The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1191, 14 February 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, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, FEB R UAH Y I4, 1880.

The contract for the completion of the railway between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu is being pushed forward with expedition, and it i 9 confidently expected that trains will lun as far j»s the latter place long before the ptesent year is spent. The residents of Te Aw&mutu are naturally greatly annoyed at not having the terminus in the township, after the strong representations made by them to the late Government on the snbject. The only reason given for adopting the present terminus was that a saving of some thousands of pounds was effected. The troth of this is not very patent to ,an outsider, but allowing it to be unimpeachable there are other and stronger reasons why a direct line to the township should have been taken. The question has been pretty fuily canvassed already, and it is scarcely necei3ary now, more especially as the line is nearly completed, to enter anew npon its discussion. One fact may be reverted to, the mention of which, while it canuot now do anything to alter the route, will go far to justify the dissatisfaction felt by the people of Te Awamatu. It. is this, the line is not likely in the ordinary course of events to be extended further for many years to com* 1 , and in such circumstances the expenditure of a few additional thousands ought not to have stood in the way of the ob iainment of a site for terminus more in accordance with the requirements of the district, and with common sense, than *hat which has been selected. While on this subject we must congratulate the settlers of the Rangiawhia district upon the prospect, which is an immediate one, of acquiring such *n improved means of communication with other parts of the province. Even since the opening of the line to Ohaupo, the settlers have had to pay <£1 a ton on goods for cartage, an item [whioh they can now look forward to see reduced considerably.

On the 31st ultimo we informed our readers that the District Engineer, Mr Stewart, C.E., after traversing both the Ta Papa and Horohoro routes leading from Cambridge to Rotorua, had decided that that via Ta Papa was the best tmd shortest, presenting little or no engineering difficulties. Within the last few days we have been afforded information regarding *his line which folly endoises Mr Stewarts expressed opinion, and the source of this information is unquestionable. The present roundabout native track from Cambridge to Ta Papa, over which we believe Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., drove Mr Stewart in his buggy about three weeks ago, is 30 miles, more or less, in length ; from Ta Papa about 13 miles of road require forming through a bush — the country being perfectly level — which would bring the traveller out on to the TauraMga and Rotorua road, about 6i miles from Ohinemutu on the Tauranga side. No engineering difficulties exist, and a further advantage v-hich this line would uft )id is easy communication with Tauranga, inasmuch as a short deviation from it of about 8 miles will bring the traveller to Pyes pah, an old block.house, distant from the town of Tauranga aboat 10 miles, from where a good made carriage road has been in existence some years. The ronte wo have indicated would make the distance irom Cambridge to Ohineinutu aboat, say, 50 miles, and with the deviation of 8 miles to Pyes pah, would bring Tanranga wichin an easy day's ride of 48 miles from Cambridge. As stated in our last issue Mr B. E. M. Campbell, acting onder instructions from the District Engineer, has gone to Ta Papa to arrange with the natives for the road, and we trust to hear that he has been successful, and to see the road formation under way very shortly.

That the Government honestly intend carrying out. their promises with regard to the Waipa and Raglan road is evidenced by the fact that Mr Breakell left Hamilton yes. terday morning, under instiuctions from Mr Jab Stewart, District Engineer, to examine and report upon what works are necessary to pat the existing road in a thorough state of repair, and ascertain any addition or improvement that may be needed to make the road more perfect as a means of communication between the two districts of Raglan and Waikato. Along the Waipa side of the range the road is tolerably good, but the bridges in several places require attending to. The earthwork ap-

pronolies hare sunk below the timber level of the bridge, the clay havi-.g been filled in when soft at the time the rond was made and been either washed away or having* settled down. The road over the ranges is a very fair one as to gradients, althongh in more than odo {--lace there are landslips which have filled the road channels up and forced the water on to the mads so cutting them up that in some cases there is hut just room for the whoek. This occurs more particularly on the Raglan side of the range. The part of the road from where the natives und^r Mr Palmer ceased work ueeds looking to as one siding especially is out of repair. Tt is satisfactory to find that the Government intend taking the matter into their own hands for the settlers are too few in the district to bear the expense of maintaining this road and no doubt Mr Breakell during his visit will see where the line across the range could be vastly improved. It would indeed be a wiss plan for the Government to put a man on by the year at a fixed charge to look after this road and keep it repaired as occasion requires for on a newly-formed road, over hilly country such repairs will be continually needed, and if done at once will not cost half the amount, for when once a sli), occurs every subsequent rain increases the damage till it becomes at last a serious matter and expanse, and it such person's salary were paid quarterly some one could always be employed to travel the road and pass the work before he was paid.

To-sat is St. Valentine's Day. Wb understand that Mr J. L. Mandeno, of Te Awamutu, is the successful tenderer for the erection of Rewi's house at Kihikihi. The prioe has not jet transpired. Mb J. B. Whyte sold on Thursday 4000 aores of Tauhoroa estate, about 12 miles from Hamilton, at an exceedingly satisfactory price to the vendor. The land is good undulating country, and adjoining the Koronui estate of the Messrs Morrin on the one side, and that of Mr Stead, of the firm of Koyse, Stead and Co., on the other. At a meeting of the Rangiaohia Koad Board, a few days ago, it was decided to make an application to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, to have the temporary reserve near the Mangahoi creek permanently reserved, with a view to its being made a recreation ground and public park for the town of Te Awamutu. .Should the prayer of the Board be granted it is intended to apply for power to lease the reserve, the lessee to make certain improvements yearly, with a view to utilising it ultimately for the purpose specified in the application. At the present the people of Te Awamutu have no public place set apart for recreation purposes, and are obliged to rent a paddook for the holding of sports or any other public outdoor amusements. The application of the Board is, therefore, not only a very reasonable one, but one whioh should be granted without demur. The new schoolhouse, now in course of erection at Te Awamutu will, when completed, be a great addition to the township. Its dimensions are: — Length cf main room, 4»ft. x 22ft. wide, with 14ft. walls ; the roof has almost a Gothic pitch, and gives 14ft. more, making the height from floor to ridgo 28ft. There are two anterooms, 12ft. z Bft. each, provided with lavatories, &c. The design is altogether extremely neat. The contractor is Mr J. L. Mandeno. An accident happened to Mr Ooates' steam thresher on Thursday last, which will necessitate a delay of some days. While proceeding along one of the back roads in the Cambridge district the engine by some means capsized and sustained considerable damage. The Chairman of the Rangiaohia Road Board has convened a public meeting of the residents of Te Awamutu and the neighborhood for to-morrow, to take means for raising subscriptions for the relief of the distress in Ireland. A great deal of interest is manifested in the district regarding the subject, and no doubt the outcome of the meeting will be the sendin g of a considerable sum of money for transmission to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The action of the Rangiaohia Road Board in taking advantage of the summer weather to put the road through the Kihikibi bush in good order is much to be commended. Last winter this road was during the greater part of the season submerged, and of course impassable; but the deep drain which is now being cut ought to prove sufficiently large to carry off the water into the Mangahoi. The road is also being fascined, and a plentiful supply of soil will be spread over all, which will have time to settle before the wet season again approaches. Ihe effect of this work will be to aiake the journey much shorter at all times of the year between Cambridge and Rangiaohia and Kihilrihi. We are also glad to notice that the Pukekura Board is repairing the short cut from Cambridge to Fukerimu past Messrs Tucker's and Bell's properties. Oub representative has been shown a very nice crop of mangel wurzel, grown by a farmer near Cambridge. From present appearance it is expected to yield between 30 and 40 tons to the acre. '1 he seed was imported direct from England, and the land received a dressing of about 2 cwt of salt and superphosphate, mixed, to th« acre. Adjoining the field of mangels is about 10 acres of turnips, looking exceedingly well, though in want of a little moisture. There can be very little doubt that the laud in that neighbourhood is well suited for root crops. Mb Sheehan was expected in Waikato on Thursday night, but did not arrive until yesterday. He went straight througk to Kinikibi, and goes thence on to Patatere. On Thursday morning Major Mair and Mr Lewis left Ohaupo for Kihikihi to meet him at that place, and Mr Grace the same day went over from Cambridge to Kihikihi. On Monday last Sergeant Sanderson received an official teiegram from tha I hames stating that a party of natives had started from that district with a quantity of ammunition, whioh they intended taking to the King country, and directing him to look out for and intercept them. Sergeant Sanderson, in expectation of their arrival in Waikato, made preparations to intercept them at Ngaruawahia while crossing, and on Tuesday, while waiting there, received a telegram from Huntley, stating 1 that a suspicious looking party of natives were then on the opposite side of the river, and asking for instructions. He at once decided to go himself, and, hiring a trap, took with him Constables Taaner and Cooper, and a civilian. On reaching Huntley they learned that the natives were then at Ralph's and Lovells store, on the other side of the river, and, crossing over in a canoe, Sanderson and his men found a parly of from 25 to 30 , nativei whom they searched. Nothing

vas found in their possession, however, in the shapo of ainmuuitiou, and the party returned that niirht by train, somewhat crestfallen, to Ngaruawahia. It is supposed that the men actually wanted belonged to a party which passed through ou horseback on the Monday, the day that the telegram informing" him of their expected visit was received by Sergeant Sanderson. Mr W. N. Searancke has been appointed Returning < ifficer for the borough of Hamilton, in place of Mr T. 0. Hammond, resigned. It is gratifying to find that the sentiments expressed in our columns from time to time on the acquirement of the Te Puke block by Mr Vesey Stewart, of Katikati, for his > T o. 3 party, are very generally endorsed by the Press of this island. The Thames Advertiser of Wednesday last republishes verbatim, for the benefit of its readers, our leading article on this subject of the 24th ultimo. His Honor Mr Justice Gillies proceeds to England on leave of absence by next outgoing mail steamer. Mr Justice Richmond filling his place on the bench during his absence. The meeting of the Hamilton West School Committee, which was to have been held on Thursday afternoon, was adjourned until Monday next at 4 p.m. There was no quorum on Thursday evening at the Uamilton Borough Council, at the special meeting called to adopt the 1 by-laws recently published. Our remarks of Thursday with reference to the scarcity of peaches in WaiIt ato in consequence of the dying off of trees from blight, have led to the supply of information which is at once suggestive of the cause. A settler in Hamilton informs us that early last spring he had abont twenty young and vigorous peach trees growing in his garden, all of which were in flower, and that after one late frost all were destroyed but one and a portion of another. The one tree was saved by the simple cirumstance that a sheet put out to dry had been spread over it the proceeding day and had not been taken in at night. In the oase of the tree partially saved, the limb not affected by the blight was one which, had grown into the bows of a cherry tiee in full leaf, and had thus been partially sheltered front the frost People seem to forget that the peach at home is grown only against walls with a warm aspect, and that it is not nearly so hardy as other English fruit trees, whioh the blight of the last two or three years has not affected as it has done the pqaoh. Ihe climate has considerably altered in Waikafco of late, a statement whioh is borne out by the fact that it is now difficult to raise young arums, which are cut down by frost, especially in lowlying situations, while a few years ago they throve without hindrance. A concert and ball will be held in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Friday evening next, in aid of the Irish Famine Relief Fund. The party of Armed Constabulary which has been engaged up to the present in working on the Cambridge and Taupo road will make a commencement on Monday on the newly laid out road to Rotorua. The party has been strengthened by the addition of four men withdrawn from the Kihikihi, and as many from the Alexandra station ; and the working party will, therefore, with the four sergeants, number 60 men of all ranks under Capt. Capel, leaving 20 men at the stations and at headquarters Desirable as it may be to push on the making of the Kotorua road as quickly as possible, it is a matter of questionable policy to leave Kihikihi with only two of the Constabulary Btationed there. Our readers will remember the state of that township when the force located there was no larger, and the marked improvement which followed the increasing of the garrison to eight or ten men. Since then there have been no disgraceful scenes occasioned by the visits of disorderly drunken Maoris, who had been wont to keep the township in a state of disorder and lawlessness, compelling the publicans to serve them with liquor, and generally behaving as they liked, to the annoyanoe and terror of the settlers. H. M. S. Pinafore. — A. correspondent writing from London, says, " I have been to the performance of the 'Children's Pinafore,' at the Opera Comique Theatre, and in my memory London has not given a prettier performance. Every youngster in a sailors costume, and every daiuty * lass that loves a sailor ' looking charming. Dear me ! there is such a little duck of a round child who plays Little Buttercup, a quaint, little, comical woman, who sings as clear as a bell in perfect tun<*. It is Miss Everard, seen through the wrong end of the opera -glass. And then there is the First ford, who reproduces the quaint trices of Mr Grossmith ; and a charming Captain Corcoran and Miss Corcoran, both natural, childlike, and with none of the forced affectation of stage children ; and the most comical little atom of a midshipman that was ever seen, who will make the children scream with delight ; and a Dick Deadeye, who is no doubt a bora actor. But the boy who I delighted me most was the Ralph Rackstraw, a lad with one of those heavenly voices that we hear in cathedrals, and whose pure sobbing notes send a oold shiver down the back and tears into the eyes. Ihe absolute simplicity of his acfug, the mild melancholy in his interesting face, the expression of his eyes, and the purity of that wonderful voice relieve the humour of the rest of the performance, with just sufficient sentiment and no more. I am a very old playgoer, and am said to be strangely particular, but I have not for some time witnessed a performance that pleased me more. "

Stmpathy with the Ibish.— lt would be incorrect to say that the sympathy of Irishmen in America for their countrymen in Ireland is out of place, but we think that the spirit in which that sympathy is manifested is altogether unbecoming. That there is great distress among the poor clpsses in Ireland no one will deny, and if Americans can relieve that distress it is well that they should do so. But the sympathy shown should not take a political shape. "Resolutions" condemning English laws, and blaming the British Government for the Irish troubles, can accomplish nothing. Every body knows, or should know, that the tenure of land in Ireland is almost precisely the same as the tenure of land here. The system has its evils, but to remedy those evils the first statesmen of the century racked their brains in vain. As long as the world lasts there will be rich people and there will be poor, and the poor must go to the wall. This truth is as ppparent and its results are as deplorable in England and in Scotland — aye, and everywhere else, including America — as they are in Ireland. The only difference lies in the temperament of the people who have to suffer under an unchangeable social law. The English Government has done everything it could to mitigate the misfortunes of the sister isle; but the Irish are a hot-headed, impatient and turblent race, and would be satisfied with nothing but the fate of the famed Kilkenny cats. Their agitation is always political and never practical. If they are hungry thej do not look for bread, but immediately growl at the system of government under which they experience want. And when they butt against the Constitution and statutes of England they invariably come out of the quarrel with sore heads. Americans should not encourage them in this folly. If we can send thorn food and clothing and mouey,

let us do so by all means; but for us to adopt or indorse their political views, and lend ourselves to the senseless abuse of Enylaud on their account, is very foolish on our part. — -News Letter, Sinob the opening of the line Ohaupo has steadily improved in appearance. Several new buildings have gone up, and the place wears a thriving aspect. The road between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu is at present anything but a pleasant one to travel on, having on an average about three inches thickness of dust overlying it. What this immense quantity of loose earth is likely to become when winter sets in those whose good, or rather ill- fortune it is to use the road can best tell. Might we suggest that a little gravol spread on the worst parts, would be an improvement. Between Cambridge and Hamilton, and between the former place and Pukerimu there are excellent gravelled roads. Surely the good people on the other side of the country ought not to be behind their neighbours.

Tenders will be received up to Tuesday the 2nd proximo, for gravelling or sanding, rather more than half a. mile of the Hamilton-Hokonui road near Johnson's Hill. Specifications may be seen and information obtained from Mr Breakcll, on and after Monday next.

Creditors in the estate of Swayne & Co., butcher? of Cambridge, arc required to send proof of their claims to Mr Thomas Wells, on or before Monday next, when a. dividend will be payable.

A special meeting of ratepayers of the town of Ngaruawahia is convened for Saturday, 28th inst, at 7 p.m. at the Royal Hotel, to elect a member \icc Mr R. R. Hunt, resigned.

A soiree and public meeting will be held in the Cambridge Wesleyan Church on Tuesday next, when addresses will be delivered, and musical selections rendered by the choir, under the direction of Mr C. D. Macintosh.

The Town Clerk calls for tenders for certain works^ within the borough of Hamilton. Tenders to be in by the 23rd instant.

Yesterday Mr Knox sold the house, shop, and allotment in the estate of Mr Lovegrove, of East Hamilton. The sale was really that of 20 shares in the Building Society advanced on the property, and on which £43 had been paid up. The intersst in the property realised the sum of £53.

Mr J. S. Buckland advertises an important and unreserved sale of cattle, sheep, and horses, at Pencarrow, near Cambridge, on Wednesday, 25th instant, commencing at 1 o'clock. 200 head of cattle, 1600 sheep, and 20 horses will be offered. Luncheon will be provided.