The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2214, 16 September 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 1886.

The Wellington Press criticises Mr Vaile's scheme of railway reform very unfavourably, and declares that the only district in the colony that would be benefited is the Waikato. Our contemporary's argument is that while the cost of travelling fifty miles from Kaipara, would be 3s, and from Auckland and Wellington 2s 6d, we could travel fifty miles from either Lichfield or Frankton for 6d. We do not believe this to be quite true, but assuming it to be so, the case is stated very unfairly. The sixpenmy fare from Frankton would only apply to the line running

South, and the fare from Patetere would increase in proportions very materially before Auckland was reached. The Press affects to ignore the fact that the settlement of the country is one of the main factors in Mr Vaile's scheme, and insinuates that it has been elaborated with a view to enrich the land-jobbing class, for whose benefit and behoof the sons of toil in the cities of Auckland and Wellington are asked to contribute. This is a very poor sort of argument, but it is likely to find acceptance with a certain class of people, to whom the idea of doing anything which by any possible chance would benefit the large landowning class is repugnant, nay, horrifying in the last degree. But we take leave to think the majority even of the townsfolk will not be so foolish as to cut off their nose to spite their face. Nobody, so far as we know, has ever attempted to deny the fact that the adoption of Mr Vaile's system would increase the value of land ; if it gave no promise of doing that it would not be worth a moment's consideration. If by any means agricultural and pastoral pursuits could be made more lucrative, it follows, as naturally as night follows day, that the selling value of land would go up. But the whole island is not in the hands of " land jobbers ;" there is a very considerable estate owned by the Crown, which has been largely augmented of late, and unless some system in the nature of that proposed by Mr Vaile is adopted, the bulk of this estate is likely to remain for very many years in a state of nature, or at the best to pass into the hands of that very "land jobbing" class for which our contemporary entertains such a hearty dislike. It is because we wish to see the country occupied by a prosperous class of small.settlers^nd sot handed over to flockowners and cattle ranchers, that we have given our support to Mr Vaile. The system at present in operation has no friends : nine tenths of the people in the colony openly revile it : and yet when the active agents of reform ask that a remedy might be tried, we are told to rest and be thankful ! " The present state of things is bad enough," say the standstill party, " but then we might get something much worse. It is true that under present conditions the farmers are being crushed out and the labouring classes forced down upon the towns, there to swell the army of the unemployed, but, if Mr Vaile had his way, we should enrich the large landowners ! Think of that ! If the farmers and labourers are poor, let them take comfort in the reflection that the greedy wretches who have bought up the land are sinking down to the lowest depths of poverty also." Divested of its trappings, this is the philosophy which the Wellington Press has set out to teach. Our contemporary tells his story in pretty phases, lighted up with brilliant flashes of wit, but it is a silly story nevertheless.

The recent action of the Aroha Domain Board in appointing a Mr, or rather " Professor " Cadman to an important position in connection with the baths, and in disposing, for a nominal sum, of the sole right for a term of years of hanging advertisements in the bath-room has been very adversely criticised. The News had a very strong article on these subjects in its last issue, and the opinions it expressed are endorsed by nine out of every ten right-thinking persons in the community. A public meeting was convened last Saturday evening, to consider the action of the board, but discussion was rendered impossible by the disorderly conduct of a number of individuals who were apparently present for the avowed purpose of blocking the proceedings. We are bound to say that our sympathy is entirely with those who oppose the action of the board, and we trust that every effort will be made to undo the mischief done by that body.

A correspondent writing from Kihikihi, suggests the advisability of establishing a Masonic Lodge at that place.

There was no business of interest at the R.M. Court, Hamilton, yesterday. A few small debt cases were down for hearing, but they were settled out of court.

On Tuesday evening snow was to be seen on the Pirongia and Maungatautari Ranges, which accounted for the bitter cold wind experienced on that day.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Public Library Committee, adjourned from last Friday to avoid collision with the Borough Council, will be held at the library to-morrow, Friday, at 8 p.m.

Prom what was stated by the chairman of the Waipa County Council at the meeting on Tuesday, the Government subsidy to local bodies will be the same for the current as it was for last year.

The Royal Commission to investigate claims for the military and naval land grants will sit at the R.M. Courthouse, Hamilton, on the Ist and 2nd October. All claims must bo sent in to the Hamilton Post Office on or before the 30th inst.

The following tenders were received last night by Mr ODea, architect, Hamilton, for alterations to a shop in Victoria-street, labour only:—W. B. McPherson, £3 10s ; G. T. Barker, £2 10=?; W. J. Pearson, £2 10s ; R. Gracie, £2 7s Gd (accepted).

Mr Joseph Cochrane has commenced operations in his new premises, the huildings formerly occupied by the late Mr Vialou, Victoria-street, Hamilton West. A forge has been erected, and workmen are busily engaged fitting up the carriage building portion of the premises.

The schedule of borough endowments at Hamilton East to be leased by auction on Saturday next, will be found in another column. The lots have been cleared and ploughed, and will be securely fenced, and will be disposed of under the same conditions as the domain allotments. The aggregate area of the lots is about 17 acres.

Mr J. R- Handyside's new patent portable firewood cutting machine, fitted up complete, is now to be seen at Pearson's implement woikh, Hamilton East. Mr Handyside draw? attention to the machine in another column. As both the patent and the machine itself are ot local origin it is to be hoped that a large amount of local support will be forthcoming.

We are pleased to hear that great progress is being made with the erection of dwellings on the land set apart and allocated by Mr Firth at Matamata for a special settlement. Fifteen cottages are in course of erection, and will be finished by the beginning of next month. The cheese

factory is also in a very forward state. Tho country is looking remarkably well, and the now settlers enjoy the prospect of a prosperous year.

The death is announced of Capt. Mervyn Stewart, of Katikati, the father of tho well known pioneer of settlement, Mr G.Vesey Stewart. The deceased gentleman, who died on Monday, at the ripe old nge of 9(3, has boon in receipt of an Imperial pension for 70 years. He was a very old member of the Orange Order, and hi* funeral yesterday was conducted by that brotherhood.

Mr Jesse Sage writes:—"Your Alexandra correspondent in writing of Mr Finch's coach, conveys an erroneous idea to the public, for he leads his readers to think that thore was no coach plying between Alexandra and Te Awamutu, and that Mr Finch has supplied a necessary want. I I have run a well-horsed coach from here to Te Awamutu ever since the railway opened, and I have been for the last three years the successful contractor for the Alexandra mails."

A special general meeting of the shareholders in the Waikato Cheese and Bacon Factory Company was held at the office of the company, the Hamilton Auction Mart, last night. There was a good attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr S. T. Seddon, chairman of directors. The resolutions passed at the former meeting on the 30th August, in favour of winding up the company and appointing Capt. McPherson liquidator, were formally confirmed. This was all the business.

Or. Hunter made a capital suggestion to the Waip» council at thtir meeting on Tuesday, advising that where gravelling contracts were let, the specifications should provide for rolling with a good heavy roller immediately after the laying of the gravel. He mentioned having practically tested the value of such treatment upon a road ot his own. The engineer, Mr Armstrong, considered it well worthy of consideration by local bodies generally, and if the roller were passed over the gravel again atter the first rain, and while the moisture was still in it, it would tend to harden it to such an extent as to be little affected by light traffic.

A man named Henry Hall, employed as a ticket-taker at the Opera House, Auckland, committed suicide at his lodgings, Wellealeystreet, on Tuesday evening. It would seem that some small betting transactions, in which he thought ho had been cheated, turned his head, though nothing was indicated by his manner a short time before the act to lead to such a conclusion. The deed was committed with an old theatrical pistol, which Hall had loaded up with powder and fired into his mouth. The unfortunate wretch lived long enough to write a sort of will and to give his reasons—also in writincr, for he was unable to speak—for committing suicide. The verdict at the inquest will be found in our Auckland telegrams.

Telegrams have been received at Hobart stating that payable gold has been struck north of Mount Tyrrell, about a mile north of the Prospectors' Claim, near Macquarrie Harbour. Work has been going on in the vicinity for three years, the prospectors being protected by a prospecting order. While prospecting has been going on, some alluvial ground has been worked, yielding SOOozs of gold. Only twenty people are interested in this claim, and £2000 has been refused by one of tho proprietors. Up to the present time the greatest difficulty has been experienced in carrying stores to the claim, but if Government officers testify to the value of the discovery, the proprietors intend to apply to the Tasmanian Government for the construction of roads.

The Berlin Piano Importing Company, Auckland, have taken over Mr Webbe's business in Hobson-street, retaining the valuable services of Mr W. H. Webbe as their managing agent. This gentleman, who is very popular in Auckland, has visited several of the leading Piano and Organ Manufactories in the principal cities of Germany, England, and America, and has for several years devoted his attention to the construction of tho pianoforte, and being not only a performer but a teacher and composer, is thoroughly competent te select the most perfect instruments now made. This company have on view at their show rooms, the corner of Hobson and Cook-streets, a large assortment of prize medal pianos and organs, obtained through the influence of their enterprising managpr, Mr W. H. Webbe.

At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Wyndham Cheese Factory, Southland, held a few days ago, a most satisfactory balance-sheet was presented, showing that after meeting all current liabilities, and making allowance for depreciation in the value of buildings, plant, &c, over £000 was available. A dividend of ten per cent, was declared, and 10s each paid up on the original shares. This favourable state of things is owing in a great measure to the fact that while the cost of management did not exceed that of the Waikato Cheese Factory, the quantity of milk operated upon was more than double that received at Hamilton. In addition, a better price was obtained for the cheese, and the pigs yielded a handsome profit* It is perhaps not too much to add that the management was also superior.

As will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, Mr C. W. Langstone, M.R.C.V.S.E., is again in the Waikato. His success in spaying cattle on his previous visit two years ago will be remembered, and we notice that he now recommends similar treatment of young weedy mares as likely to give them some of the well-known endurance of the gelding. He also purposes starting a class in the art of caponing fowls, which we recommend to the attention of our local poultry raisers. The miserable apologies for poultry placed so often on our tables would give place to fowls with flesh on their bones if this practice, universal elsewhere, were adopted here, and the breeder would, for the same cost as now, if not less, secure a handsome addition to his profit. Mr Langstone i* prepared to undertake all veterinary work. He may be consulted at the Commercial Hotel, Hamilton.

A correspondent writes :—" I was much surprised on reading the article "The Bad Times and Taxation," published in your last, to see that your Te Awamutu correspondent placed the ftorth Island Trunk Railway in the category of unprofitable works, and even recommended that the contractors be paid subsidies to induce them to give up their contracts, and stop any further work on the same. Surely he must be a new chum, who has not yet acquainted himself with the manufactures or the need^ of the native people of the King Country. By all means let this line be completed, as it will develope a large trade in Maori manufactured goods—greenstone meres, Maori kits, and tui feather head-gear—which has not as yet been entered upon extensively. Then, aeain, the Maoris are largre consumers of drifid shark, and they have hitherto drawn the greater portion of their supply from Raglan and Kawhia. The construction of the trunk line will, however, break down the monopoly enjoyed by these two places, and place the fish merchants of Auckland on an equal footing with their Weft Coast brethren. The Auckland dealers will thus have the most important dried shark market in the world brought within easy distance by rail, and be enabled to readily dispose of their surplus stocks, which will be a great boon to these gentlemen, as it i takes but a very small quantity of this j odoriferous comestible to glut the market, owing to the average European palate not yet fully appreciating the peculiar aroma and flavour of this Maori delicacy! Of course there are other reasons why this work should be proceeded with, but the above are the most patent, and should convince your correspondent of its importance !

A Gambkekpkb Attacked by Weaselh. —A Caithness-shire correspondent sends to the St. James's Gazette an account of the following incident:— Mr Maclaren, a gamekeeper of Wick, the other day had an attack made upon him by weasels, on the Stirkoke. While he was setting a moletrap he was suddenly surprised by a strange sound, as if coming from a hive of bees at hia back ; and immediately a swarm of weasels appeared on either side, and began to climb upon him. He sprang to his feet, but the animals attacked him with ferocity, screaming as if in a rage. Maclaren with a stick struck them from his legs, killing nine of them. There seemed to be two young broods located near the hedge, and as many escaped as were killed. The keeper breught home eipht of the animals as evidence of the battle. This in the second time he has been attacked by weasels ; on the first occasion he had to beat a retreat in order to save his life. Creditors in the estate of Hare Teimana (Symonds)are requested to send in their claims, as a dividend is now available. Mr John Knox will aell at the Hamilton auction mart on Saturday, drapery, clothing, blankets, produce, poultry, tea, seed potatoes,