Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2505, 31 July 1888, Page 2

I.v another column we reprint a trenchant article which appcarpcl in a recent issue of the Wellington Evening Post, on the long-standing dispute between Messrs Grice and Benn and the Government over the title of certain native lands at I'uahoe and l'ukekura, near Cambridge. The history of this case has been often before the Waikato public, and is again repeated as to its main facts by our contemporary. The serious aspect of the allair, looking at it from a public point of viow, is the act of repudiation, on the part of the Government of the colony, of its own Crown Grants, and the integritie of its own courts. It | is shown to the world that the

unimpeachable and indefeasible character of Crown titles to lands in this country is not safe from the hands of the executive Government, who refuse to protect grantees who, trusting in its honour and good faith, have armed themselves with grants issued by the courts, and spent very large sums in the purchase and improvements of certain blocks of land. To ordinary minds the Government should have lost no time in making good the errors of its own officers and preserved the indisputable nature of title issues by the Crown. The scandal attached to this case has had a direct influence in one instance, related by a prominent lawyer of Auckland, of preventing a large sum of money being forwarded to this colony for investment. And as long as it is thought outside the colony that Crown titles are unsafe, the effect of such a view of the honour and integrity of the Government can have no other result than keeping capital from coming to New Zealand. The Native Team were defeated by Otago by eight points to nil. The police buildings in Hamilton West are being entirely re-shingled. The English footballers were de feated by Kisendon, in Victoria, by seven goals to three. The Legislative Council is adverse to the Otago Central Railway Bill, and will, no doubt, throw it out. We remind the parishioners of P. Peter's Church of the important general meeting to be held in the Public Hall tomorrow night. All who are willing to organise a working bee to plant the Lake Reserve will meet at Thh Waikato Times buildings at 7.30 this evening. The lecture this evening at S. Andrew's schoolroom, Cambridge, will be by Major Wilson, and the subject, "The L ist Atlantis of Plato." A public meeting in Auckland on Saturday resolved to send Mr John Lundon to Wellington to press the Government to continuo the Village Settlement Scheme, There is a respite at present at the Waikato Hospital. The only patients are two females, and the young man admitted on Saturday with an injured foot. There were good congregations at S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, on Sunday, the incumbent, R-'.v. R. O'C. Biggs, conducting the whole of both ferrices. The Wellington police made a raid on a Chinese gambling den on Saturday. night, and captured twenty-nine pigtails, Detective Walker, of Auckland, was with the expedition. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland will issue tho decree of the Sydney Plenary Council that parents v/'ho neglect to send their children to Catholic schools without reasonable excuse, will be denied absolution for pen-

On dit, that the police intend to put down anything like larrikinisin in this township. A case is likely to be tried in the court shortly, in connection with the open-air meetings of the Salvation Army in Hamilton East. These meetings have been disturbad to a great extent lately. We are asked to make it known that a change has been made in the Wesleyan service day at Tarnation. By an arrangement come to by Archdeacon Willis and the Rev. T. (i. Carr, the next Wesleyan service will bo held on Sunday week, not next Sunday, and will continue every four weeks from that day. Archdeacon Willis will officiate on Sunday next. When will the exodus cease ? It was only a few days ago that we noticed some especially good work that had been turned out by Mr K. Davis, of Cambridge, and recommended our friends, who wanted painting done, to give him a trial, but lie, like many others, has caught the Melbourne fever, and is about to sell off, and leave for the sister colony. Waikato can ill atford to lose artisans at the rate at which it has been doing lately, and we anxiously look for the time when wo may hope to welcome them hack again. That we are. what Artemus Ward would call a "muchly governed" people, is an indisputable fact; and it is not to be wondered at, that youths soon fall into the orthodox method of conducting business, for by the time tliey reach manhnod, th»y are certain to have been on some committer, either in cmnectinn with religious denominations, friendly societies, athletic or some kindred clubs. Cambridge must have been especially blessed in this manner, and the "proposing arid seconding'' must have become part of the nature of the inhabitants, for we are told that at a dinner lately given in that town, at which a number of toasts were drank, each individual called upon to respond, instead of doing so, "seconded the proposal." Verily, " use is second nature." At the Salvation Army meetin? on Sunday evening last, Mr and Mrs Clark, who left for Auckland yesterday morning, and who have been connected with the Army's work in Hamilton for some time past, "farwelled." Mrs Clark again sang by special roquest that favorite solo, "Too Lite," which was very attentively listened to by the largo congregation (aVout 400) present, the people being very deeply impressed with its solemnity. Mr and Mrs Clark, during their twelve months' residence here, have inado a great many friends, who express great regret at their departure, and wish them "God speed." Mrs Clark will be much missed from the "Army " in Hamilton, as she has filled the position of organist for that body in an efficient manner since thoy opened here. The local option poll for the Hamilton Licensing District was taken yesterday, with what result we have not yet heard, The polling-place was appointed to be at the privato residence of the late chairman of the Highway Board, but it is situated in such an utterly inaccessible locality without a road that it was almost a practical impossibility for any voters to pick their way there. We will not question Mr Maunder s wisdom in selecting such an extraordinary, out-of-the-way place for taking the poll, but we think it was his duty, in the discharge of a public office, to consult the convenience of the householders. Be that as it may, the proper locality for the polling place was Frankton, where the votes for tho Highway Board elections have always been recorded, and which is convenient to everybody and easily reached by good roads.