The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1184, 29 January 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

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

THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 1880.

The offer of a portion of the rnral land of the Te Aroha block, at tb Waste Lands Sale, on Monday, wjvii the result that not a single section was sold is easily accounted for. The soil was good, much of it with liver and road front sge, and the npsot price, £2 per aero below that at which less valuable land in the near est districts have changed hands, yet not a bid was elicited as one lotafter another was brought forward. The reason for this, we believe, was entirely due to the terms under which the land was to be sold— cash payments. The result would have been far different had these lauds been offered under the deferred payment system, for even though the price eventually paid per acre would have been larger, the facilities offered to small capitalists by extending the payments over a period ol years is reiy considerable. Not many new immigrants, and not many of those who have perh&ps for years been laying by a portirn of their earnings in the colony to

enable thorn to settle on a farm , have more capital than they can well use. A hundred pounds or double that amount sunk in the purchase of an all.tmant, means so much withdrawn from the moans of reclaiming cult fvatini; or stocking it, and nee cessnrily interferes with th? bona | Sde occupation of the land. If men j with humble means could only build houses on being prepared with the fall capital necessary to do so, hundred of owne<B of their own shops aud dwellings would in this provincial district, to day, be the tenants of othe s instead of being their own landlords. A.ud what the building societies system is to the one, ihe deferred payment system is to the other. This is what enables thousands who would not otherwise do ao to settle on land in Canada, an/1 has filled up the Western States of America one after another, and if the millions of acres of waste lands in New Zealand, now tying idle, are to be filled up with the best of all country populations, working families, holding from fifty to fi?e hundred acres, it will be | with the aid of some such system as this, whether earned out by the Government,, by private individuals, or by both. We are glad to see one at least of the latter, in this Provincial district, recognising the value of the principle and throwing a block of some 20,000 acres into the market. We refer to the Kaipara estate of Captain Colbeck, which will be specially settled ! OQ system. And it would be well if other large holders of land would follow the examnle. We should hear less of the cry of monopoly It is clear that tho Government of the colony must soon cease to exercise the function of land purchaser and seller. Its interference has led hitherto to the most uu- [ satisfactory resul is. Large sums have been literally thrown away upon comparatively worthless lan.ls. Hundreds of thousands of acres that might otherwi-e have been alienated from the native owners by 1 private purchase are locked up from all negotiation. As it is, at the pesenfc time, when money is sadly neeied for public works, the Governmen finds itself hampered with a legacy of land purchase negotiations, which would require a sum of more than £700,000 to complete. But it is not desirable that those purchases should be complete i, save in exceptional instances. Nor is it likely if they were completed at such a cost the Government would be prepared to part with the land so acquired on such liberal terms as would ensure bona fide settlement and occupation. There would be an endeavor to recoup the outlay as quicklyaspossible.andtbe land would be brought to the hammer for cash ; so that apart from the mischievous monopoly arising from Government pre-emptive rights created by proapart irom the costliness of the purchases made, and the gSDeral inferiority of the lands acquired for the colony by the Government n gent s, there is an additional reason for the establishment of free trade in land. It would tend to the settlement and occupation of the lands of the colony by the people. Private speculators are pretty keenly awake as to the quality of the blocks they seek to purchase. It \& with them a business matter conducted by business men, and they buy such land only as will, from its intrinsic value, command a good price when brought into the market for re-sale , and thei»' object is in most instances to re-sell. They are, in fact, driven sooner or Jater to do so, or to utilise their land ; for while Crown lands pay neither rates nor property tax, these liabilities which the Legislature can always bring with more or less pressure to bear on large land-holders, fall beavilv upon them. If there were more large blocks of good quality like the Kaipara estate of Captain Colbeck in private band.*, we should have better hope for the speedy settlement and occupation of the lauds of this part of the colony.

The colonial forces under Colonel Roberts crossed the Wain»ongoro River on Tuesday, and camped on the Wai mate Plains at the Kfrpura creek, some five or six miles beyond. The act seems to have been v ewed wiih great apparent indifference by the Maoris, who affected to Lok upon the movement as calculated in thr constitution cf the road between Opunake and Waingons^oro to be quite as beneficial to them as to us. What they may really think of the matter, however, i 3 another thing. The presence of a thousand armed coon, and (hat as yet they are busy getting in their harvest, may have something to do with their present expression of opinion,f or they must know the effect that the making of this road would have in the fun her prosecution of Government intentions, with regard to the Plains. Hone Pihama has stated that a number of natives on hearing that the Armed Constabulary were going oc the plains, went to Paribaka to seek Te Whiti's advice. Te Whiti said to them, " Don't be afraid, I want the roads made, and if they (the Constabulary) wish you to help them do so. It is me whom the Government wants ; let them come to Parihaka for me," Afterwards Hone Pibama explained to me that he (Hone) was not one, but, two men, a European and a Maori, and if the Europeans did wrong, he would go back to the Maoris. His body might not go, but he would advise the Maoris what to do. Speaking of the effect upon

the natives ot taking possession of the pl'tins, Elone aaid, " You will not go away now, yoa must vrait and see what will happen ;" addrng, after a pau-e, " but you may in th« meantime go anywhere on the plains but do not carry armß." to the commission, Hone said he could not understand it at all. It the commission was to settle the dispute, why did the soldiers go on the plains 1 If the Commission failed to settle the dispose, then it was time enough to send the soldiers. The Hon. Mr, Bryce, the Dt fence Mini, ster was expected to visit the camp yesterday.

Mb F. Whetaker, the member for Waipa, will address his constituents in the Courthouse, Hamilton, at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The hour haa been chosen, we presume, to allow those at a distanoe to come to the meeting and return home the same day.

The "Weather.—Commander R. A. Edwin telegraphs from Wellington at lpm. yesterday: Expect bad weather any direction between aou-east and east and north. Glass falling, and indications of a hard gale and much rain. Owing to press of matter, the report of the inquest at Alexandra, and that of the annual meeting of the Cambridge Library are necessarily held over till our nex. The members of the Hamilton Light Infantry oorps will parade on Saturday afternoon on Sydney Square, for rifle praotice at the butts.

Repobtbd Gold Disooveey. —Mr T. W Davis has reported to the Auckland Waste Lands Board having discovered gold in th 9 neighborhood of the Waipa Kiver, but did not indioate the locality for obvioHs reasons. It was agreed by tte Board to request the applicant to specify j the locality, and the Board would with* draw it from sale. I At a meeting of the Auckland Waste Lauds Board, held on Tuesday, Messrs Grant and Foster, the representatives of the Lincolnshire farmers desirous of emigrating to i\ew Zealand, sent in an application, asking that an area of about 10,0D0 aores at Te Aroha might for the present be withheld from sale, with a view to its being acqaired by the farmers of Lincolnshire, whom they represented, in the event of their requiiing it. It appeared that the land applied for included the blook claimed by Mr Kussell A long discuitrion ensued, and it was finally resolved to allow the matter to stand over for the present. It was also agr ed to open the blocks of rural lands atTe Aroha which were not sold at last sale, toge her with an additional block, under the deferred payment system, at £2 per acre. An application was received for a cemetery site at Tuhikaramea, covering an area of 20 acres. It was agreed to allow 10 aores. An application from Mr T. tioss to exchange two lots at Te Awamutu was refused.

Heavy Rain was experienced throughout the south of the colony on Tuesday. Great damage was done in VV estland and Canterbury Province, carrying away roads and bridges, and in some instances farm lands by the acre. Fortunately, the fulfilment of Commander bdwin's prediction of Monday did nob reach so far north as Waikato.

The Hon. Me Shebhan left for Waikato on iuesday for Te Waotu, where he arrived yesterday, to attend a special meeting of native owners. The annual meeting for the election of a School Committee was held in the schoolroom, Alexandra, on Monday last. Mr E. Stunner was called to the chair. Mr Aubin, the outgoing chairman, having read the accounts, the same were passed as read. The following gentlemen were then duly proposed, seconded, and elected as the School ' ommittee for the ensuing year, viz. : — Messrs J. D Hill, B. starmer, John Aubin, J, Sage, W. B. Kelly, J. K. Pierce, and T. Finoh. Mr J. H. 'Kdwards was appointed auditor. At a subsequent meeting Mr John Aubin was unanimously re-elected chairman. The Wesleyan Conference is now sitting in Dunedin. Amongst other resolutions come to it was decided to appoint another rrinister for Waikato, namely the Key. Mr Griffin. It was also resolved to form the Upper Thames district into a new circuit, including Ohinemuri, Katikati, Waihou, aud Piako. Amongst the arrivals by the train last night to Hamilton, was Inspector Bell Thomson, whe comes on a visit of inspection to the various public stations in Waikato.

A meeting of the members of the William Johnston L.O.L. will be held in the lodge room, Cambridge, to-morrow evening.

St. Peter's, Hamilton.— The annual | meeting of the parishoners will be held at . the Church on Friday evening next, for ! the election of church officers for the I ensuing year, and other parochial business.

Thk Oriental Exhibition. —An Exhibition of a very interesting nature opened yesterday in Le Quesne's Hall. Hamilton. Tables were arranged on which were beautiful specimens of hand carving from the manufactories of Mr H. Kaurt of Jerusalem from olive wood, cut at Mount Olivet, oak from Hebron, balsam wood from the banks of the Jordan, walnut from Damascus, &3. To enumerate these articles, which include all sorts of fancy goods, such as writing cases, desks, boxes for gloves, toilet boxes, tables, book racks, needle cases, bracelets, &c, Wuuld be out of the question. The public, however, oan go and form their own opinion upon them. As works of art, these fancy goods in every variety are really worth inspecting, but they derive additional interest as made from material, the product of the Holy Land. Ihe hand carvings are especially beautiful. The specimens of petrified Dead Sea fruit and wild flowers of Palestine, ar anged by the Sisters of Zion in Jerusalem, are also most in te eating. To specify a tithe of the articles even is beyond our space, and we must refer our readers to the exhibition itself, which will remain open to-day and to-morrow, and will open at Cambridge on Saturday next. The Union Bank of Australia declared a dividend for the half-year, ending Dec. 31st, 1879, of £1 15s per share, and ss. per share, bonus equal to 15 per cent, per annum on the paid up capital, which is one and a half millions, sterling. The reserve fund amounts to £816, 500. The above dividend is now payable to colonial shareholders. Wb have to welcome back to Hamilton Mr. and Mrs. Seddon, who arrived in Waikato on Monday night, after twelvemontths trip to England. j To those intending to visit southern ports and Australia, it may be useful to know that the time table for February, 1880, of the inter-colonial and coastal services of the Union Steamship Company, may be seen at the Poet Office, Hamilton.

Evbby Man his own Tinker. —We were yesterday shewn a new invention, the advertisement of which appears in | another column, that will enable the

most inexperienced evon to repair tinware, and that, too, at a trifling cost of i money, time, or trouble. Tho preparation oonMufcs simply of u small bottle of a chemical solution, and a strip of Holder coiled round it. The artiolo where it is to be mended, should be scraped, it is then hold over a lighted candle or otker fire ; the »t ip of -Bolder is dipped into the bottle, and then rubbed upon the broken part till the soldering is effected. Very little heat is required, and the operation takea about a minute. lhe"Maji Tinner" which will also mend copper, sheet and galvanized iron, brass, or zinc utensils, may be procured from Mr. N. R. Cox, of Haamilton ; or, Messrs. Friar aud Davies, of Ngaruawahia. For Amatuers, at any rate, it makes far neater neater work than the usual method, and is far simpler and cheaper. The Vases in terra cotta manufactured by Messrs. Wright and Vincent, for the Melbourne !• xhibition, were very much adi. ired in the shop of Mr. N. R. Cox, of Hamilton. They will remain at .Sir. Cox's store for a few days longer, and we advise all those who have not yet seen them to take the opportunity of doing so. "We are informed that Messr3. Wright and Vincent intend, and are prepared to take orders for church fonts, and to turn out work to any design which may bo furnished to them. The result of Colonel Soratohley's inspection of Lytlelton harbour is said to be that recommendation has been made to the Government to have four more big guns erected in addition to four already here. A run out was made in one of the small steam launches plying in harbour to judge of its adaptability to the torpedo service, and it is probable the Government will be asked to obtain five or six small vessels for torpeao boats. The responsibility of local bodies in the case of accidents occuring through carelessness or want of proper precautions taken taken to preserve the lives and property of the public would seem to be scarcely known in New Zealand, or more persons would seek redress for losses suistained. A case of considerable interest to Road Boards and the public was heard on Saturday, in the supreme court, at Christohurch, before Mr Justice Johnston, on appeal in banco. Sometime age ' the Cust Koad Board cut a ditch and plaoed a culver*;, neglecting to fill up that part of the ditch crossing the unformed path. <\ man driving cattle along the road went off the formed part, and sustained injuries through his horse falling into the ditch. He brought an action in the lower court, were damages were obtained The Board appealed to the supreme court, and the Judge held that, as the public had a right to use the whole 66 feet of the road, the Board was guilty of negligence in not filling up the ditch on the unformed part, and dismissed the appeal with costs. The decision against the Road Board will therefore bold good.

Tk Eahu District School Examination. — Tha annual examination of the pupils of the above school was held on Tuesday, 20th inst., the full number of children on the roll being present. Ihe examination was very ably conducted by Mr H. Koche, and the children acquitted themselves in a manner which reflected the greatest credit on both the teacher and themselves. The children were examined in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English history, English grammar, spelling, composition, map drawing, dictation and transcription. They an swered clearly and promptly in each subject, thus showing the thoroughly practical teaching of the past two years. The children's parents subscribed a handsome sum of money for the puroahse of a writing-desk, workbox, and a number of suitable books as prizes. IVo special prizes were awarded— one to the best liked boy, and one to the best liked girls in . the whole school, the condition being that the boys should determine among themselves by ballot who was the best liked boy, and the girls in the same way. Before the distribution of the prizes Mr Uoche addressed a few words of kindly encouragement to the children. He expressed surprise at the general pro- ! ficiency «f all the pupils in the whole of the subjects in which they were examined, j and warmly eulogized the teacher, Mr Coulter, for the pains and care he must I have taken in their education. He also spoke of the advantage* of a good education, and honed they would all come back to school with renewed determination to do well next year. Prizes were then distributed to the following pupils :— fifth Class: G. Floyd, Ist prize for boys (writing-desk) ; Mary C. J. Taylor, Ist prize for girls (work-box); Julia 8. Floyd, 2nd prize ; Mary Taylor, Special. Fourth Class: M. F. Weal, Ist; J. Taylor, 2nd; J. C. Potts, 3rd; Mabel Potts, 4th ; H. Weal, sth. Third Class : Frederick Potts, Ist; J. Burke, 2nd. Second Class: H. Cunningham, Ist. Special prizes for arithmetic w*>re awarded j to Mary C. J. Taylor, Mabel Potts and F ederick Potts. A prize for good attendance and general proficiency was awarded by the teacher to W. S. Bond, W. J. Thompson, F. North, E. Floyd and *t. Cunningham. The special prizes for the best li ed boy and girl fell to M. C. iJ. Taylor and C. Potts. t the conclusion of the examination three cheers were called for Mr Koche, three for the teacher, three for the prize-winners, and three for the unsuccessful competitors, all of which were heartily responded to. The thanks of the School < ommittee are due to Mr Boche for his kindness in coming, during the busiest time of harvest to examine the children, as well as for the efficient and impartial manner in which he discharged his duties. Messes. Hunter and Nolan will offer for sale at Ohaupo, on Monday next, a large number of very choice 2-year-old and 23-year-old steers, also a number of other well-bred cattle, suitable for this market. Tenders for a second contract on the Thames- Waikato line, from the end of that point let to the Thames river, will be called for almost immediately. Messrs. Hunt and White have been offered and refused a bonus of £200 for their contract, which, we understand, was considerably above the estimated official cost.