The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 626, 25 May 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Eoual and^xiot iusticc to all men, Ot whateTer state or pcrsuasitm, reUy-OUS or political « « * * * Here flail the Fi withe Peoim.iV right maintain, UnsTvcd by influence and unbnbcd by g-»n.

THURSDAY. MAY2Z, 1876.

Although the Defence Minister has proceeded direct to Alexandra, it is lua intention to visit the other principal settlements in tb.9 district and, aa we have before announced, to hear the wishes of the settlerß on matters which fall within the official notice of the Government, both legislative ftnd administrative, it will be well therefore for the inhabitants in the various settlements, likely to betisited, to meet for the'pur pose of deciding as to what matters shall* be brought to the notice of the Defence Minister so that nothing may be forgotten or overlooked, and that the request, bo framed in a concise and business like form, so that the reply may be eqnally to the point and unmistakeable. In Hamilton the subjects on which the Defenco Minister was interviewed were the bridge, the establishment of a free public hospital, and the request that the intention of offering :it public auction certain reserves in the East Hamilton towni ship should be abandoned, and tho land be allowed to remain for the purpose originally intended, an endowment for the inhabitants and future requirements of the town. Now none of the three subjects are merely local matters, not even that of the bridge, but affect tho whole Waikato district more or less, aud therefore while tho other townships are not for netful of their own special requirements, not one of these should be forgotten. Alexandra and especially Cambridge, have reason to complain that the loss sustained in the destruction of their bridges by the late floods has never been, made good, and at Cambridge no doubt a very strong protest will bo made by the inhabitants against the delay which has occurred in the rebuilding of the bridge, but a bridge at Hamilton is nevertho less so great a general necessity that it will not, we trust, be lost sight of by deputations representing other places in the Waikato. Hamilton is the natural centre of the district from which all joads converge, aud a bridge over the Waikato at that place iHiv>tonly apuWic work of special convenience to the inhabiti ants of the Hamilton districte but ot genei ral convenience to the whole xn Waikato. There is already a trade of fat cattle with Waikato springing up between that district and the Thames, and the want ot I something more than mere ferry commumI cation is much felt. Tho amount of ordmj ary traffic is far greater than any one would supposft, and delay and loss of time nroniore frequently experienced ' than is supposed by those using the ferry, lhe proposal made to the Defence Minister was that as boon as tho permanent Jrail-

way bridge at Ngftrtawahia shall have been completed the temporary brulgo used in its construction shall be removed and ro-ereoted at Hamilton. The temporary structure belongs of course to the contractor", but they would doubtless be only too nlad to soil it to the Government, and if re-erccWl at Hamilton and rightly placed it would sevvo the B.une purpose in assistin" the construction of tlio permanent brulec of tho Thames, Piako, and Waikato railway, a work not likely to be long delayed. The question of the Hospital, however, is one of a purely general character, and the necessity for it will, we trust, be pointed out to the Defence Minister at every settlement in the district which ho visits. The necessary building at Nfriruawahia is ready to hand, and th«re need bo little (May in getting this muck wanted institution into working order. And, as regards the matter of the proposed salo of waste Kinds at East Hamilton, it is as much a general as a local one. What is proposed to be done in one district it may very naturally be expected will be applied to another. If, as is stated, Mr Sinclair has recommended that the Hamilton East town belt reserve should be cut up into five acre blocks and Bold, the proceeds to go to tho general revenue, the same recommend, ation may be mado in the matter of the reserves of any of the Waikato townships. We do not say but that the sale of these lands would be an advantage over their lyiuff idle and unused ; bnt there are two elements required to enter into the sals of them before fsucli sale will become « publw benefit to the inhabitants. Firstly, that the money so rained by the sale should be expended in the district for whidi the lands had been reserved; and secondly, that they ahoyild 'only bo fold on such conditions tin would ensure bona fide settlement. And whilst upon this matter wo would again refer to a question raised by this journal some weeks ago in reference to the disposal of the proceeds of the sale of all confiscated lands, allusien to which ou"ht to have been made, but w*s overlooked by the Hamilton depntation. /he Government some time since promised, and there wa» £ood reason it should be so considering that tho sale of those lands entails roaid-making and repairing on the districts in which they are situated, that one-fourth tho gross proceeds of alUalea of confiscated lands ahould be handed over to the District Board in which such laMs aro situated. We are lot flyare that fbia promise has ever been carne&#mt by the Government, though a memorandum 'Of the Colonial Secretary stated that it should come into force from the Ist of January, 1874 : and it would be as well, perhaps, if some one or other of the local Boards interested took the present opportunity of ascertaining the intentions of the Uovernmeut iu'the matter. It was the intention, we know, of the three Raglan Road Boards and the trustees of the Road Boards ou the Waipa more immediately interested in the work to have formed a deputation, in corjunc. tion with the representative of the district, Mr Cox, and to have waited on tho Defence Minister in reference to the construction of tho Waipa aud Raglan Road. WLether in the absence of Mr Cox, the chairmen of the several Boards will proceed with tho matter at encc, or whether they will wait for Mr Cox'd return, who is expected in Waikato h|pfore tho close of the month, wo do not know, but the subiect is one which sWld be brought prominently before the Defence Minister during bin visit Tkero aro many other matters which will present themselves to the minds of the inhabitants of the several districts, who would do well to take council beforehand amongst themselves, instead of leaving it to the last moment, and « run in" .half a dozen or more of the inhabitants unprepared as to what the/ desire to ask, or as to the most intolligib'io form i-a which to pat their requests.