The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 28 November 1885, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Kqu.il and enact justice to all men, Ol whatsoeier state 01 persuasion, religious o political Here t\\ ill the Press the People's rißht maintain, Un.iwed b) influence and unbribed by gain

SATURDAY, NOV. 28, 1885.

A gentleman largely interested in agricultural and pastoral matters writes, taking exception to the tone of our criticism on the recent Auckland Show. " The reason," he says, " the large companies show is because when they keep their stock away they are taunted with the remark, ' You are afraid to exhibit for fear of being beaten.' Besides, they are pressed by the committee every year to bring forward stock to make a show. Why they take the prize money is because the expense is so fearful. It cost £\5 in labour and freight to send down the sheep and three bulls from a station in Waikato and back this year, besides extra care and expense required for animals for exhibition. If I were to mention the cost to the S. and P.S. Company this year for horses, sheep and cattle shown you would scarcely believe it. It would be three figures anyhow. You remark that shows should be peripatetic. You cannot luwe shows in Waikdto, because there is no accommodation for stock. The provision in this respect at Auckland is most shameful. There were grand fat cattle shown the other clay, and the animals were cooped up in places in which they could not turn, and j could scarcely move. They could not possibly stand in a natural position to cause the admiration they deserved. What the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were about I don't know. Their profession of preventing as much as possible cruelty to animals is a miserable pretence, and the most wanton cruelty, starvation, thirst, and ill-treatment is allowed every week unchecked. Referring again to the accommodation provided for breeding cattle, there was a roof certainly to the shedding, but Mie boxes, partitions, space, itc, was as bad as could possibly be conceived, and these inadequate dens provided were quite unsuitable, and the animals were made to appear objects of pity rather than admiration." We have no desire m the world to see the big companies refraining from exhibiting their stock. On the contrary, we have said, and we repeat, that such a thing would be a great calamity. But on the other hand, Aye do not think the companies are in such straits as to require the paltry sums offered by way of prizes. They ought to be allowed to carry away the Champion Cups if they can, but the mere circumstance of advertising their stock ought to be a sufficient inducement to show. Our correspondent refers to the heavy cost of freight. In previous years we have urged thai special facilities ought to be offered by the Railway Department for conveying stock to Shows. These exhi bitions are not local but national concerns, and deserve to be encouraged. Concerning the other issu( raised by us, our correspondent has advanced no argument against hold ing the show alternately at Auck land and in Waikato. The acconv modation for stock at Green Lane i 1i 1 as bad as bad can be, but that does not afford grounds for supposing thai the necessary buildings could not b< erected here. The increased popu larity of the Show, if made of real value to the farming community in the province, would culminate ii a healthier iinancial condition o; affairs, and proper and efficient ac commodation could be made avail able at both places. We trust oui suggestion will not be lightl) tieated. We are convinced that v change, and a change in the direction we have indicated, is necessary if the annual Show is to be any thin j but a hollow mockery.

The Piako country has made wonderful strides within the past few years. Indeed there are very few districts in the province that have come so prominently to the front in such a comparatively short time. It seems but the other day that the first conveyance was driven between "Waikato and Te Aroha, and now the country is interbected by a railway and first-class roads, almost e\ cry acre of land has been purchased and reclaimed, and the holding in a great measure cultivated and stocked. There are few districts in the colony which more forcibly demonstrate the prosperous influence of so-called land monopoly. It is no doubt very true that in many parts of New Zealand land monopoly has exeicised an evil and retarding influence, but to all appearances the Piako country is an exception. It is hard to see how any system of settlement that the Government could possibly devise could have brought the land of the Piako district more speedily under cultivation. This the companies ami moneyed individuals have succeeded in doing to a very noticeable extent. They have as it were prepared the way for settlement, and given it an impetus, and had it not been for their interference the many hundred thousand acres which arc now in grass would have re-

mained to this day and for many years to come a dreary waste. No one can pass through "this young district without being struck with its growing importance and the promising future which it ha 3 before it.

A hreat deal is being said nowa- ! days about the serious depression in country interests, the want of markets and outlets for produce, and at the same time there is also a cry that it is difficult to obtain profitable investment for the capital which is accumulating in our banks. Surely there must be something radically wrong with ourselves, no matter whether we belong to the capital or to the industrial side. Jt appears to us that what is really wanted is confidence in ourselves and our surroundings. If we have no confidence in ourselves or in our country, then we must not be surprised if outside help is withheld from us and our district. We must drift backwards the moment we cease from pressing forward. We have repeatedly advised our settlers to look to other sources than the production of the merest necessities of life for occupation. Here every necessity of life is over-abundant, — climate, freedom, and food. Should we complain that it is so 1 What does an honest man do after his meal 1 Does he not rise like a giant refreshed, to sonic higher and better employment than mere eating and drinking? So must it be with our agricultural pursuits. The civilised world has abundance of food at command, but the demand for the luxuries of life will not easily be overtaken. It is, therefore, to the cultivation of commodities which rauk as luxuries that the Waikato farmer ought to look to in tho future, unless ho has a speciality of his own which it is in his power to devolope. We are convinced that there is no lack of energy in our Waikato settlers, but repeated disappointments havo so disheartened them that they are very chary of undertaking any responsibility where money is required to be laid out. This means a panic or stagnation, which of all things is most to be dreaded. We would therefore desire to urge our settlers not to cease from striving -with the present state of affairs. We havo al\va3 r s spoken favourably of tho efforts mado for establishing the beet sugar industry, and wo are pleased to call the uttontion of our readers to the interesting letter from Mr Uemtnill, which appears in our columns. The fact that our Oalifornian neighbours declined to givo any information rogarding their operations in beet root, means something when placed beside the facts disclosed n tho report printed in our Tuesday's issue, in which is plainly sot forth that notwithstanding the numerous drawbacks frDin low price of sugar, foreign and home competition of cane sugar &c, the company paid 33 per cent on a capital of £40,000. JSurely this should stimulate our landod proprietors, settlers and capitalist to combine and start an industry frought with such momentous issues for Waikato.

Wk do hope the promoters of the meat slaughtering industry in Waikato are not losing heart. If it is not possible to start on a large scale let us make a modest beginning, but let something be done. Mr Hungerford lloche returns to the subject in a letter which we print in another column, and urges the immediate establishment of the industry on a moderate basis. We are continually recei\ ing fresh e\ idenee in favour of some change in the present methods of disposing of our live meat, and of the pressing need of bringing the producer and consumer closer together. A few weeks ago a Waikato settler forwarded to the Auckland market thirty-six fat lambs. The animals were in splendid condition, and a well-known Auckland butcher, who happened to be at the railway station when they were put in the truck, gave it as his opinion that they were worth at least 15s a-piece. The owner was offered 1 2s Gd each for them by a dealer, delivery to be taken by the buyer. Unfortunately, he sent them to Auckland, where they realised on an average just os 6 }d net! Out of the total amount, .£l2 16s Bd, paid by the butchers £'2 6s 8d was swallowed up in freight. The auctioneer's charges for commission and yard fees only amounted to 11s. Now, if only we could reflect that the consumer benefited by this transaction in lamb it would be some consolation, but we know perfectly well that he did not, and that the enormous difference between the price got by the producer and that paid by those who eat the meat was swallowed up in the voracious maw of the middleman. This is only one of the innumerable cases that might be adduced, and they go to show that something must be done if the grazier intends to live.

On Monday next, S. Andrew's D.iy, there will be choi.il Evensong at S. Andrew's Chinch, Cambridge.

Our Alexandra and Whatawhata letfcen, tho second letter on "Farmers and Farming" and other interesting items are unavoidably held over.

Members of the Hamilton Choral Society me requested to meet on Monday evening next for a full rehearsal of the Christmas Festival music.

We regret that an error should have crept into our lepoit of the H.umlton R.M. Com t sitting, on Wednesday. The case " (i. A. Kunciman v. Jivines Coonibos " should have rend, "G. A. Kunciman v. Samuel Co»mbeb."

At a special meeting of the Cambridge Town ]?<i!ii<l, held on Thursday morning, MrT. G. Sander, enginem, Hiibinittcd tho plans for tho improvement of Victoria road and Chapel-street, which were accepted. It wan ncjioed to call for tenders foi both works lnnnedi.itely.

The committee appointed to conaider what fin in the proposed memorial of tlio Mission at tf. Potcr'-iChuich, Hamilton, should take, met last night. It was resolved to recommend that on Ist January the church be made fiee and open. It was also resolved to miggcst that offerings by way of thanksgiving for the Mission be invited for tho purpose of extinguishing; the church debt.

We understand that the differences respecting tbo steeplechase horse Rowdy li.ii been amicably settled by Mr Mount and Mr Carr.

Correspondence from Te Awamntn, Mr S. Vaile's last letter in reply to Mr Maxwell, and other interesting mutter crowded out of last issue, will ba found on tho fourth page.

Owing to the inability of the Resident Magibtr.ite to preside nt the sitting of tho comfc at Cambridge yesterday, never.il ci^es bad to be adjourned till thr> 11th December, tho Justices not having bufficimit jmwiiction.

Considerable interest is mani felted in tlie cucket match at Cambridge on Monday. Both teams ha\e been pucticing well foi the past few week*, and then play should, be well up to the vi.irk on tin 1 stand, will bo asked to umpire for Caiiioccasion. The name-, of the teams have .ihe.idy been published.

We understand that overtures are about to be made to the Auckland Jockry Club to take over the Cawbudife Club and woik it ai a M)it of branch. Mi .Tared Allwill has laid off a comae on his property ad joining the Hautapu station, and it is likely that an etioit will shortly be made to stait a company to take it over and organise a new club.

The Cambridge Rotorua road is now m splendid order thioughout, and it is quite a pleasure to drive over it in one of Mr \V. K. Carter's excellent :»nd easy nui mug coaches. The improvements which the men under Mr D. Mm j.hy have effected are\ery noticeable, and should kce]> the road in e\cellent condition for traffic foi somo time to come.

The Aroha hotelkeepers are looking foiwaid to a big bu^ine^s dining the ensuing summer months. L.irge additions arc being made to the hotels, all of which promise the best possible accomodation. The Springs have bueu pretty well patiomsed during the winter monthi, and it may be expected that during the fine weather of the summer the accommodation of the hotels will bo taxed to the utmost.

A meeting of the creditors of Harry ttyinonds, of Waotu, was hold, at the National, Hotel, C.imbi ldge, on Tlmisday afternoon, Mr J. W. Mermkin the than. Tho debtor suhimtted a statement of ln« liabilities, and promwd that all rent coming to him flout the Waik'ito Tnnliei Comp.my should be applied for the bt-noht of his cioditms, and that he would convoy all aviiil.ible lands at W.iotu to s.itisfy Inn debt«. Mes-rs Wm. Moon, J.is. H.illy, and J. W. Met rick were appointed a com mittee on behalf of the cieditoii to nupeivise the estate, «md take all bteps neressaiy to obtain amounts due.

The following special messages to the I'roi As-ouation dated London, November 25th, h.ivo benn published :— lt is reported tli.it the loss on the Invention*, Exhibition will amount to £K>,ooo — The Bank of South Austiaha- is npphiug to h.ivo an airendment in ide in tin 1 Act which will pei nut them to c.uiy on biwne*.-. in London. — The propo>als of the Hawaiian Government to Ameiica and the European I'oweis unking foi locil autonomy 1 elates only to the Marshal, Gilbeit, and Ouolmo Islands. — Mr Garnclc, Agent (Icneral for Queensland, is on a visit to Copenhagen on an emigiation mis-ion.

The directors of the Cambridge Jam Factoiy continue to e\cit themselves towards having the factory undeiuay as as soon as possible. They h.iv c been m toinmunication with a com potent inauagci down South, who, if his services are seemed will ainve in the distiiet at an eaily date. Plans for factoiy buildings have also been lecened, and the dnectors an*nowasceitiming the probable cost&c. It in quite possible that a stint will be made during tlie piesent season. Opei.itions will be commenced on a somewhat hunted scale at the .start, and the duectoi-. will launch out as encouragement peimit>.

Captain Beere, C.E., andMrTurnci, In-) .i-.-Ht.int, are at present engaged laying off the new load between Te Aiolu and K.itikati. The now io.id will bo in the hue of wli.it is known as Thomson's ti.ick, and crosses the lowest saddle of the mountain. Thoroid at present is impracticable fioni this side, but on thf other side thoro is .1 very easy gi.idient. The saddle wheie the road cio^en ii 1350 feet above the level of the plains. Captain Beore'H paity are camped at the end of the bush on the Katikati ti.ick, and no time will be 10-t to have this vet y convenient road opened up. It will be fully two years, however, before the road is available for wheel traffic.

A meeting of the Hamilton sports committee was held on Thuwiay evening to rccche tho repoit of Mews Sander, Barton and Bach, appointed at a pre\imis meeting to prepare a programme. With onp or two minor alteration* the piogramme was adopted. The total value of prizes to be offered amounts to between Jt'lo and i'tJO, divided amongst eighteen event*, the principal feature of which will be the Cup of £22 10->, to be competed foi at thiee distance", the iihual points being awaided foi places. Tho track on Sydney Sqnaro is being got into thoiough good ordei, and as the other details are vi tho hands of nn energetic committee, the day-, meeting is certain to turn out an unqualified succe-'S.

It has been reported by several person-, who t:ike a. deep interest m the welfaioof the young ti out which aie now coming on well in the river at Hamilton, that boys big enough to know betti.r are in the habit of fishing f»u them and lh>\e been seen catching them ."> 01 u mchea lung, li is to bo hoped th it these youths will use a little mote common sense for the future, ,ui(i abstain from hilling in the place* where they know the young trout to bi located. If they do not refiam from then stupid puctices, steps will be t\ken te bi iiif? them to account. Another >ear 01 so they will be able without doing anj haim to enjoy a little profitable sport, and in the meantime we tnist another hint will not be requned.

"Practical" writes as follows te the Thames St.v :—": — " I thought the L.i Monte fum.ice was to enable low grade (hi I — stuff that would not p.iy by the oidmai> batteiy process — to be Miocev-fnlly ti cited, How, then, is it that the CuubiM tailingwere puichused to-day by one of our low battery ounei-i inste id of by the fiun.ict people.' Cannot Mr L.iMouto tie.it t.ul ings .is well as our loe.vl men cm by thru old f<\shionod piocessei .' My idea ii thai when anyone comes heie with a now pro cev> for ti eating either quait/., tilling*, 01 anything eKi 1 , ho bhould fust piose to U; that it is the good thing he would ask u«< t( boliese that it i» ; that it is infinitely feupetioi to what we liavo been acou^tomec to; and then when ho has proved it' snpeiioiity, he can expect v-> to send stuf to be treated by him.

The secretary of the Hamilton Domain Board )>iuceeded to Auckland lasi week to procure another supply of cat fish, Some 3jO woie caught and brought up, bul unfortunately a Luge number of them died notwithstanding that e\ery care and attcn tion was displayed, and about half th< number only arrived safaly. Theso were dis tnbuted in the bikes close to Hamilton, il being conMdeied wisest, in their evhaustec state, to liberate them at once. They h.»t been kept two days in confinement, the d.ii of catching and the day of their journey up and this is a long time to bo ao cubbed up On liberation the fish plainly signified theii appreciation of more roomy quarters, sine give ptoinwe of doing well. Arrangement' aie being made for another supply fur tin other lakes in Waikato,

The horticulturists of Waikatc uio looking forw.ud to this ne\.t .miaul ihow of the Hoiticultur.il Society, which n to lie held in Cunbudge in M.nch no\t The Cambridge committee ha\e made vij their minds to m. ike their show a thorougl: success-, and n.itiually expect to he hugely assisted by then friends at Hamilton ,md other centum. The flowci duiiartnicnt ol the ->how will receive upeci.vl attention, a< tlieie ,ue several well yroMdod hothousein the distnct, the contents of winch, wt understand, will be placed .\t the dispos.il of the committee to set off their e\lubi turn. It is i'\pected that suitable addition* will be mode to the Public Hall bcfoie the slum ; if so, there should be no want oi suitable accomodation for the exhibits,

Mr Livingstone has lost no time in pushing on the Aroint i.uhv.iy conlmct. The ballasting h no.nly finished light ny to tho budge, and tho people of To Aioha will have tho pleasnio of seeing a 1 ail way engine within thoir township before the end of tho year. Nothing can bo dime in tho way of building tho station, iVc at To Aiohn until the line is completed into tho town, as a laigo quantity of o.utli will hive to bo biought on to the giound for tilling piupo^os. It cannot be expected th it the line will be open foi tr.ifHc before Maich at tho earliest, as Mr Livinsrstono's conti.ict time does not e\pno until I(Vbrnaiy. It is a great pity that tho line could not bo opened BarhVr for tho convenience of the tourist ti attic to tho Hot tiHiuiga,

The tourist traffic to the Hot Lakes and the interim h.m.i^um commenced in eivrne«t. Almost owry day i i.uiuboi of people arrive at Cambridge, consigned to the tender mercies of Mi W. K. O.irtor, \vh»?e coacho are once more being l.irgt'ly i>atronihod. The W«ik»f<i i<»ute !•> coming into goncrul favour, nnd nidping by the large numbers of tourwt-i w ho adopt it, it will soon be tuiiyei sally )i>pul.u. ]\\cn when the 1 ail way is opnned to ()\foid wo incline to think that Caiiibudjjo will, in a \ory gi eat measure, continue to be the starting' point of the coach li.iffic.

The Waitoa estate of the Auck land Agricultural Company promises to bo one of the fine-it properties <,f tli.it cutci prising concern. It is not veiy in my jc.ir-. since the land was taken up, and it would *eem that no time has bi ou lost in effecting necessary linproveuu'iitw. There arc in .ill about 24.000 acres, principally swamp , n. large poitinn of which lias boon trcl.iimed and laid down in pi ass. This is now heawly htocked, canvmg in places inn sheep to the acre. Th<' Hue flock-, of tho estate number ncarl/ 11,000 head, and the cattle, Lugo hcids of which an fattened and sent to niaiket, number about 1200 head. In the course of a, few yean, when settlement takes another st.irt, theie should be a big deni mil for excellent p.istuie country of tins natuio, traversed as it is by a railway, and mteusocted by many miles of well funned mads.

A correspondent at Paterangi writes : — I was talking to a man the otbei day who didn't know whero P,iterangi was ; yet lie lived m W.uUato. l'.itoranKi is an agricultural anil pa*tor.il dibtnet)>ing about half way between Oh.iupo and Alex andra. It contain-, seveial thou-und acre-i of \ciy fertile, diy land, inteisected with sv.unp-. It is 1 Ather hilly, yet it i« nearly all i)li>ughible. The people aiemdustuous, honest and happy, a very good thai.ictcr, and are minus the linen ployed. Most of them aro farmer*, and they are a credit to then cl.1 I^, because they are keeping their f.irins in pool ordei, .md if it was not for the fern that plagues them, all their farms would be covered with verdant grass and flourishing crops. The f.ums \ary in si/c ftoiti 1000 to 50 acre, but <ne mostly ,ib »ut 200 acres. But the cli-,»nct can also boi«t of si blacksmith as well as of fanners ; and ho is-[The rciu.undei le.illy ought to be ji.ud foi as an ad\ertiscment. — Ed.J

At the concluding sitting of the We-.lej.ui Distiiet Meeting at Auckl.md on Thuisdiy, tlie Rets. ,T. A. Ta>lor, S. Laury, and .1. Dollow leceivcd permission t<> attend the annu.il Confennice. Key. A. Reid fjoes officially as Conne\ional Tre i suier, Rev. H. Bull as Secretary of Conference, .md Rev. R. Bawn a-, Chairman of the Distuot. IvYvs. T. J. Wills .md T. F. Jones proceed t<> the Confcrenco to iecoi\r oulin.ition, they having completed the term of their ministeii.il pi obatwn. Mi Rakena was recommended to Confeicnce for oidmation, (md two othor native students woie di'sißiiated to the M.ioii woik. A ipsolntion, i:\piesaiiig' the tn«eting's spixc of lui-s by the dc.ith of tho chief Adam Gl.uke, w.is c.iuicd. Rev. J. Dellow spoko of the large mciease of members in his cucuit. Rev. E. Best refcirod to a hiph tone of piety and the £ieat spiiitual sympathy he had received at the Thames. Key. W. dittos spoko hopefully of the Maoris, and refeircd to specul ovangnhstic efforts about to be made. Rev. C. K. Barley pointed out the Kicit benefits leceivcd and transmitted by mutual prayer. Rev>. B. 11. DewMiury. T. (r. Hammond, and J. J. M.ithei dwelt in terms of tli.mkfulncsti with respect to the favourable indications met with by them in their work during the year.