Thewaikato Times "OMNE SOLUM FORTH PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 15 August 1872, Page 2

Thewaikato Times "OMNE SOLUM FORTH PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1872.

Onk of the most important measures introduced during the present session is the '"Tramways Act." The object of the Bill is to grant power to local bodies to construct Miu'u tramways tviiAiin their districts as they n\ay think necessary f>»r the development of it.rt resourcos. The best Feature, in these days of Government responsibility fur anything and everything 1 , is that no responsibility is to bo incurred by either General or Provincial Government. Tim cost of constructing a tramway is little in excess of forming ami n.ot;i lling «n ordinary road, and from the smal'er power ncoessnry f o convey goods along them, are much less costly. Very justly I,ha Bill places the power iu the bauds of the Commissioner of Public Works to put a veto on the construction of any tramway calculated to injuriously ntFeof. the receipts from the railways constructed at the expense of the country. Power is also granted to S j eriu--tendents to authorise the const.ru i>n of tramways to run through more than one district. This is a necessary provision, otherwise, iu the event of the intt rests clashing of any two of tluj innumerable sections into which the colony is subdivided, the progress of the district might be retarded by the refusal of one ot the parties to allow the tramway to be made over their land Provision is made for the construction of tramways by private capital provided soiilJ portion of the revenue derived from them is applied through the local bodies to public works in the district. Power is also granted uader certain conditions of constructing tramways along roads already formed. This will be of great advantage to those working mineral or coal within a short distance of the main line of railway, —the same trucks used on the works can be so constructed as to fit them for running on the railway, thus avoiding the cost aud inconvenience of transferring the load from one truck to another. We trust that the tramway system will be extensive'v

adopted; they will be valuable feeders to the main lines of railway constructed by the Government and they must add to the prosperity of the district through which they run, and as a sequence to the revenue of the railways. Now that this power is granted, there can no longer be any excuse for the pressure brought to bear on the Government to make a railway to every petty township. If a line is required and it will pay, private enterprise will be found tj construot the necessary tramways. 0:ino account whatever should the Government construct any but the main lines of road.

At the Annual meeting of ratepayers of the Rangiawhia District, held at Te A wamutu on the 25th ult., a resolution was unanimously passed that, the newly-elected trustees send » protest to the House of Ilepreseutatievs, now in session at Wellington, against the enforcing in this province of the 6th clause of the Highways Empowering Act, 1871, which restricts the rating powers of local governing bodies. In compliance with this resolution Mr. W. It. Bridginan, the chairman, has forwarded to Hia Honor the Superintendent and t« the hon. member for the Waikato, copies of the protest in question, with a request that theoe gentlemen would ÜBe their influence iu the House for the repeal of the said objectionable clause, which, it is added, paralyses the action of Highway Boards, taxes the improvements of the industrious resident land owners, while it favours neglect, uun-improvement, and absenteeism. The Te Awamutu Agricultural Association which started into existence last week under the approval of a well-attended meeting, is, judging from the unanimity of its members, and the energetic action already taken by its supporters to advance its interests, likely to be a great success. The Society will, we learn, hold its first meeting in Te Awamutu next week, when it is expected measures will be adopted for the construction of stockyards, pens, and other requisites for its use. We call attention to the fact that the Rev. David Bruce will give a lecture on " Stonewall Jackson" to-night in the Presbyterian Church, Hamilton. The tunds which accrue from the charge for admission will be applied to the Church Building Fund. If the subject is weU handled, which will no doubt be the case, this lecture cannot fail to prove interesting and instructive. The Kev. David Bruce will conduct service in the church at Ngaruav?,hia on Friday (to-morrow) jvening, at 7.30. After the service there will be i meeting for the purpose of arranging for the jervices of a Presbyterian Minister at Ngaruaw?,hia. Mal.ters in Tasmania are not at all in satisfactory orm. The Treasurer's statement gives a dis:ouraging view of the present condition of the inanees, and opens up no brighter prospects for the uture. The expenditure has exceeded the income, md it is expected to do so, and the only way by vhich a balance can be struck is to add 80,000 to ;he public debt. Under this depressing condition )f altars there is a tendency observable to find fault vith aH the institutions the working of which ha» ed to such a position. The Governor and the Pariament, on different grounds, have become unpopular. The railways are felt to be an intolerable hirden. They cannot be worked without a loss, md to leave tliem idle would be a greater loss. The ,'ivi! Service is oppressively heavy, and there are no ironosals made by the Government for lightening ts pressure. Viewing all these things a Launceston journal, the Cornwall Chronicle, after asking : - : Is there to be no reduction of our astounding irmy of officials—no simplification of departments, lor economy in expenditure ?" makes the following •ather desperate suggestions :—" We see no hope of jhange for the better, unless imitating the example )f Jamaica, we pray our Parliament to consent to a •eforin of our Constitution, and petition the Imperial Government to relieve us of a gift, which like jhe whi f .e e'ephaut of Siam, is e;t, ing us out of house in home. A council of six or eight, elected by the colony as one electoral district, is what most thoughtful men amongst us sigh for. A Governor meh as Sir John Grant ought not to be impossible to obtain, and would be worth paying for. We have !iad quite enough of the ornamental ' constitutional' jrovernor. Leo us have the practical man with power in his hands, who will take an active interest n our good Government, rescue Tasmania from the j'ough of despond into which she has fallen, and •evive the languishing industry of the colony. Some such step as the above would probably be the only ncans of curing the very similar evil under which Sew Zealand is groaning.