The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1673, 27 March 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact juslii c to all men, Ol whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unaivi-d bj influence and unbnbed by gain.

TUESDAY, MARCH „V, 188 J.

The ratepayers of Cambridge West are again debating amongst themselves the matter of forming that portion of the Pukekura Highway District into a separate town district. Whether there is a sufficient number of householders in Cambridge West, to bring the Town Districts Act into force or not, we do not know ; but this we do know, that in case of any action on the part of the householders in the direction indicated, they will not experience such determined opposition ; indeed, we would not be far out in .saying that the step would be heartily acquiesced in by the Pukekura Board, and the ratepayers in other parts of the Pukekura district. The board, on looking over the expenditure of the past year, find that the Cambridge West portion of their district, regarded purely in a financial sense, partakes more of the nature of a white elephant than a dancing bear. Against an expenditure of about £50, they have had from this discontented portion of the district an income of about £20 for the year. And beyond the question of revenue, we arr> not aware of any other consideration which might induce the ratepayers of the Pukekura district to oppose the formation of a town district at Cambridge West. No objection being forthcoming from this source, wo aro awaro of no other obstaclo to prevent the householders in Cambridge West from now carrying into effect the intontion in which they havo formerly been defoated. But before doing &o there are many other questions to bo considered, and -which, if properly looked into, should deter them from adopting any such course. They must, in tho first place, consider the cost of maintaining 1 such an institution as a town board. This includes election expenses, socrotary's salary, and ollico requisites, together -with other minor expenses too numerous to particularise. Thou, a township having been formed, the work of street formation would havo to bo undertaken ; and on a more extensive scalo than hitherto. Now, to do this a much larger roveime than £30 is required ; and to raiso more than .£30 — to raiso a revenue compatibta with the required expenditure — a touch larger rate would havo to Le luvloU, probably a rate almost quadiuplo that at presont levied. And would tho local property holders consent to havo themselves rated to sued an extent as this, in order that the residents (for only a small proportion e{ fche local propertyholders aio resident) might have better roads and bye-way* than at presewt ? We do not think it llkoly. Jfc may bo asked, would the mere fact of GouwjLjng Cambridge West into a town djsM<e|b impart vigour to the place and. endow it with unpr«3cedented prosperity $ \l so, i.Uen tiie game is worth tho caudle, and hi W&'iV that the value of their holdings might bo materially enhanced, ratepayer* Wfljld not object to an increase in the amount of their rate. We are afraid, however, the experiment would ftfiti have the desired effect, and we feel convinced that by taking the meditated step, the ratepayers of Cambridge West would be paying somewhat dearly for their aggrandisement.

Major Atkinson has not yet met with, that inspiration, necessaty to conceive a national scheme for the prevention of poverty sufficiently comprehensive, • practical aud acceptable, to commend' it uneonSi: tionally'to the people bf 1 New: ,Zsa T land. Tlio' proposal is that each -person/should make a weekly payment either, from. l<3 years to 2? of 3s 3d, or from 16 years to 23' of 2s 3d. ' In return for this,' oach would Tbe entitled to get 15s a- week 'when sick up to 65 years of h,ge ? and after that age an "annuity of r jJS26 till death.]/ NpVii&e term e^ch t«" person "of conrso, .inclucles g|rls as well as hoys — $nd tke scheme would be,anything ]>ut thorough rf ( J^ot so^rspithtit the, question ' jlaty ay^eifwhb j^to be 'r^pniiHt

ror the pftymenfc£f*Bhoitlcr they not ho recoverable frofu.,the young- perIkms^ themselves, f lii the ease of $lads."' earning; their ' owii ', living*,, ages of lp tiud 23. ;theivp woifld bd littlo t difficult v, as ,th4j; employer would deduct the amount from wages and bo held responsible, but in the case of girls the tax would fall cnishiug-ly heavy on tht> f father. 'Another and far wider question arises, whether the imposition of such a tax would not | .-.eriously interfere with the flow of immigration to this colony. Whether the most dasirihle class of immigrants, those ' .with large families, would not hesitate to go to a country where every child would be .subject to a five or seven year's liability, to what would seem a heavy direct weekly toll. The general proposal if? neither more nor less than a compulsory insurance, which will give to a person who has paid the premium of £4.1 or £' 12 before the age of 23, the right to claim los per week in siek- | ness up to 63 years of age, and annuity of £26 per annunm from that age until death. So far as it goes, the scheme, if it can be made to work smoothly, will do a large amount of good, and though it does not grapple with the great social evil of pauperism, would serve to somewhat reduce its limits. It is not, however, from the ranks of colonial born youths of either sex that the future pauperism of New Zealand may be looked for. If we turn to America we shall find that the mass of pauperism which is beginning to heavily afflict the Eastern States is borne in upon tho over flowing wave of European immigration. And bo it will be hero. "We shall import our pauperism, roady made as it were, from Europe, and Major Atkinson's scheme, unless it can be made to provide for this, fails in comprehensiveness. »So, too, for the present adult population of the colony, no provision is made. As yet, till Major Atkinson has had the opportunity of showing in detail how the .scheme is to be" put into execution and administered, it were unfair to be too closely critical, but it does seem that there are very many serious difficulties in the way. The scheme, however, as a provision for old age — the term of 60 years should we think be .substituted for Go — and as providing a sustenance fund in sickness has much to commend it. In tho vicisitudea of colonial life, few men know the day when he or his may not need relief, and it will be no small satisfaction to feel that if ever such a time come, he could receive it as a right and not as a charity. What, however, is needed, is to grapple comprehensively with pauperism, and this will have to be done irrespective of any such auxiliary scheme as the one before us. As we have shown, the remedy proposed touches only one section of tho population. There is no provision for just tint other .section from which the mass of our future pauperism may be expected to come Nay, even if eveiy person between tho ages of 16 and 6.5 could be made to contribute over a period of five or seven years for his future ■wants, the scheme would fall far short of the mark. Poverty and pauperism spring from many other sources than old age and sickness, and tho scheme makes no provision but for these. Drunkenness is far oftonor the cause of pauperism, and whole families become thus a burden to the State. Does Major Atkinson mean to say that if a man chooses to incapacitate himself by drink, or even by idleness, from earning 1 money, that his family will be entitled to received 15s per week? If such woro tho case tho scliomo, instead of being beneficial, would bocomo most pernicious. In truth to lot alono tho question of practicability tho .sehomo is deficient in comprehensiveness. Wo do not say it cannot be made both comprohensivo and workable, but as yet it requires elaboration to a very great extent. Indeed the difficulties are such as to seem almost insuperable, and fain as we would see some such scheme devised as would make each man actively participate in freeing himself from the evils of poverty, and so prevent the demoralisation which necessarily follow the receipt of unearned relief, we fear some other plan will have to be resorted to. Happily in New Zealand we have such a resource, which may save the thrifty from the payment of poor rates or the recipient, from the feeling, that in his necessity he is taking alms, and that is the land of the colony. Of tho 6-j millions, of acres of land in the colony, 34 millions only are as yet alienated. Surely from that vast territory a nobjje .estate might yet be preserved for publia administration for the use of future ages, the rental of which would not only meat the Qajjjs of pauperism, but provide the necessary funds for the maintenance oi hpspitals and charitable institutions, »w4 iQT the education of the people.

There was great excitement' ttmnj^hout the Waikato settlements yesterday, ccftseguent on the native disturbance at Alexau<uvtj a full account of which appears in another <&iu;£n. The i excitement was intensified by sun<te{r ( •misguiding rumours, which could net be verified &Wf fche want of telegraphic com , i munioi'fiioi&.Q.S'i/jig t@ ik&, holiday, j The Native li«.ado $mt *^OPens atCambr»4p>,,t«>-wofT<wy m^i^.. fm i Whakaitiam verhetyivg wiU fce^Qn^V-^; " The^evisinj? OfiDLcer ef tM'Shmk^ Eotorua Railway (Mr Chas. Tack), #*r t tended a^Morrinsville, on Saturday .last to* hear objections against the proposed Mating underthe-District' RftiUVays Act, Thew wefif however, no objections. - i , 'The 'train Atoed from Auckland yesterday about ftn'twHir J a half late,. A "misliap ' ; occitrrea " neafe' ' Ws&™M through the displacement of sotne'Ui'WQy machinery ot the ( engine.! perraanentj way ; trolly- Was /despatched ti> Papßkura, tBept,mtp.'.tQwn' t 8ept,mtp.'.tQwn'

I'lßcoiniectiiig the faulty cylinder the train had reached PaMkura, andsho'tly nftsrvnnta the goods eiigine arrived and brought ori'tjie^ain. r \ -"!• v A .»* '

The new!,^Baptist $stoernacle, Cambridge "EaStV will, Be op^nedvon the' iaat timidity ini,.April,/tbe building being ut present^, almost 1 completed.. , Alt;' Thomas Spurgeon will conduct the opening services, a tact which is tio doubt of much inteicit tv many of our leadeis. A gi.md .service \\ ill be held in the Public Hall, by way of celebrating the opening ot the new tabernacle, on the Tuesday evening following, ' and this ' will be ([iiahh'ed by the usual musical feature, w hicli on occasions of this kind should bo at once entertaining and acceptable. Air B.unfoid is expected to be in Cambri'lge •dfc the opening of the new, building. Having' succeeded through his untiling exertions in building a handsome tabernacle at Cambridge for the use and servica of the Baptists of the district, Mr •Whytock will leave YVaikato for the Australian colonies at an early date.

, The chairman of the Cambridge 1 Town Board, Mr T. Wells, lias received another communication from Mr Erring'ton, C.E. , who, it will bo remembered, i recently reported on the question of a water supply tor Cambridge. This second communication is in reply to a few questions put by the board, through their chairman, on mattets dealt with in Mr Errington's report and gives more explicit details regarding the working of the various schemes. A meeting of the Cambridge Public Library Committee is to be held to-night to consider; matters in connection with the improvement of "the building, and also the matter of handing over the property to the Town Board. As a public meeting is to be held in connection with the question of water supply, and the matter of handing over the library to the Town Board, the chairman of the boaid has arranged that both matters should be reviewed and debated at the one meeting.

Regarding the recent drainage improvements at the corner of Biewery and Dukc-ptiects, it may not be generally known that the new drainage pipe has been laid down alongside the old one, which ran direct from the Bank of New Zealand corner, thiongh the education reserve to the bank of the Waikato river. In laying down the new pipe the boaid, it appears, did not ask the permission of the Education Board to carry it through their ground, but did so on the presumption that as the older drain had been carried through that way, theie would be no haim in carrying the new one that way also. The matter has b'±en represented to the Education Board together with the fact (?) that in connection with this drainage pipe there exists a \ cry dangerous nuisance, the sewerage u hich pnsscs through the drains being of a most offensive nature. This is aggravated by the fact that the pipas empty themselves within a very short distance from the school. The Education Board, throneh their lawyer, has now wiitten to the Town Board and requested that body to lift the drain within a certain time, and if not lifted within that time they will take piocetdings to have it removed. The I maid, we luain, will stand on the defensive. The matter will be considered at their meeting to-night.

A sacred concert and entertainment in connection with tiic departure of the Key. T. G. Carr, Wcaleyan Minister, from Cambridge will take place in the Cambridge Wesleyan Church in the early part of next month. A very vaiiedand agreeable entertainment is promised, the progiamme which has been selected for the occasion consisting of vocal and instrumental music, addresses, etc. Mr Can's departure is much regretted by all who have known him during his stay in Wai koto, particularly by the member of the ciicuit over which he has presided in his capacity as minister, and no doubt when the entertainment in connection with his departure arrives many will avail themselves of the opportunity of spending a last night in his company.

In accordance with the suggestion made by the Cambridge Town Bo ml some time ago, the Government, we might say the Public Works department, have ilctei mined on taking the whole of the sections on Whitaker Terrace, extending back to Queen-street West, thus giving the station "round a frontage to that street. We believe the purchase of all the ground required has bcon satisfactorily ai ranged between Mr Macfarlane, acting on behalf of the Government, and the owners of the various sections, at the reasonable price of £2 per foot.

The Hamilton Band picnic took place yesteiday on the grounds of Mr T. Y. Fit/patriek,Ngarua\valnn. Owing to the short notice given the boat wns only fairly patronised, but those who did avail themselves of the trip thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Delta left Cambridge .about 8 o'clock, and arrived at Hamilton at about half past nine, where the band and about 100 passengers were taken on board. After a beautiful trip down the river Ngaruawahia was reached about half past 11, and after a stoppage ofafew minutes there thesteamer took the pleasure-seekers to a wellselected landing at Mr Fitzpatiick's grounds. During the day several parties ascended the ranges, whore they enjoyed an uninterrupted \iew of the surrounding country, and, although the ascent was rather tedious, they were loud in fcheir praises of the attractive scecery. Nearly the whole of the picnicers were divided off in groups, and those who did not care about the mountain walk sauntered along the banks of the river beneath the. shaded willows. Dancing and other pastimes v ere indulged in, while the youthful portion of the community contented themselves with the game of football. The Delta left Ngaruawahia at 5, and reached Hamilton at 7. The band discoursed excellent music during the trip, and upon the passengers reaching home they .all expressed themselves as having enjoyed a very pleasant day.

There were great sports at Woodlands yesterday amongst tho employees of the Wailcato Land Association', who had been assembled from tho out-stations for the occasion. From a gentleman who was present, we gather that the fun was kept up with great spirit. The obstacle .race bristling with difficulties, soemed impossible to be successfully overcome iescppt by competitors of very diminutive, proportions. Thp prize, however, fejl to the lot of Mr J . McNicol, and. it was nwonder to the spectators how he tnftiiqged to cram his stalwart frame thtough some of the crevices and openings allotted at different points of the race. There was al§o the greatest excitement over the tug-pf-war between seven competitors chosen from, thp WRoflJands station and a like number ivam Jfpwstead. Victory first , seemed inclined to favour P?}e anis then- the other. > calling forth shouts of encouragement from the friends of each,, but eventually fell to the lot of the ifien. The stockmen's race brought sieypn. or eight competitors to the post.' Tfejp PlW&Sfc gqnsisted in riding ;p,t full speed and turning iit^rply round a post This required equally "fcood tßJfling in the horses as skill in riding, and In this also Mr McNicol was the victor. Several other athletic games we re carried oUj«#n,ng the 'day, and when the lengthening sha'dW l)Mim})t these to a close the competitors and *mtk& %?& entertained by Mr and Mrs Reynolds 'at a yerar msstantial repast, the evening bein&deyojea to,dancing,and. otlier merrymaking. (It i«V<>rV pleasant to have to report gatherings, of ph\ji swrfc an^ the worthy example set iby,Me" W^^J^^ SoC^ tior \ W a.y .well J?e ■foUo v we# l^rge huded prap^e'to^a empfo^crs pf lsbout?. ft fedps v.cFy m#<s Ut , ce W e^ * bond of good feliowsfap th f em, Cand f -\i'O -Ud'(ini& sixre the employ^ees^wUl fully appreciate the efforts made by Mrand Mrs Reynold^ I in -prffviaiilgSpuco-'ia'C'pleasa^ ,-jiay for them. , » , - ' - ' - r - . i fk "We r &afe<bberi 'shbw^the'plan'of We^ iicw ''t6wßBbjp,?of J 'Lichnela", on? the #lte^fe%o'ckj»MiafOUt4y^MrjHowar4

i£ ,a boil t;''a w mile broad by übiSut oue^dSi^ alhalf miles long, is situate in/ the.TStiifiifo of a pieoe N of very level countiiy, artd^prfe-, sents a somewhat compact appearance.* The proposed railway Hue passes straight thfough' l t,|ie coiitrc of the town, the vail- 1 way station sitxj occupying a qmall scfuate iri the tifiddle 6t !the proposed kottlemeut. Severat business i &ites have already been secmerl, and will, so soon as the new settlement is formed, be built upon. The enterpiuing firm of Messrs Wells and fjtmtter, Cambridge, intend erecting a store, and no doubt' their example' will he followed by others in the .course of time Mr Heancy, of Cambridge, is erecting an hotel, which, from the plans, promises to afford excellent accomodation tor tra\ellers passing that way, as well as typing a convenumce to) the pioneer .settlers of . ihe -block. Mr Halcouibe's house is also in course of erection, and Mr Howard Jackson's resideuce will soon be commenced.

A letter received from a lady in London by the. San Francisco Mail says : — " We are otill having most deploi able weather in England — incessant ram, fog, and floods. I never remember such persistent rain for so many mouths. Great anxiety is> felt about the prospects for the next harvest. The incessant rain and floods prevented autumn sowing, and vow there , seems little chance of the spring being any bettor. In many places the land is simply a swamp. ■ The sheep, too, are suffering terribly, and mutton is at a fearful piice. There is ample room for any amount of New Zealand mutton. ' The frozen ''meat is certainly a grand success — it is excellent ; and although there is of course strong prejudice against it, it muU make its way."

The "Bay. of Plenty Times" of February 24, says :—": — " Wo hoar that a Dunedin merchant, a Mr Wilson, has astonished the citizens ot Nelson (known now as the Sleepy Hollow), by purchasing the whole ot the hop crop of this season. This gentleman wnedlast week to his agent at Nelson, lequesting to know the pi ice of hops now being harvested. The reply was Is Od per Ib. The reply was. " i'uicha&e all yon can," which was done, amounting to £] 0,1)00. The next day the Nelson hop-growers awoke to the tact that hops had risen in price in London to 5s per lb., and that Mr Wilson had realised on his bai gains 200 per cent., or a clenr gain of £20,000. The Nelson hop-growers, after this lesson, are now agitating lor a 00-opeia tive assocuicion, by which they will hold weekly markets, and t>o have their hops sold by auction.

A band of 21 men have been arrested in Dublin who aie supposed to have been the perpetrators of the deeds of violence that have lately disgraced that capital. One of them, named Robert Fairell, lias turned informer, .and explained that there existed what he called an assassination society or club for the murder of Government officials at Dublin Castle. The victims were selected by an "Inner Circle" of niembeis to which Farrell did not belong. He was i\ot himself actually engaged in any murder, but about IS month's ago he was told olf to stop Mr Forster's carriage, while two of hi-> accomplices despatched Forster ; but, according to his own story, he failed to recognise the carriage, and the deed was not committed. Farrell can give no information as to the Phoenix Paik murder, except that on the morning of the day on which Lord Fredeiick Cavendish and Mr Uuike were assassinated he was asked at what hour he would bo free that evening, and on his answering that he would not be free until lulf-pa-t 7 o'clock, he was told tli.it lie would be too late. Ho g.ive a circumstantial account of the attack on Mr Field, which he declares v/as narrated to him by one of the prisoners, who was engaged in it. Farrell's story is consistent, and was given in a straightforwntd manner, and the police say they can corroborate it by independent testimony. More disclosures respecting the Assassination Committee are expected next ■Safcutdiry. The man who (according to F.irrcll) drove the car by which Mr Field's assailants escaped has been ai rested. His name is Miles Kavanagh. That agricultural distress in England is not a myth, and that it still continues, is proved by what fell from a landowner there recently : — Mr Arthur Pryor, the owner of Hylands, one of the finest estates in Essex, speaking at Chelmstord last December, took occasion to remark that he had six farms on his hands in the Parish of Chelmsford alone, and seven others in neighbouring parishes. These farms were in" the heart of a good wheat growing district, and within thirty miles of a population of four millions ! Several of them were in hand because the leases had to be cancelled. Four years ago, when one of the farms was given up, lie went to the owner of the adjoining farm and offered it to him as a free uift for ten years, if he would only cultivate it. This the man refused to do, and the farm has never been ploughed since. One farmer came to him (Mr Pryor), and told him he was ruined, having in a single year lost the equivalent of two and a half years' rent, and for one or two years he had fared worse than any labourer he knew, only getting butcher's meat once a week.