The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 9 January 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and cx^ct justice to all men, Ol whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, JAN. 9, 1886.

« When some wise man said that it was possible to have too much of a good thing, it is probable that he did not in any way allude to goldfields, or to gold itself either for that matter. In all likelihood he was a man of happy, convivial habits, wont to attend public dinners, and to say "wine with you," until his hand grew unsteady and the chandeliers began to multiply themselves in a perversely perplexing manner. It is quite reasonable to suppose that one can eat too much towl and ham, fruit pies, custards, jellies, trifle, muscatels, and so forth, and drink too much — a great deal too much —"dry 48," or any other similarly seductive liquid; but it is preposterous to suppose that anybody could aftbrd to give us more gold than we could desire. At any rate, it is not within the range of possibility that a country can have too many goldfields—pro-

vided of course that they are re illy bona fid" gold-producing fields, and not mere howling wastes of hungry quartz. New Zealand is the possessor of numerous goidtields, but not many that fulfil the condition laid down above. There is not a single one of them but has once enJoyed the reputation of being an undeveloped El Dorado, and there are very few, if any, of them that, if curses could blacken, would not wear a remarkably dark aspect at the present moment. Experience teaches us little or nothing in respect of goldh'elds. The gleam of a speck of the precious metal in a ton of stone takes the common sense out of most people : if ruin comes to-day it will not testrain them from worshipping the ciuse of their downfall to-morrow. Who that has been present on the opening day of a goldtield — who that heard the shot tired at Te Aroha even, caunot recall to mind the strange scenes of excitement which took place, the spectacle of men grown old in the world's wisdom and ways paying away coin of the realm in exchange for the veriest bubbles 1 Well, this has occurred over and over again, and we shall probably have a repetition of it at no distant period at our doors. The tirst practical step in the direction of opening the King Country for prospecting has been taken. The Native Committee, as our readers already know, agreed to throw the country open under certain conditions, and these, in a slightly modified form, have been agreed to by the agents of the Government. Mr Wilkinson, Native Agent, and Mr H. Kenrick, Warden of the Thames Goldfields, have been up in the King Country during the past week, and the net result of their negotiations amounts to this : That six prospecting parties, each consisting of two Europeans and two Natives, are to be allowed to prospect, a certain portion of country being allotted each. The men are to pay their own expenses, and if any of them find a payable goldfield they will get the standing reward of £500. All the parties may obtain the prize, provided only that the various fields are five miles apart. On the discovery of gold the fact is to be made known to the committee and the Government, and the gold is to be handed to the former for transmission to the latter, to be disposed of as may be thought fit on the proclamation of the field, which we presume would speedily ensue. There are other minor conditions which it is not necessary to go into. The broad fact which it concerns us to be made acquainted with is that the Natives have at length been induced to recognise the propriety of determining whether or not the country which they have so long kept locked up from the wicked and designing Pakeha is gold bearing. Of course, wonderful stories have been told about this region, but we know too much of the character of the adventurous goldseeker by this time to put implicit faith in everything he may feel disposed to tell us when stimulated, as he too often is, by a little mountain dew. True, a good deal has been stated on what is solemnly called "the most reliable authority" to the effect that a payable field exists somewhere or other in the ranges between here and Tai'anaki, but in matters of this kind even "the most reliable authority's" information must be taken with a little salt. The opening of a payable goldfield in the Tuhua or Eangitoto country would be a grand thing for us all, Europeans and Natives, and we only hope the golden promises so long held out to us may be realised. We do not want to appear sceptical, but wo must try to be cautious. We hope the men furnished with prospecting permits will be thoroughly capable to do the work, men who will honestly endeavour to determine the true value of the country from a miner's point of view. We trust the Governor will not proclaim the field unless there is a reasonable prospect of getting something out of it. Every ill-con-sidered rush inflicts incalculable injury upon individuals, and through, them upon the district and colony at large. If the country is worth opening to the miner, let it be opened by all means, but if it belongs to that Lagenian order which Tom Moore refers to in one of his exquisite ballads, the less we have to do with it the better. A spurious goldfield is a counterfeit coin on a big scale, and the Government ought not to encourage anybody to put it in circulation.

The drought in Australia has broken up.

The Garonne, with London mails to the 4th December, arrived at Adelaide on Thursday.

The usuul fortnightly sitting of the Cambridge R.M. Court was held yesterday before Mr H. W. Northcroft, when some unimportant civil cases were disposod of.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of Tamahere h advertised for Monday. Archdeacon Willifa a«ks for a full Attendance of committee and parishioners.

We have been asked to remind the parishioners ef S. Peter's, Hamilton, that the annual meeting for the election of a churchwarden and vestrymen, and for other business, takes place on Wednesday next in the Public Hall at 8 p.m.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a present of plums and greengages from Mr H. Chitty, grown in his orchard at Hamilton Easr. The plum is of the kind known xs River's Early Prolific, and we can vouch for the excellence of its flavour.

Nothing fresh has transpired in connection with the Churchill mystery. Information reaches us from Cambridge to the effect that from the description it is believed the deceased was seen there lately, but that it is not possible to identify him in the absence of a photograph.

Mr 0. Wilkinson having resigned his scat on the Kihikihi Town Board, an election to fill the vacancy will be held on Saturday, the 23rd inst. Nominations will be received up to the 10th inst. at the office of the board.

Complaint has been made to the police during the week that a bullock had beed killed on the Ngaruawahia-Whata-whata road, and that the offal, head, &c, had been left exposed, causing a great nuisance to the settlers. Information has been laid against the offending party,

A large consignment of fresh butter from the d.iiry i»f Mr Francis Hicks, Pukekurn, wis forw.uded by yesterday Tifternoon'H tram to Auckland. Tho butter was consigned by Messrs Wells and Smitter, who have xecurud an excellent market for all the good butter they can send.

The natives who are aggrieved at the Okormre Hot Springs falling into tlio hands of a private individual intend drawing up a petition on the matter, which will he submitted to tho Native Kind Court at its pi esent sitting. Themitter has excited very considerable interest in certain circles.

la the report of the Native Committee for the district of Kawliia, at Te KopUit, on the lnt, inserted in our last issue an error occurred relative to the sale <>f cattle, horse--, &c, the word " settlers" being ninei-tefl for " sellers."

Special telegrams to the Press Association, dated London, January Gth, have been published an follows : — The f jneen has agreed to become patron of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.— The Speech from the Throne will be delivered on the 21at hint.

The other day, Mr W. Swan, of Ruapuke, picked up a bottle on the beach near hi* farm, which on being opened was found to contain a paper with the following written thereon :— "Lat, 40\ 38' S; long. 130', 25' E. From Bbip Berengaria, of (ireenock, April 2nd, 1882. All well on board."

Our attention has been drawn to the necosmty of having the railway line fenced in in the vicinity of the bridge over the deep Riilly on the other side of Fr-mk-ton juncti >n. Some time ago a passenger train ran into a number of cows lying on the line here, an accident which might have ended in a serious calamity. We recommend the matter to the, attention of the Railway Department.

The Native Land Court resumed its sitting at Cambridge yesterday morning before his Honour Judge Gill. There was a large number of native present. The Maungatautari No 3. (21,000 acres) was called when the opposing interests of the Ngatihaua and Ngatihorua were considered. The Ngatihorua were in favour of the subdivision, which was opposed by the Ngatihana. Speakers representing both parties were heard. After some discussion his honour adjourned ttie case till Monday.

A meeting of the S. Peter's (Hamilton) branch of the Church Society was held on Thursday night. About twenty members and associates were present, and the chair wan occupied by the Warden, the Rev. R. O'C Biggs. The by-laws drafted by the committee appointed for the purpose were brought up and approved. Thirty-one candidates were nominated for membership. It was decided in \ iew of this large accession of members to postpone the election of officers nntil next meeting which w ill be held on Tuesday, the sth February. Some routine business was transacted. The meetwas opened and closed with a prayer prescribed by the society's manual.

The Victorian Railway Commissioners ha\e adopted a revised scale of rates for the carriage of wheat and flour. The new rate is based on a minimum charge of 2s per ton, for any distance up to ten miles. The present chnnge is 3s. No further reduction has been made from 10 up to 61 miles, but from the latter distance up to 98 miles there is an average reduction of 7£ per cent ; from 99 to 107 miles, 14 per cent ; and from 107 to 202 miles, 8 per cent. The practical effect of the alterations up to 100 miles will be to reduce the rates by 15 per cent, whilst from 150 miles and upwards it will ranga from 8h to 18 per cent. The small percentage is accounted for by the fact that a 9\ per cent reduction was made last year, wHen the concession amounted to LlO.OOO. The present reductions it is estimated will involve a loss of revenue to the Department of L 30.000.

Referring to the New Guinea Question in a recent speech, Lord Haitingon said : — I do not believe that the Germans have a colony that any German who car^s for his life will go to. I say more — that great and powerful as Germany is, vast as she is as a military empire, no Power in Europe can wantonly encroach upon a single acre belonging to our Australian brethren without the certainty of some day receiving prompt notice to quit. They are young, but they are a powerful, vigorous, independent, high-spirited race. They can guard their own. They have their own harbours, their own ships of war, and, some day or other, without consulting the Mother Country, if any European Power plants itself in a position that may be dangerous to them, or invades any part of territory to make it a receptacle for criminals, there will be an explosion broadside, and the ship will go down. They will be cleared out. There are three millions of people there— the most enterprising people on the face of the globe. They are more numerous than the Americans were when they beat us. The old despotic military powers at Home do not count for much oil the other side of the world. When they get to the Antipodes they have a differeut reckoning to make,"

The fete of the Waitetuna School, though somewhat delayed, came off on Tuesday, the oth inst. Soon after midday, the children, with happy faces, attended by several of the elder members of the various families, might be seen wending their way towards the school-house, where a plentiful supply of good things for the inner man had been provided, and laid out most temptingly just outside the school, to which it is needless to say ample justice was done. After which all were invited to enter the school-house by the much respected teacher, Miss Spence, who together with some other friends had been busily employed in preparing a large Clnistinas tree, which was laden with things both useful and ornamental. Tiie lacky bag was soon set going, and tickets having been drawu, the work of distributing commenced, and kept Miss Spence and Mrs Goodfellow, of I*aterangi, busy for at least two hours, to the evident delight of both girls and boys, who besides other things were nearly all supplied, the former with dolls and the latter with guns. Lollies were then distributed, and Mr McDonald, the senior member of committee present, called for three cheers for Miss Spence, which were given at the top of their voices, and an adjournment was mane outside, where games of \aiious kinds were played till the shades of evening fell, and all returned home again, carrying their prizes with them.—(Correspondent.)

A very pleasant evening was spent at Kirkwoods cottage, Cambridge, on Thursday on the occasion of Dr March's depavfcuie from the district. A number of the Doctor's friends assembled to bid him " good-bye," and to wish him every success in his new circle. Mr J. Thompson who, was called to the chair, expressed the general regret which was felt in Cambridge at losing Dr Murch, but as he loft them with the happy prospect of bettering himself the loss carried with it a certain amount of satisfaction, and though they had met to express their sincere regret at bis departure, still they h.id also to congratulate him and wish him every success in his new field. In fact it was one of those rare occasions when p sople expressed their sorrow and indulged their happiness fit the same time. One by one the happy spirits of the place were fleeing off to some new field, and almost every week witnessed fresh desertions which could be ill afforded. It was one of these cases in which they had to accept the inevitable and put up with the loss in the best possible spirit. Professionally speaking, Dr Murch's departure meant a big loss to Cambridge, where as a medical man he had been very popular, through his sojourn had perhaps been a short one. Nor was it solely by his medical ability that their guest had achieved his well earned popularity for, Dr Murch's valuable assistance in the musical circles, as well as socially was never wantim*. It was such men as this who were the life of a community and whose loss was most felt when they left it. It was needless that he should speak at any further length on a subject with which they were all so familiar. Mr Thomson concluded a very appropriate and felicitous little speech by proposing the health and prosperity of Dr Muich. The toast was diunk with musical honours. Several other gentleman made a few remarks appropriate to the occasion, and the meeting was brought toaclose with the usual harmony. Dr Murch arrived at Hamilton yesterday, and may be consulted at Mr R. F. Sandes'a Pharmacy.

Kihikihi Town Board rate notice in this issue. New Zealand binder twine for sale at Cambridge branch Co-operative Association. Mr W. Hayes, Hamilton East, offers a reward for the recovery of a horse. Tenders are invited by the Kihikihi Town Board for making 40 chains maiu road. The usual religious services are advertised in another part of this issue. Mr A. H. Maunder, timber merchant, Frankton, notifies that he is now prepared to supply catos, &c, &c, at lowest rates. Soo advertisement.