The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1923, 1 November 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to a'l men, Of \\hatsoc\er state or persuasion, religious or political. Here sh.ill the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 1884.

Fiiuit planting has been so extensively carried on in this district of late years, and there are so many possessors now of orchards lavge and small coming into full bearing, that the time, many think, has fully arrived when we should hold an annual horticultural show in Waikato. There are few settlers, few owners of gardens in our townships, but have some choice fruic of various kinds which it would be not only interesting but instructive to have on exhibition. Scores of us, especially those who have purchased orchatds already planted, have numerous kinds of apples and other fruit, with the proper names of which we are either wholly unacquainted or mistaken. Then, again, especially in the case of apples, some description given with those exhibited of the special characteristics of each kind, whether they are free bearers, good late keepers, or possess resistance to blight, flavour &c. would afford a useful practical lesson to most of us, ! and particularly to those who have yet orchards to plant or to enlarge, which no amount of mere book reading on the subject could impart. ; In fact, the bringing of so many fruit-growers together would lead to the interchange of experiences and ideas that would be most valuable, to say nothing of the general advantages which follow the friendly rivalry and emulation such gatherings and exhibitions arecalculated to encourago. As an advertisement to the fruit-growing capabilities of the Waikato district such an exhibition would be very valuable. We are loth that Waikato should hide its light under a bushel ; and really it has a light of being seen far and wide in the matter of fruit culture. Putting aside the cultivation of the gooseberry, which cannot be profitably grown north of Auckland, or in q|near Auckland itself, Waikato Jgg«tn apples . have acquired, a;

character in tho Auckland markets for appearance ' and^Havour well known to fruit dealers there as being superior to tho bulk of tho fruit introduced into that market. They always command a higher price, while local dealers will always rather buy the Waikato grown fruit than import from Auckland. These are facts which cannot be too well and widely known, and which such, exhibitions as that we are adv'oca-* tine are calculated to bring into prominent notice. With the exhibition of fruit would also be included that of flowers and vegetables then in season, which would render the gathering all the more generally attractive. The next question is where should such exhibition be held, and this matter is already settled for us by tho means of communication between the different centres of Waikato which exist. There is no othor place in the district, with sufficiently commodious public buildings, to which persons can come by railway in the morning and return to their homes in the evening, except Hamilton. This, however, and other details would have to be considered by a committee appointed to carry out the undertaking. The month indeed in which such exhibition should be held will have to be carefully considered, so as to hit upon just that period of the season when the greatest variety of fruits, flowers, and vegetables will be in their highest perfection, the leaning being, of course, towards the greatest encouragement of the first mentioned, as being of the chief importance. The importance indeed of the fruitgrowing interest can scarcely be over-estimated in "Waikato, and a very great impetus will, we trust, have been given to it by the wise precautions taken within the last few days by the Government to protect us from the inportation of those insects posts which are the only rocks ahead in the future of Zealand orchardists. The value of fresh fruit, jams, dried and candied fruits consumed in the colony, if grown on our own farms as they should be, would form no insignificant part of a settler's income, and would increase the general prosperity by the amount of money which their production within it would save from being sent outside the colony. From other points, too, than that of mere money profit the growing of fruit becomes a source of perennial enjoyment to those who have a taste for such pursuits. A wellkept garden, however small, with its neatly-trimmed fruit trees, is a sure indication of industry and thrift, and there are few occupations more refining in their influences than this, while the fruits themselves are sources of health as food, of luxury in their variety and flavour, of continual pleasure in their production, and interest in their study and propagation. That the establishment of a horticultural show amongst us would greatly tend to develop this state of things, to advance the welfare of the district from a social as well as a commercial point of view, few, we think, can doubt, and therefore we heartily commend the suggestions, which are less our own than those of many with whom we have been in communication upon the matter, to the consideration of our readers generally.

Mr W. S. Rutherford has retired from the candidature for the Te Awatr.utu Town Board.

Mr Knorpp, inspecting engineer for the North Lsland, is at present lili a visit to Waikato.

The railway arrangements for the Auckland show and races will be found adveiti&ed in another column. At the R.M. Court, Cambridge, yesterday, before Mr H. W. Noi thcrof t, K.M., only a few undefended civil cases were heaid,

We understand that the sum df £250 lias been placed on the Supplementary Estimates for a footbridge on the Hamilton railway bridge. Mr Richard Reynolds' fat bullocks will be on exhibition to-day at the Cambridge Hor3e Bazzar. A nominal charge of bixpenae will be made. In consequence of the Auckland Show Mr J. g. Buckland will hold his usUAI Ohaupo live stock sale on Wednesday,, the 12th hibt., in order that those who wish to see the show may attend the sale.

The Paterangi Cheese FactdfcyJ lias erected a butter plant, and buttfer. making will be a feature in the operations of the coming season. The company has been i offered ninepence a pound for the entire j butter produce of the season.

We have been requested to contradict a rumour going about to the effect, that Measrs Douglas' sale of stock on the 30th inst., may not take place. The sale will certainly take place as advertised, and the lots will be sold without reserve.

A children's concert will be held .it the Public Hall, Alexandra, on Friday next, in aid of the school library, on which occasion the standard certificates will bo presented to the children of the school. The entertainment will conclude with a dance. The programme of the athletic sports to be held at Kihikihi on the 10th ' inst. will be found In our advertising columns. It contains no less than eighteen events, and as the prizes offered are reasonably good, there should be a full number of entries and a leally good day'B sport for those patriotic persons who elect to Btay at! home for the holida . j A large number ot natives have come from all parts of the country to greet Tawhiao on his arrri val at Alexandra, and to ( listen to the words of jirisdom which it Jsi confidently anticipated he will import,] It is also thought that his Majeity has a few! entertaining " wrinkles" to explain, ' which were retailed for his own "behoof during his sojourn at the antipodes.

Mr Thomas Bracken's agent tele- j graphed yesterday to engage the Public Hall, Hamilton, for Tuesday evening. It is therefore probable that the residents of Waikato will have an opportunity of hearing the inimitable Paddy Murphy. The telegraph wires were down yesterday evening, otherwise doubtless the entertainment would have been daly advertised in this issue. i

The roads throughout the district which have been almost impassable in places for some months past, are now in capable condition, and another feijrf weeks of fine weather should make them ! as good and agreeable to traffic as they have ever been. The Waipa County Council should loose no time in putting the bridges^ on the Rotorangi road in repair.

The apple crop this season, promises to be very plentiful, though id] some places a peculiar blight has already overtaken them, though the Godlin Moth is not yet suspected. Perhaps vr« have got I a " Codlin " on our own account, a younger, brother of our American cousin of the sainej name. A peculiar " gjomethipg" a h*s 'seized upon a few healthy and promising, peartrewvhiohtJliWjH^iihe leaves; and jroti tberooff, » sii r , ■ , <

An effort is being made to establish a Masonic Lodge at To Awamutu. The settlers of the Paterangi and surrounding districts are not going m for grain growing this season,,so extensively as they ' dioV last ''year. << Thb low price obtained for cereals' last year somewhat damped their ardour, and as grazing prospects have increased of late and the beef market has risen considerably most of the farms will be kept in pasture. The Paterangi Cheese, Butter and Bacon Factory has materially brightened the prospects of the district farmers. J

The following special.messages to the Press Association, dated October 29th, have been published :—The Agents-General are urging Lord Derby to press the French Government for the exclusion of recidivistes from New Caledonia. —It has been decided that bills accepted from the Oriental Bank at Mauritius, before, the stoppage of payment by the bank was known there, will be paid in full.- s It will be seen by advertisement in another part of this issue that Woodward's renowned Japanese Troupe of acrobatic performers, led by King Bungaro, will appear at the Public Hall, Hamilton, on Monday next. The troupe has been performing in Auckland for some time to splendid houses, and is said by our city contemporaries to be the cleverest troupe of the kind that has ever visited the place. A bumper house may be anticipated. The troupe will appear at Cambridge on^the 4th and sth. *•

We are pleased to notice that the Native Minister has lost no time in redeeming the promise made regarding the two police officers who distinguished themselves over the capture *t the murderer Winiata. The money spent by them in the enterprise has been promptly refunded and both officers have been advanced a grade in the service. Sergt. McGovern has been restored to tiie position of a first-class sergeant, which he held before the general reductions in the force, and Constable Gillies has been advanced to the rank of third-class sergeant. Everybody who knows the officers will be glad to hear of their promotion.

At a meeting of the Hamilton Public Library Committee, on Thursday night it was resolved to adopt the rules of the Thames Library, with such slight alterations as are rendered necessary by the different acts under which the respective institutions are worked. The Committee have taken the books belonging to the old library off Mr Trewheellar's hands, the amount paid to that gentleman, for over 100 books and case, being £o. Mr Trewheellar's claim against the old library was £15. The committee have collected about £30 of the subscriptions promised. The balance, some £20, will, it is expected, be boon got in.

To the Editor:—Sir,—ln answer to the paragraph which appeared in your isbue of Tuesday last, in reply to my letter re the borough contracts, allow me to say that tenders for all the contracts specified by me were advertised last year in your paper on the lfith October, tenders to be sent in by the lth No\ ember. With reference to the borough valuation, it is absurd to suppose that tenders should be open till the 20th December, while the Municipal Corporations Act provides that the valuation shall be completed and in the hands of the borough authorities by the 15th January following. This year, at any rate, it is necessary that a correct valuation should be made, us the present roll appears to many burgcst.es to be full of errors, and ample time should be allowed for compiling the new toll.—l am, &c, Cakteii.

Not a little disappointment was created in Alexandra on Thursday evening when it became known that Tawhiao had not arrived by that day's train. A number of natives hung about the town dining the day evidently m happy anticipation of a prolonged nasal encounter, und when the coach arrived and no King, disgust and disappointment prevailed. Some expected that his Majesty would come up the river in a canoe accompanied by a retinue of lower Waikatos, but those who waited by the river, waited in vain for the dusky and awful presence. No preparation had, however, been made for an ovation on the part of the Europeans, if we except the hotel-keepers, who are genorally accredited with the farseoing and thoughtful provision of having replenished their collars with " pop," " penny red," limejuice pymplit, and " Brames delight."

At the financial session of the Wesleyan Church, District of Auckland, on Thursday,! t was reported that the church debt at Kihikihi had been reduced by £45, that the church at Te Aroha had received the gift of half an acre of land, that a similar gift had been made at Tuhikarsunea, that,, at Cambridge a new church and bchool had been built at a cost of £1000, and improvements effected to the parsonage at * cost of £100, and that a parsonage had been provided at Hamilton at a cost of £40 for the year. The treasuier of the Home Minion fund, reported that the tot.il revenue last year was £1332 10s and the expenditure for the same period £1310 4s. A resolution thanking the members of the late Rev. T. Buddies family for a donation of £250 to the fund was warmly carried. It was resolved that the Rev. Mr Gittos should have charge >f the Maori work in the Kaipara and Waikato, to reside in Auckland. It was resolved to recommend conference to appoint a probationer to Raglan, next year instead of a married minister. The following grants were recommended :— Raulan, £280 10*, Upper Thames, £50, Hamilton, £30, Te Awamutu, £15.