The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 506, 17 August 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

I<jn«l *n<l ewct ju«t!c« to all mun, Ot wh»«« or it»t« ot po/fB»»)on, rMig o^« «r pollticul • • « * • H«re sh^tl the Proi» th« Piopi •'* r fht wUnUln, t sawed by li»flaonco »n<l uubriixxl by gMa.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17 1875.

"Wjs congratulate the people of Hamilton and the district generally upon the order and regularity of the meeting held last evening to discuss the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills now before Parliament). In whatever way we ~view it, that meeting was creditable to the ♦district, and the result arrived at eminently satisfactory. To Mr Morris belongs •the honor of having aroused the public to ■the necessity of considering the question, and of having had the good sense to gracefully yield to the unmistakable feeling of the meeting- by withdrawing an unpopular lesolution. For though no gift of prophecy was necessaiy to foresee the result of a pnblic discussion of the question submitted, thongh few could be blind to the deep and unquenchable hostility of the settlers of Waikato towards a system T\bich has been a stumbling block to their progress and prosperity, the discussion evoked by the action of Mr Morris has •drawn prominent attention to the subject, a\ d has given additional strength and shape ttofhe laith that was in them. Nor should we (omit to award a meed of praise to Messrs J. L. Longbottom, S. Steele, and W. Cuuiming for their prompt acquiesence in Mr Morris' suggestion to convene a meeting of ratepayers to discuss the two important alluded to. When the various divisions of the city were passing resolutions, hostile to the Bills, and when the Provincial party were straining every nerve to prolong the present condition >of things by a resort to the old expedient of postponement and delay, it behoved the settlers in this part of the province, at least, to shew unmistakably that they had no sympathy with the movement. The whole question was fairly talked out last night, *nd, so far as this portion ofthe district is concerned, the decision is emphatic and unmistakable. The resolution passed last evening is comprehensive and distinct It affirms the necessity of a strong General Government in order to conduct the Public Works and Immigration policy to its legitimate and natural issue, imp'ying in effect, what has been, patent to every unprejudiced observer, that the existence of nme logrolling-, greedy, and intriguingProvinces is an obstacle to progress and settlement. It declares, moreover, that the cumbrousness and extravagance of petty Parliaments, with their absurd paraphernalia, and horde of officials, are hindrances to economical and efficient Government. Finally, it distinctly affirms a fact which hus long been patent to every country settler, that in the face of the essentially aentraliz-ng instincts and tendencies of Provincialism, the out-districts have had do chance of receiving an equitable sh.re ©f the revenue. We very much mistake the temper ot the &ett.iera in other parts ©f the Waikato if the opinions expressed and ira,)liel in- this resolution! will not Bud an echo iv every heart. Having regaid to the liberal provision which the General Government propose tv make for local institutions, education, settlement, and improvements in the out ji'lg diatriotd of tke colony, it, woukj bt>-

something akin to rank treachery and iqgratitude were the Government to ■ "be-* wounded in the house of its friends, to be deserted at a critical moment by the very men upon whose sympathy and moral support it baa a rig-lit to rely. We shall not quarrel with the people ot Newmarket or Parnell for the course they have adopted. They are, no doubt, wise in their generation We cannot but think, however, that their expressed predilection for a continuance of the existing institutions, deepens and confirmstheconviction that they have received tlie lion's share of thcprovincial spoil. There is one argument, entirely overlooked at the meeting, which effectually disposes of the reasons alleged for delay. The Provincial Party contend that there are faults in the Abolition Bill. Suppose that we admit that. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that the Bill pass into law with all its imperfections on its head. What then ] The Act will not come into operation until November. For the ensuing eight month's special and extraordinary aid is to be given to the Provincial districts constituted under the Act. That carries them on till June. By that time the new Parliament will be in a position to meet, and rectify any imperfections which experience may develop. The country cannot suffer any serious injury in the meantime. It cannot suffer any evils equal to those inherent in the Provincial system. We do not think the issue of the political conflict at Wellington is so near as was presumed last night, and, if Lime be afforded, we trust the various districts in the Waikato will promptly follow the example of Hamilton. The Government is strong enough to carry its measures this session, but its resolution will be animated, and its position strengthened by declarations such as that carried List evening. We again, congratulate the ratepayers upon the course they have adopted, which effectually disarms any attempt to charge them with indifference to the present crisis, or apathy in those pubiic questions which vitally affect their welfare.

We ha/c once more to erav« the indulgence of our readers for auy shortcomings ami imperfections i ! out impression of to-day, but when vie mention that we are in that most uncomfortable transit ory state known as "removing," we feel sure we shall be forgiven. We hope to be settled down, and "at home," after this week. We should be glai to see some steps taken in the matter of holding the next Central Agnoul tural Show. If the various districts would consent to sink local jealousies, and *rork together in tf'is matter, there would bo no difficulty m hol^mc such a suo* in some centrally situated place as would redound to the credit of the district, and encourage improVed »gnculture in the Waikato. There are few districts m the colony possessing gretter natural resources, and it is to be regretted that any small differences ir4 details should be permitte i to interfere with tlie Buccost of periodical exhibitions which may be the met>na tf producing great beuviits to the Waikato There was a good attendance of the member* of tie Hamilton Q-uu dub yesterday altoruoon »t M.irtin 1 * Pad. ock for gyro practice, lhe shoot ing was good ou m aerugo. Air Silrer alone being notably b»d. Tomorrow « jjyru iu» tell will tike p!»ce at Ohau^o We »re requeued to weuiien that lhe public testimonial to Mr Wal.tigHy will be prest nted to that to inoriow, (Wndaesday,) eveuii'g, at 8 o'clock, in the lung room ac Mr Grwjinne'i iluUl, Hamilton. We learn from a private letter, received from a member of the House, now in Welhugto i, that tbe raiWiy to Hamilton will be op«ne<l for traffic about May next. The construction ot tne bridge across the Waikato at Hamilton i« now rendered possible by appropriating a lan i endowment for tlie purpose, aud, as soon |as the important question {no* be'oro Pailmin«<nt has beeu definitely settlod, the G-ove nmeut will give its i onsideration to th matter. Wo have rewivrd fioin the GoTerament Piintir, Haus^rd Nos 2 aud 3 ; the Financial riutemriit and other Parliamentary paper*, lor nuich we ure obliged. The long talked of Hamilton firing match be tw eon the "whisky men" and a team of "tot* abstainers" haa, we are informed, been arranged, and will orentuare ou Friday nexi at 1 j.> b iu. Fife men a *iuV, five allots at 2 0, 300, aad -400 yurda May the best m>iu win. Mr Robert Waitt, the newly-appointed manager of the Na^oual BanK. at Hamilton, was a passenger by Kmg Cobb, las>t nuht, trom Auckland. We are requested by Mr Montgomery , tiie courteous C.erk ot the Resident Magis. R.it 's Court, to state thtti no Court will beheld at Haoailtoa tais morning, in cjnse<juence of the unavoidable absence of Mr iearaucke, who is at present ou ati oihcsal visit to K..glau. VV T e Ijmiu with much regret that Mr. Clnrkp, our ffficiwnt »nd ren^ecied Distncc Engineer, is about to leave the Wjikato. I," is reported thit Mr. CUrlse mt nda uhor. ly bidding " * long farewell" t*j th's Bmain ot the South. We sinceiely hope ihut Mr CUrkd'b hne< will beca-t j in pletaant placvo in the future, aud whorever k I mn\ be located he mil hava the Patisf tcii »a t»f feeiit'g th «t he h is lclt bt-hmd him m tnu district, many warm and fa»t fn a.lfl As an insta .i-e of the cit' eme'.y arbitrary and loose system which p-evaila in connection" with the charges on the Auckiitnd and Mercer railway, we may state that a tradesman residing no£ l'-O miles from Harmllon reoei>oJ tlie otUor dny three dozen smoked fi«b, in a small case incasurin » less than 2 feet, for which he was charged 33* lid frti^nt. At the same tune he receive i ten cases of kerosene, measuring 2 feet per case, to^eth^r with a box of coffee, on wuich aisj he wim cha-ged 3-j lid fre'ght. Ihus it would appear that the rail way autiiorities m-ike no diifeioa^e in the cW^e f>r 2 feet, or ♦Vet, and oetA-eou a few pounds wwi^hr, and half a ton. We have heard that; tobacco is capnb!° of affording inucu li^j.it, but wo never siw tobaoco composed of window glass until yesterday. A specimen she^n to us counted to & la.-gj extent of glabs. We learn by a private lr-ttor from London, received i'« Hamilton last night,ih.it the Honorable j Wiliiaaj Fox, has been encenained at breakfast, at the Wt'ituiinsur Palacp Hotel, by the Uuitad Kingdom Alliance, tiir Wi fnd Lawson presided aud th.re w. re present amongst oiherd Cardinal Minning, Lord Stanley, and other distinguished supportt-rs of the cuu-*e of total abstinence In our account «f the presentation of the watoh to SJissKmxby ttie Hope of Waikato Lodge 1.0 G T, we omitted to ante thit it w»s a haii'iaoiue encased gold hcgli-ih lever, male by Sfcanilord »<f L-^ndon, one ot the best makers in the world, aud was supplied by Mr tfooJ watchmaker, of Hamilton. We learn that Mr Pa-Bmore arrived at Mercer yesterday, having been ms'.ruct^d by the Geu.'i-itl (> vemnieut to euqune iut > the wo^kin^ and general conduct of the iuiiklaml and Meruer i ail way. ' Bettei late than never." A met'liuK of the aeitleis of Alexandra, is coDvcnod ior thi3 evening, a?i M" XirkA'jol's Holel, to consider tht* i \vj mo.neutous questions of th« day— the Ab >a ion <f Pi-.jvino.M an I Local Government lit. ls. l representative ot this journal wili be and we hope to see a hirge af-fcoudtufe. Our Litest d .tun iioua Lonlon are to Jano 29. On that date the latest udriooa trmi tiie colonies in London wete as follow^ : Wsdney, M-»y 7, Melbourne, April 3• ; Addaide," April 22 ;ai d New Zea and, May 14. The Hon. (i. M. Wat.crhouse, M.^.o , w*s a pa -senior by the e.s. iHaogre^L-r, un tJ.itar.lay, from bau F^uitis*^

K_ j->r tf«wil>(gt through ff^i^on fytetork iffff «4 iW&Toi*- Alexandra! TfieSteamop Bluemne ii due at Ham<lt<nrftilr evening or to-morrow morning, with ca>*«o. » There wat n fiir attendance at Kr Knot 1 * »«^e of sundries i*t Hamilton, on Saturday last, and the various articles nubmitted to competition realisod good prices. A moetin* '>f th« Loyal Sons of Ulster Lod«e LOL., w*s held at the Lodee-room, Hamilton Emt,' on Saturday night, but merely buainesi of a routine nature waa transacted. It will be neon that Mr S. Srififht, auctioneer, announcps his intention of offerinjf on Baturday n<»xr, at. Kirkvrood'* Hotel, Alexandra, horses, paddlea, bridle*, and a ranety of other article*. A meeting of the late entertainment committee 10. G.T. Hamilton, wan held la«t night, at the offices of Me-en Madden and O'Neill, to fettle financial matters, which we are happy lo itale are nio?t satisfactory. Mr A!oy of Auckland, watchmaker, of many years experience, advertises that he ii prepared to repair old watches ami supply new ones ft rery moderate rates. Mr Aley will doubtleet receive » fair proportion of patronage at the bauds of tbe public.