Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1346, 15 February 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

i£<iual and c\.irt justice to .ill men, Ot \vh.iU\or stdti, 01 persiidMon, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Un.iwed by influence and unbnbed by gain.

TUESDAY, FEB. Jo, 1881. 4. Tin: action of the gentlemen composing the Auckland Grown Lands Board, or those in authority in connection therewith, has not invariably been characterised by the warmest desire to push ahead the settlement of this province, or provincial district. We could point to one or two instances where they haye — we will say misguidedly — put themselves in the way of pi'ogress ; where they have, professedly in the public interest, delayed the occupation of land where such occupation is most necessary. At present we would desire to draw attention to an act of injustice which is being committed against our neighbours in the Waipa country. It will be well within the remembranoe of most of our readers that some- five years ago the late Sir Donald McLean, in compliance with certain promises which he had made to the King natives, proceeded to put in execution a scheme which he had conceived for the purchase of all the land on the west side of the Waipa in the districts of Pirongia and Karaulu held by Europeans, the same to be handed over to certain of the disaffected Maoris over the border. In pursuance of this ■ object the Government obtained by purchase from absentees somewhere about 2800 acres of land, and the preliminary steps were taken towards buying out the settlers holding and occupying what remained of the Country bounded by the "V^ipa, and lying between the Karakariki block and the confiscation boundary. Thisscheme of $ir Donald's may have had its good points ; it certainly had its disadvantages. But either are new;; of little moment, and the project itself, were it not for the evils which W has left behind, might very easily hay© slipped out of memory. The settlers ou th.s Waipa exhibited ■their dislike to the whale ajfair, and by' means of petitions and remo£ ? stances, ttie , schewe o,f ' setting

natives amongst Europeans was j given up. Well and good. But what now happened? Instead of j ofi'ering tlic Un 1 for sale a^ain, it | was kept locked up, owing to the ■OMhtence of certain legal difticultiev it being said that although the land was purchased for the Crown, it could not be sold again with'rut an Act of the Assembly to authorise the .sale. '1 he matter was brought under the notice of the Government by tlic late member for the district, Mr Me Minn, and an Act was passed, in the session of 1878, authorising the transfer of these lauds, together with certain other Crown land, in extent about 1500 acres, to the Crown Lauds Board as lands of superior value. In deference to the wish of the Legislative Council, a clause was inserted in the Bill to the effect that the proceeds should be devoted to providing a superior education to the Maoris. The proclamation transferring the land was made in November, 1878, and ever since that time the Crown Lands Board have amused themselves by surveying and re-surveying the land, months being allowed to elapse between each operation. The last, which was supposed to be the final survey, was completed months ago, and there is still very little chance of the land being sold. The Commissioner promised that it .should be put up to auction in October or November last. In December, in reply to enquiries, Mr Tole regretted the delay, which he said was unavoidable, and stated that the .sale would positively take place in the middle of January. But this latter date has again gone by without a sign being given. Not long ago a gentleman desirous of settling in the district communicated with the Commissioner as to when the land would bo offered for sale, and the price which would be put upon it. j In reply, he was told that the time at which the sale would take place could not 'be fixed, and the price per acre would be £2 10s! What progress the district might have made has been completely nullified by tho locking up of these lands, which before the time of their purchase by Government not only offered a field for settlement but contributed in a great degree to the local revenue, which has fallen off in consequence of the purchase at least two-thirds. The Pirongia District has had all sorts of natural difficulties to contend against, and needed nothing in the shape of artificial impediments. The number of settlers to day is not larger than it was fourteen years ago, and under the present wretched system of dealing with the rural lauds in the in tho vicinity cannot be expected to increase during the next century. We hope to see the matter very strongly represented to the Government by the member for the district, who, in all matters affecting the progress of the Waikato has shown that he has its interest at heart.

The contract for the additions about to be built by Mr Robeit Kirkwood, at Cambridge, has been secured byMr H. Carter.

A large mob of sheep have arrived at Cambridge from Napier, for sale at Mr J. >S. Buckland's annual sheep sale to-day.

Two cricket matches are on the tripls, viz : the annual County match, Wai pa v Waikato, which will probably bo played on the 28th inbt., at Cambridge; and "Waikito v Auckland, to tako place about a fortnight later.

Every hour of the clock finds a fresh, batch of Maoris wending their way into Cambridge. Before the end of the week there will in all probability bo six cr Heven hundred natives in the town.

A large number of people arrived by the Auckl.mil train, last evening, among them being several Maoris en route to take part in the proceedings of the Native Lands Couit.

Several of the horses engaged to run in the Waikato Turf Club's JUce«, on Thursday and Friday, arrived last night by train. Maori, To Whetu, and Harry Mount have found quartets at Mofflin's, while Moonstone went on to Camp's, at the Narrows Road, whither Yatapa and Golden Crown had preceded him,

Mr McMinn writes :—" Sir,— A slight printer's mistake occurs in my letter concerning the petition about the Te Roro Bridge. I am made to say a coocicc letter was received along with the petition. It should be a covering letter. By correcting the above, you will oblige."

Mr J. C. Booth, the contractor, is making good progress with the cuttings on tlio Kirikiriroa - Taiipiri road. These wxuks were much needed in view of ; the increased traffic which ia linely to arise.

In the match between the Australians and Twenty-two of tVanganui, which was concluded on Saturday, the local team won the* match by one run and ten wickets. The Australians say it was a badly fought match, and owe their defeat to the bad ground.

We are sorry to learn that the proposed promenade concert which was to have been held to-morrow evening in the grounds of Mr Cummin^, at Roeemont, in aid of the Presbyterian Harmonium Fund, will not take place. We believe a concert in the Oddfellows' Hall will be substituted.

The proposed trotting match against time from the' Ohaupo ''racecourse to the Hamilton Hotel has caused quite a furore amo.ngst owners of trotting novses, a number of whom are anxious to make a match on the same* terms'.

Nothing has yet been done towards making the approach to the bridge < over the Maungaonua creek, on the Kjiikiriroa side, It is surprising that such, disregard should be shown to the requirements of the public It is time that steps were^ taken by. the legislature' to' malte pro-* vision for such cases as tb,e,se» , .

A meeting of officers commanding the various Cavalry Troops in Waikato was held at; Gwynue/s: Hotel, jl^ajnUton,' on Saturday, to make arrangements regarding the reception of ,- the,, Thames volunteers at the proposed Eas'terreview at Te Awamutu. There T^prej present; Major «faekson (Ju, the chair) ,~paptains Runciman(Oambridge); ,^7hita)fer ton), and Lieut,, Briwe (T^/A^tautu). After discussion itJ.^w/agre^l^iat the expenses be borne eq6ally^y"ffie three trqop)?; and Major Jackedn Was requested to pyooecd in^rfajf tjie

Attorney i«7eiiei')il to arrange, for a supply of t'snte 6fe' ciiMfas: M-ijor Japksou W^s^, a j)a->sen'. r er l#*.&uokLvi&l>y the Itikl-tlay 1 tiain yesterday.

Tlie steamer Delta left on Saturday morning for a trip to the Wuikato Ileads. , isho ,had on board , about ibivpy oxcuiNionists from Oairtbx'idge/criamilton, ami iNg.uuiiVtiliiar Up to the time of going 1 to prosa hist night, the steamer had not returned to Hamilton.

The installation of officers for the ensuing your of thy Hope of Jltiiniltou, Lodge No 40,1.0.0. T. took place cm Saturday, whfn tho following were iut>t illed : — IV.C.T., Bro. Robeit Harris; W.V.T., C. Tippin ; W S., R. Edwards ; W.P.S., J. iSteadmaii 1 ; W.0., Browning; Acting 8.W.G.T., -" Sister "Palmer, Sear'; R.S. W.C.T., Bro. Lawrence; L.S. W.C.T , Sister Palmer, junr.; W.F., Bro. Pdlme. ; W.M, J. Davis; W.D.M., T. Davis ; W.1.G.,G. Kelly ; W.0.G., JU. Hayes.

Mr J. T. Camp's new house, the Tamahere Hotel, situated at the inters section of the Waipa-Piako, or NarrowsRoad, and the main road from Hamilton to Cambridge, is now completed, and offers accommodation to travellers of a, very superior description. Visitors and tourists will also find the house very convenient. The hotel contains a commercial-room and two private sitting-rooms, the latter elegantly furnished, while there is sleeping room in well-appointed, well-venti-lated bed-roonis for fifteen, without shakedowns. In addition to this, there is extensive stabling, including five looseboxes, with plenty of paddocking adjoining. The close proximity of the hotel to the Ohaupo Race-course renders it peculiarly well adapted to serve the requirements of owners of racehorses and othex's.

A candidate for trie situation of coachman advertises, in a Cork paper, that he has good testimonials and is ' both courageous and a good shot. ' A letter to the editor of tlie payev suggests, with reference to the advertisement, that ' the master' should also provide himself with an armour-plated conveyance, as the coachman would not have an opportunity of firing until after he, the master, had been shot, and the asaasin emerged from his lair.

Atlas in the " World" says :-Footmeu are going out and foofcwomeu are taking their place. Dining the other night in Eaton -place, the door was opened by one of the latter in a most charming and brooming livery. Black-and-white mob-cap for head-drees, stand-up collar with white cravat and small pin in it, rich brown-cloth coat with livery buttons cut somewhat like a man's hunting-coat, and a buff waistcoat with a High Church collar — such was the uniform. I was so struck with the upper portion of the drchs that I never thought of looking at the extremities ; but I fancy my eye ouce got a glimpse, going up-«tairs, of red stockings, and shoes with silver buckles. Dm in;; dinner four winsome lassies, all similarly attired, waited on mo hand and foot ; and certainly never was a dinner more deftly handed and served. Why not? Women are, by their nature, much better suited for tfci i sort of work than men. Th 9 latter think nothing or eating onions or smoking vile tobacco before serving the soup, or putting their thumbs in the gravy of one's mutton, or breathing stertorously at your ear, or peiceptibly on your cranium if it lacks a covering 1 . Besides, there is a decided economy ; footwomen aie not txxed, nor do they cat so much.

Active measures are being taken towards erecting au Anglican Church, in which, however, till denominations could hold service, dt T.imahere. The Messrs Graham have offered a site, and plans have been obtained of a building- which could seat about 140. The subscriptions already promised, amount to something over £100, and as yet no active canvass has been made. At no distant date we may expect to see a respectable village at TaTnahere. A nucleus has beeu formed by the erection of a blacksmith's shop and an hotel, and now the contract for building a store has been let, and the timber is on the ground.

A farmer in the Cambridge district informs us that lie has sown a field of swedes on land partly manured and partly uuinanured, and that the crop promises to do equally well throughout. It ought, however, to be borne in mind, that the season lias been more than usually favorable to the growth of turnips, and the chances are that in nine seasons out of ton the unmannred portion of the crop would turn out a miserable failure. We shall, take the opportunity of gleaning all the information regarding the crop in question, the method of treating the soil, &c, and lay the particulars before our readers.

The Native Lands Court was formally opened at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday, at 10 a.m. The hall was at once filled, principally by natives, but there were also a number of Europeans, amongst whom Mr John Sheehan, M.H.R., Messrs Kemp and Brookfield (Royal Commissioners), together with the officials connected with the Court, Messrs Dilworth, E. B. Walker, and others also put in an appearance. Judge Symonds not appearing, a somewhat desultory discussion took place among the natives. After some delay, Mr Hammond, interpreter to the Court, announced that the Judge was indisposed, and consequently unable to attend. The Court was therefore adjourned till Monday, at 10 a.m.

For some considerable time time the subject of organismg 1 an Institute of Civil Engineers and Surveyors for New Zealand resembling the English Institute, has been on the tajpis. The principal object which the organisers have in view is, of course, the protection of professional men. Such an institution would also benefit the public at large, as under the regulations a fixed scale of charges will be made and ' only < ' competent men will be allowed to become members. Preliminary steps haye been already taken at meetings held in the different districts in the colony,' and we believe that the movement has been approved by the, Surveyor-General and others of the authorities, A meeting of engineers and surveyors" in' the v Waik'ato District, convened by circular, was held at Gwynne's Hotel ori Saturday afternoon. The following were present : — Messrs G. Hosking (in the chair), J. Gwynneth, C.E., A. B. Stubbing, P. Edgecumbe, and W, 0. Breakell. Messrs Simms and, R., E, M. Qamjobeli wrote regretting their juab,ility to be •present. Correspondence was' read and resolutions were passed endorsing the, action already taken by the promoters. We trust to see the" lnstitute placed on a firm basis, as its, success will be the means of conferring great advantages on. the colony.

Why, asks the correspondent of a contemporary, don't .your farmers turn their attention to potato farina ? It only requires a capital of some £500 to go into the business thoroughly, > and farina is worth J#2 per ton at home. "We are sending home next majj for specification of plant required, and if any of your farmery think it worth., white we will give them &Upartic'ulars when we get it.

We are pleased to notice that the the Band under the new arrangement are taking up thei^i^ipnen^g jrithj^ffefejing that there is a good luture in store for them. The &tfrp i& not fety.to beifjo'jgreat' a burthen, as the Band will now belong to the \yh^fL .'j^s^a^ U>| *>*he , , Light In^ntry Vqtui>see^ and be ! available Jon eveqr : occaBipn~|or; public arauseriaent» «tf ! x puHie^re^pjao'nj| f &c.,

ment of a 'trustee and committee, Captain 1 ' Staele subscribed two pounds on account of the instrument fund, ami one pound ii quarter to the teacher's fund for oue year. The members for Waipa and Wiilcato followed «uit, aud seveial of tho residenfcb;. of—the dibti ict . have signified their intention to eubsciibe a small sum quarterly, to meet the teacher's salary. This is as it hhould be, and uot as heretofore, with all the burthfn fell on one or two, who felt tho want of a Bund. The concert this evening 1 is to assist to pay the debt on the Instruments— about £24 of which remains Unpaid. The price of the tickets has been marie low, to enable every. me to pjfrfcake of the enjoyment of a moonlight trip on our noble river, and a plea^anter way of spending 1 an evening 1 in this warm weather, can hardly be conceived. Dancing at intervals will bo indulged in, and we hope to see the steamer crowded on this occasion for this laudable purpose.

Since Henry Ward Beecher preached the iuneral sermon of Theodore Parker, he has not scandalised the orthodox of America so terribly as he did the other day when he eulogised Colonel Robert Ingersoll, the American Mr Bradlaugh, and publicly shook hands with him, during the Presidential campaign, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. So much hubub was occasioned by the incident that a New York Herald reporter was sent off first to ask Colonel Ingersoll what he thought of Mr Beecher, and then to ask Mr Beecher what he thought of Colonel Ingei'holl. It is edifying to note the cordiality which exists between the leading representatives of theistic and anfcitheistio thought across the Atlantic. Of Mr Beecher Colonel Ingersoll said ; " I regai'd him as the greatest man in any pulpit of the world. He has liberalised the English-speaking world. He is a great thinker, a marvellous orator, and, in my judgment, greater and grander 1 than any creed or any church. Besides all this, he treated me like a king. Manhood is his greatest foi'te, and I expect to live and die his friend. " Mr Beecher was almost as warm in his eulogy of Colonel Ingersoll. He regards him *'as one of the greatest men of the age. " While regretting that lie is no believer in revealed religion, Mr Beecher maintained that ' ' on the broad platform of human liberty and progress I was bound to give him the right hand of fellowship. I would do it a thousand times over. Colonel Ingersoll has the same right to free thought and free speech that I have. I am not that kind of a coward who has to kick a man before he shakes hands with him. I will not pitch into any man's religion as an excuse for giving him my hand. I admire Ingersoll because he is not afraid to speak what he honestly thinks, and I am only korry that he does not thmk as I •do."

"Tin. TjmjV Ukdjjr tub Lash— When by a &udden reverse of fortune (says the Pall Mall Budget) the executioner in "B.miaby "Rudge" found that his own turn had come, his cries were louder and more piercing than those of anybody else. The Times, like other newspapers, lias been accustomed to do execution freely on public men of all sorts for a good many yeai's ; and now, when Mr KingUke ventures to apply the cat of hib satire to it, the Tonn Hies into great heats about " impertinence." "vulgar charges," "deserved contempt,', 1 ' lapse of gentlemanly feeling," "gossiping proclivities," " teeble and childish burlesque;" "creeping historian," and so on. When we turn to the two notes which provoke this terrible wrath, it is raiier surprising that they should have stirred tantus iraz in celestial minds. One desc-ibes how Mr Delane earned his living when he was a boy ; the other is a lively and harmless caricature of the applications by which the editor of the Times is besieged. It is surely good that those who are oblig-ed to belabour other people should cultivate a certain comfortable thickness in their own skin, under penalty ot making their friends smile at a sensitiveness which they do not much regard in others

It's a Fkaud. — Ingersoll and his infidel lectures have become nauseous to the com-mon-sense people of America who are beginning to think that it is a fraud. An. American paper says: The Tom Paine fever has been followed by a reaction : the eloquence and intellectual bi'illiancy of Ingersoll cannot redeem him from the obloquy of his assaults on religion, and he has marred his usefulness for ever as a public man ; the best he can say in any cause can baiely compensate for the harm inflicted by his support. An appeal lias been made to the nation and the great public sentiment of fhe people has declared that it is religious, and only the more religious because it has discovered that unbelief and infidelity have been quite as illiberal and intolerant as any sectarianism could be, and the infidels have only themselves to thank it their unworthy crusade against religion reacts upon themselves as it undoubtedly has done, and as it inevitaby must do.

We draw attention to an important announcement by the manager of the New Zeal.md Giantl Gift Club, Auckland. Mr A. B. Donald, ship-chandler, sail, tent, and taipaulin-maker, Queen and Fortstrccts, Auckland, publishes his piice-list in another column. Mr B. Stubbing, Kibikihi, offers a reward for the recoi ory of a lost horso. Mr J . S. Bueklaud will hold an impoi - tant sale ot horses on Saturday nevt. An adjourned meeting of the Waikato County Council will be held on Monday ne\t, to consider certain proposals to stop roads. Mr Samuel Bright, auctioneer, will sell on the premises, at Cambridge, to-day, under distress warrant, certain goods, the property of W. G, McCann. The sale is at uoon. Mr J. 8. Buckland will sell at the Cambridge yards to-day, under distress wan-ant, certain cattle, sheep, and horses, the property of W. G. McCann. The Board of Education notify in another column the times and places at which certain meetings of householders shall be held for the election of School Committees. Mr Thomas Steadman, seed and plant merchant, Queen-street, Auckland, is now landing some fine see4s, ex Loch Urr. , A meeting pf the members and honorary members of the Te Awamutu Cavah-y Troop will be hold in the Public Hall on the 19th instant, at 7.30 p.m., re the Easter Review. The public are invited to attend. ' Oa and after Monday next the Hamilton Branch Railway line will be closed, A select quadrille party will be held in the Oddfellow's Hall on Thursday next. Messrs W. J. Hunter and, Co,, in con- ; sequence of the Waikato Turf Club Races, will hold their Ohaupo sale on Saturday next, 19th instant -- The new pure cash system, now being J initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a "benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and, when strictly carried out the customer who buys at ,an establishment where! the goods are marked low to' ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery millinary, and clothing at 'such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operativesociety,withouttherisk.of being called upon to beir a portion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garllck and CranWell will/aim ' to retain the coh'fidfeficej which $h.e p.ub.lic ljaveiriiheftp sh,owh them,, and* aretJetermined to give the pu«- cash system a fairtr^al; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country barer? on remitting cash with order will be supplied' with goods at co-operative prices J just the sanje fsthou^Jht^ey njade a, personal so-, lection. J -* Furnishing goods, quch. as (Carpets, floor cloths,' bedsteads, bedding and gKnoral housp furn jturej thejlargestportton' of whicKis turned out at,our owjl &.cjgsy, vt\\\ b,e> BWVed a,t" the lowestremune.ratiyijp^ces, and.a discdiin'tot| five per cent'.wilL bcallowM lo'thdse'wWpay af the4imeofpurclsk^6K^^\Bt^C. e liaving'' ! r.ealised f the entire value, of thjsirjsf^cl^during their 4at«S< cash sale -the SF&B& ?*«)(* yt^Vf^»^*mt • bought. 'An insuQatrqa » mvited.— Garlick-aw Cf4?»WBU.} c jtyHall FuriusWnff J^caae*Q«j%om "