The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1561, 6 July 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Tim es AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and cjvact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribcd by gain.

THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1882.

Any measure of land reform hay- 1 ing for its object the speedy settlement of the Crown lands of the colony deserves to be considered with respect, and to have its provisions carefully weighed. The promise made' in the Governor's speech that a bill would be brought down to provide fer leasing agricultural lands with fixity of tenure, upon reasonable terms, has been .redeemed by the introduction by, the Minister of Lands of the Land Act 1877 Amendment Bill. The Bill .may be summarised as follows :— -Provision is made for leasing 6y waste lands boards of rural lands for 21 years, with perpetual right of renewal ; the leases are to be sold by tender, the upset price being five per cent, on the capital value of the land, and leases, which must be tendered for, *uay be'te-jcenrnfyby any* person over 18 years^of 'age'; no one can take a lease' who "''will thereby become tb,e ownexfjioccupier or^ejaant^pl more thaAr.^O^jaqi^Sj^ulesSjthe fease Jbe acquired by marriage or bequest;; 'tfo-jte^s^/whicH tire'£dh>2a i > years will' be arranged sVaV fo expire on •the 30th t!!une,,asi^the f rent yW ill be made payable! half-yearly in advance; ? provisions similar to those in the Jf*P^?fo&if*&\? regard to improvements^ '^fesxdence,' &c, but in cases were 'the tpantf 1 1 reside^ ■6n land * contiguous / jto the 1 lanSie^d^^^'nimf^esid^nce f shall! be'dispensed' witn' ; resld^ncb on bust,. lands may also be dispensed i.w.itrr for the first two years "; it is pMst

to alternate small freeholds with the leaseholds ; no claims will be allowed by tenants for foul•mg|i|tr t eanre4iy^ o l f^J c ' oß^^tfi 0118 > fliachinelw bj providedifoi*r©*leaSing; the Govern ment c.iusing a valuation of the land, alld "a" separate- -valua*tion of .the to be, •rnaJe at'ih'e close ioF the term,' -tile -tenant .to-be^llow.ed to-re-iease,.at^a. rental amounting to 5 per cent on the sum of the aifferenpe^.bettve^i the two valuations ; in the event of the' Tenant "declining" to Te-tako fch~e land, the lease shall be put up to auction subject to the value of the improvements being paid, , the amount of, which, shall go to the old tenant ; if, however, the, lease be not taken up by a new lessee, an'd the old tenant refuse to take it on ; thej terms above given, then the land with all improvements reverts to the ' State ; endowment reserves may be ' leased in; the same way, except those for. primary education,, which cannot be dealt with unless* with the consent -of the body interested. These, are the provisions in the bill which deal 'with the question of leasing the 1 Crown lands for the purposes of agriculture. The remainder of the measure has referj ence to deferred payment and pastoral lands, in regai'd to which important changes are proposed. With these latter we hope to deal in another issue, for the present con fining our attention to the leasing scheme. The promulgation of this system marks a new and significant departure in the policy of the present Government, though thegeneral principles of the measure, may have been accepted long ago. Sir John 1 fall, at any rate, did not approve of the scheme if we are to judge by his speech at Leeston, so often adverted to m the long drawn out debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr Peacock's objection to it is that men as a rule prefer to own a piece of land ; and that such ownership fosters that spirit of patriotism which the worthy member for Auckland North maintains is of such value. Against this which many will be inclined to rate as mere sentimentalism, is ranged the opinion of that class of men who, while they will be satisfied with nothing short of the nationalisation of the whole of the land in the colony, will probably hail the present bill as a step in the right direction. But we are not so sure that Mr Peacock's opinion is merely sentimental. If the possession of a piece of land in fee simple will confer happiness and contentment, and in addition will make a patriot of the possessor, by all means let such a system as will confer these blessings be inaugurated. But, admitting the presence of, and banishing sentiment from the consideration of the question, let us consider how the altered law would affect the question of immigration. It is notorious that the very bone and sinew of the old country are being drafted to Canada and the United States for the reason principally that freeholds of large area and at moderate rates can be got. The spirit of the times is in the direction of the creation of a peasant proprietary, and the great mass of those who emigrate from Europe are men in search ,of that which they despair of obtaining in the land of their birth, — a home of their own which shall be secure against intrUsion. The bill under notice, it is true, offers fixity of tenure, ■ and rack-renting will be unknown ) but the rent must nevertheless be paid, and in unfavorable seasons hardships may be entailed which the State, unlike landlords, cannot well make provision for. One of the chief objects of the bill is undoubtedly to secure that the land shall go into the hands of bonajide agriculturists, as under no system of free sale could the parcelling out of the public estate in small blocks be accomplished. On this account we should like to see the bill obtain a fair trial, provided, however, that the scale of operations ,be not too large.

Last night's cables bring news of another murder in Ireland, again at Dublin, and the intelligence concludes with the customary intimation that the assassians have not 'been arrested. The rumored attempt oil the prince of Wales' life seems to have been premature as the dynamite turns out to be nothing' move than materials for a pyrotechnic display, probably, in honor of His Royal Highness. But while it is a relief to know that Fenianisnv has not yet gone the length of committing an Outrage on Royalty, it is distressing -to read dayafter day such melancholy items of news' as that which will 'be found in another column. No right-minded Irishman, however anxious to obtain justice > for his country, can view the perpetration of these crimes without a feeling of, horror, and ,to people in the $ colony their accomplishment must appear to be the work of madmen. Despite the honest endeavors of the Government to deal fairly and justly with the -affairs of Ireland, there seems 1 io be no appreciable diminution of lawlessness, and agrarian outrages, a's 'exemplified in the case of the murder, of Lord pianricarde's agent and steward, 'are as rife< as ever. What the end will be we cannot tell, but let us hope thaVout of .alb this evil good may eventually come. . • » ■ ,t,, t , - i

Now that tii^sife'for'the'terrhinus of the railway ai Cainb'ndg&has'be'en definitely decided the Government „are .about to t ; j 'uiife <l^e' l T?iblic Works Act, the land required . r %fthe' necessary buildings amis lined '6f railff&c The' "station will be on, .Whitakef ;terrace in' close/proximity to 1 iMdenfce of Mr James Hally, and thejaiiaji>roposedfto be "Sl-418; bejhg ustri^'Brifind 1 24 chains Vide."" M%it appea#^uf;that]in ;so, a very unwise 'jjpar§imo,w^aml«ortniS HT H T jMafoii: t ? Th^wjdt^e ob^l^a^leaVe; a; roadway between the Btation;gronya, ana? th? remwjder of tb^'aUotmente,,a|id?thJ«^

to a chain and half, which, together with Whitaker terrace, is all they will have. Would it not be wiser co obtain the jW-hole^et, ilie~allotmenfc»jneivtioned, leav- , in^^uee^-street aa thejj fronpge? The^-Depscrtment- would' thns*have- Apiece of land five^ chains in depth for about "double "the price~of the cKam "and aThalf ,they now purpose t taking, noi i f6rlsbinefime t perli|p.%, $\4y will' want' more ground tlian at present seems Tncessary^" arid'^thTey" wiirtKenTiave 'to ' pay s for~it r at an- enormously

TKe "usuaryreeKly jaeei mglft the Hamilton Literacy and' Debating Society will be held at the Court-house this evening. Mr J. M. Murray will deliver a lecture on Socialism. i

■ A cable message from Melbourne informs us that^Henry Bryant,* «lws De Beaumont, the Aye informant regarding the alleged Russian designs* on? the colonies, has been sentenced, at the Kilmpre Poljce Court, to five year's imprisonment %fqrger,y. £ ' ''" >'' S

The members of Parliament on a visit toi Ghristchnrch visited th,e>Kaiapoi Woollen Factory jon Tuesday, and expressed theju* satisfaction with what they saw there. Many ' of the Otago and | Southland members took of j the holiday to tal^e' a run home. The ' members returned to Wellington yester-

A meeting of farmers and others interested in the promotion of European flax industry rvV'as held in the Ellesnieve district, Canterbury, on Friday, when those present decided to assist, as far as possible, the provisional directorate established in' Chi istchnrch for the formation of a company having in view the manufacture of fibre and oil.

• A Press Association telegram, dated Cluistclmrch, Tuesday, states that a company to light Chiistchurch by electiicity has been formed, with a capital ot £25,000, in £1 bhaces. Between Friday afternoon and 4 o'clock Tuesdaj 4000 sluieo liave been taken np, mostly in lots of 100.

In his report of the football match at Cambridge on Saturday, our sporting contributor "Full-back" inadvertedly omitted all reference to the excellent play ot W. Yon Stunner, who as full-back saved his side, the civilians, a great amount of trouble. In short it is only fair to say this promising young player never made a mistake.

The Royal Australian Circus will open at Ngaruawahia, to-morrow, and at Hamilton on Saturday and Monday. This establishment comprises some 25 first-class artists, and for the espepial benefit of our young friends, four great clowns appear in the ring on every occasion. From the reports from Invercargill northwards, very great success has attended the venture, and large audiences have been drawn together, and have been highly delighted with the entertainment.

A correspondent writes :— At a meeting of the members of the Kilukihi Amateur Dramatic Club, it was resolved to give another performance on or about the 4th of August. Two good pieces have been selected, and the cast is now being made, and from the general satisfaction given at their previous entertainment they may expect to be as well patronised as on the former occasion. Several lady amateurs have kindly <'on«onlc'l to assist.

The annual meeting of the Kivikifiroa Highway Board was held yesterday. The balance sheet disclosed the fact the receipts for the past year amounted to nearly £2000, the largest income of any board in the district. It is satisfactory to know that the money has been judiciously exjjended, the roads all over the distiiot bein^ in excellent order. The ratepayers testified their approval of the board's action during the year by not attending, but they might have paid" a higher compliment by appearing and beating personal testimony to the ability of the gentlemen in whom they have icposed then trust.

A meeting of the committee of the Hamilton Presbyterian Church was held m the church on Tuesday evening. The Rev. D. Fulton was in the chair. The treasurer submitted the half-yearly balance-sheet, duly audited, and on the motion of Mr Piimrose, seconded by Mr Hemy, it was adopted. A vote of thanks was accorded the treasurer for the manu.er in which the accounts had been kept. — Mr Hatrick asked why a sum of £3, which had been paid by him, was not mentioned in the balance-sheet, j The treasurer ,(Mr Knox) referred him to the previous half year's balance-sheet, audited by Mr Campbell, showing that the amount had been duly, credited. Mr H. Steele was elected secretary. For the treasurership, Messrs Knox and Campbell were nominated, and, on a show of hands, the latter was elected , by a large majority. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business.

At last night's, meeting of the Hamilton Boiough Council, the Mayor read a letter which hail been put into his ■hands by ai Hamilton resident, containing some interesting, information regarding electric lighting. The letter which was fiom Messrs Oppenheimer and Co., Auckland, stated that Swan burners could be obtained for 25s each, and a machine capable' of supplying 44 of these bnrnei's would cost £80. Several of the councillors expressed themselves favorable to obtaining , fuller information on the subject, and the letter was referred to the Works Coirmifiee for that purpose. The present cost of -lighting the streets of .Hamilton is £50 per annum, and the illumination is anything but brilliant.

" iEgles," in the " Australasian," tell the following story :—": — " In one of the Australian' Colonies a gentleman at breakfast in a country inn performed such feats with his knife (which quite superseded his, fork) that his opposite neighbor was absorbed and fascinated. He quite forgot to eaij, lie was so engrossed in observation. The performer suddenly shopped, asd glaring at the stranger, inquiredi ' What the deuce are you staring at? Do' you know who lam ! I'm the the Commissioner 1 of Customs.' — ' Then, sir, allow me to say that, though I know nothing of your customs, I can't compliment you on your manners.'"

, At tlie Supreme Court, Wellington, ,on Tuesday, James William Ellis, ! .aged, ,22, Was, ( witliout hesitation, convicted of a most brutal criminal assault on Mary Eliza Connor, aged 11 years, at Greytown. Jud^e Richmond, in passing sentence, said : You have,, been convicted on the clearest* evidence' of one of the nidskbrntaljcases Ijrhave ever, had to deal' J with as a criminal Judge. I must make youi an example.' r Your' crime is one that disgraces human nature. It is the crime of a brute, and you must receive the punjshmenfqf;\a brute. The judgment of this'(^urtJ|'ilfafc*y9U be kept m penal servitude,' in- f( the colony for a term of twelve yearsy' and further, that^you be twice privately Shipped, receiving at each whipping '30 strokes with the instrument cprmnonfy called "the caW -nine-tails."

Dr. D. G. F. Macdonald wntes as follows'^ to^Jfte^ardqja' $choi—\<l am lers to n#f h je^ 'andl?[ne6urftgiij6 tiiemfto >j aact"againsVli#iijM order, '

written.'* True, I boldly .'expose and condemn the abuse of the riglffcs of property;' the wicked organized injustice earned on under colour of law, 1 y which the poor reannatobtaiii^hejr^JLights. ..against, the ppwer of the purse of the rich." History te^Js us that there has always been an iv.-' clination on the part of the stioug to trample on" the weak. All legal rights I respect, and no one deplores more- than T ? do the' manifestations of lawlessness on the part of the Syke crofters, howcvci 'hafdly they have been dealt with, outraged in their just claims, and tiied in their feelings. I cpujurevthem to be obedient to the law of the land, which -must be upheld at- all hazards. -I implore them not to oppose force with force, as their grievances can never be redressed by such means. Now that their case is prominently before the public, and that strong sympathy has been roused in their favour, I hope that the Scotch land question will be vigorously pressed forward, so as to get it settled on a wide and durable basis ; I fear the crofters have nothing for, it but to bide their time. Come it slow or come it fast, they may rest assured that the Legislature will do them justice, since it cannot resist legitimate popular demands.'

, Jfacks<ra Barry will deliver his popular lecture at Te Awamutu this evening, at Kihikihi to-morrow, and at Alexandra on Monday night. During hifa stay at the latter place Capt. Barry will visit the King, as he is very anxious to incorporate his impressions of Maori royalty in his new book. On Monday night last the captain was well received at Cambridge, the chair being occupied by Mr T. Wells, The veteran lecturer has also received a large number of orders for his book, " Up and Down," while in the district.

" Set a thief to catch a thief," U a piece of advice universally accepted. The lion, member for Roslyn, Mr Bathgate, himself a law ycr, thus refers to the profession :—"I: — "I ilo not like exclusive 01 close- corporations of any kind. Howevei necessary they may have been in an earlier stage of society, it is clear that their existence now in any point is foreign to the welfare ot society. '* By theii fruits s\ c shall know them" is an acknowledged truth. Now, I tax the learned piofession with this fault : that for the number of yeais even that the law has been followed in this colony there has never been one single attempt to lefoun or simplify the administration of the law advised by the legal pi ofession at large. That is one result that follows from an exclusive or close corporation. They are too conservative. They do not consult the public welfaie or the simple administration of the law, which is capable of great reform, but look only to their own ends and purposes, and how much the clerk employed in the office to make out a bill can charge the tmfoituuate client for the business done."

In the course of his speech on the Hansard reporting question, Sir George Grey made fchc following sensible iemaiks :: — tf It was very difficult indeed to interest the historian, and he was afraid that very few of them who walked into the House and out again in turn would give much trouble to the histoiian in future tunes. He doubted whether any historian of New Zealand would livo long enough to read thiongh Ilmibtod, much less to digest its contents. lie thought the reporters should be allowed to put down just what they undei stood honorable members to say, and gi\e that lorth to the public as readily as possible. Let honorable members rely u[jon theii general conduct, upon their votcb, upon tii-j great measures they bi ought foiwaul and attempted to get passed. Those were t|ie things which the future historian would look to. and those wore the things by which they would be judged by the people of New Zealand, rather than absolute accuracy in the tepoits of their speeches.

Mr Wright, Government engineer, at present supervising the erection ot the bridge over the Waipa at WhatiwJwtihoe, and other Government woiks in the Waikato district, has now had a new road opened between Cambridge and Ohineinutu, which shortens the route by Wtiofcu, by about ten miles, and passes through better and more passable countiy. In going this new road the traveller diveiges from the (Jam bridge- Waotu road at Maclean's gate, near the rapids on the Waikato river, and passes through the Fokaiwhenua and Huihuitaha 'blocks striking the main load at Mangpiti, from thence to Ohinemutu. The two livers Otameroa and Waipa, which cross the road have been bridged, the other small creeks being fordablc. This road in fine weather will be easily passable for buggies, but at present it is only safe for horse traffic. Mr Wright has got instructions to complete the. road on to the Lakes. Harry Symonds intends removing his accomodation house from the old road above Waotu, on to the new line.

Tenders are required by the Borough of Hamilton for road formation. Mr R. Harsant notifies that he has laid poison for dogs on his farm at Kaniwhaniwb.i. Tenders aie invited by Mr Lewis, of Te Aw.imutu, for the erection of a. store for Mi William .Vilo.me. The public are cautioned that the road through the Company* station to Piako has been closed. Mr A. T. Gollan gives notice that all cattle trespassing- upon his property at Whatawhata after this date will be impounded. Mr Kuqx will sell at his mart on Saturday neNt, a largo assortment of drapery, fowls, turkeys, pigs, furniture, &c. A first-class light-weight hack, eight years old, by Derby, is for sale. Apply this office. Mr Arthur Graham of Cambridge, will apply for his, order of discharge at the District Court, Hamilton, on Monday, July 17. Captain William Jackson Barry will lecture at Te Awdmutu, to-night, Kihikihi tomorrow, and Alexandra on Monday night. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the town of Ngaruawahia district, will be held at the Delta Hotel, on Friday, 21st inst., at 7.30 o'clock. A meeting of the members of the Hamilton Cricket Club will take place at the Ro>al Hotel, on Monday, the 10th inst., at 7 p.m. Mr Le Quesne, Hamilton, has been appointed sole agent in Waikato for the sale of Capt. Bariy's book " Up and Down, orfiftyyears of Colonial Life." The New Zealaud Loan and Mercantile Agency Company notify by advertisement that an interim dividend at the rate of ten per cent per annum is now payable at the office of the company. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit i 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 foods 'are marked Jow to ensure a rapid sale must c Ji'urea't'gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, milliner}', 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 j 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 this pure ' cash system, a fair trial; whether'theygainor-lose thefirstyear (Jloi^ntry buyers on remitting cash withordet will be 'supplied with goods a{ co'-operatve prices; just the same' as though they made apersonalselection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, , floor- cloths, bedsteads, >beading and general house'^furniture, the largest'porhon of which is, ' tarned^fiMt at our own' factory,* Willbft marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a" discount of .five per cent, jyill be 'all owed to, those vvho pay at the time of purchase.*, G. and G. having realised the entire Rvalue j>f their stock their late, f 4ash sale; ttie,pije"§ent stock" js |nb\v a#d chjb aply ■ bought .—An* inspection - invited.— Garlick and" ■ '/e^^wiL^'Gity"(Hall{Purnishing.A^ciHe, Queen i „^; p v t ;^sS|P'is .tlj! attitude J>f ,a, £ inake;-up jin, a'