AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2189, 20 July 1886, Page 2

AND TH AMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1886.

Equal and exact justjccto all men, Of whatsoever sUte ot persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's rißht maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

Changes are taking place in the constitution of the Farmers' Cooperative' Association of which the great body of the shareholders seem to be wholly ignorant. Even the few who do happen to know that the Waikato retail branches are to be got rid of (one has already been sold) appear to be quite in the dark as to the reasons for the step. It was only the other day that a general meeting of shareholders was held, and as no whisper on the subject was heard thereat, surprise is naturally expressed. Speaking generally, and without seeking for motives, we think the directors have acted wisely. If the true principle of co-operation, cash, is only to occupy a subordinate place, then the sooner the association ceases to compete with retail traders the better. As a creditgiving concern we hold, and have always held, that the association is an anomaly, and we should have been glad to find the directors coming round to our view. In their recent action however, they have not, if we are rightly informed, been guided by principle, but by expediency. The fact of the matter is that while on the one hand the shareholders withhold payment of their calls : the amount in arrear being about £2000 : and on" the other the association's bankers will not make the promised advances, the capital at command is not sufficient tor the needs of the business. To buy and sell on credit and to provide a cheap and good article is a feat not easy of accomplishment. The directors have therefore decided, so we suppose, to bring their business, or rather perhaps we ought to say their risk, within safe limits. In other words they do not intend to carry on a two pound business with, one pound of capital. This is only a presumption of ours. We are not unmindful of the fact that the Waikato branches have, according to the manager's statement, been always worked at a loss, and the directors may luivo suddenly come to a resolution 10 plugup the leak. But if so, why so much secrecy ? That a loss has been sustained on the Waikato retail business wo canuot doubt, but why was not something done to retrieve the lost ground '\ This should have

been done if the branches formed a necessary part of the scheme ; and if they did, or did not pay, why were the shareholders not « taken ii^o tjje directors' confidence^* It -ds^a striking commentary on the facts disclosed in the balance-sheet that thp late manager of the Hamilton brancli has been found ready and willing to take over and conduct on his own account the business of that branch. We have every confidence in the integrity of the directors, and we not doubt for a moment that in the action they have just seen fit to take they kept the interests of the association steadily in view, but there was really no occasion for the mystery and secrecy which has enveloped the transaction. In an association of this kind too much openness cannot be displayed. The directors have nothing, or ought to have nothing to hide.

Times must be getting dull on the West Coast of the North Island. We do not desire to be uncharitable, but we cannot help connecting the present attitude of the natives with the slackness of trade. That the Maoris should have a grievance is likely enough. So far as 'our ex--perience goes, they always have had a grievance, and. will probably continue to have a grievance until' time, or the natives themselves, shall be no more. But the singular part of the business is that they generally manage to air their troubles just at that particular time when their European* friends are most in' want lof a little cash. Lest the people ofc the Plains should feel disposed to pride themselves on their originality of conception and fertility of resource, we may say at once that this singular concurrence of events was noticed many, many years ago in districts not v.cry remote from Waikato, and, unless our memory is seriously at fault, it was found to work admirably. When folks have grown accustomed to reap the harvest which springs from the location of a number of idle, well-paid men in their midst, the loss of such a blessing is not generally contemplated with equanimity, and if human ingenuity can restore the fertility of the field it will do it. Whether it is that Waikato has grown virtuous, or hasattaned to such a pitch of prosperity (we make doubt the latter is the real cause), native " scares " and " panics " and •' difficulties ". have long, since ceased to be used as money-making means. We allowed the Constabulary to depart without so much as a tanyi, and we do not suppose we should hang out the banners on the outer wall if we heard they were returning. Nobody 1 doubts that from a commercial point of view we can get along very comfortably without such adventitious aids. , At the same time, if there are ai:y cakes and ale to be had cheaply, for the asking almost, we commend the subject to the attention of our readers. We are really not joking. So many people are complaining about the tightness of the money market and the low prices of produce, and as the' Government are always appealed to in cases of distress, the idea might be made something of. This is the age of syndicates. We have syndi- , cates for coal mining, syndicates for ' building railways, even syndi- ' cates for purchasing wrecked ships,; could ' not a syndicate be organised for_the purpose of promoting a good. Maori difficulty, under peaceful conditions of course? -

The final returns of the general elections in Great Britain and Ireland are now in, and from these we gather that the anti-Home Rulers are in a substantial majority. The " Unionist "or Whig eletqent in the majority is too . small to make the prospect "of a coalition -Government certain, and^ the'charice§-are that a purely Conservative Cabinet will be formed. Such a Cabinet would, according to .the returns, be in a minority of thirty-eight, but for all that they would be pretty secure in their position for some time to come, provided of course they did not attempt much- in the. way of legislation. The Irish question is a rook upon which many other Administrations, besides that of Mr Gladstone, are destined to split. Lord Salisbury will find himself in a position very similar to that occupied by the Stout - Vogel Government last session, so graphically and epigrammatically described by Mr Scobie McKenzie.

There was no meeting of the Cambridge Road Board on Saturday, owing to the illness of Capt. McPherson and the want of a quorum.

The chairman of the directors of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company has telegraphed to the manager at Gisborne, from Melbourne, to say that he is on his way over to visit the scene of operations.

Three black swans were observed on Lake Te Koutou, Cambridge, on Sunday morning la->t. They are said to be the first .seen on the lake, and it is hoped they may be induced to take up their residence there.

The polling for the return of a candidate to fill the vacancy in the Hamilton Borough Council, caused by the retirement of Mr T. G. Sandes, will take place to-day. The candidates are Messrs W. Jones and W. H. Kelly.

The river was greatly discoloured on Saturday, the water in the morning presenting the appearance of skimmed milk, and fears weie entertained for thefiLnh lately liberated. On Sunday, however, the river had returned to its natural state, and we are glad to learn from Mr Gelling that the trout in the float and pond are all right.

A meeting of those interested in the Pakuranpa Hounds paying a visit to Waikato this season, will be held at Uelaney's Hotel, Ohaupo, this day, at 12 noon. Considering the amount of sport this pack has given to those residing in Waikato, it is to be hoped there will be a representative meeting.

The maiden name of the young woman who attempted ti> commit suicide at the Occident il Hotel. Auckland, on Friday evening, was M.uy Duke, not Gertrude Duke, as stated in our last issue. Her husband, Thorns Chamber.s, was arrested on the afternoon of Saturday, on a charge of forging and uttennsr a cheque for £5, pur poi ting to be drawn by Mr John ' Abbott in favour of the accused.

A grand entertainment in aid of the funch of the Hamilton Presbyterian Church will be held in the Oddfellow's Hall on Thursday evening. It will consist of a series of lime-light views of Scot-

land and other places. The views, which are highly spoken vt by tfaMM who hj.rj seen them, are "the piroperty, vt Mr Reid, saddler, Hamilton Last, a gentleman who comes t » Hamilton with quite a reputation ak an amateur and organiser of amuse* JMfents. Musical selections will also be given, *nd the entertainment should prove •frgrand, suoces*. The proceeds will be in 'Aid of the Presbyterian Art Union Fund. ■ Tht, Shareholders Bill, introduced by the Colonial Secretary, provides that any person applying fora license as a sharebroker is to give the R.M. twenty-one days notice of bis intention before getting * license ; he has to give a bond for £500 and two sureties of £200 each ; he has also to pay a heavy license fee, and to mako a declaration before a J.P., that he will be a faithful and honest broker. The Dunedin Brokers Association are strongly opposed to the bill, and have communicated with one of their members, Mr Bradahaw, to the. effect that it will be totally unworkable. Mr Bradshaw replied that as a broker and commission agent pure and simple, he accepted its provisions, but that the bill would not suit jobbers and dealers. The return match between Hamilton East and West will come off on Sydney Square, Hamilton, on Saturday next, at 3 o clock aharp, and is looked forward to with considerable interest, as the last match resulted in a draw. The following are the respective teams :—Hamilton East: Hinton, Yon Stunner, McKenzie (2), Stevens, Steele, Bindon, Wood, Keep, Windsor,' O'Neill, Reid, Seddon, Deritt, Quin. Emergencies : Lees, Kelly, Ckrke, Radford, Tribe. Hamilton West : Odium (2), Mclntyre (2), Mayes, Gribble, Guird, Biggs, Somera, Jolly, McSweeney, Davis, Wright, Scbrgi«, Hunter. Flayers are reminded that there will bo a practice on Wodneaday, at 3.30 p.m., when their attendance is requested.

The Petrel ease, which has been before the Police Court since June 18, terminated on Saturday morning, reunited in the dismissal of the charge of rau'rdet ngainst the acciued, and their dischargd. The evidence taken on Saturday Was the completion of the examination of- thfe second mate, Mendoza. We are informed that it is the intention of Captain Reid to brim? a claim, upon arrival at New Bedford, against the United States Government for the loss through the detention of the vessel, and the expenses of defending the prosecution. In reference to the crew of the whaler, the United States Consul (Captain Webb) will' give any member of the crew his discharge from the Teasel who does not wish to continue the voyage on the Petrel.— Herald.

A correspondent forwards us the following extract from the "Boston Pilot." "Lord Randolph Churchill in trying to incite the Orangemen of the North of Ireland to deeds of violence, ao that the Government' may be forced to proclaim martial law/ and so postpone or prevent the passage of any bill looking to the settlement of the IrUh question. In other word* the TWiea propose . to use violence and murder, if they cm, to prevent justice. A dangerous, desperate, devilish game to play, my Lord Randolph. In comparison with such cold-blooded villainy, dynamite is a temperate argument, and assassination another name for moral suasion. It will be a bad day for the lords and lackeys when the appeal is made to hruto force." The Pilot is evidently not a Tory Journal !

Hall-street, Cambridge, offers a puzzle to anyone who endeavours to discover the wherefore of the actions of the town board. From the Hamilton road to McKearney's corner, the street is cleared and formed, and is in fact one of the best in the outskirts of the town. Next comes about four chains )f waterhole, swampy ground, and ti-treo scrub, after which the street is again cleared t« the domain belt. Some two or three years ago a petition was forwarded to the board asking them to make the roadway through the waterhole, which is only troublesome in winter, and a subsequent petition to the same effect has lately been sent in. The road in its natural state was a fair one except at the waterhole, and in each of the petitions sent in the work asked to be done was at the wet spot, where an outlay of three or four pounds woHld do all that is required, as earth for filling is quite handy. Instead, the board have spent a lot of money where it was not wanted, and left the only part that wanted touching in its original condition. The road by the corner of the waterhole used to be the one principally used by the settlers living out Tamahere way.

The fact that the present Victorian Agent-General has been offered, and has accepted, the distinction of Knight Commander of "the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George " chiefly concerns Sir Graham Berry himself. "Time was" that the addition of a handle to his name would have ill assorted with the political atitudeof the ex-member forGeelong. -It is written that "Knights Commanders are entitled to encircle their coat of arms with the ribbon and motto of the order." In days of yore, the armorial bearings most appropriate to the Graham Berry of the hour would have been bruised and -broken heads azure, quartered with flaming houses gules. But these heraldic devices belong to the past ; to the hot days of political youth and wild oats sowing. The motto of the order of St. Michael is "A pressaqe of better times." M<o one could truly.asaert that' the times have not improved since the stormy era whtfh "Mr Berry " was the rising hope of stern, unbending office-seekers and professional agitators in Victoria. * * * * Once upon a time Sir Graham Berry was a demagogue. There is no need to define the word ; it exactly fitted— formerly. He did all the harm that a demagogue could do in this colony ; at the same time he indirectly became a public benefactor, because he showed how ve^y Jittle harm a. demagogue can do here, even under the most favourable or unfavourable circumstances.— Melbourne Argus.

The causes which led to the rise in wool it is a matter of difficulty to name. Wool-brokers themselves who have had years and years experience in the wool trade are unable, to aay definitely.' Mr R. B. Ronald, one of the London Board of the Australian Mortgage, Land, and Finance Company, States that the wool market is of all markets the most difficult to understand, rises and fall* in prices taking place with almost electric suddenness. The cause of the present rise, however, he explained in the following way : — " The effect of the long winter has worked off the stock of woollen goods, and clothiers and cloth merchants nave gone to the manufacturers with orders in their hands, and the manufacturers, taking these orders when the price of wool was so low that it would not do for them to run any risk, determined to buy an much wool as would supply their orders for cloth. Our representative had also interviews with other gentlemen intimately acquainted with the squatting interests. From them he learned that the general opinion was that the present rise in the price of wool was similar in character to that which took place in 1870, when, along with a general break-up of a disastrous drought, wool suddenly increased in value in the London maiket. Already the rise will mean £2,000,000 of money to Australia. \Vhile there are not wanting voices counselling care and issuing warnings that the f a\ ourable features may not be permanent, the majority of those entitled to form an opinion agree in predicting a long run of prosperity.—Melboure Telegraph.

The Bruce Parliamentary Union has put up its shutters, and the funeral oration lias been read by the local paper. It is the old, old story. From its inception to the close of the first session its meetings were all well attended, and its debates very lively, edifying, and full of interest. But during the few weeks of its existence this year things appear to have gone crooked from the very start, and the management, in the absence of anything better or more deserving, it has come in for a fair share of abuse and blame. It appears some of the members complained because refreshments were not provided, and that their relation* had to pay to come into the House to hear them speak ; others thoup-ht that the Union should have been subsidised by the Government; but one member crowned the trouble and drove the last nail in the lid of the parliamentary coffin by proposing that Sir Robert Stout be asked to address the Union on the " Titelogical progress of New Zealand ! ' — Tuapeka Times. A meeting of the Hamilton Library Con mittce is called fnr Mnnd.iy evening next, at the Commercial Hotel to consider an offer frr m Mr Jessop, for the purchase of his circulating library. A nvetintr of the subscribers of tho last Hamilton Christmas Sports is convened for Monday evening next, at the Commercial Hotel, to deride upon the disposition ot the balance of tHe funds, about £20.