The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2202, 19 August 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equ<il and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever sUte or persuasion, religious or political.

THURSDAY, AUG. 19, 1886.

The last real debate of the session took place on Tuesday night over the Appropriation Bill. The leader of the Opposition, Major Atkinson, as is usual, took advantage of the occasion to sum up the Governmental policy of the year. He laid .considerable stress on the fact that, ■whereas Ministers had made lavish promises of retrenchment, the public expenditure had been rather increased than diminished, and dilated on the evident want of unanimity prevailing in the Cabinet. Concerning the Treasurer, he claimed, almost in so many words, that he had been a failure, and pointed, amongst other things, to the Midland railway tosupport his argument. He ventured to say that that line would never be constructod by the present company, and predicted that before many months were over Sir Julius Vogel would be the best abused man in Canterbury. The Premier replied with his usual vigour, claiming that in the reduction of railway freights the Government had effected a saving to the colony. The Treasurer, Mr Bryce, and Mr Wakefield followed, but the debate was of a strictly tv quoque diameter, and amounted to very little in the end. It is, of course, \ery easy for the leader of the Opposition to taunt the Government with the non fullilment of their pledges about retrenchment, but nobody ought to know better than Major Atkinson how difficnlt it is to reduce the expenditure so long as the House remains, what it practically has been for so many years, a huge Road Board. Tho Treasury, indeed, has in the paat rescmblod nothing so much us a cheese, at which innumerable mico have constantly nibblod. If tho colony is to inaugurate a policy of truo retrenchment, then the people themselves must, if they do not take the initiative, at least resolve to support the man or tho Cabinet who does. So long as the money for a bridge here and a road there is expected to come out of the public purse, so long will there bo logrolling. We aro not attempting to palliate tho offences of the Government : it is quite truo that thoir words have been a great deal fairer than flieir debris : wo arc simply stating- a plain fact.

Amongst the items passed on the Supplementary Estimates is the sum jf €1000 for the public buildings in Hamilton. The item of €20,000 for the extension of the railway - Hai^on;Graj^rosfj<»*n,^jas also agreed tfli' by-.thf jtfimte wlfetvmte Jlis•sont. • '; ;* s •'%

m«| $ Only 1 a few ufiimpOrtarijfc small debt cn>eVwere heatffl at th« RkW> Ggjftt,. Hamilton, yesterday. 1 * Y

Mr J. B. Whyte M.H.R., returned to Hamilton by the mid-day tram yo-ter-, d.ij. Ho arrived at the Man.iKau by the lla-wi-a on Tuesday.

Parliament was formally pro's' loguod ye*terday by commission till the 10th December, on which date, it will bo further prorogued in accordance with the Parliamontaiy usage.

A meeting o?. those interested in. getting up races in connection with the second visit of the Pakurangj, Hounds t» Waikato is called for Saturd.iy next at the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge... vr

It will be of interest to local bodies'to know that the provincial district auditors are now authorised to receive letter and par.ce.ln Jrea., by,<pnst, v.(s f ee Gazette 18S0, page 803).

The comedy of " Our Boys " is announced to be performed at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Tuesday^ evening ne\t, in aid of the funds of S. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. The programme appears in another column* - v:-

*The newly - forded Hamiltbn? Athletic Club? held their firat practice night in Le Quesne's Hall, on Saturday last. There was a large attendance, and a very pleasant evening's amusement ejisvjed. The club are to be congratulated on having such an excellent instructor as Mr D. Lees.

Mr J. C. Firth was a passenger to San Francisco by the Mararoa, which left Auckland on Tuesday. He goes to'the States with the object of purchasing suitable machinery for a large flour mill, which contemplates erecting in Auckland at aH early date.

Adense'seafog enveloped the city, of Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, lolloSved in the everting by a brilliant display of lightning, unaccompanied by thunder. Heavy showers of rain fell ali over Waikato, with vivid lightning, and occasional peals of thunder.

The Rev. G. 0. Griffiths, of Auckland, has been appointed to succeed the Rev. J. G. Wilson in the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Cambridge, and ha is expected to arrive to-day (Thursday). The Cambridge church is the first charge to which Mr Griffiths has been appointed.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Railway Reform League was held at the Borough Council offices,, Hamilton, on Tuesday. . Preliminary steps were taken in the matter of recognising Mr Vaile's sen ices. It was decided to postpone discussion on the action to be taken in the future until the evidence taken by the, committee has been received. <

A meeting of the Band of Hope .in connection with' the -rßaptist Sunday School, Cambridge, was held }\\ , the Tabernacle school-room on Monday erening last. Mr G. S. Alford in the chbir. A number of songs, readings and recitations were given by the young people connected with the association and others, and Mr Joseph Lstmb and his string band were present and gave a number of instrumental selections, while Mr Frederick Houcrhton presided at the harmonium. The Cambridge Band of Hope has been in the babbit of holding these monthly reunions for some time past, and they are kept up in a spirited manner. A large number of youngsters are enrolled on the books of the association.