AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1761, 18 October 1883, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever st.ite or persuasion, religious or polilu al. Here shall the Press the People's rifjlif maintain, Uriii\v< d liv inlliiciiLC and unbnbcd by gain.

THURSDAY, OCT. 18, 1888.

The celebrated Pukeknra ejectment ca.se, concerning" "which so much has been heard of late, has now terminated. Messrs Grioe and Benn, acting- by their agents, Messrs E. Ji Walker and John Grice, brought a formal action of ojoctniont against the Ngatikawhata, squatting on the land, and Judge Gillies, at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, gave judgment for the plaintiffs on all tho issues. A full report of the proceedings, -which occupied the court the whole of Tuesday, appears in another column. The main facts of the case are there set forth, and speak for themselves ; it is theroforo unnecessary that we should enter into details. Nor do wo need to go back over the history of a transaction which must be fresh in tho minds of our readers. There is just one phase of the business which scorns to call for some romark. Groat as is the expense to which the owners of the land have been put to in asserting their title to it, it will not fall so heavily upon thorn as the judgment given on Tuesday will descend on the natives. Obstinate as the Maoris proverbially are, it was evident that there was something behind their own wrongheadedness which urged them on to resist the clparly denned rights of Messrs Grice and Benn. They have

boen forcod into taking a course of action which has landed them in disaster, when their own better judgment would have warned them to desist. Messrs Walker and Grice tried every means to end the difficult}', and only resorted to force when no other solution of the problem seemed , practicable. , But bapked up by the authority of one whom th.ey had been schooled to regard ,as thejir friend, the natives prepared to resist jto the death. Judge GUlles'has ;BhQwa~ ( theip the rottenness of their standing ground^ and retire T fir6'ra the^cqur^rif noi/'wisor^'^very^ tfnyuwi^ pootfor

TnErVopl^^M'm' ibße ? ?G-overnment, received by the Cambridge Domain 'Board to the ''petition forwarded by ,the chainudn of: that body from a number of the lessees of the Domain lan(cl, asking for a fifty per cpnt reduction in their rents, and which we publish in another column, will doubtless be found not so safisfac'ory as may have been expected. For .some reason known to themselves, those who inaugurated the petition were sanguine of success — believed that the few arguments set forth in the petition, though not altogether incontrovertible, were of a sufficiently strong nature, if the question were decided on purely equitable and economic grounds to induce the Government to accede without demur to the prayer of the petition. But the reply which the Government has thought tit — evidently has been obliged to make, is not of the nature which niij*lit have been desired. The reply has an air of finality about it, and those who allowed themselves to be carried away by the spirit of competition at the sale will now have to grin and bear their burden. To fully three-fourths of the lessaes, abandoning their holdings would be anything but the panacpa which by some it has been represented to be, and so far as the question of economy is concerned, the Government is not afraid of the lessees throwing their lands on the hands of the domain board, but is fully aware that the former having effected the improvements required by the terms of the lease, would not be so foolish as to take such a step as that indicated. In the first place it would not pay the lessees to do so ; now that they have gone f.o far, they will find it much to their advantage to continue in possession, and pay the rentals which they now rightly consider so crushing ; for, assuredly, they need not expect to receive compensation for the improvements they have carried out. In the next place it is not to be entertained for a single moment that the Government will be coerced into making the concessions asked for, by the statement of the petitioners " that a large number of the allotments, now occupied by good tenants, will be thrown up, and the revenue which the board has hitherto enjoyed materially decreased." Exactly the opposite would be the result, as the various allotments, with their improvements, when thrown up, would shortly be put in the market, and bring much higher rentals than have hitherto been paid, and the board and the public would reap the benefits of the lessees' improvements. We sympathise with the unfortunate lessees, but, as we said before, we think the case is a hopeless one. A meeting of the board is called for Saturday next, when probably some means may be devised of getting out of the difficulty.

Iv another column the Public Works Department invite tenders for laying the permanent way of the "Euieka Contract " of the Waikato-Thamus Railway. It will also bo observed that specifications and general conditions may be seen .it the Public \\ r otk» Offices, Auckland, Wanganui, Chrihtcluuch, Dunedin and Imcrcaigill ; at; the lailway stations, New Plymouth and Napier ; and at the Wauleii's Office, Grahnmstown. Singulaily enough, though we have a Public Works Oifice in Waikato— at Hamilton — and though the contractors of this part of the colony may be supposed to take an interest in works of this land, the "specifications and general conditions " are not to be seen hero. The present is by no means a singular instance ; on several previous occasions we have drawn attention to the shortcomings of the department in this respect ; and we must ■irgain emphatically protest against the Government practice of handicapping the local contractors in this way, obliging them to travel to Auckland to obtain information whicli ought to be available on the spot. We trust the blunder will be rectified before it is too late, and we do hope that we shall not again be obliged to recur to the subject.

The Whatawhata Hotel has been purchased by Mr Richard George, late of Nowmaiket, who contemplates making considerable improvements.

Another public concert in aid of the libraiy of the Cambiidge East public school is being organised, and promises to be a very successful one, pecuniaiily as well as musically.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before Mr jjfoi Ihcrof t, R.M. only a few .small civil ca^os ■weie on the cause sheet, nearly all of which were settled out of court.

Mary Anderson, the American acliess, and neice to Consul Griffin, of Auckland, now m London, recently declined the honour of being presented to the Piince of Wales. She desired, she said, to avoid scandal.

From a Press Association message, dated London, lGth inst., we loam that a man-of-war has been ordered to proceed to Hayti, to inquire into the reasons why the Government shelled a British steamer.— Keports of the French vintage are favourable.

To-day, at noon, Mr J. S. Buckland will sell at Matamata, 200 dairy cows and a large number of agricultural implements, the propei ty of Mr J. C. JFirth. The sale is likely to be lai'gely attended, and it is more than probable that the whole of the cows, which are well-bred animals, will be kept in the district.

A concert and performance by the Alexandra Dramatic Club, in aid t of the Catholic Church, Alexandra, will bo given in the Public Hall on Thursday, the 25th instant. The dramatic club's entertainmcntb have always afforded great entertainment, and we make no doubt that next Thuihday's performance will be liberally patronised.

A public meeting will be held at the Oxford hotel on Saturday, the 27th inbfc., for the purpose of electing a committee and officers to draw up the programme of the race meeting to be held there on Boxing Day, and to give effect to the saino. The population about Oxford has greatly increased within the past twelve months, a fact which should tend' materially to enhance the success of the next, meeting, t

A correspondent at Ngaruawahia, bends us the ipllowing : — A meeting, of tne Blue Ribbon Army was held in the schoolroom, Ng'aruawalna, last Monday evening, at which there was a good attendance, the room being nearly full, The ineetiug was addressed' oy the Rev, Messrs DuJtes 'and Raebm-n, and Mr French, of Hamilton!, after Avhich thirty signed the pledge, most of whom, were young mc}n and wonien. , ,It is intended to nold regular ineetings here which will no doubt be a great benefit j;o the district. '- , > ■ _ >'„,,'

Superphosphate, we, have been informed, has been proved, this 'season to be a capital application rqund jft^k'inds^of .plants likely ifco be attacked^ by; snasg, slugs or 'worms: 1 t On all'^ides 'Have been h6a'r,d of the aiffiqult^^e^eneHc^d'iin <raising'plantß'tliisvAyet f se'a«on\ f lpfin*cip|illt' from tjjisGalisi^jtrße^e)itleman&wh^fiir]j,' -

ground it deslijpy« the worms, and jr'pf course very matejnf Hy helps the growth j of

D££ S. CaSpiSll £nd Mr T.* Peacock£M.B>R,, tso of tfls directors 'of the llotdrua Railway^Coin^hy l^ accompanied by M,s Jatnes SteWart, ,©.-E., ,• Engiueer ttd tho £%iijid;riy, were pas^efigers to, Waikatd, by train" yesterday. They the^" same afternoon for Morrinsville, with the" object of going along tho railway route to Estonia. Mr J. M. Clark, another of the directors, is to meet then; at Piako, , and join the party on thoir tour of inspection.

There was a fairly large attendance at the meeting of the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association on Tuesday evening last, to hear and take part in the debate, " Should corporal punishment be aboliphedin schools.", The debate was opened in the affirmative by Mr S. Bright, and the negative was taken by Mr J. P. Campbell. Both bides of the debate were ably argued, and many interesting argumentb were adduced. The debate was warmly taken up by the members, and continued spirited throughout.

The soiree in connection with the Cambridge West branch of the Blue Ribbon Army was held in the Mission-ioom on Monday evening Jast, and was veiy successful, Theiewasan unexpectedly large attendance of membeis, and the arrangements for their entertainment were complete. After the soiree, a programme of music and recitations were entered upon, the various items of which were well rendered, and evidently well enjoyed. The chair was occupied by the president, Mr T. H. W. Morris.

i The monthly meeting of the Hamilton branch of the Blue Eibbon Army was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance. The Rev. J. Dukes opened Avith hymn and prayer. Mr R. .French, presided, and the following programme was gone through : — Chairman's address; reading, "'Tiy Again," Mrs Home; solo, "He Loveth All Along," Miss Trewheellar (very sweetly sung) ; address., by Rev. Mr Slade, on his experiences of Blue Ribbonism among the Maoris. Mr Slade's address was much appreciated. At the close of the meeting six persons donned the blue.

The results of singing instruction given by the thiee master-* employed under the Board of Education are shown by the following return winch has been laid before the Bnaid : — Teachei for Auckland distiict, Mr Cranwell ; number of schools, 24 ; clashes, 28 ; hcholarn, 2,015 ; miles travelled weekly, 03 horse, 48 rail ; halary, £200 ; allowance, -GOO horse, and lail ; results, mostly .satisfactory ; last pupil teachero' examination : Passed, 43 ; failed, 37 ; teachers engaged m teaching outside of Mr Crainvell, 38 ; result .satisfactory. Toachoi for Thames distiic L , Mr (riigg ; .schools, 7 ; classes, 14 ; children, 1,721 ; .schools within radius of It miles, salary (half-time), £130 ; pupil teachers' examination ; Passed, 10 ; teachers assisting, 10. Teacher for Waikato district, Mr Bell ; schools, 10 ; classes, 10 ; children, 58!) ; school 120 miles on horseback ; salary, -6200 ; rent allowance, €25 ; horse, £75 ; results mostly satisfactory ; pupil teachers' examination : Passed, 5 ; failed, 1 ; 5) teachers' assistants.

The new road between Patetere and Waotu is now being lapidly pushed on fiom botli ends, and with fine weather ■should affoid an eaby passage foi wheeled traffic between both places at an early date. The countiy for the mont pait is of a compai.itively level natuir, and will not icquiie inucli foiining. Hairy Symonds and liih men aie making good woik .it their end, and consideiing the comparatively shoit time they have been at work, the distance of road they have formed shows clearly that natives can work when they hud it to their inteieht to do bo. At the present season therivcisto be ciosscd on the loute arc fordable for equestrians?, and the trip between both places can be niado easily in two houi'h. The principal object in the early formation of this road is to facilitate the caitage of timber from the Waotu bush to the Lichn'eld township, as a laigo supply will .shoitly be in demand for house building puipobes on Patetere. In many other robpects the road will be a highly useful one.

Amongst the large number of visitnis who have visited the Waikato Cheese Factoiy binco acthe operations commenced, have been .several gentlemen f loin other distnets, who went to compare the system followed with tho.se usually in vogue. A few days ago Mi W. Mandeno, from Katikati, iiibpoctscl the factory and e\pressed himself as being highly pleased with wli.it he .saw. A factory is about to stait at Katikati, and we undei stand that the dnectois have resolved to adopt the American principle. Yesterday Mr D. Lundon, of Tauianga, representing the promoters of the Tauranga factory company, spent the morning at the factoiy, and watched the whole process of cheesemaking, from beginning to end. Mi Lundon has only just returned from Canterbury, having gone thither to inspect the cheese factory at Ashbui ton. He left the Smith Island with a moot f.xvouiable impression of the English system, but yesterday he admitted that the American plan possessed superior advantages. The great saving of labour effected by the latter as against the former was, he says, particularly striking. At Ashburton there were five men employed, while at the Hamilton factory the whole of the work is performed by the manager and a young lad. The quantity of milk dealt with is in both cases about the same. Mr Lundon leaves the district with a strong prepossession in favour of the American principle of cheese making.

Mr Bryce, says the Timaru Herald, seems destined to have his portmanteau packed all through this recess. No sooner does he bettlea native difficulty at one spot, than afresh one bleaks out at another ; and wheievei any unpleasantness occurs, it seems to be taken for gi anted, a^amattei of course, that Mr Bryce must be off there at once to smooth it over, or flatten it out, as the case may be. His labt little affair with Tawhiao, he got through very comfortably; but this upper Wanganui bitbiuefes has a much more ugly look about it. The chief Tomato and his people, it seems, not only stopped the survey paity, but fired volleys of bullets over, and awkwardly near, their heads. This is coming it rather strong, and we fancy Mr Bryce will not relish Tomato's sauce. The place where the outrage occurred is in Tutua's country, where Moffat was shot three or four years ago. Moffat was a thorough badjot all round, and when he was killed by Tutua's orders, the public brought in an infoimal but an unanimous verdict of " Sarved him right," and the Government accordingly took no steps in the matter. But this is quite another story. When it comes to bailing tip a party of railway surveyors, firing volleys about their ears, and threatening them with battle, mmder, sudden death and other sweetmeats, it's time to let the natives know that their conduct is quite Tutua. Mr Rochfort told them pretty straight what would happen if they tried to stop the railway. It is the old story of the locomotive and the coo. If the coo gets in the way of the locomotive, so much the wor&e for the coo. That is all well enough, but it takes a man "as is a man " to tell disagreeable truths: like that to a party, of Hauhaus armed with loaded lifles, and half ciazy with fanaticism, and hatred of the pakeha. Mr Rochfort, however, is not wanting in quiet pluok, We can well imagine him walKingj coolly up to the natives with a kiok-a-chip-off-inyihat-my-bpy air, about him, and talking to them like a Dutch uncle. But the Upper Wanganui natives are nasty fellows to deal with, and they would not listen to common sense. They have been blue mouldy for want of a beating for the last ten years or more; and now they seem just in the temper to hurry things up. Mr Bryce has had his eye pji them for a loug time, and, if they don't look. out. he'll have hjs foot on them presently,

The rate of ;}d in the £ levied by, the Waipa County Council is now due, and payable to Mr 1 W. Jones, Hamilton, who has been appointed collector. ijot^re is giyen in , our , advertising columns 'that at a meeting ofrthe \Vaipa, Count) . Council, f to beheld on tho 13th November} they will take into considpration- coitain proposals of the Mangapjko an 4 Pukokur?. liqa4 Bog.rd^ re closing roads. • ••'■'' • ■•_ < meeting- wlll'ba'held' at' the, Royal , Hotel, Oxford, on the 27th) insty for the, purpose of electing a committee to carry out the programme for the Oxford, races to be held ou BoxTngDayV' 1 ' >"" - v ' r ' ''','"•' .I'One'poundJirewardilsvoffpiiad by 'PepencTe ' Ratahi, Roore and.Pe.n^Teul'ej Aupaki t ibr the recovery of horses lost since the 13th of August. ' Mr J. v Moses announces in anqiher column /, that he will hol&jf thr>e diyi' clearing sale of clothirfg/'s&r, it i -nis'_Canibridge* establishment", *' comniehoittg 6hit'het26th'iirist? JvParticulars^ &c, J can be had of iM^JjohijiKnox, Hamilton. .; j ' r '- All-clairas i a^a)nsWae^e^a.te.' T qfsTames Wells,' J;