The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 13 June 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1872.

Til h' nows we print, to-day from Alexandra, J although it indicates no startling change, is still, when well considered, of a very satis - j factory ohavapter. We forget which historical j character it was who said that "time and he j were a match forauy man/' bnt it almost seems j n-siftihat saying had been uttered for thebenefit }irul instruction of those who have to deal with ! the native race in ?vew Zealand. In the first place, with the Maoris time is not money, as it is -withnis, and consequently it is of no object to them: "In the second place, as every one knows who- lias ever had any business transaction."* with them, it is no.use attempting to hurry them on. \V*e lenrn that it is possible that the expecied meeting with the King will not take place. To this we do not attach very much importance ; indeed the expectation of-such an interview and of its probable consequences have been raised to an undue height. Had it taken place so as to bring about the results anticipated from it, none would have had more cause" to rejoice than ourselves; but before reckoning on its certainty, the dilatoriness of the Maori character should have been more fully considered. Even should the meeting not take place we think wo are justified in saying that the interviews held at Alexandra this time : has been productive of good. For

iustruicf, we set: one tribe openly telling another that ir, has changed siJcs, repudiating its former allies and asking for that bug-bear of the extreme Hauhau party a road into its ferrilory. Influential chiefs, hitherto oar opponents, drop in quietly and nseert&in for themselves th:it by keeping aloof from tbe Europeans they are playing a loosing game. The areh-rebed who has so long, according to Southern papers, been a god-send to editors, is mentioned by both parties in the most Contemptuous terms and designated as simply a miserable refugee to bo protected only on condition of good behaviour. So far we can appreciate what has been gained by the silent and unobstrusive labors of the past year , and we can further hazard the opinion that the return to their homes of the visitors to Alexandra will induce further discussion, and that their reports and the opinions they have formed will go a long way towards putting an end to the unsatisfactory state of tilings which now exists.

We are very pleased to observe that tenders are called for the erection of a Church of Kngland at Cambridge. We congratulate our (Cambridge friends on their enterprise and the energy they have displayed in the cause of religion. It will be Bse-i by advertisement that the revision of the electoral roll for this district is postponed till Saturday next. Mr. J. Jlighley will hold on Saturday next, a sale of cattle, daiiy utensils, etc. This evening there will be held the first soiree that has taken place in Ngaruawahia. The fuuds that accrue from the entertainment will be devoted to the local school. Several ladies and gentlemen have promised their assistance, and a very pleasant evening's amusement to those who attend may he anticipated. We are glad to learn that one important stage in the progress of the Wakato Railway works in the neighbourhood of the city was reached on Saturday afternoon in a passage through being effected in the tunnel proceeding at Parnell. Mr. Mangham, the contractor for the work for Messrs. Brogden, has been pushing ahead with all energy, and it reflects credit no less on him than on Mr. Stuart that a " meet " was effected with such great accuracy, an inch or so of deviation being all that was discovered. The opening made will be of great service for the transport of stones and othe.' material for the works, at Mechanics' Bay, and we may anticipate that the enlargement of the tunnel to its proper size and its completion in its permament form will soon be effected —Star. A Post-office has been established at Taupiri ; Mr. 11. O. Stuart has been appointed Postmaster. Some time back we called attention to the unjust treatment the settlers in the Alexandra district were suffering as regards the mail service. We on that occasion were wrong, in that we stated that they had only one mail weekly. We have since been informed that a mail is made up every Wednesday evening, at Ngaruawahia, and forwarded by steamer on Thursday morning. This makes matters a little better, but we are still at a loss to see the justice of giving a tri-weekly mail to all the settlements with the exception of Alexandra—the most populous in the Waikato. The extra subsidy granted to Messrs. Quick for running the mail from Auckland to Hamilton in one day (where it arrives too late to be of service to anybody) could have been much more judiciously applied in putting the Alexandra people on a par with their fellow settlers.