The Waikato Times THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1656, 15 February 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, # Ot \vlutsoc\cr Mate or persuasion, religious or Here lhalHhe'Prcss the People's right maintain, Unaweil by influence and unbnbed by gam.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15, ISS3.

+ Puiu.TC opinion in the AVaikato is by no ivcans unanimous on the subject of To Kooti's pardon. There arc not wanting those who affirm that tho latest act of the Native Minister will dotract from the good he has done in other respects, and that it will be productive of widespread dissatisfaction. It is but natural that such sentiments as these should be entertained by the relatives and friends of those who fell victims to tho fanaticism of Te Kooti and his followers at Poverty Bay. The recollection of the dreadful scenes there enacted is, indeed, enough, to stir the blootf of the most calloua, and <ye should be sorry to think that the Government by their latest act in any way made light of Te Kooti's oft'ence. We do not think they did ; the pardon was granted only on ifche express understanding that henceforth the outlaw should lead a peaceful life, a condition which tacj% recognised the enormity of his past sflknees. The Government were, of course, actuated chiefly by mqtives of expediency. It is felt to be necessary thai ike nafive .country, ( if not opened up far settlement, should at least be rendered .s*& for travelling, and this could'mt lh& fan? so < long 'as a wan of Te Kooti's wBmw>, and' vriibh'his' reasons foriiywiwg contact wfch Europeans, ba*i?ed the , way. . Aee^wtfng fy o^r ,4 otio »s '™ right and wm% ibhis.man's life Was, of course, forfeit k?'*foe- law, and it is poMiible enough that^^u^se^pf patient, waiting would. eveßimUy have broa^b* him' within our power, i 'and we B&ouW'.fefrVe, h;ad' the satisfaxjfcion of 1 seeing him' despatched. into at %he,,jeß*;p^ P. rope. ThisWowld'bb gratifying'the-^l-nVent' of poetical "justice; but; We* question yery .dear wh lettter^*we

.should not' be payiti* too' tnuck for our whistle. Foii the sake of de.privjng of life a semi-savago, a man • whose way's arc not as our ways, ■ 'whose beliefs ai-f ; not as ours, and -whose notions of right and wrong, of nobleness and' treachery, vary very much from those in vogue among civilized people, we would voluntarily keep locked up a tract of the finest land in the colony, and retain in a condition bordering on rebellion a people who are most anxious to live in amity with us. Surely we should not in such case allow sentiment, to weigh down the In lance ! And if we must import sentiment into the matter, would it not be worth while to pause for a moment and consider as a professedly Christian community, whether there is not such u quality as mercy, whether the religion we have striven to impart to the Maoris themselves is not essentially one that inculcates charity and forgiveness. If we are to be sentimental, do not let us forget such trifling matters as these. Te Kooti has been punished, and after a manner harder to bear perhaps, to one of his race, than death itself ; for ten years or more he has lived a peaceful life, seeking only to keep at arm's length those who were thirsting for his blood, and if there could be one time more appropriate than another in which to extend to him the clemency of the Crown, that time is surely now, when it hi felt that native wars are things for ever passed away. It is no unusual thing for those in authority in older countries to extend pardon to offenders only in degree khb guilty than Te Kooti. If this be done in the case of men endowed with the advantages of education and a knowledge of the laws of Christian lands, how much more deserving of consideration is the man steeped in ignorance, whose greatest crimes are in the eyes of his fellow countrymen, and according to the tenets of his faith not crimes at all, but, on the contrary, probably very meritorious aefs? The parsing of the Amnesty Act of last session was, if we remember aright, very generally approved on all sides. But when the Government put it in operation in favour of Te Kooti there is an immediate outcry; and yet if its provisions were not intended to apply to this man we fail to .see its usefulness at all. Those who object to the course followed by the Native Minister on personal grounds have our sympathy to some extent. But the question mv.st be argued in cold blood, and so treated only one conclusion can be arrived at, a conclusion favourable to the action of the Government.

The extent to which the Railway Department is liable for damage done to property by the locomotives and trains under its control ought to be more clearly defined than it appears to be just now. A circumstance which, lately came under our notice fully warrants this demand. A. short time ago the fence surrounding some small paddocks in the immediate vicinity of Hamilton was burned down, the cause being some sparks blown from the smoke-stack of a passing locomotive. The damago done was not so very great, probably ten or twelve pounds would be sufficient to repair it, but the owners of the land naturally feel disinclined to dip their hands in their pockets to pay for a job which the railway ought, according to all the rules of justice and right, to execute. Proper repiesentations have been made, but so far without any response save a denial of the Department's liability. The fact of the fence having been destroyed by sparks from the engine is not officially admitted, but fortunately for the losers they are in possession of proofs sufficient to bring homo the blame. The trouble and expense of a law-suit is, how- ' ever, more than they feel disposed to incur, preferring rather to replace the fence themselves, but in a case such as this there ought to be no necessity for appealing to the courts. The authorities are surely capable of ascertaining whether they areorarenotliable, and, in the former case ot assessing the damage done. They are particularly careful, as j indeed they should be, to sco that all damage to railway property occasioned by the public is made good. Some time ago a fow mischievous boys lighted a fire in one of the paddocks referred to above, which, spreading, burned a portion of the railway fence, and it was only after it had been shown conclusively that the fire owed its origin to larrikinisra, that the claim against the owner of the paddock was withdrawn. Now, what is sauce for the gpose is sauce for the gander, and unless the department can show tnat the engine' did not, or the other side fail to show that it did, cause tlie damage, reparation ought to be made, We don't expect much from the department, it is true —nobody does —but on fiuestions which concern, not it efficiency, but its honesty, we at leq,gt expect it to come out with clean hands,

We understand that on Friday last Mr E. B. Walker and others' took possession of the only remaining Maori wljft.i'o at the Manga piko settlement. Ac'Uug Ji#4e F le Bal advice the natives yesterday }?e-£Qq(j. pogsessiou, v and are determined (fo froW ft to 6te fa}} against ,aU attempts to dispose ffem. Notice of special hftrvestJ'geryfees at S. Andrew's, Cambridge, appears in this issue. We are requested by the m-; cumbenfc to say that contributions towards tlw». decoration of. <^he will be thwfefeita feezed up $o Saturday afternoon, £ imfoff MWJst, has, »$* V" a -i e bytheiftegmfc/m^f & ]Pw'8 f Hamilton. Decorate arp fIUBW* $ S. Petev'B Church, at U a.R?.* wSjf&Fday. At 1 'a'.mee'tinfc. W the 5 Vwtry Vpf S. Peter/s,C!hurch, Hamilton,, lasb nlghfy a report of the proceedings of the ladies' iwftßjang ''<t }e liquidation." of " the \ Churca debt) .in 4&.P (afternoon, /was brought for Iward. .i> It* recoajj^ended jthe holding a series of concerts and two gittx auctions .between this.and December next. ,Thft report was aUoptfed,- and it was< agreed, w> • 1 cail ##eneral medtinptf iparisMoiierS for;

The Cambridge wicket has ceri tainly awakened to a s^Hfee of life during the last few /days. -TheYe, was^ such a large muster "on/rue§daxtlftornooi] 'that' sides were chosen \vitlra;full cojnp]emeift' on each. It is supposed, the dpproaching | match with 'Hamilton is the cause. ' The I Cambridge team will .be selected from Messrs A. B. and jM." Stubbing, Cotton; Sharp, Sims, Longbottom, Case, Parks, Hitchman, Moore, Buller, Steele, Chapman, and Gear. The diamond s prospecting party,' we (Llvruld) learn, intend starting for Mr Seymour George, M.H.R., whoris in the &agl>in district to-morrow (to-day), town, has been exhibiting, it is stated, a small packet of diamonds which has been, stowed away for, twenty years at Kawan, and containing precious stones alleged to have been found on the island- \ Notwithstanding the fact that the season has been a most unfavourable one for root crops, Mr Lewis O'Neill lias succeeded in raising a very fair crop of sugar beet on his property at Claudelands. The yield is at the rate of 22 tons to the acre, and the roots are of several varieties grown from the seed imported to New Zealand by the late Mr Wiul, and purchased from that gentleman by Mr W. A. Graham. Yesterday Mr O'Neill despatched to Wellington five roots Irom this Hamburgh seed, and one grown from seed procured from Mr Layers, seedsman, Auckland, and imported from England. The beets, which are well formed and average over 21bs. weight, are consigned to Dr Hector for analysis. The result will be looked for with intereat. The popular service of song, " Eva," from " Uncle Tom's Cabin," was repeated at Trinity Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, ou Tuesday evening. The vocal selections were admirably rendered by the choir under Mr Meacham, and the connective readings were undertaken by the Ilev. T. G. Can-, of Cambridge, who pei formed his pleasant task in the most satisfactory manner. The audience numbered between oO aud 60. Pi ior to the service, the Rev. J. Dukes, pastor of the church, on behalf of the trustees of the building, presented Mr and Mis Manning witli a bible and hymn book, in commemoration ot their marriage, which was the first to be consummated in the new church. Mr Harming returned thanks. A very pleasant evening was closed with the benediction. The bridges on the HamiltonPiako road require looking after by_ the authorities. A correspondent witting fiom MovrinsviUe yesterday, says: — " While diiving hither from Hamilton this morning oue of the horses put his foot in a hole at the edge of the bridge at Blackmore's (Hinton's) gully, and the same animal put its foot in a small hole near the Eureka gate, skinned its leg, aud tore the shoe oft in getting out. The load board authorities concerned should pay attention to these bad places, or some more serious accident will occur for which they will be liable." We trust the authorities will take the hint. It appears Te Kooti and his adherents, before meeting Mr Bryce on Monday last, had made up their minds not to be sui prised by any grand stroke which Mr Bryce might have devised for his eaptiuc, and had made every ! piepaiation for a. veiy active and very decisive defence. Wo have been informed on very good authority that Te Kooti'b followers were all well armed and prepared for action if necessary, and that their arms and ammunition were con cealed in the fern near by. We do nut think, consideiing the character of the natives, that this news will be received with .my amount of surprise ; it indicates what might have been expected. Our readers willlsee by our advertising columns that the Rev. George Brown, of New Britain, is about to visit the Waikato. Mr Brown is a missionary of the truest type. He has heroically and successfully laboiued m one of the most barbarous of the Pacific Isles, and has accomplished much in the work of civilization and Christian enlightenment. He visits us partly with a view to the restoration of his health, which has suffered much fiom a very tiying climate and hard work. He is a capital lecturer, and has a very interesting account to give of the physical and moral aspects of the native race of New Britain, as well as of the wonderful country in which they reside. We find the following passage in a London contemporary : -Comparatively little interest has been manifested on this side in President Arthur's message to Congress, owing to the fact that it has this"year been addressed to a legislative power which cannot give effect to his advice and appeals, and which will have to make room three months hence for a Congress, dominated by totally different views, and views, moreover, which are opposed to the tiaditions and tendencies of any form of Republicanism whatever. Attention, however, has boon attraotod to the amazing magnitude of the revenue. We are told that in the financial yearended with June last the revenue of the United States amounted to very nearly SOx millions sterling, an increase of more than S\ millions sterling over the receipts of the previous year. The expenditure but slightly exceeded oil millions sterling, so that there remained a net surplus of over 29 millions sterling. No such siuplus has ever been realised in any country. The reduction of the debt during the same twelve months was very nearly SSj millions steiling, likewise an unprecedented figure. If the debt continues to bo paid off at this rato, it will all be swept away in eight or nine years. But is it wise to set aside such a large sum as 33]: millions sterling in one year towards the reduction of the national debt ? There are many people in England who believe that if the Americans had adopted the suggestion thrown out by Mr Gladstone, teu years ago, of reducing their- debts wore slowly, and thug relieving a struggling people from the oppressive taxation which is weighing them down, that the United States would be in a far sounder position than it is today. In no country in the world is living so extravagantly and outrageously high, as in the United States, and aq the country has just cried out impatiently against the heavy taxation under which it is groaning, it is quite possible that before many months are over the Democrats will effect a radical change in the fiscal system which now obtains. The " Australasian " says : -" Prom a Givi} appointment in Melbourne to the Ghance}lqrsJup qf the Briftsli Exchequer—stepping into the financial shoes of Mr Gladstone— is a stride that might well satisfy the most soaring ambition. And it is this which has just been accomplished by Mr H. 0. K. Childers, who has just passed from the liespoj^ible Eosfc of Minister of War (successfully lied), to the most important administrative office in the Queen's Government. Mr Childers ,has, survived the humorous criticisms of the Melbourne Punchy and, the djafribes of popular journals, and the" commanding pqstyjon, lie gecupies reflects some radiance on the colony in winch he won his spurs as a Parliamentarian. The more apparent merits of Mr Childers in Melbourne were, readiness in debate, a memory fatal to less' gifted opponents, £he demeanour , of a, gentleman, _ and a proper gens.,e.'qf lionbur. i It is, indeed, remaVkftbf.e'jtihatf Australian, poli- j ticians (he who, H'QS W W*°&% ■H owe and Mr Childers) shoulflA in. a comparatively short space of time, have held key of tlie'lm^erial Treasury. ,' .< t The'Ldndlori correspondent , of the Wellington Evening Post writes :-^lt' is to be hoped your folks in New Zealand are satisfied with the action of the 8 Csoq&f #$oe m selecting Sir Wm. Jervoljaa^oifrHDMr.erQSrgrnftr. There wore many speculations liopeasto who woujdget ,the post. The wealthier classes of Anglocolonists pined for- some aristocrat^with special social'prestige,' such'as ' tbe Duke of Buckingham,«',who;i3'Said to .have east sheep's eyes recently at Australia.' (OtheiW thpughts£4%;, }.M;youpgA < and tcbiiiparativply ' &we*PM^J^4WBP$ were picked o^ho^vir^9yfooo\

Loi-fGiflfcl. Y. C, would h&htmaab't Sir'Guorge Bowen is known toftiave asjked_ tofbe allowed to the term of his ""service a8 Colonial Governor ,dl v\Vellington ; and the names of several- .other "erstwhile Australian Governors have been mentioned for the-post. The wildest imagination, however, never dreamt *o! Sir William Jervous in connection .with New Zealand. He was appointed to Adelaide in order that he might superintend for a time some of the principal Australian ports, t and this done, the reason for his existence as Governor seemed to have vanished. * Hear what the leading Liberal organ of public opinion in London says of tho appointment :— " Why General Jervois should lie selected for one of the most difficult and delicate posts, in the Avhole colonial service, it is riot easy 1 to understand. He] is an able engineer and gallant officer, neither more or less-; and it is a statesman that is required for New Zealand. Without grudging honors or rewards to meritorious soldiers, one may be permitted to regret that they are so frequently rewarded at the expence of civil services. The best of the staff officers do j not necessarily make good colonial governors ; nor the best of admirals a J minister-plenipotentiary, though Lord Malmesbury thought otherwise, and Lord Kimberley appears to be of the same opinion as Lord Malmesbury." The The Standard and other notable papers have paragraphs to the same effect ; but if New Zealand herself is satisfied, no one else has a right to grumble. We are in receipt of a new prospectus of the ordinary branch of the Government Lite Insurance. The commisbioner, in a. circular which accompanies the pamphlet, &ays : — "Various restrictions, common to Life Insurance contracts, now no longer exist in this Department. Policies, after age is .admitted, are now rendered indisputable and unchallengable from the date of issue, unless for fraud. Extra rates for license to travel, Sec, are now abolished, as also are extra charges for occupations, excepting such as are connected with the liquor traffic. A 2iew feature of the scheme is the contingent debt system, by which the option is given to underaverage lives either to pay the e\tia rate, or to be accepted at par, subject to a debt on the policy, equivalent fco the | extra rate, which debt becomes cancelled if the average expectation of life is attained by the assured. The mode of payment of premiums by order on Post Office Savings Bank deposits, and by postage stamps, and the investment and Endowment Tables for children and others, are changes which, together with ! the Temperance Section and the Industrial Branch recently established, offer valuable facilities lo the public in addition to the obvious advantages which the inviolable security of the colony bestows. Among other improvements are the Deferred Bonus Tables, which are based on the sound principle of chaiging the very lowest rates of premiums, and allocating profits when accumulated premiums and interest thereon have reached the amount assured. Comparison of rates is respectfully invited. The systom of Surrender Values now established by this Department, and the extension of time for maintaining policies in force are exceptionally liberal, and are unique in tho history and practice of life insurance otiioes. lam gratified to be able to state that the business of the Department continues to make most satisfactory progiess."

Impounding notices by the poundkocpcrs of Cambridge and To Aw.miutu, and by Mr Collins of Waitoa, appear in our ad\ertising column, Mr M. A&muss, Alexandra, invites tendors for building- .in hotel .it that place. Plans, Sec, can be seen at Connells Exchange Hotel. Tenders tor cutting a drain are required by Mr C. Day, "YVlidtauhata, Mr B. Wood, Tamahere, oiieis a reward for recovery of strayed sbecp. Mr C. Day, Whatawhata, offers a reward for the reco\ery ot a bay hlly. The poll of the latepayers of the Rangiriri Licensing District will be taken at the schoolhoubc, R.mjjiriri, on Saturday, the 2lth mst., between 0 a m and (5 p,m , for the return of five members of the Licensing Committee- 'JUic names of the candidates are given in our advertising columns.