The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2103, 31 December 1885, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

.Iqurtl and exact justice to all men. Of vvhafsi ver state of persuasion, religious or pohti rl Hero shill the Press the People's right maintain, Umwed by influence .md unhnbed by (r«<n

THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1885

The cracked pitcher gives evidence of speedy disintegration. By which we mean that the ill-assorted Cabinet ostensibly presided over by Mr Stout, but of which Sir Julius Vogel has been the leading spirit, is not likely to last much longer. The secret of how it has managed to maintain its existence so long and under such unfavourable conditions, is one that many a hungry politician svould give ten years of his life to learn. We do not believe that any Government in New Zealand has ever had to contend with influences so adverse, or -which, having to fight such an array of foes, did not at once succumb. The Stout- Vogel Administration has received nothing but unkindness since its birth ; its friends have vied with its foes in their efforts to cast ridicule upon its overy effort at legislation, and especially its proposals for the regeneration of the colony and the elevation of its inhabitants to the highest plane of prosperity and civilisation. By the way, it is a rather biting commentary, not only upon the pretensions of the Government, but also upon the extraordinary vigilance which the Opposition are, or were so proud of having displayed, that the oidy measure really drastic in its tendency passed during the late session should have been the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act, a measure which, so far from contributing to the general welfare, is calculated to swell the ranks of the paupers to an extent truly alarming. That the Government withstood all these attacks is matter of history. Whether it would have been more in consonance with tho popular notions of honour and good taste to have retired, ia a question which has already been freely enough commented on. Apparently tho inability of any Opposition combination to eject Ministers was ample warrant for the retention of their M\its. But what the battering i.ims of the honourable members tor Eguiont and Selwyn, the arrows ni the members for Waitotara and Napier, and the sky-rockets of Sir George Grey failed to do, is on the point of being accomplished by other and quite different means. The Stout Government, like the Royal George, could put up with battles and tempests, but when the Treasurer imposes his weight on the main truck, it will, like poor Kempenfeldt's ship, heel over. The Government, or perhaps we ought to say Sir Julius Vogel, has been hunt ing for a policy for some considerable time. It is absurd to suppose that, bold as he is, lie would be bighearted enough to seek to rehabilitate the rejected schemes of the last two years' creation, or that he would risk his chances of office upon any mere sentimental or theoretical legis lation. No proposals of this nature not distinctly radical in their aim could hope to find acceptance amongst any considerable class 01 classes of men, and radicalism and Sir Julius are not bosom friends. Really there was, in the circumstances, nothing left for the Treasurer but to fall back on his old policy of 1870, and to declare that English money was the only panacea for our national disease. Somewhat difidently put forward at first, as a sort of twin remedy with protection, this huge borrowing scheme has since been boldly and frequently advocated by Sir Julius Vogel, and the country at large has naturally concluded that the Government is committed to it. But now comes the startling intelligence that the Premier before his constituents distinctly disavowed any sympathy witli his colleague's proposed policy. All inclination to discuss the question of future borrowing will now give way to a feeling of astonish ment. Even those critics who have all along busied themselves in finding out points of difference between the Treasurer and Premier musi have been flabcrgasted when this newest sensation reached their ears, It is not difficult to foresee the end In any case a dissolution soon aftei the opening of the session was some thing more than a possibility ; now there can be no doubt about tho matter.

The body of the girl Marion Sk' H >n, drowned at Cambridge on Boxing lAiy, hM not jet buon lou.vered.

Admiral Tryon and party arrived at Cambridge last night from the Hot Lake«, and put up at the National Hotel. They proceed to Auckland by this morning'd train.

The annual meeting of the Cambridge Donmn Uo.ii<i will bo hold on Monday, lih Jtmury, at 4 p.m. BtiiinwH: Adoption of b*laULe-*liect and •}w«tiuu of «iuiruibQ>

The dry weather is exerting a damaging influence on thn pastures of the district, which are fast burning up. Rain is badly wanted.

We are requested to aay that a •itatampnt in yesterday 1 ! Herald that Dr Waddmgtoii is likely to return to Hamilton ii entiiely without foundation.

The death is announced of the Ri',-ht Hdn. and Moat Rev. M. G. Boresfii I, D.D., Aichbiihop of Armagh, in the Chmch of Ireland. His Gr.vco was app mited m 1562.

The continuation of our report of Professor Black's lecture at Canibntjpo, uluch ha-* lidMi held over to make room for accounts of sports &c, will, together with other interesting matter, bo found on our fouith \i.\go.

Gras3 fires are reported to be very piov.ilent m Oantoibury, owing to the lon*,' continued drought, and damage to the patent of wev\\ thmnand-* of pounds has been c.iu<-p(l. Several homcsto.ids and nwny miles of feuccs liavo been destroyed.

Yesterday Mr T. King, of Hamilton ii'ft .at our office ft number of apples infected with the Codlin moth. The fruit can be seen by orcluudists and others interested in fuut growing. In the apple* referred to the grub is plainly discernible, I li.iv mi? eaten it-, way into the core.

The contractor for the improvements on Like Te Koutu reserve at Camhndgo is at present hard at work clearing .Mid draining. The flower hod? and young plants look very healthy, and the grounds, generally '.peaking, have of late assumed a

very attractive appearance. The grass and fern on the river j bank near the Knrapiro Wid^e, Cambridge, cimpht Hi eon Monday last, and at one tune threatened lnjmy to the structure. _ A few gentlemen ])rocoeded to the bpot with hand (,TPiiades, which, however, were not re- , ([iiircd.

The Rev. Charles Bodington, telegraphing to Archdeacon WiUw yesterday fiom Olnm-iinitii, >.iy* he may be expected at C.imbiidtfe by Coach on Monday, and w ill pi each at S. AndieuV <>u Alonday night. We miderstind that the t>ei \ ice will he hold at S o'clock.

Friday (New Year's Day) will be ob-.r>r\ed as a. closa holiday at the Post and Toh^r.it>li offices thioiitfhont the district. The buikx will be closed on tli.it d.iy. and the bi inch .u>d iißoncu-s of the Bank (if New Zealand and Uuum Bank on Saturday also.

(To-morrow),NewYear'sDay, there will be t\w annual picnic, fur thf children of S. Pett-rV, Hamilton, Sunda> school. The children will muster at the Public Hall at 10 30 a.m., and march to Mr Jolly's paddock by tlu> Like. Thu teachers will be gl id to seu the patents and I friunds of the childicn.

It is proposed to have an athletic meeting fur all boji. .md (,'iils attending «chwls in Waikatn towards tho clo-e of the holidays in Hamilton. All head teather-i, chairmen of committees or others interested in the matter will please communicate with Mr Vcreker-Bindon. pro tern secretary, who lias already got a laree amount of support in Hamilton.

As usual, there will be a Watch Service in S. Peter' •s Church, Hamilton, tonight, for .ill who desire, in this solemn manner, to dedic.ito the New Ye.vr. Tho service will commence at 11.30, and concludo about five minutes after the close of thooldye.tr. To-morrow "the Festiv.il of the Cncumcision of Christ," theie will be a celebration of the Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m.

A large mob of sheep from Napier arrived at Cambridge yesterday morning for Mr W. .T. Hunter's sale. The sheep were driven through Duke-street, to the pie.it annoyance of shopkeepers and other-, whose wares were completely smothered w ith dust. Tins is a irutter whicli should lecune the attention of the town bo.vrd. It could easily be .in.inged that all sheop and cattle might be driven round by Fort-street.

The following special messages to the Press A-socuti«n, dated London, December 2Sth, hive been published :— Mr Murray Smith will resign the position of •Agent-Oeiii'i.il foi Victoria in the beginning of April. — It is feaiod that the paileying which ha-, been proceeding lespectnig the proclamation of a sovereignty over New Gurnet, and the question of increased contributions by the colonies to this end, will be a fiasco.

Alaric's victory in the big hurdle race at Auckland on Boxing Day was wiy populai in Waikato, and bar accident-., his show in the steeplechase on the 2nd January is pretty ceitain. On his return from Auckland Mr Carter was warmly congratulated by his numerous friends. Great batisfaction \va% alai manifested at VictonVs grand performance in the Cup race, and it is believed that had she not carried si\ lbs o\er weight Kelson would not have had it all his own way. She promises to show up well in the Grand Stand Handicap to-morrow.

The members of the church and congregation <>f S. Andrew's, Cambiidgc, aro reminded by advertisement of the annual Sunday-school (<-te, which takes place on Frid.xy. This ycir tho place of meeting will be the gr.xnd stand on the iace course, for which permission has kindJy been gi\en. All members young and old are hoartily welcoinod at tins annual gathering. The Sunday school childten will meet at the church at a quarter before ten for a short nerwee. after which, waggons, &c, will ba in readiness to convey tliem to the ground.

The recent performances of Victory and Victmia, at Auckland and Takapuna prove Fevc one of the best suet in the countiy, and show must conclusively th.it had he been properly ti cited bince his <iiriv.il in New Zealand, his stock would ha\ c h.ul a n.vmc equal to that of the best sires in the colony. That Feve has beqn undervalued and indifferently tre.ited in the past, there can be no doubt, for when we ace such graiid youngsters as the two theitnntu wo have just named beating the first racing cracks in New Zealand and in such excellent tiinp, it leads us to behave that were he matched with some first-class dams, his reputation would soon become general thjoughout the Australian colonies. Indeed, it i-> a great pity that such an excellent thoroughbred sire as Feve should have been kept in the back -ground b« long, but we trust that with th»> events of the past few weeks his leputation has been sulhciontly established. Waikato has every reason to be proud of him.

A meeting of the Pukekura Road Board was hold on tha 23rd inst. The following tenders were accepted :— For maintaining (station ro.ul for tlio year, Rjch.ud N>»iw, !LC>; do, No 1 road, (Jeo. filler, £8; do. No. 2ioad, M. Dillon, ») No tender was accepted for Mystery Cieek road. For forming and gravelling, Pukokura road, Mebsrs Watt and Kennedy, 2-, 3d per chain, nnd 10W per yard respectively. G. Giles and M. Dillon each tendeied at 5s Gd per chain, and lOd per yaid for forming and gravelling on the Redoubt road, and the chairman, Mr John Fisher, was deputed to make arrangements with the contractors. On the application of Mr O'Neill, the board resolved to give £2 towards ropauing the road, &c, near his pioperty. It was resohed to invite tenders for draining and funning about 20 chains of road near Wathon's, and for cutting, culvert, &c , on the Pukeinnu Landing Road. Permission waH granted to Mr R. Reynolds to keep gate on Landing road shut, and to cany out improvements on load through Ins property. Mr Gnce was empoweied to effect coi tain l epan s to the bridge on the Redovibt load. This was all the business.