The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1492, 26 January 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26, ISS2.

fiijtial and cv.ttt justice to all men, Ot whatsoever btate or porbuabion, religious or political. Heie shall the Press the People's right maintain, Un.iwcd b}' influcni-c and unbnbed by gain.

The Mini official announcement has reached us that, the hon. the Premier will shortly visit Auckland, pursuant to arrangements made for a tour of inspection of the colony — it being further understood Waikato will have the honor of his presence. We attacli no importance whatever to die event as an occasion for mere pomp and display, but avc certainly do regard it as momentous, m respecb to the question of outcome or practical result. Besides being head of the Government, Mr Hall is Minister for Public Works, and when we take into account the actual position of the district in relation to these works, no one can doubt the importance of getting the true aspect of affairs brought under official inspection. Our Auckland city contemporary, the Star, after giving a very fair exposition of that view, proceeds to urge the importance of local bodies, such as, county councils, municipalities, road boards, &c, taking the intiative. The suggestion is a good one, and wo readily commend it to the favourable attention of local bodies in Waikato. Official dunning by document or deputy, is always more or less unsatisfactory. " Seeing," we are told, " is believing," and if we can bring home conviction in that sense, wg operate upon a, leverage quite ay powerful as the "ono example," which is said to equal " a bushel of theories. 5 ' We can well understand that the dunning epistle for works "to open up large tracts of Crown lands territory," or "develop rich mineral resources," has now begun to fall flat and unprofitable on the official ear; but, when the actual facts of the case are demonstrated to the naked eye, we can as well understand, fresh impetus given to the public enterprise. Amongst other undertakings, or, projected undertakings, the various district railway works extensions are the first, and, perhaps, the most important, which suggests attention. In a recent issue we showed that pecuniary provision had been made for constructing the line as far as Te Aroha, and that no good reason exists why the last, or, Piako formation contract, should not be let, so as to have the entire line to Te Aroha completed, about the time the Hamilton railway bridge is finished. We can conceive of no more reasonable request. Whether regarded in the light of a goldfields district or, a rapidly rising settlement, capable of extending agricultural and pastoral enterprise on a scale akin to what may be called ad infinitum, the Te Aroha and its railway works, are worthy of every possible consideration. Cambridge line is likewise a subject for attention. We will, no doubt be told, Government is pushing on the preliminary work with all possible despatch. That may or [ may not be strictly correct. It seems strange Government should have asked Parliament for a vote of £12,000 if it were only possible during the then current financial year to spend a few hundreds on preliminary plans and surveys. We prefer believing that arrangements can be made for allocating the money by inviting contracts for the work so as to prevent the vote, or any material portion thereof, -from lapsing altogether. We have already urged that view upon the attention of the district, and would merely repeat that it is most important the arguments should not be lost sight of. It is also high time the extension of the main line in the direction of Taranaki should he considered. It is known that fresh loan proposals are. on the tapis, and in all conscience the time has arrived when the effort should

be made to get our through railway system proceeded with. Southern New Zealand has been well provided for in that respect, and if we do not keep a sharp look-out its branch and feeder lines will now take precedence of our main lines. Another very important undertaking to a large section of this community is the snagging of the Waipa river. The parties more immediately interested have offered most favorable terms for carrying out of the work, and we do hope an effort will be made to get the thing done. Experience has shown that the limestone developments going on at the Hakaramata ranges is a work of great importance to the agricultural progress of the district as a whole. For prosecuting the work a short tramway is needed. The cost would not exceed £3000. Government might very reasonably be asked to assist. According to its own avowed policy, assisting undertakings of this kind, by the making of roads and tracks, rather than the granting of direct pecuniary aid, is the class of public enterprise it means to uphold. Such being the case, no more likely and, at the same time, important undertaking, could possibly claim consideration. Altogether we have little doubt but that the local bodies will discover enough for consideration, to prevent the lion, the Premier becoming a prey to ennui during his stay amongst us.

We .should be sorry to think that Mr Wells fairly represented the opinion of the residents of the town of Cambridge) when he drew such an arbitrary distinction between the two artificial divisions of the Cambridge riding, at yesterday's meeting of the Waikafco County Council. It seems to us the interests of tho two are so closely bound up together that one cannot be affected either beneficially or prejudicially without exerting a good or bad influence upon the other, as the case mny bo. Thus the unfortunate occurrence at Ewen's hill will cause as nuiuh (if not more) inconvenience to the people of Cambridge town as it will to the country settlers. Regarding it in this light, we cannot help thinking that the council did wrong in not making provision for carrying on the work in the event of the Government refusing the desired assistance. Without desiring to flatter Mr Wells, it may be claimed for him that since his election to a seat in the council, he has discovered an aptitude for the work devolving upon him which is of tho utmost value to the county as a whole ; but in this particular instance he has fallen into a serious error. We call ifc an error advisedly, because its most natural result will be the creation of a division of interests as between the town of Cambridge and the country from which it draws no inconsiderable amount of its support.

The note of warning sounded in Saturday's issue in regard to the probable lapsing of the Cambridge railway vote has been taken up. For some time there has been a painful laxity observablein carrying on the working survey of the line, and we are glad to see that at length vigorous action is about to be taken by those concerned. The subject was very strongly commented on at the meeting of the "Waikato County Council held yesterday, with the result that the Government will be communicated with without delay. In little more than a couple of months, namely, on the 31st March, the financial year will come to a close, and the vote, unless operated on before that time, will be lost for this year at any rate. It is, then, clear that no stone must be left unturned to secure the achievement of the object in view, and the present course of action must be followed with determination. The projected visit of the Premier, in his capacity of Minister of Public Works, to this part of the colony, will afford a further opportunity for pressing the matter on the attention of the Government.

Several reports of School Committe elections are crowded out.

Mr P. A. Whitaker, M.H.R-, has received a communication from the Under-Secretary for Public Works intimating that the Government has made a grant of £350 for the TuhikarameaHamilton road, and £500 for the Hamil-ton-Whatawhata road.

We understand that the Waikato Cricket Association have received a private offer of £50 for the gates at the All-England v Waikato cricket match, but they have -wisely decided to bring the whole of the privileges to the hammer.

In response to a numerouslysigned requisition, the Mayor of Hamilton requests the burgesses to observe Tuesday next (the day of the All-England v. Waikato cricket match), as a public holiday.

An Association wire received last night from Dunedin reports ;— One hundred and seventy-three runs, comprising 2,309,217 acres of Crown lands in Otago, will be offered for lease by public auction on Monday.

Our Cnristchurch correspondent telegraphs lastnight: — The Wesleyan Confereace has sanctioned the appointment of a minister for Te Awainutu. They reconsidered the Waikato circuit, and granted a request for threefold division. The home mission receipts last year were stated to be £2429 more than the nett current expenditure.-

The cricket match between Hamilton . and Alexandra that was to take place next Saturday on tlie ground of the latter, has had to be postponed, owing to its proximity to the great match on the 31st inst.

We learn that on the return of Tawhiap and party from their visit ,to Auckland a large native meeting will J)e held at Kawliia for the purpose of deciding the question as to the opening of that port, It is stated that the presence of

no white people is to be allowed, and that newspaper reporters and correspondents are to be moat religously excluded.

Miss A. Bright has been appointed assistant teacher at the Cambridge East School, in place of Miss Sotiter, resigned.

A public meeting is talked of in Cambridge for the purpose of discussing the most suitable . site for the railway terminus. There seems to be a difference of opinion on the subject.

Mr Jas. M. Gelling has been appointed superintendent collector of agricultural statistics, for collection of said statistics in February, in the counties of Waikato, Waipa, Raglan and Kawhia.

Very great interest is being shown on all sides in the forthcoming cricket match. In Hamilton every available vehicle has been secured, and, with fine weather, there will be the largest gathering that has ever been witnessed on any occasion in this district.

The broken weather of yesterdayhas seriously impeded harvesting operations, and considerable losses have been sustained. Mr C. Johnson, of Hamilton, who had a splendid crop of wheat, will be a heavy sufferer, having had to take down a large stack of graiu which got wet.

At the R.M. Court, Hamilton, yesterday, Thomas Hoy, butcher, of Cambridge, was charged with committing a breach of the Slaughterhouses Act in not furnishing weekly returns to the inspector, and the case being proved, he was fined 20s and costs.

Our Te Aroha correspondent writing yesterday says : " There is nothing of any very great importance to chronicle, if I except the arrival of Messrs Bayldon and Aicken, who have been asked to report geneially on works completed, and in course of construction, as well as to offer suggestions as to Avhat will be the best course to pursue to develop the mines at a minimum cost."

Much satisfaction was manifested by the people of Cambridge on receipt of the intelligence that it had been decided the English cricketers were to play a match with a Waikato team near their township. It is generally understood Tuesday will be observed as a public holiday, as every person in the district is bent on seeing the contest.

Mr S. Ticklepenny, manager of Messrs Morrin and Studholme's Estate, Piako, met with rather a serious accident on Monday. He was driving a waggon, when one of the wheels dropped into a rut, throwing him out in front under the horses' feet,and must have been stunned. He was picked up in an unconscious state, but is now, although much bruised and cut about the head and body, in a fair way towards recovery. He appears to have escaped being killed almost by a miracle. A man who was with Mr Ticklepenny was also thrown out, but although the wheel passed over him, he did ziot sustain any serious hurt.

A special meeting of the Waipa County Council was held on Tuesday for the purpose of considering the application of the Government that the council should supplement the grant of £230 to the Mangapiko Road Board for the formation of the road between Te Rore and Ohanpo, through Mr Gnbbins' property. The work was estimated to cost £600, and the Mangapiko Board decided to put the matter into the hands of the county. The council, after discussing the question, resolved to proceed with the work so as to open the road for traffic as soon as possible.

A pleasure excursion to Waikato Heads and back — similar to the one which took place twelve months ago — per steamer Delta, is one of the events on the tapis. But for the cricket match on Tuesday, it would havo taken place on the 28th instant— the steamer leaving Cambridge and Hamilton early in the morning, and timing itself to meet the train at Mercer, returning again from the Heads on Monday, arriving at Mercer in time for the up train. The programme will be given effect to on an early date — a Saturday, Sunday, and Monday being of course selected. With good weather, a finer trip could not possibly be provided.

We are pleased to notice by a Government Gazette, of 12th January, that Mr R. F, Sandes has been appointed public vaccinator for the district of Hamilton. This appointment will supply a want long felt in this district, more especially of late, since there has been a chance of the dread scourge of small-pox taking root in our midst. After next week, Mr Sandes will be prepared to vaccinate all and sundry, and the fact of the appointment being placed in his hands will bo sufficient guarantee to the public that every precaution will be exercised in the careful selection of pure lymph from healthy subjects.

A correspondent, writing from Ngaruawahia, says : — "The new School Committee is to be congratulated on being able to commence its new official year under the most auspicious circumstances. It owes nothing, and has a fair balance in hand. It is at peace with the teachers ; at peace with the community at large; at peace with the Central Board ; and the members are at peace with one another ! The school is in a most flourishing condition, numbering close upon ninety scholars, and the average attendance is very little short of being equal to the number on the roll. For this felicitous state of things our community is mainly indebted to the popularity, efficiency, and intelligent assiduity of our teachers, Mr Chappell and Miss Coleman ; and we have also cause to be thankful to the Board of Education for its generosity and wise discrimination in selecting for us teachers, to whom we may look up to and be proud of."

Twenty men of the Armed Constabulary, together with a number of natives, are at work on the CambridgeRotorua road, a few miles on the Rotorua side of Oxford. When the Constabulaiy have formed the road as far as the twenty-mile peg, the section lying between there and the bush will be let by Government in small contracts, for which tenders will be called. We also hear it is the intention of the Government to let the construction of the road through the bush to natives, who, it is said, are better adopted for the timber work than Europeans. Mr Sealey, Government engineer, went out some time ago, it is said, for the purpose of taking levels from the twenty-mile peg, with the view of letting the remainder of the work by contract. The Constabulary will be put on a new road which it is intended to form between Oxford across ■ the Patetere country to Waotu.

The adjourned charge, Wayte v. Hammond, of obtaining money under false pretences, was resumed at the R.M. Court, Hamilton, before ,Mr Northcroft, R.M., on Tuesday, and lasted till last evening. The enquiry traversed the whole grounds "of : the business dealings between, the, prosecutor and the defendant. - ; The evidence showed that there (-had, : been?a,j:longstanding dispute between the parties in their business* relations, 1 ah'd the defendant had asserted a legal' right to collect the book debts. Mr McVeagb, Mr l J«s. Hume, ,M^ Geo, Dickjnson, + and,Mr E t> J. Wright 'gave'eyidefiicefor the prosecution. '. The whole of yesterday wjui^takenuiup by the examination and ciross-e^xamination of Mr Wayte. Theprosecution'was con-^ ducted by MrHay,an4 the defence by

Mr O'Neill, and on the conclusion of the case the R.M. stated that the evidence being so voluminous he would reserve his decision till this (Thursday) morning, There are two more cases still to be heard. Two or tlireo unimportant civil cases were disposed of during 'yesterday.

A Kihikihi correspondent writes : — The Town Hall is now presenting a finished appearance, and by the end of the month the building will be completed, when it will be handed over to the directors. A number of persons are bestirring themselves to open it with a grand entertainment in about three weeks time, when the following firstclass dramas will be produced : — The Momentous Question aud The Eough Diamond. As "Cooper" is taking an active part, assisted by several lady amateurs, the residents may expect a good evening's amusement. The entertainment will terminate with a dance, thereby enabling the young people to do the light fantastic.

Mr J. B. Lawes, the well known scientific agriculturalist of Rothamsteacl, England, estimates that in 1868-69 twothirds of the total bread consumed in Britain was the produce of home-grown wheat. A few years later the requirements of the country were met by onehalf home-grown and one-half of foreign wheat. But ( the harvest of 1879 scarcely supplied one loaf in four required, that of ISBO only one in three, and that of 1881 will also supply only about one loaf in three required. "The produce," observes Mr Lawes, "in my experimental field, taking the mean of the same selected plots as for many years past, shows an average of 24 bushels to the acre, reckoned at 61K> per bushel; and assuming an average crop of wheat to be 28 bushels, the crop is 14 per cent below the average. Estimating the total produce of wheat in this country this year at 9 million quarters, and deducting 1 million quarters for seed, there would be 8 million quarters available for food, which would leave the country dependent of the foreigner for between 16 and 17 quarters.

The " Canterbury Times " of a recent date, has the following : — The prospects of the wheat market are decidedly good. After harvest buyers will naturally keep prices down as low as possible, but farmers are becoming so fully awake to their own interests that they are not likely to sell here unless the price offered is .somewhere near what there is a reasonable chance of getting by shipping wheat Home on their own account. Under the old system of shipping through agents, farmers were heavily handicapped by expenses over and above what it cost a merchant to export grain, but the co-operative movement has materially changed the aspect of things, and fanners have altogether a better chance of making the most of their produce. The price of wheat at Home has receded of late, but there is no doubt about the deficiency of the last English and American harvest ; and to that extent at least fanners have circumstances in their favour. There will be no heavy last season's stocks to contend with, and it is probable that nothing short of a bumper harvest either in England or America, or both, would take effect enough to bring prices down to a very low point.

The electric lighting of the Savoy Tneatre, London, wherein " Patience" is now being played, is thus described :—: — The 38 incandescent lamps placed around the dress circle, upper circle, and gallery were set in action, the gas was at once extinguished, and a blaze of illumination proclaimed ' ' the light of the future." Its effect on colour was very slight, only the gilding with which the ceiling is profusely decorated at once losing its lustre and becoming a yellowwhite. On the colours in the ladies' dresses in the stalls, and on the appearance of the houses its effects was, however, very striking. The light is by no means so trying as that previously exhibited at Co vent Garden and ele where. In colour it very nearly approaches that of gas, though it indisputably brings out details more cleaiiy. When the performance began, by some plan of " shunting" the current, the lights were lowered, and in the course of the evening various experiments were tried to determine the exact amount of brilliancy desirable. This electric light, enclosed in tiny pearshaped glass bowls, was also used to illuminate the lobbies, and in a few days the whole of the stage and even the artists' dressing rooms will be lighted by it.

Special attention is directed to an advertisement by Mr W. S. Jones, saddler, Auckland, in another column. Mr Kempt, dentist, will be at Gwynne's cottage, Hamilton, on Wednesday, Bth proximo, from 9 a.m. tills p.m. Mr J. S. Buckland will sell on arrival from Napier, 3,000 cross-bred wethers and ewes. A pedigree card containing the names and detailed particulars of the players will be issued under authority of the Waikato Cricket Association. It will be issued for sale on the grounds under rights expressly reserved by the Association. A large number are bound to be issued. Space reserved for advertisers. A splendid medium for that purpose. — [ADvr.] The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great, success 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 irrcat gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, I 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 bear a portion of the loss should the 3 ear'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 the pure cash system a fair trial; whether '.they gain or lose the first year l Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operatve prices ; just the same as though they made apersonal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, willbe marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay nt the time of purchase. G. and C. having realised the entire value of their stock duiing their late cash sale, the present stock is new and cheaply bought. — An inspection invited. — Garlick and Cranwell, City Hall furnishing Arcade Queen ttreet, Auckland.