The Waikato Times AND THEMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2068, 8 October 1885, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THEMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equnl and exact jmticr to all men, Ot uh.»t<oe\er *ute or persuasion, religious or political. Here sh ill the Press the lVoplp's ri|{ht maintain. Un used by influence and unlinbrd b) pain.

THURSDAY, OCT. 8, ISBS.

We suppose the next best thing to having a Government possessed of genius is to have one imbued with plenty of confidence. It is not intended to insinuate that the present Ministry is devoid of the former quality. A Cabinet containing Sir Julius Vogel, to say nothing of Mr Stout, could scarcely be said to be w ithout talent of a very high order. But, be that as it may, it is quite clear that Ministers are not Licking in the attribute of self-sufficiency. The Treasurer came into the arena with a cut and dried scheme for the cure of all our politico-social ills, and though the House and the country have rejected his nostrums, it is quite plain that Sir Julius himself has not lost faith in their efficacy. It may be, and very likely is, as a southern contemporary puts it, that the Treasurer is right and the House and the country are wrong, but wrong or right he holds to his original view. Again, the country does not put the smallest modicum of faith in the railway administration of Mr Richardson, but that gentleman, through his buffer, the General Manager of New Zealand Railways, scouts the bare notion of the possibility of any system being better than the one already in existence, and ridicules the only man who has had the courage to attack it, and the persistency to carry on a regular crusade against itsabusefi. And again, the Minister who presides over the Native Department, though his precious panaceas for the redemption of the Native race and the establishment of a Maori aristoracy were buried a thousand feet beneath the level of popular contempt, would still argue that salvation was only possible through him. It is rather a striking characteristic of both Mr Ballance and the Premier, that they want to do an enormous deal for mankind here, for the reason, we suppose, that they do not believe in a hereafter. Mr Ballance, indeed, appears to think that he has only to stretch out his hand to grasp the material millennium, which of course is the only kind of millennium in which he believes. The correspondent of a Canterbury paper relates a most amusing little incident. This is what he says :—": — " Conversing with Mr Ballance to-day I asked whether the Government intended to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the cause of the prevailing depression. He laughed and said, 'The

Appointment of such a commission would be absurd. We know the cause, and we intend to do more than a commission could do ; we intend to remove the cause.'" 0 ! how delightful ; but 0 ! how much more delightful would it be if we could only believe the honourable gentleman !

The Anglican Mission is advertised to commence nt S. Peter's, Hamilton, on the 11th November, and continue until the 10th. Mr T. Q-. Sandes announces that he will deliver a lecture at To Avoha, on Friday evening, <m the subject or co-oper-ation m connecti m with the mo.it slaughtering business. Mr Sandes is one of the canvassers appointed by the association. The nroprietors of the Cambridge racecourse got six per cent, per annum for the two years their money w.u> invested, and an the jockey club haj always more than paid its way, this shown conclusively tnat notwithstanding the small attendances at tho various meetings, racing has paid very well at Canibudge. Nominations for the Waikato Hunt Steeplechase Meeting must be made with the secretary at his office Cambridge not later than 8 o'clock thin evening. Nominations must bo accompanied with one sovereign. The weights will appear in Saturday's paper. Several nominations have already been received, and from all accounts the fields piomise to be largo and the various events well contested. The return match between the Hamilton and Cambridge Lawn Tennis Clubs will t«ke place nt Hamilton on Saturday next, commencing ftt 2.30 p.m. The following gentlemen will constitute the respective teams : — Cambridge : Messrs N. I. Hunt, J. F. Edgar, Fitzgerald, W. Simms, F. Hartley and M. Stubbing. Hamilton : Messrs J. R. Whyte. T. Wallnutt. W. N. Yon Stunner, S. McLcrnon, H. Seddon and S. E. G. Smith. The idea that England is one of tho most enlightened countries of Europe in, says Truth, quite a mistake. The little kingdom of Portugal has just been putting us completely to shamo by abulixhing its hereditary peers, on the giound that "in a ho' country the duty of making the law* must depend directly or indirectly on the people's will, and cannot b<* a matter of lereditary descent." How long is it to be before we learn a little wisdom from Portugal ? The Okoia Dairy Factory, Wanganui (says the M.iuaviatu Standard), has re-opened, the milk supplier-, having agreed to accept, for the ensuing season, 3^l per gallon of eleven pounds, payable monthly ; and that after paying all winking expenses, including interest for 12 months, the surplus, if any, is to be divided amongst the contributor. General satisfaction was excxpressed that tho shareholder were also anvious for the Miccess of the factory. At the inquest on the remains of the unfortunate woman, Mrs Seddon, who met with such a, horrible death at Kutorua, on Satuiday night, the jury returned a verdict of "suicide while in a utato of unsound mind." This verdict seems to have been received with disappioval, as the general opinion is that the wretched woman stumbled into the spring, and met her death by accident. The funeral on Tuesday was numerously attended. The directors of the Cambridge Jam Factory met at the Criterion Hotel, on Tuesday evening, when several malteis in connection with the industry were talked over. The Secretary, Mr Oowper, reported that 1300 shares had been dispo<ed <>f. He expected from promises which had been m ido him, that before tho gonrral meeting which would be held in three weeks that 300 additional shares would bo taken up, and l.<! 00 was all that they required to make a start. The nutter had been taken up warmly all over the district, and there could bo no doubt of the ultimate success of tho industry. As an instance of the capabilities of Waikato soil in respect to fruit growing wo aro assured of the following extraordinary incident. In the year 187">, it is surprising that an incident ho extraordinary should not liavo received publicity ere now. Mr John Kuaciman «>t Bioadtneadows pulled from one gooseberry bush in tho short period of fifteen minutes no less than 4.">lbs weight of benies. Some people aio of opinion that Waikato is advancing in respect to fruit growing, but it would seem from this that our capabilities in this line aro rapidly on the wane. The following is the text of the resolution passed at tho last meeting of tho Hamilton Cemeteries Trustees :— " That in consequence of many valuable plants having been removed from graves m the Hamilton East Cemetery, the police bo requested to keep a watch in order to prevent de.seciation; and that in case any person or persons be found committing any desecration, they be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law." According to the Cemetenes Act of 1882, the penalties provided for any offenco of this kind aro voiy severe, bomg as much as threa months' imprisonment, or a tine of £20. Special messages to the Press Association, dated London, October ."> and 0, ha\o been published as follows:— The Australasian Shipping Company's ship Antiopn, which broke away fiom the tug in St. George's Channel, and for whose .safety some anxiety was felt, has ariivcd safely at Watcrford.— Mr Murray Smith has applied for space at tho Colonial Exhibition on behalf of the TaMnanian Government.—Mr Parnoll, speaking at Wicklow, stated that the loyalty of Irishmen in the colonies showed how safe it would be to concede self-government to Ii eland.— Austria has withdrawn her support from Servia. Waikato land has not receded in value to such «n extent an some people imagined. Thore can bo no doubt that there is not such a demand for land at the present time as there was three or four yoars ago, but the disposal of tho Cambridge racecour.se at £1") an acre show s conclusively that good land maintains it* old value, and is still M.ileablo. For some time past the market has been exceedingly dull, and several farms have been disposed «f at a considerable sacrifice ; but it seems that tho hard times which necessitated their disposal are slowly passing away and agriculturists are once more beginning to ox perience a little prosperity. Again, the low price of produce and cattle has put quite a number of fauns in tho market, and purchasers have been able to pirk and choose almost as they liked, and at their own price and on their own terms. Waikato orchards have already assumed a most encouraging aspect, and are everywhere looking bright and promising. An unusually heavy crop of apples and plum» is oxpected as the trees never looked better. The same siay be said of the peaches which everywhere seem to promise something unusual. Kvery man who boasts of a plot of fruit trees seems pleased with tho prospect which the season promises, and unless something unforsepn should happen wo have no doubt the brightest anticipations will bo realised. Immediately that tho Cambridge Jam Factory was mooted fruit plantations were extended, several faimers and fruit growers having added about an acre to their garrfons. Next season, when we expect the factory will be in full swing, and a local market thus established, orchard planting will form a very considerable feature in farming operations in the Cambridge dutrict. The war ship Magon, flying the French titcolour, airivod in Auckland haibour on Tuesday. She i« a full ngged, wooden -built vessel, rather lengthy, and is 2,<>00 tons, and 2,400 horse-power. She lias eight officers and 27 ( J of a crew. Her ordnance comprises 1.1 breech-loading guns and a number of smaller pieces, including eight Hotchkiss guns. The crew— a finelooking set of men— are armed with repeating rifles, and the ship is provided with torpodos and torpedo-bout, a steamlaunch, and all the usual accessories of a cruiser. Though not an ironclad, she is a formidable-looking vemol, being provided with a powerful ram. She Appeals to be a very roomy, well-found vowel. Fiom here the Magon proceeds on to Tahiti. Additional particulars respecting the vessel appear in our shipping column I*.1 *. On the arrival of tho Mngon at her anchorage at the man-of-war ground sho at once made the usual salute to the port. — Herald. The wheat crops in the Cambridge district this season, in point of area, fall about .v thud less than the crops of last Hcason. Theie is a considerably larger area in oats than wheat, though the reverse was the case last year. Everywhere the young I ciop.s look exceedingly well and promising, ana with anything like a fair HpnHon there should bo a very good yield. The wheat grown in Waikato this year should have *

good market in the distiict. Last soason'i averaged about 3s lOd, and as the yield wa«, generally bpeaking largo, thii price may bo said to havo paid, though perhaps not handsomely. As an instance wf the e\tont of tho local market we might mention that the Cambridge branch of the Co-operative Association alone bought 2,000 sscks of oats last season, and this was disposed of to a sack. Owing to tho late heavy rains farming operations have been somewhat retarded, and there are consequently large areas of oats yet to put in. Potatoes are leceiving some attention thii year ; and the forthcoming crop promises to be one of the niont extensive we have ever had in Waikato. Last season's have been sold at an average of about £3 a ton, a price which may bo teimed .satisfactory. Since the Cambridge Jam Factory has been biomrht for\v»iid, several farmeis are tinning their attention to fruit trees and bun y garden-*. The adjourned sitting of the Cain bridge R.M. Couit was hrld on Tuesday last, before the Resident Magistrate and Mr T. B. Lewis, J.P. In the case Bates v. Harrison, claim £<> 12s (id, judgment was given for plaintiff for £t 5-, 2d, with £2 I'm costs. The Bonch said they would not allow tho plaintiff's costs, on.account of the unsatisfactory way in which he had given his ovidence, and aim* stayed execution until a cioss action for damages was brought by defendant. The case Rose v. Kirkwood, for £213 3s 4d, was hoard. Mr Hay for plaintiff, and Mr Dyer for defendant. Defendant put in a set-off of £27 .">■> 2d. A considerable amount of evidence was taken, from which it appeared that plaintiff, when out of employment, had been given a home by Mr Kirkwood. Whilst living there he had buen doing odd jobs about the place in consideration of his maintenance. No stipulation had been made as to wages nntil plaintiff got promoted to the post of billiard marker, for which he got consideration at the rate of £1 per week, but the money thus earned went to clear off his former indebtedness. Plaintiff claimed wages for the whole time he had been with Mr Kirkwood. His Worship, in giving judgment, said that tho plaintiff went to work at Mr Knkwood's without any understanding as to wages whatever. It was only when he was in chat go of the billiard room tint wages were allowed, when by Mr Kukwood's penerot-ity he was allowed £1 pei weok, which went to pay off his former indebtedness. After plaintiff had been discharged an ill-feehn? seemed to spring up, winch caused him to act i\s he did. They would theief ore gi\e judgment for defendant, with costs, £4. The usual weekly meeting of the Hamilton Legislative Association was held in the public hall, on Tuesday evening. In the absence of the Speaker, the chair was occupied by Mr T. G. S.mdes, and therr was a fair attendance of members and \isitors. On the motion of the Treasurer, it was resolved to enfmce clause 7 and 8 of the Constitution Act. Theso provide that no memuei who has not paid his subscription (2s <>d) can vote or take part in tho proceedings of the association. After some other routine business, the House went into Committee of Supply to consider th« Financial Statement. The lender of the Opposition (Mr A. Swarbrick) deliveied a most interesting speach of about three quarters of an hour's duration, in which he ably reviewed the whole question of taxation. He stiongly suppoited a land tax. On the whole, howevet, ho enticed the Government pioposals in a friendly spirit. The Premier replied, pointing out that the aim of the Government whs not to bung forward a scheme for tho readjustment of tho incidence of taxation in detail, but rathei to assort thu pi inciplc that every man should contribute duectly to the revenue of the stato. The income tax propose i was n graduated one, ranging from 3d in the £ on incomes of £150, to Is in the £ in inclines of £10,000 and upwards. He opposed a land ta\. The Attorney(lenoi.il followed, supporting the (i<»\eminent proposals, and the member for Waitoa criticised them adversely. On the motion of tho Minister for Public Works, pro gr<jss was reported, and the House ad journed till next Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. The Otago Daily Times writes :— "Again, Major Atkinson and a good many of his followers who voted against the tanff aro avowedly Protectionists, and it was by combining with them that ( the victory of free-trade was secured. Such triumphs as these afford tho be&t testimony to Major Atkinson's skill as a party leader. We venture to say that there never has been a better leader of the Opposition in the Hnu?e smce constitutional government was established in Now Zealand. In spite of the disadvantages, under which ho struggled, through so considerable a majority of tho House having been elected in opposition to him, Major Atkinson not only succeeded in keeping his party together and himself at the head of it, but he decimated tho Ministerial ranks, and won tho good opinions of many who did not daro t« give him their votes. Tho whole session was one series of successes, for the leader of tho Opposition. No one kwesv tetter than himself that at no time was it possible for him to gain a majonty, but nevertheless he contrived to humiliate the Government until they fell into contempt, and to practically impose his will upon the House. We do not quite knowhow Major Atkinson reconciles to his con«eicnce his vote against tho tanffand the West Coast Railway, but to have supported the Government upon either ques tion would have lost him the loadetshipot the Opposition; and as ho used his influenco u|hiii the right side, wo will not examine hi* opinions too closoly. Rather are we inclined to bo giateful t-> him for having so effectually put tho brake upon Sir Julius Vogel, and saved the country from embarking upon a mischievous policy. What levenge could be ovveeter to Major Atkinson than tho breaking down of his great rival's finance, espcci illy when ho was able to assist at its burial ?"