COMMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1716, 5 July 1883, Page 2

COMMENTS.

Cu'TUX McPiiKiUiON, clerk to the Waik.ito County Council, has lepliecl to the communication sent him a few clays ago liv the Cambridge Town Boaid regarding the issuing of licenses to Cambridge hotcl-keepoia by him, and the illegality oi his action in so doing. He informed that body that he can take no steps in the matter until the next monthly meeting of the council, when it will be brought forward and fully gone into. We do not see what other couisc the cleik could have adopted under the circumstances ; certainly, he could not have acceded to the peremptory request of the Cambridge Town Board by handing over the money to them, as, in ease of his having done so, it was just as HUcly that the body to which he himseli belongs would on the other hand have have offered some slight objection to his doing .so. Again, as the question at issue is one upon which there are two different opinions, held respectively by the two bodies concerned, we think the clerk of the county who issued the licenses would have been pursuing a very senseless course in handing over the money until the question was decided by a proper authority, either one ■way or the other. We have little doubt that the matter will form the theme of a very interesting and no less spirited discussion .it the ne\t meeting of the council. In the meantime, we opine the hotel-keepers will be piotected m the enjoyment of then- disputed licenses by the mutual consent of both bodies until the question is finally decided.

The Land Court at Cambridge has now closed, and will lemain bo for some time. Tlie natives, for the most part, like that class of lalxnuer who spends the fruit of his week's toil before he reaches home, wend their way on lean, half-starved, and galled hoises to their respective kaingas. There they will ha\c leifatue to brood over the loss of their land, and the little they have to show for the nine months during w Inch they have hung about the portals of the Land Court, the kip-room of the public-house, the gaudy drapery establishment, the oft-frequented billiarl-room, and the many other centres of attraction eharaeteiislie of a high state of J'jurqneaii civilization. Like the Emopwuis themselves, the Maoris are beginning to understand that the many attraetiu; pleasures of our eaithly paradise only afford momentary giatification, and that the greater the enjoyment and the pleasure may seem at the time, the greater is the subsequent misery, paw, and repentence. The natives have .1 happy knack ot making the mill go while tho wind Us>tf>, which we will "not dispute is in some cases a very good couise to put sue ; but in cases where the mill ia turned soltly for amusement, and without any beneficial result to the owner, it weie wiser to spate the means until the necessity aiiscs, lest the fOlf 01 mer should be wanting whea thu hitter presents itself. While the native was in Cambridge he gave large Lmiyib in honour of the demise (if we might say so without hoing thought nre\erent) ot a not unfrequently voiy distant relative ; he sported good hoises and equally good conveyances ; his w ife appeared on particular occasions sparkling with gaudy finery and jewellery ail lib ; high living was an indispensable necessity, and dunking or shouting was either none on a large scale or noi afc ;iU } his station as a ranijHtira was assured so long as the money lasted, and his credit was good w herover he condescended to bestow his pationage. Now, as he reclines in his smokey whare in his native kainga, living on diied shark and potatoes, smoking his home-made tobacco, and adapting himself to the manners and customs of his forefathers, he finds as his money has gone, so has his credit ; so have his pleasures fso has everything which he enjoyed with gshuberant happiness when he had It >, his ci editors, who at one time courted his acquaintance, now pursue him with judgment summonses, a non-comphauce with which brings him into unpleasant contact with the law. Were this all his lot would be comparatively a fair one, but worse than all, the extensive tracts ot fertile though unused countiy which once knew his mam have now passed into the hands of the all-grabbing Europeans, His worldly inheritance has been frittered away to procure mere ephemeral pleasures. We hope that these reflections will be instrumental in awakening in the minds of the natives a sense of the folly of their past proceedings, so that those who have not as ypfc uncceeded in reaching the end of their tether may he led into better ways. The fond pf the colony must sooner or later be settled j the conditions of modern life mako it imperative that no fertile soil on this side of the earth shall lie unproductive while there are starving millions at the antipodes, but in order to this it is not iiecess?i'y or expedient that the Maoris sbouW lx? p»uperf£p4r

The New Zeai&ijd IJeusss sf Pay.liament wens illuminated by ths electric light for the first ttine on X"ttegc}»y evep.ing last.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Land Court has been brought to a close, a large number of natives continue to haug aboijfc Cambridge. No doubt as their money diminishes their presence will terminate proportionately qujek.

An old man named Stewart, stableman at the Criterion Hotel, Cam-, bridge, died rather suddenly yesterday* morning. Ho had been ' ailing for'Vome' tiniQ past,' and had been attended by Dc

Waddington prior to his death, consequently an inquest was not deemed necessary.

The town surfacemen at Cambridge have been devoting their time to improving the drainage at the corner of Duke and Victoria-streets. In one place the drain-pipe had been stopped up, which was evidently the cause to some extent of the deficiency of the drainage. The pipes having been cleaned out were again replaced.

The Esthetic Minstrel Troupe announce that they will give their tiist entertainment at the Public Hall, Hamilton, on Tuesday next. The tioupe have gone to groat trouble ami expense^ and judging by the rehearsals, the perfoimance bids fair to be thoroughly successful.

A large number of fruit, ornamental, and serviceable trees are beinii sent up to the new settlement at P.ite tere co be planted there. Consiriet ing the improvements which have boen carried out here of late, together uitli those contemplated, the country about Lichfield, before many months have passed, will present a very pleasing and homelike appearance.

With the exception of the injury caused to the drainage pipes at the Jake, the damage done by the recent he,v\ y rain to several of the streets in C.imbridge, particularly the respective roads leading to Hally'ii mill landing and Mr Moon's residence, have been repaired, and these places are now in their fonnei good condition.

The influential Tauwhare chief, Te Raihi, is still lying dangerously ill at Tamahere, and the natives for the most part arc looking forward to his death. A few of thpin anticipating the event had come to Cambridge to see after some £90 due their departing brother, in order that they might secure the money to have a good laiirji over his lemains. From present appearances, however, they, are very likely to be deprived of their spree.

The usual monthly meeting of the Cambridge Town Bo.u<l will be held on Monday evening next, when we anticipate the proceedings w ill be of a somewhat interesting, we will not sny lively, character. There are two important questions to be considered, \iz , that of the action of Cant. McPherson receiving the money for, and issuing the cci tificate-s of Catnlaidge hotelkcepeis' licenses, and the matter of the inefficiency of the town diainage.

A case of wife desertion was dealt with at the Resident Magistrate's Couit, Cambiidge, on Fndav night List, at an unusually late hour in the evening. A f.umer named John Wratt, residing near C.wnbiidge, was brought forward, charged with the abo\e offence, having been ailcsted by the police on warrant at 6 o'clock in the evening. The bench was occupied by Mr W. N. ISeaiancke, J.l\ The police applied for a remand to Auckland, which w.xs granted, the cisc to come on there on Tuesday, the 3id inst. Accused was admitted to bail, himself in C5O, and one surety, Mr Geo. X Claikc, in £50.

In the short debate which immediately followed the delivery of the Public Woiks .Statement. Mr L (l ish bpokc &tion<;ly in opposition to the iMinisteiialpiopoea.ls, and Sir Geotgc (hey, who followed him, severely condemned the scheme for making all future railways a charge on the lands benefited. He characterised the pi oposal to ta\ those who benefited in the future while allowing those who have dei i veil advantages in the past to go scot free, as monstrous. Many had acquired large estates by most unfair means, and the people had been cheated of their birthright. He demanded a dissolution before any such change took place.

The " Lyfctleton Times " fails to sec what advantage the annexation of the New Hebrides would confer on New Zealand. The islands are small an comparatively useless from a colonising point of view, and our contemporary suggests that before discussing the subject our representatives should make themselves acquainted with thp gcogiaphy of the group and their qualification for the purposes in view. The only justification, the I'mia thinks, which England could claim for the annexation is that the act would prevent the establishment on the island of foreign Naval .Stations.

A meeting of the directors of the Waikato Cheese and B'icon Factoiy Company was held at the office of the company on Safcurchy. A number of accounts were passed for payment. It was resolved (i) to call for tenders for the erection of a cottage for the manager ; (2) to inset t a notice in The iVitihatit Tunes ad\ising guarnntots and peiboni having milk to dispose that the company will be piepared to iecei\e the same on tj)e lijtlj September ne\t : (3) to aiher tisp for the services of 4, competent cheese maker on the factory principle. Messrs George I'Mgppuinho and A- C<u?ipbell weie appointed auditors, and it was decided to hold the first- annual meeting of shareholders during the j ivtent month, oil a day to be notified in our admfcisuig columns.

Our Parliamentary correspondent at Wellington writes ;— On Saturday ovoning api Qmenade concert took placo in the Lobby, and, as it was Uopt up until an early hour on Sunday morning, that strict Sabbataii.in, Mr Jas. Mauandrew, is up in arms, and ks denouncing the v, hole affair as an invasion of Parliamentary privilege. It is said we shall hear something in the House about it. 1 can only add that it was a very gay assemblage, and a highly enjoyable evening- If suoh rigl't Prc^byterjaiis as Mr Macandrow would lay thftmselvps a little more open to the divine influunoes of music, their Sabbath services would be a ti ifle more acceptable to the world than they are,

In connection with the stone font which was presented to S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, some years ago, in memory qf tlje late. Mr 11. Parker, a handsome brass fcaMet, hits iiis.t liceu placed on the wall near the font wit)) t'l e following inscription :—" in memory of Richatd Parker, of Rotorangi, this tablet, together with the font near which it is olaced, is erected by his soiiou'in^' friends. Died November 11th, 1577, q.ged 33 years." The tablet lias just been o.t)f;aii}3d frqm London from Messrs Hart, Son, Pnard and C 0.., through Messrs T. aud 8. Morrin, ancj is. to t))e prc]pr of Archdeacon Willis, acting for tlje subscribers. The delay in Goiuploting the memorial was due to unavoidable causes.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day, in the year 1770, on which the United States of America were declared " free, sovereign and independent." On thai day was laid fche foundation stopc of one of the greatest natjons. Ijjstory holds any reooi-d of, But the event was pregnant not only with interest to phe people of the States ; it exercised a powerful influence on the destinies of another nation, and ushered in the most awful revolution of modern times. The Fourth of July is a red letter day in the annals of the whole civilised world. J.n BrifisJ) cquntries the day is inauspicious, nq{i because \t reminds, us of th§ defeat, of our anng-^we trugt we are now sufficiently enjigljtened tQ JffQk b,ac|< upon that calamity with, equanimity — but because it is associated so closely with our commercial concerns, and especially banking affairs, as to be a day suited rather tor putting on sackcloth and ashes than for merry making. It is a great pity fhq.fi the fathers of the American I^epub.fic did not put off Jijje most important peremouy o£ the 4th p,f July, 177{3, for * weiek 'or so, 3-ncl J;}}us give a'fj,pp generations. qI Brijbishers a chance |;q chime in with their descendants in ce}e: brating the " birthday of liberty."

An extra meeting of the CamMutual Improvement Association was held at the Court-house, Cambridge, on. Tuesday evening last!, when there was a fairly large attendance of members, together with a Jfair instalment of the', outside public' The prarident, r Mr W, 4 L.' 0. Williams, ocounicd the ohfur.

Pour new' members were elected and others were nominated for election. Some other prelimary business having been disposed of Mr F. J. Brooks read a paper on '• Holiday Rambles and Recollections." The paper was one of the most interesting which has been delivered before the association since its inauguration, and the favourable criticisms which followed amply testified to tins fat. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded MiBrooks for his contribution. Mr Edgar brought forward a motion to the effect that the meetings of the association be held weekly instead of fortnightly, which on being put to the meeting was cariied, there being only one disbenting voice, The programme for the remaining portion of the session was arranged and it was agreed on the suggestion of Mr J. P. Campbell that the ptogiamme as diawn up be advertised in The IVnikalo Ti»n">.

At Tuesday's sitting of the Legislative Council a motion by Mr Holmes in iavour of substituting a dheet for the piesent mail service via San Francisco was withdrawn after some discussion, the Premier explaining that the now contiact was binding. Several bills were advanced. In the House the same day, Mr Dick said he was communicating with the other colonies as to the action to be taken for prohibiting the importation of live stock into New Zealand, In moving the following resolution, Major Atkinson said that the debate would be better taken in the committee's report, which was agreed to : — That a select committee he appointed to consider and report upon the following resolutions: That this House appro\es of the steps taken by the Government, in conjunction with other of theAustialasian colonies, to piomote the establishment of British rule on certain islands of the Pacific. That this House undertakes for its pait to give effect to any assurance that may be required by the Impel al Government that this colony will, in common with the other colonies of Austialasia, bear a fair share of the necessaiy expenses ; the committee to consist of Sir George Grey, Mr Montgomery, Mi Macandrew, Mr Peacock, Mr Wynu Williams, Mr Laruach, and the mcKcr. Seveial bills were ndwmced and otliei business of a loutinc cluuacter tiansacted.