The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1540, 18 May 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VAL LEY GAZ ETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here Miall the Press tlie People s right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbtibed by gain.

THURSDAY^ MAY 18,1882. ♦ The circular which the Government are issuing to local bodies is significant. It means that tho Government, like their immediate predecessors in office, regard the settlement of the locnl government question as one of the first importance. It was not to be expected, perhaps, that the machinery adopted to take up the work of tho old provincial institutions could work smoothly and effectively at once. In a greater or lesser degree all legislation in a new country is experimental, and time is as necessary a factor in determining tho value of legislative enactments, particularly those relating to local government, as the clearest-headed criticism. Time has discovered that our new system is defective, and in the light of the experience we have gained, we should lose no time in carrying out what changes seem to be necessary. Though it is admitted on all sides that our present scheme of local government is inefficient, it is, nevertheless, a matter of no little difficulty to suggest reforms which shall satisfy the wants of all, or even the majority. The complaint in one case is against the county councils, in another against the road boards, while in another fault is found not with existence of these bodies, but with their constitution, and the relations they bear one to the other. The plan adopted by the Colonial Treasurer of submitting a list of questions and soliciting replies from the various local bodies will, if approved and acted upon generally, secure valuable information upon the subject. So far as this district is concerned the county councils have not been a very brilliant success, and until more extended powers are given to , and the control of main roads vested in them we do not see how their usefulness can be made apparent. The most prominent feature in the Government proposals is, as last year, that which deals with the financial position of local bodies. The scheme has been made familiar to our readers by the bills of last session, and is recapitulated in very clear terms in the circular which we published in last issue. The provisions of that scheme, by which local bodies are to be assisted in the carrying out of public works to the extent of ,£3 for £1 raised locally, is fair enough, and is infinitely better than the clumsy rul3-of thumb £ for £ subsidy upon rates. Still, it does not altogether meet the objections which we formerly urged against the system at present obtaining. The £ for £ system, we have always maintained, benefited the richer districts at the expense of the poorer. The rate-producing power of the former is higher, while the necessity of the latter is much greater, and the subsidy system, therefore, proceeded upon the plan of giving to him that hath, and taking away from him that hath not. Were tho conditions alike in all parts of the colony, no injustice would be committed, but districts in which roads and bridges ai*e things only projected, must of necessity suffer unless special provision be made to meet their own particular case; The new proposals' are hedged round by certain provisions which greatly reduce the opportunities for that peculation which the subsidy system fosters. But thickly populated localities tnay still secure , a disproportionate, share of. the public money, because .they* are in a bejhj ter position than i the others , to raise the mone£ necessary • sary to enable them ,to, claim .the 1 grant-in-aid. ilt is true thatjbhe f £ee j grants cinlyap|)ly<to'tlie construction: l Bf niaiii Wdsy butif-'the^oMf^oo^ j !Btr,uc,tipnT- isjta^en ? ta.^ean t[s§^gM nal formation, and.tfte^terrai'ljnaiiil rdad'Utoimep,nfonly{those7whiclfare| at present designated by common

consent as^sttcb, we cannot see that Waikatb, at all events will derive much benefit from the proposal. We have main roads enough, but f 'fr ww r that,are 'efficient, '. if, being*, constructed, we 'can ..only secure their improvement by borrowing from the consolidated * fund, we are afraid, they stand a poor chance of being mended. Judging it from a colonial standpoint we freely admit that the proposal of the Government is a substantial improvement upon the present halting system, but regarding it, as we must, in the character of residents in a young country district, a district in which public works are only as yet in their infancy, we must confess that it does not fully meet the exigencies of the time. And it is from this latter position that the local bodies of "Waikato should regard the subject. It is their duty to calculate the probable benefits which may accrue under the proposed ararrangement and return intelligent answers. Various circumstances will affect the tone of these answers in different districts, and it is scarcely possible to afford any hints, or to supply information which would be of assistance in a general way. There are many other points of interest in the circular, but they call for no special comment.

During the session of Parliament which formally opens to-day, a new loan will, it has been frequently asserted, be proposed. Such a proposal is certain to meet with strong opposition, but we believe the proponderance of opinion will be found to be in favor of incurring further liabilities. The question then really is : How is the loan to be spent ? The amount proposed to be raised — three millions — will, after a due proportion has been set aside for immigration purposes, appear of small dimensions when contrasted with the hugeness of the works proposed to be constructed out of it. Setting aside the establishment of a direct service between the colony and England, there are new railway projects springing up in all parts in anticipation of another general Public Works scramble. All these are, to take the word of their respective advocates, of the utmost importance to the colonial welfare, while most, if judgedj udged by a higher standard, will prove to be, like many railway schemes before them,of no value whatever. One of the projected lines, however, viewed in any light, is a work of national importance. We refer to the railway by means of which it is proposed to connect the northern and southern portions of the North Island. Opinions are divided on the question of route, and as yet, in the absence of anything like an engineer's report, it is not easy to determine the proper line, but the scheme itself meets with the approval of the whole population of this island. It will, however, have two formidable rivals in the Otago Central and AmberlyWest Coast Railways, both of which are certain to be brought prominently forward on the first intimation of a new loan. Neither can lay claim to be as important as the North Island Trunk Line, but that will make little difference to their respective champions, who will leave no stone unturned to effect their purpose. Our hope of fair play lies in the sense of justice and right which a large section of our southern friends have shown they possess. The big railway schemes in the Middle Island are not without their detractors, who make very unpleasant, because just, remarks about them occasionally. The North Otayo Times, a journal which generally speaks its wind, referred a few days ago to what it not inaptly denominates "the consummate cheek of the people of Dunedin in regard to what is called the Otago Central Railway." Ourcontemporary goes on to say : "For the last year or two this railway has been talked and written about ad nnvscam. It would probably lead to the cultivation of a moderate amount of fair agricultural country, which is still in the hands of the Government, and give the pastoral tenants, and the farmers already settled in the interior, the advantages of railway communication with the large market town of Dunedin. A railway that brought about these changes would, to some extent, be a good thing for the interior, a good thing for Dunedin, and not a bad thing for the colony at large . But in order not to be the the latter, it would infallibly require to be constructed with money not obtained from the Colonial Exchequer. What, however, is particularly insisted upon by the mei'chants, politicians, and journalists of Dunedin, is that the railway must be built with public funds, and, the pei'sistent request that it should be , so, constitutes a piece of cheek which is unparalleled in the history of even colonial communities. The request is being still put forth with unabated- vigbr, and it is essential that, the -common sense of, the country should concentrate itself, and once for all, f give ■ the* Dunedin people to understands that if they want' a job railway they must, construct f ,it s „with ?i nipney - ; of their-own*ror gejb a joint-stock, .company to t^^^m?^and lf under., the Railways CMliiuction^ and/L and - dW-isttaMfy and Aijq'i-the^point. IsSs'il^iWflt imuck Jm*6r^ispfeai||b^ i $$ iftjffi:& tyfffi tiW&f f e i l™etl; W%WpS@[^«ra'piw 'that; 'alittlel

inore.£of tsuch^plain speaking ■ did not olilain in the past; tliere would then have been much less jobbery to 1 deplore.

We have made' arrangements to issue an " extra" this evening containing a report of the proceedings at the opening of Parliament to-day.

„ We are informed that the engineer has appointed Mr Calderwood inspector of the drainage works in Cook-street, Mr Calderwood will take charge of the works to-day.

The result of the ratepayers poll for the Mangapiko Licensing Districtwas as follows : — For increase of publican's licenses, 3, against 2 ; for increase of New Zealand wine, accomodation and bottle licenses, 4, against, 1.

We are in receipt of the current number of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald, lnttr alia it contains a number of graphically drawn sketches illustrative of the Rev. Mr Green's ascent of Mount Cook.

It is expected that a Land Court will be held at Cambridge shortly, to adjudicate upon the Waotu block, together with several other cases adjourned from the Ohinemutu Court. The Ngafciraukawa tribe from Kapiti and Foxton, at present with the king at Whatiwhatihoe, are waiting for theCourt, being interested in the land.

To-day, being Ascension Day, there will be divine service at S. Andrew's church, Cambridge, at 7.30. p.m. In accordance with a desire ex- ( pressed by the Lambeth Conference special intercession will be made on behalf of Christian missions throughout the woild. There will also be service at S. Petei's Church, Hamilton, at 7 p.m.

Mr Pope, Inspector of native schools for th« colony, is at present on an official visit to this district. He arrived in Hamilton on Tuesday, and proceeded yesterday to Waitetuna, to inspect the native school under the chaige of Mi fa Hooper at that place.

MrW. P. Hales, Assistant-Engi-neer, P.W. arrived in this district a day or two ago with a staff of assistants for the purpose of laying out the Morrins-ville-Te Aroha section of the WaikatoThames railway for contract. It is hoped that the survey will be speedily followed by an invitation for tenders.

It is a matter for congratulation that the Te Awamutu farmers have at length taken steps to form a cheese and bacon factory in that district. The new company will co-operate with that recently formed at Hamilton in sending Capt. Kunciman to America, and have made arrangements to procure the necessary plant through that gentleman's agency.

The Hamilton-Tuhikaramea road, more especially that portion across the swamp, is at present in a very deplorable state. When the road was formed the crown was not made sufficiently high, and the consequence is that it is now a perfect bog, the mud being up to a horse's knees. A portion of the road near the Tuliikaramea pound is now being formed, and is, of course, in a very bad state. The drains are also being cleaned out and widened. •

Tenders have been received by a committee of the members of the Waitoa Highway Board for deepening the drain, thereby preserving a considerable portion of the road between Piako and Waitoa. The tender of Messrs Shine and party was accepted. We understand that no time will be lost in completing the necessary work.

A few days ago a correspondent of the Herald gave a long account of the disasters caused by floods at Waitoa. On enquiry we find that the statements there made were not absolute facts. No damage was done to the stop bank where the same was completed, and- the flood only overflow ed a small portion which had not been completed.

A correspondent writes :— About a month ago the Hamilton Borough Council passed a resolution to put Anglesea aud adjacent streets in thorough order, but up to the present time nothing has been done. The road and footpath is simply disgraceful, and the complaints from those residing in the neighbourhood are numerous. [Our correspondent will see by a report in another column that the Borough Council is about to effect the repairs necessary in the streets referred to. — Ed.]

Mr Win. 0- Breakell writes :— Sir, — The course adopted by the Hamilton Borough Council in reference tothe Cooksfcreet drainage works is, in my opinion, the best means of meeting the difficulty, and I am compelled, through a letter in your paper being brought to my notice, to state that the writer had no authority from me for making use of my name. The fact is, I recommended the course adopted, and maintain that if the work is properly carried out it will be thoroughly efficient."

The following European news, up to the 9thinst., telegraphed to Australian papers, has been received per the Rotorua at the Bluff : — "The release of the suspects has been celebrated in Dublin with great rejoicings. Bonfires were lighted, and piocessions paraded the streets. During the progress of the demonstration severe rioting occurred, which was with difficulty suppressed. — A disastrous fire has occurred at Cardiff, South Wales. A flour-mill has been totally destroyed by fire, together with its contents. The value of property destroyed is estimated at £100,000. —An important change is to be made in the Austrian Government. Count Kabnobky, who was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Imperial House for the whole Empire on the 21st November, 18S1, is about to retire from office. He will be succeeded by Count Andrassey, who held the same position in the Austrian Ministry from 1871 to 1879.— The King of Greece has cut the first sod of the Corinth canal.— Mary Jane Pearneaux, who was convicted of fraud whilst impersonating the late Lord Arthur Pelham Clinton, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. Her alleged accomplice, James Gethiug, was acquitted. — The prophet who attempted to raise an insurrection in the Soudan, and who, according to last advices, was marching upon Khartoum with several thousand followers, has been defeated arid' killed.

The railway authorities, notify that on the 24th mat., (Queen's Birthday) return tickets at single fares will be issued, available' for day of issue only. For the convenience of those desirous of attending the' races at Te Awamutu, a special, , train, will ? be put on between Mefcei' and 1 that p. lace, leaving Mercer at 7.45. p.m. l Ngaruawaliia at 9.50. a.m. Hamilton 10.38. a..m.- arriving at Te Ayrainutu'at r ll'.3oa.m. It will start oh the return journey at 5 p^in. reaching Hamilton at, 6,, and Mercer at 8.45. p.m. - ■ '*' '' ' li • ' '

A number of hdtelkeerfers notify their* intention, to apply for renewals of licenses. i p6'undkleiTcr : ippcir;in'our'advcHi S ioffcoiamn 3 ; . : ,6i>fe&tooM^ !• b^btdlMuJb;"- Mfd by Mrjftanttamf/ditttf ' - At a.. meetinc,zof4the f ,creditQrs /jm«tlje. ,CdUrt->mVfi^ntonfb^T&sday;W 5W 5 W ; '>A.il .rßic^rds^/G^bija^torplqihtcdcr^iio^'''