The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA."

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 18 July 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA."

Tins ratepayers of the IMangapiko Road j Hoard have acted wisely in having authorised \ the Board to contribute the sum of £30 ! towards the payment of the salary of a pro- ; iVssional man to superintend the works uudev- \ taken in the W'aikato district. Very justly the proviso is made that this sum shall only.l be granted on the whole of the Road Boards consenting to contribute a similar sum. The advantages which would accrue from such an appointment as the above are almost too self evident to require comment. In the first place ii is unreasonable to expect that the chairman of a Board will give up any great amount of his time to the superintendence of public works, and, in addition, want of technical knowledge would in most cases prevent his bsing able to check any trickery on the part of contractors. A professional engineer .and surveyor would have ample time to superintend works during execution, and also to draw plans for bridges, culverts, &c, which have to be paid for at the present time. We have no desire to insinuate that the contracts which have been undertaken in the district have not been faithfully performed, but the fact is patent to all that many 0 f bridges are faulty in design, and in the material used in their construction. As a means of ascertainine* the fair quota to be paid by each of the Boards we would suggest that the gross amount of rates to be levied in the district be ascertained. When this has been done, a meeting- of all the chairmen should be called for the purpose of appointing a Erentleman to the position of engineer to the district; applications from those willing to fill the office having previously been called for: The chairmen'should have the powar to fix the amount of salary, and each Board should contribute in proportion to its revenue. This

1 would be the most equitable manner of assess- j ! iiig the amount to be paid by each, as it is j fair to presume that the engineer's services j would be required in a like ratio with: the ! money to be spent. ; We trust that the advantage of employing | an engineer will be sufficiently cleared all to | ensure united action. The amount to be paid by each district will be small, and we feel! i confident that that sum will be well invested. ! : Many absurd things have been done by Boards from the want of a professional man to con- , 'suit '

. The following letter has been forwarded to us for publication for the information of those whom it ; may concern. We may premise that it is incomprehensible to ns, but probably those who are initiated ; into the mysteries of "red-tape and sealing-wax" will be more successful : — " Imperial Pensions Office, , Auckland, Gth July, 1872. Sir,—ln reply to your note of the Ist hist., I have no copy of the Itoyal | Warrants, and cannot give you a precise answer as i to whether the man you refer to is entitled to a ' pension, but men discharged five years ago, with a ! claim to deferred pension, have recently been granted i inodifwd pensions on application, although their | service was only fifteen years. I should recommend j every old soldier of similar service to forward ■ an application with his parchment certificate through i this office.—l remain, &c., Tiros. Haultain, Officer j Faying Pcnsioni. - To Capt. Norman Leslie, HainilI tou - I The third annual meeting of the ratepayers of the '■■ Mangapiko Highway District was held in the CourtI house, Alexandra, on Tuesday, the i)th inst. Mr. Alexander Grant was voted to the chair.. The annual balance-sheet, accounts, and books of the

Board were submitted to the electors, audited by Messrs. Scott and Millar, who reported them correct. After a good deal of desultory discussion, Mr. Win. Scott proposed and Mr. J. D. Hill seconded, |'TUat the rate for the current year be one penny in the , pound on the value to sell." This motion was I carried by a large majority. The following gentle- ' men "were elected Trustees : Messrs J. D. Hill, i Arthur W. (Jubbins, Henry S. Brabant, Hungerford ! Roches, and R. T. Millar. Messrs. Tisdall and I Sloane were appointed Auditors. It was then proj posed by Mr. J. U. Hill, and seconded by Mr. Ormsby, "That the new road Board be empowered ! to contribute the sum of 3(W towards the salary of a Road Overseer, provided the different Road Boards in the Waikato agree to contribute a similar i amount. It was explained that this officer would be employed in preparing plans and specifications for I bridges and culverts and in superintending the works generally. The removal of the budding in I Alexandra now used as a Court-house and Public ! Mall from its present site to a better position was then brought before the meeting. Mr. Sloane proI posed and Mr. J. D. Hill seconded the following | resolution : That in the opinion of this meeting the ; site proposed (opposite the church) is in every way | unsuitable and inconvenient, and that a memorial ! be drawn up asking the Hon. Defence Minister, for I a central site near the Post-office. An amendment ; was moved by Mr. Aubin and seconded by Mr. j Tisdall, " That the site opposite the church should 'be adopted. On the amendment being put to the , meeting the mover and seconder only voted for it. ! The original motion was then put and carried by j acclamation. j Our Alexandra correspondent, writing m reference ! to the proceedings at the meeting of the ratepayers of the Mangapiko Highway District Board, says : " About the moving of the Hall- this matter

requires explanation. During the visit of the Hon. D. McLean to Alexandra, two gentlemen waited upon him as a deputation, and asked him to grant a more favorable Bite for the H all. What transpired at this interview is not yet matter of history, but the result is eminently unsatisfactory to the public, as the decision of the meeting abundantly proves. The question naturally arises—from whom did the deputation come ? Certainly not from the people ; but, as tlie Yankees say, I daresay a " 'cute 'coon could guess in twice." The Soiree in aid of the Hamilton District School is postponed till Friday the 2Gth July. An advertisement appears in our advertising columns announcing that the first show of the Waikato Agricultural Association will be held early in November. It is to be hoped that every settler who has either horses, cattle, or sheep worth showing will not fail to exhibit, This being a comparatively youug district we may not be able to make as great a show as some of the longer settled, but it would be a pity that what we have got should not be seen. The show will at least afford an opportunity for our settlers to compare notes as to the most suitable stock for the country. Captain Munro, marine manager of the A.S.N. Company, was a passenger by the Nevada on Saturday. We are informed that he proceeds to Britain for the purpose of superintending the building of three steamerg suitable for the trade between Australia and San Francisco, and intended for that line.— Cross.