The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1229, 15 May 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.

SATURDA Y, MA V IS, 1880.

The late terrible railway accident which resulted in the death of youug Walsh, will, we trust, have the effect of inducing the authorities to seriously consider the question of" providing trains with some efficient means of communication between the guard's van and the engine. The jury very wisely coupled with the verdict a rider directing the attention of the Government to this as well as to other matters of the first importance, we mean the establishment of telegraphic communication between the various stations. ' This latter subject is one the importance of which has often been dwelt on, and on many of our colonial railways we believe practical effect has been given to the intention of Government to carry out the idea. But as regards the other we are not aware that anything has been done in the direction indicated by the jury. On the Canterbury railways a simple method of enabling passengers to communicate I with the guard, by means of a continuous cord running through the carriages and attached to a bell in | the van, has been adopted, and in numberless ways it is likely to be of great .service. It would, however, be utterly ineffectual in such a case as that which we are unfortunately called upon to consider. According to the medical evidence, the death of poof Walsh resulted partly from shock, but. chiefly, we are led to conclude, from excessive hemorrhage ; and, when it is considered that the deceased lay on the side of the track for over an hour with his dreadful injuries unattended to, the wonder is not that he only survived some twelve hours, but that he lived till assistance arrived. Had some means for instantly stopping the train been available the probability is that the bleeding would have been stopped and the unfortunate man's life saved. Of course we do not know that such a sanguine result could have been looked for in this instance, but hundreds might occur in which the hemorrhage would be just as great, though the nature of the injuries themselves might be of j a much less serious character. It may be that hitherto the "brake signal" as it is called has fulfilled

all requirements ; but, granting this, we know that in one instance, when thc'Stiecess or failure of the method meant perhaps the difference between life and death, it entirely failed in its object. Clearly, therefore, some better system should be brought into operation, and we heartily second the effort put forth by the jury for its adoption.

Ax article appeared in the, New Zealand Herald a few clays ago which is calculated to cause undue apprehensions in the minds of Waikato settlers, ' more particularly those interested in the project of establishing raxlway^comiuTWiicaiibn between Cambridge "and ' Auckland. It contains a- statement which we have grounds for believing to be incorrect : it is as follow.s :—»": — »" The, " Public Works Commissioners hate " barely made a beginning, and " Parliament will commence before " they have concluded their exarni- " nation ' of the * South Island." 3ome time ago if will be remembered that ,the Minister for Public Works (Mr Oliver) paid ' an. official visit to the Waikato, and among others lie received a deputation from Cambridge, which urged upon the Minister the , necessity for at once proceeding with the construction of the railway to that place, and adduced certain cogent facts in support of their request. By way of answer Mr Oliver told the deputation that the question would hinge entirely upon the report which the Public Works Commission, lately appointed for the purpose of, dealing with matters ofthis nature, submitted to the Government. With this assurance the deputation had of course to be satisfied, and since then doubtless they have been preparing themselves to bring the whole matter before the Commission. ' The tidings, therefore, that the Commissioners would not make their appearance here before the Session, an'd perhaps not then, were amply sufficient to give rise to uneasy feelings in the minds of those who formed the resolution. We have excellent authority for stating for the benefit of those gentlemen that their fears are groundless. A few days ago the member for Waikato (Mr J. B. Whyte) telegraphed to one of the members of the Commission, and has received the following reply :—: — " Commission expected to arrive in " Auckland on the 19th. Due " notice of visiting Cambridge will "be given". No report will bs sent j " until all projected lines are "visited." The Commission may therefore be expected in Waikato about- the . end of next week. Although the financial condition is at the present not in that flourishing state which would warrant the commencement of works of any magnitude, we think the claim of -tko Oa,w»biklgt7otril/lcrs is of SO Strong a nature as to place it otrtr of theL category of those which a clue observance of the principles of economy must place on one side. We are glad that the opportuuicy for bringing the matter before the Government this year will not be lost, and we have very little doubt that the utmost advantage will be taken of it.

The carelessness of some Government official at "Wellington, has placed the South Auckland Cattle Board in an awkward fix. The new member of the Board vice Captain Steele, Mr R. H. D. Fergusson appears in the Gazette of the 29th April, No 43, as " Robert HenryDuncan," and such being the case we doubt" very mnch whether he is eligible to sit. If such turn out to be the cisc all the proceedings of the lost meeting of the Board, at which Mr Fergusson sat as a member and in the deliberations of which he assisted ai'e illegal, and the resolutions passed thereat will have to be confirmed. We trust that the mistake will be rectified without delay, beiause the important questions with whioh the Board have to deal demand the consideration or' a full Board.

The next English mail, via San Francisco closes at Hamilton on Monday, the 21th insfc., at 7.30 a.m., instead of I p.m. ; this is owing to the 21th being a postal holiday. At Cambridge it will close on Saturday, the 22nd, at 10.30 a.m. ; at Alexandra, at 10 30 a.m., on the 21th, and at Ngaruawahia, at 9 a.m. on the 24 th.

The trustees of the Oddfellows' Hall have let the contract for the erection of the stage apparatus to Mr Hill, and the work is now being pushed forward with all speed so as to have everything in readiness for the entertainment to I>3 given by the Comus Dramatic Club on Fiiday next, the 21st inst. With the assistance of the Committee of the Club the necessary plans &c, have been drawn up, and the stago will, when everything is completed, present a very neat a poarance. The proscenium will have a height of 12 feet, and the stage will bo 1 8 feet deep. The drop curtain and the material for scenery have arrived, and the painting of the latter will be proceeded with immediately.

We understand a foot-ball match. between the scholars attending the Rev. H. S. Davis school, Hamilton East, and the scholars attending Mr Murray's school, Hamilton West, is being arranged, and will " come off" at an early date. Go it boys!

At the Te Awamutu R.M. Court on Thursday, before H. W. -Norfchcroft, Esq., R.M., the following cases were heard :— E. D. L. Duff us v. John Hemy Pellew ; Mr Gresham for plaintiff : judgment for plaintiff with costs, £3 13a , 7d. Williams v. Henry Lewis; Mr Gresham for plaintiff. William Williams, a plumber and general smith at Kihikihi, sued the defendant, the proprietor of the Central Waikato Hotel at Te Awamutu, for £3 5s l<Sd, a balance due to him for work performed by plaintiff for the defendant in fitting up piping and plumbers' work. The defendant took exception to the particulars of demand, which he urged were insufficient; he also alleged that the plaiutiff had not done his work properly. From the evidence of the plaintiff and his son it appeared that defendant had agreed to pay him at the rate of t eighteenpenco per hour. Plaintiff had carefully entered the number of hours on a sheet of paper, and instead of supplying defendant with a copy of it, he hdd actually handed the original document to the defendant. Mr Greshara stated that the,

dofehtfrint had been< duly served with uotitSnn writing to produce the paper in quostibttjj*' rXlier X1ie dcxocidant did not produce it. Jucfffjneut for ior whole amount claimed, with £i 11s GJ costs. A.ndersou v. Kelly, a cluim for bo.ird and lodging ; d-jfendnut did not appear : judgment for plaint if?. Auder on y. Kelly, a simihr claim : judyriuent for plaintiff. This concluded the buaiucss.

Adjourgecl meeting of those ia1 terested in thb form ition of a foiifc-ball olub wan held last evening at the Royal Hote 1 . Mr Park iv the chair. Resolved }— "That the minutes of the previous meeting- be confirmed." Resolved — "T,hjvt, the uniform as regards stockings be red instead of blue." Kosolved— '•That the committee consist of three members elected from the club, the officers to bo cx-offleio members. The fir.st g' raetice io take place to-day, on Sydney 'juare, at 2 p.m."

We £ regret to learn tfcat the Honorable the Pfem er is seriously indisposed at "Wellington. His medical adviser will not permit him to go out, and Cabinet Councils are held in hi* official residence.;

It is to be hoped that at its next meeting —on Tuesday — the Borough Council will make some better arrangements for running on 0 tho water which stands on tho bridge for days after rain ; and also for sweeping the mud and' filth off the same structure. We have heard many .complaints on the subject during, the last week.

We have been requested to remind tha members of the Cambridge Athletic Club that thoir subscriptions are over due. Some of last year's subscriptions still remain unpaid, and as the Club is in want of funds, having- to expend a considerable amount at the forthcoming 1 sports, the money owing would be received with thanks.

We are given to understand that something very nearly approaching to a mess has been made in the matter of the Whatawhata punt. For a long time the paltry structure has been a scandal to the district, and we on moi'e than one occasion drew attention to its utter inefficiency for the purpose it has served. Subsequently the Waipa County Council were led to address themselves to the subject. At a recent meeting a resolution was passed authorising certain of the councillors to let the job of putting the punt into something like repair, by tender. This was done, and, we presume, the lowest tenderer got the work. It would appear now that the tender was too low for the contractor has thrown up the contract, and the consequence is that the punt now lies — or was lying a few days ago— unddr water. If nothing lias yet been done , we hope no further time will be lost in setting the matter to rights, for bad as the punt is it is "better than nothing.

The Mangapouri block still occupies the attention of the Land Court, ,but will in all probability be finished to-day.

A meeting of the Cambridge Town Board was held on Thursday evening to consider the recent improvements and the best mode of completing Victoria-street, which, after the recent rains, is a perfect quagmire. The Board will officially inspect the same to-day, when it is to be hoped something j will be devised and speedily executed to render it passable.

The Cambridge Coursing Club Meeting to be held on the 2oth, 23th, and 29th, will undoubtedly be one of great success. Entries have been received from Auckland, including Mr S. Morrin's Sandy and Mark Twain for the All Dog Stakes and Miss Yes for the Puppy Stakes. Mr R. H. D. Ferguson will ssnd a couplet, and Mr E. Hewitt two for the Puppy and one for the All Dog Stakes. Entries for the Puppy Stakes u-will close on the 24th and the All Dog Stakes on the 27th hist.

The ordinary meeting of the Tamahere Highway Board was held on Wednesday, the following being present : —Messrs H. Reynolds (Chairman), P. Le.3he and Ca.pt. Rtinciruan. The minutes and outward correspondence were read. A letter was read from Mr. J. B. Whyte, AI.H.R., stating th.it the Minister for Public Works had, on application, granted £200 for expenditure by the Board through native districts. Accounts were passed for payments as follows :—: — Campbell, £ 4 17s 9d; Potter and Burrows, £29 8d 4d ; Browning, £20; Cowley, £2 15s 6d ; Jamei Coombes, £13 IS* 7d. On tho motion of Mr. Leslie tlis resolution of the Board to levy a rate of Is in the £ for the ensuing yeir was confirmed. The following resolution moved by Mr. Leslie and seconded by Capt. Runciman was carried : — ' ' That notice having been given by circular that the Government subsidy would be discon tin add, the moraber for Waikato be requested, if not contrary to his convictions, to oppose any motion of the Government next session to reduce the snbsidies either in whole or in part. " Mr Leslie and Capt. Runciman were appointed a deputation to wait on the Public Works Commissioners on their vi-it to Waik «to regarding the Cambridge Bianch Railway. This was all the business.

The adaptation of the 3rd, 4th, and sth acts of "Othello " was performed on Thursday night at the Cambridge Public Hall, Mr and Mrs Lucas and Mr H. A. Keesing taking the roles of Obhello, Desdemona and lago. Owing to the boisterousncss of the weather, and in some measure the alteration of the date, originally fixed for the 11th, the curtaiu was drawn to a somewhat small audience. Mr Lucas's Othello was decidedly a good conception, displaying great elocutionary ability, and a well-earned applause greeted the closing of the bedchamber scene. Mrs Lucas played the part of Desdemona with true womanly feeling. Mr H. A. Keesing's lago was exceedingly clever, and must have cost him much study to reveal the character of the subtle, designing and intriguing villain in the manntr he did. No higher meed of praise could be awarded him than the remarks of Mr Lucas at the close of the performance that he (Mr Lucas) never played to a better pourfcrayal. The comedy of "The Roa«h Diamond "followed, Mr Lucas sustaining the parts of Sir W. Evergreen and Cousin Joe, and Mrs Lucas Lady Evergreen. The humor of Cousin Joe kept the audience amused till the end.

A paragraph has crept into some of the Southern papers to the effect that an epidemic hacf broken out among the sheep in the Waikato, some ownei's losing thirty a-week. Upon reading this we at once communicated with the District Sheep Inspector, Mr Runciman, who informs us that no intimation of anything of the kind has been made to him. A flock-owner in the Te Awamutu district, did it is believed, lose about 30 sheep a short time ago, but the circumstance has not been reported. No other cases have been heard of.

Messrs Day & French (successors to Small and Coates), East, have made extensive additions to their already large and well -selected stock of grocery, hardware, clothing boots and shoes, &c, &c, to which they invite the attention of the public. There can be little doubt that one vis>it to their establishment will ensure many subsequent ones. The annual Balance-sheet of the Waikato County toi the year ending list March, 1880, is published in our gazette columns for public information. Mr E. J. Moi !• vt h.ning leased the Matamata bush at Rarakarikt, is prepared to supply piles at an\ lcnifth. Tin Re< . K\ ins lecutrc* on "Oddities and the use we should m.ike ot them', on Wednesday emiing ucxt at the l J ublic Hall, Cambridge,

Tkxdbrs will be received by L. B. Harris, Esq., Chairm.in Newcastle II D.1?., till 22nd inst. for cer*ain works in the district.

Ihk banks in Waikato will be closed on Mondij nest (Whit Mondaj).

Tin. Chief Suneyor (Percy Smith, Esq.,) invitee tenders for woiks on the road from Waikato Riicr (ncarco.il mines) to Block kvj., Awaroa Dijtritt. 'Pl.ms, 8c I..1 '.. may be seen at Sui\ey Offices, Hani'lton and Auckl.md.

As' election for the leturn of t\»o qualified persons as auditors for the Hmough ot Hamilton will beheld on ist pio\imo. Nomination-papers will be received up to- noon on Saturday, 22nd inst.int, at the Borough Council' Chambers.

Mnssits Huxf pr and Nolan announce an unrcsjruul sale of hoisos, cittle, iarming implements, bon>e-po\vgr chaff-cutter, waggon, pigs, oaten In}*, &c, on the t.um oF Mr James G. Jlcny, Patcr.uijji, on Fi icl.iv, 28th May. The well-known cntiie horse Piesidcnt, byCbampion, out of the imported maic ]]lo^om, will be offered at the b.ile.