Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1354, 5 March 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and evart justice to all men, ; Ot whatever state or persuasion, religions or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawed bj influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, MARCH o, 1881.

The Tamahere and , Pukekura Highway Boards are just now very similarly circumstanced. Both are anxious to open up fresh means of comiuhnication over the boundaries of the adjoining districts of Kirikiriroa and Hamilton respectively and both are met by opposition, though not precisely of the same form. There is also this further difference in the two cases, that whereas the Tamahere Board has actually incurred expenditure on the assumption that they would receive assistance from their neighbours, the Pukekura Board only contemplate engaging in a work towards which the Hamilton Board are not willing to contribute half the cost. The principle involved is", however, much the same. It is the refusal of one district to bear an equal share of the expenditure on boundary works. The plea which both the dissenting Boards urge is that their ratepayers are not at all interested in the woiks, and can derive no benefit from them adequate to the amoutit of money Etsked for, and in doing sq the Hamilton Board have more reason on their side than Kirikiriroa has. It strikes us, however, that after all the principle is a very selfish one, and if carried out faithfully ia all parts of the colony or district would end in creating all sorts of difficulties, and tend greatly to the disadvantage of the settlers generally. This spirit of unwillingness to assist neighbour districts is one of the most patent defects of the Road Board system, and would form a strong argument for the abolition of that system were we at all certain that it would be replaced by something more efficient. Road Boards are too apt to regard their districts in the light of independent territories, instead of in their proper condition as parts of what ought to be one harmonious whole. We take it, that it dan matter very Httle to whatsoever state of perfection the roads within a district may be brought if they are not properly connected with those of tjhe surrounding country. That is speaking generally, of course. We are inclined to think that the Tamahere Board were induced to go so far under the impression that the Public Works Act gave them the power either to compel the Kirikiriroa Board to execute a share of the work on the bridge at Hinton's Gully, pi* to recover a portion of the cost. Unfortunately they were, if such was the ' case, misinformed, as the Act makes no such provision. Nor ought anything of the kind to be necessary. What is required is, the exhibition of a more liberal spirit, instead of the Ishmaelitish tendency which is taking such firm root in Waikato, and which, if prompt -measures be not taken for its eradication, will become of strength sufficient to resist our utmost efforts.

The Hamilton West School Committee Lave decided that in. future the school prizes shall be awardedto those pupils who shall secure the lai'gest number of marks during the year, the Headmaster to keep a register for this purpose. This resolution was come to at the instance of Mr Murray himself, ! but we cannot say that the plan is one which we appi'ove of. It is argued that by its means the timid shy children — of which there is always a fair proportion at every school— will be placed in a position , equally as advantageous as that occupied by those of bolder nature. ' This is no doubt very true, .and there can be no doubt that in some cases a little assurance makes up -for a' deficiency, in knowledge. - On the other hand the system of deciding by mai'ks is open to aya v very grave objection, in that the master, if he be not .strictly honest, can easily be partial. But even where a mnster is actuated by the strictest principles of* honesty and impartiality, h6 tiiusfc insensibly f have a s leaning in sorri§ direction. ' He could jnofc .possibly; help it. Thp-idea of making a "schoolmaster judge', of'HTs" pupils" acquirements is abo,u,t. as sensible' as/ the, acceptance of a poem's criticism i of his own work. In each case their judgment would- be-biasse_d arid/in'orasequeh'ce, unreliable. In either the results, can. bfi-esfciinated' at their, £rue yajue m.u<ih ipdre satisjf actoiily by indepen<3eAt 'an<| imp^.r» tial examiners. ' In saying this we

do natTn;iea.u togreufcet-upon any of the scnoo'l master's 'in. the district; a class of men for whom we have the greatest respect, but we niiust diss^nbto^e institution* *of 'a system of sshooU; eV.\mi|iawpiiff whieli t w.e, think will, on the whole, prove unsatisfactory. "" '

SevEU'al ssttlevs ' in' the Highway Districts of Kirikiriroa and •Tamaher,e have complained } to us on the 3core that the" notice iixing the date on, which the Assessment Opurfcs for these districts would sit, was pub- \ lished hi a paper not circulating within their boundaries. One, of the two gentlemen who attended the, Court at Kirikiriroa, states that hejvfoukl have known nothing of the matter had ho not seen a local which, in the interests of our readers we.inserted on the morning of the day on which objections were to be supported, calling attention to the fact. Unfortunately this notice was not given early enough to be of advantage to those living at a distance, and as a consequence, they were unable to bo present, and must now accept the valuation put upon their land, just or unjust, without hope of redress. A system of advertising which shows such results is as much opposed to common sense as it is hurtful to the public interest, and in behalf of this latter we must strongly protest against its continuance. We are aware that, acting on the desire of the Government, the Assessment Judge has praiseworthily endeavoured to distribute fairly the advertising favours which he holds. Mr Northcrof t would not stoop to do anything unfair, but his excessive zeal in the opposite direction has led him into the commission of an act of great injustice towards a lai'ge number of the ratepayers in the Waikato County, on whose convenience he appears to have placed less value than upon the interests of newspapers. If some better system of distributing the Government advertising cannot be adopted, and we see no reason to the contrary, we shall be glad to insert those notices not included in the Hst,free,in order that the Waikato settlers may be fully posted in those subjects which have special interest for them. In the Waipa County the Assessment notices relating to which were published in these columns, the objectors in all cases attended, in marked contrast to the paucity of attendance at the Courts on the other side of the Waikato river.

"Echoes from the Cafe 1 ' are unavoidably held Over till next issue.

We understand that tenders will be invited forthwith for rendering fit for traffic the io<id a0r033 the swtiinp to Itukuhia railway-station on both skies of the line. This very necessary work, when completed, will prove highly advantageous to the interests not only to settlers ou the Hamilton-Ohaupo road, but also to those living in the extensive districts of Ngahinepouri and Tuhikaramea. Settlers in the Te Rore district will also be beneficially affected, as we think the liiikuhia will be their nearest station when the road in question is completed. It will be remembered that the Hon. James Williamson made an offer to the Hamilton Board to repair that portion of the road running through their district, the cost to be stopped out of his rates for successive years. The same gentleman has made similar offers to the other Boards interested, which we believe have also been accepted. It will at once be seen to how great an extent the large land-owners can benefit the district, and we trust to see the example of Mr Williamson generally followed.

Large bush fires are raging in the neighbourhood of Tuakau. If not checked, very much damage is certain to be done to the properties in the locality.

Sir Cracroft Wilson, C.8., of Cashmere, near Christchurcli, died at his reaideuce on Wednesday night, aged 74 years.

Mr James Stewart, late District .Engineer, fornmlly handed over the duties of his office to his successor, Mr Hales, late Resident Engineer, Wellingtoi, on Tuesday last.

A couple of years ago the frequent recurrence of fires in the South Island provinces was freely associated with the badness of the times ; the cause in nearly all cases being ascribed to poverty. If such were the trao interpretation, it looks very -much as though another period of depression was about to set in. In today's issue we record three or four fires which have taken place in various parts of the colony. Let us hope that this time they are the result of pure accident.

At a meeting of the Hamilton ,Wjest SchooL Committee, a letter wa3 read from the head master suggesting that instead of holding annual examinations he'Shorild adopt a system of giving marks to. the children, the prizes to be warded .according to the- number of marks obtained. It was also resolved that in future pi'izes should be given only to pupils under 15 years of age.

A , correrpondent writes from Cambridge: — "There is a very dangerous hole m the centre of the bridge over the Waikato, and if it be not repaired soon the chances are that some horse's leg will be broken and an action for damages will follow. The Waikato County Council ought to see to this matter,"

A house in Cambridge West belonging to Mr Henry Willougby was burned to the ground on Tuesday last. Mr Wiiloughby was away at Matamata, and his wife was the only person near at the time of the occurrence, everything in the building was destroyed. A fire had been kindled outside and some of the sparks were blown on to the roof. Much sympathy is felt for the family who are now rendered homeless.

. We learn from the Thames that the Volunteers there are anxiously looking, forward to the Waikato 'Review at /Easter. All the Thames Corps will he well represented and the men will reach' Waikato via Auckland. Nightly drills are 'indulged in the :< Volunteers being deIterrnined to make' themselves as efficient as possible. There) is little doubt also' •that a large number of the Auckland (Volunteers'' will attend and the > Review may be expected to be a grand sncces3. '

. ,We - are informed that Mr Hales, at, present, *ctftg *? Jse»idenfc Engineer on , ,{tsLjß, { t$LjB ljne, its cotnpjition, iq^b^t' ( jb^jinon^hs}j^js, at qjype pro/, ceed to] survey and prepare contcagt-plans understand that toe line known as

JBreafcellV 'lino will be- as far as practicable adhered to. Cambridge people may feel assured that the efforts of the member for Waikato (Mr. J. B. Whyte), have not been without avail, and tbjjt "thfe telecratn3 "whiohf "have been published in wrsSc columns from,' time 'to time were not, as'some w^ra inclined to fchink, unrjliab'e.

The Cambridge We3t School Committee having avmecl at tho ooiulu-ion 'tlut lifctle 'or 1 nothing can ?jj ufbcto-l ith tlie-p«illi.y piitaiice dlowed 1!i0,.i b v the Bonn! of Kducalion, have resohe.' 10 raise iunds by giving n concert o . t io evening of the llt'i hist., in ilie Schr»olhouse, The musical arrangements h». c been placed under the diiection of Mr C. D. Mackintosh, and this in itself is a guarantee that the entertainment will be •of a superior order, and leaving out of sight the excellencs of the object in view, should command a large attendance. At the conclusion of the concert there will be it darice.

The Maungatautari natives have again been behaving in an outrageous manner on Messrs Maele.m and Co.'h Horn Hora property. Ou "\Vcdne--d.iy :i party of them, numbering frbout 22, molested a party of men engaged in building a bridge over a small creek, took away their tools, and pulled down the cimp. They went towards the station, but were prevented from doing much mischief by the managei, who had a number of men with him. The natives, after indulging in violent language, went away threatening to burn down the Anewaniwi bridge. On Thursday Cil. Lyon despatched a number of theA.O. Force, who nre now camped on the ground. The Colonel, accompanied by Messrs E. Maclean. Bailey, and Major Mair, also visited M tuugatautari to proteat against the action of the natives. The natives have, it appears, thrown a l.irge quantity of bonedu->t belonging to Messrs M icleau into the river. They aro supposed to have been instigated by some white man who has an object to serve, but Mr Maclean is determined to hold his ground, and has collected a large body of men for that purpose.

Jo'eph Drabble, of Ngahinepouri, contractor, ha* filed declaration of his inability to meet his engagements with his creditors. Mr Gresham is solicitor for the debtoi . John Henry Grormausway, of Alexandra, baker, has filed declaration of his inability to meet hib engagements with his creditors. Mr Gresham is solicitor tor the debtot. Mr Robert Harris, of Hamilton Ea9t, having pun hased his old piemiscs at the corner of Grey and Hood-street, will re-open the same at .in early date. The programme of the Piako Races to be held on bt. Patrick's Day appears in our advertising columns. A meetinur of the Hamilton Cricket Club is called for this evening at half past 7, at the Royal Hotel. Mr W. R. Walker, of Custom-House-strecu, Auckland, has on sale, at current rates, new season teas. Kent House, Hamilton East, will be closed from Tuesday next till Friday ne\t, to facilitate buying of autum'i and winter stuffs. i Single tickets, available for the return I journey, will be issued on the Auckland and Te Awamutu Railwaj on St. Patrick's l)ay, provided the fare is not less than i*. Mr J. S. Buck land advertises valuable propci tics in Cambridge for sale on Saturday nest, the 12th instant. In another column Mr J. Mo3cs advertises the winning numbers of his prizes in the late art union. 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 wjio huys at .in establishment where the goods a.ro 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 being called upon tobearaportionof the loss should the year's business pro\e unsatisfactory. G irlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the conlidencc which the public have hitherto shown them, and are determined to give the pure cash system a fair trial ; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as caipets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own fat tory, will be marked at the lowest remunerate c prices, and a discount ot five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay af thetimeofpurcha.se. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is Nr.w and chraply bought. An inspection U invited. — Gari.ick and Cranwell, City Hall Furnishing Arcade Queenstreet, Auckland.