Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1448, 13 October 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot wh.itc\er state or persuasion, religious or political. Heie shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawcd by influence and unbribcd by gain.

THURSDAY, OCT. 13, 1881.

Tub Licensing Act of last session is an abstruse social problem with which the public will shortly be called upon to deal. We use the word " problem " advisedly ; the measure as it came from * the Legislature being a kind of "hydraheaded monster" — an offshot of many minds governed by principles differ : ing widely from each other on questions of expediency, Based originally on the principle of holding the scales equally as between the different sections of the community, with perhaps just the slightest leaning to the temperance cause as expounded by the more ardent of its apostles, it merged from the ; criticisms of one of the most critical Houses of Assembly the colony has yet, seen, a perfect puzzle to everybody, itsownpolitical godfather — the Colonial Secretary — not excepted. The act dates from the Ist instant, but that can only be regarded as a preliminary stop for enabling Government to give effect to it, as we find it stated in a subsequent clause : "The Governor shall, as soon as. conveniently may be after the commencement of this act, define districts under this act." It is therefore plain that although the act has already " commenced," it cannot Jbe operated upon either for or against the public, including the holders of existing licenses until these districts^ have been defined and the machinery of the act as a whole .brought fairly into play, the first step^whibh falls to be , taken .in that direction is the proclamation of districts. The provision made for that putpo^e is worded as follows: — "Sueh f <fts-

tricts shall as farm possible be identical and conterminous respectively with existing and future uti divided boroughs, wards of divided boroughs, ridings of counties, provided that no licensing district shall contain less than 100 ratepayers (the smallest of such divisions being in every case adopted); road districts outside counties, and such other districts in parts of the colony not comprised within any of the foregoing as may seem fit." Again, we find county •interpreted to mean a county " wherein the whole of the Counties Act has tfeen brought into force." Under that arrangement Waipa county will be sub-divided into five licensing districts together with the borough of Hamilton, which will be dealt with as a separate district ; Waikato three, and Piako five, in conformity with their respective ridings. The Counties Act not being in force in Raglan, the three highway districts will be selected. The districts thus constituted are presided over by a licensing committee of five persons, residents either in or outside such districts. We now come to the feature by which the act is mainly distinguished. The spirit of local option is manifest throughout the foregoing ; but in clause 44 it comes out in the letter. There it is inter alia enacted that no new license (except for pi*emises in respect of which a license is held and in force), shall be granted until the ratepayers shall have previously determined whether the number of such may or may not be increased, and in the next and subsequent clauses provision is made for deciding the question by poll. In connection with this, clauses 48 and 49 make a somewhat novel provision. It is to the effect that where the vote is given in favor of not increasing the number of licenses, the licensing committee will be bound thereby, whereas, if the vote happens to be the other way, it still rests with the committee to say whether or not it will give effect thereto. Subject to that instruction, it is enacted that a meeting of the committee shall be held at noon "on such one of the first ten days in December, March, June, and September in each year, as shall be appointed by the returning officer — the June meeting to be the annual licensing meeting." The business to be transacted on these occasions is defined as follows : — "To consider all applications for certificates of license as are authorised to be granted, and the renewal transfer or removal thereof, of which due notice shall have been given to the committee for the district in which the premises are situated." It will thus be seen the committee has as large powers as the licensing bench under the old system possessed. It has the power absolutely to refuse any license in its discretion, 'and there is no effectual remedy against arbitrary or unequal decisions except the influence of public opinion acting within a very narrow compass. The committee elects its own chairman, and regulates its own proceedings. 'It is not surprising, therefore,' writes a contemporary, ' that Sir William Fox glories in the anticipation of a ' big row' once a year over the elections of these committees. The Good Templar organisation will lose no time in disposing its forces and preparing for the fray. The publicans, on the other hand, will, be compelled, from the necessity of self-preservation, to organise and carry the elections, so that at any rate fair and impartial men may be on the committees."

No definite announcement has yet been made as to the date for the forthcoming elections. This is, no doubt, due to the fact that an understanding has not yet been arrived at as to when the rolls will be ready. It is known, however, that every possible dispatch is being used, and that unless some unforseen difficulty arises, the work will be sufficiently far advanced to admit of the elections taking place, the end of next, or beginning of the ensuing month. In that case the registration of electors becomes a question of pressing importance, and the formula connected with which cannot be too widely made known. The law as it now stands differs in many respects from the one previously in operai tion. Under that act the time during which the claim for registration could be made was limited to a short period of the year, and any one neglecting to lodge * his claim during the " open season }? was debarred from getting his name placed on the' roll for the 12-months next ensuing. Under ► the existing lawregistration offices are kept open all the year round, 'and any one requiring to have his name pJaßed bn ' the roll for a district, has simply to make application to- the registrar ; , deliver the claim, at .his office, or, where it is more convenient, send it through the post addressed, to him.. During the fifteen days ' succeeding receipt of the claim, jt remains, in abeyance, so as to afford 1 the registrar an opportunity for making inquiry aB,to f ,the' f trulli (6r ( 6r otherwise of the allegations, under,, ■svhip i h., I the claim/ is> made; If these inquiries prove satisfactory th&?daim,is forthwith, added to^he^oll and, the regis. tration completed! - Jf> on th'e.pther. -hanct^ the- registear ? >ha^easoi r jfcpj abubt'tlie 6orre'etness ? #£ ! tnse rt partaculars (lie may^^emand^^rp^f^iini. support registrar is bound -witlm^he'fiftepitf days so provideTTfpr »to^mtinta|e i in< writing his.,, objec^on, ? specifying , particulars in respect of which proof

is required. If,,t||g itequistte proof be forthcoming the difficulty then ends, and the name is forthwith put upon the roll without further delay. Should' the-*a*jsgisti t iuy however, not be satisfied with; the prpof adduced, the act itself provides the further machinery for- having' the point tested. This fact ought to act as an incentive for intending applicants to lose no time in making , their applications, for, liberal as the*act is understood to be, and no doubt is, delay may be occasioned and, at a time like this, when "the elections may be announced any given day, that delay might not improbably prove most vexatious. Under the most favorable circumstances fifteen days must elapse before the claim is ripe for registration, and if any difficulty should happen to arise in the meantime it may be further postponed for an indefinite period. It might therefore happen qualified persons may find themselves precluded from taking part in an approaching election, notwithstanding the efforts, of the Legislature to bring not only the privilege o* the franchise within the reach of all, but likewise the means for exercising that privilege. The qualification for registration is of a two-fold nature, embracing between them such a wide scope, as practically speaking, to bring the franchise within the reach of every male adult in the colony. The two qualifications are the freehold, and the residential. Under the former it is enacted that every man of the age of 21 years and upwards, having in his own right a freehold estate in any electoral district of the value of £25, of which he has been in pOse^sion for six < months, shall be entitled to be registered as an elector, and vote at an election for such district for the House of Representatives. Under the residential it is provided that every man of the age of 21 years or upwards, who has resided for one year in the colony and in the electoral district for which he claims to vote during the six months immediately preceding the registration of his vote, and is not registered for a freehold qualification for the same district, shall be registered and vote for a member for the district.

The justice of the complaint against the present railway tariff made by the deputation of influential Te Awamutu settlers to Mr Whitaker, on Saturday evening, receives strong corroboration from no less a person than the hon. Edward Richardson, sometime Minister for Public Works. In his speech before the electors at Lyttelton, a brief account of which we print in our local columns, Mr Richardson said the present tariff was driving the trade off the railways, and it really does appear that in Waikato if it does not drive it off, its tendency is to cramp it very seriously. The Waikato is par excellence a farming district. Our prosperity depends solely upon the development of our agricultural and pastoral resources, and this in its turn is governed to a large extent by the means of forwarding the stock and produce to a market, and the facilities for obtaining whatever is necessary by way of manure. It is the custom of a certain class of people to deride the notion that manure is required in a new' country, but Waikato farmers have learned by experience that it ;is ' cheaper and more expeditious to sweeten the soil, soured by the long occupation of the fern root, by this means, than by fallowing. The application of a certain quan"tity of bones or guano, or superphosphate, is now regarded as needful to the profitable development of the qualities of the soil. • It is not necessary to enter into the tyinutice of this subject : The magnificent results of such a method of treatment are to be seen on every hand : What we are concerned to do i8 toobtain a better adjustment of the means by which the farmer can I procure what of a fertilising — or rather stimulating nature he requires for his land. So long as the present rate of tariff for manures is retained, he is ,too heavily, handicapped to engage to any extent in the growth or roots or cereals. The railway consequently loses a large amount of trade, and the coastal steamers benefit. , But the department burn the candle at both ends. Not only is a high rate imposed on goods, t of, the nature referred to, brought' into the district, but the scale of rates charged for produce and stock is almost sufficient to stop the exportation of the one and drive the other on to the roads. The matter h^s bqen^placed in the hands of one of the members for this dis* trict, and we feel that it is only ■necessary to commend it to his attention to secure his hearty assistance an. obtaining what is felt to be indispensable, namely, a radical revision of the railway tariff.

Monday next,' the 17th inst., "being the anniversary ;of ' the opening of the Bank of New Zealand, the day will be , observed,^B a special i holiday by; all the various offioejrs qi • fch© institution ''in ithe colony. ,ff . ? \\ v J *■ ' ' ''■ ' ' '* Chits E with tie farmers" and ■other interesting -matter wiir be found on ouT'lourth'palfe I .. » <*'}''<.-'' ' >, *>i i' Mi v O t5 JBreakeu for the pomple'ffiS.of a. portjoh r o(jf 3Sfof 1 ' An . MipurnSa . ofu ( \tlie J^i^td'ioQtm^GouooU,,wilL be .held at .|;h:^hambßrs,h;fiamUton/ithis,morning.- ... L <CTueflday ", last in/ company .witH , pjwtaja .Cftjae^oE '^jPpn^b'alJuy oamp^ofiftEe > neat Tapapa. Theobjeot

[ of the tripjs to inyeafciera.fce<.,the, claim- of tliOi native who, with $ nurabei 1 of others, obstructed the Constabulary on a recent occasion, and demisted only on a promise being made to him^that he should reoeive With the return of "-fine wither there is likely to be a deraand t foria'bor in" connection with the extensive drainage operations in the Waitoa district. Mr Itaac Coates advertises in 'another column for twelve men, to whom high Wages will be given. r •■ We learn that steps are "being taken to form an agricultural society 'at Waitoa) and a library is also among the things in the immediate future. During the month of August last 19,832 tickets 'we're issued on the Auckland- Waikato railway line. Goods and merchandise weighed 5931 tons. The total earnings amounted to £5595 5s 6d, being £1271 15s lid in excess of the preceding imonth. < < } Mr Thomas Kirk has been appointed registrar under the Registration of Elections ActJ 1879, for^ the electoral districts of Waipa and Waikato, the gazette notice being dated the 24th ultimo. The following trustees have been appointed to provide for 1 the maintenance of the Kihikini cemetery 4 by pr&claraation under the hands of the Administrator of the Government, dated 24th September last : — Andrew Ross, James' Farrell, Geo. Mac Kinder, W. Qua^trough^ A. 0. Elmsley, Wm. Corboy, and Robt. Coekealine. It willinterest many of our readers to know that His Excellency the Administrator of the Government has been pleased to appoint Mr Wm. L. Martyn, late of Waikato, to be captain of the Waimate Mounted Rifle Volunteers. In the particulars of the estates of deceased peisons placed under charge of the public trustee appears the name Major G. W. Drummond Hay, late of Cambridge. The estimated value of the estate is set down at under £800 ; the date of order of administration being 9th September last. A correspondent Vrites :— At a meeting held at Waitoa a few days ago a vote of thanks was passed to Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., for his endeavours in pushing forward the interests of the districts, though general dissatisfaction was expressed by the meeting that the vote of money by the Government was not sufficient for the erection of the bridge over the Waihou river, as the bridge would be a great boom to the whole of Waikato district. Mr Aitkin, of the Thames, father-in-law of MrC. R. JohDBon,of Hamilton, met with a painful accident on Monday night. He had been outridinar, audonhis return, and when near Mr Johnson' a residence was thrown from his hor«e, the full breaking one of his ribs. Dr. Edglow was called in, and did what was necessary, and we are glad to hear Mr Aitkin is in a fair way towards recovery. The approach to Cambridge from the Hamilton side has been greatly improved since the lessees of the domain lands have commenced work on their sections. Fencing and ploughing 1 have been carried on to some extent, and in a season or two the environs of Cambridge will present a pretty, pastoral appearance. The Cambridge Road Board with a praiseworthy regard for the public safety, are about to erect a strong substantial fence along 1 the exposed side of the embankment at Ewen'a hill. The posts will be of puriri, with ti- tree, rails. A little attention to the road between this point and the Hautapu School - house would not be thrown away. The Cambridge ratepayers will regret to learn that neither of their energetic representatives, Mr T. Wells and Mr R. Kirkwood, in the Waikato County Council, will stand for re-elec-tion after the expiration of their present term of office. It will be remembered that some dispute arose in regard to the Steeplechase at the late Cambridge meeting, on account of Harkaway and Sportman having both passed the post without clearing tbe lat,t fence. Since the meeting the stewards have been busy searching for precedents to guide them, but have failed to lijrht upon any analogous case. At Tuesday evening's meeting it was decided to refer the question to the sporting editor of jjthe Australasian, his decision to be considered final and binding. > It will be seen by advertisement that Mr Fantham has determined to sell his fine farm in the Cambridge district, known as Grwynndands. It will be offered in the first instance for private sale in one lot ; but if not disposed of by the Ist December, it will be cut up into various sized allotments and sold by auction. Mr Fanthams farm, it will be remembered, was long in the occupation of Mr W. Reynolds, now of Pukekura. la -the window of Mr. Ripley, watchmaker, jeweller, optician, ana general seed merchant of Duke-street, Cambridge, is to be seen, writes a correspondent, many admonitory lessons on temperance, the inevitable effects of over indulgence, or indulgence in, '.part in alcohol, also a prominent and forcible inscription intimating to> the passer-by, the thievish nature of the inebriating agency, Avhose, company it also prays all to shun. There is a large display of other lessons, having in view the same praiseworthy object, the insemination of temperance principles. We have heard, upon very good authority that the ' site of the new gold find in Te Aroha, of which such glowing accounts' are given will' be found to be not far from the " Prospectors Claim" that some months .back was' considered one of ■ the most promising of those then being 1 worked. It ia reported from, the Thames that a new rush has / commenced to Te Aroha, which may now perhaps develope some of the resources that ,wq have always maintained, are to be found in the range. Three settlers, have now taken up land on Messrs Grant and Foster's Te Aroha\block. . ., Mr , Jioche, , whose, advent has been noted, was the first. Mr Squirrel, who followed,, took up 150 acres, has erected » h.ouse 5 and,ia daily expecting his family , from the old^cpQntjry. The third js Mr Craig, a practical farmer from the north of Ireland 1 , wha.with^ti^grjown up family lias gone to live on [his section of 650 acres. He ia putting up a substantial dwelling-house and i intends to make extensive improvements! The Hawke's Bay Jockey Clubjs Spring Meeting, which came off at Napier on Tuesday, was very ,' successful. , The attendance was large, the fields good, and the facing fair.' -The, Hawke's Bay ( Guineas of l6D ( sovs., wi^h a sweep of 5 soVs. each'attded, value £245, was won by Mr W. Walters' HippQ-Slander, filly, euslly' by' three" lengths j ' Kincraig, second: and Sydney, .third.,' The, Handicap Hsraie Ras, of 6O.(a6vs,,'fell to^Mr Douglas's, \ Ujra,, with ,„ Lpcli " Lomond second,' and third* r^Fi*^ 6 . ;^rfng,Handjca|i^of #00 s^vs/^l miles), ingixjs Ttbrses facetf the Starter, aridjifter a Wretched s s sfiart, 'in'^whiqh'JMr Grand' pac)i^|ajWdt^' r wopt of it,"Re>f) dropped backj ,and FouLPlay-oleared^the ruc£, f dlpaely r ,,iollowea by 'Badsworth. "Sex 6 ■VYuiia%is.*itdpp6d FouLPlay and 'allowed his stable compwiion (pads worth) to win, Grand 'p'abheBslbeing L an iEjdifW win ' W W&fcT&i Mr .Walters'! Slander filly and Mr McLean'S ! Lbuie ran

, r-J ■ s, rr^r-r a deachbeat fprrthe Maiden Plate. " Mr Marian/M ischief woa-fcne Flying Handicap, the grand old horse Foul Play being second. The latter tried to get on terms, but could not manage it, Mischief gliding past the r postfii'strby a, neck. r <* r The Waikato Steam Jfavigation Company's new steam lift at 'Cambridge has now been for some time in operation and is found to work admirably. The ease With ( which goods of all dOncriptions can be f delivered by 'the company, arid received on board their boats, is in marked contrast to the "old style" of th'iiiga.' "A. "large amount of labor, and consequently much expense is eat^ed both to the company and their customers. The arrangements at the top of the bank are of the most complete description^. ' Each class ' of goods is taken from the lift o;i a tramway to the particular portion of the 'premise* apart for it, and in everything the? aim has been to supersede, as far 'as possible, hand labor by machinery. Tha large yard has Been endl6sed 'with a secure fence of puriri posts and corrugated iron, and a convenient office has been erected at the entrance gates for the transaction or the business of the agenoy. The completion of these premises, a- detailed description of which we ■ have published in these columns, marks an era in- the commeroial advancement of -Cambridge. ■ Col. Reader has been 'getting into hot water with the Wellington Volunteers. At the Artillery drill on Monday last a letter was read from the Government, stating that the services of the battery would be accepted in the case of hostilities breaking out on the West Coast. The Lieutenant in command of the battery referred to the conveisation with Colonel Reader, in which the latter stated that the services of the Artillery would be accepted only aa a rifle corps. Lieutenant McCredie took exception to this interpretation Colonel Reader twitted the battery with having offered its services for action, but was willing to uso any excuse not to go. Lieutenant McCredie remarked that during the 21 years which he had served in the volunteer forge he had never met with such conduct from any officer of the defence force. The battery unanimously passed a resolution that steps be taken to bring the conduct of Colonel Reader under the notice of the Defence Minister. A meeting of the Cambridge Public Hall Committee was called for Monday evening last, but us a quorum of the members did not turn up the meeting was unavoidably adjourned until Monday next. The business which will be brought forward on Monday evening being of great importance, we hope the members of the committee will come forward, so that no more delay than is necessary for the consideration of the business will be occasioned. The few members who attended at the Hall on Monday last agreed as to the ad visableness j of the improvements as repiesonted by | the secretary, Mr Stuart. These include j the erection of a gallery immediately over the entrance door, to be constructed so as to accommodate not more than about fifty or eighty people, or a band of musicians on ball occasions. It is intended that the seats on the gallery will be select, so as to enable all those who ars desirous of securing seats for any entertainment to do so, there being always considerable difficulty experienced by persons coming a few minutes late in obtaining seats. The other improvements contemplated, are the extension of the stage on both sides, so that it can be converted into a supper room or a dreasing room, as occasion requires ; the repairing of the scenery, the fixing of the floor, and the painting of tho exterior of the buildiug 1 . As the hall is now being oalled into frequent requisition, the committee would do well by immediately beeing to their business in this respect, so that the hall may no longer be the combination of inconveniences it is at present. At the close of the meeting of the Cambridge Town Board on Tuesday evening last, Mr Wells remarked that a3 the Town Districts Bill would 'come into operation on the Ist January, 1882, it would be advisable to call a public meeting so that steps might be taken to enable them at the earliest possible moment to bring the act into force in Cambridge. He also adverted to the matter of the Cambiidge railway, and informed the Board that he had 'had an interview with Mr J. B. Whyte, who informed him that he had the assurance of the Ministry that the sum voted (£12,000) should be spent, and the work proceeded with as soon as possible. In a letter to the Premier he had suggested that the earthwork should be at once gone on with, so as to have it finished when the bridge over the Waikato should be completed. Mr Whyte had also informed him that £2000 had been placed on the estimates for the Cambridge-Tauranga road, and that he had written to the Government asking them to plane the money to the credit of the various county councila — £1000 to the Piako, and £1000 to the Tauranga —to enable them to carry on the work. Mr "Wells also drew attention td the road to Matamata He had taken upon himself to wait upon some of the members of the Piako County Council and represented to them the desirability of bringing this matter up at their next meeting. Be thought this would be part of the Tauranga- Cambridge Road, and as nothing was more important to the progress and general development of the district as to havp the main outlets into the country m passable condition bo as fco facilitate traffic, this matier should not be lost sight' Of. 'He had also asked Mr Whyte to get the Government to permit Mr L. Ousseu to survey the newroad in this direction. In the course of his address to the electors at Lytfcleton on Thursday nlgfyt, the hon. E. Richardson dwelt at eorae length on the important question of local government. He said he , looked on it that all that remained to be done, was simply to make use of the machinery now in existence, to improve that bit by bit, and, where possible, diminish the number of members of the House instead of increasing them, and to put farther power in the hands of the boards at present evistirig, and do away with tho constant reference to Wellington. He considered that, large and serious alterations were required in the management of railways.- The tariff, enforced now, in several instances, was absolutly driving custom from the railway. It> requires great modification, and a board of advice, .totally, free from influenpo, shoul be established for the general control of railways. An anpaid board should also be established at different centres, to which employe^ could appeal if , they considered themselves unfairly treated iv any matter. Respecting the incidence of taxation of the past session, the changes were much in the right direction, but more was required to be done. For instance, taxation should be imposed on imported goods that could "be manufactured here eu'eb. taxation to be an impost calculated topromore the development pf local ;andußtrieß.'' ]$r. f RichardsoVwaß flteonglf opposed, to 'separation, Qr the removal of^ tKe 'seat,, of 4 government; to ChrisjbcKurch. " ,„' ,/' , ( .'. • .1 , ', ; Messrs jTrevely^n, arid<, %assey 'h/we besnt.seekjrig' , prove -taat^ ,tne Liberals in .poorer are not <the ( folio wera of a rigid, mechanical Irufe. * ,Tb.ey, have just ha4o>rortgh£/b«rfotfe fl th'eni theVcase of (a chief dngbieerlin 4)he navy who. had^ been poispulsQrity i r§tired under Mr Cm^ders' scheme "atT -Ss\ye%rs'<of 4ge/ |%, * ww * 9 withi^ 25 days of completing the frill

term 'for (the raaxiraum^ensioa.of £4GO^, His case was brought to" the knowledge of Messrs Brassey and Trevelyan, and they gave orders at oncV»f hat he . sb6uld $grve another 26 days and' take his fnJl pension. ' i 1 Of a large number of Italian emigrants landed at New York the other day seven w ere brigands.' They were rather troublesome duiing the voyage, and'when they thought they had not had enough dinner they appeared before the oaptain 1 with empty plates, and 'drete their 'fingera across their throats by way of stimulating his benevolence. 1 This 'expressive 'illus* tration of their profession 'did n&t 1 have tho desired effect, for the captain had the bad ta^te to put two of them in irons. As these gentry ate sure to resnnie' their occupation in America, the United States Government might reasonably declfno to extend their hospitality to brigands, in which 1 ' prohibition' might be included orgdn»grinders. ■> * ■' "< • •• In'lSOO there were 80,006,000 Catholics, 20,000,000 Greek Christiana, and no Protestants ; in 1830, 116,000,000 Roman .Catholics, 70,000,000,, Greek i 'hristiahsi and '42,000,000 Protestants ; in 1880, the ' respective numbers were 209,200,000, 88,000,000, and 113,700.000, showing an. increase of ' 80 per ' cent, among' the Papists,2 6 per "cent, in the Greek Church, and 176 per cent, among the Protestants. Hitherto there- has been great doubt and conflict of opinion as to the relative proportions in which the races stood towards each other, in the Transvaal, but the matter is now authoritatively settled. By the map just issued from the Colonial Office it appears that the total native population is set down as 7(59,775, the Boers at 43,739, the British at 5106 The Boer population is clustered round Pretoria, Heidleberg, and Potohefstroom, half their total number being 1 comprised in these smalL districts. In the two northern districts, Waterburg and Zoutpansburg, and in tho western district, Lydenberg, the disproportion between the various nationalities is even more striking. , In these districts together there are 2654 Boers, 402 British, and 601,590 natives — or at the rate of j 300 natives to one Boer. | A controversy has arisen with reference to the assertion that no general officer ever before commanded so many British troops as those massed in Windsor Park on July 9. ' " One of the few who survive those days " writes with reference to tho army commanded by the late Duke of Wellington at Neville. " The largest strictly Briti»h force that ever fought under his command stood to its arms on the morning of Nov. 10, 1813. The battle ot Neville was won by 44,074 British ■ soldiers. In the battle of Toulouse only 22,416 were engaged, and at Waterloo 25,389. If you add to these last 6309 Officers and men of the German Legion, the total amount will be 31,098 I need scarcely add that to each of these armies were attached the corps of Portuguese and Spaniards, or else of Hanoverians, Brunswickers, Nassau troops, and Netherlanders. But the strictly British force was dn each occasion such as I have stated it to be." Another correspondent, quoting " Alison's " History of Europe, " says that the Duke of Wellington reviewed in Paris, after Waterloo, 60,000 British troops, a sight never before seen, and probably never to be seen again.

The Cambridge String Band will give •i grand concert: in aid of'the funds on Tuesday, the 18th inst Mr 'J. S. ( Buckland announces in our advertising columns that the desirable pioperty known as Gwynncland will be disposed of by private sale up till the rst of Dcccmbci. Mr J. S. Buckland will sell at the Oh-iupo yaids on Tuesday, the 2=,tli inst , at one o'clock, 200 head mi\ed cattle, pnncip.illy two-ytar-old steers. Mr J. S. Buckland will hold his first Waitoa and Waihou spring cattle sale on Thursday, 27th inst., when he will submit about 100 mi\cd cattle, 100 fit and store sheep, useful " horses, implements, &c. Mr J. S. Buckland will sell at the Cambndgp yards on Tuesday next, 160 wellbred mixed cattle, fat and stoics, from Napier, heifers, sheep, &c, &c. The new pure casli system now bemg !mti-ited by G and C. will certainly prove a benefit 'to the public. It has been a great success in S>dney and Melbourne and when strictly carried 'out the customer who buys at an est lbhshmcnt where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery millinery, 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 bearaportion of the loss 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 tho pure cash system a fair trial; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operatne prices; just the same as though they made a personal seleLtion. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bed '3mp and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of fivr- per cent will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. ha\ing reahse'd the entire value of their stock during thur la^e cash sale, the present stock is si waydw avd chka.pi v uouijht An inspection is invited. — Ga.ri.ick: amd Cravwj li, City Hall Furnishing Arcade Oi'"cn_strcct, Auckland