The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1864, 17 June 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equ il ,uul o\ let justice to .i'l men, 01 \\h.iUoe\er st ite or persuasion, rcliyious or I3olitir.il. Here shall the Press the People's n^M maintain, Uiidwcd by influence and unbnhcd by g.iin

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 18S$.

Tnosr. who will attend ike meeting of Uio shareholders of tho North Now Zealand l^armers' Co-operative Association to-day, will doubtless seize tho opportunity to ventilate one or two important matters. The meeting is called for a specific purposo, namely, to decide upon what basis tho voting" power of tho shareholders shall rest, and no other bwsinef>s can be transacted ; but there is nothing- to prevent tho meeting indulging in a little talk upon various educations which have aiiion . since the iii\st general meeting. It is no soerot that a lirge section of the shareholders are dissatisfied wifh the course the directors have taken, though whether this feeling is based on just grounds, or ofl e,s its oiigiu to a mistaken conception of the value of the directors' labours, remains to be proved. For one thiug, it, is quite clear that many of those who assisted at tho birth of the association never con tHinplatcd the removal of the chief seat of operations from "Waikato, and a still larger number did not dream that the balance of power vould bo given to tho consumer in Auckland, is against the producer in Waikato ; but both appear to have forgovten that they elected directors to act for them and that these directors, being mainly Waikato men and fanners, arc not likely wantonly to sacrifice the interests of that class to which they tlieuibel-.es belong. Further than this, shareholders in Waikato seem to have lost sight of the fact that the association is not the Waikato, bub the North New Zealand Associate*. A few months ago the hearts of the promoters had grown, so it appeared, big enough to take in the whole colony : and it is somewhat late in the day now to say that the operations of the association ought to have been confined to this district. We frankly confess that we think a mistake was made, but regrets- are useless now, and the time for prompt and determined action has arrived. If the directors are men imbued with an honest desire to further the interests of the farming community of this provincial district — and the fact that their time and money has been ungrudgingly spent in the cause incont< sfcably proves them to be such — then tho decisions which they have calmly formed deserve onr respect no Jess than our thoughtul'consideration. ThQ greatest) danger to be

apprehended by tho promoters of such enterprise as the .Fanners' Cooperative. Ass oci ition is the natural tendency of collective humaimy to extravagance, and, ergo, the most valuabV quality in its directors is economy, wisely directed. Whatever iniy b* thought about tho propriety of having a branch at this plaeo and that, e'early the lirst consideration during the babyhood of the association ought to be the qu stion of expense. No one can question the desirableness of having a store and oflice at Auckland, and tlio directors have, therefore, said " Lot us begin at Auckland, and spread our wings as we grow" or, to change tho metaphor, '•' Let us plant ono exotic first, and if tho soil be suitable, we can plant as many as we like afterwards." Do not let us rashly blame tho directors because they are cautions ; caution just now is of inestimable value. Shai'eholders may of course say that the directors have been ovor-cautious, or that the course they have taken argues rather an absense of caution. These are matters which we shall leave the shareholders and the directors to light out by themselves. All we say is this ; that no spirit of captious opposition merely should bo allowed to dominate anybody who goes to the mooting- to-day for tho purpose of airing a grievance. Concerning the question of the 2000 consumers' shares for Auckland, there appears, if we understand the resolution passed at yesterday's meeting of the directors, to be some mistake. The original intention of the directors was not that these shares should bo offered singly, but that they should be placed on the market on the same footing 1 as those already deposed of in the country districts. That the. directors delegated to go to Auckland misunderstood ti« intentions of the whole body is true, but the error which might have been committed, has, thanks perhaps to a little timely agitation, been avoided. There appears to have been a good deal of misconception about, the whole aft'iir. and we trust the diieotois will "take occasion by the hand" at to da) \s meeting, and make; a full and explicib statement of all that has been done. Rvorybody who has tho welfare of the district at heart must wish the association God-speed. It is the herald of brighter and more prosperous days than the farmers of this district have ever seen.

In view of an early dissolution of P.uliauicnt, per-ons qualified to vofco ought to see tli.it then n.uiies ;uo on the electoi.il rolls. Those who h.n c cljjhijj'hl their places of 1 evidence should reinomb-ji that notransfei s can be ell'ected after the issue of the wntt.

The friends of Mr J. P. Campbell will meet tb.it gentleman at the Criterion Hote 1 , Cambridge, this* evening, for the puipoMi of pte'-cntmsj him with a testimonial previous to In'b dep.irtuie fiom Waikato.

Commander Edwin telegraphed •it 3..")1 p.m. yesttncUy : — Expect bad \\ c.ithei after Hi lioui-> fioiu now between noilh and di'-fc and &<>ntli-e<iit, and after twenty hom-s heavy fall of ram ; ghv>» fiutlioi fall.

Subscriptions amounting to about £40 h.\\o been pumiced in aid of the proposed Public Libiaiy for Hamilton, and providing M)tne suitable place can be found, we have no doubt that tlie institution will eio long be an established fact.

We would seriously suggest to the S.F.C.A society, Auckland the debhablene*>-> of appointing a Cambridge agent. A coire.^pondent infoiins us that .such an office would be anything but a bineciue.

The new drainage scheme at the Lake at Cambridge, was well tested by S.itmdny's l.vm, which continued heavy .tlnoiighbiit the evening. The diain worked hiicces-,fully, deliveiing the water witliout hindeiance in a large volume at the foot of the shoot. It would beads isable to plant the b.uik or loose e.tith on each side of the shoot by w.ty of consolidating it.

The Dedication Festival of S. Petei's Church, Hamilton, will bo celebrated on the Wednesday following S. Peter*. Day, vi/ , "-2nd July next. Theie will be full choral Evensong, at vhiih the Rev. W. Oalder, Liioumbentot All Saint-,, PoiiMmby, will officiate, assisted by the Veil. Aichdeacon Willie, the Rev. E. J. Phillips (of Tv Aw.uiiutu) H. S. iJ.u ic=j, and tlie Incumbent of the Paii-^h. It w hoped that his Loi ship the Bishop of the Diocese will preach.

A Press Association special dated London, June 14th, s-t.itcs .—Mr Mm ray Smith and Sir F. ]). Bell ha\c asked M. Favie to delay the fmbher steps of the Kecidivihtes ]Jill, pending fmther communications fiom the colonies. The committee of the Senate has added \ogab»nds and bcgg.ir* to the li->t of offenders which it thinks New Caledonia a specially suitable place foi. Consequent on the active parleying going on the leport will probably be a good deal modified.

The Cambridge Domain Board Ims decided to commence laying off its leeieation lcseives m the vicinity of the lake, and planting with .suitable tiees by w.iy of beautifying the wmi:. It is about td engage the sei vice of a suitable man or landscape, gaidnei to diaw up a plan for the laying off of the banks oi the lake into Piuall tei races with walks, and planting tho giounds. The proposal is very popular with the townspeople.

The Amateur Negro Minstrel Enteitaninißiit at the Oddtellow'b Hall, Hamilton, this evening, pi onuses to be well attended. A large number of tickets have been disposed of, and as the piice.s of admis>sion aie veiy ledsonable, a full house ib confidently anticipated. We have reason to believe tliat the quality of the performance will be much above the aveiage, the names of the stage manager and musical diiector being a sufficient guaiantee in this respect.

A very large congregation, representing the various d en onii nations, assembled at >S. Paul's Wesleyan Church, Cambiidge, on Sunday evening, to hear the Rev. Mr Dewsbury's addies,s on "Baptism." The address was one of gieat interest, as evidenced by the attention of the large number who listened to it. The lev. gentleman, at the conclu&ion, announced that on next Sunday evening he would deliver an addrees on the vaiims modes of baptism, Avlien doubtless theie will be an ! equally large audience.

On Sunday the Lalla Rookh. towed into the Manukau the barque Androcles from Amoy, with raw sugar for the Auckland Sugar Company. The captain of the barque mistook the Manukau for Auckland, and when the steamer sighted her she was nying signals of distress. Two of the ciew, Chinamen, had died of smne unknown disease, supposed to be small-pox, but which, as our telegrams infoim us, has bince been found to be dropsy.

The Hamilton Choral Society, assisted by some friends, purpose giving the conductor a complimentary benefit on the lh-fc J uiy. Mr Bell has been conductor of the society for many years, and the concert ia a giaceful recognition of his. valuable services. We have no doubt that the public, who are indebted to Mr Bell for many pleasant musical evenings, will exhibit their gratitude by their presence.

The case of indecent, assault brought against Capt. Webster of the ship Crusader by one* of _the female passengers was concluded at the Auckland Police Court on Saturday. ~ The Resident Magistrate dismissed the case without calling on {ho defence, ]^r KesfceW* fcroe^www*

tion having disclosed the fact the complainant and her witness were guilty of improprieties on board. Thirteen witnesses had been summoned for the defetice

Mr A. H. Beatson writes to the N.Z. Herald:— "The new .scourge on Mr Httme'b farm, Waipa, is, I think, very much like what was experienced .some twentythree yeais ago in the South, at least in Nelson and Marl borough, but which was found only to destroy grans (particularly first year's sown) and wheat. The maggot turned into a small beetle in the spring, which went by the name of " May bug.'' In some disfcticfci they were of a bn»\vn, and in otheis of a green colour, and flew about in great numbei.s from sundown until dark, making a hum like a swarm of bee", and fed on any green leaf that came m their way. I have seen patches of wheat and grass killed fiom a few yaids to a third of an acre by the maggot or gt üb, and also the roses, cherries, peaches, &c, stripped of leaver by the little beetles. They discontinued to be numerous after a few yearfa."

The engineer to the Waipa County Council lepoited on the five proposed routes for the swamp road between Hamilton and Whatawhata as under, to the committee of the council appointed for that purpose : — No. 1, the present road. A 12-foot diain under two miles in length would tap the water as high up as the present road on the 40-cham bwairp, to which there was a Rood bottom 20 feet down. A diain of 12 feet would consolidate this swamp, which is of a more solid character than any known swamp in the Delta.. This drain would cost about £1000, and another smaller diain, one and a-half miles in length, costing £250, would be required to tap the water in the 15 chain .swamp. Another £2^o, making £1500 in all, would provide all contingencies, and 1000 yards of soft sandstone for metalling the worst paits of the road. This route would be two and a-half miles shorter than either of the other routes. No. 2, the deviation at Dinsdale'a on to the old Whatawhata-Hamilton Road, would cost £2000 to make anything like decent grades. No. 3, going out by Stokes' gully, was condemned as less convenient than No. 2, and more inconvenient when finished. As tegards Nos. 4 and 5, he could find no good road in either case-. — The engineer pointed out that the drain proposed to be cut in connection with No. 1 would affect beneficially a large area of Crown lands, and that bevng so the (ilo>'eininei)t might fail ly be asked to contiibute towaid-> the co.st.— After .some discussion the committee, Cr-. Like, Coiboy and Atkinson, decided in f.ivour of No. 1 route.

The Wellington correspondent of the Heiald telegraphed on Hatuiday :— A meeting of the (lovemment <uippoiteib, the first, by the way, th.it has been held since Parliament has assembled, was held to-d«\y, to considci the situation. Cucul.u& were sent loimd to all who had voted with the Mimstiy on the recent iio-conhdence motion, and I undei stand that all were piesent. Mi- Fulton occupied the chaw. The proceeding-, weie Ufcevuinly, to a Luge extent, of a confidential nature. It is uudoi stood tli.it the Ministry made a ht.iteii)out as to then views for and against a dissolution, which on the whole they did not oppose, and they took the of the meeting on the subject. The matter « as fully talked over, and the feeling seemed to be piacticaliy unanimous in favour of a dissolution, which it was pointed out was avowedly desiied by then opponents also. It was. admitted th.it if the (Joveinment reigned, their opponents' weakness and internal dissension would no doubt be at once made appaient, and that in all piobability this would Iliac the ettVct of fortifying the position of the Mmisteiial paity. On the othei hand, it was pointed out that the countiy wos hardly in a position at the P'o^ent tune to stand such p\p«nnient without risk of serious mischief lcsultmg to its credit. A lesolntion was ultimately passed without dissent, in favour of the Government applying to His Excellency for an immediate dissolution. There seem-, t ) be a pietty general feeling th.it the ( Jo veinment are entitled, on constitutional grounds, to the eveiciso of the prciogotive, and theie v ill be no difficulty in obtaining it, in view of the total disoiganisation of parties, and the strong wish of the House generally in favour of an appeal to the couutiy. The coufeienco lasted fot fully an hour and a-h.ilf, and it is undcistotd that the position arid piospects of the pxrty genemlly weio discussed at sonif length. In the e^ut of a, dissolution being Pfutiited, it U belie\ed that two months' supplies will be asked for, and that the elections will be proceeded with at the e.uliost possible moment. It is now thought that no effoit will be' made to cairy any legislation this '-ession beyond what may be absolutely uecessaiy. For instance, it is expected that no attempt will be made to interfere with the city electorates, although some of the Opposition as well as Ministerialists are an vious to see the old plan of consolidating the city into one constituency leveited fco.