The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2216, 21 September 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, 01 whatsoever state 01 persuasion, religious or political

TUESDAY, SEPT. 21, 1886.

A meeting of delegates from the various local bodies having jurisdiction within the boundaries of the new hospital district of Waikato is convened for to-morrow morning at the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton. The meeting is not called for any specific purpose, but for the discussion of the whole question involved. Considerable doubt appears to exist as to whether or not the new district is liable for any further payments to the Auckland Board It is quite clear that the Amendment Act came into force on the 17th August, the day on which it received the assent of the Governor. His Excellency, in accordance with clause 6, must apportion the representation of the various contributory local authorities before November, in which mouth the members of the new bonrd are to be elected. To any ordinary understanding it would appear absurd to suppose that the new district, after having ceased to be represented on the Auckland Board, and taken upon itself the charge of its own sick and indigent, should still be required to contribute towards the Auckland institutions. There could be no justice in such an arrangement as that. Nevertheless, there does exist in the minds of some people a belief that Waikato is liablo to contribute to the funds of tho Auckland board up to the first of April next. Thoy base their assumption upon a portion of Section 11 of the Amendment Act, which reads as follows :—: — Every . Board which shall not have made sufficient provision for the cost of maintenance of institutions within the district under the jurisdiction of such Board respectively, or the distribution ot charitable aid therein, or for both of such objects during the now current year, and until the first day of April in the now next ensuing year, may require a special contribution from the local authorities in such dtstt wt for the purpose of providing so much of the aforesaid cost as has not been already provided We are at a loss to know how the above can be construed, to mean that Waikato is still to contribute to Auckland. The words we have italicised point to quite a difrorent conclusion. Tho probability is

that this paragraph was insertod in tho clauso to moot such cases as those of Auckland and tho Thames. Tho boards of those districts, having based their estimates ou a much larger rateable value than their respective districts at present represent, will require the powers vested in them by this section in order to mako up tho deficiency in their revenue. This is the view we take of the matter, but as thoro is some doubt wo think the local bodies interested should nnito in obtaining legal advico. Tho mooting of delegates to-morrow can, of course, do nothing officially. They should, however, take steps to secure that no delay takes place in gazetting the basis of representation, in order that the board may be elected as early as possible.

A few weeks ago we drew attention to the profitable market open for New Zealand meat in the Australian markets. The prices we quoted are confirmed by Mr Robert Salmon, late of Auckland, in a letter to Mr Henry Reynolds, dated Melbourne, August 30th. Mr Salmon says beof is selling in Melbourne at thirty live shillings the hundred pounds, and mutton (live weight) at threepence the pound. On the previous Wednesday he attended a sale, at which what he describes as " plain and rough steers," brought from £10 to £16, while fat cows, weighing about GOOlbs or 7001bs, fetched from £10 to JLI2 each. The carcase butchers were the chief buyers, as the majority of the retail men purchase what " they require at the dead meat market. These are prices calculated to make the mouth of a Waikato grazier water. There is not, as we have before pointed out, any valid reason ; why he should not come in for some share of the prizes to be had j on the other side of the water. We are pleased to see from our exchanges that the export of fresh meat to Australia has been proved to be both possible and prob'table. In the same letter Mr Salmon says he went to the cattle show on the 26th August, and saw some good stock, but he does not think the Herefords would compare with the Waikato Land Association's herd.

Doleful accounts still continue to come fuun Kimberley.

Mr Henry Asher has resigned his seat on the Cambridge Borough Council.

It is announced that Colonel Roberts is to be appointed to the command of the permanent forces at Auckland.

Some Muscovy ducks, presented by Mr 1). Carn.ich.in to the Cambridge Domain Board, have been placed on To Koutou Lake.

Mr J. A. Froude, the historian, and author of " Ocean.*,"' ' s roughly handled by Mr E. Waketield, M.H.R., in tho August number of the Nineteenth Century.

A grand soiree and concert, in aid of the Convent buildiug fund, will be held at the Oddfellows' Hall on the 21st October.

A report is again current that payable q >ld ha* been discovered in the King Country. L°t us hope th.it the icpoit is founded on good evidence this time.

A bull and two cows of the famous Polled Angus breed, were passengers to Waikato last week from Chri.stchurch, their destination being Rotorangi, the Messrs Grice'n estate near Cambridge.

We have received the prospectus of "TheNe.v Zealand Tobacco Company " to be established at Auckland and Napier under the management of Mr A. Vollbracht, with a capital of £21,000.

Broncnitis t supervening upon whooping cough, has ben prevalent amongst young children in the Ohaupo district. A daughter of Mr VV. J. Hunter has sue cumbed to the ailment, and several others are dangerously ill.

The return football match New South Wales v. Havvke's Bay took place at Napier on Saturday, when the viMt/>i\s were again defeated, this time by 14 to G. The return match against Auckland will be placed to-day.

The death is announce! of Mr Henry Barton, for many years manager of the unnting department of the Auckland Star. Mr Barton was a very old settler, and a prominent member of the Orange body, in which he at one time held the post of Grand Master.

A correspondent writes complaining that the woik on the Raglan road between Waitetuna bus.h and Whatawhata, (the nature of which he does not state) has been given to one person. He says many of the settlers would lilc 1 to tender for a piece if they had a fair chance.

The usual monthly meeting of the Taotaoroa Road Board was held on Saturday at Kirkwoods private hotel, Cambridge. The chairman, Mr N. I. Hunt, and Messrs Hally, Brunskill, and Semi Lens were present. The business transacted was entirely of a routine character.

Colonel Sir George Whitmore, the Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand forces, is at present in Auckland, for the. purpose of inspecting the defence works, and arranging other matters in connection with his department. It is probable that Sir George may visit Waikato before returning to Wellington.

Mr W. J Scott, the landlord of the Central Hotel, Wellington, who fell down the well of the staircase in his hotel on Friday last, succumbed to his injuries on Satmday. The deceased was interred on Sunday with military and Masonic honours, the funeral being an exceptionally large one.

In consequence of the rapid increase of trade at the Waikato Brewery, the proprietor, Mr Barton, contemplates some extensive additions and alterations to the premises, and advertises for tenders for the work in this issue. We are glad to hear that the ales brewed at this establishment are so fast finding favour with the public.

The R.M S. Mariposa arrived at Auckland on Saturday morning, bringing the English and American mails, the YVaikato portion of which was delivered yesterday. In another part of this issue wo print a number of interesting items extracted from our mail files.

The Cambridge Borough Council will hold a special meeting to-day (Tuesday) for the purpose of electing a delegate to the meeting convened in Hamilton for to-morrow (Wednesday), to take action in the direction of bringing the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act into operation in tho new district of Waikato.

The hon- John Ballance arrived in Auckland on Saturday. His vis-it is chiefly in connection with the village settlement scheme, and it is not likely that he will come to Waikato on this occasion, though he may go to the Thames. Mr Ballance is anxious to get back to Taranaki, when several little difficulties call for attention.

Mr Oliver Mays, of the North Shore, icturncd to Auckland yesterday, after .spending i f<*w days holiday here as the guost of Mi .J. J. Barngh, Wartle, Tainahcip Mr M ivs had never previously been furttu'i .<>mth than Ngaruawahia, and he expressed hi-, muprise at the vast extent of tin 1 Waikato, and the progress made by the fanning community. He says there is nothing in the vicinity of Auckland to compare with what he has seen here.

A Rangiriri correspondent informs us th.it at a meeting held at Wair.mgi on Saturday, a vote of confidence in Mr Y. J. Johnson, as iepresentative of the iidmg in the Waikato County Council, was ear 1 ied, and the sum of £3 was subscribed in the loom for the purpose of obtaining the services of another Bivrveyor to

make a fresh measurement of Casby's cutting. Another meeting to collect funds was to have been held last night.

Borough affairs continue to engross the public mind in Cambridge, but no active steps aro being taken pending the result of tho petitions which have been forwarded to the Government. Mr Clements has received a telegram from Wellington, acknowledging receipt of the petition praying the Governor to issue an Onler-iii-Council, extending the time for holding the elections, and it was intimated that consideration of the same would be hold over until the arrival of the second petition, which was on the way down, so that both petitions, might be considered together.

We regret to announce the death of Mr E. H. Gubbins, of Innisfallen, Ohaupo, which occurred suddenly on Saturday morning last. Mr Gubbina left his house in the morning to go to the dairy, and not returning at mid-day a messenger was ieit to look for him, when he was found lying dead on the floor. Medical aid was summoned, but it was, of course, of no avail. Mr Gubbins was a very old Waikato settler, and the tidings of his death will be received with sorrow by a very large circle of personal friends to whom the deceased gentleman was endeared by his many excellent qualities. He leaves a widow and a large family of young children.

Mr Richard Reynolds, of Pukerimu, sold two bullocks at Mr Buckland's sale at Remuera on Thursday last, which attracted great attention. The animals were purchased some fifteen months ago from the run of Messrs. Morrin and Russell, and have since been fattening on the rich lands of Pukeri'nu. A good deal of speculation was indulged in as to their weight, hut it was generally accepted at 14001bs. Notwithstanding the falling market these bullocks were keenly competed for, and they were eventually knocked down to Messrs. Hellaby Brothers at £12 each. Mr Reynolds had also some very choice steers of his own breeding. These were coming three years old, and were the progeny of a bull bred by Mr A. A. Fantham. These realised £8 each. The same gentleman also sold some very choice heifers of his own breeding, of the Hereford class. The most of these, together with several of the lastmentioned steera, were purchased by Mr James Badley for Mr John Hall, of Otahuhu.—Herald.