The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2172, 10 June 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

"Equkl and exact justice to all men, Ot wbataoercr state or persuasion, religious or political. - ' Ifrere Shall the Press the People's riffht maintain, Unawed by influence and unbrjbed by gain.

' THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1886.

Sib Julius Vogel is likely to earn the war.m regard of the mining community. He intends to propose that the gold duty be reduced by sixpence per annum until it is altogether abolished.

• Tjik rumpus about Cardinal Moran's reception has come to an end we hope. The committee appointed by 'the Legislative Council have reported that all the concession granted to His Eminence was a free pass on the railway. They "iiiid that the llineiuoa did not meet "the Cardinal as a Government steamer, and the policemen who •M-'ere supposed to have formed tli6 guard 'of honour (fancy a guard of honour of policemen!) were really only present to keep the peace.

M\t 1 'flpxafsiopx^s Homfef [Rule ' pVoj^osals have beea rejected Tby a majority of thirty, will probably Vi f olio w, 'though in the light of the great Liberal i c|bj(jc^oii\ 'it ;r, ; r , is -*Tnotr{ r j likely ttiat t a new House will pass f ,the| Bill. The numerical strength of. the minority is undoubtedly owing to the great prestige of the Pfiho^-Mihifcter,' antl' thdr^>is) no telling what another electioneering campaign may bring forth ; but the chances rtre largely against the "granting of Irish autonomy, howeve'r 11 righteous such a concession might fre.

TfrE Native Land Admistration ' Bill, ' which is the old Disposition Bill of last session, came on for second reading on Tuesday. The Native Minister explained jthe amendments effected during the reces;a. The main object of the iJill, he pointed out, was to prevent 'private dealing in native lands. r ;which, when not purchased by, the "Crotffa, should be disposed 'of in the same manner as Crown lands. The natives tyere, he said, in favour of the Bill, but Mr Ballance ridiculed the notion that its effect would be to create a Maori landed aristocracy. Mr Bryce moved the adjournment of the debate until Eriday, when we shall hear the Opposition view of the matter.

The Native Equitable Owners Bill was read a third time and passed on Tuesday, though not without prohibit. Mr Ormoncl, Mr Downie Stewart and others were of opinion that it would lead to a vast amount of litigation, as it would re-open cases decided years ago, and imperil the interests of many persons of both races. Mr Bryce viewed the matter in a different light, and supported the Bill because he thought it would have the effect of repaying abuses existing under the present law. Sir Robert Stout said 'tl^e object of the Bill was to put a stop' to litigation. It would give people wrongly excluded from • Grown grants an opportunity of legalising their titles. Mr Ballanco spoke, to thp sau^e effect, and the JJill passed.

■_1 ~ I "TrfinioiioimibleMr Wilson's motion to reduce the honorarium of Legislative Councillors by one-naif _for, th| session, <f e|l 'gpon sbi*retf 'on Tuesday afternoon. The mover, alluded in pathetic terms " to thd prevailing depression, but Dr Pollen: said there was no depression, and

quoted Sir Julius Vogel in his support. Had there been any depression the Government would have proposed additional taxation ; besides which, he felt sure that .whatever amount the Cou&cil saved would be used to smooth over the West Coast, members. Mr Scotland, with pardonable indignation, wanted to know why retrenchment should begin in the Council, and so the motion w.is thrown out by twenty-one votes to eight. The Lords are quite right If the country wants to effect a saving, it must direct its attention to something besides salaries ; it must resolve to give up a few of the other luxuries which it an.uuaUy demands from Parliament

Tut; objects of the' Railway Ueform League j.re pretty well-known .. by t this time in Waikato, but the' Executive Committee are taking care that this knowledge shall not be confined to this district. What the League wants is a^ reversal of the present railway .policy, iv order, to which they desire" the appointment of a Royal Commission, feeling assured that a change would result therefrom. A day or two ago a telegram was sent to Mr Whyte the, member for Waikato, asking him, if he clearly understood the wishes of the League, and if there were any chance of their being acceded to this session. To this Mr Whyte has replied, stating that he fully Understands the League's wishes and confidently hopes to have them carried into effect. Meantime thp Executive Committee are asking steps to collect and collate evidence to lay before the Commission.

NotwithstAtoing the recent defeat of the retrenchment party, thp House, seems bent on keeping down expenditure. The proposal of the Government to increase the salary of the Secretary to the Treasury by £100 and the assistant secretary by £50 was rejected in Committee of Supply 'on Tuesday. The votes for the Exhibitions were allowed to pass, but the House, which? by the way, was a , very thin one, pounced upon the item of £6500 for the Hinemoa, which was included in the item, " Miscellaneous services, £11,318." In spite of the earnest protests of the Ministers for Mines and Public Works and the Treasurer, who all claimed that the steamer had saved money to the colony, the gross vote was reduced by £10,000 on the motion of Mr Ormond, who declined to defer his motion until there was a fuller attendance. Needless to add, at this point progress was reported.

The Government are taking steps to get the ' Kermadee Islands (Sunday Islands, &c.,) annexed to New Zealand.

The new class-room for the Cambridge High School is approaching completion, and is a fine lofty edifice, and » great improvement on the old building.

At the meeting of the Kihikihi Licensing Bench licenses were granted to W. Bond, Star Hotel ; T. Anderson, Kihikihi Hotel ; and H. Gillett. Alpha Hotel.

The lease of the borough endowment, known as the old pound, will be offered for sale by Mr John Knox on Saturday,' the l!)th inst.

Wo are requested to remind members tluit the) regular meeting of the Public Library Committee \Vill be held on Friday, the 18th inst., when some important business will be transacted. <■

Efforts will be made by the Government ,to obtain from the Capo of Good Hope copies of the works relating to New Zealand, presented to the Cape Library by Sir George Grey. ,

Persons claiming compensation for land taken for the purposes of the NoriHHstlfod Trunk ftati irJiy'#re 'requested to forward their claims to the Public Works Ottipe, Auckland.

It is proposed to convert the Matamata Sports Club into a racing club, rwttKwWcnJijbjeotp'nicetiiigf'qfos&b^qribJrs has been convened, $o be held at the Publip Hall, Matamata, ' on Saturday evening next.

The Auckland Plumpton Pm* 'Cursing/Meetinfr trotting .and hack- rides, have been postponed from Tuesday next, until Monday, the 2\st, (Queen* Jubilee). Entries must, however, still be made to-

■ Fort'he benefit dfWaikato settlers attending ,tbo Steeplechase Meeting ,at 'Klleralie on L Monday next, the Raifaajf Department have decided to make return tickets.issued on Saturday available up to and including Tuesday.

The Small Birds Nuisance BiU was road * second time in the House on Tuesday. Mi- Wakefield defended the small bicdfe against their detractor!, and said the evidence of the farmers was in their favour. He deprecated the practice of ' scattering poison broad cast.

His Honour Judge $eth Smith, together with Messrs Cotter and Russell, solicitors, left yesterday morning in oni? of Caiter's coaches t<» inspect the CambridgeTanpb telegraph line, in order to arbitrate on the claim* preferred by Mr A. Isaacs, the contractor, against the Government, for extras.

The Cambridge Jam Company received an offer a few weeks ago from an Auckland expert of a complete jam-making plant, valued at £050, part payment of which to the extent of £250 will be accepted in scrip. The offer is an exceptionally good one, and the directors met yesterday to take it into consideration, and have decided to enter into negotiations with the seller.

The natives held a very successful race meeting at Mokikainga, Kawhia, on the Queen's Birthday. About 400 natives and 50 Europeans Avere present, and everything passed off in the quietest and most orderly manner. The' natives had a refreshment booth, which was conducted in European style, except that the drinks were all non-intoxicating.

The erection of the new Episcopal Church at Te Aroha is making satisfactory progress. The building is situated opposite the Public Hall, and will have sitting accomodation for about 150 people ; but the design enables it being enlarged at any future timo. I Mr Hart, draper, is also building a hew shop jn Whitaker-street, which will be completed in the course of three weeks. Mr. T. L. Green, nurseryman, has opened a greengrocer and florist's shop iv the lamfl street; 1 next door to Mr Balcke, stationer, and makes a neat show in his window. u

The contractor for the addition! to the ■Rukuhia Station residence has now completed his contract. The nouse wai taken over yesterday by the architect, Air James O'Dea. The contractor, Mr T. G. Worthington, though a little over the timo allowed him for the work r ha« umde an excellent job throughout. The new . portion will add very materially to the old residence, both in appearance and' accommodation. This is nowa two-storey building, and ci>mtnani]< a splendid riew of the estate and sin-rounding country.

„» rVety, serious charges have J>een brought ag.un^t,tlH5 r cw>,tain and mate of the Ameiic.ui \vhajftr, retrel, now lying at the Bay of IsUnds. The cr«w allege that they hnvo been treated in the most inhuman manner, and the death of the cooper, Britton, is> ascribed to the brutal conduct of the officers. The affair now forms the subject of iui investigation by the Consular authorities. Mr J. P. Campbell, of toe firm of Russell and Campbell, is at, the, Bay as counsel for the American Coniul at Auckland Mr Webb. At the Police Court, Hamilton. yesterday, bjfore %r (forth.crof.t, a wan,

named James Brown w.n charged with being drjjnk and disorderly . on Monday, and w»tb/ having no lawful; and vinib!« means of support. Constable Murray Raid the prisoner had been going about from place t<> i>luce begging. In the course of Half an hour he had in this way obtained two dinner*. In the last .place he had »n(»vn bid gratitude by stealing a pound of butter. '; In reply to the bench prisoner said he had been working on the railway, and wae then on hit way to the coal mines. Mr Northcroft said he would let prisoner off on condition he left the district, but he warned him that if he ever came before him again' he -would on: coviction be sent to' Mount Eden. *