The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1929, 15 November 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever st.ite or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbnbed by gain.

SATURDAY, NOV. 75, 1884.

The promptitude which the Traffic Manager and Resident Engineer of the Auckland Railways have displayed in meoting the settlors of the district, and in taking measures for the removal of abuses is an augury of great good. The complaint of cattle owners and auctioneers about the trucks is one of very long standing, and whether the promised change is the result of constant agitation, which resembles the action of water dropping on a stone, or whether it is traceable to an anxious desire on the part of the authorities to do what lies in their power to meet the wishes of the customers of the line, it is quite certain that the present management will get the m hole credit, and no one will grudge them their good fortune. We believe Mr Hudson is honestly bent on the achievement of two things, namely, studying the convenience of the public, and making the railway pay. But able and energetic as he undoubtedly is, and good as his record may be, the task he has set himself to do is, we cannot lielp thinking, a monstrously difficult one. And in saying this we do not in the least undervalue his abilities. As a matter of fact no manager can hope to be able to reconcile the conflicting interests it is his duty to subserve. A close attention to the wants of the public may bring about an increase in tho traffic it is true, and thus while the consignors and consignees may no longer- be justified in complaining about the management, the sum which finds its way into the Treasury from the manager's office at Auckland may continue to grow larger, But this,

will not. remove the real obstacle to the usefulness of the line. Until the present ridiculous hard and fast tariff is kicked out of doors, and its place taken by one which has in it the element of common sense, it is hopeless to look for what may be called successful management. This i.s a subject in which we feel deeply interested, and for many years past we have lost no opportunity of forcing it upon the attention of the Government and the public. A great deal, nearly the whole, of the odium justly incurred by the authors of the present traffic system has been unjustly borne by the local managers, who, without the power to make any alteration, have been kicked from pillar to post, and branded as dunderheads, because of the ridiculous and inconsistent charges which consignees have been called upon at various times to pay for freight. We are heartily tired of receiving complaints about a tariff which nobody, not even the most self-suffi-cient officer in the service, can lay claim to understand. Under such a tariff the development of the agricultural industry in this part of the world is out of the question altogether ; and this not entirely on account of the high charges and the arbitrary distinctions between class and class, but equally so from the facilities which are placed in the way of the officials to make different charges for the same class of goods each successive day. Our readers will doubtless have in their minds the story of a resident of Hamilton who received a bill for a few shillings, amount of under charge on a truck of coal from Huntly. The station master had been led into the error of supposing that goods classed under a certain letter of the alphabet were all charged alike, oblivious at the time of a footnote, which intimated that goods in this class not belonging to any other were to be classed under "P"or some other letter ! The most natural remedy for all the misery caused by the infliction of this unique tariff upon the public was the transference of some of the power held by the oracles at Wellington to the local manager, — that is to say, the latter should have been invested with as much discretionary power as would serve to prevent the recurrence of the scandals constantly being chronicled in these columns. But of all men, none probably are so jealous of authority as your true railway autocrat. He would part with it only as he would with so many drops of blood — by compulsion. We are in hopes that a change of a salutary character is brewing. The present Minister for Public Works has spoken his mind pretty clearly on the subject, and the chances are that before long we shall have local control established as part and parcel of our railway system. What is wanted, and what must come, is a local board of diiectors, whose duty it shall be to regulate and adjust the tariff from time to time and in such a way as will serve the double purpose of facilitating the settlement and development of the country and making the lines more remunerative. But, meantime, much good might be effected by placing a trifle more authority in the hands of Mr Hudson.

Mr E. Lake, M.H.R., returned to Waikato on Thursday. Mr W. R. Waddell has been reelected Mayor of Auckland, for a second term. There was no opposition. The Railway Department anticipate a great increase in the tourist traffic overland to the Hot Lakes during the coming season. The Cambridge Parliamentary Union holds its usual fortnightly meeting on Monday evening, at the usual place. The proceedings of the evening promise to be very interesting. The Cambridge Brass and Reed Band held its first practice under the leadership of Bandmaster Holloway, in the Public Hall, on Thursday evening. There were about 20 members present. There being only one candidate for the representation of the Newcastle Riding in the Waipa County Council, namely, Mr P. Carboy, that gentleman has been declared duly elected. The usual fortnightly sitting of the Resident Magistrates' Court, at Cambridge was held yesterday, before Mr H. W. Norther iffc, R.M., but only two or three small debt cases was hoard and disposed of. Bishop Cowie is expected to be in Waikato at the end of this month. He has arranged to hold a Confirmation at at S. Andrew's, Cambiidge, on S. Andrew's Day (Sunday), and to visit Lichfield on Tuesday, December 2. A lad named Murphy, working at Mr B. Coleman's farm, met with a rather painful accident yesterday. He was chopping wood, when the axe slipped and inflicted a severe wound on, the left instep. The lad was brought into Hamilton, and the wound was dressed by Mr R. F. Sandes. The young people who force the key of the Hamilton boat-shed in order to spend the Sabbath in sympathetic accord are reminded that breaking open a locked building is unfortunately in the eye of the law burglary, and that using other people's canoes without leave asked or granted is not, to say the least, a very gentlemanly procedure. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that an extraordinary vacancy has occurred in the Piako County Council through no councillor having been elected to represent the Patetere riding. Mr W. L. C. Williams was nominated, but through some cause or other, the nomination never reached tho returning officer. Nominations will now be received until the 20th inst. Mr Williams is likely to be the only candidate nominated. MrGeo. Dickinson, stationer and bookseller, Duke-street, Cambridge, has just opened out one of the best assortments of Christmas and Birthday cards we have seen in the district. They comprise all sorts, and are marked afc widely different prices. We strongly recommend those who are in the habit of keeping up the good old custom of exchanging Christmas and New Year's cards to inspect Mr Dickinson's stock. At the Police Court, Te Awamutu, on Tuesday, before Messrs J. H. Mandeno and Rutherford, J. P., Henry ] : Coglan was charged on the information of Sergt. Gillies with being drunk, and fined os, and costs, as this was a first offence. Edwin Harris was charged on the information of Constable Irwin with being drunk and disorderly on the sports ground at Kihikihi on the 10th inst. Fined 20s, and costs, or in default, seven days' hard labour. The fine was paid. ' It has been resolved by S. Andrew's Vestry to devote the proceeds of the Rev J. S. Hill's lecture on Saturday next, to the cost of painting the church and schoolroom, and fencing. The work will be begun forthwith. It is hoped that the public generally will give the Vestry a liberal support towards this necessary expenditure. Tickets for the lecture can be had at the stores of Messrs Wells and Souter, and Mr J. W. Merrick, price 2« each, children half-price.

The deputation to Mr Hudson, at Ohaupo, on Wednesday last, met that gentleman in a cattle-truck which afforded Htrong evidence of recent use. At the Police Court, Hamilton, yosterday, before his Worship the Mayor and Mr John Knox, J.P., an old offonder named Moriarty was charted with vagrancy and drunkenness, and as there wore several previous convictions recorded against him, ho was sent to gaol for a month on the first offence, and for seven days on the second. A Maori charged with stealing £6 from a workman employed at Woodlands, was remanded for a week. The catalogue of the Hamilton Public Library as now completed, shows 170 volumes of all sorts, comprising those redeemed from Mr Trewheellar, and various ' donations from subnet ibers. There is in addition a number of back copies of various magazines, including over a year of Temple Bar, containing a most interesting series of sketches on actors from Burbage to Garrick and Siddons. Further, as we nave already announced, there are over 200 volumes which Mr Le Quesne has kindly placed at the disposal of subscribers. The opening match of the cricket season at Hamilton will come off to-day, when the schools on either side of the river will try conclusions. They start at 11 o'clock, and as each aide can boast of a very fair bowler, it might interest cricketers to attend. As soon aa this match is concluded, it is proposed to havo a scratch match of the Hamilton Cricket Club, when it is to be hoped that an many players as possible will roll up, as Cambridge come down next Saturday, and Hamilton players are wofully deficient in practice. Our To Awamutu correspondent writes : — One of the most successful balls ever held here was given by the ladies of Te Awamutu on Wednesday evening. A great number of invitations were issued, which were accepted by more than a hundred, people coming from the various townships. There were at one time forty-eipht couples dancing. The hall wan very taste-, fully decorated with flags, flowers and evergreens. The supper was splendid, the music excellent, as it always is under Mr Sibley's leadership ; in fact, everything was perfect. The Te Awamutu Band mustered in greater force than thay have for some time, a gentleman amateur also kindly assisting. Dancing was kept up with groat spirit till after daylight. Everyone agreed in saying that it was the most enjoyable affair of the kind that has been held for some time. The following special messages to the Press Association, dated London, November 13th, have been published :—: — The frozen meat et Aorangi is realising Gid per lb. The cargo of meat by the Liguna has arrived in excellent condition.— The Queensland gunboat, Gayundah, sails on Thursday next. — The English Governmen are still hesitating about introducing the Federation Enabling Bill.— The counsel for the Oriental Bank Estate are arguing that the Colonial Acts debar Victoria from sustaining its claim in full against the bank, — The committee appointed for the purpose of selecting a Professor of Music for the Adelaide University have postponed their dcci- r sion, with a view of taking time to consider the various applications. From the number of applicants it is considered certain tliat a good selection will be made. — Mr Walter Scott, of Newton College,. Oxford, who has been appointed Professor, of Classics in the University of Sydney, will sail at Christmas. — A sample of ores obtained by Mersrs Davis and Nicholls in Northern Australia have been assayed, and found to be remarkably rich in galena and gold. In another part of this issue Mr A. Vollbracht, so well known as the promoter of the New Zealand Tobacco Company announces that he has started another company, the object of which is to promote " the growth of tobacco by farmers, amongst whom genuine Havana and American seeds will be distiibuted, with printed instructions, free. Growers will be visited from time to time, and all information given by the manager, who is well known all over New Zealand in connection with the tobacco industry. The company undertakes to pin chase the crops from farmers at remunerative rates, giving the highest prices for good sound leaf. The process of curing will be carried on by the company for Homo consumption on their own premises. The climate and soil of this country having been satisfactorily proved to be capable of producing the best tobaccos, the company invites farmers willing to grow and sell tobacco to communicate with them on the subject." Mr Vollbracht, on the amalgamation of the two companies lately carrying on business in Auckland, left the employment of the New Zealand Company, and starts on his own account. He has taken a great amount of interest in the cultivation of tobacco, and we wish him success. An interesting legal point cropped up at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday. A youth named John Maxwell, who had been charged at the Police Court on Tuesday with stealing 2a Gd from the counter of a refreshment booth at the Agricultural show on Monday, and the evidence heard for and against the case came up on Thursday, for the decision of the court. As during the course of the evidence of the prosecution, a point of law had been raised as to who should have laid the information, in relation to the ownership of the coin which had been removed by the accused from the counter, his Woiship reserved his decision until Thuisday morning. In giving judgment he said : This is a case in which the defendant is accused of stealing 2s Gd from the counter of a booth. The money was put down for the purpose of paying for drinks, and the accused seeing complainant's back turned, appropriated the coin. It is quite plain from the evidence that the accused stole the 2a Gd, but the coin at the time of the act did not belong to Watt, the complainant, but to the proprietor of the booth. In looking up the authorities, there^, is one case, Regina v. Jones (Cot's Criminal Cases, p. 156) in which a sovereign was laid upon a shop counter for change, and the man serving leaving the coin on the counter proceeded to procure the necessary change, upon returning found it had disappeared, and alterwards the money was picked up on the floor by one of the persons who had accompanied the accused into the shop for the purpose of getting the coin changed. His Worship considered thai there was no distinction between that and the present case, and on that ground dismissed the information on the technical point which had arisen as to the ownership of the coin. He would leave it to the police if they thought fit to lay a fresh information, and at the same time, before discharging the accused, told him that he had only got off on a technical objection.