THE Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1181, 22 January 1880, Page 2

THE Waikato Times.

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1880.

The Government of the colony have no easy problem to work out at the present moment in the settlement of of the difficulty which hangs over all dealings with the question of the Wai mate Plains. Their action in dealing with that question will doubtless be a crucial test of the value of their native policy, or of their ability to carry it out. Bub it ig something inameasureably more than that. Tho settlement of the Wuamate difficulty, made as it were the test question of a number of similar native grievances, means either a great advance in or a very serious loss and drawback to the prosperity of the colony. We have always held that native affairs, which so vitally affect the well being of the colony, which need such delicate at. tentiou and careful manipulation are far too serions matters to be made the subject of party strife. And in a like manner we cannot too strongly reprobate that section of the Press which, for the mere sake ot pandering to a love of sensationalism in it 3 readers, gives currency to every piece of gobe moucherie in the shape of native canards at critical times like the present If the Native Minister, who surely has more means for enabling him to calculate the advisability or otherwise of adhering strictly to a particular coarse planned months ago, than any newspaper correspondent can have, sees fit to defer decisive action till after investigation by Royal Commission shall have been held we may reasonably suppose that ho is acting for the best, "our spesial correspondent " to the contrary. Indeed, it only seems a matter of common sense to defer decisive action until after the Royal Commission to investigate the matter in dispute has examined into and reported upon ii>, The Normanby special of our Auckland contemporary the Herald would seem to think otherwise, and after briefly stating that people cannot reconcile -±his line of action with the Native Minister's statements in the House, proceads to iurnish that journal with a string of sensational paragraphs that cannot but tend to mischievously irritate the native mind, and raise doubts in the minds of Europeans within,and,what is far worse, without the colony that we are anxiously looking forward the signal io strike the first blow which may lead to war. Colonel Roberts is reported as stating that his forces were never in better position to " tackle " the native difficulty. The probability of armed resistance is speculated upon, «nd the armed constabulary are represented as complaining bitterly that the splendid weather for campatgning is being allowed to slip away whilethey are eagerfor the field. Now, we protest against hampering the Government in their administration of delicate and important native matters, such as the settlement of the Waimate Plains difficulty, with preesure and interference such as this. A newspaper correspondent, who lets his pen run rampant as in this case, who rushes in where angels fear to tread, may work irreperable mischief, not merely to the Ministry whom he may desire to thwart, but to t«ie colony itself. And not less mis(jlmVous are the sensational paragraphs like that of the same journal of Saturday last, which find their way into the columns of i he Press an£ * on wheh wo bzieflv commented in our last Issue — that the King uati*es in the W,dixato d stiict are endeavouring to sow the seeds of disturbance in he minds of northern natives, and that in the eveut of strite taking puC3 at W.imaie, portions of the W&ikato tribes will be arrayed against us " whether," says the writer, |C at Parahaki or in the Waikato district is not at present known." Now, from what we have been able to gather from reliable sources, the paragraph referred to is utterly withont foundation, while its capacity for mischief is incalculable. No such work of seditious corruption is going on at the present time amongst the northern natives, nor wonld such a movement, to any serious ox tent 'oe possible with th* relations and feelings existing between the northern natives and Waikato King natives. That must

be apparent to any one of observation who noted the communication held beUveen the two native sections at the late sfreat meeting at Koj>ua. As to the doubtful expression ot opinion whether, if the settlement of the Waimate difficulty led to strife, Waikato might not be the scene of native aggression, nothing could be either more absurd or mischievous. We in Waikato could afiord to smile at such a remark if it went no farther, but in the simple fact thatsuch paragraphs are copied from one journal to another, and without comment, that they are telegraphed to other colonies and home lies the roal mischief. A.n unjust and unfavourable impression is engendered, not merely against the colony as a whole, but against a particular portion of it as being uusafe for settle, ment, where really no such danger exists except in the heated imagination of some obscure newspaper correspondent. That Waikato will never again be the scene of native troubles is placed beyond doubt. Irrespective of the power of the settlers themselves, assisted by the Government forces maintained in the district, to render any such attempt on the part of the natives impossible there remains the still more cogent reason that the influential natives who could control such a course will not allow it, lest, as the Waikato tribes lost their land they too, implicated in another outburst, might | loose theirs also. Thus at a recent meeting, held by Tawhiao in the King Country, on the Waimate Plains difficulty, reported in Tuesday's Evening Star that personage is said to have strongly advised them to keep aloof from Te Whiti, poiuting out that his own tiibe had losb almost all their lands through sympathising with obstinate men like the Farihaka prophet, and that any active interference in the question now pending between the , Government and the Parihaka natives would probably entail further mischief and Joss, and ended by making a strong appeal to the chiefs to remain neutral, and follow his pacific directions. It ij this dread of farther confiscation that renders aggression upon Waikato impossible. The JNgatimanipoto know that to engage in such a course would mean the certain loss of valuable lands, and that if tho landless Waikato were to engage in it, they, as harbouring the Waikatos in their territory would be still held responsible. Knowing this, and none could or should know it better than tho conductors of the Herald, we cannot but express surprise that such a paragraph should have been allowed without comment to appear in the columns of that journal.

Amongst the passengers by the Auckland train to Hamilton last night was the District Engineer (Mr Stewart), who will proceed to-day, in company with Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., to inspeotthe Rotorua road.

Waixato County Council Election. — We would draw the attention of the public to the altered date of the nomination and election for the vacancy in the above body, as it appears in an amended advertisement to-day. Owing to the railway employees holiday on Saturday, the publio are asked to avoid sending goods bj the train on that day. It is well known that large numbers of Trichina spiralis have been detected in cured n eats imported into Alsace from America. In Switzerland, too, the discovery has been made that American hamfl are full of the trichina, and a go* vemment commission has been appointed to decide upon the precautionary measures to be taken. The cantonal authorities are recommended to warn the people against the use of American hams, especially in the half raw state, and to arm the police with disoretionary power over the sale of the article.

Manoapiko Highway District. — The Trustees of the above district met for business on Saturday, January 17th at the usual time and place. Messrs. Bosanko, Krippner Ligertwood, and Macky being present. The minutes of the last meeting having been duly read and signed the Secretary read the correspondence of the month, the first being with the County Council pro and eon in the matter of the Mangapiko Bridge ; next, with the uhikaramea and Rangiaohia Boards in re the opening a road to Ohaupo through Mr Gubbin's property, but as the Kaniaohia Board were of the opinion that the present road was impracticale it was deoided to let the matter stand over for the present. A communication was received from the Colonial Seoretary concerning the amending the boundary between Mangapiko and Tuhikaramea. T^ie secretary was ordered to acknowledge the letter in a suitable manner, and give the state of the case. The following accounts were passed and o dered to be paid :— Keighley, £7 Is 7d; vleredith, £10 12s 6d; McCallum, £5, on account ; Maunder, £12 12a ; Aubin, £4 7s ; Wilson and Ahnr, £10 ; Chaster, £1 6d ; Palmer, £16 108 {conditionally!. 'Ihe works proposod and authorised were, three pipe culvets on the Te Rore road, near Mr Dillons, by contract ; earth cuttings and lengthnening of Beasely's culvert, by day work ; and some minor work repairs and improvements in various places. The secretary was directed to get certain information supplied as to areas &c, for the next meeting, when it was decided to go into the whole question of stopping roads, if there should be a full meeting, which was called for Saturday, February 14th. This concluded the meeting. Blokdin's daring exploits on the rope in Vienna are just now the talk and wonder of the town. He calls himself the ♦ Hero of Niagara," and performs'at the building which was used in 1873 for the hxhibition. The latest thing reported of him is walking along the rope on stilts, blindfolded and backwards, at a hight of 250 ft. No net is stretched below him, and when half way across he feigns to loose his nerve, and, putting his hand to his forehead, wavers, leans, and then slips and recovers himself. "A grasp of anxiety," saya a report, "is hea«d through the hushed assembly; women scream and are carried out in fits." The Emperor and Empress have both been to see the extraordinary performance— but neither of them screamed.

After rain —sunshine. An Era of speculation in Europe is according to general accounts soon to be inaugurated, and the pent up capital of the old world find a vent in fertilising industry and commerce all over the Globe, "Never (says the San Francisco News Letter in, its uiue of

the 25th Nov.) was it more clearly demonstrated that gold is not wealth than at the present period — a-thne when the Bank of r ngland holds as large an amount of bullion as it has ever done, i.e.-, £35,000,000, and when, as ia well known, the country banks have in a large measure refrained from sending up their surplus fnnds, owing" solely to the small rate of interest to be obtained ; indeed, wo hear of large ! suras being lent out from day to day upon Console and other Government Securities at rates yielding little more than ' ' one farthing per cent, per diem." Is it wonderful, then, that on all sides we hear that an era of speculation is about to arise ? In France it has for some time been rampant, and signs are not wanting that efforts are being made to inaugurate it on the London market. ' '

The arrangements with Mr Vesey Stewart for a portion of the Te Puke block as a special settlement was signed on Monday last. Mr Stewart has not, however, obtained all that he asked for. The total area of the block is 25,972 acres, out of which Mr Stewart has obtaiucd 1-5,000 acres, of mixed quality. Some of this has been assessed as low as 10s per acre, and other portions as high as £2 per acre. The total amount to be paid for the block is £19,500 ot a price of 26s per acre. The raluation of the block was fixed by Mr Percy Smith of Auckland, and a sum of £3)00 has already been paid by Mr Stewart as a deposit. The remaining 10,000 acres will bo disposed of as follows : — 800 acres are to be immediately thrown open for sale on deferred payment, and the balance set apart for village settlements and for native and timber reserves. The conditions imposed upon Mr Stewart are that not less than 200 adults shall be located upon the block within two years, or one person to every 75 acres

The Mayor of the Thames has received a communication from the Minister of Lands that a portion of the Te Aroha block was to be at once offered for sale, and that a further area of eighteen thousand acres would almost immediately be open for settlement under the deferred payment clauses of the act, in areas of from ten to three hundred and twenty acres. And on terms equally favorable to any that oould be given uader the special settlement elapse. These lands on deferred payments will be open as soon as the Land Act of last session which gives increased facilities and advantages to selectors, comes into operation. The settlement of Te Aroha block will be a great advantage in more ways than one for this part of the country, and especially for the Thames. Farmers about Cambridge are now all very busy harvesting. A number of reapers and binders are at work, and there are no idle hands. The weather is most favourable, and is being made the most of. Most of the crops are good, averaging from twenty to fifty bushels per acre.

A special meeting of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers, to consider matters of interest to the troop, will be held at the Public Volunteer Hall, on Saturday evening next.

The Hamilton East High Sohool (Rev. | H. S. Davis) will reopen on Tuesday the 27th. There will be no Bervice at Hamilton East on Sunday next. The East Hamilton District Scheol reopens on Monday next.

Assessment Coubts for hearing appeals against the rating of various local boards will be held at following dates and places: Rangiaohia Board, atTeAwamutu, February 19th ; Alexandra Township and Mangapiko Board, at Goodfellow's, February 20th; Pukekura Board, at Pukerimu School, and Cambridge Board at Hautapu School, February 23rd ; Tamahere Board, at C. C. Wood's, and Kirikiriroa Board, at Lewis O'Neill's, February 24th ; Hamilton Borough, at Court-house, and Hamilton Highway Board, at Chas. Johnson's, February 25th ; Waitoa Board, at Waicoa School, ebruary 26; Cambridge North Township, at Court-house, February 27 ; Taotaoroa Board, at obt. Fergusson's, and Matamata Board, at Firth's, February 28th ; Ngaruawahia Township, at Cou t-house, March Ist ; Newcastle Highway Board, at Whatawhata School, and Tuhikaramea Board, at Ngahinapouri School, March 2nd ; Rangiriri Outlying District, at Hnntly Railway Station, March 22nd.

Native Lands Cotjbt, Cambridge — This Court opened on Monday, and was engaged all day with making suceessional orders. On Tuesday morning Harry Simmons, on behalf of the Ngatiraukawa, asked that the blocks of that tribe advertised to pass through the Court be postponed till some future date. Judge Symouds informed them that he would telegraph first to Judge Fenton, and would tell them if their block could be postponed. The Court then adjourned till Wednesday to await the reply of Judge Fenton.