The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1242, 15 June 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal 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 grain.

TUESDAY, JUNE IS, 1880.

It appears to us that the South Auckland Cattle Board is at the present rendering itself exceedingly unpopular. Starting with the sympathy of all the settle* at their backs the members have gradually got to disagree amongst themselves, j and have at length, it seems, come to be unanimous upon one point only , — to exclude the reporters, and , through them the general public, from their meetings. We are wrong in saying they are unanimous, for we have reason to know that Mr ; Fantham at any rate was in favor of admitting the Press ; but he must \ have been alone in his opinion, otherwise such a motion would not have been carried. We presume that the members of the Board consider themselves to be 'the best judges of their own action, but it will be hard to get the settlers to be of the same opinion. So long as the meetings remained open to the Press there was j at any rate no danger of anything being done in a hole and corner manner, and it must be regarded as a sure sign of weakness when darkness has to be resorted to. And what could be the meaning of the exclusion of their own officers ? Much too little has been known of the Board's actions recently, and the inferences which people have been allowed to draw have resulted in causing much disquiet and discontent. For their own sakes the members have acted foolishly ; while as regards their duty to the public I a harsher term than this will be i applied to them. All that appears to have been done at the last meeting, which, by the way, was not convened publicly, was to resolve that the farm of Mr Burke at Pukerimu, be declared free from disease, and that Mr McNlcols farm be declared free, should Mr Naden make a favorable report to-morrow. So far as regards Mr Burkes farm this is satisfactory, though we are sorry to find Mr Fantham opposing it ; but why Mr McNicol's cattle should be subject to a further inspection we cannot really understand. In the interest of the settlers we would ask why no action was taken regarding the districts of Kirikiriroa and Cambridge ? The latter is surely clean enough, while outside the Swamp Company's fences there has been no case of disease found in the former. If •something bei not done towards lightening the burdens of the settlers in these district the Board will find itself robbed of every spark of respect which has been felt for it as a body, by the people of the two districts we have named.

Mr John Sheehan, M.H.R., addressed his Thames constituents on Saturday evening, in the Theatre Royal. His Worship the Mayor of the Thames presided. In common with a large number of thinking people, we have lpoked forward with much interest to this long promised speech, and have perused it with some degree of satisfaction. Mr Sheehan, unlike the lesser lights of his party — what he terms "the party" — expressed himself calmly and in a gentlemanlike manner on the actions of his and " the party's " opponents, and hence his remarks merit a consideration from people of all shades of political opinion so little warranted in the case of other members of " the party." Mr Sheehan's reference to the action of the " four rats " is couched in very fair language, and presents a striking contrast to that used by leading members of " the party." Referring to his present connection with some leading supporters of the Ministry, Mr Sheehan said : For myself, I felt exceedingly pleased when my official duties came to an end. I had had quite enough of it. I had given up nine years of my life to the public service. I had abandoned my professional business for the public service. In 1877, when I joined Sir George Grey, I gave up a payable business In Napier. I gave it up completely. When I left office this last time, I had to look about me in order to make a living. I was offered a certain large business in theJVaikato, and I made up my mind to embrace it. I would not go to Napier, for there my professional connection had in a manner ceased. I would not go to Auckland -irhere there ■were too many of my profession already. I selected a purely unoccupied country where there wa9 a chance of doing a good professional business for the future,

Upon my detertnination becoming known certain gentlemen came to me and asked me whether I would undertake to negotiate for them the purchase of oertain blocks of land. One of these, I may state, was the Patetere block. My answer to them was that if the Government chose to withdraw I would do so, but I could not do so otherwise. I mention this because I have seen it stated that I was about to assist the Government in connection with negotiations of this kind, but I had stated positively that I could do nothing in such matters unless the Government withdrew from their position. I wrote to the Native Department upon the subject, and received an answer that the Government had made up its mind not to go on with these matters. Therefore, as a mere matter of business, I contend that I was entitled to enter upon the matter. As a professional man, if another person comes to me to do work for him, I say that so long as the work is well done, aud the charges are fair and reasonable, I have a right to do that professional work. But perhaps you will say that because I opposed private purchase in my official capacity as a Minister of the Crown, having public functions to discharge, I am now doing wi'ong to help on private purchase. But you will readily percaive that I am a very different person as a professional and private individual from what I was when I held the seals of office. In the latter case I was the servant of the public, with the responsibility of a public trust. In the former case, lam a professional man, with a like responsibility of trust to discharge efficiently the duties and perform the work for which I am employed Conscience and honor alike require that I should do the work for which I am engaged to the best of my Ability. If the business is honourable, and is done in an honourable way, I cannot see why, because I was formerly in the service of the Government, I should be denied the right to get my own living, fairly and honestly, when I leave it. But although I have agreed to enter upon these negotiations, I will show you that I have not done so without a view to all the circumstances which might fairly limit my action in such matters. I said to these gentlemen, if you will grant me two conditions, I will buy for you. These conditions were imposed by me, because I was determined not to abandon the principles which I have held. These conditions were : (1) That every acre of land acquired shall be put up to auction ; (2) that twentyfive per cent, of the land shall be put up on deferred payments. (Cheers). This should show that I am not taking any advantage for myself. Some have said this is a rather hard bargain, but whether it be so or not, these are the conditions, without which Ido not stir. I still believe that the country should back up the policy of the late Government, in acquiring all native land for the country as opposed to private individuals. I say the time will come when land so acquired will pay all the money it cost and leave a large profit. It enables the land to be handled in convenient blocks in regard of size. If, however, that policy which I recommended, and do still recommend, is declined by the vote of Parliament, if the Press declares in the same direction, I fail to see how, even if I made no condition whatever, you could exclude me from following my professional business so far as it may be concerned in these matters. This Patetere block has been the subject of negotiation for the last seven years, and during that period of [ time, not a blade of grass has been sown there. That block means some 40,000 acres, upon which some 40,000 people l might be settled. I have not abandoned any views I held on this subject. We confess to inability to follow ! Mr Sheehan when he says that he j does not belong to the Sir George Grey party, nor to the Macandrew party, nor to the Young New Zealand party, but to " the party." This is certainly paradoxical. Mr Sheehan has all along been a leading spirit in the Grey party, and a state* ment to the contrary is most bewildering. On this head he says : I want to make clear to you my position in the present Parliament, You hear of the Sir George Grey party, the Young New Zealand party, the Macandrew party. I do not belong to any of these— l belong to the party which I followed. If people tell you that I have gone over to the Government they tell you a lie. (Cheers.) I am pairing against the Government at the present moment, and have no intention of doing • otherwise. Ido not belong to that class of politicians who can readily sell either his conscience or his principles, and I shall, I hope, never do anything that would make me look you in the face with shame. (Cheers.) I again say that I belong to the party. I have never left that party. What the Young New Zealand party may be, I can't say ; but I believe that there are some members of it almost as "old as the hills." I have been invited to join them, but I have declined, although I believe I was the first " Young New Zealander" in the House. I ask you to accept my assurance in this respect. I have shown no sign of leaving the party, and Ido not mean to do so. I shall support Mr Bryce in his measures to preserve law and order on the Waimate Plains. He is simply carrying out the policy we intended. I was asked to respond for his health drank recently at the Club. That was rather rough ou me. But while I said he was a very good fellow, I assured his friends and mine that I would turn him out if I could. (Laughter and cheers. ) lam going in for what is practicable and reasonable, and fair, but I shall not go in to yore that is black to-day which was white yesterday. Ido not propose to make any attack on the Native Department, or to attempt to oust the Government. I will go with my party in this matter. If anyone makes a motion, whether it be Sir George Grey or Mr Macandrew, I shall be prepared to vote with him. Mr Sheehan's remarks on the Native Minister are chivalrous, and the whole speech, as we have remarked, is as refreshing as it is decorous, and shows that one at least of the late Ministry can see matters through spectacles undimmed by rancour and party feeling.

" Cruelty to dumb animals is one " of the distinguishing- vices of the " lowest and basest of the people," says an old writer, and the axiom is as full of truth to-day as at any time previous. Where it exists we may unfailingly take it to be a mark of every despicable quality, whether its covering be broadcloth and fine linen, or the coarsest of rags. It betokens meanness, uncharitableness, want of feeling and every bad quality. It is a channel when none else is available for expelling the noisome humors of ill-temper and spiteful malice. It is not so safe a means as many others that may be and are adopted, because the eye of the law, which looks com-

passionately even upon dumb animals regards cruelty towards them as a crime which may be severely punished. Unfortunately it is not an offence easy of detection, for much of it is witnessed solely by those who commit it, and who of course decline to proceed against themselves. In sparsely populated places, where settlers are wide apart, cruelty to horses and oilier dumb animals is almost impossible to discover. But on this very account the offence when discovered should be treated with the utmost rigour. The other day a fellow named Baker, belonging to Te Awamutu, was found guilty of an atrocity of a most inhuman character. On the day of the races at Cambridge he was entrusted with a horse to ride thither, the owner telling him that he wanted the animal " quieted." Armed with these instructions, Baker certainly did his best to carry them out. He thrashed the poor beast most unmercifully, and pushed it so hard that by the time he reached Cambridge the poor thing was utterly broken down. On the morning following he started on the return journey, against the advice of those who saw him and by whom he was told that the horse had foundered. Disregarding all advice, he proceeded towards home, the wretched creature under him staggering at every vicious blow rained upon it. Utterly exhausted, the horse at last refused to go, and .then Baker dismounted, borrowed a horse from a person who happened to be going in the same direction, and attempted to drive the beast he had so effectually rendered " quiet " before him. A few miles further on the horse dropped on the side of the road, and, spite of kicks and blows, never got up again, but died shortly afterwards in great agony, " blind, foundered, and lock jawed." Fortunately, there were witnesses to Baker's conduct on both days, arid these witnesses, disgusted and horrified beyond measure, communicated with the police, through whose instrumentality Baker found himself face to face with the Magistrate. We should be loth indeed to cavil at the sentence given by His Worship, the lenity of which was dictated by a merciful consideration for the wife and family of the offender, but we cannot help saying that, looked at indifferently, it appears out of all proportion to the offence. We are not advocates of corporal punishment, but if ever there was a case which called for the lash it is the one under notice. We hope that, though the extent of the punishment inflicted may not in itself be sufficient to act as a deterrent, the horrible nature of the crime may produce that effect. In writing thus, we are not actuated by the " simpering sentimentality " of the age, but by a wholesome abhorrence of cruelty in every shape or form.

On Saturday the weather was unusually stormy all over the Waikato. Rain fell in torrents and a strong westerly gale blew all day. At Te Awamutu the rain came only in occasional squalls, but at Hautapu and Cambridge it came down in a perfect deluge. We have not heard that any great damage was done, but in Hamilton a very fine macracarpa tree belonging to Mr. R. F. Sandes was blown down. Yesterday morning, there was a return to frost.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, before H. W. Northcroft Esq., R.M., William Town was chai-ged ou remand from Cambridge with a breach of the Destitute Person's Act 1877, by deserting his wife Mary Jane Town at Gisborne in the month of October last and leaving her without adequate means of support. On application of Sergeant McGovern the prisoner was remanded to Gisborne.

We are pleased to learn that the little girl Green who, as reported in la&t Thursday's paper, had the tips of three of her fingers chopped off accidentally, is progressing very favorably. Dr Sandes amputated the three fingers, and the child will very shortly have the use of her band again; on which she is the more to be congratulated, it being her right hand which was hurt.

A meeting of the Ladies' Wesleyan Bazaar Committee was recently held in the rooms of the Fanners' Club, Cambridge, to make arrangements in connection with the bazaar to be held in the Public Hall in October next. In addition to the refreshment stall, it was decided to have four stalls for the sale of fancy and useful articles, under the direction of the following ladies :— No. 1 stall : Mrs E. B. Walker, with Mesdames Nixon, Booth, Mynott, and Miss NoiTis. No. 2 : Mrs Clark and Mrs Bull, with Mesdames Macintosh and Wright, and Misses Alford and Purchon. No. 3 : Miss Brown, with Mesdames Houghton and R. Reynolds, and Misses Johnson and Houghton. No. 4, Pukerimu ladies : Mesdames Gane, Buttle, Coley, and the Misses Caley. Considerable progress has already been made in the preparation of articles. The committee of the Farmers' Club has kindly allowed the use of the rooms for the ladies' sewing "bees," which are held every fortnight, and ai*e attended by some 15 or 20 workers.

A meeting of the members of the Cambridge Cavalry was held at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday, Captain Runciman in the chair. There were between 30 and 40 members present. A number of accounts relating to the Thames trip were passed. Some correspondence which had passed between the officer commanding the troop and the Go vernment relative to procuring a suitable drill ground was read, and the Chairman reported that he had sent in an application for a portion of the town belt reserve. A letter was read from Major Jackson, asking the troop to consider the desirability of forming the whole of the Waikato cavalry into a regimezit with a view to its better management. Some discussion ensued, .the members all viewing the proposition with favor, and it was resolved that Captain Runciman and Lieut. Fisher be delegated to meet the representatives of the other troops for the purpose of making the necessary airangements. The subject of obtaining helmets for the troop was introduced, and met with great favor. The Chairman exhibited a specimen helmet from Mr W. H. Fenton, of Auckland, after the style of the Home service helmet. It was resolved that helmets similar in shape to that exhibited, but of a dark blue color, be obtained, subject to the decision which

the delegates of all the troops might arrive at. This was all the business, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.

We are glad to hear that Mr Panve s who met with so severe an accident about a fortnight ago, is now progressing favorably.

The Land Court was opened a short time ouly on Saturday. A commencement was made on the Tokaroa block and rot the To Whitu block as stated in our issue of Saturday, although the information that the Te Whitu would follow Pakuranga was given by one who should have known. Te Whiti it is said will follow Tokaroa. Still, until the court actually sits, it would be unwise to say positively.

. There has been a general and very just complaint about the smallness of the bags obtained by sportsmen this season. Mr J. Hitchman of Cambridge has, however, succeeded well. On Thursday List he brought down no less than sixteen brace of game. This is the largest bag we have heard of.

The members of L.0.L., No. 21, Cambridge, will celebrate the 12th July by Divine service on Sunday Ist, when the Chaplain, Rev/ H. Bull will preach before the Lodye, in the Wesleyan CliapPe 1 ;- On Monday, 12th, a tea meeting will be held in the Public Hall, members in regalia, after which a public meeting will be held, at which addresses will be delivered and selections of music hy friends will occupy the meeting. The first address will be "The Twelfth of £&"> Mr E ' bright; followed by "William the 111., Prince of Oranee/' by the Rev. H. Bull; " Oran^ism Historically, what it has cbne,"' will be treated by Mr Lambert, and " Oran seisin, prospectively, its scope and aims" will find an exponent in Mr C D Mackintosh.

Mr J. 0. Firth has been very successful with his turnip crop this year. He has a paddock of about 700 acres looking splendid. They were sown in February and owe their advance to the two days heavy rain which greeted the visitors to Matamata on the occasion of the opening of the Thames Navigation

No better exemplification of the advance of Maori civilisation could have shown itself than an entertainment at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Friday night. It seemed to have been got up somewhat hurriedly as no notice was given. However, at half-past 7 the strains of the Cambridge Band charmed the listening ears, and a crowd soon collected at 'the doors. The music ceased, when a voice harangued the populace with, " One bob two bob, three bob," "Walk up, gemmans," "Stand back there," "One shilling," "Walk up," and so on. A haka was to be gone through in true and proper costume, and many a sinner entered "to see what you shall see." After a delay the curtain was drawn, and 20 young men marched on to the stage ; but alas the loud and prolonged "Oh !" told too plainly they wore the ordinary European garb of trousers and white shirt. They went through their dance with admirable precision and wonderful accuracy, still there was the sad disappointment depicted on many of the audience's faces. A Californian stepdance followed by a " corked " pakeha. Two Maoris treated the audience to something of the same kind, when a bout with the gloves received some applause. The 20 young Maoris again entered and sat themselves in a circle, and emitted a song, all chorus. Another haka, and a concertina struck up "God Save the Queen, "when, as usual, everybody left, thoroughly satisfied that no greater " take in " was ever perpetrated.

In our issue of Saturday last, under the heading Resident Magistrate's Court, Te Awamutu, we should have stated in the Civil cases— Tristram v. Nicol, Same v. Hose Thompson, Duffus v. Conroy, Jones v. Tanner, and Blunden v. Peller, that Mr Gresham appeared for the plaintiffs. In tfae case of cruelty to a horse, Mr. Gresham made an application to the Bench (on behalf of Mr. James Watters, the owner of the animal) under section 6of the Cruelty to Animals Aot, 1878. The result was that \Tr Watters was awarded £10 compensation for the loss of thehor.-e.

The monthly inspection parade of the Hamilton Ligrht Infantry Vulunteers took place in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, last night, Colonel Lyon being inspecting officer. There was a very fair attendance, the following being the parade state : — Captain Dawson, Lieutenant O'Neill. Sergt.-Major Warren, 26 rank and file, and 16 members of the band. The parade was also called to examine the lieutenant and sub -lieutenant for their commissions. (Sub-Lieutenant Breakell was, however, unavoidably absent. The men were first put through the manual exercises, told off, and proved by the Lieutenant, and then handed over to the Sergt.-Major, by whoni they were treated to a quarter-of-an-hour'e smart company drill. The men went through the movements in fair style, but their appearance would be much enhanced were they uniformed. The uniforms have been long expected and ought to have been furnished before now. After drill Colonel Lyon addressed a few worda to the Company complimenting them upon their steadiness in the ranks, but at the same time urging- them to pay increased attention to their drill. He then requested the band to play and they complied with a very spirited march, in which a great improvement upon their previous efforts was noticeable. The roll having been called the Company dismissed.

Despite the extraordinary behaviour of the Cattle B>>ard on Saturday m excluding Press reporters, we have succeeded in obtaining the substance of Inspector Runoiman'a report, with which Mv Naden's was almost identical. Ifc will be found in our partial report of the Board's meeting.

It will be seen by a report in another column that the settlers in the Te Awamutu district are not going to let ohe occasion of the opening of the railway to that place pass without some suitable demonstration. A committee has been appointed to canvass for subscriptions and arrange a programme of the proposed proceedings. The affair may be expected to come off with eclat.

A co^'VERSA^IO^•E, in aid of the new Episcopalian Church, Cambridge, will be held in the Public Hall, Cambridge, next Tuesday evening. Messrs Whitaker and Sheeiun are authorised to collect all book debts due to the, estate of James Martin, of Hamilton. A general meeting of those wishing to join a Temperance Lodge in Cambridge will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, next Thursday. The Sons of Ulster are summoned to attend a Lodge meeting, in the Victoria Hall, Hamilton, next Tuesday evening. Thh Chairman of the Pirongia Highway District (Isaac Hodgson, Esq.,), notifies that it is the intention of the Board to strike a shilling rate for the year ending 31st March next. The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Contingent Te Awamutu Volunteer Cavalry will be held at Gwynne's Hotel next Saturday evening at 7 o'clock.

To teach a child is to give him ideas ; to train him is to enable him to reduce those ideas to practice. And it is not difficult to train children. They are adapted to training. No willow to form a. basket was ever woven more easily than children may be influenced in right ways by wise parents. They can be fashioned as readily as clay is fashioned on the potter's wheel.