The Waikato Times

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1286, 25 September 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times

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

' SATURDAY, SEP. 25, 1880.

A lump sum of seventy-five thousand pounds was voted at the extreme end of the Session for works to be especially given to the unemployed of the Colony. This sum is entirely at the disposal of the Government, and may be expended as Ministers see fit. We do not like this at all. That there -will be a scramble for a share more or less of the plunder, we fear is not to he doubted. We fear that the knowledge of the passing of this vote will have a bad effect in the Home Country. How will it be taken at home, that in New Zealand, with a revenue of some three millions and with a debt of twenty-seven millions in round numbers £75,000 are voted for charitable, if remunerative, purposes ? How will it sound in the ears of the British community which for years past has been absolutely bored to death by paid Immigration agents without number, all of whom have with more or less persistence insisted that New Zealand could absorb any amount of labour, skilled and unskilled 1 And that labour which we have all along imported at our own cost, was relieving I

tho overplus of the unemployed population in Great Britain and assisting to reduce the expense of maintaining poor-houses there. Yet this question of what to do with or for our colonial unemployed, whose ranks have been so swollen by indisI criminate and costly immigration, is undoubtedly a serious question and one which must soon be solved, ! although on the face of the enormous overflow of labour, the railway employees have the % hardihood to clamour against a reduotion in their wages, while all the time their employment is almost a permanent one and the remuneration sure to be J punctually paid. The presentatate of things is all the more deplorable because while on the one hand there is a cry for both capital and labour to develop theresouices of the country, there is found, on the other, abundance of each which, however, are prevented by present circumstances from being utilised. While money is locked up labor seeks, for employment. There is but little outlet for either. * • There is just now a large amount of capital lying idle for want of sound securities. Investments are ticklish things, and no better proof could be afforded of the wavering state of securities than the fact that there is a steady run upon shares in public companies. This is a sign which experienced business men are not* slow to understand. And, with this plethora of uninvested capital, we find thousands of men seeking for work and unable to obtain it. The distress does not pinch the laboring class the most. It has invaded the ranks of the middle classes, where keen distress is felt by merchants' clerks and others of the same cloth, who, however, suffer more silently and unobtrusively than the laboring people. Does this not conclusively show that it is absolutely necessary that the colony should make a great effort to initiate and foster native industries? We have lived, and extravagantly too, in years gone bye, upon the proceeds of our Land Fund and those of the succeeding loans. This pleasant period is now over,. No more Land, Fund, and no other loans for many a long year to come. The wind was carelessly sown and now comes the reaping of the whirlwind. Government are now giving employment to some 2000 unemployed, but where will be the finality of this ? It can not go on for ever. The wages are naturally little above starvation point, and the men cannot possibly save anything from what they receive. They Jive from hand to mouth. When the works they are engaged upon are completed they will again be thrown on the country. Instead of this temporary assistance what was ! wanted was a bold and comprehensive scheme of self-remunerating results whereby, the pressure can be relieved. Mr G. G. Stead, of Christchurch, lately proposed a scheme wherein fairly practical proposals were embodied. It was to the effect that as the colony was evidently too young to muster up sufficient individual capital to promote certain local manufactures which would not fail to be highly reproductive while absorbing employed labor, the Government should unite with, capitalists in the large cities in an endeavor to start factories within certain limits and special restrictions. We confess that the exigencies of the colony and its immature position are such that Mr Stead's proposals, tentatively as he 'brought them before the public, seem to us not only feasible but of great practical value. Many farmers in many parts of the country, and, we understand, notably in Canterbury, decline the risk of cropping, in the present state of the grain market, which is over stocked, and likely to be so for some time to come. Producers, who are the employers of labor, are suffering from depressed markets, and capitalists experience difficulty in finding investments. One class has no money to spend, and the other sees no safe mode of investing what money it has. The problem of how to unlock capital, employ the destitute, and relieve the growing state of depression is one that must be early solved ; if it be not, the prospect is indeed a dark one.

The Hamilton Debating Club met last night, and, after going into Commit* tee on certain of the rales, the debate on novel-reading was resumed.

A Meeting of the Cambridge Highway District Board was held at the residence of Mr Main, Hautapu, on Wednesday. Present : Messrs. S. S. Graham, (chairman) Main, Smith, and Snowden. There was very little business of importance. Several accounts were passed for payment, and a committee waa appointed to arrange with the Engineer and the gravel contractor regarding their accounts. It was stated that, owing to the low state of the Board's funds, no fresh works would be undertaken for some time.

The pleasant light showers which have fallen during yesterday has done very much towards bringing on the grass. The country all around is looking excellent.

The Bazaar in aid of the Te Awamutu Manse funds which, it was intended to hold in November, will ba held during the week of the Cavalry drill. j F. C. Germann Esq., the Hon. Secretary j requests contributors to gite their donations only to the authorised collectors.

An error crept into our report of the public meeting held in the Royal Hotel on Wednesday last. Mr Slater, in referring to the sympathy felt for Mr Swarm, stated that.that gentleman had not taken a prominent part in the lectures given by Pastor Chiniquy when here. It should have read that he had taken a prominent part.

At the Hamilton Police Court yesi terday, before H. W. Northcroft, Esq., K.M., Thomas George Gilbert, labourer,

S^j ht, -~ — iytus charged l>y* r Constable Murray wiih navingf»i)oon drunk in Hamilton East on the;sJrd instant. Pleaded guilty. Fined. 20s, and '2s costs. The t>aine prisoner whs further charged with indecent- ex-po.«-ure at tho same plaop and on the same <la'e. Hi» Worship heverely reprimanded priwoner, and ordered him' to pay costs,' 7n, or in ilefjiult, days' impribonment. The fine was paid.

It is just twelve months since the ie>idenrs of Hamilton convened a meeting 1 "for' the purpose of form'ng a bra"js band, and the support which .the committee re* ceived induced them to purchase instruments, amounting to over £100. In due time the instruments were taken up, and the memberH, by diligent practise and expense out of their own pockets, have attained an amount of efficiency which is surprising. For the first «ix months everything went on satisfactorily under the able management of Mr Simms, who, unfortunately for the band, had to relinquish his position as bandmaster in consequence of pressure of business. Since that gentleman's retirement the band have been without a leader ; and if something is not shortly done by the officers and members of the Hamilton Light Infantry Corps, the band will evidently fall through, an the members feel annoyed that the Corps has not taken up the matter. At a recent meeting of the band, it was decided that a letter should be sent to the captain asking him to bring the matter before the Corps; which, up to the present time, has not been done. What the members of the band want is that the Corps should pay £25 a year towards a bandmaster, and they would find the other half, which is fair and reasonable. There is a gentleman at present in Hamilton who would undertake the duties for £50 a year, and provide mu>ic. Knowing as we do what an attraction the band was last summer, it would be a pity to see it broken up now, for the want of such an insignificant amount, which, amongst the members of the Corps, v/ould be trifling, but if confined to the members of the band, a hardship.

The .contractors for the improvement of Victoria-street, Cambridge, have commenced operations by ploughing that portion between the National Hotel and Queen-street.

The Cambridge Highway Board have resolved to order owners'of property to remove all gorse off the roads adjoining their farms.

The route taken by Mr Carter towards Rotorua is the old Taupo Road. The new road will not be passable for two or three years it is thought, on account of the bush. At present it is intended only to make a good bridle track over this part of the road.

The Cambridge Public Hall Committee ought to do something to improve the steps which give access to that building. They are at present much too narrow to be safe.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt from the Auckland Music Warehouse of a new valse, entitled The Flirtation Waltz, by "Marie:" it is an American production ; is lively and sparkling in character, and should become a favourite.

The members of the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club held a meeting* in the Court-House, Hamilton, on Thursday afternoon. (Some new rules were considered and passed, and beveral ladies and gentlemen balloted for as members and duly elected. The season promises to be a very enjoyable one.

Mr Malcolm Taylor, who lately sold his farm at Ngaroto, has again purchased in the district, Mr Alexander Bruce, of Kangiaohia, having disposed of his farm to him. This property is adjoining Mr Stoiey's, and reported of excellent quality.

Mr Simms, surveyor, since his residence in the neighbourhood of Te Awamuttt, has been good enough to layoff the section Ret apart for the erection of the Episcopalian Church, Kihikihi.

The latest advices from Sydney state that there is very little news of importance from the alluvial rushes in the immediate neighbourhood of the Temora Goldfields. At the two miles, on the road to Young, work has ceased altogether At the rush on the Cootamundra road, the prospectors, Courtney and party, obtained better prospects last Monday in their drive, viz., 6 grains to the dish, and it is rumored that if the dirt continues eqally good, that they will hoist the red flag. The trial of the Maori prisoners under the West Coast Settlement Act of last session was completed at New Plymouth yesterday, the prisoners being found guilty by the jury, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and to find a surety iv £50 to keep the peace for six months after the expiration of the sentence. It is certain, however, that the Government will liberate them when such a course may be regarded politic.

Owing to his late accident we regret to learn that the Rev Father Golden will not be able to officiate at Cambridge to-morrow.

All the numerous sales of farms, &c, chronicled of late, point to an ease in the money market. Investments that a few months ago one would have a difficulty in raising money upon at 10 per cent, are now sought after at 7 per cent. For large suras 6 per cent, is being taken. Borrowers will be able to • make good terms since money is so plentiful.

The benefits derived from advertising in our columns was never better realised than in the last issue of the Waikato Tikes. Mr Robson, chemist, Hamilton, East, lost a gentleman's gold ring between the Commercial Hotel and his shop. He inserted an advertisement, and at 10 o'clock in the morning of pnblication received the lost ring.

It will be of very considerable interest to our readers generally, throughout the district, but more especially to those in the immediate neighbourhood of Hamilton, to learn that extensive operations are about to be entered into upon Mr Williamsons estate, under the new management of Mr Cawkwell, who has taken up his residence at the Lake. 150 tons bonedust have been ordered, and contracts for ploughing over a 1,000 acres of land will shortly be called for.

The Sightascope opens to-night at the Oddfellows Hall. It contains numerous views from all parts of the world. The musical cabinet, one of the newest inventions, is well worth visiting the hall to see and hear. It plays upon rolls of perforated paper. An additional attraction will be the distribution of gifts to every visitor, some of which are very valuable.

A friend of mine just returned from Ireland brings me a story which is apropos of possible disturbances in that illused country. He was driving on a car in Dublin, and passed a party of some regiment in ga r rison. ' Nice-looking lot, ' he remarked to the car-driver. • Ah, sure they're no good; nothing, leastwise, to the Fenian infantry,' said the other. ' Fenians ! Have they any infantry V ' ' Deed, they have ; and cavalry, and artillery, and all the " ' ryd." You never saw finer boys. Fifty thousand of them. * •But,' said my friend, 'if there are so many of them, why do not they come and take the country P The regulars in Ire« land are not half that number.' 'Is it why ? He looked round to see if any one was near. Til tell you,' he whispered, putting hie hand to his mouth ; ' I'll tell

you, only it's a great secret : they'd come —only they're afraid of the police !'—Atlas in the World.

The time for sending jn statements of property under the Property Assessment Act is extended further to the 25th October. 'Mr J. S. Auckland announces that he h.is received instructions from Mr Alexander IJrnce, of Te Rahu, who has dispossd of his f.irm, to sell by auction on the property, on Wednesday, October 13th, the whole of his live stock. Luncheon will be provided. Messrs Hunter & Nolan advertise several very desirable properties for sale. J;_Walton, •&•<!•» Chairman Rangiaohia Board, notifies that the Hoard has struck a rate of ninepence in the pound for the ensuing twelve months ending March 31, »88i, payable to the Collector. Mr Sibley. Mr William Rattray, draper, &c, of Auckland, announces spring and summer novelties. A valuable property, containing 4,362 acres near Hamilton, intersected by the railway, is for sale. Particulars may be obtained from Captain Steele, of Hamilton, and Mr G. E. Clarke, of Cambridge. The r.ew Pure Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery ratlhnary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and ajre determined to give the pure cash sys-tem a fair trial ; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is nkw and cheaply bought. An inspection is invited. — G\rlick and C ran wkli., City Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queen - street, Auckland.