Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1319, 11 December 1880, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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.

SATURDAY, DEC. 11, 1880.

Messrs Stewart and Beere, of the Public Works Department, on the 7th and Bth, inspected the survey line of the Waikato-Thames railway between the Piako and Waitoa Rivers, with a view of ascertaining what deviation will be rendered necessary by the Waitoa Highway Board taking possession of the railway line for the Thames road, and crossing it in a somewhat eccentric manner. We understand that the gentlemen named have decided to shift the line one chain north of the survey, and have pegged it out accordingly. This is somewhat gratifying as showing a recognition of the necessty for proceeding with the working plans with the view to the early construction of this important line, now more urgently needed than ever in consequence of the Te Aroha goldfields and the largely increasing population there. We hear that the engineers were much struck with the extreme facilities presented for railway construction, being almost level, and two inexpensive ditches costing some i>Bo to £100 per mile being all the formation requisite. Mr Stewart, who had recently inspected the Rotorua road works, over 40 miles higher up the Thames Valley, expressed himself in the most hopeful terms of the immediate and early prosperity of these vast and splendid plains, which might be the home of a, nation, but

i iW are locke^'p in the hands of Europpttns wJioae holdings are too great for their means in money and labor. Yet thf*y are d >ing wonders ; the, land, is truly abundant, but the people * are f few*. The Maoris also hold vast areas, of land, but, like the dog in the manger, they do nothing with it, but impede the settlement and progress of the country. •. ,£he rich clover" downs of Messrs Mbrrin and Studholme attract the attention, and a field of oats on Mr Murray's estate, » as also ryegrass cut for hay showed the fertility of the soil, and the enormous population and productiveness which might result from r smaller holdings and high cultivation. People say, " where is your market?" Cheap production 'will create its own markot; and even now, as sheep do so remarkably well in the district, and turnips are so successful, there is nothing to prevent 20s an acre being made offgood land for wool alone. Wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes have been also successfully tested, with a good acreage yield and unsurpassedquality,andthe production of all these the railway would bring in existence, while the landowners would be only too glad to be relieved of some of their unwieldy possessions, and to secure true colonisation are > prepared, to vie with each other in the liberality of the terms upon which they will offer their surplus acres to genuine and enterprising settlers, believing that thereby, though they retain but; a tithe of their holdings, it would be more valuable to them than the whole is now.

The Bishop of Auckland held a Confirmation in S. Peter's, Hamilton, last night at 7.30, assisted by the Revs. H. S. Davies and William Calder. Though the night was wet the congregation was pretty good, and the rendering of the hymns was done in a fairly musical manner. The Bishop spoke strongly on the virtue and power of Hope, and the trust and confidence of a true believer, and spoke of the catholicity of the Church of England, and the need of consistent interpretation of creeds and articles in the lives of members of Christ's Holy Catholio Church.

The Bishop of Auckland proposes visiting the Te Aroha Goldfields on Tuesday, and holding a meeting of church folks at 5 p.m., to arrange for regular Church services. On the same evening at 8 p.m., the Bishop will meet the Waihou church folks at Mr Larkworthy's station ; and on Wednesday, at 3 p.m., will meet the Piako" 1 congregation at Morrinsville, returning to Hamilton the same evening.

The usual monthly meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Club will be held at the Club House on Monday evening next.

We are requested to remind the members of S. Andrew's Choir, Cambridge, that there will be a special practice in the Church this evening at 8.

MrLogie leaves Hamilton to-day on a well-earned months' leave of absence, and we understand purposes paying a visit to Sydney. Mr Norton, the Departmental Relieving officer, has assumed charge of the Hamilton office.

Our Cambridge correspondent was misinformed when he telegraphed that Mr Jb'ulton, of the Public Works Office, had arrived in Cambridge to make a survey of the proposed branch line. Mr Fulton has not yet arrived in Auckland from Napier, but is expected every day. On his arrival the work will be commenced immediately.

A number of people proceeded to the Aroba by coach both on Thursday and yesterday mornings, while during the past two days many have proceeded thither in buggies and other vehicles. Yesterday morning several men started from Hamilton to walk to the field.

It is said that the intelligence regarding 1 the new goldfteld at the Aroha has created such excitement on the West Coast of the South Island that a large number of miners are on their way here. By practical men of this class we maybe sure the country will be thoroughly prospected.

The Australia with the London mails of the 4th ult., left San Francisco for Auckland on the 2] st idem, one day earlier than the time-table sailing day. She is due on Monday next. The City of Sydney, with the November Colonial mails, arrived at San Francisoo on the 30th ult, two days in advance of her contract date

It is understood that the railway authorities are making arrangements whereby the goods train from Auckland at present running to Ngaruawahia, which station it reaches five minutes after noon, will come on to Hamilton junction, and return shortly after arrival. With this exception there will be no alteration in the existing time-table.

A meeting of the Hamilton West School Committee was held at the office of Messrs Whitaker and Sheeban yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of appoint' ing Examiners for the approaohing examination. A number of gentlemen and ladies weie nominated, and the secretary was requested to write to them for their acqniescense. It was decided that the Examiners should be asked to meet during the week preceding the examination day, (Tuesday Dec. 21st., and after some further business, the Committee adjourned.

We understand that six tenders were lodged with Messrs Mahoney and Son Architects, fsr the S. Andrew's Church Cambridge, up to the time of closing on Thursday last. They are as follows:— R.Wright, £1880; W. Scott, £1779 ; McConnochie and Flat, £1770 ; A. Watson, £1750; H. F. Jones, £1678 ; W. G. Connolly, £1677.

It will be seen by the reiwrt of the R.M. Court Te Awamutu, that the man McCorroick wno ran down and severely injured Mr Millar and another on the Ohaupo road some time ago, has been heavily fined for his indiscretion. We hope the result will act as a warning to others.

The "breaking-up" of the Lodge School, Hamilton, at the close of the Michaelmas term took place on Thursday afternoon, when the Bishop of Auckland distributed the prizes. The proceedings were opened by the Rev. William Calder, who explained the system of work and marking. The Bishop then gave the prizes, the parson calling out the names. His Lordship made some well-chosen remarks in encouragement of the pupils. Afterwards, the two senior pupils, in the names of the teachers and pupils, presented the parson with an address, and a clock and aneroid barometer (combined), and a very handsome album. This was quite * surprise to the rev. gentleman, who thanked the donors very warmly, and said his work in the school for the last three years had been a work of pleasure. The pupils rendered some glees and rounds under their teacher {Mr T. A. Bell) in a very creditable manner, after which the Bishop and the large number of visitors were entertained by Mrs JRow»

Watts, an^he children and their young friends weria.Jtfgaled with" straw berrjea an<l cream, ana the children left for their homes. We are much gratified to learn that the Bishop expressed bis intention of presenting an annaal prize for Scripture.

The Whatawhata Race Committee have issued their . programme for New Year's Day Sports, and considering the dulness of the times is a very good one. It has been the custom of the Whatawhataites to hold their sports on Boxing Day, but to avoid clashing with .the Ngaruawahia Snorts they have wisely postponed them till New Year's Day. > The nomination! for the Hurdle and Handicap are to be sent in to the Secretary by Monday next, and the general entries and acceptances to be in by the 27th. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese will be welcomed to Cambridge at a garden party to-day, in the beautiful grounds attached to the residence of Major Wilson. To-morrow the Bishop will preach at S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, morning and evening, when collections will be made in aid of the building fund for the new Church. Hia Lordship will preach at Ohaupo at 3.30 p.m., and on Monday he will meet the Cambridge congregation at 4 o'clock to discuss matters in regard to the new Church, lecturing in the evening on the " Affghan War," in aid of the name object. On Tuesday the Bishop will visit Waitoa. Major Wilson has kindly consented to take the chair at the lecture on Monday evening at Cambridge.

We learn that a young lad named Edward Maokay, 14 years of age, employed as assistant cook on board the s.s. Kangiriri, was drowned at Ngaruawaliia on Thursday evening. The steamer was lying at the time at Lamb' a wharf, and the boy is thought to hare fallen orerboard. Up to last accounts the body had not been found

A very painful accident happened at Mangakawa on Saturday to a little child eight years of age, the eon of Mr Smale's overseer. An empty cask on end stood near the cottage of the child's parents, and some one had stopped the bung hole, which was in the bottom, with the neck of a bottle, the broken end being within the cask. The little boy, after climbing up for the purpose of looking in, lost his balance and fell head foremost into the cask, and on to the jagged edges of the glass, which laid open his left cheek from the mouth to the ear. Dr Waddington was promptly sent for, and under his skilful care the little sufferer is now getting on favourably.

Some interesting details of the value of the properties of the City Companies have recently been published, from whi >h it appears that an exhaustive examination of the ratebooks of the parishes within the City shows the Guilds possess house property in the City of a gross estimated rental slightly in excess of half a million a year. Their estates in the metropolis outside the City walls are estimated to be worth full £200,000 a year. They are also extensive landowners throughout England and Wales, and this property is estimated to be worth at least £100,000 a year. In Ulster, under the grant of James 1., when the Companies participated in the plantation of that province, the seven Companies that have not disposed of thoir estate there are known to havo a rental of some £77,000 a year. In addition to the above sources of income they are large holders of stocks and other personal funds and property, the receipts from which are calculated at some £150,000 a year. The grand total amounts to over one million sterling a year. It is pointed out that although the property is worth this, it does not follow that the income of the Companies comes up to that figure ; they own much unproductive property, such as their halls, and what with the granting of building leases at small ground-rents and other matters, the income of the City Companies is put down at some three-quarters a million a year.

An English sporting paper speaking of winning jockeys says that up to 2nd October, George Fordham headed the list with 86 wins out of 288 races ; F. Archer, comes next with 84 out of 239 ; T. Cannon, 71 out of 280 ; C. Wood, 58 out of 315; and J. Luke, 52 out of 278.

At the conclusion of an article on the Australian Cricketers, the London Morning Fost says : — "It will be seen that we think the colonists want tuition in hatting. Of their bowling and fielding: wo have already spoken in warm terms of eulogy, but until their batting greatly improve*, they cannot meet the strength of England with an equal chance of success. This we say with a perfect remembrance of the Oval match, when the last two wickets put on 140 runs — a surprising feat, which even the colonists would confess was almost a fluke. Man for man they cannot be compared to the pick of our cricketers, but the Australians have, by patient practice, self-denial, and discipline, so worked themselves up that they are formidable opponents to any eleven. We should say, however, that if it were practicable to select in April eleven of the best English cricketers, and let them play a series of matches throughout the season, similar to that the Australians have just concluded, the result on a comparison would be by no means unfavourable to our countryman. We should field as well and bat better, though, perhaps, none of our bowlers would show as much power over the ball as Spofforth, bowl so many good, fast { yorkers' as Palmer, or equal the patience and endurance of Boyle."

Some of our contemporaries have made a fearful hash of the meeting or meetings held at Te Awamutu on Saturday last, in regard to the Patetere lands. The Herald and Thames AdxiertUer only give the result of the first meeting, and say nothing of the terrific resolution moved by the other side and carried at that and the subsequent meeting. There seems, indeed, to be a great deal of mistiness about the whole affair in the minds of people even in this district. The facts are simply these. The meeting convened by Mr H. Roche, Mr R. Cunningham, Mr Johns and others should have been held at 7 p.m., at which hour Mr Sloane and one or two others were in waiting. Nobody turned up and an adjournment was made to the neighborhood of the Post-office, the train having arrived. It was found, however, that Mr McGuire, the contractor for carrying the mails between the station and Alexandra, had taken not only his own but the Te Awamutu bags with him, and an orderly was sent after him to recover the missing property. This officer returned to Te Awamutu shortly after eight, by which time about half-a-dozen people had again fathered in the hall. No business was owever done until the mail had been distributed, as the gentleman who seconded Mr Sloane's motion commending the action of the Government had his Auckland letters, received that night, in his pocket. It was fully a quarter-of-an-hour after this when Mr Roche and Mr James Cunningham arrived. The number pressnt when the first resolution was carried was about 10 or 12; when Mr Cunningham's motion was put and adopted about 40 or 50, while those who stayed to the subsequent meeting did not number more than a dozen. Indeed, there was little or no interest taken in the proceedings, many attending simply out of curiosity and in the expectation of witnessing a passage of arms between two redoubtables, which, however, did not come off.