THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1885.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2005, 14 May 1885, Page 2

THURSDA Y, MA Y 14, 1885.

Sir George Grey addressed tlie people of Auckland— perhaps we ought to say the people of New Zealand — in the Theatre Koyal, Auckland, on Tuesday evening. It is needless to add that the building was crowded, or that the vast audience was enthusiastic. Crowds and cheers greet " the old nun eloquent" (the phrase is becoming hackneyed) whenever he comes before the public. Few men possess the power of winning the sympathy of their audiences in the same degree as Sir George, and still fewer know how to use use it, to husband it, and to exercise it at the proper time. Ev en the great Pio-Consul occasionally misses the mark. Uut on the whole he manipulates his talent vwth wonderful dexterity. But rare as is Sir George's gift of eloquence, he is endowed with smother and even a rarer power. He has the faculty of saying nothing in a great many words. There are thousands of men in the colony who can do the same, to be sure ; but then, while they arc classed as bores and boobies, the Honourable Member for Auckland East retains his influence over the popular mind. Thtie is something more than a resemblance between the various speeches of Sir George ; the notes may be occasionally shuffled ; but th.it is about all. It has been pleaded that Sir George is engaged in a mission, and to attain his object it is necessary that he should iteiate and reiterate his message, in «ea.son, and out of season, until he has gaired his point. The Apostles had to do precisely the samething, and the sime apology has been made for them. In their case the plea was reasonable. We have some slight notion of the nature of their mission. But of the character of Sir Geoige Grey's we confess ire are unable to form any conception at all. Popularly, it is believed that its object is to "liberalise" the institutions of the colony, and as nobody enjoys moie than a very vague notion of what "liberalising " means, no doubt the definition is the correct one. We remarked above that all Sir George Grey's speeches are alike. This is not stiictly accurate. In Tuesday night's address, though the old manner is present, there is some new matter. Sir George deals with the Soudan and Affghan questions, and mildly rebukes New Zealanders for not following the example set by New South Wales. This

was not a very happy hit, because it happens that the wnv fever is dying out somewhat, and the speaker, who feels every pulse-beat of his audience, soon got on to safei ground The need foi settling happy fcumht's on the lands of the colony, and the necessity foi legislation to make those "v\ho ha\e defrauded the people disgorge then-ill-gotten gains, are themes of perennial freshness, as the thunders of appl/iuse must once more have evidenced to Sir George. But grateful as this assurance must be, and sorely tempted, as it was natural he should be to continue piping in the same stt.iin, Sir George had another time to play. His main object was to declare war against the Ministry. There were plenty of indications last session that he was not in accord with the members of the Stout- Vogel Cabinet, but his utterances on Tuesday night make it perfectly clear that his intention is to turn them out. He professes to be opposed to their policy ; he accuses them of lialfheartedness, and blames them for gi\ ing away the lands of the country to railway companies ; lie denounces their purchase of the Waimea Plains line, and generally puts forward a formidable indictment against them. But those who stand without the circle of the old knight's magic power know that it is not for treason to the people that Mr Stout and his friends are to be anathematised- it is for dislowlty to Sir George himself that they owe the awful denunciations levelled at their heads. Sir George tells the story of the Cabinet making operations last year with a candour, a )>nlvi'fr admirably calculated to hoodwink the enthusiastic Liberal, but between the lines we can read the tale of his own bitter mortification at being left out in the cold. What will he do? His own disciples ha\e ignored his right to the olh'ee of km»-m.iker. To whom will he turn .'

A \UMin:i{ of ruuholdersand fanners intend contributing to the first cargo of fro/en mutton to be despatched Home 1)V the Frozen Meat Company. V, rmers who have been getting such an extremely low price for their produce for .some time past are looking forward to a better condition of tiling'! when the freezing business is in full swing. Jn fact great things are expected from the operations of the company. Considering the amount of capital that has been called up, shareholders very naturally anticipate good di\ idends ; and we trust they will not be disappointed. .Some people are holding back their stock in the hope that when the market is thinned by the export of the first large shipment, pi ices will improve. Whether the produce is exported or sold locally, we lia\e e\ery reason to anticipate a considerable adv.mc" in prices at no \ei v distant date.

Th 3 New Zealand Shipping Compauy'-* Aoi.mori left Plymouth on the !)U) in-<t for Amkl mil.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the (J.uiil>ii<]xe Doin.un 1> Mid w ill hi* hold in tlu 1 li i.*id'> oihce on S.itunJay, at 'A p.m.

The nominations for the Ngarua- \\ ilim handicap cli>sj to-daj. The weigntt will .ipiin.u <m S.itmd«iy.

Twenty-three trucks ot cattle and slioep ««'iit cldvmi fiom W.uknto \e--terday for Mr Buckl.ui(l% inaiket, at Kenmer.i tod..y.

The Pirongia Road Board is about to hue .1 Inultfe elected <>\ei tin* cieek no.ir KuituneV on the R ipl.m Ko.id. Tendois ate called f<ii tlie woik.

The revised railway tariff is to hand. The .iltci.ttion .ire of little un|>mt mice, except th.it m i elation to the freight in cliee^L 1 , winch h.i-> ahe.uly been pub hxhed.

Captain Fayenz and another officei of tlic Au-itiian man <>'-\\,ir Saida wen' pa^oHgn s to Waikato hy Tuesday's tr.un. The}' pioceeded to Kiliikihi, and became the gutsti (if Maj<n .Tackson. It i-t thu uitr-ntioii of the \isitms to see the Kuijf countiy.

Mr J. Vereker • Bindon, MA-, will deliver a k-ctiue on " Health" at Le QiU'siie'i Hiill, Hamilton, to Minnow even in;?, .iiid will leceivo tl)u naiues of tho-o ile••lioiis of joining liis usenin>f claw-.. The cliaigo for admi^ion i-> low, and we antici pate a l.irffe attcinl.ince.

At the Police Court, Raglan, on tt.vtinday, Ix'f.ne Mis>^ W. H. W.tlli-. and \V. Dunc.ui, J.V , Mr Little\w>nd win chained with «i hie.tcli "f Tlir Lieun < «inj j r Act, 1881, IT>, by keupin^ Im lmusu npi'ii .it iinniithori-sud liouri. Jrlo \\>is hned 10-i, •md d>-,t> !••>.

The parishioners of Christ Church, Oluiiiin, li.i\i- pi evented Archde.icon Wilhi with a biifjpy horse. On Muudav week, .it the d<»e of the m-i \ icy, tho AiclkUmcoii, in .1 fi'W vmiiiN, tl'.mki-il the p n i^humfi -. for their \aluablt > gift and tho kind thmiglitfulne^i which stißce-ted it.

At the R.M. Court, Hamilton, yotuidiiy, befoie Mi Xoitlicioft, R.M., the bii-one-.s v>an of little importance. A fuw jiidgnu>i)t xiiiimiDiis cases werr disposed of. In the ca^e Hatnck \. (i. Mayes, claim t'o lo-«, judguieut w.ts given for £4 Is Od, and co^ts 15s.

Mrs Gwynne, of the Hamilton Hotel, has taken over the stable^ adjoining that establishment. A 'bus will meet every tiu.ni, and visitoi-s to the hotel will bn c.iuicd fieoof ch.irßf. Foi tin acconnno d.itlon of outside settlors, stabling free "f cliaige is placed at their disposal.

Tlie remains of the late Mr Thomas Mauffarl.me wcie mtened in tho Prcbbyluii.ui Cemetery, Auckl.md, <>u Tuesday. A lain* number of the old icsi-dent-i of Auckland .ittended the fuin'i.il, us also the Hii'inbpi^ of tlie \anons clubs and institutions of which tho deceased gentleman wa^ .vn officer.

Mr C. J. W. Barton, of the Waikfito Brewery, Hamilton, ha*i t.ikcn o\ri the Coinmuicii'l Hotel from Mr Jaim»> Hully, and ent^i -> into pn-.-.t'ssinn on Monday next. Mr D.uton notifies in .111 ulwitisenient tli.it he intends to rt» opon tlio ttahlet in connection with tin* hotel, whoie lie will have btigspos mid middle limsos on hire on lcawnable terms.

The few showers of rain which we have had lately, have made th>- r<>ad to Kaglan in a state almost as bad as it was during last winter. The coach soi \ ice h.m ceased for the present, and the mails dining tha wintei will he carried <vi horseback. The mail contr.ictui, Mi Sutton, it'poHs the road to bo in a, veiy b.id condition, and heavy for traffic.

The Tamahere bridge is now in a state of thorough lepair. The caipcnteis have finished their work, and the .structure is now in a moro dm.ible state thin it lias hitherto boon. The work of painting the budge will bo pmceeded with irnnudiately. The late iinprmementH to the N'uirows bridge have boon wpII eairiod out Thi^ ancient structure promises to do sen ice foi many years to come.

The Kirikiriroa Road Board is about to icjiLicu tlio nio^ent very slinky bridge at Runcim.ma (Jullv, on the Hainilton-Pistko mam road, with a culvert, and fill in ovnr the same, raising tin* present roadway si\ feet. The culvert will bo built of puriri and totara, of tho I)pst finality, a»d may bo looked on a^ a really permanent stnicture. Tin' 1 ? work will take away the only really bad pinch on tho road between Hamilton and To Aroha,

The following were the tenders iecei\t i d for the North Island Main Tiunk X iil\vit> (Puiim contract). — Accepted. l> t.ic OcMte-., Hamilton, i'28,!>20. De clinod : Hunt, White and L( \ett, (Auckland) £.M,.ii>o ; L irkiiiH and () linen, (Auck hnd) t»4 381; 1). Fall.m, (Auckland) f:Ji»,J)77 ; Mulling!, Hrett and C«i. (Auck laud) i' 30,435; A. Sutherland (Auckland) t'4b,9l!>; J. McLean and Son (Auckland) t->7,108.

Work on the Te Aroha section of the l.ulw.n has boon commenced hv the contiactoi, Mi Livingstone, »ho is detoiliniicd to lose no time in the cairying out of his contract, and intends if possible to h:i\e everything complete before the end of thu ye^ir. A stait has been ni.idc in the embankment at the Te Aiolia bndgo, and pl.ite-laving will be commenced m a. few day--. Woik h.is al>«> been sUited on the Tinongo conti.iet of the Main Ti imk Line, and e.tithwoik <tnd bridge building aie pioceednif,' rapidly.

The livery plant, horses, &c, the property <>f Mr C. K. Johnson, who ib leaving for Auckland, were yesteiday <ub untted to tlu v hammer by Mr J. S. Ruckland, at the Hamilton Hotel "table*. There was a large attendance of buyers, and for most of the lots submitted, f.iir pricee weie obtained. Mi Johnson liis leased Hal-trad s f-tiblfh, Dtiihamstveet, Auckl.tnd, u lime lie will carry on tin? lnery busine-.--, and in which we are mho he t\ill receive the snppoit of hih many VVaikato friends.

We are glad to notice that our iem irks about the resuscitation of the C.mibiidge Footli.ill Club h.t»c had the duMi t'd effect. Footb.illois aio now bcxtuing themselves in the matter, ana alieady a laigo number h.ive higmhtid their re.idinctN to boconip iiiombtTx, mid commence piactice iinnicdiately. No doubt t>ome of the more actiNe .tpints w ill take the matter m hand, and hive a meeting culled at an early date to appoint otticers, arrange for subscription together with other preliminary matters.

The following special messages to the Pro^s Association, dated London, M.iy 11th, have been published :— The Hon. Robert Stout, Premifi of New Zoilmd, wilting to the Pall Mall (r.i7ette, opposes K.ul (Irey's Kodeial Council scheme. — The frozen meat by the ship Canteibiuyis t-elhnpr at 5$ per lb.— Count Heibeit Uisinaick hat< been appointed Under Minister of Foreign Affansof the (Jeiman Kmpne. — The Rednliibntion of Setts Bill h.is been read a thud tune in tho House of Common 1 -. - The committee of the Chamber of Deputies hag approved of the teimsof tlie Egyptian Convention.— lt is leported in Rome that the Pope has selected the Right Rev. l)i Moran, Aichbishop of vSydney, to succeed the late Cardinal McC ibe as Archbishop of Dublin. A few days ago we drew attention to the fact that the Cambridge Rotoiua Road was again fal'ing into a state of dmiepa.ii, and tli.it befoie long it pionn'sed to be in .1 condition almost as bad as it was. dining tho wet weather of last spring. What with the recent he.i\y ranis and the constant tiaftic, the road is at present in a state even worse than we could have anticipated. The repairs which were effected out of the Uo\ eminent grant were not by any moans of a. permanent character. Had the Government, instead of temporising, spent the whole of the grant in making a permanent job of the load, it would not have fallen into its present condition, but would have been made thoioughly passtblo in all wc.ithet*. Perliaps tilt; (ioveininent w ill now proceed to spend the remaining jvutinn of the grant.

The complimentary concert to be gnen to Mivj Maggie Swan in the Cambridge Public Hall, on Monday ne\t, promises to be a musical treat of a, character, which is l.irely afforded a W.ukato audience. Miss Sw.iii i-< wi'll-knowu in Waik.ito as one of tln»e tii^lily proficient aiuatPiir-< who h.ii \s illingly responded to every call to a>si-»t in I'litertainments for charitable objects. Her k-ongf, h.L\e foi some years formed an important feature in local concert*, and have m a [{nut measure contubutpd to their nnan \b\f success. Monday evening's concert promises to bi> a treat of an exceptional ch.uji.tei. The piogramme contains the names 1 of Miss Staunton, Mis-, Ctilpan, Mi-.-. Loiugan, and Mr Edwards of Auckland, together with an an .iv of the leading talent of the distnct. We h ive no doubt that Monday's conceit will be a fitting testimony of the ippieuation of the Cambudge public of the handsoiiui services which Miss Swan has rendeied in the past.

The first season of the Cambridge L.iwn Tennis Club, has bu"» attended with \i'iy fjn'.tt snecrss. Tlio gaino has pioscd an irresistable. .ittiactimi, and play d is hem earned on with unwonted M),'"»i since the club was in, mounted. At the commencement of the season theie was scaicely a member who undeistodd the R.iine, but pers >\erance and constant [>ractict> lias bionj^lit to the front scver.il f.uily piohciont hand--. The club h.is coi tainly not been \ er> sneces--fill m its matches with outride clulu, but uo doubt by uc\t season the ineinbei-> will be al-le to render a bettei account of tli(>mselves. The club'a plant liih been allowed to t.vll into a bad wtate, there beitiK only about , i couple of rackets with which it is possible to play a g.ttne. A now net whs lately pi owded and the ground, somewhat imputed. The couit, liowewi, is in bid oidei, and the nevt heavy fall of rain should be taken advantage of to have it put 111 bettei condition.

A meeting of the Hamilton Branch of the Gospel Tempeiance and Blue Ribbon Army was held m the Presbyterian Church, Hamilton East, on Tuesday evening. Mr U. French occupied the ch.iu, and the chinch was fairly tilled. Hie Key Mr Dellou addressed the meeting at some length, and solos were sung by Miss Strange and Miss Campbell. At the con clu-ion of the meeting, the chairman m uted all those desuous of taking the pledge to come forwatd and dou the blue nbbiin A petition to the House of Representatives to piohibit the employment of barmaids was laid on the table for signatines, and many of those present appended their n.uiif* ; the petition ban also been laicrely signed in Ngaruawahia. At the close of the meeting the following were appointed office beaieis for the year :—: — President, Mi (ieo. Fiench ; vice presidents, Key John Dellow and Mi John Coclirane ; secietiry, Mr J. Rright ; tieasiirer, Mi T. Maunder ; organist, Mr JJiclnid Salmon ; committee, Mis N. ft. f'o\, Miss Kothwell, Mi X. R. Cox, Mr Samuel Moaeheni, and the Kes r Mi Iteybuin.

If there has at times seemed iiWM>n, wntesthe Pioneei, when estimating the (hmactei of the Anglo-Natne piess, to (haw t-omc distinction between the tune, .mcl torn per of the papeis published in Bengal on the one hand, and those of Bombay and Madra-. on the other, therein happily no necessity to observe any such distinction in regard to their opinion on the RiihsoAffghan crisis. It is impossible to speak without coi dial admiiation not simply of the thoiough-going loyalty which animates then nttoi iHicti, but of tho ability w ith which the political uituation is discussed. Theie is no doubt that, in the Punjab especially, the ti aditions of former imasions and their baueful consequences are utill alive, whilst it is certain that the Hindus as a body aie disposed to associate the lunioured coming of the Kusnuns and their following %\ith the idea of Mahomedan domination. But heyond this the tiutli is that, tin oughout natne society, there is a huge leaven of educated and enlightened men to whom the character and amis of Russian mle aie thoroughly understood ; although they may not be altogether satistied with the liiitish Government, they lecognise its benevolence and disinterestedness, and value the freedom it bestows on them too much to cue to exchange it for the piospect of a Kussnm denimtisiu. Now this steadfast loyalty of an alien race i* not meiely a sentimental Hatisfaction, it meaiiH in.ui>' lug battalions. And if Ru^su ever counted on any sympathy among the giejit body of the natives of HinduHtan, much moietheii active siippoit, Hho has altogether reckoned without hei host.

In an article on " Officering the Fuices," the Post nays • -Auckland ih foittin.ito in hiving its connn.ind placed, we cannot say in the hands, for unfoitun.itdy lie luts but one, but in tho h>ind of ono of the best officer* in the colony, .1 thoMJUghboldhsi -Colonel Lyon. Tho local foices will no doubt feol tho most nnplict confidence in Inn lciideHnp undei any cncuiiistunoeH. Tlio Wellington, Ganterbuiy, .uul Otago distiicta lire loss h.ippily situated. They aie under tho command of gentlemen who no doubt have boon able to discharge thoir duties very satisfactory in tho jiiping tijnoH of poaco, but can wcaicely be held qualified to command a large forco on actual service. Wo intend no disreupcct to these oflieei when we say that the men could scarcely have much confidence in their leadership weie they called on to take the field under it. Lieut. -Colonels Pearce, Lenn, and Htavely are excellent volunteers, and have rendered good service in a variety of ways to tho force, They maimge, wh«n

dry-nursed by an ex{>orienced adjutant, to get creditably through a re\ iew or sham tight, but if leal emergency aio-,e the adjutant could not nluuys bo at tho torn manding-officer'a elbow. It m.iy, of com -.e, be said that theie is only a very remote possibility of the l.md foices evei beinp learned to meet an eneinj. If tho po^i uility is so remote as not to be woitli -di ions consideration, why then lstheie mi iuiilli trouble gone to and so much nionev '•\pended in orKanimnp: a foice at all .' If the organisation of a force is nt all jinti'i able, then it should be completed by tl>i tpoixntniunt of thoi onghly competent com ui.indei-. in each centre. We ha\e lieaid "-oci.il consideration^ uigod <is an element in tin* question. — th.it it 1^ demi.ibleto ha\r •jentlemen as commanding officer-, who possess large me.ub, are of liberal di-.posi ti'»n, .md gi\i"ii to entertaining ci>mpan\ There may be somethnif,' in this in times of pc ice, but tho \isi tors tho countiy is now pi npai ing for could not be entertained at the club, 01 a-ked todinnei. If balk weic gi\en them they should bo of othei than .1 social character. We look upon this ques tion of commanding officers as one of the most important the Uo\ eminent ha\e to consider.