The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1372, 16 April 1881, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuabion, religious or political. Here shill the Press the People's right maintain Unaived by influence and unbribed by gain.

\ SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1881. +

! Sir Julius Vogel, when Premier I of New Zealand, took great interest in the question of the preservation of existing forests, and promulgated a valuable forest system. Captain Campbell-Walker was imported from India, at a large salary and handsome allowances, to travel over the 'colony and report on the timber generally. Captain CampbellWalker's labours cost the country thousands of pounds. He travelled about ; he saw all in the forest line there was to be seen, and he departed, having, prior to his departure, written an able and exhaustive Report, which received much attention at the time from Parliament and the Press. This Report, however, has been put into a pigeon-hole, and become a document tied up in red-tape, and doubtless, by this time, mouldy and motheaten. And more's the pity ! Men who give the matter any consideration will admit the patent fact that the climate of New Zealand is changing very markedly. Some years ago it was the rule, and not the exception, to witness at given times of the year spells of wet weather, generally from the southerly part of the compass, which lasted from three days to perhaps ten days or more. In Canterbury these water and windy outbursts were known as 41 south-westers," while in this island they were called "south-easterly bursters." Gradually these southerly blows, accompanied by rain, have been of much less frequency and of considerably less duration. Throughout the colony statistics have shown that for many years past less direct moisture has been conveyed by atmospheric agency, arid that the country has suffered a change inconsequence. Southland, for example — notoriously an inordinately wet portion of the colony some, years ago—is , gradually assuming more r genial characteristics. To what

— r - / • — ' influences these noted alterafciens in New Zealand climatic records may be attributed is a so.mewhat mooted question. However, the greatest weight of learned evidence tends *to indicate that to the gradual disappearance of our forests is to be attributed the noted change in our climate. New Zealand, in this matter, is no exception. South Africa, especially, is suffering from the same cause. In many parts of Europe it has been found necessary to undertake extensive planting operations with a view of increasing the amount of moisture. Instances are' not, wanting to demonstrate that a country may virtually be rendered well-nigh uninhabitable and a barren wilderness by the reckless felling of timber. Classic lands furnish striking examples. A Southern contemporary, writing on the subject, points out that the Palestine of the present day is not the fruitful land of old, rich in vineyards and tracts of iWaving corn. It is now comparatively a barren land — sterile, and suffering severely from droughts; and not only are many of the streams dried up during the greater part of the year, but even the Jordan is four feet lower than in the New Testament era. Greece has suffered similarly, and Spain likewise, whilst many parts of Austria have been reduced to the verge of barrenness. Sicily, too, is no longer the granary of Italy as of yore, but since its natural timber has been allowed to disappear, the plains during the long summer months are burnt yellow. The soil yields every drop of moisture to the heat of the sun, there being no woods to retain it, or to attract the rain clouds from the sea. In Portugal, the inhabitants have realised the mistakes of their forefathers ; they are now j i planting groves of pine with the object of attracting and condensing the moisture from the Atlantic. Such is the case also at Madeira and Teneriffe where the vines have decayed away through the destruction of the original woods and where chestnut and laurels are cultivated by the Government to make up for the stupid waste of last century. In Egypt, several generations ago, there were but seven or eight days of rain during the year ; but since, , some fifty years ago, some fifty thousand trees were planted under Mehemet Ali's reign, the rainfall has increased to such an extent that there are now between fifty and sixty days of rain in a twelvemonth. In Algeria, the French Government planted varieties of the Eucalyptus years ago, and it had the effect of dissipating the malaria known for centuries to have been most hurtful to life there. Statistics published by the British authorities shortly after the occupation of Cyprus, have proved incontestably that the fertility of that island has long been prejudicially affected by the loss of forests which had been ruthlessly felled without any provision by way of planting having been made for the future. In many parts of Australia, the Government has acted wisely and promptly in setting to work and importing and planting thousands of trees for the purpose of not only drawing the moisture and malaria from swampy regions, but mainly of attracting fertilising showers from the clouds above. The whole question is a most [ important one, and demands the attention of Parliament. The present promiscuous destruction of timber will inevitably entail ills of a previous character in succeeding generations, if suffered to proceed un1 checked. We are of opinion that it is the absolute duty of the State to see to this matter without further delay, and to see that some system of forest preservation and forest planting be instituted forthwith. Government, doubtless, would meet such a demand with the everlasting wail of "no money" — a convenient cry just now, and one made the most of verily — but for such an object, and having regard to the future of New Zealand, money could and should be found. Captain Camp-bell-Walker's Report, though musty and moth-eaten, may be — and, let us hope — is still legible. Let the Government unpigeon-hole it, consider its contents, and turn its teachings to account and profit.

We have from time to time had occasion to note that a spirit of lukewarmness was finding its way into the Cambridge Farmers' Club, which threatens to lessen to a considerable extent the good which an institution of this kind is calculated to do. The Cambridge Club, for many years after its institution, was the means of conferring incalculable benefits upon the district, and no one can help deploring that when the aid of such a club is more than ever necessary, with the growing need for a higher class of farming, an element should have crept into the councils which promises to produce very undesirable results. The resignation of the, Presidentafter a very brief occupation of the ! office cannot possibly have a statutory effect. Mr. Ferqusson's action appears so extraordinary on the surface, that we refrain from putting any construction upon it, prefering to await hjs own explanation.' That his reason will afford, to himself at any rate; a sufficient justification' for the step l^e has taken, anyone who knows the interest Mr Fbegusson has taken in the Chili will,we! think, be disposed to ' adimt. At the same time, taken in conjunction with the present financial position of the Glut) ''and the laxity :of \ the; majority; of *#c > Tnembers, i shown. in 'their non-atteadanee at,

- —^ .y. ; i f , meetings, tag ;resigna|ion oi , the President must,' to a ' extent, have a damaging effect, and for that reason we could have wished that, -Mr, Ferqusson^had stuck to his post. " Perhaps, after all, the present complication may assist in setting matters straight, and awakening .members to a sense of their responsibility. At tho last meeting of the Club the following resolutions wore passed, and a general meeting of the members has been called by circular for the 25th to consider them :—: — Ist. Proposed by Mr Fantham, and seconded by Mr E. B. Walker, "That a special meeting be called on Monday, the 25th inst., at 3 p.m., to consider the question of the resignation of the President." Carried unanimously. 2nd, Proposed by Mr Geo. E. Clark, and seconded by Mr E. B. Walker, 11 That the financial position of the Club demands an expression of opinion from its members as to whether it is desirable to attempt an extended sphere of usefulness, or tp wind-up the institution." Carried unanimously. As regards the first resolution, we need say nothing ; but with ! reference to the second we hope that I the first alternative will be unanimously accepted, and that henceforward a greater interest will be taken by the members in the affairs of the Club. Such a meeting as that convened for the 25th should have been called long ago.

The Hamilton-Whatawhata Road will, our readers will be glad to learn, be completed along its entire length after all, without having recource to the plan suggested some time ago of getting the work done on credit. When the matter was fully gone into and an estimate formed of the amount required to complete not only the swamp, but also the formation on the dry land beyond the member for Waipa, Mr Whitaker, set himself to work to get the Government to make the additional grant required,, representing to the Minister for Public Works how urgently necessary it was that the work should be completed at once. It will be remembered that the sum of money necessary was stated to be £650, but that if the Government would give £350 it would suffice for present needs. The following telegram, received by Mr Whitaker from the Hon. R. Oliver, Minister for Public Works, will show that the Government recognise the necessity for cempleting the whole work :—: — Wellington, April 13th. F. A. Whitaker Esq., M-H.B.— On your representation of desirability of completing the road from Hamilton to Whatawhata at a cost of £650, Government have resolved to grant that additional amount.

The Cambridge Troop, Waikato Cavalr j are ordered to muster at the Rangiaohia Church at 10 a.m. to-day. The Hamilton Troop will parade at 9 30 this morning to march to Te Awamutu. The Hamilton Band will muster at the.'sjime time, and will play the Cavalry out of the tewn. The officers of the Cavalry hare been in communication with the Band with a view to getting the latter to assist at the demonstration on Monday, and arrangements hare been made, whereby the Band will go on payment of actnal expenses, which now await the approval of Col. Lyon. If required, the Bandsmen will be duly notified. The .officers of the TeAwamutu and Cambridge Troops of Cavalry, and those of the Thames companies, will be entertained at dinner on Saturday by Captain Whitaker and the officers of the Hamilton Troop, in the large marquee erected for the latter. Seven or eight tenders were received for Maclean and Company's drainage works yesterday, but they will not be considered till Tuesday. The footrace for £20 a-side, between Daley, of Auckland, and Hyde, of Hamilton, has been postponed till the 23rd instant, in consequence of the latter having been subpoenaed as a witness in the late murder case. A special meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Club has been convened by circular to be held on Monday, 25th inst., at 3 p.m., to consider the question, of the resignation of the President (Mr Robert Fergusson) and the proposition of Mr G-. E. Clark, regarding the financial position of the Club. Mr E. Wilson, contractor, has finished the boring operations on the site on the East pier of the Hamilton Railway Bridge. He flunk two shafts, that on the highest ground being 6i feet, and that below on the slope 41 feet deep. The soil all the way down is clayey, without any sand, and good rook has been come upon in each case. The ceremony of opening the Whatawhata Bridge will take place on Wednesday next, and the event will be celebrated by a dinner and ball. The Waikato Steam Navigation Company have made arrangements to take visitors to Whatawhata, a steamer leaving | Hamilton at 9 a.m., arriving at Whatawhata about noon, returning same evenIng. The services of the Hamilton Band have been engaged for the occasion. A special train, having on board | 300 of the Thames "Volunteers, under the command of Major Murray, arrived at the Hamilton Junction at abont a quarter past 5 last evening, the remainder, about 50, following about half an hour later. Both trains stopped at Hamilton for a few minutes, refreshments being provided for the men by the Hamilton' Cavalry Troop. The visitors seemed .in high spirit*, and looked forward to the Review with feelings, of delight. The Scottish and the Navals had 'their bands on board, while the big gun of the latter was carried in a truck attached to the second train. ' On Easter Monday night the Panorama of the Franco-Prussian War will be exhibited in the Oddfellows' Hall' for the first time in Hamilton. Judging from the success which this exhibition has attained in different parts of the colony, and the excellence of the views, » crowded house ought to crown the efforts of th!e proprietary. The pictures represent th,e most thrilling inc'idfentg in connection with ' the ' gigantic struggle between the French and German Empires, including the reception of the Uiwti PrincVof Prussia^ at the railway 'stiftion, ' Leipsig, v ; the Watch' oh the Rhine/ departure of [ the, troops from Paris, the battle , of Sedan, . the fall of Jdfetz,' arid the entranbe* s '6f the* German troops into Paris.- During the exhibition ' of Wanting* *$£$& baiid Will flay,' and r at^thfe I will £c cleared for ■ »selecj|^dance, the music being provided by Mob*. r '€ulon and MuHer.