THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1880.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1228, 13 May 1880, Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1880.

Oats are so plentiful this season that the prices realised are ■ too low to remunerate the farmers, and enormous quantities will be stored for ulterior purposes,. which means, in some cases, that the hplclers are hoping against hope, almost. An Otago farmer of long experience, however, has hit upon a novel plan to utilise the grain. He has resolved to feed his sheep upon oats rather than sell them at the prices offered, from Is 3d to Is 6d per bushel. ! He says that he is sure that 2s. per bushel can be realised in this way, while the land will be greatly bencfitted. But what about oatmeal 1 We are every year, sending large sums of money out of the country to import that useful household article. Now that times are so very hard, and that so much is said about local industries and the duty devolving upon the Government and the people themselves in developing them, why is it that oatmeal factories are not thought of more than they are? — We fancy that much money would be made by an enterprising man turning his energies and coin in the direction of manufacturing it on a large scale for exporting purposes to the Australian colonies as well as to Europe. And a sudden impulse has lately been given to the oat trade. Oats for manufacture into oatmeal are to be admitted into the colony of Victoria free of duty. This should be good news for the farming interest and must have the effect of immediately enhancing the price of the article. There is certainly more in this new idea of our Australian friends than appears at first sight on the surface. It would seem as if Victoria which suffered so much from its policy of Protection, while New South Wales on the contrary benefitted so much from its system of Free Trade, was alive to the fact that it had blundered all along. By agreeing to the free importation of oats for the pretext of manufacturing purposes — say oatmeal forexpoi*t — it virtually introduces the thin end of the wedge, and shows a strong leaning towards Free Trading principles. The profits of manufacturing oatmeal — a simple and easy process at that — cannot be so large as to tempt any Protectionist Government to lose the import duty on oats to benefit the oatmeal-milling industry merely. And it must be recollected that the Melbourne grain market has been for many years past almost completely closed against New Zealand by the protective duty in force there. How it is that the Victorian Government should remove the duty only from oats intended for the manufacture of oatmeal, and leave it upon oats for general use it is hard to say. Let Protectionists solve the riddle. The thing looks absurd on the face of it. If oatmeal makers could not get their oats from abroad, they would be obliged to get them from the local growers, and the local growers would benefit accordingly, while the public consumers would suffer directly. The duty on oats imported for manufacture being abolished the local growers lose the benefit of protection in the proportion that the general consumers gain, as the supply has been increased the demand has not increased correspondingly. If it is wise to admit duty free the raw material for manufacturing purposes then surely it folloAVS that it will " pay" to admit the same material duty free for general purposes. This is a purely commercial axiom. We hail this new step of the present Victorian Government as one in the right direction. It points out very clearly that the time is not far distant when free international trading will be established in the Australian group.

We were not aware of it before, but it appears to be the custom of the Railway Department on paydays to throw all consideration for the convenience of the public to the winds. On Tuesday, owing to the delay caused in waiting at the different stations to enable the pay clerk to disburse the weekly or monthly wages (we hope it was monthly) the midday train from Auckland was considerably behind time, and, allowing for the time lost in the same manner between here and Ohaupo, the up train left fully an hour behind time. The result was that several persons (the Mayor of Hamilton and our reporter amongst the number), who went down for the purpose of hearing Sir George Grey, were landed in Auckland some minutes after nine o'clock instead of at a quarter-past seven. From enquiries we haye made, we believe the pay clerk's van was attached to the down train, which was of course delayed at every station. Now, we do not for a moment object to the men being paid ; but we must, without reserve, condemn the stupid system which has been adopted for doing so. Punctuality is expected of coaches and steamboats, and want of it ought never to be felt on a railway. Of the loss of a few minutes, an

acquaintance with New Zealand jail ways leads us to think lightly, and those to whom even minutes are of importance are quite resigned on the subject ; but a delay of two hours between Waikato and Auckland, without reasonable cause, is something far transcending anything which our experience has brought under our notice. We hope some other will supersede the stupid plan we have condemned before another pay day comes round. '

Nearly 18 months has elapsed since, to the horror of humanity, the steamboat, Princess Alice foundered \n a collision off Woolwich, and more than 600 personspassengers, and erew — lost their lives by drowning. The remains of lwtween 300 and 400 were recovei-ed and consigned to the eai'th by their friends ; but those of a large number being un-identified, though reclaimed from the water, were buried by public authority. But the question has risen, and ia now before the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court — what authority ? — for a contest has arisen on the point. Who is legitimately bound to pay the cost of these nameless obsequies ? The River Thames at the spot where the catastrophe occurred is, in technical phraseology, a navigable tidal river, ten miles below London Bridge, where the tide ebbs and flows, and where "great ships go." A curious problem is involved in the fact that so many as 120 individuals, bound upon a pleasure trip from the very heart of the great metropolis, should thus perish within sight of it, and yet be left to the parish undertaker ; but so it was, and the issue raised is simple enough, although the whole question turns upon the construction given to certain legal terms. Could they be said to have been " cast ashore," when they had been carried to the shore by boats ? Again, was the bank of a stream, however important, a " shore " within the meaning of the Act ? Thus a contest has arisen between the County Treasury and the parochial overseers, and the litigation is not yet terminated after a lapse of a year and a-half. But amid the contentions, a further and unexpected dispute arose. Besides the doubt whether "bodies carried ashore in boats " could be said to have been "cast ashore " came others — whether those which were actually "washed ashore" were really "cast ashore," and even allowing so much, whether they were " cast ashore by the sea. " It may seem to minds untrained at vestry-rooms and County Boards, and not of an arguing instinct that these are very miserable subtleties to be wrangled about over the graves of the unrecognised dead. Yet they may be presumed, we suppose, to involve issues of some value as precedents, and it is no satisfaction, therefoi'e, to know that not the slightest approach to a finalunderstanding has as yet been arrived at.

At the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening it was unanimously decided to fill in that portion of the footpath in Victoria - street between the Waikato Times' building and the south end of Mv Vialou's premises, which has for so long been a standing disgrace, and source of danger to pedestrians.

A lecture will be delivered at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Wednesday, the 19th inst., by the Rev W. Evans, on '• Oddities, and what use we should make of them."

John itnowles, Esq., Undersecretary for Public Works, paid a visit to Hamilton and Cambridge on TuesdaY, returning to Auckland yesterday.

Te Ngakau, who is at present at Cambridge, is extremely friendly in his manner to Europeans, "quite tamed in fact," to quote from a subscriber's letter to us.

A general meeting of the Gambridge Football Club was held at the Duke of Cambridge , Hotel on Tuesday evening, when the bye-laws were decided on, and the general management of the Club duly discussed. Mr Moore was elected captain, Mr Ring vice-captain, and Mr Keeping added to the committee. The Clab will play the Rugby Union rules as revised by the Auckland Club, Wednesdays and Saturdays to be the practice days. If the enthusiasm keeps up by the members as it has begun, a little drilling will make the Cambridge team a formidable one.

Owners of horses are reminded that nominations for the Hurdle Race, Autumn Handicap, and Steeplechase at the Cambridge Jockey Club Autumn Meeting must be forwarded to the Secretary, Post-office, Cambridge, not later than Saturday, the loth insfc. Weights will appear in Auckland and "Waikato papers on Thursday, the 20th instant. Acceptances and entries for Maiden Steeple Chace will close on Monday the 24th. instant, at 8 p.m. The course is now in capital trim, and it is hoped the entries will be such as to encourage the Club to continue in their efforts to establish steeplechasing in the WaikatOi They have a course second to none in the Colony, and if sufficient support is given at this meeting the stakes will be considerably increased next year,

The Land Court at Cambridge was occupied all Tuesday with the Mangapouri block and its claimants. It will occupy the Court's attention for several days.

The Waihou and Waitoa footballers have commenced operations for the season with a scratch match, which came off at Campbelltown on Saturday last. Next Saturday a match will be played between fifteen Waihou settlers and an equal number of settlers from Shortland and Omahu. Play will commence at 10 ©'clock, and a very interesting matoh may be anticipated.

Last night, at Even-song, at St. Peter's, the prayers of the congregation were asked for the relatives of the late Edward Pakenham Walsh, and the Rev. William Colder in touching language alluded to the sad accident in his sermon.

A resident of Ngaruawahia, whose name we do not know, was guilty of a piece of folly on Tuesday whioh came near costing his life. It appears that he got on the afternoon train at that place just before it started, thinking he would be able to jump down at the bridge. The rate at which the train went precluded this however, and for the next mile or so he stood on the step of carriage debating as to the course propar to pursue. At length he summoned up sufficient courage and jumped from the step. He fell to the ground very heavily and turned over on his head — which when he fell was within a few inches of a tree stump— and slowly picking himself up ataggerd on to the lino and retraced bis steps, perhaps the next tune he is

foolwh enough to remain on a train until it has started he will think it safest to return from tho next stopping place.

In this issue we publish a lengthy report of the address delivered by Sir George Grey at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening, {or which we are indebted to the Xcw Zealand Jfcrafd, our own reporter, owing to the delay in the train, not having reached the meeting until half-past nine o'clock.

■ At the R.M. Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before H. W. Northcroft, Esq., R.M., John Richardson, charged with being drunk and disorderly on the night of the 11th, was fined 10s and costs ; in default, to yo to gaol for forty-eight hours.

Mr and Mrs Lucas, assisted by the members of the Cambridge Dramatic Society, will give a performance at the Public Hall Cambridge, this evening. The programme -will consist of "Othello" and the "Brigands' Capture." ,

The extensive works undertaken by the Cambridge Town Board are now nearly complete, only the gravelling remaining to be finished. The work has been very efficently executed by the contractor, Mr Ewen, and whatever opinions may have been . expressed regarding its value at- the outset, the alteration has considerably improved the appearance of the town.

In the yi'to Zealand Gazette of April 29, the following are appointed trustees for the maintenance of the Whatawhata public cemetery:— Patrick Oorboy, Arthur Dawson, Peter luveraon. Henry Salmon, Alexander Crawford, Jonn Fergusson, and Martin Fitzgerald.

We have hoard complaints from several travellers, vistors, and others of the absence of mile-stones on the roads in Waikato. The use of such is obvious enough to those whose business or whose jpleasui'e leads them through our district, and we hope some means Avill be taken by those whose duty it is to look after such matters to see that the want is supplied. The cost would not be great, or at an rate not to be set against the advantages that would accure. While on this subject there is another matter which has often suggested itself to us, and that is the necessity for placing, at some of the cross roads, plain directions regarding their destination. To our own knowledge much inconvenience has arisen through the want of such finger-posts. We commend these remarks to the serious attention of those local bodies which are likely to be affected.

The man Cochrane who brutally assaulted Norgiove, on the 4th inst., and decamped, was captured on Monday by Constable Brennan. Cochrane was remanded uatil Monday. Bail admitted, prisoner sbond/jf £50, and two sureties of £25 each.

The following entries for the Athletic Meeting, to be held on the 24th inst., have been received by Mr T. Camp, Hon. Sec. Cambrige Athletic Club :— 100 yards — Jas. Fergii3son, Brindlel McKennau, H. Camp, F. Pilling, Whitehouse, Chappell, Roberts, H. A. Keesing, Geo. McOann, J. McNeish, Piro Rehi, Hutton and Macfarlane. 200 yards — Ja9. Fergusson, Brindle, McKeunon, Whitehouse, Chappell, Robert^ H. A. Keesing, H. Camp. Piro Rehi, J. Campbell, J. McNeish. 300 yards (hurdle)— F. Pilling, J. MeNeish, McKeunan, Brindle, Fergusson. 440 yards— Fagan, H. A. Keesing. Whitehouse, McKennan, Brindle, and Fergusson. 880 yards — Fagan, Campbell, Noregrove, McMillan, Brindle, and Macfarlane. 1 mile— Fagan, fieo. McCann, Campbell, Norgrove, Keesing, McMillan, and Whitehouee. In consequence of only one entry being received for the two-mile walking match it is not likely to eventuate. The handicap and colors will be published in a few days. Right of gates, publican aud temperance booths will be sold by Mr Bright, on Saturday next.

" Atlas" in the World writes : . A reverend gentleman has actually written to suggest that to propitiate the Higher Powers and mitigate the misery of the people, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy should order a National fast throughout Ireland !

During the trial of Butler for burglary, Mr Haggitt, addressing the Judge, said : — " Before the prisoner came to this colony at all, your Honor, I am informed that, under the name of George Lee, alias James Wilson, he received various sentences. He received a sentence of twelve months for vagrancy at Melbourne on the 17th September, 1860 ; twelve months for larceny on the 2nd February, 1863 ; six months for vagrancy on the 19th May, 1862, at Richmond ; five years for assault and robbery under arms on the 15th December, 1564, at the Supreme Court, Melbourne ; six months' imprisonment for receiving stolen property on the loth December, 1864, at the Supreme Court, Melbourne; and five years for burglary on the 1 5th September, 1871, at the Supreme Court, Melbourne. In addition to these, the prisoner here received three mouths' hard labor for larceny in August, 1876 ; and in October, 1876, lie was sentenced by this Court for burglary, larceny, larceny, larceuy, housebreaking, housebreakiug — six distinct charges — to four years' penal servitude."

The American papers report the discovery in Monroe County, Ma-souri, of a temple hewn in the solid rock. The main hall is of immense size, and has a vaulted roof supported by slender columns of Egyptian granite. The walls are covered with slabs of black and grey granite, and at the end was found what is described as an altar. On the roof was a heap of ashes. In a smaller apartment were found a number of bronze tools and bronze plate with an inscription in the Hebrew character But in Ohio a still more remarkable discovery has been made. In the depth of a cave have been found a series of magnificent tombs— these, too, of Egyptian granite. One is the figure of a man with a distinctly Jewish nose, while the sides are covered with a series of bas-reliefs. The tombs are described as full of mummies nine feet long. Copper weapons, vases, and "an immense quantity of memorial tables covered with Hebrew characters" were also found The age of the stalactites formed in the cave is said to prove that the tombs have been undisturbed for several thousand years. Both temple and tombs are assumed to be the wox-k of early Jewish immigrants ; while the use of Egyptian granite and the process of embalming is supposed to indicate that they came from Egypt. But it is right to add that the accuracy of the reports is doubted, both as regards the character of the inscriptions and the physiognomy of the mummies. For the present, however, they may be commended, to the notice of the Anglo-Israelite Association.

It is stated that Mr Sims Reeves has decided to take his farewell of public life, and that he will in the autumn commence a final tour of the provinces. Rumours to this effect have for some time past been current, but the news is authentic. At the same time, music lovers will not be in too great a hurry to take leave of the greatest of English tenors, and of an old public favourite. Mr Sims Reeves' ' ' farewell" will probably extend over two years, and in the course of it there is every likelihood he will introduce to his admirers his son, who, in the opinion at least of his own people, is in posession of of the family voice. Mr Sims Reeves was Vo.ru a,t jNoyth Cray, near Woolwich,

the son of the pariah clerk, and he was educated under J. B. Cramer, Tom Oooko, Hobbs, .and other professors,- and subsequently at Milan, at the expense of the Rev. Edgell Wyatt-Edgell, then vicar ot Cray. - His first appearance was at Newcastle, in'ISSO, so that he has been, at the age of fffty-nine years, no less than forty-one years before the British public. It is not generally known that he first appeared as a baritone, but afterwards, in 1847, he sang as " Edgar" under the late M. Julienne, at Drury Lane, and from this the commence ment of his fame must be dated. II; may, at any rate, be said that for thirty years Mr Sims Reeves has held the position of representative English tcnoi*, and although his many admirers will be sorry to lose him, it will be generally admitted that when a tenor is well-nigh sixty, and has had upwards of forty years of active work, lie is justly entitled to the sweets of retirement.

It would be interesting to discover the name of the print which is subjected to the following cruel Laceration by the TabUt :— " There is a certain district in Duuedin where a Certain newspaper has been thrust, all unwelcome and by stealth, into the houses of the Catholic inhabitants. It is a newspaper that has gone frantic for a circulation, and insists upon being read at any price. The rev. editor is, however, quite justified in his conclusions : if there be any men in the world to whom he might look for kindness and courtesy they are to be found amongst Catholics, and we are quite sure that they are extremely sorry when they find it is absolutely impossible for them to read his paper. But it is not their fault, and we must really beg of this rev. editor to reconsider the case. If the paper were readable they would read it ; but indeed it is not readable. Would the rev. editor, then, be so good as to alter it ? Could he not leave out somewhat of the larrikin tone which distinguishes it ? Could he not reduce the rancour, correct the falsehood, subdue the spite with which it brims over ? Could he not pay a little more attention to his manner of composition ? Could he not abbreviate his rigmaroles, round off the gasping and squirting style that distinguishes his columns, the sentences that seem copied from the romances in a ' penny dreadful ' with all the sensation and attraction, such as they are, left out, and goodygoody words or gross and calumnious statements substituted for them ? If he will put .something readable into his paper and then send it round to Catholic houses Catholics will read it for him ; but really, as it is, it is too much to expect even from the obliging nature for which they are distinguished. "

John Lawson, farmer, Eastßradieston, Gavvock, Kincardinshire, was examined in bankruptcy on Wednesday. Bankrupt deposed that he had lost £350 by foot-and-mouth disease among his sheep. He had lost heavily during the past four years on his farm, owing to bad seasons, &c. — from £100 to £150 during each of the first three years, and the present year his loss would be from £450 to £500. The state of affairs showed that the assets amounted to £286 ; and the liabilities — preferable, £287 7s; ordinary, £1255 0s 11 jd — total liabilities, £:542 7s ll^d; deficiency, £12ot> 7s ll^d — North Britiah Ayricultwht.

Thij abstract of the rccciptb and expenditure of the W.iipa County Council is published in

another column. Thii South Auckland Cattle Board will meet ne\t Saturday morning at ten o'clock in the Cainbiidgc Fanners' Club House.

ill ssks Thornton 1 , Smuh, and Co. have reduced the price of floui and bran £i per ton respecti; cly.

Ckkdi iors in the assigned est.'itc of J. Henderson, of Riuv-jirtri, and of James Martin, <>t H.imilton, are requested to send prooh ot debt bj the 24th instant, to the trustees.

The Town Clerk notifies that the balancesheet, &c, of the Borough of Hamilton arc open for inspection.

Thb restrictions on cattle sales haunpf been removed Mr J. S. llurkland and Messrs Hunter and Nolan announce sales of cattle by auction in our ad\ crtising 1 columns.