The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1819, 4 March 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribcd by cram

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 188 4

Mucn interest is apparently taken in the subject to be brought before the meeting at the, Hamilton Public Hall on Monday evening next. It is felt that if there be any virtue in co-operation it is greatly needed at the present time. We confess to feeling somewhat disappointed that the subject should have called forth so little public discussion up to the present ; though we are willing to attribute this to the fact that the general principles of co-operation have been already pretty widely diffused. A great deal has been written and said upon the subject, and so far the arguments used have all been in favour of a scheme of united action, by which the farmers may obtain the highest price for their produce, and procure ac reasonable rates those articles of food and clothing necessary to their comfort, as well as tho implements, seeds and manures which are requisite in order to successful agr. culture. No sane man would care to controvert such a plain truth as this, and there is surely no one, anxious for the general welfare of his kind, who will not, so far as it lieb in his power, lend a helping hand to secure the adoption of the principe of co-operation. Let there be no mistake about the matter. A co-operative association, as we understand it, is not a divi-dend-paying- concern, though there can be no objection to the distribution amongst the shareholders of fairly-earned profits. Primarily and chiefly it ought, as wo have already indicated, to be regarded as a means by which the relations of the farmer's exports and imports, so to speak, may be more equitably adjusted. If the tiller of the soil can get a larger share of the profit on his produce than at present, and secure to himself some portion, at least, of the heavy discount which the middleman obtains from the implement-manufacturer and the grain and manure merchants, he can easily afford to do without dividends. Directly the association comes to be regarded in the light of a paying investment for the loose cash of outside capitalists, its usefulness to the farming community will begin to wane. Because the management must vest in the hands of the shareholders, and if the majority of the latter be of the non-producing class, the aims of the association will be directed towards money-making and not money -saving. It is not necessary at the commencement of operations that there should be a large capital, but it is necessary that the shareholders should be composed almost exclusively of the agricultural class ; and it is desirable that the direction of affairs should be solely in the hands of that class. Mr Newland, in an interesting letter in our last issue, thinks the head-quarters of the proposed association should be at Auckland, because the managers, "if they are to be in a position to buy and sell with advantage, must be in constant contact, as it were, with other business men, and that cannot be at Hamilton, which otherwise would be a central position." Upon what ground Mr Newland bases his assumption is not clear, unless it be that he desires to make the association a commercial success, in the sense that an insurance company, for instance, ought to be successful, i.e., a divi-dend-paying concern, conducted solely in the interests of speculative capitalists. If Mr Newlands view be the right one, how, we may ask, has the Canterbury Association succeeded so well, seeing that its centre of operations is not at Ohristchurch, but at Timaru, 100 miles away from the chief port of the provincial district? Our correspondent, " Waikato," whose letter appears in another column, puts the case in a fair light. There is much force in his arguments for the retention of the control of the association in 'Waikato, and we commend the letter to the careful attention of our readers. It is a matter of little moment where the head-quarters shall be, so long as they are in the district, and so long as the business of the association is under the direct control of the directors, who, while they should possess business qualifications, must also be farmers, or men deeply interested in the welfare of agriculture.

With reference to a telegram which appeared in our Saturday's issue, stating the opinion of the borough solicitor of Napier with respect to the validity of voting papers which left less than five names uncancelled, we have been at some pains (in view of the election of a licensing committee for Pukekura to-day) to inquire into the matter. The result of our enquiries is that the opinion of the borough solicitor at Napior cannot be sustained, and that if an elector leaves uncancelled five names op undejp OJ j, q, yptjug'

paper his vote cannofe bo challenged on tho ground of imforniality. This opinion is supported by competent legal authority, so that it is quite in accordance with law for an elector to vote for two, three, or more candidates aa long as he does not leave uucancelled more than five namrs on his voting paper. While upon the subject of the Pukekura election, which takes place to-day, we shall take occasion to refer to a letter wiitfcan by Mr Joseph Gnne, appearing in another part of this issue. Our correspondent appears to have misinterpreted our meaning. We did not suppose for a moment that the residents of Pukekura had any intention of interfering with the present licensed house at Ohaupo — on the contrary, we expressed the opinion that they wore fully convinced of its utility. The object of our remarks was to induce the residents of each district to loave thoso in the other to manage their own affairs in their own way. It would bo just as unfair on the part of Ohaupo to foist an hotel on Pukekura, if the latter were against it, as it would be for Pukekura to take away tho license of the Ohaupo Hotel in opposition to the people of that settlement and district. We trust we have made our meaning clear upon this point.

Last night's cable news is of a more than usually interesting character. The English Government have complained to the Government of the United States that assistance has been afforded in America to dynamite plotters in England. Further accounts from Sualvim state that the battle on the 29th of February was a desperate engagement. The rebels fought bravely for three hours. Cols. B^ker, Burnaby and Barron were severely wounded. The British, under General Graham, have now advanced to Tokar, and have relieved that place, the rebels retiring before them. Gordon Pasha has issued a proclamaation at Khaitoum, icbuking the Soudanese for lebelling, and threatening to bung British troops to punish them.

The death is announced of Mrs Gillies, the wife of Mr Justice Gillies. The deceased lady had been suffering from general debility for several years.

A tender for the Karamu Road diversion contract has been accepted, but the n.une of the contractor and the amount of the tender are not known.

The contractors are now at work forming the last section of the Cambridge railway, and in a few days the men will be with'n the town bolt.

We are requested to state that the Rev. Mr Gulliver will conduct the services at S. Andiew's Chinch, Canibndge, on Sunday ne\t.

The Rev. W. Calder returned to Auckland on Satnuhy, after a week's sojourn in Waikato. The rev. gentleman's health was greatly improved by the change.

The principal storekeepers of Cambiidge have jointly iigreed to close their places of business on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fiid.iys at 6 o'clock p.m., and at 9 p.m., on and after the Ist pi ox.

The opening of S. Paul's new Wesleyan Church, Cambridge, to-morrow, piomises to be well attended by the representatives of the Wesleyan denomination fiom all parts of the Waikato district, as well as by members of other denominations. The opening service will commence punctually at 3 o'clock, and the Rev. Alexander Reid will preach the opening sermon.

Cambridge presented an unusiially lively appearance throughout Saturday, and may be slid to have looked itself once more. A large number of natives, together with several Europeans, had gathered in for the Land Court, and though they put very little " foreign capital " m circulation, still their presence gave the town a very brisk and business-like appearance.

The Land Court opened at Cambiidge on Saturday last, and continued at business throughout the day. A number of minor cases w ere disposed of, but the old business, or that adjourned from previous courts, was adjourned till the 18th mst., to be dealt with by Judges Macdonald and Puckey. The court also sat throughout yesterday. Judge Williams is the presiding judge.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Domain Boaid was held last night. Present: Messrs Peat (chairman), Davy, Bradley, McDonald, Tippen, Johnson and Yon Stunner. The Secretary reported that lots 20, 30, 31, 32 and 42, Hamilton East, had been leased to Messrs King and Keny for 21 yeais, at rentals ranging fiom os to 7.s (id per acre per annum. Some other routine business was transacted.

At last night's meeting of the Hamilton Domain Boaid, the secretary, Mr Gelling, exhibited a live trout, taken from his breeding boxes and brought to the meeting in a bottle. The youngster, who is now si\ months old, measuies fully four inches in length, and seemed to be particularly lively. The trout liberated in the rivoi have been seen from time to time, and appear to be doing remarkably well.

Last Saturday (says our Aroha contempoiary) several of the Ohinemuri chiefs passed through this township on their to Waiharekeke to attend a meeting, convened by Te Ngakau, with reference to Tawhiao s proposed visit to England, by an imitation from the Aborigines Society, London. Tawhiao has now got about £2,000 towards his iitp; the Ohinemuri natives gave about £40. Tawhiao requests all the natives to desist from surveying or putting their land through the court till he returns.

Passengers from Waikato to Auckland on Saturday, by both trains were delayed in consequence of an accident, between Manurewa and Papatoetoe, some tiucks having run off the line, and damaged the pei maneut way. A special train from Auckland conveyed the passengers by the 5 o'clock tram, but those booked in the twain leaving Hamilton at 2 p.m., were obliged to wait until the line was clear, and did not leach their destination until 10.30 p.m.

A correspondent of the Aroha New s writing from Morrinsville Says :— Considerable interest is evinced with regard to a general meeting of those interested in forming a Farmers Cooperative Association to be held on the 10th of March, next, in the Public Hall, Hamilton West. Mr Barton, who actively canvassed every district of the Waikato, Waipa, and Piako counties, has received much engagements, Fresh evidence of the necessity to the farmers of some such institution to bring buyer and settlers together in the manner most profitable to both, is continually coming forward. The middle man has been having things a little to much his own way. A farmers' co-operative association would doubtless be well supported, and prove a boon to many.

The following special messages to the Press Association, dated London, Feb. 29th and March Ist, have been published :—The new Electoral Reform Bill will, it is estimated, create two millions of additional voters, and Mr Gladstone suggests that additional representation in the shape of a limited increase in the number of members of the Housa of Commons Bliould be granted. He is not, however, favourable to the reduction in the number of Irish members.—The Indian railway system is to be extended to Quetta.—The National Review has published Mr Parson's article on the Northern Territory. — The European Powers have agreed to accent the suggestions of the Convention for the protection of the submarine cables. General Gordon, as Governor of the Soudan, has issued a proclamation, stating that he has summoned the British troops to Khartoum to punish the rebels.

The Piako correspondent of the Aroha News writes :—Ruinour, busy heia as elsewhere states that negociations are at present being carried on for the disposal of Messrs Morrin and Studholme's large and valuable «state (consisting of some 28,000 aorod, more or less, and containing some of the best lan 4 in this part of ihft, colony) to some (English and othpp) pftpi.-' talists, and it is further awerfcfid that should the prposed,sale take place the purchiwem tofcwd 9\tftin£ up tip property jato puty

able farms. Certain it is that several large and well-know capitalists have lately visited this district, and that they spent several days carefully looking over the property referred to. A move of this character would certainly be beneficial, by bringing a number of settlers of a good class* into the district, and as a result, we might expect toHce much increased employment of labour, and the whole district much benefitted. A correspondent writes :—I regrot to have to refer to the unsatisfactory, I might say disgraceful, mnnner in which matters in connection with the Cambridge cemetery are conducted. I presume, if there is any fault to find with the cemetery, the persons to blame are the trustees, whose duty it is to see that the charge with which they are invested is properly attended to and not neglected. That the trustees in this case h.we neglected their charge has recently become evident, and matters in connection with the administration of affairs have of late been carried on in a manner which, to say the least, does not reflect credit on the Christian feeling of the town, or those who represent it in this parparticular department. A few days ago an incident which fully demonstrates the correctness of those reflections transpired, but the details are of such a nature that I do not feel called upon to refer at any further length to the subject. The cemetery truseees, in holding the office the do, must remember that it is more than a matter of trust, for, as well as being trustees, they muat also discharge the duties of caretaker and manager, instead of relegating the duties of offices to a man utterly incapable of appreciating his position.

On Saturday evening last a young man of the jockey persuasion gave the public of Cambridge a series of gratuitous exhibitions of his equestrian powers in the streets of the town. Some pronounced him under the influence of liquor, and it was quite evident he had brushed against a publican somewhere. Atter tearing about through the street, like an overgrown infant that had taken leaf of its senses, he thought to entertain his friends by jumpintr his. horse over the horse-rail in front of Messrs Lewis and Simpson's premises, but after a few vain attempt, and the assurance of one of the partners of that establishment that he would find himself in the tenement set apart for his kind, he was pleased to desist from his Turpin like maneonvres, but not until he had given vent to a few pious sentiment*, wherein he expressed the business-like desire of " having it out" with all and sundry of those who had dared to interrupt him. Possibly the penalty for the triple offence of cruolty to animal*, insulting language, and being a nuisance if inflicted would bring such silly people to their proper bearing and make them less objectionable to the community generally.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Road Board was held on Saturday. Present: Messrs Atkinson (chairman), Ridler, Way and Exelby.—A circular was received from the commissioner of the Property Tax, — The Hamilton Boiough Council wrote intimating that No. 1 Bridge vas in a bad state of repair. It was agreed that the council should carry out the necessary repairs, the board to pay half the cost.—The following tenders were recened for drains on Exelby's road:—.T. Goodwin, 7s per chain (informal); R. Dellicar, 10-> (informal) ;J. Deegan, its (id (accepted). It was resolved that the woik be carried out under the supervision of Mr Exelby.—lt was agreed to write to the various road boards in Wai pa County, asking those bodies to co-operate with a view to the destruction of sparrows and other small birds, also, to write to the county council asking for support in the matter.—lt was resolved to notify the Hamilton Borough Council of the bad state of the Ohaupo road within the borough boundary.—lt was agreed to write to the Newcastle Road Board asking that body to join in an endeavour to get the Hamilton-Ncaruawahia road proclaimed a main road.—The engineei was instructed to report on all gorse growing m the district.—Accounts amounting to £39 18s were passed for payment and the board adjourned.