The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 15 May 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886.

Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state oc persuasion, religious or political. Here shall tho Press the People* right maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

Tub Chairman of the Waikato County Council has courteouslyhanded us a circular from the Colonial Secretary on the subject of the Codlin Moth, in which the Minister points out the difficulties of working the Act of 1884, and asks for suggestions. The circular, a copy of which has been sent to the local bodies, was printed in our last issue. On the thirtieth of March we drew attention to the need of doing something to cope with the pest. We described the danger, and quoted the Act of 1884 to show the means by which those interested might take measures to secure their relief. Six weeks have passed away, and nobody has been found with sufficient public spirit to come forward to promote the adoption of remedial action. At the first blush this is most surprising and disappointing. Before we wrote, a great deal of talk had been expended, and numerous suggestions had been, thrown out, hut that was all, for there the matter has apparently ended. On reflection, however, this result does not surprise us. We can quite understand that both the owner of a clean orchard and the proprietor of an infected one are aliko unwilling to proceed 'x» extreme measures, because thai, means the infliction of loss upon •A '. latter. Public spirit is a very c ;c< llent thing, but perhaps it is right; sometimes that it should be temp ered by neighbourly charity on tb o one hand and ielf-interest on the other. Were this not the case tb<? world not be such a pleasant plac e to live in as it is. We do not ash therefore to urge men to forget-either the duty

they owe to their fellows or that which they owe to themselves, so long as the latter does not make too great dennnds upon the former, which it might easily do. unfortunately the Act as it stands is too repressive. In order to make it thoroughly effective some amendment is necessary. It seems to us that the needs of the case would bo met if provision for giving compensation to owners of infected orchards wore made. Provision is made in the fifth clause for the creation of a fund, to be contributed to by all orchardists in any proclaimed infected district at the rate of one penny or less for each apple and pear tree. This fund is to be applied in the direction of abating the nuisance, but only by payment to inspectors, who are invested with power to give directions for coping with the pest, noncompliance with which is punishable. The suggestion we have to make is that every district, county or road districts, borough or a town district in which infected orchards are known to exist be proclaimed infected districts, and that vigorous measures be resorted to rid the country of the moth forthwith. In order that no one may be a groat loser by a crusade in the success of which all are deeply interested, we propose that such portion of the fund raised as may be necessary be devoted to compensating the owners of infected orchards, who shall be required to take such proper steps, by laying traps, and by depriving the trees of buds, and so forth, as my be determined by, say a committee, or committees of the Horticultural Society. If the Act were amended in the direction we have indicated above we make no doubt that its provisions would be largely and promptly availed of. Were the whole of Waikato, say, proclaimed, the amount that each orchardist would have to pay would only be a mere trifle, because so far tho moth has only succeeded in establishing himself in a few orchards. At the same time they would have the satisfaction of feeling that, if such a thing be possible, the pest would be eradicated. Individual attempts to meet the difficulty can be of little use ; what is, above all things, necessary in such a case is combination. We commend the subject to the consideration of all interested in fruit cultivation, and would suggest that immediate steps be taken to secure such alterati6ns in the law as will admit of the operation of a general scheme.

Several letters to the Editor. crowded out of previous issues, will be found on the fourth page.

A young man named Murray broke bin leg in » fooMiall match at Mangawharn, Kaiparoa, on Saturday.

Mr L. M- Grace, MH R. for Tauranga, leaves Taupo to-day for Wellington, t» attend bis Parliamentary duties

Mr Gapes, Te Aroha, is the successful tenderer for painting the Te Roreand Whatawhata bridges, tho price being £288.

The Times publishes a rumour to the effect that the Government intend to extend the A run Act to Ulster as a precautionary measure.

Commander Edwin wired at 1 p.m. yesterday :— Expect bad weather between north west and west und south. Glass further r»e and weather very much colder.

Mr Lake addressed a meeting at Raglan, on Saturday lust, and received a vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Mr McCrucken, seconded by Mr Robertson.

Before leaving for his new sphere of duties at Tamahere, Mr Parry was presented with a handsome gold ring by the pupils of the Cambridge District High School.

A negro entertainment and dance will bo given in the Volunteer and Pnblic Hall, Te Awmuutu, on Monday, the 21th inst. (Queen* Birthday), in aid of the fund fur renovating the hall.

A Press Association telegram from Gisborno states that the stallion Leonata (by Leolinus— Wave) was burned to death there by the taking fire of a stablo in which he was located. It is not known whether the horse was insured.

A meeting of the members of the Waikato Horticultural Society i« convened for Wednesday, .the 2<>tli im»r., nt th« Borough Council Chamber*, Httinilton, to concert measures for dealing with the codlia moth pest. The matter in referred to in our leading columns.

At the inquest of the unfortunate man Johnson, who died at the Auckland Hospital on Sunday night, the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes, attaching blame to no one. Death, it seems, was the result of » cold, acting on a diseased organisation.

Our Taupo correspondent writes : — Vory few natives an attending the Land Court, which was opened here by Judge Scanoell on the (ith.— Mr Joshua, of the Sanatorium, has commenced building.— Visitors are increasing in number by each coach, notwithstanding the near approach of winter.

The meeting advertised to take place at LeQnesneV Hall, Hamilton, lust night, to hear an addresn from Mr Vaile on the subject of railway reform did not take place. We understand that Mr Vaile telegraphed to the clerk of the Wnikato County Council on Thursday, to the effect that the state of hit health would prevent his coming to Hamilton at present.

Our Te Awamutu correspondent asks us to correct a couple of mistakes in his communication* in last issue. The win mentioned by Mr Kay at Mr Lake'u meeting, as being demanded for Hospital* *nd Charitable Aid was £1100 not £400. In the remarks referring to pheasants in the Te Awamufcu lotter, the people who would shoot hens are " unlicensed," not 41 licensed."

In the list of the handicaps for the Te Awamntu races, published in law issue, it was made to appear that " Joe was entered for the Birthday Handicap. ThU horse's name is spelled without a final c. There is a horse whose owner adopts tho civilised orthography, but he w entered for another race. For the sake of distinctness we would respectfully suggest to the owner of "Jo " that he call him " Joseph."

The second case, Ann Robertson v. the trustees «f the late Robert Graham, for possession of land at Ohinemutu, with mesne profit*, came on at the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Thursday. The caxe did not go to the jury, at the deed under which plaintiff claimed was invalid. In non-suiting the plaintiff the judge Hympathised with her, but said the result was only what might be expected when people put their trust in native agents.

Last evening the Hamilton Band under bandmaster Munro, played in public for the first time since their reorganisation & selection of music in front of the Co-operative store. A large crowd gathered round the bnnd during tho time they were playing. The members of the band are to be complimented upon the manner in which they acquitted themselves, especially as ' the majority of them are new beginners. We trust they will often turn "out and play on fine nights.

The following special messages to the Press Association, dated London, •May 13th, have been published :— Mr Chamberlain in addressing a meeting <« sixty Liberal*, assured them thatjil; was yso-

lens to continue parleying with Mr Gladstone with regard to hU Home Rule pro|K>nalt*. — The Daily Newa urges that the Bill dealiuK with the Irish question be read n second time, on condition that it should then be withdrawn and rcca«t for the October iiewionii. — mx S. Morley will be tho next chairman of the Congregational Union.

A man named Harry Cummings was brought up at tho Police Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before Mr John Knox.J. P., charged with having been drunk and disorderly on the piovimis day, resisting, and threatening the life of, Sergt. McGr.ith, nnd breaking a pane of glass in th« window of the Commercial Hotel. The circmnntuncefl of the cane having been detailed, tho bench inflicted tine* amounting in the aggregate to over £7, <>r in default six weeks' imprisonment in Mount Eden, Gaol. Mr Knox paid the polico had a very onerons duty to jierform, and must be supported by the bench.

From an announcement in oar advertising columns it will be observed that the recently established Auckland Fish Company are about to extend their opera J tionn to the Waikato. We understand it it intended to open a central agency at Hamilton, with at each of the other principal centres in the Waipa and Waikato counties, where a regular supply of fresh and cured fish will be sold. This will meet a much felt want in the country districts, which have hitherto, owing to the long reign of the late fixl) monopoly in Auckland, been debarred from regular supplies of fresh fish, notwithstanding the swarming coast and in spite of railway communication. We wish the company every success.

At the adjourned meeting of the Court of Reviewer* under the Property Assessment Act, before Messrs T. Wells and W. A. Graham, the vajuatwn of Mr D. B. H indie's property in the Newcastle Road District was reduced from £702 to £662. The only other case not disposed of at the former fitting w«» that of Messrs Fritr and D»vies, who objected to be taxed for lot 48, suburbs of Nfcarunwahia. North, Road District of Kirikiriroa, The objection was upheld, and the property divided for assessment as under : — D. Henderson, half acre. £60; H. Errickson, half acre, £60 ;A. Cochrane, half acre, £40 ; James Hutt, half acre, £25 ; William Hutt, half acre, £50 ; J, Mcßurnie, half acre, £70 : J. C. Hutt, ten acres, £130; Friar nnd Davies, fifteen acres, £Bo ; William Crawley, five acres, £20 ; and John Such, the acres, £20.

Our readers will receive with regret the intelligence of the death of Mr John Richmond, of the well-known legal firm of Hesketh and Richmond. The and event occurred at Sydney, where the deceased gentleman had gone with his family in march of health. Though he was known to be failing, the news of hi* death came quite unexpectedly. A few weeks ago Mr Richmond was in VVaikato, and noun who «aw him then could have supposed that his end was so near. Mr Richmond wan born at Rotheaay, Bute, Scotland, and arrived in the colony, at Dunedin, in the year 18G2. He was articled to hi* cousin, Mr T. B. (now Mr Justice) Gillie*, and removed with that gentleman to Auckland, subsequently becoming his partner. When Mr (iillics retired from th 6 profession in !#(»!), having been elected to till the office of Superintendent, Mr Richmond joined Mr Edwin Hesketh, and established the firm which has since becunie so widely and favourably known. At the time of hia death, Mr Richmond was only forty-six years of ace. He leaves a. widow (a neice of Mr W. Aitknn), and three young daughters to mourn his logs.

A special meeting of the Hamilton East School Committee was held on Wednesday evening to cousider the following letter received from the Board of Education in reference to the High School :— " I am directed to inform you that the board has received and considered your letter dated April 28, suggesting an arrangement for the future maintenance of the District High School. By direction «f the board, I now forward, for the committee's information, the following statement, showing the finance* of the Hchool from July 1, 1585, to March 31, 188(5. During that period the income from fees was £60 18s (of which £<> 0s has yet t<» be collected) ; grant from renerves, £75 ; total, £135 18*. The expenditure (including the debit balance of £<> His lOd brought forward from the provious account), £1(50 2s Id, thus leaving a debit balance of £24 4s Id at the 31st March last. Before thn board cm arrivo at a decision upon the request contained in your letter it would be necessary to have aii estimate of the number of pupils and the cost of the staff required for the future maintenance of the Hchool. I am directed to ask the committee to be good enough to forward some definite proposals on these points." The chairman read a number of testimonials received by Mr Stevens, the head master of the primary school, evidencing his ability to teach the subjects included in the curriculum of the High School, and it was resolved that the chairmun write to the board, informing them that on receipt of thn correspondence referred to in the report of the bmrd's. last meeting, the committee will take the question into consideration.