Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1322, 18 December 1880, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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

SATURDAY, DEC. 18,1880.

Of late a good deal of activity has been apparent throughout the district in connection with church matters. That disposition has been more conspicuously displayed in the upper portion of the Waikato, Cambridge, and its environs, having been specially active in the cause. Apart from weightier considerations we look upon this as a hopeful feature in the domestic economy. It betokens a disposition to establish an abiding place surrounded with all the aids and institutions early j associations have rendered sacred to the Anglo Saxon race, and the memory of which is never thoroughly effaced, no matter how far their lot in life may be cast from the parent home. There is no denying the fact that the tendencies of the present age are in the direction of a freer system of thought and action in the matter of religious belief, and that at the same time there are those who see, or profess to see in this a false step, a step in the direction of the total annihilation of alimoral and religious restraint. These good intentioned, but at the same time narrow minded individuals forget that this is simply a process in development of religious teaching, which has been going on throughout all ages of the Churchs' history, and that any attempt to stop its progress would simply be to reproduce those disorders, which have done so much in the past to provoke anarchy and ! strife throughout the religious world. But for this blinded zeal having persevered in the vain endeavour to thwart the natural progress of events I the Ohristain church would not have been scandalized by the number of sects and dissents into which it has fallen, and a Defoe would not have had the chance of taunting it as he did with the remark :—: — Where God erects his house of prayer, The devil builds an altar there. The bare fact that in this remote part of the world so much real earnestness and zeal are manifested in the cause of Church government and extension ought to reassure the weak-hearted and convince them that however much the enlightenment of the present day tends to dispel long-cherished,butnow utterly untenable dogma, no real desire exists to shatter the fundamental principles of religious truth. In connection with this subject, we would merely add that the Bishop of Auckland must have been well pleased with the reception he met with on the occasion of his recent visit to this portion of the Diocese. Similar also must have been his feelings in view of the earnestness amounting almost to enthusiasm manifested for the welfare of the

Church. Congratulations no less hearty are due to the Presbyterians iv view of the success that attended their demonstration on Wednesday evening. The tale they had to tell .was. a very' simple olie, but, on. the other hand, it was highly satisfactory. They had neither debt to contend with nor "dissension to deplore ; their .ordinary income was ample fpr their ordinary 'expenditure, and they had no need to resort to extraneous means for raising money. There, was no significance of that kind to be attached to their gathering. Tliey were simply met to enjoy themselves in a quiet, rational way, and, judging from the report published in another column, they seem to have succeeded, amazingly. It is circumstances and events like these that promote the cause of true religion, and in a manner counteract those sharp theological bickerings which do so much to pervert the peace, order, and good government of the visible Church.

The continued moist weather is hampering hay-making operations.

The annual meeting for election of Chairman of the Cambridge Domain Board is fixed to take place the first Monday in January next.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waikato Council, calied for yeßterduy, lapsed for want of a quorum, the only members present being Messrs Cumming and Primrose.

Mr Isaac Bates, saddler, of Gambridge, is the successful tenderer for the supply of dog collars to the Waikato County Council, the oontraot price per collar being Bd.

We have been favoured with full details of a sweet thing in domestic broils which, took place in Hamilton yesterday ; but as it wiU probably form the subject of Magisterial enquiry, we refrain from giving particulars.

The New Zealand Insurance Company's Almanac for 1881 has been issued in a very neat and convenient form. 'It can be" obtained from the Hamilton agents, Messrs. Dey and French.

A cricket match will be played on Sydney Square, Hamilton, to-day, be- | tween the Hamilton and Cambridge Clubs. Play will commence at 11 a.m. sharp.

The following are the weights for the Hurdles and Handicap at the forthcoming Ngaruawahia Races. Hurdles.—Sportsman, 12st.; Harold, lOst. 71b.; Blink Bonny, 9at. 71b. Handicap. —Harold, 9st. 12lb.j,Orakau, 9st. 41b.; Bundarra, 9st.

We are glad to see that the Telegraph Department have taken the hint we gave a few issues ago, and are removing the obstruction on the footpaths in Victoria-street, Hamilton, caused by the telegraph poles.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr W. B. Langbndge, of Auckland, a pretty little morocau entitled "A Welcome to Christmas," a three part carol, words by Mr Frederick Langbridge, music by Mr tf. Rivenhall,

Messrs Maunders and Son are the successful tenderers for the AYaihou bridges on the Rotorua road. Their first contract will be completed about the end of January. JVlessrs Thompson and Graham have secured the contract for No. 2 road formation. The contractor for No. 1 (Mr James Coombes) is making good progress.

A serious accident happened on Thursday morning to a young man named John Smith, in the employment of Mr Vialou. He was mowing grass, when he somehow or other brought the scythe round, inflicting a deep cut on his left leg above the ankle. He was brought into Hamilton, and under the skilful care of Dr Bandes is now progressing well.

Mr George Dickenson, bookseller, stationer, and fancy goods importer, Hamilton, has opened np within the last few days a very choice and varied assortment of fancy goods, albums, scrapbooks, hymnals (Ancient and Modern), church services suitable for Christmas gifts. Particularly worth attention are volumes of Pen and Ink Sketches in England, France, ami Switzerland.

Mr J. S. Buckland, the wellknown and energetic auctioneer, has had printed at the Waikato Times office a catalogue of cattle, sheep, farming implements, buggies, wagons, and household furniture, the property of Messrs J. and W. Martyn, whioh he will dispose of by public auction on the Pencarrow Estate, near Cambridge, early next month.

A " Subscriber" writes :— "Our persevering Mayor elect started for Te Aroha yestsrday with a view of bringing in a Councillor who ia not opposed to progress. I heard an elector aay 'it was 'Ah Vile Oh,' causing such bad feeling that he would not be a member of the Council whatever price was offered, and that the obstructionists ought to be sent to Jones's locker. Fancy milky Joe neglecting bia duty, but enough Mr Editor; I hear the bo' swan say Bealeay."

The direful fate which we predicted would befold the people of Hamilton, proves to be nothing but a shadow after all. The popular hairdresser, Mr Huge, intends keeping two establishments — one at Te Aroha and one at Hamilton, the matter of which will be in charge of a competent artiste.

After three failures a quorum of the Borough Council was got together yesterday, and Mr John Knox was duly installed as Mayor. His Worship had, however, been put to considerable trouble to bring this state of matters about. Despairing of getting any of the Councillors in Hamilton, except Messrs Hill, McGarrigle and Peat, and finding that j the late Mayor studiously avoided him, Mv Knox determined on a trip to the Aroha to fetch Cr. Davis. This resolution waa carried into effect forthwith, and the two arrived in Hamilton just a fdw minutes befqre the hour of meeting. The result is chronicled elsewhere. We presume the Councillors who did not attend, and more especially the late Mayor, are proud of the action they have taken ; if so they are alone in thejrbelief, for every sensible burgess must be thoroughly ashamed of them.,

The following remarks on gossips and scandalmongers, which we clip from our Tauranga contemporary, apply equally to other small communities we might name:— "The mendacity of some of the gossipmongers in Tauranga exceeds all hounds. The most innocent act of any one that these people take a fancy to honour with their attention is sure to be grossly misrepresented, the most reckless statements being thrown out without the slightest regard to truth. Wo were informed lately of a glaring case in which some so-called ladies have been freely circulating the most abominable slander about some of their neighbours. The statements so confidently made by these persons, we are assured on undoubted authority, are without a particle of foundation. If these ladies would take a word of advice and attend to their household duties instead of spending their time

in gadding; about v iind icLe gossip, it would perhaps prevent a good deal of mischief.*' The. "Bijou Minstrels" gave an entertainment in LeQuesne's Hall, Hamilton East, on Thursday night. The attendance was very good, all things considered, and the Character of the performance much better than anything of the kind which lias appeared in Hamilton for some time. The company was deficient in two, very important elements in a Christy Minstrels entertainment, namely vocal and instrumental music. Of the former nothing worthy of the name was introduced, it the comic singing, some of whicn was very fair, be excepted. Of the latter, Mr Bell's accompaniments, which were carefully taken, and the brilliant overtures of the same gentleman constituted all which could come under the name of "music." The flute, picolo, violin, and banjo players had had no practice, and at best onty put one another out when they attempted to do anything. The corner men (Messrs Lamont and Mclnnerny) were much more successful and created considerable merriment amongst the audience by their funnyisms. The sailors' hornpipe by "Billy Grattan " was very good, as also were the comic songs and negro delineations of Messrs Rawlings, Lamont, Billy Wilson, and Grattan. The farces " Circus Dick " and "The Prima Donna", were laughterprovoking in the extreme, and considering the shortness of the period in which the entertainment had been got up, they were well put on the stage. At the conclusion of the performance, the hall was cleared for a dance, which was kept up with spirit for several hours.

Whoever before heard of hatching bees in a trousers' pocket ? And yet this is what really happened yesterday. Mr Dey, of the firm of Dey and French, Hamilton East, opened one of his Laugstroth hives and removed two queen-bee cells for the purpose of preventing further swarming. He put the cells in his pocket and about an hour afterwards, wishing to show them to a friend, put in his hand to draw them out, when he felt one of their majesties crawling up his wrist. She was shown to us shortly afterwards and appeared to be in a fine healthy condition. This unexpected result of Mr Dey 'a experiment shows that bees can easily be prevented from swarming, and queens supplied to hives without a sovereign provided the frame hives are used. The " Langstroth " used by Mr Dey are supplied oy Mr Hopkins, of the Thames, tor whom Messrs Dey and French are agents.

It has come to our knowledge that many of our lady readers in various parts of the district, for whom we have always entertained the most profound respect, find our columns too slow for them. One lovely subscriber complains of the absence of anything relating to the fashions ; another, whose leisure hours hang heavily, wauts a serial story ; and another, whose palate has been excited by the free use of every literary condiment, wishes us to satisfy her peculiar tastes with the latest little titbits of scandal, to ferret out horrible murders, suicides and the like for her especial behoof. It has ever been our aim to please everybody, and although up to the present we have found the task to be of slightly herculean proportions, we do not despair : on the contrary, we are the more determined to carry it out. We have long held the opinion that reports of road boards, county councils, school committees, farmers' clubs, agricultural associations, etc., etc., are not of the slightest consequence to any but the poor drones of society, who of course deserve no consideration ; that intelligence from the goldfield, unless it can summon up bright visions of silk dresses and jewels, possesses no interest whatever ; that political speeches and banquet addresses are merely so much twaddle. It is our intention in the future to exclude all these •natters, devoting the space thna secured to the chronicling of. items of drawingroom, kitchen, and green-room gossip, street corner tattlings, full and reliable intelligence concerning the fashions, and reports in cxtc/u>o of romantic suicides. To cany out this programme successfully we must depend largely upon our lady readers themselves, no exertion being wanting on our part. This arrangement will be entered into subject to the concurrence of the rougher portion of humanity, but that of course ia a mere matter of detail. A meeting of the Cambridge Domain Board was held on "Wednesday evening. Present: the chairman and Messrs Fisher, and Campbell. The chairman intimated that the town belt in Cambridge west and lake reserve had been handed over to the Board as per Gazette notice produced, and that the Minister for Lands had been cemmunicated with in regard to the unintentional formation of the two Boards. The chairman also intimated that the survey had bfien finished. On the motion of Mr Campbell the term of lease of sections forming the Domain was extended from fifteen to twenty one years. In connection with tho above remark about the unintentional formation of two Boards the following letter sent by the Chairman to the Minister of Lands will explain the situation: — ''Sir — Iv bringing- the Lake reserve and Cambridge Wes*t Town. Belt under the operations of the Act and in delegating the Governors powers to the Cambridge Domain Board a second Cambridge Domain Board appears to have been made requiring a separate minute book net of accounts &c, although the same five gentlemen form both Boa ds. Would it not haVe simplified matters to have giveu the lands in Cambridge West to the Board previously | created as an addition to their trust ? — I am&c. T. Wells."

Mr Alfred Sharp, Cattle and Sheep Inspector for Waikato announces that his address is Hamilton.

An entertainment in aid of the Cambridge Amateur Dramatic Club will be given in the Cambridge Public Hall on Thursday evening next.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Charles Cecil Rookes, bankrupt, of Nearuawahia, will be held at the Court-house, Hamilton, at 3 p.m. on Thurdayuext.

Mr Kennedy Hill will sell by auction in four lots of quarter an acre each lot 56, Cambridge West, on Tuesday, 4th proximo, at 2 p.m. Map may be seen at the National Hotel, Cam-

bridge. The programme of the Fankton Annual Sports on New Year's Day, appears elsewhere.

Mrs Gelling, who is refinquiHhing business, requests that all accounts due be paid by the 15th roximo. The annual meeting of the H.A.O. Benefit Society, Waikato Branch, No. 153, will be held in the Oddfellow's Hall, Hamilton, on Monday 27th December, at 8 p.m. Christmas and New Year's gifts are on view at Kent House, Hamilton East. Cotton and Reynolds hold an auction sale at their mart, Cambridge, at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Mr Trewheellar, pastry cook and confectioner of Hamilton, announces important matter to householders. Tenders are invited by the Hamilton Borough Council for formation of road, Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton East. The p.s. Delta will run from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia on Boxing Day, taking excursionists to the Ngaruawahia races. Mr George Clotworthy, late of Tairua, opened the Rene Morgon Hotel, Te Aroha, on Thursday evening last, and the crowded state of the house and the ringing cheers which were given at the opening spoke volumes as to the estimation in which he is held by the large number of people in the district who know him. Mr Clotworthy notifies in our advertising columns that he is prepared with good accommodation and the best oi ales, wines, and spirits. An extraordinary vacancy having oo* cured in the Hamilton Borough Council, vice Councillor Knox, elected Mayor. Nominatival must be scot in on or before the 28th, inst.