The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 546, 18 November 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Eaual and exact justice to all men. Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political * # # * * Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, NOVJBM&EIt 18, 1875.

The intelligence afforded in our telegrams, that an influential deputation in Auckland had waited upon the Colonial Secretary, and had received from him the announcet «nent that the road from Cambridge towards Taupo, as far at least, as the Niho te Kiore bridge, wouldbe «,t once undertaken by the Colonial [Government, will be received with satisfaction by the settlers of Waikato, Fvery outlet that <3an be secured, both for the extension of settlement, and the conveyance of stock and produce from the district, is of the utmost importance to the developement and progress of the growing settlements of Waikato, and the work in question is perhaps -all the more called for, that it is evident tlie Government intend to make the main trunk line of railway in continuation from Te Awamutu down the West Coast of the Island. The road in question will connect Waikato with the East 'Coast settlements, and witt the central position of Taupo, from which the main roads at present constructed, and about to be undertaken, radiate Southwards and to the Coast. Hereafter, doubtless, the iron rail will supersede the road now spoken of, but for the present the Government intention is to take the railway line to the westward of Taupo. And they have many and substantial reasons for doing 50. Wot only would it traverse much Government land available for settlement, but it would strike through the very heart of the King country, and there is good reason to believe' that the nativeg themselves, beginning to appreciate the advantages of railway carriage for their produce, and finding that the line of railway as at present to be constructed, will be of little comparative value to them, unless continued through their territory, so far obstructing from its pro-

gress will facilitate it. There is good reasoa to believe this will be the case, an& believing it, the Government will act with wisdom in taking advantage of such state of feeling. It is right thai East Waikato should be made a main thoroughfare, and the construction of the proposed road will effeot this object. There is a little ambiguity about the telegram, for as we take it, the sixty miles asked for. leaving Cambridge for the Te Whitu, and crossing the Horohoro range would strike the Tauranga and Taupo road about, twelve miles above Ohinemutu, and when the Colonial Secretary intimated the probable intention of the Government to construct the road as far as the ~ Niho te ICiori bridge/ he virtually promised all that was asked for, and even something . more. The bridge in question, or rather (what ii perhaps meant) the crossing known as the Ateataura is some additional thirteen miles, making a distance altogether of 73 miles from Cambridge. Wh«n" thifc road is constructed, Cambridge will be really connected, both with Taupo, and Tauranga, and, as there is a passable cat- ! tie road from Taupo southwards, wi£h Napier itself. Independently of this, however, the work in question will effect two i very important objects. It will, as our telegram states, render available for im~' mediate settlement a very valuable tract ■of good land, and it will afford profitable employment for «. number of the armed Constabulary, It is exceedingly desirable that so useful and really efficient « body of men shonld be kept together, but it is necessary from an economical and financial point of view, to do this at the leastpossible cost to the Colony, Sutch an op-* portunity presents itself in the construction of the road in question, where a public^ work much needed can be undertaken and the force retained in that portion of tha island, in which their presence as a trained body of men is the most desirable. . The action of the Government in this matter,, will meet with very general commenda'tioH.

The Melbourne Cup has beea lost ans iron. No event in the colonial sporting world creates bo great an interest as the struggle to secure this — the blue ribbon of the turf in the Australian Colonies. The money that changes hands must amount to over ,£500,000 and scarcely a town of any size but has its " sweep " upon the event. The result of the great race, on this occasion adds one more instance of what has almost passed into a proverb, that the favorite never wins " the Cup " Wollomai, the victor of 1875 never advanced in the betting boyond 100 to 6 and his chanoe was never considered to bo fe«yond that of almost an •" outsider. v Imperial who had maintained his position as first favorite in the betting for months only finished sixth, Richmond was second and Goldsborougb, who must have, carrieda large amount of money, third. !Nqt long ago Sir Joseph Hawley,. declared most strongly against handicaps. In his, celebrated discussion with Admiral Rous, the great authority on the subject in England, he points out that horses "are worked in and out in handicaps, to be, reserved for a big event in the hope of getting in light, when a grand haul is made from those who carefully scrutinize the public running of an animal. In the race just run, Wollomai was 6 years old and up to the present has done nothing which has raised him in public estimation, to a position beyond that of a second-rate cup horse. He only carried 7st 81b, and at that never reached, as we have laid, a shorter price than 100 to 6. "We do not for a moment mean to say that he had been " worked " in the manner above described, but his victory suggests the consideration -of the advisability of making the great Australian contest of the year, a weight for ago race, rather than a handicap.

Mails.— The English Mail via San Francisco, will close at the Hamilton Post Office on Satur. day morning, 20th insf, at 8.30 ». «•

Return of Col. Lyon. — It is reported o« pretty good authority that Colaael Lyon is shortly to resume his old position of commanding officer of the forces stationed in (his district. ; It is said that Colonel Moule is now on hi return from the old country ; hence tlie re-ap-pointment of Colonel Lyon. We can conßden'ly predict that the gallant Colonel will bo warmly welcomed here. His urbanity, desire to oblige* and great courtesy, gained him universal respect and esteem, aud bis departure from Waikato some montbj since, was universally regretted. . •

Assault.— The assault case of 'Graham v Hampton which bns «xcited «o tnmtfi interest in' Auckland during the past week, was heard at " the RM Com t, on Tuesday last. After hearing the evidence hia Worship »id : — With regard to the charge, he was willing to beliere that it was committed in the heut of the moanent. Were it not for that, he should not hare inflicted a fine. Under the circumstance*, however, he would only fine defendant £5, with costs not to exceed £10, in default two mputhi' imprisonment.

Increased Steams^ TBiFrrc— Tha W S N Oo intend that nothing sh*U be left undone to facilitate the traffic of passengers and ■cargo by river between the various townships on the Waiktto River and Mercer. To tint end they are now running two boats daily, one leaving Mercer each day of the week (Sunday excepted) immediately after the arrival of the morning train from Auckland, and one leaving Hamilton each day, at 9 a to, so as to catch the train leaving Mercer for the City, We refer our readers to our advertising columns, where the time table of the steamers appears.

The kew Hotil. — We are credibly informed that the erection of tbe new hotel in Hamilton West ii to be at once proceeded with. The contract has been let for £2,500 to Mr Coot of Auckland. There will probably be a slight re* duction in the amount of the contract, as some alterations in the plan, which are contemplated, will decrease the expense of construction. In place of six bed-rooms on the ground floor, a large aad commodious billiard room will be substituted. It is intended to fit this up with every roquisite for the game. The whole build ing will probably bo finished not later than April or May next.

ZINOABI CjtICXBT CLUB EkXBRTAINMMT. — The entertainment in -aid of the find* of the Zingari Crickel Club will take place to-night. It is unnecessary to refer to the programme arranged, ai the handbills posted in all parts of the township, must hare impressed it indelibly on the minds of all but the blind. Suffice it to say it tis got tip " regardless of expense " and i* in* tended to eolipse anything in that line that has ever been produced in Hamilton. The " Zmgari's " desire to put their olub on a firm basis, and they could not do better than raise fundi by means of a concert, where a quid pro quo will be given for the price of admission. We hope to ccc a bumper house to-night,

Sib OioiaK Obit. — The following incident is related by the Timaru Herald on the oeoasion of the opening of the Timaru and lemuka railway ; — As the pawengers were alighting by the train, a surly-looking young man waa heard to remark : — " There* ooe qtteer thing about v tha** New Zealand town* ,' there are a I way • six N children to erery two grown-up people," Sir George Grey turned and said, "Mj dear fellow, the tine will com* when you will be only too glad to reiliie that thert are ten children for, At all eventi, one couple of grown-up people. Why, then, thould *»« cowplaia of mf Sir Gfoorge'e remark, which waa uttered by bo means Iotto voe«, caused much laughter.

SfJDMir Diath.— lt w with much ragret wo hare to record the sadden death of Mr Joseph B Webb, ome of the oldest settlers of thia district. Mr Webb bad for the ps>at eight or nine days been raftering from an attaok of liver complaint, and was attended bj Dr Beale. Yesterday mo>ninfc however, he was rnuoh better, and had taken a wank i* his garden, but aa he waa entering his door on his return ht fell down in a fit, and before medical aid could be procured life wai e;tiftet. Mr Webb wat 65 years of age, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. He had seen actire terrice during the native diatdrbaneet in the district. His remains will be oonrejed to their last resting place at half-put tkree to-morrow afternoon.

Waikato Tub* Club.— A committee meeting of this olub was Iwid at Owynne's Hotel Itat night. Present : Mesin Carpenter, Claude, Hammond, Xirfcwood Runoiman, Hay, Burgis, and Silrer. Mr Carpenter took the chair. All of last yeas's outstanding acoauntt were passed, . and the treasurer empowered to pay tkem. Mr Silver hating rerigned as secretary, it was pro* ' pOsed t>j Mr Claude and seconded bj Mr Burgis *' Thai some steps be taken to obtain tke services of a paid secretary,* — Carried. Mr Corbett being unable to act as one of the auditors, it was proposed by Mr Runoiman and seconded by Mr Claud* " That Mr A. u. Cox be appointed auditor."— -Carried. Resolved "That Messrs Whyte, Rtncuuan. and Carpenter be appointed .a committee to ascertain tbe different sites for a race- course, and to report to tho next meeting." It was promoted by Mr Kirkwood and seconded by Mr Burgis " That the acting secretary (Mr Silver) be empowered to write to Mr Percival, asking him to obtain members and subscriptions In Auckland."— Carried. It was resolved " That the mext Meeting of the committee take place on Monday, tht 22nd, at 7 p m," This was all the business. W« are glad to see that the Waikato Turf Ctab have at last had one good meeting, and we hope before long to see something definite done regarding the forthcoming races. Little enough time now remains for the purpose, as February is the month appointed. We feel oonfident, however, that the committee will not allow the matter to fall through, but will act with that promptitude and decision which has been characteristic of them ia time past, and make tho ensuing meeting as great a mcoom as of sore.

A TallCabkot.— Toan (agricultural journal an early potato*, a giganticjbroccoli, or a weighty turnip, it always a godsend and affords a peg on which to hang a " blow" about the toil of the district which it} very toothing to tht brocoolic mind. Judge then, of our interne delight when it reached our eari that a carrot eight foot long had been raised on a farm not one hundred miles from Cambridge. We had our doubt*, bat the character for the atringeue adherence to the most rigid veracity which the settler, the owner of the vegetable, bore, to iodm extent, bettered them. 80 we sent a reporter to interriew this prodigy of a carrot. He at ore to the houte, and after ihaking hands with the master, he enquired with great interest after the health of the gigantic root The owner bt gan to get uneasy. He scarcely knew, ha said, whore he put it. It might be tome hour* before ha could find it. It his riiitor would call tho week after next ho would hare it all readj for exhibition. But our reporter ii a stern man. If there is a tall carrot or a calf with three legs, or any other wond«r to be got at, he will see it. Besides he began to smell a rut. An eight foot oarrot ia not to be lost sight of like a three-penny piece : it wants considerable stowage room. So our emissary sat resolutely on a chair and declared that time w*« no object, and he would wait. The settler looked unhappy, but was forced to yield to the determination of hit tormentor, and at last* took him to a room where the regetabje was confined, and approached a chest of drawers. His visitor opened bis eyes. Not a drawer in that chest was over a foot and a half Ion?, and yet one of them was said to contain a carrot eight feet in leajjth. The mystery was soon tolred. The man of turnips opened the shortest drawer, and ta' ing out a sort of aooil, unwound a stringer ab ut as thick as whipcord at one end and certainly not an inch and a half through at the butt. Our reporter gazed for an instant at the cplendid sample of carrots grown in the district, then turned on his heel and left for home, to tell ut in future not to take it for granted that an eight foot carrot is always a criterion of the produetircucsj of mom* wonie'e land.

Educational. — We take the following from the " Southern Cross" of Tuesday last.—" A daputation, consisting of Colonel Haultuin and Dr J L Campbell, waited on the Hon Dr Pollen yesterday, to ascertain what prospe.-t there wm of pecuniary assistance from the General G>vernment for the erection of school building*, and to carry out the scheme of education at prcsmt in operation in the province of Auckland. Colonel Haultain »aid, that the General Gover ment ha 1 already been called upon to provide fmnda for the maintenance of the educational syntem, and he had been requested, in replj, to forward a statement of what their liabilities were, and what the probable income would amount to. He thought a sum of £25,000 would be necessary for the erection of suitable building* throughout the province, if the present educational system were to be carried out satisfactorily. — T.ie Premier pointed out that a sum of £50,000 had been appropriated for educational purposes for the whole colony, and, therefore, while he quite understood such a turn might be necessary it was coming down rather heavily on them this year. It had been explained to him that the current rates for the year would be sufficient to pay the overdraft tit the bank, and that it would be next June before the rates for the next year would be arail•bl©. In the meantime they would be required •to furnish the whole of the expenditure, amounting to £25,000. If that was so, it would not do 'to let tUe thing go. Colonel Uaaltain said vbr I«sti mated the expenditure at £20,000, and . -*•' pected in the next year to get a sum of £8 000 from the rate- which would be levied in April. — Tne Premier : In the meantime we shall have to nay your current expense* — practically, we shall Bare to proride for the educational requirements 6f the province for the year. At the time of making the promise of assistance, they were mnder the impret sion that the abolition of provinces would be«n accomplished faot by the end of this month, and therefore, they would hare had means to provide for these educational requirements. At present they had not. Id conclusion, the Premier said that if the deputation would inform him, before be left Auckland , whst the amount of the actual necessities of the Board wer#, aod what was the smallest sum they could go on with until the next Parliament, he could tell them Turn far be could meet their views. He would see the Colonial Treasurer aboui it when he got to Wellington.' The Government wti bound to find money for the Board's present necessities, and would not allow the educational system to fall through.