The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1218, 20 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 risfht miintain, Unawed by influence and unbrihed by gain.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1880.

There is much more in the argument of those who advocate an. increased rate of compensation to owners of cattle slaughtered on account of pleuro-pneumonia than at first sight appears. The outcry against low compensation, coming as .it did primarily from one deeply interested in the subject has not perhaps occasioned so general a canj vass as under different conditions would have been probable. It should, however, be borne in mind that Mr Burke is to a great extent impartial : because the cattle belonging to him and known to be diseased, not having been in the colony six months, will not be paid for at aIL So far therefore he is acting without personal aim. Moreover, there was no one at the meeting at Ohanpo on Tuesday last who did not strongly approve of the proposition, in some form or other, to cill on the Government to be at the expense of 'stamping out a disease which their own negligence had permitted to enter the Provincial District. The chairman of the meeting opined that nothing could be done until the Act of 1871 or its amendment was either further amended or repealed. This may be so, as there is no reference to this particular subject in the Order-in-Council, but it should,nevertheless be the object of the Cattle Board to urge the matter on the attention of the Government, to be dealt with by a short Amendment Bill in the approaching, session. "We commenced by saying that there is more in the argument for higher compensation than is at first sight apparent. Our first impression j would be one of satisfaction that those whose means of subsistence were to be sapped would not be allowed to go without something like adequate compensation ; but on going a little below the surface the real importance of the measure, in ; so far as - it affects national, as I opposed to individual, interests developes itself. As we have all along seen, the source of the greatest danger lies in the concealment of the disease and the consequent insidious spread of the contagion. However much some people are disposed to rely on the honor and integrity of their neighbors, it seems to us, without disparaging anyone, that the only effectual way of displacing evil is to put some tangible good in its stead. Twothirds the value of any beast would, we are confident, be accepted by everybody as a welcome substitute for infection, but as long as the rate of compensation remains at the present ridiculous sum — the whole of which is generally swallowed up in fees, — and so long as there remains a chance of saving even 50 per cent, of the infected herd, there will always be a natural reluctance on the part of struggling settlers to sign the warrants for their own condemnation.

Mr A. A. Fanthams purebred shorthorn cow Lady J)on, reported iv our last i*suo as suffering severely from bronchitis calved on Sunday morning a beautiful red heifer, and is, we are glad to hear, showing signs of recovery.

The following motion will be brought forward this evening in the Hamilton Borough Council by Cr, McGamgle : — "That a committee be formed consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Price, Vialon, Jones, and the mover, to enquire into and investigate all matters relating to our financial position with the Bank of New Zealand >v overdraft, and to devise the best means to liquidate the same and put the Council's finances on a sound and permanent basis ; and to obtain all papers and documents available showing the terms upon which the loan was negotiated to make the approaches to, and build the traffic bridge over, the Waikato River at Hamilton.""

There is a considerable scour going on at the pier on the east side of the Hamilton bridge, which, if not attended to, may considerably endanger that structure. Looking at it on Thursday, it was plain to see the gravel working up through the strong eddy at this spot, the river being more or less discolored for some little distance below the pier in question. We understand that the Waikato Steam Navigation Company would bo willing to supply the Borough with the necessary stone required for tho protective work to the pier on easy terms, in consideration of the state of the finances of the Borough. We must also again draw tho attentiou of the Council to the fact 1 that, loW as the river still is», no attempt has been made to complete the planking of the piers below what was, at the time the bridge was taken over, low water mark. Not only was th s money for the work left by the contractors with a tradesman in Hamilton, but, we are told, the material also. The Council would act wisely in communicating with the late contractors on the matter.

The Tender $f Mr Henderson has bemi accepted for tfta erection of the Bohoolhott-w at Gmhnige W^t Tho

school will b£ a commodious structure, capable of .accommodating about sixty children. The contract includes the erection of a neat fivo-roomed teacher's cottnge and clearing and fencing the allot* nient — the prico of tho whole being about £600 The township on the west aide of the river is rapidly increasing iv size and importance, and there is a desire, on the part of the inhabitants, to form part of the Cambridge township district, in the placo of constituting a portion of the Pukekura Ilighway District. That portion of the main Cambridge road between Garland's and Smith's, has lately been freshly gravelled, and may be exnected to prove a good thoroughfare during the coming winter. Mr Allright, architect to the Board of Education, paid a visit to Cambridge on Friday last, for the purpose of makiug arrangements for carrying out the muchneeded repairs to the schoolmastjr's residence in that place. The Cambridge North Township Board are makiug oxtensivs alterations in Victoria-Street. A great; portion of the hill opposite the Natioual Hotel is being removed, and the earth used to fill up the depression in the lower part of the street near the Bank of New Zealand. While a great improvement will be effected by the raining of the lower portion of the road, we cannot say as much for the remaining, portion of the work. Unless due precautions are taken the cutting now being made, will be a source of great danger. It is a great pity, moreover, that the job was not commenced c rlier in the season, as wet weather intervening, the road will be in a miserable state. It will be remembered that some three years ago thirteen deer were brought to this district, and turned at Mangakawa ranges. 'I he settlers about Cambridge saw nothing of them for some twelve months. At the expiration of eighteen months three does .in young made their appearance at Messrs Martyns estate, Peuoarrow, and this year have given birth to three fawns The settlors in the provincial district will doubtless bo as pleased as we are that deer are increasing. The Railway, we verily believe has made more victims amongst tho cattle of the settlers than pleuro-pneuuiouia. A fine cow was run over the other night between Taupiri and the Point, an.l completely cut to pieces. It is time that the ■Legislature took this matter up and fenced the lines in settled districts at any rate. Private individuals running the railway as a company would not be allowed to sacrifice the property of settlers in this manner, and there is no reason why the Government should be above and beyond thelawJ The matter, indeed, will some day address the Legislature from a very different point of view. Such a case was nearly ocurringf on the Dunedin-Inver-cargill railway, and might any day happen on the sharp curves to be found *o plentifully on our own Auckland-Waikato line. In that case a heavy train drawn by two engine* was proceeding along the line by the Waihola Lake when a hor&e suddenly ran on the line and galloped in front of the advancing train. Every effort was made to check the spesd of the train, but the gradient being a descending one, and the train a very heavy one, it proved impossible to prevent the horse being overtaken by the pilot engine, and just before entering on a bridge. The horse was sinished'to pieces, but the accident did not end there. The forepart of the engine mounted on tho body of the horse, and the leading and driving wheels left the metals ; the trailing wheels, though coupled to the others, kept on the rails. The engine ran full butt against the timber stringer of the bridge itself. The speed, fortunately, by this time had become so far reduced, that the shock brought the Jxain to a standstill, but with half the engine hanging over the bridge. A little more and the whole train must have been precipitated over the side. Now, the Waikato- Auckland line is particularly favorable for such occurrences as these. It is not long since a whole train was piled up promiscuously together by an obstruction, and that the passenger carriages escaped, the passengers clamberinjrowrand creeping through the debris It will not be for want of warning that some such accident as shocks the world from time to time, wakens the Legislature of New Zealand to their plain duty in this matter. It is more th-in the safety of settlers' cattle that is at stake, it is the limbs and lives of the colonists themselves

Dwid Ei.uoit, builder, of Hamilton, has filed his schedule. Thii Oddfellows' Hall being cmjiged this evening, the Hamilton Rifle Volunteers will parade to-morrow c\cning at half-past se\en. Ti.vni-.RS are 'united for erection of three bridges by the Jftwcistle District Hoard. Tin: programme of the Cambridge Jockey Club Autumn Meeting appears in another column. Pi k>oxs are cautioned against trespassing in pursuit of game on the property of the Waikato Land Association. Tiih public are warned that any cattle imported into the South Auckland Cattle District are prohibited frum being driven on the public roads without a certificate from the Inspector.