The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 558, 16 December 1875, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

SEqual and exact justice to all men. Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1g75.

Amongst all the questions put to either can•didate for the Wai pa seat in the Assembly no one seems to have thought of one which affects more intimately than any other, perhaps, the welfare of the entire -district, and which, unlike many of the questions put would be a perfectly proper and legitimate one. What about the Thames and Piako •railway P Is the project swallowed up in "the swamp, or does it sinkinto insignificance beside the question of the Waipa and Raglan road, or 'the hundred and one political phantasies which exercise the mind of the irrepressible Roche P For our own part we consider it a matter second "to none in importance, as affecting not merely the Waikato but the Waipa constituency, and it is one on which the most explicit view of candidates should be emphatically demanded. It is just one of those questions 'which comes within the scope of the powers of the Assembly, whether the woik is to be undertaken as a •colonial one or by private individuals, as Sir 'George Grey proposes, 'under the sanction and assistance of a Colonial guarantee. It is essential that the matter should be brought before the notice of the House in the next session, and if this is done it will be to the Representatives of the district that the House will -naturally turn for information. •It^would not therefore, we think, be too much if from gentleman aspiring to this position the fekctors were to ask what view-s they held on this subject, not as to the necessity or desirability of the work — we •must be all at one on that pomt — but as to the best means by wh'ch it may be undertaken and carried out, and at the least to call iipon them to pledge themselves'to assist in doing this. A railway to the Thames, connecting with the main Waikato line, would infuse new life blood into the whole ot the Waikato district, giving to it a second capital and market scarcely, as regards the latter, second, if at all so, "to that of Auckland.

The meeting of natives assembled at Hifeurangi dispersed on Saturday, and though there was JHtle -speaking and apparently little business of any kind transacted the gathering is likely to have important results in its effects .npcn the Future of the JNorth Island. The very absence of 'excitement and discussion augurs favorably for the state of native feeling when it is remembered vthat nearly the sole determination of those present arrived at was to leave every thing in the hoods of Tawhiao, the King, and that his parting advioe in dissolving the meetiiig was to commend to tbe remembrance of bis followers the last dying words of his father, Te whero whoro, " Peace Love and religion " Tawhiao alore' addressed the natives assembled, He recommended his people to devote themselves to the cultivation of their

lauds as the only means by which they can attain to a life of independence and comfort. He strongly urged them to discontinue the excessive use of spirit! and to follow if possible his example of total abitinence. Tawhiao has been at one time a hard drinker bub finding that he was pursuing a wrong course he of his own aacord gave op the habit. In taking upon himself the sole manage* ment of affairs Tawhiao expressed a hope that the natives generally would adhere to him as their head, and that the time was not far distant when the two races would be in full and friendly accord the one" with the other. Nor is it alone with the King that this feeling is said to exist- The jealousy of the last few yearg is fast dying out and it was not much more than a week ago that the remark was made, in all sincerity, to one of our settlers at Raglan, by a leading Chief of the (King?arty— "Taihoa, in a little time they (the Hauhaus) will all be pakehas." The King himself is said by those who know him to be exceedingly anxiou« for such time to arrive, and would gladly, but that it might prejudice his " mana " with hit people, pay the settled districts and Aud&flanfi visit. Sir George Grey we now learn wa§ never expected by the natives to attend the meeting. Sir George had mentioned some time before he left to*ett*nd the session at Wellington, that he would like to visit the King and sent word up to Te Kuiti to that effect, but no invitation was given, ««ndj tbw the natives now say has given rise to the reports of the intended visit. That there is a great change worbing in the 'native mind for good there can .be no doubt, Whatever of bitter feeling ;there may be still left is not against the settlers but against the Government.

The Te Awamutu Catalrt Volxjntkebs — This Corps will muster on Saturday the 18th inst. anH Saturday the Bth proximo to compete for choice of Representatives to fire for the Colonial prizes df 1-676. Held ovbe.— Our report of the proceedings at the Cambridge Fanners Club is helni over in order to publish with<it in our Tuesday's supplement the long and interesting essay of th.4 President— Every McLean, Esq. - on the agricultural and interests of the district. Our Whata Whata correspondent and 'other letters in our next. Fatal Accident. — Intelligence was received yesterday of the death by drowning ©f a Maori, whose name is unknown, in the Puniu river, beyond Kihikihi. It appears that he was about to cross the river on horseback with a si'lb. 'bag of *tour, and to keep the flonr dry transferred the load from the horse's back to his own. Shortly after entering the swollen stream the horse became restive, reared up and threw the native, who with the flour on bis back had no chance of escape. Native Interpreter. — We draw attention to an advertisement in another column of Mr Q-. W. Woon who has commenced business in Auckland as native land agent and 'licensed interpreter under the "Native Lands' Act, 1873." Mr •Woon is well and "favorably known throughout the Waikato, and his abilitj in dealing°with native matters will doubtless bring <to him a large share of pictronage from this district, and make him ft "welcome guest" where disputes concerning native affairs require adjustment. Narrow Escape —Mr James Mandeno an.l his brother had, it seems, a narrow escape from drowning on Saturday, endeavouring to cross a part of the country flooded by the river below the Mangapiko bridge. The saddle of one turned completely round, and he was washed from his horse down the stream but managed to swim to shore. Mr James Mandtno also was washed away, and he too succeeded in effecting a landing. The horses found footing on a piece of higher ground, whew the water was up to their backe ; here they remained aH. Saturday night, being too much frightened to attempt swimming to dry land. They w«>re got off earlj on Sunday morning. The JtSLECTroxs.— The sufferings of the candidates for the representation ef the electoral district of Wiiipa will soon "be drawn to a close. The "Returning Officer will gire these martyrs' to the tortures of a political catechism — the ''coup -de grace"— at an early date. Tbe writs arrivrd by the mail on Tuesdey evening, and notice appears elsewhere, that the n mination of candidates for the Waikato district will take place on the sth, and the poll, if necessary, on the 12th oi January. The nomination day for the "VVaipa district is fixi-d for the 29th inst., and the polling w iH take plnce on the 11th proximo. Mr. Cox is to be publicly baited at Raglan to-morrow, and at Te Avvamutu on Tuesday ne«t. Mr. Mcßlinn will be mart} red on •Saturday at Ngaruawahia, and as much as is left of either of them will be ressrved for a grand "au to de fe "at Hamilton on the 28th. Grudge them the honorarium indeed 1 Why either one will have earned it before he enters the Assembly. Official Inspection op tub lvte Disasters. —Mr. Allright, the Provincial Engineer, was among the passengers by boat on Monday night, and proceeded next morning to Cambridge. During flhort visit to the Waikifto, Mr Allright inspected the scene of more than one disaster occasioned by the late flood, and will doubtless report in full to the Superintendent on his return to Auckland. Whether help comes from the Provincial or from the ' Colonial Government, the old saying " he pives twice who gives quickly " will, we trust,, not be forgotten. Furies will need to be established at once at Cambridge and at Alexandra till the bridges oan be-rebiiilt. At the latter place the bridge, though carried away, has 'been saved close at hand to its former site, and can be re-erected. This is not so however in the case of the Cambridge bridge, which most probably will be sold by auction where it now lies. Much of the timber i.i it, we are told, even if it could easily be taken back to Cambridge, is not worth working up again. - Fvtal results of the flood3.— The recent floods have not been unattended with load of life. At Papakura Valley a young man named Simpson, son of an old colonist, the late Mr Daniel Simpson, J. E. was assisting his cousin, Mr Middleton, to rescuo some sheep and horses, Mr Middleton cautioned him to remain where he was while he went a short distance to turn back the horees. Deceased, however wertt a short distance to the creek to get a flax stick as an assistance to plumb the depth of water. In doing so he stepped into deep water and at once sank. He nejcrroseto the surface. His cousin went in at the spdt he was lostat and endeavoured to rescue him, but his body was not found till next day. "When found it was standing erect in the water, the ieet held down by weeds which were dragged up with it. AMr Currie Palmer, at the Wairoais missing ; supposed to have been lost in attempting to cross the river on horseback. His horse was found drowned, and when last seen he was riding down to the crossing plaoe. it is supposed that the body is washed over thetfalla. He leave* a wife and fire children, one only a few days old.