The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1207, 23 March 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, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1880.

The municipal elections for the Borough of Hamilton have been anticipated by the withdrawal of the fourth candidate, and the three seats are filled. A fourth, rendered vacant by the election of a councillor to the office of Mayor, has yet to be provided for, and now that the burgesses have had time to reconsider the position in which the Borough was thrown by the sudden resignations which have necessitated these elections, cool reflection will, we trust, lead to wiser counsels. We are not going to discuss the question whether a section of the Council, under the circumstances, acted wisely or not in withdrawing in a body from the Council, or "having done so, whether it was wise or expedient that a section of the burgesses, with the intent of bringing about a constitutional reform in the construction of the Council, which they deemed essentially necessary to good government, should, to compare small things with great, have resorted to the desperate policy of nihilism, and in despair of re-forming sought change and relief in bringing existing government to destruction. There is a right and a wrong way of doing everything, and the right way, we take it, is for those who are dissatisfied with the present constitution of the Council to seek that reform which the Municipal Corporation Act itself provides for in such an emergency, and in the meantime place the best and ablest men whose services can be procured in the conduct of affairs, so that the reform needed may be efficiently carried out, and the Borough, in the mean time, suffer neither in reputation nor material interests. That the old grievance of "sides" has had much, if not all to do with the present state of feeling, must be admitted, nor can we expect but that for some time to come, old prejudices will, under exceptional circumstances, rise to the surface. To think, as we have heard stated, that the side of the river on which "a councillor may happen to live would sway his judgment or love of , justice and fair play in performing the duties of his office is to our "mind positively nauseous, and would iw>t happen in ninety-nine cases out pf a hundred. Men are elected to

the Clouncil to represent, not one portion of the Borough, but the Borough. To prevent, however, such a recurrence as that which has just passed, and to restore in the minds of the burgesses a confidence in the Council which has been, whether rightly or wrongly, most unmistakably engendered, and threatens to mar the influences of the local governing body, a resort will have to be made to the powers provided by the Act for forming Boroughs into wards. Had we an East "Ward and a West Ward, or rather, as there may not be less than three nor more than six wards in a Borough, two East Wards and two West Wards, we should put an end to this feeling of sides which has cropped up in the Council itself on so many occasions, and has at last culminated in the present disorganised state of affairs. The twenty-first section of the Act provides that if not less than onefourth of the burgesses of an undivided Borough, such as Hamilton, petition the Governor, praying him to divide the Borough into wards, the same shall be done by proclamation, arid the Governor will assign such names and boundaries to each Ward as he may think fit, the number of Wards being, as we have already said, not less than three nor more than six in number. On an individual Borough being divided into Wards a general election of the Council takes place in the following September, so that those who desire an entire reconstruction of the Council, believing that as at present constituted, and under existing circumstances likely to be constituted, it cannot work fairly and harmoniously, have in the twentyiirst clause of the Municipal Corporations Act a legitimate and thorough means of reforming the Council, which every right minded and thinking member of the community will prefer to the desperate and dangerous resort of bursting up the Council by destroying its usefulness. The one is revolutionary anarchy, the other intelligent political reform. We believe, that we are truly representing public feeling in the Borough in directing the minds of the burgesses to this course of action. Where there is a grievance, and it rankles, it is impolitic to attempt to ignore it, for that but increases the evil ; nor does this rule apply the less when the grievance is merely imaginary, so long as its existence is devoutly believed in. In this case we cannot blink the issue that one section of the community, whether rightly or wrongly, believes itself to be receiving less than fair play at the hands of the other. The remedy is plain, and #c appeal to those who have the welfare of the Borough at heart, to join cordially in bringing about, by healthful and legitimate means, the measure of reform which all admit is absolutely needed for its good government. It would take some little time to prepare the necessary petition for dividing the Borough into Wards, and the work would doubtless have to be paid for, since all signatures to such petition would, according to the Act, have to be verified ; and, though fully five months from the present time would need to elapse before a general election of Councillors could take place, tjiat is, perhaps, not more than sufficient time to allow for getting up the petition and the probable delay which would follow in defining boundaries and issuing the proclamation by the Governor. It may be said, what better in one respect should we be then than now, that is, in making a seat in the Council an attraction to the ablest and best men in the community? A clean sweep, we believe, and a general election throughout, would be a new lease of life to the Council ; and burgesses, whether as candidates or as electors, would enter upon the work of reconstruction with a determination to do their respective duties, and would avoid the errors of the past. Perhaps the best thing would be for such a petition to emanate from, and be carried out by, the Council, and that an expression of public opinion by the burgesses on the desirability or otherwise of such a step being taken should first be obtained at a public meeting of the burgesses called with that object. Meantime, at the coming election to the seat vacated by the Mayor, the burgesses will, we trust, secure the services of the best man procurable, and that those whose interests are greatest, and whose public duties are therefore proportionate, will willingly respond to the call.

Among the various contrivances which go under the name of punts adorning the rivers of this part of the colony none, we imagine, can present a more grotesque aspect than that over the Waihou River at Te Kawana, near Oinaliu. Those at Te Rore and Whatawhata are bad enough, but the arrangement at Te Kawana puts them completely in the shade. The Waihou has the reputation of being the longest unbridged river in New Zealand, and we question much whether in the matter of a punt it is not just as badly off. The contrivance doing duty at the present is a flat bottom barge about 20 feet long by 8 feet broad, worked by means of a wire rope to which it is attached by a short piece of Hue which enables it to present its sids to the current. There are no railings along the side, and so unstable does it appear to be that a restive horse would have no difficulty in upsetting it. It is fortunate that the river at this poiut is very shal. low, or we very much question whether

Anybody 1 "Would be found with sufficient courage to venture upon the punt at all. Now that the districts of the Waitoa and Piako are becoming of importance it is high time that some better method of transport was adopted to connect Waitoa with the Thames. A main road between two such important districts ought not to be left with such an obstacle. We apprehend that the cost of a traffic bridge at this point would cost very little, but if the Thames County Council, in whose district the ferry is, cannot see its way to erect this, it ought at once to provide a punt which could be worked with safety, and which should be more worthy the appellation.

In noticing the very enjoyable concert given at Canibridge on St. Patrick's Day, in aid of the Roman Catholic Church, the portion relating to the performance of the Cambridge Dramatic Club was inadvertently omitted. The piece presented "A very Pleasant Evening" was very well put on the boards, and the characters ably sustained by Messrs Keesing, Hughes, and Chapel. The former, indeed, is deserving of the greatest praise for the careful mannerin which he played the rather difficult part of Tremor. We hope soon to have the pleasure of noticing another performance by the club. A meeting of the members of the Cambridge Cavalry Troop was held in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday last. There were about 30 present, and the chair was occupied by Captain Runciman. After the usual preliminary business a good deal of time was taken up in discussing the question whether or not the Press should be represented at the meeting. Lieutenant Fisher moved, "That, the Press be excluded." The motion was duly seconded, and was lost by an overwhelming majority. The officers then brought up a report of the action taken by them regarding the approaching trip to the Thames. The report, the particulars of which have already been made public, was unanimously adopted. A discussion then arose upon various points of detail relating to the journey, shortly after which the meeting terminated. Wonders will never cease; and although the gentle hint which we threw I out the other day has had the effect of cutting off the supply of potatoes which were pouring into our office, accounts of monster spuds reach us daily. Mr Kirkwood, of the Duke of Cambridge Hotel, Cambridge, has on view two potatoes which j together weigh 7 lbs. one of them J weighs 4 lbs, and when newly taken out of the ground was half a pound heavier. We regret they were not forward to us in order that they might have been placed side by side with our other tuberous curiosities ; our representative has however seen them, and vouches for the correctness of the figures given. In one orchard in the Cambridge district several American plum trees which have this season borne' a good crop qf fruit are now for the second time putting out blossoms and leaves. The phenomenon is accounted for by the circumstance that the leaves were eaten off by the small leech, which has this year proved so. distructive to' the hawthorne leaves, and that the sap having nothing to maintain is reproducing the growth usually peculiar to the early part of the season. We understand that a very large number of ladies, some 40 or 50 we have heard, will take the opportunity of leaving Omahu by the steamer Mem Sahib, at 1 o'clock on Friday next for Grahamstown, to be present at the review on Easter Monday. The ■teatner will be made as comfortable as possible for their accommodation. Omahu can be comfortably reached on Friday morning, either by carriage or on horseback, from both Hamilton and Cambridge, and quite a bevy of the fair from the latter place intend to grace the review with their presence. None probably will be more glad to learn this than our Waikato Volunteers themselves. The Cambridge North Township Highway Board, at a meeting held a few days ago, finally deoided upon a set of names for all the streets in the town. The system adopted was to use as far as possible the class of names of whioh "DukeBtreet" is a type, and when that was exhausted resource was had to the names of some of New Zealand's more prominent politicians, of which, fortunately, there are plenty to select front. It matters very little what size Cambridge may ultimately attain to there is a sufficiency of prominent politicians to provide for the streets of a second London. We have been shown by J. A. Douglas, Esq., of Bruntwood, Tatnahere, a splendid sample of maize grown from French seed. The grain is not particularly large, but is admirable for grinding, makes excellent meal, and comes rapidly to maturity. Mr Douglas informs us that OHe fair average cob gave three hundred and seven Hound full- sized grains. The sample shown to us is equal to anything we have seen in America or elsewhere. Ay address to Mr Sheehan. M.H.R., is being extensively signed at Hawkes Bay, and subscriptions are being raised to wards a testimonial to be presented to him in recognition of his many public services. Kihikihi was pretty lively on Saturday. There were a number of natives in the township, and though some little fighting occurred amongst themselves, no breach of the peace in which Europeans were concerned took place, and the police were not called upon to interfere. The contractors are making good progress with Rewi's house in the township, which already shows up as a handsome building, standing as it does in an elevated and commanding situation. Mr Beasley, the contractor for the station road between the Te Awamutu station and the township, commenced work yesterday. The distance is only 66 chains from the Post Office, and theugh the Government hare decided to place the station outside the town, the Te Awarautu people will not have much to complain of when a good road is made. The contractor is now engaged in forming it, and when done the Government will place a heavy coat of Taupiri metal upon it. Tenders were opened on Saturday night last for making the cutting beyond the new bridge at Te Awamutu, formerly commenced by the members of the Armed Constabulary Force before they were ordered to the Cambridge and Taupo road. The contract of Mr Thomas Baker (7sd per cubic yard) was the successful one. The work will be proceeded with at once ; indeed, the terms of the contract provide that it shall be completed within six weeks from date. Owing to the absence of anything like due publicity i there are few persons in this community who are aware that the jury list having been made out for the ourrent year, has been for the last three weeks open to inspection at the Police Barracks, Hamilton ; or that a Court of Justices will be held on the 2nd proximo at the Courthouse, to hear all objections to the above list. A matter of general public concern, such as this, should receive some further publication than the mere posting of a written notice in one or two places which may not meet the eye of one in ten concerned in the matter. In ! nearly all places of importance, that we | nte aware of, such nottuos are duly advertised.

A'p .. the meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council held last night, the evening of holding the regular fortnightly meeting^ teas altered from that of Monday to Tuesday, to enable' fuller reports of the proceedings to appear in the following issue of the Waixato Times. St. Peter's StmDAY-^cHqoii T«eat.— We understand that the Church SundaySchool Committee are trying to make arrangements with the band to combine with them, in the public excursion, on Easter Monday. The Sunday-sohool children were to have had their treat on Easter Tuesday, but the committee think it would be better, if possible, to amalgamate, and we believe they are likely to agree to the arrangement. The second practice of the Choral Society this season was held last evening in the Wesleyan Chapel, and was pretty well attended. Mr A. Graham, of Cambridge, has favored us with a sample of the Salway peach, a somewhat dry bnt exceedingly excellent flavoured fruit, at first sight easily to be taken foe a nectarine. The tree from which the sample was picked is nearly three years old, and this is the first year it has borne fruit. "With age the fruit will, doubtless, mature and become more juicy. The work of fascining and gravelling Leslie's Cutting is progressing, but this portion of the Cambridge road will always be dangerous until the embankment is widened to at least double its present, width. ' >■* We learn that our respected fellowtownsman Mr Charles Wallnutt intends commencing business as bottler and wholesale wine and spirit merchant in Hamilton, in the premises lately occupied by Mr N. R. Cox. From Mr Wallnutt's lengthy experience in this line of business at the Thames and in the old country, we have no doubt that he will satisfactorily supply a want that has been much felt in this district of late. We understand that the Lincolnshire delegates (Messrs Grant and Foster) are expected in Waikato this afternoon on a visit to the Arolia district, for the purpose of further inspecting that block. Pressure of business prevented their inspecting it as fully as they would have liked to have done on the occasion of their former visit. The Honorable the Minister for Public Works (Mr Rolleston), accompanied by Mr Percy Smith (Chief Surveyor), and Mr Laurence Cussen (District Surveyor), inspected the Aroha lands on Saturday, ami after having examined the block and the site for the proposed new township, took his departure for Faeroa, where he would remain on Saturday night, proceeding on Sunday morning to Tauranga, via Katikati. Mr Percy Smith accompanies Mr Rolleston throughout the trip. We mentioned in last issue that the Nottingham Castle Hotel, Morrinsville, was about to change hands. We understand that it will in future be conducted by Mr Brown of the Willoughby Hotel, Shortland, on behalf of the proprietress, Mrs Cox of Shortland. The Waikato Volunteers visiting the Thames have a capital chance of firing a pigeon match at Morrinsville en route, Mr Wood having seventy pigeons left on his hands from the match fired off last week. The birds are in prime condition and premise capital sport. Mr James Stewart, District Engineer, and Mr Grace arrived at Kihikihi on Saturday, Mr Stewart came from the Rotorua road survey, and proceeded on to Auckland yesterday. A meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. His Worship the Mayor signed the obligation, and the newly elected Councillors took their seats. Pressure on our space precludes a full report to-day. Taxtpiri. — A subscription quadrille club has been 4 ormed at Taupiri, the membership of which is confined to those elected by ballot. The first gathering of the newly enrolled members was held on Friday evening, when a really enjoyable entertainment took place, about 30 persons being present. A dance meeting will be held monthly. When a country district can call to its aid so large an amount of musical talent as Taupiri is able to do, the formation, not only of quadrille clubs, but of musical societies, both vocal and instrumental, tends much to add to the social enjoyment of the settlers, and especially so during the winter months. The want of rain is being sadly felt round about Hamilton. Late sown turnips will be almost a failure, and quite so if no rain falls soon, while the growing season for winter green feed is being rapidly lost. Yet, while' Hamilton has been subject during the past three months to severe drought— only one broken, and then by anything but a sufficiency of rain — others parts of the district have not suffered in the same way. On Thursday last there was a grand fall of rain all through the Cambridge district which reached down almost as far as East Hamilton; and on Sunday afternoon a similar thunderstorm loomed up from the eastward, but leaving Hamilton passed round by Cambridge and Ohaupo, both of which districts were blessed with copious rains. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in summer with the Hamilton district, the rain passing round by the ranges on either side and beyond it — a state of things which will probably continue until tree planting is undertaken on a far larger scale upon the open and comparatively level lands than has been hitherto attempted. Fire at Huntley. — We regret to learn that a very serious and destructive fire took place at Huntley on Friday morning last. The premises destroyed, and they were burnt to the ground none of the comtenta being saved, was a large storehouse belonging to Messrs. Ralph and Lovell. Though the building thus destroyed was adjacent to their large place of business the fire was fortunately prevented from extending to the latter, the direction of the wind largely contributto sava it. We aro sorry to learn that the damage done is estimated at upwards of £200, and that there was no insurance. Mr Bartlett, the photographer employed by the Rev. Mr Berry in taking sketches of Waikato scenery as illustrations of his intended lectures on this district in the mother country, is now busily engaged in taking views of the lakes and rural scenery between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu. Amongst those already taken is a fine sketch of Lake Lake Ngaroto, the principal piece of water in Upper Waikato. The Resident Engineer, Mr D. M. Beere, has received instructions to proceed at once with the necessary works on the Whatawhata and Raglan road. These have been repeatedly pointed out in this journal as inperatively required, and, indeed their commencement has been made not a day too soon. A Whatawhata settler nearly came to grief on Saturday last in crossing over the Mangakowhai bridge, about two miles on the other side of Whatawhata, nor is this to be wondered at, considering that the bridge has been erected nearly ten years, and little or no attention has been paid of late towards keeping it in repair, the planking is thoroughly rotten, nnrl gave way to the weight of man and horse, the latter with difficulty extracting himself. We are requested to publish the following proclamation by his Excellency the Governor, for public information :— \Wreas h) '"IV Native Lands Ad,

1873," and "The Native Land Act Amendment Act, 1878 (No. 2)," it is enacted that, from and ouj; of any land which may have heretofore been or may be granted under the provisions of any of the Acts repealed by "The Native Lands Act, 1873," or of that Act, it shall be lawful for the Governor, at any time thereafter, to take and lay off for public purposes one or more line or lines of road or railway through the said lands : Provided that the total quantity of land which may be taken off such line or lines of road shall not be more than after the rate of five acres in every one hundred acres : Provided always that this power shall cease and determine at the expiration of fifteen years from the date of the grant of the said land. And whereas it is expedient that a fit and proper person should be authorised to take and lay down roads over the land specified, in the schedule hereto. Now, therefore, I, Hercules George Robert Robinson, the Governor of the colony of New Zealand, in exercise and pursuance of all powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, do hereby authorise Lawrence Cussen, Esq., District Surveyor, of Hamilton, to take and lay down roads over the land specified in the schedule hereto, and for that purpose to exercise all such powers as by the said Act may be exercised by a person legally authorised in that behalf under the said Act. Schedule.— No. of grant, 2782; Hangawera block ; 10,030 acres ; date of grant, November 27, 1878. 3251, Te Mimi,1,871, October 1, 1875 ; 3235, Motumahu No. 1, 3,578, June 14, 1876 ; 3226, Motumahu No. 2, 5,117, June 14, 1876 ; 1303, Maungatapu, 10,166, May 9, 1870 j 1510. Nga Kauri a Kuru, 1,292, May 9, 1870; 2239, Te Kahia, 2,039, October 2, 1891 ; 3478, Te Puninga No. 1, 8,527, November 27, 1878; 2742, Waihongi, 1,234, September 10, 1874 ; 1074, Pourewa, 1,179, June 29, 1870 ;. 1534, Te Whakahongi, 1,530, May 9, 1870; 1075, Kerihoni, 1,811, January 21, 1870; 584, Pakarau, 64, May 3, 1869; 761, Kahutupouoa, 1,070, May 3, 1869; 356, Matakirai, 1,256, April 2, 1867 ; 756, Te Pae-o-tu-rawaru, 24,229, December 23, 1871 ; 3010, Waiharakeke, 985, October 23, 1874; 760, Kiwitahi No. 1, 3,119, January 21, 1870; 1099, Kiwitahi No. 3, 1,668, January 21, 1870 ; 759, Te Au-o-Waikato, 8,560, June 16, 1870 ; Waikuku Nos. 1 and 2, 1.487, May 3, 1869 ; 13,555, Te Mutu, No. 1, 460, May 9, 1870 ; 13,574, Te Mutu, No. 2, 415, June 13, 1870 : 762, Kuranui, 6,858, May 3, 1869 ; 652, Karokaro, 1,388, August 4, 1870 ; 1509, Te Awapikopiko, 101, May 9, 1870; 767, Pakaraupa, 1846, May 9, 1870; 548, Pakarau, 144, May 3, 1869 ; 1081, Tahuroa No. 1, 8,912, August 4, 1870. As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this 3rd day of March, 1880. — * W. Rollbston.

TKNDKRsare .nvitcd for roofing the Waikato Timbs Printing Office (labor only) wUh galvanized iron. Tenders to be sent in at noon on Friday to £. M. Edgcumbc and Co. An excursion to the Acacia Groves is announced to take place on Easter Monday. The p.s. Delta will leave the wharf at half-past 10 o'clock in the morning. The band of the Hamilton L.I. Volunteers will accompany the steamer, and the trip will doubtless prove a most enjoyable one This second term at Mrs Ross Watts Boarding and Day Seminary commences on May 20th. Thk concert of sactcd and secular music, in aid of the Hamilton Wcslcyan Bazaar Fund, takes place this evening, at 8 o'clock, in Le Quesnc's Hall. Nkxt Friday being Good Friday, there will be celebration of divine service in St. Peter's Church at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Easter Day the Holy Eucharist will be administered at 8 a.m., and again alter the 11 o'clock service. At the Roman Catholic Chapel, Hamilton East, Mass will be said at 6.30 p.m. on Good Friday. Mr Kennedy Hill will sell, on Saturday next, at 2 p.m., part of allotment 91, with cottage thereon, also subdivision No. 17, allotment 90.