The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1568, 22 July 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1882.

The great interest which attaches to the Public Works Statement, induces us to recur to a matter which at the time we were not prepared to analyse closely. The general feeling on reading the statement will undoubtedly be one of satisfaction, so far at least as the past is concerned. With regard to the future, while not disposed to cavil unnecessarily, we cannot regard the proposals as satisfactory, and there will be an uneasy feeling that the great public work of the colony may be again indefinitely postponed. As a plain businesslike statement, showing in a clear manner the present position of the public works and the success attending their administration, we do not remember to have read any statement giving such explicit and full information. This is the more gratifying when it is remembered that the present Minister is comparatively a new man to public life, or at least public administration, for though a member for several years, he was one of those who seemed to take a small interest in public affairs, his voice being rarely heard within the House, except in making some caustic remarks on financial matters in which considerable acumen and foresight were discernible, not unmixed with strong party spirit. In very few words the successful and economic working of the railways may be shewn by the fact that while the increase of revenue over the past year was £55,572, that of expenditure was only £1142, and while the former shows an increase of 17 per cent, the increase of tonnage transported is 70 per cent over the previous year. Mr Johnston justly regards this as conclusive proof of the steady decrease in rates which has been effected. As the principal part of the benefit is derived by the farming community we can congratulate the Minister on this part of his statement, and hope that next year he will be able to show as satisfactory a statement regarding the transit of passengers after reducing the rate as shadowed forth. The increased goods traffic also shows, in an tinmistakeable manner, the revival which has taken place, slowly but surely, in trade, and the activity which must pervade all classes of the community when the amount of goods carried by railway thrughout the colony is almost doubled in one year. As to the whole cost of the railway system, so far as it is carried out, Mr Johnston shows that of the North Island to have been £3,194,000, yielding a nett revenue sufficient to pay £2 2s 8d per cent on the cost of construction, while that of the Middle Island was £6,249,000, also yielding a nett revenue equivalent to £4 16s 3d per cent on the cost, or more than double that of the North Island. As it may be assumed v that the borrowed money , costs the colony on an average not less than 6 per cent per annum for interest and charges' of various sorts, it follows tfyat, the , railways in both islands are not paying, the interest on their cost, those of the Middle Island showing, on. this .basis -an- annual deficit of £73,040 -to he provided put of the consolidated, fund, while •those of , the, North Isjand'show a similar deficit of £12*3, 6JLb,, drnearly £50,000 more, to be provide)! .ln'Ta 'similar manlier.''': Of -course tlie wlio& WvaMtage gpned^ %\$ colony tMbugK ' the construcl^6n,df '] the railways is not to;Wgatigeclnow,~; nor aj any, tune uolelyj"l)^the/inet^ p

per centage earned on tlioir post, the facilities for the settlement and profitable occupation of the country being of- equal, if not greater importance ; still in a matter involving such large financial responsibilities, the colony is bound to make those railways first which pi'onrise to repay interest on their outlay at the earliest period, so enabling more money to be borrowed and others to be pushed forward which had not a like favourable prospect at the outset. Bearing in mind the above quoted figures, it would seem that as a matter of pounds shillings and pence the North Island as a whole has not been unfairly treated hitherto, and it is well to remember that every taxpayer in the colony is in fact a shareholder in the railways. Mr Johnston winds up his remarks on this subject with the following, in which we cordially coincide :—: — " The great difference between the traffic carried on the lines in each island points unmistakably to the advisability of completing the con nection between the separate portions of the railway system of the North Island." It is rather remarkable after he has arrived at this conclusion, to consider the means he proposes to give effect to it. A loan of £3,000,000 is to be obtained, and it would naturally be supposed that a first charge on that loan would be the cost of making these connections, or in other words, of extending the main line from Te Awamutu southwards. But no such thing. Only £10,000 is to be voted for this, the most important work in the colony. The very same amount was voted forthe same purpose four years ago, but never expended, when MrMacandrew was Minister for Public Works. Indeed, throughout, there is a striking similarity in the treatment our great Southern railway is receiving at present, and that accorded by a late Government ; the same expressions of anxiety to carry out the work, actually the same amount to be voted. The 'same problematical uncertainty as to whether anything at all will be done or not — in fact history repeating itself. Mr Johnston must surely have been studying Mr Macandrew, and taking his cue from that astute gentleman. As a salve to any feeling of irritation, we are told that the Goverruent intend to make special provision for the construction of this line, though why there should be any necessity to make special provision is not appai'ent, and it is only fairtoassume that it is because the Government consider it specially important. But here again we are at fault, for though we are informed the Government, after #< careful consideration," have come to the conclusion to introduce a special Loan Bill for £1,000,000 on this account " to be applied when circumstances will permit," the time is rather indefinite, and the conclusion rather in conflict with a conviction previously arrived at, no doubt after '' careful consideration," that it would not be prudent to borrow more than £1,000,000 per annum, and that for the term of the existing Parliament. It is certain that a special borrowing bill for that purpose will meet with considerable opposition from Southern members, and that objections to such a course may be I'aised which it would be hard to answer ; it is in fact a partial return to the system in vogue during the existence of the provinces, and the attendant logrolling supposed to be extinguished at their decease may not unlikely be revived, with the probable consequence that the special bill might have to be dropped at the end of the session, and the position would not be "as you were" but a worse one, as the £3,000,000 bill will have passed, and by so much diminished our chance of getting any more for some time. What we should like to know is whether the borrowing of this special million and its application to this special object, are part and parcel of the public works proposals of the Government, or whether it is to be subsidiary to the £3,000,000 project, like a tail to be cut off or left on as circumstances may make desirable, running the gauntlet through committee and encountering in its course the special hazards which special bills of this nature are always liable to with the not improbable contingency of being thrown out in the Council ? Unless, the Government have made up their' minds on these points, we should much prefer to have seen the southern railway included in the general schedule attached to the Loan Bill and a fair proportion allocated for its continuation, as we have not much faith in " Loan Bill No. 2." There are some other points in the statement which we sli'all refer to on another occasion.

A full report of the annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Waitoa Highway District, crowded ou^ of previous ■ issues, appears in another column.

We snail shortly publish' a series of papers on "Food for Dairy Cattle," from the pen of Mr Horace • Walpolej manager of the Te~ Awamutu Cheese and ,-Bacon Factory Company. •_ ■

The ..Service of, Sbng "Christie's Old Organ," will be repeated (by request) in -the 1 PresbyterianJuhurch, Hamilton, on Wednesday evening next (weather permitting.) , * , 4<?

< "We learn fey , telegraph, Dunedin that the Colonial ..Bank' profits for thfeiUalf-yeaC-wrcre £17,2194 A'dividcn'dihasibcen d.eol^fedjaf i^Wirato .of 7 v per,crfnfe,i abwrbing £I%CMjSS&SK are. addea^Wm^^erveV'aigv.thAllaanoe; carrie'd'forward,-? ?, ,<sv-: J «-Ui;- rt /^{

of the Imperial artillery, and captain of the infantry, for the command of the Victorian forces.

The services at S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, will be -taken to-morrow , by the Key. G. M. ' Nelson, incumbent of S. Paul's, Auckland.

Last night's news from Wellington is not very stirring. The debate on the Land Bill still continues, but otherwise there is little to remark. ' Parties are apparently bracing themselves up for the struggle which seems to be impending. In the event of a no-confidence motion being brought down, Government will, we think, have a safe majority.

We are sorry to learn that the popular driver of the Arolia coaoh, Mr Faulkner, met -with a serious accident on Thursday. It appears that the coach got hogged this side of Morrinville, and the driver in attempting to lift the wheels strained himself so severely that he is likely to be confiued to bed for some days. The mails were taken on to Te Aroha yesterday morning, and the Hamilton mails were brought in last night on horseback. The mail contractor, Mr Caiter, does not intend to run the coach again until the roads improve.

The intelligence published this morning in regard to the Egyptian difficulty is important. In consequence ot the hesitancy of Turkey in replying to the request of the Powers that she should send troops to Egypt, the Biitish expeditionary force, organised some time ago, is to be despatched to that country at onre. Arabi Pasha is busily employed levying contributions and collecting supplies for his army, with what object remains to be seen. England and France, however, are determined not to be taken by sur- ! prise.

The Tamahere Highway Board are about to take steps to improve that portion of the main road to which attention was directed in these columns a few | days ago. An advertisement appears in to-days issue calling for tenders for cutting a drain near Cowley's to drain the road.

Mr John Slater, a very old resident of Hamilton, and for many years foremam in the cabinet-making department, announces through our advertising columns that lie has commenced business on his own account as a cabinet-maker, upholsterer and undertaker, iv Hoodstreet, Hamilton West.

An entertainment is advertised for Tuesday next in S. Andrew's Cambridge Sunday-school. Mr Stewart, of the Cambridge East school, has promised to give a model lesson to a class of infants. His subject will be ' ' David the Shepherd boy." Those who heard Mr Stewart teach an elder class on a former occasion, will, doubtless, be glad of this opportunity to hear him again.

Referring to the reported disappearance of Miss Julia Gumby from her parents residence at Newton, Auckland, the Thames Star of Wednesday, says : — ' ' We don't know auy thing about Miss Gumby, but a little bird whispered to us that a young lady bearing that name was united in wedlock to a young man from Waikato on the Thames a few days ago. As a guess we should say that the happy man rejoices in the name of Rowe, and that he hails from Cambridge."

The Thames correspondent of our Auckland morning contemporary, telegraphs on Thursday night : — Joli'i L~ydon was charged at the Com I to-day with stabbing Michael O'Keefe at Te Aroha, having inflicted two wounds in O'Keefe's back with a large clasp knife. After hearing the evidence, Mr Kenrick committed Leydon to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, in his own recognisances at £500, and three private ones of £100 each.

At Thursday's meeting of the Auckland Crown Land's Beard, the Chairman reminded the board that at the last meeting, or the one previous to that, a letter had been received from a Mr Taylor, in reference to the drainage works at Te Arolia. The letter had been sent to the Minister for Lands, and a reply was now received, stating in the first place that there \v&s £288 lying to the credit of the Waitoa Boai'd towards this Avork, and the Government proposed to expend this, and £350 additional, to deepen the drain and make the road. — It was agreed forward a copy of the letter to Mr Taylor.

The usual weekly meeting of the Hamilton Literary and Debating Club, was held in the Court-house on Thursday night. There was a better attendance of members than is usual, and the chair, in the absence of the president, was occupied by Mr R. F. Sandes. Impromptu speeches were delivered by the following members on the subjects set opposite their names: — Mr W. M. Hay, "Debate ;" Mr S. E. G. Smith, " Amunements;" Mr P. Missen, " The Venerable Bede ;" Mr C. Potter, " The Exploits of Dredalus ;" and the Rev. D. Fulton, ' ' Self Culture. " The speeches were fully and freely criticised, but at the close of that on ' ' Self Culture " the hour of adjournment had arrived, and the remaining members were prevented from bringing forward the subjects which had fallen to their lot. Great interest was taken in the proceedings, as well by the visitors present as by the members themselves.

The second meeting of the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association was held in the R.M. Court on. Thursday evening last, when there was a fair attendance of members present, the president, Mr W. L. C. Williams, in the chair. Readings were contributed by Messrs G. F. Hosking, Hamlin, Dyer, and Lieut. Archer, all of which were very entertaining and instructive. These were followed by criticisms by the members, some of which were very lively and created much mirth. Two new members were proposed for election. A good programme has been formed for next Thursday evening, when it is hoped a large number of members will be present.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Government asseutpcl to a motion that the introduction of salmon ova should be resumed and continued. In the House Mr Moss obtained leave to introduce a bill to facilitate free trade in land by abolishing the law of entail and settlement now in force, in the colony, Major Atkinson taking occasion to say that the" 'Government were about to introduce a bill of precisely the same character. Several measures were advanced a stage. Mr Fsldwick moved theye-cbmmittal of the Protection bf Telegrams Bill in order to strike out the proviso inserted on the motion of Mr Ivess in clause 2 at an early hour in the morning by a small majority. The proviso would, jhe said, destroy the object of the bill. The motion was opposed by Messrs Tnrnbull, Ivess, and Petrie, and supported*) by Messrs Pyke and J.-E.-Brown. The re-committal u was carried *on a division by,,37. to 24. In committee; after three hours discussion, the "proviso was struck out.; The bill | was afterwards reported. , The , Coroners •Act Amendment Bill.was committed Vith meht btjurors.t t% : *£*',■>" f ' '.M *-• t* ' ?i f ;,Tnof]Ne^Zealan%anjij Australian

of nearly 6Jd per'lb." The' sheep ;eame oat of their bags as bright as new mutton, and were declared by the Smithfield salesmen to be simply perfection, and worth 9d perlb, if not frozen. The lambs were greatly appreciated," fetching' 7d to"7^d perlb. The very heavy sheep" shipped by Mr Shand attracted much attention, but only realised 5d per lb. One sheep turned the scale at 1701b5., and the Londoners could scarcely be brought to believe that such weight could be attained without artificial fattening. 100 sheep were sent every night to Glasgow, and realised rather more than in London, about6gdfor mutton, and B£for lamb. At the same time the Scottish butchers complained of the weights as being too heavy. The pigs were considered quite as good as English pigs, and averaged 6^d per lb. It is satisfactory to know that there could not be any improvement in I the method of slaughtering and sending the cargo Home, and that the greatest credit is due to those who superintended the operations here, and to Captain Whitson.

A telegram from Christcfeurch. informs us that the balance-sheet of the Exhibition as certified ny Mr Joubert is as follows :—Expenses, £15,460 16s lOd ; receipts, £13,464, 17s 4d ; leaving a deficit of £1995 19s 6d. Against this is the sum that may be expected from the sale of the buildings. Upon this sale the profit will thus depend. The cost of the building was £10,8S8. The next heaviest item was the band music, £930 ; and gas, £889 los 6d. The receipts from attendance, making allowance for deductions to clubs and other bodies who have entertainments in connection with the promoters, was £10,077 6s. The sale of privileges and stalls realised £1941 5s ; and the rents for space, £1446 6s 4d There can be little doubt that the building and fittings will realise enough to save the promoters from an actual loss.

At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Thursday, John Francis Kitto, charged with the murder of his son-in-law Roggurio, was on the production of medical evidence, remanded to the asylum, pending the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary being made known. Cuthbert McKellar, charged with embezzlement, from the National Bank, Mosgiel, was found guilty. According to the statement of the prisoner's counsel, the prisoner in discharge of his duties had to go about to hotels collecting money, and the money he was charged with embezzling was so collected. The jury added a recommendation to mercy in consequence of this mode of conducting business. A sentence of six months was passed.

Mr Knoxs cleariug sale of Mr J. Moses' large stock of drapery, &c, will commence to-day on the premises, Victoria-street, Hamilton (weather permitting). The imported Norfolk trotting stallion " Prick willow," will .stand in the Waikato this season. Particulars will be found in advertisement. We draw attention to the new and striking advertisement of Messrs Coulthard Bros, of thcTe R.ahu steam sawmills, Te Awamutu. Mr W. Wheelen, bootmaker, Hamilton East, notifies that he disposed of his business to Mr D. Gardiner on the 10th of April last, and while thanking his patrons, solicits a continuance of their patronage to his successor. In connection with this, Mr Gardiner announces that Mr Whcelcn will still conduct the business. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell by auction at the Working Men's Club Rooms, Cambridge West, on Saturday, July 20th, the whole of MY Madigan's household furniture, glassw.m 1 , kitchen utensils, horses, cows, saddW>, g.irden and stable tools, carpenters tools, Ku .t. t &c. The sale will commence at 2 p.m. On lhursday, July 27th Messrs Hunter will sell at the Cambridge Yards, fat cows, heifers, and -.'lei'}), store cattle, &.c, &c, and at Ohaupo, on lhur-day, August 3rd they will hold their usual b.ilc ot cattle and sheep.