TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1884.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1867, 24 June 1884, Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1884.

SrniitrxG limes nearer homo have deti'actod somewhat from tlio interest folfc in the course ol events in the Soudan, just as the developeinont oi the campaign in tho uppor Nile country robbed the Tonqum and Madagascar questions of much of their interest. But as a matter of fact, after the conclusion of tho campaign to secure tho Red Sea Littoral, and tho reported escape of Gordon Pasha from his virtual captivity at Khartoum, it was only natural that our interest should flag a little. Tho oft-repeated announcement that there was nothing fresh from Khartoum was becoming almost as monotonous as G-onoral McClellan's "All quiet along tho Potomac." The English newspapers, who boing on the spot ought to know the feeling of the nation, unsparingly condemned the inaction of Mr Gladstone's Government, and we, in this far away corner of the globe, felt constrained to admit that so far as appearances went the English Government deserved the censure. Whether rightly or wrongly, England has made tlio Egyptian Question her own, and her abandonment of tho position now, though it might bo tlio moans of saving the money of the Biitisli taxpayer would not be expedient on other grounds. England has undertaken to improve (he condition of the Egyptians — to give them a better Government than that under which tlio past generation suffered, not without murmoring, but without much hope of relief ; and to rlraw back when there is something like a prospect of attaining the object in view would not only sully the name of the greatest empire in the world, but would be exceedingly unjust np well. It has been urged by the opponents of the Easrovn policy that the Egyptians would bo much hotter if they were left to the care of the Nationalist party under tlio guidance of Arnbi, but they who arguo thus seem to forgot that if the English Government withdrew, some other power would stop in and fill up i/he vacant pl.ieo, and England, on commercial grounds, cannot regard th.it contingency with complacency. All things considered, therefore, it is not 'likely that tiie occupation of the laud of the Nile will be determined until the internal affairs of th country are placod on a .sound and pcinunent basis ; and pending this consummation, it is by no means unlikely that England's connection with Egypt may develop into a protectorate. That a new departure is to bo made is evident from tho fact that active preparations aro now in progress for a campaign on tho Upper Kile in the autumn The cable reports that a railway is to be constructed between Suakim, tho lied Sea port, and Berber, on the Nilo, just above the iifth cataract, and whence the journey to Khartoum could be continued by water. The distance between the two first. named places is over 250 miles, and the inter*, oning country is mountainous but not cliih'cult. Tho hills on tho coast side arc barren and bare, but towards Berber, or El Mekheir, as it is called by the nithes, Ihe country is fertile. The river Atb.ira, which unites with the Nile at a point not many mile? to tho southward, runs through a country reported to be of surpassing richness. It is claimed that the allu\ial deposits to which lower Kgypt owes its fertility come from this river. Hero, it is probable, will be lixod the base of operations, from which the British troops can Ije directed against the Mahdi's forces ; and bofore the year is out we shall most likely find that tho Catling and Nordcnfoldt guns aro hotter peacemakers tlun General Gordon, armed though he was with a bag of sovoi eigns.

The concluding portion of the Financial Statement will be found on mil fom tli page. We were glad to learn from a lelogiain lecpiml ■jcstmlny that Mi •!. JJ. Wli>U', M.11.R., «a^ vestmU'y able to be out and 'ibout Wp hi. iv <-\pr"f to sec lmn mk \ in 1 1 mull 'U hi tip i "in-i' "I .1 i *\ \ .I.M-Follon-ius the exomple of their ouim.ide- ot tin, I! ad, the i-ein.iiuing lnembui- of the 4th Waikato Regiment purpose cplebiating tlie twentieth amnveisaiy of tlio settlement of Hamilton, in August next. The Cambridge School Committee lias icceiveri intimation fiom the boaid that Mi" Stewait, the newly appointed head-waster, him accepted the position, and will enter upon 1j i-> new duties forthwith. A boat-building establishment has been staited at Oainbiidge. Sovoial " li<.b Roy" cinooi of exceedingly cioditable finish have aheady been disposed of to local pmchasei--. The canoes will shoitly make their debut on the Lake and on the Waikato Hner. Mi Beitie Dixon is the ui.ikei . The new pastor for the Cambridge Baptist Tabernacle basing ai rived, a tea and public meeting will be held in the Tabeinacleou Tuesday evening. A Kuge attendance of friends fiom all paita of the di^tuct is expected, and addiesses will be deliveiecl by a number of rev. gentlemen, including the ministers of other denominations in the thbtiict. The Cambridge Domain Board has instructed the police to proceed against certain paities for shooting on Lake Te Koutu. Soiue peipons inspiied \\ith the belief thst theboaidbad not got the necessaiy power to piosecute them, have been shooting about the Lake, heedless of the notice on the bank. Another attempt is about to be made to resuscitate the Cambridge Mutual linpiovement Association. The new Bap-ti-.t pastor, the Tiev. J. G. Wilson, promises to impart new life into the Association, el&e start one in connection with his church on a similar principle. If btarted again, the association will have to find a more comfoi table a&sembly room for their meetings. We are happy to learn that the general sympathy expressed for Mr T. A. Bell's loss through the late fire is taking a practical form. The vaiious school committees throughout the district are interesting themselves, and a very substantial sum will bo raised, which will be some slight recognition of the appreciation Mr Bell is held in, and of the musical aid he has cheerfully rendered at various tiniea a.pd places 'throughout the, W^|k{vto«

At the usual monthly meetings of the/pHataoroa and Cambridge Road Boards* held-'at Cambridge on Saturday last", it was agreed that tlie adveitising of both boards should be given to The Waikato Times in future. At the meeting of the Cambridge Board attention wns drJtwti to the fact that the poundkoepor at Tamahero did not send his advertisements to the proper journal, The Waikato Times, and that impounding notices 'wcio, therefore, never soon by the persons interested. It \y<is agieed to instiuct Mr Camp to arlveitise his impound- [ mg notices in The Waikato Times. Mr P. J. Missen, secretary^ of the Hamilton Bi Alien H.A.C.8.5., desires us to publish the following copy of a letter forwarded to Ur Boale by the society:— ] " Hamilton, June 18, ISB4. Dear Sir,— l ; have much pleasure in forwarding you the i following resolution, passed at the last meeting of the Waikato Branch H. A.C.B.S. No. 153, on June l^t, 1884 : ' That this branch o\ presses its grateful sense of the -.kill, care, and kindness shown by Dr Beale m the treatment of Brother Ryans wife, to which, under God, are mainly owing the success of a critical operation performed on her, and her rapid and marvellous recovery therefrom, and accord its best thanks to him as our branch medical officer." In another column it is announced that the musical and dramatic amatuers of Hamilton nuend giving a complimentary entertainment to Mr T. A. Bell, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, on Tuesday evening next, the Ist July. The entertainment will take the form of a negio minstrel entertainment entitled ' Recollections of Dixie," and from the published programme we have no doubt that those who attend will enjoy a very pleasant evening. The progiamme is somewhat similar to that presented at an entertainment given last week, but with a larger infusion of the comic element. This fact, together with the popularity of the beneficiare, ought to secure a bumper house. We understand that Mr Aldridge, the pastor of the congiegation worshipping at Le Quesne's Hall, Hamilton, will leave for Auckland in about a month, to take charge of Mr Geo. A. Brown's mission theie. The latter gentleman goes to America by the next mail boat on the 22nd pio\. Mr Aldiidge's place will be taken by Mr llees, a, gentleman lately ai rived fiom India. During Mr Aldiidge's ie*idencp in Hamilton he has made numeious fi lend-?, not only among the members of his own congregation, but in the community generally, and his depaitme will bo a source ot regiot to all who ha\e come into .social contact with him. Some days ago Mr L. O'Neill, solicitor, of Hamilton, lecoived fiom Mr R. Loanc, Raglan Road, a cutiosifcy in the shape of an albino pigeon. He at once forwarded it to the cuiatoi of the Auckland Museum, from whom he leccncd the followmglotterof acknowledgment: — Museum, Auckland, Juno 20th, 1884. Sn.— l have to thank you for so kindly forwaidiug the pigeon obtained by Mi Loane, and which leached me safely this morning. It ib what is called an "Albino," but I ha\e ne\oi seen one myself befoie, and they aie Cvtiemely scaice. I am having the bud skinned, and when om lavideinnst is next woikingfoi us, 1 .shall have it stuffed foi the collection of Now Zealand birds* in the Miusoui)). It is, of com so, an accidental fiuak of natiuc, and not a distinct specie?-, and in a similar way wo s inetunos hear of white pheasants and blaokbnd' 1 , and J have also seen white, or pale colouied, kaLis and swamp-liens. Again thanking you for sending it. I am, &c, T. F. Ohi:kikman. Cmator. The usual monthly meeting of the Taotaoioa Road Boaul was hold at the Duke of Canibiulge Hotel, Cambiidgo, on Satin day last, Mi N. I. Uiiufc piesidmg. Theie weio picsont : Messi> Kallcndar, Semmens and Brun-kill Tlie Cleik repoited that the poll taken at Uoiton on the piovious day had been successful, and the striking of the pioposed l ate had, theiefore, been appioved by the latepayeis. The boaid, on the motion of the ciiauman, iesolvcd to stukc the late leferied to of l-21tli of a pontiy in L' on nil (-lie rateable piopoity in the diatnct, calculated toiaisc tlB a yoai . Some discussion ensued as to the present .sfcnto nf the new No. 2 budge at Whitehall. Mi Bumskill "-tited that the btiuctiue in some of its Mippoits had given way, and was not, theiefoio, fit for tiailic. Thuengmeei, as yet, had not lepoitcd on the « ink. It w as iigreed to « i ite to Mr Sandes, cngineci, insti noting him to o\amme and lepoit upon the budge. It was agieed that The Waikato Times should lecene the advertising of tlie boaid in fntino. Thoiate i oil was signed, and the usual accounts passed for payment. This was all the business.