Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 15 June 1872, Page 2

It has been brought to our notice that Mr Tansficld. the postmaster at Hamilton, has volunteered* for the convenience of the residents in Hamilton, to deliver the Auckland mail which arrives at that place at 9 o'clock, and remain in his office as long as is required to enable business men to answer their letters. His example is worthy of imitation by New Zealand oiiicials generally. We are glad to state that Mr. Sinclair arrived at Xyaruawahia yesterday. Before leaving, this gentleman will value all the buildings erected on Government land, preparatory to putting the different sections up for public competition. The Hon. Mr. McLeau arrived here last evening by si earner from Alexandra,, and will proceed to Auckland to-day. His Excellency is expected to arrive at Hamilton to-morrow from Cambridge. We understand that he will stop till Monday ' at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, and proceed to Auckland on the following day. The statements made by the Wellington Independent, and through the telegraph agency, to the effect that contracts had been signed, and final arrangements made, in respect'of several of the Southern railway lines, induced the Superintendent of Auckland, we .Understand, to jiiommunicate with .the Government relative to. the Waikato line. A reply has been received from tire Colonial SecYetary, intimating that the only wilway. contracts signed with the Messrs. Brogden was for the Picton and Blenheim line, and : part'6f the Waikato line —that, is, to Newmarket. But it is. added that the tender for the whole of tlie Waik ato line was expected to be in the hands of the .Government in two or three days, or about the 14th or ,±sth inst- We trust_no unnecessary delay -will take place. AlreadyffouFor five months have been needlessly wasted inj*esf>ect of the Waikato line. Had the Government oeeifat all anxious on the subject, itmigbt have been underway long ago,—Herald. - i

\ We are glad to announce that the drums and j j other instruments for the band of the Waikato j Volunteers have arrived. Th ere are several meml>ers j of the corps musically inclined and w§. have no • doubt th%t a band will be raised which be aj credit to Ihe fine corpi of which it will j We Leat-n %at the DefeiMjft Minister has completed the purchauseof acres,* of'land in the Pjlibmrhood of Tfyis land will be: red t *... r T v . i \ l > f SOIREE XT GAUUA^AIIIA." j Ox Thursday evening there was held in Ngarua- I wahia one of the most largely attended and nmst' succosful entertainments ever held in this district, the object being to raise funds to provide the local school with desks, forms, and other necessaries. At six o'clock the schoolroom was crowded, nevertheless there was plenty to* eat and to drink of that beverage j " which cheers without inebriating." We never vein ember to have seen tables better covered at any entertainment of the kind at which we were present: ; We are sorely tenipted to publish the names of the ladies who provided such stimpiuous fare for the occasion ; on second consideration, however, we consider it better not to do so, from fear of offending: the delicacy of those who prefer that their good deeds should not be blazoned abroad. After everybody had eaten and drank .13 much or more than he required, tempted to excess by the delicacy of the viand 3 and the winning ways of their purveyors, the tables were cleared, and Major Wilson,, who by request took the office of chairman, opened the proceedings with a short and appropriate speech. He congratulated those present ,011 the large attendance; notwithstanding the uncertainty of the weather, and' as the programme to be gone' through_ was a very long one he would at once call upon the Rev. T. Norrie to address the company, lie having kindly consented to do so. Mr. Norrie congratulated the people of Ngaruawahia on the progress that the district was making, .also on the merest which was shown in the cause of 'education. He pointed out that the Central .Board of Education had only power to grant loans for the erection of school buildings, and that school com- . mittees generally were chary of availing of the fund, a general feeling prevailing, that'it' was no t judicious to incur liability, as an uncertainty ; exists as to their ability>to pay, and that a time of reckoning must come. He considered that great credit was due to the Hoard for the partial success which they had succeeded in attaining by the workof an almost unworkable act. As tl e building in which they then were was used as a school-room,-there was no immediate necessity to build, but he would recommend that.as- much as possible should be got from the Board for the improvement of the school reserve, for fencing, etc. Ho had been unexpectedly called upon to speak, and having ridden a long distance was not in a tit condition to-do so. Before concluding, however, he would congratulate" the people of the Waikato on the establishment of a newspaper in the district. ' It had been said, and he thought to a great extent that the saying was a true one, that if a man read his newspaper and his Bible he was educated. • He, could but applaud the enterprise of the people, in procuring a newspaper 1 and the courage of those' who had established it; The Waikato district was growing fast in population and prosperity, and from what lie had seen of country papers in the Southern Island he had. 110 doubt of the success of The Waikato Times.

Several members of the Armed Constabulary contributed riiuch to the enjoyment of those present by singing songs and taking part in the glees, etc. ' Of course there were defects in the mnsical portion of the ■ entertainment on Thursday night, which must have been apparent to those cognisant with the rules of harmony, or «ven gifted with an ordinary musical taste;, but this could scarcely be otherwise as we uriderstand that very many of the pieces had never been glanced at by the performers ere they made their appearance before the audience. With all their defects 5 we like entertainments of the sociable character of Thursday evening, and as the attendance was large and all present seemed delighted, we presume the object of the committee, who worked so iudefatigably to promote its success, has been fully realised. Great thanks are due to those ladies who came from Hamilton in .such boisterous weather to assist,'and we trust that before long another entertainment will. be given for the benefit of some public institution,' and that when the jSgaruawahians have become more efficient in the art of glee singing, the visitors will again favor them with their'assistance. Very little can or ought to be said of the excellence of-the performances on such occasions where everybody the best hi. can, and we refrain from going through the programme ad seriatim. A gentleman attempted to read the trial scene from "Pickwick." We say attempted, for in the first place'he had a very bad cold, and in the second- s —had he been in sound health he could not have done it properly, his talents evidently not lying in that direction, lie, fortunately for the audience, had th 6 good sense to stop half-way. As illustrative of the' powerfully soporific qualities of such a style of reading, we; may state that our " devil'' actually went to sleep during its progress. Mr. Holloway proposed a vote of. thanks to the ladies who had provided the eatables, and also to those who had with considerable inconvenience travelled from Hamilton for the purpose of rendering their assistance. '' Mr. Low' replied, after which the national anthem was heartily given, and the company adjourned ,;to the room prepared for dancing. This room was very nicely*'dec6rat«d - Hrith evergreens, which reminds Wthatj althougtf felt, no gratitude was expressed to the Committeej to whom the success of the entertainment is mainly owing. Two members of the constabulary, wei-e particularly2pnergetfc,"but in fact whenever there is anything to be done f for the interest - of the "district in which they fc&ppeif tobe stationed, the members of this corps' are always to the:'fore. 7v■; \ v 7/; {;■/ : ;v \ Dancing was kept, up to a late Hour, and everybody returned home, thoroughly satisfied with themselves and the en£eriahtt)re]&