COMMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1756, 6 October 1883, Page 2

COMMENTS.

In the glorious days of the First Republic it *vas the boast of libeity-loving France that she would upset all despotic monarchies, and free the people ol Europe. Her ambitious plans were, however, destined to be fruitless. The Republic fell upon evil days, and ever .since, the patiiots ot Fiance have had just about as much as they can do to keep their own pot boiling. Not that the Napoleonic and Legitimist nightmares have crushed all the spirit out of them, but they have to evert their utmost energies to keep the incubus at arm's length. But whatever unlikely thing might have happened, it Mas scarcely to be expected that Fiance would so far forget her best traditions as to sjive a helping hand to monarchy. And yet this is i»st what the democratic mob of I'atis have been doing. Poor Alphonso of Spain lately visited at the Gorman Court, and the old Emperor olleied him the colonelcy of a Uhlan regiment. It was not in human nature to refuse, of couise, and Alphonso accepted the generous gift. When the children of the French capital heard of this, they foamed at the mouth, and determined to give the son of Isabella a warm reception when lie came amongst them. These people can nurse their wrath on Decision, and, if the Spanish King was not satisfied with the French welcome we confess we cannot blame him. Of course, his Majesty was indignant, and told the President that he would go home tit once. But Monsieur Urevy calmed him with apologies, and peisuaded him to spend the day with him at least, But this was all the concession Alphonso would make, for the next day he was en route for Madrid, where, we are told, his faithful and loving subjects lined the stieets and gave him a light royal welcome. Now this is where the point comes in. It is quite well enough known that the only leigning Bourbon has not been in the enjoyment of unlimited popnlaiity late'y. Leaving out of the case certain little domestic incidents which somehow or other can not be kept seciet, the Spanish people, or at least a pretty considerable section of them, have had just about enough of Royalty in the shape they have been accustomed to for the last generation or two. They have endured too much misery, and have lost too much blood in the wietched squabbles of Carlist and Christino, and would doubtless be glad to lid themselves of the whole family. But just here France steps in, and puts the best card into the hands of royalty, by the very ungraciousness of its greeting to Alphonso. Spaniards may be loveis ot liberty ; but they are proud, and quick to teseut an insult as well ; and the affront put upon the King, though they may have looked upon him with averted eye befoie, will endear him to them now. He is the personification of the nation, and through him the riff- raff of Palis, who, in Spanish eyes, will represent the Republic, have hooted at Spain, and called her oppiobnous names. That is enough. It Paris had wished to ensure King Alphonso a long lease of power it could not have set about the business better.

Wk will do those who brought about the alteration in the Te Aroha mail timetable the justice of acliiiitting that they were actuated by the best motives. Doubtless they thought they were conferring a benefit upon the public ; but, after calmly ruminating on the subject for the past few days, we altogether fail to recognise any distinct advantage arising from the change. Personally the alteration is very inconvenient, inasmuch as a large number of subscribers in the Piako and Waitoa districts will now get their papers about two days after publication. So long, as they did not complain, we were •willu.g to believe that there were some compensating advantages. If, we may judge from the tone of the larsje number of letters we have received on the subject, they are all prejudiced by the change. So far as the mail service is concerned, there is absolutely no improvement, as the coach gets to Te Aroha too late and leaves too early to allow of letters being answered by return of post. It is claimed that travelIcis, now that they can get to Auckland in one day, will take this route. It may be so, but we rather fancy that sensible people would prefer the overland journey iv any case, provided they could get to town within anything like reasonable time — say a day and a-lialf. Before long let us hope there will be a daily mail between Hamilton and Te Aroha— indeed, we arc assured that this is a boon already contemplated by the authorities. When that comes it will afford us much gratification, but surely, in view of this, the old arrangement might have been suffered to exist for the present.

Echoes from the Cafe, our Te Awamutu correspondent's letter, and other local matter is unavoidably held over. We notice that an alteration has been made in the date for receiving tenders for road works on the Tamahere roads. The meeting of tbeVFamahere Eoad Board has been postponed until, the 19th inst. We have received the first num..ber of the Freethought Review, a monthly iournal, published at Wanganui. The lew comer is well printed, and, on the whole, well edited. At the Supreme Court, Auckland, on .Thursday, Thomas J. North was acquitted on the charge of laiceny preferred against him by Mr J. C. McConmck. It will be, seen that a very. Successful crushing took place, at T?e-Arpha ; yestBrday, 1^ one case' the .yfajd^ws

Cozs., and in anotjier 4^ozs. to the ton/. Tho name of the .claim from which the 1 former was taken fid not given, but the latter was from the Inverness. A sculling match has been arranged r between tlie well-known oaismen Tricketfc and.Rush, for £200 'a-side. The usual annual concert and dance in connection with the Hautapu school will be held in the school at an early date. * The usual weekly meeting of the Cambridge Skating Rink was held in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening-, when j there was a fair attendance of members. ] Mr Howard Jackson's new residence on Patdtere, for which tenders are now being called, will be a very handsome and commodious .structure. The building, which is expected to be finished at an eaily date, will contain nine rooms. A number of the men to be engaged on Mr Fallon's Oxford -Lich field railway contract, with teams and imple-i monts, left Cambridge for the scene of operations on Thursday morning last. Thw contractors promise to be favoured with fine weather duiing the progiess of the work. The anniversary soiree in connection with the Cambridge West Wesleyan Chinch will be held in the chinch on Wednesday, 10th inst. The evening promises to be an entertaining one. Addresses will be delivered at the meeting aftei the ■soiree by various ministers and others. Almost the entire frame-work of the new Wesleyan Church, Cambridge, has now been put together, and the building looks in a very advanced state. The contractor, Mr Smerdon, is making excellent pragresa with the work, and expects to have it completed at an early date. A number of the Armed Constabulary have put the Cambridge Roman Catholic Church grounds in a very becoming condition, and planted several small tiees along the in.side of the fence. The members of the congregation desire to thank Col. Lyon for his kindness in peimitting the work to be done by constabulary labour. The Cambridge Jockey Club do not intend carrying out their contemplated improvements to the grand stand until after tho November mooting. Tho stowaids will meet at the stand dm ing the meeting, and considei the best pioviMon tlint can be made for tho accommodation of the public. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Cambridge East branch of tho Blue Ribbon Ai my will bo held at the Tabernacle on Monday night, when, it is expected, the proceedings will be both uitm esting and entei taming. Large number* <>f new mumbcis are gradually joining the ranks. Messrs Karl Bros., of Ohaupo. have just finished putting together 270 boxes, made during the ■winter months, and it ia then intention to go in for extracting entii lily this season. This will Ivj ,i great addition to then o-piaiy, and should the season be favourable, the yield should largely exceed that of last year, viz. : four tons. We have to acknowledge the lrcoipt of tho cuii out number of that useful and popular periodical, tho Now Zealand and Austiali.ni Bee Journal. Thopie»ent numh>3i is ci.mimed with lnfoiniation on the special subject of apicultme, and no buo-koeper can well affoid to be without it. We are glad to know that the I3ee Journal is glowing m public^favour. A concert in* aid of S. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Hamilton, will be given in tho Oddfellow's Hall on Tuesday, the 23id hist., by lady and gentlemen am.iteuis of tho Waikato, assisted by friends from Auckland. I'l om all we can leai n the cntci tainmcut pi onuses to be an exceptionally good one. The programme of sports, advertised in auothei column, ai ranged to come off .it Cambridge on the Piince of Wales' Bit thday, pi onuses to be earned out with bonie success. No less than eighteen vaned events h.ive been aiiauged foi, which makes the piogramme <i .somewhat long one. Tlio public have already mi scribed a fanly Luge .sum of money to piovide pines f<u tlio coini>etitors. It has not us yet been ari.mged where the spoits are to take place, but an ondoavoui w ill be made to .seem c the rucecoui->e grounds for the occasion. At the Oamaru Spring Meeting on Thuisday, the Maiden Plato was won by Goodman's Molly Bawn, with Bainaby second and Statesman thiid. The time was 2nun. 22i'sec. Tho Hpnng Handicap. I', miles, was won by (ioodman's Violin, Cotton's Adamant being second, and Stephenson's Tai.uoa thinl. Tune, 2nnn. 4!).socs. The Hack Race uas won by Magician, the 'Plotting Race by TMnna* 1 ' Bella, and the (Jrand Stand Handicap by Cotton's Piuspoio, Mr J.E. Redmond, M.P., was a passenger to Auckland by the Manapouii from Sydney on Thursday. He .was met by a number of fi lends and sympathiser, and coidially welcomed to New Zealand. Afteiwardd he was driven lound the suburbs of the city, and later on, at a meet-, ing at Glees'ni's Hotel, he leceived an ad-diess-of-welcoine, to which he lesponded, saying th.it his object m coining to this colony was to diffuse moio lust ideas of the lush claims. Mr Redmond will siddiess a public meeting at the Theatre Royal, Auckland, on Monday night, on the subject of " Home Rule." ' The following " Specials" to the Pi ess Association, dated London, October 4, have been published in the' N. Z. Heiald.— The Chambeis of Couuueice have requested Lord ])erby to uige the colonies to enter the Postal Union. Mi Comtney has, in leply, explained that the difficulty is a financial one. — Sir Dillon Bell aiid Sir Saul Samuel attended the banquet given by Loid Derby, when Sir ])jllon 8011, in thp com. so of his .speech, pointed out that tho colonies as.suzod tho hiipply of cheap food to England. — Judgment'will be gi\ en in the Austial inquiry on Saturday. — Tho .French commander in Tainatave has demanded reinforcement. — Smith, the Phoenix Paik nifoimer, was lecognised at Marseilles, whoie ho .shipped for China. As yet the Armed Constabulary .stationed in W/tikato have received no intimation as to their destination during the coming summer, and, considering the present state of native affairs, it is not vt?ry easy to surmiso. It was rumoured in Cambridge that the men stationed there were under oideis to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Kawhia, but this runiunr is officially conti adicted. We think, now that the fine weatherhas set in, the best thing the Defence Department can do is to permit the expendituie of a few pounds in improving the quartets of the men at Cainbiidge and othei Waikato stations. To erect an hospital building, bath-room, recieation or gyinasium room, nothing but the timber would be required, there being some \ory practical workmen in the foicc. The usual monthly meeting of the Khikiriroa Road Board was held yesteiday afternoon. The business consisted entirely of setting certain contracts on vaiious roads. Tenders were received as follows :—: — For forming on road past sections 150 and 151, subuibs of Newcastle North : H. Kelly, 27a (id per chain ; rejected as excess ive. Contract No. 2, tTauhei road : John I Murphy, lid per cubio yaid ; H, Reynolds, I pro Waikato Land Association, 30s pei chain (accepted). Contract Noj 3, Tauliei road : Littlewood. 4M per yard (accepted). ; Hukanui-Piako load" : John Murphy, IOAd per yard ; H. Reynolds, pro Waikato Land Association, 5d per yard (accepted). The above contracts involve an expenditure of some £800 or more. A tender for the load forming at Ngaiuawahia from H. Kelly was afterwards accepted at 15s per chain. Instructions were given to the engineers to call for tendeis for i. works at Mullions' gully by the next meeting of the board. Sundry accounts were passed for payment amounting to €170. To the Editor.— Sir,— Having seen in your paper of Saturday, the 2flth of September, an account of the "Progiess of Settlement on Patetere," I should be glad if you would allow me to make a few remaikis upon it, knowing, as I have for some time, that some people have the erroneous idea that a "Club House" is built <near Lichfield,' and the 'paragraph in your paper would necessarily confixm the idea. As a matter of fact the house nearly finished, which you .mention as the " Club House," is simply a private house, the occupants of which will be Mrs Moreton and myself. There is no " Club House " built, or beinpf built at or near Lichfield, but barracks will be^mJJ when cadets are sent out from England. Hopjijg ' yftu will kindly find place for 1 this in your next issuu, believe me, ' ,ffic.,j ROBEp MdltoON.--. Northern Club, Auckland,"October 3rd. , , The idea conceived by'the Cambridge Town Board of keeping, , cattle and horses off the streets of the town was certainly a very good one, , but like' many qther ideas,) ii< not .properly carried outr; is likely* to'be 'fertile,,? of f as ,much- wrong ,as good, bo far ftjfthosg whom ft'QfttytH ty*

,cnncefned. On several <jpojftidns N ou^^^^ tion has been drawn to broaches qfCthe new regulation in the shape of Certain iSttle and roving ,at large through toe town. ' The occasional tinkling of a cow "bell may •be heard through the night, indicating that the bqvines to whiiph they are attached .are making the be/»t of tlieir , time while, the ranger.is aslqep, or in other'words, makinghay while tne sun Bhines. , By this.it Avould seem some of the cattle-owners of the place who do not care about paying the admittance fee for their quadrupedal charges to the lessee of the domain reserve, tjJce advantage of the uight to graze within the town boundary, and keep their herds within bounds dvi ing the day. This can hardlj' be called propci, and we feel sure the town board will see that it is not allowed to continue. "Social wreckage," forms the subject of a short but higlily interesting article m the Contemporary Review for July, which deals with the anomalies of the prebent social condition of England, and aims at pointing out some methods by which, at any rate, a poi tion of them may be rectified. The state of affairs at one end of the social scale is thur> summarised by the wiiter :—: — " In the wealthiest nation m the world one in every thirty-one of our countrymen is a pauper ; thib, moreover, without including any of that vast number of destitute persons who are maintained in charitable institutions or by private benevolence. In the richest city in the world there wove in one year 101 deaths from actual starvation, in full sight of well-stocked shops. There are over 300,000 convicted summarily before the magistrates, of which nearly 100,000 are guilty of personal assaults, about 25,000 being aggravated a&saults upon women and children. There are extensive districts in London, Liverpool, and all our large towns, where our people aie living in little more than half the area of ground for a coipse, and whicli they would claim if they were dead. In Liverpool alone theie are some 10,000 or mote children who are neither properly fed, clothed nor housed. " Mr J. M. Dargaville, M H.R. for Auckland City West, addressed a laige meeting of his constituents at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday night. The chair was occupied by Mr WiicMell, and the audience was most favourable, and even enthusiastic, throughout. Mr Dargaville's addi oss was chiefly taken up with a personal explanation relative to the diffei enccs between himself and the Colonial Trammer. Hg loiteiiited the chaige-i he had formulated, and claimed that ho was in the right The pros and cons of the question are already well known, and Mr Darg.wille, though he made the best of a bad case, did not throw much additional light on the affair. He was happict in ln^ dcliveiaucet* when he pi oceeded to deal with other matters. Referring to the policy of the Government, he said he should oppose the bill for the refmm of the Legislative Council and the National Insurance measure, aiid announced that he would aim at seetmn'g political autonomy for either island. He contended that it was impossible for a healthy public opinion to be foiincd under the piosent cential system of Government. All local affairs should be managed by insular governments, while a fodeial Government at Wellington should legislate on matteis of common interest to both islands. J^xtieme pressure on our space prevents our giving a moie extended summaiy of the addiess, winch, taking it altogether, was able and ingenious. At the close Mr Dargaville received a vote of thanks and confidence.