The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1239, 8 June 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

jHqual and exact justice to all men, Ot whatever state or persuasion, rolijjious 01 political. Here shall the Press the People's riijht maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed bj gain.

TUESDAY, JUNE 8 t ISBO.

A matter has been brought under our notice which we think is deserving the attention of the Borough Council, with a view to its being satisfactorily adjusted. During the last two or throe years the settlers in the Kirikiriroa Highway District have accomplished the task of making a very good and serviceable road from the lower portion of the district to the boundary of the Borough — the town belt — at which point the jurisdiction of the Board ceases ; and here, at the very threshold of the Borough, commences a piece of the worst road in the county. In summer, naturally enough, it is all that could be desired; but when the rain comes it is instantly transformed into a species of morass, into which it is very disagreeable, and out of which it is almost impossible, to take a loaded dray. The result is that a number of settlers who are obliged to cart their produce and supplies over this road are unduly handicapped, and practically can only do one day's work in two. We are well aware that the Council have at present no more money than they know what to do with ; but, as comparatively very little would be required to put the road we refer to in a state sufficiently good to bear the winter's traffic, and as the case is one of real hardship, we hope an effort will- be made in the desired direction.

A few days ago we published a very sensible letter from a correspondent signing himself "Samaritan" on the question of a central hospital for Waikato ; our correspondent desired us to print a summary of the new Bill, and this we do in the present issue. With regard to the queries of our correspondent all of which are very pertinent, we cannot pretend to give satisfactory answers ; our recent article on this subject contained all that we for the present are prepared to advance. Our object was the opening up of the question and not the laying down of hard and fast lines, the proper position of which cannot be determined without a thorough canvas of the whole question. The main object is to secure unanimity amongst the settlers of the whole district, leaving the details for after consideration It will be seen that the new Bill provides for the establishment by the Hospital Boards of branch hospitals and should the measure pass into law in something like its present shape there can be little douot that we shall at least have one of these. We should like to see a little more interest taken in the matter by those who are most concerned. If we are ever to have a hospital we must get it ourselves, no one else will get it for us.

Last Thursday, referring to the visit to Hamilton of the Inspector of Weights and Measures (Mr Gamble), we stated it as our opinion that the Inspector should visit Cambridge and the other chief centres of Waikato, and thus obviate the necessity of storekeepers bringing their weights and measures to Hamilton for the purpose of being tested. The Inspector arrived in Hamilton yesterday by the mid-day train, and during the afternoon called at our office, and explained that it is quite impossible for him to do as we suggested. It appears that according to the Act Auckland City is the place, and the sole place, where weights and measures shall be tested ; and that Mr Superintendent J. Bell Thomson, with his usual thoughtfulness, obtained special permission from the Honorable the Colonial Secretary to send Mr Gamble to Hamilton, in ordtr to prevent the great expense and inconvenience to which storekeepers would be placed by having to travel all the way to Auckland. We learn that from Mercer downwards all the business people have to take their weights and measures into Auckland; the same remark applies to the good people north of Auckland as far as Helensville. It will thus be seen at once that the hardship we stated it to be in taking Waikato business people to Hamilton does not in reality exist : on the contrary, that they are very specially favored. We further learn that the weights and measures testing apparatus is exceedingly heavy, and of delicate mechanism, requiring the most careful handling, and that if anything went wrong with it, it would be necessary to send it to Wellington for repair, as it could not be repaired in Auckland, We are always extremely glad to correct any misapprehension of which we may be, as in this instance, unwittingly the cause, and the thanks of the Waikato business people are due, as we have shown, and we feel sure will be accorded, Superintendent J. Bell Thomson for this fuither instance of his consideration for the convenience of the general public.

We were yesterday shown at the Commercial Hotel some gigantic specimens of mushrooms gathered on the Piako Road, near Mr Luttor's farm. The largest is fully a foot in diameter, and weighs 1 Jibs, and the others are scarcelyinferior in size. The stems are about the thickness of a man's wrist. It is rather

lute to find mushrooms of any description, and how such monsters could arrive at such un advanced htage in such cold weather — for tliey are quite fresh — "\ve

cannot determine. AYe arc told, however, that the flavor of one which was cooked ycstcidiy morning was anything but grateful.

On Sunday evening last the children attend&ng the Te Bahu Sunday School presented one of theiv teachers, Mi^s S. A. Floyd, with an elegant album on the occasion of her severing her connection with the school. The presentation wxs made by Miss M. (_'. J. Taylor, and came spontaneously from the children themselves, in token of the deserved esteem in which Mi.ss Floyd is held by them. Miss Floyd thanked the children kindly for the present, the intrNtio value of which, she said, was greatly enhanced by their words of esteem and regard for her.

At the last meeting of the Boiough Council, the Chairman of the Hamilton Highway Board wrote asking 1 thut the piece of road between Cox's gate and Johnson's farm be gravelled, and the matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Country settlers using that particular road will be glad to know that the work is now in progress.

The members of the Hamilton Light " Infantry have challenged the Cavalry to fire a friendly match, and the latter have accepted the challenge. The contest will como off on Saturday next, commencing sit half-past twelve o'clock. The ranges will be 200 yards, 300 yards, and 400 yards. We are glad to notice a disposition on the part of our local Volunteers to keep up a state of efficiency, and trubt to see these friendly competitions encouraged m every possible way. The members of the Cavalry, under their indefatigable officer, Lieut. Johnson, are entering with Bpirit info their winter sword-drill, and are evidently animated by a determination not to be left behind the sister troops.

The frontages of the Wesleyan Church Allotment, leased last October, are just about to be utilised. Mr MoLernon has removed the building formerly occupied by him on the opposite side of the street, and placed it near the corner near the Commercial Hotel. It consists of a shop and small dwelling attached, and we understand that it will, as soon as it is completed, be let to a suitable tenant. Adjoining this, Mr Peat is erecting 1 new business premises, intending to remove thither from his present shop.

Mr T. W. Brame, of the Grahamstown Telegraph Station, has been transferred to Kihikihi.

Mr Henderson, builder, of Ngaruawahia, has started on the erection of the school and teacher's house, Cambridge West. Some little delay has arisen in commencing 1 the work, caused, we believe, by Mr Henderson being the contractor for the repairs of the Mangere Bridge, but doubtless the work will be completed within the specified time, which, we understand, is two months hence.

Mr Allwright has passed the Mangapiko School, and we learn that it is proposed to hold an opening soiree, finishing with a dunce, at an early date. We are glad to learn that the contractor for the erection of a teacher's house at Pukete will immediately proceed with the work.

The following cure for the toothache * a clipped from an old magazine :—: — "To a tablespoonful of auy kind of spirits add the same quantity of sharp vinegar, and a teaspoonful of common salt ; mix them well together ; hold the liquid in the mouth, so that it can enter the cavity of the tooth. It will give almost instantaneous relief. "

We learn that notwithstanding the severe nature of the weathere during the past few weeks the Piako and Waitoa country is looking very well as regards the pastures. There is a good deal of feed on places whore few would have expected to find it at this time of the year.

Yesterday morning was the coldest we have had since the setting in of winter. The whole country at sunrise appeared to be covered with snow. At half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning, we were shown a piece of ice fully half an inch in thickness. The severe frost will effectually put a period to all growth for this season.

We are pleased to learn from a gentleman who visited the Eureka station on Sunday that the company's cattle are looking very well, and to all .appearances pleuro has disappeared.

The contractors for filling in the footpath opposite Vialou's are making good progress with the work, and in a few days we hope it will be possible for pedestrians to traverse the distance between the AVaikato Times and Whyte's Buildings without endangering their lives. L. H. Jellings, who was charged at the B, M. Court, Cambridge, with forging:

a cheque and remanded to Auckland, took his departure northwards on Saturday in charge of Detective Doolan.

The Financial Statement will be made to-night, and the Public Works Statement probably on Friday night. £2,500 is to be placed on the Supplementary estimates for a steam sendee to Fiji.

A man named William Allen was arrested yesterday afternoon for disorderly conduct, and using indecent language in a public place in Hamilton East. He will be brought up before the K-.M. this morning 1 .

A man named Seely was assaulted near No. 1 Bridge last night by a man named Kennedy. The injuries inflicted were not of a serious nature, but the aggrieved party reported the matter to the police, by whom he was advised that his only course was to lay an information, and he expressed an intention of doing so.

The police were informed yesterday that the body of the lad Frank Jackson, who was drowned in the Waikato river, near Taupiri, some day's ago, lias been recovered, and now he lies at the Coal Mines Hotel, where an inquest will beheld to-day at 10 a.m.

MrK. Hill will sell the furnitiue and effects of Mr Warren at Hamilton East on baturday next at his residence. Willivm SloAnk, Esq., at the request of a number of settlers of Te Awamutu and surrounding neighborhood, v. ho are desirous of properly marking the opening of railway communication to Te Awamutu, convenes a public meeting to be held in the Public Hall, Te Awamutu, on Saturday next at half-past four p.m. WRiiriN Tenders will be received at the Public Works Office, Auckland, up to noon of Monday, 21st inst., for Waihou Bridge Contract, ] on the Cambridge and Rotorua Road. Plans, ! &c, may bo seen at the Public Works Offices, 1 Auckland, Grahamstown, and Wellington, and j the Police Station, Cambridge. Auctioneer's Licenses have been issued to Tohn Segar Buckland, Borough of Hamilton ; S. Bright, Cambridge, William James Hunter, ( County Waipa ; and Kennedy Hill, Borough of 1 Hamilton.

About 1,000,000 dollars are invested and 2000 persons engaged in the manufacture or shoes in Auburn, Me., and 4,000,000 pairs of shoes were turned out last year, which was an increase of more than 25 per cent, over 1878. Queen Victoria is the owner of a silvergilt casket, in which are lockets containing locks of hair of thirteen officei's who fell at Isandula. Each locket is engraved with an ".In Memorium " and the name of the officer, together with the date of his death. The souvenir w.as ordered by the Queen,