The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 18 June 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1872.

Absentee landowners played their cards well during 1 the last session of th» Assembly in having- succeeded in getting- section G insorted in the 4t High way Hoards Empowering Act." The Highway Act in force up to the JiOlh of this month authorised the-levying of Od per acre or <'M in the pound on. the value to sell, or two shillings and sixpence in the pound on the annual value of ß such property. In validating the Act, however, the Assembly lias reduced the rating power of the Boards to five per cent, upon the annual value of property, or one penny in the pound on its value for sale, thus reducing the amount capable of being raised for public improvements (from the raters themselves) to about one-fifth of the original amount. The Act grants to the Superintendent the power of declaring the Act in force in such districts within the province as he may think advisable. Unfortunately Mr. Gillies has thought it necessary to bring it into force in nearly all the districts over which the Act granted him jurisdiction. The action he has taken is likely to have a most pernicious effect on the settlers in. this district. The settlers are only just recovering from the depression caused by wars aud rumours of wars, and it is of the utmost importance to them that they should not, at the very least, be prevented from expending all the money they can on the making- of road's and bridges in order to procure easy communication with the laud on which they have settled. No consideration for the clog on advancement —the abseutee landholder — shonld be allowed to stand in the way. He of all other men is the least entitled to consideration, lie, as a rule, buys laud and waits until the improvements made by other people on the surrounding country have enhanced the value of his holding sufficiently to render the speculation, a good one. He is, in fact, the d o;e which the bees, are unfortunately not allowed by law to drive from their midst. The letter we publish in anothhr column explains the- matter clearly, it is therefore unnecessary for us to enter into a minute description of the situation. As the enforcement or otherwise of the obnoxious clauses of the Act is left to the-discretion of the Superintendent there should be little trouble in getting t oril remedied.

The Hon. D. McLean left Xgaruawahia for Auckland by steamer at ten o'clock yesterday. He will disembark at Point Russell and complete the journey by coach. Mr. Sinclair, previous to leaving for Auckland, Taluod all the buildings in the- township of Ngaruawahia standing on Government land, preparatory to the sections being offered for public We trust that the Government will see the advantage of offering the land at Ngaruawahia, as the greater proportion of likely purchasers are residents. We 'understand that there is every probability of a tri-weekly mail shortly running to Alexandra. ; The Rev. Mr. Norrie, a minister of the Scotch Church, conducted services on Sunday Last at Cambridge, Hamilton, and Ngaruawahia. We are glad to learn that in future there will be Presbyterian services in the district on two Sundays monthly, one Sunday as above and on the other at-Alexandra, Te Awamutu, and probably Kihikihi. It is gratifying to find that the members of the Scotch Churuh are at last to he afforded the opportunity of worshiping nfter their ancient custom. On Saturday evening last a man, whose name we have not yet learned, lost his life by drowning. The unfortunate man was. one of three who were proceeding in a canoe to Churchill Flax Mill, where they have been at work for some time back, when the accident occurred—h&w has not yet transpired—which resulted fatally, as above stated. For the satisfaction of those who have friends at work at Churchill Mill we may state that the man was a stranger in the Waikato, and as well as his companions, unaccustomed, it may be presumed to the use of canoes, they having all come lately from Auckland. Probably in our next number we shall be in a position to place the facts of this melancholy occurrence more fully before our readers. We understand that at the earnest request of 1 the members of the Waikato Rifle Volunteer Corps linsh'n J. K. McDonald has withdrawn his resignation.