Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1316, 4 December 1880, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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.

SATURDAY, DEC. I 1880.

TnE promise made by the Minister for Public Works to the member for Waikato, that he would cause an official survey of the Cambridge branch railway to be made, is, we understand, about to be carried into effect without delay. The officer detailed to proceed with the work, has, we believe, received instructions to work as far as may be practicable on the survey made a year or two ago at the instance of the Waikato County Council, and a junction will therefore be effected with the proposed Hamilton-Thames line near Tamahere. We think that it may fairly be expected that the money for this iong-promised work will be put on the estimates next session, unless, as is not probable,

there should in the meantime arise a clamour for the completion of the railway, as originally proposed, between Waikato and Grahamstown. If it may^be takenJor. granted, and in view* of |hfe -opening 'of jfehfi Aroha country it fairly v hf ay, that the line from Hamilton to the Waihou river will be completed next year, we may rest assured of this : ; tho people of the Thames will cry out for its continuation. If their demand be acceeded to, then the question of the construction or non-construction of' the Cambridge Branch hinges simply upon the other question of money. If it comes, as we hope it will not, to a conflict between the two lines, we think 'every principle of right and justice demands that preference should be shown to that to Cambridge; indeed, no comparison of the merits of the two lines can be instituted. It is quite clear that in so far as the Aroha trade is concerned, and that is what the Thames people have evidently set their hearts upon obtaining, the Government by constructing a line from Grahamstown to the Aroha would be simply setting up in opposition to their own railway from Waikato. We speak here only of the goldnelds traffic. We are not, however, unaware of the existence of good reasons for the completion of the railway to the Thames. There can be no doubt that Grahamstown will provide a market for the produce of much of the as yet undeveloped land in the Valley of the Thames. At the present it is not of such pressing necessity as the branch to Cambridge, and it is to be hoped it will not be brought into collision with it. If unfortunately it should be so brought, then we trust the decision will be based upon justice and reason.

There is no truth in the statement in the Herald, Bt,u\ and Mni/ t that instructions have been given to the District Surveyor to proceed with a survey of the Cambridge railway line. The I work is not in Mr Cuaaen's Department. The " Old Woman of Wyndharasfcreet 1 ' gob hor information from the Hamilton correspondent, whose items are picked up anyhow and anywhere, and we presume the Star very stupidly credited the statement and clipped it. The survey will be made by Mr Fulton, an officer in the Publio Works Department. Another party of ten men left Hamilton yesterday morning for Te Aroha. After Ist January next the Telegraph offices throughout the Colony -will be open for Press telegrams between ten and half-past ten on Sunday mornings, and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on such days. These hours apply only to the Pres. ff .

We understand that Mr Williams, Inspector of Surveys in the SurveyorGeneral's Department, is, at present, in this distriot He proceeded from Hamilton to Te Aroha by coach yesterday morning, on duty connected with bin Department. The Chief Surveyor (Percy Smith E<q.)i passed through Hamilton en route from Taupo, where he has been on business connected with his Department. We that he has been over the Patetere country, with a view to reporting to tbo Government upon it. Mr Smith, was accompanied by Mr L'lUveucoCussen, District Surveyor.

At the Police Court. Hamilton, on Thursday, before H. W Northcrott, . sq., R.M., au inebriate avss brought up and fiiu'd 5s and costs.

A cricket match between the Waitoa and Hamilton Club* will bo played on the new ground, Sydney Sqnnrc, today. The wickets will be pitched at 10 sharp.

A promenade concert will shortly be held for the purpose of raising the requisite funds for presenting prizes and furnishing refreshments, etc., to the children attending the Hamilton East school.

A meeting, convened by several residents in the Te Awanuitu district, will be held in the Public Hall at that place to-night at 7 o'clock, to protest against the Government removing the proclamation over the Patetere lands. The conveners invite the attendance of all who are interested in the welfare of the colony.

The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of the Diocese arrived at Te A.\vamutu yesterday by the evening train, and is the guest of the Rev. E. Phillips. This afternoon His Lordship lays the foundation-stone of the new Anglican church at Kihikihi ; later he will be present at a garden party given in his honor at the parsonage, and in the evening will deliver a lecture on " The War in Afghanistan. "

A gentleman who arrived from the Avoha last evening brings us intelligence that the Prospectors 1 (Te Aroha Company's) reef has been broken down 12 feet, the gold showing nil along The reef is solid.

At a meeting of the Committee of the VVhatawhata Races, held on Thursday, it was resolved to postpone these events from Boxing Day till New Year's Day, owinj* to the circumstance of the Ngarnawahia Annual Races coming off on the former date.

The benedicts of Cambridge gave a return ball to the bachelors on Thursday in the Public Hall, which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion. About 40 couples were present. The musical portion of the programme was supplied by the Cambridge and Waikato Reed Band in their usual brilliant style. Dancing was kept up till daylight.

The dangerously narrow steps to the Cambridge Public Hall, to which we directed attention some time ago, have been replaced by others of a more suitable width.

Mr Booth, the contractor for the bridge over the Mangaonua at Hinton's gully, is making considerable progress, and will have the structure completed in a very short time.

We understand that the services of Mr John Kunciman as Inspector of Sheep and Cattle for Waikato, have been dispensed with, and that he will be succeeded in those offices by Mr Alfred Sharp, M.R.C.V.S. Mr Chief Inspector Lewis and Mr Sharp arrived in Waikato on Thursday night.

We are glad to learn that the young lad Rogers, who was so badly injured by the accidental firing of a gun, is progressing as favorably as can be expected, considering the nature of the wounds.

Mr G-. Waller, who most of our readers will know as having carried on the business of tobacconist in Queenstreet, Auckland, and the Thames for many years, died suddenly in Sydney on Thursday morning last.

It is staged j^i gqodj^uthori|y that Tawhiao, J tKjpfilaari King, has^Pn,* phatically expressed his disapprobation of the shooting of Moffatt, which he declares was done directly against his order that "the sword was to be sheathed." \ On Thti|%^*'^irV B fe|ixipk re- < fumed from SCe Arohi t<LGr4bam>toTivn. Nearly all the cases of disputed owner>hip to claims pegged off have been nettled without hivmg. recourse to the Warden, fend Mr. Kenriok is of opinion .that) the early settlement of them is Attributable' tctne clmtae in the regulations whioh-re-quires those pogging off ground to man it at once. It is to l)e hoped that the efforts of Messrs W. J. Hunter *nd Co., in providing a market for ' the «ale of cattle at Frankton, -will meet with that bucc633 which the well-known firm amply deserve for their enterprise aud energy. The opening sale will take place to-day, at 1 o'clock, in their new and commodious yards adjoining; >the .(railway- station, Frankton, which affords every facility for owners of stock by its close proximity to the rail. Cattle not disposed of at this sale can be sent to the central market, Ohaupo, and stock purchased can be forwarded to any station on the line required, i v Mr and Mrs Brogden and party, and Mr and Mrs Larkworthy, left Cambridge a day or two ago<v/ route to the Lakes. The road w now in excellent order, and we may state for the information of intending tourists that a substantial weather-board house has been erected for the accommodation of travellers at the Waotu, which is about thirty miles South of Cambridge. This is a want which hitherlo has been much needed. The house is kept by a native named Arekatera, and we hear that the accommodation is of a very fair oharacter. \ Arekatera has a constant supply of fresh mutton, being the proprietor of a flock of sheep, which run on the grass valleys abounding in the neighbourhood of the Waotu Settlement. The Chief Surveyor, Mr Percy Smith, when in the Rotorua distriot, in conjunction with Judge Fenton, succeeded in making arrangements with the native land owners for laying out a. township. So far as -we have ascertained, the conditions agreed to by the natives are of a most favourable character in their bearingM on the projected town, ship. The site fixed upon includes the locality at present in use for township purpose*, and we are led to andert>tahd the natives have pledged themselves to render every ossittance in passing the land through the Court, and otherwise securing for purchasers fixity of tenure. The current opinion is, that Judge Fenton has shown commendable tact in overcoming the difficulties attending this transaction, and that Mr Smith is to be similarly congratulated on the judicious selection he has made of a township site. Our Cambridge friends are, we are pleased to learn, in a fair way for overcoming certain difficulties which have been constantly cropping up in connection with the survey of the township. Taking advantage of a flying visit paid to the district by the Assistant Surveyor-General, they induced him to undertake the checking of the Public Domain surveys. As these extend right round the township, their adjustment will, peiforco, enable the township surveys to be similarly regulated, and by that means placed on a more secure footing than they have hitherto occupied. The ultimate issue of the "Town Linds Ordinance," introduced into Parliament last session, is looked forward to by the local <rovprning body of Cambridge with deep inteiest. Considerable reserves have been .»et apa< t for municipal endowment purposes, but in tho absence of a reasonable method for securing incorporated powers, these endowments cannot, be utilised to the extent for which they are intended. In tho present state of matters the town is bein«r deprived of a considerable amount of anuu.il income, to which it would otherwise become entitled. Now, that the " Municipal Corporations Act" ha", practically speaking, been shorn of its subsidies, tho passing of a meaMire like that of the " Town L'uidH Ordinance becomes more than ever deMrable, and it is to bo hoped, for the sake of Cambridge, and many other pl.ices similarly situated, that the passing of this Act will be recognised as one of the more important measures of tho forthcoming session. A Cambridge correspondent writes:— "A considerable amount of labor is being expended ou the street or streets forming the higher portion of the town. lam not so sure, however, that the work is being judiciously gone about, aud yet, with the limited amount of information at my disposal, it may he unfair to render my opinion in the form of a cavil or complaint. These streets are being laid with layers of sand, evidently with the intention of raising them to their permanent level. The sand, so far as I can judge, and I have looked at it closely, is wholly destitute of material possessing ' binding ' qualities. With the streets ' flooded ' with a fine loose drift, the natural result must of course be that, when stirred up by the wind, the town will become completely invaded by dust-storms. It may be that there is a scarcity of road metal in the neighborhood, but, if so, there is surely some admixture or another to be had that would tend towards a consolidation of the loose sand."* A correspondent who professes to have travelled a good deal throughout different parts of the colony writes :—"I: — "I am very much struck, and at the same time agreeably surprised at the success which has attended your efforts to acclimatise the English lark. On the occasion of one or two rambles I recently made round the environs of Cambridge I have noted with much satisfaction that the air was rendered perfectly vocal with the cheery notes of these woodland songsters, despite the fact that the weather' was not in all respects propitious for a display of the kiud. I have taken note of the success attending the efforts made in this direction throughout various parts of the colony, but on no occasion have I found the success so marked a3 it appears to be in this instance. 1 The weather during the past- few days, although not altogether unseasonable, has been in some respects cold and boisterous. On Wednesday and Thursday a high wind prevailed, which swept the plains around Cambridge with considerable force. Fortunately, gardening operations were sufficiently far advanced to withstand the force of the gale, otherwise it might have fared somewhat hard with the tender bud. Yesterday, however, was fine and promises well for a return of good weather. The Te Aroha correspondent of the Thames Advertiser gives the following '.—Hearing that something good had been discovered in the Sunbeam claim, owned by Messrs Coote and party, I proceeded to the ground to ascertain the truth of the report. The claim is situated on the third spur from the prospectors, on the Matamata side, and adjoins the Morning Star and Morning Light. On Saturday a drive was started into the hill side, and after going a few feet one of the nicest-looking lodes I have seen in the Aroha district was intersected. The quartz is of the character peculiar to the Aroha, and has good mineral veins running through it. Satisfactory progress is being made with the extension of the tun-

nelin the Prospectpre' claufi, juhl at the .rKJie at whioh thos (Jrive Ingoing in, the reef should be reached in a 7a 7 week 'or less. A little gold ha 3 been poen in quartz broken from the lode in Mr H. H. Adams and party's claim (the Bright Bmile), and the proprietors intend breaking out shortly a' parcel of several ton» for treatment at the Thames. Several of those who took up business sites in the new township have commenced erecting buildings thereon, and the carpenters are having a busy time of it." A Scottish lady happened to bo conversing with a Courier Journal reporter the other day, when the subject of Dr | Tanner's fat>t came up. She did not think the Tanner exporimetit wonderful. Then "she went on to tell of a rase of fasting in j Scotland. The river Clydo broke through its bed, and the water rushed int* the mi(.en below. A number of miners were drowned, the suddenness of (he flood cutting off all escape. One miner got into an old shaft that had been abandoned, aud hers he found himself safe from the water. A worse fate, however, now stared him in the face. It was impossible for him to climb out, nor could he make himself heard. There seemed no powible means of communication with the world above. At the end of 60 days some slowgoing pefßou of an inquiring turn took it it into his head to examine the old t>haft, i«B he felt a little curiosity to know whether the waters of the Clyde had found their way there. Tying a piece of lead to a rope, this investigating person let it down into the shaft, and he thought, after he had lowered it, that he could hear a human voice ; but the tones came faintly, and he misheard. After a while he hauled up the lead, and was surprised to find a piece of clothing attached to it. The poor wretch was still alive, and had managed to make this sign. Assistance was immediately called, mon were lowered into the shaft, and the starving man was brought to the surface nearly dead. He had been all the time without food, but had been within reach of water, and had tenaciously clung to the hope that he would be rescued. The greatest interest was excited in the case. It was thought that the unfortunate man would loose his life, but with careful nursing he at length recovered to tell his remarkable story, and to be the wonder of the day. A Street Idyll. — Ho was saying, as he scratched a lucifer on the side of a house, "I like these houses with sanded paint ; nice when you want to strike a match, you know." "It that so? 1 ' she asked demurely : "I wish I lived in a house with sanded paint," and then she looked things, unutterable. If he had asked " What for ?" she would have hated him. But ho didn't ; he took the hint, aud the match was struck then and there.

An extraordinary meeting of the Aroha G.M. Co. (Limited), is announced to be held in Mr F. A. White's office, Shortlund-strcet, Auikl.ind, on Monday next, for the purpose ot passing rules, electing directors, &c.

Mr Alfred Buckland announces that he will offer for s;ilc a choice lot of well-tatted cattle tor the Christmas market on Thursday ne\t ;it the Ri'tnueui Yards.

Jas. McPherson, Esq., Secretary for the Kirikiriroa Highway Uo.ird, calls for tenders up to Wednesday, the sth ot January, 1881, tor ' about 3,000 yards of earthwork.

We beg to dr.uv attention to an alteration in tho mail notice. A mail will be despatched for Morrinsviile, W.iihou, and To Aroh.i every Wednesday at & a.m.

All kinds of Dog Registration Books, Valuation Forms, Receipt JJooks, etc., now on h.iml and tor bale at thU» oftin-.

Professor Fraser will give ono of his lectures on " Character Reading," in this schoolroom, Huntley, on Monday next.

The Editor of this p.ipev will l>e glad to re< civo any infot illation as to tin. 1 whiMoauouts ot John .Spelni.in, l.iti* a piix.itc in the jth Rvfimcnt, Waikato ilihtia.

The New Zealand Clothing Factory, Auckland, annotinu's in our spe< i.il advertisement columns .1 1 hoii c ,uul cxteiunc lot ot men's and boj--.' clothing i«r s.iu*.

Messrs W. .T. Hunter ami Co., will offer for public competition ;i choice lot of two-\car-old steers .it the Ohaupo cattle sale on the loth inst.

At the Ohaupo live stock sale on the 14th inst., Mr J. h. Hurkl.md will dispose ot an j excellent lot ot je.nling steers iind hciters.

The Annual Fraukton Sports, to take pi-it c on NVw Yen's D,n, is advertised in another column.

tipcciul attention is culled to the price list of tin* Rocl.in.w Manufaitmini*; Co., ot Boston, published in those columns*. All those wishing to secure an excellent and coricct timekeeper are re< onimendod to address themsehes to this old ,md leliablc tirm. Nti further e\ idem o of tlieir in inutactures will be re inircd beyond the following facts: The firm w.is established in 184 Q, and since then h.ne gained pri/e medals at the Exhibitions ot London, Pans, Vienna, 8a „ for excellence ot m.inut.u ture.. 'Ihev are appointed, by warrant, watchmakers to the Queen of limjl mil, Prim c of Wales, the Emperor ot Riioia. and the Hey ot Tunis. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly pro\e a benefit to the public. It has been a ifroat success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly c.irried out the customer who buys at an e-itablishment wheie the sjoods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be. a tjre.it gainer. G. and C sell their drapery millinary, and clothim-* at such prices for cash as gnes the buyer the advantages ot a shareholder in a co-operathe society, without the risk oi bcinji called upon to boaraportionot the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactoiy. Garlick and C ran well \vill aim to retain the confident c which the public have hitherto shown them, and .ire determined toifhe the pure c.iih system .1 t.lir trial; whether they j,'ain or lose the first ;wr. Country- bmers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with floods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing tfoods, 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 p«iv .it the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value ot their stock durinir their late cash sale, the present stock is Niw AM) cilkM'i Y rough r. An inspecti is onimited. — Gari.k k A\d Cranwhm., City Hall Furnishinjf Arcade Queenstreet, Auckland.