The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1512, 14 March 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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

TUESDAY, MARCH U h 1882.

Now that the Panama Canal has been fairly commenced, the question of its probable commercial importance is beginning to be canvassed. The work will take years to complete, and judging by the excessive mortality among the workmen its construction will be costly ; but the influence of the new tnaritine highway will be strongly felt. Some facts relating to it may prove of interest. The new route will be taken advantage of, naturally, in proportion to the distance saved. As a consequence, England's trade with the East will not in any way be effected by the new canal, except in so far as it establishes better means of communication between India, China, Japan, and other countries. The distance between New York and Hongkong by the Sue? Canal , is, according to the British' Trade Journal, 11,796* nautical miles; and the Panama route will.be 538 miles less, : on a calmer sea. A large amount,;^' the* trade . between <£he t 'United States; and China is oarriecl on through the*

port of San Francisco, thus reducing the distance between the English Colony in China and the commercial capital of the Union to a little over 9000 miles; but the bulk- is still carried through the Suez Canal. Tho distance between New York J and Yokohama via Panama is 9563 i miles, or some 4000 miles less than the Suez route, while th« length of the mixed journey, by steamer to San Francisco, and thence by rail is 7500 miles. These figures prove conclusively that the new highway will confer vast benefits on New York by the increase it will cause in the shipping trade of that port. To what extent the new canal will affect the English and American trade with Melbourne may be judged from the following figures :—: — From the Mersey, through the Suez Canal, the distance is 11,231 miles, and from New York, by the same route, 13,162 miles. By Panama, Melbourne is distant 12,869 miles from Liverpool, and 10,260 miles from New York. So far as Melbourne is concerned English steamers would find a shorter route by way of the Cape than by Panama, and they are not, therefore, likely to abandon Suez. European trade with the West Coast of South America will undoubtedly receive an important stimulus, with the result that the resources of Chili, Peru, and other countries on that coast will be more fully developed. But so far as the colonial possession of Great Britain are concerned, this country is the only one which, so far as can be seen at present, will receive any exceptional advantages. \'ew Zealand has always preferred the Pacific route, and when the old Panama mail service broke down it was found to be more advantageous to adopt the San Francisco line than either the Suez or the Cape routes. Besides effecting a saving of some six or seven days, the Pacific route has always been a greater favorite with passengers. To us, then, the accomplishment of M. de Lesseps' scheme will be of the utmost advantage. The long cherished project of direct steam communication with England will no longer remain in uncertainty, because its commercial success will then be placed beyond all doubt. We cannot reasonably be expected to cope with our Australian rivals in the Home trade until through steam communication is established. The Trade Journal thus refers to the new undertaking :—": — " While it would be absurd to argue that tho Panama Canal will possess anything like the commercial importance of tlxo passage which has been made through the Isthmus of Suez, yet, in several important respects, its construction will be of great advantage to the maritime nations of the world. We are aware that the report of the Hon. Joseph Nimmo, jun., cliiof of the United States Bureau of Statistics is unfavourable to tho construction of the canal, and estimates that less than 3 per cent, of the international commerce of the globe will take advantage of the new route ; but wo are inclined to think that this unfavourable opinion of the pro.spects of the undertaking' is not altogether justified. Upon tho colony of New Zealand tho opening of the new canal will undoubtedly exercise an important influence, and. bo far as the trade of the United States with China and Japan is concerned, there is reason to believe that it will be very favourably affected. As to tho* rich and practically undeveloped countries on the Pacific Coast of the South American continent, they will be brought several thousand miles nearer to the British Empire ; while, by enabling us to obtain our wheat supplies from California in a much shorter space of time than we can now possibly receive them in, the canal will be of important service. True, the new route will not be available for sailing-vessels, but in the conduct of our foreign commerce steamships are rapidly superseding the vessels entirely dependent upon windpower, and the successful accomplishment of M. de Lesseps' undertaking would undoubtedly stimulate many of our great steamship companies to renewed enterprise. In any event, the undertaking which has just been commenced is one in which the greatest maritime nation of the world has a supreme interest."

Our Alexandra correspondent draws attention to what has long been felt to be a want by the settlers of that district, namely, an assistant in the post-office. The matter may seem to be a trivial one, but it is none the less important to those concerned. People having business at the postoffice are frequently, to our own knowledge, kept waiting while the officer in charge is absent performing the duties of telegraph messenger. "Waikato as a whole does not seem to have received fair play at the hands of the Postal Department. The Hamilton office, for instance, through which a considerable portion of the postal business of the district passes, is supplied with one cadet, while offices like those at Tauranga and Onehunga, which, we venture to say, are not a whit more important, have two juniors each. We trust the attention of the authorities will be directed to 'this subject, and that some 1 provision will be made without loss of lime to remove the inconvenience of by our

*' We understand that the property known .as f | Becresfort, near^ HajuUlton* lately the property of .Captain. Bee^.Ms f^een- j^sased -to, ,-aj, gentleman' .named Gilwtoni who hw arrived, H, the

colony. Mr Gillston has had considerable practical experience in agriculture, and will, we believe, be an acquisition to the district.

The petition of Cambridge householders in reference to the Town Districts Act has now been completed and forwarded to His Excellency the Governor. The 20th April next lias been fixed as th« day for the first election.

The concert and dramatic entertainment advertised to come off in the' Town Hall, Kihikihi, on S. Patrick's night, in aid of the Romin Catholic Church at that place, has been unavoidably postponed.

The cricket match between the Constabulary and an eleven of the Cambridge cricketers cnne off in the Government paddock, opposite the National Hotel, on Saturday last. Each team had only one innings, the Constabulary doubling the score of their opponents. There were very few spectators.

The Newmarket Handicap, a sweepstakes of 20sovs. each, with £300 added money, run at Melbourne on Saturday, was won by Mr Pearson's Hyacinth, Euclid second, and Larpent third. '1 here were 37 starters, and the time (for the three-quarters of a mile) was lmin. IGAseos.

The farmers of Southland have formed a co-operative association, ami the articles have been registered under the Industrial Provident Societies Act 1877. A telegram states that the no-operative movement among the farmers is now looked upon as an established fact, and business operations are fairly commenced.

The flax industry seems to be gradually reviving and no doubt may now be reckoned permanent. In our advertising columns an enquiry is being made tor flax mill machinery we shall be glad to hail the day when thirty or forty mills are humming away in Waikato as they were wont to do some few years ago.

We regret to have to record the death of Mr A. 0. Elmsly, partner in the firm of Elmsly Bros., storekeepers, Kihikilii, which occurred on Sunday morning. The cause of death was scarlet fever of a very malignant type, Mr Elmsly ha\ ing taken ill only on the previous Tuesday. The deceased was a son of Dr Elmsly, of Otahuhu, and was quite a young man, having been married only about eighteen months.

The return cricket match between Hamilton ami Alexandra will take plaoe on the ground of the latter on the 10th prox. "In anticipation of this mitch (writes a correspondent), the members of the Hamilton Cricket Club will most likely be on the gui vivc, and we may expect to see Sydney Square presenting an appearance such as it offered just before the English match took place, when all our cricketers used to be energetically practising."

In view of the increasing trade between the ports of Onehunga and Waikato Heads, the W.S.N. Co., to whom is due the credit of developing this trade, have decided to send to England for a powerful steel paddle steamer of light draught, estimated to cost about £10,000. Capt. Lindsay, the manager, whose thorough knowledge of what is requhed is a guarantee that a suitable vessel will be ordered, has prepared plans and specifications, which will be sent to England by the outgoing mail.

The protective works at Ngaruawahia, for preventing the washing away of the river banks, have been entirely successful. The complaints frequently brought by property holders to the Borough Councillors of Hamilton of the encroachments of the river might easily be satisfied if work of this kind were done, as after the first expense, no othev outlay would be required.

The prognostications that when the railway came into Waikato the clays of the W.6.N. Co. would be numbered, are, like many other prophesies doomed be unfulfilled. Indeed to judge from various signs, the company's boats appear as well laden as ever. The company certainlj had to go outside their business as gene ral carriers, and have in self-defence adopted various other lines of trade. II will be some information to our readers to know that since last August the company have imported and supplied te Waikato settlers nearly 1000 tons oi bonedust. They are also direct importers of galvanized iron, fencing wire, nails, paints, oils, &c, which are shipped or board their steamer, the " Waikato" a1 Onehunga, and orought to Ngavuawahia without transhipment.

The Thames correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes :— "Mr Morgan a gentleman largely interested in mining in India, is at present on a visit to the Thames. Mr Morgan is a shareholder in several of the richest' Indian mines, and has considerable experience in goldmining. To-day he visited several points of interest here. In the general appliances for saving the gold he noticed but little difference to the process in India, but the grinding of the blankettings in berdans was a new feature to him. It is understood Mr Morgan has already some capital invested In the mines here, and it is probable he will make further investments. Mr Morgan is connected by marriape with Mr Kenrick, Warden of the Thames, from whom he has no doubt obtained his knowledge of the Thames and its mines. Next week he will visit Te Aroha.

Some people have queer notions concerning the meaning of the word "complimentary," if we are to believe the following story, the outline of which has been communicated to us. It seems that when the detachment of Armed Constabulary from the West Coast arrived in Cambridge, certain of the townsfolk, burning with patriotic zeal, conceived the idea of giving the gallant defenders of our homes a grand "compli mentary" ball. According to reports current at the time, the affair was to be on a colossal scale, and the A.C. men, who were kindly permitted to accept their invitations on the payment erf ss, entered the hall with high hope, visions of more than Oriental splendor rising up before their eyes. How much better they would have fared had they put their trust in the proverb which says " blessed is he who expects nothing," we leave our readers to judge. Our informant states that not more than half-a-dozen fair partners were present, and that it is a moot point whether any supper (or " refreshment ") was provided. He adds that as the credit of Cambridge for hospitality is at stake, and as the large majority of the residents took no part in, andknewnothing of the " entertainment," the promoters ought to come forward with a' plain statement of receipts and expenditure for the 'satisfaction of the community.

A Press Association telegram dated Timara Sunday states :— The alpine tourists, conif rising the Eev W. L. Green and two Swiss guides, returned to Timaru on Saturday night, after success fully ascending Mount Cook*. T Two successful attempts Vere made. For the third attetopt, ajjstop'was tnacle at an altitude ,of 7000 4 feet, yearly iinder the peak. Starting at 6 a.m. on the 2nd March,-travelling-by . ice the^whole distanqeHin^ie^lpnge^ by having ;to make Almost "iiipeaBtot7avftl«Wifites*r4he«»party 'y^B^p6Mible (^lrpßur^tpth r el&lsivg}ia-c "tllSt night.Van4;t%,' stood :ofc%ryQW

ledge, 200 feet below the summit, all night wet through, and without food. They descended safely next morning, and reached their camp at 7 p.m., having been on their feet 37 hours, the last 22 hours without food? They then set out for Timaru, and arrived safely as above. The asceut is not very difficult, as far as .climbing is concerned, but it is extremely dangerous, on account of the almost incessaut avalanches which roll down the mountainsides. The weather wad, unfortunately, cloudy, so that no view was obtained from the summit. Mr. Green's time was limited, or he would have ascended some of the other peaks, which he considers could be easily done. The alpine scenery is described as surpassingly errand, excelling anything of the kind in the Swiss Alps. The guides, naturally prepossessed in favour of their own country, concur with Mr. Green in saying that the weather was generally favourable for mountaineering, only five wet days being met with in the month. I he guides are almost astonished at this. They say that five fine days in a whole season are seldom obtained at home. Mr. Green proceeds to Christchurch tomoirow, and home by the next steamer.

Mr W. H. Clarke, O.E. has now completed severalmilesof theworking survey of the Rotorua bush road, and expects to have the whole finished in about two or three months.

A meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held last night, Cr. McGavrigle in the chair, for the purpose of receiving tenders for the erection of a fence around the embankment at the west approach of the traffic bridge. No tenders were received, and it was resolved to extend the time till Monday next at 7 p.m. There was no other business.

Mr I. R. Vialou met with a somewhat painful accident on Sunday evening. He was entering a room in the upper floor of his residence in Hamilton, when he struck his head against the lintel of the doorway, which is rather low, and inflicted a serious wound in his forehead. The services of Dr. Beale and Mr R. F. Sande3 were at once procured, and the wound was stitched. We are glad to learn that Mr Vialou was better

yesterday. Some very fine specimens of the turnip and swede families, grown on the Tamahere estate, were brought into Hamilton yesterday, and left at Gwynne's Hotel. The turnip, which is of the Aberdeen purple top variety, is of enormous dimensions, but being pithy, its weight does not bear a just proportion to ito size. The swedes are well grown 1 oote, though they are not, according to a letter in another column, so large as those grown at Aunandale, Piako.

Among the passengers by the s.s. Wakatipu, from Sydney, detained at the Quarantine Island (says a recent New Zealand Times), is a Chinaman who strongly objects to being vaccinated. In the best "pidgin English" he led the Health Officer to understand that, rather than submit to the operation, he was prepared to pass the remainder of his existence on Soames Island. He pronounced the accomodation at the Quarantine station "welly good, and appeared pleased at the prospect of a detention which meant good quarters, plenty of food, and no work.

The census returns of New South Wales have been issued. The population of the colony, as finally corrected, is aa follows -.—Sydney, 103,379 ; suburbs, 120,832 ; country districts, 527,257 ;— total, 731,468. The sexes are ;— Males, 411,149; females, 340,310. Ihe total increase of the population since 1871 is 247,407.

"Spes," in the "Western Star," protests against the proposal of the Southland Agricultural Society to import stoats and weasels. " One would have supposed," he writes, "that one dreadful mistake (the rabbi te) would luue satisfied them.without a second. I would suggest in case of their hnpoi tation, that fanners should combine and obtain compensation in the law courts, for until something of that sort is taken in hand and it is brought home to their pockets, the society will persist in stocking the country with vermin. "

An American p^per states that " Emmett is again to the fore. In the early part of this month (December) he opened a short season at Haverley's Fourteenth Street Theatre, where * Fritz ' played splendidly. He is now a total abstainer, and religiously keeps to it. He is now playing ' Fritz in Ireland ' to crowded houses, and making another pile. He is as popular as ever, and says that new engagements are pouiing in on him right and left from all parts of America ; but he certainly looks forward to another visit to Australia and New Zealand."

Speaking about bankruptcies, at the Ohriatchurch Chamber of Commerce the other clay, the chairman said, amongst other things -. " Having analysed the declarations of insolvency throughout the colony for the last six months, I find that 25 per cent, of the number are by persons described as 'laborers.' It might also be remarked here that the colony would perhaps not greatly miss a certain class of legal practitioners, whose special avocation seemed to be to pave the way through the Bankruptcy Court for persons for whom its protection could hardly have been intended."

A solicitor in a country township (says " iEgles" in the Australasian) having completed some legal business for the landlord of the principal tavern in the place, presented his bill of costs in person. The landlord scanned the items, said he was satisfieclwith the charges made, and added, " If you pay for a bottle of wine, I will giveyou a cheque." The lawyer, delighted with such unexpected promptitude, atonceassented, and the wine was brought, paid for, imbibed. When the sitting was finished (with the bottle) the landlord said, " I will go and fetch you that cheque." In a few minutes he returned, and handed the expectant a cheque, signed by the attorney himself (for a pound or two more than the bill), dated 18 months previously, and marked with the magic initials " N.S.F."

According to an American paper the treating custom is on the wane in that country. The necessity of cramming whisky down a man's throat four minutes after shaking his hand is growing less apparent to the mind of the San Franciscan. We hail this as a return to common sense. It is just as reasonable to say; " Come in, and let me pay for your washing," or, "I have a quarter in my purse, which I will gladly invest in a paper collar for you," as to insist upon, buying a friend ten cents' worth of a liquor which would be dear at three. The only class who regret the decadence of this custom is the human sponger, who never wearies of absorption, and who believes the only true happiness consists in drenching the viscera ,with alcohol.^

Noticing the continued shipment of gold from the 1 Anstralian Colonies to San Francisco, Bradstreefs correespondent afc< that port ■"commentSTuponj the inability of the TJnitecl States to open and foster a > new foreign market." He says : " New; i'ZeaUnd.buyS'bpnedustirpmSanFranciscd for fertilizing; also, .salmon, fruit, hops,', etc. .So, also,' doSs Australia. But what; doT wS Buy -^roniWttl? and. aud.wopl,*aiifd4h^ i isall % ThViwouldb>y 'more largely if we.boufehttheif /tlie'^qu^alea* of whiM '^ J riQh.llniy|r iQh.11niy| f hat^b^ bftyo

to sell, and their gold is sent here to buy exchange on London because it presently pays to do so."

The Boston Post hits the nail on the head when it says :—Communications should be brief, and there are several reasons for this. In the first place, newspaper space is valuable. The modern newspaper is never troubled with the old-time complaint of needing "something to fill up." The editor's scalpel is constantly reeking from the slaughter of live news matter and interesting miscellany. Short communications are much more likely to find readers than long ones are, and unless they are to be read it is much better not to publish them. More contributions can be represented when the articles are short than when they are long, .and one man has as strong a claim upon the columns as another, provided he furnishes as interesting matter. A short article is usually more pithy than a long one. A subject should have many ramifications to demand more than half a column in a newspaper, while all that can be saved even from that limit up to a certain point is apt to be an improvement. That prince of journalists, the late Samuel Bowles, once apologised for a long editorial, and gave as his excuse lack of time to write a short one. He expressed an important truth in his usual epigrammatic way.

The return match between the All-England Eleven and the Combined Australian Eleven was commenced at Melbourne on Friday. The weather wa3 very fine, and the wicket lively. The Englishmen went first to the wickets, and when stumps were drawn for the day had put together 282 for the loss of 7 wickets. The match was resumed on Saturday, the Englishmen's innings closing for a total of 339. The following are the individual scores : — Barlow, caught, 16; Selby, bowled, 7; Bates, caught and bowled, 23; Shrewsbury, lbw., 4; Ulyett, caught, 149; Midwinter, caught, 21 ; Scotton, caught, 26 ; Emmett, bowled, 27 ; Shaw, caught, 3 ; Peate, caught and bowled, 13 ; Pilling, not out, 7 ; extras, 16. The Australians went in for their first innings, and when time was called had put together 228 for the loss of only live wickets. The following are the scores : Bannerman, caught and bowled, 37 ; Murdoch, bowled, 82; Horan, caught and bowled, 20; Massie, caught, 19; Giffen, caught, 14 ; Macdonnell, not out, 41 ; sundries, 12.

Tenders are invited for fencing the Hamilton bridge approach embankment. Notice is given that Richmond street, Hamilton, being dangerous, is closed for traffic until fuither notice, tor repairs The Banks in Waikato will be closed on Friday next, bt. Patrick's Day. Henry Canning Newel Tanner, of Kihikihi, hab filed a statement of his inability to meet his engagements with his creditors. Mrß. Montague having disposed of his prperty at Oxford to Mr A. Clements, requests that .ill claims against him be sent in at once. Edward Gritmby, cabinetmaker, Cambridge, has filed | a declaration of insolvency. The first meeting to be held at the Court-house Hamilton, on Saturday 18th inst., at n a.m. The engineer, Tauranga County, invites tenders to be in by Tuesday, 28th inst., for forming bush track on Cambridgc-Tauranga road via Kaimi. Mr W, Moon, Cambridge, invites tenders, up to the 20th inst., for clearing and ploughing 28 acres of land. MvJ. S. Bucklandwill hold his next regnlar sale of horses, &c, at the National Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday 25th inst. Mr T. Y. Fitzpatrick advertises that he has for sale a partially improved faun of 200 acres close to Ngaruawahia, with house, outbuildings, bush, and a good run adjoining. Mr D. Kempt, dentist, will be at G\\> line's cottage, Hamilton, on Wednesday, 29111 inst. .... We beg to draw the special attention of farmers and others to Mr T- S. Huckland's dealing sale ot the live and dead stock, furniture, &c , the property ofMrsde Vere Hunt, of Ormond, Hokonui, which will take place at the farm to-morrow. 1 lie horse stock and dairy cat - tie aic worthy of attention, while the implements, furniture, &c. are of a \ cry supeiior kind. Hay and produce will also be sold at the same time. The new pure cash system now being initiated bv G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit "to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly earned out the customer who bujs at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a emat gainer. G. and C. sell then drapery, millinery, .and clothing at such prices tor cash as gives the bujer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear apoition of the loss should the 3 ear's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public ha\e hitherto shown them, and are determined to give the pure cash system a fair trial; whether they gain or lose the first /ear Countiy buyers on remitting cash withordei will be supplied with goods at co-oneratve prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding and general house furniture, the largest portion of which if turned out at our own factory, willbe marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount ot hvc pet cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of pui chase. G. and C . having realised the entire value of theii stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is new and cheaply nouoHi.— An inspection invited.— GvßLirK and Cr4.nweu., City Hall Furnishing Arcade Queen street, Auckland.