The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, DEC. 27, 1887.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2413, 27 December 1887, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY , DEC. 27, 1887.

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

Tint session just closed has not been distinguished for legislative wisdom of a very high order. Indeed, it fills as prominent a.place in history for discreditable struggles for power, frightful waste of time and money, and attrocious loquacy as any previous meeting of the New Zealand Parliament. Fully half the session was deliberately fritted away by unseemly wrangles, and the factious tactics of an irrepressible minority. Later, when the more serious busineso of the country finally engaged the attention of the Mouse, the accursed passion for palavering, wo cannot dignify it by the name of eloquence or oratory, possessed by some of the lesser lights in the Assembly, prolonged the periods of debate in defiance of cost and of the patience of the people. In the end came the usual result, Bills rushed through in the greatest haste and carelessness ; many useful measures abandoned or faulty legislation affected without due regard to the influence it may bear on tho general welfare. Notwithstanding the clear and unmistakeable demand of the country for a very large measure of economy in the public service, the policy of the Government, formed in obedience to that demand, was assailed with mischievous opposition by the same small minority, with no other purpose than to harass the Premier and waste time. The Ministry, however, eventually assumed a determined front in order to break down tho wretched “stonewalling” and secure the passage of their measures of retrenchment. It was not possible for tho Ministry to thoroughly grasp tho actual position of tho colony’s affairs in tho short space of time at their disposal when they took office, and during the stormy period of a troublesome session; that is to say, they could not find sufficient opportunities to make themselves familiar with the internal conditions of the various departments or the hundred and one details with which they must become acquainted before they entirely master the true financial situation of the colon}' or tho full economic requirements necessary to restore it to a really sound natural state. They will be able to do this during the recess. When the House next meets, tho country will expect to receive, and no doubt will receive from them, a succinct exposition of our national business and a calmer and more elaborate policy on- secure lines for the future. The following is a schedule of the Acts passed by both House of the Legislate re Public Acts. The Appropriation Acts : Australasian Naval Defence ; Building Societies Act 1880 Amendment: Civil Service Reform Act Amendment; Fisheries Conservation Act 188-1 Amendment: Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment; Government Railways: Governor’s Salary and Allowances Act Amendment (Reserved for Her Majesty’s Approval,) Imprest Supply, 1, 2, and 3 ; Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act, ISda; Amendment: Midland Railway Contract : Mining Act Amendment: Minister’s Salaries and Allowances: Municipal Corporations Act Amendment: New Zealand Loan: Validation Parliamentary Honorarium and Priviledges Act 1881 Amendment: Pharmacy Act Amendment: Property Tax; Public Bodies Powers ; Public Revenues, Nos, 2 and 3 : Public Works Act Amendment ; Public Works Appropriation : Representation Acts Amendment : Sheep Acts Amendment; Sounds County Hospital Representation: Wellington College and Girls High School: Westland andNclsouNative Reserves ; West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment. Local Acts. Akaroa Borough Council Reserve Vesting and Reclamation : Christchurch District, Drainage Act 1875 Amendment ; Christchurch Drainage Board Reserves Sale and Exchange ; Christchurch Hospital : Gisborne Harbour Board Act 1884 Amendment: Gisborne High School Act: 18bu Amendment : Fencing Compensation : Invercargill Water Reserve; Napier Harbour Board Amendment : New Plymouth Borough and Harbour Board Street and Rescrvos Exchange: New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve: Oamaru Harbour Board: Otago Harbour Board Act 1883 Amendment ; Pukokoho Borough; Tamaki West Licensing District: Wairarapa North County Council Empowering. Private Acts. Christchurch property Trust (Canterbury) : Phonfix Assurance Company of London; Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Trust, Tho above is the work of the session. Nine Bills were dropped by the Legislative Council, and seventy-three by the Lower House,

The reteGi.uti.ons passed by tlie Raglan County Council to bring the Act into force will necessitate a fresh general election of councillors. The twenty-first clause of the Counties Ant requires that “The Govcruor-in-Couneil, upon a resolution of the County Council, or upon petition of the ratepayers of tifJi county, may, by proclamation, which shall not ho capable of being

rescinded, revive the operation of this Act in any county whore it has boon suspended, and by tho same, or by any subsequent proclamation, shall fix a date for tho election of councillors for such county, and tho vacating of their offices by the existing councillors.” The object of tho clause, no doubt, is to afford tho ratepayers an opportunity for electing a different set of representatives, who, under the altered circumstances of coming under an active Act, shall formulate a policy of local administration acceptable to the general general body of the people in the county. There will bo nothing, however, to militate against the present councillors being re-elected.

H.M.S. Calliope has arrived in Auckland. The state of the Grown Prince’s throat is improving. Ross and Bubear will row a match on tho Thames, in February, for the championship of England. The bazaar at Ngaruawahia, in aid of the Presbyterian Manse, passed off very successfully on Thursday last. Mr J. B. Whyte and Major Jackson, M. H. Its returned to the Waikato on Saturday. Several members of the Hamilton Choral Society serenaded Mr Teinpler at an early hour on Christinas Morning binging several of the carols which have been under practice of late. Mr Murray, headmaster of the Hamilton West School, has proceeded to Nelson to attend the Educational Conference to bo held there. We understand the post office at Cambridge will be kept open to the public for half an hour after the arrival of the evening mails. A boy named Robertl Doyle, wellknown to the police, was apprehended on Saturday, for stealing a horse belonging to Mr Anderson, of Kihikihi. Mr Morgan pledges himself to devote the whole of the wealth derived from the new Welsh gold mines to national purposes after providing for his family. Dr. Kenny, who was formerly attached to one of the volunteer corps in Auckland, has boon gazetted honorary surgeon of the Hamilton Light Infantry. At the closing scene of the session and whilst the House waited for the Governor’s message, assenting to the Bills passed, members amused themselves by enacting a mock Parliament. The excursion train for Auckland yesterday morning took a very large number of passengers. There were seven carriages filled with people from Cambridge, Te Arolia, kc. The shops in Hamilton on Saturday night, presented a busy appearance, some of them making a display of Chinese lanterns outside their premises. A considerable number of people were in the streets and business seemed very brisk. The following are the Hamilton team of cricketers selected to play against Tnakau on Saturday : —Messrs Browning, Bindon, Barton, Cowper, Connelly, Bwen, Edgecumbe, Gandin, Keep, Murray, McQueen, Radford, Stevens and Sage. A spring cart laden with people was precipitated over a cliff on the road from Waiomo to the Thames, and an old man named Peter Ladny was killed. The driver, a boy of 12 years was severely hurt. Sergt. Rose, of the Victoria Rifles, whilst practising at tho rifle range on Saturday last with a new RemingtonLoo rifle, had a narrow escape from tho bursting of the weapon. He received only slight injuries, however. A very old resident of Hamilton passed away yesterday. Mr Thos. Lees, father of Mr D. Lees, who had his leg broken on Christmas Day, died at his residence, at the ripe age of 73 years. Mr Lees was at one time bugler in the Bth Hussars, and came to the colony from Melbourne at the time of the Waikato War. A sign of the near approach of the festive season was the number of men to bo seen in Hamilton on Saturday, most of whom were down from tho railway contracts. Many of them entered the Bank of New Zealand, no doubt to get their cheques cashed. We learn that the house of Mr C. Lake, at Broadmeadows, was totally destroyed bv fire on Saturday ; nothing being saved. Mr Lake was absent at the time. We have not obtained particulars or whether there was any insurance on the property. The Raglan “Saurian,” like the pheonix, has risen again from its ashes, By the skill of Mrs Yandle, taxidermist, of Auckland, the damaged parts of tho monster have been renovated true to life, and the present possessors of it hope to have a successful exhibition of their prize during the holiday season. The musical people of Cambridge contemplate holding a sacred concert at Easter, in which all denominations will be asked to join. We have not heard what the proceeds are to be devoted to, but we trust they will be given to the library, as that institution will this year lack the Government subsidy that would, it the alteration had not been made, have been £4O, The Stock Exchange sayg “TRe announcement of the Bank of New Zealand that it will pay no dividend for the last half-year, and the statement of the Premier of New Zealand that thecolnny will shortly come upon the market for another loan of a million sterling, have had a depressing effect upon colonial securities generally, which have been dull all the week, and especially so to-day.” It has been arranged to give Admiral Fairfax and his officers a'public reosp.tion on their arrival at Hamilton, on Thursday, to be present at the races. Col. Forbes, with the Hamilton Light Infantry, will receive the visitors at tho station, after wb;c|i they will be met by the Mayor, and will partake of a luncheon to be provided for the occasion. Mr D, Lees, the stalwart poundkeeper, met with a painful accident on Sunday, which has spoilt his Xmas pleasures. Whilst driving a horse at about 5 o’clock in Hamilton East, the brute let fly at him, and kicked him in tho leg, causing a splintered fracture of the leg. Dr. Kenny was sent for, and bound the injured limb. Mr Lees v/as taken to the hospital yesterday. Representatives frisiß the Tuakau Cricket Club were in Hamilton on Saturday, and have arranged with the captain of tho Hamilton Club to play a match at tha latter place on Saturday next. Play will commence at f( a.«j. in order to conclude tho match in time to epabje the visitors to return by the afternoon train. The Hamilton men are requested to practice steadily for the coming event. The Rotorua geyser, Te Wairoa. which was thought to be extinct, has proved to bo very much alive. An Auckland telegram States; that it is throwing up boiling water and fish rfifbjy cooked. Such conduct on the part of a quiespept aifd hitherto respectable geyser is, no doubt, entirely reprehensible, but we hear our local restaratenr, Mr Winter, is greatly excited by tljo news. With his well-known enterprise ftp fabulous SUP) tij anyone who will bring that geyser down iicrc ana thus fiffyW http to supply his customers with piscatorial delicacies without the trouble of Booking them while this hot weather lasts.—Hawera Evening Star. ‘ The' Waitea Midfield promises to furnish more ije.\v?yeti ft jg Reported that Mr “ Waitoa” Smith ’is goipg jtq If av,q vet another practical test of tjjo' goth If the result is satisfactory, ho will 'sue the Christchurch company, which refuses to complete tho purchase of the gold-bearing fajuu. Snm e *4 our readers may remember au eld French tfbi#, fij jvliich an aged man dying tells Ijfs' sons .fenai in a ccptijin field of Ijis they \vonld find a fiiddej) treasure, The Relieved hip), pud dug ’ diligently, but witfmt success. The ground so dug they duly planted, ft}' of-def £o have some return for their labour, p; ffno course they had dug over the whole field, and had reaped good harvests from the crops aqwn. Their industry was rewarded by wealth, b»t pot by tho discovery of any miser’s hoard, ’The moral of the fable was that the wealth to be by hard work was the only hidden treasure refereed to by the deceased parent. Wo command the example to Mr Smith. Let him dig dsligeiijtlv, but plant all the ground that he digs.—Rawer?, f.mj Normanby Star.