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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2726, 2 January 1890, Page 2

Owing to the telegraph office being closed yesterday, we are without late telegrams. The inmates of the Old Mens' refuge at Hamilton were treated to a dinner yesterday, presented by various residents in Hamilton. Mr Bailey, who for a number of years has held the position of Sheep Inspector, severed his connection with the Government on the 31st ult. The excursion train to Auckland yesterday morninß was again but scantily filled, and general complaint is being made at a return train not being put on. Mr McNicol's annual sheep fair, to bn held next month, from the number of entries already made, promises to bi must successful. Mr McNicol is confident sellers will meet a good market. The Olutha River is gaining unenviable notoriety, Mrs Robertsun, of Cromwell, is supposed to have committed suicide in it, and Mr G. Murray, manager of the Dunstan Hotel, was drowned iu it in the early part of the week.

Hone Wetere, a second cousin to Rrwi Maniapoto, and the oldest chief of the Ngatimaniapotos, died on Thnrsday last at his Bern's (Rangituat-a) aettleraent on the Puniu River, near Kihikihi. Deceased was about 90 years of age, and was one of the bravest warriors <>f his tribe. The remains were buried on Sunday evening, and prior to the burial a taogi was held.

New Year's Eve was one of the quietest that Hamilton has bad for some time, there being no great stir about the streets. The Hamilton band marched out at eleven o'clock and played a number of airs in various parts of the township, bidding the Old Year farewell by playing Auld L*ng Syne on the centre of the bridge at midnight.

The usual watch night service was held at S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, on New Year's Eve. The incumbent taking the 21st verse of the 30th chapter of Tsaiah, " And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee saying, this is the way. walk ya in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left " as his text, delivered an impressive discourse, bearing on the proper course to be steered by Christians on entering on the new year.

"Notwithstanding Sir Robert Stout's large profession of Radicalism, says the Canterbury " Press," " Sir Harry Atkinson has probably less sympathy with him than with any of the other leaders to whom he has been opposed. Sir Robert Stout is so vain, so superficial, so much a talker rather than a doer of the word which he preaches, and so generally unreliable, that an earnest and practical politician like the Premier cannot have much in common with him. Sir Robert Stout|s claim as a leader has been better recognised than that of any other public man since the days of Sir Edward Stafford. But he pursued the course which, as has just been said, SitHarry Atkinson has always disdained to follow. Sir Robert Stout cultivated public oniiiinn and made himself a popular leader, *nd then the House had to reoognise his claims until the public found him out to be fr*th, empty, and disappointing."

The Otago Daily Times says:We would warn people about town that some well got up spurious coins are being forced into circulation. A gilded jubilee shilling was passed as % genuine sovereign yoaterday, and a close examination only could detect the fraud. The police are aware of the fraud, and are on the look-out for the culprits.

To day the new regulations on the railways come into force with reference to the charge for carriage of newspapers. As we do not anticipate that this will cause much increase in the railway revenue, we will await the returns with interest. As the Commissioners seem determined to use every means to increase the revenue, we might suggest that they pay some little attention to the matter of free passes to the members, which is a privilege very much abused during the recess.

Under the heading "The Tables Turned," the Lrttleton Times says:—"Oh the manifest of the s.s, Tougariru, which left Lyttloton en route for London yesterday, appeared the very unusual entry of agricultural implements. These include farm dray, double-furrow plough, and smaller fittings, shipped by P. and O. Duncan to the order of Mr T. A. MacpherBon, Staffordshire, England. Mr Macpherson was engaged in farming pursuits in this colony some few years back, and has thus expressed hi 3 appreciation of our colonial manufacture."

The losses in New South Wales through drought and want of proper irrigation are terribly suggestive, and show what the squatters have frequently to contend with. In 1884, through drought, 6.000,000 of sheep were lost; in 1887, about 4,000,000; »nd in 1888 less than 500,000. Not only is 'there the loss of stock to contend with, but the failure of increase, aud the deterioration of the quality of tho wool. The loss from all these things during the year 1888 is estimated at £1,150,000. With these figures to reflect on New Zealand pastoralists have reason to congratulate themselves on the happiness of their lot. The excessive charges of lawyers often have the effect of defeating justice. At the other day in a bankruptcy ca3e, Judge Ward said one item in solicitor's bill would be cut down to a fifth nf the original amount, and added in effect that if all the fees—very heavy, by the way —v/ere paid, there would be little chance of the creditors getting anything. While referring to this question, it may be interesting to quote one of our contemporaries ; The Patea County Press is afraid that the major portion of tho assets in T. Kelt's estate will find its way into the pockets of the gentlemen of the long robes. It remarks :—" We have still a vivid recollection of a bankruptcy in Patea where £700 was handed to the creditor's trustee, which sum was divided,' roughly, in the following unequal way -.—Long robes, £530; suffering creditors, £170." Sir Harry Atkinson having given way to bad health pain and wearin-ss, there is (savs the Canterbury Times) one thing to be said—it is that we are very sorry for him, and we feel sure the whole country is sorry for him. There are those who are fond of kicking a man when he is down. These cry out to Sir Harry to resign. They shout that ho ought not to'hold on to office in spite of failing health. Wo have been pained to read these infamous productions, evidently aimed at the stricken Premier while passing through some of the Southern districts, notably Oamarn. We areuot supporters of Sir Harry, but we do not care to be rid of him in this way. We would prefer a thousand times to see him back at his post with all his strength—and that is saying something—regained. Then it would be a pleasure to exchange blows, if it were necessary. However, this is no time to talk of blows, or to level carping criticisms. A valuable public servant has received a bad wound in the public service. Let us all tfive him our best sympathy and our most cordial wishes for his recovery and return.

The question of the affiliation of all the railway employes in Australasia for the purpose of obtaining a uniform rate of pay, uniform hours of labour, and a uniform classification in the various departments is

being considered by the different associations of railway employe's throughout the colonies. At present, associations employes exist in "Victoria about 5000 strong, in "New South Wales COOO, and in South Australia about 3000. An association has lately been formed in Queensland, and West Australia and New Zealand aro about to follow. It is estimated that when all the associations are formed they will include upwards of 20,000 men. A Federal Railway Council, consisting of delegates from the respective colonies, will then be formed, for the purpose of settling matters in regard to the arrangement and general regulations of the Australasian railways as applying t.o the railway employes, so that in the near future matters concerning railway employes will be considered and determined by the representatives of 20,000 men.

The Pall Mall Gazette has joined the chorus of congratulation with which New Zealand has been favoured of late, and says:—"New Zealand has been giving proofs of late that it has emerged out of the cloud under which it rested sorno time back, and that it is sharing in the general prosperity of the British dominions. The facta are brought oat clearly in the address of the President of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, which h<as just como to hand. The exports of the colony for the year ending June, 1889, were valued at just under nine millions sterling, which is an increase of one and three-quarter millions on 1887-88, and nearly two millions over the record of any previous year. This gratifying result ■is due not merely to increased values, but to greater production. Wool, wheat, oats, barley, frozen meat, coal and timber all show increases. While the total exports have increased, the imports have receded viroewhat. The imports were valued at just under six millions sterling, a decline of £304,000. This is said to bo due to the reduction in expenditure on material for public works, the stoppage of the inflow of borrowed capital, the policy of importers restricting orders to within measurable limits of prospective sales, and to the increased production stimulated by a more protective tariff. Altogether New Zealand appears to have taken fresh heart, and looks now for a fresh tide of immigration, which is the great need of the colony."

At the Christchurch Police Court George Gray, for failing to provide for his | wife and children, received three months' hard labour, and was ordered to pay 10s a week for their maintenance. Mr Beettvmi, R.M., in passing sentence said :—" The more I see of these cases the more I am convinced of the necessity for more power being given to our courts in this colony to enable them to rid women ot men like this. There is an act in force in England which enables magistrate, to grant judicial separation, coupled with an order for future maintenance if husbands are proved to have committed grevious bodily harm to their wives. By Imperial Act inferior courts have power to make an order for judicial separation tor the mere affliction of bodily harm, which i 3 a mere bagatelle to what this man has done. It would be a sourcs of great satisfaction to me to be able to rid her of him altogether, so as to prevent any possibility of his returning to annoy her, and there are hundreds similarly situated who would be far better off than if tied to such men. I hope the day is not far distant when similar power will be given to courts here. What i 3 really wanted is a cheap and summary method of giving a woman and her children relief from the horrible and sustained torments they endure from a drunken husband and father, and laying an embargo upon the increase of a family which, under those circumstances, has to be supported by the State. This can only be done by empowering iuferior courts to grant judical separation on the giounds of habitual drunkenness, aggravated by failure to provide for the natural requirements <>f his family, Buch provision being made within the means of the husband."