TUESDAY, OCT. 19, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2228, 19 October 1886, Page 3

TUESDAY, OCT. 19, 1886.

We have already had occasion to remark on the gross carelessness exhibited by the Government and the Legislature in respect to the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, and its amendment of last session. A more cumbrous or more stupid piece of legislation has seldom if ever disgraced the Statute Book of New Zealand. We have just come across an item of intelligence which, if that were possible, would increaseour contempt for these measures. Tt will be remembered that at the meeting of delegates from the various local bodies, held in Hamilton a few weeks ago, Mr Lake gave it as his ©pinion that Waikato and Raglan counties, with the boroughs of Hamilton and Cambridge would remain tacked on to Auckland until the 31st March, and that Piako occupied a similar position in regard to the Thames. In this he wag clearly borne out in a paragraph in Section 30 of the amended Act, which states that the repeal of

sub-section 1 of Section G in the original Act (constituting the Auckland Board) and the provision for the establishment of the Waikato district shall not come into force before the Ist of April next. It was remarked at the time that, whereas the separation of Piako from the Thames and its annexation to Waikato were provided for in the schedule, no mention either of the Thames or of Piako was made in Section oO ; but it was argued that that was a mere oversight. If it were such, Piako has taken advantage of it, and the Government have admitted its right to do so. At the last meeting of the Coro-mandel-Thames United Board a telegram was received from the Premier's otfice, stating that, after consideration, the Government are of opinion that the Piako County is not liable to contribute to the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards- after its separation, but they will at once deduct and pay tho Board the county's proportion of contribution due to date of the new Act coming into force, viz. : about £247 ancf«£29s. This means a saving of some hundreds of pounds to Piako. The Thames people are not, of course, going to give up the prize without a struggle, but their case is hopeless. A blunder of the Government or the Parliament, unintentional we make no doubt, has landed Piako on the right side of the hedge. It is not difficult to understand how the mistake was made. The alteration in the Auckland district was effected in the Lower House, which refused to accede to the prayer of Piako. The Lords were more gracious and Piako was accordingly put in the schedule, but its inclusion in Section 30 was overlooked. Piako now occupies a happy and enviable position. It has cut the painter which attached it to the Thames District, which has the power to levy contributions, and has become a part of the Waikato district, which has no such power. No one in Waikato will grudge Piako its good luck, but that county holds the position which should have been enjoyed by its neighbours as well. Had the sense of justice actuating Parliament been as prominent as their capacity for blundering we should not now have reason to complain.

Mr Northcroft, Resident Mafcis; trate, has gone away on a two months' holiday. He left Hamilton for Auckland ! yesterday.

We understand that the Whatawhata. Hotel has changed hands, the purchaser being Mr C. W. Lancrstone, the wellknown veterinary surgeon, who intends to conduct the house personally.

The programme of the soiree and concert in aid of St. Maiy's Convent, Hamilton, to be held in the Public Hall, on Thursday evening, appears in another column. The entertainment will conclude with a dance.

Mr W. Mandeno, who met with such a severe accident at Newstead on Friday, proceeded to Auckland on Saturday in nider that ho irr'ght have the benefit of constant modical .attendance.

Commander Edwin wired at 12 24 p.m. yesterday : — Eipoct bad weather between e.ift and north and north-west. (tU<s further fall, and very heavy rain soon, .and very high flood after 1(5 houis from now.

The Hall poisoning case was before the Supreme Court at Chri&tchurch again, on Saturday and yesterday. On the former day a number of witnesses were evamined, the evidence being simil.tr to that already given in the lower court.

The farm know as Aikins, Containing about 400 acres, with a large dwelling house &c, adjoining the Bornujjh of Hamilton, has been purchased by Mr W. A. Graham, who has thus given further evidence of his confidence in the future of Waikato, a subject upon which he not unfrequontly descants.

The Taotaoroa Eoad Board met at Kirkvvood's Cottage on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The following members weie present : Messrs N. Hunt (chairman), Biunslvill, Kallender, and Sammen&. Minutes wore read, and it was resolved to spend £20 at once on Piinco's i*oad from Brun.ikill's gate. Mr Kallender reported that some repairs were requited on cert.tin roads on the company's property, He was authorised to get the necessary works carried out at a cost not exceeding £7. Several accounts for road repairs, &c., wpre passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.

A letter has been received by an Hamilton resident from' a relative at (Iraalf Reinet, South Africa, stating that a great rush has set in all over the Cape district, to the recently discovered new goldfields iv the Transvaal, which are likely to turn out very rich. Some of the claims have turned out exceedingly rich, and -.peculation in. shares is something fabulous The country is going completely off its head. Some of the reefs are yielding from 7 to 40ozs. to the ton. The new disco\ery is near the colony of Natal. The only diawback_on Jthe field is the scarcity of wood and water. The same > writer mentions that the past winter- has been one of the severest for many years, snow having fallen in large quantities at Oaaff Keinet, and that several of the trees in the Botanical Gardens had been broken down with the weight of the snow. The j Mvwatorm lasted two days,

The usual monthly meeting of tho Cambridge Road Board was held at Hewitt's hotel on Saturday last. Present : 1 Messrs Taylor (chairman), J. Y. Thomson, !S. S. Graham, and J. Forrest. Mr «T. J. Smith was absent. Mr Thomson proposed, and Mi 1 Graham seconded, that the resolution passed some months since re taking of allotment No. 3, T.unahere, for an approach road to Mr Barugh's property, bo rescinded, and that the board take no further action in the matter. Mr Forrest .strenuously opposed the board's stultifying itself in this matter, and said that he would oppose the payment of the costs of the matter by the board to tho utmost of his ability, as he considered that it would be nothing more or less than a gross misappropriation of the ratepayers' moneys to pay some £t) or £10, costs of surveys, advertisements, etc. Being in a minority, Mr Forrest could do nothing, but threatened future opposition, and said he would fight the matter to the bitter end. The Tamahere road was reported as very bad in places, and it was resolved to repair it. Mr Bailey applied to have the Victoria road put right, it being in a very bad state. The chairman and Mr Forrest agreed to see it and report at next meeting. It was agreed that the Comity Council be requested to proclaim as a public drain the drain urn nin" from allotment No. 7 to allotment No. 03, Parish of Hautapu, the description, etc., required to be drawn out by the engineer, Mr Sandes, who was present with the plans. In reply to Mr J)oghf>rty's letter, it was settled that a-, soon as he had made the drain the road would be commenced. A few small accounts wen; passed for payment. The engineer icported that the mateiial for fencing the N.urnws embankment was on hand, and that the fcico would be erected at onco ; also that Mi Hamilton had done no gravelling dm i'lg tlio month past, but that he would complete the job before next meeting.

A Hertfordshire paper writes :— All lover-, of mokut will have been pleawed to see the excellent fashion in which our best known cxeinpl.us of the game are playing this Keahou and, glad as they have been to again welcome an Australian team on our gto'ind^, they will not have been sorry to find that Englishmen have held their own better against them this summer than on previous tours. But it is well to recognise, es»pfeG>ally at this penod wht n we are doing better th<W before, how much our cricketers

own to the various Australian visits. Poprlar interest in the game had bpgiri to (\ni away to an alarming extent when the liist Austtali.m tour gave it a much-needed stimulus, the effect of which has gone on in-cre.-ihing. Tn county matches as county matches, only professed lovers of the game could feel any strong concern ; but when an international touch was added to the interest, it was mii prising how many who had never before troubled themselves about the matter began to display an affection for ciicket. And not only in this way did the Australians improve the prospect of the game ; they taught our men the muchneeded lesson of the necessity of the most careful fielding, as well as for brilliant batting and destructive bowling, Therefore, in the midst of our felicitations over the fact that they have far from carried everything before them this season, wo ought not to forget the good they have done to the game itself.