The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1739, 28 August 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST >.>8 t 1883

That there should be such evident depression in the .South Island, that favoured portion of the earth's surface, seems inexplicable to a dweller in the Xorth. Yet there can bo no mistaking thu purport of tho telegrams received from Canterbury ami Olago during thu pa«l weak or so. At Chribtchurch, a few days ago, a moctiug of the unemployed was held, whereat there attended about a luindred carpenters, a fact which indicates unnnstakeably that times are hard. In Tiuiaru a large number of heads of families out of employment made a request, through Mr Turnbull, their member, for the use of the Government .steamer Hinemoa to transport them to this island. In Duneclin some attempt has been made to afford relief to those in want of work, but the wages offered did not meet with the approval of those sought to bo benefited, who, we presume, go on the principle that no bread is bettor than half a loaf. It is very distressing to find such a condition of things in a young colony like New Zealand ; the more so because we are at this very moment throwing out inducements to people in the Mother Country to come and join us. The causes of the depression are not, unfortunately, so readily recognised as the depression itself, and while the bare fact that hard times are being experienced in the colony will be published everywhere, outsiders will be practically left to themselves to discover the why and tho wherefore. But in truth the causes of the depression in the South are not far to seek. The primary cause ivS to be found in the reckless speculation, in land chiefly, which for several years preceeding 1880, and even since, the Southerners indulged in. The financial crisis which followed close upon the heels of the land fever will be long remembered in Canterbury and Otago, where its eifeccs still linger and bear bitter fruit. The increased indebtedness of the colony has added to the burden, which bad harvests and the rabbit pest have increased enormously. Tho operation of the great public works policy sent the South ahead prodigously, and on the false prosperity which the expenditure of borrowed money created, hopes were built which were never destined to bo, aud could not in the very nature of things be, fulfilled. The reaction came, and the full extent of their folly has been revealed to those who built on the sands. Henceforth the progress of our sister island will he like that of our own has been, slow and sure. Tbit it is destined long to remain in its present low condition/is out of the question,

The Choral Society concert tomonow night in the Public Hall, Hamilton, in aid of the funds of this institution, promises to be very well patronised. The members have been carefully practicing their various parts for «ome time past, and from a musical point will no doubt the concert will be very successful. The work of fitting up the plant of the Waikato 'Cheeae and Bacon f Eac-

and Co. In another column the directors ot the company invite the shareholders .and the general public to meet them at the factoty this afternoon, with a \ie\vto celebrating the occasion of taking over the machinery from the contractor.

An inebriate named William La lor was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cambridge, yesterday, and fined ss, with 7s costs, or-24 hours' imprisouincnt.

The annual election for the return of three councillors to the Hamilton Boiough Council will take place on 'nnirsday, the 13th of September next. Nominations must be made at the Council Chiimbeis, Hamilton, on or before noon of Wednesday, the sth September.

We would draw the attention of the Cambridge Town District authorities to the very disgraceful condition of the local pound. The mud in some places is feet deep, there is no water supply beyond what can be conveyed in a bucket, and.wlioiiever feed is given to the impounded inmates it is invariably trampled into the thin mud, and the unfortunate ciuiinals have consequently to go without.

The programme for the meeting of tlic Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association for to-night promises to be an exceedingly entertaining one, and one which, we have little doubt, will bring together an unusually largo audience. The Rev. Mr Dewsbury will read an essay on " Philology, 1 ' and Mr M. Keesiug an essay on '• Travel. 1 ' It is to be hoped the members of the association will show their appreciation of the efforts of the two gentlemen who have consented to contribute to their entertainment by ensuring them a large and appreciative audience.

A dreadful occurence took place at the Thames on Saturday morning last. A man named Henry Woods, occupying a small store at the Kauwaeranga bridge, was boiling some'tar on the kitchen fire, and during his temporary absence in the shop it boiled over and set fire to the premises. Wood and his wife rushed out,diawing after them a cradle in winch they supposed was their baby. Their attention was occupied with the fire and it was not until the house was in a mass of flames that the mother noticed that the cradle was empty. Mr and Mis Wood rushed into the burning building, but too late to do anything. They were, however, sevurly burned, and were removed to the hospital. A tclegrun from the Thames, which we publish in another part of this issue, informs us that the unfoitunate mar, Woods, died on Sunday night from the injuries lie reached. An inquest will be held.

A recent number of one of the Chnnh Jiivutr* (bays the London Daily X<wt> of May 4) contains an article on the subject of marriage with a deceased w ife's si&tcr, the writer ot which quoted a letter pm porting to be written to the late Lori M.itLeily by an American clergyman, who sets forth the greivous .social mischief which he said was caused by such marriages in the United States. Loul Dalhouste, who had charge of the bill in the Hotiee of Lords, felt it necessary to take steps to ascertain the truth of this statement. He therefore sent a letter of enquiry of every State Governor, and to the editor of every daily newspaper in the Union, asking for information on the subject. In reply, Lord Dalhousic baa leeeived an enormous number of letters fiom all parts of the United States, the unitoim testimony being that such marriages are of frequent occuiencc— that they aie contracted by men of the highest character, and are thorougnly supported by public opinion. Lord Dalliousic's letter lias created a movement among American Presbyterians for the suppression of the passages in their Confession of Faith in which such marriages* are condemned.

Mr Errington. who has lately been the subject of much comment in and out of Parliament in connection witli the negotiations between the piesent (iovernment and the Vatican, is a young gentleman of property, a 1 indlord in fact, but lie spends veiy little time on his estates in Ii eland, picfciring London and Rome as places of residence. He is a graduate ot the College ot Stonylmrat. where Roger Tichborne was a pupil. He ia an M.P., the colleague in the House of Justin M'Caithy, but nuclei existing eiicumst.inees would hardly feel comfor■iblc aniOJig tho Longfoid constituents, uho dieted linn a» a Home Ruler. He is popular in society, enjoys the friendship of the English Catholic magnates, aiid those of tin: Vatican, Elected as a Home Ruler, he has gone over to the enemy, and has been the chief insti ument in .bringing on the Home Rule movement the most &ci ious blow that it has ever encounteicd.

The following " Specials" to the Press Absociatiou ha\e been received, dated London August 24th and 25th :—: — Tiic Admiralty insist that submarine mines are an essential part of the plan for blocking the channels of Australian harbours for defence purposes. The Victorian Government has ordered two batteries of the new Armstrong field artillery, and also heavy guns for the forts to protect Port Phillip.— lt is undeistood that Archbishop Vaughan'a body will be taken to Sydney for interment.—The lonic lias arrived at Plymouth with her cargo of frozen meat in splendid condition. — A remarkable article in the Dhctta warns France to abandon all colonial adventures.— Sir C. Dilk c has promised an enquiry into the alleged distress in the east and south of London, with a view to relief by emigration.— A grsat convention of the Irish League is to be held at Leeds at the end of September.

"Tennyson's" For tuna Consultation is nchertisnl in tliib issue. This is another local \CUt\ITC, Attention is directed to Mr Morris Moses' advcitisomcnt m another column. Messis \V. -I. Hunter and Co. will sell at the Cambridge Horse H.i/aar on Saturday next, .September Ist, .1 large number of choice horses of all description, saddlery, [See. Also, seed potatoes, feed oats, &c. Mr J. fcf. Buck Land will sell at Cambridge on Saturday next, double-seated buggy, pony and harness, a number of useful horses, harrows, pigs, fowls, £.c, &c. On Tuesday, the (Ith September, he will sell at the Cambridge yards, fat cattle and sheep, dairy cows, &.c, &.c. The Hamilton Road Board invite tenders for gi.ivelling the Ohaupo road between Johnson's hill and Ridlcr's mill. Messrs Hesketh and Aitken, seed, produce and manure merchants, the Haymarket, Auckland, publish a list of their latest importations, which will repay inspection. "Nellie Gray's" consultation on the Melbourne Cup is advertised in another column. The Mangapiko Road Board notify that it is then intention, at a meeting to be held on Saturday, Sept. 29th, to make a rate of thrcef irthings in the £ for the year ending 31st March, 1884. The rate-book is open for inspection at the residence of Mr N. T. Maunder, Te Kore.