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Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1058, 5 April 1879, Page 2

A Hint to Moihehs. — In an article headed " Starvation m the Nursery," the 1 Lancet ' calls attention to what it says is a fact established by daily experience ; that large numbers of persons occupying decent positions m society systematically stai've their children m respect of that article of food which is the most essential to their nutrition. Even to very young and fast-growing children they give cocoa Avith water, and not always evon a suspicion of milk, cornflour with, water just clouded with milk, tea, oatmeal, bakedfiour, all sorts of materials, indeed, as vehicles of milk, but so very lightly laden with it that the term is a sham. The consequence of this misplaced economy is, that there are thousands of households m which the children are pale, slight, un-wholesome-looking, and, as their parents say m something like a tone of remonstrance, " always delicate." Ignorance, no doubt, is of en the cause. The parents do not know that, supposing there were uo reason, their wisest economy is to let their growing ones have their unstinted fill of milk, even though the dairyman's bill bo nearly as muck as the butchers m the course of the week. But m many instances (the medical is of opinion) the sti»t is a uitiful " lU( l Mistaken economy,

The Fall m Wool.— Owing to the fall m wool at home, the spending of money m New Zealand this year will be one million and a quarter less than last year. , The .Finances op the Colony. — The ' New Zealander,' writing _ on "Colonial Finance" and referring to the newlypublished railway returns, says : — "There is grave reason to fear that other sources of revenue will not come up to the estimate, and that there -will be a deficiency not only m the- anticipated j revenue, but also arising from excess m ! expenditure." After referring to the constant clamor coming from every part of the colony to ask for pecuniary assistance, the article says, " That they have exceeded the safe limit of expenditure on contingencies will, we fsar, when next the House meets, be proved beyond a doubt." It fears the Minister of Public Works has listened to the constant cry of " Give, give," and gone beyond the bounds of former official precedent and caution. The concluding portion of the article says, "That during tho office of the present Ministry, there has been a lavish outlay, not always . warranted by ' immediate necessaries or expectant results, even the supporters of the Ministry must admit."- ! TnE wbong man.— The ' Ovens Advertiser' has the following amusing anecdote : — " Some few nights ago a person on horsebaok arrived at ' a .certain hotel not a hundred miles from i Wangaratta, at about 1 or 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, and asked if he could be accomodated with quarters for himself and horse. The landlord replied m the affirmative. The traveller was introduced to the gentleman who leased the stables m connection with the hotel, and asked him to have a drink. After talking of that never-failing subject, the weather, the conversation turned, upon the exploits of the Kelly gang, when the stranger said that the gang consisted of a lot of fine fellows. The suspicions of the master of the stables were aroused, and he imagined that the man was no other than one of the notorious gang. The horse placed m the stables was afterwards minutely examined, and, wonderful to state, it was discovered to be a Government animal. This startling fact also lent additional weight to the stablekeeper's suspicion ; and then there was the reward of the very handsome sum of £2000 to anyone who would be instrumental m the capture of any member of the gang, and he resolved to tell the police all"the circumstances. The result of such information was, that three members of the force made up their minds to effect the stranger's capture ; so, with this intent, they made for the room of the supposed outlaw, who, strange to say, m a public hotel, and m a populous place, was sweetly enjoying the very great blessing of a good sound sleep, when he was rudely awakened from his peaceful slumbers by a still strong arm seizing him by tho throat and nearly on the verge of choking him. Another constable had been stationed at the lower extremities, whilst another held a revolver tremulously m his hands at the bedroom door, so as to stop all egress from the apartment. Then there was a lull ; and judge of the astonishment of the myrmidons of the law when they discovered that the supposed bushranger was no other than a special constable on the same mission as themselves, viz., m trying to capture the Kellys." The Maramarua and Whangamarino Creeks were visited on Tuesday by several parties of sportsman from Auckland and the neighborhood. One Auckland party — consisting of Messrs Isaac Gwynne, S. Morrin, Marks, J. M. Clark, Hobbs, and J. Russell — made first-rate sport, Mr S. Morrin bagging as many as thirty-one brace of birds. In an article on " Colonial Governors" m the, ' Melbourne Imperial Review,' the following remarks occur: — "Sir Julius Yogel spoiled his career by taking the Agent-Generalship. There are rumors of his return to New Zealand, and wo think it the right place for him. He is only acting a part m those feeble efforts m the way of magazine articles on the empire. Let the Blachfords and the Lowes do the twaddle, while the Beaconsfields and Vogels act. But the fact is that Sir Julius is too fond of luxury. London is his Capua — Wellington was once. While Graham Berry kept the little grocery shop m Prahran, Sir J. Yogel was the out-at-elbows reporter at Inglewood. He missed his ambition of gettiog a seat m the Victorian Assembly, and went m a huff to New Zealand, or he might have guided the destiny of the Australian continent." The Rev. James Bruce, Presbyterian Minister will preach to-morrow at Ohaupo at eleven o'clock, at Paterangi m the afternoon, and at Te Awamutu m the evening. Emigrants fob Australasia.— ln the statistical abstract just published by the Board of Trade, the figures are given of the emigrants from the British Islands during the last ten years. "It is satisfactory to observe," says the ( Pall Mall Gazette©,' " that, although the emigration to the United States has fallen off from 166,730 m 1873 to 54,554 m 1876, the emigrants to Australia and New Zealand show comparatively slight decrease, taking one period with another ; and m 1877, 32,196 emigrants went to those colonies. This change of destination should be encouraged m every possible way. Our Australasian colonies are altogether the best customers m every respect, m spite of the Protectionist tendencies of some among them. At this time of depression, therefore, tho Government and the Agents-General might do worse than distribute short statements of tho facts m relation to these colonies among the able-bodied poor. Assisted emigration is a great benefit both to the mother country and the colonies at such a time, and might be carried on, it seems to us, far more systematically than at present." Db Wallis and Education. — The following is the summary of Dr Wallis' opinions on the Education Act, furnished by himself to the deputation on Wednesday : _« I heartily accept the system of education at present established here, and, if I can find an opportunity, I nhall endeavor to reform and liberalise it m such directions as the following ; — 1. Decentralisation. 3. Reduction of the number, of inspectoral districts. 3. Diminution of cost of education, and limiting gratuitous or charity education to the really poor. 4. The non-exclusion of the Bible. 5. The appointment of teachers by local committees, or the people of the school districts. 6. The prevention of an injurious State-monopoly of education, by accepting private venture and othez 1 schools as auxiliaries m the -vrork of education ; or by instituting more schools on the principal of the Auckland Girls' High School, or by any other means suggested by reason and experience," So long as Dr Wallis is m favor of introducing the use of the Bible into schools and doing away with free education, his opinions cannot be m accord with those of the large majority of his constituents or of the public at large. The Sale of Fancy Goods advertised to be held to-day, by Mr John Knox, has been withdrawn, the whole of the eleven cases having been bought privately by Mr T." C. Hammond, for his Hamilton and Cambridge establishments, The goods are a valuable and varied lot, and will prove, doubtless, a great attraction m both places of business, Mkssks J. I). & K. Hill will hold theip fortnightly aale, tj-'U'v., ut the Mart, Hamilton,

Tub Waimate Difficulty. — The ' Otago Daily Times,' of Wednesday, says : — " It is quite m accordance with what we should expect of Colonel Whitmore, as a military man of undoubted courage, that he should be almost eager for a fight, and quite willing " to go the front," but the colony does not want war, and would consent to almost anything short of absolute humiliation to avoid this. There are two main questions to be settled : the surrender of Hiroki, and the reinstatement of the surveyors. We don't see that the Government can well give way upon either, but the first demand might be postponed till the last be obtained. The Ministers have just four months till the meeting of Parliament to vindicate their native policy by a wise settlement of the present difficulty, and of the larger questions pending with Tawhiao and Rewi. If they fail m both, we fear the verdict of Parliament will be againt them. If they succeed m this difficult task, they may well deserve the gratitude of all who have the real welfare of the colony at heart. The very least m this interview they are entitled to is forbearance m virtue of the task which they < have m hand." 1 MR R. F. SANDJB3 AND Ms GWYNNE have obtained the leave of the Hamilton Borough Council, to place a fence across Edinburgh Place, facing Victoria street, nearly opposite the Times Office, until such time as the opening of Edinburgh Place may be required by the Council ; also to extend the fence on the East side of the Education Reserve, leased by Mr Gwynne, some little way into the river. The object is a praiseworthy one on the part* of Messrs Sandes and Gwynne, namely, to prevent the ingress of cattle from off the streets of the township, so as to enable them to plant, with willows, the bank of the river and the gully formed between the Hamilton Hotel and Mr Sandes' premises. We could wish that other private citizens could be found aa ready to conserve the banks of the river m other parts of the township which are being continually wasted away by the action of the Avater. Cases of distress m Waikato are, happily, of very rare occurrence, for the present is the millenium of the working classes m New Zealand, and none who can work need want. An instance of extreme want has, however, been brought under our notice existing m Hamilton East, where a wife with, we believe, three small children have been left without the barest necessaries of life, by a husband and father who has deserted them now for two months past. This unfortunate woman has been dragging on a miserable existence, and is without any means of support but the most casual charity. Of a delicate constitution, and not physically able to endure hard work, her lot must bo a very wretched one, and we feel we have only to make these facts known to induce some of the actively benevolent amongst us to interest themselves m herbshalf. It has been suggested by a gentleman who has called at our office, and left a small donation m aid of such fund, that a subscription should be raised, to purchase a sewing machine for her, which would enable her to, at least, earn bread for herself and children. The suggestion is a good one, and we shall be happy to receive other subscriptions than the five shillings left with us, and, as they come to hand, to acknowledge the receipt of the same. At the same timg, is there no one who will practically take the matter up and raise the sum required, and a few pounds more, perhaps, for the immediate relief of the family, as has been done before m Hamilton? Meantime the Police may look up the deserting husband, McCausland, and take step 3to cause him to contribute, wherever he may be, to the support of his family, or if merely loafing elsewhere, to receive the punishment which his scoundrelism richly merits. "Burgess," m a letter m another column, desires to know whether the Hamilton branch railway line will be fencod-in on both sides where it passes through the borough. The following extract from a letter received by the Council from the District Engineer, Mr Stewart, is a sufficient answer to his question:— «« With regard to the fencing of the land (required for the railway extension) it is all m Mr Briton's contract, and, although m this instance the specification does not require the land to be fenced prior to breaking ground, any consequences arising from neglect to keep up existing cross-fences on the line cannot fall oa the Council, but on. the contractor. I have no doubt, however, but that he will work m harmony with all parties." The firing matoh of the Cambridge Troopers v. the Bandsmen commenced at tw° o'clock at the Butts on Thursday. Sub.-Lieutenant Kirkwood was m command. The wind was very much against good shooting, blowing strongly from the east. The Bandsmen were beaten by 13 points, and on their side Sergeant Mackintosh was the top scorer. Jfessrs ! Randeraon and Camp made the next best scores for the Band. Messrs O'Brien, Fisher, Smith, and Johnson were the best scorers for the Troop. The scores were as follows : — 200 yds, Bandsmen, 66 ; Troopers, 63. 250 yds, Bandsmen, 56 ; Troopers, 72. 300 yds, Bandsmen, 46; Troopers, 46. Total: — Bandsmen, 168; Troopers, 181, The return match comes off on Good Friday. Waikato Cattle for Auckland Market. — Alluding to the subject of our leading article of Tuesday, Mr D. Caley, of Pukerimu, writes to the ' Herald ' as follows : — " I see by your issue of March 29, m the time-table of the railway, that the train intended for cattle from Ohaupo leaves at 8 a,m. This alteration, lam informed, is consequent on the objection of settlers to the former time, viz., o p.m. Settlers naturally object to their fat cattle remaining m the trucks from midnight to some late hour m the morning following, at Remuera. The change, however, is not by any weans an improvement, but the contrary. In the first place, the hour is most inconvenient, being much too early to drive fat cattle so as to enable them to reach the station m time to place them m trucks ready for departure at 8 a.m. The principal beefproducing farmers require from two to four hours to get their stock m time to i the station without any stoppages on the I road, as too often occur with cattle m high spirit, fresh from the paddodt. It has been suggested that fat stock will have to bo at the statioij. the previous night. Here ooines again the difficulty. The result will be injury don? to the cattle so huddled together, as wo all know the manner m which catUe from different places horn and punish each other. A fortnight since, seventeen truck-loads of cattle left the Ohaupo station together. Imagine these all mixed and allowed to injure each other all night, pout up m two yards, The cattle were from many farms. To have been there m time for the hour fixed as per present arrangement, would necessitate driving the greater part of the night from several of the principal places now supplying the Auckland market, otherwise the farmer must come the day previous, and incur very unnecessary expense by remaining at the hotel all night-— himself, men, or man, and l>qvsp*, m order \,q place them m the trucks h\ the morning, ready fqr the departure of the train. To such unnecessary expense, inconvenience, and damage 10 their stock, settlers will not stibmit. Thn tjhing m monstrously absurd and vexatious Is it necessary that the Government or officials

of the railway should subject the settlers to such inconvenienco ? I answer, it is not. That there is a demand made by a few of the Waikato people for a morning and evening passengor train is true : but m order partially to meet this, the settlers forwarding- stock must bear the infliction already mentioned. Why not the 8 a.m. train be the passenger train, and lot the settlers have, at least on Monday and "Wednesday m each week, a cattle train to which carriages for passengers could be attached, as is intended m the 8 a.m. train? The hour for the departure of cattle-train would be best at 10 o'clock a.m., or not later than 11, which would enable the parties to whom the cattle arc consigned to get them out at Retnuera before night. I hope you will use your influence m aiding us to obtain our reasonable request, to which, I doubt not, the manager, M.r McDonald, will acceede when he is convinced of it 3 necessity — I am, &c, D. Caley. P.S. — To get sheep driven m time for the morning train (8 o'clock) would be still worse, they requiring longer time on the road." The hour for evening service at St. Andrew's, Cambridge, has been altered for th& winter months to half -past six. Fbiends of Mr George Basley will be glad to learn that his temporary appointment m the Native Department at Wellington has been made a permanent one, with an increase of salary. As fine a sample of Hobart Town potatoes as we have seen for some time is that grown on a patoh of about a quarter of an acre by Mr Odium, of No. 1, Hamilton. The produce was 2|- tons. Three of the tubers, weighing together 41bs oozs, may be seen at our office. The crop was grown without manure, and the potatoes are not only large, but well shaped. It is time that the bridge near Stokes' on the Hamilton- Whatawhata road, was completed. The timber has been lying at Stokes' Creek these last five wee^s, and the contract remains uncompleted. At the pre3ent time, there is nothing across the I'reei* but a small rail. On Thursday, a little girl fell m, and narrowly escaped drowning. The ' Ly ttelton Times ' urges not only caution, but a stoppage of all further proceedings m taking possession of the disputed Waimate Plains. In its issue of the 27th tilt., it says : — " The next step taken by the Government will, we hope, be backward. There will be a great outcry about the loss of prestige involved. Plenty of people will be found to recommend the adoption of an aggressive policy at all hazards. Already m some quarters Government has been called upon to disregard the defiance of Te Whiti and Titokowaru. The fact that the Grovemment have instructed the Waste Lands Board at New Plymouth to offer some of the "Waimate land for sale forthwith, looks as if such adviqe were m accordance with the Ministerial inclination. The consequences cannot fail to be disastrous, for any open rupture with the natives, however victorious our arms may be, must be disastrous to the Colony. The boast of our statesmen that native troubles have become essentially things of the past would m an instant lose the beneficial force it has exercised upon the public opinion of Great Britain. And all this is to be faced for — what ? Primarily tc make good a threat which the Native Minister ought never to have used, and which he permitted himself apparently m an ungarded moment to employ. Force will make the threat good, and give the Colony the confiscated land after it has fought hard for it. The sale of the land will make the fortunes of a few peqple, and put a few thousands into the public exchequer, probably not enough to recoup the expenses of the fighting. The game is not worth the candle, It would be better never to acquire the land at all than to do so at a price equivalent to the stoppage of the colonial development for at least a generation, with all its attendant evils. The colony can very much better afford to do without the Waimate Plains for a generation or two than to lose its credit, public and private, for a much shorter period. The loss to the Land Revenue of the proceeds of laud sold there will be great, but unless the title was safe, that soarce of income ought not to have been qpunted xipon. One error m judgment oannot be justified by circumstances that havo grown out of another. The natives, m removing the surveyors, have, as we are told, shown the best of good temper. The best course for the Government is to withdraw from their land sale, and look equally pleasant. Negotiation and patience will give them all they want. The burning of poAvder is unnecessary, and would be incalculably mischievous.