Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1333, 15 January 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

fi(|U.il .md cmw t justue to .ill men, Oi wh.itcxL'i state 01 pci suasion, religious or political. Here .Inill the Press the People's ritflit maintain Unaucd b} influence and unbribcd by gain.

SATURDAY, JAN. iJ, 1881.

Tirh proposal submitted by delegates from the meeting held at Te Aroha last A\eek, relative to the erection of a public battery, is one which, under certain wi.se and prudent restrictions, ought, and we trust will, commend itself to public attention. We approach the subject fully alive to the fact that, in the past, public confidence in similar goldfields undertakings have, in not a few instances, been grossly abused. The pursuits of the miner are, in their very nature, precarious. Reefs and auriferous drifts occur under the most extraordinary circumstances, and then again these " loads" disappear, without the slightest apparent cause, so far as geological phenomenon indicates, or scientific research can detect. That is one of the " fortunes of wai*'' against which no human foresight can provide, and however dire the consequences may become, no one can be blamed for the result. There is another description of goldfields catastrophe similar in effect, although differing widely in cause — we mean the bubble schemes and "duffer" companies promoted by unscrupulous " speculators" and the professional goHlielcls liarpie. In the modus operaudi of the latter, spurious specimens and salted reefs play important parts. There is no disguising the fact that, by such nefarious practices, a deal of swindling has been promoted, and public and private confidence flagrantly abused. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that, in the matter of goldfields investment, public feeling should have become somewhat shy, if not suspicious. It is, if we remember rightly, the Hebrew proverb teaches : " That one sinner destroyeth a multitude of good." In connection with goldfields pursuits, it would almost seem as if the arch-fiend himself had been at work ; so barefaced and unscrupulous have proceedings of this class, from time to time, been rendered. While that view of the matter affords good cause for the exercise of caution and circumspection, it furnishes no valid reason for jumping to the conclusion that the calling is wholly devoid of legitimate enterprise, or that that enterprise cannot be made to fulfil the conditions of a profitable investment. A wholesale condemnation, like that would not only be tantamount to ignoring the goldfields interest altogether, but it would argue a disbelief in the very existence of our auriferous 'deposits. It would be equivalent to a flat denial of facts that

have "been substantiated — facts, for example, such as that a total of 9,246,946 ounces of gold, of the declared value of £36,153,381 sterling, being some eight or nine millions of money in excess of the national debt of New Zealand, had been produced by the colony to date 31st December, 1879. Again, there is every reason to believe that, as an industrial pui-suit, the interest is yet in its infancy, and that hoards of the precious metal remain in the matrix awaiting further development, This is no mere idle speculation. Acres upon acres of alluvial gold-bearing country have been developed in New Zealand without the slightest trace having been obtained of the source from whence it came. That reefs corresponding in value to these finds do exist will not be denied, unless, indeed, we are prepared to substitute as a theory for the recurrence of gold in its alluvial state that, "like the rain, it, comes down from heaven, and returns not thither again." Such a theory, of course, is not to be considered, so that we are forced to return to the original problem, viz., the existence of undeveloped reefs, and so long as that theory holds good, we are justified in using every reasonable endeavour towards promoting their development. This brings us back again, perhaps a little circuitously, to the point from which we started, viz., the floating of the proposed Te Aroha Battery Company. "Without an appliance of this kind on the ground, the real value of the Te Aroha, as a goldfields discovery, cannot possibly be ascertained. No encouragement will be given to the miner following up the discovery, and the possibilities, nay, more — we speak advisedly when we say the probabilities — are that a great source of national wealth and field for enterprise will remain undeveloped. Looking at the details of the project itself, we can see nothing to warrant the faintest suspicion that the proposal is other than bona fide. The capital sought is, perhaps, in excess of means at the disposal of a private individual in a place like this, where accumulated wealth to any great extent does not exist ; on the other hand, the amount is not sufficiently large to warrant the belief that it would be worth the while of any ring, or individual members of such ring, to promote the undertaking with a view to their own personal aggrandisement, or even emolument. In a word, we can see nothing in the proposal but evidence of its bona fides, and, as such, we have no hesitation in recommending it to public sympathy and support. A few pounds invested in a battery cannot become a dead loss ; on the other hand, there are reasonable prospects for supposing that it may be rendered a great gain. Even if things came to the worst, it would tend to alleviate the public mind, which, at the present moment, is being swayed by hopes and fears, incidental to fresh discoveries and now goldfields rushes.

j Wk gather from communications made to us, that doubts have arisen as to the liability of owners of dogs under " The Dog Registration Act, 1880." The point at issue appears to be this : The Act came into operation on the Ist instant, and it is provided by Clause 27, that, inter alia — " The Dogs Nuisance Act, 1854," is repealed. The Act of 1854, was, as our readers well understand, the one under which registration was previously effected. Such being the case it would seem to follow that, as a question of law, owners of dogs are bound to register under the new Act, independent altogether as to whether or not the term of registration under the previous Act has, or has not expired. We will illustrate the proposition thus : Supposing the owner of a clog to have registered or renewed his registration on the Ist December last, for the ensuing twelve months, on the Ist of January then ensuing, he is bound to repeat the registration under the Act which came into operation as upon that date. It certainly is hard on owners of dogs, that they should lose the benefit of the previous registering, which would still have had a period of eleven months to run ; but so far as we can gather, there is nothing in the Act passed last session to obviate the difficulty. The probabilities are the point was one which did not strike the Legislature, otherwise it seems not unlikely that allowance would have been made for the unexpired term. Such being the case, and we certainly, after careful reading of the two Acts, can adopt no other view, it will be useful for owners of dogs to know the following short summary of the new Act — the one now in force. Registration must be effected within a period of fourteen days of the date when it becomes due ; in default, a penalty not exceeding £5 is provided for. The fee for registration is ten shillings per annum. Dogs under six months old are registered free of charge. Upon being registered, collars and registration labels are to be supplied. Dogs found at large without such collars ase to be deemed unregistered and liable to be destroyed. A portion of the Act makes provision for injuries done by dogs. Clause 16, for instance, provides : " If any dog shall, on any highway or unenclosed place, rush at, attack or startle any person or any horse, cattle, or other animal, whereby the life or limbs of any person shall be endangered, or/ any property be injured or endangered, such dog shall be liable to be mime

diately killed, and the owner or keeper thereof shall, on conviction, forfeit and pay a penalty of not more than £5 for every such offence, over and above the amount of any damage such dog may have occasioned." This will be recognised as a very wise provision, and is designed to check a very serious evil. .Nothing can be more reprehensible than the practice of useless curs rushing up behind horsemen, and startling the animals in such a way as to cause the greatest possible danger to the life and limbs of tlie ride I*.1 *. The penalty provided is a smart one, sufficiently so, we should think, to induce owners to take some trouble for checking a propensity of that kind in their dogs. This portion of the Act also provides pains and penalties in the case of dogs worrying sheep, cattle, horses, tfcc, and concludes with the proviso, that it shall not be necessary for the party seeking damages, to prove that the dog was of a mischievous character, or that the injury was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner of the dog.

We would draw the attention of the Postal authorities? to what i& a mattter of great inconvenience to business people generally, and that is that the mails from Te Awamutu, Alexandra, Kihikihi, and other up-country districts, which reach Hamilton station by the raid -day train, are left at the station till the mail train arrives from Auckland in the evening; also it appears that no contract has been entered into for the carrying of the mail from Hamilton to these districts to catch the evening train to Te Awamutu, Mr Butler's mail contract not including the carriage of either of the«e mails. We feel sure that the matter is an ovei sight merely, and that attention has only to be directed thereto to obtain rectification. His Excellency the Governor has kindly consented to lay the foundation stone of the new S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge. His Excellency has fixed Friday next, 21st in&t., at 5 o'clock, a>> the time for the performance of the ceremony. " I have," writes a correspondent, known of the editorial craft going into all manner of attitudes, pober and insane, but the following is the first attempt I have ever heard of one going into Holy Orders. It appears as an announcement in a contemporary, and roads as follows : — " An ex-editor of the Waikato Mail is studying for the Wesleyan Ministry." His Excellency the Governor will reacli Hamilton by mid-day on Friday next, 21st instant, and will proceed straight through to Cambridge. His Excellency will be accompanied by the Honorable the Attorney General as Minister in waiting, Captain Kollys A.D.C. and his two private secretaries. A man named Stewart was thrown from his horse on Thursday at Cambndge, and so seriously injured that no hopes were at first entertained for his recovery. We since learn that he is recovering, and that no danger is apprehended. At the conclusion of the racing on Thursday a private match for £iO aside, catch weights, was run between Fernhill, an Auckland horse, and Mr. Brindle's Skylark. The distance was half-a-milc, and >kylaik won in a canter by about two chains. The race meeting at Te Aroha announced to come off on the 29th inst., has been postponed till the 9th of February. Full Particulars will appear in Tuesday's issue of this paper. During an interval in the racing on Thursday Mr. R. H D. Fergusson, in tha absence of the President of the Cambridge Jockey Club, presented the cup given by Mr Lewi&son to Mr. Bundle the owner of Sunbeam winner of the Maiden Hurdle Race. The presentation was made in the Stewards room and after the usual complimentary speeches, the health of Mr Brindle was drunk in champagne. Cheers were then given for the winner, the Club, and the handicapper, Mr. Percival. The attention of the Newcastle Highway Board .should be directed to the road near the Roto Kauri Lake, loading 1 to Mr Rothwell's place, which requires forming. Hitherto, Mr Rothwell has only been given access to his place through the property of Mr Seley, but the latter gentleman, very naturally, objects to having a thoroughfare through his land, and has given Mr Rothwell notice that be will close it up. All that is necessary to make the proper road passable could be done for a comparatively trifling sum. At Ngaruawahia, on Thursday a case) which attracted some attention, was tried before the periodical sitting of the Court there. It was a complaint preferred against three persons named Smith, York aud Crompton, by Parera FJoperie, a Maori, for the theft of three pigs of the value £3 ss. Adeal of contradictory evidence was adduced in support o f the charge, the witnesses being Maoris. Mr O'Neill appeared for the defendants. The Magi-.- ; trate appeared to hold that while a wrongful appropriation had taken place the felonious intent had not been established, and ordered the accused to pay the value of the pigs, with expenses. It is announced that Government has appointed another engineer to complete the survey of the proposed line of railway to Cambridge, and that the Public Works Department expect to have the survey completed before next session. A contemporary adds : " The credit of securing the new survey is largely due to Mr Whyte, M.H.R., who has never ceased to maintain a vigilant watch over the interests of the district, and to advocate measures conducive to its welfare." The members of the Cambridge Amateur Dramatic Society gave a most successful performance in the Public Hall on Thursday evening. There was a large audience, and every body went away thoroughly delighted with the entertainment. The first part of the programme consisted of the amusing farce •'Dreadfully Alarming," the characters being sustained by Messrs Keesing, Peek, and Jones, and two young lady amateurs. The farce was admirably sustained throughout, and evidenced the large amount of care which has been exercised by the stage manager, Mr Keesing,, in its preparation. To this followed the charming oommedietta, "The Little Sentinel," the first performance was favoraably noticed in these columns some time ago. It will be sufficient to say that it was equally- well put on the boards on Thursday evening. The Cam* bridge Band kindly assisted at the entertainment, and played several selections. The result will be a much needed addition to the funds of the Society, the members of' which have always been ready to assist every deserving charity, At the conclusion of the performance the Hall, was cleared for dancing. At a meeting of the Loyal Hamilton Lodge, No 608&,L0.0.F.,M.U., A.D., held on Tuesday, the following of&wts

were elected and installed for the ensuing term, By Bro. R. Harris, G.M. :— Bro. A. 0. Field, G. v». ; Bro. Maguire, N.G. ; Bro. H. Mullions, V.G. ; Bro. S. Pascoe, Sec. ; Bro. R. Harris, P.G., Treasurer ; J. Primrose, Warden ; R. Williamson, P.G., Lecture Master; G. Edgeciunbe,K.S. N.G.; G. Pearson, L.S. N.G. ; 0. Warr, J.G. j J. Taylor, 0 G ; Dr. Beale, Lodge Surgeon ; G. Edjrecun.be, R. Land, P.G., S. Davies P.G., Trustees. " A Constant Reader" sends us the following : — '' Whilst enjoying myself, under the sedative influence of the calumet of peace, last Tuesday evening, I was an eye-witness of the following rather ludicrous beginning of a new aspirant for public favours, and it occurred to me at the time as being a novel mode of introducing oneself in his profession : — A disciple of Esculapius, in full evening dress, kid gloves, and any quantity of Dity and Martin on, desirous of wiling away the dull hours until the programme at bite Estate commenced, craved the loan of a horse (the property of an older knight of the lancet) for just a few minutes. The latter, who is credited with a keen eye to business, readily accorded the coveted mount, no doubt thinking it was a rare chance of wiping his diminutive opponent out of the iield. Be that as it may, E got safely on board the saddle, adjusted his gloves, and called for a whip, which usually necessary adjunct to horse-riding (as the sequel will show) m this ca&e was not at all requisite. S gave the horse a smart tap on the hind-quarters, when away he flew up Victoria-street at top speed. By the time he reached the Post Office he had received some hard Kiw.\, which appeared to make him very (HJlll, and he had a close .s/iaiv of tunning (W)rlght into Ruge's shop. At this juncture the rider was heard to exclaim, ' Oh, Mo&et> ! I'm G Wynne to fall,' at the same time losing the covering of his cianium, which caused the animal to shy down towards the bank of the river, to the imminent peril of sundry small boys, who were wicked enough afterwards to poke fun at his feats of equestrianism. He managed, however, by leaving the saddle and caressing the horse's neck, to work his passage back again to the starting point. Opposite the hotel door he New-all about it, for here he laid his Eihjc-hw on the Sandes of Time ! Poor E , evidently your forte is not equitation." The seat for the suburbs of Nelson having been rendered vacant by the death of Mr J. A. Richmond, a new election has taken place, resulting in the return of Mr A. S. Collins by a majority of thirty votes. He (Mr Collins) represented a constituency in Nelson in the Fifth Parliament, and was one of Mr Stafford's whips. In his political views he was a Liberal-Conservative. He retired from political life when the Stafford party broke up on the resignation of its leader, after the defeat of the Superintendent!*! Ministry by Sir Julius Vogel in 1872. Mr Collins, like his political chief, then announced that he would not seek re-elec-tion to Parliament; but he has again yielded to the solicitations of his party, and has bepn returned after a close contest. He is a practical politician, a fair speaker, and is well-acquainted with all that concerns the agricultural and pastoral interests.

Mr J. McCartie, Te Awamutu, is the winner of .Mr Moses's £5 prize. In onr Gazrtte column will be found an announrcment setting forth tho times and places for the meeting of householders under tlie Educatton Act, 1877. The trustees of the Newcastle District purpose milking .1 rate of one shilling in the pound. Dey and French, general merchants, Hamilton East, make an important announcement to-day. A clearing-out sale by auction of goods remaining unsold trom the late AVeslcjan ISa/aar held .it C.imbndge, mil be held in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Friday next. Persons having claims upon the Newcastle District Hoard arc requested to send in paiticulars not later than JLhursday next, to Mr C. Day. Tenders for the office of ranger are muted by the Newcastle Hoard. JDikeson and Burnett draw attention to their superior pale and other ales. T. Y. Fitzpatrick, E-q., of iSTgaruawahia, ad\ertises foi sale the interest in a valuable natne leasehold, fenced and in crop. The valuation list for the Hamilton Highway District is now open for inspection, at the store of Mr John Knox, Hamilton. An extraoidinary meeting of the shareholders of the All Nations claim, Te Aroli.i, will bo held .it the 'le Aroha dining-rooms on luesday e\ ening next. The p.g. Delta makes a moonlight excursion next Tuesday night. The valuation list for the Cambridge Highway District is now open for inspei tion .it Mi George E. Clarks, seedsman, Cambridge. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a grc.it success in Sjdney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who bujs at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their di apery millinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the ad\ antages ot a shareholder in a co-operath c societ) , without the risk of being c, tiled upon tobcaraportionot the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the conhdencc which tho public ha_\o hitherto shown them, and arc determined to gi\ c the pure cash sj stem a lair trial; whether they g.nn or lose the fir>t jear. 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 remuneratne prices, and a discount ot five per cent, will bo allowed to those who paj af the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire \aluc of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stoc k is ni \v and cm \i>i y rough r. An inspection is united. — Garihic \x'd Crawvi 1 1 , City Hall Furnishing Arcade Queenstreet, Auckland.