NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2306, 21 April 1887, Page 2

NOTES.

A cobkesi'OXDKXT writes in connection with the late fire at Hamilton, suggesting (1) that the agents representing the several insurance companies should meet at an early date, and by resolution request the insurance association in Auckland to supply the Borough of Hamilton with a tire-engine and hose, on the borough guaranteeing that an efficient Fire Brigade be raised, such engine to be under the control of either agents or brigade; (2) That suitable concrete tanks be "placed in central parts of East and West Hamilton capable of holding several thousand gallons each, these tanks to be fed from the overflow of rain water from buildings contiguous to them. This water, he adds, in the winter seasons could be used by the brigade for the purpose of engine practice. We think the suggestions are worthy of careful consideration.

It would seem that our consideration for the Government, expressed in a leading article in last issue, was quite misplaced. On thinking over the remark of the Auditor hi reference to the hospital business, we had come to the conclusion that, after all, Mr Durrieu might have taken it upon himself to give some fatherly advice to the county councils ; but in the light of recent events we are forced to the conclusion that our charity has been misplaced. The Clerk of the Waikato County Council, Capt. McPherson, has received a memorandum from the Government Auditor, conveying ■'■ vntimation very similar to that* communicated to Mr Tuck, the Clerk of the Piako Couuty, and it is hardly possible to imagine that the official in question should go to such trouble -unless he had received instructions from the Government to so act. Mr Durrieu is a peculiar individual, it is true; he has a most objectionable habit of finding fault with local bodies' balancesheets, where no fault is to be found, and is further gifted with the faculty _ of decoratiDg the books he audits with red ink ; but it is hardly to be supposed that he would have the audacity to play the intimidation trick unless he was well backed up. On these grounds we entertain no doubt in the world that the Government are at the bottom of the business, and we can only repeat that such coudnct is most reprehensible and should not be allowed to pass unnoticed.

This is what the Auckland Bell has to say about the Minister of Public Works' board of conciliation scheme :—.'* At last we have got a little insight into the proposal for the formation of a nonpolitical board to control the railways. As might have been anticipated from its or reputed author, it does not exhibit any great grasp of the subject. In fact it is simply to supply a little buffer to soften the nasty jars a Minister receives from indignant and outraged customers of the railway. Not the smallest attempts there in it to remove the practical action of the political element; and if it intends to control the railways we fail to see any indication in it of an intention to control Mr Maxwell, which to the public's way of thinking is the one great desideratum in any scheme of railway reform. With this radical defect in the scheme, the rest of its provisions are not worth consider ing. With this incubus astride of it any system of railway reform would be futile, and that evil removed, anv system however defective could be licked into shape under the fore; of public pressure. We should be sorry indeed to see the greater, cumber of the existing Government removed from office, but if there is anything that would reconcile us to the change it would be a new Minister of Public Works who would take Maxwell by the back of his coat-collar »ud the slack of his breeches, and pitch him out of the window of the biggest wooden building in the world."

On Sunday week the Anniversary Spi-vices of the opening of the Baptist Tabernacle at Cambridge will be held. The Raglan races which take place to-day, are sure to provide a very attractive meeting. A very liberal propramme has been provided. The usual fortnightly sitting of the R.M. Court was held at Hamilton yostcrdiy, before Capt. Jackson, R.M., but the business was unimportant. The Waikato County balancesheet published on 19th inst., shows "cash in hand £1 15s 3d." It should have been £t 15s Sd to make the total correct. Thomas Hall, who is under a life sentence for attempting to poison his wife, is at present in Mount Eden Gaol, where he will be kept permanently. A fatal landslip occurred on the Buller Road, thirteen miles from Westport, on Tuesday, whereby a thousand tons came clown, burying one man, and breaking both legs of another. It took hours to rescue the latter, and the former is still buried. The trotting stallion Fitz-Jamea, died on Monday last, at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's grmnds, Green Lane, from inflammation of the bowels. Fitz-James was a very valuable animal, and was imparted from America. An invitation has been received by the Government from the National Rifle Association in England to New Zealand companies to send home a team to take part in the great shooting competition at Wimbledon on the lGth July. It is stated that a Taranaki settler is to go to Rio Janeiro by the next direct steamer to England, and he js taking with him a quantity of butter, in order to try and effect a sale of it in Brazil. The Customs duty on butter at Rio is 7d per lb. Whose duty is it to see that the game laws are carried out? We have heard of several Cambridge individuals who have been snooting pheasants, and in one instance have heard it boasted of in a most unblushing manner. The second reading of the Irish Crimes Bill has been carried by 370 to 2G9 votes. After the second reading of the Crimes Bill was carried, Mr Sexton declared it would b3 useles to appeal to an English jury. Mr Gladstone predicted that the Act would produce a crop of secret societies, and lead to an increase in crime, A man who resides near Cambridge had a very narrow escape the other day from beinsr transfixed through the head with a pitchfork. The fork was thrown off a load of straw, and being very sharp went through the brim of his hat, scraped the side of his nose, and then pierced his chest, where it stuck. He told the doctor whom he consulted, that when he extracted it it came out with a "fizz." The London Times of Monday last published a facsimile of a letter of Mr Parnell's, dated May 15, 1882, in which the Irish leader explains that the only course that the Nationalist party could pursue was to denounce the Phcenix Park murderers. He expressed regret at the death of Lord Fredrick Cavendish, but declares Mr Burke only got his deserts. The person to whom the letter was addressed is not but it is generally supposed to have been Egan. Mr John Knox has drawn our attention to an error in the paragraph in last issue descriptive of a scene at the previous night's meeting of the borousrh council. Cr. Knox is made to say that the whole of the signatories to the anti-abbatoir petition deserved tarring and feathering, but what he did say was that the " promoters " of the petition deserved that unpleasant treatment. We are sorry the mistake occurred, and can only assure Mr Knox that it is the result of inadvertence. In accordance with the deed of partnership of the late firm of Lewis and Simpson, of Cambridge the business will have to be wound up, and for this purwse Mr Lewis has appointed Mr John Buchanan and James Wingate of the firm of Wingate Burns and Co., Auckland trustees, in order to wind up the estate to the best advantage for all concerned. We understand that the assets exceed the liabilities by £2000. So that there will probably be a balance after all the creditors have been paid in full.

A Cambridge youth named Harry Coleman, had a very narrow escape from being killed on Sunday afternoon. He was taking a horse belonging to Mr James Maekav to water, and when goiner along Victoria-Street the horse bolted. The lad was unable to check its wild career and after goinsj through the town, it turned suddenlv into Forte-Street, where the boy wns thrown violently to the ground. He was insensible for s« considerable time, but fortunately no bones were broken, and beyond the severe shaking, and a few scratches, lie appears to be little the worse.

During the debate on the Crimes Bill in the House of Commons on Friday, Colonel Saunderson accused Mr Sexton of attending meetings of the Clan-na-srael Murder Society when Egan was elected president. Mr Sexton replied that Colonel Saunderson was an infernal liar, and threatened to cram the statement down hi* throat, and thrash him within an inch of his life when he got him outside. A scene of terrific uuroar eusued, but finally Colonel Saunders-in and Mr Sexton, in deference to the Speaker, retracted their statements.

A correspondent signing himself " Ratepayer " writes as follows :—Sir,— Will yon kindly answer the following queries, which may be interesting to many ratepayers of the various highway boards : —Vide Act, who qualified latter clause of 39 road boards? Can any person act as a trustee of a road board who mav be in office at present for 1837 and 1888. and his rates not paid, rates for year 18SG-87, or any\person nominated for trustees also not having paid, and those that are elected and to be elected, "would their election not be null and void ?—[lf this letter is intended as a conundrum, we give it up ; if the writer is in earnest we must refer him to a solicitor.—El).]

A correspondent writes: —Mr Alfred Corbett has been nominated to represent the north end of the Newcastle Road District on the board at the coming election. This gentleman was on the board for the past year, and during his term of office some useful and well-finished mad works were completed under his superintendence. Ratepayers are therefore pleased to hear that Mr' Corbett is again a candidate for the office of member for this part of the district. As the two gentlemen now nominated (Messrs Rothwell and Corbett) would supply the two vacant places on the board it is to be hoped the ratepayers of the district will not be put to the trouble and expense of a contested election.

We are very pleased to find the Cambridge Road Board are about to purchase a piece of land from Mr J. Arnold in order to do away with the sharp turn in the Hamilton Cambridge road. The land taken will be about 3-sths of an acre, and the road when diverted will have, in stead of the present corner, a fine sweep, which will commence four chains, from the present corner), on the Hamilton side and continue to a point three chains on the Cambridge side. Mr Arnold stipulates that it shall be done about two months hence, so that he can make use of the quicks. Mr J. P. Thompson has full authority to act foi the board in the matter, so doubtless it will soon be fixed up.

Mr A. Q-. Hughes, of Cambridge, was on Monday evening presented with a very handsome gold chain and locket by a few friends as a mark of esteem, and also of regret that he is leaving the town. The presentation was made at the Masonic Hotel, most of the subscribers being present- In addition to the chain and locket, a very handsome dress-diamond and sapphire ring was obtained for Mrs Hughes. The chain is of the curb pattern, and the locket is shaped like a horse-shoe, both being very massive. We sincerely endorse the sentiments expressed by the Mayor of Cambridge when making the presentation, and trust that his new sphere of life will be a pleasant and profitable one.

We have received from the agent of Mr. H. Brett, of the Star Office, an advance copy of a vory handsome work which he is publishing in Auckland, entitled, "The Defenders of New Zealand," and "Maori History of the War." It consists of biographical sketches of men who distinKuished themselves in leading the colonial forces during the wars, and (rives stirring accounts of battles sieges and hair-breadth, escapes, and also portraits from photographs of 100' of the leading: men, including Sir George Grey, Hon. Major Atkinson, Hon. John Baliance, Col. Roberts, Hon. John Bryce, Captain Northcroft, Major Jackson, Major Von Tempsky, &c, &c. The author is Lieut. Gudgeon, whose former works on the New Zealand war are considered authorities. The work constitutes one of the most graphic and entrancing contributions to -New Zealand

history, and recalls vividly an era which has passed away, and can never bo reproduced in the altered conditions of the country. To the Editor.—Sir, -I hope you will have the goodness to give a place in your valuable paper for a few remarks with regard to what fell from the lips of Mr Von Stunner and Mr John Knox in the council chambers as reported in your issue of yestPrday, with regard to the persons who signed the petition re the abattoir?, not condemning the project, but for the purpose of pettins; the voice and opinion of the inhabitants known by thoir vote at the ballotbox. lam certain if the people had been consulted in this way the plan would have been cheerfully carried out. i3ut men, even the clods, do not like being bounced against their will by certain persons. Sir, the degrees of comparison drawn by Crs. Von Sturmer and Knox are two far fetched and extreme. The comparison between Judas and the individuals who performed a legal and moral act seems to me something Judas like itself. There is no moral in the comparison, but everything iiniroral imputed to each and every one who signed the petition. As to the tarring and feathering recommended by Or. Knox, this beautiful custom is not now in vogue, even in Ireland, except one case in Belfast last year, where one man was literally tarred. Most likely some ancestors of the worthy council practised the pastime in days gone by.—l remain, yours sincerely, A. CONNOLLY, senr. From our telegrams, we notice that the Minister for Defence is undecided as to what kind of weapon the New Zealand forces shall be armed with in the future. There can be no question but that it is time the Snider rifle should be replaced by a better weapon, and to our inexperienced minds that weapon should be the MartiniHenry. Not because this is absolutely the best rifle to be got—though it has not as yet been proved that there are many but because we hold it will fully answer all the requirements of us colonials. There can be no doubt but that the present moment is a most opportune one for the Defence Minister to procure a cheap and in every respect a serviceable weapon, as the Home authorities are about re-arining both regulars and volunteers with the repeating rifle. We hold that it would be an unnecessary waste of money at the present time to purchase a repeating rifle for the colonial forces. Allowing there are some 8000 volunteers in New Zealand, we believe these could be supplied with the Martini-Henry, for from twelve to fourteen thousand pounds, whereas the repeating rifle would, at the least, cost treble that money. It is all the more desirable that this question should be fully considered l»y the Government, seeing the great need of retrenchment at the present time.