TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2180, 29 June 1886, Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1886.

, I'oRTUNATELr the portion of' the Public Works Statement which the Telegraph, Department permitted us to receive on Saturday morning, . contained „wh,at • was ' -'of most i Itfteffcst ~1»* readers 'in this part of the calony. The remainder dealt with matters of importance, it is ] true, but they are matters rather of j gencral,than of local interest, and could therefore be better spared than that which dealt with railway extension in our own immediate neighbourhood. So far we have no reason to be dissatisfied with the proposals of Government. • All the railways in this district are to be. pushed ahead during the year at a judicious rate of speed. The position of the colony does not ■w.irr.mt a revival of the policy of '1870, but the Government are fully alive to the fact that, .stagnation is as bad as extravagence, and tlu;y are wisely endea- % \ouring to stcur a middle course. The statement deals chiefly with niue past, ■ and as a natural consequence docs not possess such absorbing interest as a document rich in schemes to be developed in the immediate future, but it is none less on "th.it account clear and business-like, f.iirly putting the operations nnd proposals of the j^cpartmont before the country. It will, be interesting to know what .sums of money the Government ask for during the ensuing year. In • tho concluding part of the Statement Mr liichardson says :: — • Tho amounts which we propose to ask tho House to vote for expenditure during tho current year are as follow : — For immigration, with liabilities at' the end of March l(ist • amounting to £7000, Aye ask for a voto of £19,200; for departmental expenditure, with liabilities of .£719, wo ask for a vote of £28,000 ; for railway works of all classes, with liabilities of £387,592, we* ask for a vote of £709,400 ; for roads of all classes, with liabilities of £6254,350, we ask for a vote of £327,600. This includes various classes of roads, as lollows : — Roads north of Auckland, with liabilities of £32,147, amount asked for £■'.1,600; main roads, with liabiluio^ of £14,277, amount asked for £24,100; miscellaneous roads and bridges, with liabilities, £.54,881, amount asked for £52,600; grants in aid under the lioads and Bridges Construction Act -and subsidies of local bodies, T\ith liabilities of c£66,884, amount at-ked for £97,000 ; roads to open Crown lands, with liabilities of

£61,372, amount asked for £61,500 ; improvements villago special settlements, "with no liabilities as yet, amount asked for £5000 ; roads on goldfiolds, withliabilitiefcof £44,789, amount asked for £52,000 ; for waterworks on goldfieids, with liabilities of £14,9G2, we ask a vote of £15,100 ; for the purchase of native lands, with presently acerning liabilities amounting to .£36,458, we ask for a vote of U lOO, OOO, that being sufficient to meet the probable payments which will become due during the current year, the further prospective liabilities on the item (amounting to £202,145, being left out of consideration as not applying to the present year) ; for telegraph extension, with liabilities of £3780, we ask for £21,700 ; for public buildings, with liabilities of £23,255, we ask for a vote of £.12000 (this includes school buildings of J!5o00, as against liabilities at end of March last, £1400) ; for lighthouses and harbour .works (including harbour defences),- with . liabilities • of -£164,411, we ask for a vote of £127,800. The amount included in this for harbour defences is £120,000 as against liabilities on March 31, of £160,752, but as all the liabilities will not mature this year a vote for £120,000 will probably be sufficient. For charges "and expenses of raising loans we ask for a vote of £30,000. For ! contingent defence ask for a vote of £12,500. This is for the purpose of supplementing the amount provided in the Consolidated Fund Estimates for the A.C. Held force, in consequence of their being employed on the constructions of batteries ; we also ask for a vote of £31,400 to cover payments in respect of rates payable to local bodies on Crown and native lands. '1 he total amount proposed to be voted is thus £1,538,700, which includes liabilities (comprising £36,455 for native lauds) amounting to £892,445. It will thus be seen that it is contemplated to spend this year about £64,355 on new works outside of those included in the liabilities existing at 31st March last,

In another column will be found the' draft of the Codlin Moth Act Amendment Bill, which has been prepared by a committee of the Waikato Horticultural Society. The bill will be submitted to a general meeting of the society, to be held in the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton, on Thursday morning next. Considering the large strides taken by Waikato as a fruit-growing district, the issues raised are of the utmost importance, and we sincerely trust that settlers will give the subject their earnest attention. The framers of the bill do not pretend to be immaculate, and it is quite within the bounds of possibility that it will be considerably altered at Thursday's meeting. One thing, however, is certain, and that is, as we have before pointed out, orchardists must be prepared to make some sacrifice in the matter. In the first place they must submit to be taxed — nothing can be done without money — and in the second place they must be ready and willing to forego present for future and increased profits. These are the broad grounds upon which action will have to be taken. So far as it is possible for us to do it, the moth must be got rid of, arid when a reasonable means to this end has been hit upon, we shall expect that all fruit-growers will heartily adopt it.

A great number of ntrti W we assembling at Kihikihi to attend the Lands Courts ' /

The roads alllthrough to Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, and Rangiaohia are m a dreadful state, and alinoit iuipassahle.

The erection of the new English Church at Te Aroha is being proceeded with rapidly.

Amongst other signs of progress Te Aroha -th» new shop just c«mpleted j for Mr J. Hart, draper, in Whitaker-atreet, which has a double front, and is a decided acquisition to tbo place. , . ■

A large number of the friends ot 'Me-srh Johns, Morse, Meredith, and Howie were at the railway station, Cambridge, yesterday to see them I off for the Kimberley goldfields.

A cable message from Melbourne states that in consequence of the unfavourable reports from Kimberley, Messrs Howard and Smith's steamer, the Gambler, has been takon off the berth for Cambridge Gulf.

The Te Aroha Domain Board ha\ c decided to erect a bath-house for th« use of the Maoris, the timber for which is now on the ground. The site i» near the No. 5, bath.

The Ruapehu arrived at Rio on tho 21th inst., with her cargo of frozen meat in good condition. The Aorangi left tho Cape for Now Zealand on the 25th. The Wairarapa arrived at Melbourne from tfe^Zcal«nd-6nthe'26th. ' '

We understand Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. are about to erect saleyardi at Te Aroha. .The steady progress this township is making is warrant enough for them in this venture, and it should be a reproductive one.

The installation of the W-M- and officers of Masonic Lodge Beta, 450 1.C., will take place in the Masonic Hall, Hamilton East, on Thursday evening next. On the conclusion of the ceremony, the brethren will be entertained at a banquet. All master masons are cordially invited.

A number of snecimens of volcanic deposit, collected near the shores of what was formerly Lake Rotomahana, have been left at our office by Mr H. M. Salmon, of Hamilton, who has just returned from Rotorua. They may be inspected by those interested in such matters.

The session of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association will be opened on Thursday next, by a lecture on " Food," by Mr J. Vereker Bindon, M. A. in the Public Hall, Hamilton. Admission will be by ticket, to be obtained on application to Mr Jessop or any member of the committee.

The dedication festival of the Church of S. Peter, Hamilton, will be held to-day (S. Peter's Day). Holy communion will be celebrated at 7.30 a.m., and ch>ral evensong at 7.30 p.m., when the Rev. G. H. S. Walpole, Incumbent of?. Mary's, Parnell, be the preacher. The offertories will be in aid of the choir fund.

The steamer Rowena returned to Auckland on Satuiday, after making a careful senrcb nlong- the coast of tho Barrier, without discovering any trace of the cutter Sovereign of the Sea. The Goverament have been asked to send the Hinemoa after the murderers, and an application has been made to Admiral Tryon for the use of a man-o'-war.

Messrs Mcßae and Humphries, the famous survivors of the Wairoa disaster, returned from a visit to Tb Aroha yesterday. Mr Meßae says that "Wairoa is entirely deserted, and that nothing can now be recovered from there. He seems in no way disheaitencd by his great misfortuno,

and i« cheerfully prepared to begin the world afresh. Ho complain* of the cold, unsympathetic conduct of the Government wht) have given no assistance to tho stifferer-i.

An extraordinary vacancy has occurred in the representation of the Pukekurft riding of tlie Waipa county. Nomination! of candidates to fill the said vacancy wilt be received at the. council chamber*. Oh.iupo, up to thn 6th July, and a poll, if necessary, will be taken on Wednesday, the 14th July.

The following will represent Hamilton iti the return football match with tho Cambridge Club to be pUyed 'at Cambridge on Saturday riext, the 3rd July :— Memrn Wood, Odium, Mclntyre, Gribble, Bindon, Devitt, Quin, Guird, Hinton, Mayo*, McSweeney, Steelo, McKenzie, Yon Stunner, Jolly. Emergencies : Messrs Mclntyre, Davis, Stevens and Windsor. ,

A meeting of the Hamilton Do* main Board was held last night for the purpose of opening tenders for clearing, ploughing and fencing the Lako Reserve. Before opening the tenders received it was pointed out that the specifications were defective, and it was thereupon agreed to return the deposit* and grant an extension of time. The ipecitications w«re then amended, and tenders are now advertised for up to the sth July (Monday next).

The Wellington correspondent of the Star telegraphs :— The special , committee appointed to consider Mr S. Vailes Hcheme is Htill sitting. The general opinion of the member* id that Mr Vailehas failed to make out his case. Mr Maxwell General Manager, Mr Grant the Dunedin manager, and Mr Hudson, the Auckland manager, have all given evidence strongly condemning the scheme. Whatever may be the conclusion arrived at, the Committee is rery likely to recommend the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the whole question, including that of general railway management.

The road and approach to the railway station at Te Arohais a complete quagmire of deep liquid mud, and is simply a disgrace to those responsible for it. It is with the greatest difficulty people can get I to or from the station at the present time; another week will render the road quite impracticable for vehicles. Someone ought to see to this without delay. The railway authorities are principally concerned in keeping tho road in order and passable for travellers by their lines, and we draw their attention to its discreditable condition with a strong hope that they will loso no time in placing mon on it to make it into a fit road.

To the Editor.-Sir,-Will, yon kindly let mo know if there is any- remedy for an evil existing in this township (Te Awamutu). The case is m follows :— There are here two properties which receive very large rental*, and the money goes out of the colony. Tho»o places are in the very centra of the township, yet are kept in a most disgraceful state. I should not trouble you with these remarks, but that my visitors at the hotel keep complaining of the extremely disagreeable smells that pervade in the morning when the windows aro opened from tho rubbish and smoke of the places. By replying you will oblige.— Yours obediently, Hbnky Lewis. [Our correspondent should lay the matter before the town board.—Ed.]

A special meeting of'the Tama* here Road Board was held on Thursday last, at which the following tenders jwere received for road works:—No. I.—Thos. Ryan. Is 3d per yard, in the solid; Jas. Clements, (accepted) lid; T. Clarkin, Is; J. Hamilton, Is; R. Waite, Is £d; T. Wattam, ll$d; No. 2.—Thos. Ryan, Is 2d per yard, in the solid; J. Cootnbes, (accepted) Bjd ; J. Clements, 9d; T. Clarkin, lOAd; H. Kelly, Is; R. Waite, Is; No. 3. —Leslie's Hill: Edwin C. Martin's 6£d per yard ; Thos. Ryan, 7d ; Jas. Coombes, Gd; T. Clarkin, (accepted) 4Jd; J. Hamilton, Gd; H. Kelly, 4sd; R. Waite, 5d ;£W. Riueley, Bid. '

The monthly meeting of the > Rangiaohia Road Board was held on the 15) th Juue. Present:—Messrs W. Taylor (chairman), J. B. Teasdale, and G. Churches. Resolved "That the secretary write to Mr T. Hunt in reference to the drain made by him across the public road near his property, it being dangerous to the public. He is ordered to nave it filled in by the 3rd of July. 1886, or the board will take active steps to have it done at bis expense." Resolved that Mr Taylor (chairman) sign on behalf of the board the New Zealand Railway Reform League petition, and forward it to Wellington. The following accounts were passed and ordered to be paid : Bearsley ani Webber, £30 8s sd; Stewart and Co., £1115>s 7d ; D. McCormick, £11 9s 2d ; Thos. Power, £2 14* lOd ; Kihikihi Town Boswd, £2 19s (sd,

The following items in the Estimates for the current year will be of interest to our readers :—Railways: Hamil-ton-Grahamstown, £20,000; Main' Trunk, £130,000; Main Hoods: Cambridge-Taupo, £300; Oxford-Rotorua, £1000; RaglanWaipa, £300; Cambridge-Tauranga, £250 ; Katikati-Te Aroha (horse (track), £250: Thames-Taurangn, £500; sundry roads and bridges, Auckland, £2000. The following are the amounts required to complete works begun on roads to open up lands before sale:—Homestead blocks, £1086; Wairensr* Rood, £237; Lower Waihou Road, £300; Hamilton-Whatawhata drain, £500; Churchill punt, £120 1 Te Aroha block, £159; Wafhpu ?errr.:Te ArohaKomata, £100; Kawhia-Walpa, £715; Alexandra-Hikurangt, £628; Aroha swamp, £3000; drain, Te Aroha, J)150; police .station, Waikato, £800. Portal and telegraph : Te Awamutu new office, £147; Cambridge, £85; Kihikihi, £30. >

Mr Laurence Outsen. District Surveyor, who was in the neighbourhood of Ruapehu at the time of the Tarawera eruption, confirms the statement that steam has since ascended from Ruapehu. He made the ascent to the summit and informs us that there is a hot lake in the old crater, the level of the water being about' 400 feet below the lip., From this steam rises some hundreds of feet above the mountain, the heal melting and displacing the snow and ice above, which thus contribute to the volume of water in the crater-lake. The ascent of the mountain is now comparatively easy of accomplishment as the snow is hard, but in the spring the task would be attended with danger. The Wellington correspondent of the Herald telegraphs on Saturday:—A private tfettoi*, received in Wellington front Wanganni, states that the residents there dread that tho steam obsorvea\ issuing from Ruapehu foretells an outburst of that mountain. They do not fear the eruption itself so much as the danger that would arise of the deep snow that rests on Ruapehu being melted, and the Wanganui river caused to overflow the town and places along it* course. The letter goes on to say: "I quote on good authority two native land agents, who have just returned from Ruapehu, and who have seen the peculiar appearance reported."