The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1240, 10 June 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1880.

The Financial Statement delivered by the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer on Tuesday night possesses, on account of the serious position in which the Colony's finances are placed, more than ordinary interest, and will be eagerly read. The picture drawn of the past and present condition of things is a very gloomy one, and were it not for the evident intention of the present Government to go in thoroughly for retrenchment it would give rise to the gravest apprehensions. It is an unpleasant theme, and we will not further allude to it. With regard to the future, the proposals made appear to be in the highest degree t&tkUtfjOry. It i« proposal to

exempt personal property from the provisions of the Property Tax, thereby losing £40,000,- and the making the total deficit for the year something like £48,000. To meet this it is proposed to put an excise duty of 6d per gallon on Colonial beer, and to increase the duty on imported beer, cider, Arc, by the same amount per gallon. This it is expected will realise about £80,000 this year, or at the rate of £100,000 per year. By increasing the succession duties £10,000 will be added to the amount* and deducting from the total the amount of the probable defecit the sum of £41,000 in round numbers will be available to meet contingencies. Betrenchment is to be vigorously prosecuted : five per cent, is to be deducted from the salaries of all civil servants, and 20 per cent, from Ministers'. Subsidies to local bodies are to cease, but in place thereof corporations are to be invested with power to rate Government property, while a larger portion of the land fund is to be divided amongst the country districts. The lattter will not therefore feel the loss of the subsidies, while the change will certainly place the towns and country districts upon a more equitable footing as regards each other. The former with the large amounts accruing from rates have always swallowed up an undue share of the subsidies, while the latter with more need for the money in the opening of new districts, have scarcely been fairly or even justly treated. There are many things in the Statement which we regret being unable even to glance at. But we hope we have discovered sufficient to show that the present Government have the interests of the country districts thoroughly at heart. The Statement, as it deserves to be, was very well received by the House, and at its close, the motion for imposing the tax on beer was carried.

The invitation sent by the Borough Council of Hamilton to the various public bodies in the district asking them to unite in holding a conference on the proposed Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill, with a view to the establishment of a Central Hospital for Waikato, has been declined by nearly all. The two County Councils have replied stating that, as the Government were about to introduce a measure dealing with the question this session, they thought it best to take no action for the present. This decision is to be regretted, inasmuch as much good might have been done in the matter by fully discussing it. When, however, the present measure before Parliament is disposed of, the conference a* suggested will no doubt be held.

The Under-Secretary for Public Works has written to the Waipa County Council informing that body that the Government has devoted a sum of money for expenditure on the bridge over the Waipa at Alexandra, and that the repairs will be carried out by the District Engineer, Mr Stewart. This step has been taken none too soon, as the bridge had got into a positively dangerous state —so much so, indeed, that at a former meeting of the Council some months ago the question of closing it up altogether was seriously considered, and decided in the negative simply because there were no other means at hand of crossing the river, from beyond which the settlers draw their supplies of firewood. The Council appear to be fully alive to the | importance of the work, and have telegraphed the Engineer to comnience as soon as possible. We would like at the same time to Bee the bridges on the road between Harapipi and Whatawhata put in a proper state of repair. The cost would not be very great, while considerable benefit would be conferred upon the settlers in the neighbourhood.

Two leading articles and other matter are crowded out of tha present issue.

We have to thank Mr Logic, the officer in charge of the Telegraph Department here, for the admirable manner in which the slips of the Financial Statement handed to us were taken. Mr Logic was engag6d at this duty up to five o'clock yesterday morning.

The information received from Wellington that the Hon. George Maurice O'Rorke, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has been knighted will be received with general satisfaction. Both as Chairman of Committees and in his present position, Sir George O'Rorke has secured the respect and esteem of all seotions of the House.

A few days ago Mr. Ralph of Taupiri observed several porpoises in the Waikato River near Huntley, but although chase was given to them they eluded capture. It is considered somewhat extraordinary that these fish should be found so far from the salt water.

The Albion Football Club have challenged the pupils of Mr Field's school to play, and if it be accepted the match will come off on Saturday week.

Sergeant McGoyern yesterday received the following telegram from Superintendent Thomson:—" Immediately on receipt of this telegram take stock of all ale and porter now in the local brewery both in bulk and bottles, and receive the duty of 6d per gallon on all such ale or porter that may be sent out of such brewery on and from this date, the cash so received for said duty to be transmitted per P. 0.0. to the Collector of Customs, Auckland. Forward account of first stock-taking to-morrow." A similar telegram has also been sent to the police officers in charge of all Waikato stations where breweries exist.

There is a probability, we are glad to hear, of the sight of the little boy Proctor, who was injured by an arrow some short time ago, being partially restored.

The usual monthly meeting of the Tamahere Highway Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs. H. Reynolds (chairman) P. Leslie, C. C. Woods, and James Runciman. The minutes having been confirmed, a letter was read from the Under Secretary for Public Works, stating that the £200 ap. plied for, out of the special grant for roads in native districts, had been forwarded to the Board account. A letter was read from the committee in Auckland, asking the Board to contribute towards the " Fantham Testimonial Fund/ apd it

was resolved that the Board as a public body could not take any steps m the mutter. The Assistant Under Secretary fur Public Works, Mrßenzoni, wrote, stating that ns the Board had not complied with the letter of the Public Works Act, 1876, their action in closing about eleven miles of road wuh illegal. In consequence of this the Board resolved that although they had carried ont the Act in its spirit, which would be apparent to Ministers, they would begin tic uoco, aud the Secretary was iustrncted to take the necessary steps. Two accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. It was resolved that the annual meeting of ratepayers for the election of trustees, auditors, &c, and for receiving the annual balance- sheet would be held at the residence *,o Mr P. Leslie, Tamahere, on the second Wednesday in July. The Board then adjourned.

Tenders being invited for the Waihou Bridges Contract, CambridgeRofcorua Road, has caused s,ome stir. Contractors have already passed through Cambridge on their way to inspect the proposed sites, viz., across the Oraka, Wuihou, and Waiinakarere.

The inquest on the body of the boy Jackson, who was drowned in the Waikato River, 1 at Taupiri, some days ago, was held on Tuesday, before Dr. Beale, Coronor, and a jury of twelve, of whom James Henry was chosen foreman. After hearing the evidence, a verdict of accidental death wai returned. Pressure on our space compels us to hold over our full report.

I We understand that the tenders of Measrs McLean and OBrien have been i accepted respectively for Te Rore and Whatawhata bridges. The correct amounts of the tenders are not known, but the total of both ia under £7000.

The tender of Messrs Lovett aud Cassidy has been accepted for the formation of the Awaroa Block Road. The contract price is about £700.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a number of Parliamentary papers from the Government Printer.

The Cambridge Highway Board are, we are glad to observe, attending to some ot the worst spots on the approach road at the narrows. Considering the sandy nature of the soil, the road cannot be too carefully looked after.

Mr B. Maclean. Deputy Property Tax Commissioner, attended at the Waipa County Council Chambers on Tuesday afternoon, for the purpose of affording information to those liable to the tax. A large number of settlers availed themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of obtaining some insight into the mysteries I of the tax.

Mr Henderson, the contractor for the new schoolhouse, Cambridge West, has already commenced operations, and the edifice promises to be a neat and substantial building.

Primrose, one ef Mr Percivals' , trio that ran so well at the last coursing ' meeting, was raffled on Saturday, and won by Mr Ferguson, owner of Ivanhoe and Venus.

The hearing of the Pakuranga block was commenced on Monday by the Land Court, but had to adjourn alter sitting a short time. It however resumed at 12 o'clock. The sams block is still under discussion.

Mr Kelly, Assistant Engineer, with a staff, will be leaving Cambridge in a few days to continue the survey of the road towards Rotorua.

Gravelling has been going on in right earnest in Cambridge. Footpaths are being laid down from the Library to the corner of the Hamilton Road, and from thence to Grey-street on the Hamilton Road. Queen-street West has also a metalled footpath as far as Dr Waddington's. Victoria-street is rapidly assuming the appearance of a really fine street, which will be still further improved when the big ruts opposite the National Hotel are filled in.

If we are to place any reliance on the statement of a gentleman who waited on us yesterday, pleuro is not in these times the unmixed evil that some people would like to make it appear. The two or three head ©f cattle which certain settlers have lost at the instance of the inspectors are as nothing compared with the benefit which their owners will reap by having had the disease on their farms. We do not know whose fertile brain first hit on the expedient of turning what everybody has thought to be a scourge into practical utility, but whoever it is he is certainly out of place as a tiller of the soil so long as there are liigher situations open to him The expedient referred to is as follows : — As suspected cattle are practically worth only 30s they must be estimated at that value for the purpose of the Property Tax, and thus cattle owners like the Swamp Company and Messrs Burke and McNicol, whose properties still remain under the ban of restriction may consider that they have a good thing on hand. "We do not know how this will go down with the commissioner, but about the justice of it there can be very little difference of opinion — amongsi those interested.

Mk J. S. Bl'ckhxo holds ;i sale of trees at the Cambridge Sale Yards on Tuesday next. Captain Rum imax calls a special meeting of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers for Saturday next at Cambridge, at 3 p.m. L. 11. Harris, Esq., Chairman of the Newcastle Board, convenes a ratepayers' meeting at the Roy.il Mail Hotel, Ng.iruaw.ihia, on Saturday, at 2 p.m., re Local Elections Act. Svucel Cochr\nl & Son will sell by public auction at their mart, Fort-street, Auckland, on Monday ne\t, certain allotments in Hamilton East and Hamilton West, by order or the inoitgatjees. MrT.W. Rridolman, of Te Awamutu, who. as announced in our advertising columns, has purchased the business so long successfully carried on by Mr Roahc, of Te Awamutu, invites inspe.ction of his stock-in-trade, which has been bought at a reduction on Auckland price. Hknry Reynolds, Esq., Chairman Tamahere Highway District notifies the closing of certain roads. Tun attention of members of thp Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteer Corps is directed to a parade notice in our advertising columns.