Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1317, 7 December 1880, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, 01 \vh.itc\ cr state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawed by influence <md unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, DEC. 7, 1880.

The Te Awatnutu Domain Board, in receiving a grant of land from the Government for the purpose of a public reereationground, got something very like a white elephant, and we cannot wonder .that they should have been puzzled what to do with it. It is very pleasant no doubt to be the happy recipient of one of those comely, if huge, animals, but a different face is put on the matter when the question of ways and means has to be considered, and one finds that an elephant has to be fed. The Domain Board were grateful no doubt for the gift of the 18 acres, or thereabouts, on the banks of Mangahoi, but upon reflection it is difficult to conceive what is best to be done to turn to account a piece of land, overgrown with furze and rubbish, and utterly useless to anyone in its present state. It was clearly seen that no one would agree to lease such a piece of ground except upon terms unfavorable to the carrying out the intention of the Board, which is to make it serve its original purpose within a reasonable time. Accordingly, the Chairman waited upon the member for the district with a view to getting a grant of inonev from the Government for the improvement of the reserve. It is scarcely necessary to be informed that Mr Whitaker held out no hope of that nature, but at the same time advised the Board to apply for an endowment of land in the district. Acting upon this advice, the Board have selected several of the unsold Government allotments in the township for which they will apply in due course. The revenue accruing from these allotments would be sufficient to enable the Board to carry out the work of improving the domain reserve so as to fulfil the purpose for which it was intended, and we hope the hon. member for Waipa will use his utmost endeavors to obtain the endowments asked foi*. We cannot see that they can be applied to any more legitimate object than that which the Board has in view.

The township of Kihikihi is making steady progress. Several new buildmgs are going up, and trade is pretty brisk. The mansion erected for Rewi, though furnished in the best style, is still unoccupied. The Messrs. Fry who purchased Mr Malcolm Taylors farm at Ngaroto, are making considerable improvements, and express themselves as being highly pleased with their selection, Beef is 4d per Ib, and bread 4d per loaf at Te Aroha. These prices are unprecedentetlly low, A large number of parsons have left Tanranga, Katikati, au<J idtW jßast Coast centres, during the last few 4*y* (for Te Aroha. The jwmher of English farmers mitifrig an t thc Wajkato is increaeing.

Anothflt" new o finer has purchased Mr Well*' farm of 200 aeroM on the Paterangi road, at a t-.ttisf.ictury figure. An erratum occur ed in our local on Saturday regarding the new regulations for the transmission of l'r^a messages on Sundays afteir lat'proximrf^for.attt'/r dajs read u\ ek days.

The members of th.3 Hamilton Law a Ten nib Club h.ive resolved to lay out another court,' < one being found inadequate for the number of members.

The Te Awamutu Debating Club has it appears beeu in a sta c of uomu for some time, and tho.se who really take an interest in its welfare h-ive Wisely come to the couolusion to let it sleep for a few month«, when a new election of officers mitfht revive the intereht of the members.

An unusually large quantity of stores, including flour, sugar, tea, &c, has been forwarded to Tuupo within the last fqw days, we suppos^* to supply the wants of the natives and others attending the Land Court. On Saturday we noticed a curious yoke, consisting of three light horses abreast, with a bull and bullock in front. We hope this strangely assorted party will get all right to their journey's enA.—r-flay of Plenty Times.

Our Tauranga contemporary ga ys : — A couple of enthusiastic young men who held good situations in town, whose minds were fired by the reports they heard about the fortunes to be made by gold-digging at Te Aroha, threw up their posts the other day and started for this East Coast El Dorado. On reaching Clarks Hotel they felt considerably knocked up, and after taking a survey of the formidable Katikati ranges winch had to be crossed, they thought better of it, and, reflecting that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." came to the conclusion that, there are worse places in the world than Tauranga. The young men returned to town yesterday thoroughly disgusted with the difficulties of commencing gold-digging, and resume their plodding life again to-day. Our young friends will hardly try thair hands at gold-digging for some time to come.

A correspondent of the Thames Star" gives a biographical sketch of Moffatt, who was murdered by the natives at Tahua, in which he says— "William Moffatt was — I had it from his own mouth — a nephew of the celebrated Or. Livingstone, and likewise of Dr. Moffatt, the African missionary. He was a clever and well-informed man, and could do anything 1 with mechanical tools, and built mills and manufactured ploughs and other implements of husbandry for his Maori friends. Twenty long years ago I had business in the Waikato district — not the Waikato of to-day, dotted with its smiling- English homesteads and' well-cul-tivated farm-", but an expanse of trackless bush and fern land, with intervals of swamp, a native village here and there, being the sole representatives of human habitation. It was at this time I first made the acquaintance of Moffatt, who was then a very big man with the Maoris. "

We have been requested to call the attention of owners ot dogs in Waikato to an advertisement which appears in another column giving the names of persons from whom printed forms of applications to register dogs may be obtained. In the " Waikato district news," contained in a recent issue of the Hcratii it was stated that persons would have to travel to Hamilton to register their dogs, and that Deputy Registrars should be appointed at each centre of population. The Waikato County Council do not intend to fritter away the tax on unnecessary officers, all that the owner of a dog requires to do is to forward an application properly tilled up together with 10s and a collar will be sent him by return post. The address of the Registrar of Dogs is Kirikiriroa or Hamilton East.

As one of the Armed Constabulary was riding into camp on the Cambridge-Rotorua I'oad on Friday last he was thrown from his horse and broke his collar-bone. He came into Cambridge and the bone was set by Dr Waddington.

Our Te Awamutu correspondent writes: — "Our Cavalry Church Parade held on the 21st ultimo was a great success. There were 49 present under the command of Captain Kutherford, wiiO was accompanied by Lieutenant K. Bruce, and SubLientenant Gr. Wilkinson, " The Band of the Regiment," headed by Bandmaster Sibley, mustered in full force and all denominationß assisted at the service. This was our first Church-parade and we hope that there will be a similar attendance every half-year during the May and November drills. It is proposed that the next Church-parade should be held at the Human Catholic Chapel at Kihikihi.

The members of the Comus Dramatic Club propose giving a performance to the honarary members some time in February, when Bulwer Lyttou's comedy " Money 1 ' will be placed on the boards. The cast is a. btrong 1 one, and already the members have commenced the work of rehearsing 1 .

The Swamp Road between Cambridge and Te Awamutu is at present in good condition, but it were well if the Highway Boards concerned in its maintenance would bestow a little attention on it without loss of time. The cost of the required repairs would be very trifling, while the benefits -which would accrue to the travellincr public would be great.

The country around Te Awamutu and Rangiaohia is looking exceedingly well, and crops of all kinds are doing splendidly. At Rangiaohia, however, there are two or three crops of potatoes which are very poor, there being an alarming number of misses. The cause may, probably, be set down to bad seed. The cattle all over the district appear to be in fine condition.

Mr Carter's time-table for his line of passenger coaches between Hamilton anclTe Arohawill be found in our advertising columns. If it is desirable to alter the days ot running, and should representations in this respect be made, no doubt the proprietor will accede to any suggestions, having the interest of the public at heart.

No Highway Board in the Waikato pays greater attention to the convenience and comfort of the ratepayers and travellers generally than that of Pukekura. The Board has erected finger-posts where required, and has just now completed the erection of the third roadside water-trough. There is one at Walker's gully, one near she new hotel in Cambridge West, and the third has been placed in the cutting at the western approach to the bridge over the Waikato at Cambridge. What a pity it is that other public bodies do nob follow the good example thus set them.

We had the pleasure yesterday of inspecting a very fine crop of rye at Bruntwood, Mr John A. Douglas's estate, near Cambridge, The crop is an exceedingly strong one, the average height being sft. 9in. The ears are very full and promise a very large yield. We understand that Mr Dotiglas has disposed of the whole of the straw yield at £o a ton to a Cambridge satMler.

We are glad to h«ar that the unfortunate lad Rogers, who was injured by the discharge of a guti some days ago, is improving greatly. The greater number of the slugs have been extracted, and the patient is in a fair way towards speedy Recovery.

W* understand that the disputes about Toles is#4 at Orakau are in a fair waj of settlement,' 4 Wtyfoj* cottage is

bpiiijr oonstiuoted at Kihikihi to take the place of the tent which the natives have pulled down ho often. The King?, it is believed, ha* nent a me^ug. 1 to the abstractive Chipf, Puke, to the effect that he (Triwhiao) will take the matter in hand.

The Reverend William Calder announced at S. Peter's on Sunday that The Lord Bishop of the Diocese will administer the rites of confirmation in S. Peter's Church on Friday evening, at 7 o'clock.

At the Police Court yesterday, before H. W. Northcroft, Esq., R.M., three inebriates were brought up and disposed of in the usual way.

The roai through the bush between Rangiaohia and Kihikihi is in a very indifferent condition, again, the fascines having worked up through the earth covering. During the summer, the road might be rendered serviceable at a little coat.

The Australianrushesof Bermapjui and Temora have led many New Zeaiander* into trouble. One of them, an old West Coaster, Bends the following letter to the Grey River Argus: — " Bermujrui, New South Wales, October 24, 1880. Sir, — There has been no change in this place other than that the 2000 of a population mentioned by me in ray previous letter has, in the short -space of two weeks, dwindled down to about 400. No frenh finds have been found, nor is there likely to be, either in the immediate neighbourhood of the prospect" Jig claim or the adjoining range *. I every day come across old and familiar faces, the owners of which are as hard up as myself, and who make no hesitation to tell you that it in their intention to seek employment of the cockatoo farmers, where, should they be successful, they will, after working 12 hours a- day, be recompensed in the munificent sum of los or 16s per week and tucker. Any of my New Zealand friends who think that with them ' times are hard and Wages low, ' let them come to this colony, and I'll guarantee that they will find more real poverty here in a week than they can find on the West Coast of New Zealand in 12 months. I have had a nice little walk of 282 miles to reach this place, and, liking the exercise so well, I intend starting off again to-morrow morning on another 300 miles. This feat accomplished, I expect to find myself in the nuning township of Temora, when you and your readers may expect to hear what is doing, and what is likely to be done on that far-away goldfield. — 1 am, etc., S. B. Hafford."

Work on the Rotorua road is being pushed steadily ahead. The bridge contracts will soon be finished, and only about six weeks work remains to be done to make the bridlo track through the bush available When this is completed, Ohinemutu will be within an easy day's ride from Cambridge.

A gentleman named McNeal died suddenly at Judds Boarding 1 House Hamilton West on Sunday atternoon. Mr McNeal has only lately arrived in the Colony from England, coming here chiefly on account of his health, but alao with the object of buying land, and settling here with his family. It would seem that he was in the last stage of consumption when he left the old country, and yince his arrival here, he has been in a very bad state, complaining that he did not derive «o much benefit from the climate as he had anticipated. Up till Saturday he continued to go out walking, and on .Sunday afternoon, as was his wont he was sitting in an easy chair on the verandah of Mr Judds house. About three o'clock Mrs Jiuld rearranged his pillows and he said he felt better, and they saw him at intervals for the next hour or so. At about 0 o'clock, thinuing it was time for him to come inside Mrs Judd went to him and found him breathing his last. She instantly had him brought inside but he was dead almost before he crossed the threshold. Mr McNeal had evidently not anticipated that his end was so close at hand as he had not taken the usual precaution to put his affairs in order. Moreover he had sent for his family who are now on their way to New Zealand,

Tuhi, the murderer of Miss Dobie, whilst 011 board the Hinemoa, gave a further reoson for committing the crime. He said that when Miss Dobie ga7c him money, and was going away, she said she would tell the soldiers. To prevent hei doing this, he killed her. He could not understand why all this fuss was being made over the matter. Ho knew he had to die, and wanted to be killed without further delay.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board, was held last night, fit which there were present, Dr Beale (chairman), Messrs Knox, Davis, Peat, Jones, and Pi ice. Tiie committed appointed to report upon a road a^ked for by Mr Seddou brought up a report to the effect that in the present state of the Borough finances it was inexpedient to undertake the work. The recommendation of the Committee was adopted. A Committee was appointed to inspect the ground between iota 37 and 40 Hamilton East Domain lands for the purpose of preparing specifications for large drain to report i it next meeting when tenders will be opened. The Board then rose.

A sudden death occurred at Christchuvoh on Saturday night, through an overdose of laudanum, to a man named Charles Hurrell, who was a clerk in the Magistrate's Court at Abhburton. The deceased formerly held a commission in the Waikato Militia, and iv.is subsequently a member of the Armed Constabulary at Patea. He was a married man, and his wife left on a visit to Auckland about a month ago. He came to Coker's Hotel on Thursday, and complained that he was suffering from neuralgia and could not sleep. He was last seen alive at dinner on Saturday night, and about noon on Sunday was discovered dead in his bed. A bottle of laudanum, three-parts empty, was standing on his dressingtable, while a full bottle was found in his overcoat pocket. He told the proprietor of the hotel that he had sent in his resignation through some local dispute, but was sorry he had done so. An inquest will be held.

On Saturday afternoon the Auckland harbor was dotted with small sailing craft, ranging from the open boat to the 10-ton smack, and a prettier sight could hardly have been anticipated. It was in honor of the departure of the Taniwha, a yacht built in Auckland to compete in the Melbourne regatta, which takes place on the loth January. As the procession proceeded down the harbor, the Taniwha ran close to the Queen-street wharf, the outer tee of which was lined with a crowd of spectators. Each one was no doubt filled with enthusiastic wishes for the success of the beautiful yacht which swept gently past on her long trip to contend for the honor of Auckland, but they were scattered over too wide a space, and wanted a leader, to give voice to their feelings. This was a pity, as three roxismg cheer* were aa appropriate farewell for a yacht which had been built by the enterprise of a few citizens at ft cost of about £1300, to do battle for the credit, and to strive for the supremacy of Auckknd against a host of yachts, several of them owned by Australia's richest men, and therefore without expense being spared m the outfit. As an example, it is stated that one just built fop Ml' Clarke, the Victorian millionaire, cost £5000.