The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1214, 10 April 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatever .state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawcd b)' influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1880.

We have already lemarked that the Diseased Cattle Act is in many respects incomplete. Among the most important omissions is the absence of a clause compelling owners of stock to muster their cattle for inspection by the officers of the Board. It is hoped that cattle owners will have tho good sense to supply this omission, by voluntarily doing all in their power to check the spread of the disease. On large holdings, unless great care is exercised, it will be impossible once the disease has taken a firm hold to stamp it out. The most effectual, indeed the only way to do so, is to destroy the diseased animals, and rigorously isolate those suspected. For their own sakes therefore, farmers and other cattle owners will be wise to do all that in them lies to help the Inspector, feeling assured that it is in their power alone to extirpate the Pleuro. It may be mentioned also that the Act provides a penalty for all cases of disease unreported.

The settlers in the Hamilton-Taupiri district are to be^ congratulated on the business like action they have taken to guard themselves from the ravages of pleuro-pneumonia. As will be seen in another column a meeting of the principal settlers at that end of the district met at the residence of Messrs A. and H. Swarbrick last Thursday evening, and passed some practical resolutions, which are deserving of general attention. The appointment of a ranger appears to us a very excellent step, and as an earnest of their determination to protect themselves, and generally assist in stamping out the disease, they have unanimously agreed to tax themselves at the rate of sixpence per head on their stock. The gods help those who help themselves, and the Hamilton-Taupiri settlers are evidently alive to this truth. A little more of such public spirit in other parts of the district would be gratifying 1 .

An esteemed subscriber came to our office yesterday morning and informed us that he had heard a discussion on the outbreak of pleuro going on in an hotel not a thousand yards from our office, and that the discussers expressed the opinion that "the Editor of the Waikato Times ought to be ashamed of himself for not knowing that pleuro-pneumonia had broken out before the Cattle Board did. " Unfortunately for us, though perhaps fortunately for the individuals in question, we do not know who they are, or we would invite them to express the reason of such remarks in our columns. We feel confident that the settlers of Waikato will bear testimony that the Waikato Times has— from the very first rumor of pleuro existing among the herd of the Messrs Ireland Bros., at Panmure, down to the present day — fearlessly written on the subject, and indeed given greater publicity to it than any other paper in the Provingial District. It is only an ignoramus who would even think, much less state, that we could possibly ride all over the country doing the duty of Cattle Inspectors and ferreting out pleuro. If such people, instead of blustering in greeu rooms, would come to our office and afford us information they would better serve the interests of the district.

A gathering of natives is being held at Tamahere for the purpose of exhuming and scraping the bones of a departed chief. Large quantities of provisions have arrived for the occasion.

The Honorable the Minister for Public Works and Mr JBlackett, Engi-neer-in- Chief for North Island, will arrive in Auckland to-morrow, and will visit Waikato in a few days.

Our Te Awamutu friends will be glad to learn that the Rev. L. C. Srady has got a charge about 30 miles from Timaru, in the diocese of Chriatchurch.

The premises of Mr Whitehquse, bootmaker, Duke - street, Cambridge, caught fire on Wednesday night, caused by a lighted candle igniting the bedclothes and some clothes hanging up behind the bedroom door. On the alarm being given willing hands soon arrived and extinguished the fire, the damage done being slight. Mr Whitehouse, we regret to learn, was severely scorched about the arms.

At the Police Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before H. N. Northcroft, Esq., R.M., Joseph Buckley was charged by Sergeant McGovern with a breach of the Public Works Act, namely, with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a horse the day previously in the Borough of Hamilton. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was fined 30s and coats, or in default two weeks' imprisonment. Zachariah Sleman was charged with drunkenness in the Borough, and this being his second offence ho was fined 15s and costs.

Mr H. Baker, assisted by his brother Mr W. F. Baker, gave his entertainment entitled "An Evening with Moore," in the Public Hall, Cambridge, an Wednesday evening last. There was only a moderate attendance, but the audience was a thoroughly appreciative one, and thoroughly enjoyed the excellent programme which had been prepared. The singing of Mr W. P. Baker was especially applauded, a recall having to be submitted to after each effort. The elder gentleman's rendering of the beautiful ballads of Moore was pleasing in the highest degree, the soloist seeming to impart into the task so much of the real spirit of the melodies. The Messrs Baker appear in Hamilton again on Tuesday ! evening, and those who missed being present at the last entertainment here should not lose this opportunity.

Mr John Cassidy. of East Hamilton, who has been lately engaged as stock driver on the Eureka Station, desires us to state that there is no truth whatever in the malicious report that has been spread concerning him ; namely, that he had brought the diseased lung of a beast, killed at the Eureka Station, into Hamilton for the purpose of inoculating his father's cattle from the virus contained in it. We give this statement of Mr Cassidy 's, not only as a matter of justice | to Mr Caasidy and his family, but to j allay some little ajiprehension amongst j cattle owners on the east side of the river, ; which has arisen from the spread of the report that one of their number intended to inoculate hin cattle, '

The Rev. Mr Griffin, who has recently been appointed a minister of the Wesleyan Church, for the Waikato district, arrived at the scene of his future labors on Wednesday last, and on Thursday visited Hamilton, aud was introduced to many member* of his pastorate and others*. Mr Griffin, though a comparatively young man, comes with strong credentials of ability as a preacher, while his amiable disposition and high moral worth will doubtless add much to his \isefulness in this part of the country.

When Messrs Boss and Dunbar, the contractors for the erection of the traffic bridge at Hamilton, handed over the work there was yet some little to be done to the protective work of the piers, which at that time it was impossible to do on account of the height of the river. They left both money and material with a tradesman in Hamilton to complete the work when the river went down. This work consists of certain planking to be done and laying of certain double plates, and there is not likely to be a more favorable opportunity than the present, as the river, let us hope so, is now lower than it probably will again be this season. The work should be commenced at once or it may not be finished before the rain comes and the liver rises.

The suggestion that the Waipa County Council should take the matter of placing a ferry on the Waipa, near its junction with the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia, into its earliest consideration has met with the general approval of residents in all parts of the distoict ; and as we have stated, considering that the settlers interested are quite willing to do their share of the work, that is, maintain the ferry when once placed there, we trust the Waipa County Council will give the application of the petitioners a careful consideration. In our issue of Thursday we recommended, in order to render such a ferry more available to the district, that the road from Bluenose to Taupiri should be put in a better state of repah', and a bridge placed over the Firewood Creek It would perhaps be as well if those who have interested themselves in getting up the petition to the Waipa County Council for the establishment of a ferry at Ngaruawahia were to take the same course with the Raglan County Council with respect to the road and bridge which are in the latter district.

Pursuant to Notification in Govcnnncnt Gazette, the first meeting of the trustees of the Te Awamutu Recreation Park was held in the Public Hall, Te Awamutu, on Monday last. !V'r J. R Roche wai unanimously chosen chairman, when he read the correspondence from the Government descriptive of the site, &o. It was then' proposed by Mr Sloane, and seconded by Mr "VVinstone — "That the Chairman be requested to draw up the conditions under whioh the reserve, some 18 acres, will be leased and improved by their next meeting." The members conoluded the business of the day by deciding that their meetings shall in future take place on the first Saturday in every month, at 7 p.m., in the Central Waikatb Hotel.

A rather amusing incident has come to our knowledge. L. H. .Fellings, who was committed for trial to the Supreme Court, Auckland, on two charges of passing valueless cheques, and who was out on bail, was married on the morning of his trial, and the individual .who gave the fair and blushing bride away faced the happy bridegroom in the witness-box in the afternoon as prosecutor.

Captain 'Russell, and Mr Sutton, M H.R., for Napier, have addressed their constituents, i-eceiving votes of confidence. Both gentlemen are strong ministerialists. Captain Colbeck, M.H.R., for Marsden, addressed his constituents on Wednesday evening, and received a unanimous vote of confidence. Captain Colbeck is one of the four members who seceded from the Opposition last session.

The members of the Hamilton Light Infantry Corps met for parade drill on Thursday night, to the number of about forty, in the Oddfellows' Hall, and were put through a course of drill by the Commanding Officer, Captain Dawson. There is a marked improvement in the manouvering of the greater number of those present on drill, though the awkj wardness of two or three who have evidently neglected duty spoils the general effect of any movement. A circular from Lieut. -Col. Reader, from the Defence Department, was read by Captain Dawson, which stated that in order to form an estimate of the quantity of material which will be required to provide members of the Volunteer force with uniforms of the Imperial pattern, officers commanding districts were repuired to furnish with as little delay as possible, a return showing the number of men of each branch who will require uniforms during the forthcoming year. Tho3e present were then informed that there would be a company meeting on Thursday evening next at the same place, when any member of the corps who had any matter to bring forward would have an opportunity of doing so, and when the question of appointment of non-commis-sioned officers would be considered, and the nights for holding the regular drill could be fixed. During the practice and after the men were dismissed the Band of the Company, which mustered strong, played a variety of pieces.

There is a great depression in the building trade in all parts of the colony at the present moment, more so perhaps than in any other trade, but we must not lose sight of the fact that the same depression exists even in old established countries, for we hear from a gentleman in the business resident in Hamilton, that in some of the lai'ge manufacturing districts, in one of which he carried on the business of an architect when at home, the building trade is almost at a standstill, builders are bankrupt, men out of employ, in fact in a far worse condition than we are here in New Zealand. One cause of this undoubtedly is, that in times of depression two families, to save rent, will occupy one house, and even in Hamilton this in many instances is the case.

Hamilton Whatawhata Road.— - Some misapprehension seems to exist as to the object of the Hamilton Highway District Board in asking tke Public Works Department to withhold acceptance of any tender sent in for the construction of the road from the railway station, at Hamilton, across the swamp, towards Whatawhata, and it has even been asserted that the Board desires that the work shall not be carried out on this portion of the road, because under the altered boundaries of the Hamilton and Tuhikaramea Highway Districts this part of the road would not be in the former district. Nothing could be more unjust than auch an insinuation or more absurd, as the object of the Board is to get the money spent where it is more needed, at the ©utlet of the big swamp, near to Whatawhata. The piece of road, for the improvement of which the District Engineer has called for tenders, was formed by the Hamilton Board, at a considerable cost, some two years ago, and is a good, sound, practicable dray road, quite able to carry a far greater traffic than it is likely to be called upon to do. To spend money there while the road beyond is impassable, is simply absurd, and a downright waste of public money. Nay, worse, to break up all this season the mile or so of good road leadiug across the swamp to the firm ground beyond, which

the proposed wotk contemplates doing, would be to make that portion of the Hamilton- Whutawliata road at the railway end, whioh is at present a fairly practicable road, impassaWe during the coming winter and spring. The contract has been let to Messrs Coates and Dinsdale, but from what we know of either of these gentlemen we believe that they, would readily, in the publio interest, forego the carrying out of the same if requested by the Government to do so on public grounds.

Mr Wii 1 1 vm N. Si vranxki", General Lund Agent and Licensed Interpreter, who w as Land Purchase Commissioner for eight years and Resident Magistrate ior the "VVaikato District for fourteen years, offers his services in the negotiation for purchase or lease of land, Kutopean or Maori. Mr Searancke deservedly holds a high position in public estimation, and will doubtless soon have his hands full of business. At a first meeting of creditors in the estate of William Wheelan, bootmaker, of Hamilton, a bankrupt. Mr Da\ id Gardiner, of Hamilton, was elected creditors' trustee. A notification referring to the registration of dogs appears in our advertising columns. Mr J.VMhs "\Vai.to\ has been appointed Highway Rate Collector for the town ot Kihikihi Highway District. Mr. Ki-.nwhdy Hill will sell to-day, at his auction mart, some well-bred pigs, potatoes, maue, cheese, &c. The pigs arc of \ cry choice description, and worth attention. Mr Kennedy Hill will dispose to-day, at 2 o'clock, ot Mr Low's photographic gallery and sundry articles of furniture. Allotment No. 229, Hamilton East, with the si\-room«d concrete house thereon, wil be offered at auction to-day by Mr Kennedy Hill.