The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1954, 15 January 1885, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

I ,jn il md < \.u t justice f> ill men, <>1 »hiNir\a s'.itt or persuasion, rfliniou* or pillltK ll Men- ill ill thf Press the People's right mTintain, I'm iwed U\ influence .mcl uubribcd b> gain

THURSDAY, JAN. 15, ISSS.

Tin: question of Imperial Federation in England is in very good li.mcls. Tlio Conference which sat on tin 1 20th July last, and agiin on tho 18th November, is composed of aien as thoroughly alive to tho magnitude of tho issues involved as they ire solicitous for the welfare of tho Mother Country. At the last meeting the provisional committee subiiiitted the following resolutions, among others of minor import, for the consideration of the Conference : — "(J) That a society he now formed to be ca'led the Im; erial Federation League ; (2) that the object of the league he. to secure by federation the permanent unity of the Empire: (3) that no scheme of federation should interfere with the existing rights of local Parliaments as regards local affairs ; (4) that any scheme of Imperial federation should should combine on an equitable basis the resources of the Empire for tho maintenance of common interests, and adequately provide for an organised defence of common rights ; (5) that the league use every constitutional means to bring about the object for which it is form< d, and invite the support of men of all political parties." The adoption of the report was moved by the Maiquis of Normanby, who, in strongly advocating measuies for securing the unity of the Empire, paid a high tribute to the loyalty of the colonists. The report was adopted, and the general di.scussion on tho subject of federation which followed brought out a number of high colonixl authorities, including Lord I'rabourne, Mr Youl, the Earl of Dunra\en, Mr Merriman, late a member of tho <\apc Ministry, Mr Forster (chairman of the Conference), Mr Murray Smith, thp Earl of K^scbery, Sir John Macdonald (the 1 lemier of Canada), Sir William l'ox, Sir Francis Bell, Sir Saul Samuel, and Lord Weni) ss. Tinopinion shared by nearly all present was that no dofinito schomo should yet bo brought forward, but that tho fullest consideration should bo given the subject, that it should be kept constantly under tho public eye, nnd canvassed from all conceivable ])oints of view. Mv Merriman wished for details, and dragged in tho question of naval defence, but Mr Forstei- leminded him that tho time for going into paitieulais had not yet an ived, and could not possibly arrive until tho wholo empire was satisfied that federation was a necessity. This it seoms to us is tho proper course to pursue. Fedoiation cannot bo forced upon the people, but must come naturally in tho chain of events. Before it tan bo accomplished, colonists must have the fulle&t guarantee that the right of self-government, their fieedom of action in short, shall not be endangered, and thoy w ill accept no cut and dried echo me without putting il to tho soverest tests. It is, however, significant that since tho subject has boon brought within the bounds of public discussion, it has rapidly grown in popularity. Sir Dillon Bell, speaking at the Conforcuce, attributed this change — a remarkable change which had come over tho opinions held some years ago by the political school which professed to see in the colonies only trouble for Eugland — to " tho vigorous advocacy of men like Mr Forster, Lord Eosobery, and Lord Carnarvon," (men whose general political opinions vary greatly) " who took pains to study the colonial question and arrive at just conclusions upon it." Exactly. If only English statesmen will continue to take the iv cessary trouble to study the colonial question, and if only colonial statesmen will endeavour to master the same subject, having regard not merely to t.ieir own particular countries, but <o the whole Colonial Empire, the prospect of the final settlement ot' the whole great question would not be remote. Meanwhile, the friends of federation may rest satisfied that the question will not be allowed to get motli-eaten on the back .shelf.

'I ik proceedings of the past few meetings of the Cambridge Town 15 iard have been of a very interesting character. We have been almost tempted to present to our readers a verbatim account of part of the discussion with a view to show the lax and unbu.siness-like way in which the proceedings have been conducted. In the first place the composition of the board, it muse be admitted, i& decidedly heterogeneous. And in the second, the chairman is unmistakeably wanting in tho&e virtues which all presiding officers should posses — firmness and tact. There is just as nuich tact required in the conduct of a town board or a borough council as there is in running a cabinet meeting, and unless some nous is discovered by the individual who presides over the deliberations of a public body the proceedings cannot fail to be unseemly, and, so far as the transaction of business is concerned, unsatisfactory. The last two meetings of die Cambridge Town Board afford a striking illustration of this. The usual monthly meeting was called for Monday afternoon, and the business was such that it might easily have been disposed of in abo.it two hours at the furthest, but on this occasion no less than two afternoons were required to get through the programme. The engineer was present nnd entered upon

a verbal duel with the clerk, and, Inving demolished that functionary, lie in his turn is challenged out by one of the members, who for his unnecessary meddlesomeness is subsequently challenged by another member. The chairman looks on the Hceno, with an evidently confused tin*, and on occasional " now gentlemen,"' "if you please," but the gentlemen continue eulogising each other's* uns-ltiish motives until matters \\< j ll nigh approach a crisis. And so time is wasted and hours .ire taken for what only a few minutes arc really required. Ihe chairman should bear in mind that he is chairman, and not a mere spectator; lie should see, that mom hers address him and not each other, he should see that no stranger takes part in the deliberations of the bo ml, >.nd that if moinb >rs have got anything to say to a stranger it must be through him, and above all he should see that members confine themselves to the business before them, and not that which is to come or which has already been disposed of.

The concert in aid of the funds of S. Stephen 1 * Church, Tatrwhere, conic« off at the Tamahere schoolhoiwo tins evening.

The overdraft of the Cambridge Town Board at the present tune is over £(XX), with the prospect of a further increase.

The next sitting of the District Court will commence on Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock, and not at 3.30 p.m. on Monday, a* before notified.

The annual meeting of the householders of the various school districts will take place on the 20th mst., for the purposo of electing committees for the ensuing year.

We have been asked to notify to the members of the choir of S. Andrew's, Cambridge, that in consequence of the concert to-morrow eTeninjj the practice this week will be held on Saturday ovening at thn usual hour.

The weather on Tuesday was very unseasonable for January. The air was quite wintty, and during the day hail fell in several parts of the district. Yesterday the weather had regained its summer qualities.

The second public trial of Reynolds' Triumph T\ treo Cutter will take place at Cambridge West, opposite the schoolhon&e, on .Saturday next, the 18th inst., between the hours of 2 and ."> p.m. VarmeiN .»nd others mteic>ted xhould avail themselves of the opportunity.

Most of the men engaged on the CunlnulKo-Rotoiu.i load formation and repair h.ivo boon knocked off, and the road 1-. now in Rood order throughout. It in intended th.it the work of improving the r inbndge-Taupo road, for which n grant w h gi\en last Mp-jsion, shall bo proceeded with lininedicitely.

Mr J P. Maxwell, General Manager of New ZeaUnd Railways, was a passenger to Hamilton on Tuesday, acornputted by Mis M.iwvell, from tho L.ike count y. whoic tlipy \in\a been Hppnrii'ijj their honeymoon. On Tue-<d iy, Mr Al.ix well, vi company with Hudson (Tr.iffic Manager), nnd Count (Resident En^inepr) inspected the Momns\ille branch riihvay.

On the representation of a few gentlemen at Cambridge, Mr Lake, M.H.11, has communicated with the authorities at Wellington respecting a grant of £300 for the form itiou of a roul between Cambridge We>t and the native settlement .it Maiuigataut.il i. A -.11111 of money was set apart last .season for roads tliiough native districts and it is out of thii that the grant applied for is expected to come.

"Mr Trevelyan climbs down" is the way the Saturday Keview designates " the manucuvie just executed by a member of the Government in f.ice of thn P^rnelhte Party." "The uHe of the Inxh Colonel Ciockett," it continues, \va« presented at Mr Trevelyan'-) he.id, and in order to esutpe that distinguished marksm.in'i fire, he h.is " climbed down ' to the post vacated by th.it " blamele-ss nonentity," Mr JDod^im. The following special messages to the Press Association, d.ited London, <)nnuary 12th, and 13th have been published .—. — England permits France to ha\ o a quai terly tenure of the i&l.ind of R'liatea. — The death is announced of Mr Patrick J. Smyth, M.P. for Tipperary.— The English Government have refused to nllow Xpw Zealand to annex Samoa, England and Get many having agreed to maintain the freedom of Samoa and Tonga.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Frebbyterian Band of Hope wni hold in the church at Hamilton on Tuesday evening liwt. There was a Inr^e attendanco, the church bomg nearly full. Mr J. Cochrane was in the chair. The following is the programme : — Duet, MKset Cox and Salmon; letitition, Matthew Orr ; riddlen, Thomas Rothwell ; recitation, M'ss Thomas : riddlen, William Andrew ; liddlos, Frederick Thomas. A Christmas Carol, sung by Misses Davey, Cox, Cornish and Salmon, and Manter Charle* Co\. and William Andrew was loudly applauded. Mrs Cox presided at tlie harmonium. Tlio Rev Mr Raeburn addressed the children on the teinperanco cau«e. After the hymn was sung the Rpv Mr Raeburn pronounced the benediction, which brought tliu meeting to ol'wa.

According to the Auckland Herald, a erold discovery of a promising character is reported to have been recently made m the Waikato distiict. The e\act locality is at present kept a secret to the disco\erers, but it is within 45 miles of Kihikihi, the head qua: tor. of the Constabulary. TiB gold found, 80c.5., was water worn, and wan obtained from some washings taken out ofaoiook. The pold was taken to the branch Bank of New Zealand at the Thames. One of the piecoi of gold thus obtained weighed one pennyweight. Mcb.sra Murray, Kadfoid, and Hicks were very anxious to got information nbmit the exact locality wheio Iho gold was found, b.it this w.is refused for the present, aUo tho moans usod to get to the place whore tho gold was fowijcj. Jt ia holioved that bofore lon» a splendid gold held will be opened up m tho Wuikato dis» tnct.

At the meeting of the Cambridge Town Boaid on Monday, Mr liillett brought forward tho subject of improving and enlarging tho Joc.il h.ilo yardi. Cam budge was the oentio of a large agricultural dwtnct ; it was on the lino of railway, and notwithstanding tlio many ad vantage* which it afforded, they were ho blind to their own interests as not to have made good and necessaiy provision in tlr matter befotfs now. The present bale jardswere nothing but miserable unsightly pens, and they afforded no facilities for selling whatever. Until thoy made hotter pruvisjon they cimld never expect that salew of any importance would be held. They had overlooked thi-> matter long enough, and ho now trusted the board would see its way to give tho subject their hcrions attention. He further untierstdud that the present revenue from tho yard* wax very considerable ; indeed, it wax sufficient to warrant them m making gieat improvement*. A'tor a little eoiiMdeiation it was agreed that tho nisttor be at once attended to.

A Canterbury correspondent unites ; — One of the most .vppaicnt Mgns of tho iniios in agricultural matter* heio this year jk tho staull Rl'OA of land now producing cere.iN in comparison with lasfc year. Tins .ipplioK generally. In ovoeptiooal cases a large aiea may here ami theia lia seiii, but tlie cases are few. Tho probability tli.it the pi ice of gram will bo lower than it is at present, and it is oven now too low to bring profit to the grower, la the chief reason <»f Una, The crops are, as a rule, much heavier than ui»uaj, Rwjng to the favourable season we have had, some of tho c.r<ms in the Leeuton and Ashburton districts being likely to avcrago from sixty to seventy bushels per acre, and some of the oats from fifty to sixty bushels. The number of bnukvuptpias and assignments which have lutaly Lukeu \>\zoo farmers is both diktrossing a»d astonj*l)jpg. The sucepß which wero made one day Jq.sf; season in the Anhburton diatriofc will not easily bo forgotten. Exocution wai entoiedon thirteen farms, very many adjoining, and it can bo readily understood tho commotion this made. To steer clear of a repetition of this performance is now the chief desire of tho agriculturists, and with tho liberality now being exorcised by tho N.Z.L. and M. Agonoy in tho dischargo

nf their business, they may look forw.ucl to being to do so with .1 f.ur degioe of Mtucess.

With regard to the matter of the establishment of a nutixe school .it Kawhia, we luvi» been informed that Mi \\ r . Duncan. J.P., while in Wellington lately, waited on the Native Minister, and ui<ed upon bun the necessity of having the school as soon as possible. He represented to him th it although there did exist a difficulty with regaid to the settlement of a site on t'.o nutivo land, ho might nay that ;i building, I well suited for temporary use, could hp pro cured in the township at a \ery suitable' ient.il, and it was a crreit pity that the nuthoiitiet,, in consideration of the Inge ntinibpr of European and Maori childieu now resident m X iwlna, and who were so much in wane of schooling, should be cut ott from tho enjoyments of education, when uitli so little trouble a school could bo established. The Native Minister said he recognised the ad\ isableness of .adopting the couiso proposed by Mr Duncan, and might hay that they would do their best to have a school started \ery shmtly. Hmvover, he did not quite agiee with having a mixed school, .and had forwarded to tho Auckland Board <>f Education all the correspondence received from him on the matter, and might siy that the secretary of the board ha\e intimated to him that their inspector would shortly visit that district with a view of having a European school established. Until the natives settled the question of tho school site, he uas afraid little could bo done m that direction. The matter would, however, not bo List sight of.

Our naval supremacy must be restored, aaya a Homo paper. If it needed ten millions, or if it needed a hundred, that must be done tf any cost, without even counting the cost. For upon th.it depend* not only ourEmpii'i, but our daily biead. We have no light to expose this England, the seagirt ciUdel of ordered liberty, which has held and holds s > s.icred a deposit in tru.it for n.ankind, to danger of extinction whenever it pleases two of our neighbours to combine to sweep us from the seas Upon each one of us rests the duty of doing what in him lies to rcmedv a state of things fraught with immensuru jlc possibilities of dihaster, not merely for England, but for the cause of liberty and. en lhsution throughout tho world. In an especial (tianner tho burden of responsibility lies heavily on the Lords ot the Admiralty, who know the facts, but timidly shiink from innistincr upon n remedy. Tho lepresentatives of Nelson surely should be m.ido of steinor stuff than to flinch at such a moment as this. " Thus and tlmi did England for theo. What dost thou for England ?— S.vy !' a^ked the poet at Tiafalgar. It would be interesting to hoar the answer of these highly placed administrators to that nuehtion, if either timidity or ambition should employ tho present crisis in blinding the newly awakened public as to the iu.il lusue. " Happy occasions oft by self mi-<ti ust .no forfeited; but infamy does kill."

Concerning the New Guinea Coninnssionoi the London ome-pondent of the Lyttelton Times ntn t itcs under date tlio 21>t Novenibei :— " Geneial Scratchley has nt last started for the scene of Ins future career aa Special Commissioner in New Gmnei. Ho h.is been waited on by a deputation of the Aborigines' Protection Society who congratulated him on hi-, high anrl responsible conimand, and expicssed their conviction that he will be enabled to nuke the British protectorate of New Guinea a lasting benefit to the Natives of that country, to the Colonies, and to the Empite. In replying, Gencial Scratchley gave emphasis to the fact that one of the first steps ho should have to take would be " to close the c nintrv a<?:iinst the white man," winch, I h,i\e little doubt, will be the cause of some disappointment to many Colonist", who were looking to the anne\ation of New Guinea as opening up a new and promising field for speculation and land-swallow ers, in which it would bo the e.ulv bird that would catch thewoim. Though no doubt the country will ultimately be opened to settlement, when proper legulations are framed, still the policy of the Protectorate is evidently in sympathy with the views embodied in Ins nieinoiandiiin to the Sydney Convention by Sir Geonro Dcs Vo3u\, the Governor of Fiji, in which he maintained that the main, if not only proper, use of the tiopic.il islands of the South Seas is for hading and not (settlement purposes It is understood the sphere of General Scratchley's operations in strictly confined to New Guinea, and that the jurisdiction "o\ei the other parts of the Western Pacific will remain in tho hands of the Acting High Commissioner, Sir George De«> Vceu\. The dctei initiation of a seat of Government fur the new possession is not among the immediate duties of the Commissioner, and General Sciatchley is, for a time at least, to hold court and ha\e his home on the rolling deep." In the North American Review, Dr. Felix h. Oswald tuces the effect upon the climate and physical condition of many lands produced by the deduction of foiests. Asia Minor, he says, has become "the epitome of a dying continent." In Spain the agricultural value of the lowlands, which onco attracted tho Visigoths from thoir Danubian homes, has been reduced by more than 80 por cent. The coabt lands of the Mediteiraneun have wasted away in a decline " which seems to bo the ultimate fate of all civ ! li&ed countries." Planets die by dedication, and there is no doubt that the hectic growth of that maLtdy begins to be felt in the lands of the Western Hemisphere." In two centuries the lumbermen of the United States have " killed as many trees an tho inhabitants of Southern Europe, fell in two thousand years between tha foundation of Homo and conquest <»f Gran.idii." Tho water-coupon of New Eenglnnd have sunk until nulls which once had ample water power aie compelled to resort to steam. The dessication which has made barren tho vegan of Southern Spain has set in all along our Gulf States. In fifty years, says Dr Oswald, if tho proGOss continues, our cotton State* will be raduoed to the neoassity of raising their crops by the aid of irrigation. The locust will ravage the plains of tho Gulf coabt. Agriculture will invade the high valleys of the Alleghanies. The soil of the mountain slopes, stripped of their forests, will be washed away with winter rains and thawing snows. Rivers will shrink to brooks in summer, but flood their valleys in spring ; Ijousiana and Southern Arkansas will be inundated at regulaily ns Kgypt, and at tho mouth of tho Mississippi the deposits of river sediment will keep a host of dredge boaU busy. When ; the stress begins to be felt the people will have to resort to treo-planting to save themselves from starvation. Tho wuter, leaving tho subject of the genesis of deaeits, proBueds to consider Me history of groat floods, and attributes them everywhere to tha dobti uotion of forest*, |