The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1751, 25 September 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equ.il and exact justii c to .ill men, 01 wli.itsoe\er state or periiusion, religious or political. Here shall the I'rcss the People's nph'- nnintain, Unawcd by influence and unlinbcd b> K<un.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1883.

On a roccnt occasion, there was pointed out in this journal the necessity liich o.vists for an iinmocliiito reform in the method of forwarding live slock by train from Waikato to Auckland so as to prevent, to some extent, the loss which our farmer. 1 ! now suffer from the deterioration of the meal by bruising 1 . Tho matter lias boon brought directly to tho notico of tho Lo^islatuieand tho Minis! or for Kailwfiys by Mr 'Polo, in his placo in the IToii.se, and public expectation hero awaits redress at tho hands of Mr Kollostou. It is not much that is asked, simply to placo tho doors at the end instead of tho very middle of the sido of tho cattle trucks, and to run through night trains for cattle only twice a week to Newmarket, stopping nowhere on tho road. Cattle would thus arrive direct at tho yards for sale tho same day, and without the bruising and injury at present inflicted upon them by being sout in mixed trains, stopping at evory station on the lino. Judging from Mr Kolloston's reply, a widely signed memorial on this matter from the settlers of Waikato would not be without olFect. Nor need til*" fact, that such a reform as Mr Rolle.ston is now asked to carry out will have before very long to give way to further improvements, deter the Government from adopting it meanwhile. Because our settlers ha\o suffered so long in the matter, is no reason that they should continue to do so for another eighteen, or twelve, or even six months. The time is close at hand when the meat freezing movement means a development of the material prosperity of the colony, which a short time ago would never have boon looked for by this generation. What the opening of the Thames was to Auckland — what a large alluvial gold field in the interior of the island would be now to us all — this, and a great deal more, is the frozen meat trade now springing up between Now Zealand and Great Britain. Nothing that can tell for or against its success must be overlooked. If New Zealand is to be brought by means of. steam and ice into almost as good a position with the London market as a county in Great Britain, if our lands as a consequence are to take and maintain a high and fixed value, it can only be by supplying a better article than America and other competing countries can produce, and one equal or but little inferior to the Home production. Now, this I can never be if the cattle in upcountry districts such as Waikato are sent alive by railway to be slaughtered at the port. Bruised moat, meat killed while the animal is suffering from blood heated by over-driving, or trampled, frightened, and jostled on a protracted journey, such as travelling all day in crowded cattle trucks, will never reach the London market in first-class condition, or with the appearance necessary to command a market at home, Slaughtering premises will have to ba erepted in some central position, to whioh cattle from the Waikato, Waipa, Piako, and districts beyond, can be driven by easy stages, paddocked and. slaughtered, -and the carcases &en.t <m in properly prepared cooling .carriages i?y r^MJLreci i to the dep6t W Auckland Js| fi%%

for an early start., could be conveyed into Auckland, and received into the freezing depot long before the heat of the day, and in prime order.' The process of keeping such carrifgos cool is no novelty elsewhere, and is simply that of p.vaporation caused by the continuous trickling of water over the felt coverings of the top and sides of the carriages. The Auckland Meat Froozing Company have recognised tlio importauco of this part of tlio scheme in the proposed slaughtering establishment at Patetere, where sheep driven by easy stages from Hawke's Bay will" be slaughtered, and the carcases forwarded to the freezing depot in Auckland by the Thames Valley and Rotorua railway. But what is proposed to be dono for Hawke's Bay sheep is equally nooded for Waikato. What we would suggest, for it can scarcely be expoclod that the company should establish one slaughtering depot at Patetere and another in Central Waikato, is that some site should be selected on the line of railway, not further north than Ngaruawahia at any rate, where the Hawke's Bay shoep and the Waikato stock may be received and slaughtered. This would serve all parts of the district equally well, while the extra distance the Hawke's Bay sheep would have to travel, and that by the choapost method, on their own feet, would, when they wero once on their journey, be more than made up by the saving of the cost of railway freight on the carcase between Patetere and Ngaruawahia. On the other hand, it is unreasonable to expect Waikato stock - owners to drive their sheep and cattle upcountry to slaughtering yards at Patetere, and then pay the extra railway freight back again on the carcases. It is eq-ially impossible, also, that Waikato stock, with even the utmost possible care taken of thorn in transit by railway, can be killed in Auckland in (it condition for tlio Home market. This is the position which, in the' interests of Waikato, we ask the Auckland Freezing Company to impartially consider. If they they cannot establish two slaughtering depots, let them make the one they do establish the most generally convenient. Sometime since the question of central slaughtering yards for the whole district, in the interest of Thames, Waitoa and Waikato settlers, \va.s mooted by a contemporary, and Frank ton was suggested as affording the most suitable and central site for a slaughtering establishment. Let that be as it may; but whether Rukuhia, Frankton, or Ngaruawahia be the central spot upon the line of railway solccted, matters little so long as the thing is done. Wt submit to the Meat Freezing Company that is indi&pen.sibln to the success of the movement, so far at. least as Waikato jjrown meat is concerned ; nor can it, as we have pointed out, be less advantageous to the Hawke's Bay &hcep interest. On the other hand, a slaughtering establishment, at Patetere only, would be a s »rious discouragement to the cattle and .shoep producers of Waikato.

It will be seen on reference to our telcgiaphic columns that the lion. Mr Wlntakei has resigned the office of Piemier. It is well known that the lion, gentlemen lias contemplated taking this step for some time past, and little suipiise will theiefoie be felt. There is, however, considerspeculation on the subject of the re-con-struction of the Cabinet. Major Atkinson has undei taken the task, and the names of the new Ministry will be laid befoie his Excellency the Governor to-day. Both Auckland papeis urge the claims of this pi ovincial disti ict to representation in the Cabinet, but it is not, we think, probable that an Auckland member will be .selected. Those most likely to be considered aie the least likely to accept a ministerial po.st. Under these circumstances it is probable that Messrs E. G. Wright and Fitz Gerald \v ill be found in the new Government.

Mr Lamb's Clydesdale entire Sir Colin, and thoroughbred sire Band wick, and Mr Limmer's well-known thoroughbred stallion King Quail, passed through Hamilton yesteiday, en route for Ohaupo, t') be present at the hoise parade there to-day. Randwick has developed into a splendid animal since he was put to the stud, and shows grand bone and muscle.

Milk will be received at the Waikato Cheese Factory (Hamilton) on and after Monday, the Ist October, not later then Ba. m. Milk cans will be issued at the factoiy on Friday, the 28th inst., at 4 p.m. We understand that, pending other anangements, Captain Runciman will manage the operations of the company at the factory.

Our Raglan correspondent writes: " At last we have had a school elected by the Board of Education, equal to our recpiiiements. It is an excellent building, and reflects credit on the builder, Mr James Pearce. The site is not all that could have been wished, but we should feel thankful for small mercies, and I have heard that steps are to be taken to have the school grounds beautified and drained, whioh will bring about a great improvement. "

When 'the affiliation case was called on at the Hamilton Resident Magistrate's Couit yebteiday, a pretty numeious audience had assembled. Mr Northcroft expressed a hope that all respectable people would leave the court, whereupon three or four of those present at once made their exit. His Worship then opined that those who remained behind had no respectability to lose, and the remark caused the majority to go out. One or two individuals, however, remained, .and during the hearing several others quietly returned lor the purpose of getting their palates tickled.

The Raglan coach met with a mishap yesterday, near Waitetuna. The nave of one of the wheels, which was strained in going over on Saturday, gave way the other side of Waitetuna. Mr Johnson, who was in charge, mounted his two passengers on the horses, and they brought the mails into Hamilton, Mr Johnson following on a borvowed horse. This accident affords further evidence of tho state of the road, and pioves, if proof were wanting, that vehicles, can only t& run between Raglan and Hamilton at considerable risk. Had the wheel collapsed when on the mountain a serious accident might have occurred.

The first anniversary service in <3Oim«Qti«]l with the Hamilton Branch of the Now Zealand Evangelistic Assqciation, will be held at LeQuesne's Hall on Sunday next, the 30th inst. Mr Geo. Brown, of Auckland, will preach at both morning and evening services, the subject for the evening lecture being: "Conditional Immortality in connection with inqdqpn thought." The first annual tea and meting w'^l b § held in the hall on the following everting (]^oriflatf?whjn addressgs will be delivered, by Kfessrs Brq^n, Aldridge, and others. On Tuesday even, ingi at the same place. Mr . Brown' will deliver a' lecture on, V Signs of the 'times,'; or, What are <we coming to^^y,, i V ? <•>

,of Messrs Napper, Mounier, and Wallnutt (hon. sec), was appointed to arrange for building the shed. When tlie co3t of this has been ascertained, a meeting will bi hold to determine what number and description of boats shall be purchased. The honorary members' subscription was fitfed- at 10s Gd, and those present arranged to canvass for members and donations to the club. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.

The correspondent of the Auckland Herald, telegraphing on Friday, sayß : —After two months and a-half of patient hearing, the Court, provided over by Judges OBrien and Mair, gave judgment on the Rotorua-Patetere-Paeroa block. The Ngatiwhakaue were the principals, but the other hapus came in for their share—viz., Ngati kea and Tuara, about 20,000 acres of Patetere ; the Ngatitura received about half of what they went in for, and the Ngatiwhakao shaied with the Ngatiwhakaue in the Whakarewarewa block. There was dissatisfaction amongst some of the losing hapus ; but, generally speaking, it is considered a very fair and impartial judgment.

The Waiuku correspondent of the Auckland Herald wiics on Saturday: — The schooner William and Jane, sixty-nine tons, Captain Jones, laden with oats for the Waikato Company, went ashore at Port Waikato bar on Thursday. She let Dunedin on Sunday afternoon, and was off the Waikato bar all day on Thursday. There was a little breeze in the afternoon, and she attempted to take the bar about a quarter past four p.m. on that day. The tide was naif ebb, and she got stuck on the bar. As she touched on her heel, she slewed broadside on, there not being much sea on the bar. She is injured very little, but having no steerage way on her she rolled on to the north head, and struck heavily, the &ea breaking clean over her for five hours. She is making a little water. Had she not been a strong vessel, she must have gone to pieces. The captain expects to lighten her, and get her off shortly.

The following ''specials" to the Press Association have been published in the Heiald. They are dated September 22nd and 23rd:—Fine merinos and crossbred wools have recovered the June rates, but medium coarse and faulty are from a halfpenny to twopence below June quotations. To date 320,000 bales have been catalogued, and 37,000 bales have been withdrawn.—The Ht. James' Gazette, reviewing tho plea of the colonists for annexation, condemns Lord Dei by's despatch in reply as offensive both in manner and matter. Both are displeasing. It doubts very much whethei Fi ance will continue to i expect the independence of the New Hebrides, and it says Loid Derby shows no doniie to help the colonies to o%ercome the difficulties of their position. — Tho Russian Generals at Sofia, fearing that Pi ince Alexander would join the Austrian alliance, induced him to summon a meeting of the Assembly. M. Zankoff has now been lecalled fiom exile and appointed Premier, and he has expelled the Generals. Russian influence is generally declining, but no sympathy is expiessed with Austria. —The French Chambers will probably meet on the Bth of October.

A correspondent, writing from Alexandra, says :—" Mr Council has moved into his new hotel. Te Ngakan niide a very friendly .speech at the opening, and, breaking a bottle of champagne on the building, named it tho M.itakitaki Hotel. It is very gratifying indeed to see a spirit of utmost good feeling and friendship existing between the Maoii.s and Emopeans. Drunkenness and theft are very rare indeed among the Maoiis, and tho time i-, not far distant when roads and iaihvay» will bo in course of construction tlnough the King Countiy, which, until lecently, ha& been a veritable ten a incognita to the majority of Europeans, and which will bo thrown open for settlement. Under the influence of European skill and enterprise, this will be what nature intended it should be, one of the finest agricultural and pastoral districts in New Zealand."