Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1358, 15 March 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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

TUESDAY, MARGE 15, 1881.

The members of the Waikato County Council are evidently resolved to treat the matter in dispute between the Tamahere and Kirikiriroa Road Boards with a considerable amount of caution, and we do not think they are very much to blame on account of this determination. It would hardly have been acting fairly to have decided in favor of Tamahere, without first giving the other side an opportunity of justifying the stand they have taken up. Although Councillor Primrose is the chairman of the Kirikiriroa Board he declined to speak except as a member of the Council, and urged that the Board should be represented by others of its members. All this is very right and proper, but after all we do not think the posioion of affairs can be very materially affected by the concession. It may perhaps appear abitrary for one Board to saddle its neighbour with a share of the cost of a work from which little or no benefit can be expected, and County Councils in deciding between disagreeing Boards have a very nice duty to perform. The case under consideration, however, seems to us to make no very extraordinary demand upon the judicial faculty of the Council. As we pointed out some time ago, it is clearly the duty of Road Boards to facilitate communication with out- i side districts. If this principle had never been exercised in Waikato; if the various Highway Boards had expended their revenue solely for the benefit of their own ratepayers, scrupulously abstaining from engaging in any work which could be construed into a benefit . to their neighbours, wl*at would the result have been 1 The Kirikiriroa Board, in the matter of this bridge over the Mangaonua, go ,upon the assumption that none of the ratepayers in its, district will be likely, ever to mike use of the new higWay just

opened, but it must be remembered that this is an assumption formed by those members of the Board whose duties or whose pleasure are not likely to lead them in. that direction, without regard to the convenience of others who are differently situated. But even if their contention had more of truth in it than it has, the course of action which it would involve would bear very little resemblance to that followed by the majority of other Boards. For instance, can any one point out what direct benefit, in the sense which Kirikiriroa understands the word, did the Cambridge Highway Board confer upon the ratepayers of its district when they paid half the cost of the bridge at Crawfords gully 1 Indeed, has not the Tamahere Board spent money upon a road which is of little use to any but ratepayers in the Waitoa District % Instances of this kind might easily be multiplied, but these are quite sufficient for the purposes of illustration. As we before pointed out, public bodies must learn that, not only are they bound to guard the interests of particular sections, but they are also charged with the duty of securing the advancement of the district as a whole.

> A sitting of the District Court will be held to-day at Hamilton. In our report of the interview between Mr Patric Leslie and the Waikato County Council the word "Mangainua" was inadvertently printed "Wangaonua. 1

The extreme dryness of the weather for the past six or seven weeks was somewhat relieved by a refreshing ehower on Saturday night, but the effect was temporary, and everything is again assuming a burnt up appearance.

Colonel Nation, for many years a resident of Parnell— of which he was elected first Mayor,— died of aboosa of the loins on Saturday night, after a long illness.

The Piako, Thames, and Coromandel County Councils, Borough Council, of Thames, and other local bodieß will hold a conference at Coromandel on Frida7 next. The object of the conference is to discuss road representation and j charitable aid business.

John James Palmer, charged with stealing a watch, the property of one James Hamilton, was brought up at the R.M. Court, Cambridge, on Saturday, before Mr Northcroft, and remanded till Friday. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £100 each, and the accused in £100.

The last of the moonlight excursions in aid of the Hamilton Band fund comes off this evening. The Delta will leave the landing at 7.30, going to the half-way paddock, where she will be moored for a short time, returning to Hamilton about 10. If the night prove fine, there will no doubt be a large number of excursionists.

Mr W. K. Carter, coaoh proprietor. of Cambridge, very generously placed a coach at the disposal of the juvenile cricketers of that town, to convey them to Hamilton, free of all charge. Mr Carter is to be commended for his public spirit.

Some dastardly person, on the 3rd instant, poisoned a very valuable greyhound, the property of Mr Thomas Paton, of Hautapu. The poison, strychnine, was evidently administered by means of a piece of meat, and must have been given to the dog while on his owner's land, as he was known not to have been away. Mr Paton offers a reward of £10 for such information as will lead to the conviction of the perpetrator.

We regret to hear of the serious illness of Mr J. Fergusson of Whatawhata, one of the oldest settlers in the district, having resided on the lower Waipa since before the war. Mr Ferguson who is now 74 years of age has lately been seized with a paralytic stroke. He is zealously attended by Dr Edgelow, and has the sympathy of all the settlers in the neighborhood.

The Mrs Pitzwilliam, formerly a member of Mr Buckstone's company at the Haymarket, whose death in Australia is announced, was Mrs Edward Fitzwilliam, widow of a musical composer of some talent. The deceased lady made her first appearance in London as Misa Ellen Chaplin, at the Adelphi, in a piece of diablerie called Die Eexen am Rhehn, which was produced, under Mr Frederick Yate's management, mainly for the purpose of introducing the ' real water ' with which the theatre had just been supplied.— World.

There is no idea of trying the Hon. G-. Vernon of the 12fch Lancers by-court-martial, for his behaviour to the Governor of Bombay. Mr. Vernon's conduct upon the occasion does not appear to have been bo serious as it at flrat seemed. He was placed at the time in a position of some delicacy, and the worst which oan be said of him is that he acted with extreme thoughtlesiness. I am glad to hear that Mr. Vernon, since he has been in India, has made a new and a better start, and that he is developing into a smart and efficient officer.— Atlas in the World.

A concert was given in the Public Hall, Te Awamutt, on Thursday evening, in aid of the Wesleyan Church. The audience, although not largo, was an appreciative one. The chair was taken by the Rev Mr Bull. The Band, under the condnctorBhip of Mr Sibley, rendered several pieces in a pleasing manner. •'When Swallows Build" was tastefully sung by Miss M. Flemming. A reading by Mr T. Winstone entitled "The lending of the family umbrella" (one of Mrs Caudle's curtain lectures), was most enjoyable, and kept the house in a continual roar of laughter, Miss Mandeno sang "Tired" very feelingly, and Beemed to thoroughly interpret the song. "The Dream of Eugene Aram " was recited by Mr and was highly appreciated. Pianoforte solos were rendered by Miss Fleming and Mi?s Wainwright, and were very pleasing. Mr Ot. Hunter sang the | " Old Sexton " in good style. Mrs | Andrews sang "Somebody." A reading by Mr Bendell, and a recitation by the Rev. Mr Griffin were very good. The entertainment was brought to a close by a comic duett between Mr Benge and Miss M. Fleming, entitled " The Happy Policeman/ This was vouciferousiy encored, and served to put the audience in a good humour ere departing. The usual fortnightly sitting of the R.M. Court, Cambridge, wasneld on Friday, Mr Nbrthoroft presiding. The calendar of oases disposed of, civil and criminal, was so 'large, that despite the fact that' the Court sat until midnight of Friday, the list was cot exhausted until the afternoon of the follow* day (Saturday). In view of these facts, writes our correspondent, the -question .suggests itself $ %s the provision at present existing for the transaction of buni- ' -ness in Cambridge auseienfc foe -all the' requirements of the f The ]sttt^ tf i things at the late 'sitting plainly /answer! that question in the negative, A forjc

nightly sitting is not sufficient for the ex-iafcing'-'flUfce of things. It itt notorious that of late the number of adjourned oases has been numerous, and it does not require any special knowledge of law to divine the fact that consequent thereupon, serious ' loss and inconvenience are occasioned to both: suitors and witness what is required ia a weekly sitting and no far as we know the judicial arrangements of the district, there js no reason why such should not at once be given effect to: We have mentioned the inconvenienoe to suitors. There is another difficulty of even greater magnitude. A magistrate sitting twelve or fourteen hours, and up to midnight, cannot be expected to give questions that deliberation they are entitled to nor does it require much argument to prove that even the roost careful magistrate bo situated is liable to push business through with undue haste. Altogether, the subject is one requiring immediate attention, and as such, we beg to press it upon the attention of the proper authorities.

The members of the "Magnet Variety Troupe" will give a grand entertainment on the evening of Thursday (St. Patrick's Day) in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, the proceeds of which will be devoted to paying off the debt on the instruments of the Hamilton Band. The programme, which is a long and varied one, includes songs and dances by well-known amateurs, Irish and negro farces, and what are somewhat of a novelty in Hamilton performances on the single and double trapeze. Although the entertainment has been somewhat hurriedly got up to serve a very laudable object, we believe the members have attained to great perfection, and a very good evening's amusement may be looked forward to. The Hamilton Band will play the overture, and the bandmaster, Mons. Calon, will give aeleotiona on the pianoforte during the evening. At the conclusion of the programme a dance will take place, the music being supplied by Mons. Calon, We trust to see a bumper house.

The remains of the late Hori Tupaea having been conveyed to their last resting place, the question now to be decided is who is to be his successor. His eon Hamiora Tahere, who came here iron* Napier with bin wif- Anna, to attend the " Wake ** before leaving introduced the subject to the tribes, suggesting that the deceased's four children, including of course Hamiora himself should be appointed joint heirs of the property. The matter, however, was allowed to remain over till the sitting of the Native Landß Court when the heirehip to the property will be f-ettled. The question of appointing a successor in the chieftainship is held over until the arrival of the tribes from the south. — Bay of Plenty Times.

Our Cambridge correspondent writes: — "It appears to me that while the colony is engaged in laudable endeavours to reduce the exorbitant cost attending litigation in the Supreme Court, we are altogether neglecting a no less important question with the cost charged in Courts of inferior jurisdiction, preeminently the Resident Magistrate's Court. Two separate cases in point came under my notice at the last sitting of the Court. The one was the case of a Maori who claimed restitution of a three-year-old horse, valued at about as many pounds. The plaintiff had undoubtedly what the lawyers call a prolabulus causa, so that the litigation was not in any respect of the word a vexatious one. Unfortunately for the Maori, evidence sufficient to negative the claim was adduced, and the judgment went against him. The costs in which he was mulcted summed up £10 or £11, a sum considerably over three times the value of the original amount in dispute. Then again there was another case in precisely similar circumstances, and with certain details of which I would desire to deal rather more fully. The plaintiff claimed £5 odd for services rendered in connection with a newspaper which has had a somewhat troubled career since it came amongst us. The verdict went against him ; and besides losing the value of his service, he has been ordered to pay a sum of £13 in nam<* of costs. The evil in this case arose out of the witness and the class of witnesses adduced. The majority of them called themselves 'journalists,' although the evidence proved they were nothing else but the merest fag-ends of the newspaper press. Their evidence could be of no real importance to the point in dispute, and yet they were treated a3 newspaper experts, and the attendance fee apportioned by the Court for this particular class of witnesses awarded to them. An award of this kind is a positive hardship to an unfortunate litigant, and the Court ought in all fairness to exercise discrimination in appraising such attendance fees. Apart altogether from the peculiarities of this case, the bare fact that a small debt dispute, amounting to £3 or £4, should involve such disproportionate costs, is, to say the least of it, marvellous, and I should think urgently demanded attention at the hands of the Judicatory Commission."

A very enjoyable entertainment in aid of the funds of the Cambridge West School Coramitte, came off in the School-room on Friday, evening last. It took the characterof arocaland instrumental ooncert,and under the able management ef Mr 0. D. Mackintosh proved a thorough success. There was a large and very appreciative audience, composed chiefly of the settlers living in the'immediate neighbourhood, who testified by their attendance to the interest they take in Educational matters. There was also a number of friends from the other side of the river some of whom did pood service in a musical way. MrF. Hicks, Chairman of the Committee, made an excellent Chairman, and before the commencement of the programme made a few appropriate remarks. The whole of the selections were well, some of them admirably, rendered, and met with the hearty approval of the audience. Mr Mackintosh's solos on the cornet were splendid pieces of instrumentation. The singing I of Mrs Mackintosh, and the pianoforte solo by Mr 3 Chitty, were also gems } but as we have said above, the whole of the selections were really good, and the manner in which the entertainment went off reflects the highest credit on the talented gentleman who undertook the management. The school-room was nicely decorated with evergreens, &c, and presented a charming appearanoe. At the conclusion of the concert programme the seats were removed, and the younger portion of the audience enjoyed a dance for several hours. Mr Mackintosh .kindly provided the music. The following was the programme of the concert: — Cornet solo, Mr Mackintosh; trio, •'Carnival de Venice," Mrs Mackintosh. Mrs Moore and Moreton ; song, "The ßlacksmith," Mrs Moreton; song, "When thou art near," Mrs Mackintosh j song, Mrs Hyatt ; solo pianoforte, "Allan Water," Mrs Chitty; «rag, "Hope the hermit," Mr Moore; Trio, "Ye shepherds tell me," Mrs Mackintosh, Messrs Moore and Mereton ; song, "The welcome tear,? Mr #, Houghton : song, " Our sailors on the, sea," Mr Garland. Fart 11. '—Trio, *!Ye gentlemen qf gngland,'^ MeMrs Mackintosh, Moore and Moreton { •ong " EUeen Alanah," Mr Moore ; song, "In the gloaming," M>s Mackintosh} song, ' " Ohe story U good till another is. told,'' Mr'Garland;«duet, "Albion on 1 thy* fertile . plains, '" Messrs Moore and Moreton"; reading by Mr J. P. Campbell j cornet solo, Mr Mackintosh , song,

Mr A. Raynes, of the National Hotel, Cambridge, has received the following complimentary letter <roinCapfc. L. F. Knolleys, relative to His Excellences late Tisit to Cambridge : — "Sir, — I am directed by His Excellency to convey to you the expression of his full satisfaction at the arrangements made fey you for liisaccomodation while in Cambridge, and the assurance of his patronage when he may again be in that frown. — I am, Sir, yours obediently, Louis F. Knolleys, A.D.C."

The late E. A- Sothern and hip son Lytton were brought together z' a the eve of the latter's death. The Melbourne Bulletin ihus tells the s*:ory of their quarrel !— Having failed to get a divorce from his wife, he did get a judicial separation with her consent, and on condition that he paid her £5000 a year, which, of course, he has clone ever since. But he was do maddene iat Lytton 's standing by the mother that he refused to recognise or have anything to do with him, Lytton, enraged on his side by this injustice, made the mistake of going in open antagonism to his father. He yielded to the advice of Minnie Walton and Fred. Lyster, and went off to Australia to play his father's pieces. This, of course, he had no right to do, especiaily as Mr Sothern intended doing so himself, but had to forego the trip in consequence. Sothern was so annoyed by this act of Lytton's, that he abjured him entirely, and cut him out of his will altogether, making Mrs Cowan, his Bister, the principal legatee, and wiling to his wife her legal share. But friends during these years have been interceding for him, and represented to Sothern that it is inhuman to turn off * hon who has been brought up in luxury without one penny. But the father remained obdurate for years, and would not relent. It was only this spring that he suddenly announced a determination of making a new will, and restoring to Lytton his portion. This change of heart seemed to foreshadow the crisis tha.t was soon to come to his own life. He made this will on May 17tb in Canada, and in it still m»«*~ jyj; r g Cowan the principal lej»*-- but "cave a goodly share to • ttsn and his b other JP 11 . b "t cut off Mrs Sothern entirely. On this point he was remonstrated with. Friends represented to him that she would have her legal third anyway, whether he left it to her or not, as she was still his wife. He said he knew that, but he would have the satisfaction of omitting her name anyhow. And he did.

Mr Thomas Sibley of Te Awamutu, rate collector, was elected trustee in the estate of John Henry Gdrmonsway and Joseph Drabble at a. meeting- of creditors held in the Courthouse, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon. Mr Alfred Buckland notifies that the sale of Mr Smith's cattle, which was announced to take ptace on Thursday, the 17th instant, will be disposed off to-morrow (the 16th). Chairmen and members of the various local governing bodies throughout the Provincial District of Auckland are requested to aid and assist the Government to bring to justice persons felling or removing: timber without being authorised to do so. Kent House makes an important notice in our wanted column. Mr J. S. Buckland will hold his next Cattle Sale At Waitoa and "VVaihou en Tuesday, the 29th instant. Mrs Welch, many years teacher of dancing in Wellington, purposes opening a weekly assembly at Le Quesne's Hall every Wednesday evening. A summons has been issued by James McPherson, Esq., on behalf of the Kirikinroa Highway District Board, against John Frater, scttlei , for rates, and the case will be heard at Hamilton on the 23rd instant ; also against Robert McKay. The new 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 bydncy 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 millinary, 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 aportion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the pubhc have hitherto shown them, and are determined to give the pure cash system 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 ; iustthe 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 ot five p^er cent, will be allowed to those who pay af the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is new and chkaply bought. An inspection is invited. — Garlick and Cranwell, City Hall Furnishing Arcade Queenstreet, Auckland.