The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 510, 26 August 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

T^qual and exact justice to all men, Ot whatever state or persuasion, religious or political, * # # # # H»re shall the Press the PiopLk's right maintain, Unawed by inftuence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, A UGUST 26, 1875.

The resolution parsed at the public meeting held at Hamilton West, on Friday evening last, has evidently been productive of good. To disfranchise all ratepayers holding property rated upon a less annual value than £50 would be a moat sweeping and impolitic act of injustice. Indeed it would be so foreign to the whole tenor and scope of the " Local Government Bill" that there was ample ground for believing that the objectionable feature in clause 27 was a mere oversight committed in drafting, which could not fail to be remedied by the House in Committre. By the preamble of the Bill the term " rateable value" is defined to mean " annual value," and the first sub-section of clause 27 reads as follows: "If such rateable propoity, whether consisting of one or more tenements, be rated upon a rateable value of not less than titty pounds, he shall have one vote." Were the Bill permitted to pass in this iorm it would deprive the most desirable ratepayers, the most industrious and worthy class of settlers — the bone and sinew of the population in fact, — of a voice in the conduct of local affairs, leaving them at the mercy of -wealthy landowners, whose interests are in. many respects not identical with theirs. We are therefore exceedingly glad to learn that the smaller ratepayers will receive ample justice when the Bill goed into Committee. We are authorised to state that " The Government will give attention to any suggestions Waikato settlers may have to offer in reference to the voting clauses of the Abolition and Local Government Bills." The telegram which we arc quoting goes on to state : " In first sub-section the word not is an obvious misprint." Omitting* that word from the clause it would read that all owners of propeity lated upon a less annuil value than £50 shall havo one vote. This announcement will remove the apprehensions raised at the late meeting.

Those who desire to critically examine the Abolition and Local Grovernmeat Bills, will find the groundwork of an analysis laid for tbem in tbe letter of Mr T. Wilson, in our " Open Column." The writer Las evidently gone minutely into figures, and devoted considerable study to the Bill, and his conclusions appear to be very striking. We trust that some of our local " Cockers" and admirable Crichtons will be able to supply further hints for amendments in the important measures before Parliament. We shall ta-ke care that all really valuable suggestions receiro due prominence in these columns, and that they reach those members of the Assembly who are likely to interest themselves in the welfare of the Waikato.

Since the accident to the '• form," monlionel in our last, we have hud the matter re set an 1 in ti c present, issue we publish several interesting letfeis. Though necessarily delaye \ they will well repay perusal. T uly to a " form" unknown, we have given shape, a local habitation, and a name. It would anpear that the Provincial agitators in Auckland make a practice of attending the various meetings in a body and by setting up their ehoeen stump orators, and other ejection tactics carry all before them. Referring to the meetings at Purnell and Newmarket, the " Echo" Bays : — " The meetings weie not composed alone of the elector! of the respective districts, but to them were gathered the active members of the Provincial party from the City West and suburbs" The "Herald" of Saturday last, condemns Meesrs Lusk, Rees, and Dargayille for wasting the time of the Papakura meeting, where sever. 1 of the speakers complained of the influences brought to bear from Auckland, and said they were quitt competent to settle their own local affair* without such aid. The roads in this district are now in a most, deplorable condition. Betweon Hamilton and Oluupo there are several veritable "Sloughs of despond" which would appal more than a Faintheart. On the Cambridge Road between Hamilton East, and Captain Steele« thero are many equally bad places, and about midway between the last-mentioned place and Cambridge the road is very much cut up by traffic. What is wanted on these reads ia thorough drainage to carry off the surface water, and s)3tematic repairs instead of patching It is to be hoped that ur.di r the new Local Government Bill tne work will be more efficient ai.d thorough, advantage being ttken of the facilities for co-operation. We have been informed Itu.t the complaint of a want of accommodation at Ohaupo for a Cen-, tral District Agricultural Show ia groundless! There is an excellent little hall for the purpose] and sufficient facilities as regsrds yards. Hotel accommodation for any lengthened time would noc bo necessary, as most of the settlers attending a show would be able to return home either on horseback or in buggies on the same evening. We are glad to learn that the disbandment ©f the E.V.M. will not be permitted to seriously retard the railway works in this district. In reply to a telegram requesting information on the sub)eet, the Hon Mr Kichardsm states that no time will be lost in accepting contracts, and that the work will be pushed forward with all possible speed. ll should be observed from the announcement in another column that Mr Airec " King of the air," will perform at Alexandra on Saturday and Monday next. His daring, gracefulness, and skill are much eulogised by the American. English, and Australian journa'g. The Postmaster at To Awamutu, requests us to state that the next outward European Mail via 'Frisco, will close at that office, on let September, at 11 a.m. The news of the death of Capt John Howell, late of the Waikato Engineer Volunteer Militia,' which sad event happened at the Thames, on Tuesday last, will be received with feelings of regret, by settlers throughout the Waikato.° The funeral took place yesterday, at Grahanietown, and was largely attended. Requiescat in pace. The entertainment giv n by the Monthly Entertainment Committee in the Couit-house 1 st evening, was not so well attended as it, deserved, owing to the inclement weather, a lengthy and judiciously varied pi o^ ram me was creditably rendered. To Mr Sands must be awarded the palm for his highly amusing readings, especially the " Influenza" (in character), from a selection of humourous writ'n.s, entitled ''Puck on Pegasus." Several quartettts and instiurnental duetts were rendered wit'a skill and taste. The readings were generally creditable Mr Mylrea made a decided hit in «• The Imh Schoolmaster," and a reading f rom "Handy Andy."_ Miss Crawford presided at tho pianoforte with her customary skill. I v "Home" she pl.iyed with a quiet ta-te and graceful execution, winch were really admirable Tho whole entertainment wae a decided success. At the conclu-ion, Mr Cox announced tint the nox monthly entertainment will include a dramatic repieseutation, aad other fresh uttractiyna

It is expected the tunnel at Meroer, will be completed in about a f^rt-.i^hf, but it will probably be three or four uioni lxs boioio the jub 13 entirely finished. We observe from a copy of th* " Belfmt Weekly News," that, Mr Robert Snnms,. whoen advertisement appears in this issue, scoured a first-ela?* gold medal for t'^e model of a Working Men's Institute in the Belfast exhibits nt the London Worlf men's Exhibidon, We are informed th»it a nunober of petty robberie3 have been oommitted at Alex'imlra lately, "which huvo been traced to native delinquents. A plough, stolen from a settler, wjs f Jtmd hidden in the fern, together with a fiituhof bau »ti. In another place a ooafc, a plou^li, and Bilver watoh weie found similarly concealed.