The Waikato Times..

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1202, 11 March 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times..

Equal and exact justice to all men, Or whatever state or persuasion, religious or politiral. Here shall the Press the People's rijjht maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, MJ.SCII 11, 1880. His Excellency the Governor wishes to contradict the statement that he is the owner of, or has any interest in horses at present running on the turf. The only thoroughbred possessed by his Excellency is the colt by Thunderbolt, out of Lyra, recently purchased from Mr R. H. D. i Fergussou, of Gorton, near Cambridge. The Honorable the Premier, the HonorI able the Attorney-General, the Honorable James Williamson, and other of Mr Firth's guests left for Cambridge yesterday afternoon, and will start from th are for Stanley early this morning. It is to be hoped the weather-— which as we write (2 a.m.) is threatening — will hold up. Ministers, as will be seen on reference to another column, were duly interviewed yesterday at Mr Pearce's Commercial Hotel, where they sojourned during the few hours they were in Hamilton. A large number of gentlemen arrived yesterday in Hamilton by the midday train, en route for Matamata, to take part in the celebration of the opening of the Waihou River by Mr J. C. Firth to-day. Amongst them we noticed the Premier (the Hon. John Hall), the Hon. the Attorney-General, Mr Murdoch (of the Bank of New Zealand), the Hon. James Williamson, Judge Fenton, C. Ring, Esq., the Mayors of Auckland and Thames, Thomas Morrin, Esq., — McDonough, Esq., J. Cosgrave, Esq., J.P. The Governor will be present at the Hawkes Bay Races on Monday next. Thb Gazette announces the dismissal of Major Kemp for •' disobedience of orders, and turbulent conduct." The road beyond No. 1 bridge between Ngaruawahia and Hamilton, which was all but impassable a short time since, is now put into tolerably good condition, and the bridge, which was really in a dangerous state, repaired. The Highway Board will never, however, cease to have trouble with this part of the road until they take the cutting in hand and give it a considerably larger amount of batter. The incline is too steep and the soil too light to stand the wash of the winter's rains. At a meeting of the Cambridge North Town Board, held on Tuesday evening, the tender of Mr L. B. Ewen was accepted for the cutting in Victoria -street, opposite the National Hotel, the price being 9d per yard for excavation and 1 Id per cubic yard for gravelling. Only one tender was received for earthworth in Brewery -street, but as it was considerably in excess of the sum voted by the Board for the work it was refused, and the engineer was instructed to have the work carried out for the sum allowed. The Cambridge Town Board is about to name the streets of the town, but the christening has been postponed in order that some regular system may be adopted. One or two of the public thoroughfares already rejoice in the possession of names, and it is quite time that a like compliment should be extended to the others. Ouesblves m 1872.— Major Wilson, of Te Koao, has very kindly forwarded us the first number of the Waikato Times. It is a somewhat primitive production, is dated May 2, 1872, and bears the impriit George Jones, proprietor, Ngaruawahia. The copy may be seen at our publishing office. A meeting of the Wesleyan Sale and Gift Auction Committee was held in the Hamilton Church on Monday. The Rev. H. Bull occupied the chair, and there was a full attendance. It was decided to hold the bazaar and gift auction on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20th and 21st, in Mr N. R. Cox's old building, kindly lent for the oocasion. Various detail arrangements were made relating to the refreshment stall, dpcorations, postoffice, scales, galvanic battery, &c. It was also decided to hold a farewell and welcome soiree on April 13th, on the occasion of the departure of the Rev. W. H. Jones and induction of the Rer. Cornelius Griffin. The proceedings were closed with the Benediction. Mobe Monstee Poxatoes. — Mr William Jones has submitted to us three enormous potatoes weighing s|lbs. ; the largest weighs 21bs. 7jozs. : they were grown at Hamilton West. Gorton must look to its laurels. The promenade concert in aid of the funds of the Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteer Band takes place this evening in the picturesque grounds of Mr Richard Gwynne. We are requested to state that should the committee, owing to rain, decide to postpone the concert, Mr Gwynne's flag will be hoisted at 4 o'clock. A conference of Insurance Companies' Head Managers is now sitting in Wellington. The Insurance Companies represented are as follow : —New Zealand, Mr G. P. Pierce; South British, Mr A. Boardman, sen.; National, Mr A. Hill Jack; Union, Mr W. D Mears: Colonial, Mr F. Allen ; Victoria, Mr J. W. Brindley. At the Police Court, Hamilton, on Tuesday, before W. N. Searancke, Esq., J.P., and E. M. Edgcumbe, Esq., J.P., John Tucker, alias Smith, was charged with being drunk in the borough on the Bth inst., and pleaded not guilty. He was, however, convicted on the evidence of Sergeant McGovern and Constable Foreman, and fined 5s and coats, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Win. Lawlor pleaded guilty to a similar offence, the ninth conviction, and was fined 10s and costs. The same prisoner was charged with assaulting Constable Foreman, and striking him in the face with his clenched fist. The case was proved by Sergeant McGovern and Constable Foreman, and prisoner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labor in Mount Eilen gaol. In the afternoon of the same day, before B. C Beale and E. M. Edgcumbe, E&q&., J.P. 's, Charles Stewart, alias Alexander Miller, was charged with a breach of the railway bye-laws, by getting off a train when in motion. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s, and costs 7s, and ordered to be detained in custody till the return of a distress warrant. A meeting of the Cambridge Branch Railway Committee was summoned for 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, at the Farmers' Club, to meet delegates from the Waikato County Council, to arrange for meeting the Minister of Public Works regarding the proposed line. At the hoar named the only members pre ent were Messrs J. P. Campbell and T. Wells. Shortly afterwards the Chairman, Mr Robert Fergusson, and Dr Waddington put in an appearance, but although these gentlemen waited nearly two hours their number was not further increased. Capt. Steele and Mr Cumming attended on behalf of the County Council, but of course nothing was done. It seems a pity that those to whose care the conduct of the matter has been committed should be so very apathetic. It is possible that a mf«» conception may have arisen in the minds j of some of the members owing to the i appointment ot a Hub-committee at la»>t t meetinjr to wait upon the Minister. Let ' us hope that such has been tho rano. i

Messes Thompson and Graham have commenoad tbeir contract for raising the main road near Lang's farm, between Cambridge and Hautapu. The work when completed will greatly benefit the travelling public. A meeting of the members of the Cambridge Cavalry Troop was held after inspection parade on Monday, Captain Bunoiman presiding, to take into consideration the proposal made that the Troop should visit the Thames in Easter week to take part in the review. Captain Runcimau having explained that Major Murray had invited them, and expressed a hope that they would see their way to accept tho invitation, it was moved by Lieut. Kirkwood, " That the Captain be requested to ask the Government to hold the usual half-yearly drill in April instead of May this year, in order to allow of the Troop proceeding to the Thames, the six days spent in going to and returning from that place to count as the usual week's drill." This was seconded and carried almost unanimously. The Band is unfortunately engaged to play at the Cam* bridge sports on Easter Monday, and would not be able to go to the Thames until after that day. It was understood by the members that they vould only agree to go in the event of the other Cavalry Troops agreeing to do the same. We may state that the Messrs Campbell have kindly offered the use of their paddocks at Waitoa to the Cavalry, both going and returning. The Auckland papers must be terribly hard up +or matter. The Herald yesterday /ives the crossheading "A Desperate Jump from a Train " to a very trifling matter which, as will be seen in our local column to-day occupied the attention of two Justices for about five minutes on Tuesday afternoon. A huh sous correspondent writes to the Bay of Plenty Times that he has examined the dead fish floating about the bay and Tauranga harbour, and found they were suffering from pleuro-pneu-monia, the left lung being quite gone. Lung Disease. — A gentleman at the Cape of Good Hope, writing to a friend in New Zealand, sends a recipe for the cure of "lung sickness" in cattle, which has been found very effective in that colony. It is as follows : — " Kaise about an inch and a-half of skin upon the right side of the neck below the jugular vein, close to the lung, and apply the following paste as a blister, equal parts of blue stone, assafcetida and garlic ; close the raised skin down, and put a seton in tho dewlap. In a few days any amount of matter will come away, and the animal will be all right." We presume the above has reference only to "lung sickness" and not to pleuro. Those who are not on the Electoral Rolls, and those indeed whose names have heretofore appeared there, should lose no time in procuring the necessary forms, which are obtainable at the Police Stations in Waikato, fill them up, and send them in to the registrar for Waikato and Waipa, at the Courthouse, Hamilton. It is true that the registrar will compile a new roll from any source available, but it is of course the first duty of a wouldbe elector to furnish the necessary information, and take some little individual trouble in the matter. We have already pointed out the necessary qualifications, that in addition to a leasehold or freehold qualification as heretofore, simple residence in an electoral district, without even being a householder, provided that he has resided twelve months in the colony and six months in the electoral district on the roll of which he seeks to be placed suffices. To take part in the political action of the colony is the duty of every man to the community at large, and to narrow the question it is the duty of each one of us to the district to which he belongs to enrol himself as an elector. The strength of the electoral roll weighs largely in many questions with the Legislature. The larger the number of electors he represents, the greater the weight of the representative in the Assembly, the greater the claim of the district itself to consideration at the hands of the Legislature. The Rotorua Road and Taupo Road Party. — A gentleman, just re* turned from the Lake Country, informs us that the Cambridge and Taupo Road is being vigorously pushed forward by the party of A.C's. working upon it, under command of that obliging and efficient officer, Captain Capel. The engineering work is proceeding under the superintendence of Mr Hetley, of the Public Works Department, and from the manner in which it is being carried out, the road, when completed, will be a permanent and creditable work. Rumour has reached us that certain natives and others have been throwing obstacles in the way of getting the road to Rotorua finally settled. This is much to be regretted, as the work is one not merely of local but colonial importance, and it must not be permitted that private intrigue shall be able to thwart the Government in carrying out so desirable an undertaking. As far as we can learn these obstacles emanate from certain natives and Europeans interested in lands lying within the proclaimed Patatere district, on which the road never even touches. The Government has expressed itswillingness to give up all claim over these lands on condition that the money advanced and secured upon its sale are repaid, but the native owners would fain have the liabilities cancelled without any such restitution, and are urging on the natives really interested in the lands through which the Rotorua road would run to make common cause with them, and, by obstructing the road survey, force the Government into coming to terms with respect to the lands proclaimed. The natives really concerned with the road, what with the solicitations of their friends on one side of them, and the clandestine surveys by a certain surveyor being made upon the other side of I them, in the interest of some half-dozen persons, are thus, it seems, kept in a continual state of worry and irritation. On a former occasion we drew attention to the long and steep embankment which has been formed on the Hamilton-Cam-bridge road near Leslie's Bridge, and pointed out that it would be anytliing but an improvement on the old road, and dangerous to boot. This proves to be the case. The road-way is far too narrow, and will furnish an inquest for the Coroner sooner or later, unless fenced, as the upsetting of a vehicle at night, and such would be a very easy matter, would, over such a high embankment, be very serious I indeed. It can scarcely be fenced, for then there would not be space for two vehicles to pass one another, and we shall be much mistaken if the winters rain does not destroy the road to a very great | extent. Indeed, for the matter of that, competent judges declare that it would be far cheaper even now to abandon this Engineering abortion, and take the road by a siding round the spur beyond the one round which it formerly passed. An easier gradient would be found, and a far safer and bettr road made, and one which would not, as this embankment will, be a continual source of expense to the Road Board, with the additional risk of having some day to pay heavy damanges for loss of life or limb. Road Board Trustees must bear in mind that though persons injured through official carelesness or ignorance very often neglect to site iuv danjagea, such cour.se is always open to them, and the privilege is beginning to be bettor uurteratQod, and moi-e often than hitherto ncted upon In tjie colony.

It is rather the fashion to entitle Nelson j the " Garden of New Zealand," but, after i what has come under our notice lately, it i 18 evident the appellation should justly be applied to our own favoured district. In Mr JoeKingsley's gardens at the Quarter Acres is a remarkable tree to all appear- | ances as far as the wood and leaves go a ; simple peach tree, but it is bearing pumpkins and peaches together — one of each kind to be had off what appears to be but one branch. The tree was raised by Mr Kingsley himself, and the only way he can account for its extraordinary bearing qualities is that when sowing the aeedke put a peach stone and a pumpkin seed together, and they got mixed. Such a proof of the fertility of the soil of Tauranga bids fair to knock Mark Twain's turnip tree right out of time. We may state that our gastronomic organs have proved beyond dispute that the smaller fruit is "a peach," and we should not at all be afraid to test the larger with a piene of roast beef as a concomitant. — Bay of Plenty Times. There is compensation in all things, as Emerson rightly tells us; curses, like chickens, come home to roost; and you 101 l my goose I kill your gander. These original thoughts naturally suggested themselves when we read that a New Jeraeyman had burned his wife to death. Nobody has a word to say for him but we timidly call attention to our opening remarks, and clinch them by observing that most probably the wife talked the man into it. The livening Post, a paper that is usually careful to say nothing which may offend a sensitive mind, relates this week that a brute named MoCraith stamped on his wife until portions of her body were pounded into "jellified flesh." This nauseates the reader, while the idea could have been just as easily preserved if the writer had said: "Mr. McCraith, by his saltatory evolutions on the body of his spouse, speedily converted her into a female blanc-mange." When will the daily press employ men of culture? Up to Snuff. — A clergyman of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, was lately examining the parish school. In the course of examination, the Uible class was brought forward. After many questions had been asked and answered, greatly to the satisfaction of the minister, he proposed that any boy might ask him a question, as he might then have an idea what particular information they wanted. A pause ensued. At last a bright-looking boy said, "sir.l would like to ask one."" Well, my little man," said the minister, " what is the question you are going to ask?" " Sir," said the boy, " what was the use of Jacob's Ladder when the angels had wings?" The minister felt taken aback, took out his snuff box, and looked at the boy. " I think, my little man, that is the very question I should have asked at the class, andl will give sixpence to any boy in the class who will answer it." After a somewhat long pause, one little fellow, third from the bottom, held out his hand. " Well," said the minister, " can you answer that question?" " Yes, sir." " Well, what was the use of the ladder when the angels had Wings?" "Oh sir, the angels were poukin' (moulting) at the time, and couldna flee." The minister is taking an interest in that boy.

Thk Members of the Choral Society, arc requested, by advertisement, to meet on Monday evening next, for the purpose of resuming the usual weekly practices which have been interrupted by the absence of Mr Culpan, who has now resigned the leadership, in consequence of the uncertainty attending hts return. Mr T. Hell has kindly consented to take his place, and as the society will be taking up fresh music for practise, the present is a favorable opportunity for new members to join. We are requested to invite any who may wish to join, to attend next Monday. Mr Kennedy Hill will hold his usual fortnightly sale next Saturday. Mr Alfred Buckland advertises that he will sell at the Haymarkct on Wednesday March 24th, at eleven o'clock, a good farm of 480 acres, adjoining the township of Alevandra; also lots 118, town of Kihikihi, and 4 Alevandra, East. El skwhi'ru appears the programme of the grand vocal and dramatic entertainment, to be held in the Cambridge Public Hall, on St. Patrick's Day, in aid of the building fund of the Catholic Church. We observe the entertainment will conclude with an amusing farce, by the Cambridge Amateur Dramatic Society, entitled " A very pleasant evening." Thk General Manager notifies that simglc tickets issued from any station to any station on St. Patrick's Day arc available for return same day. Mr Alfred Ruckland notifies that he has received instructions from Mr James Urown, to sell at the Haymarkct, on Wednesday, March 24th, his farm, about three miles from Hamilton (late Hammond's), containing 612 acres, considerably improved. Mr Kennedy Hill will sell on Saturday, March 27th, that valuable allotment in Hamilton West, being No. 34. Mr P. Le Quesnc, acting for General Trust Board invites tenders for the lease of Lot 135, Hamilton East.