Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1345, 12 February 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

li(]ual .mil cn;u tju^tirc to all men, Ot \\liitc\cr sl.tte or peisiUMon, leligious or politK <il. Here bli ill the Press the People's ri^lit m.iintain Un.iwed 1)^ mllucncc and tmbribcd by f.un,

SATURDAY, FEB. 1,1, 1881. Few, very few, districts in New Zealand have made such substantial progress as the Waikato during, let us say, the past decade. The year 70 broke upon a primitive, semimilitary settlement tlie land newly wrested from the hands of its original owners, and proving as yet of: comparatively little value to its now proprietors. It is true that in a few corners much real work was being done, but the greater proportion of the land still remained in its natural state. Year by year settlement has advanced with rapid sti'ides ; the change brought about by ten years has been so complete, of a nature so radical, that we look around in vain for some landmarks which might guide us in fixing a date to this and that alteration. It seems to us, who have watched the growth of the interior settlements of the province for many years, that the Piako and Thames districts are creations of yesterday, and that but a few clays have elapsed since the great country stretching away southward from the confiscation line was merely an unknown land. Five or six years at the most have only elapsed since the splendid country lying between the Piako and Waihou rivers was a dreary waste of fern,and ti-tree and swamp, and anyone may see what it is now. But all this denotes progress of a very rude type. Ten years have seen the area of land held for purposes of improvement multiplied fortyfold ; they have seen new districts opened up to the light of clay \ have witnessed a considerable increase in the population ; but they have, not seen a proportionate improvement in the modes of cultivating the soil ; no very perceptible advance has been made in the general system of agriculture adopted. If we are asked why is this, we shall not have U> seek far for an answer. It is because there has never been in the district a sufficiency of that

which a farmer, any more than a business man, cannot do without; we mean capital. We know perfectly well that the first European holders of land here, the old Militia men, were for the most part utterly unable to retain possession of their sections, or, at lea&t, we're compelled to leave them simply from want of means, and that those whose industry and thrift had made it possible for them to hold on, had a hard battle to fight. What might be called the second generation of land-owners was a decided improvement. It contained men of a more practical turn of mmd — men who had been brought up to follow the plough, to herd cattle and sheep, and co whom the hard round of farm labour was familiar. But still, in too many instances, they were men insufficiently endowed with capital; they followed the tendency, only too common at all times in j\ew Zealand, of investing all their money in land without making provision for its proper and efficient working. A large estate unimproved has somehow always been regarded as superior to a smaller area of land, be it never so well tilled, pi'ovided, of course, that the natural quality of the land varies but little. As a speculation, we can have little doubt regarding the relative values of the two ; but we have less when we put them in comparison, and regard them as the means of gaining a livelihood. Excellent incomes are no doubt made by land speculation ; but the science is a speciality, and ought not to be engaged in in the absence of the necessary qualifications. No mistake can bo greater than that of attempting to farm a large farm with a small capital. Wo use the word farm hereh e re in contradistinction to the word hold, which more nearly expresses the state of things which has hitherto generally obtained in the Waikato. If a man has to get a living out of the land, and cannot afford to allow it to lie idle until its increased 'Value will give him a recompense — and to do this latter is every day becoming more difficult — he will have to do what he does well. If he has enough money to purchase 1000 acres, it will be better to take the half or the third, and with the help of Lhe capital thus reserved, make the soil yield its fullest. According to a man's means, let him apportion to himself the amount of land he will occupy. This would seem to indicate that none but men with means should engage in the work of farming ; but wo do not wish it to be so understood, for there is no reason why steady industrious men, with means insufficient to enable them to become landowners at the outset, should not, at the same time, be able to engage in farming on their own account. A couple of years ago Mr J ohn Reid, of the Elderslie estate in North Otago, subdivided a lai'ge portion of his property into various sized farms, which he has leased for terms ranging, we believe, from seven to fourteen years. Many of these farms were at once taken up by that class to which we have adverted, and although scarcely sufficient time has elapsed to allow of a just judgment being formed, the experiment gives abundant promise of success. A similar experiment is about to be tried in Piako district by Mr W. A . Murray, on the Annandale estate. The terms upon which this gentleman offers his land upon lease appear to be of such an exceptionally liberal character, that in the interest of the district we will reproduce them here. The land will be leased in suitable sized farms for a term of 10 years at a rental of five per cent, per annum on the value of £5 per acre, or in other words 5s per acre. Thre^ years rent will be remitted upon land put down in grass, and the amount of a further three years rent will be taken out in contract work. Providing, therefore, the tenant lays down the whole of his leasehold in grass, and avails himself of the opportunities of doing contract work presented to him, he will only have to pay in cash four years rent out of the ten, We do not doubt, and Mr Murray does not disguise that the primary object he has in view is the improvement of his property, but in doing this it seems clear to us that he is holding out inducements of a most advantageous nature. Because both in situation and in quality the land is eminently well adapted for settlement. It lies in the heart of the Piako district, and is intersected for miles by the Waikato-Thames, and Waikato-Tauranga roads, and the surveyed line of the proposed Thames- Waikato Railway. Much of the land has at one time been covered with forest, and has now been drained, a part is volcanic in its nature, undulating, dry, and covered with fern, tupaki, and koromiko. A vast amount of improvement has been effected in the way of fencing and surface sowing, the clover doing remarkably well in the roughest spots. On such land it ought to be possible for a hardworking man, in the poriod named, to secure for himself sufficient of this world's goods to enable him to attain that object which is so dear to mankind by becoming a free-holder. At any rate, the subject is one which should engage serious attention.

The Board of Governors of the Auckland College have been distinguishing themselves in the inverse ratio. Occupying as they do, a position in the councils of our premier educational establishment, ire have

the right to assume they make some pretentious to the characteristic of the preceptor. If so, then we can only say they belong, iv a marked degree, to that category of which it is written that, while assuming to be teachers, they have need that sonftt. ime-'itcach them the first principle 9F the oracles of good-faith as betweenman and man." The student of the text will perceive that we have slightly altered it from the original. That is rendered necessary by the specialities of the case — specialities, we venture to think, peculiarly its own, so that anything in the shape of established precedent becomes difficult of application. The story of the euibroglio is .soon told, A Dr. Purchas, who is described as a. " minister of religion," in the exercise of his pastoral offices — separating the sheep from the goats — detected what he conceived to be a cloven hoof inside the fold of the Auckland College, and, in pursuance thereof, preferred a formal charge against a Mr. Anderson, one of the teachers. The gmvimeu of Andersons offence is, in connection with the recent proceeding, described by the blunt --but heinous term, of inebrieby — a term, the employment of which leaves no doubt whatever of the rev. gentleman's intention of making out a case which would effectually blight Mr. Andersons prospects in life so far as College, or, indeed, any other branch of, teaching was concerned. This is said to have been done some six or seven months ago, and yet, from some unexplained cause, the charge is allowed to dangle over the unfortunate man's head during all that time, without any effort being made by the Governors to investigate its truth or otherwise, it may be that, in saying this, we are doing the Governors a slight injustice. The injustice, however, must be very slight, as we find that on the date of our latest advices — Thursday last — they were still discussing as to the particular mode of procedure the enquiry should take. How long it might have taken to solve this " knotty point," and prepare the way for further developments, we have no means of ascertaining. If seven months are wasted in settling preliminaries for an enquiry, it is only reasonable to suppose the enquiry itself stands a good chance of being protracted indefinitely, and in that way, Andersons alleged tippling propensities were in no danger of meeting with a hasty reprisal. On the other hand, supposing — and after the turn things have taken, the supposition is a reasonable one — the charge was altogether groundless; it was monstrous injustice to Anderson to keep it hanging over his head. Considerations of this kind, however grave and important they may seem in the eyes of ordinary mortals, exercise no real, weight as against the cumbersome machinery of the Board of Governors of the Auckland College, and nothing whatever in the shape of finality had been achieved, when, on the day mentioned above, the Board met, as we are told, to consider whether or not it should cancel a resolution passed by itself affirming the desirability of having the charge investigated by commission. Afc that meeting Dr. I'urchas put in an appearance, and, it may be assumed, to the great relief of the Board, tabled a written statement to the following effect : — "Yesterday I was informed by a gentleman, upon whose testimony I can rely, that Mr. Anderson is of most abstemious habits in regard to the use of stimulants, and that the facts upon which clause 4 of my memo, was based, admit of a different explanation. I therefore beg to withdraw that clause, and to express my regret that 1 was led to believe that which I am now persuaded was erroneous." So very solicitous were they (the Board) to cover the retreat of this rev. malcontent, that they actually excluded the public — by which is meant the public Press — from their deliberations, a proceeding which, under the circumstances, must appear to every unprejudiced mind highly reprehensible. Then, again, the withdrawal itself is not such as the injured party has a right to demand. It savours of an attempt on the part of an evil-disposed person to avoid the consequences of his own act, and in that respect we agree with our contemporary the Herald, in thinking that Anderson has a right to insist that the charge should be openly investigated. With regard to the'' general aspect of the affair, we can only think that this man Purchas has brought discredit upon the priesthood. He is evidently a man in many respects unfitted to maintain the ordinary intercourses of life. It is a common reproach that the Chui'ch is the only resource for a certain class of nincompoops whose mental calibre is below par, or, as Punch has it, " The fool of ihe family is put into the Church."

The late dry, hot weather has had the effeot of burning up the pastures in all parts of the district, A few days rain is very much needed.

We have been shown a very fine sample of wheat, grown, on the farm of Mr 0. J. W. Barton, lower Waipa. The sample whioh yielded between 25 and, 30 bushels to the acre, is plump and well filled. The soil is heavy, and had been

laid down to grass for some years, Messrs. B. and J. Coleman, butchers, Hamilton, killed a splendid bullock tho other day, weighing. 12£ cwt. The animal was fattened by Mr. E. Allen, of Pukekura, ' • ;

Settlers intending to plant fruit trees, this coming season would do well to look through'Mr .Vincent's orchard, Ham-ilton-East;. Several very line "apple trees ?vre in full bearing ; vre have be«» yhowu

some apples weighing .17/ ounces (the "Beauty of Kenjt."') quite" a picture to look at. Most of the trees are from 6to 8 years old, and grafted oil majetten stocks, and quite free from blight, and (nine out ot Mr Sharpes nursery, Cambridge.

We believe there is to be a trotting mntch agamsfc timo, eaily next week, the course being from the Ohaupo racecourse gate to Gwynne's Hotel. Tbe horse, which only stands about 13 hands high, belongs to a well-known resident of Hamilton.

We learn that the Waikato Steam Navigation and Coal Mining Company have secured the contract for supplying the Railway Department with coal. According to an Auckland contemporary operations are about to be suspended

in iho Waikato Coal i ompany's mine. We understand that one or two large landed proprietors in the Piako have it in contemplation to dispose of a, portion of their estates on the deferred payment system, on very liberal terms. We shall shortly be in a position to give fuller information upon this sub-

jcct. The Rev. D. W. Runciman, of the Poiisonby Pre.sbyteriau Church, will officiate in Waikato during the next foitnight, the Rev. \V. Evans having taken the duties at Ponsonby. Tomorrow the Rev. Mr Runcimdu will preach at Hamilton in the mornina 1 , Hautapu afternoon, and Cambridge iv the evening. On the following Sunday he will hold two services at Cambridge.

The "Otago Daily Times," reports re the recent tour made by the hon. the Colonial Treasuier and the hon. the Minister of Public Works, to the southern provinces : — " Ministers were everywhere' mobt cordially and kindly received, Invercargill being no exception, the " boo-hoo l> demonstration notwithstanding."

Mr D. M. Beere, C.E. who lately resigned his position as Resident Engineer for Waikato, left Hamilton yesterday, en route for the South and Australia, on a well-earned holiday. Mr Beeres high reputation in his profession coupled with a most genial and courteous demeanour, have made him highly popular during his residence amongst us, and in leaving he carries with him the good wishes of all witli whom he has been brought into contact. We have not yet learned the name oi Mr Beeres successor, but understand that the appointment will shortly be made.

The directors of the Emigrants and Colonist's Aid Corporation (Limited) have called a special meeting oi the stockholders to confer with thorn as to extending the operations of the corporation. They consider the approaching return of their manager, Mr ILUcombe, to New Zealand, a favourable opportunity to conhider the matter, and they propose that a fuither issue of 125,000 shaies of £1 each should bo offered to the stockholders at par, to provide the neccessary funds for the purchase of another block of land in New Zealand.

The owner of a large estate in the Piako district has indirectly offered to the Government to form, fence on both sides, and erect culverts and bridges for that poibinii of the Thames railway which vill go through hi? property, all ready for the bottom ballast and rails, for the bum of £210 per mile. This offer has been made with a view to encourage tho pushing on of the line, and the example thus set i& one which might be followed by others through whose property the line will go.

The gross amount paid to the State undei the provisions ot *ho Land Tax Act since it came into operation was, iv 1878, £181,472; in 1879, £143, 036; and for the first three-quarters of 1880, £UG,115, or a total of £420,624. The number of landed estates contributing is 933. The amounts refunded to the taxpayers were as follows : — During the last three-quarters of 1878, £1,935 ; during the whole of 1879, £40, 372 ; during the first three-quarters of 1880, £3,2 M) ; or a total of £45,657.

Great difficulty is being experienced by the Pukekura and Hamilton Highway Boards in coining to a agreement on the subject of tho Mystery Creek Bridge. Some time ago the former Board estimated the cost of the work including the approaches at about £100, and asked the Hamilton Board to contribute one-half of the expense. The latter however demuired to pledging themselves o half the cost, conceiving the estimate to be low, but offered to give £50 on the understanding that they "would not be called upon contribute further. This offsr the Pukekura Board will not accept, and further negociations will we suppose Inve to be enteied into.

At the R.M. Court, Cambridge, yesterday, before H. W. Northcioft, E-.q. R.M. Thomas Lees appeared on remand in answer to a charge of obtaining certain goods by false pretences from William Sohn Merrick, storekeeper. In the ab&ence of an important witness the case was farther adjourned for eight days, bail being renewed. J. Munro was charged on the intorrnation of .Robert Kirkwood with passing a valueless cheque for the amount of £2 10s. The cheque on being produced was found to be endorsed by a Mr Oliver, and as the endorser had not been applied, to for the money the case was dismissed. The defenco was conducted by Mr O'Neill. A number of civil cases were disposed of.

The cutting at Crawfords gully, lately improved by the Tamahere Highway Board, will probably give that body some trouble before long. The bided of the cuttiag, which are of considerable height, have scarcely any batter at/ all, and heavy rain acting on the loose sandy soil, cannot fail to send a large portion of it down on to the roadway. Already, indeed, a no inconsiderable quantity has become detached from the northern side, and falling has filled up the waterway completely. No doubt, in carrying out the recent improvements, the Board were influenced as waa quite natnral, by motives of economy, but their principle can very easily be carried too far.

An extraordinary meeting of the Cambridge Sohool Committee was held in the School-room on Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Present : Messrs A". Heany, (in the chair), Morris, Nixon, Mackintosh, and the Rev. W. Evans. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed it was resolved on the motion of the Rev. W. Evans to apply to the Board of Education for another room to be added to the present building, to contain not less than 700 square feet. A long discussion took place on the subject of the fee of one penny per week charged by the head master for school requisites, and it was ultimately resolved on the motion of the Hey. W. Evans to defer the matter to the Board of Education to see in what manner the difficulty could be obviated On the motion of Mr Morris it was resolved to hold the committee meetings on the fli-st Monday in every month at 7.30 p.m. • ,

A meeting of members of, and those interested in, the Cambridge Harmonic Society, was held in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Thursday evening, at 8 o'clock. There was a good attendance. Mr J. Houghton occupied the Chair, and after explaining the business, remarked that he hoped the, Society would achieve a suocesß that it well deserved. He was glad to see so many present, and felt quite sure, with judicious' working, the Society would prove the deaideraturnv»u*efl-&k , The baWce.Bheet was submitted to the meeting aud, adopted, ehpwinlfV credit

balanco of £3 5s Id. Mr H. A. Keesing, hon. secretary of the Society, accepted the duties of treasurer. Mr Macintosh addressed the meeting in a few appropriate remarks, and hoped that all present would use their beat eifortß for the Society's welfare by endeavouring to increase the number of members. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, the 17th iu,st., when the Cambridge String Baud will assist. A vote of thanks to the chairman dispersed a very satisfactory meeting.

In compliance with the order issued by Capt. Dawsou, the arms and accoutrements of the Hamilton Light Infantiy Volunteers, togother with the instruments belonging to the Band of the corps, were duly handed in at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening. After the whole had been inspected and catalogued, Mr John Knox procluciug a written otder from Mi 1 Gwynne, the lately appointed trustee, claimed the instruments foi 1 the U3e of the Band under its new constitution. In answer to this Capt. Dawßon showed Mr Knox a letter which he had received from the Committee of the Oddfellows, claiming some £8 for rent of the building for drilling, and that he intended to retain possession of the instruments until their demand had been satisfied. A meeting of those interested in the welfare of the Band was held last night, when satisfactory arrangements were made. As will be seen by an advertisement in another column, JfeLr G-wynne, the trustee, requests the members of the Band to call at the Hamilton Hotel this afternoon for their instruments.

A queer case of "justices ' justice" has come under the notice of the Evening Poit. A man, well-known in Carterton, was found a few oveniugs ago in the hou c c of another well known resident, and an information charging him with burglary was laid at the instigation of the policp. When, however, the case came on for hearing, it was found fiat the accused was frequently in the hou-,e in qtiestion, and the owner had uothiug to say against the alleged burglar except that he objected to his being drunk. The sapient justices, of course, had ti dismiss tbe charge of burglary ; but while they endorsed on the information their disbelief in his having any felonious intent, they also entered up a conviction for drunkenness — an offence for which there was no charge laid— and beutenced the unfortunate man to four weeks' hard labour. The prisoner has been brought to Wellington to undergo his sentence, but iv the meantime the facts of the case are being brought under tbe notice of the Minister of Justice by Mr H. Bunny, M.H.R. The matter is, we are informed, the Mibjeefc of much unfavourable comment ia the district.

The examination in sewing of tho pupils attending the Hamilton West School came off on Thuipday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, Mosdames Searancke and Gwynne being the examiners. There were five cl:isso«, and the prizes were awarded as follows : — Ist class, all corners, Susan Mutray ; 2nd class, for pupils over 12, Fanny McPheraon ; 3rd class, for pupils over 10, Minnie Bradley; 4(h class, for pupils over 8, Jessie Wright : sth class, for pupils under 8, Kate Salmon. The prizes, which consisted of books, ladies' companions, &c., were very choice. The presentation of the prizes was made by Mrs Gwynne at half-past 3 o'clock, in the presence of seveial members of the committee aud a few friends. At the same time, the Board's first-class certificates for good attendance were presented to the fallowing pupils, who had not been absent one day in the year :—: — Kate Davis, Charlotte Hill, Bessie Murray, Winnifred Murray, Lucy Murray, John Davis, John Napier Murray, Fred. Davis, Frederick Murray, Fred. Gaudin, Thos>. Gaudin, Second-class certificates were awarded to the following pupils, who had not been absent more than five times during the year :— Jackson Calderwood, Patrick Murray, and John Slater.

We understand that the question of the Easter holiday Military Keview is again assuming vitality. It has been arranged that a meeting of the affairs commanding the different troops will be held to-day, in Hamilton at 2.30. p m., for the purpose of making practical arrangements for the reception of the large body of men expected to be present. Major Jackson proceeded to town on Monday, for the purpose of completing final arrangements with the Government, Railway Department, &c. Te AWAinulu has been finally decided upon as the place of meeting which will give satisfaction to all parties concerned. Major Murray and officers of the Thames force regard that place as being exceedingly suitable toy the leview, and field movements of the troops, and we tiust that no difficulty will ho thrown in the wey by the Government in obtaining 1 such shelter, in the shape of canvns, as may be required to meet the exigencies ot the occasion. The Te Awamutans are upon the tip-too of expectation, and the citizens and surrounding settlers aie pouring in offer 3 of accommodation for the large number of men. that will doubtless be gathered together at this, the most important military demonstration that has taken place in the province of Auckland since the war.

Lord Carnarvon has written a long letter to Mr Bright Preference to a speech of his upon the aristocracy and the land laws, in which he says : — " You are pleased to tell u& that the House of Lords caunot be a permanent institution in a free country ; but as you have appealed so largely to ' history,' I may remind you that it has already lived its centuries, exceeding in duration even the House of Commons ; that it is inseparably intermingled with some of the proudest memories of the English nation — of her Churchmen ; and that though it has been often threatened by orators not inferior to yourself, it has outlived its denunciations, as 1 hops it will outlive yours. You have often preached a crusade against ' aristocracy' whether as a class or a principle ; but the class will probably long survive both you and me, and all the generation to whom your speech was addressed ; and the principle in its best sense is as true a part of nature and as indestructible now that the world is old as when it was young. The dasire to found a family, the pride in ancestral renown, the ambition to crown past with present honours, will be now, as they have been in all times, the noblest inducements to noble action, and if ever there was an assembly which, subject to the defects of all human institutions, was the good and property of all the popular and democratic excellencies that have sprung into being under that constitution which you apparently desire to revolutionise, it is the Jftouse of Lords." A Hokitika goose was killed the other day, at one of the hotels in that town, and its gizzard, on being opened, produced 2 dwts, of fine gold. The goose had been reared in the township.

Tenders are invited for certain road works in the Pukekura Highway District. Messrs Turner and Buddie, auctioneers, of Taurarigctj will sell by public auction at their mart the Strand, Tauranga, Stewardstown, situated in the centre of the magnificent Te jPuke block, near Tauranga, certain properties. Plans may be seen at Mr Arthur s Auction Mart, Queen-street, T Auckland. ' Several " Gazette" notices are crowded out of the third page, and will bo found in the fourth. , , i k H.E, Cotton and Co., of Cambridge,-; have various kinds, of manures on hand,*»,lse. cj«ver and, grass seeds, oaty, bwp, *c., &c. '