The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1878

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 895, 19 March 1878, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1878

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

The visit of the Hon. Mr Sheehan to the Upper Thames country has not been without profitable result. He arrived there only on Friday I evening, and bad to reiuru to Grabamstown by seven o'clock the next morning, but during the night of Friday he brought the nativos to business with a most remarkable success. One old gentleman quoted Sctipture, objecting to go into the matter, saying that the Na.ive Minister came like a thief m the night, but Mr Sheehan adroitly turned the tables upon him by admitting that this might apply as between Maoris and Maoris, but not m the case of the Pakeha who worked day and night. Tukukino himself was not present, but was represented by an influential deputation, and Hata Paka, who is his right hand man, stated that the Maoris of Hanraki looked at the Native Minister not as a Minister or member of the Government, but as a doctor who had come to cure them of the many diseases under which they were now labouring. And this, we believe, is to a very great extent the feeling with respect to Mr Sheehan held by the natives generally. It was said of him, when he first took office, that though he knew much of native matters he was himself little known to the Datives. This is far from being the case. A man so much mixed up with native business as Mr Sheehan has been, and with the strong Maori proclivities which Mr Sheehan possesses, cannot be unknown to a people amongst whom news and inforjmation of current events passes with such swiftness and regularity, and who read the ' Hansard ' reports with an assiduity that would shame the majority of Europeans m the colony. The truth is Mr Sheehan is both well and favourably known to the natives, and we much mistake if the matia of personal influence, which is the sine qu& non to successful intercourse with the Maori, is not po.ses ed by him iv an eminent degree, as it was by his predecessor m office. If the poet is born aud not made, so is the successful Maori doctor. There is a natural affinity between the natives and himself which brings them at

once en rapport with each ot! er. Anyone who knows anything of the natives knows this, that no nun can succeed with them unless he has this affinity, or. manner, or whatever we may call it. And this we believe Mr Sheehan posseses m an eminent degree. An ordinary observer could have noted it at the banquet given at Hamilton recently, if he had but glanced at the faces of the several natives present as they li-tened to the Native Minister. There was a look of pride and pleasure blended, as if one should say "see how well hef talks, this man who is one of us and oars." And Mr Sheehan lias shown himself one who is fully capable of dealing with the Maori m their last interview of Friday night. He did nob pander to them ; far from it. He told them plainly that if they looked on him as a doctor they must do as they did with a doctor, take his medicine, however unpalatable — and they took it. He upbraided them with their action m opposing the formation of roads and bridges, telling them plainly that "he was determined to take land for roads and erect bridges whenever and whereever the public convenience might require." He upbraided them with their neglect and lukewarmness m the cause of education, stating that while the Government were prepared to assist m every way m the opening aud maintaningof schools, they had never stirred a finger m the matter ; — that while they neglected to send fcheir children to school, and spent the balk of the proceeds of their land sales m drink, they could never hope to realise that which they professed to be their principal aim, the becoming equal to the Europeans m the occupation and settlement of the country. All this and more Mi Sheehan told them, and the result was that before he left the chiefs concerned m the making of the roads had given their consent t 0 tbe making of the. road according to the plans of the County Engineer, and many influential natives speaking after him admitted the correctness of his remarks, and promised a better state of things m future. But the Native Minister's negotiations went a step further, and the greater part of the night was spent discussing by torchlight the long vexed question of title to the Aroha block, which ended m the whole party agreeing to adopt the Native Minister's proposal to put the land through the Native Lands Court so aa to determine the persons who were entitled to receive the money which the Government was paying for the freehold of the block. This is the block which was promised to Mr Broomhall, and with the title to which many serious difficulties had arisen, and though we may note with satisfaction the manner m which Mr Sheehan has disentangled those difficulties, we cannot but regret that the Government to which he belongs still persists m the^ detertaination to hand over the block to Broomhall, when m all justice he forfeited his claim to it by not carrying out his first arrangement. Mr Broomhall was not prepared to carr . out his scheme as at first arranged, and m giving him the term, they afterwards did we cannot but think the Auckland Waste Lands Board exceeded their powers. The original arrangement was bad enough — ' that the land which had been promised for years to the hundreds ot miners and otcers at the Thames who were seeking an outlet for their capital and energy, shoald be given to strangers at less thanitß real value. This, we say. was bad enough — but when Mr Bioomhall showed himself to be, what we always maintained he was, a selfish speculator*, endeavouring to float a company for purely commercial interests, and was unnble to carry out his original engagement, it was the duty of the Waste Lands Board to have foreclosed upon the arrangement at once, instead of consenting to defer the time of payment to 1883. The question is one, however, which we trust we have not heard the end of, and that protest and action will be taken m the matter to prevent this wholesale alienation of the land of the people — this taking the children's bread and casting it to the dogs.

Road Cleaetno.— Tenders will be received for clearing some 80 to 100 chains of road fit for the plough, by the Cambridge District Highway Board, up to 4 p.m. this day. Messes Htjntee and Nolan's Cambridge cattle sale will take place on Thursday next, when a number of fat cattle, stores, sheep, horses, and pigs will be offered. Cambridge District School. — The Board of Education is advertising for the services of an assistant female teacher for the above school. Applications will be received not later than Thursday next. The Government of New South Wales intends to prohibit the importation of sheep from this colony, unless our Government is m a position to give assurances that scab does not exist m New Zealand. Ha__ilton Borough Council Chambers. — Tenders for alterations and additions to the immigrants' cottage, granted for the use of the borough as Council Chambers, will be received by Mr T. H. White until noon, to-day. Tenders for alterations and additions to Walker's National Hotel, Cambridge, will be received by the architect, Mr T. H. White, on or before Tuesday next, the 26th instant. The defaulting ratepayers of the late West and East Hamilton Town Boards, whose rates are now the property of the Borough Council, had better be stirring m the matter of paying a visit to the collector, Mr J. M. Gelling. A notice appears m our advertising columns that all ratepayers who shall not have paid, then- over-due rates by the 20th inst. will be handed over to the tormentors until they shall have paid the uttermost farthing. '

A private telegram received m Auckland from Mr Owen McGee says:— i " Brutal weights are imposed on Perfume, I and unjustifiable weight on Luna for < East Tamaki Races. AU my four horses t are scratched." ] Cambridge Farmers' Club.— We "yesterday received the essay on rotation of ! crops, read at the meeting of Saturday last, but not the discussion upon it or the report of the proceedings. We therefore hold the former over till we can publish ; both together. Presbyterian Church Concert, Cambridge. — It was formerly announced m the Waikato Times that the concert m aid of the building fund of the above church would take place on Thursday next the 21st inst., but it has since been determined that it shall be held on the succeeding day, Friday the 22nd inst., as will be seen by advertisement elsewhere. The selections of vocal and instrumental music will be given under the leadership of Mr C. D. Mackintosh. Furniture Sale, Hamilton. — This afternoon, at 2 o'clock, Messrs J. D. and K. Hill will offer for sale, at the late residence of Mr H. H. Taylor, Ohaupo Road, Hamilton West, the whole of his household furniture and effects. The furniture is entirely new, as the house was newly furnished when Mr Taylor married — little more than a month ago, and the whole will be sold without reserve, as that gentleman has already left the district, having been removed to Taranaki by the Bank. Wesleyan Soiree and Entertainment^ Te Awamutu, — We would remind our readers that the soiree and musical entertainment, m aid of the building fund of the Wesleyan Chapel at' Te Awamutu, will take place m the Public Hall, Te Awamutu, to-morrow evening. It is hoped that a liberal response, on the part of the general public, wiR enable the congregation to very considerably reduce the debt upon the church. Addresses' will be given by clergymen of other denominations, and the same general assistance will be rendered by musical amateurs. So, too, m like manner, it is to be hoped not merely the members of the Wesleyan body, but those of other religious denominations will join heartily m the good work. A Lady Dootob writes : — " More quarrels arise between husbands and wives owing to electrical changes, through which their nervous systems go by lodging together, night after night, under the same bedclothes, than by any other disturbing cause. There is nothing that will derange the nervous system of a person who is eliminative m nervous force like lying m bed all night with another person who is almost absorbent m nervous ( force. The absorber will go to sleep and rest all night, while the eliminator will be tossing and tumbling, restless and nervous, and wake up m the morning fretful, peevish, and disheartened. No two persons, no matter who they are, should habitually sleep together. One will thrive and one will lose. This is the law." Mb Fitzgerald's Carrots, grown at Whatawhata, have met their match. As mentioned m the Times, of the 12th inst., carrots sent by that gentleman to this office weighed 2£lbs each. This has put i other Whatawhata settlers on their ; mettle, and, yesterday, Mr Rothwell forwarded to this office a quantity of carrots — both red and white — which, on being weighed, showed an average weight of 3£lbs each root. What makes these roots , the more remarkable is that they were grown m a field on ti-tree scrub land, cleared and ploughed for the first time. The red carrots are a well-grown sample ; the white somewhat knobby, but they . practically demonstrate that the Whata- , whata flats can hold a candle to the best soils m Waikato. At the Police Court, m Auckland, on Thursday, Bidulia Feeney, a middle-aged woman, youthfully dressed, was charged with travelling from Hamilton to Auckland m a carriage of a superior class to that for which she had paid. When the case was brought before the Court, the defendant said that the guard of the train had been very rude, and had called her : " Madame," when '' anyone could see ■ with half an eye " that she was " Mademoiselle." Miss Feeney pleaded guilty to having travelled for a few minutes m a first-class carriage, but not longer. The guard of the train m question stated , that Miss Feeney travelled aR the way m •a first-class carriage, and, when asked for the difference between the fares, black- ' guarded him m a mo^t unladylike manner, i calling him an imposter, and using very abusive language. Miss Feeney said that she " never didn't." She was, however, fined 20s and costs. The Press Agency is responsible for the following native intelligence : — " It is not probable that Tawhiao will meet Sir George Grey this month. There is a difficulty. It appears that at last Hikurangi meeting some cattle were killed and cooked m their own fat, these cattle having been stolen from Messrs. Douglas and Walker's stations. Mr Walker seized a bullock-dray loaded with kerosene tins, containing the meat, and refused to give up possession of the team, having lost £500 worth of cattle. Te Ngakau demands restoration of his team, and a correspondence with the Government has been going on concerning the matter. Te Ngakau declares that if his team is not returned he will drive aU the cattle from the run. Mi Walker remains firm. Sir George Grey is not likely to meet the King till this matter is arranged. Some of the cattle killed at last meeting came from the same run. 'Discovery op Limestone Caves and Human Remains. — A Napier correspondent gives an account of some limestone caves which have been discovered near Te Aute. They are described as being of magnificent beauty, with stalactites hanging from the roof and sides. One cave that was very extensive, had many lateral chambers. There were columns strewed about, some whole and some broken, rendering progress difficult. In one place there was a miniature lake surrounded with pale green shrubs. In another, the exploring party came upon a number of petrified bones, some verylarge, and, also, three hnman figures— a man, woman, and child. Near the group, on the opposite side of the cave, there were rude sketches of warfare. The countenances were, apparently, not of the present race of Maoris. The discovery has been placed m the hands of the Government. Proposed Visit of the Governor to the Waikato. — Yesterday's < Herald ' states that His Excellency the Governor, with Colonel Whitmore (Colonial Secretary), and suite, will pay a visit to the Thames on Wednesday. The party will be conveyed by H.M.s. Nymphe. On returning from the Thames, His Excellency and the Colonial Secretary will leave Auckland for Waikato, and it is thought they will attend a review of the Waikato Cavalry, to be held at Hamilton or Te Awamutu. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, who has returned from his visit to the East Coast, has inspected the Cavalry I Volunteers at Opotiki. This body made a very creditable turn-out, displaying good drill and an excellent spirit. He was afterwards interviewed by the Chairman of the County Council, regarding various wants of the district, which the Minister admitted had been too long neglected, and he agreed to supply the i more pressing- nepds of the district, i

The Wire Down. — Whenever the news from Europe promises to be more than usually interesting, and the Conference of European Powers was to sit on the Eastern question on Friday last, down goes the telegraph wire somewhere on the Darwin line. This has oocurred not once or twice, but often, and we cannot but ask is it a purely fortuitous occurrence? At any rate the following telegram was received m Auckland yesterday morning from Wakapuaka : — " The Port Darwin line is interrupted today north of Port Augusta." If Australia has its " snake season for journalists, m New Zealand the big potato and monster turnip season cornea to the rescue just before the meeting of the Assembly — when news is dull, — and serves to make a pleasing change from the political canards which are freely bandied about at this time> We lately noticed some monster carrots, grown at Whatawhata. Mr Banks, of the Ohaupo Road, very properly considers that, useful vegetable as the carrot is m the manufacture of editorial soup, other ingredients are necessary, and has forwarded to this office a string of splendid onions (white Spanish), as a sample of whhat can bo grown at Ohaupo. Three of these weigh 4lbs 220Z8, and that fact speaks for itself. They are firm, sound, and well-shaped, and the grower, who has a considerabls crop, should have no difficulty m getting rid of them. He has certainly, we think, taken the best possible way.