Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1378, 3 May 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

tfmml and exact jusLic c to all men, Oi whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Hero "Oi.ill Uif Press the People's rijfht maintain (Jnawcd by influence ;ind unbribcd by gain.

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1881.

Death meets us everywhere, and is procured by every instrument and in all chances, and enters in at many doors — by violence and secret influence, by the aspect of a star and the stink of a mist, by the emissions of a cloud and the meeting of a vapour, by the fall of a horse and the stumbling at a stone, by a fuil meal or an empty stomach, by watching at the wine or by watching at prayer, by the sun or the moon, by a heat or a cold, by sleepless nights or sleeping days, by water frozen into hardness and sharpness of a dagger, or water thawed into the floods of a river, by a hair or by a raisin, by violent motion or by sitting still, by severity or dissolution, by God's mercy or God's anger, by everything in Providence and everything in manners, by everything in nature and everything in chance ; we take pains to heap up things useful to our life, and get our death in the purchase ; and the person is snatched away and the goods remain. And all this is the law and. constitution of nature ; it is a punishment to our sins, the unalterable event of Providence and the decree of Heaven. The chains that j confine us to this condition are as strong as destiny, and immutable as the eternal laws of God. So writes the good Jeremy Taylor. Another horrifying tale comes to hand from the sea. As yet its details are only partially told. Enough is given, however, to prove that a disaster attended by much that is agonising in shipping catastrophies lias occurred, and that some hundred souls have been swept into a watery grave. Its surroundings are hear trending in the extreme. A body of excursionists are suddenly awakened from the implied security provided by the staunch well-appointed sea-going steamer, navigating waters she has been long accustomed to do in perfect safety, to find themselves engulphed in a whirlpool of death ; the few who survive the first shock being left to perish after hours of protracted misery and suspense within sight, and, as it would also appear, within hail of land. Nothing so painfully disastrous has occurred within her limits since New Zealand became an item of maritime import. The foundering of the illfated City of Dunedin, which went down bodily in Cook Straits, 1 4 of 15 years ago, was quite as severe in final results. The work of destruction, however, in her case, was bo rapid and its execution so complete, that it is generally surmised the victims were swallowed up before they became fully alive to the terrors of the situation — not a soul being left to tell the tale. Not so, however, with the Tararua. The accident arose at 5 o'clock a.m., and 12 or 13 hours later, as night set in, those on shore turned away " heartsick " at the sight of some of the passengers still clinging to the wreck, and who were thus left to their fate. Altogether, a more melancholy spectacle could not be conceived, and it is not at all astonishing to read that men's minds sickened at the sight. The question will be asked, what is the real nature of this accident — was it avoidable or unavoidable? 'The fact that the danger to which this ill-fated steamer has now succumbed is avoided daily, or perhaps hourly, is the best reason that can be shown in proof that it belongs to the first-named category. Who, then, it will be asked, is to blame 1 Is it the Company under whose auspices the steamer sailed — a Company on whom New Zealand has heaped so much in the way of profit and praise? We are unable to answer the question, but still may propound a few reflections bearing on the subject. Economy is said to be a principle rigidly enforced in conducting the work of these steamers. Every possible inducement is held out to men and officers for the saving of fuel, premiums or bonuses being given for the attainment of these ends. Now that means a great deal in the way of taking "short cuts," hugging leeshores, and other questionable devices for making short trips and economising steam. That itself is a most reprehensible state of things, ami we cannot help thinking it has largely contributed to the numerous mishaps which have befallen vessels belonging to this Company. Then, again, no one who travels by these steamers can help observing that , their commanders, or skippers, have, to a large extent, relinquished the post of navigation, and taken «po» themselves the more congenial pras- 1 tice of entertaining passengers of the more distinguished class, doing

in short the work of " mine host," or head steward. We throw out these hints more as feelers in connection with the inquiry which is bound to ensue. Having secured sole monopoly of the New Zealand trade, it is high time the Union Company's conduct should be more closely scrutinised than it has been. The charges exacted by them in the name of passenger rates are extortionate — fifty, or even a hundred per cent, higher than is charged by any other navigation company in the Australian colonies ; consequently, the public have the more right to demand ample provision for its safety as well as comfort. Hitherto the Company has succeeded only too well in silencing everything like comment or cavil, allowing nothing to be heard outside but fulsome laudation of its management. Now, however, we shall look for less embellishment in the expression of opinion, and the meting out stern justice, aye and retribution, if i& can be shown that the Company has contributed in any way to this last awful disaster.

Pressure of important general news necessitates our holding over a leading article, and the contributions of I'auvrc Liable. Sir George Grey addressed his constituents at Grahamstown on Saturday evening : a lengthy report of the honorable gentleman's speech appears in another column. The children attending the Church of England Sunday-school hsld their annual feast on Saturday proceeding to Claudelands, accompanid by the Rev. W. Calder, Mrs Calder and the Sundayschool teachers, and spent an enjoyable day. A gentleman called into our office last evening, and stated that he saw some fine specimens of stone taken from the Shotover claim, Te Aroha. yesterday. The stone, which was about 2oz in weight, when crushed produced as mucli gold as would cover half-a-crown. A native "woman died at Oam- \ bridge on .Sunday morning. Judging from the extent of the provision made for the tangi — fixed to be held yesterday — she must have been a person of considerable importance amongst her people. Judge Symonds left Cambridge yesterday morning for Ohinemutu via Auckland, where he will preside as judge at the Native Land Court to be opened there. We learn that a storekeeper belonging to Cambridge, was taken in charge by the police upon rather a serious charge, viz., attempted wilful fireraising. It is thought not improbable that the whole thing will turn out to be a mere frolic, the result of over-indul-gence in liquour. In further token of the economic principles upon which the Maori visitors to Cambridge have gone, we understand either one or two hapus cleared out without beat of drum, leaving butchers' and bakers' scores undischarged, to the tune of several hundred pounds. We are compelled to hold over our usual Te Aroha letter, owing to pressure of other matter. Consequent upon the scarcity of water, the battery is only working five stampers. The resalts of the crushing appear to be satisfactory. The last match played by the Waikato cricketers in Auckland oame off on Saturday in the Domain, their opponents being an Auckland representative team, comprising the beat players in the metropolitan clubs. The Aucklanders made 103 in their innings, and Waikato mode 104 for the loss of nine wickets, thus winning the most important match of the series. Th» Waikato men played admirably, their fielding 1 especially being excellent. The majority of the team returned home yesterday. The Bank of New Zealand premises in Cambridge are undergoing extensiye improvements. The bnilding has been raised 2 feet 3 inches, and the front and 3ide of the foundation is to be of brick ; many improvements are also to be effected in the interior. Mesara. Morria & Co., are the contractors, and are carrying out the work in an exceedingly creditable manner. A man named Harold Ray, lately employed in an hotel at Cambridge, was arrested at Pokeno on Saturday by Constable Walker on a charge of obtaining money by means of a valueless cheque, from Mr Pearce, of the Commercial Hotel Hamilton. The offence was committed on the previous Saturday, the prisoner having made his way cautiously down country, could not be found before. Ray was brought up by yesterday's train, and will appear at the Police Court this morning, to answer the charge against him. It was reported yesterday morning- that considerable damage had been done by fire to the swamp formations on the newly made Whatawhata and Hamilton road. Although a fire has passed over the road it has gone very little beyond burning up the loose ruE-h.es> on the surface. Mr William Salmon, who walked over the road, arriving in Hamilton at dusk, took particular notice, and walked over those spots which appeared to have suffered most, and he found that the fiio in these places had not gone below a few inches from the surface. Mr Salmon met Mr J. Graham, who had ridden over the road during the forenoon. Very good news comes from the new goldtield at Waihi. The Prospectors have cut through 40 feet which will yield at least 2oz to the ton. A sum of £200 has been offerred and refused for half a share in the Young Colonial which is on the same line of reef. Good prospects can, it is said, be obtained almost anywhere on the field, and such is the confidence which is reposed in it, that already a battery has been procured and will be at once erected, while a larger one, of 80 stampers, is spoken of as likely to be brought there. There is excellent water power obtainable, the river Ohinerauri running close at hand. The ground at present being worked is held on lease, some of the leases being 60 men's ground in extent. Our Cambridge correspondent writes : — Now that the Native Lands Court is over, the township is rapidly approaching its pristine quietude. Within the last few days the Maoris have been leaving for their homes in large numbers, and it is generally understood the remainder will have cleared out in the next day or two. Their conduct throughout has been good, if not exem{>lary. They have had one or two de>auches, but thess were trifling compared with what they are reported t*> have been in the past. A very large proportion of the money paid to the natives has been remitted by bank draft to their credit, at banks situated in the neighbourhood of their permanent abode, and only f moderate sum being retained by t^ea? far payment of current expense?, flps is quifce a new, and most swtaaoiy # fcojpejfal feature of th«

Maori character. Hitherto they have been accustomed to spend the money as they got it, but now it would appear.* that they have become impressed with* the importance of hoarding up their means for future operations. On Sunday morning, between 7 and 8 a young woman re«iding with Mr. Sutcliffe near the Hamilton Biidge had occasion to go to the front of the house and looking 1 in the direction of the bridge haw, aa she supposed, a man hanging from oue of the piers. She rushed into the house and informed Mr. Sufccliffe, who rau off as fast as he could to Constable Wilds' residence and told him that a man was hanging from the bridge. The constable immediately made straight for Sergeant McGovern and called at the top of hi« voice for him to come quick as a mau had committed suicide on the bridge. With all due haste the sergeant made bis appearance and the two constables and Mr. Sutcliffe hurried to the scene, but betore they had time to reach the object they were informed that it was a dummy. Of course it is easy to imagine the consternation amongst the constables, as the esteemed sergeant was beard to explain, *' Well, that is a joke !" which Jonathon concurred in. They, however, got the dummy up and searched the pockets and i found a piece of paper, with the following lines thereon :—": — " Hard times is the cause ' of this ; My Redeemer knoweth all about it, but I am afraid the devil has got me." The figure which was well "got up,'' was removed to the police station ; where doubtless the curious may inspect it. A public meeting of ratepayers of the Pukekura Highway District was held in the Pukekura schoolhouse on Friday, to consider the stopping of roads, as advertised in the Waixato Times on 19th January, 1881. A quorum of ratepayers being present, the Chairman read the I advertisement from the Waikato Times convening the meeting. Mr Win. Tucker proposed and Mr Archibald Wallace seconded, "That the road between lots 32, 33, and 100 and 105, parish of Pukekura, be closed." Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Richard Bur Ice, and seconded by Mr John Fisher, ' ' That the road between lots 36, 37, 39, 39a, and 92, 97, and 97a, parish of Pukekura, be closed." Carried unanimously. At a meeting of trustees, held after the public meeting, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from Mr A. Wallace, giving the land required for a new road at Mystery creek. The following tenders were received and opened for earthworks, as advertised, at Mystery creek : — E. Hutchinga, £45; Hughes and Willoughby, £24 10s; Richard Norrish, £22 10s; Cowley and Stnallman, £55 10s; John Bell, £26 ; Robert Waite, £35 17s 6d ; Charles Harwood, £30; Matthew Harwood, £31 5s 6d ; Thomas McCathie, I £39 : Wm. Bolton, £24 10s. Proposed i by Mr William Tucker, and seconded by i Mr H. Hughes, "That the tender of Richard Norrish be accepted at £22 10s." j Canied. Accounts were received and paid to the amount of £151 9s sd, and the Board rose. The Chinese in Sydney appear as greatly exercised in their minds as the Europeans at the sudden arrival of so many of their countrymen. Some of the Chinese merchants in. Sydney expressed to tho reporters their belief that now a tide of Chinese immigration had commenced, and that we shall have a steady influx, and that before a year is out 20,000 Chinese will be landed at this poit unless a check is put on the influx, The Premier communicated with the British authorities at Hong Kone, information in reference to the influx of Chinese. — Sydney Herald, "Arrested as a vagrant ; age 104," was, says the Hamilton Spectator, the police report with reference to Catherine M'Pherson, a poor, decrepit old body, who was found wandering about in the bush near Digby a few days ago, and who was taken charge of by the guardians of the peace, and lodged in the Hamilton lock-up on Monday. The police magistrate visited her at the lock-up, and elicited the following facts : —^he was born in the Highlands of Scotland in thp year 1777. After spending somewhere about three-quarters of a century in her native land she came to this country, experienced many vicissitudes of fortune, and finally settled in the neighbourhood of Digby, where she took up her quarters with a married son-in-law. The latter, however, had the misfortune to break his leg, and is now an inmate of the Hamilton Hospital. The old adage that "misfortunes never come singly" was nevermore truly exemplified than in the case of tho centenarian under j notice. Shortly after the removal of her son-in-law to the Hospital, her daughter-in-law died, and the old woman, who had Feached Shakspear's 'last stage ;' was left in the hut with several small children, who had no protector. As might be expected, the poor old creature was not equal to the task of undertaking any such responsibility, and, indeed, did not attempt to do so. On the contrary, being half iapane, she left the cottage, and took to wandering about the bush night and day, until she was arrested on a charge of vagrancy. How she survived the conI stant exposure to the elements, at her wonderful age is a mystery. Another strange fact Is that, notwithstanding her long residence in Australia, and intercourse with English people, she could speak nothing but Gaelic, and her statement had to be made through an interproter. Sho was sent to the Hospital, whore she will receive the best attention for the remainder of her days. Rev. Mr Odgers, formerly of Melbourne has seceded from the Congregationalista, and joined the Church of England.

Mr J. 8. Buokland will sell, at 1 o'clock shaip, on Tuesday next, at Ohaupo, a quantity of live stock. Kent House has given " a thought" to the coming Ball. Certain Rural Lands in the County of Raglan will be offered for selection at the Crown L^nds Office on Thursday, May 19. Certain allotments of land in the town of Raglan will be offered for lease, for a period of seven years, at the Court-house, Raglan, on Saturday next, at 2 p.m. The time for receiving tenders for repairs, Sec, to the Royal Hotel, has been extended to Wednesday, 4th inst. Mr John Knox will hold a clearing-out sale of goods, at Airs Gclling's, on Saturday next. The partnership exisfcin? between John Ridlcr and G. L. Lane, of Hamilton, has this day been dissolved. The Domain Board will offer by auction on Saturday next, at 12 o'clock, several lots of Domain lands. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. 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 being called upon to bcaraportion of theloss should the year's business _ prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are determined to give the pure cash system a fair tf ja} ; 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 gooqs-, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of \yhich is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at , the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five ijer cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase, Q, UC. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is new and cheaply bought. An inspection is invited.— Garlick an» Cranwblx., City Rail Furnishing Arcade Queen* street, Auckland * .