The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1195, 24 February 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatr\er state or persuasion, religious or political. Here j>hall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2I

Prompt and decisive action will, we, trust, even before this reaches the eyes of our readers, have been taken by the Government to prevent, as far as possible, the introduction of further cargoes of cattle from Australia, into New Zealand. But equally prompt measures must be taken to examine and isolate such herds now in the Auckland district as have been increased by recent importations from New South Wales. As far as we can learn, these instances have been few, comprising only those of the Swamp Company, in this district, and those of Mr Smith, Mr Ireland, Mr Johns, and Messrs Fisher and Company, near Auckland. As yet the disease can have infected a very limited area, and the perfect isolation of these herds, and the stoppage of any further importation may prevent the general spread of the disease. None, however, but the most determined and promptly taken moasures can effect this, but so great would be the advantage of a successful attempt that neither trouble nor expense should be spared, either by individuals or by the community. The stock owners about Auckland have moved energetically and practically in the matter. Our own Waikato settlers, through their representative institution, the Cambridge Farmers' Club, are also shewing themselves equal to the occasion. That occasion is one that will permit of no half measures, which calls for prompt and decided action. Delay vacillation, and mere temporising expediency may mean the ruin of hundreds of our settlers. Those who remember the losses of the year 1863, when this disease attacked the cattle in the Auckland district, and how the blundering shilly-

shally measures of the Provincial Government allowed it to get a firm hold in the district, will need no spur to preventitive action. The Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, hastily summoned, met on Friday and having satisfied themselves beyond doubt of the existence of the disease, passed the following resolution, " That in consequence of pleuro-pneumonia having appeared in an agg.iavated form in cattla imported lately from New South Wales, this Society, at a meeting held this day, respectfully request that the Government take immediate steps to prohibit cattle being imported from the Australian Colonies." Messrs Alfred Buckland and Joseph May then waited on the Resident Minister, the Hon. F. Whitaker, and that gentleman at once forwarded on a copy of the resolution to Wellington, stating that he had no doubt that it would be at once acted upon, but pointing out, and herein lies the source of great future danger, for two ship loads are now upon the way, that cattle already on the route could not be stopped unless they were diseased. Mr Naclen, who is possessed of the full qualifications of a Vet3rinary Surgeon, will be appointed to inspect them on arrival. The question, however, is whether, it may be possible to detect it after so short a voyage, and the disease become developed and spread after the arrival and dispersion of the cattle. From what was stated at the Auokland meeting we should imagine that these importations are solely for stud purposes, and therefore not likely to be large, and that the cost could not be great of providing isolated paddock accommodation for them on arrival, say, even on the island of Motuihi, until such time as the disease, if in the earliest stage may have perceptibly developed. The owners of such cattle would surely do no other than fall in with so reasonable a proposal, especially if all expenses and loss were guaranteed them, and expense as we have said should weigh nothing with our Auckland settlers in the attempt to stamp out the disease at its commencement. If the cattle are intended for the beef market, and no disease is apparent, then there would be little loss, possibly gain, in buying up the whole cargo, placing them on Motuihi and slaughtering them rapidly for the Auckland market, till the whole stock is consumed, carefully destroying the skins and offal. Pleuro-pneumonia is an infectious disease and is supposed to arise from animal poison floating through in the atmosphere, and, in most cases, proceeding from the respiratory organs of animals already diseased. Its earlier symptoms are slight and obscure and may exist some time before they are recognised. A very slight but short cough and a little staring of the coat are the earliest, and these may run on for weeks before further developing. Then follows a falling off feeding and a lasging behind or away from the herd. This is the first stage. In the second stage comes acceleration of the breathing, as the ("lungs become more affected, and a falling off in flesh. In the third stage these symptoms are increased, rumination ceases, the breath becomes short and quick and death ensues from suffocation. The lungs have ceased to perform i their office, have become a heavy condensed substance incapable of expansion and contraction. It has become generally recognised as a fact, we believe, that to attempt a cure during the third stage is useless almost so in the second stage, and only when the first symptoms are observed that it is worth attempting. The blood-letting, which in the first stage of pleurisy often saves the animal at once, is inefficacious in this disease. There is an exhaustion of the tissues going on in building up the morbid deposit in the lungs which is rapidly overfilling the system of the animal. To further weaken it by bleeding would be injurious, and a cure is sought in changing the direction of these deposits, in fact, a resort to the active counter irritation of blistering, a difficult matter with a beast whose skin is thick and insensible. The hair must be removed, and where a single application has failed it has been found that a combination has succeeded. Thus a mixture of iodine of mercury, that of tartarized antimony, and the ointment of cantharides, mechanically combined together, have raised an excellent blister when l'ubbecl into the skin of the sides, whence the hair had been previously removed. Cotton oil added would probably intensify the action of the blister. Internal applications are also administered but the later experiences of the profession would probably suggest more effective measures than the recollection of treatment in 1863 could possibly afford. The subject is one which it will be necessary again to refer to, and should the disease unfortunately, not receive a speedy and decisive check, we shall have another phase of the matter to discuss.

Our special reporter's description of Raglan, which will be found in another place, is a rather doleful one. There is no attempt to gloss over anything — the whole state of the case is stated ; and it is perhaps much better that this should be done. Better even that its defects should be colored, in order that they might be more cleax-ly seen and more speedily overcome, than, by finding excuses for this evil and that, blind people to their existence, and so aid iv their per-

petuation. It is, doubtless, a hard matter to account for the singularly slow progress which Raglan has made during the past ; but that it is in a great degree owing to the isolated state of the settlement ever since its establishment, a quarter of a century ago, is as certain that as to grow, a plant must have light. Here we have presented to us a town, healthfully and charmingly situated, possessed of a good harbor, surrounded by an abundance of land, for the most part of good quality, actually for a number of years standing still, and in the meantime, not 40 miles away, there spring into existence upon land which was in the hands of the Maoris long after Raglan was settled — towns which in a few short years have so far outstripped it in the race as to be far above all comparison with it. Ihe question will obtrude itself, wherefore is this the case ? We may blame the people up to a certain point with justice ; but Raglan has been shamefully neglected in the past by those whose duty it was to help it forward. Despite the representations of a people absolutely cut off from all regular communication with their neighbors, it is only just recently that the long-looked for Waipa road was opened. That the opening of this road will advance the interests of Raglan we do not for an instant doubt, because the letting in c^ light upon any place can never do harm, and must always do good. There is much to be done yet to make this road as good as it ought to be at the Raglan end, and had a little more economy been exercised on the other par r .s it might have been accomplished. But just now we wish to advert tp another work, the carrying out of which would materially affect Raglan for good, and that is the extension of the telegraph wires to that place. That in the days of lavish public expenditure ; when every little out-of-the-way upcountry township in the South Island which had the audacity to ask, obtained the boon of telegraphic communication, Raglan was denied, is simply monstrous. If we remember rightly, at the time when the last application of this nature was made, one or two gentlemen in Raglan offered a guarantee of £50 a-year towards the line, and yet it was refused. It is not necessary to say that a telegraph station is required ; the necessity has long ago been forcibly pointed out, and it only remains for us in thus referring to the subject to urge on the settlers of Raglan again to assert their claims, feeling assured that they may rely on the sympathy and active assistance of their Waikato neighbors.

Yesterday morning, at 6 o'clock, the police arrested a youth named Sidney Beetham on suspicion of being the person who broke into Mr Martin's store on two occasions, stealing there from goods consisting of clothing, pickles, jams, &c. In the afternoon the prisoner was brought up before Mr E. M. Edgcumbe, Esq., J.P., and on the application of the police remanded to to-morrow. We regret to learn that typhoid fever has broken out in Cambridge, and though not as prevalent as in 1876, there are several cases of it at the present time ; one indeed, in which the patient lies in a very precarious state. We learn that Mr Beere, C.E., lias received instructions to proceed at once with the survey for the extension of the Waikato-Thames Railway, from termination of present contract to Omahu.

Archbishop Steins. S.l*, is to arrive by mid-day train in Hamilton, on Friday, 27th instant. It is intended to accord him a suitable reception at the Station, and immediately on arrival at the Catholic Church an address of welcome will be read to His Gi'ace. On Saturday the Archbishop proceeds to Cambridge, here, also, he will be met in the Church by the Catholics of the district, and a similar address will be read. On Sunday, Confirmation Service will be held at Cambridge, and on Wednesday in the following week, at Hamilton. During the remaining portion of the week, the Archbishop will visit the border settlements, i.e., Kihikihi, Rangiaohia, Alexandra, etc. ; and in the first Sunday of March will take place the blessing of the Ohaupo Church, and Confirmation in the same edifice. A clergyman will accompany His Grace from Auckland. A meeting of the Borough Council was to have been held last night, but lapsed for want of a quorum. We have been shown a very fine sample of apple grown by Mr H. W. Palmer ,of Hamilton East ; it weighs 17 ounces, is named the Queen of Beauty, and was grown on a tree, bearing this season two pears, and another description of apple. The specimen submitted to us was grafted on to the tree about three years ago by Mr Palmer. We understand that the Government have come to an arrangement with the Steam Navigation Company, by which the Company forego running their steamers to Mercer (Point Russell). The Government agreeing to give the Company all the freight for Cambridge and the interior from Ngaruawahia. The Company will, therefore, we learn, run a steamer daily from Ngaruawahia to Cambridge. Sir : — Will you please insert the following :—"I: — "I beg to acknowledge a cheque for fifteen pounds, received on the nth instant, from the committee of the Chiniquy Fund, Cambridge. — Alfred Cox, Treasurer." A brief telegraphic report of last evening's meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Club appears in another column. A full report will appear in our next. The annual picnic of the Cambridge Wesleyan Sunday-school was held on Thursday last, in a well-grassed paddock belonging to Mr Richard Reynolds, at Pukerimu, kindly placed at the disposal of the committee. The Pukerimu Sun-day-school children were invited, and were also present. There was a full attendance of both teachers and scholars belonging to both schools from Hautapu, Cambridge, Pukerimu, and Ohaupo, and amongst them the Revs. Messrs. Bull, Jones, Martin, and Griffiths. The usual sports, swings, racing, and football were provided and an abundant supply of refreshments, winch included a large cask of ginger beer, which young and old seemed to enjoy on so hot a day. All were made heartily welcome, and the teachers and other friends exerted themselves to keep the children amused, and a great number of prizes were distributed to the winners of various races, &c, by Mr Whitehouse, of Cambridge. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Walker, Gane, Reynolds, Caley, and other friends. Mr E. B. Walker, and others, provided a large quantity of sweetmeats, which were scrambled for by the children iu,st before the picninc. broke

up. At the close, Mv Henry Buttle, called for three cheers for Mr and Mrs Richard Reynolds for granting them the use of so pleasant and convenient a paddock. Three cheers were given at the instance of Mr Gane and Mr John Fisher, for the friends who had catered for them, and for those other friends who had provided vahicles to bring them to ami convey them from the ground. The Rev. Mr Bull, on behalf of the children begged to thank Mr Henson, of Cambridge, and Mr P. Cooper, of Putney, for the considerable amount of trouble they had taken in providing swings, &c, and in assisting in carrying out the sports, and thus a most enioyable day was brought to a close without the slightest hitch or mishap. The following reply to the letter of the Whatawhata settlers, which appeared in the Times of Thursday last, lias been forwarded by Mr F. A. Whikater: — " Gentlemen, —l fully sympathise with your anxiety in reference to the bridge over the Waipa at Whatawhata, and beg to assure you that no delay shall take place on my part in forwarding this most necessary and valuable work. It will be recollected that the last session of Parliament did not close until December 28th the holidays then intervened and nothing could be done until the second week in January. Since then sections have been taken and forwarded to Wellington where plans are being prepared with a view to call immediately for tenders. T feel certain that no delay will be permitted by the authorities at Wellington, and I shall deem it my duty to watch your interests narrowly, and communicate with you if necessity arises. With respect to the road from Hamilton to Whatawhata, the engineer's estimate largely exceeds the amount granted for that purpose by the Government. I have made a fresh proposal, and on my receiving an answer, it is my intention to communicate with the local bodies, and ask for their co-operation and assistance. Thanking you for the kindly recognition you have made of my past services, —I am, gentlemen, yours obediently, Fred. A. Whitaker."

Assessment Courts will be held this day, for the Kirikiriroa Highway District, at the house of Lewis 0 Neill, Esq. Claudelands, East Hamilton, at noon, and at the old farm residence of C. C. Wood, Esq., at 10 a.m., for the Tamahere Highway Board District. Assessment Courts, will also be held to-morrow, for the Hamilton Highway Board District, at the residence of C. Johnson, Esq.. at 3 p.m., and at the Court House, Hamilton, at 9 a.m., for the Borough of Hamilton, and on the 26th instant, Thursday next, at the Waitoa Sclioolhouse, at 11 a.m. for the Waitoa Highway Board District. An opportunity of improving their flocks is offered to Waikato sheep owners at the present time which does not often occur. The sheep of the Moana Vale Estate are noted for their purity of blood, and Mr J. S. Buckland, we learn has received instructions to dispose of thirteen of these pure Lincoln rams, bred by E. B. Walker, Escj. Mr. Buckland has also for sale two prize Lincoln rams, imported from Victoria.

Irish Relief Fund. —The Rev. Father Golden has remitted the sum of £23 16s 6d to Auckland, in aid of the Irish Relief Fund. A concert in aid of the Irish Famine Relief Fund was given in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Friday evening last. The chair was occupied by Mr J. P. Campbell, who opened the proceedings with a reference to the state of things in Ireland, and urged upon everybody the necessity which existed for amelioration. The audience was not a numerous one, but the greatest attention was paid to the programme, which was a veiy good one, comprising songs and solos by the more prominent amateurs of the township. Among the selections most worthy of notice we may mention the glee, '' Fill, boys, and drink about," which went very fairly ; the pianoforte duet by two lady amateurs, "The Canary Bird Quadrilles;" two songs by Mr Johnstone ; " Cleansing Fires," by Mrs Mackintosh ; a clarionet solo by Mr Mackintosh ; and a couple of songs by Mr Moore. The Band were also in attendance, and played well. At the close of the concert votes of thanks were passed by acclamation to the ladies and gentlemen who had contributed, and the hall was then cleared for dancing. The amount realised was about £25.

Mr John- Kvo\ announces that he will sell by auction at the Wh.irt Store, next Saturday, a lot of furniture, including cottage piano by Bord, Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine, &c. Thii equity of redemption of an arre of land in Duke-street, Cambridge, was submitted for sale by .ttu tion on .Saturday la.st, at the Duke of Cambridge Hotel. The propertj, which is fenced and laid down in grass, and has a house upon it, w-t> mortgaged lor £180. The highest bid was £14, the acre thus going tor £194. About a month ago some land at the other end ot the same street was sold at £8 per foot. Mr Kbx.M.DY Hiu. will sell on Saturday ne\t certain allotments in Hamilton East, in the estate of Mr Kenny, with buildings and furniture thereon. L. O. L. The usual monthly meeting of the members of the Sons ot Ulster, No. 9, Loj.tl Orange Lodge, will be held in the Victoria Hall, West Hamilton, this c\ening, at halt-past seven o'clock. Dm \ri.riNG ratepayers in Kirikiriroa Highway district are notified by the collet tor Capt. James McPherson, that after to-morrow the 2^th inst., summonses will be applied for all defaulting ratepayers introduced to [the Resident Magistrate's Court on the ,jrd proximo. A Mi.i.iiNO of ratepayers of the Kirikiriroa district will be held at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton East, on 4th proximo, to consider action ot trustees in closing certain roads. Esim.ciai. meeting of the trustees of the Mangipiko district, will be held next Tuesd.ij, to consid the question ot closing useless roads. A Shi kct quadrille party will be held at the j Oddfellows' Hall next Thursday evening. A hrsi meeting of creditors of Robert Salmon was held yesterday, at the District Court House, when Mr John Soper Edgecumbe, Accountant, was elected creditor's trustee. Thi-.ru was little or no bidding for the interest of the trustees in C. E. S. Rose's insolvent estate at Cambridge, on Saturday last. It was knocked down to Mr Knox for Ll4. The highest bid lor Mr Camp's acre and house was L9O, and it was passed. C v.Miißiuc.i. is about to lose a useful settler in Mr George Lamb, whose effects are announced for sale ac an early date, by Mr S. Bright. 'Ihese includc'a steam thrashing machine, with six-horse engine, for which there should be good competition at a season when its services are required in all parts of the district. Mr Henry Reynolds of Alexandra, is appointed Valuator for part of the Alexandra Township Highway District.