The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 August 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1888.

fviiinl .tnd exact jeistif c to .ill men, 01 \vhat».oi'\ er &Ute or pcisu.ision, religious or political Here sli ill the Pi ess the People's right maintain, Una«<d by influence .mil unbribed by ff.iio.

Some of the parents whose children attend the Cambridge District High School complain of the want of separate room accommodation for their children. At the present time the children of both schools receive their respective courses of instruction side by side in the same room — there is no difference between the High School and Public School in a general sense, beyond the fact that a higher education is afforded by the former. Because of this a large proportion of the parents look upon the High School more in the light of a department of the ordinary Public School, where the more advanced branches of education are afforded, and not as a distinct and separate establishment. This is quite true. At the present time the number of scholars — we believe it is twentythree — attending the Cambridge School is not sufficiently large to warrant an immediate expenditure on the part of the Board of Education in the erection of a new and entirely separate school building, and until the necessity arises it is by no means likely that the board will move in the matter. By and bye, doubtless, the attendance at tho High School will be so large as to demand other accommodation than that afforded by the lower school, while it may be taken for granted that tho latter also will have to be enlarged. When practicable there can of course he no objection to erecting a separate establishment in. which to teach the higher branches of knowledge. We make no doubt that such a division will be beneficial in many ways. But why any complaint should bo forthcoming at this stage i.s, we confess, to us unaccountable. Something of the same kind, has found expression in Hamilton, but wo never thought it would asbiime proportions sufficiently extended to call for special comment. What possible moaning can it have ? That it is tho outcome of mere snobbishness wo should indeed bo most reluctant to believe. But to what can we attribute the anxiety of some parents that the schools should be entirely distinct, if it be not to the fear that their children will l»e contaminated by contact with the offspring of others lower in the social scale "han they ? If no such fear exists, we are at a loss to understand how any objection to the present method of carrying on the school work can be sunkuned. The pupils of tho High School are not prejudiced by having to leurn in the same room with those of the primary school. Perhaps it is not so much the association within tho school as the free communication in the playground that parents object to, and, if so, it must be admit 'ted that there is a modicum of reason on the side of the objecting parents. Mothers who have accepted in the proper spirit the weighty responsibility with which Providence, in giving them offspring, has imposed upon them, are naturally anxious to shield their children against all evil influences; and they may argue that a public school — where are young people variously, some viciously, brought up — is not just exactly the best place to carry on a moral training the foundations of which they have laid with such loving care. We have tho profoundest respect for the feelings of such people, but we really cannot waste xsympathy on thorn, for they aro wrong. The more public the school, and the more varied the nature of its constituent human elements, the more certain is it that the moral tone will bo good. This is no mere idle assertion, it is a widely accepted fact, and, without casting asporsions on the many excellent private schools in the colony, it is susceptible of satisfactory proof. It is in close communities that danger lurks, tho greater because it is insidious ; the free air of the public school is infinitely more healthly. Let parents ponder over this, and we shall hear no more complaints of the kind we have referred to, or if we do we shall be enabled to ascribe them to the proper cause.

The Cambridge East School Committee have, on resolution, prohibited the head teacher of the school, Mr R. D. Stewart, from being present at their meetings.

The usual meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board was held on Thursday, but no business of interest to readers in this district was transacted thereat.

The annual meeting of the members of the Waikato Tiuf Club is called forM.ond.ay next at Gwynne's Hotel. The chief business of the meeting is, we presume, to wind up the financial affairs of the club.

A special meeting of the Cambvidge Public Hall Committee was called for Wednesday evening last for the purpose of considering the application of the promoters of the local skating rink for the use of the hall. As there was not a quorum present, the meeting was adjourned till Tuesday next.

A man named Richard Mills was brought up at the Hamilton Police Court yesterday, before his Worship the Mayor, on a charge of wife desertion, and remanded until this morning, when he will appear before tho Resident Magistrate. Mills was arrested in Auckland, and arrived in Hamilton by Thursday's train.

A number of the constabulary stationed at Cambridge are at present devoting their energies to improving the Government paddock opposite the National Hotel. ' The thick thorn fence, which hung across the footpath in Vic T toria-street, to the great annoyance; of passers-by at night, is being trimmed' 6ff| and will, when finished, afford a deoidedty more sightly a»pedb,<;- h *i "^- -' • 4 > v *-'* I

We have been requested to notify that next week will be observed a3 holidays at the Hamilton We3t School.

The .football match :betvtreen the Cambridge abd Hamilton Clubs comes off ou the ground of the latter, Sydney Square, this afternoon.

The members of theComus Dramatic Club will give a performance in aid of the Tamahere Churcli on Tuesday evening next.

The standard examinations of the Hamilton schools took place this week, hut we have not yet been able to obtain the results. We understand, however, that they are satisfactory.

Provided that the weather keeps fine, there is every chance of the culvert at Brown's Hill, Hftmilton-Ohanpo roarl, being thrown open for traffic on Monday or Tuesday next.

The public will be glad to hear that traffic is resumed between Monins\ille and To Aroha.

The culvert at O'Neill's is so far completed that vehicles can cross it, but the engineers require the concrete to remain for a few flays to become thoroughly set before opening the road for traffic.

The first consignment of rails for the Rotorua railway (five truck loads) arrived at Ngaruawahia on Thursday night, where they will be deposited iintil the line to Morrinsville is completed.

The Rev. William Calder, incumbent of S. George's Church, Thames, and formerly of S. Peter's, Plamilton, has accepted the incumbency of All Saints, Ponsonby, Auckland. He will be inducted into his new charge on the 29th inst.

The homestead at Woodlands had a narrow escape from destruction by fire on Tuesday night. A detached building was bnrned to the ground, but fortunately some of the workmen, who were sleeping in another cottage close by, observed it in time to prevent the fire

spreading to the mam building, Mr A. B. Stubbing, surveyor, and party leffc Cambridge on Thursday ii.oraing to lay off the internal sub-divisions of the Whakamaru block. The job is a somewhat extensive one, and will last for some considerable time. Other surveyors ale at present in the field in the district about Taupo surveying and sub dividing large areas of new country.

The unfortunate man James Milan, alias Scotty, having sufficiently recovered from his illueas, was brought before Messrs Searancke and Wells, J. P. at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cambridge, on Tuesday last, and charged with having been drunk, and thereby in a dangerous condition within the town of Cambridge on the 24th ult. A fine of os with costs 7s, or in default 48 hours imprisonment, was inflicted. The prisoner was also ordered to pay £2 2s for medical .Lttendtincc while in custody, or in dofault fourteen days imprisonment. The Hues not being forthcoming, "Scotty" was removed to Mount Eden wherein to while away the respective terms of incarceration.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday, Mr Cluunberlin's adjourned motion in favour of increasing fotest resen es was carried. In the House several new bills were introduced and read a first time. The City of Auckland Loan Bill was lead a second time. Major Atkinson moved for a Select Committee to determine what roads should be pioeUiined main loads in aecoi dance with the applications made. Mr Fulton proposed as an amendment that the following words be added to the motion :—: — "'And geneially to consider in what direction the lloads and Budges Act requiies amendment." The motion, as amended, was after considerable discussion canicd. The Bills of Exchange Bill was reported, read a thiid time, and passed. The Criminals Execution Bill and the Property Law Consolidation Bill were lead a second time. The Crown Grants Bill was considered in committee, and passed with amendments, and the House went into committee on the Mining Companies Act Amendmcut Bill.

The usual monthly meeting of the Kiiikunoa Road Boaid was held at; the Waikato Comity Council chambeis yesterday .afternoon. All the membeis were present. The correspondence having been read, it was resolved that the sum of £20 be paid to the Rny. H. S. Davies as compensation for opening a gravel pit on his section ot land, he having offered to take this sum aa recompense for the damage done. The Wnikato Land Association wrote, stating that if the board would spend a sum of some £.100 out of the X'6SO paid in nites by the Association on the roads from Hukanui to Tauwhare and Piako, the directors of the company would supplement such expenditure at the rate of lO.h in the pound. This offer was unanimously accepted, and the woiks will be proceeded with without delay. The engineer was instructed to call for tenders for building the bridges on the Ngaruawahia-Taupiri main io.id, and to repair the b.ul spot near the Hopu-FTopu ; also, to get road formed near Ha&tie's at Hukanui, and several other smaller works, including Crosbies road and bridge, and the approaches to No. 1 Komakorau Bridge. The engineer reported that the Public Works Department had forwarded to Wellington vouchers for svorks done on main road, amounting to £991 16s, and that the money would be available in a few days. —The petition re the retention of Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., was brought before the board, and it was unanimously resolved to sign it as a "public body." All the members thereupon attached their signatures. —Accounts amounting to some £140 were then passed for payment. The following is the text of the petition to Parliament in favour of the retention of Mr Northcroft, which has been numerously signed in the Upper Waikato and Hamilton districts :—": —" To the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable Members of the House of Representatives of the colony of New Zealand in session assembled, the memorial of the undersigned, residents in the Waikato distiict, respectfully sheweth : 1. That we hear with regret a petition has been presented to your Honourable House, praying for the removal of Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., from this district. 2. That since his appointment to the Magistrate's Bench, some five years ago, he has given his decisions in a highly satisfactory manner. 3. That the extra judicial lemarks he is accused of being in the habit of making are for the guidance of parties interested, and for the purpose of making clear points of law or questions at issue. 4. That his manner is, and always has been courteous to those having business in the court. 5. That he commands our respect and esteem, and that no appeal has ever been sustained against his decisions. 6. That this magisterial district is one of the largest in New Zealand. 7. That previous to Mr Northcroft's appointment three gentlemen were occupied in performing the judicial works of Waikato, namely, Mr Searaucke, Hamilton, Major Mair, Alexandra, and Mr Bush, Raglan, and the magisterial duties are much more onerous, owing to greatly increased population, and to the natives of late taking advantage of our law. courts. 8. That no specific charge has been, or can be, sustained against Mr Norfchcroft. 9. That your memorialists do not presume to dictate to your Honourable House, but do respectfully request that you will advise his Excellency the Governor to allow the said H. W. Northcroft to remain in his present position of Resident Magistrate for the Waikato district, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c."

Mr Aldridge will conduct services morning a.nd evening, at Lo <Quesne% Hall tomorrow. The subject of the evening lecture will be fall of Babylon" Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell jat,.the[ Cambridge Yards on Thursday .next,-'fat cattle and sjbeep, dhoicoyoung cows at 'calling, ito're'' cattle" Stc.; See. Tliey f' require to purqhas* 50 'wcllbfe4 2 year(<?UUtoews it 1 j^ '* iuJi .k