The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1830, 29 March 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and cx.icl justice to .ill men, Ot wlntsnever state or persuasion, religious or politic ,il. Here shall the Press the People's ri^h' maintain, Unawcd by influence ,md nnbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 188 J,.

« Tt is with considerable gratification that we notice the onward progress of the North Hew Zealand Farmers'" Co-operative Association. That which a few months ago was the subject merely of speculation is now an actual fact. From the Thames to Raglan, and from Cambridge to Auckland the voice of the j country settler has confirmed the necessity for co operation. !Nor is. it only the tiller of the soil "who has*, come forward with offers of support. Those engaged in other businesses,, including even retailers and city merchants, have decided in its favour. Na public movement in. Waikato, at any rate, has been commenced with fairer prospects than this, and, as none lias bet-n of sodeserving a character, we venture to predict that its measureof success will be full and complete. The facts disclosed at the meeti7Lg- of provisional | directors held on Thursday afternoon surprised even such sanguine people as Mr William A. Graham and Mr Brooks, tvllo, though they have long accustomed themselves to look out for br<sakers ahead, are now satisfied that, all before them is plain sailing. This consummation Is mainly, if not entirely, o-»ving to the determination of the promoters to widen the scope of the association's usefulness as muck as possible, to extend its operations to the. Thames Valley, to the Waipa and Raglan, and to, Auckland and the North, ins^ad of confining tfcqni to Tcpnahere pd

the immediate neighbourhood. In addition to being as popular as ever in the district which gave it birth, so to spealc, tho' society is hailed with satisfaction in districts so widely separate! as those ropresonted on the directorate bv Mr Westney. Mr Newland, Mr \V. H. Wallis, Mr Oliarles Gould, and Mr I 'rooks, a statement which is amply attested by the hearty interest which tluso gentlemen, in common with thoir fallow dhoetors, take in their work. A great deal yet remains to be done, and skill and foresight will require to be exercised before- wo can expect to reap tho full benefits of co-opera-tion ; but the task of bringing home proof of its advantages to the minds of the farmers, — which was the chief difficulty the promoters have had to contend with — has been overcome. At the first meeting of the directors, held immediately after the public meeting on the 10th inst., it was arranged that a private canvass should be undertaken. Notwithstanding that, as Mr Graham pointed out on Thursday, the present is the busiest part of tho season, the result of this canvass has almost exceeded expectations. Of the 5000 shares proposed to be alloted at present, over 1000 havo been applied for in between Hamilton and Tamahere, and these places have been by no means exhausted. It must be remembered, too, that Mr Forrest and others wished the maximum of tho shares to be held by one individual to be kept low, in c nsequence of which many who intended making application for a large number of shares have moderated their demands. A regular canvass will now bo instituted, and as it is confidently asserted that 2000 shares can be placed in Auckland and the agricultural districts surrounding it, there will not remain many shares unapplied for at the end of a week or two. It is our liopo that cv ry farmer in the Waikato will endeavour to acquire an interest in the association, as it is only by becoming a shareholder that he can participate in the advantages of the system. There will be no difficulty in getting rid of th* shares, but the association wants its shareholders to be customers as well. Provided this necessary condition bo fulfilled, the association has a long career of usefulness before it.

Those who attend the meeting to be held on Monday night for the purpose of consider! q affairs in connection with the Hamilton Public Hall, cannot do better than resolve to urge the council to adopt Or. Yon Stunner's motion, printed elsewhere in thib issue. If the ratepayers are inclined to make any chcinoe at all, they should begin by relieving private individuals of the responsibility in connection with the bank overdraft. Gr. Yon Stunner's proposal must at once commend itself to e\erybody who takes the trouble to think on the subject. The hall, as it at present stands, is by no means adapted for the multifarious uses to which it is put, and the question of increasing the accommodation by the erection of ante-rooms has already been raised. At the same time, the position of the council chambers is a most undesirable one, and the convenience of the councillors and the public would alike be served by removing the borough offices to a site adioining the hall ; because the council room could be used, when required, as a supper-room in connection with the hall, and that at present devoted to the use of the mayor, but never used, could be converted into a ladies' retiring' room. 'I he amount proposed to be borrowed is not to exceed £400 ; the debt on the hall is £267 12s ; so that, including the sum rfquired to remove the council chambers, it is probable not more than A'3oo wou'd be needed. We commend this proposal to the earnest consideration of the ratepayers, as an easy way out of a ser.es of difficulties. A slight shock of earthquake was felt yesteiday mm n ing about ten o'clock. It was not of a serious character. The Land Court at Cambridge is at piesenfc engaged heaimg the evidence of the natives concerned in the Te Wlietn c.ise, which is expected to last for some considerable time yet. The constabulary at Cambridge are already busily engaged pulling down their quaiters thoie for removal to their new quaitcrs at Kihikihi. We understand that a concert in aid of the funds of the Hamilton Koman Catholic Church will take place on Eanter Monday. Particulars will appear in a future issue. Tawhiao and his followers arrived at Mercer on Thursday morning, and was met and welcomed by a number of Thames and Waikato Heads natives, who had provided eatables. The feast its expected to lahfc over to-da}'. The last section of the Cambridge i ail way formation is now almost completed. The contractor is now engaged with a large number of teams forming the station grounds on the brink of the lake. Colonel Reader. Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary, accompanied by Captain Anderson and Colonel Lvon, left Cambiidge on Thursday for Kihikihi. They will also visit Alexandra, and return to Auckland by to-day's train. A special sitting of the R.M. Court, Cambridge, was held yesterday, for the purpose of hearing the case of the petition against the election of certain candidates to the Pukekura Licensing Committee. Owing to the absence of certain papers the case had to be adjourned till Tuesday next. We have been requested to notify that Archdeacon Willis hopes to visit the districts of Morrinsville, "Richmond and Matamata for divine service on Palm Sunday, April Gth, and Lichfield on the first Sunday after Easter. The Holy Communion will be celebrated. We have received a letter from a correspondent at Te Awamutn on the subject of Major Atkinson's policy, and .shall have no objection to giving it insertion if only our correspondent will explain what he means. At present we have only the most hazy idea of what he is driving at. The following special messages to the Press Association, dated London, March 20th, have been published :— lt is reported that Baron Auckland ia an applicant for the Governorship of Victoria. --Mr Powell's New Guinea expedition has been postponed until next year. In our ..notice re the removal of the constabulary head quarters from Cambridge we stated that Alexandra had been fixed upon to succeed Cambridge. We now understand on reliable authority that Kihikihi, and not Alexandra, is to 1 be the ftiture head quarters of the constabulary in Waikato. The chairman of thn Pinko County CquboU taw Qomwunieafod with the hon,

Mr Mitchelson re the repair of the new Kotorua road, and fei's promise regarding the same. , Those m.er»tbei\s of the force who havo got married 'and established themselves at Cambridge will noty -have to dispose of their little holdings, and break up their homes at considerable sacrifice. It is expected that the Eev. "W. Jervois, son of his Excellency the Governor, will preach in S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, to-morrow e\ ening. At the request of the Executive, Mr T. (i. Saitdes has consented to act as honoraiy agent of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. » It would seem there are a fevs night marauders about Cambridge who are! in the habit of visiting the backyards off some of the residents during the hours of bleep, and appropriating anything in the way of eatables which they may come in contact with. One good lady has hald her cupboard robbed two nights in succession, and the matter, we uudeistand, it> now recei\ ing the attention of the police. About three months ago Mrs W. Moon, Cambridge, lost a valuable diamond from a ring. She had been attending a performance given by Professor Herbert at j the Public Hall, and on returning home misbed the stone, which was valued at £100. In the supposition that the diamond had become detached fiom its setting in the \ hall, a careful and thorough search was i I made in that building, all the dust and rubbish swept under the stage was sifted and examined, but without effect, and Mrs Moon had abandoned all hope of seeing her propei ty again, when a few days ago a native woman obsei ved some glittering object in the matting at Mr Moon's house, and on picking it up the tuiant stone was. discovered, having most piobably been pulled from its setting as Mro Moon was removing her glove. Cr. Yon Stunner has given notice to move at the next meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council: —" That this council take the necessary .steps to «/>tf in the J consent of the bin gesses Wraibe a'loan not] exceeding £400, with which to liquidate the existing liability of £207 12b upon the | Hamilton Volunteer and Public Hall and to make such additions to the building as will render it suitable for the offices of this council as well as for a Tovn Hall and Public Library ; also, that in the event of such proposal being agieed to, the mcmbeis for Waikato and Waipa be requested to I | take the necessary steps, in the coming session of the (*eneial Assembly, to procure the repeal of the Hamilton Volunteer Hall Site Act, IS7B, and Amendment Act, 1870, and the handing over to the Borough of Hamilton the land and building theiein referred to." j The Great World Circus gave two peiformances at Hamilton —on Thuisday and last night, to very good houses. Although the company is not a sttoug <<ne numeiicdlly, the peifoimeib aie each, in his own line, thoroughly pioficient, and the enteit.umuent, if it is Licking in quantity, is of fn st-class quahtv. The horsemanship, though, peihaps, not the most interesting part of the show was f.mly good, the uding of the littleboy «uid gul being greatly applauded. Messfs Easton and Liao's feats on the unibible wno, the Roman lings, the homontal bar, and the high tiapezo weie exceptionally good, and indeed quite up to anything we have seen in tho colony. MessKs Johnson and Lazelle make the funniest of clowns, and cieate roais of laughter. The peifoiniances of Mr Johnson's tuck maieand pony weie gieatly appieciated. The encus performs to-night at Te Awamutu, and on Monday the comi>any commence a season of two nights at Cambiidge. It is well worth seeing, and doubtless it will be liberally pationised. On the Ist April a new railway time-table will come into force. The changes, so fai as Waikato i-, concerned, aie not gie.it, but they aie wo think, m the pioper diiection. The train leaung Auckland for Te Awamutu will stait at i) a m. instead of S.^j a.m., and will aime at Hamilton at 2 3.") p.m. instead of 2 13, and lit Te Hwamutu at 3.30 in place of 3.3. The North tram will leave Te Awamutu at at!).4o a.m. instead of !).2O as at present, and Hamilton at 10.40, and will reach Auckland at 4.4!) p.m. The through tram fiom Auckland only .stops at certain stations north of Meieer to pick up passengers for Waikato, and the through noith train will only stop at the same place-, to set down passengers fiom Waikato. This is only a leasonable coucehsion to Waikato people, a* the M,tller-> hung to the noithward of Mereor already have their own local tiains. It is woithy of note, howevei, that while it it. proposed to diminish the number of stopping places, the bpeed of the tianis will not be materially accelerated. These are the only alterations affecting residents in this district. The Mauku Correspondent of the Auckland Herald wiites on the 24th hist: —" The pioneei.s the settlement of Helvetia, consisting of Mr. E. Ungster and a paity of five of nib countrymen, young men, are now at work on tho block wheie the paity are to make their homes. They came to Wellington in the lonic, and thence to Aucklaud in the Itotoinahana, where they arrived on Tuesday last, and being determined to be on the land the first day, left Auckland by the quaiter past four train for Pukekolie, fiom which they proceeded at once for Helvetia, thuir future homes. It was of cour.se quite dark when they an i ved theie, but next day all hands weie to be seen quite busy. Theie is a large house, some 40 or /50 feet long, bring erected for the use of the present parties, which they expect to occupy in a day or two. The new arrivals are pleased with the look of the countiy. and our old fiiend, Mr. Engster, seems glad to be ones again in New Zealand. After all his wanderings, may he be the means of forming many happy homes lound him, for theie are lots of acres in want of bauds and lots of hands in want of acres, and it is to be hoped that in few xeais we will see a good population on the block of land, a deal of which is very good, and instead of fein and bush, may there be comfort ible homesteads and gardens. There are grass and clover on a deal of it knee deep at the present time. Mr Eugoter expects others to follow after a while. " [ At Thursday's sitting of the Auckland Clown Lands Boaid, the. following business interesting to our readeis was transacted: —Kihikihi. —Some, time ago the local boaid had sent a memo, in tespectof clearing Crown lands of goise and fuize. The application had been refencd to the Minister of Land-, who now replied that no liability was attached to thelio\ eminent to clear Ci own lands ofgoiseor fui/se. —lt was agreed to lcply accordingly. —A letter was received from tho Native Minister in reference to the occupation of lots 5, 9, and (i, in the town of Kihikihi. The Minister wrote that he had distinctly refused these sections to Ilitiru Paerato. —lt was agreed to inform the applicant that the boaid had no power to grant the lequest, and to ask the native by what authority he occupied the land iv question.—Tam'aheke Swamp Lands. —Mr Rose, secietaiyof the Auckland Agricultural Company, wrote complaining of the high reserve put on these lands, £2 per acre. —A report on the suoject from the Absistant Surveyor-(4eneral was read, and on the motion of Mr Tonks it was agieed to reduce the upset price to £1 per acre.— Churchiix.— The application for the expenditure of £30 from deferied payment revenue to improve the approaches to the punt at Churchhill crossing of the Waikato. It was agreed to forward the letter to the Government with a recommendation that the request be grauted. — Deferred Payment Settler. Mr JReynold.s, a deferred payment settler at Te Aroha, applied to be allowed to pay up the balance of his purchase money and get his Crown grant. —Referred to the Crown Lands Ranger to report on the improvements effected. Similar applications were received from deferred payment selectors in Ormond, and the permission being approved of, was granted.—Cambridge School Site. —An application for an additional area of two acres, made by the Board of Education at the desire of the school committee, was granted.

Mr J. S. ttuckiand offers a reward for the re-ovcry of a light bay filly. A notice by the Te Awamutu poundkeeperappears in another column. Mr H. Lewis, Te Awamutu, invites tenders for carting- between 200 and 300 tons of potatoes. Dux's consultation on the Cambridge Cup is advertised elsewhere in this issue. Mr \V. Robertson, W-iitetuna, advsrtises a. chestnut filly running on his farm. A 3J horse-power vertical steam engine is ad ertised for sale, almost new. Apply to Mr M irray, Pialco, or Air Cochrane, Hamilton. Mr Aldr'.dgc will conduct the usual services at LeQuesne's Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow. Subject for evening lecture, " Ministry of Evil." _ Messrs Clark and Gane will sell by public auction at her residence, Kingf-street, Cambridge E-nst, on Wednesday next, the 2nd April, the who'e of the valuable, furniture, and effecte of Mss Franklyn.' A fulf li«it of the lots will bo f ur.d in the advertisement in another part of this