The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1577, 12 August 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 light maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1882.

The Hamilton Railway Bridge is likely to cost a pretty penny before it is iini&hed. The dredge which has boon at work for some clays in tho northern cylinder of the west pier has now cleaned all the sand out, the depth reached being eighty-one feet, and so far there arc no indications of rock or of any other substance sufficiently hard to resist the immense) vertical pressure of the cylinder when filled with concrete, the w eight of which will be something like 400 tons. It is possible that a much greater depth will have to be attained before the object sought is secured, and every foot means, of course, a considei'able addition to the cost of tho work. To the mind of a layman it seems strange that such a large work should have been planned, and commenced upon data which subsequent events prove to have been so erroneous. It was generally understood that when tho material for the bridge was ordered, proper borings had been made, and the distance of the hard bottom below the river ascertained. This, however, could not have been the case, and operations even now are being carried on to a certain extent in the dark. The experience gained in the erection of the Ngaruawahia bridge ought to have been sufficient to avoid the commission of such a serious blunder as has been made at Hamilton, because, although so near the hills the nature of the foundation upon which that bridge rests did not come up to expectation. It is but fair to add that the late District Engineer, Mr James Stewart, strongly recommended the construction of a suspension, or at any rate a one-span bridge at Hamilton. Why this recommendation was not acted upon, we do not know, nor are we in a position to say who is to blame for the unfortunate mistake which has been made.

The last annual report of ' the General Manager of New Zealand Railways, -which is attached to ■ the Public "Works Statement, shows that the profits on the.-Huru-nui-Bluff line amount to *£5 >2s7d on the . cost of l( construction, while the amb,unt^j*ealise^ y pn the Auckland and Waikato,<jrs.ijway araounts ! only to =82 bmt^d^yeh centum. f Certain oth^fee's^Wiefly' connecting 4 ing^ leiigsH/ >k\is!9fi^B, fetter 4«^6|tlt'^^Mp|

"do hot afford such satisfactory results. In view of the comparatively large profits returner! by the main trunk railway of the South Island there has been much clamouring of late for a reduction of the freight charges, and the subject is kept constantly before the minds of the patrons of the line by some of our contemporaries. Indeed the question of the railway tariff was persistently used for party purposes during the late general election, and the late Premier himself lost a number of votps on this account. The question has indeed assumed considerable importance, and Mr Maxwell, in his annual report thus refers to it : — " There is a tendency to assert the view that particular sections of the railways should be treated with lower rates than others, because they exhibit a higher rate of interest on the cost of construction. It is not readily seen, where the railways are common property, how this view can consistently be maintained, more especially as the prosperity of one part is not independent of tho other. The southern community deiives extensive advantages from the importatien of cheap timber from the North, supplied by means of the northern railways. '\ lm North draws its grain supplies from the South by similar means. The interchange of passengers between different localities gives a common advantage to all the railways. The West Coast railways supply cheap fuel all round. No section of the railways could be removed from the influences of the others without being injuriously affected. Wellington and liVanganui lines are, we may infer, better feeders to the Hurunui-Bluff section than many of the attached branches." The logic here is sound, and should go far to allay the feeling of dissatisfaction entertained by our Southern friends. They do not pay any higher than wo do for the use of the railway, and the circumstance that their line pays better than ours is owing simply and solely to the fact that they are able to avail themselves of the advantages of railway transit which a completed system like the Hurunui-Bluff line affords When the North Island railways are connected we have little doubt that their traffic returns will be quite as satisfactory as those of the Southern railways.

The report of the last meeting of the Cambridge Town Board, a paper on " Delivering Milk once a day at the Factory," by Mr Horace Walpole, an article on dairy cows, and other interesting items of intelligence will be found on our fourth page. It is proposed to establish a meat refrigerating company in Wanganui. A meeting is to be held on Monday next for the purpose. The Bella Mary left Melbourne on the 2nd inst., and is daily expected to arrive at Waikato Heads with a cargo of 250 tons bonedust for the W.S.N. Co. The cricket match between the Australian Eleven and Kent was concluded on the 9th, and resulted in a victory for the Australians by seven wickets. A Dunedin telegram, dated Thursday, states : — The electric light is being successfully used to-night in the reading room of Watson's Hotel. The Swan lamps are kept burning in the rooms. The Small Birds Nuisance Bill has passed through the Legislative Council, and the amendments have been accepted by the House. The measure has therefore become law. The residents of Hautapu and Taniahere desirous of seeing a church built in that neighbourhood are invited by advertisement to meet the Bishop at the Tamahere Hotel on Monday next at 3 p.m. We again draw attention to the fact of the dedication of the bells of S. Andrew's, Cambridge, to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock. Also to the social gntheiing announced to be held on Monday night. The brickwork in connection with the Waikato Fellmongery at Ngaruawahia has lately been completed in a very satisfactory manner by Mr Alfred Booth. The buildings will soon be in a sufficiently forward state to commence active operations. In our notice of the dinner given to Mr G. Robson, by some of his friends on Monday last, we inadvertently omitted to state that it took place at Gaudin's Waikato Hotel, Hamilton East. The manner in ■which the repast was served reflects the highest credit on the popular host. Messrs Sandes and Co., the wellknown chemists and druggists of Hamilton West, have purchased the business lately carried on by Mr Geo. llobson in Hamilton East, and will in future conduct both establishments. The wellearned reputation of the firm as dispensers of pure drugs will ensure them continued success in their extended operations. A plain dress ball was given in the Cambridge Public Hall on Thursday evening last by a number of the bachelors of that town, and was fairly attended by the young people of the district. The music was contributed by Mr Stuart, and the arrangements generally, which were carried out by Mr Whiting, the secretary, gave much satisfaction. Dancing was kept up to an early hour on Friday morning. The usual weekly meeting ot the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association was held in the Court-house on Thursday evoning last. There was a fair attendance of members and visitors, and the chair was 'occupied by the president, Mr W. * L. C. Willliams. The business of the evening consisted of a debate as to whether or not the action of the Government in detaining Te Whiti and Tohu was for the benefit of the colony at large. The affirmative -was ably taken by Mr Keesing, and the negative by Mr A. Forrest. A lively debate ensued, and on a show of hands being called for the feeling of the meeting was decidedly "in favour of the affirmative. ,The programme for next meeting^consists of readings and. recitations from the jvoriks of Sir Walter Scott. ' " ' \,_. The Pakuranga hounds are> expected^., arrive jn,Wajkato, ajmwthe f fblj|owmg^ liunt.on'the'^perty.olfMrpJ: I S. £Buclcv;

His Lordship the Bisfiop of Auckland will take the service at S. Peter's Church, FTnniiltoii, to-morrow morning, In the afternoon, as announced elsewhere, he will -dedicate bells of R. Andrews, ( ambridge. 'Ifhis atteinoon His Lordship will meet tho Vestry of S. Peter's, Hamilton, at G Wynne's cottage, to ai range for filling the vacant incumbency. > It appears the difficulty which Mr Baker, Purveyor, h.i'l with tie natives on the Wha'ti-Kumnui block,atos"out of the nuttei of icei vis. The n.itncs were told oerttiin i Corves would bo bet apart on the block lor_then iim 1 , but whun Mi 1 Baker was cairyisty tlm/u^h the subdivision linos, it se^nii lie was including the lesencs piomised to tlu natives, and which they thought to bo of less value and in a, less suitable situation than those originally promised them. They objected to Mi Bakei going' through, with the survey, believing him to be including their reserves for the company, and, MiBaker objecting, they adopted the very decisive comse related in our last issue. At a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night tho Mayor stated that he had made a mistake on Monday in stating that the general account overdraft was -L'3l 3. It was £413, The Mayor also gave notice to mo\'e that all applications for crossings be not entertained in the future. He said it was necessary to make a determined stand, as the fuud/s of the boiough would not bear the drain. He believed that the number of applications at the next meeting would be over 200. At the suggestion of Cr. Gaudin it was resolved to repair the footpath in "Heaphy terrace leading towards the East school at once. Permission was granted the W.S.K". Company to erect an office abutting on the road at the east end of the cart bridge. The usual weekly meeting of the Hamilton Literary and Debating Club was held at the Court-house on Thursday evening, the president (Mr James Hume) in the chair. The secretary (Mr R. F. Sandes) tendeied his resignation of the office of secretary owing to bis inability to devote the proper amount of time and attention to the duties of the office. The resignation -was accepted with regret, and a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded Mr Sandes for his efficient services in the past. Mr J. M. Murray was elected to the vacant post. The debate of the question, " Is the Government justified in entering into commercial speculations in opposition to private persons ?" was introduced by Mr R. F. Sandes, in the negative. The affirmative was taken by Mr S. E. G. Smith. Messrs. Knox, Murray and T. G. Saudes also took part in the debate, which was of a very interesting character. On putting the question to the meeting, the voting was in favor of the affirmative. At the adjourned meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board last night, the committee appointed to inspect Smith's contract on Seddon's drain icported that the work had not been completed according to specifications, and that the board had consequently no claim upon Mr i Seddon for a portion of the cost, the whole of which they recommended should be paid by the board. On the motion of Mr Peat, seconded by Mr Gaudin, the report was adopted. Mr fieddon waited on the board, and explained that as the work already done had not improved the drain so as to make it of any value to the domain lands, steps should be taken during the summer to have it deepened and widened, and that the Government should be asked to contribute half the cost, the remainder being contributed in equal propoitions by the board and himself. He explained that on three previous occasions the Government had contributed, the reason being that the drain benefited a large area of Crown lands through which it ran. After some discussion, it was agreed to make application to the Government, through the members for the district, in terms of Mr Seddon's suggestion. The news from the seat of war received on Thursday is not of a very startling nature. It is reported that the Abysinnian troops have assembled on the Egyption frontier, and are preparing to 00-operate with the British, hoping by this action to obtain a seaport. That the action taken by the British Government is approved by the nation may be partly gathered from the fact that thirtyfive thonsand malitiamen have volunteered for service in Egypt. Twelve transports, with the British and Native troops forming the Indian expedition to Egypt, have sailed for Suez from Bombay. Major-General A. T. Macpherson, V.C.C.8., has left in command of the force. The Turkish troops rendezvous at Rhodes awaiting the completion of a convention with the British, which the Conference of Powers will endorse. England and France still hesitate to accept Italy's proposals about the Canal. The Greek Government, it is said, have resolved to obtain several men-of-war, but with what object is not stated. Last night's news is, as will be seen, very reassuring. The Porte has at length proclaimed Arabi a rebel, and a Turkish force is now on its way to support England and the Khedive, a step which the Powers concur in. The no-confidence debate was continued on Wednesday night by Mr de Lautour, who charged the Government with incapacity. Sir John Hall followed and demolished the statements of the previous speak er. He strongly advocated the resumption of borrowing as the only means of averting a crisis. He warmly defended the administration of the Government. Mr Weston spoKe against the Government. — On Thursday , the debate was resumed by Mr Levin, who announced his intention of supporting the Government. Mr Hobbs spoke on the same side, and Major Harris said he would vote for Mr Montgomery's amendment. Mr Moss asked Mr Montgomery to state plainly if the amendamendment meant that all borrowing should cease. He accused Messrs Montgomery and Macandrew of having walked out of the House when the division on his motion to stop borrowing was taken. He then , proceeded to combat the Treasurer's statements, and declared against borrowing for the present. Mr Hurst said the amendment had been moyed at the written request of 40 members of the Opposition,, who were tlms bound to support 'it! He appealed to tlie leader of the Opposition to tear the document up, and allow the, subscribers to vote according to their conscience. Mr Fish supported the amendment. He commenced his r , speech by , taunting ( Mr Hurst with having, himself been- a party to a written .compact, ; and with having been a "rah", He'then proceeded to de- • nounce the Government as incapable and vacillating, , and after, a .three hour's oration concluded, by .announcing that the '.cqnld form _a, Ministry wkichwould v command, a tlak t respe^'Jilna supfjortfbf the Houseiwijl the ~ country,'! a, Ministry 'which" Voulrf iriclucle ihitsranks ; noitHet, Sir George Grey nor'-M^She'elian. 1 * Yes^rjay/B^p^oceed|ngs"will be : 'i punfljin * * anQrtlieYjcolutnfi^iinder, theVusual heading) ,