The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1215, 13 April 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 rijjht maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1880.

The alarming spread of pleuropneumonia in this district, and the knowledge of the terrible nature of its consequences are subjects which now engross the attention of every settler in the Waikato contiguous to, and remote from, the known centres of infection. While the public are thus alive to their 'interests, we cannot compliment the

Cattle Board on the promptitude which it has displayed in the matter. There can be no question at* all about it — the disease being known to be in existence for the past week — that the Board has be 311 sidly wanting in those qualities of decision and earnestness so necessary to such a body. While the members have been all along agreed upon the advisability of taking active measures for the suppression of the disease they have been unable to agree upon the mode in which their determination shall be carried into effect. There has been too much timidity ; too great a desire to temporise on an occasion when such a quality and such an inclination ought not to be tolerated. Perhaps of all the members Mr Fantham is the only one who set out with a denned purpose in his mind and a determination to rest not until proper measures shall have been adopted. Little by little it must be confessed the Board has been brought round by the logic of facts to the opinions of Mr Fantham, and as surely as this advance has been made on the part of the members so surely does he strike his tent and take up his position on higher ground, whither, with more or less exhibition of bad grace, the others in time follow. To prove the truth of this we need only refer our readers to the reports of the meetings of the Board published from time to time in these columns. Unfortunately for Mr Fantham, and unluckily for the cause of those whose advocate he undoubtedly is, the tone of his argument has not always been distinguished by that degree of moderation which is due from one member to another. Indeed, on one or two occasions he has had recourse to expressions the most intemperate. However much these lapses may effect Mr Fantham in the eyes of those who are opposed to him, they are not of a nature sufficiently important to justify the kind of opposition he has had to encounter.' Mr Fantham is a gentleman possessing a large stake in the district, and because of the great danger which he himself runs is eminently fitted to aid in keeping the disease away from the doors of liis neighbours. Knowing this, his views should certainly receive that respect which, for the reasons we have adduced, is their just mede. We lay particular stress on this because at Saturday's meeting, the Board, after rejecting Mr Fanthams proposal, ended by passing it themselves in a form slightly modified 'to save appearances. Of the action of individual members of the Board, their own remarks published elsewhere is a sufficient commentary, and we will only take occasion to say that in one or two •instances there was a palpable want of thoroughness fully apparent to the gentlemen who attended as visitors. Perhaps, after all, we ought to be grateful that by whatever means it has been brought about, the Board has at length taken a new departure. ►Shortly summed up the result of the meeting on Saturday is this : Steps are to be taken to destroy all animals suffering from the disease in an advanced stage, while those which in the opinion of the veterinary surgeon are likely to recover are to be isolated and periodically inspected. 1 Armed Constabulary are to do duty as rangers in the district between Hamilton and Taupiri, embracing Hokonui; and the cattle owners adjoining the farm of Mr Burk are to be requested not to move their cattle. A motion was brought forward by Mr Fantham to suspend all cattle sales in the district for a certain period — one month was suggested — and to prevent cattle being driven along the public roads. This meeting with opposition was, however, withdrawn to be brought up again next meeting. In the meantime, however, the disease has shown itself at Cambridge, and the measure urged by Mr Fantham as necessary, and put off by the Board, has been adopted as one of the first importance. The reports given in another place describe the nature of the cases discovered at Cambridge. Thus then the matter stands at present. That the disease exists in a virulent form in our midst cannot now be questioned, and whatever opinions may be current on the subject of inoculation there cannot, we apprehend, be any doubt that the first and most important step in order to the extirpation of the disease, is the adoption of the course decided on by the Board, which we hope will now be faithfully and fearlessly carried out.

The Hon. the Minister for Public Works may be expeotel in Waikato on Thursday.

Rumors have reached us from reliable sources that cattle are being removed from one place to another at night, within the district declared infected by the South Auckland Board. We would draw the attention of the Cattle Board and Inspector Runciman to this manner.

On Saturday Mr F. A. Whitaker received a reply from Wellington in answer to the telegram which we stated in our last issue had been forwarded by him to tha Minister for Public Works in reference to the Waipa Bridge. Mr WTntaker forwarded the reply at once to Whatawhata for the information of the residents of that district. The contents were to the effect, that the delay to the bridge had arisen from information furnished to the department, that at a site soma three or four chains removed from that already selected the bridge could be erected at a considerable saving of cost. Instructions had been given to have the necessary sections taken to discover whether this would really be the ca^c. The plans might bo expected in Wellington in tho course of a wee.«', and tenders would be filled for hiunedUh-ly afterwards whichever «to h determined on.

Refreshing rain fell during Saturday night- and again early yesterday morning, which*, provided the weather keeps, mild, will have a beneficial influence on turnips and green oats., and sweeten the grass.

The native meeting at Tamahere is still in progress, aud vast quantities of food ami icchjju'o are being consumed as is ye manner and custom of ye Maori.

After the close of Divine Service at Sfc Peters on Sunday evening a service of saci eel song was rendered by the Messrs Baker and the members of the choir. The solos were undertaken by Mr Henry Baker, and Mr. F. Baker (the sihnr-toned tenor) who sang respectively, "Thou didst not leave His Soul in" Hell .out of the Messiah, with Hymn .132 (Ancient and Modern) for chorus; and "Vouchsafe O Lord" Te Deum, with "0 Lord in Thee have I trusted, " for chorus. The execution in both solos was very effective and the choruses were well rendered, the voices being well in acco-d. A very large number of tlie ongvegSLiAon. remaineil and listened with wrapt and reverent attention to the excellent singiug.

This evening the Messrs. Baker will give another of their entertainments in the Oddfellows' Hall, and we trust that the public of Hamilton will give them a more generous encouragemeut than they did on their first appearance. Mr W. F. Baker's voice possesses a really fine tone and is of considerable compass, and his songs are rendered with exquisite taste and feeling. As much indeed may be said of the artistic ability of Mr H. Baker, who does full justice to the beautiful melodies from which his part 6f the entertainment is taken A series of fortuitous circumstances — private theatrical rehearsals, the practice of the Choral Society, aud a private ball— kept many from attending the entertainment of the* Messrs. Baker at Hamilton on Monday last. Tliis evening there is not likely to be any counter attraction, and we therefore hope to see a crowded house.

Kauri gum digging is being briskly carried on iv the neighborhood of Ngaruawahia by both Europeans and natives, but more especially the latter, and to this trade is due the commercial briskness which is observable in that township. On Saturday night last the Maories from the Te Rapa and Pukete gum fields brought in close upon £500 worth of gum, and from noon till near midnight the township was as brisk as in its palmiest days. The price, too, has risen, and as # much as 45s per cwt. was given for the gum brought in last week, and as many Maories get and clean a hundred weight and a-half per week good wages are realised. Several petty thefts were committed on Saturday. Some blankets were stolen from one store, and some hats from another, and the one solitary policeman was quite unable to be here, there and everywhere at the same moment. Thursday is nearly as brisk a day as Saturday, for on that day the Maoris from another gumfield usually bring in their produce- The Hokonui gnmfield is totally deserted.

At the R.M. Court, Cambridge on Friday last, befo c W.H. Northcroft Esq. R.M. a case for larceny from a store, and sundry small debt cases were disposed of. Honi Tuwakarina, a native, who was locked up in the morning for creating a disturbance and wearing his hat in Court was brought up at the conclusion of the other business and charged with contempt, in defence he said he was sorry he had interrupted the Court, but he had to leave hurridly as Paul Pris's child of whom he had charge required talcing out. He being the first Maori brought before the Bench here for contempt, he was discharged with a caution His Worship saying he would give the next native brought before him for the offence 14 days. The Free Prsss gives vent to the following liberal remarks : — "A Te Awamutu correspondent has sent us a bittei and we fear a just wailabout so-called Protestants, (some of whom are occasionally found doing duty in the Protestant Churches), aiding the Roman Catholics te build up their church at the expense of the Protestant community. It appears nearly all the Protestants took some part in tht matter recently ; but when there was ar effort made to aid the Wesleyan Church o\ the district, the Romanists and their Anglican sympathisers were conspicuous bj their absence. Our correspondent should not be surprised at this — it is quite natural The worst part of our correspondent* lament in that certain Orangemen are said to have prominently aided the Romanists on the occasions referred to." We notice that nothing has beer done by the Borough Council to rendei the track leading from the Bridge or "Why to' s road pafe. After crossing the bridge aud coming towards East Hamilton the road divides into three tracks, and a person is just as likely, whether riding, driving or walking — especially at night— to take the one track as the other. Should he take the one to the extreme left it it possible a very serious accident mighi occur. Where the track is at its narrowest there being a deep ditch on the lefl hand side, a landslip on the opposite side has eaten to nearly the centre of the roadway leaving notsufficient spacef or a vehicle to pass between perpendicular cliff oi at least fifty feet on tho one side and a ditch some four feet wide on the other, and as there is plenty of room for the horse between the two it is not likely that the animal would hesitate to proceed. The spot is come suddenly upon at a turn and anyone driving fast even by daylighi would have some difficulty in pulling up in time. There is no necessity to repaii the road- way which would be expensive but about, half a chain of fencing placed across the road would effectually preverl what might cause a very serious and per- ' haps fatal accident. The otdf/o Daily Times understands that according to a circular from headquarters the whole of the Volunteers oi New Zealand are to be drps&ed the sairie as the " regulars" at horne — viz, in scarlet tunics and helmets.

We learn that yesterday a pair of horses, belonging to Mr Charles luues, ol Te Awamutu, bolted, one of which fractured the bones below the fetlock joint. Mr Naden happened to be at Ohaupo shortly afterwards and kindly inspected the animal, and he and Mr Buckland were both of opinion that it was the most humane action jto destroy the animal, which was suffering intense agony. The horse has been guilty of bolting before, and its destruction may therefore, perhaps, save human life.

With a change of weather at hand can nothing be done for the footpath between White's buildings and the Waikato Times buildings in Hamilton ? The question is not at whose cost the work shall be done, but whether the pathway shall bo left in the disgraceful state it has been in during the whole summer. In the fine weather it was comparatively a matter of little account, but a week's rain will see it little better than a quagmire, breaking off direct communication for foot passengers on the west side of Victoria-street. We are not going into the merits of the dispute whether the work should be undertaken by the Borough or by tho owner of the property to which the footway fronts. The formation of the path must bo sjone on with whether charged to the Borough ns a legitimate public work, or to any burgess specially liable, and the duty of carrying it out lies with the Council. If the htfcer is confi/lent iv tfxa po.4tion it his t.ikcuup that the duty of forming the pith belongs to the individual property-holder, then

matters should be brought to an issue by their cooing the work and seeking the aid of the law to recoup the oost ; if they have not sufficient confidence in their position to purbito the matter so far, then lft them carry out the work as they would any other public work coming within their jurisdiction. All wo contend is that the footpath shall be made : the question of liability can be settled afterwards ; but it is out of all question that with the winter before us a portion of one of the sidepaths of the prinoipal sti'eet in the town should be left uncared for, and the traffic diverted — as it most undoubtedly will be when the wet weather sets in — to the opposite side or the centre of the street.

We took some little credit to ourselves a month or more ago, that the long letter of Mr Albert Potter on the classification of wools — in which he elaborated a scheme that, if carried out, would bring wool-grower and manufacturer face to face, and increase the value of the wool production of the colony by more than half a million, sterling per annum — was first promulgated in the columns of this journal. We pointed out at the time that the matter was one of colonial importance, and must necessarily commend itself to the wool-producing interest in all parts of the colony. Nor were we wrong ; the matter has been warmly taken up by the Press, and amongst southern exchanges received yesterday we notice an able and exhaustive article on the subject of Mr Potter's letter in the issue of the North Otago Times of the Ist inst., a journal which is the organ of a large wool-growing community. Our contemporary sees the gist of the letter at once when he says " The anticipated result of classification is that, if properly carried out, it would give every woolgrower an authenticated status as the producer of a certain article., and that by means of this status he would be enabled to do business with the manufacturer direct." As a necessary consequence it is shown that not only would this be more remunerative to the individual wool-grower, but to the colony at large — * for under such circumstances more business would be done with the colony, aud more European money sent into it. Our Otago contemporary recommends that public opinion should be asked on the subject by enlisting the sympathy and co operation of agricultural and pastoral associations and farmers' clubs. It is still, however, continues our contemporary, in a crude form — it requires moiilding into shape and consistency by public opinion. It would, we may remark, in closing be a pity to confine the exhibits to depots attached to such unbusinesslike places as museums. Corn exchanges, and marts, and rooms connected with chambers of commerce would be better adapted for the purpose in view. The main question raised is one of stei'ling importance, and those connected with the commerce of New Zealand should not let it fall dead to the ground — wool growers should by no means allow it to do so. It is to be hoped, too, that the public and public men, members of Parliament especially, may be induced to take an interest in it ; and for being the first to bring it prominently into notice Mr Potter is undoubtedly entitled to honorable praise." We are glad to learn that the subject is not likely to be allowed to drop in Waikato. Several of our most influential wool-growers saw at once the value of the suggestion and considered the scheme on its merits, and as a whole regarded it as the germ of a excellent undertaking that would, worked into practical 'shape, largely raise the value of the wool-producing industry of the colony.

We understand that Messrs Dinsdale and Coates, the successful tenderers for the works intended to have been carried out at the Hamilton end of the Hamilton -Whatawhata-road, have relieved the public and the Government of a difficulty by throwing up their contract, or rather declining to enter into one, for this work. There will be nothing now therefore lo prevent the commencement of this expenditure, asked by the Hamilton Highway Board, until the Minister for Works snail have himself visited the district and made himself personally acquainted with the desirability, or otherwise, of going" on with the work. It is absurd to spend money on making a fine road Jifbt-da^ which simply leads nowhore, and the whole of the money, £600, and more, too, will be needed to make a riding road across to Whatawhata.

A rt hlk meeting- is convened by the Chairman of the "NVdipa County Council lor to-day at Ohanpo, immediately after the cattle sale, to discuss the proposal of the Cattle Board to stop all cattle sales in the district. Noiicu is given that the Cattle Hoard has decided to prohibit cattle being- driven on the public roads, and to stop all cattle sales for one month fi om yesterday, in consequence of cattle, since destroyed, being affected with plcuro, having been sold at Cambridge on Tuesday last. A pl'bmc meeting, in connection with the British and Foreign Bible Society, will beheld in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Ihursday evening next. J. Palmer Campislu , Esq., Chairman of the Cambridge Town Board, notifies that owing to pleuro ha\ing been disco\ercd among cattle depasturing- on the Cambridge run and waste lands in the neighborhood, all cattle are to be therefrom removed at once. The Township of Cambridge and the Cambridge Highway District are declared infected distiicts.