SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2185, 10 July 1886, Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1886.

Mr Macandrew has succeeded in carrying the second reading of the Public Advances on LB,nd Bill, a measure which has for its chief object the lending money to farmers at a low rate of interest. The idea of getting cheip money, no matter from what source, is a fascinating one, and we are -not at all surprised to find the representatives of rural constituencies embracing it with eager warmtai. Whether the depression which has hung like a pall over our agricultural and pastoral interests for years past is attributable to the high rate of interest charged on mortgages: or not, is «a question which affords pleuty of room for argument. Speaking generally, we are inclined to ascribe the bad times to thescarcity or the inaccessibly of markets and 'the consequent low prices obtuinfcc 7 . for our staple products. An ar ivance of a shilling or two per bu'ihel in the price of wheat and a penny or two per pound ii T i t'i] c value of wool will make the favmer and sheepbreeder comparatively indifferent as to the rate of interest charged upon liens, ro ortgagfs and overdrafts, for the simple reason that he would soon cease to require the aid of other people's money. But when prices are low and markets are uncertain and difficult to find the question presents a very different aspect. The idea of a Government assuming the role of a money lender is not one that commends itself to general approbation, certainly,' and we know that the Premier and the Treasurer have stated their objections to the proposal in very explicit language. The tendency in young countries is to rely a great deal too much on the paternal arm of the Government. We are so accustomed to apply to Wellington for the money required for our pu?olic necessities that it is perhaps no \ wonder we should at length come to crave, tt-e :issls u <ance of Government in our piivate undertakings. That* is one aspect of the case. Another is that we are so familiarised with the idea, of borr owing that the principle hns becon le a part of our natave. Not only i« •• it recognised that national borrow ing is necessary to >carry on our pu blic works system, but it has come b 3 be looked upon as the most natural thing in the world to borrow me >ney for every industry w$ engage in.

We have got into tho habit of borrowing, and though economists may preach against fctio practice they stand a very poor chance of checking it for many years to come. This beihg so, it is a very important thing to know where \y«r can get the moheV we want on the most reasonable terms ; and in this connection it is a fact , worth noting that- .those w^ho^ have the least faith in "the .Govern- i nvenfr (we use the term in a general ' sense), who can never rid themselves of tho idea that power and corruption are interchangable term „ are just the people w.ho are fouhtj advocating State Banks and State lending. It is no answer to say that these will believe in Governs ments when affairs are conducted upon the lines laid down by themselve.B/ because human nature is not rendered corrupt or incorrupt by niere political formulae. Broadly put, it would of course be advisable to -borrow money from the Govern-, ment if they could manage to . get it cheaper than anybody else, wjiich is doubtful j and the Government would be justified in lending it if they could do so without risk, which is also doubtful. We do not seek;, to discredit the scheme in the least. On the contrary, we should hail with satisfaction anything tenc|-< ing in the direction of ameliorating the condition of the farming community, from whatever source it came. All we desire to say is that schemes such as this should be received with great caution, for the reason that they proceed upon lines so dissimilar to those which have been followed in the past.

Those policy holders in the Government Life Insurance Association who have not yet forwarded their voting papers to Wellington should lose no time in doing so. By the mail leaving Waikato on Monday, the papers would reach their destination in ample ; time, and advantage should be , taken of the opportunity. Another mail leaves on Wednesday, but as the poll is to be taken on the 19th, it is well to make certain. It is hardly necessary to remind policyholders that they are called upon to decide in what manner the association shall be carried on, in the future, whether by the Government, as formerly, or by a board? partly nominated and partly elected, as at present. The subject has been kept so prominently in front of the public for some time past, that none can affect to be wholly ignorant of I its bearings. We would strongly advise policy-holders to cast their I votes in favour of handing back the I control to the Government, for these two reasons, namely : — (1). That greater economy in the management will be secured, and (2) that the state guarantee will be maintained. The discussion at the recent meet-, ings in Wellington has proved that" the expenses of management have increased under the board, while at the same time it has disclosed a strong tendency in some quarters to abandon the guarantee and rely on the accumulated profits, A correspondent writing in our last issue pointed out what the result of the abandonment of the guarantee would be in clear and unmistakable language, and we trust policyholders have carefully pondered his arguments. The board was called into existence for the purpose mainly of directing the investment of the Association's funds. The investment of the money in Government securities would obviate the need of the board, and that is a course which Sir Julius Vogel, in view of the impending fall in the rates of interest on. good securities, strongly advocates. "VYhatthe policyholders require is absolute security A safe investment of the funds, backed by a Government guarantee, will give them this.

It does not appear that the Hamilton High School will be a pronounced success under the new system. Instead of there being an increase this quarter, the number of pupils has fallen to live. It is a great pity that an effort was not made to increase the number of pupils before relinquishing all hope of being able to retain a special teacher for the school. An impression prevails that the educational advantages obtainable underthe old regime will not be so conspicuous in the future. This repression may not be well founded, but it is a not unnatural one nevertheless. The Hamilton East school committee gave evidence of the possession of some original genius in organising the system under which the school is to be worked henceforth ; it now remains for them to convince parents and guardians that their scheme does J.iot depend for support upon its originality alone.

A lime-light entertainment is advertised to be given on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, on Thursday, the 22nd mat..

The parishioners of S. Peter's, Hamilton, aro earnestly requested to attend the quarterly meeting to be held on Wednesday evening next, as several importrjit questions will be brought forward. In the House on Thursday Mr Macnndrew movod the second reading of the Public Advances on Land Bill. A long debate ensued, but the motion was carried at an early hour yesterday morning bv 32 to 18.

Mr Archibald Millar, a wellknown resident of Kihikihi, died suddenly on Thursday. He has been suffering from acquired c<m«(impti<»n ) and the bitterly cold ■weather has no doubt hastened his death. He leaves a. young wife and one ohtld.

A Correspondent Writes, Suggesting that Saturday should be proclaimed a market day for Cambridge, in order that advantage may be taken of tho concession granted by the Hail way Department. Our correspondent appears to be unaware of the fact that therev.nm ticket system ha* obtained on Saturdays all over the Auckland section for some considerable time past.

Mr J. B. Whyte has given notice to ask the Government whether, seeing the construction of the bridge over th« Waikato river at Huntly, for which the Houbo voted £12,000 in 1884, is not to be proceeded with, they will replace upon the Estimate* the old vote of £350 for the purpose of establwhing a punt at that place, and thereby render accessible a largo quantity of good Government land now lying unoccupied on the west side of the river ? Mr ODea, architect, received, yesterday, the following tenders for the cree-

ion of a belfry on tho O.itholic Church, Hamilton :— Messrs Pearson and Warr,. £70; Mr Grade, £47. As both tenders are far above the architect's estimate, which was £31 10s, he has been called upon to erect; tho belfry at his estimate.

The cold has been intense during the |ast three nights in Cambridge, and in shaiy places tho frost has. not been thawed during the day. A largd sheet of ice, threequarter* of an inch thick, was displayed on tho footpath outside Messrs Wells and S gutter's store yoxterciay morning, nnd in many tanks with open tops the ice is thick enough to .support the weight of a goodsized boy. r

To the Editor— Sir, football match Ngaruuwahia v. Huntly, played on the 3rd, and reported in your issue of the <sth iiutant, is certainly ono-.-ided. Kicking in the scrimmages wan frequently indulged in by both Hides. Also the gaino nhould havo beeri roported a draw, as the try was not a fair one. Perhaps it would be us well for the Huntly team to learn the rules of thogaine before passing such strictures on "their opponents. — I am, yours, Onlookkb.

Mr Hayter, the Government Statist, Victoria, gives the following in his report issued on the 20th May last, as the 'estimated population of each of the Australasian colonies at tho end of 1885 :— Victoria, 991,8fi9 ; New South Wales, 1)80,573 ; Queensland, 32t>,!)11> ; South Australia, 319,769:, Western Australia, 35,186; 'Tasmania, . 133.791 ; and New Zealand, 582,524, making a total of 3,370,524, against an estimated population of 3,233,041 at the end of 1884, making an increase of ,137,453 for -the year.

1 A special meeting of the congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, was held last Wednesday evening, the Rev. W. Evans presiding. The resolution passed at last annual meeting to me during thrf pre'setifcyear-'tiho old and the new 'hymn book*, camo under review. Ah | the br&ctifeft' had been found r tb'bej very inconvenient; it was decided that in future' only the new bonk, "Church Praise," would be used at the' ,'seVvice.s. ( It was stated that arrangements had been made with Mr J. S. Bond to keep a supply of " Church Praise " in utock.

At Thursday's sitting of the Supreme Court, Auckland, John Connoll j and Frederick Frouier were convicted on a j charge of burglary at Messrs E. Porter & Co's, and sentenced to seven and live years' penal servitude, respectively. A third man, named Alfred Watts, turned Queen's evidence.. The notorious Arthur Morton, charged with obtaining money by false pretence* from the landlord of the Wnverley Hotel, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. The particular* of the case will be found in i to-day's supplement.

According to the Southland News, James Fahey, 10 years old, distinguished hiittflfllf sufficiently at a recent fire at Invercarcrill to warrant his courage being brought under the notice of the Humane i Society of Australia. Before the alarm of lire had been given he went through all the upstairs rooms, and aroused the inmates by kicking at the doors with his bare feet, and knooking with his hands. He then found hiniHelf unable to get down stairs owing to the flames and smoke, and, opening a back window, escaped on to the roof of a loan-to, got to the ground, and re-entered the house by the back door. Here he knocked at all the .sleeping apartments, first waking his father,, who, not recognising the danger at the moment told the youngster to go to bed —that he was dreaming. Young Fahey 1 then rushed into his mother's room, and, after rousing her, seized the baby in his arms, and ran out into the street, his nightdress being the or.ly article of clothing he saved.

The new class - room for the Cambridge school is now completed. The room., is a lofty and well- ventilated one, "with an open roof, and is close - lined throughout. Its dimensions are 40 x 20ft., and th« anteroom is 20 by 12ft. The classroom is lighted by five large windows on one wide, and two at the end nearest Duke* street, and in addition there is a small upper window at each end. An open fireplace is provided, and there are nine brackets round the walls for lamps. The anteroom is fitted up with numerous hat and coat hooks, and-two lavatories aro profurnished with two baMtis each, Towel racks, etc. Tho anteroom is also well' lighted by two larjro windows, and a plentiful supply of water is provided ay two 400-gallon tanks Tho building is a handsome one externally, and is well finished throughout, reflecting credit on the contractor, Mr Robert l£err.

The road from Huntly to the hot springs at Whaingaroa is at present being formed and bridges erected over the uncompleted portion by the Government, and it is to be hoped that they will also undertake the formation of that part to connect with the Waipa-Raglan road. The curative character of these springs is justly celebrated amongst the Maoris, who have used them for many generations, and they are continually visited by the sick and afflicted of nil sorts and conditions among them. Although the accommodation is at present limited to only a Maori whare or two. During the recent .nclement weather rheumatic subject* having to be carried to them have in lens than a fortnight had a cure effected, and sufferer;} from cutaneous diseases are relieved from their intolerable itching in less time. Now that those springs havo been vested in the Whaingaroa "Jload Board as a .domain, the suffering i "public hoiki to see soni9 fit accommodation provided before the ensuing summer, so that invalids may have some comfort while requiring to use them.

We are informed that the proprietors of the steamer trading between Onehunga aud Raglan havo lately changed their agent at tho latter place, mid there is a parfect furoro r among settlers generally in consequence of the extortionato amount charged by him . for storage. Some of them have determined to try and get one of the Northern Steam Shipping Company's steamers to call on. their way to and from Waitar.i, and in order to encourage them to do so will agree to give them all their freights. The .proprietors of the Hannah Mokau having received during the past year, between £500 and £o'oo for freights and fares, settlers Jure of opinion that they should at least study their interests a little. A number of pigs were waiting for the steamer over ii week, and notwithstanding her agent at Onehunga being wired to repeatedly, no reply was vouchsafed. Such treatment has been borne without much of an outburst, but'the change of agent and Btorage fees have " broken the camel's back," and the exasperated sufferers have determined to stand it no longer. The sum of £1 per ton is charged on freight from Oneliunjfa to Raglan, while the same steamer carries the same quantity from Onehun^a to Waitara for 12-j Gd. Tho settler-? think it is high time there was a change, sis matters agricultural ure far from being in h flourishing condition, and fanners object to tho skin being takon as well us the fleece. It is now reported that Raglan is to be favoured by a cutter visitiug the port when wind and weather are favourable.