The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 19 July 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

"OM>E SQU'M FOKTI P\rKl\"

BATI RDAY, JULY 19, 1873,

Nf.cf.s^arily at tHs early date in the- session fchcie i-s little news of a definito character from tho Scat of Government. It is satisfactory to known that Messrs Webb and Ilo'liduy are not to go unscathed , £10,000, owing for work performed, hns been retailed, and there avo two sureties in i.'2«"),000 who can be made liablo for tho b.ilanoe of the penalties incurred. This matter hiis itssumed a more satisfactory g-uiso than we have hitherto been led to be 1 K'vc would be the oiso Mr Mm ray has brought, foi'waid a motion to the oflec t tli.it tho Government should t:ike immediate step*, to prevent fin t her land LiMtiSiicbioiH t.ikino- place beUvceti the natives and I'iU'M'MUiH '<!,d nr Ul(.U l( . In- ri^'ini/ 1 into force of the ,i -Y. io ..'U'mi- I'lin probably would htve fn\

injurious died cm Uiu.se wli> ltuve pin chases or leases half negotiated, yub we c.inuot help being of opiuiou that tho adoption of Mr Murray's suggestion would act beneficially for the interest of tne colony. Mr Webb, in moving tho address in reply, intimated that a debt of gratitude was dae to the Government for having maintained peace. If we (jjuKi believe that the present immunity from annoyance was likely to be permanent, we should heartily endorse his sentiments. We fear, however, that this is not likely to bo the case ; it is only two days since a party working on the roads was warned that an attack was contemplated. This is not at .ill reassuring. The settlers have a right to c\:pec t I •ictioii from a Ministry whom they have cnnsisffnUv I supported in temporising, on their assurance thai immediately necessity required they would be prepared for a contrary policy. We have not yet, however, sufficient information to write authoritatively on this question. It is suggestive of the strength of the Miuibtry that Mr Gillies was the only member of the House who expressed dissent from the address. That, he would do so under any circumstances was a matter of course ; even he, however, qualified his remarks. Mr Stafford had not then arrived, and we learn that he has retired, if not into piivate life, to the position of a member with no party at his back, and has done so with the tacit understanding that he will never ugain take a leading position in Ih-j liou^e. Had this occurred some few years back it would have been matter for regret, — not so now. r lhe Mr Stafford of to-day is a different man from the Mr Stafford who once held the confidence of the colony. The most pleasing pieco of intelligence is, that the extension of the Waikato Kailway forms part of the Government scheme. The survoys to Ngarmwahia are completed ; we may therefore fairly expect that the line between Mercer and that place will be constructed nearly as soon as tho portion already contracted for. We tiust that the contract for the second portion will be terminable at a very much earlier date from lotting than that for the fiist. It is gratifying to find from the Chief Engineer's report that some of the lines already contracted for are yielding good returns. The Waikato railway, wo feel confident, will vie with tho most prosperous in this respect. The supply of coal to Auckland will in itself be a very great source of revenue. The legislative tree has as yet only blossomed ; we tiust that the failure to produce fiuit last year will be compensated by a latge yield. Up to the present time, however, there is litt'e blossom upon its branches.

Tlio nnfivos of Hawke's Uny purpose stnrtin™ a paper to advocate their interests. We unilunstund that Mr J. Sheelian, RI.H.R., is the moving spirit. Mr Vogel slated in the House that it is the intention of the Government to bring up a proposition regarding tho extension of the Waikato ni.lwivj. The onts ex Elizabeth Curie are now for sale at i lie offices of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company. We notice that the price asked is 7s 3d per bushel. This price b a crying shame to those farmers who assert that fanning will not pay in the Waiknto. Dr Marshall purposes visiting Hamilton and Cambridge before leaving the district. He will be in Hamilton on Monday, and has requested us to intimate that he would be obliged by a meeting being called for that evening, m order that he may meet t lie settlers and make such arrangements with reference to his residence in the district as shall be mutually satisfactory. On Thursday, a party of men working on a track near Cambridge, were warned that they would be attacked. As is customary with the natives, a woman w.vs deputed to deliver the message. We trust that warnings of this description will be taken no further notice of th.m to post a sufficiently strong force in the neighbourhood, to give any party attempting hostile action a lesson that will be remembered by those who survive. Now that there \* every prospect of the railway being extended through the Waikato, we suggest that the construction ot tho bridge so much w anted across the river at Ngar uawahia should at o, cc bo undertaken. This of course cannot be done till tho route of the railway is decided upon ; the surveys, however, are completed to' the bank of the river, so that no great delay need ensue. We believe that thero is a petition hidden somewhere on this subjeut ; it would be well if it were uncart 1 icd and forwarded to the House as soon as possible. Mr Gillics's motion in the House, snys Hh»— £> 8 Cioti, for a return of the amount of gunpowder authorised bj each officer in the N.itne ])";m-,nient sold or supplied to Ihe natives, if it has the effect of fli nvmg the attention of the Government to tho necessity for adopting moro Btringcnt measures in respect to the proper enforcement of the Anns Act, will confer a service upon the entire colony. Whether ill or well founded, there is a -very widespread feeling of dissatisfaction abroad upon this subject. E\ery effort must be put forth bv tho authorities to prevent either arms or ammunition falling into tho hnnds of any class of natives at the present timo. Suspicion, wo know, ha 3 been very freely expressed in some quarters to tho effect that a nefarious trade in ammunition, if not inarms also, is being carried on, or has been up till lately, by Europeans with tho disaffected natives, or with so-called friendly natives in communication with them. Of course, the truth of tlioso statements is not vouched for, but the fact that such rumours are in circulation, especially in the Waikato, should ai >use the Go\ eminent to renewed diligence m order to prevent the possibility of any such practices being engaged in with impunity.