AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume 2188, Issue XXVII, 17 July 1886, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state ot persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's ripfht maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1886.

The Government appear to be anxious about nothing so much as how to relie\e the consolidated revenue of some of its manifold burdons. Few would quarrel -with the principle if this were done simply to decentralise government, but if the object aimed at is merely the creation of a surplus, then it can have no claim for support. The policy of the present Cabinet so far has undoubtedly been ta shift liabili-

ties from the shoulders of Government on $o those of the local bodies. This policy is plainly .traceable in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, and ivas even more prominent in the local government measures introduced during the present session. Where the responsibility delegated is accompanied with power, the policy, as we have iudicated, is by „ no means unpopular. Thus many well-mean-ing members of Parliament welcomed the Hospitals Bill, regarding it as a step in the right direction. So ready were they to accept the principle that they never thought of looking below the surface. The monstrous injustice perpetrated in making the rateable value the basis of taxation never struck them at all. It is really curious that in this matter members who are ordinarily so prone to look with suspicion on the proposals of the Government should have placed such implicit faith in the ingenuousness of Ministers. It ought to have been evident that when a burden is shifted it is not j often that the weak are relieved. This transference of the cost of hospitals and charitable aid from revenue to rates could not have beeif carried into effect unless it conferred tin advantage on the towns. There can be no possible mistake about that. Under the provisions of the Act of last year the country districts of the colony, sparsely populated and struggling as most of them are, have had cast upon them a load utterly out of proportion to what they are justly entitled to bear. Of course this is quite plain now, but under the glamour of " decentralisation," the bitter pill was swallowed cheerfully. Mr Pearson, the member for Ashley, moved in the House on Wednesday that hospitals and charitable institutions should be maintained out of a rate levied on property without exemption. This, of course is something very different to a rate oa the "annual value," and we are glad to see that both Waikato representatives voted for it. What the resolution really means is that the maintenance of these institutions should revert to Government, because to take the money out of a property tax is very much like taking it out of the Colonial Exchequer. The resolution was carried, and we trust the House will exhibit sufficient fairness as to insist on the principle being embodied in a Bill. Such a Bill will, the Premier intimates, be opposed by the Government, and by their influence it may possibly be defeated. So earnest are the Government in their so called work of decentralisation that they were prepared to lend money to the Education Boards, the interest on which was to be repaid out of Government grants in the shape of capitation ! But the House, pliable as it is, would not swallow that. Country members have, we think, only to exercise a little perserveranco and their end will be gained.

The Rev. W. Katterns, late of Te Kopuru, Kaipara, will be in Cambridge to-day, and will preach to-morrow at S. Andrew's.

Messrs William F. Bell and John Steadman have been nominated for the second vacancy in the Hamilton Borough Council. The election will take place on Monday, the 20th inst. ,

Mr Robert Salmon, of Auckland, left for Sydney by Monday '« steamer, in charge of a large number of horses and cattle consigned to that port by Mr J. S. Bnckland.

Footballers are requested to be present on Sydney Square to-day at 3 o'clock, as the match with Huntly will probably be played on next Saturday, and the team must be picked.

Mr J. Steadman has been nominated as ii candidate for the spat vacated by Mr Bach in the Hamilton Borough Council. In his addrons Mr Steadman states that he is a candidate of " independent principles."

Last night's sitting of the House of Representative was taken up with a mean* inpless debute on the Dintrict Railways Purchase business, a matter that had already been worn pretty threadbare.

Mr J. P. Fitzgerald, who has been resident in Cambridge for a little over two year*, employed in the Colonial Bank, is about to leave for New Plymouth, having received instructions to remove to the branch of the bank there. Mr Fitzgerald, by his unassuming and genial disposition, has made many friends in Cambridge, who will be sorry to hear of his intended removal.

We have received a long letter from a Kgaruawahia correspondent on the subject of a discourse delivered at the Piesbyterian Church at that place on Sun- | day last by Mr Campbell on Orangeiam. We do not think that any (food purpose can be served by opening our columns to a controversy on thin subject, and must therefore decline to insert the communication.

An information was sworn on Thursday by Constable Brennan, of Cambridge, against William Reid, charging him with committing an indecent assault on a child under ten years of age, named Jessie Fretwell, who is a daughter of Mr A. C. Fretwell, plumber. The offence ia alleged to have been committed on Friday, the 9th inst, and the case will be heard before the Kesident Magistrate next Friday.

Mr H. R. Hyatt delivered an interesting lecture at the school-room, Cambridge West, on Wednesday night, on the subject of "Volcanoes." The yen. Archdeacon Willis presided and there was a large audience. The lecture was illustrated by a number of diagrams, and a series of experiments conducted by the lecturer, who received the compliment of a vote of thanks at the conclusion. At intervals during the lecture Miss Hyatt played a selection on the harmonium and songs were given by Miss Dillon and Mr Hyatt, senr.

Mr John Houghton, Chairman of the Cambridge Town Board, has, we are informed, refused to sign a cheque in payment of the salary of £5 voted to Mr J. Thomson, as clerk to the Licensing Commissioners. Mr Houghton voted in favour of the salai'y being granted at the board meeting, where Mr Hewitt waa the only dissentient, and his sudden change of front is the cause of considerable comment. It is understood that at the next mooting of the board a motion will bo brought forward to authorise some member, other than the Chairman, to sign cheques.

The following are the immigration and emigration returns for Jane : — The arrivals were : From the United Kingdom, 052 ; Queensland, 1 : New South Wales, 269; Victoria, 155; Tasmania, 230; other places, 80; total, 1183. The departures were : To the United Kingdom, 238 ; New South Wales, 674 ; Viotoria, 497 ; Western Australia, 50 ; Tasmania, 29 : other places, 2G ; total, 1544. The details of the arrivals were : At Kussoll, 1 ; Auckland, 290 ; Wellington, 99; Napier, 1 ; Nelson, 2 ; Lyttleton, 16 ; Timaru, 3; Dunedin, 590; Invarcargill, 181; total, 1183. Tho departures were: From Mongonui, 1 ; Russell, 4 ; Auckland, 679 ; Wellington, 81 ; Napier, 15 ; Lyttelton, 213 ; Timaru, 11 ; Invercargill, 540.

To the Editor. —Sir,— To decide an argument you will oblige me my answering the following question through your valuable columns : If a contractor takes a contract by public tender to level, htump, and fill up all holes on a piece of ground, would you consider the contract

. complete if every yard of the «aid ground would average up and down from one foot to three of a difference, and would you consider it fair to leave the stumps Btnnding in the holes, the top merely covered by < an iuch or two of loose earth? Say this ground was meant for lawn tennis or a , children*, playground ! I am, your* obediently, Enquirer, Ngaruawahia. [W« muqjt past tho problem on.— Ed.]

Profeiior Hutton.of Ohristchurch, and Professor Brown, of Auckland, returned from the Lake Country yesterday, stopping at Hamilton en route. Tlioy will tr<» on to Auckland to-day. The professors are naturally reticent, as they have been employed by the Government to make * report, and do not feel justified in anticipating anything. In conversation with thorn, however, wo learned that they do not think there is any cause for apprehension in the immediate, future. Professor Hutton says the newspaper account* of the occurrence havo been moat grossly exaggerated, and are calculated to do a great amount of harm. Professor Thomas has gone to the East Coast with a \iew to make enquiries into the damage done there, the nature of tho volcanic deposits, &c.

A meeting of those interested in butter-making was held at the Frnnkton 1 Timber Yard on Tuesday last. Mr Thus. Jolly occupied the chair. The Chairman explained that the business in hand was to consider the advisability of starting a butter factory at Frankton. He called on Mr Thomas Maunder to give them some information mi regards the co 8 t of making, &c. It w»s proposed by Mr Booth and •econded by Mr Dellicar that a committee be formed to inquire more fully into the working of the concern, consisting of Meun Thomas Jolly, F. Evans, Thomas Maunder, And tho mover. Mr A. H. Maunder offered to supply them with steam power at the net cost of the fuel. The milk of over one hundred cows was promised by those present. Mr Watchorn wai chosen secretary. Thin Concluded the business and tho meeting elated.

The following is the concluding portion of the report of the debate in the House on Wednesday night, on Mr Pearson's nation to luvy a proporty-tax for the maintenance of hospitals and charitable aid :— Mr Whyte said the present lysto'A waii most unfair, and it would create pauperism more than the resolution. He would vote for the proposition. — Mr Lake also intended to vote for it, and hoped the resolution would bo carried by a large majority. —Mr Smith thought the revolution illiberal, whatever came before the House. — After further discussion, Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate, which was lost by 35 to 20. — Several other members spoke to the motion ; after which the question was put that the House go into Committee of Supply, which was lost by 30 to 25. — On Mr Pearson's motion being put, Mr Ivess moved an amendment, exempting all properties valued under £500. —The amendment was then put, and the ayes were 25 and n»>es 25. — The Speaker said to his mind the question of hospitals and charitable aid had not boen on a satisfactory footing for aotne time. He should therefore vote with thy noes, with the hope that some better system might be devised. —The question was then put, that Mr Pearson's motion might be agreed to, which was carried on the voices. -

The Beer Duty Act, Amendment Bill, introduced by »Sir J. Vogel, provides that si licence issuod to any brewer, under the Act, 1880, shall entitle such brewor to sell in quantities of not loss than two j gallons beer brewed at his brewery without it beiug necessary for him to take out a wholesale <>r other license under any other Act or ordinance, hut a licenso issued under the old Act shall only entitle the holder thereof to soil beer in casks of tho prescribed sizes at his brewery or other place in which beer may be legally stored prior to the duty being paid thereon, or to sell beer in bottle at his bottling store which store shall not be situated on his brewery premises. No person shall sell or deliver for sale or consumption, any beer in bulk other than in stamped casks of the piescribed sizes. The following addition shall be made to the eighteenth section of tho Act of 1880, namely, in tho fourth line thereof, after the word "affixed," the following words shall be inserted "as required by this Act." Any bro\v<»r who affixes a stamp to any cask of beer of larger contents than the quantity denoted on such stamp shall be liable to tho penalty specified in tho 18th section of the said Act. If any brewer or other person carries on in any brewery any business other than that of brewing boer, he shall be liable to a penalty of £20. Tho commissioner may direct and require any collector to rofuse to renew tho license of any brewer who hna been convicted of any otfenco under this Act.