The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1272, 24 August 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal s^nd exact justice to ail mcrf, Of whatc\er state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's rfcht maintain Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, IBBO.

The highway district of Cambridge has been so long regarded by outsiders as tjhe paradise of roads, as. a place where no such thing as a fcsad thoroughfare existed, that it seems almost a sacrilege to undeceive them. For the future, as in the past, however, it will be well for them if they keep to the main road. The by-roads are indeed in a most deplorable condition : formations, for want of attention, have been levelled; gravel has been trodden into the wire ; ditches have become impeded with vegetation and rubbish, and the water in consequence in many places flows over the roads. For this those people who really suffer are apt to blame the local Board, and when it is considered that the yearly income of that body has up to the present been no insignificant sum, it is not altogether unreasonable that back settlers' should growl at the paltry percentage of the rates and subsidy which has been expended in increasing the facilities for access to their properties. We are not going to defend the Board; no doubt, like every other similar body, they have spent a great deal of money to no purpose, and done many unwise things for which they are sorry, but their task has been a very difficult one. They are saddled with the expense of maintaining twelve miles of a main road which has to sustain more traffic than any other in the whole district, and which is in consequence all tlie more expensive to keep in repair. It has always been an axiom with the majority of the ratepayers in the Cambridge district, that the Board's first care should be the main road, and this opinion has always been kept in view by the successive Boards. The result has been that while the main road is in good order the byroads have perforce been neglected. With the prospect of decreased subsidies befora them, there is but a slender chance of improvement, that is if the Board is still to maintain the main road from Hamilton to Cambridge. We had hoped that the proposed new financial system would come into operation, and that as a consequence of its initiation this road would have been proclaimed a main district road. In default of this we hope to see measures taken to equalise the burden of its maintenance. The road is really as much the concern of Hamilton, Taotaoroa and the country beyond as it is of the Cambridge district itself. Indeed, if the truth were known, the settlers there use it less frequently than anyone else. The County Council has not dealt illiberally in this matter heretofore, but we trust to see even a greater degree of generosity shown to a Board, which, in addition to the charge of numerous back roads through a populous district, has for years maintained what is in reality the only main road in the Waikato County.

The people of this colony are a reading people, but they are not a reflecting and thinking people. Periodical literature of a gener.il chai'acter is by no means as generally acceptable as it deserves to be : the mind, to our thinking, is too much centered on the immediate, and insufficient regard is had to the remote. We use the word " remote" to designate those matters which do not materially affect our worldly interest, and a knowledge of which we are prone to believe will not put a shilling in our pockets. It is true ! there is no lack of a craving after news ; an anxiety to be informed as to results and consequences ; but there exists, generally speaking, the greatest apathy regarding causes. It is enough that we know a battle has been fought, without pausing to enquire the why and the wherefore, that a dreadful epedemic has decimated the population of a province, without caring how it originated and, what precautions, had they been regarded, would have stayed its progress and minimised its dangers. There is, in short, a hunger, a greed for news, for facts, but no desire for knowledge. This is why the age is so superficial. We know more about everything than our grandfathers did, but we have infinitely less information upon any one subject than they. It cannot be said that we are altogether the better off for it. We should be | sorry to see our education narrowed in order to be deeper ; but for this there is no necessity, it can be broad and deep. Books, magazines and journals, are not performers to amuse us, and to while away the few leisure hours in our busy lives. They may, certainly, at odd times be taken to amuse, but looked at justly they are teachers, not buffoons. I<et them come to be regarded as such, and let us seek chiefly those which have reference to our own particular walks in life ; let us look for instruction primarily. We do not labor in any business or profession of the guiding principles of which we have a complete and perfect

knowledge^ We do not for a raome^ipsuppose we ever shall ; but we may with profit, with actual worldy profit, address ourselves to learn more, and that without denying ourselves the relaxation which nature more or less taxed demands from us. To be explicit, we will for. a moment consider the case of the community around us. • They are principally people engaged in the noble work of agriculture ; but shall "we be far out if we say they know very little about the work they~ar(T engaged in? We fear few would care to contradict us. We have good fartners, *> v * we have, raoiki unconscionably bad ones too. These latter have just as much bone and siflew as their neighbors, but they are ignorant of the very elements of !the knowledge necessary to their calling. And why ? In many cages we think it is because they are absolutely too indolent to learn ; for there are admirable means of information at hand in the shape of agricultural literature. We were prompted not long ago to look over a library in one of the most ! thorough agricultural districts in Waikato ; we did not find it the most complete in creation, certainly, but we discovered that scattered through the novels, which lay Thick as leaves in Vallombrosa, there were a few works, scientific and others, which might afford a wholesome meal. Their leaves, j however, were uncut. Even the higher class of light literature was apparently neglected ; but the real, genuine "novels" were worn by the eager fingers of successive admirers, until some of them were past recognition. It cannot be then that we want information because we want time, for we can give it and freely to the perusal of that from which is derived no information, and no relaxation which is unaccompanied by weariness and discontent ; but we do want consideration, and such we hope to see exercised more than ifc has been hitherto.

It will be seen from our report of the South Auckland Cattle Board's meeting that we are not yet rid of the consequences of the careless introduction of diseased cattle into this district. Mr Payne's want of thought in driving cattle through proscribed property has resulted, unluckily for those who employed him, in the imposition of restrictions upon a large cattle-raising station in the Piako, the estate of Messrs Morrin and Studholme. The Cattle Board have had a moct disagreeable duty to perform, and at this time, when they must be aware that unthinking people will blame them, their action deserves our warmest commendation. We, however, trust that, after due inspection, the onus of the restriction will not be allowed to remain on the Lockerby estate a day longer than is necessary. We have reason to believe that the infection has almost, if not wholly, disappeared from the district, and the Board, while they are perfectly justified in the course they have taken, will, we are confident, see that no undue hardship is inflicted upon anyone.

There will be no service at S. Peter's, Hamilton, to-morrow night. Choir practice will be on Saturday at 7.30 p.m.

Mr and Mrs Hart appeared in their pretty drawing-room entertainment at Cambridge on Friday and Saturday evenings to large and appreciative audiences, and last night they reappeared at LeQuesne's Hall, Hamilton, in "Double Dealings" and "Molly's Dilemma, or Irish Courtship." There was a fairly large attendance and the entertainment was well appreciated. To-night the company appear for the last time in Hamilton, when there will be another change of programme. To-morrow night Mr and Mrs Hart, by special request, re-open at Te Awamutu ; on Friday they give a performance at the schoolhouse, Ngaruawahia, and on Saturday night they will give a last entertainment at Cambridge, for the benefit of Mrs Hart. This talented little company Las been extremely well received at every place they have visited, and deservedly so.

We are requested to correct an error which crept iuto a local in last Thursday's issue. Referring to tho arrival of Colonel Lyon's family in Hamilton, we stated that the Colonel and his family had taken up their residence among us ; it should have said Mrs Lyon and family ; the gallant Colonel's official duties require his daily presence in Cambridge, ana he resides in the A.C. barracks there.

We are in receipt of the first number of The Health Gazette, a monthly journal published at Wanganui, and devoted to the dissemination of matters affecting the health of the people. It j also ainurto be a record of improvements for the farm, garden, orchard, and household. The number before us contains some well written and equally well selected articles upon these subjects. The aim of the originatars is a high one, and with due care much good may be effected. The Gazette consists of eight pages, and is published at the very moderate price of 6d. The publisher is Mrß. N. Manley, Wanganui.

Miss Stanton, the newly appointed teacher to the Hamilton East School, arrived on Saturday, and commenced her ditties yesterday morning. Miss Stanton, who comes from the Waiotahi School, Thames, is a certificated teacher in class E.

A very good suggestion has been made regarding the small bird nuisance, namely, that the different Road Boards in the district should, on some stated day, make an organised attack on the army of mischievous sparrows, and by means of poison destroy some of their number. Perhaps the scheme could better be put into execution by tbe settlers themselves banded together in a " Sparrow Club," but we make public the suggestion for what it is worth.

A clever bit of engineering was recently performed by Mr D. Richardson, of Cambridge, in the removal of a fourroomed cottage, 24ft. x 20ft., intact, from the Post-office to Lake-street, a distance of a quarter of a mile, and doing the stiff incline of Brewery-street in transit. It occupied four days in removing, and

tenants *p|re injK; a few days jifter it reached Isa .^JrcinationJpßhowitfg; the little, if nsyPltrain it«aBtajn^-on iti;-.. journey. v

One of the most terrific thunderclaps that the iu habitants of l ambridge ever heard occurred on Sunday morning about 3 o'olock. Houses and windows shook, and in many instances people were so startled that their past sins were almost painfully brought- to their recollections. It was accompanied by a deluge of fain, which lasted iihnttC'half-aw^fewui,-almost flooding^ two or three of the principal streets. t*_ •>

We hear there is every posibility of establishinj; a sugar beet iactory in Waikato. We shall havd more particulars in a few days ; in the mean time we trust those in a position in the district will do their utmost to further the establishment of a local industry which would do 8Q much for the advancenwukof the district, 'and find employment for much labor.

/ The two horses recently stolen, ' one from Mr Veale's paddock at Farawai, and the other; the property of MrMofflin, from the Nottingham Castle Hotel, Fiako, have both been found. The former was discovered at Taupo a few days ago, and the latter was found in the Waitoa bush, the saddle having disappeared. There is a strong probability that the thief in 'both cases is identical, sufficient time having elapsed between the two robberies to allow of his getting from the Piako to the Thames. He has now in all likelihood gone in the direction of Napier, and as the police have become possessed of a pretty accurate description of him he will no doubt before long find himself in safe custody. The terrorism .which such unscrupulous wretches as this excite in oufcdistricts would not be credited, and it is hoped the sentence imposed on him when caught will be such as w*U effectually deter embryo freebooters from following in his footsteps.

A prime lot of fat cattle passed through by rail on Saturday from the estate of Messrs H. anil J. Goodfellow, Te Awamutu, consigned to Messrs Hunter and Nolan. Yesterday several truckloads of cattle and sheep from the Te Awamutu and the Kangiaohia districts, consigned to the same firm from various settlers were on their way for to-day's sales at Newmarket. This stock has been forwarded by Mr W. J. Hunter, the firm's representative in Waikato, and the high price of Auckland will ensure good prices for fat stock.

We notice a neat and wellarranged woodcut hung in the Farmers' Club of Messrs Reid and Gray's Otago Implement and Machine Work*, pf Dunedin. This well-known firm have branches at Oamaru, Timaru, Invercargill, and Christchurch. Single, double, and treble ploughs, sub-soilers, drays, chaffcutters, field rollers, seed-sowing maohinea of several kinds, and horse-powers, ct^., etc., are shown in the engraving.

We understand that Mr J. S. Buckland contemplates holding regular quarterly sales of stock, etc., at Waiheu, and that he will shortly erect yards in that district. The first of this series will probably be held early in September in Mr Collins 1 yards, which have been lent for the purpose. The wunt of s>ales in the Waitoa and Waitoa districts has been felt for t<onie time, and the settlers will be glad to hear that their necessities in this direction will shortly be miuistered to.

Mr Archibald Clements, J.F., late of Cambridge, has returned to the Waikato after an eighteenmonths trip to the Home Country. Mr Clements, who was not in the best of health when he left New Zealand, has returned looking very much better.

Mr Gwynneth, C.E., surveyor, is pushing along with the survey of the Cambridge Town Belt, but the weather has been, aoii'ewhat against out-door operations. The Domain Board however, will doubtless ere long be in possession of full particulars for their future leases.

Fort-street, Cambridge, is gradually becoming a well made and well drained street from A.C. labor. A fence or hand-rail should be erected on the faot path on the south side, or an acoident will be recorded very soon. The approach to the wharf is almost impassable for a heavy dray, and somethiog thould be dona to facilitate the traffic.

The depredations which have been committed by pigs on roads in tbo Cambridge district within the past few weeks have formed the subject of much camment, and it is high time the authoutits took some t<teps to prevent the damage. If not corrected, the carelessness of people in psrmitting pigs to stray on the highways will entail serious lo«w on the ratepayei-s.

Support Local Industries.— Messrs, Ridlcr find Dal con, Kiwi Mills, are producing the best of flour from Wuikato grown wheat. For prices, see advertisement in first column, page two. — [Advt.]

The Australian cricketers are jubilant (says the European Matt) in consequence of their five wickets victory over Yorkshire County Eleven, the most important match played by them since their arrival. Good fielding and bowling undoubtedly wou them the match. They are weak in batting, but, in our judgment, are the best fielding team ever been in this country. They can give any quantity of start in the fielding department to the best of the English counties. Of the bowling powers of Spofforth and Boyle the exhibition in 1878 was convincing proof, and the fir««t-nained has lost none of his skill. Of the new men, Palmer is a very straight fas>t bowler, wiih enough spin to render him very difficult. Alexander, too, can bowl fust rouud, and G-roubo is a useful change bowler of maximum pace. In the field this team is oven superior to the other. Blackham is perhaps the best wicket-keeper in the world, unless there is a better at home in Australia, and Boyle is a certain catch at fchort-leg, his performance in the second innings of Yorkshire being little short of wonderful. It is very unfortunate for the team that the shadow of the unpleasantness when the English team visited Australia should rest upon them.

Messrs Hammond and Byron, of Fort-street, Auckland, advertise in our columns an important consignment of splendid manures for sale, and other business matters. Mr N. R. Cox, in consequence of his rapidly increasing business, has disposed of his grocery department to Mr A. Scott, his late assistant, who will carry on this branch in the shop adjoining after the 30th instant. A meeting of the Hamilton Cavalry Volunteers is called for to-morrow evening, in order that the members be measured for helmets. The monthly inspection of the Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteers takes place this evening- at the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, at 7 sharp, when the officer commanding the district will be present. Creditors in the estate of Messrs Robert Swaync and Co. are informed that the second dividend is now payable in the above estate. Mr Macgregor Hay wishes to notify to the public that he is prepared to advance sums on first-class freehold securities at current interest, in various sums up to £1500. Messrs Sandes and Co., chemists, notify that in a few days they will have on sale poisoned grain in any quantities to those desirous of abating the small bird nuisance. Mr R. C Greenwood will dispose of the lire stock, See , upon the Cherry Grove Farm, Whatawhata, on the 28th inst. In consequence of an infected mob of cattle having been driven on a public road through an infected place, Mr Every Maclean, chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Board has declared the estate of Alessrs. Morrin and Studholme, at Mprrinsville, to be an infected place. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column that Mr George E. Clark, of Cambridge, has an extensive selection of seeds, manures, See, for sale,

,V Mcisrs. Hunter and Nolan will offer for public ' competition, day, a choice selection of fat cattlq^jecp, cajve*, &c. '•' Air Kennedy Hill has been favored with instructions to sell on next a choice selection of nursery stock, from Messrs. Hay and Son; also, a dwelling- House from Mr Gumby, afterwards, and a valuable allotment. „ Tlie -Jlichalmaj terra of *he* lodge School, Hamilton, will commence on Monday, September 15th. The new Pure Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney anJ^Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the "CUSTomer who buys at an establishment where the goods arc marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a gre;»t gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery millinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are detirmmed to give the pure cash system a fair trial ; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is nkw anb cheaply bought. An inspection is invited.— Garlick and Ckanwku., City Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queenstreet, Auckland.