The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1542, 23 May 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Ecjti.il and exact justice to nil men, Of \vh itsocver state 01 persuasion, religious or politic al. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Un.iwed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1882. Tim establishment of cheese and bacon' "factory companies on the A merican, system at Te, Awamutu and Hajniltoiijis evidence that the settlers ,of Waikato ,are . waking up to an appreciation of the . value of co-operative enterprise. That which individual settlers are unable to effect, 1 'associated r capital, enterprise and experience can carry to a successful ' and ' ' profitable issue. 00-operation is 'the " foundation of successful enterprise in the general commercial world. Banks, railways, mining companies, 1 and a hundred oshjß,rs are ,<, built !up () snnpl t yA an^ solejy ? on r sijBfj>asfs, ._, ' tf^ifaff&vag interest, which is the most capable .of.'bendfittingbjr su6h"%«ygteni, Ind ,to,pe tne livst tp recognise, the , value 'of*t the// principle' r oh tco-Operatiionv^

~ ~ Especially valuable would co-opera-Uion be to the farmers in this part of -New-Zealand. r J he settler here has not merely to cope with the ordinary risks and diflicultics of farming, but has at the same time to reclaim his land, from \tswild~and rugged natural condition, often witH limited means, and._ handicapped with low markets, difficult access to them and scarce, clear, and unskilled labor. He may grow large crops, but when the cost of production and the share which goes to the middle-man are deducted there is even in-good seasons a very small margin of profit left to the farmer ontheyear's transaction. The remedy for this state of things is co-opera-tion, which is aggregated capital, concentrated strength — all powerful to effect that which, as an an individual unit, each member of such an association would have been utterly unable to accomplish. If the millers drop the price of flour a, few weeks before harvest, and raise it again the moment the wheat crop has been bought up, farmers must co-operate to countercheck fbuch a movement. They must not submit to be forced to sell their wheat in an abnormally low, and buy their flour in a correspondingly high market. This may be done either by establishing- cooperative mills, or by the erection ot largo fire 'md vermin proof granaries, on rivers and railways, in which the members of cooperative associations could store their grain at a low charge, and so be enabled to sell when and how they pleased. As it is now, the griiin'is threshed out as quickly as possiblo nfter harvest,, and necessarily thrown into the market, either because the settlor is in immediate need of money, or because to hold would bo to suffer loss from damp, vermin, or other causes in ill-constructed barns, or for the reason that they have no barns at all. In the Mother Country, the winter is broken with intervals of dry frost, and the farmer can always find suitable weather for threshing, but in our New Zealand winters the danger from rain in opening up a .stack is great, and it would be impossible at that season on most of our country roads for steam threshiug- machines to travel. Hence threshing follows quickly upon the heels of harvest, and the grain of the whole country is thrown upon the market at one time. If the farmers not only grew, but ground their own wheat, and sold it as flour, they would receive two profits and save tliems°lves from having, as now, their first profit as growers unfairly trenched upon by the middle-man. Should they, however, hesitate to venture on milling, which some may think docs not legitimately form part of a farmer's business, there is open for them the erection of granaries where their grain could safely remain, like bonded goods, till finally sold at their own convenience and in a market of their own choosing, and not as now in a market regulated solely by the buyer. Those who were in want of money, and who desired to hold in hopes of better prices, could always get an advance from the banks at ordinary rates on grain so stored. V>nt we do not see why milling should not be conducted with profit even by those who are not millers, when acting as a company and employing skilled labor. Scores of other enterprises are so worked by companies, the individual .shareholders of which know nothing of the business whatever. That such a milling company, with a mill faulty in construction and worked in an un-businesslike manner, once failed in Waikato, is no reason that with railway, water and road carriage, and managed on business principles, it should fail now. On the con fcrary theie is nvevy reason to believe that it could bo made a signal success, not only indirectly as pi'oviding a fair market for the farmer but as a speculation. The cheese, butter, and bacon interests we look upon as already cared for, as where individual producers have to be content with the best prices locally offered, the factories will be able to command the markets of the world, thanks to cooperation. There are other important matters, however, which need the assistance of co-operative associations. '1 he establishment of companies for the exportation of meat, poultry, &c., in a sound condition, to a European market, is at present an undertaking too large for our consideration. Not so, however, is the labor question. Such co-opera-tion as is within our reach may effect much in this matter, and at once. The price of labor when procurable, or which is more often the case, the impossibility of procuring it at all when a pressure of work occurs, at suqh < times as; harvest and spring sowing, is * one of the chief hindrances to profitable farming in ' New Zealand. Thou l sands of bushels of wheat in Wai-' kato have been „rendered, rendered more or less unfit for milling, and therefore of less, value, this season,. '.through the impossibility of taking advan,tage of theintervals of fine weather — for want of hands at' harvest time. Nothing will .remedy this except the importationoof labor saving" machijnery especially if grain growing, ( as we trust' it will^'is to be largely/extended from year to year*, / Where thereas- one'-rtfaper >and binder^ oKe imowing machine, or elevator \!ava'ilable now, ten will be lT^ , coiogerative Itioaf'-.twtould^enable,, men idi 'vsufoll

junto such purchases unassisted, these and similar ibiplernGpip,\ and , contract 'tis some' do now, for much of the wort that requires to be done at tlio busy seasons of sowing- and harvest. These aro inaiiily the'-objeOts foi-' which sone little time since it jbxs proposed to establish a Waikato Farmer's Co-operative Association. At the time that project was proposed it was warmly welcomed in all parts of the district, as a scheme well adapted to phice farming- in AVaikato on a more sure and profitable basis than at pi esent. Waikato has in the past carried all its eggs in one basket ; but the meat market is glutted, and we musl needs turn to other sources of income. The cheese factories will no doubt bo a great success, but wo cannot all bocomo producers of milk. Successful farming consists in the cultivation of a variety of products, the success of the one depending upon that of the other, and all dove-tailing into one profitable whole. The growing of wheat, oats, bavl^t — not one of thesp, but all three — so long neglected by us is one of the chief means to this end. To make, however, grain growing the profitable enterprise it should be, those adjuncts which co-operation can alono secure to us arc requisite. Farmers' co-operative societies appear Lo have boon successfully established in ditl'ciTub parts of the world, and wo cannot see why Waikato, where there is so largo and profitable a field for the work, .should l)e behind in so useful an undertaking. There appears to be but little hope of doing anything in this direction this season, but we feel sure that the promoter?, will receive a more generous support, whe>i they again bring their scheme forward. Calm reflection will best demonstrate to the farmers the value, nay the absolute necesssity of an association such as that to which, just now, adequate support is not forthcoming.

As we have already hinted, the two most important portions of the Speech delivered by His Excellency the Governor, on Friday last, >yore those referring to the proposed resumption of Public "Works and the West Coast difficulty, respectively. Nothing definite is said regarding a new loan, but sufficient is expressed to indicate that further borrowing powers will be asked for by the Government. They will experience little trouble in obtaining these, for unless we have greatly misunderstood the signs of the times there is a very general, almost unanimous, feeling abroad that our r.uhviy system, to be reproductive, must bo extended, and that further efforts are required to induce a better class of immigrants to settle in New Zealand. The trouble, if it arises at all, will commence when the time comes for spending the money. In the present temper of the constituents, if not members, wo, however, think a compromise might be effected satisfactory to all parties. If the new loan be allocated upon principles of justice and fair play, we do not think much opposition will be experienced. The days for the perpetration of gigantic jobs are fast going, if they have not already departed. On the native question, ihe Speech was, as avo havo said, singularly guarded. Tho Governor's advisors were doubtless desirous to avoid the insertion of any matter in the document calculated to wound tho keen sensibility of His Excellency. If so they succeeded admirably. But it may be questioned whether the sacrifice was a right and just one to make. The whole responsibility of tho Parihaka affair is laid upon the shoulders of the Government, and neither by word or sign is the policy approved or even justified. The Government, we may readily assumo, aro quite prepared to acknowledge tho part they played in connection with tho "West Coast trouble ; they have nothing to bo ashamed of ; and, furthermore, they are assured of the active sympathy of tho great majority of the people of tho colony, lint what effect will the Governor's remarks 'have upon outsiders ? Those will naturally conclude that the arrest of Te Wkiti and Toiru, and the dispersion of the natives gathered at Parihaka was a/piece of high-handed tyranny on the part of the Cabinet, approved neither by. the Governor nor by the country. A policy so universally popular , deserved consideration, e,ven ,at the hands of so exacting a Governor as Sir Arthur Gordox. We -learn also that the Maori prisoners, at present in Christchurch,' are not to be prosecuted, ;but are fio be 'kept away from Parihaka for the present. Under the circumstances nothing better' couldbe clone. No goocl "purpose would" be served by punishing the soi disaul prophets, .who. deserve rather our pity than our, condemnation. The other matters-, dealt .with, in, the speech we shall have better opportunities.fpr discussing, when,, they come before, us in .a concrete form. Meantime we cannot but^ reflect, with pleasure on. the,, indications of 1 increased prosperity throughout the colony at large^iref erred to by His 'Excellency,' and apparent everywhere.- ',-, , " J ;t \ % '*' r ' „ .

!'! '- <&c i*feapi% *if Yfche JOMiiemiit^ na'tiM &c • {wisp -i"t-"i*»i#* ><y<< *? <i.iff *«■ 'T , t -"f.-n (v. , ' ji^feordaifcq > mtK/tlie/i'ftoldTniTOi,libli.TX s

is calculated to make* a. lasting impression for good " on the Maori mind. In' regarding the general importance of the arrest we must not forget to award praise to those by -\vhoui it was effected The police' behaved admirably throughout, performing their duty in a quiet undemonstrative manner, deserving of all praise. But it "is to the leader of the paity, Sergt. McGrOVEiix, that the success of tho expedition is due. The whole plan of operations was conceived by this officer, and carried into effect with that skill and tact with which Mr McGrovunx is endowed in a high degree. It is nut indeed necessary to cite the present case were a testimonial to Mr McGgverx's ability wanted. Ever since his arrival in the district, now sonio sixteon years ago, ho has been known as an efficient and impartial officer of justice, while wo do not think he has made a single enemy. Law and order is greatly indebted to him, not merely for the crime he has brought to justice, but for that which he lias prevented. These few remarks are prompted by what we conceive to be a sense of right. We consider that Sergt. McG-overn's conduct merits suitable recognition at the hands of the authorities, and in thus bringing the matter prominently forward, we hope to further this end.

The banks in Waikato will lie closed to-morrow, being the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday. At Saturday's races of the Adelaide Club's Queen's Birthday meeting the St. Leger Stakes were won by Darebin. ' The blacksmith's shop belonging to Mr T. Uemmill, Cambridge, caught Hi c on Sunday inoinmg. It was discovered by somi men who were passing at the time, and by them the llames weie gob under behne any material damage was done. The natives not having quitted the Puahoc block, recently taken possession ot by Messts Gi ice and Paiker, the latter have served a notice on them to clear out. It is expected that the natives will object, and, if so, peihnps they will be forcibly ej'efcted.' ' ( ' > ' The result of v the poll of ratepayers of the Licensing District of Rangiaolna is as follows :— For .the increase of publican's, wine,' ond liottle licenses, 14; against, ;">; for the increase of aceoino(l<ition licenses, 13 ; against, 0". The Cambridge Dramatic Society are at present exerting themselves in the duei'tion of another peiformance which we hope they will be .successful in bringiug forward. " Caste "is the j)iece contemplated for their next appearance. A correspondent " F.H.E." writes, desiring us to make a correction in our repoit ot the capture of the nati\es on the Waipa, on Friday. He says that to Mr H. Quick is solely due the credit arising out of the manner in which the inltipieting was done. The two natives, Pakara and JCm'ha, were brought before Mr H. W. Northcioft, 11. M., on Saturday, charged with shooting McYVilliams, at Rotokohu, in August, 187!), and formally remanded to .Auckland The prisoneis lett Hamilton b) the mid-day train, in ehaige of Sergt. McGo\em and Detective Jones. The concert to be held at Kihikihi on the night of the '21th inst., piomises to be a <»ieat success in a musical sense, se\eial of the leading amateius of Waikato having volunteeied their services. As a laige assembly is expected at the races, at Te Awaniutu, on the sa,me day, a full house is anticipated at Kiln kiln. For the guidance of travelle s between Cambi idge and Tv Awamutu and Kiliddln, wo uould recommend to the Kangiaoliia Highway Board the advisability ot erecting finger posts at the junction of the loads at Rangiaohia, as travellers in that direction have often grumbled at finding themselves in Kihikihi instead of Te Awamutu, and nee I l)!>(t. The concert which was spoken of as coming oil in the Rangiaoliia schoolroom some time ago, has not been permitted to fall through. The settlers in the district are again exerting themselves in the matter, and it te to be hoped they will not abandon their object this time. Sickness is at present prevalent in the Aimed Constabulary camp on the Rotoruaioad, a few patients having been brought m from the roads lately suilenng fiom tin oat disease. Dr. Cushney visited the camp last -week, and the patients are piogressing favourably under his treatment. The following quotations are bycable, dated Saturday : — Adelaide : Wheat, firm at Gs to 6s 2d ; town Hour is quoted at £13 15s to XI 4, and country brands at -Cl 3. Sydney : New Zealand wheat remains at (is 7d. ~Nu\v Zealand oats are quoted at 4s. an advance of 2d dm ing the week, Maize is quoted at 5s 9d, can adwanee of Is. We would remind the ratepayers of the Borough of Hamilton, that the poll for the return of a member ot the council to fill the vacancy, caused by the resignation of Mr K. Hill, will be taken to-morrow at the Council Chambers between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The candidates nominated are Messrs C. 11. Johnson, George Robson and William Wood. A Press Association telegram, dated Christchurch, Sunday, states : — A deaf and dumb child, seven years old, was kndeked down by a truck, which two men were pushing over a siding in Sydenham, and one leg was cut off, while the other was broken. The men said they did not see the child, who, of course, is not likely to recover. The business people at Huntley are naturally anxious to see some preparations made for establishing communication with the west bank of the Waikato river by means of a punt. , A gopd deal of road-making is going on in that > part of the district under Government (Superintendence, and with good means of communication it would,help,a settlement of these lands, the quality of which is spoken of as being of the first ovder, but settlement will lag until* easy and safe means ,of crossing, the Waikato river, which is here, very broad, are provided. A new residence is ' about to be erected for the schoolmaster of the Cambridge East school, ' Mr.. R. D. Stuart. Considering that^the present building has doueseryice for a; long term- of years, and^ that the accomodation which it affords is^ anything but comfortable' or extensive, this step is taken none too soon. Mr Moss, of the Education Board, /Came to 'Cambridge last -week toreport upon theeducational^ 'r£quirdmehts' of the district, and w.ejb^e^'hasFjepp^tedjfayourably oh theVork. '"^ „,'"-'< <*■"- • '- For a, long timeLpsdst /endeavours ha> be^M,^f>!^«jlifde} arraf eme^s. aiyer§idn#f .Wroattfa^Kahiwhlnl^W

owing to the proposed new road either passing through or "near one of their burial grounds. The difficulty, we hear, Jias been- pretty well overcome, as Mr Anderson has succeeded in obtaining the consent of over foi fey native owners, and has put himself in communication with the ..member for Waipa -to induce the' authorities to give the necessary ' instructions for the survey. In addition to shortening the road and keeping it on more level ground, the cost will be only about £100, as against Mr Knorpp's estimate of £500 for forming the road over the old line. Messrs W. H. Wallis, Thomas "Wilson, senr., W. Duncan, \V Powell, and C. Gilmonr have bean duly elected a licensing committee for the district of Raglan. A correspondent writes from Cambridge :—": — " The settlers in the vicinity of Hamilton, and those of Te Awamutu, and Alexandra, having taken the preliminary steps towards the establishment of bacon and chesse factories, and having carried out their ideas so far with such success, it is surprising that those who reside in the Cambridge district have not ere now brought ' forward some proposal in this matter. I hope to hear of something being done before long to indicate that Cambridge is not making a retrogressive movement in matters agi icultural, as would seem from their present apathy." The Wellington correspondent of' the llcrald telegraphs :— ln the Legislative Couucil oil Tuesday next the Hon. P. A. Buckley will ask the AttorneyGeneral "If the visitors named Te Whiti and Tohu, who are reported to have accompanied Mr Beecher to the Christchurch Exhibition and several other places, are the same individuals who were lecently, upon the motion of the Attorney General removed from the prison at New Plymouth to the Lytteltou gaol to await trial at the next cnminal sittings of the Supreme Coiut at Cluistchuich, and if so, by what process of law they were allowed to go out of prison to visit the Exhibition and other places of amusement ; if they have retui nod to gaol, and if not does the At-torney-General know where they are now located or detained, and if detained as prisonei s, under what authoi ity are •they detained ?" A humorous correspondent, writing from Ohaupo, says: — '"Things here arc soft, very soft, especially about the cattle yards down at the station. As some eight hundred cattle left licie the last month the yawls are quite soft enough for anybody. Whilst shipping a Hock of sheep last Aveek seventeen were lost. The shepherd declared he counted them all out of the paddock that morning, so with the aid of a four horse-power" hay lake the sheep were dragged out of the mud. If it was not for fear of encroaching too much on Tnupiri mountain the yards could be raised a little a\ itli a few loads of metal. But the Depaitmont must, not be too libeial, as Taupiri may not hangout. There Mas very near another cattle accident last week through the door of one of the trucks bursting open. I suppose we shall ha\c to submit to such trifles, because it would never pay to put an extra hook and staple on the doors of the cattle trucks. Such extravagance is not to be thought of in the present age of economy. lam told that the numbei ' of cattle killed on the line is quite ample to keep the line men in fiesh meat, and that se\ civil butchers have been compelled to relinquish business. Any official fiom down the country, who lias been spoken toon the matter, declaied he nevei saw the doors burst open. Of course he didn't, because by the time the tram reaches Auckland the steers have got (juite expert in the balance step and can easily balance themselves on the battens, One steer sent down lately got so expert at the business that he was taken over to the North Shore to walk the tight rope at Ye Old Knghsho Fayr«." The Vienna " AllgemeineZeitnng" publishes intelligence^ horn Moscow stnt- j ing that the Custom House ollicers in that city had opened seveial cases of men's hits, which had been lying for some time in tho depot unclaimed by the consignee, whose add 1 ess coald not be found. On opening the cases suspicion w<is e\citccl by the unusual weight of some of the hats, which on examintion, were found to have a double crown, the space between the real and false crown, being filled with explosive material, which on being thrown to the ground, would have the effect of a bomb. There is a reporb, says a London journal, that Germany intends giving the Duchy of Luxomlnug to Fiance foi a consideration. The Dutchmen will not be asked, but tinough what process will they have to be put in oider to silence them? The air is full of ruinoms The Sultan, we are told, wants to pay a visit to the Empeior of Geim,in\, which means asking protection for the Ciescent airainst Russia, while Russia is letting designs be known through Rkobcloff, for no one cm imagine that he has not c/rfc blanche f i o)n the Cam*. If it ine.ins no more it will clearly turn the thoughts of the Russians ontw.nd instead of inward to home, matters, and they are a race, that have but one idea at a time. If it should be finally war against Austiia, the Czar can keep in reserve during the time that Austiia is weakening herself financially and worrying her soldiera in the wretched little warfare with the Heracgovinans. The Government are evincing (says the Herald) a de&iie to encourage local industries wherever practicable. Through the lepresentaiions of Mr Swanson, M. U.K., the New Zealand Telegraph Department invited Mr M. Cooke, of the Freeman's Bay Glassworks, to send down samples of the battery glass jars he was prepared to manufacture. He did so, and the result i.s that he lias received an .order for from two to three hundred, which he is now executing. Writing on the .subject of the recent calamitous shipwrecks at Timaru, the Ttmaru Herald says :—": — " If there had been a steam tug, it is a moral certainty that not a single casualty would have occurred this year, and that the losses, amounting to £40,000 or £50,000, would have been averted. If proper appliances had been provided, and if reasonable despatch and judgment had been exercised in the work of the port,, the whole of the season's fleet might have got away in safety, even without a steam tug! it is comforting to know, however, that.&ie Board will soon be relieved of all* iJieir troubles, for the simple reason that before long there will be no shipping here to trouble them." The Melbourne "Telegraph" has been given to understand that the late tour of the English Eleven' throughout the Australian' colonies and New Zealand has pro red a financial as wellas a cricketsuccess, the gross amount taken from all sources being in close proximity to £13, 0dd. The promoters (Messrs Shawl Shrewsbury and Lilly white) pay^.the remaining" f nine- professionals H520d <! eafch, and allowing £5000 tfoV., expenses of, the v trip; this would leave the very handsome Hum; in TOun'd numbers, - ofc'£6ooo 'to' l be divided b'etween f tbe three above-named;/-' \ The Eon*. Iyo.BUgh's^eain.^wliicfi'' sW$ for the colonies iirSSpteitiber,^gb'esf;' 'q'ut'(s£ys the l a; t simil&:en\' g'agemenV to that"' under- wniclT'Lorcf; Harris* t&m'Stei^f m^lß?B;^viz.V ', W 'Melbourne plukto^rejnu^nerate ;the lErig-' ■lishSrotessionilSju f&y £4 travelling} and hotet'exgfenses, ana^fcaMe.all: $he/ receipt \

strong a, team as^that suggested by Mr Bligh He, really /banded, together, the Melbourne Club will, no doubt, make a profit by the venture, and will have the satisfaction of showing the Australian public a more even and complete English team than any that has gone out since George Parr's 1863 Eleven. It will not, of course, do to be too sanguine. Experience proves that disappointments are almost inevitable, but there seems no doubt, judging from the feeling of our amateurs last August, that Mr Bligh will be able to take out a strong allround side, especially powerful in batting, smart and sure in the field, and with first-class bowling. The following letter addressed by the hon. W. H. Reynolds to the Otago Tunes is well worthy of reproduction :—: — " fraudulent bankruptcy in this colony is rather the rule than the exception. T o put an end to such I would suggest the passing of a very short Act, to the effect that when a debtor finds he cannot meet his liahihties lie apply to some officer appointed to investigate cases of insolvency (say the Resident Magistrate) who should take evidence as to the causes of the debtor's insolvency. The creditors should be invited either by circular or advertisement, or both, to be present to give evidence at the investigation. Should the officer feel satisfied that the insolvent was not guilty of any fraud, a ooitificato might) be given him on his transferring all his property to his creditors. If, on the other hand, the officer judged the debtor guilty of fraud, either by his giving undue preference by bills of sale or irom any other cause, then he should be committed to take his trial at the Supremo Court, and if convicted by the jury, ho should be sentenced ,to imprisonment with or without hard labour, according to the nature of the case. Not for the lite of me can I see why a rogue should escape punishment under our bankruptcy Jaws, while some less fortunate individual, who possibly to save his wife and family from starvation puts forth his hand and steals a loaf of bread, should be liable to such severe punishment. I have been in mercantile pursuits for over forty years, and my experience is that the honest debtor invariably reseives the sympathy and assistance of his creditors." Remarking on a recent shipment of frozen meat from New South "Wales, which reached the London market in a faulty condition, the Sydney Dctity Teleyruph lemarks: — "To borrow a popular phrase, ' The murder is out ' rcspeuting the shipment of fiozen meat by the Ctizco. The Secietary to the Change Slaughtering Company has told a tale that, if its authenticity weic not guaranteed, everyone would ieel disposed to say must be the invention of an enemy. The sheep (says he) Mere badly butchered, and the fact is> proved by the concurrence of the reports and the New Zealand Company's ad\ ices. The Secretary took charge whilst the shipment was in progress, instantly discharged one man representing himself to be a butcher, as incompetent, and has since discharged the foreman for his unreliability. It is admitted that there were 1500 old ewes in the shipment, and that the thawing of some of the carcases is a 'true bill.' Thus we have an instance of improper carcases, badly butchered, and faultily sent -away. No ingenious foe could have been sanguine enough to hope that he could be half as successful in efforts he might make to damn the new trade. There may be, and probably is, something in the secretary's explanation for such a conglomeration of folly and stupidity. ' The sending of old ewes and some small wethers was a matter of necessity, the company having no funds, and no squatters offering any bettci.' The stolid apathy of squatters, who, with their nominal rent and high prices for" wool, have far too easy times, is starving the otherwise promising fio/en meat trade. It is vci y clear that whilst there may be some truth in the complainlb that justice has not been done to Australian mutton north of the Equator, it has been abominably tieated in the south. The trade has been heavily handicapped by blundering, negligence, and tins attempt to palm oft on the British public old ewe mutton as lamb and as piime wefcUeiS." The convenient practices which prevails amons; watchmakers of lending watches to custotneis whose own watches are left to bo repahed, will probably receive a check, the Sf. Jtiinet Gazette says, owing to a decision given by Mr Commissioner Kerr, in the City of London Court. An action was hi ought to recover damages foi the wrongful detention of a watch left with the defendant, a watchmaker, for the purpose of being repaired. The plaintiff, it appeared, was lent another watch by the defendant, the mainspring of which broke while it was in his possession. The defendant, therefoie, refused to deliver the plaintiff's watch until a certain amount was paid for the injury to the watch that had been lent. Judgment was, however, given for the plaintiff, with costs, on the ground that the defend nit was not bound to lend him a watch while his own was was being repaired --it «asa matter of courtesy; and there was, moreover, no proof that the watch thus lent was damaged wilfully. The defendant was surprised and indignant at this decision, urging that it was " unjust," and a refusal to recognise " an established custom of the trade." " J don't caie," replied Mr Commissioner Ken 1 , " about trade customs lam here to administer the law, and I may tell you that the law of England is the very essence of justice," This threw everybody present in Court, except the defendant, into convulsions of laughter —as well it might, for the idea is excessively funny.

Tickets for the concert in aid of debt on the Catholic Church, Kihikihi, on Queen's Hirthday, can bo obtained from hotel and storekeepers in the township, and .ilso from Mr Sloane at J> Awamutu. Notice is given that all cattle found trespassing on Hcerc's Court Farm, near Hamilton, will be impounded. Mr Francis Moody has been appointed rate collector for the Town of Kihikihi Highway District, vice Mr Rowland Buckwurth, resigned. Messrs. Clarke and Gave aunouuee that the sale of Mr S, Bright's furnituic, &.c, is postponed from this day till Thursday at 2 o'clock. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will crtamly prove a benefit to the public. I*- has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when stiictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid s.ile must be a croat gainer. G. and C. sc 11 their draperj , millinery, and clothing at such prices for rash as gives the bu}er the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risltof being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the jear's business prove unsatisfactory.' Garlick and Cramvell 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 thefirstyear Country buyers on remitting cash' with order will be supplied with goods at co-operatve prices ; just, the same as,th"ough they made-apersona)se-lection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, flopr cloths,' 'bedsteads, bedding and geniirar house furniture,, the largest portion of which is turried'Qut .it bur own factory, willbe marked 'a£ the lowest remunerative prices, £nd a discount,of , five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase." G. and C. havlng.rpahied the entire' value "of tbeir'sfock during their J late cash t sale. the present stock w new and, cheapl^ bought.— An inspection invited.— Garlick and Cranweli;, Ciiy HjilLEafriishing Arcade Queen f street, Auckland. . i^ ~, f

' i THE.municipality" m Paris has asked t the Gfovernjnent to 7p^rinitrthej csrejinationj i of remaing'Mvifjli \have iUusjiratecl. aijato-| mi&al f 'lectures.^ In'.^^'^bspitak .',th^se , aMf^ka-ie'iH aJye^gowe^s(|Q,si9r^es,:a J ye^gowe^5(|Q,5i9r^es,:, (< r" "