COMMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1767, 1 November 1883, Page 2

COMMENTS.

IwhsTiNi; in "Sweeps," or "Consultations" or whatever other fancy name their promoters choose to employ, is not, it appeals, a very lucrative speculation People who go in for dancing to this kind of music are beginning to rind that they have to pay too much to the piper. In our last issue we reprinted from the Melbourne Herald a "'black list" of those con&ultation companies which have been pronounced frauds by the private detective employed by that journal, and the record has been read by many people with feelings of sadness. We cannot, with a due regard to the claims of truth, say we pity these victims of glowing advertisements fiom the other side of the watei. If they allowed themselves to be gulled by the specious guarantees of men who, if they acted up to their promises, would be absolute 10-seis by the transactions in which they ai c engaged, the verdict of an independent jury must be " Narvo them right." We cannot for the lifo of us understand why people will send their pounds or half sovereigns to Melbourne, to individuals who aie absolutely unknown to them even by name, when there are reputable men in the colony willing to take their money on investment. If sweep-gamb-ling is one of the necessities of the age we might at any rate support local industry ; and if Honolulu and San Frar - cisco are bound to receive an annual accession of population made up of levanting consultationists, it were much better that we .should combine to send our own representatives thither. The spectacle of a wealthy New Zealander would inciease the fame of the colony, provided of couise that he did not reveal the source of his riches, which he is by no means likely to do. The matter would thus icsolve itself into a system of advertising the country by means of an irregular poll tax, le\ied on the lich and the foolish, two classes of people who ought to pay tor the toleration of their neighbours. One ot the worst features in this sweep business was only brought under our notice a day or two ago. It appears that one of the •' black list" gentry, the promoter of the "Melbourne Turf Club Consultation," got his wheedling circulars translated into the Maori language, and took means to distiibute them freely among the poor natives. Whether this part of the game paid for the candle or not we do not know, but the piocecding was a miserably dishonest one, and would not tend to exalt the Anglo-Saxon in the eyes of the Maori. White men are fair game, because, knowing their own species so well, they can fully enter into the spirit of the joke ; but to descend to such paltry expedients as this to parn a dishonest living, is to perpetrate a libel on our common humanity. Despite all that the lawmakers have done in the way of repressive legislation, they can't stop sweeps, and we see nothing for it but to legalise them, and put them under proper restrictions.

The deplorable shooting accident at Te Awamutu, full particulars of which are given in another part of the issue, should serve as a warning to those placed in in charge of firing pai ties, for the future. Although no blame can be imputed to anyone, the untimely death of poor Weal is clearly traceable to a want of of caie on the part of somebody. We can quite understand that in small contests •such as that unhappy one on Saturday last, should, from their frequency and comparative unimportance, be conducted on much looser principles than would obtain in the case of an interprovincial, or even an intercommunal match, and the wonder u not that accidents should occur, but rather that they are so infrequent. We do not wish to dwell on the details of a" occurrence which has already caused ■ am enough to many ; the lesson it ceaches will, we doubt not, be carefully laid to heart by those who it is most essential should learn it.

No business of any public interest came befoie the B,M. Ooui'fc, Hamilton, at the usual fortnightly sitting yesterday. In another column will be found the full programme of the Piako County Tmf Club's meeting on the 30th hist. The piize money ii 1 * sufficient to induce good competition, and an excellent day's sport should ensue. A meeting of the ratepayers of tht> Cambridge Road District will be held at Hewitt'h Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday evening, to consider the drainage scheme to be submitted to them by the board's engineer. The particulars of the scheme have been published in these columns. , The Eey. H. Bull, of the Thames, I will preach in T/'l»ity Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, on Sunday iM?^t. On Monday I evening the annual missionary ir»eetmg will be held, when addresses will be delivered toy $hi} Rev. H. Bull, and other ministers and frjendS; A collection will be made in aid of the H<W§ . Many of our readers will be happy to leavn that Mr John Colein^u js onpe more in a ixwifcion to supply the wants of the travelling miblfa, ib will be remembered that Mr Colenmnto hotel afc Te Aroha was burnt down last May. Now a new and more commodious building has been erected on the same site. Mr Coleman has adopted his motto " Nil Desperandum," and does not despair of seeing old and new f aces around him. We would call attention |>o his advertisement, which appears "ekejwhepe. ' A P»W« i£ e^tjug was held at Oxford on Saturday fflfflfolt Ip&ti for' the' purp,oseofcdhsideFmg''DJ a (¥«l| ) } 1 } ,tidnfwith thp fotfth'coinlng anViual Va.ee meet.-.

large attendance of settlors. It was agreed to hold the racos as usual on Boxing Day, and tho secretary was instructed to write to several gentlemen asking their assistance a stewards on the occasion. Another meeting will be held ahoi tly for the purpose of drawing up the programme. Large numbers of people have been attending Mr J, Knox » sale of Mr J. Moses' utock at Cambridge, which commenced on Thursday morning last, and hah been continued daily ever since. The .sale is the most extensive of its kind which has ever been held in the district, and the amount of money which has been spent in purchases is very large. Messrs Clark and (Jane sold by auction at their mart, Cain bridge, yesterday, the privileges in connection with the athletic sports on the 9th in-t. The following prices, which cannot be called high, were realised :— Publican's booth, £2, Mr F. Rose; the gates, £7 10s, Mr Ciaig; good templar's booth, 30s, Mr Buckland ; cards, 10-s, Mr Bond; saddling padd)ck, 12s ()d, Mr Brocklesby. The Rev J. S. Hill, of Auckland. will preach at S. Andrew's, Catnbi idge, ana Christ Church, Ohaupo, on Sunday next. The offertories will be in aid of the Dioccan Pension Fund, the objects oi which aie the assistance of superannuated and invalid clergy, and the widows and orphans of clergymen. It is expected that the bush road to liotorua will be available for wheeled traffic in tho course of a mouth. Mr H. Kerr came through from Ohinemutu to Cambridge, partly on horseback and pai tly in a waggon, in eleven hours, including stoppages. The road is fit for driving on six miles into the bush on this side. Our report of yesterday's meeting of the Piako County Council is unavoidably held o\ or. The business was not of great importance. A communication was read from the Public Works Department, intimating that thePiaieie bridge would be put in repair. The Rev J. S. Hill will deliver his popular lecture on " The Tabernacle" in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Monday next. The lectuie will be illustrated by drawings prepared under Mr Hill's direction. A small chaige will be made for admission (see adveitisement), and the proceeds will be devoted to the augmentation of >S. Andrew's Sunday-school Libraiy Fund. The following specials to the Press Association, dated London, the 2!lth and 30th October, have appeared in the N.Z. Herald : —The : cargo of frozen meat by the steamer Potosi has lealised ~)\ per lb. The market is glutted. — The English Government aie arranging with Canada for the establishment of a scheme of Insli emigration to that colony on a large scale. — The French Government have decided on sending additional ironclads to China. — A steamship company lias been subsidised by France to run a line of steuneis between Havre, Bordeaux, Antwerp, the Aiistrali in colonies, and New Caledonia. — Extra coiporals have been attached to H.M.S. Nelson with the view to prevent the desertions of seamen, which ha\e been rather nmneious of late while in Australian waters. — The Trades Union Congiess sitting in Pans. Mrßioodlmivt is the President. — The French Government oldly logiets the conduct to late Admiral Pierre towards tho Lite Mr Pakenham at Tamatave.