THE ROTORUA ROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1185, 31 January 1880, Page 2

THE ROTORU A ROAD.

We would recommend the people of Cambridge to leave no atone unturned in bringing about the imme. diate undertaking of that most important work — the Rotorua road ; and we feel certain that in whatever measures they may adopt they will find active and earnest coadjutors in their local representatives in Parliament — Mr F. A. Whitaker and Mr J. B. Whyte. A meeting ot the inhabitants of Cambridge is called for Tuesday next, to urge upon, the Government the desirability of at once commencing the work, and no doubb much information on the matter will be elicited by a free discussion of the question. Mr James Stewart (the District Engineer"), accompanied by the district members, has lately returned from a personal inspection of the country ; and, after traversing both the Tepapa and Iforohoro routes, has come unhesitatingly to the conclusion that the route by Tepapa ia jdecidedly the best. In the first place it is nearer by 25 miles than that by llorohoro, while it presents no engineering difficulty whatever. Mr Stewart reached an elevation of 800 feeb above the sea level, but found the ascent so gradual that practically it would form no obstruction to the route whatever. Immediately on this a joint telegram was forwarded to Wellington by the members of the district, Messrs White and Whitaker, urging the immediate employment of the Armed Constabulary on the work as far as the Waiho, where there is comparatively little native difficulty to be encountered, and asked tor the immediate application of the £-4030 to the remaining portion of the distance beyond Waiho promised for this work. An answer is expected daily, and those interested may rely upon it that our members, having taken the matter in hand will, as they have done in other cases affecting the welfare of the district, not allow it to fall through from want of energy.

We would again remind the. electors of Waipa that the member for the district (Mr 1 1. A. Whitaker), -will address them in the Court House, Hamilton, tliis afternoon, at 3 o'clock.

St. Petee's, Hamilton.—We would remind our readers that the annual harrest thanksgiving will be held in this church on Sunday next, February Ist; hours of servico, 8 a.m. (h.c.), 11 a.m. (iI.C.). and 7p m. The offertories will be devoted to the expenses incurred by the alteration of the church fence, since the cutting away of the road. The decorations of grain, fruit and flowers will be equal to former years, which says all that need be said cqneerning their beauty and appropriate character. They will not be taken down until after the org-an recital; but the following day the fruit will be distributed among the sick and the children of the parish. The organ recital—a selection of sacred music by the choir and a few members of the Band, conducted by Mr T. A. Bell —will take place on Tuesday evening next, the 3rd of February, commencing at 7.30; tickets are to be had at all the stores. It is hoped that the choir will receive the encouragement of a very full church on this first occasion of a selection of entirely sacred music. At a meeting of the Cambridge Town Board it was decided to cut away part of the hill by the National Hotel, and nil up the hollows by the Bank of New Zealand. A sub-committee to get an estimate from the engineer of the eosfc of draining the roads by the English Church into the lake was appointed.

A proclamation in a New Zealand* G'azttle, issued on Thursday afternoon,-, announced that Parliament,, stands further" prorogue,* to the '2£ssLAsiL , - , '" Visit of Linc^insHibe Farmers* Delegates $0 Gisß^RNk —Mr. Grant and x Mr. Foster, the two genueoxen who had, ,been deputed bj^oertaM- Linoolnshire to vist Nptp'Zealand, and to report upon the ceuntry, landed at G-isborno yesterday inoruing: says the Bay of Plenty 'fanes, of the 22nd instant, in company with the Rev. Joseph Berry. They were received ana entertained by Captain Porter, and afterwards were taken through ] the-Te Araiand'Patutahi dist#cts. Here the delegates carefully examined the soil, which they pronounced to be superior to almost anything they had seen in any part of New Zealand. .In Lincolnshire farming phraseology they describe the land as "warp." That is, that the soil consisted in greater part of river deposits, which io the finest of all boils.; gav<> the preference, but only in a small degree, to the land on the other side of the Big Itiver; the subsoil they considered as being superior. The soil, whether for cereals or root crops, they consider infinitely superior to any part of thu Waikato country they had visited. „ But they dei scribe the land as being exceedingly dirty and greatly neglected. Using their own words to the Mayor, they said, " You appear to have too much country, and you do not know what to do with it." The crops of maize astonished them. It was only the very finest soil they alleged which could produce so splendid a growth Visiting Roseland, they were shown trees of peaches of enormous size, and of the finest descriptions. The place, as it were, was flowing with honey, tkA swarming with myriads of bees. The sight was one, which gave them exceeding pleasure. The two gentlemen thought the farmers were neglecting the eradication of the thistle, which was occupying such large areas of fine land. Mr Foster and Mr. Grant left Gisborne by steamer last evening, having expressed themselves highly pleased with what they had been shown,, and expressing a strong belief in a great and immediate future for Poverty Bay. The rain predicted by Captain Ed,win was very slight in Cambridge early last Wednesday morning, but there was a very blow from thel north-west. The grain crops are being rapioly gathered in; only the late crops are now out. Up to the present this has been one of the most favorable harvest seasons known linoe Waikato was settled by Europeans.

Messbs. McCann Alto Noborovk of Cambridge have taken over the butcher's business, lately carried on by Messrs. Swayne and Co. The shop will re-open on Monday next. The two parties of Armed Constabulary now working on the Taupo road, have already made considerable improvements. Though the road stood the winter well it needed repairs in many places.

NOAETTAWAHIA ANNUAL It ACES.—A meeting of all those interested in getting up the annual Ngaruawahia Race Meeting, are invited to attend at the Royal Mail Hotel, Ngaruawahia, on Monday evening next. Anniversary Day was kept up on Thursday in Waikato. The weather waß beautifully fine, indeed one of the hottest days we have had this summer, and outdoor amusements—picnic parties especially —were indulged in by the residents of the several townships. Many of our nettlers went to the Papakura Races—the train having been increased by several carriages for their accommodation, and the speed altered so as to enable them to reach Papaknra as early as possible. The annual treat of the children attending St. Andrew's Church Sunday i^chooi was held on Thursday last at the paddocks of Mr A. A. Fanthata. The children were conveyed out in waggons from the church, where a service was held before starting. Swings, races, and all kinds of amusements were got up, and buns, cake and sandwiches, tea and gingerbeer supplied ad libitum. A large number of the members of the congregation were present, and a most enjoyable day was spent. Ihe band was on'the ground and played during the day. An attempt had been made to amalgamate the two schools for the occasion, but it did not succeed. Some unpleasantness concerning the band arose from this attempt, but, fortunately, it did not in any way l mar the success of tho day's amusement.

Waixato residents sending their sons to ! the Auckland, Darnell, or Onehunga Grammar Schools will find the opportunity afforded by the Rev. Mr Mulgan, of Onehunga a very beneficial one. That gentleman, who is a B. \. of Trinity College, Dublin, is prepared to receive a* boarders in his house a limited number of pupils attending the public schools, who would receive th 3 advantages of home training and assistance in the preparation of their studies. '1 he Key. Mr Mulgan, who came out with the Katikati special settlers, is the incumbent of St. Peter's, Onehunga. Foul Play is now backed at 4 to 1 to win the Wellington Cup. Ok Wednesday last Mr Sheehau, accompanied by Messrs W. A. Graham, E. B. Walker, and W. EL Grace left Cambridge for 1 c Waotu, where another large meeting will be held, and probably a more successful one than the laot, A tiual of reapers and binders was made at Ashburtou on Wednesday last, in the presence of the Lincolnshire delegates. The affair was a great success. Six .machines commenced work —three with wire binder and three with string binder. The work done by all was exceptionally good, and gave universal satisfaction to all present. The gold medal was awarded to the Deering in the string binder clahs, and McCormicks in the wire binder class, the Johnstone harvester being highly commended in the former class. The Native Lands Court concluded its business for the session on Wednesday last. Besides the succeusionar orders made the only block passed through was that of Mangowero No. 12. The Ngatiraukawa and the Ngatihinorangi Were the rival claimants, but the evidence in favor of the former tribe was indisputable, and judgment was given for it accordingly.

The Colonial Bank. — The eleventh half-yearly meeting of shareholders of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, was held on Wednesday afternoon at Dunedin —Mr Gr. McLean, M.H.R., in the chair. The following report was read :—" The directors beg to submit to the proprietors the accompanying report and balancesheet for the half-year ending .'Ust December last. The net profits, after deducting interest paid and accruing on I fixed deposits, and all expenses of management, rent, and other charges, and after rebating all bills current, and providing for all ascertained bad debts, amount to £17,5116s Id; balance of profit and loss for previous half-year £2045 18s Id: making a total of £19,557 on 2d, which the directors propose to be appropriated as follows : —To the reserve fund, in compliance with the stipulation of clause 10G of the deed of settlement, £100; to be a payment of dividend of 7 per cent, per annum on the paid-up capital, £15,998 10s sd; the balance to be carried forward to the next half-year, £2558 13s 9d—£19,557 4s 2d. The directors make these proposals, because half the year's profits, besides paying 8 per cent, per annum dividend, would enable them to make what has been sufficient provision for the bad and doubtful debts ; but after a very careful investigation of the wholo business of the. bank, the

-'directors, feeling in doubt as to the outoome of certain accounts whi^i depend,, upon realisation of property, and, seemg 1 , ' the depreciation that " Kas taken piaoe? lately in real estate and in the still dfi* pressed and unsettled state of commercial uft'airsfj deem it their duty to ask the 1 shareholders' permission, to transfer £20,000 from the reserve fund to a special suspense account, so as to simply provide for every contingency. The directors, however, believe that a considerable portion of this sum will become available to be returned to the reserve account." I A meeting of householders of Cambridge West was held on Monday even- I ing, at the late residence, of Mr Moisley, to eleot a School I ommittee for the year 1880. Eleven persons were present. Mr Win. Howie was voted to the chair. As there were no astets there was no balancesheet, and the Chairman called upon those present to nominate candidates, when the following were proposed : — Messrs Francis Hiolra.-Hugh (Fitzgerald, William Howie, William Tucker, Thomas Jones, James Keely, Charles Denton, Samuel Fletcher, James Hic'*s, and Richard Mitchell. On a ballot being taken, the Chairman declared the following 1 duly elected, viz. :—: — Messrs Francis tlicks, Hugh Fitzgerald, William Howie, William Tucker, James Keely, Jarres Hicks, and Kichard Mitchell. A vote of thanks to the Chairman and scrutineers closed the public meeting. The first meeting of the new Committee was held immediately after, when Mr Francis Hicks was unanimously chosen Chairman, and Hugh Fitzgerald Secretary. It was resolved that the Chairman, in conjunction with the Secretary, sign cheques, and the Committee hoped there would be something to report on at next annual meeting. — [Communicated.] The! Wesleyan Conference appointments for the Waikato circuit the Rev. Henry Bull to Cambridge, and the Rev. Cornelius Griffin to Hamilton.

Waikato County Council. — The only candidate nominated on Thursday for the vacant seat in the Waikato County Counoil was Mr Andrew Primrose, and he was therefore declared duly elected.