evening, at the .same hour mid place- in order that intending meu-bers may have an opportunity of canvassing their friends •tvith the view of inducing them to become playing or honorary members of the Club. On Monday evening last, the body of a man was found in the swamp jlose to the railway at Mercer. Some men on pas-dug near the spot saw a straw hat, and what appeared to be a coat, partly buried in the swamp about 20 yards from the line, and went to the place to examine them, when they discoveicd the unfortunate man lying submerged in the Writer. He was quite stiff, and had a dee]) cut across the throat and round the side of the head, as if pi eased in by some heavy blunt instrument. It is supposed that he had^ been run over by the train, though how lie could have got t'lut distance) from tno line afterwards cannot be conjectured. The body was conveyed to Higgiiia'b ho' el, to await an inquest. The deceased was a well-dressed mon, about 5 feet 10 inches ill height, with light sandy whiskers, mid a peraon answeiing to his description was seen about Point Ixu-isell during Friday last. The body, however, has not yet been, identified. •' We ha\e received the following from W. G. Cdllem, Master of the Biuonode : — ' : Sir, — Observing a local in your paper blaming the officer in charge- of Blueuosa with careleLS.ie.is in landing a balo of paper, pleaso to make it equally public that the bale was left fourteen feet from water's dge, at 10 a.m., and was, I understand, rcinovgu within two houis." . At the annuil meeting of ritipayoiy of the 'Kiriori district, a ro-to of on 3 pantry i-i the pjuad was igi'^ed to. Messrs Wilson, M.iVJ., H. Dunca-u, T. h. Hill. W. Liddell, au i J. Djbson wero elected 'iVustydas ; iiiul M ;.&rs W, Jjuiustono and T. Mitchell Auditois. Mr T. B. Hill was appointed chairman, of the new B^ard. At tlioaninul iiK,eti.i;,' of latquyer.i at Raglan, tiio bil.tnc3 shojt w.io aJ ;p.v'l. A ni; of i'l m the pound was ajrejd t>j. r.ie^rb Powell, Gil more, l}\.\'. :ii, Moon, and lleglor, wor) o Loo Led 'L'ruototv;, :»iea£irs Hill and JDaucui Audiloi-n. " The remains of J. 11. H'lttou, of the A.C, wero hudiTed with miltbuy hono.-a at Alexandra, on ofticct* vi the 2ad V«r'aih;i(,<iss. ► I'ho 'uimnai mzchng oil in i.it^uytns &h Wham- : «v.v\.\, v.'i>s a<\}ouvi\iivt iov ILIOO >vi-);» for yvsmi t>i'a laorum. j ! , . i

Upon the suggestion of Mr Svvanson, Sir Donald McLean 'has ordered the repair and protection of the graves of soldiers who fell during the war. Major Mairs report to the General Government on native affairs in the Waikato is very satisfactory.