The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1174, 6 January 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1880.

A SHoRT generation ago and life in the colonies was to people in Gieat Britain almost a sealed book. The Australasian colonies as a whole were looked npon as so many convict settlements with theic necessarily socially tainted surroundings, and even generally veil-informed people had but a hazy idea of their geographical characteristics, their capabilities for colonisation, and the latent powers of production which a few short years were to develop. The population, attracted by the discovery of gold, forced into other channels of labor, soon put an end to this state of things. The gold became merely a means to an end, nob the be-all and end-all of colonial work. The real, the abiding wealth of these colonies was fouad in a Variety of directions, and with a oHmat? far surpassing that which lhey had left the colonists turned their attention to agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and with what success the solid wealth and sturdy independence of the landowning farmers and settlers, who have fought jmto occupation these waste flstes'of the dartb, can best testify. r ' The yormirest, and till recently th« least known tif these eolones was New Zealand. Scarce ten years ago, however, the dashing policy of the

mos*. during 1 of colonial statesmen, Sir Julius Yogd, brought New ZeaKnd pio niifcifcly &efoie the British pubb'o us a, field for immigration ; and the pubiio works and immigration scheme in a vei-yfuw years raised her to tho front rank amongst the colonies o! Australasia. Cirou u-^ stances in the old couutry havo of late largely contributed to cause people of all classes at home to turn their attention to these colonies as a safe field for the investment of their capital in industrial pursuits, and notably so in the case of agriculture. But, perhaps, the best agency of all which this colony has had at work is the testimony of returned settlers to the mother country. Intending emigrants receive with caution and distrust the statements of; hand* books, and even of paid agents and lecturers, though coming with official aiuhoiity ; but this is not the case when an old neighbor returning from the colonies, and bearing in his own person the evidences of successful adventure, dilates upon the advar?:ages and opportunities of his new home. New Zealand has been fortunate in having been thus represented to the people of Great Britain, and amongst the number of those who have striven, partly, perhaps, out of love for the land of his adoption, mid partly perhaps out of a true and earnest desire to serve those to whom ha has addressed himselfj is the Rev. Joseph Berry, a former resident of Waikato, and well-known and respected in this part of New Zealand as an active minister of the Wesleyan Ohurch. Mr Berry has been doing good work for New Zealand in the mother country during his recant visit, and deserves the thanks of the colonists for his earnestness in their behalf. To him, indeed, if we mistake not, is New Zealand indebted that during the late and still existing agricultural depression at home, tue minds of intending emigrants of the middle class were in the first instance turned to the superior advantages afforded them by this colony as compared with settlement in Canada or elsewhere — and even now we have as the fruits of his labor, a depntation from a number of very desirabb emigrants of the wealthier tenant farmer class, casting about for a safe footing from the shoals and quicksand 3 of agriculture in tfreat Britain, where low prices, high rents, a bad climate, and disease in both crops and cattle, have rendered farming no longer a safe investment. We need hardly bespeak, then, for Mr Berry, ,vho lectures to-night at Le Quesne's Hall, on his trip to England, a full and appreciative house. To many oi us his description of the borne country, as it now is^ will be as full of wonderment, and as strange as that of New Zeaj land must have been to many of his listeners at home.

Economical farm administration Cvjnsiats in placing the farm itself the buildings upon the farm, and the farm, and the tools and machines with which it is worked, in such a condition that uo loss of time will result in doing the necessary work ; but that when done, economically done, and will not need to be done over again. How many rods — mile 3 wo might almost have Ba iri —of poor tumble - down feace has been repaired and patched up spring after spring, and how many times have cittls broken through it into fields, simply because it was not once thoroughly built ? tlow much loss haa been occasioned year after year by cultivating and mowing around stone-heapsinafield when they shou'd have been removed and pub into wells or drains? A good haudling of the farm by a man who is determined to have the farm in good condition would never allow such excresences as these to attach themselves to his system or want of sxstem. Yet here are more examples : driving the cattle to water the year round, a quarter of a mile from the barns, when the water of a spring upon the hillside could be brought into the yarda and stables at a merely nominal cxpeuse ; using lars for a generation in passing through fields, when gates could be built with a few hours' work ; driving through a slough-hole in a low, moist " run" across the farm in doiug all the carting, when a days' work would have made a bridge, or facined the place with ti-tree; ploughing unga\nly shaped fields because a corner is filled with old stumps which a little time would remove j being *' backward" every spring with field work because you never had courage to do a little underdraining on your fields most used for hard croos; receiving no profit from your orchard on account of not having time to do a little pruning ; carting long distances to a field in a roundabout way, when, a farm road could be opened up that would save half the distance. Are not these faults enough ? These are the faults, the evidences of bad management, the indications that the man who allows them has never come up to the true conception of a good farmer, or to a proper understanding of what it is to handle a farm and make of it a bnsiness while he is also making of it a home. Good farm administiatioa embraces the very opposite of this. It recognises the farm to be an individuality to be moulded and improved and made better, that it may b<* managed profitably and successfully. Claiming it a* a source of livelihood, the good farmer believes it to be his duty to so manage ifc that he may get that living with-

I' out' too great an outlay of money and hard work, and at the same time to put "his farm in good Bhape for bot- j ter results in the future. To handle ' the farm comprehends that its drainage, the arrangement and shape of its fields, the location of its farm roads and driveways, the situation of its buildings and their interior arrangements with referauce t3 uses, should all be adcmoistered with referance to a well-considered plan and system, a system based upou the experience of a farmer as to the special line of farming he intends to carry on, and to that oourse of husbandry for which the far mis best adapted. To no farm, large or small, may not such a method of *' handling " be applied; and to ail its application is sure to be an advantage.

Waikato Turf Club Summee Meeting, — Judging from the number of acceptances, and the high-class of horses that will contest the different events, at the abovo meeting, we are assured that the public of Waikato will have an opportunity without leaving home of seeing what the colony can produce in the shape of racing stock. The course is in splendid condition, and we anticipate, should the days be fine, seeing the largest attendance that has ever been at a race meeting in Waikato.

The Hamilton Bridge. — S©me of those gentlemen who signed the memorial to the Government, asking that the bridge at Hamilton might be made free of tolls, have received replies from the Colonial Secretary, stating that in the circumstances of the colony, the Government connot see its way to make such recommendation to Parliament.

The members of the Choral Society meet on Thursday evening, and ar? requested to bring with them any of ChappelTs Operatic Choruses they may have in their possession.

Hai/tapu School Examination and Fbast. — On New Year's I>ay the children attending Hautapu School assembled at 10 a.m. in the school-room. A list of prizes to be awarded for proficiency in the various branches of education having been written on a blackboard, the pupils were requested to write on slates the names of those whom they might consider to be most deserving of the respective prizes, and then to hand the slates to members of the School Committee who were present. This having been done, these gentlemen announced that the prizewiners were:— James U. MaclaLrin, Edward T. W Maclaurin, Margaret Bussell, Laura Russell, John Morgan, Vincent Ewen, Mary Shaw, and James Russell. "Our Own New Zealand Home," and the "National Anthem " having been sung by the children, they and the numerous visitors, who were p esent, proceeded to one of Mr Shaw's paddocks, where ample provision having been made for their bodily wants, an enjoyable and happy day was spent in contending for the numerous prizes, which was given for running and leaping. The Herald of yesterday says : — "We loam from a source in which we place implicit reliance that the reports which have lately been circulated — to the effect that To Kooti had visited Cambridge, and had expressed his admiration of that town as surpassing the other towns of Waikato — are not true. Te Kooti has never left' Te Kuiti, his usual place of residence. The only foundation for the report was that Hone Poururu, who formerly acted as secretary for Kewi, but who has lately attached himself to Te Kooti, went to the Thames with some friends to see Te Hura. Hone belongs to Whakatane, and was involved in the Fulloon murder, and since his release from jail has lived with Rewi. Te Hura, it will be remembered, was also one of the Whakatane prisoners. About a fortnight ago a meeting took place at Te Kuiti, when Kewi intimated that he had dropped the project of establishing a line through the country, and making any arrangement with the Government. It is said that the only reason for Rewi giving up the purpose he had in his mind,, and which never was made very clear to the pakeha apprehension, is the opposition which has been made by the natives. Waikato Turf Club Races. — Old Times and "Gladstone were accidentally omitted as having entered for the Novel Handicap of the Waikato Turf Club Races.

A meeting of the trustees of the Pukekura Highway was held on 2nd January, at the residence of Mr J. Fisher, chairman. After the minutes and correspondence had been read and the accounts ordered to be paid to the amount of £56 los, it was resolved that tenders be called for works required in the district to the amount of £300, and that these works be proceeded with during the months of February and March, each tender to be accompanied with a deposit, and sent to the chairman not later than 4 p.m. on Friday, the 30th inst. Particulars of the above will appear in the "Waikato Times during the next fortnight. Messes. Foster and Grant, the delegates of the Lincolnshire Tenant Farmers' Association, went out to the Eureka yesterday to see what can be done with New Zealand swamp land, and no doubt will be highly pleased with the results of tho company's labour. A visit to the Eureka Station will show them wold and fen mixed, and both teeming with fertility. They may ride over hundreds — nay, thousands of acres where two or three years — in some instances, indeed, little more than one year ago a man would have sunk to the knees at every step, and often to the waist, and now they may ride across the same land firm and compact, and growing clover and ryegrass to the horses knees. Of course where labour is both scarce and dear grass and cattle are the use to which such lands are put, but there could be none finer for growing all kinds of crops than these reclaimed swamp lands, and as fine crops of flax and linseed could be raised on them as in the richest part of Lincolnshire. Indeed there is a remarkable similarity in some respects. The handicaps for the pigeon match at Frankton, which takes place to-morrow, will bo found in our advertising columns. The handicappers were Messrs R. Gwynne and W. Oumming. The match commences at 2 p.m. The agent of the Fun and Frolic Company called at this office last evening, and stated that, although they have engaged Le Quesne's Hall for Thursdiy, Friday, and Saturday nights, the company would be most happy to assist the promoters of the promenade concert in their undertaking gratis, on Friday, it being for a charitable object ; the company playing here on Thursday and Saturday.

Cambeidqb Jockey Club Races. — Extensive improvements are going on in the lawn and saddling paddocks, the fence off the landing being made within seven minutes' walk of the Stand ; and tho Stewards, wiiely considering the liberal support they have received, appear to be anxious to leave no stone unturned to make their first grand meeting the success that the importance of the district demands. TffE Bay, Joseph Berry will deliver a lecture this evening, in Le Quesne's Hall, on "My Trip to England." The chair will be taken, by the Attorney ? General, tbo Hon. F. Whitajter. Mr Berrry has

been doing 1 the colony good service at home, and being an\eloquent speaker, | there is little doubt but that those who attend hiiHeofcure this, Evening will enjoy an intellectual treat of ho ordinary oharactetS '-- '* ' ' Ta£ Rev. .Edward.: J. Phillips, late of St. . Unioi^-street, has been; appointed to the charge of the disfcrfot of WaiUato West, by Dr Oowie, Bishop* of Auckland, in the place of the Rev. L. 0. Brady.