The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1823, 13 March 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Ecju.il and u\.n t justii c to all men, Ot uh.itsof \er st.itc or persuasion, religious or pohtK -il Were shill the Press the F'eople's nghf maintain, Unawed by influence and unbnbcd by (j.»n.

THURSDAY, MARCH IJ, ISS4. , Wur.N v ill the Grovernment of the colony cease to tinker with the management of the railways, and obtain the services of somebody competent to do the work 1 For many years — ever since the lines were opened, in. fact — they have been made the sport of leisured Ministers and incompetent officials. I his statement, po.ha.ps, requires .some qualification. It cannot be denied that some really honest attempts have been made to place the railways on a sound, permanent basis ; but speaking in a general w.ty, the management, from first to last, has been a long series of experiments, which, while they have not yet led to any substantial increase in the revenue, have as certainly not contributed to the con1 venience of the public, in whose interest the lines, being national undertakings, were constructed. Had. railways been something new, the invention of a New Zoalandev let us say, there would, have been some reason in the system of training our own railway managers, but when we had so wide a field to choose from, it was little short of madness to have pursued the course followed. We refer more particularly to \ the supreme management at Wellington ; the district officers, with few exceptions, have proved themselves worthy of the trust reposed in them. Singularly enough, while most of the traffic managers and the other subordinates of the depart went, have been men with more or less Home experience, the chief officials, with the single exception of Mr Lawson, sometime Commissioner for the North Island, have gained all the knowledge they possess, (whatever that may amount to,) of railway traffic management, within the colony. Mr Passraore, who shone the comet of a season, blossomed forth in all the glory of " Superintending Engineer of Constructed "Railways " before he knew anything about the business, and a kind Government scut him to Eng-

land for twelve months in full pay, in order that he might learn ! The preset; General Manager probably knows as little as his predecessors ; Mr Mitchelson, we are afraid, in in p etty much the same position with regard to those who preceded him. We believo the new Minister's intentions are good enough. During the short time ho has been in office ho h:is largely increased the esteem in which ho was hold by the general public ; but on railway matters wo are compelled (o think he is at sea. Wo never expected anything bettor, and wo shall not look for any substantial improvement until the direction of affairs is taken out of the hands of the Government and placed in those of a board constituted after the manner of that in Victoria. Though, therefore, we deplore the errors of our railway system, we by no means hold the Minister for Public Works responsible for them. We do not blame him for the absurd alterations in tho tariff which are to como into force on the 17th inst. So long as the railways are managed politically, or, in other words, so long as they are used for the purpose of making up any deficiency in the revenue, it is useless to expect that th y can be made to subserve the interests of the people who use them in pursuit of the ordinary business of life There cannot be the slightest doubt that the recent changes in the tariff are traceable solely to the fact that the customs revenue has failed to come up to tho estimate. We are not told this ; it is explained that the object of the Government is to get rid of the present heavy deficit in the railway revenue but the Government would not think of urging such a plea m the face of a rising customs revenue. Our wonder is that Ministers have the courage to employ such an excuse at all, in the fare of a growing conviction that the railways .should not be run for profit at all. So far, we blame the Government, or rather the sj'stem : Our grio\ a ic i against the management is on account of the. clumsy way in which the schemo of the Government is to be put into practice. The Treasurer wants money, and the Railway Department is asked, to contribute ,i;loO,000. This they have proceeded to do in the usual rule-of-thuuib fashion by clapping 10 per cent, on to the passenger fares. Nor is this all; the 10 per cent, increase is only to apply beyond a radius of 10 miles outside Auckland and the other chief towns of the colony. Thus the alteration will not affect the people of Otahuhu or Onohunga, but will apply only to the case of settleis bouth of the former place. The portions of railway o\er which the bulk of the passenger traffic is convoyed are not affected at all. A smaller increase in the fares between Lytteltou and Christ eliuivh ,and between Tort Chalmers and Duuedin, would have realised quite as much as the 10 per cent, addition on tho vest of the ►Southern s>y.stein will bring in ; and the same remark applies, though A\ith lebb ionic, to the North Island. The country settlor is already taxed sufficiently high, and it is as unjust as it is stupid that he should be further handicapped, while the residents in suburban districts and thoso "who como by sea are treated with so much consideration. In respect of the increase in the freight tariff, we do not suppose it will materia'ly affect us, though, when we have the tables before us, we may have something more to say on the subject. The Department will no doubt effect a saving of many thousands by discontinuing the issue of free pab&es to the Press, the representatives of which are still to be induced to travel by the offer of season tickets at reduced rates. We bhall be curious to know tho amount of money the Government will realise from this source during the next financial year. On inflection, perhaps, it is as well that our railway administrators do occasionally commit a few blunders. They can but hasten the dawn of a new and better order of things.

Somi; people have very peculiar iiicas as to the obligations they are under in borrowing books from a public library. They regard the institution ai a cheap bookstall, where books and periodicals are. to be had at the minimum price. When they borrow a book, they take it home, and having finished with it, they indifferently put it on their own private bookshelf, by way of mci easing the family collection. They do not think that by retaining in their possession for yeaia a book of w hich they have only paid for the loan, they are guilty of peculation. But it is nevertheless tiue ; that of which they have beea guilty of is a dishonest act. Of all classes of subscribers there is possibly none moie objectionable that the careless subsciiber. He is inspired with an idea that he ought to read a book, and in the due exercise of his desire he gets one. He starts to read, but his lumd is not at rest, the book is dry and unattractive, it has failed to entertain him, and he, instead of immediately restoring it to the place from whence he took it, throws it carelessly aside. The book is unfoitunate enough to have a few engravings here and there, and this once discovered its value increases ten fold. Why, it saves at ;le and ymonjy, tor the next month, and leaf by leat it is devoured by the family baby. Babies are generally fond of literature ; it affords them food for the irmifl, for the mouth, and for the fingers for weeks at a time. A well illustrated book is a mine of wealth in a iamily where there are a few babies ; and still people will persist in the silly idea that babies are not intelligent ! What ignoiance. Again, a library book is often made the only source of wastepaper in many an intelligent household. The average book leaf is a very convenient size for pipe lights, candle wrappers, saucepan grippers, boys' dartß and butchers meat; even a German sausage looks comfortable in one. A visit to the Cambridge Public Library will suffice to convince the reader (possibly a large number of our readers do not waiit convincing) that many of the subscribers to that institution are wont to indulge their destructive propensities on the literary property there. Some people think nothing of returning a book minus its illustrations and many pages of reading matter, evidently believing that so long as the cover remains, there is no occasion for fault-finding. Such cannot have the welfare of the library at heart; they subscribe simply because it is convenient to do so, and take out an occasional book, not to road It, but simply to indulge a iney© Wtyni, Q r fo h^ye ftU a^ditionAl Of'

nament on their table or shelf. A library would be much better without such subscribers, for they destroy more than their subscription compensates for.

The recent heavy rain brought down a number of logs from the Waotu bu^l) to the booms at Cambridge. Gubbins' Bridge near the Ohaupo Saw Mill is reported to be in a very unsafe condition. We are informed that a petition baa boon numerously signed in the Upper Waipa District in favour of placing Mr J. Nowland's name on the roll of Justices of the Peace. The Waikato Cheese Factory Company will ship by the next ste.im.er, to order, a ton of clitese for Brisbane, Queensland. The concert in aid of Cambridge Trinity Presbyterian Church Organ Fund came off last night. The ball was well filled; over £30 being taken. A detailed report in oar next. We understand that Mr Hewitt's Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, is likely boon to changj hands, and that Mr A. Bach of the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, is the prospective landlord. The death is announced of the well-known author and journalist, Blanch ard Jerrold, for m.my years editor of Lloyd's Weekly Newspajjer. He was the author of numerous books and plays, not so extensively road as they deserve to be. The hon. Messrs Gillies and Kerferd, members of the Victorian Government, weie passengers to the Lakes in one of Mr Johnson's coaches on Tuesday, having arrived from Auckland the same day. They expressed themselves greatly pleased with the appear.vuce of the country. It is notified that forms of application for Letters Patent can bo obtained giatis at any Money Older office. Copies of the Patents Act aud Regulations, with hints to inventors, price one bhilling, can be obtained from Chief Postmasters on appl^ cation at any Money Order office. The Cambridge Town Board intends gravelling the newly-formed road between S. Andrew's Church coi ner and the Baptist Tabernacle. We hope the w>ik will not be delayed until the rainy season sets in, .so that the gra\ el may have tin.c to consolidate befoie the winter traffic makes the road unpleasant. Mr Nicol, the contractor, has finished the bridges on the RangiihiHuntly road, which have been built by the Waikato County Council out of the loan obtained under the provisions of the Roads and Bj idge^ Construction Act. The usual monthly meeting of the Piako County Council, fixed for Wednesday evening last, fell through for want of a quotum. Though the pro-ent councilloia have now been in office foi thiee years, this is only the second tune that a meeting has lapsed for want of a quorum. The meeting .stands .adjourned till next Wednesday. The subsidy allotted the Cambiidgu Public Libr.uy this year is an unu.ually handsome one, being £3(i 18s Sd. The amount is At present on its way from Wellington, and will soon be in the bauds of the seeretaiy for disposal. Another addition to the pie;,ent liteiary stock of the library may now be looked forward to. A cricket match between the Aioha and Hamilton clubs, is piojucfed to take place on next Saturday week. In ■view of this, as well as of that against the Otiihuhu team, it is to bo hoped the Hamilton men will go in for a little piaetice in the meantime. Their play of late has b^en exceedingly loose, and there has always been a want of unity in the fielding. Robson's diorama of the Egyptian War was exhibited at Cambiidgo on Tuusday evening last. The hall was ciowdcd, and all weie evidently highly pleased with the en toi tabling and instinctive natuie of the exhibition. A Luge number of pii/es were distiibuted at the close of the evening. The dioiama will be again exhibited at Cambiidge on Satin day evening. The diorama will be exhibited at Kilnkihi tonight, and doubtless will be well patronised. At the meeting of the Cambridge Town Boaul held on Monday evening last, it was agieed to foim the following streets and call for tendei s for the work immediately : — Hall.stieet, one chain wide, fiom Hamilton load to noithein boundaiy of allotn.ent.")S3 ; Chile-Street, one chain wide, from HalKsttoet to Vogel-stieet ; Vogcl- j stiect, half-a-cham wide, from Clare-stieet to noi th side of Taylor-street West ; and form load from Tayloi-stieet West to the extreme boundary of Lot IG, domain lands. The moonlight trip in connection with the Hamilton Band came off last night. Owing to the dullness of the evening, the attendance was not ' so numerous as might have been expected ; still neatly a hundied availed themselves of the'outing. The Delta left the wh.uf about 8 o'clock, and proceeded a few miles down the river, returning about half past 10. The band played some choice pieces in a \eiy ci editable style. Dancing was freely indulged in during the trip. Jtisto be hopodth.it a finer night will favour the band on theii next excursion. As bones of contention, it would seem as if the Pukekohe andPuahoe Blocks are destined to bo picked very clean, by the costly and interminable process of legal adjustment, with its numbeiless quibbles and unceasing technicalities. A few days ago we thought the process caniod out by Major (jrieen had put an end to all fuither legal interference in the matter, but it seems the ever restive fingera of the law have di.scoveied a fiesh means of access to the ill-fated jam-pot of Pukekura. It appears that on the ciititicate of title issued by the land court there aie eighteen names, but of these only ten signed the lease to Messrs (Jrico and Benn. The excluded eight are now coming on the grantees for an account of theiv stewardship. We understand that writ" are about to be served on Mr K. B. j Walker and party, who, with the giantoes, will be concerned in the coming proceeding-!. Apropos of the story about Professor Holloway offering Charles Dickens £1000 for a " lift-up " in one of his books, it is albj said that the editor of the Times has frequently i eceived offers of a cheque for £1000 if he would mention such or such a thing in a leading article. \Vo aie only m the very infancy of adverting, and in fifty years hence advertisements m newspapeis will be far costlier than at present. Already tin cc papeis in London make it a condition on the receipt of advoitisements that they are not bound to any paiticular day for their insertion. What will the «tate of things be half a century hence? The cause of all this lies in the fact that enterprising people have discovered that the more they advertise the more business they do. - After about three years of anxiety, unceasing anticipation, encouraging promises only to be forgotton, the public of Cambridge have at last the satisfaction of witnessing the formation railway line through their town. Men are now busily engaged on the formation immediately in front of S. Andrew's Church, and before many weeks have passed the line, or, at least, the formation, will have reached its terminus. The history of the Cambridge railway from the day when the proposal was first mooted till the present time, if recounted with its many embarrassing vicissitudes and delays would be of much interest, not only to those immediately concerned in its construction, but to any person, as showing the routine which usually precedes the construction of railway lines in this part of the colonj\ It is to be hoped that the promise of the Minister for Public Works to have the railway finished in June will not be lost sight of, as the day when Cambridge will be in direct communication with Auckland by rail is anxiously looked forward to. The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, writing recently, says : — We have seen the last of our distinguished visitors, the Earl and Countess of Kosebery, who, having made an almost Royal progress through the colonies, have left by the mail steamer for England. It is true that we have made a great deal of Lord Rosebery, but then in return he has made a great deal of us. He has flattered us with a degree of skill which we are only now beginning to appreciate. He has recognised our greatness, and, styling us the infant Hercules, has asked us to look with a clement eye on any shortcomings of our kinsmen at Home. He has been filled with wonder at the ability and foresight displayed by the Australasian statesmen at the Federal Convention. Mr Berry already in fancy sees ' himself the superior of Mr Gladstone, and he has patronised even the Earl himself— offering to find him a seat for Collingwood or Geelong if he will cast in hJB lot with üb. : Young, wealthy, 1 a wbfawWi rod yet « vtaawrat, is^t won^e*,

ful that we have all fallen before his glozing tongue ? Not the rugged sternness of the President of the Trades Hall, the representative of the working men, could withstand his charm, and at his bidding this ultrademocrat waited on him at Government House, and recounted subsequently with pride the interview, in which a real live lord had declared himself to be a democrat. In Adelaide Lord Rosebery experienced his final lionising, and at the farewell banquet roared as gently as Bottom the weaver. A "highly respected clergyman of the Church of England whoso practical views on passing events are always woithy of attention " writes to the Wanganui Herald :— I see by the Herald that the Rev. W. J. Williams has been preaching on the Ormondville tragedy. Mr Williams is surely ignorant of the elements of representative Government when he says "he condemned the Government for establishing the licensing system." Our Government are bimply our executive, what are all these licensing bench elections. If the majority say yes, the Government cannot say no. lam a teetotaller myself, but lam almost inclined from the recent utterances of Sir William Fox, and others, to put on record my protest, weak though it may be, against this eternal harping against the Government, and that poor devil the. publican, and even extend my sympathy to the drunken sinner. If religion teaches us anything, it teaches us how to use, and not to abuse. If the logic many use re drink were applied to all other abuses in the woild, the sooner we get into the other life the better. What about the other sins of society and trade? What about the cut thro<it advertisements — brazen, deceitful, and crafty ? What about the present day devouring of widows' houses, ? What of shoddy goods and sales ? What about the money-lending extortioner*, the individual, and the company? What about our land and jobbery rings ? Wh.it about 50 per cent, reductions, underselling, co.st prices, fine cutting games of speculation ? What about the revelations of bankruptcy ? Who sets some of these fiics agoing? What about the embezzlements we read of in eveiy newspaper ? What about all this extravagant method of living that many tiade->peoplo ape now-a-days? What about these stately castles, dashing hoises, fine drawmg-iooms, sumptuous banquets and parties, goigeous apparel m street- walk ing, and stately church-going? What ab'iut the sms of the flesh ? The above I cousidei fishy sins though people seem to shut their eye.l to these. What about tlioso who are entangled by dovihsh aits and fly into a gulf worse than hell itself ? What about child murder? What about these i\ho, with blatant face, spoi t about with other men's wives? What about our Di\oice Courts and our rape telegiairs? What about our swell youth who nun their health, empty their pockets, and haiden then hearts? These are only a few, and a very — very few, of our social -.ins. Why should the Government, the publican, and the pool dnmkaid be the eternal taiget of eloquence ? Is it because they aie outside some of oui socts, or is it because men mfusuto upon their eyes? I am only a simple-minded country clergyman, and seldom 01 ne\ er pi each in town. If I did, 1 should certainly make a shot at pliaiNaisin and hypociisy, and e\tend a little more sympathy to the publican, and the diunken sinner, and let the splendid sinneis have a round or two of grape.