The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, JAN. 31, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2583, 31 January 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, JAN. 31, 1889.

Equal arui oxar t justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or politiral.

Thr prospect of establishing a flourishing live and clwul meat trade between New Zealand and the Australian colonies, induces us to search, a little the advantages this district possesses for embarking in an enterprise oi: the kind on the most favourable terms. The Waikato lias either not yet. realised the superiority of its position, or lias been comfortably sleeping over it in the iong past. The produce and live stock of our fanners and graziers have, hitherto, been entirely dependent upon one central market —Auckland. To reach this market, producers haw to submit to transit charges, commissions, and other contingencies, which, swallow up tho givat part of the fruits fo their industry and leave i»ut a very small margin, it any of prv-lit. Cattle sent to this single market, after tho bulk-tings and bruises ut' a painful railway journey, reach their destination in a depreciated condition and bring low values. Or, if forwarded by road to avoid tin; ill-usage of the trucks, they must travel a hundred miles, and more, to be eventually sold at prices not to be compared with those ruling in the Melbourne and Sydney markets. Though Auckland is the metropolis of a large province, and, as we have sai:l, its sole market, its powers of consumption are, after all, limited, i'vven with such absorption of meat as is represented by the undertakings of the Freezing Company, it is unequal to the supply of the extensive agricultural and pastoral industries by which it is surrounded, and which arc rapidly expanding. Ifc is not a remunerative; market, in the fullest meaning of the term, and certainly not so satisfactory in its working to those who seek it as they have a just right, to expect. The country's productions being so proline, so far exceeding tho domestic consumption, and the demand in other markets, very close within our reach, being great and protitable, it certainly behoves us to discover tin; best and quickest way of reaching them with our produce and live stock. Now, die Waikato is not very far distant from the western sea-board of the North Island. On that coast are some admirable harbours ; and, noc tho least of these is Raglan. Raglan is a rising port animated by a progressive spirit. It looks upon itself as part and parcel of the Waikato. Hitherto it has been content to enjoy its affiliation with us in the character oi: the favourite marine resort for Waikato families. Now it is growing more aspirant and very properly claims to be the sea-port of these inland districts. Excellent roads connect all parts of the Waikato and Kngln.ii, not. only for vehicular trallic, but also perfectly adapted for the driving of live stock from Liiese pasture lands for shipment for export. The journey is less by one-half, on the average, than that to Auckland, and by a less barren road. I udoubted'ly Hawaii is, juir ex-v.lkii::>\ the natural marine outlet of th:; Waikato, unless an exception be made in favour of the heads at the mouth of the Wiiilcato River; and in the perhaps not very remote future we may see it linked to us by rail. Then we must take into co sideration the fact that Raglan lies in a direct line with -.lelbourne and nearly direct line with Sydney, and is within three day's steam of either of those cities and important markets!. Steamers of six or seven hundred tons burdon con enter Raglan Harbour ai; flood tide without difficulty, as there is ample depth of water on the bar, which is not a dangerous one at any time. There are berthing facilities at Raglan, which will be improved shortly by the construction of a commodious wharf, now under contract. Steamers of the dimensions s/ivei) above, built especially for the cattle trade, would be quite sufficient for the requirements of that trade at present. As the exports expanded the number of vessels so employed could bo increased, or they could run to and fro, more frequently. We leave the subject, which is both interesting and of public importance, at this stage with the intention of returning to ib again later on.

Ir anyoiie wishes to judge of the fertility of tlio soil on the west of tho YV'aipa, it is only necessary to pay a visit to Mr Dawy's shop, Hamilton West, where can be seen some remarkably tint! Lapstone Kidney potatoes grown by Mr Beet, of Katinvhauiwlui. Some of them weigh one pound and a-hulf in weight.

Mr H N. Abbott, who has gone to Now South Wales to pinmote "Adam Bede " consultations, lately gave a dinner to Sydney pressmen and others with a view of introducing himself to the public of that colony. It is Mr Abbot's intention to donate 3 per cent, of the commission he receives for promoting these consultations to the building fund of the Sydney Hospital.

According to the Wellington I'ivenirig I'usc if public rumour is to be ute.litoil, and it believes that in this instance it is pretty ac-jurat", the Ju.Jgeship was, directly or indirectly, placed at the disposal if the [rllowiog legal practitioners: — .Mi'h-ii-;; Whitakor, .Stout, Travels, Connolly, Bell, Hcski'th, Geo, Harper, llaggitr., F. Chapman and Denuiston, and rejected by all except the last.

There was a very good attendance at the annual mtvtins? of parishioners of S. Peter's, Hamilton, hint night, a large number nf ladies being present. The report prepared by the sub-committee was submitted and adopteil by the meeting. Owing to the late hour at which the meeting closed, we hold over our report till next issue. The following officers for the ensuing year were appointed :— Mr Jolly. Clergyman's Warden ; Mr Cowper, People's Warden ; and Messrs dates, Sopputt, Salmon, Searanoke, T. G. Sandes, lilackwell and Stevens, Vestrymen.

The Ofcago Daily Times, after a friendly and complimentary notice of the new JtKlge, says :—" Nevertheless it has to be acknowledged that Mr Denniston, while taking upon himself now and highly-respon-sible duties, must also enter tho field of Sdlf-conqiißst. He must learn to exercise an effective control over his temper and disposition. To have mastered that 'codeless myriad of precedent,' the law, is a very great triumph ; to master an irascible temper and extremely-combative disposition is a still greater. That is the task that now lies before Mr Deuniston ; and upon the success with which he accomplishes it will depend, it seems to us, the success of his judicial career.

The following news with respect to tho New Zealand Antimony Company is contained in the London Letter of the Dunedin Star:—Sir Walter Bnller i» rapidly developing into a lioancier of the first quality. His latest coup almost takes one's breath away. Sir Walter lus absolutely sold tho gold mine on tho New Zealand Antimony Company's ground at Jacksen's Head for £135,000, which is £'3;"),000 more than was originally paid for theentiie property. Payment.—£lo,ooo in cash, and the balance inshares in a lir.-t-class company with a capital of £250,000. In consideration of their interest in Urn mine the Antummy Company will nominate one of the directors in the new ernpany. and it is likely they may select Sir Thomas Brocklebauk, of Liverpool, as ho is a large shareholder. What antimony shares will go to when this news is made public at the general meeting next week I don' , ; know. You can't Ret any now. I tried, and failed.

The following extract from a private letter received from New Zealand appeared in a Sydney paper recently:— " I was at the market (Auckland) on Thursday last, Good bi'cf !N per 1001b. That will give you a good idea as to what canning can bo done at. Hides are worth 17s to 20s each ; mutton sells at 2.1 per lb. dressed weights in the market; calves, good aud heavy, from 7s to 10s each, worth i'lj 10-i to ,f-l in Sydney. I saw none in Sydney of the quality. Your journal io ii, very influential one, and if you uere to take iip the subject or scheme of a cool chamber in all the Union boats, the Sydney market could be supplied with good veal, pork, fish, eggs, &c, that you cannot produce, and that, would boa benefit to yon and also to us in this heavily mortgaged island. We want a lift ever so small. Produce is going to bring a fair price iiiis year. lam afraid that some of your Sydney speculators will not get all [buy anticipate from the way they have b lU.rht some of our stocks. However, it is not f.ir rue to bo their judge."

Says a writer in the Gisborne Standard:—l. am glad to see that we are likely to have more agitation in Gisborne on Native land matters. K is not the Hr.it ii->r yet the twelfth tune that we have moved ourselves in this direction, but what does it come to? We get up public meetings, pass resolutions, telegraph them to Ministers, and that is all! The diplomatic Minister offers us a sop—tells us the matter U just under consideration. The agitation ceases, and nothing more is heard of the matter until the next eruption takes place. What is wanted is not intermittent bursts, but straightforward agitation—something that will not be, quietened by a polite letter of put off. Chief Judge Macdonald promised us much—in 1883 he is said to have declared that in two years our tirles should be settled. Five years are gone, and though he started well, here we are as far off as ever. Indeed one is i-iclined to take as literally true the words of an adverse critic published some time ago—"The Native Land Court is incomparably the Most inefficient, ill-managed, dilatory and cumbersome part of our public service," and so on.

The New Zealand Times gives the following sketch of tho career of the newly-appointed judga :—Mr John Edward Denniston, the newly-appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, is the eldest son of Mr Th'Miias Denniston, of Oteramika, Southland, who, for a number of years, was editor of the Southland Times. Mr John Deuniston, who is 43 years of age, arrived in Duuedin from Scotland with his father and two brothers in the year ISG2. The family afterwards settled in Southland, and Mr J. E. Denniston, after a short experience of country life, entered tho Po>t-oih'ce Department in Inveri'argill. whence he was moved to the lilulf. Afterwards he joined the staff of the Bank of N.iw South Wa'.es, and he remained in that service for a number of years. For the greater part of the time during which he was in tho Bank he was stationed on the West Coast of the South Island. While thero he made the acquaintance of Dr. Giles, who was magistrate on the pfoldh'elds. Dr. Giles was greatly struck with Mr Denniston's ability, and it was mainly owing to liis persuasion that Mr Denniston began the study of la.v. This he did in his spare time while holding his position in the bank. At last he threw up his appointment and articled himself to Mr Downie Stewart, Dunedin, whose partner he subsequently became. While learning his new profession he attended some of the classes ut the Otago University. In 1574 he was admitted to the bar, and entered into partnership with Mr G. Hntchinson, now member for Waitotara. Mr Denniston conducted the business of the firm in Wanganui. The partnership did not last very lontr, and Mr Dennisfcon, thinking that he would find a better field for his abilities—in Dunedin, became partner of Mr Downie Scewart,