The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 574, 25 January 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

E'liiul and exact justice to all men, 01 whatever ttuteorpLrsuasion, leligiousor political # • # # # Ifrro «b all the Tress the Ploplr'h right maintain, Unuwod by inßucnco and unbnlcd by gain.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1876.

The Opposition and tho Opposition PrebB, utterly reckless of consequences, bo long us tLe Government can be assailed, are, wo see, busily engaged in raising u hue ami cry against the members and

discipline of the Armed Constabulary Force in nearly every portion ot the North Island. At the Bay of Plenty the Government are blamed that out of 70 men stationed at Opotiki, only fourteen aro employed in the construction of the Ormond road, and from the Thames comes a growl in the opposite direction that men of the force should be employed oiv the construction of the Ohinemuii road at all, when so many miners are out jof employment. If the men arc put to "useful work the Government is charged with unduly interfering with the labourmarket, if kept at their stations then it is accused of wasting time and money in playing at soldioriiig,whilo repairs to lOads and public works aie crying aloud for labour. And underneath all this runs a current of potty fault-finding calculated and evidently indulged in for the purpose of bringing the force as a whole into discredit and disfavour with the public. The object of all this is clear. During the last session of tho Assembly, Sir (Jeorge Grey in declaring that the cost of Government of the colony might be reduced by some £200,000 instanced the item of expenditure on the Defence Force as one of those that might be saved. One of the first steps of the present Opposition, to which Auckland has furnished so many ultra supporters, will be to attempt the disbandment of this force ; and strange to say the feeling prevails far more strongly amongst tho Opposition members for north then for middle island constituencies. It may be, perhaps, that the latter have felt more keenly the cost and loss oi native wars in the past and are more content to purchase immunity from further conflict and expenditure. This has doubtless much to do with it, as also has the fact that the Opposition members returned by Auckland constituencies, with the exception of Messrs Swanaon and Dignan, are the very scum of the political pot, and in no way particular by what means the end is gained. Very different, however, does the case stand with the out-distriota concerned — W.iikato, the East Coast, Patoa, and other portions of tho Wellington and Taratuki Provinces. And yet though those diatiicts really comprise the pastoral and agricultural wealth of the north there are those who would not hesitate to imperil the prosperity, nay in some cases the very existence of these out-districts either to effect a paltry saving or embarrass a Government. Take the case of Waikato for instance and where now would be the security foi frontier settlement but for the moral force which the presence of the local troops affoids. Would the last scare — the murder of Sullivan — have so little affected settlement as it did but for the feeling of security afforded by the knowledge that there w.is in tho district a trained and organised force as a nucleus round which to rally. Tho tune has not yet come wheu such a force can be dispensed with. The necessity for it cannot be judged fiom the iufrequency or otheiwiso with which it ia called into action. It probably may never bo called upon again to take the field but it is none tho less useful in maintaining peace and tniiKjuility. Tlicio never was a time when the IMaoii King was* moie cordially disposed towauls tho European settler*,, or more earnest in his wishes and endoavouih to preserve good will and peaceful lclations between the two laces than now, but, unknown perhaps to himself, the existence of the defence force has largely assisted him in restraining within duo bounds the impetuosity and impracticability of the more excitable and less peaceful of his followers. Our preparedness has not been without its salutaiy effect upon the native mmd — not of such men as the King himself and a large number of the better disposed and more thinking- men among his followers, but of the leas reasoning and the ill principled whoso arrogance and ill will aio only kept in check by foar, just as amongst oursehes theio are somo whose prejudices and ill feoling, unchecked by the law and its consequences, would long since have led us into active conflict with our neighbouia. The petty disputes incident to frontier settlement aiising out of trespass of cattle and pigs and a score of other causes, would nevor hnve been confined to their due limits but for the wicsting of tho law to a certain extent in favour of tho Maori on the one hand, and the preparedness shown on our purt to reseat encioachment pushed beyond a certain limit. It would be as impolitic just jet to lolax one s\steni of restraint as the other. As regards the Armed Constabulary foice itself, we feel constrained to say that a more respectably conducted military or semi-military body of men never existed. Active, intelligent, orderly, and peaceable they aie a credit ulike to their Officers and the Government. We speak of course in reference to those stationed in the Waikuto district, and it may be fairly supposed that these but rcpicsent the body us a whole. It would be a grand mistake to part with the services of such a force until beyond all doubt the necessity for keeping it together were at an end. We should in vain seek to resuscitate it were such step once taken, and the need of it suddenly and sharply, as it might be, forced upon us.

Waikaio Gun On. n.- Tho annual mooting of tho club hag beon cotncuod for to-morrow evening, at Gwynno's Hotel. The late Fire at tiik Post Office. — a correspondent writes asking us whether we know anything of the intention of tho postul authorities ai regards placing a light, on Tucsduy Thursday, nnd Saturday evenings in tho Poatoflico, for the convenience of tlu>te who pay for the use of letter boxes, and who are meumidurate enough to euppoßo that tho Government Hhould go to tho oxponje, within reasonable hours, of lighting the coiupaitnicnt in which auch boxes nro situate. Nothing, wo believe, liuh boon done in tho mattor, it being considoro,! more economical to risk the burning down of tho ootabhuhnient by a chance match thrown on tho Hoar, as wus the case a week ago, thaa to piy for koroaono. r J his may bo all very well, but if tho postal authoiiticß are willing to run tho riak to tho building, we doLi. seo why the letters of the public 1 which may be ljing thoro any night at the oflici', and which may be of tho most vital importance to those to whom they are addressed, Hhould ho binned along with it. Peoplo canijot find their letter boxes in tho dark, und will, as Honiebddy uppcarH to havo done on Tueedsy nu;ht lui>t, strike matches to enable thorn to too what they ure diing ; und accident! will imppcti evon amongst the inoit vareful.

Th> Rivir Stiambrb.— Tbo Waikato did not leave Mercer as advertised, having to make tome repairs to her furnace bart. The Alert, took up the Waikato't berth »nd arrived late last night from Ngaruawohia.

Cbowdid -out. — We hare again to apologise to Beveral correspondents for holding over their letters to another isine in order to make room for those previously in fcypte nnd waiting their turn. Wo alio hold over the balance of the

District Court report. Election or School Covxittibs. — Notices appe.tr culling the nnnual meetings of the ratepayers of Hamilton Weit, Ohaupo, Ngaru*wahm, and Kiliikihi, for tbo election of »obool committees for their respect iyo districts, All four wilt be held on Monday next, the Slit intt.

Waikato Art Union — Meaars Langbridge and Silver's Art Union (postponed from lint month) will — we perceive by artvertiseaient— take place during Kace week. The tickets have been reduced in price, and a variety of really useful and elegant article! will be given aa prizes. ERBATtriC — Wo would correct an error which

appeared in our report of the case of Andarion v Walker lust issue. The name of the first witneis should have been that of tihe defendant E 18. Walker instead of Anderton at it&ted in our report — a full repoi't of the cato appears eltewhore in our columns-

Extra obdinaby Grass Plant. — Mr John Runciman has forwarded to this office a curious specimen of grass of a coarse character, closely resembling the wild oat in appearance, grown on his farm at Tamahero, which measures fully ten foot in height. Tbe heads were unfortunately broken from the stems in transmission, but we were able to presrrye oae oi them nearly entire with the seeds. The stem is as course ns that of the oat which as we bave taid it Tery much resembles. We shall be happy to show the gra?s to anyone curious in the matter, who may favor us witU a visit at this office.

A rLEABiNG oontkabt. — The gentleman who lost the cloth water-proof deiires to acknowledge the receipt of it through thii office, the cloak as he supposed having been taken bj fliiatake on the evening of the 21st inst. Another lakes a far more legitimate mode of making his loss known. His silk unbrella hits been lost, stolen or strayed. He advertise! for it like a man, and what is more pay§ for his adfertnem<nt. Ho deserves to get bio umbrella back which is more than he of the cloak deierved in

the mutter of hit garment. Tuk Weather. — The Moorii, a month since, predicted a second flood, and a larger one than Mint which occurred some weeks ago, and to judgo from the prosent appearance of the weather the prediction of the Maoris is not unlikely to turn out, to »ay the least of it, a strange comcideneo. Elsewhere in the Province it will be sodii tbe people have been less fortuuate than those of Wftikato, great destruction having been mined by Friday's rain in Poverty Bay Pei hups the greatest oonsolation we have is that there will ba a new moon on Tliura lay next the 27th mst, whu-h may pos-ibly bmiff with it 11 change for the better, and an end to the contin uoiuly rainy weather which hat char icteris ed the present one and its predeoe sor. The game ol life is hirdly worth the candle at any time, but exist once is ultnost unendurable in such climate as wo hare experienced during the las month or six weeki.

The Chubch in Danger, — What might hare resulted m a Tory serious accident to the Rev. Mi Calder— and we should hnve con-ideved the eensutiouul paragraph dear at tho cost, which u more than we should *ay in tho cast< of everybody — occurred on Sund&y aftornoin when mounting Ins horse, to pioceor' to Ohaupo to cek'brato nfcornoon service at thut plnce. Juat as he plnoed his foot in the stirrup tnd rose to n.ount the animal it commenced a Btr'ma of playful and airy movements, violently joiking the leverend gentleman, whose foot remained so Ion; in the stirrup iron that he was dashed twice to tlia ground. Whether the horse was possessed of an unclean apirit, vrhioh the loriuon in Mr Culdoi'-i picket greatly excited, or whether, ulucli i» more probably the case, he was suffering from too heavy an indulgence in corn nnd not enough wink, we do not Udow, but aro glad to .say that tlie reverend gentlemsvn was well enough to conduct, his evening service in Hamilton, and appi'urcd nonothowoiko \eslordny.

A CHILI) POISONED WITH TUTU BBBBIKS.— One of Mr Kies children, a girl nearly eleven years of uj;e, had a nanow escape from being poiioned b> e.ititig the berrici of the tutu last week. Mr Ha.', niton the child »m brought home sent at onc'L to n neighbouring ttoru for a bottln of castor oil, tho messenger fortunately mentioning the circumstances under which it vrat wanted. A self lor whose name we hare not learned, but who is a. very old Colonist, being in the Store at the time, remembered having heard yean ago of it Muori cure for cases of this nature, and immediately hurried to Mr Riio'i liousn who. c he found tho child in n state of convulsions, eyrs gluzed, and apparently in tho j*ws of doith. Ho then applied tho Maori remedy, namely, burning linen rag under the child's note, and thiual.ing a leather up each nostril : the smell of i he rag caused the nerve to relax, and the mouth, which was previously fait locked, slightly opened, sufficiently so as ai to admit tho insertion of a cork. He then poured mm turd and hot watir down tho child's throat, which cautd immediate vomiting, after which she gradually recovered. Tub Hon the Colonial SBoaETiitv.— Amongst the passengers arrived in Hamilton by Ihe Btoamor an Saturday, was he Honorable tho Colomil Secretary, Dr Pollen, and it wus mti-ndcd yesterday to have memorialised him upon more than one matter of public importance, but that it was found he had ridden out with Capt Steele to visit the far famed riako swamp, a locality of historic and legislative interest flint may well "ngiige the attention of the premier of tho present Now Zeul'ind MuiiHliy during his visit to Wuikato Pr Pollen when he rises in the Council to repel tho attadis of some member of the Opposition will be able to apeak fro n personal knowledge of the nature of tho land and the thankfulness which the Colony should feel to have got rid of it on (my decent terms. There are none who CJiild pluy tho part of cicerone bettor on the occasion than his ompamon Oapt Steele, but we doubt very much if cren thut gentlemm w • nbln to point out to tho premier tho sites for the 400 hiippy homesteads to pathetically alluded to bySir Goorge Groy ai hiving boon swallowed up in the insatiable maw of ccrtiin lan i slinrlvs The Colonial Secretary proceeds tlua morning to Cuuibridge.

Tout STBBKr — It n high timo that tlie Ilanv illon Towu Board took m hand the through formation and repair of tho road leading down f oin Victoria-street to the punt. Tho heavy rain of Siiturday haa opened the ruts into dangerous cuvorni) an I worse ■ till throntons to ullogethcr destroy tho approach to the punt itself, and if measures bo not taken this summer to pro\ont it, to cut awaj the river bank bo as to render tho approach pormanontly unsafe Tlip ourfaoo wuter turn* down beyond Joseph's late store, and on Saturday cut a trench somo three feet deep light down the approach to the punt. At prcaent the punt keeper* time is pretty well occupied in maintaining indict certain Tiaducts which he lias constructed across tho slope of the lull, bo as to prevent the wutor from running down tho punt road. These havo to bo renowod overy time a vehicle passe*, and it is noooitsary to to koep thorn so or tho road would be dangerously seamed ub it was on Satin day afternoon. And all this ior the want of a culvert, or propor roiid channelling while the rates have beon squandered elscwht'io in useless works 1 Tho road needs ! forming, and either ft largo culvert or a clay surface wutortablo constructed. Every month that this is Mt undone the more it will cost. Other parts of tho town on Saturday showed the little nttention paid to drainage. Just above the Courthouse tho rood wm for a timo impassable to pedestrians being fairly under water owing to tho want of u culvert to convey thb water, which sweeps down the hill on the north side, to the ditch on the south sido of it. Iho road to the punt, however, ts the raoro serious matter of tfao two. It is the chief thoroughfare of the township, and moreover the Town Board receives from tho lessee of th« punt a yearly mm of £150. This road aaay t hero for o in all fairness legitimately claim to be the first served, at »ny rateto thai ujtuit,

Tendxrs.— TW following \»t of toniori rooeived for building a houso at To Awamutu fur J Goodfeliow, E*^., ha* been considerately handed to us by the Architect Mr Vialou of Hamilton. Carpenter labor only, other branches, part of the material* found by the proprietor : Mr Taylor, Hnmilton, £475 ; Anderton & Co., Hamilton, £399 ; Maddizen & Co., Alexandra, £360; Allen ft «Jo., Te Awamulu, £374: J8 Mandeno, £297.

Sweet Seventkkn and Lolivpops. — Our zeal on behalf of beauty in distress has it would seem led us into the paths of error. On the one tide is the Scylla of the offended justices, on th» other the Charybdis of coumel whoso law but been called into quo-tion. It would teem that the magistrates who -first gave judgment *gMntt the defendant, Rose Slater, a minor, did to by the direction of plaintiff's solicitor, who they sny quoted authority to ■Lot? conclusively that the defendant, although a minor, wasliablk. It is quite clear therefore that we must change our tack. Whether the decision of the Justices, for there were two of them, will legally hold w*ter or not, n c were wrong in blaming then for their verdict under the circumstances. They only acted at Justices of the Peace, net themselves lawyers, can but act when the law is laid down for them by counsel on either side, which it would seem was the caso in this instance, and our criticisms of Saturday were, therefore, so far as they were concerned, undeterred. Wo shall therefore not run our bows upon Soylla. But how about Charybdis P Its beetMig brow looks majestically but scornfully down upon us as it drawt closer and closer under our lee and a whisper in the whistling of the wind oomet ohargsd with aaound very like " luff you lubb»r, your law's bad " I Well we shunt luS, but we shall lay to (ill wo can take a legal pilet on board, and thea, if our law ia bad, whiok we much doubt, and we cant weather it — well, we thall just bout ship and run b»cV to port [Since the above, written on receipt of a private letter from one of the magistrates sitting on the occasion referred to, was in type we have received a long letter from the other magistrate for publication, but as it would occupy a column of our spare we are compelled to hold it over until our next iuue.]