Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1881.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1438, 20 September 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1881.

Equal .md c\,ict justice to all men, Of -\\h.itc\er st.itc or persuasion, religious or politic il Here •-h ill I no Pross tlio People's ri^lifc m ilnt.iin Unavvod by inlhu-iicc .iiul unbribcd by Rain.

The announcement that the Hamil-ton-Cambridge .Railway Works Excension vote is now beyond challenge will, wo are .sure, bo hailed with feelings of relief. The boua Jules of the votes could not well be questioned. I'arliament frankly admitted the importance of the work, both in its immediate effect upon the industrial pursuits of the district, as well as its more remote probabilities as a coupling link in the main through arterial chain of communication between Auckland and the southern portions of the North Jsland. Nothing could have been more satisfactory than the unreserved testimony borne to the resources of the district, its material progress and development, as also the rapid advancement made by Cambridge in the direction of becoming a large urban centre — nothing, we repeat, could have been more satisfactory than the way in which these various aspects of the question were alluded to, unless, indeed, it be the unanimity with which the vote proposed, for carrying on the work passed as an appropriation. No doubt the favourable condition of affairs existing throughout the district itself was largely instrumental in bringing about these happy results ; still we know it is with districts in this respect as it is with certoin of the lower orders in the vegetable kingdom ; " many a flower is bom to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air," from which, we argue, that but for the loyalty of the two district members to the trust reposed in them, the favourable conditions referred to above might have remained long enough in abeyance befors receiving anything in the shape of practical effect at the hands of Parliament. Taking this view of the question it does indeed look scant recognition of the valuable services they have rendered, to find that during the very time our members are thus busily sngagocl fighting the battles of the district, and as we have shown fighting them with singular tact and i 7 cry considerable effect, the canlidature of their would-be successors is tolerated, if not in part encouraged. "We do not mean to dispute the right of these men to present themselves for election, and to use every legitimate means in their power for securing 1 it : ' What we say is that they have no right by their ill-timed movement and indiscreet zeal to weaken the hands of the sitting members, at a moment' ivhen events are big with importance, and when it is of the utmost - jonsequence t6 the future of the listrict that the hands of its representatives should be strengthened,* md no effort relaxed to encourage ihem in prosecuting the work they lave got on hand to a successful

tissue. '^Jt caimc^lfWged on behalf of these " early birds" that the period for candidature is short. -tTndwr > the - juosfci fa^Qrable qhtcumsfonce,s- fi the general elebtionst!aii|iot tak*e place before JPebruaiy ; irifleed, the electoral boundaries have nofcyet become law,- and some time must neccsslirily 7 elapsle bdfdtfe the'dectoral j rolls are compiled, and, J:he_ elector; ates themselves are properly constituted. Under. thesp t cir,cum stances no legitimate excuse exists for anyone taking the field thus early ; and ' in the absence of legitimate excuse they have only got their misdirected zeal to thank; if- improper motives be imputed. ' Indeed the most feasible conclusion to which the point can be brought is that they are bent upon taking advantage of the absence of the sitting members to entrap the electors, or it may be secure the election by means they would not dare practice were they present. We do not mean to "say that an election contest is not justifiable. That is a question with which we are not yet called upon to deal. What we contend for is that the time has not arrived for its consideration, and anyone entering the lists at present is calculated to do a great deal of wrong without the barest chance of doing any possible good.

The Property Assessment Bill which passed the Legislature on Friday night provides " That no person or company shall be entitled to claim deduction for any of the following descriptions of liabilities : — (1.) A liability wholly or in part secured on any real property not in the colony or on any personal property not in the colony. (2.) A liability in respect of the purchase of goods "which have not arrived in the colony at the date to which the statement relates or which have been exported from the colony prior to the date to which the statute relates. (3.) A liability to any person not a botiajide resident in the colony or to any company not carrying on business in the colony, except a liability incurred forpurcliase of goods which have arrived in the colony at the date to which the statement relates.'' The fair working of the new system seems to be satisfactorily secured by the following proviso which is added to the clause just quoted :—": — " Provided always that a liability to a person not a boua fide resident in the colony, or to a company not carrying on business in the colony, may be deducted, if it be shown to the satisfaction of the commission by the statement in which liability is deducted that such person or company has an agont in the colony responsible for the payment of property tax for such person or company and who such agent is, provided always that if there be no such agent, the person or company to whom he or it is liable be deemed to be his or its agent within the meaning of the 3rd sub-section of the 19th section of the said Act, and may deduct the tax paid by him or in l-espect of such liability out of the next payment, which he or it has to make in respect of such liability, and for all purposes whatsoever. Such deduction shall be a payment in respect of such liability." The other clause of chief importance is the 12th, which affects goods sent out on consignment liable to taxation, same as other stock-in-trade. It runs thus : — u All goods received by any person or company on consignments from any person not a buna fide resident in the colony, or from a company not carrying on business in the colony, shall be included in the statement of the person or company to whom the same are consigned as if they were his or its own property, unless he or it shall show to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the person or company consigning them to him or it has an agent in the colony responsible for the payment of the property tax, and avlio such agent is." The amending bill further enacts " That statements of property are to be made at 12 o'clock noon, on Ist October, and the property is to be stated and assessed at full class value ; such statements are to be furnished every third year, commencing in 1883, but by companies in every year commencing 1881." It is prqvjded that the property or 10 per cent, over the value mentioned in the statement, unless the owner consents to his valuation shall be increased to a fair value, and the property is to vest in the Crown on payment of purchase money. On the other hand any person dissatis fied with the official assessment can compel the'OqpiniisHiibner to purchase theproperbyftrjreduce the vacation. The: Colpniaj^ea^urer is authorised to pay the purcliase, money without special appropriation .of the sura by Parliament. To the list of exemptions from taxation it is proposed to be added the property of any Society registered under the " Building Society's Act, 1880." This is a change which is sure to be popular among anumbev of building societies. Various provisions arc proposed for facilitating the collection of the lax, , the principal one boing that persons and companies liable to the tatf az'e required to furnish their statements and pay their tax without its being necessary for the Commissioner to demand it, who on failure to pay within 10 days after the due date "is to increase the sum payable by 10 per cent."- The. bill *prqpd|es} to repeal the following clauses oihhe pi*esent act. Clause 13 and 15 relating to taxation of companies and

loan companies 4 , iqese oeftng dtfferently provided for in the amending bill, clause 42, which requires public Jjoljt^a^to o b|r«given of the deposit of ajta&ssaien<| rolls ; clauses 52 md that lists 'Of objections shall- be 1 - kept, and the names o.f ojbjtictors publicly- notified. irhe.bthehiatfienclthbiits 1 are merely of. a. vjsrbaU&aracier.,.,,, .„_ ,. _ „. , "t $<Mp)siidpt JLJULiifyvr yesterday :: — *' Expect very heavy rain between-; JSTor.fclv-east - -ftiul- - South-east Mithin ten hours., Qlass falling. " I The telegraph stations in the colony, with the exception of a few of the larger ones, Avill henceforth be closed on Sundays. None of the stations in Waikato will be open on those days. A meeting of the Hamilton Tawhiao Reception Committee was held last night} "when all the' accounts yifere presented, examined, and passed for payment. ■ ' •* ! The readings to he given at the Public Hall, Cambridge, tomorrow night, by Mr James Buckland, comprise selections from the following 1 authors : — Shakespeare, Wilkie Collins, Tom Hood, N. P. Willis, Bon Gaultier, and the Ihgoldsby Legends and Bab Ballads. Tickets, price 2a and la, can be had at the Cambridge stores." „ > A native named Matawaia was arrested. *in Cambridge q n Friday last, for creating a disturbance in Duke-street by a series of pugilistic demonstrations when in a drunken condition. He was brought before Mr W. N". Sear.mcke, J.P., on Saturday morning, and fined 10s., and £1 148 coits. Nothing has yet been gleaned as to the identity ot the perpetrator of the disgraceful piece of, lamkinism at Hamilton East, a wetk ago. It will bo seen by an advertisement in another column that a reward of £20 has been offered for the offender or offenders, wlio, it may be hoped, will speedily bo discovered. A man named Ebenezer Dickson ■was arrested by the police yesterday, suffering from dtJinum frcmon. He arrived at Camp's Hotel, Tamahere, in the morning, and his conduct there was of so stiange a character that a message was despatched to Sergt. McGovern, in Hamilton, who sent mounted Constable Wild out to bring the unfortunate man in. The District Court will commence its ordinary sittings at the Hamilton Court-house this morning, before His Honor, District Judge Macdonald. Several important cases are set down for hearing, in which Auckland counsel are engaged. Messrs James Russell and T. Cooper were passengers to Hamilton by yesterday's train. About £1000 was distributed among a few of the Whaiti-Ku'runui natives by Mr Moon on Friday last, a great part of which has already been disbursed in the usual manner. The surveyors have not as yet finished with the Whakamaru Block, and unless the plans of this block are prepared beforo the business at present beforo the Land Court is finished, the Court will come to an early termination. If the Whakamaru plans are finished it is not likely the Court will riae beforo the middle of October. The greater number of the 'horses to t.ike part in the Cambridge meeting in Thursday arrived in Hiimiltou by train • yesterday. They comprised Mr GUII'igher's Rawenata, Mr Adam's Haikaway, Mr McKinqon's (lilderoy, Mr Knoxs Loafer, Mr D. White's M ori (late Auckland) and the two representatives of Mr Walter's Grand Duchess and the Slander filly. All the horses are looking well and fit, and will no doubt give a good accouut of themselves the day after to-monow. A meeting of the Committee of the Waikato 'Turf Club was held at Delaney'a Hotel, Ohaupo, on Friday evening last, for the purpose of arranging a programme for the Spring Meeting to be held on the 30th November (S. Andrew's Day). Theie were present, Messis S. Steele, W. Taylor, T. Weatherill, and G. Wilkinson. A very liberal programme, inoluding six events, for a total of piize money amounting to £205 was arranged, particulars of which will be found elsewhere in this iissue. A correspondent writes : — " Though the number of natives at present attending the Native Land Court at Cambridge is very small when compared Arith the attendance at previous Courts, tbe diminution in their numbers by no means indicates a corresponding diminution in their noisy bacchanalian lowdyism. It is a remarkable characteristic of the natives of the present Jay — especially those who are in the habit of visiting European settlements — that they manifest a decided inclination to secede from the sports and pastimes of their warlike progenitors and embrace those of the contemporary generation of other race.", the abindoninent of tho lmka and war-dance for the polka, quadnllo, and lancers, the " shout" and the inevitable pugilistic encounter by way of a Jiiintc." The subject of fencing the admirable recreation ground in Hamilton East, known as Sydney Square, was brought up at the meeting of the Cricket Club on Saturday night and pretty fully discussed. The question of cost was gone into, and it was agreed, that a substantial wire fence could be erected for something less than £00, even at the present high pi ice of posts. This sum would also cover the cost of planting the corner with trees., A very general desire was expressed that some 1 steps Should be taken in the direction of enclosing the ground, and as the matter will again^be brought up at the adjourned annual meeting on Saturday next something 'ia likely to be done. We would suggest that an active canvass be made for subscriptions, which could be supplemented by means of a popular entertainment or two, and were the Borough Council to make a grant in aid the work might be done this year. There are other wtotya' of accomplishing the same object, all of which no doubt will receive due consideration at the forthcoming meeting, i , , ( Owing to the great inconvenience experienced by the residents of Hamilton East for want of telegraphic communication, we understand that a movement is on foot to petition the authorities at Wellington , to establish communication by telephone with the office in Hamilton West. The expense of doing so would be very small, as the line is already erected for telegraphic purposes, and it would merely , require, a: conneoting wire arid transmitting apparatus. This expense would very, soon be recouped by the increased use that'would be made of the wire wero^he .above suggestion caniea out. The Hamilton East people have a decidedly r cood> cause of complaint* at pr&'ent, "nW&nlf ifooAgHHHe 1 tfiskuce to be traversed, bitt ; th T rough having to cross the bridge, which means paying toll. We have' uo' doubt that if' the 'matter- ia laid before' the [authorities ill 'a proper manner* ,' the' js Justice ' of this' petition' i will". be ■ admitted, atfd the wishes of the residents c&mjjlied with without delay. ' ' '! * We ! uhfterstiamrth'at "Mr\l.' &., Via'lou, trading as Vialdu and ' Co. ,' ironmongers. &c, ,has disposed of His stirs' stbck-i&WdeHb' ; My Thoa. Wel!s, df Cambridge, he having decided to re*

li 4& tfl%«taiSt' MS^iaiSK>in consequence of declining health, has for the last two years been desirous of disposing of his business. He gave up the c»biuttfc»Mnanufaobud)ranW:ii6elw^ght(&ml blacksmiths bra»chfe|faboat ninjfe'mdnths since, and weMinderatand^thw-m cbn jl sequence of the premises being too large for the one branch, together with the deppssion in .trade, he /ias decided to giv,e up' 1 altpgjejilier.! 'ftJr/fYialouJ commpQtjqct business in Hamilton about nine years siffce^^T)*§iF*£l^bnly"Ko"uses^"VicJ^riaw^ere the,^iotel, t Post-offiGC^ cheniist shop, ! 4rtd,a'fevvj sh^ntjes do^ted^'here, anjd there ; bought land at what then was considered ~a? fictitious* price ? ' bnilt part of the present premises', which have been added to from time to time, and for several years did a^ large and profitable business^ \ JEjji^ * connection^ extended for more than twenty miles round. The rapidf progress the^ .^Vaikatp; has .made during 'th'er last' five years' has /induced others to start in the same line of business in each ( ,of ( the other townships, thereby making the trade of Hamilton ot a lopal character, and not, we, understand, su^cieut to warrant premises of such large dimensions continuing in one branch. The premises will, therefore, be divided and let separately. , We feel certain that the intelligence will be received With legret by many ,of the settlers in .the Waikato, Mr Vialou having established a business of such a varied character, where, to use a common phrase, you could get from a needle to au anchor. Mr Via(ou has informed us that it is his intention to commence again in his own profession as architect and civil, engineer, and from his experience and thorough practical knowledge he will no doubt receive his share of patronage. We wish him success, At the ordinary.' meeting of the Board of Education in Auckland on Friday last, tho following business interesting to readers in this district was transacted :— Huntley.— The application uigud the Board to have a teacher's dwelling eieoted on the site which had been obtained. — The Secretary baid this was already authorised by the Board, but had not been commenced. — Tho application was deferred, pending further information as to the allocation of the sum voted by Parliament, and it was agreed to telegraph to Mr Swansou and Mr Moss, on the subject. Kihikihi. — This was a further phase of the row between the Chairman and tho other members of the School Committee, in which the teacher was included-- -Mr ,Forbes Gordon, the Chairman, wrote, explaining why he had not laid the teacher's report re damage to tho school furniture before tho committee. He had since done so. There was also a reply from Mr. Thomas, secretary of the committee, stating that no damajre had been done as alleged, and that the whole affair had been concocted by Mr. Gordon and the teacher, Mr. Mathoson, and requesting that the laLter might be removed from the school. There was a further communication, containing the report of an indignation meeting held at Kihikihi, containing resolutions condemning the action of the .committee, stating that no confidence was felt in them, and expressing the fullest approval of Mr. Matheson. There was also a letter from Mr Matheson, replying to the charge made against him by the committee. — Finally, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Peacock, •• That the Board, while instructing Mr. Mathe.son to recognise the authority of the committee, did not see their wiy in the meantime to dismiss him." He pointed out that a fresh election of committee would bhortly take place, and it waa unde.^irable in the meantimo to make any change.