The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1603, 12 October 1882, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and c\act justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TJIURSDA V, OCT. 12, 1882.

The subject of tree planting is one of the most important that could engage the attention oil the settlers in this part of New Zealand. Everyone now-a-days is aware of the influence which forests obtain over the weather, that it is more equable in thickly timbered country than on the bare treeless plains ; but it is somewhat singular that possessing this knowledge, so little should be done to secure the benefits which it so clearly discovers. In "Waikato, we are especially subject to erratic seasons, the corresponding months in any two or inoro years seldom, if ever, experiencing the same conditions of weather, with the result that agriculture is more or less a speculative venture. For instance, we know from experience, that though turnip seed sown in December this year might produce a magnificent yield, no one would be led to sow all his roofc land in the same month next year. If anyone were sanguine enough to accept such a criterion the chances are that the only crop, he could gather in, would be one of disappointment. And, the observation holds good with respect to most other crops. Of course, we know that within certain limits there is an ascertainable season for planting just as there is for reaping, but what we mean is this : That whereas, from some cause or other, one farmer finds himself behind hand with his neighbours afc sbwing time, such is the capricious nature of the season, he may have by far the most bountiful yield at harvest. Now, it may be, we think, be fairly taken for granted, that the paucity of trees is in a great degree the cause of this uncertainty. The fact is, indeed, too well ascertained to admit of any serious discussion. Waikato has at no time within the recollection of Europeans, possessed the character of a wooded district, and what remained at the advent of the first ,' settlers is speedily disappearing, and will soon belong to the past. But this destruction of the small remnaiits of forest -wiir by no means . account for the diminution of" humidity noticeable in the' climate of jWaikato, and which has , "been going on steadily for years,' and has not yet perhaps reached its culminating point. ,WKat is the J acti'ye 'cause of this, it' will 'He asked, siip-' posing the hypothesis to bo accep-

ted ? It seems to us that there can only be one, and tint is the draining of the larger areas of swamp lands which intersect the district,- and which in their unreclaimed state fed the atmosphere with moisture denied from the rain-clouds. In contemplating the vast improvements which capital invested in the work of drainage has effected, we appear to have lo&t sight of the fact that there could be a debit side of the ledger. No one capable of thinking would underrate the valuo of these drainage works, or deplore the only evil results which flow from them. Were the ill without a remedy it might be otherwise, but so long as we feel that the lost balance can be restored our only lament should be that we have so long neglected to remove the bias. 'J here is a class of people who are incapable, by reason of their having abandoned their individuality, who look to the Government to help them upon all such matters as this ; but while we think the subject of forest conservation is one that the State has unwisely neglected, we believe tree planting to be a duty incumbent upon every settler in the district. An acre or two of land devoted to this purpose would make no very great demand upon the resources of the poorest farmer while the benefits derivable therefrom would be of the most tangible and practical kind.

The Rev. Alexander Reid having recently visited Palestine, and being wellknown as a popular and eloquent lecturer, is announced to deliver a lecture on "Palestine" in the Wesleyan Chapel, Te Awamutu, on Friday next. There will be no admission fee required, only a collection in aid of the Home Mission fund, and those who desire to hear an eloquent and instructive lecture should not fail to be present.

The programme of the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association for this evening consists of a lecture on "Tennyson and Longfellow," by Mr J. P. Campbell. As a public speaker Mr Campbell has earned a well merited popularity ; and we hope this evening's lecture, which will be his first effort in this line of public speaking, will materially add to his already established name. A large attendance of visitors as well as members is expected.

We are glad to notice that the spirit of enterprise and co-operation which has been manifested in Waikato within the past year, and which, so far, has been attended with such satisfactory results, has extended itself to Taupiri. An advertisement appears in another, column calling a meeting of settlers and others interested in the formation of a Cheese and Bacon Factory Company in that district. We hope the meeting will be well attended by all those who have the welfare of the district at heart

Mr Germann, secretary pro tern. to the proposed freezing company was at Ohaupo yesterday together with Mr Roche, one of the provisional directors, and distributed a large number of prospectuses and share application forms among the settlers attending the cattle sale. A canvass was made during the evening, and great encouragement was met with, a large number of shares having been taken up, A large number of promises were also received, and the promoters are now very sanguine of success.

The plans prepared by Mr T. H. White for the Waikato Cheese and Bacon Factory have arrived, and a meeting of the directors will be held to-day to consider them. The plans specify for a wooden building, it would be well woith considering the desirability of building of brick or concrete instead of wood for many reasons, the small ' extra cost, the less risk from fire, thereby a reduction in insurance ; the saving of the frequent expense of painting, &c, and more particularly because the material, viz., the bricks, can be supplied in the neighbourhood, and thus retain a large amount of money in the district.

The representative team of tke Waiuku Cavalry will arrive at Hamilton by the noon train from Te Awamutu today, and will, immediately on arrival, be diiven to the target grounds, -where the rifle match with the representative team of the "0" troop will be fired. During the stay of the visitors in Hamilton they will be put up at the Hamilton Hotel. The Cavalry dance which comes off in the Public and Volunteer Hall in the evening promises to be a great success, every piovision having been made by the committee to make the event thoroughly successful. A large number of people are expectad to be present. The Te Awamutu band have been engaged to supply the music.

Two counter petitions re the Cambridge Railway Station site, have been extensively signed by the people of Cambridge and district ; one asking to have the site fixed on the property of Mr Henson, and others on the Victoria road, between the Thorudon road and Princesstreet ; and the other asking that the Whitaker-torrace site, which was first fixed upon, should not be altered. The former petition has been extensively signed by the residents and property holders on the north side of the lake, and the settlers in the surrounding district ; and the latter by the property holders and residents in the lower end of the town, and the settlers of Pukekura and Pukerimu. Both petitions will be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, probably through the member for the district, Mr J. B. Whyte.

Not a little excitement was cheated in Cambridge on Saturday afternoon last by the appearance of a hoise galloping along the footpath in Dukestreet with a large heavy post, which was tied to his neck, flying in the air behind him. It appears the excited animal was tied by a strong rope to a post in the yard adjoining Mr' Carter's stables, and, on being frightened by some passing object, pulled back, bringing the post out of the ground with which it bolted down Victoria-street. A rather bulky native on q, rather small horse hearing the noise issuing from a cloud of dnsfc behind put spurs to his steed and galloped off in front as if iustantaueous death followed in his wake. The runaway took a rather shurp turn into Duke-street, to the great relief of the native, whom it bad overtaken, and with the post still flying behind, dived' under Houghton's verandah, and cleared the footpath >to the foot of. the 'street. Fortunately, there was no person hurt^ and the animal was secured before doing any other damaga thani frightening' a number of people out of ' its TJvay. ' v- " '

: Mr Solomon Hemus delivered a lecture upon in this Public and Volunteer Hall; Hamilton West,' on Tuesday eveni)ig<last. ,. Th^was a fair attendance,, 'apdtho chair was occupied by'the ftev. 1 Mf- Du^es. 4 ' Gh**{rniai£ having prefixed^the 1 lecture Withl'a few" interesting remarks," in the ( course of which he introduced the lecturer, Mr

■' i f "i ,„ !—;! — ; ;; — t Hemus came forward and delivered a very instructive and impressive discourse. In the course of his lecture he showed that the greatest apparent blessings of our existence ivero ma<Je-~the , greatest teal curies. The 'lecturer" gave, sonic ,very forcible illustrations, showing how drink wa.3 the origin of the greatest portion of human misery, and how domestic happiness,was often converted into domestic misery by its excessive use The lecture was listened to throughout with much attention ; and the frequent applause Accorded at intervals showed with what degree of favour the discourse was received. At the close of the lectnte a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Hemus ; also to the lull trustees for their generosity in granting the tree use of the building for the evening. Mr Hemus lectures at Te Awamutu on Kriilay night 'next, and will reappear at Hamilton on the following Monday, when, from the nature of Tuesday evening's discourse, a large attendance is expected. A little learning, we are told, is a dangerous thing. We relate below a case in point, but somewhat differently applied to what was meant when tlie above was first quoted. Not long since, the Bishop of a diocese was on a visit to one of his clergy ; this clergyman had in his service a boy, who for ' the occasion was thought to have qualifications sufficient to fit him to act as valet to his Lordship during his stay ; at any rate he was pressed into the service, and amongst a variety of instructions for his guidance it was particularly impressed upon him how to address his Lordship. The lad's first essay in bis new capacity was arranged to take place in the morning, when he was told to knock at the Bishop's bedroom door, and on his enquiry who knocked to reply, " The boy, my Lord." Now comes the application of the introduction. Everything had proceeded satisfactorily so far, even to the wording of his Lordship's query, when, tintortunately, the boy's memory failed him, and he replied, '"' The Lord, my boy !" Had it not been for the undue familiarity of the latter part of the reply, it might easily have been expected that his Lordship would have been equal to the occasion, and have replied in the scriptural words of the prophet Samuel. This story has been traced to a gentleman lately from the Thames.

In the year 1882 there will occur several singular coincidences in the life of Queen Victoria. According to the Jewish computation the year 1882 will be the nineteenth year of the 297 th cycle of 19 years. Her Majesty was born in the year '19, or, more properly speaking, 1819. These figures added together thus, 1 x 8x 1 x 9—19. She ascended the Throne shortly after entering upon her 19th year in 4837. These added together thus, I x 8 x 3 x 7—19, and this year's figures (1882) added together give the same result — thus, 1 x 5 x 8 x 2—19. From her marriage with Prince Albert she had Issue nine sons, and daughters, and in 18S2 she will have reigned Queen of England 43 years— 4 x 5—9. This year she will be 63 years of ace— 6 x 3—9. In die year 1882 Queen Victoria will have lived 21 years a virgin, 21 years a wife, and 21 years a widow — 2 xlx2x 1 x 2 x I—9. Are these merely coincidences ?

Tiie Chicago Courts (says an American paper) have an opportunity to immortalise themselves, and be handed down to posterity as benefactors of the race, or bitter enemies of mankind, according as they decide a case brought before them. It is a suit brought by the author of a play against an actor tor £3000 damages, the ground being that the actor " was unpardonably ignorant of his lines, and refused to carry out the heroic conception of his part, # but instead whined and drivelled out incongruous and meaningless phrases." If the Chicago Judges will only lay dowu the doctrine that it is a punishable offence for an actor to act in this manner, they will deserve well of their fellows, and of all who shall come after them.

Some papers, says a writer in the Lowell Conner, are not of much account as to appearance, but I never took one that did not pay me, in some way, more than I paid for it. One time an old friend started a little paper away down in Southwestern Georgia and sent it to me, and I subscribed just to encourage him, and after a while it published a notice that an administrator had an order to, sell several lots at public outcry, and one of the lots was in my county. So I inquired about the lot, and wrote to my friend to attend the sale and run it up to fifty dollars. He did so, and bid me off the lot for thirty dollars, and I sold ifc in a month to a man it joined for a hundred dollars, and so I made sixty-eight dollars clear by taking that paper. My father told me that when he was a young man he saw a notice in a paper that a school teacher was wanted away off in d distant county, and he went there and got the situation, and a little girl was sent to him, and after a while she grew up mighty sweet and pretty, and he fell in love with her and married her. Now, it he hadn't taken that paper, what do you reckon would have become of me Wouldn't I have been some other fellow, or may be not at all.

The following extract from the Western Mercury and Somersetshire Herald, of July 1, will be of interest to those acquainted with the gentleman therein refered to :—": — " The tower of Bleadon Church, which has presented for some time a rather dilapidated appearance, has just been restored under the (Superintendence of Robt. Council, of Uphill. The pinnacle has been partly rebuilt, and the vane, after being re-gilt, has been placed in its former position. The worthy rector and his parishioners have proposed making these improvements for a considerable time, but owing to the want of funds, the work could not be carried out. A few weeks ago, however, there appeared on the scene an old Bleadonian, F. D. Rich by name, who, after spending upwards of 40 years in New Zealand, has returned to the home of his youth. Seeing the. need of repairs, and having a generous heart, he at once handed to Mr Thomas Durston a sum of money, which was more than sufficient to place the old tower in a state of repair. The same gentleman has also remembered tlie aged poor of the parish, and has liberally given to such as were in need. All honour to 1 men of the wealthy type '5 We want more ot them ; men who not only possess the means but also the will to help their less fortunate brethren"

Fifty half-chests of jn'ime tea will be sold by auction by Mr J. S. Buckland at Camabridge on the 14th inst. , Mr J. S. Buckland's Cambridge cattle sale is advertised fer Thursday, the 17th inst. Great changes are taking place in A.uckand, new business premises' ofvarious kinds are rapidly improving the appearance of the city ; ' several firms are extending their premises, and 'the keen competitive spirit of the Old Country is , now apparent amongst the city tradesmen ; the wholesale warehousemen, ironmongers, and < banks, are extending their, boundaries ; and 'not ' the least important amongst 'the 'local industry establishments is the .completion of a large concrete building three storeys high, 75 feet' lbng, and 50 wide, erected in>Lorne-street, as a cabinet factory for Messrs'. Garlick and" 1 Cranwell, who have erected machinery with the latest improvements, enabling" them ,to turn out .their work economically antl expeditiously. This, firm are now giving up their drapery and clothingbusiness in order to secure more space as shoW rooms for their furniture, and, to effect ,3. speedy clearance, • have reduced to' a very low<prica4H*tKei£dtapqryj? and clottring,Nvbich will be, sold (for", cash oidy) for ona 'Month. j.Thil is a splendid , opportunity, for thrifty housewives not' only to secure Mothing but all kiuds-fofi-Mafachester 1 .; and {furnishing goods at rates q that will pay to' laygoods^byt.tifl , hoy /aw jfoajly wanted .