The Maikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, FEB.28, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2595, 28 February 1889, Page 2

The Maikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, FE8.28, 1889.

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

Uxdjor ordinary circuinstances it is a natural corollary to express satisfaction and gratitude for an abundant yield of the fruits of the earth. So far as we in the Waikato are concerned there is a general feeling of gratification for the plenitude wf this season's harvest; but that feeling is mixed with an alloy of perplexity of mind regarding its profitable disposal. Take the production of fruit, for example ; it has been very large this year. The difficulty, howover.that confronts the growers is what to do with it all to their own advantage. It can hardly be contended that the markets of the colony are too limited for the absorption of the annual yield of fruit, for it is a fact that there is a considerable quantity of preserved and tinned fruits imported from abroad, whilst our own colonially-grown produce is allowed to go to waste to the extent of thousands of tons. Nature is very lavish with her gifts, but we fail, somehow, to derive the benefit of her munificence. .Settlers with orchards laden with many varieties of delicious fruits have frequently made the experiment of placing consignments in the Auckland markets for sale, but the results have been so unsatisfactory as to discourage them from repeating it. It is not that the Auckland demand does not equal the supply, but that there seems to be in existence an underhand influence controlling the operations of the markets, which give the retail dealers the whole benelil to the loss and confusion of the grower.-', who only receive from their agents sale notes that do not light up their faces with smiles. So far, then, as effecting profitable sales of fresh fruit are concerned, the Waikato growers, on the whole, have ceased to make the attempt. It is, however, of importance that they should resolve upon some other method of turning their produce to account, as well for their own sukes as for the good ot the district. It is simply sinful improvi deuce to allow immense quantities of fruit, a direct soureo of wealth, to be unused and go deliberately to waste. Attention ought tobe given to the many processes in vogue elsowhero for manipulating fruits into a variety of marketable shapes suitable for homo and foreign consumption. Amongst the whole of the Pacitic Island groups, in somo of tho Australian colonies, and in the South American states there is an immense trade for superior jams, dried and preserved fruits. The display of a little energy and enterprise should extinguish that strango anomaly of Californian and other foreign canned fruits successfully competing with our own in our own markets. Were factories established in tiie centres of the fruit-growing districts to manipulate the local produce by means of those economical and labour-saving systems that are now adopted, the growers would find no reason for complaining of the impossibility of disposing of the yield of their orchards, nor be given any justification for the of fruit that is now to be seen. Factories worked independently, or on the co-operative plan, could develope the fruit industry, and do the same for it as similar institutions have done and are doing for the dairy industry. The experiment of a jam and fruit-pre-serving factory has already been made in the Waikato, but unsuccessfully. The growers, however, were too exacting, and wanted a price for the raw article so exorbitantly high that the factory could not submit to the demand, hence its collapse. In America, where orchardists grow and sell fruit in very large quantities to local factories, a net profit of a halfpenny per lb. is considered a paying price. Here the growers grumbled at one penny halfpenny and two pence per lb. Their error, however, has since been admitted, and the failure of the Cambridge factory has ol'icn been regretted. There are other ways in which our superabundance of fruit can be made advantageous to ourselves ; and these are wineiiialaii;/ and the manufacture of eider. The former of these there is a prospet of weeing developed in lillu> > l,ul we think some cllbrt should be made to produce cider. We hive the right sort of apple* i'or it, and in a climate like this it ivould be not only a great boon I« Ihe people to be put in possession of a palatable .summer beverage, but it would be very conducive to the general health, as well as a lucrative industry to those who might become engaged in it, ■

The Bishop of Wellington has been elected I'iinuto of Xeu- '/.y.xlxmi by the (t"msral Synod in Diincdiu by a majority. The first meeting of the new Licensing Cominir.tei:: for tho Borough ot Hamilton will be held iii tlieUourt-lnMi.se on .Saturday next :\t noon. Messrs J. H. Saulbrey, C- Starr, junr., i>. Thomp-i.il, I'. Kay, and F. (J. Taylor, liiive. been ejected as a licensing commission for the district. The programme of events at the Caiiibri.lero Alliler.ie Spor',s, on Saturday, March I.Stli, appeals in o'.ir advertising columns. There arc sixteen events in all, and pri/.i.s in the aggregate turner LMO i.iv. ..M'-'.r.d. There will Ha a small working Ij.-o of fliiiiii ni tl»: m:ti'i members of S. I'oter's Hamilton, at ten o'e'.ook this moiniuu', to put in order the fence enc!.K,im< the Church «i'"Unds, which i* in.-! disgracefully dilapidated condition. The Harvest Thanksgiving service-; ;-t H. l.'etei-'.-s Hamilton, will commence to-morrow inoi-iiini;, and ba cuntinned on .Sunday. Tim Rev. Isaac Richards, from Auckland, will bo tho preacher at the evening service to-morrow. The Borough workmen are doing a few repairs to the dsckin? of the Hamilton tiiirlic bridge. It has been found that two of the main piles which support the structure on the west bank of the river are very r.itr.cn, and should be replaced to preserve the safety of tho bridge. We have been requested to draw the attention of horse-owners to an omission on the posters issued by tho Kihikihi Racing Club. The most important race of the day, the Kihikihi Cup of lOsovs, distance, 2 miles ; tion-ination, 10s ; acceptance, 100 ; should have appeared as the fifth event, between the Maiden Maori Race and the I'ony liace. To Mr Howden, watchmaker, cf Queen-street, Auckland, belongs the distinction of being the first to introduce electricity into the process of watchmaking. He has arranged a dynamo in that he can turn the pivots and cylinders by electricity. The turning is much more true and perfect, there being no vibration of the hand as in turning a lathe. —Herald. There was a good attendance of all ranks at the ordinary parade of the Hamilton Light Infantry on Tuesday evening, Capt. Keid in commnnd. After drill, the question of celebrating the anniversary of the corps was brought up, and it was decided that tho celebration take the form of a social, to consist of a tea, concert and dance, and a committee was appointed it carry it through. We would remind our readers of tho concert to be given by Misa Missen this evening. Several amendments have been made in Mie programme as published last issue. Mrs Cross's name will be found among tho list of vocalists, and the titles of the songs to be rendered by Miss Swan. The price of admission is a popular one, and this, in conjunction with a good programme, should secure a full house. A little excitement was c?,used in Hamilton on Tuesday evening, after tho receipt of a telegram at this oltice, from Auckland, with tho intelligence that a force had been despatched by tho Chelmsford to Opotiki, with orders to arrest Te Kooti. The Hamilton Light Infantry, who were parading at the time, expressed a desire to bo sent on active service, and Captain Keid has forwarded an intimatiou to Colonel Shepherd, of the willingness of his company to volunteer for active service, should they be required. Mr Knox will move at the next meeting of the Domain Uoard on the 12tli March iiext, " That Lots Ihwd 10 (M acres more or less) D.miaiu Lands, Hamilton West, be ottered at auction for fifteen years lease on Saturday, ICJtli March, at an upset price of ft psr acre for the whole 14 acres per annum, subject to the following special conditions :—The land to be kept clear of fur/.e, briar and bramble during the currency of the lease, failing which the lessors may employ labour to do tho work and charge the lessee with cost of same." The Garden Fete at Cambridge, on Tuesday next, promises to be a great success. A special meeting of those interested was held yesterday, and it was decided not to charge for any of the afternoon performances, the (Jipsy entertainment alchemist, and Maypole dunce all boing free. The Lily White MinstreN, and tableaux will be u'd each, and will both be iu tho evening. Tilting at tho ring will commence at 5 p.m. prompt. The public school will be closed on Tuesday, as nearly the whole of the children would go even it it was kept open. A meeting of the Cambridge Athletic Sports Committee was held at Dach's Hotel on Saturday. Ulird hist, Mr A. li.icli in the chair. Mr C. Craig reported that• Vi*i had been promised in subscriptions, The following were app'iint»d a ciiirnittee :—Messrs K, Cussen, J. S. J-ioud, A. Bach, C. McCann, T. Haiiuon, J. McMillan, C. CraiV, M. McMillan. J. McXeish, J. IC. Pierce, T. Davies and A, McKimion. Judges, Messrs Kirkwood and Sargent ; starter, Mr K Cussen ; treasurer, Mr A. Bach ; haudicappers, Kirkwood, (1. McCann and J. McN'oish. The admission to the ground was lived at one shilling each, subscribers of Vμ, or over, free. Children under 12 free. A band will be in attendance. At a meeting of the Shooting Committee of the Hamilton Light Infantry on Tuesday evening it was resolved that the conditions submitted by tho Auckland City (Juard.s for the forthcoming match be agreed to, and that the match take place on Saturday next. It was resolved that the c.impuny send a team of fifteen, and the following are tho men selected :-Capt. lieid, Colotir-Sergt. Pearson, Sarceiints Connolly and Kelly, Corporals Alexander and Tristram, Bugler M«K.en7.is, Bandmaster Metbun, Privates Coop, Uammond, A. Allan, lUrker, Parr, C.uthy and W. O'Xcill. The team leave by the ordinary train to-morrow. A filial practice take;* plaufi on the range this afternoon, and a meeting of the team will be hold immediately afterwards. Should any of the men selected be unable to take part in the match, thoy are requested to intimate such inability before 1 o'clock to-day to Captain Ueid. A young fellow about 17. named Ocorge l'yke, of Cambridge West, was brought up at the G'ambridee Police Court, yesterday, before Messrs Wells and Russell, J. P.'s, charged with stealing a saddle and a bridle on or about January ISth, the property of James Kingdon, He was also charged with cruelty to a horse. It appears that a number of petty thefts have taken place at Cambridge West, and Constable Brennan has been sifting the matter, and had finally fixed upon the accused as the culprit, lie went to Mr Win. Allen's where the youth was harrowing in a paddock, and" as soon as the constable appeared in sight, he drove the horse 3 to the back of some titree and decamped. The constable, however, was not to bo done, and he waited upon Mr Alien at 4 a.m., when Pyko was found in bed. Both charges were proved, and he was sentenced to three months , hard labour for each offence, to run concurrently. Referring to the Hamilton deputation to Mr Maxwell, the Jlawera and Nonnanby Star, in a lending article, s.iys : — The Waikato has been a hot-bed of discontent with railway management for some timo past, and the prevalent dissatisfaction nearly cost some of the district members their seats at the last election. Mr Maxwell, however, was the impersonation of all that was foolish and ignorant, and at no place were tho attacks of Mr Y'aile more heartily approved. But Mr Maxwell, as Commissioner, can do that which as civil servant he could not do, and lie has just met tho public face to face. The result seems to bo that he has changed the current of feeling, for Tut: Waikato Timks, in a leador, says :—"Nothing could have been more pleasant and satisfactory than the mnuiier in which the meeting was conducted ; and the impression left on the minds of each member of the deputation waa decidedly favourable to the Cominis.sinner.' . What Mr Vaile will have to say to this backsliding on the part of the Waikato?, weoannot imagine, buthec:m hardly bo pleased. Hnwnver, our interest in tho meeting centres in the indications tho Commissioner gave as to the future policy. The writer of a series of notes on current topics which appear iu each week's ifcsue of the Witness thus gracefully refers to t!|i! remarks of Judge Ward on the occasion of his retirement from the Supreme Court Bench!— " It was said of King Charles the Pirst that nothing in life became him like the leaving it. Judge Ward may have done well while he was on the Supreme Court Bench, but he could hardly do so well a,ii he did on the occasion of his retirement. His remarks to the bar were perfect in point of tone and taste, and though acknowledging that ho had suffered a disappointment, he uttered not a word of

ill-nature or complaint. Then ono cannot help admiring the delicate literary flavor in some of his sentences, as, for instance, when ho said that an ' address of welcome is, after all, chiefly a matter of courtesy— an address at parting one of appreciation.' And ho managed to cram all that was to bo said on the subject iu the single sentence : 'I would rather that men should ask why I was not appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, than why I was appointed.' There is truth as well as antithetical neatness in tho remark."