"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 29 July 1873, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1873.

It is to us almost unacooantable that a greater number of settlers have not takou up land iv this district and commenced funning operations. There are still large tracts of oountry in tho state Nature left tUo.n. The land still unoccupied ia cquil m every iispert to that l.eing successfully far mod at tho present time. The Kind on the east sidu of tho Waikuto river between Tanpiri and liaraltonts uuocoupiod ; also a largo quantity on toe banks of t\w Wtupa A good deal of this land it is true is in tho hands of speculators, who purchased for the most part at very low rates, and self interest fhould iiidiico thorn to sell at a moder.i c profit, aud wo beliove that the majority of them are prepared to do so, but oaunot find purohaseiM. No doubt the native question, which hangs over the Waikato like a black oload has done much to keep would-bo settlers from the district, ihosu at. a cLslijuoo look upon our position a.s regards tho nati\e-> in a much less favorable light than thoau who mv o.i the spot and huve the best opportunity of judging. Wo believe that we an-; ju» i.uJ hi wiituig t.mt no settler within the b'lim lary Hue fe«.«U in the sli^htyit dogreo n«?i'voua, 1 he* e can be little doubt that common

sense and common justice will cnn*v our railwHy to be constructed forthwith ; no mutter what, route it follows it will enable farmers to get their produce, at small cost, into the dearest market in New Zealand. iSow is the timo for farmers to take up land ; it is cheaper than ever it is likely to be after the railway is constructed, and it will take them a year or so to get whatever laud they may take up in order. The Waikato is undoubtedly one of" the finest districts in I\ T ew Zealand : this is a fact admitted by all, competent to judge, who have visited it. The climate is all that could be desired ; in fact, we wonder that more invalids, more particularly those suffering from lung disease, do 1.0 make the Waikato their home. We have two navigable rivers, so that it matters little to the bettlers which of the proposed routes the railway follows, as it is certain to touch them at their junction. Coal is cheap ; there is therefore a splendid opeuing for any manufacturer who requires steam power to carry on his business. This would bo tne place in which to start a woollen manufactory; it is a question of a year or two, and the district will produce enough wool to keep a mill in full work. If we only get a fair share of the immigrants allotted to us, labour and the cost of living will be reduced, farms will increase in number and quality, manufactories will bo started and bring riches to those who own thorn. In fact, we believe that wealth and prosperity are bound to dodge the steps of the man who has sufficient enterprise to enter the field with a stout heart, a strong arm, and a little money.

It seems to have escaped the notice of our contemporalies, as it iliil oma till yesterday morning, that the NewZealand Government have positively sent homo to England for the forms on which they distribute their telegiaphic messages. That a private individual should bo guilty of such a gross w.uit ot knowledge of the fiist principles of political economy would not have sui prised us much. W hen those whose piofessimi is politics, and who are supposed to watch o\ei and nourish the industries of this colony send 11 oney out of the countiy for the sake of saving a few shilings, it dots surpnae us a little, although we have lieaily at rived at the stage when bungling on the pait of New Zealand olhcials will surprise us no longer. We are inclined to ask whethei Messis Watei house aud Sons are rehte I in any way to one of the Ministry, or to a man who has a vote. The paper ia bad and the printing vilo— in fact, so bad that there are few offices iv the colony that w mid n< tbe ashamed to see their imprint at the bottom of the forms. Some excitement was occasioned the inhabitants at the south end of Queen-sheet, >estcrdny morning, b} the ringing of the fiio bell. A rush was made to tht-^dpot, but tho 01 casion of the alarm was soon turned into one of amusement. On the platform of the belfry sat a Maori woman hauling vigorously at the bell-ropes, and in disjointed accents and with gestures wild exclaiming that her house wasa-fue. A constable soon armed on the scene, andessajed to capture the dark daughter of Eve, but no sooner did he pop his head above the platform, than Madame Maori alternately pulled the bell and belabored the portable about the frontispiece with the rope's end. Ultimately the eonstablo succeeded in embracing the dusky enslaver around the waist, and ahe, m turn, showed her affection for the peace guardian by grasping him tightly by tlie whiskers. Here, like Punch and Judy, they rocked about, much to tho amusement of the crowd, until a spectator, taking pity upon both of them, hied to the rescue and separated the lOYfng pair fiom each other's embiuec. As a token of his esteem and regard, the constable llun m evented lih pirhier with a pair of branlets, which, having placed upon her wn-ts, lie, \,ith tender solicitude, handed her down from her porilous position. Thus freed, tho lady exhibited tho ingratitude peculiar to her sex, by hurrying away without the escort of her capturer, but an ungallnnt comrade, meeting her in her run, unceremoniously took her m charge, ,and comfortably ensconced her in Go\ermuent quarters. Tho joung lady was evidontly troubled with an overdose of " fire-water," hence her vagaries ami her visions of tho devouini" element — Herald. We have, been requested to notify to chairmen of District Boards that thero is now nn excellent opportunity for procuring accurate aescssment lists for the current jear at moderate cost, as Mr Clarke, of the Waikato Highway Boards Agenoy w ill proceed to Auckland on Thursday for the purpose of revising schedule at tho Registration Offices. The European mails close in Auckhind on Thursday next at 730 a m. It is a pity that the chief postmaster does not take steps to have- timely information afibrded settlers in the country districts. In this instance tho mail will have closed in Auckland before our letters can possibly reach the chief post-oflice. It will bo seen by our advertising columns that Mr J. Knox has changed tho date of his cattlo tale to Tuesday, the sth August, in consequence of the annual sale, of fruit and forest trees being fixed for the 6th August, at which wo trust there will be a good attendance. We should like to see more arboriculture than at present prevails. At Mr J. Knoxs b ulo of Poverty Bay horses on Saturday last, at Hamilton, there was a very good attendance, aud competition was brisk. Light saddle and harness horses fetched from £7 10s to £10. There was uo bid for the Hobart Town potatoes offered at the same time. John Fiedeiick waa brought before George Rayner and 11. R. Hunt, Esii'a., J.P.s, at Ngaruawahia yesterday morning on a charge of obtaining goods under false pretences. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment in Mount Eden GaoL An Auckland contemporary announces that Mrs Colclough has accepted the teuchoralnp of the girls' school at Kauwaeranga. We hoped that this lady's aervices had been secured for Ngaruawahiu. Wo learn that the natives arc v,i n( j tt U sorts of artifices to procure copper -oms. They have mo\ ci their field of action from tho Waikato to Auckland.