AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2112, 21 January 1886, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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

TIIURSDA V, JAN. 21, 1886.

Our correspondent, "Ut Prosini," in our issue of the 16th inst., hit the right nail on the head when he attributed much of the non-success of agricultural settlement to the usurious rate of interest which many settlers pay for mortgages on their farms and stock. We purpose to drive the nail home, and with a new hammer. It is not, however, usurious interest alone that we have to complain of. As a rule, the settler does not pay more than 7 or 8 per cent, except for small sums. What we object to is his paying interest at all, whether in the shape of interest on borrowed money, or on his own capital. There are many reasons why farming does not pay, and one of the chiefs of these is insufficient capital to properly and profitably improve and work the land. The money sunk in the purchase of the farm handicaps the farmer in his after work. He sees how he might expend with a sure prospect of return, but the money is sunk in the land. He must eithei plod on and forego the certainty of success, or mortgage his property to raise the means of launching out. If he does this he cripples himself with a heavy money rent in the shape of interest, which is a clog on him to the last. The deferred payment system and the perpetual leasing system have both been proposed and in part tried, as a method under which the small capitalist may take up land and use what money he has in working it instead of in paying for it. But neither of these meets the difficulty fully. The deferred payment system ha 3 been hampered with too many conditions, and the upset value of the land is fixed too high ; the leasing system doesnotpartake sufficiently of the character of a freehold, and the provision that at the end of the term the land shall be re-valu9d for the purpose of fix-

in,' a new r.ite of rent is in its -If pate sulliciont in this century, \hon frcoliold liihil can \,v obtiine.l m this and other countries at low \itf->, to condemn it at one. Our •einedy for the present state of I lungs is the adoption of the old opyhold tenure of England, the Jrown occupying the position of the Kn-d of th(3 manor in the case of inds alienated from the natives md the native owners thems"lves lolding that position over their nalionated estates. The New Zeauul landed estate may be thus ummied up on the last statistical mtliority. The total area of thecolony supwards of sixty-six millions acres. )f this eighteen millions have been old and disposed of in education uul other public reserves; fourteen Millions belong to the aboriginals, >r to Europeans who have purchased from them, and thirty four million acres of Crown lands st'll •emain for disposal. Of the latter, ifteen million acres are open grass >r fern country, and nine million icres barren mountain tops, lakus, md worthless country. Such, then, s the material we have to deal .vith, such the wild estate that remains to be settled. The question is, Would the creation of the copynold tenure effect it with a fair prospect of success to the tenant, md a fair return for their rights to the lords of the manor, whether iovernment, native owner, or endowed institutions? The copylold tenure is perpetual, there is no renewal of lease, no alteration of rent from term to term. All that is required of the tenant is the regular payment of the rent, and if this is not forthcoming there is no forfeiture so long as there are effects to distrain upon. The tenant's improvements are his own, md so is the uuearnecl increment, for a copyhold title is as saleable as a freehold, die new purchaser's name simply being entered on the court rolls in place of the orisrinal holder's, and a fee being paid, generally a year's rent as a fine, to the lord of the ■nanor. This too is usually done in rhe case of ordinary hereditary succession. What, then we propose might bo done in the case of New Zealand would be to value the land, strike the rent at five per jent. on the present capital value, and let that be the rent for ever. Such a rent would virtually enrich the Maoris with a perpetual endowment, afford an income to our endowed institutions, and yield an -mnual revenue to the State, on its 25.000,000 acres of still remaining available Crown lands, of ,1,250,000, calculating the value of the landed estate at the present time as worth only £1 per acre, though this is probably not half its value. The land, which is the property of the people, would, so far is it has not yet been alienated, remain the property of the people ; ■or the taxes would be relieved for ever to the exteut of its annual value. On the present occasion we have put the scheme before our readers in the rough, believing that a more minute examination of the working of the copyhold tenure would prove far more beneficial to the Government and the natives than any other means by which they can dispose of their lands, and that it would provide for the intending emigrant and settler a title quite as satisfactory as a freehold itself, while it would leave him free to enter on the occupation of his land with his capital available for its improvement, and without saddling himself with a mortgage which in nine cases out of ten, like the " old man of the sea," once seated on his shoulders, simply rides him to death. In a future issue we shall more fully discuss the details of the copyhold tenure, and the other causes which in our opinion are the chief contributors, other than the ordinary and universal depression of the times, along with dear land, to the languishing state of the agricultural interests.

Mr Gapes, the contractor for painting the Waikato bridge, has arrived in Cambridge to set about the work without delay.

Mr J. I\ Edgar left Cambridge by the morning train yesterday. Several of his friends were at the statiou to bid him adieu.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Barry, Bishop of Sydney, has so arranged that he will fill the pulpit at S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, on Sunday next at the evening service.

We remind our readers and those interested in the Horticultural Socioty, of the public meeting to be held at Cambridge on Monday night to elect the central committee. Further particulars willl be given in our next issue.

At the Police Court Hamilton, on Tuesday, a man named Finn is was cnnvicted on a charge of drunkenness and fined 10a and costs. Prisoner was in a very bad state on the previous night, bordering on delirium tremens.

Sergt.-Major McGovern has recpived instructions to proceed to Kawhia to take charge of the polica di»trict temporal ily, and he will leave Hamilton at once tor that place. We presume that this step is in consequence of the native obstruction.

The directors of the Cambridge Jam Company held a board meeting on Tuesday evening at the company's office, when various accounts were passed for payment, and some other merely routine business was gone through with.

The entire horse Nugget, the property of Air Allwdl, who however had Lfc him for the past season, died at Morrinsyille cm Tuesday. The horse wae insured n tho Live Stuck Insurance Company and Mr A. E. Lewis, the agent proceeded to Morrimville pe^terday with a view to ascertain thp cause of duath.

A pleasant shower of rain fell on Tuesday at midnight in Cambridge, which cooled the air a little, but, of course, it did not at all approach to the heavy rains so greatly needed by all. Similar showers are repotted from various other parts of the district, but though rain fell hinartly in the vicinity of Captain Steele'a residence, none dropped at Hamilton worth speaking of.

As a comment on the influence of civilisation on the native mind, we give the following incident that occurred in the Native Lands Court on Tuesday, on the termination of the Maungatautari case. There was a native wh<» was uttering bellicose threats and otherwise behaving in nn unruly manner. Another native near him told him if he created a disturbance or behaved offensively, he would go for the policeman and give the offender "in charge." That is different to Old Maoridom.

The ministers of the various churches in Cambridge have arranged together to hold regular evangelical services in the Town Hall every Sunday evening at 8.30 o'clock. The first of these services wilj be held next Sunday by Arch.de.HWn

Wi.li-> and Rev. 11. 11. Dewsbury. It is t'mu^ht tli.it, nt tho fact i=i jninfully uvi il-nt tliiTii ,in> {,'re it nuiuhon ulioii'M-i (jo tn (-lunch, this will bo a moans <>f Inin^iii'/ tlioin tn hear the Word of God preached The services will be quito of nn undo n<>niiii,iti»nal character, and Sankey'nliy iiind will be used.

Tho Mfaungatautari case was li anight to a conclusion on Tuesday after n i in, both sjiJc-> having given their evident-:. Judgment will fji\ en to-day, l'li'jre was a little ->iiiinierin^ of excitement iiixingst the natives in court as the ca*.o c.une to an end, and several of them kept jumping up t<> address the bench. One hull-nocked gentleman, whom the judge declined to hi\ir, was very angry and pre dieted trouble over the case. He «aid if uiyono was killed over this business, the bl imo would rest on tho court. Judge (Jill md the time vv is tiovv passed when tiiviul threats of that description could influence the Native Lmds Court, and certainly would have no effect on him. On Tuesday t\\9 conductoi'K, after a con -iderable amount of fencing, agreed to give 2000 acres in one block as an award to the minors of both h.ipub. This piece will be cut off alongside of tho 1000 acres previously set apart for the mana of Te Waharoa.

The following special messages to the Pi ess Associition dated London, January 18 and 19, have been published :—: — Mr Collins Levy has been appointed Sir Alexander Stewarts deputy at the Indian .tnd Colonial Exhibition. — Mr Service ha« directed Mr Murray Smith to use o\erv onfiua\our to have Samoa protected from Germany. — A large banquet is being arranged to bo given to Mr Murray Smith, Atfent-Gener.il fur Victoria, prior to hw return to that colony.— The Pall Mall Gazette Rives every praise to the Marquis of Salisbury for selecting Bishop Moor house as :i successor to the late Bishop of Manchester.— The Agent-General will confer with Colonel Stanley on Wednesday regarding the import duty on colonial wines.— The steamships of the Gorman Australian line will proceed to Brisbane if allowed to c.irry a proportion of the emigrants to Queensland. The first steamer of the line will sail in July.— A thousand French residents afc Mauritius have petitioned the French Government for permission to colonise Madagascar.

In his recent ''primary visit ation " the Archbishop of Canterbury thus refers to Missions :—": — " A true Mission ought not only to awaken, it ought to leave the conviction that the doctrines of Scripture and the Church arc something solid, something to be known. It ought to create a desire for, and it ought t<> contribute to that knowledge. The central aim in a home Mission i>« to awaken attention to neglected facts, ju-.t as in foreign NF'ssions the aim is to awaken attention to unknown fact*. The emotions «»'Q not ni ire the point of attack in these than in other preachments. We must introduce or strengthen Gnosis, perception, thu beginnings of knowledge. As compared with the ordinary Sunday seimon*, the diffeience is just that which in mechanics we recognise as the difference between impact and pressure. Tlie forcri is the same— the knowledge of Christ. The missionary follows out a course of Christian instruction in a definite but sufficient time. He appeals to men to set this whole truth Mdc by' side with their own lives, and to draw the inference. He is very distinct, not cloudy. All the surroundings, especially the environments of concerted prayer and preparation, give him in an intense degree the attention of the parish. It is a new fresh start, a fresh point of departure, an occasion for commencing fresh developments and severer tasks."

We would again draw the attention of member* of the Waikato Horticultural Society to amended Rule 6 which provides that representatives of local districts must be elected during the month of January. A local district has been formed at Cambridge, and we trust no time will be lost by members residing at Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Alexandra, Ngaruawahia, Whatawhata, Raglan, &c, in taking steps to carry out tins part of the rule, which reads as follows :— " Any borough, town district, or highway district or any two or more of them situated within the counties of Piiko, Riglan, Waikato or W.\ipa, containing not less than seven members of the &ociety, ..my by Riving notice in writing to the secretary, form their district into a ' local district,' and the member* residing within the said local di&triot bli.ill, subject to the ruling of the chief committee, have charge of the society's interest therein. On a day in tin m >nth of January, in every year, the members in every local district shall meet to elect members of the chief committee, who shall hold office until the appointment of their succe->Mirs. The members so elected shall thereupon elect ons of themselves to be chairman of the local district, who shall convene and preside at all local meeting*. Local districts shall return representatives to chief committee, on the following scale, viz., seven m°mbers, two representatives; fifteen members, three representatives ; and one additional representative for every additional ten members. The chief committee shall consist of all the niembjrs elected by the local districts. Early in the month of February in every year the chief committee shall meet and elect its president, vicepresident, secretary and treasurer, who shall hold office for the year. Members may represent and vote by proxy for and on behalf of their ab>ent colleagues." The members in Hamilton .and the surrounding district are requested to meet at The Waikato Times Buildings on Monday next.

The Annual Conference of the Wesleyan Church commenced its sessions at Christnhurch on Tuesday. The Rev. Henry Bull, of the Pitt-street Church, Auckland, and formerly of Cambridge, was elected President. The following is the first reading of stations : — Auckland (Pittstreet), H. Bull and J. S. Smalley ; Wesley College, A. Reid ; Devonport, H. R. Dewsbury ; Graf ton "Road, R. Bavin and T. G. Carr; Maori Mission, W. Gitfaw; Mahurangi, C. E. Barley; Thames, B. Best ; Upper Thames, T. J. Willis ; Coromandel, S. Griffith ; Manukau, J. A. Taylor ; Franklin, S. Lawry ; Cambridge, J. H. Simmonds ; Hamilton, J. Dellow ; Te Awamutu, J. Mather ; Raglan, Homo Mission ; Kaipara, L. Waite ; Paparoa, T. W. Griffin ; Waima, T. Brooke ; Hokianga, T. Hammond ; Bay of Islands, G. Marshall ; Whangarei, J. Dukes ; Tauranga, T. Jones : New Plymouth, W. Lee ; Waitara, L. Hudson ; Patea, W. Salter ; Wanganui, W. Tinsley; Rangitikei, W. Cannell ; Sandon, T. Fee ; Palmer.ston, R. Bunn ; Wellington, W. Oliver and L. 1.-itt ; Maori Mission, H. Warehi ; Hntt, G. Spence ; Greytown, J. Ward ; Masterton, J. Buttle ; Napier, W. Banniber and 0. Dean ; Gisb^rne, W. Paraonson ; Norsewood, E. Neilson ; Manriceville, 0. Christofferson ; Nelson, W. Beck ; Richmond, J.Thomas; Blenheim, J. Crump; Hokitika, C. Abernethy; Greymouth, J. Law ; Christchurch, J. Lewis and G. Bond; Colombo Road, W. Keal ; St. Albans, J. Berry and A. L. Lawry; Lyttelton, W. J. Williams ; Maori Mission, T. Kote ; Springston, J. Rish worth ; Leeston, C. Standage; Kaiapoi, J. Luxford; Rangiora, W. Rowse ; Woodend, J. Penfold ; Timaru, P. Fairclough ; Waimate. J. Gray; Temuka, M. Thomas; Ashburton, D. McNiccol and T. Newbold ; Dunedin, W. Morley and C. Garland ; M >rnington, S. Garl.ind; Port Chalmers, W. Sl.ide ; Balclutha, W. Smith : Lawrence, C. Griffin ; Invercargill, W. Martin and T. Wallis ; Lake District, Home Missionary ; Oamaru, D. J. Murray ; Gore, B. Rothwell; J. Wallu. H. Lawry, J. Whinell, W. Watkin, G. S. Stanard, W. Kirk, J. Aldred, and W. Worker, supernumeraries. The second reading of the station bheet will be taken on Friday morning.