AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2230, 23 October 1886, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever stateot persuasion, religious or political.

SATURDAY, OCT. 23,1886.

_ 9 r The Native Land Court now sitting /»t Otorohanga, in the interior of the King country, has been justly termed tne moat important court r ,e^er held to investigate the title to Viiative lands. Not only i,s it so from the fact of the immense area *'«i virgin country with which it * 'has to deal, but also from the political character which has always been. j associated with that portion of the colony. After the Waikato war and the confiscation of the Waikato lands by the (general .Government, the line of' division, the mikati, which extended from east of Maungatautarj to the Waipa, and along the Punin ,- ffrer, was. rigidly adhered to by the 'Maoris as the boundary between them and the pakchas, and the country beyond, over which the Maori king held sway, was as a sealed book, a terra incognita to colonial enterprise or influence for

many years. The approach of civilisation, the innumerable channels by which its advance was exorted on the .jmtive mind, the iinceasing em>rtS|tf < -^wSsi.'^PJ^ra ! iSic ters to briMkcMviMlns iso]w^i s0 ]w^^ 0 B °f the tribesflliKnmldernmie tOT p|s; reii from vSir Dotiafil' Mc^an's^tims tol the present, have finally achieved their inevitable results. The king has been abandoned by his former most staunch supporters, the leading tribes display an earnest desire to have a spoedy investigation of their titles, and the King Countiy ifefcOlfl'naS been iiivaded ltyHhe iror. h- rse'ftf the jmkeha, Uic influences, good and evil, of civilisation with it as on the wings of. tlje wincF. rp j^lipy of. his 'predecessors' in office, jt has fallen m for--tunate enough in bringing the King Country under the Native Land Court, and k must be accounted a decided triumph to his administration* that the Co^re.iifeV^^sjent sitting iii the hqavt of that territory, where it is q\liewy, 1 unobtrusively, 1 and successfully investigating 'great claims of so much » importance. Nor must it be forgotten that', outside of political^.qircles, many influential gentlemen, 1 in, whom the .natives ..have ■ confidence, have frequently urged them for their own sakes and in the interests of the colony to tiring tliese lands under ithe. Court as- speedily as 'possible! The Court opened its session on 28 ih July last,-', at Otorohanga, a mitive settlement, or district 'op .kaingas^-.tweuty^fourithile^ by ( r6ad south- of KihikihfyaticYbn tlie blanks of'lho Waipa river, 'tW'^'i&i&ing tfiftlge, being Majpr Mair, who has an extensive and intimate acquaintance with- native affairs of that (district and,the! Vfaikatp. The Native Committee erected a large , Court- , house,, capable of holding over three hundred persons, on a ' site near Taohtii's ka'in&c,' about a quarter of "a linTe f rdm 'the railway .-station on the Main Trunk Line no^ under construction. The Court proceeded to hear the case of the great block, the Rohepotai, otherwise the King Country,extending from the ContiscajtionLine on. j the north to the head waters of the Wanganui on the south, and from Taupo to the "West Coast, including Kawhia, and having an area of over 1,600,000 acres of land. Counter claims were set up by several ■ Ngatihaua to .lands lying on the Waipa and Puniu rivers, at Wharepuhunga west of the Manukatutahi, and at Rangitoto, the choicest' portions of the block ; and also iby Major Te Wheoro and Harefce Tamehana to the Kawhia district. Te Wheoro, in the first instance, appeared on behalf of Tawhiao, but his instructions were cancelled, and he was recalled by his chief. He, however, determined to disregard Tawhiao's orders, and proceeded to 1 set up a case on his own authority on behalf of the Waikatos. The Court had previously decided to hear Kawhia separately from tlie 1^ rest of the block, and, before -the case was called, Tawhiao sent an emissary, the well-known warrior chief Whitiora, to lodge a protest against the Court dealing with Kawhia, and to obtain an adjournment. The Court declined to entertain the request, and Whitiora predicted there would be " confusion " over the matter. This expression created some anxiety m the minds of the natives, and it was thought Tawhiao intended to send an armed force to /bring away Te Wheoro aud to over- '' awe the Court. He, however, retired to Tauranga during the hearing of the case, which proceeded without interruption. The -investigation, has extended over a period of tliree months; the hearing has been most patient and exhaustive ; indeed, as far as the officers of the Court are concerned, a very exljausting one also, and an immense amount oc evicjence lias been taken down. The judgment, the full text of which is published in this issue, was delivered on Wednesday, the20th inst., before a crowded audience, and nothing could have been more clearly rendered, or in more concise and intelligible lan- 1 guage so suitable to the native understandings as. Major T Mairs summing 1 up. As* was" stated^ by those present, it was understood by even the women and children, and was received with great satisfaction, although, of course, it conveyed disappointment to most of the counter-claimants. The Land Court at Otorohanga is remarkable in many ways, not the least of which is ./the j entire' absence of those debasing surroundings of all courts hitherto, drunkenness, disorder, and confusion. Vyahanui's first anxiety in insisting upon, the Government holding the court here was to remove ■ his people from the fatal temptation of the demon drink in the pakelia towns, in which he was supported by the more intelligent ' men of Ngatimaniapoto. Anyone who has been present at Otorohanga during the sitting of the court, and , has observed the perfect order that has prevailed ; ike uniform cqurtesy and good temper of the" contesting 1 parties towards each other ; the regular attendance of clean, well-dressed men, women and children ; tho intelligent interest taken tiy all in the proceedings of the court ; the unbroken prevalence of sobriety and good manners, together with the healthy and innocent pastimes indulged in, such as athdetic sports, football and d.mc-os, aould not but be convinced ih it it should bo a sacred duly o£ tho Government never to hold laml ■ courts in any other but native districts, and that", as in -this rah©, the Maoris hhoujd be spared from being drawn into thoso' horrible saturnalia that destroy them and bring 1 indelible shame oil our own humanity wlien courts are held in the pakeha towns. The natives themselves have been

quick to no! ice the difference, and seva&l few^toS^SO: 1 in court, at thorlrmi nation e£ th encase, to oxpvcssLtheir affftjtratipn and delight m$ t^spxce lleiif manner in which ithe ||iting '. lajdjbeen conducted, and gMitßCcval af t)ie conductor of the !cas£forw;o clajjnants, whon ho *rol&^^adnra§3jsi court in reply to the counter-claimants, prefaced his speech with a^ vory high com piffne&tT foYtle* 1 m|in\ors 6f tho coutt|au(l accsAinJt&<| fprHhee smooth way in" which everything 1 ha(f progressed by the absence of drink, lawyers and agents, a '' trio " most repumia.nt to felie; natives. Jti , f ' ''''liKUtklAg'a review of ino Ofcorohanga Court, we cannot abstain from giving a full measure of praise -tcrfche gentlemen*who conj^tlite it. * For three long months they have been isolated beyond the pale of civilisation, fulfilling onerous duties under most exceptional and trying j circumstauces. During more than twq months of this period the weather was, without intermission, most inclement and bitterly cold. "Every Hay they had to cross a fio,psed rivflr in a canoe, walk through mud and water, &it for hours on a bench wrapped in ulsters and rugs, then return to their own quarters, where there are no fire-places, and, where they jvere only too glad to retire to the shelter of their blankets as soon as possible after they had _,dined. . Notwithstanding , all the inconveniences and hardships of their position, they < have willingly endured them /ill , in order to bring credit not ' only on' the Government but also,: ah the < natives themselves. >' 'Major* Mair has said that had he with him: a different staff of officers 'they would very 'soon have refused to remain, at Otorohanga ; and we co,iv safely say that no other judge would have carried the sitting to this length and lived. With auy other the court S would have adjourned and- returned to the civilised world, but these officers have considered it a point of duty to remain where they are and complete their work thoroughly. These facts ought to be brought under the notice of the Native Minister, who will reap the politicals advantages of what is ■ now taking place in the King Country.

The Cambridge District High School is opena after Michaelmas holidays on Tuesday, October 2Gth. :

A meeting of interest to ratepayers in the Pukekura Road' Board District will be held at the Pukerimu schoolhouso on Friday, 29th October.

The services at S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, and at S. Stephen's, Tftmabere, to-morrow, will be taken by the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley.

The next meeting ot the Piako County Council will be held at the Borough Council Chambors,Hanitlton,on Wednesday morning next.

A cable message date Rangoon, October 2-Stli, states :—(ienoral Sir Herbert . Macphevson. Citmmandpr of the British fences in Burmalt, died to day of fever at Frome, on the Irrawaddy.

Mr J. Hill, of the Cambridge School, has been appointed to the charge of the two Taotaorcu half-time schools, vico Mr J. S. Burn I',1 ', who has received three months loa\e of absence on account of illhealth.

A superstitious subscriber, who found a spider in his paper, wants to know if it is a bad omen. Nothing of the kind. The spider was merely looking over the columns of the paper to see what shopkeeper was not advertising, so that it could spin its web across his shop door, and ber fr«e from disturbance.

The Mayor of Hamilton proceeded to Auckland yesterday for the purpose of attending a meeting of the Hospital Board last night, but the meeting has been postponed. Mr Graham, in notifyiug this fact to Mr Knox, in a telegram last night, added that he would interview the Assistant Surveyor-General in reference to the survey of the borough.

We regret to learn that the injuries received by l)r Waddington to tlio soft parts about the ankle and foot are much more bcrious than was at first supposed. Dr Moon, who is most kindly looking after the doctor and his patients, expresses the opinion that it will be at least ten days or a fortnight before Dr Waddington will be able to leave his bed.

Mr McCurdie, who has filled the post of statiomnaster at Hamilton since the opening of the line to Cambridge, has been removed to Morrinsville. His departure is much regretted, ns Mr McCurdie is not only a thoroughly efficient", but a most painstaking and obliging officer, as all who have had bubiness at the station can abundantly testify. His successor is Mr Munro from the Auckland office,

- The heavy ram of Wednesday has very fortunately done no harm to the divert works at Stokes' gully although a portion of the excavation is out down to the .proper level aud a little concrete has been laid to test the quality of the materials. Work at the culvet will hmvever be suspended for a few days to allow of the subsidence which it ia hoped will take place kere long when the work will be vigorously '.prosecuted, all being now in readiness fur a Jfair start at the concrete work.

Hundreds of persons are leaving Adelaide for tbo Wankaringa goldfields. The Government geologist reports that gold is distributed generally over the field. Great excitement is being caused in that city by the encouraging reports which have been received from the Wankaringa goldfield-'. 1 .Several diggers on the field hive telegraphed to their friends telling them to come at once. Already 800 diggers are on the field dry fossicking. One person succeeded in getting IGoz of gold for a week's work. Hundreds of men are aho leaving the agricultural districts and provincial towns for the Wankaringa goldfields.

The unusually heavy rainfall of the past few days has done considerable damage in various parts of the district. In Hamilton, in additiou to tin? inundation of a number of gardens, a good deal of damage has been done to the roads and culverts. Between the Ohaupo road and the Alexandra road bridge, several chains of the ballast on the railway line was washed away during Thursday night, but Mr Perm, Inspector of Permanent Way, with n gapg of men was at work at an early hour yesterday morning, and succeeded in gettinpr the line in order before the ariival of the North train from Te Awamutu. ,

To the Editor.— Sir,— l hear that the teachers of the Waikato purpose starting an educational institute, or some cpoperative society of that nature. For the last three years I have urged this' ltiatter at various times on the attention of teachers of my acquaintance, and I am glad to learn that it is to be taken up in Cambridge. If I might offer a hint, I would suggest the clerical meetings in Ireland as a model. The clergy of a diocese, or portion of a diocese, dine once a month at tho house of one of their number in turn, and have regular subjects arranged for discussion .beforehand. Teachers here, in the poiuf.B of distance, means of communication, and income, are pretty much on a par with the Irish clergy, and I fancy the rule that works well with the latter would equally well suit the former. — Yours truly, A.

The adjourned meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board took place on Thursday morning, when the members met on the site of the drain. After inspection they adjonrned to the Council Chambers, and the engineer reportod that he was of opinion that sodding the drain where it had caved in was the best method of rectifying the damage, and he was instructed to prepare specifications and estimates for the work, to be submitted to a further meeting of the board on Friday (last) evening. Owing, however, to the heavy rain which fell yesterday the engineer was not able to do any work og

the ground, and consequently the meeting has bren adjourngd until Monday evening,^ when the neceas&ry information will bdf ivady. pi I '

A soiree and concert in aid of the funds' Of §&, Mary's* Con veu£, Hamilt<»ii was held in the Public Hull on Thundty evening. Tsa wa|Ton the tabto ;it G o'clock, and a fairly lnrgpnumtyei? safe down ton most vechwohe iqW, to iVhich it is needless to ftdd^' hill jjatjnce\swasi done.%. Tho tables \ver6 prefiifled ovef'by Mesdiirtes E. Cusson, W. Cussen, and McGovern, and Missos Jones, Cusson, and (Jhitty, --r nsrisbed | by a number of othors. When \ta& tables l^ad been removed, a programme jpf 'vocal and instrumental mus'c was presented. We regret' that want of space prevents our doing moro than mentioning tho names of the performers, whose efforts wore greatly appreciated by* the audience. Miss Mjsscji played ,soveraj|[> 'solectiuiis op 'the pianoforto in ev'cellent style, an& Misses Tro\yl\ee\lfir, ' |Tay\orj ; and ; Oiisiidy, M r Taylor* and Dr Mui-cn contribntea s a series otvVej^ a acc,eptable muaical numbers. hntuburaiiiß* reading from " Rory O'More" . was moat effectively given by aswell-known^ amatsur, and' much tuerririient. The concert w.as succeeded by a dance, which was kept up spiritedly for some hours. The proceeds amounted to about £10.

A meeting of the directors of the Cambridge Dairy Company was' held on Thursday afternoon at the company's office, when the question of the milk supply was under discussion. It was reported that the amount of milk at present being supplied was 240 gallons per'day, ond that before the end of the month the -supply would be over 300 gallons. Messrs Taylor and Lewis reported having interviewed Mr Bailey, of ths Auckland Agricultural Company, with a request that his company would supply, say, 200 gallons per diem. •MY Bailey promised to Jay the matter before the directors at once, and a satisfactory result was looked for. As the factory can work 700 gallons per diem at the same cost as for the quantity at present supplied, it will be apparent to all concerned that unless the supply is very largely increased at an early date the present season's operations will not be a- financial success, and it will be imperative to close the factory. The mamger and others capable of giving a competent opinion are confident that given a eood supply of milk this season's operations will ba satisfactory to shareholders. < -

A meeting of the, creditors in the estate of A. Isaacs storekeeper, Catiibridge, was held in thesffice of Mr W. MacGregor Hay, Hamilton, on' Saturday. The as-efcs and liabilities were, set down as following : Assess: Stock on hand at Cambridge, v£100; ditto at Oxford, £500; ditto at Licliheld, £300 j ditto at Waotu, £80 ; book debts, £030 Gs#d ; working stock, £180 10s ; domain i We /(Cam bridge), £30; INI. N. Z. Woollen Manufacturing Company (shares), £(>,.. Los ; 'Colonial Insurance Company Shares), £10; Cambridge Jam Factory (shares), £15 18a 4d ; total, £1803 <)s lOd. liabilities- Retft. Waotu, £83 2s 7d ; wages, £07 ?s 2d ; Shera Bros., (promi«ory notes) £1192 Is 2d ; other P.N.s current, '£332,G554; overdue P.N.s, £28') 13s Gd ; ' opan accuunta, £321 Gs 4d ; costs arbitration^sase £150; -total, £2025 18.s 5d— £1893 9aAod ; dejßci^ncy, £732 8s 7d. Mr Gane's e.snmate, of- the assets is that they will nofy f %eSH§ef! much more than £800. 'The debtbrifadtio oifer to make, and after h6nie < (}i^o6fi9bp, t it'VaB resolved, (1), That ■hU b^ 'assigned to Messrs Brook", (Bank of New Zealand) ; Gane, (N.N.Z.F. Co-operative Association, Limited) ; and Koe.ley upon trust for all the creditors, and that they be allowed a/rercuineration of £o per cent. ; (2.) that the debtor be permitted to retain his household furniture, and the » wearing apparel of himself and ■ family. Nine creditors were present personally, ami' letters were read from ten others, nine •of whom were favourable to the assignment of the estate.

An interesting article has appeared in tho Tunes animadverting upon the slowness with which English manufacturers grasp the nature of the wants of the colonies and tho way in which thoy allow themselves to bo distanced by their American rivals, who are more careful to study the market and adapt themselves to the necessities of tlio hour. Tho English manufacturers do not bestir themselves to find out what the colonists want and then apply themselves to satisfying the demand. But the Americans do, and consequently the Americans prove themselves most formidable rivals in our colonial trade. Amongst the instances which the leading journal gives of articles which could be supplied by England being purchased from the United States is that of the New Zealand spades which used formerly all to come from America, because the Americans found that in New Zealand there was preference for a light handy spade, and made what was wanted, whilst the heavy spades which were sent out from England were unsaleable. The leading journal suggests thah a commission of skilled workmen should be appointed to inquire what articles which the colonists use are now bought from the States in default of their manufacture in England.

The late Captain Cain, it may be mentioned died afc hiH residence, Woodlands, Timaru, On January 2!) th in the present year and was buried on Sunday, January 31st. He was 70 years of age, and until within a few months of his death, when he began to show the effect of advancing oge, was a hale and vigorous old man. In January last his illness assumed a more serious hh'ape, and taking into consideration his years and the infirmities which had evidently been creeping upon him, no great surprise was expressed in Timani when the news spread that at length the end had c mie. He was one of the oldest residents in Timaru, where he had acquired a good deal of property, and Had won much respect by his honebt, straightforward manners and unassuming disposition. The startling new-, of how, he actually met with hib death, therefore, cannot fail to cause deep sensation in the community where he was so well-known. Before Captain Cain finally settled down to spend the remnant of his days at Timaru, he had ha«l a very adventurous life. Ho was a seafaring mtui by profession, and owned a small vessel, with which he did a good deal of coastal tiading in the earliest days of the colony. He also went to Sydney, and on one occasion to San Franci-co. He was present at Kororareka in 1843 when Hone Heke surprised and sacked the town, driving the English soldiers and settlors to take refuge, on board the vessels in the harbour. The old man had a good memory, and was able to give a very graphic description of the affair— one of the most exciting scenes in New Zealand history. — Press.