Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1470, 3 December 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, DEO. 3, 1881.

With the approach of harvest, and with the prospect of a plentiful yield, it "behoves the farmers of Waikato to consider what means are Lest to adopt to stay, or at all events to mitigate the small bird nuisance. During the past few years settlors have boon loud in their denunciation of these feathered pests, but although fully aware of the amount of damage done by the sparrows, and, to a certain extent, by the larks as well, no steps have ever been taken with a view to effectually putting down the evil. A great deal might be, and has been achieved by having recourse to poisoned grain, and in certain localities the birds have been

slaughtered in hundreds and thousands, but after all this is only a perfunctory method of dealing with the evil, and cannot be expected to be attended with anything like reward. The pest has now spread itself over such a largo extent of country, that nothing except combined and energetic action can be expectod to cope with it. They do these things much better in the »South, whero sparrow clubs have been established in many localities, and have been attended with much success. People aro apt to allow the small bird nuisance, as it has been very aptly called, to slip out of their minds when once the harvest has gone by, and the corn, or what is left of it, safely garnered; but they commit a great mistake in so doing. For it ought to be remombered that the sparrow and other kindred birds increase in this country at a much greater rate than is the case in European countries, where the severe and long continued winters act as a strong check upon their vitality, and where there is an active element in the population, composed chiefly of small boys, whose first delight is nest robbing and bird catching. Aided by favourable climatic conditions, and freed, as they have so far been, from human interference, the small i birds give promise of multiplying At an alarming 1 rate in New Zealand, and some day the farmers will awake in earnest to tho magnitude of tho evil which they ha,ve allowed to grow up around them unchecked and almost unheeded. It is of no use to abuse and vilify the acclimatisation society, as is the fashion with many ; the only real practical way out of the difficulty is to take some concerted action, and this, we opine, is one of the questions which ought to occupy the attention of the Farmers' Club. Wo repeat that no time should be lost.

Last night Sir Geo. Grey addressed a crowded meeting in the new Volunteer Hall, Hamilton. He was received with acclamations, and his remarks elicited frequent tokens of approval from portions of the audience, intermixed to a largo extent with dissent. At the conclusion, a vote of thanks and confidence was declared to be carried byamajonty, amidst the utmost confusion, being intermingled with groans, cheers, and hisses. Three cheers were called for Mr F. A. Whitaker, which were given very lustily by the majority of chose present. Clieera were then called for fcrir Geo. Grey, which were equally well responded to. A very large number of people from outside distucts were present, almost all the taihvay hands having arrived from all parts of the line by trollies and other means of conveyance. A full report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. Reports of meetings and other matter are unavoidably held over. Major Jackson addressed a meeting of the electors of Waipa at Whatawhata on Thursday night, and teceis'ed a vote of thanks. It will be seen from the report of the Waikato nomination tluit ill 1 J. B. Whyte has been re-elected without oppo- { sition for that electorate. Mr W. Swanson has been returned to Parliament for Newton for thetouitli time, unopposed. We have to acknowledge the receipt of the December number of that useful little publication, The Auckland Penny Time Table The current number of the ■/#«*- tr«t"d flew Zealaand Herald is to hand, and is a great improvement upon many of its predecessors. Some of the cuts are of .1 high order of merit. The following are the latest market quotations :— Boneduat (Sydney), £6 to £8, according to quality. (Auckland), ±7 to £8 10s; Peruvian guano, £17 to £18 ; Huon guano, small lots, £6 including bags ; Boneflour. £8 to £8 10s. A cricket match between the Cambridge and Hamilton Clubs will be played on the ground of the latter, Sydney Square, to-day. The wickets will be pitched at 10 a.m. The anniversary services in con- j nection with the Hamilton NVesleyan Sunday School will be held in the Public Hall to-morrow. A cablegram received last night informs us that previous to his execution Lefroy withdrew his confession that he had murdered Lieut. Roper. His Lordship the Bishop of Auckland is expected to arrive in Hamilton to-day, and at morning service to-morrow will institute the Yen. Archdeacon Lush to the incumbency of S. Peter's. In the afternoon the Bi&hop hopes to be at Whatawhata. In our report of the organ recital at Cambridge, wo neglected to notice Mr Moreton's exceedingly well rendered song-, "Thus saith the Lord" from the Messiah, which waa one of the leading solos of the evening ; also Mr J. Stuart's clarionet solo, a very noticeable feature in the programme. The Cambridge Brass and Reed Band played a number of operatic and other selections in front of the Cambridge Public Hall, on Thursday night last. The band is fast regaining its old standard of proficienoy, the music on Thursday night being in every respect up to the mark. The teachers of Trinity Presbyterian Church Sunday school, Cambridge, have decided to close the school during next, and also to omit the meeting of Band of Hope on the following- Tuesday evening, in consequence of the sickness which is prevalent amongst children in the neighborhood. The Rev. W. N. de L. Willis wishes us to say that there will be no Sunday school to-morrow at S. Andrew's, Cambridge, either in^ the morning or afternoon. As the public and other schools have been closed during the week, it has been thought wise to close the Sunday school for one Sunday. Considerable surprise and annoyance is expressed at the delay on the part of the Government in establishing a telegraph office at Taupiri. The necessity for such a convenience was strongly represented to the Government by the members for the district, and the money was voted. The delay, therefore, is as inexplicable as it is unfortunate. At a meeting of the Waitoa Highway Board on Saturday, three tenders were received for the bridges, &o , and that of Mr W. Lovett (£67) was accepted. The tenders of the o«-her two were : — Mr John Lidnsrstone, £272 14s 4d ; Mr Isaao Coates, £272 19s lOd. It was decided to call for tenders for the bridges, &c, be* tween the " Books " and the confiscation boundary. - Accounts amounting to £37 were passed for payment,

We are glad to hear that the flax trade of this district continues brisk. Late advices from the Auckland merchants state that lots in any given quantity will be taken, and they are urged to use every possible endeavor to increase their supplies. Encouraged by these, a number of mills are at present being altered and added to with the view of meeting the increased demand. The latest market quotations are : Flay, £19 to £21 10s ; and tow, £7 to £9 per ton. At the sale of the leases of Hamilton domain lands, held on Thursday, by Mr J. M. Gelling, lots were disposed of as follows : — No. 38, Hamilton East, containing Sa. 2. 4p., upset price 10s per acre, bought by Mr John Franklin at 12s per acre per annum ; lot 43, Hamilton East, containing Ba. 2i\ 4p., upset price 7s 6d per acre, bought by Air James Daley at 7s 6d per annum. The contractor for the Hamilton railway bridge has made a start with tho erection of the temporary brilge. The first tier of piles has been placed in position, and a large amount of the timber required is on the ground. Some eight or ten men aro at present employed on the works, but thin number will of course be augmented so soon as the preliminaries are complete. Arrangements are being made Tby the committee ot the Piebbyterian Chinch in Cambiidjje far holdiug a social meeting in the Public Hall on Wednesday, the 14th inst. The usual form of " hoitee " will be departed fiorn on this occasion, the meeting being* adveitNed to commence as a " conversazione" " at half-past seven o'clock, giving friends an opportunity of taking their tea comfoitably before leaving- home. Refreshments will, however, be handed round during 1 an interval, and during the evening- opportunities will be given for social intercourse amongst those present. Addresses and music, will furnish intellectual entertainment, and we have no doubt that a profitable aud agreeable evening will be spent. A few days since the Superintending Engineer for the North Island visited the Raglan district, making asurveyof the various road-lines and other public undertakings connected with that locality. He will, we understand, report that a great deal of blundering and waste of money has been occasioned in the carrying out of the main road over the lull. It is also not improbable that he will make suggestions for cutting off a number of the more torturous curves followed by the road-line in the vicinity of Raglan, by the adoption of which it is believed the direct route can be matei'ially lessened. The site for the proposed new bridge over the creek leading to Kaiioi will be recommended from Joyce's Point instead of that portion of the creek immediately above the wharf at Raglan. Mr Knorpp also visited the Karioi district, making a hasty survey of the district along the line of the projected new road, upon which it is also understood he will furnish the Government with a report. The Invercargill Magistrate gave a judgment some days ago of importance to newspaper subscribers, in an action to recover subscription dues. Defendant pleaded that he did not owe the money, having stopped the paper on paying his account in July, 1877. The paper had been delivered pretty regularly since ho stopped it ; the boys threw them down at the door. He did not know who picked them up, or what became of them. In reply to his Worship, he said that he had stopped the paper once, and thought that was sufficient. It was their own lookout if they sent it after that. His Worship paid there could be no doubt he was liable. He ought to have again informed the plaintiff that he did not want the paper, when he saw it laid at his door regularly. Judgment would be given for the amount claimed, with costs. " Harkaway " writes from Te A wamutu on Thuisday :— " Sir, wh<it about Mr Phaeton and his excellent and certain tips on the recent handicaps. What a pity he did not confine his splendid ideas strictly to himself and come up, aod by investing a few pounds, go away with his pockets lined at the expense of the simple Di'nnies who dared to frame a handicap without bis consent. I wonder if Phaeton ever compiled a handicap I bhould not wonder if he did, and if so, no doubt he goes strictly by the performances of the various hordes, and metes out even-handed justice without favour or

affection to any party. Now, seriously speaking, Mr Editor, I think Mr Phaeton might have let the Waikato Turf Club races come off without so many ill-natured remarks about them, thereby trying his utmost to damage the interests of the club in the eyes of the Auckland public 1 . I know it is right to have, and am heartily sorry that there is not, a competent handicapper appointpd for the club; at the same time I say that no one man, not even Phaeton himself, should take the responsibility of declaring a handicap without its approval by the committee." By inserting the above in your next "issue you will oblige." The congregation at S. Greorge'3 Church (Thames) last Sunday evening, to witness the induction of the Rev. W. Calder to the curacy of the Thames district, was the largest that building has accommodated for a number of years. Be&ides the Bishop and the new incumbent, the Rev. Wi Turipona and Mr H. C. Lawlor, layreader, were also present in the chancel. The early part of the service was conducted by Mr Calder, and after the singing of the first hymn, the Bishop entered the pulpifc and addressed the congregation on the subject of holiness. He then proceeded^to inform his hearers of the manner in which a new clergyman was usually appointed to the charge of a pariah. The colony of New Zealand was divided into six dioceses, over each of which a bishop presided. When any clergyman desired a removal to another district the regular course of procedure was for the people to relegate the choice of a new pastor to a Board of Nominators, and having chosen a rmmster,the approval of the Bishop was requested, and if ho offered no objection the candidate was duly installed. The Thames not being constituted a parish, the choice had devolved apon him, and acting in the apirit of tho statute, he had conferred with the people and appointed the Rev. Mr Calder, who was now amongst them. His Lordship also informed the congregation that since Mr Lush left them he bad been made an archdeacon. The rev. gentleman was then led forward to the chancel rails by the two churchwardens, and took affirmation of obedience to the Bishop of the diocese and the Synod, and allegiance to the Crown. The Bishop then declared Mr Calder duly installed pastor of the Thames district, the ohuroh wardens accepting the induction on behalf of the people. The congregation engaged in a few moments of silent prayer for the newly-installed minister, after which prayer on bis behalf by the Bishop conoluded the installation service. A first burning in connection with the limestone operations lately undertaken on the Hakaramata range, Raglan road, the evening of Tuesday. Three hundred bushels was operated upon, the yield both as regards quantity and quality being considered quite equal to the estimate placed on the stone by the anylitical report. A temporary kiln has been erected near the top of the hill in the vicinity of the road line. The price of the lime delivered on the Waipa riper bank is 9d per bushel, and for river carriage 3d, ao that ifc iff ill cost farmers in the "Wdikato at the rate of one shilling per bushel. The burners have got soms large orders on

hand, and from all we can gather the demand for this much needed fertiliher in likely to be well sustained. It is not unlikely that, when the trade progresses a little more towards establishment, a more substantial kiln will be erected on the banks of the river, it being estimated that coal supplied direct from the river steamers will coat less than the cutting down and carting of timber does at present. A further step towards facilitating the trade is the erection of a tramway from the cliff to the kiln. The distance is not more than 2i miles, the grade at least half that distance being sufficient for enabling loaded trucks to be lowered without extraneous motive power. Between that point and the river one very slight rise occurs, but with a moderate amount of cutting no great difficulty would supervene. Altogether we are pleased to note that this new enterprise affords good promise of developing into a most successful trade.

Sir George Grey will deliver an address in the Public Hall, Te Awarautu, this evening at 8 o'clock. Notifications of electoral addresses appear in our advertising 1 columns. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will hold their next Cambridge cattle sale on Thursday next. Messrs Cox and Son, dentists, make a notification in another column. Tenders are invited for seating the Hamilton Public Hall. The new pure cash system now beinj? initiated by G, and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a gre.it success in Sydney and Melbourne and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where th< goods are mat ked low to ensure a rapid sale must be h great gainer. G. and C sell their draper) millinery, and clothing at such puces for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-qperativesocjet)',, w'itboutthe nik ofbemg called upon to bearaportton of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory G irhck and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and .ire determined to give the pure cash system a fair trial; whether they gain or lose the first jear Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices , just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, \nd general house furniture, the largest portion of which i' turned out at our own factory, will be marked af the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount o; five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. Sc C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, tha present stock is nkw and chbapi i uough r. An inspection is invited. — Garlick and Cranwell, City Hall Fur Dishing Arcade Qneenstreet, Auckland