Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1351, 26 February 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

fiqu.il .mil o\ irt justice to .ill mon, Of \vhito\cr state 01 por-,u.iMon, religious or politic ill. flerc ■-li ill tlie Press the People's right niiiiit,iin Un.iwcd b\ influent c md unbribcd b} h'.iih

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 1881.

Somic of our ultra-" liberal" contemporai ies, in their .searcli after charges to hurl against the members of the present Ministry, have found theni- ! selves often at their wits'ends in vamping up one paltry indictment after another to suit their purpose. It is well enough known that if mini be pelted in sufficiently large quantities and with due persisfcenoy nome of it h bound to j 1 stick, and it is by this knowledge, we suppose, our friends above referred to are guided. It would require a volume of handsome proportions to hold the complete list of all the high crimes and misdemeanours which it is alleged the Hall Cabinet ay ill soon have to answer for. Of what might be called the grand offences, Government by Commission, as it has Ir'en called, and the reckless ami injudicious efforts in the direction of retrcnehment,are tw o of the most prominent, and upon these some of our Southern contemporaries have continued week in, week out, to ring the changes. E\erybody, a year ag >, seemed to be agreed upon one thing, namely, that it was absolutely necessary to reduce in some way the overgrown and ever-growing army of Civil servants --to reduce the tremendous departmental expenditure ; but the Government wis blamed because it adopted what really was the only tangible way to meet the difficulty, by appointing Commissions composed of practical and impartial men, who, after inquiry, were to indicate which course the desired reforms should take. We find these Commissioners — men selected from | both hides in politics — -men of con- | fessedly large experience and extended views — going about their work, often of the most unpleasant nature, with scrupulous care; and what is the result ? Their reports ax-e met with a torrent of violent invective and abuse, for the simple reason that more regard was had to the public economy than to the interests of individuals. If any other solid objection was raised to the Civil Service Commission Report, we have heard nothing of it. Individuals have their rights, and these rights should be scrupulously guarded by the State ; but when these rights — we will use the term, though it is not strictly logical — interfere with the welfare of the country, they ought not to be entertained. They have, in point of fact, ceased to be rights at all. We will take, for instance, the case of Mr. Couyers. His right, we suppose, consisted • in being allowed to retain the charge, at a respectable salary, of the South Island railways. So long as he gave satisfaction in fchat^apa'city— ' so long as the Service did iio't suffer t through his 1 reteatioft, he : h&i % l-Hit to He retained. . But the conditions being changed' ~ he' had no niore right to occupy the position than he has to the' throve 'of England.- ' Now, as^ r^artts-' retrench^ men*, ' the * r cry hfts* Wen ! *?#?<s in ■ 4 i' i n '

certain giiai'ters, and has found an echo ill every corner of the colony, that the Government have been dealing unjustly with the Civil .servants, by daring -to abolish certain offices and dismiss their occupants, and by reducing the salaries attatched to others 'still retained. That such a plea as this should have obtained the amount' of: sympathy it has would indeed be a mystery were we ignorant of the real motive of those who are loudest in asseverating it. We have no need to defend in the Government - the commission of an act, which in any mercantile establishment all would regard as an exercise of a wise policy. Now the pretended objection to the course which the Government has taken was that it was only one chalked out by the Commissioners, who were therefore held to be the virtual rulers of the colony, and hence we suppose the phrase "government by commision." was coined. The Government might have done all this and welcome, but the Commissioners, who in this democratic age arc, of course, no better than Tom, Dick, and Harry, and had not been " elected " by those gentry to do the job, should take such powers upon themselves was simply monstrous, Hut as a matter of fact, the Government did not bind themselves to accept the ipse dixit of the Commis- | siouers at all, and furthermore, events have shown, that, before any of the recommendations were acted upon, care was taken to ascertain j their justness. The need which existed, was too real, to palpable, to admit of a presumption that the Government would act upon none of the recommendations embodied in these reports, and the conclusion was at once jumped at, that (til would be accepted. Bat all have not been so acI ceptcd, aud the sense of justice which actuated the Cabinet in making a proper selection has been so well demonstrated, that we had almost began to think the mouths of the eroakei\s had been effectually closed. But we had reckoned without our host. Brains so fertile as their.s have been weaving webs of sophistry, may pause, but they do not cease in their work. After Avaiting for a decent period, to see whether their wi.sp prophecies will boar fruit, and finding that the Government has not adopted, as had been predicted, all the recommendations of the Commissioners, they swing >-ound and abuse the Ministers like pickpockets, for declining to bo the instruments of verifying their oracular utterances. As some of our readers are aware, the RegistrarGeneral is at the present engaged in a comparative account of the different systems adopted in the Australian Colonies for keeping the public accounts. The work promises to be of an unusually bulky character, and a Southern contemporary, whose literary attainments are as good as his politics are bad, devotes a column to a sort of prospective criticism of it. He creates and criticises with the utmost self-complacency, and in a truly humorous way ventures to suggest to Mr. Fitzgerald a few attractive titles for the book, any one of which would, if adopted, command for the work an extensive sale. That the report will be a valuable one our contemporary does not deny ; on thu contrary, it is clearly his policy to give it all the value which can po.ssibly attach to it, in order that he may have the more reason to bewail what he is assured must be its fate at the hands of a Government which refused to act upon "the bush-jl" of reports which it received from other Commissioners! "Liberalism!" truly thy name is inconsistency.

Our Piako letter, and other interesting matter, arc unavoidably crowded out of this issue.

The meeting of the Hamilton West School Committee, to vote for candidate for the Boird of Education, oilled for yesterday, has been postponed till 11 a.m. thih day.

At the R.M. Court, Cambridge, ycbterday, decisions were given in the following suits :—lvess: — Ivess v. Isaacs, for defendant, with £2 9s Gd coats ; and Richardson v. Ivess, for plaintiff, with £1 7s 6d costs.

At a special meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, in committee, last night to consider the report of a committee re painting, it was resolved to refer the report back to the Council with a recommendation to obtain the services of an engineer. {

Mr Henry Lawson (late of Sydney) has opened business in Kihikihi as "a saddle, collar, and harness maker. Mr Lawson has had great experience in the trade anH has a thorough knowledge of all the latest English, American and Australian improvements.

Information has reached the Thames that it is the intention of the Government to proceed immediately with the construction of the Thames- Waikato Railway as far as Movrinsviile, and that tenders are to be invited forthwith.

We regret to learn that the Rev. Mr Bruce, of Te Awamutu, is seriously unwell. In consequence, there will be no services in connection with the Presbyte-, rian Church at Te Awamutu to-morrow.

Efforts are being made to secure that the Lydia Howards Troupe shall jyive another performance in Hamilton on their I return from Cambridge, It is to be hoped j that a full house will be the result. - '

1 The contractor for the Te Bore j bridge, Mr O'Brieh has commended work in earnest. Sijx tiers of piles have been driven, and jl large .quaatity of timber is on the ground^ vrpvh^ will be carried on tinder fhe^aVl 6 superintendence of Capfc. Beere'and Mr Hope" of the Public rWorKa J)epar^ment. ' * '■ " ' ! ' n

paay haye p£ij][jstie4 %>eyjo# v of the^obl trade during tUe p^^ea^c^^ i^^ijgi'in ad^itjoii^tothe partic«la»s f , ieJegrs^JigjJ^ jthd mcreasefor N6WSotitnL^W4les waa< .seventeen and: South /Aiisfiralia ,^«eighteen' Jbou?ond4)fti99;o» tUe jprevious year, §o^a

000 were sold itfrSydney, atid 25,000 in Adelaide. Thief Goldsborbttgh "Expire>3 i i of opinoh that in a few years the bulk of wool to be sold in the colonies will rival any other market. Tlio reports further -state thafc the. tofcivl shipments from, the eojonies to tl\f 30th of September last were 876,000,' inclusive of that from New Zealand.

As evidence of the improvements which are^being oari ied out on th? property ot the Hon. Janies under the excellent management cf Mr CawkweU we may state that a contract for ploughing I some 700 or 800 acres of land has ju,-t been coinp'atecl, and the land will as soon as practicable bs sown down in grass. Other improvements are alfo i 1 progress.

Anyone paying a visit to the Mangawharo portion of the Waikato Land Association's Property, will bo astonished to mark the progress which has been made in that locality daring the last three years. On this, perhaps the choicest portion of the estat3, the grass aud clover are looking magnificent.

[ The fire which has been burning in Williamsons swamp for the .last week or so. has done pretty considerable damage to the bush, but we are glad to learn that the Hamiltoii-Tuhikaramea road has not, as was rumored, suffered. After all, the damage done is not likely to be an unmitigated evil, as doubtless much of the land so cleared, will be sown in rape.

The prospects of the proposed Volunteer Review at Te Awamutu at Easter have at length assumed a bright appearance. Captain Whitaker, of the Hamiltoh Cavalry Troop, lias received a telegram from Major Jackson, who went to Auckland for the purpose of making arrangements with the resident Minister, stating the Government will provide fifty tents and some cooking utensils, together with free passes on the railway for the visitors. A meeting of the officers commanding the different troops will be held at Hamilton at 2.30 p.m. today, for the purpose of making further arrangements.

The Assessment Court for the Hamilton Highway Disfciict, was held ut the residence of Mr 0. Johnson, Ohaupo Road, on Thursday afternoon, before H. W. Noithcroft, Esq., R.M. A^ses<<ment Judge. The Board was represented by the Clerk (Mr J. F.dgecumb?), and the Valuer (Mr Knox). Iho only objection was made by Mr James Stu-irt, who applied to have the name of Thomas Jolly inserted in the roll in lieu of his own. This was grautpd, and the rull was then signed, and handed over to the Board.

The members of the Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 9, Sons of Ulster (Hamilton), have presented the retiring Worshipful Master, Bro. John Knox, with the following 1 certificate : " We, the Master, Secretary and Treasurer of No 9 Sons of Ulster, Orange Lodge, *lo hereby certify that Bro. John Knox, has filled the office of Worshipful Master to the satisfaction of the brethren during a term of four years. Given under our hands and heal, this 16ch day of November, 1880 being his last day of office. (Signed), Rich ird Gwynne, W.M. ; T. C. Hammond, Secretary ; D. Coombes, Treasurer. The certificate has been beautifully illuminated by Mr T. H. Smithe, Hamilton East, the border bciiifj in the old missal style of the fourteenth ceutury. The design and coloiing are exceedingly chaste.

The Assessment Court for the Borough of Hamilton, was held at the Court-house on Thursday, beforo H. W. JNorthcroft, Esq., R M., Assessment Judge. The only ca^o of importance was a dispute between the Hon. James Williamson and the Corporation, in regard to certain lnnd adjoining the Lane, assessed by the Borough authorities, but which it was contended, was without the Borough boundaries. Mr 0 Neill appeared for the objector, and Mr Breakell also attended in auppoit. The Boiough was represented by the Mayor and the Town Clerk. 0 wing to an informality in the QaaMo defining the "Borough bouadnries, it was agreed to adjourn the caao till the 9th Marsh, in order to allow of an amicable arrangement being arrived at. Mr William Jones, acting for Mi" Thomas Jones svpP ea^ o^ against the valuation of Lot l'2o, £8. The amount was reduced to £6 10s. Several other objections bad been lodged, but as they were unsupported, they fell through.

Thomas Lees was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cambridge, yesterday, with having obtained goods of the value of £7 odd from Mr Merrick, storekeeper, by means of false pretences. Mr Hay prosecuted, and Mr Bsale conducted the case for accused. The evidence showed that in January, 1877, defendant was a member of the Armed Constabulary, attached to a party working on the Taupo road. On the 24th of that month he received orders to pi oceed to Hamilton for the purpose of being discharged. A condition of his discharge was that he should receive a month's pay as gratuity for aummary discharge. In proceeding e» route to Hamilton he obtained the goods charged in the information. Prosecutor in his evidence swoi'e that he gave the goods on credit, on the faith of defendant being clothed in the Constabulary uniform, and also the promise he then made that he would pay for them out of his "next month's pay." There were the representations relied upon by the prosecution. The circumstance was reported to the police at the time of its occurrence ; but in consequence of accused having left the colony, the warrant issued for his arrest was only executed on his return the other day. For the defence evidence was given to show that accused had au account with prosecutor, and the assistant in the employment swore that, unless the amount asked for had been heavy, he would have been prepared to take the responsibility of giving accused credit without reference to prosecutori The Magistrates, Messrs Northcroft and Wells, found the evidence insufficient to warrant a committal, and the case was dismissed.

A concert was held at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Thursday evening, in aid of the funds of the new Anglican Church. It may be inferred the somewhat meagre attendance resulted from the little notice given— still, in a musical point of view, the concert was decidedly successful. It commenced with a selection from "The Barber of Seville," on the violin, by Mr H. Keesing, with a piano accompaniment by Mrs Chitty. This was followed by the "Pinafore" opening chorus, by the St. Andrew's choir, Miss Beale and Mr Moore taking the solo parts. A song, "Love, Art Thou Waiting, " by Miss Austin ; then a trio from "Pinafore," by Miss Bright and Messrs .Lambert and Moore. Mr Garland then sang "The Wreck of the Hesperus;" and Mr Hammond sang "Nu Desporandum," The "Merry Merry Maid,"MessrB Moor and Garland, followed by a glee ". Come Dorothy Come" by the choir finished the, first part of the programme. The overture of the second part was "presented from the "Sicilian Vespers," by Mr Keesing, Mrs Ohitty again accompanying:, A grand old s*ng, »and well sang, was rendered by Mr HaiomondYcaUed; '^atiXW, asting in Dispair."* 'The Choir | then gave^ a.gl^e, when Mr ' Mooro, sang { *The- L6st Ohflr4,", which richly ' merited y y ee M e s c °^ %'w*! ltind ,enoukh 'io »<&ee<l to;, Mr'Brookfteid.in'a deep^fih yofce bhs« WM-tf-th'e'^Wisp,-"' . whictf *as u aL3O encored.' selection is>ia. t w% !'^*%f° re preceded "the ' NationJkTAiifliomj^adso'.clos?^ concert ' Honesty, lik« greatness, comes to

some, while others have it thrust upon them. A gentleman of the latter class resides somewhere on the West Coast of the Middle I-lund, according to the following curious extract from the New Ze^landGazette:— "Receipt of 'Conscience Mouey, acknowledged. The ReceiverGeneral acknowledges the receipt, on the 4th instant, of an envelope addressed Major Atkinson, Treasury, Wellington, contairiiug tl.r c £1 bank notes, with a slip attached, dated Hokitika, 29th January, 1881, and bearing the words 'fleiise receive £3, Government money, from a Roman Catholic."

The following Order in Council is published in the New Zealand Gazette : — " Whereas the land mentioned in the Schedule hereto was reserved for the protection of the banks of the Waikato River : And whereas, in the opinion of the Governor, it is expedient to vest the said land in the Corporation of Hamilton. Now, therefore, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, by and with the advice and consent of the Execut've Council of the said colony, and in exercise of the powers and authorities vested in him by the sixth section of "The Public Reserves Act Amendment Act, 1878," doth hereby declare that, from and alter the dato hereof, the paid reserve shall become vested in the Mayor, Councillor?, and Burgesses of the said Borough of Hamilton, in trust, for the protection of the banks of the Waikato River. Schedule — All that piece or parcel of land containing by admeasurement 4 acres, more or less, and being Lob No. 417, hicuate in the Survey District of Hainil ton, Piovincial District oi Auckland, Parish of Kirikiriroa, commencing at a point distant from the south westernmost corner of Lot -ill, 110 links. Bounded — Generally South-westerly by the Waikato Uiver and a stream, 2430 links ; towards the North-east by line*, 380, 1200, and G2O links respectively ; and towards the South-e.isfc by a line to commencing point, 130 links.

The amended boundaries of the Re-ulent Magistrate's district of Waikato have been gazetted as follows: — "Bounded towards the North by the Fapakura Resident Magistrate's District, as defined in New Zealand Gazette, 1875, page 698 ; towirds the E<i>,t and North by the Hauraki Resident Magistrate's Disttiet, hereinbefore defined, to the Waihou River ; thence again towvnds the East by the Waihou River aforesaid to its intersection by the southern boundary of Block XTI ; Aroha Survey District: thence again towards the North by part of the southern boundary of Block XII. afoieaaid, and liy .said boundary produced in an easterly ditection to the mminit of Te Aroha range; thence again towards the East by the summit of that range to Weraiti ; towards the South by a right line from the place Li-t n lined to the summit of Maungukauu Mountain; thence by a riyht line to the summit, of Kopuahiu ; thonce by the houth-eastern boundary of the Militiry Settlements Block to the Puniu River, and by that river to its confluence with the Waipa River ; and thence by a risrht, line to the summit of Pirongi.v M nintains ; and towards the West ny part of the western boundary of the Military S^ttleuientg Block to the north-weS"- ra angle of that block ; thence by a lino to the -outh-eas-tern ansrle of the Waiuku Resident M.igistrate's District, as defined in New Zealand Gazette, 1876, pajxe 402 ; and by that district to the starting point.

On the handicapping question " Mazeppa " has the following :—" A few months nsjo our sporting folk were very much int°rc»ted in the handicapping question. Now, one never hears it spnkon of. I mention this because it is necessary, if anything 1 is to be done at the meeting of delegates to be held at Cbristchuich next April, the representatives shall come prepaied with some instructions, or with a definite scheme for tbe solution of the question. If eve r yono comes simply to listen, and not to apeak, the conferenea will again end iv smoke. Perhaps it is best that a"eh .should be the case after all. Canterbury folk seem quite satisfied with Mr Griffith ; Wan Kanui people stick hard and fast by vlr Hately ; Dimedin sportsmen have unlimited confidence in Me^arh Dow->e, Taggart, and Jobbera-*. Probably none of these would suit tho people of Auckland, Wellington, or Napier, who would iv all likelihood be better pleased to get some local inon to do the work. All things considered, it is hardly likely that the project -will ripen j at le.i&t, th.it is my judgment, though if a rcilly sxnod man cou'd be found to suit all parties — uon for i week or two, but f'H* years — I still think the idea a good one."

Mr Justice Gillies, writes a southern contemporary is a Judge, ami "a good Judgp too." His 1 iff, wo believe i-> sound, and so are his lun«-s. During his recent visit to America he was bti-uck with (lieg-fime of base Im'l, '•o popul.il 1 in Canada and in the States, and ho has hi ought to the colony a set of the apparatus required, with the necessary b ill-, &c, which are to be Presented to the Auckland College and Grammar Sohool. He has made himself thoroughly acquainted with all the rules of the game, and is, po«9ibly, prepared to play any other judge in the oo'oay for a moderate btake. All this is very nice and veryspnsible. A handicap tournament at base ball among our legal lights, would be an interesting and popular event. "Go-as-you-please '' contests would be completely eclipsed, and the taiciusrs at the gate would be something very considerable. The ordinary legal cost 'me might probably have to be modified indeed, but a happy melium between the full foreusic paraphernalia and the light running integuments so popular araonsr ped*, uould easily bo arranged. Mr. Juatice Grilliea evidently believes in the theory of the advatitag-e of possessing a healthy mind in a healthy body. We feel convinced that his arguments and judgement will suffer in no wise fiom his athletic proclivities.

Notice is ffiven that at a meeting of the creditors of Charles Walnutt, held on the 74th inst.inc, Thomas Charles Hammond was appointed creditor's trustee.

The Pukekura Highway Board invite tenders for certain works, particulars of which will bo found in another column.

The -Waipa County Council warn owners of dogs that the Act will be strictly enforced, and notifies that after "the ist March a rcwaid of Li will be paid for the conviction of every owner evading the law.

We beg to draw attention to the important sale of horses, at the Cambridge Yards to-day, by Mr J. S, Buckland. The horses are from the Rotorangi Estate," and include a number of well-bred unbroken draughts. The new pure cash system now being 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-operative society, without the risk of bging i called upon tobearaportionof thelossshould the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlirk and Crinwcll will aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and , ,arc determined to give the pure cash system a feir trjal {whether they, gain or lose the first year. ' Country buyers on remitting .cash with order will be supplied'with goods at' co-operative prices ; ' jus t_ the same as though they made'a personal selection. Furnishing- goods, puch as carpets, f}qqr clqtljs, bedsteads, b,etjding, and general homo ! fm=nituFo, th,e JaFgjMt P9.rt tQ .n ' <rf which is turned out 'at our own raotopy, wiii b,e markc4 q.t the lo,west i^munerativo prices, and a discount at , ijve p_ cr cen,t. will be allowed io those who pay af the time' of purchase. G-. ,8c C. having realised "the entire value of 'their 'during their! late cash gale, the present stdck is new and chraply rBQDOHT. An inspection is invited. — Garwck and "CRA>WBLL,CityHallFursisljingA?cade,Queen-