The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1740, 30 August 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

l.qu.il and <"\.ic t justu c to .ill men, Ut wli itsom i il.itc or poisiiasKjii, religious or poliiu il lit to sli ill l lk> Vr< '.s tlio Pooplo's iitfli f "1 imt.un, Un.iucd In inlliiciu i" and iinliribi'd b> y.un.

TlL (fliti DAY> AUGUST JO t 1883

The report of the joint committee appointed to enquire into the objections against the, present education system has been presented to the House. Its value is practically nil ; it leaves the question precisely where the committee found it. The only recommendation made was one to have the evidence printed, and this not unnaturally provoked some discussion, "While on the one hand it was argued the, printing would merely iinolve a considerable waste of money, it was urged, and chiefly it is to be noted by friends of the present system, that the publication of the, e-s idenu 1 would have the, effect oi strengthening the prosent position. Judging by the sample of the clerical testimony ottered by the member for Newton, we are inclined to think the Litter contention i-, the better of the, two. The diiect effect of the publication of the evidence will be to bring the real objectors lo the present .system 111(0 prominence, and so separate them from those whose opposition is only assumed. Though the clerical party will never be brought to Eidimtit, though they will for ever go on insisting that a certain percentage of the population are deprived of th'-irju.st lights, the assertion of Mr Slicehan can, we are assured, be backed up by facts which are .si inply tin assailable. The evidence, of course, is one-sided, but it is not likely long to remain unanswered. The " other side r will have something to say on the subject, and as Sir Goo. Grey puts it, the more the subject is discussed, the more attached the public mind will become to the present system.

Nothing could possibly be more disgraceful, or reflect more upon the administration of the Cambridge Town Board, than the present condition of the local public pound. When this asylum for animal foundlings encloses within its bars a few unfortunate inmates, it impresses upon one's mind the fact that fin impounding establishment in a country district is a place where torture is inflicted, and punishment doled out to the unconscious waifs and hi rays which may perchance drift thither. It is, as it were, a penitentiary, whore undeserved punishment is inilicted, in consideration of the unpardonable crime of being found without an owner. In a retired corner of the town, enclosed within a few kauri rails, standing deep in mire and slush, without food, with a cold, bleak wind blowing, and rain pelting down on them, the inmates of the Cambridge public pound may often be found. Nothing could pos.sibly be more revolting, and nothing more likely to touch one's sense of humanity, than that afforded by this spectacle. A few days ago a number of bullocks were drafted into this uncanny place, and remained in the condition above detailed, awaiting the decision of their judges. It may be said that we exaggerate when we say they ■were without food or water, for both are doled out to them twice dai'y. Literally this is quite true, but practically it is far from correct. All cattle will not drink out of a bucket ; indeed there ard very few, with the exception probably of the domestic cow, that will. Some young horses would rather die of thirst than drink out of a bucket ; so it is but reasonable (o infer that when animals which will not drink out of a bucket have the misfortune to get impounded, thpy have, as a matter of course, to j go without. As to the food, our readers are no doubt well aware of the stinted allowance which the,lm.pounding Act. stipulates for. ] N^ovr, thougb/i&ieo(J

not be denied that if the impounded cattle got it giv«n them in a proper way, it would b« sufficient to keep their emaciated frames together during their detention. But instead of the food being put in stalls or mangers, it is thrown clown in the mire, with the lvsu't that in a few minutes the hungry beasts, in their eagerness to make the most of it, have it trampled into dirt, and consequently uneatable. Surely the town board — and we might albo address our remarks to tin; county councils having jurisdiction over the pounds scattered here and there in the district — has it in its power to remedy tins very discreditable and inhuman state of affairs. A b/tter site could surely be obtained, say one of the defaulting domain allotments, where a running supply of water might be secured, and a little grazing for the cattle \ and which we believe the domain board could easily hand over to the town at a nominal rental on a long lea&c. We sincerely hope our remarks will not be thrown away on the town commissioners, but that at i their next meeting, or before the domain board ro-lease the defaulting allotments, they will give the matter their earnest consideration.

It is rumoured that the Carlist party in Spain, encouriged by the present unsettled state of the country, contemplate another rising.

The cargo of frozen meat from Lyttelfcon, which arrived in London a few days ago, is meeting witli a ready sale. It arrived in prime condition, and lias made as high as Sd per Ib.

Captain Capel, omcer-in-charge of the Ai med Constabulary stationed in Cambridge, lias gone to Alexandra to relic\o Captain Gascoigue, who is going away on a few weeks leave. The change, we might add, is only temporary.

The fine spring weather of the past few days has had a very good effect upon the loads in the distiict, places which were a few day.s ago \eiy I'oggy aic non perfectly diy and passable.

The net proceeds of the entertainment recently given by the Comus Dramatic Club, in aid of the building fund of S. Stephen's, Tamahere, was £3 .Is, the leceipt of winch the cluirchuaidens desire thankfully to acknowledge.

The Cambridge district public, since receiving Mr J. 13. Wliytc's tclegiam, aie conlidont tlint they will enjoy i;uhv,iy communicntioii wifcli the outci world by the coniini? harvest. We sineeiely liopp, and have every roaaon to l)ehevc their anticipations will be icaliacd.

Mr Walter Langdon writes from Onohiiiiga to conti idiot the announcement of liis death which has appealed in Uie obituary column of this paper. The insertion of the death notice is so evidently the icsult of malice th.it avc h.ive placed the mutter in the hands of the police.

A correspondent signing himself "Nuivuico" hopes tint, as the Cambiiclyo public aie likely to be favoured with another cjood kofctuo, this time on " Chinlcs Dickens," at an early date, the vestry of 8. And lew's Chuiuh will conbideiately abstain "fioin annoying the audience and the Icctmei with a. continuous clanging of a hob of inluiinomous hells, as was the case on a recent occasion."

The Armed Constabulary are still engaged ioimmg the nppioach to the K.ii'fipiio bridge on the cast sulc of the nvor, and the job now promises to be a dmabli* and \eiy s'ltisf.ietory one. It may not bo out of pLitc to lciommcnd tliat a fuM small holes be bored at inks vals along tbt aides of tlie ducking bo as to mil oil the watoi in Met weather, as at piosi-nt at tor a l.nnfall it is impossible to walk over the bridge with clean feet.

On Saturday next there will be a football match at Hamilton between tlir Colta of that town ami tho»o of Cainbiidijc. A m.i tob, tlie Hamilton Colta r. All comcis. is also on the Itrpi-,. It has hten iiuangcd th.it the forthcoming .annual match between Auckland .md Wtiikato shall be played on Sydney Sqiuue, Hamilton, and ropresentatives fi oin Alo\andia, Cambridge and Hamilton will mutt in a few days to settle the prolimnuiies.

The Grand Victorian Panorama of Burke and Wills' Kxploiing Expedition will be exhibited at LeQuesne's Hall, Hamilton, for a scries of three nights, commencing to-night. The pictures, which are 14ft. by 12ft., are from the pencil of Mr Hem tilings, the wellknown scenic artist of Melbourne. The performance will conclude with a number of amusing tricks of legerdemain. On Saturday afternoon there will boa special performance for school children, when reduced prices will be charged.

To-morrow, August 31st, being the second anniversary of the con&ecra- | tion of S. Andrew's Church. Cambridge, there will lie a special service (partly choral) at 7.30 p.m. Special services will also be held on Sunday next. The Rev G, H. Somei set Walpole will be the pieacher at all the services. The offertories will be applied towards reducing the debt on the building, which at present stands at about .t'o'oO. As other special occasions, instead of being chimed as usual, the bells will be rung, both before the service and also for a short time at the close.

Despatches have been received fiom "The Vagabond," the Art/ui,' special correspondent to the . New Hebrides. He states that the island of Ircki, in the New Hebiides. which belongs to the Kngli&h missionaries, was pm chased fiom the natives by Lieutenant J)r Arbed, of the French warship Disticss, for the consideration of a box of dynamite .and a bag of dollars. Commodoie Kiskine stated that he would not allow the transaction, as the island was already alienated, and ho induced the natives to return the dynamite and money.

The Rev Mr Dewsbury and Mr M. Kcesing delivered their respective ossays on "Philology" and "Travel" at the usual weekly meeting of the Cambridge .Mutual Improvement Association on Tuesday evening last. There was an unusually large attendance of ladies, and the members mustered in good force. The chan vas occupied by the vicepresident, Mr J. P. Campbell. Mr Dewsbury 's essay on "Philology" was undoubtedly the best and most instructi\ c whit'h has as yet been brought before the association. While notinoidinatcly long, it was interesting in every particular, and all present, judging from the criticisms which followed, and the attentive hearing accorded, thoroughly appreciated it. Mr Keesing's essay on " Travel " was interesting, and evidently a source of much amusement, creating at tunes considerable merriment. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded both gentlemen for their essays.

The Civil List Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Connolly, seeks to amend the Civil List Act, so far as it relates to the salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court. It provides that instead of the sum of £7700 for the salaries of the judges, the amount shall in future he appropriated as follows : — Annual salary of the Chief Justice, £2000 ; nnuual salaries of four puisne judges, £1800 each. This proposal, in the face of the outcry for economy, is certain to meet with strenuous opposition.' <• But we trust that it will be carried. The'wise and just administration of the' law ik a matter of suchjvital,importance, an.d>( is ;? beyond alj ppn'si^ji^onVCol^npney.^lt' islpjuy, bV

hope to attract to the bench the best men in the land, and on this ground we trust Mr Connolly's bill will not be included in the list of the " innocents " sacrificed at the ond of the session,

Ngaruawahia having been formal into a town district, a (Tovernmenb notification in our advertising columns lays down the course that must be followed in the election of the first board of commissioner?.

Despatches, from the British officials at Tamatave, show that the conduct of Admiral Pierre towards the officers of H.M.S. Dryad was much more tyrannical and outrageous than had been prexiously thought. The matter is w.umly commented on by the London Press most of the journals insisting that it is the imperative duty of the English Government to demand an immediate c\plaimtion from Fiance. Admiial J. A. Liber will succeed Admiral J'ieno in command of the French fleet at Tamatave.

The following letter from Wctliaiiui dealing with Mr livycc Native Land Laws Amcntlment Bill has been published in the N.Z. Herald;—" Sir, We wish to &ay a few words in reference to Mr Bryee's Native Land Laws Amendment, and Native Committee's Bills, in order to express our opinions respecting those Bill&. "We approve of part of the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill. The part we approve of most is the pxclusion of lawyers and other land agents from having anything to do with the settlement of our land claims, also the enforcement of a penalty on persons that try to buy or lease land from any of our people before the settlement ot land claims. And as this bill is intended to carry out our petition, we would like to have seen a clause inserted that would have given effect to the delineated boundary set forth in our petition, as this is the principal thing at present we wish confirmed. As to the latter part of the bill we are not clear. In our opinion it is complicated. The Native Committees Bill is not in accordance with our petition, because the pptition states th.it we are to manage our own alF.uis, and alter we have settled Jand claims, then the Government will be asked to send some person vested with power to give effect to our arrangements, and not till then. Fin ther, this bill takes altogether from us our autiioiity. What we have to say is this : Our lands are still under our customs, and so are the people ; therefore we say, leave the management ot our lands to us, and abolish the Land Courts altogether.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, several bills were ad\anced a stage. The motion by the Premier for the second rending of the Affirmations and Declaration? Bill was lost by 19 to 14. The Council then went into Committee on the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. In the House on the same day Mr Fyke biought up the report of the Joint Committee on the petitions regirding the Education Act. The report stated: — "They had not been able to make .in exhaustive examination. The committee had no specific recommendation to make except thiifc the evidence should be punted.' 1 In mo\ ing that this lie done, he said that I'Jfi petitions, signed by 19,703 persons, had been presented in suppoitof.i modification, and 4!) petitions signed by 4301 persons in support of the existing system. They had taken the evidence ot those \\ ltuesbcs who had tendered that evidence at their o\\ n expense. From that evidence it appeared chat at least one seventh of the population had conscientious samples against, and therefore could not take part in the present system of education. That denomination had at its own cost erected IS schools, in which 7743 childien were receiving education. This was probably a saving of £:30,000 a-year in the State.— JMessis Koiqus and Swauson objected to these statements as unauthoiised, and the lattei and Mr Montgoniety said that evidence had been icfused, and if printed the evidence would be one-sided. Scveial members deprecated the line of action taken by the crmmiltoe, and spoke strongly against denominationalism. Tt was also contended by scveial that it Mould be uacle&s to punt the c\ idence. — Mr Whit.ikci said if the witnesbcs wished to circulate their opinions they should do so at their own expense The contention of the chairman simply meant that if the sex enth of the population was to get fi cc of the expense the burden was to be east on the lest. — Major Atkinson Mas in fa\ our of punting the evidence, though lie was sui piisccl to hear that it Mas one sided. — Mr Fish thought the evidence, would tend to strengthen the hands of the f Mends of the present system. —Mr Slieehan supported the pioposal to punt the e\ idence. He thought that but for the pressure put on the Catholic laity by the priests they would have heard nothing about these complaints. —Sir G. Giey looked upon the present system ot education as about as perfect as they could get, but thought they should not prevent its opponents from urging their views. He was of opinion that the more the subject was discussed the more attached the public mind would become to the present system I,—1 ,— Mr Swansongave an pxamplc of some of the evidence given by the clerical M'itnesses. He asked one of them : " Supposing the Roman Catholics were in the majority, would you give these concessions to the Protestant paity?" The answer he got was, "Decidedly no : we could not countenance error many form." That was sufficient to show the character of the demand made. — Mr Fyke having replied, the motion to print the evidence Mas carried on the voices.— ln reply to Mr Montgomery, Major Atkinson said the Government would ask for the discharge of the following bills : Harbour Boards, Settled Land, Municipal Corporations, Impounding, Married Women's Property, Auctioneers, Fisheries, Legislative Officers' Salaries, Local (Joints, Savings Banks, Fiie and Marine Insurance Bills.— The Native Land Laws Amendment, and the Land Act Amendment Bills were read a third time and passed. The Leaseholders Qualification Bill was read a second time. In committee on the Counties Act, a new clause providing for the election of the county chairman by the latepayers, was rejected. Mr J. B. Whyte proposed a new clause affirming the principle of the act being suspended on the petition of a majoiity, instead of as at present, threefifths. This was rejected by 53 to 12. The bill, with others, was reported, read a third time, and passed.

A notice by the Hnutapu poundkecpcr nppcais in t ur business columns. The Sheriff of Auckland notifies that all book debts due to lhomas H<n, Cambridge, must be paid to him or his biliff, Mr Howard. In another column will bo found the ad\crtiscment of Alc-srs Wingate, Burns and Co., wholesale and retail ironmongers, Auckland, which will well rep.iy the inspection of our readers. The Waikato Cheese and Bacon Factory Company make a fourth call of Is per share, and notify that all arrears will be sued for. Mr John Knox will sell at the Hamilton Mart on Satutday, carrots, seed potatoes, cheese, fowls, clothing, &c. A general meeting of the creditors in the bankrupt estate or Ihomns Ryan, Cambridge, is called for Mond.iy ne\t dt the Colonial Bank, Cambridge, to receive trustees' teport. and consider an application for discharge. Mr A. Isaacs, auctioneer, will sell at Cambridge on Saturday, a lot of condemned Government stores, consisting' of bell and diggers' tents, tools and implements, &c, &c. The Cambridge Domain FBoard invite tenders up to the Bth Soptcmber !for leasing' the grazing in Cambridge East domain reserve. Mr J. S. Buckland will hold his first cattle sale at Ngaruawahia on Thursday, the 13th September, when he will offer 50 good steers, &c, &c. Those who purpose selling at this sale are requested to communicate with the auctioneer. Stock not sold may be forwarded to Ohaupo, and said the following 1 Tuesday. He will have, for sale on arrival, 80 choice shorthorn cows, now on the rgad from Napier. - The attention of those pareuts desirous of availing themselves of the advantages of superior education for their sons is directed to the Church of-England Grammar School (Auckland) advertisement in another. column, i - , i^'PßEßsrviijiittoa'hol^a- fofr '-.oily iiggftAf