TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1882.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1626, 5 December 1882, Page 2

TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1882.

Civilisatiox, it would seem, like many other good features of the European, is not altogether an unmixed good ; in a word, like the majority of things, it seems to cut both ways. The work of introducing civilisation among a barbarous people is a most praiseworthy and desirable pursuit ; and, if it can be introduced, without bringing in its train its concommitaut evils, which are thus made to exist among such a race, it is doubly so. But from the experiences of the past — and of the present — we are led to believe that it is one of those things which have for their constituent parts bad, as well as good features. When the word "civilise," as defined by modern lexicographers, is applied to the introduction of the European state of living amongst savage races, it is in a sense a misnomer ; for instead of polishing, instructing, and reclaiming, as the word implies, people who have hitherto lived in a barbarous state, we merely introduce our customs, habits and pur : suits, some of which are not likely to polish, instruct, or reclaim those who come in contact with them. Moreover, it would seem that it is not the good features of our vaunted so-called civilisation which are readily embraced by savage races' j but , rather the constituent parts are all run through a seive, and none but the worst carefully retained. The proof of this assumption is daily becoming more and more evident, Let us take for example the crowd, of Maoris which are now gathered in Cambridge. By embracing the advantages of our land courts, which is one of the good features* 1 of lour civilisation j that they .have accepted, inasmuch as at' individualises „iheir title to the land, we polish them to the extent of bestowing 1 orith'enj'dKe of, our customs for > the befiteWfguidance b£ their worldly, affairs. / ,But do they npt make r this,one ffopd^xiust tom,,a, r souisc<? io£ numberless f otifipr< bad 6nes ? , -TJudoubtedly ,th^y J-do,; ' ahd,"from' all appearaaces^it .'would ,j seem , t\\^S^^ooo^'M^i^^j.

ships during stlie sittingaof a lands court, will amply satisfy Jaiiy^of^ur| readers as, to v the, ftijuth *\o£ this asf§rtio£. . Nafcivejs^ may* 4 , then be seen rolling about in a beastly state of intoxication,, the, women as bad as, -in facfworso than the men. Children from five years old and upwards hang about the tap-rooms iv the hope of being able to securo an occasional " pull " from the glass of the parent. The un weaned pickaninny smokes the same pipe turnabout with the mother; and youths, both male and female, who have not as yet arrived at the use of'reason, seem to anticipate that faculty in playing cards. A race meeting has now become a favourite resort for the natives, and when present at such gatherings we know w hat little control they are capable of exercising over their passions. Not many months ago one native was sentenced to imprisonment for life for having stabbed another over a matter of a five shilling bet. We all remember that the acknowledged head of the race got thoroughly intoxicated on an occasion when the entire colony looked up to him for a word of wisdom, and a declai-a'tion of a comprehensible policy for the future welfare of his people. In our last issue we related an incident where two natives had entered upon a career of highway robbery in the very town of Cambridge. Day after day we hear of husbands brutally assaulting their wives by kicking them, both parties being under the influence of liquor. Horses are ridden with ulcerated backs, until they fall, almost dead from starvation. These are the features of our civilization which thfi natives have x-eadily embraced, and which the officers of the law, by a judicious exercise of their power, should exert themselves to stamp out. When natives come into European townships they should be made to abide by and respect the law, and violent assaults upon women should not be lightly dealt with. By the administration of the law in its severest form we might succeed in making natives peaceful citizens instead of a turbulent nuisance. If they are lightly dealt with today, they will need to be severely dealt with to-morrow. And not only should the law against crime be rigidly enforced, but the laws of sanitation should also be upheld. It is therefore to be hoped that, by the infliction of a severe punishment native burglaries, native highway robberies, and brutal assaults upon women will be made to cease in our midst.

The timo for making applications for grants in aid under the " lloads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882, is rapidly drawing- to a close, and yet several of those boards "who really require money to make their trays straight, have made no move in the matter. Waikato and Piako County Councils have acted wisely, and together are applying for soino £1 0,000, principally for the main roads, although a portion of the grants are to be spent on the distritf roads. It is not expected that the whole of the moneys applied for will he granted, but no doubt a fair proportion may be looked for, and when that is spent the roads will be in such order that a much lighter expenditure will suffice to keep them in repair than has heretofore been necessary. This, of course, will lighten the taxation in future, so that much may be gained by taking advantage of the moneys offered. The idea which has gained currency that borrowing means increased taxation is the greatest fallacy possible. No such thing. If by obtaining a gift— for it really is sue h — f r om the Government of, say £1000, a board renders itself liable for an annual payment of £25 for ten years, surely that does not mean any extra taxation. , Much more than the .£25 per annum can be saved from the ordinary expenditure by doing permanent works now, and really tho effect of the act ought to be to reduce taxation, not increase it. The special rates to be levied, as we have before said, need never, and probably will never, be collected, and are only intended as a guarantee to Government that the district means to do some work and pay something for it themselves. Boards who do not apply before the Isfc January, 1883, stand a good chance of being left out in the cold,for some time, and next winter again, when roads are knee deep in mud and water, they will be wondering why they did not do as others have done; when it may be too late. That the act is a good and useful one for our districts we feel convinced, and for this reason we have again brought the 1 subject before our readers before it is, quite too late. Faults there are in jhe act no doubt ; omission's also, which will come to light when work is be - ing carried out, but all these may be 1 remedied, in time, and if road boards and county councils will only act together in harmony great good will, ,w© predict, come of that useful measure, the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882. Communication with the South by telegraph was interrupted last night, so that we are unable to give our usual budget of latest news. After the long spellof dry weather, the light 'showers' of. Tain* which fell yesterday were thankfully received. Grass and root crops will be greatly impvoVed by the change, i 1i 1 '» "f The Waar in aid of the Hamilton Presbyterian ' Church concluded' at 'the Oddfellows' Hall, e*i»bridge,,,<on "Saturday. " Therfi' was avery'-failr sjfttetftlancej and good business was dona'-'*' 1 ' ' f'i,l " ' Mrireii7hpeUar ;i /)fHamilton^met wifch. an accident on Simday/whicli i»< Pely to confine hiaf to hisjtoom fpr,, some tinie, He wMrgturningfromCambrid^Q,' audjwluia near.j^ai^p^o|e^^t||MV^

tlie defendant desired to withdraw the charge, stating that, she was not prepared to swear that h,e,r injuries were inflicted by her husband.,.,,, , - The fpj&dation block /of (la.h neV Church qjySnManci b,uildingat .Tamatiere will be la|d by* His Wttlslnp/ the,, Bishop of Auckland Jdn Friday aftern&btt at,': 5 o'clock. .>> At 6.30 p.nV. there .will b$ a soiree in celebration of the evenV at the Hautupu schoolhonse. The meeting will iticludc a vocal and instrumental concert. We understand that His Lordship ! Bishop Luck, Roman Catholic Bishop, of .Auckland, intends to attacli father O'Reilly, of the Thames, to ttie cliaVge of the Maori Mission in this district. Father O'Reilly being a thorough Maori scholar, he will be able to administer to jthe natives in their own language. , 'Our Ngaruawahia correspondent writes :— 'l he meeting of ratepayers called for the 2nd inst. at Ngaruawahia, fell through, there being only a few present. This is Newcastle all over. It is to be hoped that the board will take the necessary steps to put the road fronting the racecourse in a state that will not indanger the lives of the travelling public. There is no getting through after sundown ; even in daylight one requires an extremely quiet horse and keen eyesight in order to avoid a spill. We are pleased to hear that operations at the Te Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Factory are being carried on to the entire satisfaction of the company. The daily supply of milk is about 300 gallons, and this amount will shortly be largely increased. The best indication of the success of the concern is to be found in the fact that many who were eitiier lukewarm or strongly opposed to scheme are now amongst its warmest supporters. We are sorry to have to record the death of Mr William Corboy, of Kihikihi, one of the oldest settlers in this district. Mr Corboy, during his residence in Waikato, has occupied a somewhat prominent position, and by dint of industry and attention to his business had amassed a comfortable competency. For some time he has been in declining health, and succumbed yesterday morning. His romaius will be intei red in the Roman Catholic cemetery, Rangiaohia, to-day. The natives at present attending the sitting of the Native Lands Court at Cambridge, are mailing great preparations for the interview with the " King" and party at the end of the month at Waotu. It is quite probable, from what we learn, that the result of that meeting will largely aflect the negotiations now pending between Tawhiao and the Government. It is the general feeling among the Ngatiraukawas that within a vory short time, whatever else may happen, the " King" party will give their sanction to the survey of the proposed line of railway through the King country. A very serious accident occurred on Sunday to a daughter of Mr F. Gaudin, of the Waikato Hotel, Hamilton. The little girl, who is only seven years of age, in reaching over the banister of the staircase over-balanced herself, and fell into the hall, a distance of 10 or 12 feet. When picked up she was insensible, and it was icarcd she was killed, but ou examination it was found that though her injuries were severe they were not likely to prove fatal. She must have put out her hands, and to some extent broke her fall, as her wrists are greatly swollen. The little sufferer is under the enre of T)r. Beale, and at latest accounts was in a fair way to recovery. The firing for the district prizes supplied to the Waikato Cavalry by the Government took place yesterday. The highest scorers at Te Awamutu were :—: — Lieut. Bruce, 07 ; Troopers North, G6 ; Floyd, My Munro, (53; Millett, 62; Bruce, 01 ; and Bruce, 08. At Hamilton there were only three competitors, whose scores were as follow :— Lieut. Johnson, 60 ; Trooper John Oochrane, 57 ; and W. H. Kelly, f>3. The ranges were 200 yds., 300 yds., and 400 yds .; seven shots at each, The weather at Hamilton was not conducive to good shooting. The Cambridge scores are not to hand. Considerable surprise was expressed by the members present at the Waikato County Council meeting yesterday at the absence of the councillor for the Rangiriri riding, the more especially as the matter under consideration was one greatly affecting the interests of. the outlying district. There are many miles of main road in the Rangiriri district which require to be constructed, and for which the funds locally available are totally inadequate. It is to bo regretted, therefore, that the ratepayers have not bestined themselves to obtain assistance from the Government. When they neglect their own affairs they can scarcely expect others to interest themselves in their welfare. The sale of township and suburban lota at Tauhare, the property of the Waikato Land Association will take place tomorrow at the mart of Messrs B. Tonks and Co., Queen-stroet, Auckland. Capt. Steele, who goes' to Auckland to-day to attend the sale, has been commissioned to purchase several lots by bonafide work ing men, and those desirous of taking advantage of his services would do well to communicate with Mr H. Steele to-day. A plan of the allotments with the upset price marked on each may be be seen at the shop of Mr Angus Campbell, Hamilton JEasi In coniieotfon wiih the setting aside a reserve for a cheese and bacon factory, the company have given an assurance that as soon as the settlement is sufficienty advanced to warrant the establishment of a factory they will erect the necessary buildings. A special meeting of the Waikato County Council was held at the chambers, Hamilton East, yesterday. Present : Capt. Steele, (chairman) Crs. Runciman, Primrose and Graham. The chairman reported that the amended boundaries of the county affecting the districts of Cambridge and Taotaoroa, as suggested by the council, were not approved by the highway boards. . It was also agreed to communicate' with, the Government, agreeing to the alterations , proposed by t£e highway boards. 1 It was, also agreed to recommend that the boundaries of the Waikato and Manakau, Counties remain as at present, Mr T. G. Sandes sub-, mitted plans and estimate? for works in the Kirikiriroa Highway District, proposed to be constructed out of grant to be applied for under the main roads, provisions of the Roads and Bridges Act; ISB2. Regret was expressed that the', estimates and plans for works within the Tamahere and Cambridge districts were not forthcoming as well, and' as it \yus' thought desirable to make only one application for, ihe money, the chairman was empowered to 1 forward the whole of Ijhe platts, '&<?„, F h §n , satisfactorily completed. < This, was »li thp , business. * Major John^enry Browi* returned to fPaflaa// Texas, ) recently from a five months' trip* i through northwestern Texas. He reports that buffalo hunters have nearly completed the exermination of that animal in Texas. Where droves of 5000 were seen grazing a few years. ago not'SOO.are'foufid' now. ', He' says, 'these professional '''hunters ''have blessed that country ] ill two ways,: In the first place $ by, 'off * buffalo' they" have 'compelled the Indkns to go scalp \farming farthj^wesij. /bjessing, he says, is the' increase of grass oth^i^ise consumeMn % eriornYouis f quatititeyiby the buffalo,. Formerly it ' required ' the product of. grass of whole 'counties to support them. But as i they recede ttfe ca££}e ranches advance,' and as' they; adtoinW 'Uft&MrijguiarS I farmer fCttf ' ; , tfurn -fdffiflft'M<". >/* T frV -,'MW;^ ,6b^mV^C^gigi£«Pi^lbli^biM6|i^^'

,provein§nt of fthe representation pn U>,cal; ,uqlirds is and municipal ■ bodjlefi* '^enjUng' >|He attainment of repeal^howevjir;- r he f^vbuld direct agitatiqn to tl^ee sujfsidiary 'ends 1 — a' more national Parliamentary reWescntriftion, $<} payment of, representa-. iiVes, a!nd the*j£xteqsion of>the franichi-e'. ,sPiie scH6m« en^i-s into details as "to the; of' jili^ orgnhizaotion, as.wdll as' of its'priuciplesVna aims. A terrible crime was committed in October last at Beckington, a village about three miles from Frome, England, .Samuel Phippen, a farmer holding! WhiteloAV farm, went out to, the back ofi the house, where*' one of his labourers named Christopher Hill was at work at a pig-stye, and deliberately shot him dead. A lad who witnessetl the deed, and exclaimed, ' Why, master, you've lulled him,' was answered, .' Yes, and jl mea'li to kill you,' Pippen then shot' tihe lad in the arm, and afterwards ifi the bveast. The boy's arm will have to be amputated. When the murderer had done this he went off across three fields to snme land 'belonging to Mr Bole, where another labourer was at work at the plough. This man, whose name was Sheppard, and who was about sixty years of age, he deliberately shot dead, and then went off in the direction of a lodge at Southwich. Home two hours afterwards he was arrested, with the gun, again fully loaded, in his possession. He had been drinking heavily, and no other cause can be assigned for the brutal murders. The prisoner does not seem to realize his position iv the least, simply remarking ' that every one did a foolish act once in his life,' He has been committed for trial. The Austral (says the "Post") is a splendid steamship, ami at the time she was launched it was stated that she was the , largest passenger steamship afloat next to the Great Eastern. She was built at Glasgow by Messrs John Elder and Co., ,the well-known ship builders, and was launched in the early part of the present year. She started on her initial trip to Melbourne on the 20th of May, and arrived at the latter port 2o'th June, her average speed having been Ki.lO knots. She then had on board 403 passengers, amongst whom .were Sir Julius and Lady Vogel. The Austral, which is commanded by Captain Murdock, formoily of the Cuzco, is 470 ft. long, and her gross tonnage is 5558. Her engines were also manufactured by Elder and Co., and are of a very line type, being 6000 horse-power, She is classed 100 Al iv Lloyd's Register, and was constructed under the supervision of Mr J. W. Shepherd, I.N.A. She is a mild steel, and possesses a double bottom, the space between which is divided into air-tight compartments. Her features are the peculiar structure of the hull, ventilation, staterooms, electrici lighting, the arrangements for freezing meat, and the effectiveness of the vessel in war. She was steady and comfortable, and was fitted like a fine hotel, with rooms for separate parties. Regulations have just been issusd by which the Army Reserve is to be weeded of its useless men. All men found unfit for service are to be discharged without waiting for them to comjilete twenty-one years' service, which would entitle them to a pension ; and, to compensate them for the loss of the prospective pension, they will be entitled to gratuities according to the length of time they have served. Fourteen years' service in the Army Reserve Avill entitle a man to a gratuity of £3 ; eighteen years, to £4 10s ; twenty-one years to £(i ; twenty-five years to £8 ; and twenty-nine years to £10. In addition to these gratuities reduced pensions will be given to men discharged as unfit for service, two years in the Reserve counting as one year towards pension. Under this regulation a man with eighteen years towards pension will receive 4d a day ; with nineteen years, 4\d a day ; and with twenty years, 5d a day ; and these rates of pension will be increased by allowing the men the daily rates of good conduct pay to which they are pntitled, provided the total amount of pension does not exceed lOd a day for a private, Is for a corporal, and Is 3d for a sergeant. These terms will enable the military authorities to have a reserve always ready for service. It is stated that about 90 per cent, of the reserve men called out a few weeks since have reported themselves ; and this pro- - portion (though not so good as on the former occasion of mobilisation in 1878) must lie considered satisfactory, when it is remembered that men may have left the country, or be employed at sea, or have died since the date on which the number of Reservists in the country were ascertained. At a recent meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Mr B. Baker, C.E., partner to the well-known engineer, Mr John Fowler, read a paper on the stupendous undertaking known as the " Forth Bridge," the plans for which are now completed, aud the contract for which will shortly be let. The total length of this gigantic structure will be over one mile, viz., 3330 ft, in two spans 1700 ft each, two land' spans each? GSOtt, besides the breadth of the piers — 290 ft for the middle one, and 145 ft each for two others. The necessity for these immense spans arises from the depth of the water (over 200 ft), which precludes intermediate supports. Au island in the midstream affords the site for the centre pier, or, of course, the work would be impossible. The two big spans are icaUy cantilevers, projecting from the piers and joined at at their ends by a bowstring girder; thotwoend piers continue the arms of the cantilevers landward so as to form the two side spans of b'SOft each : the whole of the ironwork is also so built as to form one continuous girder from end to end of the bridge more than a mile long. Of course the material is steel, and some idea may be formed of the immense size of the cantilevers when it is stated that they are 300 ft deep at the piers and I'iOtt in width. The height to the underside of the bridge is over loOft above high water. About 42,000 tons of steel will be used in the centre spans, and 125,000 cubic yards of masonry in the piers and, foundations. The estimated cost is £1,500,000, If Messrs Fowler and Baker succeed in their design they will have ■accomplished the greatest engineering feat ever attempted. The other day a tall, elegantlydressed man, whose' dignified bearing proclaimed fcb.P weal^y B,riton, walked into, the Fifth Avenue Hotel,, New York, and informed tjie manager in, a low tone that he was the Duke of Richmond, travelling incog. Having ordered , rooms for his suite, whicliitiseems is a habit of Dukes to do personally, he produced a £100 note, ,on which he wished, to borrow 100 dollars, for the mysterious reason that he, did not wish to break , it. ,Thei genial manager, ; whose only idea of dukes is that they must be eccentric, was about to produce it, when the hotel detective appeared in fch.e hall. His, eagle eye was turned on the dukq, aijd in a few moments , he" pronounced him a fraud. His hai, 'coafr and eyeglass indeed Vere superb ; his nose most overbearing \ but, alas ! hw boot heels were nearly worn doW on 'one side to sthe uppers. With , pained surprise' the- stranger crossed to the Hoffman House, where, he wag fen-_ f en-_ thusjastic'ally' received, and' 'splendid cigars and excellent champagne were offered' up^by. the, .elated manager. „Hjs Grace discoursed pi Ajr;abi and that''fellow Gladstone,' ' 'and* explained his eighteen^itlesfw'ni'aiuaiijg 1 "kfaf £.G., ; and Hon. D.d.L.,j until he, ended.byasV- ' ing for thirty . i d6llaV9,| r b^Eering%> give his, £100 ' nb&j -as Jt security.- J The deluded manager: ,was>bout it6>jpffer< 30^p.00^dol-, ■lars^yhen a faittiful' domestic <- suddenly' •e%?M#4;4i# < |he,/duke ' wps^B). owftjt