The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 271, 7 April 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1898.

The visit of the Premier to Huntly has, so far as the natives are concerned, resulted in affairs being very much in the same position as they were before he went there. The natives, through their spokesmen, refused to have anything to do with the proposals to deal with their lauds. They object to the constitution of the proposed Boards, and ask that a Council composed entirely of natives shall have the power to deal with their lands as they may decide. In the evening he addressed a meeting of Europeans in the Public Hall, and repeated what he had previously said on many other occasions. As he was speaking, however, in the Waikato district, it is perhaps well that we should offer some comments upon his statements.

The Chairman of the meeting introduced him as the Right Honorable Dr. Seddon. This afforded the Premier an opportunity to offer a sort of apology to good and true democrats, for having so many " handles "to his name. He, no doubt, had in his mind the hounding down to svhich Sir R. Stout was subjected by the present supporters of the Seddon Government for accepting a knighthood. Mr Seddon's is a much more exalted title.

It goes without saying that the Premier referred to the Opposition Press, and complained of the grave misrepresentations put forth with regard to the party of which he is " humble " leader. This is the old story, and as usual no instances of there misrepresentations were specified. Would it not be very much more convincing if the Right Honorable gentlemen were to select a misrepresentation for confutation each time he speaks 1 He talks so often that he would not be very long in getting through the list. If he adopted this course we are quite certain that the Press of the colony would report him fairly. It is, however, an old saying and a true one, that it is not wise to stir up dirty water. An explantion would court answers, and unsavoury subjects would again come under discussion. The Premier accused the Opposition of having been mean and contemptible in that they referred to his little bill of £I7OO to cover the expenses of his visit to the Old Country. We were not amongst the number who wrote anything on this matter, as we urged that the Premier should go home, and fully anticipated a heavy bill.' Experience had taught us that democratic leaders are very expensive luxuries. He represented the colony passably well, and somewhat contrary to our expectations the country came through the ordeal without disgrace. The Premier compared his expenses with those incurred by former Premiers, and stated that one of these had received £SOOO and special allowances. Mr Seddon received no special allowances, but he forgot to tell the Huntly people that he had the free run of the Hotel Cecil for himself and anybody he liked to invito. He can only have referred to Sir J ulius Yogel; if our memory does not betray us, he is the only Premier who, when head of the Government, visited London. Mr Seddon had yet another personal explanation to make, and that was with regard to his connection with the German Mining Syndicate. His attempt to scrcsn himself behind the, not very portly, person of Mr A. G. Hoiton was one of the funniest incidents in his career. Mr Horton is one of the proprietors of the New Zealand Herald, a paper which Mr Seddon and his colleagues have times out of number accused of deliberately stating what was not true concerning the doings of the Ministry. The incident is rendered still more funny by the fact that Mr Horton was only a colleague of the Premier for some three months, and that the connection ceased some eighteen months back. The accusation against the Premier is that he has accepted a paid position from a body of foreigners engaged in mining speculation, that the mining law places so much discretionary power in the hands of Ministers that it is not decent that he should hold the two positions. Wc have no desire to infer that the Right Honorable gentleman has done or would do anything in connection with his syndicate which would be detrimental to the interests of the colony, but the honour of the country demands that he should not be in the position to do so. There is a case which may be taken as a precedent to guide him in this matter. At the time the Loan and Mercantile got into trouble, the late Mr Mundella was President of the Board of Trade, and as it might as a remote contingency bo possible that lie would be called upon to take action with regard to the company, he at once resigned his political position. If the Ministry had no discretionary power with regard to mining matters, there could be no objection to his connection with the foreign capitalists. Under existing conditions we repeat that his holding the two positions is a disgrace to the colony. The old story of stonewalling is of course once paraded as the excuse for many sins of omission, if not of commission. What does Mr J. Hutcheson, one-of the mem-

bors for Wellington, tell us with

regard to this. He says : "He knew for a fact that the policy of the Government was not ready." He also emphatically stated that " lie knew it was intended that the Opposition should obstruct. They were given the meat, less the bone, of insufficient representation on committees ; this they did oppose, thereby fulfilling the highest functions of Her Majesty's Opposition." Until Mr Seddon has confuted Mr Hutcheson's statements the less he talks about stonewalling the better will it be for himself and the party of which he is such a " humble " leader.

There was'of course a little high falulin concerning the immense benefits the Ministry had conferred upon the working man, who were told that if they wished to go back to 3s Gd per day they had only to return the Opposition to power. There is only one word which characterises this stuff, and that word is " bunkum." The Premier spoke of a return to the Property Tax as another bogie. When lie was speaking he knew perfectly well that he had assumed the garb of a true prophet in order to conceal the falseness of the one before the audience. He claimed as a consequence of the policy of the Ministry the output of coal had largely increased at Huntly. This also was of course bunkum. With regard to the railways, we have asserted and assert again that the increased profits from this source have been largely made up by allowing the plant to go to decay. The Old Age Pension pnnciple is of course endorsed by every man in the country, but few of those who think and have watched the course of affairs are prepared to allow any discretionary power to vest in Ministers to be used as another means of political bribery throughout the length and breadth of the colony.

On our fourth page we print a report of Monday's meeting of the Waikato Farmer's Club, included in which is an interesting account of a trip to the South, by Mr Thos. Wells. The Parnell 11. Cricket Club has definitely decided to abandon the proposed visit to Waikato at Easter time.

The subject of Pastor Steed's addresses for tomorrow and Saturday will be found in our advertising columns.

On Sunday next (Easter Day) the Holy Communion will be celebrated at St. Stephen's Church, Tamahere, at the afternoon service.

The service at Tuhikaramea on Snnday next will be conducted by the Rev. J. M. Mitchell, of Hamilton. It will bo held in the afternoon.

The business at the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, yesterday, consisted solely of a few undefended debt cases, which were dealt with in the usual manner.

The Secretary of the Waikato Hospital des'res to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a parcel of illustrated papers from Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Otorohanga, for the use of the patients and the inmates of the Old People's Refuge.

The Waikato Mounted Infantry leave by this morning's train en route for Takapuna, to take part in the Easter encampment. A fatigue party of four men under Corporal Fisher proceeded by train yesterday to prepare the camp for their comrades.

Mr Lascelles has resigned his seat on the Raglan County Council, iu conquence of his having sold his property and contemplating leaving the.district. The election to fill the vacancy will be held on Monday, 25th April, nominations being recived up to the 18th hist. The Postal Conference, which is sitting at Hobart, has declined the offer of the Eastern Extension Company. It has also decided that the best alternative route would be via Canada. A resolution was passed that if England and Canada guaranteed one third of the cost each, Australia would guarantee the remaining third.

The issue of the new stamps was made on Tuesday, and at once a rush set in for the . 2|d one, on which " Whakitipu " has been printed in mistake for " VVakatipu." An effort was made to prevent these stamps going out to speculators and the sales were limited, but, nevertheless, the run proved more than equal to the local supply, and at noon none were procurable in Hamilton. All Assessment Court for the borough of Hamilton was held by Capt. Jackson, at the Court House, Hamilton, yesterday. There was only one objector, Mrs Ann Mullions, who asked for a reduction, but after the evidence had been taken, the valuation was upheld. The valuation for the Borough was done by Mr C. J. W. Barton, and the work certainly reflects the greatest credit upon him.

Archdeacon Willis announced at St. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, on Sunday last, that the service on the morning of Good Friday (to-morrow) will begin at 10.30 a.m., instead of at the usual hour. The chance is made with a view to Pliable those who may so desire to attend the service and be in good time afterwards to meet the excursion train en arrival ab twelve o'clock. He announced also that the usual recital of sacred music on Good Friday evening will not be held this year in the church, owning to the fact that the Harmonic Scc'e'y has arranged to render a portion of the oratorio of " The Messiah " in the Public Hall, to which admission will be free.

We understand that the Cambridge Harmonic Society will render a portion of " The Messiah " to-morrow evening (Good Friday), at 8 o'clock, in the Public Hall. The portions to be rendered will be those suitable to this sacred season. We congratulate the Society on this suitable observance of the day of the Crucifixion. We believe that no charge will be made for admission, and we hope to see a large number present, both of the members of the Society and the general public. The soprano solos will be taken by Mrs Cooke and Miss Fisher, contralto by Mrs Chambers, tenor by Mr Chambers, and bass by Mr Lusk. The overture will be at 7.30 p m.

On Sunday last the usual harvest festival was held at the To Kopua school-room, which was prettily decorated for the occasion, with ferns, fruit, flowers, etc. This was the work of Mr Young's daughters, assisted by Miss Tidd, head teacher of the Mangapiko scliool. Mr W. Searancke furnished the wheat, oats and some of the apples ; the rest of the fruit used came from the Rev. H. Wilson's garden, these were a grand collection. The rev. gentleman took the service and preached an eloquent and impressive sermon. Miss Wentney presided at tho organ, with her usual efficiency. After the English service, one was conducted in Maori. Visitors were surprised at the good singing of the congregation, who were led by Miss Wilson, who is u good Maori linguist.

His Worship the Mayor of Hamilton informs ns that he has re-

rved a telegram from the Hon. the !' otnicr, stating that lie will arrive in •li-niilton by the express train today. Mi i.'ddon will addres a public meeting in ilit Volunteer Hall in the evening.

It \v ill be news to most people to learn that there exists in Russia a district which is wholly administered, and for the greater part of the year exclusively inhabited, by the fair sex, says the Daily News. It comprises some fifteen square miles in the province of Smolensk. In the early spring all the able-bodied males emigrate in search of work to the large towns, aud remain absent for nine months or more, leaving their wives aud daughters to cultivate the fields and manage local affairs generally under the presidency of a mayoress. Before nightfall the ladies assemble in a sort of club house and play cards till one or two in the morning. Moreover, against the return of the men folks, they brew quantities of brags, or small beer, and cook numbers of piroghis, or patties. This Adamless Eden is one of the most prosperous and best conducted portions of the empire, and the Tsaritsa takes a strong interest in its welfare.

A meeting of those interested in polo was held at Kerr's Ciitcrion Hotel, Cambridge, on Monday evening. There was a good master, Dr. Perceval being in the chair. After some discuss : on it was resolved to form a club, to be called the Cambridge Polo Club. The following oiliccrs were appointed : —President: Mr Jas. Taylor. Vice presidents: Messrs W. Main, N. I. Hunt, G. MoCullagh aud P/r. Perceval. Treasurer, Dr. Perceval. Secretary, Mr N.Banks. Committee : Messrs W. Thornton, C. C. Buckland, R. HannoD, M. H. Pickering and J. R. S. Richardson. The annual subscription was fixed at 10s 6d. Mr N- Banks was appointed captain, and Dr. Perceval vice-captain, It was resolved to join the Polo Association. Mr Jas. Taylor kindly offered the use of his paddock for practice, which offer was accepted, and for which he was thanked. Messrs Hewctt and Seaville were also thanked for the kindly interest taken in starting the club, and for assistance and tuition rendered to the members. The usual compliment to the chair closed the proceedings. Twenty-three members were enrolled.

A meeting of the Te Awamutu School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening last, when theie were present : Messrs J. H, Mandeno (chairman), J. B. Teasdale, Wm. Kirkham, T. J. Rogers, C. Bygrave, and W. Bearsley. It being the final meeting of the present committee before the annual meeting of householders, several matters in connection with the school vere discussed, and more particularly that of the school water, which was reported as being the cause of sickness, in spite of the fact that two medical men reported the water as being good. Mr Kearsley stated that the drain at the back of the school grounds which had been cleaned out, was found to be in a filthy state. The follow ing is a digest of the annual report : The attendance has remained about stationary, having been 118 at the beginning of the year and 116 at the end. The result of the standard examinations were not all that might have been desired. Eightythree scholars were presented, of whom 22 failed. The teacher attributes the failures mainly to irregular ascendance . The Inspector reported the tone and system of the school good. Some repairs had been effected during the year, and the schoolhouae had beeu painted. There was no playground as yet owing to the enormous price asked for the piece of land suitable.