The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1668, 15 March 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal .md exact justice to all men, Or whatsoever state or pcisuasion, religious 01 politic. il. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

Til URSDA V, MARCH 15, 1853.

It is the fashion M'ith some of our contemporaries to hold up to the admiration of the public every candidate for Parliamentary honours who proclaims himself " independent." We are told that such men, in these degenerate days of jobbery and log-rolling, arc badly wanted, and that they should be hailed whenever they appear. Generally speaking, such admiration is just, such advice is sound. An independent representative, a man who is altogether untrammelled by party ties, and whose sole aim is to legislate wisely, is the ideal of what a member of Parliament should be. But unfortunately such a man requires an ideal community. Society as at present' constituted, does not afford sufficient scope for him, and ho speedily degenerates ' aha becomes a partizan like his neig - hours. 'In practice indeed the- " independent " member is found to be a frost unsatisfactory sort of individual. On the election platform he I raises his voice against abuses of aIV t kinds, great or small, promises to support the Government so long,,, as they keep, straight, , and, tp s .vo^e, against them on all' measures "which his conscience cannot approve. He answers every question put' toihim from the highest moral ground, and generally expresses his intention of regenerating the , whole order .of things." 'But" he 'almost invariably turns out to be a fraud. Pledged impassions, , , is juß^aj^Kety to Mti®

the wrong as' the Hpf^""TOb is no morp theorising k fGxpe > rfßncs has sljwvn'.itto^^the case.* Suo%a'man iaiifio^tb be|(|pndeinnod *has§Jy. 1/c islnigfljfy prpjktflo fh4^ a n j n%6 ' cawWMJ op o|||en lf|| is \horoughl£, , hivnest, aifd nv?ans%lo v do tliQ.;fight th?ing by his constituents. But" tlio 'tide of circumstances ax*e too stro/ng ; and man is naturally ,-weak, -aiJd, so iliv i round of political! li'»gop& on '^r'oniv year to year. •. * ''> l ' ( Tho Jatp^o specimen of the f (jenus "indci-endent" which has been brought out is Mr E. J, Lee, one of Uic candidates for the seat vacated, by Sir John [Jail. Perhaps it is not altogether fair to call Mr Lee an " independent," because he professes to be a supporter of the present Government, but as his views on several important questions differ very matei'ially from those held by Ministers, and as his allegiance is founded not so much on a belief in tlie Government as contempt for the Opposition as organised last session, it is by no means easy to foresee how the cat will jump when the House meets and parties ate reorganised. Mr Lee is an old settler in the Canterbury district, and, so we are informed, has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs, But politics assume various hues accord ing to the standpoint fvom which they are regarded, ar.d looking out on the colony from the House is a very different matter from looking into the sacred chamber as an outsider. We do not doubt, therefore, that Mr I.cc will (if he gets elected) modify his views, but in what manner it is not easy to say. Provided Sir George Grey assumes the position of leader of the Opposition the member for Selwyn in posse will stick to the present Administration, for he is imbued with a holy horror of the member for Auckland East ; but in the event of a Canterbury Cabinet being among tli3 contingencies of the session, a man holding such strong views upon the subject of the "West Coast railway as Mr Lee does, would find it an easy matter to turn round. Because, except for the reason given abovp, he has really no regard for the present holders of office. He does not care a straw for Major Atkinson's national assurance scheme or charitable aid proposals, and is essentially unsound on the educition question. To this latter, indeed, we trust Mr Lee, uhen undergoing the modifying process, will pay particular attention. Not that he is likely to do much harm, because the country will not tolerate any interference with the system which would tend to lessen its usefulness, but simply because the advocacy of a man fresh in the field will keep alive a controversy which can only result in the wasting of much valuable time. While Mr Lee pleads in the cause of higher education, he desires to impose fees in the elementary schools, and to reintroduce thn Bible, and so open the door for class education and denominationalism.

A telegram from Alexandra, which we publish ia another part of this issue, inforn-s us that Mr Hursthousc, the Government engineer deputed to explore the country between Waikato and Taranaki for a practicable route for the proposed railway, has been turned back by the natives at Otorohanga, and now awaits at Alexandra further instructions from the Government. The natives told Mr Hursthouse that he would hive to await Tawhiao's return to Whatiwhatihoe, and Wahanui, when appealed to, practically declined to interfere in the matter. We do not attach much importance to the circumstance. It is not to be thought for one moment that the aufci-progress party are to be conciliated off-hand. Many of the old chiefs are bitterly opposed to Europeanintrusion, and they are likoly to resort to " bounce " as long as they think it will serve their purpose. Their reference to Tawhiao's return shows clearly that they do not wish to lay thoittgfijves open to the charge of obstruction, while Wahanui's action indicates that he wishes to keep clear of the business. No one seems to know exactly where Tawhiao js at the present time, but whether he returns to Whatiwhatihoe or no, we have no doubt that this little difficulty will be promptly settled. Mr Bryce is not in the humour to be humbugged, and the conduct of the natives is really indefensible.

Mr Errington's report on the Cambridge Water Supply eosfc fcbose ratepayers who guaranteed that gentleman's expense forty gnineas.

A meeting of those willing to ck e Par* *u a concert m aid of S. Peter's Qiurch, Hamilton, will be held in the Volunteer Hall on Monday next, at 7

p.m. On St. Patrick's night, 17th inst., a quadrille Assembly will be held iv the Public Hall, Hamilton. Music by the Hamilton Band, under Bandmaster Hollo - way.

A concert will be given on S, Patrick's Eve, Friday next, in the Town Hall, Kihikihi, in aid of the Catholic ,Church funds. The entertainment will conclude with a dance.

As a mark of respect for the late Mva Wilson, the bells of 8. Andrew's, Cambridge, were rung iv muffled peal on Sunday last. ■ The ringing for evening service was especially well done, and the effect of the muffling was very beautiful. The tenor bell was tolled by one of the ringers in the afternoon during ifche progress of the funeral procession.

The Hon. the Native Minister arrived at the Thames by the Rotomahaua on Tuesday night. T,he I£ci'ald's i correspondent says some eight or nine larrikins, ,who had assembled to hoot him, were nicely so\d. They miatook their man, and followed Mr John. .'Murray, Jfospector of the Bank of LNew Zealand, hooting the whole way. . ' „ '■ The Wesleyan body.of Cambridge have 'determined 'on erecting- a • new church on their acre in. Queen-street West adjpining the parsonage., A meeting the church trustees was to ] Have' be^n held last night to make arrangements in connection with thft erection of 4 the r new building.' The ol{l "building anjl" gronnH mChapel-streot have been privately uisposecl of tb W Hu^h^c^^-' of \C&vs bridge. ''<; . ;•'.,"' ';:^'''v^

houaws. Huntly and-Ranguiri, on Saturday,/ the 14th April, to c clecide whether *tb»» sum of £4000 shaU^'r shalLnot be ijorrowcd und|i T l;hB r Rd&clf Construction Act, for the m«'p<ffl[ of rgfiiiilding bridgc3 and ciilvert^jand^radi^g tlie&oad, between Whaugamafcilio affd Taifplii, i|nd between Raifg^rirMnd OhtuchilL* ', J Ratepayers "*of ttie Tamahero Road District are notified that a poll will be taken at the lcsidenee of Mr J. J. liarugh on Thursday, tho 12th Apr.il, to decide whether the boaid sluH ]or shall not borrow the stun of £.100 t under tho Roads Construction Act to eai ry out certain district load \vuiks». On the same day and at the same place a poll of the ratepayers of tho Tamahere riding, Waikato Comity,' will be taken to decide whether the auin, of .-C3OO shall be borrowed under the aatne act for main road purposes. Mr G-. B. Loring, the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, has submitted his animal report to the President. It appears that two and a halt millions of p.ikagcs of seeds have been distiibuted, and 2(i0,000 copies of special reports printed by the ilepaitment. The statistical division estimates the following as a yield of 18S2 : — Corn, 1,633,000, 000 bushels; wheat, 4,000,000,000 bushels ; oats, 470,000,000 bushels ; bailey, 45,000,000 bushels ; rye, 20,000, 000 bushels ; and buckwheat, 12,000,000, bushels. With the exception of Texas fever, the report of the veterinary division shows less disease among domestic animals than in many recent years. The following items of European news are to hand per steamer Wakatipu at Wellington. They bear date London, Ala-roll 3m .'—The Irish population of the United States are greatly incensed at the action of the Government m consenting to the demands of the English authorities for the extradition of Sheridan, who is accused of being a member of the Assassins Committee. Piotcsts aie pouriug in from all qiiiii terft against the surrender ot Sheiulau, and it is now consideied oxtiemcly doubtful whether he will be given up when arrested. — Thessaly has been for some tune past infested by bands of biigands. The authoutles have at length brought one of the most diingeions bands to bay, and succeeded in lulling the chief of the paity —The inembeis of the liish Land Leagues in Ameuca are greatiy disappointed with the leadeiship of Mr Parnell. HLs recent speech in the House of Commons has created fjeueral disgust by its hesitating and evasive tone. Prance has already clone much in the application of electricity to agriculture, and she is now being followed by Gei many. The new moti\o power promises to bo very valuable to the fanner. At an agiieulluial gatheiing recently held at Ladenbuig, some interesting experiments weie made in tiie use of electiicity instead of steam for the thiashing of wheat. Me&sis Piette and Krizik lit up electrically the space reserved for machines, and at the same time utilized tlie cunent to drive an oul.xuary thrashing machine. The cylinder of this machine attained a speed 01 1 400 revolutions per minute. Although piobably a con.si<lual>le time will elapse before electricity is treneially applied to the ploughing land, or duving thrashing machines, theic can be no reason uhy iarmhouses and buildings should not be lit up by electiicity, particularly in the New England States of Noith America, where water-power for diiving a dynamo is running to M'.iste on the majouty of hoine&te.uli. — Tune*.

Arato Pasha and his so-called fellow-conspirators, aie now on tiieir way to Ceylon's spicy isle. lie might cci Lai nly ha\e woise quaitcis. Ceylon, bclie\cd by tho Biiiluims of Hindostan to bo the oiiginal L­e, is wonderfully neh and beautiful, and, besides, it pos&cbscs almost evory doyreo of tonipcratui'C. The lands aiound the coast ho low and aic liob and unhealthy, but leb tho gliauts which le.id to the interior be ascended, and at once n. remarkable change takes plaoe. Kandy, the ancient capital of Coylon, lies in a basin surrounded by mountains, and is generally pleasant in tcmpeialme ; but over the mountains, on the beautiful plains of Neuoi 1 JSUiya, winch lie 0,000 ieet dbove the level of the sea tho air is as enchantingly cool as a sun oimdmg scenery is lovely. — X. Y. Hour.

The Attorney - General for the Isle oi AJan expiesses astonishment that , it is optional in England whether wheat and other grain bo sold by the measure or by the weight. In the Isle of Man it is otherwise. So far back as 1832 an Act was passed by the Insular Legislature making it unlawful to sell coal?, potatoes, biead, wheat, bailey, oats, pe-isc, beans, rye, flour, or meal by measure or otherm is? than by i\ eight. By another Act, passed by the same Legislatme in 1880, the weight of a huohel ot grain and potatoes was fixed as follows : — Wheat and rye, o'-tlbs ; barley, 56Ibs ; oats, 421bs ; pease and beans, (JOlbs ; and potatoes, oGlbs ; and the weight of a boll as follows :— Wheat and rye, 4 bushels, or 2o(jUi3 ) barley, 6 bushels, or 3301bs ; oats, 0 bushels, or g^lbs ; pease and bean&,,4 bnahols, or 2401bs } and potatoes, 8 bushels, ox 44Slbs.

The London "World" has the following : — A good many yeai a ago Moses "spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, and lie looked this way and fchat way, and when he saw that there was no I)l4}}, lip slew the Egyptian." We are not told what the Hebrew had done to be smitten, or whether, which is very probable, he was insisting upon the Egyptian paying high inteiest on money Avhich he had never borrow ed ; but we know that even the countrymen of Moses consider od that his proceedings had been somewhat highhanded, for we leavn that shortly afterwards one of them said to him : " Who made thee a Prince and a Judge over us ? Inffenrtest thou to kill me as thoii killedst the Egyptian ?"' It is curious how events repeat themselves. We have been killing Egyptians for the benefit of the foreign element in that country, and the foreign element is about as grateful as was the Hebrew to* Moses. Would it not, therefore, be well that we should fallpw the example of Moses and withimw from Egypt ?

The two notafclQ events in E%land were the the celebration of : Gift lstone's fiftieth anniversary and the changes in ■ the British Cabinet. The Gladstone celebration, was the occasion of a long retrospect over Engli&h history, for the Premier has taken a prominent part in the events of the halt century. All m all, his career has been a grand one — full of moral courage aud full of statesmanship. He has changed his opinion Haveral times, but he 'always did it heroically whenever fasts changed. He is not one of the greatest diplomatists of Europe, but he is 1 one "of the purest, and that is saying more than can be said of -Bismark. He is a man of whom .IJrjfons ' can well be .proud. - The new member gi .the Cabinet , referred tp above are Lord Perby, Lord Kimberly ■and Lord HartingtOn., WA 4o not credit •the rumor that Hartington/ yi\\ eventually succeed Gladstone. HartiDgton, has not been a success as a Liberal leader. He has o£t the tact of Gladstone. .Gladstone is a barmonizer ; Hartington is not. ,—Z7w World. , .', , , ,

, l . ■ „' , ' ■ — 1 ji 1 ; , Mr J. S. Buckland will -hold his qext regular sale of Jive ttock. 'at Ohaupo on Thursday, thog9Chingc. , (l \,- -. , , v ' (/ i The .rajfce collector, /,Wi»ika,to Cpunty, . no,^fies ; thata)lrates,r,eraajjiing f unpaid Is' Hays from the date bif notjce/jvijl be sued for. ' A , uptime ,by,(th^ , CoiDnjijsaio^er of P ( roperty,Tax,' addressed' to Maoris, , appears' ip j . o^ir advertisingcolumn's. ' ';■',' '"' ! '',% meeting 'of 'creditor^ in 'the' aisjigned' i of T/W.^Carr ana 4! Sonsi l1 me^cl}ants,(fTe, ' Arohi, will be held at this loiSde of thei trustee,/ MrR. I^/.Davis^U, Spheres, building, 1 i street, Auckland.'at 3 p.m. this 'day. Tclegrapljic ' proxies will foe accepted A l '} •'•'<.< >(i ] ', TheDefence l i)e^b't'tti l ( 6nt iiivite tenders , fßfy^fS'i^PPteP^^^M t'to;thp,j Armed Constabulary or other 'colonial force between-Cara->ridge and Rbtdrukf oT&y;&:C/,s'UHonS ip Wai;