The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 575, 27 January 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to nil men, Ot whatorer itate or periuuion, roligiom or political • # # • # Here shall the Press the PsorLE's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribod by gain.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1876.

Jakuxey, February, and March are the three months in the year daring which persons qualified to become electors can have their names plaoed on the Electoral ral rolls for the respective districts within which such such qualifications are held, and perhaps the late elections for Waipa and Waikato could not have fallen at a better time of year to stimulate the careless and indifferent to perform this act of citizenship. Too many believe that the proper day on which to register is the 31st of March, and as a consequence of such procrastination, wake up to find themselves April fools the next morning. The man who delays and forgets from day to day for three months to take the simple Bteps necessary in this matter is quite as likely aa not to forget it at the last mo* ment, and to find that he has only been furnishing another piece of pavement for a place unmentionable. The matter is one, however, which should not be left to the individual Primarily it is his duty and hia pleasure aa a Colonist to secure this votiug power ; hia duty to place himself in a position to serve the colony as every man is capable of doing by taking part in the formation of that machinery on the perfection of which the health and vitality of the body politic depends ; his pleasure to give it such foiin as best coincides with his own peculiar views and opinionu — and primarily by neglecting the uocesBary act to accomplish tins he is the loser. But not alone ao. The state also is a loser by his negligence, and still more so is the constituency of which he shou'd form a part. For all political purposes, even to the weight attached to the voice and opinions of its repiesentative, the standard applied is to a largo extent the numerical strength of the roll, and it is therefore to the direct interest of the elcotoia of each electoral district to see that every legitimate vote id registered. But if this ia a matter of importance on ordinary occasions still more ao is it it the present time when the question of a re-dis-tiibutiou of seats in the Assembly mwt so soon occupy the attention of Palliament, and when possibly in the re-tnodelliug of the Legislative Council the interests of electoral districts may be similarly affected. We trust therefore tosee the matter taken in hand by other than individuals. Suoh w»rk as seeing that every person •n titled to vote is registered, irrespective of his known political views, but simply as showing the strength of the district, would form a very legitimate part of the duty of a Highway Board. But something more even than this is required, something in the shape of a Reform Association. There is a great crisis before the Colony and one to which the attention of the public cannot be too often or too pointedly drawn. Better far the revolution of the hustings than that of the barricade, and we in New Zealand, and much sooner than many suppose, shall have to go through the ordeal of the one or the othor if our democratic institutions and lights as freemen are to be maintained and preserved. The struggle will be one of class. There is no disguising the fact that the laiuls of the colony are passing into the haiuh of the few, that there is an attempt to establish a kind of spurious aristocracy, or ologarchy we had almost said which is essentially antagonistic to the free democracy which forms the basis of the New Zealand Constitution. The constitution of the Upper House and the mode of disposal of the lands of the colony, the manner in which all public cilice of importance ha« been and is still kept within a certain circle of governing families in cither island, have been great instruments of power — and future taxation, if the voice of the small land holder is not heard in the Assembly, will assist even more largely — in bringing such a Htate of things übout. Signs are not wanting in both the administrative and legislative departments of the country that to effect such a change underlies the action not of this government only but of other Governments, which have preceded it,osit doubt'losH will bo,if unchecked, tho policy of .succeeding oues. But this the people of New Zealand must preveut, and the franchise iB tho lover and tho leveller too with which they must work. They must reform tho abuses in tho legislature and die Government whicH" conduce to the concretion of power and influence by a class in great degree hui tfal to the public at large. They must protect tho public estate from the grasp of the squatting interest and the htngois on of any Government, and the only way they can do this i« by exorcising to the full the lights and privileges of the franchise, by strengthening themselves in the chiof beat of power, the Colonial Houso of Commons, by enabling themselves to send there not the nominee of this Government or that, or the little lordlcts of local influence aspiring to become still greater by the power thus given them to repair

their fortunes from ihp public estate, but men of themselves, men ofthe people, men who will look to the advancement of the public weal, not (he mere aggrandisment of self and the founding of a family estate and name. Such organisation as will check this evil before it has gone too far is needed throughout the entire colony not in Waikato alone ; but that is no reason we should not do our part. Nay more, it is for \w who set and feel perhaps more keenly the growth of tins parasitical plant to be the first and foremost to take action. No greater calamity coufd happen to us than to tee the fair lands of Waikato become the sheep and cattle runs of a few lordly squatters or their freehold estate farnird by a dependent tenantry, and yet this is what the whole colony is at present drifting to, sub-division amongst a class from tlis petty squireen with his homestead of a couple of thousand, to the great capitalist with his estate of two hundred thousand acres. Of partiality towards Sir George Grey this journal cannot bo accused, but we do no more than justice to him when we say that, setting aside the blunder ho has made in the matter of the Piako swamp, he has done good service in Opposition by bringing mauy a hidden thing to light that required to be made known. When speaking on the question of the confiscated lands on the Ist September last, we find Sir George reported in Hansard to have instanced a case where by the consent of the Government a single individual was allowed to monopolise three fourths, and of course the best portion, of a block of 200,000 acres of land. " The g reat lord of the soil "as Sir George expressed it, " wa9 to have 150,000 acres vested in him for a long period of years, while the rest of the Queen's subjects — the serfs he might call them — were to have 50,000 acres divided amongst them, or just sufficient to give value to these 150,000 acres held by this great lord of the soil, by settling laborers in his vicinity, and farmers who would have to lease other tracts from him." Who amongst as would otherwise have heard of this transaction but for the publicity given to it by Hansard 9 How many even are there of us who know to whom, and to what lauds, Sir George Grey refoned, for even his tongue appears to have been tied by some species of etiquette iv alluding to the question iv the House 1 ? And it' such things can be in the green wood what may we not look for in the dry t How will it be when the bit is in our mouth and the yoke upon our neck and the Government becomes the representative not of the people but of a class ? We are no alarmists but the state of things in New Zealand is tending in this direction, and we in thia part of it need not go far to see that it is so. Those who run may read. The remedy rests with ourselves. The people hold the power if they will only use it, So full a franchise as we possess protected from abuse by the ballot should be hufficiont safeguard to defend us from the aggression which threatens to sweep into large estates the mainstay of the country, freeholders fanning their own lauds, whether of 50 or 500 acres. It is not a question of thia Government or of that Government, for iv this matter all Governments appear to be alike, but of freedom from a class domination which threatens the people of New Zealand.

Aocidknt to tqk r.a. Quick tep.— A rather terioua accident occuired to Mr Quick's new steamer Quickttep yesterday morning. This boat and, the Waikato, loft Mercer About the •a rne time, a quarter of an hour after their depttturethe captain of the Wmka o beard an alarm whittle from the Quick step, ond immediately turned to hor assistance On coming up to her it wm tound that the new shaft h»d broken, and consequently she could not continue j her journey. The mail* aod passengers wore transhipped to the Waikato, and the Quickttep put book to Mercer for repairs. Wo hare not learned how long it ia likely to be before she will again be able to take up the traffic. Iho Waikato arrived about 7 o'olock last night. Good Timplae Picmc— On batuiday next, the anniversary of the Province, which will be kept as a general holiday, a picnic will be held in Mr J M«rtjn'« farm near Cambridge uuiicr the auspices ol the various Good Templar bodies in the Waikuto. Arrangements ha*e been uiade far tha p a Wuikato to conrej the pleasure seekers to the groom!. 9he will leave Ngarutwaliia at six o'clock on Saturday morning, and Hamilton at nine o'clock and will return to Hamilton about su in the evening. Die picnic is not restricted to Good Tern plait alone but the publio are also invited to be present, and at the very reasonable figure at which the ticket* are fixed, wo have no doubt there will be an -extremely large attendance. Mr Trewheellnr in oreitmg a booth on tho ground whero all creature comforts will bo supplied. A.n efficient band will be in attoudunco and dancing and other amusements provido'l. The Deputation to Dsl Pollen. — A deputation from Hamilton Host and Wctt wnited upon the Hon Dp Pollen last night. In the matter of Education, Mr Cox state .l that the building formerly used as a school-house, had been sold and there was now no pkco in which to hold u school, and ask.-d that a portion of tho A C Barraoks bo granted for that purpose and ihntone of the Immigrant's cottages be set aside for the School master. The Colonial Secrotary said he had conferred with Major Clare, on the subject of granting tho barracks, and would have no objection to granting them the use of that buildiug with the distinot understanding that it would be b> temporary arrangement, and that they used their utmost exertions to build u school. An to Immigrant's cottages, the buildings were under the control of tho Provincial Government, but if tho committee sent him u formal application haiwould represent the matter to Iho Provincial Government. Mr Cox asked if the A C Force would be utilised in making rondo through tho district. Flo would suggest that n% many as posmblo should be put on to form tlio roud between Alexandra and the to\Mittlii|> of Ngaruawalna. Dr Pollen aaid the Government weie ascei baining the posnibility or otherwise of making a road between Caml<ndgtt and laupo, Htid if this could tie doi a, nn man} of tho A. C. as could bo spared would bo put on that road. It was ofgioater importanuo th.m tho uioro local loud be (Mr Uox) mottumed. In reply to Mr Cox as to whether tho Uovcrnmout would set nsido that poition of laud on tho Inko botwoen Mr Cox's and Mr Jollj 'q lenco for a rccieutiou ground, Di Pollen said ho <ould boo no objeotion to so doing, tiegarding erecting a bridge auoai the river, Dr Pollen said that no fund had been appropriated fur that ptirpose, and it would be impossible to do so. Thriy had t fro good representatu es for the district, and they should bung the matter before the House. In answer to a question Dt Pollen said, that if an application were formally made, ho would be happy to do what he could in the matter of reserving a lit* for a public hall, between the post office and th* late schoolhouse site. This was *11 the bulkiest and the deputation withdraw.

WaJKAto Gun Club— A mating of the Waii kato Qua Club was hold last night. 1h • ofhcers wera rc-eUcted. It «ra* bhown that the funds war* ample to meet the demands road* upon the ilub, and that there would be u balance la hand when the preeeat members — some 42— hid pad m their subscriptions. It was rosolvcd th-ifc a i match should it possible be arranged, to fire aguinat the Haoiley Orun Club, at the gyro, during the race week. WXLOOICI TO THE UTTLB DEIBS. — Amongst [ the passengers to Cambridge by the Alert on Tuesday evenmg, were come red door, a buck j and thr«a doea, forwarded through Mr Morrin by the Acclimatisation Society, to bo let 100-,e j upon tha hilla beyond Cambridge, and near to Mr Thorndon's property. The plicu is a suitable one for them, and the Waikito u iudfibt ed to tlie Acelimaiuation Society m the first p,ac» ! for the gift, and to Mr Morrm for the expense I nnd trouble taken by him in forwarding thou* to their deitination. 1 Haihltok Mabt School Boabb —A meeting of the ratepayer* was held on Monday l*-t for > the election o an Education OommittOJ for tao ensuing year. Mr M V Hunt occupied iho chair. Tho following gentlemen were elected : Mesar* Soddon, (Ohairman), Harris, Pottir, Tippin, and M Vere Hunt. Great dissattaf notion wai expressed at the meeting at the uiauuer in whu-h the district had been treated bj the Ouutral Board. There it a large am >unt of rates oollocte 1 and the inhabitant! have had very little in return. Application* for asiutauoe to build a houte for the »ohoolin&!>ter had either bc*n refute i or not attended to, and, with no other resource than that he ahould go and lodge »t an hotel to offer him, it had been extremely difficult, to get a toboolmaiter at all. Tni CiuMßßiixja Eoad. — Wo are oantinaally hearing complaint* of the ttate of the road between Hamilton and Cambridge, a* regard* tha Hamilton Bait end of the road. Our r*por« tor T'sited the looality yeiterdaj, and abates that ■uch oomplaintt are not altogether without rea•on aa far at least a* one part of it it concerned The Hamilton East Town Board hare, it seema, Krarolled their portion of the road and put it, — from the ferry to where the boundary line a«pttratfa them from the Kirikiriroa district — into a thorough ttate of repair j bat bayond that aa far w* tao bridge, that portion lying within tb» Kirikinroa district', the road it in a Tery bad condition indeed, and reqaiitt immediate attention while there it a little of the summer left. The remain* der of th« road right through with tht •ioeption of this portion is either iv good or passable repair. OgicHKAC Pontr.— Captain Beere detirea ut to intimate that he will forward for insertion in our next issue, a poetical reply to the remarks of Mr McMinn, and the Editor of the Timis, and to the verses of Mr Johns, which appeared in our last issue. The poem wai already written, for it costs Mr Beere little or no labour to throw off mnch longer poems even than those with whioh he has kindly favoured ourselves and our re*d«rs,but was unfortunately mislaid when he left home yesterday. We would desire to have it understood that our original poetry column, like our correspondence column being impattiully open to all we are in no way i lemidtd uitb tho opiuiona of the writers. As might havo been expected, the appearance of tho two political poems published by Mr Beere has called forth a host of irritating attttoka aud tins though nothing more than he might Lure expeoted ha* caused \xa to disclaim am appearance of approval whioh their insertion might appear to convey. It iti a noticeable foot tlut ih-so petty aasailunts expend their wit tn playing up >n tho uame ot" the writer, and that not oup of them attacks the poetry, except indeed to admit their o»n ignoriuie-e that they eauiior uu"ier«<aud it. Mr B -ore hn« fouvvi thorn vo.se, j« was uot> fur him to fiud them br»iu* *Uo.