THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1881.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1394, 9 June 1881, Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1881.

Coxsidkbino, as he himself put it, that there are not at present any "burning questions" before the country, the speech delivered by the lion, the member for Waipa on Saturday last was of an extremely interesting character. There is a freshness about the style which has been wanting in the great majority of the political addresses which have been made since the last session of Parliament ; Mr Wliitaker has in a manner stepped out of the beaten track to deal with subjects which, while they are. of first importance, are nevertheless unfamiliar, except to the moi'e diligent observers. He has left us in no uncertainty regarding the course which he intends to pursues in the immediate or indeed in the remote future, and this outspokenness we regard as one of the best characteristics of his address. It is a quality moreover which has not been too conspicuous in many of the utterances of our public men, and cannot be too highly prized when it is secured. But there is a wide difference between the plain speaking of a partizan and that Avhich proceeds from calm conviction — not without party feeling, it may be, but still not invested with the gown of a special pleader. Of the former class, there has, perhaps, been too many examples of late years ; of the latter, it would be well if they were more numerous. That Mr Wiiitakeh stood up on Saturday night as an apologist for the party with whom he uniformly voted last session is no more the truth than that he seized the opportunity afforded him to abuse the opposite side. It is true that he dealt in somewhat strong terms on the subject of the " third party " as it is called, but beyond that there is contained in the whole speech scarcely a single word of reproach, and certainly not one of aspersion. We are glad of it, and wish that the same tone were more generally noticeable in the speeches of others of whatever shade in politics The people are in no humor for witnessing a spectacle of mutual recrimination ; there is work to be done, and they want men to do it. The wretched bickerings of public men, based more upon personal grounds than anything else, produce nothing but an unhealthy influence on the morals of those below them, as we have seen proved by the changed condition of much of the periodical literature of New Zealand. The address is of value, because it puts us in possession of the speaker's own views of things. We do not suppose they are all original, and it may very possibly be that some of them are hastily arranged, but we believe them to be his own, not adopted because they coincide with this man's or that, but because they seemed to him to be in themselves consistent and just. We may see proof of this in the examination of the Premier's speech at Leeston, and in [ reference to the education question. On the question of finance it is not necessary to follow Mr Wiiitaker in detail. There is nothing new in what he has said, unless it be the j expression of his fuller satisfaction with the working of the Property Tax, in which sentiment the country as a whole will, we imagine, participate. Where we desire chiefly to follow him is on the questions of the Government policy, the education question, and the Middle party, and even to these subjects it is not possible that we can give more than a passing reference. The full merits of the questions can and must be dealt with separately at the proper time. It is clear that Mr WniTAKEßisas little enamored of Mr Hall's scheme for altering the constitution of the Upper Chamber, as he is of the proposal to abolish it altogether. The subject is a lai'ge one. On the one hand we have the ultra liberals demanding to be governed by, those whom they elect, and by them alone, whether they

sit in one dumber or two, and on the other" we have those who point significantly to the example of Victoria, and bid us beware how we -court fch»«evilB~w,hich-have grown up • here. The 'proposal niadej^by Mr Hall offers but' a very ptfbr solution of the difficulty, If the Chamber is to ,be elective, and there are grave objections to it, some of which Mr Whitaker has pointed out, there can be little difference in a chamber whose members at 6 elected by the people themselves, and one whose ranks are recruited "by election from the House of Representatives, it is hard to see however, what need there is really is for changing the constitution of the Upper Ohamber which has never been used as an instrument to curb the liberties of the people except when their indulgence would have brought disaster upon them, as in the case of the refusal to grant borrowing powers to the provinces. The firm stand which Mr Hall has taken in reference to the threatened interference of the Home Government with our dealings with the native race, deserves and will command the support of Parliament, though it is not the resistance by the colonists, so much as action which the English Government will take which will have a bearing upon the scheme of federation in which Mr WiIITAKER indulges. The mother country will get credit for her intentions, not for what she has accomplished, in this instance. The Education question is one on which Mr Whitaker speaks with much freedom and it is that to which, as it appears to us, he attaches most importance. He is a strong supporter of the present system, and has a wholesome horror of denominationalism. It is somewhat difficult to gather whether he is favor of reducing the expenditure by raising the age and lowering the standard, or whether he is willing to accept such a change if by so doing the system could be maintained. There can be little doubt that the scheme involves too much expense, and that it will to some extent have to be modified. Much of what is now taught in the primary schools is little better than useless, and might with advantage, to say nothing of economy, be left to higher institutions, the entry to which should be secured by means of scholarships, founded on a basis similar to that proposed by Mr WiiiTAKEit. But the clanger of making an immediate alteration in the system, even in the direction we have indicated, is too great to be overlooked, and it were better that we should go on paying at a higher rate than we can well afford until the principles of a free and secular system have been firmly and securely established. Then steps can be taken in the direction of its modification, which if followed now would inevitably lead to its partial, if not entire destruction. Regarding it in this light, we hope the friends of secular education will take a firm stand against anything like innovation from whatever quarter it may come. There can be no immediate hurry for effecting those changes which many of the best friends of the system desire, and which, after all, had better remain unachieved if they are only to be obtained at such a cost as we have pointed out. In the meantime their efforts should be directed towards colonising the large landed endowments in certain parts of the country which have too long been locked up in the tight fingers of grasping southern districts. On the question of school fees we need say nothing, it is one which in view of the larger issues at stake may well be left out of sight, for the present at any rate. Mr Whitaker enters at some length on a criticism of the "Middle," or " Ormond's party," and this perhaps is the freshest portion of the speech. Whether the inferences which he draws are right or wrong, the hon. gentleman certainly brings proof that his surmises are not based on air, and if they are grounded on facts, it is satisfactory to know that there are men whose eyes are open to the movements of this new party. When Mr Ormond gives a fuller explanation of his views on the questions of disposing of the waste lands of the colony, and leasing or selling the railways he may adduce arguments worthy of some respect, but at present the charge of selfishness which is brought against him and his party seems to be only too well founded. On the subject of the local requirements of the district Mr Whitaker refers to those which are of the more pressing nature, such as the Cambridge railway, the line to the Thames, the Rotorua road, and the Hamilton bridge, to the furtherance of which, in conjunction with his colleague, , Mr J. B. Whytb, the member for | Waipa promises to use his best endeavours. We have thus glanced briefly at what must be on the whole considered a fair, candid, and satisfactory speech, one which we think will inspire confidence. If we have not gone at greater length into the various subjects which the address touches, it is not because we lose sight of their importance, but because this very importance demands more than the limits of a single article. In due order and time we shall, we trust, .devote to them their proper amount of consideration.

It is gratifying to know that the efforts of those who have taken the principal part in the movement towards freeing - the ' ( ; Hamilton bridge of , tolls .have "so far /been attended with success.* A "!large

nOrob§ft|siif ; sigjll&resj|iave tjypen. appended to thdpetmbn to"'-' the House, which will shortly be ready for presentation by the members for this, district 'Jhe claim put.forward for freeing the. bridge from traffic charges Was' argued "at the meeting •held a week ago in Hamilton, with fairness and moderation. , It was shown that while the bridge was in every sense a work of colonial importance, the direct traffic tax created a burden for cost and inaiutenance, the lion's share of which had' u> be borne by a mere handful of settbrs. Such being the case, it was not unfairly argued that local enterprise was cramped, and the interests of both town and country suffered accordingly. The bridge is manifestly a through traffic convenience, requisite for completing the line of communication between Auckland and Wellington. In its immediate surroundings it taps a vast extent of Crown lands territory, or, at all events, land which must eventually be brought within scope of the waste lands administration. In that way, Government has a direct interest to serve in the maintenance of this bridge, and in considering the question of its utility we contend that inte rest has a right to be regarded as the major proportion. Hamilton as a township or even district does enjoy advantages from the bridge, but that is more a question of personal convenience, than one of actual or even prespective gain. The residents make use of the bridge in pursuit of their callings or perhaps it would be more correct to say their transactions, which may not improbably yield them not more than a few shillings, or at most pounds, whereas the service it renders to the country at large represents tens or rather thousands of pounds. Under existing arrangements the cost falls upon the former, the town settler is made to bear the burden, where the public at large, whose interest in the public estate is largely benefited by this completed system of communication is in a measure allowed to go I scot free. It is simply absenteeism, which has been so bitterly complained of, in another guise. The local resident by his labor and expenditure benefits the property of his absentee neighbor, while the latter stands aloof and allows him to bear all the heat and burden of of the day. That is the aspect the question ought to present itself to the Government, and if they take that view we have little hesitation in saying the appeal will not bo made in vain. There are other equally good reasons to argue in support of this claim. Some of these were mooted at the meeting, particularly that this is the only known bridge in the colony where liability for construction, maintenance, <fee, is saddled upon the conterminous residents : or, at any rate, it is certain that the bridges on main roads, like the one indicated, penetrating large tracts of waste lands of the Grown, are all, with this exception, free, their liabilities being wholly defrayed by the State. The equity of such a condition of affairs is apparent enough. Government has large expectations from these lands, and the convenience, or even profits of a few scattered settlers located in the neighbourhood, is a mere nothing compared with the acquired value given such lands in the accessibility secured by roads and bridges. Upon what principle of fairness then, we ask, should a handful of settlers be made to bear the cost, while a large share of the benefit accrues to the public estate. The improved value of these lands is most undoubtedly the fund out of which the cost of improvement in the main roads especially should be met. It is simply a branch of that policy which has been so emphatically endorsed by the principle of establishing communication with the waste lands of the Crown, with roads and bridges, before placing them for sale in the market; the economy of such a policy being that the acquired value of the land will be sufficient to compensate for the cost. Results already attained fully sustain the wisdom of that policy. Such being the ascertained fact, the Legislature, we contend, cannot, with any degree of fairness or reason, reject the claim put forward for relief in this instance.

The committee appointed to canvass Cambridge with reference to the meditated scheme of water supply have so far met with universal success. Not only have the residents located in the lower vicinity of the town accorded their sympathy in the movement, but those resident on the elevated ground, who, when the last scheme was mooted, proved averse to its being adopted, have manifested their wisdom in a like manner.

We regret to have to record the somewhat sadden demise of Mrs Charles Bwen, of Olaremont, Tamahere, which took place at her residence at an early hour, yesterday morning., The deceased lady, who was in her fiffcy-second year, i has with her husband and family 1 resided in the Waikato for nearly nine years, and her death will he deeply mourned by the large circle of warm friends which during that period she had gathered round her, cind by ; whom she will be greatly' missed. T?h'e progress of the disease was very short, ; and although the medical gentlemen who were, consulted, prs. Waddington and Blunden had' practically given up all hope on Saturday, adeoidedimproveinentseemed to be apparent on Monday morning, bat the improvement was only illusory, and the end, whioh was peaceful, came shortly after midnight. The funeral will leave Claremoat at noon to-morrow.

Sir George Grey, X.C.8., the seiiior member for the Thames, ha,s been spending the last fortinigh't at Waiwera, and is in" the enjoyment of good' health. He proceeded to Wellington on Tuesday. ,

Mr Reid,. M.H.R. (HokitikaKMr i W. J>. Stewart,* M.H.R. (Dunedin City) I

&)f J. p^ro\y^li.4L.i^(Tii^ka) alft hf opposition to thapresen&jGoveriK ment, Radressed their respective constituencies on Tuesday last, and individually received a unanimous vote of ..confidence. r^v,,-^ - v^^.^, ,^ x n-* n -*

TJlereare frowfoettoreien 2p Ji and 30 men working on 'the "road," and apparently there^ is no prospect of any further opposition on the part of the natives. . < • <

We are in receipt of a pamphlet entitled" Does, the Soul Live alter J)eath? . The arguments are more particularly as against ' Materialism ' and'' Destruction ism, 'I' by the Rev. Allan! W. Webb,niiniBtor of the Wellesley- street Baptist Church, Aunkland. " .

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a neatly got up little work with the title " A fiwt Geography for Schools of New Zealand and the Australian Colonies." The author is Mr P. Putrie, Inspector of School's for the Ofcago district. The book is purely elementary, and as such is well adapted for the lower standards in the schools. It is published by Henry Wise & Co., Dunedin.

The Amateur Pseudo-Ethiopian Club will give an entertainment og Tuesday next in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton, in aid of the Bind fund. We have been shown the programme, which is a very attractive one, ,and includes vocal selections by' some' of the more prominent amateurs of Hamilton, instrumental selections by the orchestra, a cornet solo by Mr Hadfield, the whole to conclude with an Ethiopian sketch. In view of the worthiness of the object for which the entertainment is given we hope to see a good house.

A curiosity in the shape of an hermaphrodite pheasant was shot by Mr 0. Hitohman, of Cambridge, on Monday last. The head of the bird ii that of a hen, while the neck is speckled, with a green and white wring round the neck. The color of the body is that of a hen's, but the breast feathers are tinted with light red. The tail is long like a cock's, but without the distinguishing colors There are no spurs on the feet. This curiosity has been stuffed by Mi 1 B. Ruge, hairdresser, Cambridge, and may be seen at his place of business,,Dukestreet.

The new Roman Catholic Presbytery, Hamilton East, is fast apptoaching completion. Nearly the whole of the outside work, with the exception of the verandah, is finished, and the timber for the rest is on the ground. The design of I the building, which ia ot the Gothic style, is exceedingly pretty, and in addition the apartments will be spacious and lofty. The cottage presently occupied by the clergy has been moved several yards towards the rear of the allotment, and it is intended that it shall serve the purpose of a kitchen, etc. It ,js worth recording | that the new building has, 'with the exception of the chimneys and the shingling, been erected entirely by the Rev. Father Luck, the workmanship reflecting the highest credit on the mechanical skill of the rev. gentleman, who also, it should be stated, drew the plans.

In the assault case tried at the JL.M. Court in Cambridge, on Friday last, H. W. Northcroft, Esq., R.M., and Thomas Wells, Esq., J.P., presiding, the plaintiff (Mr Ralph Stuart, head master of the Cambridge East school), was made to pay his own costs, though the case was cleat ly proved against the defendant (Macfarlane), who was fined 20s for his indiscreet conduct, the Magistrates assigning as their leasoivfor doing so that some animus had been clearly manifested against the youth Macfarlatie, he being specially chosen from amongst the other scholars, and on this account they would not allow the plaintiff costs. This decision has caused universal dissatisfaction amongst the local teachers, and considerable sympathy with Mr Stuart has been manifested in Cambridge. It is consequently intended to apply for a rehearing of the case, so that plaintiff may have his costs awarded him

Another instance of the growing importance of the Waikato district, and the faith in its certain progress that obtains in the mind of the public is to be found in our advertising columns in this issuo. The rapid strides in settlement and population which it h.is made during the past few years, have brought it prominently under the notice, not only of the large centres of population in our own colony as a splendid field for investment of capital and employment of labour, but have also brought it under the favorable notice of the sister colonies. In view of its increasing importance the Mutual Life Association of Australasia have established a permanent agency in it, and, have selected Hamilton for its head quarters. As will be seen from the advertisement, it has attained a splendid position as a Life Assurance office. One of its leading traits is indefeasible assurance. Previously the assured in other companies were harassed by conditions more or less stringent as to habits of life, residence, travelling, change of occupation, cause of death, &c, as a breach of any of tde rules on these points would invalidate the policies. It is especially important in these colonies, where residence and occupation are so frequently changed, that a policy-holder should not at every step have to consult the Directors of his Company. All these hampering restrictions were swept away by the founders ot this office declaring the policies "Indefeasible, except on the ground of wilful misstatements in the original documents" That this was a wise sten is proved by the fact that the old conditions of Assurance are now almost obsolete, having been abolished partly by some and wholly by other societies. But it is especinlly noted that the Mutual Life Association of Australia was the first office in the Australian Colonies to adopt the liberal principles by which the assuring public are now profitiug. This alone gives it a good claim to support. The appointment of Mr Brcnnan to the management of the agency will tend very materially to its success, from his intimate knowledge of all matters connected with insurance.

A consignment of 2000 sheep (fat wethers) were delivered at Hikutaia yesterday, having been brought overland from Napier by Messrs. Woosten aud Lopdell for Mr. Alley. The journey was under-taken on the 27th of April, the flock starting on that date from Waipawa. Very bad weather was frequently experienced, heavy roads, and sharp frosts. This large' number of sheep was fed on the wayside, no other provision being possible, and all were delivered in condition, none having been lost on the long journey." — Thames Advertiser.

In the year 1900 February will have but 28 days, although Leap year. This phenomenon occurs only once in 200 years, and always in the odd one hundred.

The Eastern Star (or ladies degree) of Masonry has a number of chapters in America, .

i The Postmaster General of Victoria has been so ungallant as to report that in the Telegraph Department five young men are equal to ten young women.

( The Otago Slaughtering Company already have on their books 20,000 sheep and 800 cattle for slaughtering and freezing on the squatters' account.

Elder Ferris, a Latter Day Saint, has been lecturing at Gisborne, and the local evening paper has < come to the conclusion that he.doea not quite understand his business. He opened and concluded his meeting with a prayer for' the , welfare

,*qf the district, and expatiated considerably on its frfture in the matter of soil, and then asked them to abandon it and go to the new Zion. It will foe seen by reference to our advertising oolumns that the Norwich tJnion Fire Insurance Society, havd established a" district agency for the Waikato li'ivinsj Hamilton tor its head-quarters. This is one of the oldest fire offices in ex.Stance, having been established in 1797. That it in looked upon as one of the best offices in the world may bo gleaned from the fact that in 1862 the uuth >rities of the great exhibition effected an insurance on the Exhibition buildings &c, fur £450,000 being the largos>t amount on record ever injured under one policy Mr. Brennpn it will be seen is Waikcito distiict agent.

At the commencement of last month two German women, Frau Schmidt and Frau Feustel, living at Zeitz, in Prussian Saxony, and, in addition, living in the same house and on the same floor, were each, on the same day, delivered of three children, and they were all boys. Probably suoh a coincidencs never before occurred. — Truth.

We are informed says the Wairarapa Standard that necessities of the telegraph servants have been so great, in some instances, from reduction and expenses they have been put to in consequence of their removals, that they have been compelled to borrow money f rom their fine fund to enable them to provide the necessaries of life for themselves and families. Whatever may be our financial difficulties, it is to be hoped that the members of the House will lay this fact to their hearts, and, in the desire to spaie the call on the colonial chest, will not inflict needless privations on a body of men who perform the hardest work in the service on the lowest pay.

As the s.s. Taiaroa was off Cape Colville oil Monday forenoon a remarkable phenomenon was observed. About a mile from Channel Islaud, and some thirty yards from the vessel, the water for a space of some eighty feet in diameter was boiling up like a spring, thiowmg up mud, and discolouring the water. It had all the appearance of being worked upon by a violeut commotion underneath. Extending away for a great length, from this centre was a yellow streak, the whole being not unlike the bhape of a comet. Captain Anderson intends to give that vicinity a wide berth in the future. The second made of the Ringarooma, which passed the place about two I hours after the Taiaroa, also noticed the abnormal condition of the water, and liked it so little that he kept the vessel away until he had communicated with his superior. - Exchange.

Bow-street police-court the scene of bo many well-known criminal incidents, w.ia finally closed on Satuiday. The exact date of the erection of the court is not knownj for the original deeds it is said are lost. It is known, however, that Fielding, who died in 1754, was a magistrate there, and wn<? succeeded by his brother, afterwards Sir John Fielding. In this, the time of the Bow-street "runners," some famous cases occuried — notably, the complaint against the then Home .Secretary for stealing paper-*. From that dato down to the present tune the histozy of old Bow-street police court would form n. volume full of interest and romance. It would touch upon the C.itostreet conspiracy, and the prosecution which was instituted against tome of the conspirators ; would reveal the proceedings of Oisini and his gang, with the prosecution of Dr. Bernard for assisting in the manufacture of bombs ; enter upon tales of the greatest horrors in the career of the Flowery Land pirates and the Lennie mutineers ; gives the scenes and incidents of the examination of the boy O'Conuor, who presented an old pistol at her Majesty in the grounds of Bueki.ig-ham-palace—Prince Leopold being examined as a witness in court ; and, passing in review such cases as Muller's, De Tourville's, and other murders, would come to more recent cases of Slade's, and other spiritualist proceedings, and cloio with the last Government prosecution against the editor of the Frnhvit.

The London Divorce Court reveals a trnd state of things m English society. During the past legal year 643 divorce cases have been decided, aud between 500 and 600 mariiages have been dissolved. One of the commonest of the causes of separation is .said to be drunkenness. Tho 7ast majority of petitions for dissolution of marriage are from the <l lower middle class," and the working 1 classes. The experience of the Divorce Couit rends to confirm the opinion that a great deal of the misery to which the working classes are subjected in their homes arises from the inability of women, when they h.ive got married, to render their homes comfortable and attractive. In other words, a great many of the women who get married are unfit for married life. On the contrary, their habits and training— if they can be paid to have had any training at all — have only too often been such as to render them incapable of properly discharging their important duties in the domestic sphere. Rendered miserable at home, men rush to the public-house, or find solace in other places, and the misfortunes which follow it is unnecessary to enumerate. Of course there are plenty of instances in which the men are to blame, and the men solely. It is to be feared, however, that but few married women properly appreciate the amount of moral responsibility developing upon them in the position which they occupy, or the extent of the influence they may exceroise by the practice of those virtues which must adorn and exalt the character of a wife aud mother.— Catholic Review.

A correspondent of the Hartford (Conn.) Times says:— "The history of a cow raised on the farm of the late Evastus Ellsworth, of East Windsor Hill, is so remarkable that it is worthy of record. The cow is not of any one breed, but is about three-fourths Durham, and I h-xrdly know what to call the other quarter. April 16th, 1877, she gave birth to twins, one male and one female ; March 19th, 1878, she gave birth to triplets, two males and one female, making five calves m eleven months and three days ; July 9th, 1879, she gave birth to twins, both males ; October 7th, 1880, she gave birth to triplets, two males and one female, making ten calves in three years,, five months, and twenty-one days. The calves have all been of good size, healthy and handsome, and have been raised on the farm.

The Rev. McKenzie Fraser, from Geelong, is announced to hold Divine Service next Sunday at Ohaupo at n a.m. ; Paterangi at 3 p.m. ; and Te Awamutu at 7 p.m. Mr T. G. Sandes advertises that the owner of a bay colt foal, which followed him from_ near Ohaupo last night, can have same on application to him and paying expenses. Mr John Kceley, of Cambridge West has for sale, shelter and ornamental hees. Mr J. A. Ralph, of Huntley, advertises for sale, at Huntley, the stock and good-will of the coal-mine stores, Huntley. H. E. Cotton and Co., of Cambridge, announce several eligible properties for sale in the Waikato. A concert and ball will take place at Whatawhata, on Friday, 17th inst. Tenders are invited till noon of Saturday, 18th inst., for lease of sites for coal and firewood yards at Te Awamutu. Mr Kennedy Hill will hold a weekly sale at his mart during the winter months, of produce, stock &c. Tho oponing sale will take place on Saturday ne\t. Tenders will be received for the erection of a six-roomed house at Waitoa for J. B. Smith, Esq., up to the soth inst. Messrs Sandes and Co. announce in another column that they have opened their new stojre^with a splendid assortment of china, glassware, and earthenware.