AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1709, 19 June 1883, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal anil csact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Prcs.s the People's ri&ht maintain, Un-iwed by influence and unbribed by gam.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1883.

Whenever an examination of the subject of tho Now Zealand railways is attempted it inrariably, and Aye suppose unconsciously, drifts into a comparison between the respective systems of both islands. Tho returns for the year ended March 31st last, show a falling off in the railway revenue as against that of the previous year, the cause of which is to be found in tho circumstance that on tho great trunk line of the South Island, the expenses of working have increased while the receipts have fallen off. In this island, on the two most important lines, those of Wellington, and Auckland, a different result is shown, but the amount of the incroaso is not sufficient to meet the falling off in the South. Upon these facts a good deal has been said and written. Northern critics are jubilant, while the Southerners retorting, insinuate that we should halloa until we are out of the wood, and tell us that we have a lot of ground yet to make up before we can stand upon a level footing with them. Our neighbours on the other side of Cook's Strait also remind us that our railways ought to show annually a greater increase of receipts and a greater diminution of expenditure than the trunk line of the South, because this is the leading feature of their claim to rank higher than political lines. Our friends have enough generosity in their composition to admit that the plea put forward by the North a year ago, that our lines were only fragmentary, was a fair one, and allow that subsequent events have established its soundness. But this of Auckland and .Wellington. £he, Napier, Wanganui and Taranaki sections are condemned unspar-' ingly. Before Srpceedijig tpj dl|l.i

with the .causes which operate against the financial success of our .northern lines, let us for a moment -glance at the figures on which the 'South so triumphantly bases its claim for superiority. 'The com'parativo nett returns per cent, of the various lines on the cost of construction are as follow :—Ohristchurch section, £5 15s 6d ; Dunedin do., £4 14s; Napier, £3 4s 6d ; Grej'mouth, £2 12s 6d ; Oamaru, £2 10s 3d; Invercargill, £2 6s; Auckland, £2 6s sd ; Westport, £2 3s 4d; Wellington, £1 13s lOd ; Nelson, £1 11s 9d ; Wanganui, £1 18s; Taranaki, £1 3s; Picton, 11s 2d. It needs not a second glance to discover that the Southern sections, taken collectively, are a long Ayay ahead of ours in respect of their paying capacity, and if we could assume that the conditions in each case are identical, or nearly so, we ought for ever to hold our peace. But, fortunately for the credit of the North, they are nothing- of the kind. Looking over the figures again, we find that two sections of the grand trunk line return a much higher percentage than the rest. These two are Christchurch and Dunedin. The Oamaru section, with its feeders reaching into the heart of one of the finest grain producing districts in these colonies, is only two or three shillings better than the Auckland line, while the Invercargill portion of the system, reticulating the best part of the provincial district of Southland, is absolutely below us. Now to one who knows anything at all about the South Island it is clear that the nature of the traffic all over the trunk line varies very little. The goods carried consist of grain and wool, and little else. But .Dunedin and Christchurch each possess a branch line several miles* in length, connecting the town — in each case the chief town of the province — with the port. Over these lines every ounce imported to or exported from the colony, and every one entering or leaving the province must go. Consider for a moment what the effect would bo on the railway revenue if the City of Auckland were dependent solely upon the Onehungaline for access to the sea. Regarded in this light, much of the argument of our Southern friends is seen to be only specious, if not misleading. It is far from our purpose to make out that in fact the Northern pay better than the Southern lines. After making all due allowance for tho accidental aids which tho latter receive, we believe they would show tho better return of the two. And this brings us to the point whence avc should proceed to inquire how it is that there should exist such a discrepancy between the relative returns of the two insular systems. In doing so we shall only be traversing ground we havo trodden before; but "damnable iteration," however disagreeable, is sometimes justifiable. Particularly is it pardonable at the present juncture. The reason why our lines remain practically unprofitable — that is to say in a business senso, for tho extent of their public utility is inconceivable — is one the justice of which Southerners have freely admitted. They are in truth fragments of a great system that ie to be. At present we have at either extremity of the island railways penetrating into the interior, but thoy in no way partake of the character of main lines. They are, in fact, little better than the numerous feeders to the great trunk line of the South. The two great centres of population in the North Island aro separated as widely as though the ocean rolled between them, as indeed it practically does. The whole of the interprovincial trade, as it may be called, is done by sea ; whereas in the South it is of course carried over the railway. The Wanganui and Taranaki sections are therefore simply links in an incomplete chain. Connected at either end they would become useful; loose and separate, what wonder is it that they are unprofitable. When the chain that is to connect Napier with Wellington, Wellington with Wanganui, Wangauui with Taranaki, and Taranaki with Auckland is complete, then, and not until then, will it be fair to draw comparisons between the railway systems of the North and South.

The Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association appears to be in a very bad way. The secretary notifies in our columns that a meeting of the membera will be held on Thursday next, " to consider whether it is to the credit of Cambridge that the society be wound up." The polling for the election of five members of the Pukekura Road Board took place on Saturday, and resulted in the return of Messis Samuel Fleming, John Fisher, Joseph Gane, Richard Reynolds and John Grice.

The matters in dispute between Messrs W. J. Hunter and the trustee in the estate of Beauchamp Bros., respecting the book debts, has at length been amicably settled. Messrs Hunter and Co., in another column, request that all debts owing be paid to Mr T. C. Hammond, creditors' trustee. All accounts paid to their.solicitor are acknowledged as correct.

A Freethought Association hag been formed at Wanganui. They held their first meeting recently, at which about 40 persons attended ; 18 signed their names as willing to become members, and it is expected the number will increase to about 30 shortly. It is proposed to hold a meeting every Sunday evening, at which discussions on varioiw subjects will be held, and ministers will be asked to give their views, provided free discussion thereon is allowed.

The volunteers of the Auckland district are about to mark their esteem for their late commanding officer, Major Withers, by erecting a monument to his memory. We learn that Captain Hamlin, M.H.R., commindinff the Waikato Cavalry, pri r to, his departure to his parliamentary duties at Wellington, handed" over to" Captain Payne a sum of 'money collected irom the members of his troop; The matter is one which, we are satisfied, will be taken up warmly by the volunteers'generally, as soon as it U brought before the companies bv the officers>~iW Z.HeraM. ' ' ' "' "/"^

lecture ? on '"The Tabeina'cle '*~ai tjfe public Hall, Hamiltyn Wj»t, JfjOjg \% - mißsion* QhoiviitiigWf^^'^W^^^M

tabernacle, was of a very interesting nature. We have not space to give an extended report, and -'no outline would do justice to the subject. Suffice it to say that all present appeared to be deeply interested. -

The representative of the English Radicals in th« House of Commons, the Right Hon. Mr Chamberlain, has been making a speech in that Chamber, advdeating universal suffrage and payment of members.

At the Native Lands Court, Cambridge, the Tatua re-hearing was continued yesterday. Aperahama te Kume, the counter-claimant, was examined, and gave evidence as to descent and occupation.

Tawhiao left Alexandra on Simday for Kawhia. His Majesty, so it appears, has been greatly worried of late by the conduct of the wives of his bosom. Poihaere has cleared out to Taupo, why no one knows except herself, and Dame Rumour has been busy with the name of the favourite Parehauraki, who is at Kawhia. It is to find out the truth in regard to the latter that the unhappy monarch has departed from Whatiwhatihoe.

Mr Edgecumbe, Government Surveyor, proceeds to Tauwhare to-day, for the purpose of re-surveying the block of land at Tauwhare and Tamahere set apart after the war as a reserve for native purposes. A portion of the land is to be given to ex- rebels of the Ngatihaua tribe. Mr Edgecumbe's party have been camped on the ground for some time, and the survey will be pushed ahead expeditiously.

Mr G. •T. Wilkinson, Native Agent, and Mr P. H. Edgecumbe, Government Surveyor, completed on Saturday last the work of allocating to the natives of the Ngatiapakura tribe the sections of land awarded them by the Government. The sections lie at intervals between the Puniu and le Rore, and between the latter place and Mangotama, on the east bank of the Waipa, not the west bank, as stated in our List issue. It is not known whether the natives will settle on this land, but they have had it pointed out to them, and the matter now rests with them.

At the Cambridge Police Court yesterday, before Messrs E. B. Walker and J. N. Corbetfc, J.P., William Lawlor, charged with being drunk on Satin day last, pleaded guilty, and was fined 10* and costs. A further charge of assaulting Constable Dillon, while in the execution of his duty, was also laid. Constable Dillon deposed to arresting prisoner, and conveying him to the look-up. On aniv.il there he struck a match to find the keyhole, when the prisoner struck him between the eyes. Several previous convictions were proved against the prisoner, and he was fined 20s and costs, or in default, one month's hard labour.

A Press Association cable message states that the Irish Land League has received £1000 from Mr Redmond, as a contribution from Queensland. In his remarks, the Chairman stated that the telegram asserting that £600 had been forwarded from Australia is incorrect. From another telegram we learn that at a meeting in Birmingham the Right Hon. John Bright addressing 20,000 people appealed to America to abandon her policy of protection.

The mission services conducted by the Rev J. S. Hill were continued on Saturday evening, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, and concluded at the Public Hall, Hamilton West, after evening service on Sunday. The Rev Mr Hill was assisted by Mr Brack enrigg, secretary of the Auckland Young Men's Christian Association, as well as by the ministers of religion resident at Hamilton. There was a good attendance at each service. On Sunday Rev. Mr Hill preached at morning and evening service at S. Peter's Church. lMr Brackenrigg preached in the morning at the Presbyterian, and in the evening at the Weslevan Church.

We are glad to state that confidence in the Te Aroha field is increasing every week, as shown by the far greater interest taken by persons residing at a distance, as well as by these intimately acquainted with its value. In our mining report it will be seen that several new claims have been taken up during the past week at Waiorongomai, and what is more, out of live forfeited goldmining licenses, three have been taken up again within less than a week of their forfeiture. This speaks volumes, and it is certain that the other two claims will also be speedily re-occupied. — Te Aroha News.

Durine the meeting of the Cambvidgo Highway Board last Saturday, wliile the condition of some of the loads was under consideration, Mr T. (}. Sandes, engineer to the board, gave expression to a decided opinion on the planting of trees by the road side, which was assented to by most of the members. It had been found that in evciy case the worst spots on the road were those where thera where most trees, and Mr Sandes was of opinion that no trees should be allowed to be planted at a less distance than ono chain from the edge of the road, and that deciduous trees should be planted, which afforded the necessary shade in summer, while during the wet season they admitted the sun and air ; whereas evergreens kept the roads wet and mucky in the winter.

The great petition of the Ngatimaniapotos was dispatched by yesterday's mail to Wellington for presentation to Parliament. The nature of its contents is at present known only to the natives interested, but of course it has reference to the great questions affecting their minds at the present time, the disposal of their lands, the surveys, and the opening of the country. It has not been settled yet which of the chiefs shall proceed to Wellington to support the prayer of the petition. Wahanui is afraid of travelling by sea, as he is, it seems, subject to mal de mer, but as he and his people left yesterday for Mokau, it is probable that he may make the journey thence to the capital overland. It is a great step in advance to find the members of a tribe heretofore holding themselves aloof from all intercourse with Europeans thus acknowledging the power of Parliament. What may ultimately come of it we cannot say, but there can be no going back. Every movement henceforth, must of necessity be a forward one.

At Friday's meeting of the Auckland Board of Education a memorandum was read from the inspector, recommending that the Hantapu School be removed from its present site to a point nearer Cambridge. The board resolved to forward the memo to the local committee. Some tiire ago the committee wrote to the board, asking what steps the latter proposed to tako in regard to the teacher's residence, whether they intended to rapair or replace it. Iv answer to this a letter was received stating that the board had no intention of building a new teacher's house on the "present site." A» the committee had never heard anything about any other site this was a puzzle. Further enquiries elicited from the secretary of the board the information that it was proposed to erect one school at the Narrows road for the whole district. The ground upon which the board decided upon such a change with* out first consulting the householders of the district through their representatives the committee, , was evidently the opinion of Mr Inspector ,o'Sullivan, formed probably wftile ,riding through -the district on the top of the, coach, or perhaps imbibed from interested "parties. In any case the residents of. Hautapu in. tend pufcting'their fooc npon, any' attempt to:rsnove their, school jfrom ttho , centre •and most 'populous part 'of the d'strict.'

■ i A special meeting of the Eamilt6n v ß6'ri>u|b v t Co'6VcUtw^ s .ti|ldlaBt''night^ present! :f Bis?/\Y6ftitu^Athe^%yor,>cCr3. ; ?J ones:. Jinttdip, 'Peat. - ?Jt ; rtonc^ uWcitiiiijor.ift^pcDny jib^vq» * ,10 meo «*-

"meet the debentures secured by.such rate out of the ordinary revenue.— The usual fortnightly meeting of the council waB held immediately after the above, the same councillors being present. Lsttera referring to the drainage of certain portions of [the borough were referred to the works committee, M'ith power to act. The report of -the; works committee on works completed and in progress in the borough was read and adopted. A number of accounts were passed for payment. It was resolved that a special meeting be held on the 2nd July to strike a general > tfite of Is in the £ on the annual value of 'ml property in the borough. The Clerk read an estimate of the year's receipts as follows : — Licenses, etc. , £200 ; rates, X4SS 7s 3d ; total, £685 7s 3d. The following tenders were received foi 1 the culvert at O'Neill's, Hamilton East : — Steadman, culvert £190 Bs, earthwoik and gravel, 9d per yard ; Cassidy and Walsh, culvert £119 18s, earthwork lOd per yard, gravel Is 3d per yard ; Mercer and Marshall, cnlvort £147, earthwork lid, gravel 2s. The tender of Messrs Cassidy and Walsh was accepted. This was all the business.

jffigles" in the Australasian," makes the following humourous reference to the popular Maori publication started by the late Mr W. P. Snow :— " A friend travelling in New Zealand has sent me a copy of To Korima/co, a six-page newspaper in the Maori dialect, published at Akarana (Auckland). It looks instructive, is perhaps amusing, and is certainly euphonious. That a race of former savages should have to conform to civilisation as to subscribe to a newspaper is an astonishing fact, as is also the adaptability of their language to the forms and requirements of literary expression. As the editor aptly says : — ' He mahi rangiiiira teni hei whakamoemiti mo nga 'Pakeha, me nga Maori whai whakaaro, Haere ake, piki ake, epama !' And I am quite unable to contradict -him."

Tne new Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Benson) was au ideal schoolmaster. He rarely resorted to ordinary methods of punishment, but contrived to make his displeasure severely felt by the exercise of moral influence. On one occasion his class at Wellington College had omitted to get up a certain passage of Sophocles ill the manner he suggested. He said nothing, but rose and left the room, and although the boys got off their lessons, they felt humiliated and ashamed Another practice of his was to send for a boy from a lower form to answer a- question which the seniors had failed to solve. By such means as these he inspiiod the boys with a healthy spirit of emulation which gave them real interest in their woik.

The following rather rough criticism ot tlio work of our New Zealand epic poet is from the Scotsman of March 28th :— "Mr Alfred Domett has thought it necessary to propaie a revised edition of his book, ' Ranulf and Amohia.' Why the task should have been undei taken is not very easy to understand, since, so far as we are aware, the book in its original form failed to attract any considerable share of attention. Nor is this circumstance at all surpii&ing. ' lUnult and Ainohia' is the story of the adventuii'S in the South Sea of a young 'sailor student,' and of his love passages with a Maori m.iiden, who ultimately becomes his wife. The nai\ative is uitiiiisically devoid of any features of genuine interest, and it is made still less attractive to the ordinary reader from the fact that it is in verse. The genius of the Lauicatc himself would scaice suffice to procure attention to a poem of 18,000 lines or theieabouts ; and it must frankly be said that Mr Domett is by no means a Tennyson. That he is altogether desti tute of poetic power or inspiration cannot be asserted. Here and there in his volumes we encounter felicitous imagery and musical lines, but the gieat mass of his verse is of an exceedingly common place kind ; and the quality of his thought is not of a nature to compensate for his shortcomings in form and expression."

The "Sydney Morning Herald" states that "in all nearly 52, 000 persons visited the Museum during the weekdays of la-it year, and nearly 53,000 on Sundays. Bishop Moorhouse thinks that the opening of such places does not yield profit enough to justify the Government in depriving the custodians of their day of lest. The question is a much larger one than the Bishop appears to think. If it i* of little adwmtuge to 50,000 persousto vNit a museum on Sundays, what is the value to 80,000 during the week days? The Bishop's argument is either to good or >:o.)d for nothing. There are two sorts of Msitoi's to all huch places; there are sc-'entifio visitors and those who go for relaxation. The quantity of benefit to Litter is ahvayH unknown; there are no wjysliy which we can test it and tabulate remit-. That 50,0C0 persons should £o to a place which affords neither entertainment nor profit is not 1 1 edible. How these things are to he done elsewhere we don't know, but with us, since the place is opened for three hours ouly on the Sunday, and closed all day on Mondays, a pnma facie case against the Sunday opening is not made out. At one time there were complaints of misconduct on the pai tof some Sunday visitors, but the trustees do not make any reference to it in their report. The charitable, and probably the correct, view is that the study of museum exhibits is bearing good fruit on the behaviour of the people."

The Parliamentary correspondent of the Humid under the heading of " A strange dilemma " writes :— "There is one feature in connection with the new Parliamentary buildings that has already given lise to much remark and some speculation. On the upper floor, among the committee 100 ms, there is a large well furnished appartment on the door of which ia inscribed " Lrader of the Opposition."' The speculation of course is as to who will be the tenant of that room. In the piesent state of the Opposition organization the painting of these words on the door looks like a piece of irony, almost a practical joke— in fact suggestions have been made that the letter " s " mi»ht be added to the word ''Leader," to lessen the point of the joke if it is one, and that ia certain eventualities the addition might be effaced. As it stands now many will be inclined to regard it as a finger of scorn continually pointed at the Government opponents. On the assumption that it is n witticism, of course there have heen attempts to improve upon it, one of which improvements is, the statement that in looking over the new buildings Sir George Grey and Mr Montgomery arrived at the door simultaneously. Mr Macandrew being close by, and all three having glanced at the inscription, Sir George, with his neverfailing tact, began to speak of the weather and the indications of a storm. Of course, this is merely heresay, but still it remains pretty certain thai; more will be heard as to the use of this par. ticular room. Possibly there may be a joint tenancy, and priority of occupation may decide it, or until there is some fresh development in organisation a feelipg of delicacy may lead to &> tacit agreement that no one concerned shall use the apartment, But all this remain* to be seen."

The dynamite excitement has been turned to good account by a smart American, who has utilised the scare to extract money out of the British Minister. The Washington Critic describes the way it was wovked thus :— Abont two weeks ago the hon Lionel Sackville West, the British ;Min|ster, , was vyisited, -by . Hoover, a well-known character in the police circles of this city, and informed that his here was about to be, blown to atoms. ~ f \ How?" enquired the hon Mr ! West, "Why," said. Hoover, t '/ there are in this'cityquitea'lai-ge and 'respectable nutriber of IrishVdynamiters, ■and they- tire now'fixing,rif^hey liave not, ;alrea4^pl^n^dj9Vdynamiy^around*«y nouseV 1 kliowJP'he're'oCrl-sp'eakt ;Jlfthink' 'b^^veryH^us^pl^^dj;j^ybi^^~ouI v d|^9ra!Bt«

said Mr West. " It will cost mor.ey to do ib, 1 "-. s|ml Hoover " How much V "Five hundred dollars. I will have to employ help." This seemed to si tisfy Mr West, nnd he paid the money then and there. Hoover left, and employed two of the exdetectives to assist him in finding the dynamiters who where preparing to blow the representntiveofCire.it Biitain oat of existence. The employment of' the ex-detectives of course was a mere blind on the part of Hoover, who had put the game up simply to rob Mr West. The two ex-'detectfves, armed with a letter from Mayor Morgan, called on Mr West, and learned that he had paid Hoover a sum of money for his services in preventing his residence and his family blown to kingdom come by the dynamiters. The exdutectives told Mr West that in their, opinion he had been gulled ; that there was no truth in the report at all, and that Hoover had been playing similar swindles on people in this city for years. The minister inquired what ho could do with Hoover and found that he could probably have him arrested and taken before Judge Snell, but it would be very hard to convict him of any offence ; whereupon the Hon Lionel Sackville West concluded to let the matter drop and his money go.

A reward is offered for the recovery of a cattle dog-, Tenders are required for five miles of fencing on Mr Knorpp's property at Horotiu. Mr J. S. Buck land will sell at Carter's Yards, Cambridge, on Saturday next, hacks, harness horses, saddlery, &c. A notice by the poundkeeper of the Hamilton East 'pound appears in another column. Arekafcera te Wera, of Waotn, has filed a declaration of insohency. First meeting of creditors at District Court-house, Hamilton, on 3rd July, at 11 a.m. Rats and Miok.— lf you wish to detroy them get a packet of Him 's M \gic Vlkmin Kirn i r in packets, 6d, 9d, and Is, to be obtained of all storekeepers, or from T. 13. Him. by enclosing an e\tra stamp. Attention is directed to the new advertisement of Mr AY". R. Nndgman, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queen - street, Auckland. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. "Hill sell at their Cambridge Horse Bazaar on Sriturd.iy ne\t a number of good norses of all descriptions, harness, saddlery, &c. ■*" Mr John Kuox will sell at the Hamilton Auction Marl on Saturday nc\t, fruit and shelter trees fiom Mr Foirest s nursery, Piako road. Also, 5000 thorn quicks. The trees ate all of excellent quality, and arc now in good order for removing.