The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2461, 19 April 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1888.

E'lnnl anil exact justice to all men, Ol' .vliatsoi-Mjr state or persuasion, religious or political.

As the time approaches for the meeting of the General Assembly next month, the usual amount of speculation is again rife as to the course political events will assume during the session. The position of parties has been rendered more incongruous and indefinable than was the case last session, in consequence of the absence from the actual scene of activity of the chief moving spirit and ostensible leader of the OppositionSir Julius Yogel. Whilst the voluntary removal of bir Julius presence in the chamber will have the effect of relieving the Governof a factious and troublesome antagonist, it will also create confusion fn the ranks of the Opposition and destroy whatever claim they hitherto possessed to cohesion and recognition as a distinct party. A great and apparently insuperable difficulty presents itself in the selection of a strong man as leader of the Opposition, who would he acceptable to them all as a united body. Without such a man, there can be no Opposition worthy of the name, or such as pure parliamentary government absolutely requires in the interests and welfare of the people at large. The rivalry and presumptions vanity of certain politicians in the ranks of the opponents to the present Ministry will prompt them to aspire to the position of leader-in-chief, and failing the attainment of the coveted post of honour, they will assume the minor distinction of heads of small factions, without fixity of purpose nor animated by the pursuit of any great principle of action. The Opposition, therefore, will probably be found entirely disintegrated and disorganised, composed of such spirits as Seddon, JJownie Stewart, Ballance, Larnach, and Scobie MeKonzie, each with small acting independently. Should the state of things in the coming sion be as we fear, the real work of the country will be subjected to considerable delay at the outset by the ambitious designs and desultory warfare directed by a disorganised opposition against the Treasury benches, until the new pro coduro rules tlie Government propose introducing have been adopted by the llouso, after which creator expedition in the business of the Legislature may be expected to follow.

The attention of tlio country will naturally be centred in the result of tho work the Government havo carried on during the recess in fulfilling the lines laid down by the people and Parliament for effecting retrenchment in public expenditure and economy in the general system of administration. The Government have entered upon their labours with great application, that is to say, they have displayed greater boldness and more sincerity in complying with the wishes of the country than was exhibited by any of their predecessors in the same direction. They will no doubt be able to show very large reductions and a saving. But we are reluctantly compelled to express doubts whether the anticipations of the people will be fully realised by the manner in which the work has been carried out; nor do we think that either Parliament or country will be impressed with the extent of the actual amount of saving the Government will claim to have, effected, or look favourably upon the plan that has been carried out in dispensing with officials, compensating them for loss of office, and'filling up the vacancies thus created with the appointment of other officers. The further prosecution of large public works and continued extension of the railway system on borrowed money notwithstanding the emphatic demand for economy and the constricted state of the public revenue, are subjects that will need very grave consideration. The bona fide settlement of the waste lands of the colony by the most generous policy that can be devised in order to stay tho tide of emigration that seems to threaten a denudition of our bost population if, a question of paramount importance that must be dealt with without loss of time and with unprejudiced minds if the colony is "to be placed in a position to regain healthy prosperity. Side by side with this question is that of railway reform, for, without a complete reversal of the existing system in vogue in our railway business, the settlement of the country is an utter impossibility. Following on ihese sfrious subjects, the next session will in all probability witness a contest between opposite parties on the question of a revision of thu tariff, the issue of which will be fraught with great consequences to the future of the colony. With so many matters of national importance requiring the earnest consideration of a public spirited and patriotic Parliament, it will be deplorable to find the Assembly demoralised by selfish factions, in place of possessing two organised and well-balanced parties that can operate on any inclination to abuse of office, waste of money, and hasty, unwise legislation, At no time in our history has a strong, well-formed Opposition with a fixed policy, been so much needed as at the present.

Baron McLeay, of New Guinea fame, is dead. There are over 1003 tons of silver and lead bullion at Adelaide, awaiting shipment to England. The Hamilton Light Infantry will be inspected by a member of the staff on Tuesday evening next. The directors of the Civil Service 'Supply Association have dispensed with the services of their manager, Mr White, he having forfeited their confidence in him. We direct particular attention to the hour at which the sale of Mr J. IS. White's househould effects will take place, namely, 11 o'clock on Saturday mornin? next. The quarterly meeting of the congregation of S. Stephen's Church, Tamaliere, was held ou Tuesday evening. The Von. Archdeacon of Waikato presided, and there weie present Messrs Wheeler and S. S. G ralir. m. We undersband that Mr Sinden, who with Mr J. B. Smith, erected one of his gold-saving machines on the latter gentleman's property at Walton, has abandoned further operations in the hope of KnduiK gold in that quarter. A telegram from Sydney states that Mr John Hill's shipment of horses by the Waihora from Auckland, was submitied to auction. Light horses averaged £25, and draxeht horses £10. The market was dead, and many of the horses were passed in. A splendid harvest of grass seed has been secured all the vr.iy up the coast this year (says the Wanganui Herald), the crop everywhere having been unprecedentadly large. In the bush districts too, a largo sum has been received for fungus, and the amount obtained from these two sources alone cannot but have a most beneficial effect ou the northern settlements, where it will come as a very welcome relief. The prospectus of the Te Aroha Silver and Goldmining Company (Limited) is published. The capital is £200,000, in shares of £1 each. One hundred thousand shares, 15s paid up, go to the present proprietors, and 100,000 have been offered to the putlic, and all allotted. Dr. Haines, the well-known medical practitioner, arrived from Auckland on Tuesday, to visit Col. Forbes, in consultation with Dr. Kenny. We are much pleased to state that b >th physicians are of the opinion that Col. Forbes is making satisfactory progress towards recovery, but that he requires great care. An industry, which Rives employment to ten men at present, has been started at Maheno recently (says the Oamaru mail). A Melbourne firm have commenced the manufacture of oat-gut from tho sheep's runners. They havo purchased all the raw material obtainable from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company and Messrs Finlinson and Co's, and will'shortly employ about thirty hands altogether. In consequence of the state of his health, Col. Forbes has been, we understand, ordered by his medical advisers to abstain for the future from all active public duties, therefore, he will be obliged to resign his official connection with those institutions in which he has hitherto taken such a personal interest. This will be very m.ich regretted by Col. Forbes' many friends and the public generally. Messrs Goidsborough and Co.'s report for March supplies the following particulars of the export of wool from the various colonies up to date from the Ist July last:—From Victoria, total shipments 331,34!) bales.inerease 15.054 bales; New South Wales 370,533 bales, increase, 08,32-J bales; South Australia, 148,241 bales, increase 0,713 bales; Queensland TO.iW'J bales, increase 22,112 bales; West Australia, 10 : 438 bales, increase, 05 bales ; Tasmania 10,057 bales, increase l.GftJ bales ; New Zealand 222,814 bales, decrease 20,524 bales.

The Wairarapa correspondent of the Wellington Times says:-"It is not improbable that a considerable quantity of beef will be sent down from Masterton to be frozen and forwarded to Kneland during the autumn and winter. In addition to fourteen carcases sent down by J. Stuckey today, Williams and Beetham will probibly send four hundred, and other farmers and butchers are considering the advisableness of following their example. The cuttle are being slaughtered here, and the quarters are cut after the English fashion." Another instance of the oppressive character of the railway freights has been brought under our notice. Mr Pearson, who has established a promising local industry in manufacturing carbolic sand soap, procured two cases of tinware and tin castings from Auckland. On one case, weighing luwt., 3s 2d freight was charged, on tho other, weighing 1541b5., 8s freight was charged. Although both cases contained the same class of goods, the latter was rated one hundred per cent, above the first, without any explanation whatever. It will bo roadily admitted that our local industries need protection from such prohibitive treatment. In an article on the export of produce the Napier Telegraph observes :—" Of course, the colmist is told that his butter and clmese are not up the required standard, which accounts for his exports being a financial failure. But, judging from the experience gained from the meat business, it is just as likely as not that Hie condemnation of our dairy produce is made from the same greedy motives as was that concerning th) quality of our mutton. It was not until Sir Daniel Cooper went Home from Australia, and exposed the London wool-brokers' methods of conducting business, that the colonial wool-growers got justice and fair play. The colonies want another Sir Daniel to take up the cudgels on behalf of frozen meat and dairy produce." Mr W. N- von Sturmer, of the Hamilton branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has been transferred to the Head Office, Auckland, and leaves by the early train on Saturday. During his six years' connection with the bank here, his kind and obliging manner has won him many friends, and his genial face at the counter will be missed by all who have business in tho bank. Not only in bis business connection will Mr von Sturmer be missod, but also in athletics, where for many years' ho has held the premier place in Hamilton. Tn football he captained tho Hamilton team for two years, being known then by all as the " Boy Captain," and many games his hard, sterling play has snatched out of the fire. In tennis he has been champion of the Hamilton Club for some years, having won no less than three club tournaments and always being the first chosen t. represent his club in outside matches. In cricket he has been successful b)th with ths " willow" and the " leather," and should Mr vnn Sturmer go in for athletics in Auckland, we teel certain that his name will always be high on the list. There is one consolation in his removal that it means promotion, and wo tako this opportunity of wishing Mr von Sturraer every success in his new sphere.