THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1397, 16 June 1881, Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881.

The Conference of local bodies which lias just concluded its sittings at Wellington, has practically adopted the suggestions contained in the circular issued by ths Manawatu County Council, the text of which was published, together with comments thereon, in our issue of the 29th of March last. The delegates have arrived at the conclusion that the local bodies cannot satisfactorily fulfil the object they were established, unless they are put in a better financial position : that by the- withdrawal of the Government aid hitherto afforded the settlement of the country is retarded ; that it is imperative that provision should be made out of the moneys accruing from tho sale of Crown lands for the construction of roads through such lands ; that it is absolutely necessary that sonle assistance in the shape of subsidy should be given to local bodies to enable them to complete roads through lands formerly belonging to the Crown,andforwhichnoprovisionhas been made in timespast ; that the property of the Crown should be rated; that County Councils should be subsidised to maintain main roads ; that the County Councils should be represented on Waste Land Boards ; that the subsidy of £ for ,£ be granted for tho construction of new works; and that the clause J 1 of the Land Act Amendment Act 1879 should be i repealed so that the whole half yearly instalments on deferred payment of land should be handed over to County Councils for road-making I within the block dealt with as provided in the Land Act 1877. These resolutions suggest to our mind a very reasonable road out of the difficulty in which local bodies arc placed. The Country districts of the North Island have never been fairly treated in the matter of public expenditure. In the South, with a pi-ovincial land fund, they have fared better, though even there the urban centos have generally managed to secure the lion's share. | In Waikato we know it has been a continuous .struggle to make both ends meet, and the result has been anything but satisfactory. While the system of subsidies — unfair as it is — lasted, we had something in the shape of help, but since its discontinuance the position has become serious in the extreme. Nearly the whole of the locally i'aised revenue has been spent upon the main roads to the hindrance of settlement, and progress, and if this has been the case while the subsidy lasted how will it fan 1 with us with none i Under that system the greater proportion of the money was paid to towns and thickly-populated districts in which large sums were raised by rates, and we cannot wonder at a time when retrenchment became the watchword that this system of Government aid should have come ui.der the operation of the pruningkmfe ; but the real hardship fell upon those who were least able to bear it — the sparsely-peopled country districts. Despite the fact that the Government have as yet, neither in the Premier's speecli at Leeston nor the address delivered by His Excellency the Governor, given no public intimation of their views upon the important subject of local selfgovernment, there can be little doubt that, measures relating to it will be found to have a prominent' place in their programme. Indeed, , we cannot see how they can avoid dealing with it. ' Iftheyirefrain the Opposition is sure to bring it forward, a,n'd that, we tfriiik the Government will hardly permit. In whatever form it is brought forward, let us hope that better provision will be made for the necessities, of iout districts. ,• , ( . ;

\Yi^4fEVi5R- may lia'Vp '.'cau^pcl 'the fi re which pi*o vecl . so j desjjr.jiijti ye ,to propoi*ly i at foil Court 01V Thursday <

night laskMtf is evident from the^ rcnWfik&'Wr'our Cambridge reporter in a recent issue that the disaster was not the result of any diabolical pr maJicKNis .design of an incendiary, but, simply one^ 0f the, maby cvi-"' dences of the unwarranted negligence of careless. and,. inconsiderate, employees. If it was the premeditated work of an incendiary-^whidh Ye are confident it was not— it is evident that whoever it* may have been was conversant -with the' ins; and outs of Fen Court, ana mti 1 - 1 mat-ly acquainted -with thebusiness* routine of the place, the time that the people retired, and where .they retired to, and must have been on terms of recent intimacy with the numerous members of the canine race usually at large about, the homestead, who it is needless to say would have betrayed the presence of the culprit. If it is not the work of an incendiary, what other cause can be assigned as the origin of the mischief, but carelessness or negligence on the part of some of the employees 1 The case is apparently an open one, but if properly investigated by men of common intelligence who know something of their duty, it will no doubt reveal the true origin of the disaster, and bring to light some unpleasant truths which might be useful in preventing a repetition of the now irretrievable calamity, though, as we have before said, we do not think it will prove anyone guilty of a worse crime than inconsiderate and culpable negligence. Is it not considered careless conduct for a person to enter a stable witli a naked light when surrounded with nothing but inflammable matter, with which he might, through the slightest accident, come into fatal contact 1 Is it not likely that those men have extended the sphere of their negligent conduct by entering the apartment immediately over their heads for the purpose of providing more abundantly for the wants of their " favorites," which is not an uncommon practice among men of that class, and being lighted' by the same dangerous agency — an exposed candle — unknowingly and unconsciously laid the fatal foundation of the unfortunate occurrence which ensued 1 Enough has resulted from impromptu examination to show that the statements of those persons whom we have referred to are not very reliaqle. Sufficient has therefore transpired to show that the fire may, without much difficulty and little investigation, be traced to extreme carelessness and mere unconscious negligence. We sincerely trust that there is not in the district a person possessed of a nature so vindictive and malignant, as to deliberately set fire to theproperty of a man whose fame, as a public benefactor, is as widespread as it is indisputable. It is believed that the burning of the stacks, which took place at Fen Court some time ago, was the work of an incendiary, but it should be remembered that a poor demented man named OBrien, was then roaming at large over the country, and was seen in the vicinity of the fire, when it occurred.

Mr E. M. Edgcumbe wishes us to abate — in reply to numerous applications for employment — that he has not purchased, aad has not the least intention oi purchasing, the plant of the Mini, sometimo published in Cambridge.

Mr John Sheehan, M.H.R., who has been laid up with quinsy at Taupo is, vre are glad to hear, convalescent,

The importance of this district as a field for Insurance, both Life and Fire, has been brought- prominently forward by the census returns. It is rumoured that a combination of the South British with the Australian Mutual is pending, with Hamilton as the centre of their operations.

The concert and ball that was to have taken place at Ohaupo to-morrow night, has been postponed for a week to avoid interfering with an Entertainment at Alexandra to-night.

A woman named Dillon, whose family resides in Cambridge West, has been missing from her home for the past' few days, and nothing as to her where- 1 abouts is known. Mrs Dillon went home on Friday night, and having had a few words with ,her .husband 'left the house and has not since been heard of.

The Royal Hotel, Hamilton East, which has been closed for some months, is to be opened again on the first of July under the management of Mr A. 0. Field, who has been successful in obtaining a j license, Mr Field h ,well known in Hamilton as a pushing business man, and will no doubt succeed in restoring to the hotel its former good name.'

The present pathway leading to ; the Hamilton bridge on the West side is ' just the place where an accident is likely to occur some of these dark nights. There can be no possible use^for such a thoroughfare, and in 'order, to' the safely of the inhabitants the Borough Council will do well to remove the post and rail fence back to the edge of the embankment.

Detective Jeffrey who has fyeen in Cambridge fop a few days investigating the , circumstances suiprouding ,' T the late fire ''at Fen Court has gone to Waiujcu for the hearing iof, the case against Glees jn for the stealing of some telegraph wire the property of the,, Nejv, Zealand Government. Ho will return to , Cantbridge in a fe\r days. ; , -

The people of Cambridge are. naturally feeling uneasy as to the ' intentions) of tha Government witH regard to the Cambridge Railway, whether they intend to proceed with the work or abandon it for another few years, by queliinsr the,, public anxiety with orders ior imndidiato ( surveys and reports thereon, or to have, a^ practical survey — not a sketch one— rmade and plans and specifications laid before the House with the view to h'aring, tne amount necessary for its : construction' ■ placed on the 'estimates. ' As a' meeting- of ratepayers' 'is called' for -to-night < in' the Cambridge. Public Hall the matter will fee" brought-forward and i no'doubt' steps will 1 be takBninthe'right'directfon^ I i , }li>h

He is a generous, sian who makes a ooncesaiort atid (teclfaes to be stubpom wheh'ihe niafcter' 'irf-qfr^sifon' 6i J 'ftisbip& is a public ep^vetijence.. ancj onp whidi.a^" ' iiutividual Jiafc 1 it ifa aW hfafex'&ilhoria,, ' 'dtflphte * ! of ' doiie&le, v ami the " ? action" '

&ont}jaa|^on ojj||fyapel-i|jfeLt, Qffl|ty3dfis| u ignan'a cornlr, and adjoinin^the property of Messrs Hally and McNeish. But through that incontrovertible forceof habit yr th which we make free by making property3speeially; if it befunfeirceH and ''• untilled, theXUmbriajye public nave un.tjuukiu'ily peraistcd ia jdiverting»the-con». ii mattou of Ohapel-atreet, through the property, of MeMrajjHaJlyiand Mw^eishj/ inkUddoi through ithVgnlly, anathe road 1 doubtedly the road as it now stands, is, and more especially in the fatpre,,vriy p& a great public convoniencoj and' were ;<it stopped access to the lake reserve from j "one paiff *df the town would Tie linack' cir- ] cuitous, and > the whole inconvenient. The Samaritans, whose property it now ! runs through, have consented not tol close j the road on certain conditions, namely, that the Board will arrant them a 21 year's lease of the acre in the gully, ;com- I paratively useless, and for this they; will' give a roadway 26 feet broad through their property. The matter was brought before the Cambridge Town , Board at their last monthly meeting, and ii; was determined that the ratepayers should be consulted at ,the meeting in the Public Hall to-night, ■ tj

The members of' the Amateur Pseudo-Ethiopian Club gave tbeir, first entertainment at the Oddfellows' Hall, ' Hamilton East, on Tuesday night, iv aid of the funds of the Hamilton Band. The attendance, owing, perhaps, to the high prices, was only moderate. The front seats were 'fairly filled, but there were' not a dozen people in the back. The character of the entertainment was, it must be confessed, not up to general expectation, but th's may without doubt, be accounted for by want of practice. The management were induced, by certain considerations, to hurry on the performance, but the step was hardly a wise one, and should be avoided for 1 the future. The programme was arranged in the orthodox fashion, the first part consisting of the " chair business." Although generally speaking there was a great want of harmony in the choruses, this will not apply to all. The solos w ith one or two exceptions were well rendered, and the comic singing of the corner men was good. It is but fair to state that although the orchestra did its beat and did •well, the piano was outrageously out of tune, and this may have marred, and no doubt did mar, the effect of much of the vocal music, The second part comprised a number of vocal and instrumental selections, including an overture from the Pirates of Penzance, the trios "Lordly Gallants" and "To all you Ladies," sang by Messrs Laishjey, Meacham, and J. S. Eugecumb,e,, solos ,by several members of the Club, a farce hastily got up and in consequence hardly successful, and a brea.k-down. The part music was excellent, as indeed was the singing of " Nancy Lee" by Mr Ormerod (encored); "The Midshipmite," by Mr Tonks ; "Still so gently," by Mr Wright; " When other lips," by Mr Wood; and "The Scout," by Mr Meacham. Mr Johnson was encored for his really good rendering of the character song "Emancipation Day," but the success of the evening was undoubtedly Mr Simms' intensely funny " Crow Song," in diameter, beak and all. During this part of the performance the audience Avere fairly convulsed with laughter. In the second part Mr Hadfield contributed a cornet solo from "Norma." In responding to an encore,' Mr Hadfield explained that when he joined the Hamilton Band he bad been out of practice for a longtime. 1 He hoped shortly to be able to give, a band concert, when he would give them something wortli listening to. Mr Bell presided at the piano, Mr Simms took the first and Mr Meacham the second violin, with Mr J »S. Edgecumbe, flute. The instrumental music, witli the reservation made above, was all that could be desired. Altogether we are sorry that a Club which undoubtedly possesses the right sort of material for an entertainment of tins class should have hazarded its leputation in such a hastily got up performance. With practice there 38 no doubt the members will attain to excellence, and we shall look forward anxiously to their! reappearance.

It has always been assumed that the Princess of Wales was the leader of fashion at Home, but it would seem .that this is not so. A contemporary states :—: — "The Duchess of Westminster's death will create much regret in English society, ot which obe has been for some years, so far aa it wag possible in these latter days, the Queen. Society, nowadays; i 3 very republican' in tone, and ha 3 recognised reluctantly any sovereign since Lady Palmer's'ton's death. Lady Westminster, h^d rank, gentle graciousness of manner, and a aoft resplendent Saxou beauty. She was but nineteen when she was wedded. The young bridal pair -for Lord Westminster was only twenty-seven— -were the „'first to make the long walks for whioh - the Princess Louise now shows such fondness, fashionable. They discarded every species of equipage, and might be seen together of a morning, in heavy shoes, speeding along the' pleasant lanps round Kensington. Since death' removed her Grace from society, the Duchess of Manchester is' said to aspire to the position of first lady. She i$- brilliant, still beautiful, and has won and still retains the devotion both of Lord Bbaconsfield and Lord Hartin^tori. But the leader, of fashion Bince Gebrgiaria Duchess of Devonshire's day ' has always been from one' of the great Whig houses, and her G^atte of Manchester has not sufficient fortune to stand the expenses." ' \

Mr J. S. Buckland holds a Catife Sale at Cambridge on Tuesday next, .it i p.m., And a Horse Sale at Cambridge on Saturday week, .it half-past one. The ( abatract of receipts and expenditure of 'thcPiako' County from the penoqending 31st March! ,ultimo' atfpcais in our. tGnzetfe columns. 1 Mr Kennedy JHill will hold his usual weekly sale on Saturday, of produce, etc, 'Mr 'John'Kinox will sell by^ auction to-morrow, dt the pound yards, at t2 o'clock, two horsey, at the risk of. Mr Jaiues.Boon, ,The Chief Comtniaiiqner, of .Crown Land's (Auckland District)' notifies < certain Crown lands for lease, vitfr our Gazette columns. 1 Ati auction sale of the forfeited 1 'shares in tho Waikato GotdMininff (Company (iliniitcd), was, held yesterday, Mr- John' .Koox boinff flic Auctioneers when the,whole,of the scrip (3000 in nijraber) were purchased by the legal manager, Mr T. C. Hammond, on behalf of the Company. Great confidence is still felt in this mine, and as the remainder of the shares are held by a wealthy proprietary, we 'think that the Waikato claim will be the means of .developing the resources of ttie field* ■ ' ! • r ■'! - .', 4 ,

'j^Tjjeaow pure, cash system nii>\£ being initiated by p. and C. will certainly pVovc ''a'- benefit /to the Public. -It fh'aV'beon a great su«cs? 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. arid'C. sell -their drdpery . frillihary, andolothingiat such prices if or' cajsh as ( giYPS,the buyer, ,the .advantages |pf a. i)h,ai;eholder i of a co-operative society, without the risk of being j called Upon 1 to be'arapprtion'of ihe loss Should the year's 'business <;p r OTC unsatisfactory^ 'JGarlick C{ran,Tfe,U will) aim, to retain, the confidence which theDublic have W#rfo, ?hpwn them.j a^ are'deterniiiied to feive'thlspure' cBsH system 4 fair trial; Whether -thcjyjgAifa'or Hose the first JrekV.' Country buyers on,remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative p.rtces,s : jii«it the saihe'as though thoy W&dfc a pc¥sbnalse■|lectis)nJ"'.Eurnishirifei g&odijnituch'.&s /carpet's*,' ihed^ads,] bejldjn"-, ( an/i^geneK•li house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned'oiit'ait oUf ! 6^ 1 tictH^, marked at, tlie lowest remunerative price?, and a discount of > fi^aopXJßr4l*t.. \#ll,be fHlQ*odHp th,ose;^lio p.iy'at thp, time of purchase. i,,Q>.Bt>C. Having realised 4hVen«f4'felu'e'ofWd^s<odr&uVhi|tKeirilnte Ci&h Mdftha Jjresksnt stock is fctftf •A*ilJsfiHB ll f 4i»j.Y ;,Uoo(?6ir(' An ipsJpopttqf* i^hvitcd.— S.Mtr.cdK; a.yd Crax well, City Hall Furnishing Arcade .Oueen•treet, Auckland ' < ,