The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 30 September 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here sli.ill the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30, 1882.

Ox Tuesdaj' evening next the Borough Council of Hamilton will, we presume, come to some determination regarding the proposal to dissolve the borough and erect in its stead two town districts, one on either side of tho river. The subject has been so much canvassed of late that we do not suppose any considerable amount of time will be taken up in discussing it at the Council table. At the same time it is not one that should be dealt with off-hand or lightly dismissed. The argument in favor of dissolution is based chiefly upon the antagonism existing between the two divisions of the borough, though many of its supporters are actuated almost solely by motives of economy. The primary object which was kept in view by those who brought about the creation of the borough does not, since the freeing of the traffic, bridge, any longer exist, and consequently, provided it be equally effi- 1 cient, some means of local" goyern-j ment less expensive than a corpora- j

tion might be resorted to. The alteration is now quite practicable ; the assets and liabilities can be adjusted with a minimum of trouble ; and all that is necessary is that the Borough Council and Count)' Councils shall agree on the matter. It hag been urged against the change, that it would involve the sacrifice of a certain amount of dignity ; and that in view of the future require- ! ments of the town, the ratepayers would deprive themselves of most useful machinery for their thorough and efficient self-government. The first of these arguments is purely sentimental, and should not, yer sr, receive any consideration. The second appears fcohavo more cogency. But it must not be forgotten that the choice lies between a borough and a town district. Were it between the former and a highway district, the plea would be unanswerable ; but a town district board is invested with powers as ample almost as a corporation, and would, unless Hamilton is going to develope at a more rapid rate than any other town in the colony has done, meet all requirements for very many years to come. The bridge is, or soon will bo, freed from tolls, but it will still be necessary to find money for repairs, etc., which, unless the main road can be taken off the hands of the local authorities, will have to be raised in Hamilton. It is not to be taken for granted that this burden would be shifted immediately on the dissolution of the borough ; the legacy may devolve on the town districts. Butthisonlyshowshowmueh greater is the need for reducing to the lowest possible limit the expenses in connection with the machinery of government. We have ever aimed at the removal of local prejudices, but after some years' experience we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the East and West townships cannot be made to run in double harness, and that a separation would be beneficial to both. These are reasons which, we think, will outweigh all considerations of dignity and philanthropic protest. The petition, to which we referred in our last issue, is not being so rapidiy subscribed to as was supposed, because, no doubt, signing it involves some little trouble — among other things, a journey to one or other of the places where it has been deposited. This fact must not, indeed, be taken into account, when it is known that the majority of those interested are in favor of separation.

Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., returned to Waikato by yesterday's train. The comet which was seen during the afternoon last week is now a prominent object in the heavens between the hours of 4 and 5 a.m. Suwarrow, Grand Duchess, The Hebrew and Prima Donna, have been scratched for the Melbourne Cup. Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, has so far recovered from his recent illness that he was able to take his seat in the House of Assembly on Thursday. It was reported in Cambridge on Thursday that arrangements had been completed for the purchase of the Cambridge racecourse, from Mr Fantham, at £15 per acre. We have learned since that the negotiations have fallen through, and that Mr Fantham intends to lease the land if he gets a suitable offer on Monday next. Capt. Runciman will deliver his lecture on his American trip in the Hamilton Public Hall on Monday evening next. The lecture cannot fail to prove interesting, and on that account we anticipate seeing a very large attendance. Mr Horace Walpole, manager of the Te Awamutu Cheese Factory Company, having made satisfactory arrangements witli Mr Waite, tinsmith, of Auckland, thediiectors of the company have given an order for a plant. Cheese making operations are expected to commence in about a month's time. It is understood that the charge for trespass brought by Mr Fantham against a number of people who fallowed the hounds over the Cambridge racecourse, will be heard at Cambridge on Tuesday instead of Monday, owing to the plaintiff being unable to get the summonses served in time for the last named day. The news received by cable respecting the shipment of New Zealand frozen meat per Mataura, is of a, most satisfactory description, The mutton has been sold in the London market at an average of 6.Jd per lb, and the salesmen speak most highly both of the quality and condition of the meat. We regret to have to record the death of Mr Peter Colemau, sen., of Hamilton, which event took place at his residence, Hobson -street, Auckland, yesterday morning. Deceased, who was in his sixty-second year, was an old resident of Hamilton, where his sons have been in business for many years, and where many members of his family reside. The funeral will leave the Hamilton Railway Station immediately after the arrival of the train on Monday afternoon. The usual weekly meeting of the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Society M r as held in the Court-house on Thursday evening last, Lieut. Archer in the chair. There was a very good attendance of the public. The question, "Is the present policy of the British Government in regard to Irish affairs for the benefit of the country ; or is that policy likely to restore peace and happiness among the people of that country? was debated, Mr F. Hickß taking the affirmative, and Mr Edgar the negative. After some considerable discussion the debate was decided in favour of the affirmative. A novelty from Auckland will shorty be amongst us. Mr Sydney H. Colville's celebrated Australian Surprise Party, entitled "Merry Moments ,"intend doing a tour of the Waikato and surrounding country prior to departure for the Sates at Christmas. This highly talented little company have had an exceptionally prosperous career through New South Wales and Victoria, and most recently from' the South through New Zealand. Professor Chevalier, the renowned illusionist of the Austral ias, Mr J. Sylvester, whose protean and humourous life-like sketches, have won him ja. well earned reputation) 'Mr StfmV Coleman, the well known character artist, and last, bntnotl^t, 6 MiB^EtHaiGwV, th<Sf ;ch"arming soubrette "ari&\? da&efoie^are',' among many of , the talent comprising' tins-

entertainment. The manager, Mr Sydney H. Colville, may be expected in Hamilton early in the week to make the necessary arrangements for opening. The quarterly meeting ;„ of , the Upper Thames Wesley.w Circiiit was held on Monday last at Pacroa. The circuit minister was in the chair and there was a good attendance of office-hearers. An increase of members was icported and the ciicuit stewaid, Mr W. Tetley, presented a clean balance-sheet for the quarter. As there is, however, a debt on the circuit the meeting resolved to make efforts to pay it, and trust that the various congregations will assist heartily during the next quarter of its liquidation. Mr John Phillips was appointed circuit stewaid, Mr Ripley society stewaid for Te Aroha, and Mr L. Hames poor steward forPaeroa. A litciature committee was formed to canvass the district for the sale of good and cheap periodicals. It was resolved that Waiorongomai should be placed upon the plan with appointments. In reply to the question of the circuit stewards the chairman (Rev. J. T. Pinfold) signified his wish to remove next year. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded him, and it was decided to invite Mr J. J. Mather to succeed him. It was unanimously resolved to make application to conference for two ministers provided that sufficient funds be guaranteed before the district meeting to maintain them. The meeting was closed with the benediction. A public meeting, for the purpose of advocating the Weslcyan Home Mission, was held in the schoolroom, Whatawhata, on Wednesday evening, 27th inst. There was a large attendance, and a great deal of interest was manifested. The chair was occupied in a most satisfactory manner by Mr La Trobe. The meeting opened with .singing and piaycr, and Mi 1 Hun is then lead the report and made a few remarks ; followed by Mr B. Rothwell, who spoke on the nature and object of the Home Mission work, and our responsibility, as a Christian people, in preaching the Gospel to the native race. The next speaker was the Rev. J. Dukes, who said that Home Missionary enterprise recommended itself to the practical sympathy of the people, and made a very interesting and instructive speech, in which he pointed out the peculiar suitableness of the Gospel to every age, clime, and people. He com-pai-ed the Christian religion with many others which had proved themselves spurious by their rottenness. .Sciptics were very fond of pointing to what they called the slow progress of Christianity, and asking the fulfilment of the promise that it would overspread the earth, but Christians had no reason to be ashamed of the conquests of the Gospel. The speaker was listened to with much attention, and on resuming his seat was heartily applauded. A collection, which amounted to £1 7s 6d, was then taken in aid of the funds of the society. The speeches were alternated with singing, in which the choir acquitted themselves very creditably. A vote of thanks to the choir and chairman was carried by acclamation, and the meeting closed with the Benediction. — (Communicated.) The Thames correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes on Thursday ;—; — lie the Kopu and Te Aroha railways, Mr Sheehan telegraphs as follows :: — ■' Wellington, September 27. The following reply, re the railway proposals, was received from the Minister of Public Works last night, too late wire :— ' I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, in which you bring under the notice of the Government the desire of the Thames Boi'ough and Comity Council, and other local bodies, that advantage should be taken of the presence in the colony of certain representatives of English capital to construct the proposed railway from Kopu to Te Aroha, under the Railways Construction Act ; and request that on being satisfied with the financial ability of the proposers, the Government will endeavor to obtain Parliamentary sanction for any provisional agreement that those proposers and the Government may enter into. In reply, I beg to state that, although the construction of the lines from the Thames to Te Aroha has been authorised by Parliament, yet the Government having before them the necessity for applying so much of the three million loan as Avas available tor railway construction, to the continuation of those works which were most needed, did not see their way to appropriate more than a small sum for the completion of the section, Giahamstown to Te Kopu. Under these circumstances, I have to inform you that the Government is prepared to give every consideration to the proposal for the construction of the line to Te Aroha by a company competent to carry out the work, if such a proposal be submitted to them. As requested, I have g ; ven direction that the information you ask for, as to the length of the line and other details, be supplied to yon.' I will take steps to-day to obtain the information referred to, and will forward it to you." The following business, transacted at Thursday's meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board, will be of interest to our readers : — Hamilton. — The Town Clerk of Hamilton wrote in respect to an allotment which had been taken up in the district. The allotment was takeu up as a town section, but after it had been improved it proved to be Crown land, and they, therefore, could levy no rates on it. — The Chairman said, under the circumstances, the mistake was a natural one, 1 and suggested that the section be put up for sale, subject to the value of the improvements. —This was agreed to. — Com-pensation.—-Thq Chairman said the board had previously received a letter from a Mr Kennedy, of Waikato, asking compensation for a road taken through his land. The letter had been transmitted to the Minister of Public Works, and a reply was now received that the Chief Surveyor was requested to report on the application. — It was agreed to reply to the applicant to this effect. — Grant and Foster's Special Settlement — The Undersecretary for Crown Lands forwarded a land order for 1493 acres, for Thomas William Clark, one of grant and Foster's special settlers, at Te Aroha ; also dnpliland orders for forty other settlers on the same block. A correspondent writes to a Home paper for the pnrpose of removing the widespread impression that if the Suez Canal were destroyed it would imperil the safety of our Indian Empire, He ap« pends a list of 20 steamers belonging to four Atlantic lines, any of which, he says, could reach Bombay under 32 days, and Calcutta under 34 days, with an average of 1500 troops on board. The writer ventures on the assertion that "if naval architecture continues to develop as it has done for the last three or four years, we would safely consent to the neutralisation of the Suez Canal and its use solely for commercial purposes, as we could send our troops round the Cape in vessels of deep draught as quickly as the lighterdraught vessels would go throngh the Canal. We are already within four or six days of this."

Mr George Aldridtje will lecture in Le Quesne's Hall, to-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock, on " The Future Life." There will be a bible class at 3 p.m. ; The Alexandra Dramatic Club will give a performance in the JPublic Hall, on Fri,3ay, Octobct 6th, - The programme will,. consist ,of s '-j]?erfection;", and' "Nan the good-for-noth-ing.''^ The, entertainment will conclude with a 3dancißo!^,//" I frdj v In ~*, n .s ,ii • A „ ,„ lX u^v^S v/i^g^cumbe v /i^g^cumbe, h Han^ton,> lias l or 6 ,sums,"6n s first- ?- ',: V V '" "> <