TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2177, 22 June 1886, Page 2

TUESDA Y, JUNE 22, 1886.

Qi'ecx Victoria entered upon the fiftieth year of her beneficent reign on Sunday List. The event is no common one, and ought not to be passed over in silence. The halfcentuvy which has elapsed since the timid young girl, Hot out of her teens, mounted the throne of the British Einpiie, has been burthened ■with great events. Scienoe and Commerce, the one acting and reacting upon the other, have revolutionised the world during the glorious reign of Victoria. We must not run awaj* with the idea that everything of consequence has been discovered or invented or applied since the year 1837. That wore absurd of course, because we know that glass was used for windows in the twelfth contuiy, that coal was used as fuel shortly afterwards, that spectacles were used not a hundred years later, that the mariner's compass, gunpowder, p-inting, musical notes, telescopes, decimals, logarithms, the circulation of the blood, the birome.ter, the air pump, and the first steam engine aro all as old as the hills. Electricity was known a couple of cen-

turies ago, and galvanism half that period, and the identification of the. two and the invention of what was called the "electro-magnetic telegraph " were things that happened as far back as 1833. Gas lights are over eighty years old, and vaccination and the atomic theory are "con siderably older. The steam boat was invented in 1813, steam printing engines in 1816, and railways had been in operation before. But it is to Victoria's reign that the great development of the enormous potentiality hidden in these forces belongs. The cockle-boat worked by toy paddles that h'rst disturbed the waters of the Clyde is now replaced by floating palaces ; the wee toddling locomotive that rose, like a vision of paradise almost, before the eyes of Stephenson, has been knocked off the metals by the Flying Dutchman of our day ; the first steam printing machine has grown to enormous dimensions, and its inightly throbs are now heard all over the world. Of the modest " electro-magnetic tele* graph " little but the name remains, and that lias been changed. What was in Victoria's girlhood a scientific plaything is now the vehicle for the voices of nation's speaking one to another across oceans and continents, the regulator of the world's markets, the annihilator of time. And so on with other things. What < the chemist dabbled with in his laboratory, what the scientist speculated upon in his study, what the political economist theorised upon, what the patriot hardly dared to hope for, what the philanthropist prayed, for fifty years ago, are today familiar in our mouths as household words. For it is not in science, in commerce, in material enterprise and in the work ot building up wealth alone that the present reign is remarkable. We have learnt how to cross the ocean, fearing "no spite of wind or tide," without asking " the aid of sailor oar ;" we have tunnelled through mountains, and learned to travel as fast in muddy as in dry weather, by night as by day ; we have joined sea to serf, land to land, and clasped the whole earth with a thoughttransmitting girdle. But this is not all, nor perhaps the best of what we have done during the past halfcentury. Education, morality and hygiene have gone hand in hand with material 1 progress. There is still fever, but the number of its breeding places have been- diminished ; there is still hunger, but its pangs are more often alleviated ; there is still sin, but the strength of its grip on communities is not so great. War is discredited on all sides, and is not resorted to until all other means h,ave been tried.. The past half-century has been a period of great moral and material progress, far transcending in importance any similar period of time of which we have any record. That any single individuality may have made a palpable impress upon this, period is quite possible. Many centuries are known by the men, sometimes the man, who flourished in them. If is not too much, then, to say that upon these fifty years the influence of our good Queen's character is apparent ; not, perhaps, upon their commercial, but upon their social, moral and intellectual sides. In every relation of public and private life her example has been felt : her influence has ever been exerted in favour ojL peace and virtue. Who is there throughout the wide empire who is not instinctively animated by some thought akin to that which moved the Laureate when he wrote : May you mle us long, And leave us rulers of your blood As noble till the latest day ! May children of our children say •' She wrought her people laatiug Rood. " Her court wai Tittre ; her liffl'aerene ; God gave her peace ; her land reposed ; A thousand claim* to reverence closet! In her as Mother, Wife, and Queen ; " And statesmen at her council met Who knew the aea«ons when to take Occasion by the hand, and make The bnundi of freedom wider yeti - " By shaping some august decree, Which kept her throna unshaken still, Broad-based upon her people's will, And conipass'd by the inviolate sea "?

Mr Seager Buckland, the wellknown auctioneer, who has just returned from New South Wales, will attend at the Ohaupo sale to-day for the purpose of buying suitable horses for Indian army remounts. It is Mr ' Buckland's intention to take these horses to Sydney for disposal. Horse breeders and dealers will do well to see Mr Buckland, as wittyp.roper^re. a profitable roarkqt may be opened up. They should not ask an inordinately high price at the outset, "=as it. will first be necessary to establish the trade. We dd not doubt that there are plenty of horses- in the colony, and in this part of it, eminently adapted for cavalry purposes, and owners would do well to make use of the present opportunity., Mr Buckland comes ' from Sydney with • a full knowledge of ■<• the proper stamp of animal required, and we may be sure he will take none away with him that do not answer all requirements. The extent and the character of his purchases.will therefore determine whether we possess the right stamp of horse. Taking Mr Buckland's familiarity with the district and its stock into account, we may assume that we do possess some of the right sort ; we only trust we do. We ' would advise those settlers who may not be able to avail themselves of to-day's sale to see Mr Buckland at any rate before he leaves the district. The interests involved are large and important. Our markets are so few, »*id in most cases so precarious, that .we ought to be ever on. the look ? out for other and possibly better ones.

. The installation of the officers of Lodjro Alpha, 2014, X.0., will tfl*e {dace at their* lodsre-room, Oaribridge, nrr a. "John s Day, at 7.30 p.n>., tt> which all MM.'t ate (•rdially invited.

Major Charles Goring Minnitt, late of H.M. 18th Rwmefit, hM been

appointed Miwketry Instructor to the New Zealand Volunteer Force from the lit inst.

A social gathering of the parishinnafr <>f the Church of S. Peter. Hamilton, will be held in the Public Hall this 9v»»ninß. The' entertainment will conaiat uf ten, ninsic, tableaux vivnnta, kc.

There wasun nnmnially Urge attendance at Mr Buokland ■ Hale at CambriHge on Saturday, when a large number df cattle and horaea fnun Te Puke were dtferod and «old at fair prices.

Commander Edwin wired at 4.16 p.m. yesterday :— Expect bad weather between - fiorth-we#t and we*t uniT wrath. <»lsv«n fall, Imt rise aß.un after 10 hours. Weather will continue very cold.

A meeting of the members of tin W.iikato Horticultural Society is called for Friday next, |f»t 11 *.<n., at the Boroujrh Council Clunnboi", to consider the report of the committee appointed to draft an amendment to the Codlin Moth Act, 1884.

We were under a misapprehension in stating that the Rev. Mr FAirbnither wai to Hiicceed to the charge of the Baptist Tabernacle at Cambridge. Mr Fairbrother is only making a short stay in Cambridge before taking his departure for the Uuited States.

It is in contemplation to erect a belfry over S. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Hamilton, and a considerable sum of money has been subscribed towards the object. Adruuiatic entertainment will be given in the course of next month to help to raise funds wherewith to purchase a bell.

The Auckland iteam dredger arrived in port on Sunday, after a paiutage of 174 days from Greeimck. Concerning the alleged inhuman treatment of the castaway Bailor*, the captain denies, but the crew confirm the truth of the story as it tun already been publinhed. Probably something more will be heard of it.

A nurd sham fight took place in Wellington Harbour on Saturday. The Union s.s. Grafton acted as attacking boat, having on board Sir George Whitmore and a number of member!* of Parliament. Owing to the bad weather little wiw serti of the fight, though a considerable quantity of powder was expended both by the batteries and by the Urafton.

The session of the Hamilton Mutual Improvement Asnociation will he opened on Thursday next, the 24th inst., by a lecture in the Public Hall, Hamilton West. The subject » ill bo " Fmtd." Invitation cards may be obtained from Mr Jessop, critffrom the lecturer, Mr VerekerBindon. ' All friends of the association nra invited to attend.

Tne railway was opened to Lich6eld yesterday, and the new time-table for the Auckland railways was brought into force on thn ' same day. There was n-> special deinoriitration in connection with tho opening of the Lichtield branch. _ Ex* cur.sion tickets available for the ordinary trains were issued, but only ft few iteople took advantage of the concession, owing probably to the state of the weather.

Mr X. P< Sharp, who has been connected with the Bank of New Zealand, Cambridge, as ledjjer-keojwr for upwards of four years, has been removed to Auckland and proceeded thither yesterday. Mr Sharp has also been a regular moinber of S. Andrew's choir,, and his familiar presence at both establishments will be very much missed.

The Bey MrFairbrother preached at the B.iptUt Tabernacle on Sunday evening, and referred in an animated manner to the late disaster at T<trawera and Rotorua, which places he had jn«t visited. He deduced a practical lesson from the calamities, which he impressed upon his congregation, and was listened to with deep attention. Intelligence has been received from Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R.. that tho sitting of the committee of enquiry re railway management w likely to lie a prolonged one, but be believes tlut it will result in the iip]K)intiuent of a Roy,il Commission. Mr Viiilc has been accorded permission to call witnesses but he has intimated that he has uo desire to do *o. We understand that the attitude of the Government is not by any means friendly to Mr Vaile. The return football match between the Hamilton and Cambridge District High Schools will be played on Sydney Square, Hamilton, on Saturday next, the 2(ith inst., and is looked forward to with considerable interest, as the first match resulted in a draw. The return between Cambridge and Hamilton will come off at Cambridge on the nest Saturday, the 3rd of July. The Hamilton Club has received a challenge from Kihikihi also.

Reference was made to the fortyninth anniversary of the Queen's accession in several of the Auckland churches on Sunday. There were Volunteer church parades of the City Guards at S. Matthew's, and of the " O " Battery of Artillery at S. Mary's, while at the Pitt-street Wo-»leyan Church the congregation sang the National Anthom. At S. Peter's, Hamilton, the National Anthem was played m a recessional voluntary. 'The chimes of S. Andrew's Church,' Cambridge, were rung at an early hour on Sunday to usher in the jubillee year.

To the Editor. — Sir,— ln your paper, dated June 10th, you have an advertisement calling a meeting to take into consideration the bringing of the Counties Act into force, signed " Richard Billington, Chairman Karioi Highway Board." I received no authority from the board to call such meeting, and gave no one 'authority to call the meeting in my name. Hoping you will insert the above in your valuable paper! .Yon will obliere Richmid Billington, Chairman Karioi Road Board, Raglan.

A large deputation of Auckland citizens of various denominations proceeded to Panmure on Sunday for the purpose of presenting an address to the Very Rev Mnnftignor MacDonald, expressive of the esteem and rcpect entertained fur the rev. gentleman. The occasion was his removal From Auckland, where he has for many year* been associated with the, Cathedral of S. Patrick to the charge of the Howick and Paninure districts. The address, which was boHUtifiillyjilluminated and framed, was accomuasied by a purse containing 200 sovereign?. The presentation was made by Mr J. S. Tole,,and several of those present, including Mr W. tT. Suiter, (Mayor of Newmarket), addressed the rev. gentleman. Father Walter replied in a. touching, siieech, at the conclusion of which lie handed the sum of £20 to Messrs Suiter and Jeune, to be expended on the refuges, intimating that the whole of the £200 would be devoted to similar objects.

We learn from the Thames Star that, at the last meeting of the Thames Hospital Board, a letter was received from the Piako County Council to the effect that the Thames Hospital having been formed into a separate institution, Mr Smith had boen instructed bbt to attend any more meeting* of thu Board. The secretary wan authorised to reply expressing regret at the course pursued. In reference to the question of boundaries Mr Colebrook moved : " That the Chairman be instructed to write to Government objecting to any change in the boundaries of tho Coromandel-Thames United Charitable Aid Board District, and that Messrs Cadman and Fraser, M.H.R., be informed accordingly, with a request for their support" He wud it certainly appeared as though the Piako County were desirous of being cut off from the Board, which was most undesirable, and contrary to what was intended by the Act, which, in his opinion, was for the purpose of compelling the country districts to contribute towards the support of the poor and indigent, who naturally crravitate towards towns. Instead of lessening tho extent of country under the jurisdiction of the board, the boundary should be extended and take in a portion of the East Coast. The effect of cutting off the Piako from the district would practically mean the collapse of the Board. Mr Walsh seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr Greenville concurred with all that had been said by Mr Colebrook, and said he had been informed that steps were being taken by the Piako County to be separated from the Board, apetition for thin object having been forwarded W Eajdinnent He therefor* thought the resolution which had just been passed should go even further, and moved — "That the Secretary be instructed to write to the four local bodies requesting their assistance in the matter." This was seconded by Mr Colebrook and carried.

The secretary of the Paterangi Cheese and Dairy Produce Company invites alternative tenders up to July 10th for the lease of the factory for a term of years, or for the management of the factory at per annum. Mossis H. Yorke and Co., Sydney, announce in our advertising columns their wonderful shilling trick book, which contains upwards of 200 tricks, all illustrated, explained and made simple, tor the purpose of which only a common pack of cards and the ordinary coins of the realm are needed to fully explain ttt delusions..