RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2979, 18 August 1891, Page 2

RAGLAN.

S.S. Glenelg.—On her last trip this steamer brought a large number of passengers for this place, about fifteen of whom proceeded down to the Te Akau Station having been engaged in Auckland to assist in bush falling at Galvin's camp, Mangati. The vessel brought a large cargo of seed potatoes, oats, bonedust, and other manures. After discharging cargo at the wharf of the Te Akau store she proceeded southward on her trip to Wanganui. The cutter Nelly cleared out for Onehunga with a part cargo of flax previous to the steamer's arrival here. Accident.— Mr George Moon was brought down from Mangati for examination of his injured foot. Dr. Bay found that the injury was not of such a serious nature as had been reported ; fortunately no bones appear to be broken, but being a severe sprain some time must elapse before he recovers from the injury. Weather. —For many days in the early part of the month we had very fine weather with cold clear nights, frosts prevailing in some parts. Availing themselves of the fine weather settlers are everywhere busy in preparing the ground for future crops. Oats have been in many parts sown ; potatoes of the earlier sorts planted, whilst the ground is being made ready for later sorts. Land Court.—On Monday and Tuesday last very little business was got through, the natives having asked for an adjournment, to enable them to agree among themselves as to some definite proposition for dealing with subdivisions of the Te Akau block, intimating that they had three subdivisions already arranged with lists of names. During Wednesday on assembling again, the natives do not appear to have been able to come to any definite agreement, and Mrs Aubrey brought forward on behalf of her client several witnesses in support of their counter claim. Each day the Court-house is crowded with anxious listeners. Sitting at a table at tho head of the Court are the officials, in front of them is a long narrow table at which sit the Maori counsellors taking rapid notes of the evidence given, and on the floor of the court are the women of the various tribes interested with their children in their arms. Around the court a motley crowd of natives, old and young, are sitting upon the ground. A native chief who has just been pleading his own or client's cause sits down, when from the long narrow table with her documents in hand quietly arises Mrs Aubrey, and proceeds to lay before the court the claims of her client with considerable ability, and produces and examines her witnesses with equal care. The court is expected to last two or three weeks more, at any rate, at the present rate of progress, the Te Akau block being of 90,000 acres and of many subdivisions. Mutual Improvement Society.—A meeting of this society took place in the library, Raglan, on Wednesday evening last. Mr Henry occupied the chair, and after the usual routine business, Mr Meiklejohn, M.A., proceeded to deliver his lecture upon " Socialism." After giving a definition of the term, he proceeded to quote from the various writers on Socialism, endeavouring to prove that there must be as an outcome an improved basis of society. Speaking on the evils of extreme competition and the hardships of a great mass of the people, more especially in older lands, of the effort already that states have undertaken, in the Factory and other Acts, and in conclusion stating that we needed an " inspiration from on High to perfect our social system." The essay was freely criticised by Mr Williams in a speech of some length, who denounced Socialism, as being the offshoot of the French revolution, and not calculated to benefit mankind. He contended that there could he no equal distribution of wealth. Messrs Rendell, Henry, and Pegler took part in the discussion, which was of a very animated nature throughout, and in consequence of which it was proposed to adjourn the discussion of the subject for another evening.