The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 738, 10 March 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

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

As no rate after the 31st of the present month can be m«de except under the provisions of the Rating Act 1876, it will be desirable to refer again to that measure. Under the former Act the ratepayers themselves made the rate at their annual meeting, but the New Act, although there is some little anibiguity~ in the interpretation of the term f( local body/' evidently intends that the Board shall make the rate. The making of a rate by the local body is to be publicly notified, at least twelve clear days previously, also the period for which it is made, and the days on which it becomes payable and that the ratebook is open for" inspection, and the place where it may be seen. This ratebook must be in the form of the sixth schedule of the Apt which sets forth the No on the valuation roll, the name of the occupier or person primarily liable for the rate, the description of the property, tjje rateable value, the amount of rate, by whom paid, and when, and mu>t be signed by three members of the local body. Thus the amount of rate intended to be made must be decided upon a sufficient length of time beforehand to admit of the ratebook being made up, and afterwards, of twelve da_\s notice being given of the intention to make the rate. Under section 2, " local body" is interpreted to mean l < any _ Council, Board, Trustees, Commissioners, or persons empowered under any Act or ordinance to niake and levy rates." Bysome the wo/fds "persons empowered to make or levy fates in the above interpretation is thought to ap'pFy t 0 the whole body p'f ratepayers at their annual clearly this cannot be so, for when the rate is made the iratter of appeai under clause 42 is to the " local body," which again, under clause 43, may

correct errors in the rate book. These matters could scarcely be settled by meetings of the whole of the ratepayers. We take it, and we think there can be no do bt about the matter, that the addition to the interpretation of the term "localbody," of the words "or persons empowered under any Act or ordinance to make and levy rates" is meant to refer, not to past privileges (which the Act really repeals), but to prospective ones—that it is a provisiou made with the object of including any new governing body with rating powers that circumstances may call forth in the future not included in the preceding terms " Council, Board, Trustees, or Commissioners." The amount of rate levied will therefore rest with the local body. Individual rate payers may appeal against the rate book on the following grounds but cannot appeal against the amount of rate ctruck; that will be a matter between the trustees as representatives, and the ratepayers as constituencies. The grounds of appeal are—that any person is rated in the rate book on property not appearing in the valuation roll for the time being in force, or for a different value than that stated in such roll; that any person or property, appearing by the valuation roll to be liable to be rated, is ommited in the rate book ; that the description of any person or property is erroneously copied from the valuation roll; that the rate on any ratable property is incorrectly computed. These are the sole grounds on which apptals may be made. The rates are paid by the occupier, but when the rater is levied by installments the occupier is liable only fjr such installments as are due before he ceases to occupy, the incoming occupier,or,if nonesuch, the owner being liable lor the remaining installments. Occupiers and owners are each in turn liable for non-payment by the other. Any rate, or part of a rate due, and left three months unpaid by an occupier, may be l'ecovered from the owner, if demanded from him with.n four months after the same has become due, and unless the owner has specially agreed with the occupier to pay rates, he may, in turn, recover from him the amount, as if it were arrears of rent. In like manner any rate or part of a rate due by au owner, unpaid within three months after demand, may be recovered from the occupier for the time being, who may deduct the same from his rent, and if the occupier discloses the name of the owner, he will be only liable for rates to the extent of rent payable by him, while, on the other hand, if he refuses to disclose the owner's name, he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £5.

In the case of an absentee owner, a summons for rates may be served upon his agent, or, if he has no agent, may be posted on the property and advertised, and a judgment having been obtained, and not satisfied within six months, a notice may be given to the owner in the form of the 7th schedule, that the property will be sold after twelve mouths from the date of such notice, unless the rates and costs are paid meanwhile. HAMILTON EAST AND THE CENTRAL BOARD OF EDUCATION The school district of Hamilton East still remains under a ban, as a punishment for the contumacy of its local committee in having been guilty of a solecism in the etiquette ot Bumbledom, inasmuch as they asked a favour direct from the Colonial Government instead of through the Central Board. Yerily, the sins of the fathers are being visited on the children. Hamilton West could have its grant and its schoolhouse. eveo though it x’aised only £35 of the£7s required as its contribution by the Board, but Hamilton East must raise the last penny of the £75 before the Central Board will authorise the erection of the schoolhouse. Hamilton West has a large, lofty, and commodious schoolroom for its children, while the unfortu nate progeny of Hamilton East, expiating the sins of the local commiitee are prqwded like cucumbervines in a hotbed, and there ape 84 on the roll, in a room 22 feet by 20 feet with a galvanised iron roof. According to the rules laid down by the Board, nine square feet is insisted on for each child—but, we had forgot, rides do not apply to Hamilton East. That district is exceptionally treated by the Central Board of Education, and therefore it {natters little that the school roll, which rpighJ} number 100, stands nominally at 84, and the windows having to be opened in order to let the foul air escape, the attendance is still further reduced by the sespre colds which sonje of the xpore delicate of the childien have takep in consequence. How the Central Board expect that any teachers pan enforce proper school discipline among so many young children, in so small a space, wo are at a loss to understand. But what does it matter ? The local committee has to be taught a lesson in official etiquette. It has ruffied the dignity of the august Central Board, and. the parents and the children must suffer., And this is government from a Provincial centre in the matter of education !

Town Acres, Hamilton West.— Messrs Hesketh and Richmond have, we see, two town acres for sale in Hamilton West—namely, Nos 35 and 36.

Thb Chbonologioal Tbee ob New Zealand will be on view at Lewis's Hotel, Te Awamutu, to-day and Monday, and at Finch's Hotel, Alexandra, on Tuesday and Wednesday next.

Fubnitube Sale.—We would remind our readers that Mr Knox's sale of the furniture and effects of Mr J L Longbottom takes place at Hamilton West this afternoon.

Church Service, Cambridge.— In consequence of the Kev Mr Penny taking the morning set vice at Hamiltou, the Rev Mr Calder will hold service and preach at Cambridge at 11 a.m. Ba*k Building.—Plans and specifications of the new Bank premises to be erected lor the Bank of New Zealand in Hamilton, may be seen at the local Bank, on and after Monday nexc. Raglan and Waipa Road —The Wellington correspondents ot the Auckland papers, we see, confirm the statement we published more than a week ago, that the immediate laying off the above road was ordered by the Government.

A Meeting op County Batepayehs of the riding of Cambridge will be Held this ufternoo ~ at haJfpast 2 o'clook, at the National Hotel, Cambridge, to consider certain matters affecting the interests of the riding. Auckland and Ohaupo Extension. —Yt-steiday the survey party lefo Hamilton with their effects lor Ohaupo to at once commence the survey of the railway line from that place to Te Awamutu. It is expected that the work of surveying tbs line wid not take longer than about three weeks, when tenders for the construction of the work will bo at once called for.

Sale oe Farm Implements and Storks.—Messrs Grant and Morton will hold a sale at Hamilton next Saturd ly, of a vaiiety of goods in the estate of Mi- A A Brissenden, which, for convenience of sale, will be removed from the farm ai Waikarei Lake, to Hamilton. They consist of farm implements and the stock of tlie store, comprising groceries, saddlery, drapery, ironmongery and other goods.

At the Resident Magistrates Court, Hamilton, on Tuesday tuere were only tuiee cases. W Ueid v Te aihi—claim, £3 10 21; judgment by default, with' c sts lbs, James Martin v Hakopa te Waharou—claim, £4 10 3 ; judgment for j plaintiff, with coat 13a. B C Beal v James Innes. This was a j debt for £5 Is. Defendent was oidered to pay the amount, with coats £1 6s 6.1 in installments of £2 in Maicu, £2 iu April, and the valance in May, or iu deiauit one inouihi iuprisonm nt. Tkb Ma.jki boy Kapara, who is ten or eleven not nine years of age as at first stated, and who wusin Ngaruawahia gaol at the same time with Morgan and the murderer Te Puti, was sent to Auckland on Wednesday h.st in charge of a uative policeman, tic has been taken charge ot by the officers of the .\ ative Department u.itil the sitting of the criminal sessions when the trial of Te Pati for the murder of Morgan, will take place. Kap*i a wdl be able to give important information; first that Morgan was not in the habit, as stated by Te Pali, of using insuring language to him at meals, and secondly, as to au overture Dy Te Pati, to himself to. assist in killing some Pakeha and effecting an escape together from the gaol. At the Ngaruawahia R M Court held on Tuesday before W N Searancke, Ksq, B M, a native named Tatie, charged wi hj disorderly conduct was fined 103 and costs Bs. There were a number of small debt oases. In the oase of H Lewis v H Hubert, claim £3 lis 6d, the plaintiff was nonsuited; H. Hubert v Tahen, claim £2 Is 4d ; ju Jginent lor plaint tf for 13s 41. Juoguients for plaint ffs witn coats were awarded iu the following cases :--Edgcumbe v J Crawford, £J Is l Jd; T V FitzPatrick v J Artingstall £1 lis 31 ; same v E Bestie, £3 2s Hd ; s*me v J S Coppock, £1 5s ; same v W J Jamison, £1 7s Id j same v W Lyall, £2 16i3d;8ame vE Lockhart, £2; Bume v J O'Hagan, £1 15 3 sd; sain-; v H Ru, kie, £2 16s 3d ; same v J Williams, £1 9i 2d j same y Hugh Tnruer, £2 16s 3d. The last nine cases were for nonpayment of rates. The Hikurangi Meeting.—At the native meeting held at thkuraugi, on briday last, there were nearly a thousand adult natives ihe meeting was not a political one, but entirely coutiued to tbeir religious affairs. Tawhiao is desirous that all the Kingites should ■:«.me and settle in the neighbourhood of and form a large town there after the manner of Europeans. Tue Ngatipuhiawe people, with the amiable Tapihaua and Pikia, formed a large procession rouud the camp, Tawihao's wfeof the tube, with her child, being sealed in the centre with a luge tin dish on a mat, in great state. Tapihana »md fikia made great speeches, to ihe effect, that all the tribes should give their 3ontributions to support the dignity of their King, as they had done when Potatau was first elected. At the conclusion of their speeches, each walked up, men, women and children, and deposited their coin in the dish. The money was afterwards counted up, and found to amount, to the sura of £ll 10s. The idea was received with great laughter and derision, especially when ihe total amount was madeknowo. The Ngatimaniapoto wanted to know why Ta, ihaua, Pikia and Co had not brought flour or food of some kind or other to help the commissariat department of the meeting? A scramble* was about to ensu«J for the ojritentsof the lish, when Mrs Tawhiao No 3, promptly gathered it up, announcing her intenion of appropriating it to her own benefi . Another raeetin i is to be called at Hikurangi on the 16th June next. The Crops, Canterbury —Mr J B tftiy, in bu report of iks 28th February, says:—ln-the early pirt of the month, and during the most critical portion of the harvest time, when but a very -mall percentage of the cereals was in stack, »nd nearly all cut or lying on the ground or in stqck it rained almost incessantly for at least eight days. The result is, as might be expected, that but little of our crop will be in souud condition. The wheat is very generally sprouted, samples varying considerably, and those places which have heen accustomed to obtain tfyeir supplies from this murket will be compelled $Q import largely frqrn Adelaide or America dry to mix with our goft articje. I am convinced "fhat no grain merchant could take an ordec tq Bupply a cargo of entirely sound milling wheat, The oats are discolour*J, but have not suffered so severely a< the wheat. For wheat, purchasers are freely giving fo 6d and 6s in Christchurch for what little sound is offering, anl from 3s 9d to 43 6.1 (or that slightly .-prouled but fit io mill. Oa's ; ; 2s tji in being given by merchants and speculators for "deli very 1h thfc. neighbourhood of Christchureh. The Auckland Labour Market and l^niieutA/riON. —Although a cousiderble number of'the jimujgrants wh, > nrrivel bv ship Oxford have euh>-r fou-id employ. nii'Lt or been received by friends, there still remain in the t.arracks 10 marne.l couples. 55 fingle moo, and live siuglo

women. One of tbe latter js, wc understand, ill, end Bome s othejifitatea'i of seeking employment precepting such hs offers, are waiting until their parents procure work, when they; intend to go to them. Major Green, Immigration Officer, does not, however, see matters in this light, thinking it unfair t„iat the Barracks should be occupied and rations provided for those who ought to bo able to provide for themselves by accepting situations as servants, and he gave instructions yestirdiy to give them notice tb.it if tliey re"u>e employment thej must leave the B irraok/. Ihe men are pushing themselves gradually into work notwithsta'idmg the presenG jdepression in the labour market, and we have no doubt tint before Jong those who remain will be ab<orbed into the popu adou and be uiefully empbyu.l in tbe town or country, Inquiries h;tve bejn m.ide by some who tliink it is unwistto import more immigrants in tl.e present state of t<ie lap ur market, as to whether any furher immigrant ships have been laid on for Auckl.ml, or wh.-ther the Oxford is the last. Upon inquiring at the Immigration Office yesterday, we were informed tint no others are telegraph d m present, but thei-e is no eerta.nty as to whe hertiiestreim of s to Auck lani is c.-moleti-ly closed

St Patuick's D it, Hamilton East.— A meeting well attended *as held, on Thursday evening at Hamilton iL&it to consider the advUabili y of orj»a ising sports for St Patrick's Day. Mr James Combes in the ch*ir. Alter the usual business the following gentlemen were elected to curry out the ideas of the meeting (with power to add to their number), Chas Tippin, A Doughs. Jas Coomos, J Highley. A e amount of ■noney was subscribed prior to the meet mg breaking up, Tbe subscription list now lies at the Royal Hotel. We understand a Ball will cor.clule the daysaißuuement.

An American writer, who signs the noui de plu.ue of 4 Gar,' saya souie hard things of the laiJirs of San Francisco. He asserts tha toey meet at what are cad. d* long lua.;h».B,' and for five long hours—from 2 p.m. tj 7 p.m.—'gorge' themselves at 'a stand-up feast,' which is ' aucompauiod witb an immense flaw ot ohampague. an I with a Butfuieney ot cordials, Mioh as Cnartreuse and Maraschino,' until tue fair creatures becum • iut'xicated Thi*, Gar' affirms, is a • learn e ' cf San Francisco soci-ty, a relic of past barbarism whch ' receive tue sanction' of the ladies of the highest rank in. the city. Thg Te Awamutu Station.—Wisir in ih«ir geuei-asi..n tnau the children o» Mamiltou, tlie To AAamutiins are already beginning to advocate the carrying the railway right up to their township A correnpo,,d.'ut, undor tue ' IV Awamitu,' aays :—Sir, —Allow raj to say >.h»t ihe sit" of the station should belaid off near the township. One reison is, iieyond the convenience of the public, ihit it will be found, that a branch line iu trt« direction of Kihikihi and Orakau, alonp'.iie valley of the Mangahau, wilt [•rove Co be a rich feeder to the main li U b. Tue Church Misbioh property at Kaira mutu seems the very spot for the station, being at the junction of all ihe roads. This extension is more important th»u the public generally suppose, uud no mistake sh-.uld be made in the station in this instance.—l am, &c, Te AwaMUTU.

The Fritz Karl Troupe will, by permission of Colonel Lyon, appear, on Monday night next, iu the large room at tlie Barracks, Hamilton West, when the distinguished patronage secured will doubt ess obtain for them a full attendance of the public; the more espeoian> as they will be assisted in their performances be the leading amateurs iu Hamilton. During the past week, the Company has been playing to crowded and delighted houses in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Alexandra, where the i-cfcing of Miss Lyst-Mi aud Mr Cuarl Ke< 1 y has be< n s okea of in terms of grt-at commendation, ami tho muno.l anilities of Herr -onott duly appreciated. Moailay night wi.L we he ieve, be tue las. on wh.ch a Waikato audience will hav< th« opportunity of viaitiug this clever performance. Octr Coppsr Coloured Eoialty -

The Auckland " dtar" po.»es the following fvu afc ihe p nch-beck royalty at Hikurangi :-- "dome of the ancient Kings Sit on thrones of gold and iv..ry. Tne rung of Dlhi used to perch hhmeif on a throne of pure yold Tae Au'iean Mon-

arohs, whose name is legionf sit on lion skins, lint, it has been r. s >rved ior the "»ew Zadanders to discover an on'giuai aryle of throne which puts a 1 the. rest of them i -to the shade. Queen T twhiao, or, i as she is termed by an irreverent scribe of the press; 'Tawhiao's Wif-,'at a recent meeting at Hikurangi w.s seatod with her child— the heir apparent uf course—on a 'mat,' 'in great state..' Alien an appeal was made on behalf of the Hoy*l Treasury, which is said to be in a very bad 86 te of vacuity, a tin-dish doing duty for a hvt, w is sent round, and the sum of £ll 10s was raised, whether in coppers or not, the chronicler sayel.li uot. The Ngatimaniapoto were curious as to the ultimate disposal of the £ll 10s, and expresseJ aonie disgust at Lhe cjuspiouous übsr-ni-e of tliac royal hospitality which ought to ch iracterise all great, state cererno. ies. Some of the party threatened to mak-j a descent on the \ replenished treasury, when Tawhiao's

wife, number three, suidenly grabbed up the con-ents of the di9h and fle i from the scene. Tuis is how they play at royalty in .viaoridoin. Hamilton Assessment Court.

Major Mair held an Assessment Court yesterday for the Hamilton District:, wheu the following appeals wero he.«rd : Mr Gribble objected to the amount, levied, and the ratable value of his farm was reduce 1 from £ISJ to 106 ss. Th* lirotest oi Mr S Jackson.ot Remuera that he was not the owner of ceruiu lots with wbioh he *as cr di ed being admitted by the valuer, his name w.s struck.off. Mr Hume, |in like manner ol.jeote I to be rendered liable f .r lot-. 112 aud 113, an.l at the instance of the valuer lot IL3 was entered as be ig to Air W Aiken, a.a lot 112 to Mr Odlum. Mr A E Cox protested against the excess of area and the estimated value ascribe 1 to the j »int property of himself aua Mr Wiliamson It was only within the last few days he had ascertained tha exact acreage, and the list of property owued by theuj in the Hamilton and Mangapiko districts was 21 268 acres. Of this they had b eu rated lor 2450 acres in the Mangapiko dissrijt and therefore thero only remained an area «J 1§.813 acres still to be rated by the Hamilton district instead of the 21329 acres which had been {.laced upon ihbstr The valuer pointed out that some 7&P acres qf the area claimed by the Mangipiko district as within it really be lou L Qd to the Hamilton district- but u« levod that the matter could be amici. ahly airauged betweeu flu to two districts if the Court we-e adjournal. The court then adjourned till Tuesday, the 3rd of April, to allow of an understanding being ome to between the two districts as regards the acreage iu oath. hj

Thk Cottage of Content Hotel Victoria and Hobson Streets, Auckland W. B. Langbridge, Proprietor, been Enlarged and Improved, atfor is unequalled Accommodation, ,-uid will be f H d_a Bealy, Weh-ap, oiule.l, class H/te'.—OiMT.]