The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 992, 31 October 1878, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

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

The House was bu3y on Tuesday and again yesterday, in passing through the estimatos. In the Legislative Council, considerable obstruction has been placed in the way of Government measures. A strong opposition was made to the Public Works Bill, but, ultimately, the second reading was carried on the voices. The Railway Construction Bill had also a narrow escape in the Upper House, the second reading being only carried on a division by a majority of two, the numbers being,, for the second reading, seventeen . against fifteen. In the Assembly, on Tuesday, a resolution that the next session of Parliament be held in Christchurch, in order to consult the convenience of members, was carried by twentynine to twenty-eight. The following was the division list:—

Ayes :—Atkinson, Baigent, Barft* J. C. Brown (Tuapeka), Dignan* Fisher, Filzroy, Green, Henry, Hislop, Hobbs, Hursthouse, Joyce* Macfarlane, Montgomery, MurrayAynsley, Oliver, O'Rorke, Rowe, Saunders, Shrimski, Swanson, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis, Wason, Williams, Woolcock. Noes : Ballance, Barton Bewen,/ Bunny, Carrington, Curtis, Djb Latour, Feldwick, Fox, George, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hodgkinson, Johnson, Kelly, McMinn, Nfthe, Pyke, Reeves, Richmond, Rolleston, Sharp, Shechan, Stout, Takamoana, Wood. The same day the Native Minister, Mr Sheehan announced that it would be satisfactory for the House to learn that, in view of the critical position of European affairs, it was not likely that any internal disorder would arise. The Waiapu Pass had been abandoned. Our telegrams of last night would indicate that the prorogation cannot po3sibly, as was expected, take place to-day.

The result of the discussion which took place at the Borough Council meeting at Hamilton, on Monday evening last, in reference to monetary expenses in connection with the borough incurred by the Mayor during his term of office, places the council, the mayor, and the burgesses in a false position. No claim hud been made by the Mayor on the funds of the borough, but at a previous meeting a statement shewing him to be some .£Bl out of pocket had been made, the Mayor observing at the time, that there was some iilG or £\B of thia which he did not expect to be taken into account. The Council asked that the detailed statement of the items of the gross sum should be furnished for their csnsideration. The Mayor said they must take his word for its correctness and fairness, and a somewhat hot discussion arose upon a particular item of five guineas, the presence of which in the bill of costs was privately known to members. The Mayor left the Council, and dming his absence it was (resolved that the legiti mite expenses incurred by the Mayor, on behalf of the Borough Council, should be repaid him. This, of course, involved the production of a detailed account, and such was furnished on Monday night last, and was found to amount to some £53, the objectionable item of five guineas, the larger sum referred to by the Mayor himself, and some other items having been excised. Unfortunately, His Worship, when the consideration of this statement came forward on Monday, evening, did not vacate the ebair, and the criticism of two members of the Council in reference to certain item-', having considerably irritated him, he tore up the bill of particulars, exclaiming, "Thia pu»« an end to the discussion. I will make th»» Borough a present of the money." This is ho.v the affair now stands between the Borough the Council and the Mayor. The matter, liowever, cannot be left in this position. The Mayor, by his action, has not cut the Gordian Knot, but, unfortunately, has only still further entangled it. Had the question beenleft altogether to the consideration of the Council, the whole of the Members, we believe, with the exception of the two Councillors who. by their hostile criticism, provoked his Worship to withdraw the statement, would have voted for the payment of the £53, and the burgesses would have upheld their action in doing «o. It is one thing for the Mayor to accept, the duties and responsibilities of office without salary, for the honor of the position, another thing altogether t« aak him, in addition to this, to entert&i« our guests, and travel on borough bu sfoGW, at his own private ppense. Jf we <^me

the position aud dignity of a borough, aud look to the Government for the consideration which such position entitles uj to, we must not shirk our responsibilities, or hesitsite to maintain the position, and we much mistake the temper of the ratepayers of Hamilton, it there be found among them, any considerable number who would begrudge the cost, and that, too, in the faco of thi exceedinly liberal maimer in which the interest and welfare of the Borough has been dealt vrith by the G)vernment. There can, indeed, be but one opinion, that the Mayor, as our representative, could ha?e done no less. , "' i The matter, as we have said, must not remain as ib is. For the Mayor to go out of office, saddled with the cost ot an outlay which was a fair and legitimate charge upon the Borough funds, would bo a grave scandal to the burgesses. By withdrawing his bill of costs, he ha.j left the Council but one alternative, and that is to rote, as salary, a sum that will cover these expenses, and, for the honor and giod name of the Borough, such vote will, we trust, receive the cordial assent of both the Council and the burgesses at large.

The Supplementary Estimates were brought down to the House on Weduesday night. The amounts in full are £94,295 additional, chargeable on the consolidated fund, and £686,203 on the public works fund. The following are some of the items : —Lunatic asylums, teacher Deaf and Dumb Institution, ,£4OO. Postal—chief officer, Auckland, suburban letter carriers delivery (6 months), £175. Marine— natire Training School, repairs and additions to buildings, £200; in aid of establishment of Sailors' Homes, £SOO each to Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. Education—scholarships (additional), £125; expenses of Royal Commission on the New Zealand University and secondary education, £IOO • native clerk at Alexandra, £I2E , T. VV. Porter, compensation for loss of office (also Constabulary estimates, £100), £100; Native schools, Auckland, Taupo, 4 months, £4O; Militia and Volunteers, purchaseSnidei ammunition (additional), £3500 ; Volunteer Rifle Association, £2OOO ; Constabulary retiring allowances (additional), £3OOO ; extra pay for constabulary, £3855; Gold Gelds Mining Inspector, Hauraki (addi. tional), £SO; rent of Tokatea block, Coromandel, allowance to A. J. Allom, lor services as receiver of gold revenue at Ohinemuri, from 1875 to 1877, £l5O. Miscellaneous: —Rev. T. S. Grace, compensation i tor losses during the native disturI bances, awarded by Commissioner Beckham in February, 1878, £2069 12s ; gratuity to Susannah Lowiy, widow of the late head-keeper of the Auckland Asylum, £150; John \ Anderton, Mahurangi, payment of Supreme Court expenses in connection with an incorrect survey, £3BO 5s 4d \ anchor and cable testing apparatus for Auckland, Wellington. Lytthton, and Dunedin, £3000; County Council Thames, fees received in 1877-78 from Thames water-race, £1,122 0s 6d; F. VV. Paul, late captain Hauraki Hi tie Volunteers, for injury sustained to his eye while marking a range, £SO; subsidy to Volunteer Hall at Hamilton. £IOO ; J. S. Craig, compensation for loss sustained in connection with irregularities in the Engineer Volunteer Militia Corps in 1875, £105 ; William Garrick, compensation for an injury received in Auckland Militia in 1864, £75 ; railway fares for Volunteers and Fire Brigades, £509 ; in settlement of the claims of Mrs Meurant, £2,088 15s 3d; roads in native districts, North Island (additional,) £600; repairing roads in Auckland and expenses of collecting tolls, £4500; salary of Puhoi ferryman, one year, from 31st December, 1877, £2l ; unexpended balance of vote of £I2OO for purchase and improvement of recreation ground at the Thames. £400; H. W. Farnall, in final settlement of a claim on account of services rendered as an immigration agent, £250; Waterworks on Goldfields, Thames, construction and supervision (additional), £6500. Public Buildings : Court-house at Papakurn, £250; Court-house at Port Albert, £7O; compensation to Captain Thomas McDonnell for loss of office, £4OO. Miscellaneous Public Works : Harbor defences, £44,000 ; roads iu deferred p>yment blocks disposed of prior to Ist Janjary, 1878, £10,000; for loans to local governing bo'lies to enable them to repair damages caused by the recent floods, £50,000. North Island lines authorised bv the Railway Construction Act, 1878: Wellington to Foxton, by West Coastj £15.000 , Waiotatara River to Upper Patea crossing, £40,000; Te Awamutu to New Plymouth (additional), £12,000 ; Masterton to Papatu, via Wood villa, £15,000; "Waikato to the Thames (additional), £30,000; branch line to Hamilton (additional), £2000; Helensville to Kaukapakapa River, £2OOO ; Whangarei to Kamo, £SOOO. £IOO,OOO is put down for additional rails, if found advisable to take advantage of the market.

The nominations for the Auckland races, and several notices (under the Counties Act) of elections to take place lor the Ridings of Karioi, Newcastle, T&ofaotroa, Maugapiko, Rangiaoliift, and Pukckurs,, will he found on our fourth page. Mb Mojjtaou Pvm sold o« Monday the sand-hills property at Dunedin, belonging to the Forbury Park Company, for f, ?OW, being over #(500 per acre.

Waikato Coal. The "Wellington 1 Post' has au article upon the moans to be adopted to increase the production of coal in Now Zealand. We quote the following:—"Th.) distance of the principal Waikato mine from Auckland is 0.5 miles, and the railway charges ate 8s 7d per ton. Were the tariff fixed at the universal maximum rate of Id per ton per mile, or say (is per ton, the Waikato coal would then compete with the castle coal in Auckland, to tho great advantage of Auckland and the colony in grneral. We fail to see any valid reason why our railways should not transport coal as cheaply as is tho case in New South Wales. The gradients on the lines aro not so heavy, and thj fuel equally cheap—tho Waikato coal, at Gs per ton, being used by the locomotives as fuel. A special sitting in banco was held on Monday, and tho business before tho Court was more than usually important. Mr Lusk moved for a new trial in tho case of McGee v. the Auckland Racing Club. His Honor said he would grant the now trial on one point, but this decision was not accepted ; and Air Lusk moved for leave to appeal upon other grounds, which was granted. It is thought in Melbourne that there is a strong probability that tho Marquis of itformanby will bo tho new Governor of Victoria. It is considered moro than likely that Sir Hercules Robinson will go to the Cape, and Sir Bartle Frero be moved on to Madras. It is understood that Lord Normanby would have much preferred New B«'outh Wales, and that he was # not particularly ambitious for appointment to Victoria.

Thk Secretary of the Cambridge Agricultural Show advertises, desiring all those who have not yet paid their subscriptions to do so at once. This is done to enable tho Society to square up the accounts of the late Show. "Waikato Petition.—ln glancing at the business of the Private Grievances Committee appointed by tho Assembly to consider the several petitions from individuals, we find the following Waikato cases referred to:—Alfred Cox, and others of "Waikato, petitioners, give a resume of the case of the Auckland city Inspector of Sheep v. Thomas Jolly, sheep farmer, of Waikato, from which it appears Jolly was fined £5 for suffering sheep infected with scab to be driven along a highway. The petitioners state that Mr Jolly had a clean certificate from the Waikato, and sent in his sheep to Auckland for sale, and it appears to them very unjust that, after sheep are passed by the District Inspector, they are still liable to have their sheep condemned when they arrive in Auckland market. They pray that relief be afforded him. The Committee, haying considered petitioners' case, are of opinion that it should be inquired into by the Grovernment, as the matter is one of considerable importance to flock-owners. Also, that of Charles Henry Edwards, who prays that the House will grant him compensation for loss sustained by being compelled to abandon his farm, and a portion of his effects and live stock at Rahuipukeko, in the Waikato district, in 1868, on an alarm consequent on the massacre at Poverty Bay by Te Kooti, and was ultimately compelled to sell his farm at great sacrifice. The Committee report that as this is a claim for consequential losses arising out of native disturbance on the frontier settlement, they have no recommendation to make. A pavoeama of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 is being exhibited in the Waikato townships at the present time. It appeared last night at Te Awamutu, where it was well patronised, and is advertised for Kihikihi school-house this evening, and for Alexandra to-morrow evening. The advertisement appears on our third page. The panorama is rendered more attractive by the aid of a couple of bands ; tho brass band parades the town, and the string band plays during the performance. The scenes are well and vividly painted, and the likenesses with which the panorama is sprinkled are very strikingly depicted. Among those views which call for special notice, is " The Watch on the Rhine," a really good descriptive piece of painting, and one representing the well-known interview between King William and the Emperor Napoleon. An exchange, speaking of the exhibition, says:—" The views are well and spiritedly painted, and the likenesses are most lifelike. The larger portion of the audience consisted of children, parents thus taking advantage of perhaps the best way of giving their children an idea of what war really is, with its strange mingling of pomp and horror, glory and death, while adding to their historical knowledge." The usual monthly meeting of the Rangiaohia Highway Board was held at Te Awamutu on Saturday last, when the following tenders were accepted for the works recently advertised:—No. 1, forming and repairing, from Burke's to Fleming's Corner, 11. Kripner, 9s per chain; No. 2, constructing bridge at Te Rahu, 11. Kusabs, £37 10s; No. 3, fascining and earthing road at Long's, R. Cunningham, £1 los per chain; No. 4, culvert at Mill Dam, rimu piles, R. Cunningham, £7 ; No.s,fascining, earthing and 4 culverts on Te Rahu road, D. Wilson, £3O 10s 6d; No. G, clearing, ploughing, levelling, and harrowing from Moncrioff's corner, full width, J. Kennedy, 2s 1 l£d per chain; No. 7, clearing, ploughing, levelling and harrowing, halfchain wide, J. Kennedy, Is 9d per chain; No. 8, four hill cuttings on tho OrakauPuniu Road, T. Power, £6 15s; No. 9, fascining at Bush Road, W. Stuart, £2 10s. Tenders will be invited, during the next week, for works required on the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi road, which will be immediately proceeded with, should labour be obtainable, and wagei reasonable.

MEBsns J. D. & K. HiLt, will sell, on Saturday next, at Hamilton, three immigrants cottages, also, at 2 o'clock, a large let of drapery, in excellent condition.

The owners and occupiers of land in Kihikihi and Rangiaohia districts having furze growing on the publiG road adjoining their property, are warned, under the penalty contained in the Publie Works Act, to remove the same at once. Applications for the office of Town Clerk to the Hamilton Borough Council, accompanied by testimonials, must be sent in by noon of to-day. The office embraces that of town clerk, treasurer, collector of rates, inspector of nuisances, and inspector of slaughter-houses, and the salary is fixed at £l5O per annum. Whatawhata Races.—A meeting of all those interested in getting up the "Whatawhata annual race meeting are invited to attend a public meeting, to be held this evening, at 7 o'clock, at the Whatawhata Hotel. Copies of the Electoral Rolls for the several ridings of the Waipa County will be open fer inspection from the 29th inst. to November 4th; for Newcastle Riding, i at the office of Mr Fitzpatrick; for Hamilton Riding, at the House of Mr S. Steele; for Pukekura Riding, at the house of Mr H. Fitzgerald; for Rangiaokia Riding, at the store of Mr Roche; for Mangapiko Riding, at the Court-house, Alexandra, and for Tuhikaramea Riding, at the residence of Mr Lang. Two little boys, the children of a shoemaker named Gerrard, living at Devonport, North. Shore, Auckland, were run over by an express cart belonging to Mr O. Mays. The horaa took fright and bolted. One boy, three years old, was killed fin $9 spot* The other was severely

Tauranga doos not tako kindly to it-» new depasturing regulations. Wo find thitj-'at a recont meeting of the Tauranga Town Board, the Chairman r3ad the following letter, relative to the impounding of cattle, signed by numerous ladiis of Tauranga:—"Sir,—Wo, tho undersigned ladies of Tauranga, respectfully bequest that you will receive this pot tion favorably on behalf of the mothers and pphtldrenof this place, who are deprived of the principal means of support through having to part with their milking cows just now when a bountiful Providence lias sent such a supply of grass after a sovore winter. This generation will be mouldering in tho dust long before thero will b - ! any necessity to bring the Auckland Municipal Police Act in force here." The Chairman said that th? petition could not be received as an expression of public feeling, as they could only acknowledge ratepayers. A dabing and successful robbery was effected on the premises of the Board of Education, in Auckland, on Tuesday night. The building was entered without brealung lock or bolt, and the iron safe al?o opened, a drawer in the safe being burst open, from which £7O in cash was taken away. The robbery was not discovered until next day, when there waß occasion to go to the sofc. The half-yearly meeting of the Bank of .Now Zealand Company was held on Tuesday, at the Bank buildings, Queenstreet, when a dividend for the half-year, at tho rate of fifteen per cent, per annum was declared, and a sum of £25,000 carried tb the reserve fund. The Chairman congratulated the shareholders on the increasing prosperity of the bank, the influx of capital into the Colony, and advjmcement of all branches of commerce, facts which added largely to the success of the Bank.