The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 547, 20 November 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1875.

In love and war, it is said, all things are fair, but this aphorism will scarcely hold good in politics. In the one case the enemy only is injured. In the other the sword cuts both ways. During the past session we have had instances in the Assembly where the principle, or want of it, whichever it may be styled, has been carried to extremes. It is to be hoped, however, that this very questionable manner of carrying on " Her Majesty's Opposition " will not be resorted to in the recess. And yet there aro signs of its being so attempted. When Sir George Grey, after h iving with his party deliberately stated that the revenue would fall some JC3OO,OCO short of tho amount estimated by the Colonial Treasurer, moved for the abolition of the duty on tea, sugar, flour and coffee, ho was resorting to one of these very questionable proceedings on the part of an Opposition leader. Now, when the Assembly has been prorogued, and he proposes to proceed to Te Kuili to interview the Maori King he is acting in a similar disingenuous, and he will appreciate the term if we aid, unconstitutional manner. It will be time enough for the leader of the Opposition to try his hand at the work of the Defence Minister when he shall have obtained a seat upon the Treasury benches. Till then let him criticise as much as he will, find fault to his hearts content, but ho must leave action to the constituted authorities. Now Sir George Grey's projected visi to the Maori King is simply meant to embarrass the administration of the Government, just as his tea-and-sng.ir abolition motion was intended to injure them financially. Sir George cares about as much for the Maori King* as he did for the happiness of the thousands ot families in New Zealand who were to find an earthly paradise in the colony when the duty of a penny per pound was taken off sugars. It is true thnt the invita tion has come from the King, but who prompted itl who but Sir George Grey himself 1 His emissaries ate at work in all parts of the island and this invitation is their work. If the Government of tlve Colony are, however, true to themselves and to their charge, they will never permit this visit. They will allow themselves to be neither cajoled nor bullied into permitting it. Sir Donald McLean can afford to treat with sileuce the imiendoes of the Opposition press, that " he fears Sir George Grey may fee successful and that a settlement which lie has not succeeded in making will be offectad by a political opponent." He can point to tlio present existing relations between the two races which he has been so instrumental in bringing about and maintaining as a complete answer to anything of that kind. But should the Government weakly stand aside there is an alternative. Will the settlers of Waikato permit the visit ? We think not. The existing peaceful and healthy relations between the Maori King and the Government, between the Maori people and the European settlers, are of too important a character that they should be allowed to be trifled with and jeopardised for mere party purposes. A more cruel or a more wicked piece of political scheming cannot be conceived than that of striking a blow at the Ministry through the maintenance of its peaceful relations with the natives. Yet to what other purpose can the visit of Sir George Grey tend ? What in such interviews or communications has ever been the preamble of the Maoii proposals, but that Waikato shall be restored to its former owners. Is Sir George Grey prepared to remove the cause of " darkness ; " will he propose the line of the Maungatawhiri and attempt to stay the plough in tho hands of the settlers as he did the sword in that of Sir Duncan Cameron ? His power for evil, thank Heaven, is less now even than it was then — but why raise this and other questions. Does he come to propose a decrease in Maori expenditu re or to tell Tawhiao as he told Potatau that he will dig around the King's staff till it fallr? Scarcely bo, or his visit will 1 a

but an unwelcome one to the King natives. Or does he, pome ,to tell them that* when he rules' tlie North Island, " that army of loafers," as he has been pleased to call ttit Armetl Constabulary, shall be disbanded, »n<£ that he is. prepared to shoath the sword that supports the civil arm of the lavr in ordei that the King and his people Hiay prove their lore, to the Queen by allowing fier writ to run from one end of the island to the other. This, and worse nonsense than this, we shall not 'be at all B«ti'pi4§ed -to hear from the lips of Sir George Grey, that is, if the correctness of his speeches as reported in Hansard may be taken for granted. But nonsense "as all this would be, it would be very dangerous and very reprehensible nonsense. Thanks to Sir Donald McLean there is no actual difficulty to contend with. There is disease in the system, but unless exciting causes are brought into force there will be no outbreak of the disease itself, and the very seeds of it, unless so fed and encouraged will grow weaker and weaker till they die out altogether. The body politic gimply requires rest — to leave well alone. No good could, and much harm might come out of Sir George Grey's proposed visit, even were it made in all good faith which our knowledge of the maa, his antecedents, and his character will not allow us to believe. That he will be mad enough to attempt it, there is little doubt ; but the Government, if we mistake not, have tho power to prevent any such negotiations being entered upon by a private citizen. If they have not, or if they will not use such power, then it will be. for the people themselves to interfere. We should deal summarily with an incendiary prepared to fire our homesteads. What but a political incendiary, and of the very blackest kind, is he who would harrass the Ministry of the Colony, and purchase Provincialism at the cost of disturbing the present tranquil relations existing between tho Government and the natives.

Cattli Show. — A. meeting of delegates appointed to arrange preliminaries for the holding of the forthcoming cattle show will take place at Ohaupo, on Monday week the 29 th inst, at 11 o'clock.

Cavalby Pahade. — We would remind our friends of the Te Atramutu Cavalry Volunteers thit the pirsde with sword, carbine and ammunition takes place at Cambridge on Friday next.

Teni>EßB.— Tenders for the supply of 300 hurdles made of sawn timber, to be delivered ab the Ohaupo yardi, are called for by Mr A Buckland, and will be received until noon of Saturday next by Mr Edwards, at whoso house the specifications may b? seen.

Tub Elections. — Wo understand tha* a requisition bos been taken round by some of Mr Roche'* frien/is for signature* asking that gentleman to present himself as a candi Into at the forthcoming election for the Wai pi district, but that the canvassers had not met wilh much suc-ess.

Road Works.— -Tenders for a brick culvert and earthwork to replace the large bridge on the Te Aw-itnutu and Alexandra road, will be received by the Chairman of the Mang&piko District Board until noon ou 9atu'day next. Plans and specifications can bp eecn at the residence of Mr Millar, Pnteringi.

Funkbal of Mr Webii — Yesterday, the remains of the late Mr Webb were followed to the •irate by a large number of rpsidents and settlera. The funeral cortege as it j assed through the township numbered one hunire-i mourner*, on fa>t and borseback. Thn serf ire w-js read by tho Rev Mr Calder. The d'cea«ed, who was an old and wll-known settler in the district, was very generally re^ppcted and we were, thorefttro, by no niea' s nurprited to pee 10 large an at.endanoe at bis funernl yesterday.

Volunteer Oavalut Pakadtj —Yesterday tlie Cambridge Volunteer Cavalry minto-e 1 for tho half-yearly inspection, falling in opposite the Natioml Hotel, from ™hen c they ma-c'tetl to the para lfl ground. Full fifty me-nbers of the porp were present, and woro put through tho usual manrauvres by Soargt Major Fiancr. The mon presentoJ a noHiprlike and onhrly appearance and went through the several evolutions with precision. Them vrill be a full m inter of both this corps and the To \wamutu Volunteer Cavalry at Cambridge on Fridnv next.

Cambridge Faumeb's Club. — It is to be desired that there may be a full atten<Line<» thU afternoon of the members of the abjve club nt the adj mrned meeting callei for three o'clock, at- the National Hotel, for the election of new officer! and tho ad million of numbers. The acUisub'litv of seconding with ft heart y co-opei'V tion tho effort* of the Provinciil Agricultural Association referred t> in another column will doubtless be d>scu*aed, and an opportunity te afforded of shewing tho interest taken by the settlers of one of our more important agricultural districts in the establishment of an association of this kind.

The Ngabitaw'AHTA. Coxcrrt — On Monday evening the good people of Ngaruawahia, will be culled upon to mustei* on tha occasion of the amateur concert, given tinder the patronage of thf Benofit Sock-ties in aid of the funds of the public library. The ciuse is a good one, and there ia iin amount of local talent in and about Ngaruawahia, that will we feel sure of itself be pufiicpnt att.nction to secure a good attendance. If tins does not, then there is llio sMll further attraction of tripping it on the "light fantastic" and talking soft nonsense the meanwhile. Who can resist all thia. The school room cannot but be crowded. Meeting of Ckeditobs — A meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr Hugh Kirkwojd, trading at Alexandra as n hotel-keeper and settler, was held oh Thursday afternoon, at the Court-house. Mr F. A. Whitak<>r mttended on behalf of serernl Auckland creditors, to. the amount of some £94 5* 2d, who were represented by proxies. There wer<* no creditors present in person. Mr Thomas M*cffarlane wa», on the motion of Mosrt T. and S Morrin, seconded by Mr v\ . R^ttray, appointed trustea, and on the motion of Messrs Burnett and Levy se onded by Messrs Owen ond Graham, Mr W. C. W.lson and Mr W. Kattray were appointed supervisors of the insolrent's estate.

Death bt Deo wning.— George Tavernor, foi-nerly a member of the Armed Constabulary, and cl»rk in Colonel Moule'fl office, lias been drowned in the Kauwaeranga creek at the Thames. He had been recently working at Waikawau bush. He left there and went up the K&uwaeiaiiga on the first of this month, and was last seen olive on the 3rd instant. Ho wai then, and bnd for days, been mentally deranged from the effects of drink. When last seen by some persona he was kneeling in the dry bed of the creek. He had his han^s stretched upwards, and would not answer them or go with them. A verdict of found drowned was returned at the Coroner's inquest on the body.

Tna Waikato Stbameb.— The H Waikat>" made her first trip from Mercer ou Wednesday, since being renovated and refitted, anJ arrived again last night from Mercer, in command of Capt Cellem. Though not so swift as the 41 Alert," irith whicli vessel she run§ alternate days, an additional hour in the length of the trip is more than made up by the extra accommodation which this Teasel affords to passenger*. She has a large and conmodioas cabin with double tables, and separate lady's cabin comfortably furnished, a roomy poop and upper deck, and is calculated to make travelling by river enjoyable in fine and tolerable in wet weather, while all who know Capt Cellem will readily understand m when we flay it if a pleasure to travel with him.

A HitfT — We haT« been request to draw the attention of our Auckland contemporaries ■to the fact, that though the Waikato rirer boats, a» ii uttial with public conreyanceg, carrj the ' preM parcels on either trip up and down, the obligation is not, at it should be, acknowledged by the transmission of a five paper sent «n board for the use of the captain and pasiengTs.

THI New Stiamir. — Aiomewhat important mistake in the dimensions of Mr Qnick'i new. •teftooQr intended for the Waikato rirer traflb crept intd a notice of that vessel published in the Times of Tu?sday last, and vn\» faithfully copied into our Auckland contemporaries. Instead of a length of sixty feet with a beam of forty feet, the new boat will b» one hundred feet in length by seventeen feet in width, dimensions Bom3\rh>it more iv accordance with the require* ments of modern rural architecture than those I iacorreotly stated.

The Milbouene Cup Swkbps. — Moit of the money won in the Auckland sweeps on the Melbourne Cup. hat gone to the out-of-the-way diftrict in the North — Hokitng*. The following were the chief winners in the two first sweeps :—: — Ellis's (Exchange Hotel) sweep : l«t prize, £300, Andrews and Hardiman, of HokUnga ; 2nd, W Rattray, £150, North Shore ; 3rd, £100, Mus Gibbs, formerly barmaid at the Exchange Hotel. Abbot's (City Club Hotel) first sweep : Ist prize, £500, A 0 Yarborough and Co, of Hokianga ; 2nd, £200, George Winter-field ; 3rd, £100, J H Marshall and Co. Second sweep : Ist. prize, £2^2, Kereama (Graham), a natire from Hokianga; 2nd, £131, B Chalmers; 3rd £65 10s, R Teague, carter. We loam that Mr Yarborough had sold his chance before the drawing to Mr Fraser, clerk of the R M Court at Hokianga for £3.

thi Thbeatbnid Action against thk Times. — We learn from the Auckland papers, that daring his absence in that city, Mr Lang* bridge, at one of the proprietors of thta journal, was served with a writ bj the late editor, Mr C. O. Montrose, who clairai damages to the extent ef £500 for wrongful dismisial, prospective salary, and expenses. The caie was eventunllj taken up bv Messrs Lusk and Beale. Mr\Vhitakerhnsbeen retained for the defence. Even were it k not contrary to all rule to canvass the merits of a case while jet sub judice, and even were we acquainted with the merits of this particular case, which we are not, we should refrain from entering further into the matter as being One of personal rather than of public interest, and believing that the aim of journalism should be somewhat higher thin that of the mere personal vindication of those engaged in its condaot.

Tin Intercolonial Pigkon Match —The following is tbe method proposed for the felection of 'th« tea best •hots to be üboacn to repre* tent the Province in the forthcoming mitch* At • meeting held lately in the Exchange Hotel, Auckland, of those interested in tbe event it wii resolred that a number of gentlemen, say twenty fire should be asked to subscribe two guineas each, and that from these tha beit ten shots should be chosen to represent the Province. Im the event of their winning, the whole of the members would be handicapped and then fire for the individual ownership of the cup. Messrs Brown, Marks and McGregor Hay were appointed a committee for the purpose of chosing the representative team. Mr Hay has received a communication to the above effect from the Hon Secret iry of the committee Mr Perciral soliciting his active co-operation in the matter, which will we mnke no doubt be willingly accorded. A.t the date of Mr Percival'i letter the 15th irnt, twelve out of the thirty-fire gentlemen asked to subscribe had promised to do so. The match as our readers are aware will ttike place between the four provinces of Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland, each provinco being represented by ten men, and each party firing on their own ground. There are tvn prizes the first a cup talue £75, second a cup valued nt £45

Naiiti News. — The Alexandra correspondent of the " Herald" writing of the proposed visit of Sir George Grov 'o the Maori King says : — "Tii Tawhiao (the King's »on) will next week, or shortly, take a ride through all the Waikato townships. Fio-n Alexandra to Cambridge, thence to Hamilton and NgHruawahia. After that trip he will start {or Auckland, when he will invita Sir George Grey to come np and see his (Tv Tawhiio's) father at his present Tillage, or aims other convenient plaoe. It i* als"> intended that after TuTawhiio has bfpn to Auckland »nd back, and so opened the way by formal !y visit iag or travelling through the Waikato towmhipa, that Tawhiao, the King himself, wi 1, at in tl>e old Hebrew fnshi >n, take up his *t iff and make a pilgrimage to Ngaruawnhia w' ere he •sys he will again live as in the old days. N>>w, whrn thnt event takes place, what will it be a si^nof? Will it be a practical indention of Kmgi»m coming in ? That undoubtedly it is ; but remember f>r tho present, and for a time to CDme, it will be of Tawlriao himself only. For coming, is of himself plone, and not of the bulk of Hauhaus, who have for so long a time diartgarded their head and have wanted to frame their way theimfllve*, seeing that so little mbstance or wisdom of judgment existed in their King. He, •ecing their feeling, just forsook Te Kuiti for Hikurangi, thence to where I have written. It is on his part as it were a serving out of his di«obedient children ;— in short, anger and spleen, and not a real de-ire to blend with Europems."