Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1367, 5 April 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of \vhate\er state or persuasion, religious or politic.il. Here sh ill the Press the People's right maintain Unuwcd by influence and unbnbcd by gain.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1881.

Mr. W. J. Speight, inemberfor Auckland City East, is one of the lesser lights of the Legislature. Politically speaking, he is not a free agent. He belongs to a sect whose words and actions are fettered by party ties. Besides, he has a most ungainly way of obtruding himself upon every conceivable subject, the result being that he is always to the fore in season and out of season. To such an extent is that the case that he enjoys the reputation of running neck and neck with Mr Richard Seddon, of Hokitika, who has not inaptly been designated the " big bellows" of the party. The utterances of a man of this cast are not of great import. Still, they are of some account guaged on the principle that the flutter of a straw indicates the direction of the wind. Mr Speight addressed a thinly-attended meeting of his constituents on Friday. He dealt for the most part in generalities, and as his remarks were otherwiso common-place, his speech, as a whole, adds little to the current stock of political intelligence. To one branch of the subjects treated by Mr Speight it is incumbent to allude. He spoke of the inability of the Assembly to transact the business devolving upon it, as evinced by the wholesale " slaughter of the innocents" which has of late years being carried on. This state of affairs, he insisted, would have to be remedied. With Mr Speight we arc at one on that head. For years past the business of the country lias in many respects been shirked. Indeed, the responsibilities entailed on Parliament by abolition have never, at any time, been properly confronted, and the consequence is the colony has only as yet realised the significance of that step in a very partial way. Down to the present time the united whole, which was to be the great outcome of abolition, has not been realised. Separate and distinct provincial laws are just about as rampant as ever, and although repeated efforts have been made at consolidation, these have been either delayed or else abandoned altogether. The plea put forward in extenuation lias invariably been want of time, and by way of making it as tangible as possible, each section of the " House " has abused the other for wasting the time in needless debate. Members, we Avere told, cannot afford to remain in Wellington beyond a given period of the year. Seasonable pursuits and other personal considerations demand attention at their homes. There was admitted to be reason in the ai'gument, and to suit the convenience of representatives, and at the same time give due effect to the business on hand, the session of last year was fixed for the dead of winter. By that time it was anticipated sufficient time would be allowed to get through the work without encroaching upon the exigencies of private pursuits. Matters were not improved by this arrangement. When members had been eight or nine weeks in session they became as anxious as ever to get off, and when the prorogation took place a week or two later, the session was found to be just about as barren of results as any of its predecessors. To remedy this state of matters, Mr Speight re-echoes a proposal the key note of which has been already sounded by others of the party, viz., decentralisation. That is simply another name for the " modified provincialism," advocated by Canterbury and Otago, or rather, we should say, by Dunedin and Christchurch. From this it would appear not improbable that a combination will be formed from these two places, with Auckland city added, whose cry will be decentralisation, or in other words a return to provincialism, under which these places secured so much political prestige at the expense of the rural districts. Apart from every other consideration, a proposal of this kind is bad in theory. It means that the administration of the colony is to be framed so as to suit the views and convenience of representatives. What in effect these gentlemen say, or at all events the few who have taken upon themselves to act as mouthpieces, is that "we cannot afford the time necessary to attend to your interests in parliament,

tlierefore^e ask that these interests be so shorn of their legitimate proportions as will suit our convenience." If they cannot affoi'd the time necessary for the proper discharge of .parliamentary duties, why did they undertake them ? Their return to parliament was a voluntary act. They were not in any way compelled to it. Or we will put it in another light : Having undertaken the work and finding they cannot spare time to attend to it, why do they not stand aside and allow others who are quite as able, and are, at the same time willing to undertake the duties with all their responsibilities to step in. It can not be argued that men equally good and efficient with the present representative team could not be found to undertake the work, so that no good reason can be urged why the administration should make the unreasonable and, in common with many others we believe, dangerous concession sought for. At the same time we are prepared frankly to admit certain concessions ought to be made with the view of obviating the present anomalous state of things. The payment of members is recognised on all sides, and we quite believe the present rate is not equivalent to the length of time required for transacting business properly. Three hundred pounds or guineas is little enough for the work requiring to be done. In that case would it not be wise for Government to get a measure of the kind passed, and, having got that done, take a firm stand on the ground that members must remain in session until the work is completed. A measure of that kind would not only stifle the decentralisation cry, but it would serve a further purpose urgently needed ; viz. remedy the unseemly honorarium scramble that annually takes place.

Mr A. A. Fantham writes to us as follows: — "I am informed that the Waikato correspondent of fcho Auckland Herald, m the issue of the 2nd of April, leads the readers of that journal to believe that I have sold my farm. I may say that I never sold a farm in my life on "All Fools Day," but I have often hold bipeds, as In thu iu&tancc." The sitting of the Supreme Court commenced yesterday. Complaints reach us of the scarceness and wild nature of ducks ; the bags up to the present are not worth recording. Much damage was caused in Auckland by the rain which fell on Sunday morning, We learn by Cable that the s.s. City of New York which left Auckland on Ist March, carrying the homeward English mail via Frisco, had not reached that port on 24th March, her due date. It is generally conjectured that her machinery has met with an accident. Householders will doubtless have filled up tne census paper on Sunday night as directed. The Sub-Enumeiators may be expected to call for them at any moment now. It is rumoured in Auckland that a considerable reduction in the A.O. Force may be shortly expected. Already some of the finest of the men have been selected for the Police Force. There is some talk of the depot at Wellington being done away with. During the year the fees received at the Supreme Court, Christchursh, amounted to £2524, sufficient to pay the whole cost of the offices and Judge's salary as well. The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board was held last night. We are compelled to hold over our report. Master Leonard Leslie, grandson of Mr Patrick Leslie, of Wartle, met with a very serious accident on Saturday, He was grooming a horse, and the animal gave him a violent kick in the face, injuring his eye severely. The patient is now under the skilful care of Dr. Waddington. The census for the Colony was taken on Sunday night. Gre&t praise is due to the members of the Armed Constabulary who acted as sub-enumerators, for the efficient manner in which they have discharged their duty. To-day will be the second day of the S. Andrew's Church Gift Auction at Cambridge. Mr J. S. Buckland has kisdly consented to act as auctionser. While in Cambridge, Mr Rolleston was waited on by Mr Sheehan, M.H.R., who impressed upon the Minister the necessity for having a clerk of the Court and bailiff appointed to the Cambridge R.M. Court. Mr Rolleston promised that he would lay the matter before the Government. The Cambridge Highway; Board have been making some decided improvements in the main road between Cambridge and Hamilton. That portion lying between ehe Tamahere Bridge and Ewen's Hill has been formed and metalled, while that between the Hautapu School -hause and Hamilton's has being 1 levelled and repaired. The whole road will thus be in good order for the coming winter. A heavy thunder storm passed over the district on Sunday afternoon, and after the long continued drought the copious shower waa most welcome, and already the country is beginning to assume a more verdant appearance. Rain fell during the succeeding night, but yesterday the weather was bright and clear again. Rain fell again last night. • A special meeting of the Cambridge Town Board was held on Fridny evening for the purpose of opening tenders for works in Duke-street and other parts of the town, only one tender having been sent in, it was decided to extend the time till the 7th inst, and that the Monthly meoting of the Board be held on that day, for the purpose of renewing tenders. The Cambridge Highway Board have accepted tenders for tho small bridge at Brown _s crossing, Mr A. Graham £14, road forming, No. 2, contract, Mr McCall 5s 4d per chain, No. 3 and 4 contracts, Mr Crouch at 6s per chain. There were in all seven tenders sent in. The Te Oreore natives have ordered in Wellington a block of stone, with an inscription, to commemorate the meeting of 1841, at which Hainui was the presiding chief, and the gathering of 1881. Forty years ago they pledged themselves at Te Oreoro to be loyal and friendly to the Queen, and the stone is to bear witness that they fulfilled their engagement, On Friday night last Mr. Collins, M.H.R,, gave a dinner at Stoke, near Nelson, in honour of Lieutenant Paynter, Rifle Champion. There was a large attendance. During the evening remarks were made regarding the treatment of volunteers by the Government, The necessity for retrenchment was admitted, bat a hope was expressed that tho voliw.

teer vote should bepr£t to tie increased! Both Memw. Piflpud Collfti*, M.HvICs, supported the increase of the volunteer vote, and Mr. Paynter stated that Mr. Huruthouse, M.H.R., was of the same opinion. , „-,-_,. "Within f the,last' few day& a Con-siderable-number of the Maori visitors to* Cambridge have taken their departure for their own homes. On Saturday morning- a moat extensive stampede took place and it is reckoned that not much more than half the original number are left behind. ' ' This " (writes our correspondent) "I take to mean that we have now reached a beginning to the end of the present sitting of the Land Court." Smith's Panorama of the Franco - Prussian War was exhibited in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday night, but very few persons in the town knew anything about the exhibition. In fact it was not till the hall was lighted, and the sound of the drum heard, that the people rolled up. The attendance was, therefore, veiy meagre, but the views displayed were very good, and the lecturing fair. The panorama was again exhibited to a larger audience last evening. Mons. Galon presided at the piano. Our Cambridge correspondent writes : — The frame work of the church together with the skeleton of the spire now in course of erection by the congregation of the Church of England have been placed and nothing could be more apparent than the lofty aspect they present. When completed the structure will be a most imposing one, and few communities of similar size, will be en- | abled to present more satisfactory evidence of evangelical enterprise than the church-going population of Cambridge. The Hon. the Native Minister left Cambridge on Friday morning on route for the Lake District. The greater part of Friday and the whole of Saturday were spent in going over the Patetere lands, not only the Government purchases, but the whole of the blocks being visited. Mr Rolleston slept at Waotu on Friday night, and at Messrs Maclean's station on the following, leaving on Sunday morning for Rotorua. The Minister was accompanied by Mr L. Cussen, District Surveyor over the Patetere country. Mr J. B. White joined Mr Rolleston on Sunday. At Rotorua the hon. gentleman will be met by Major Swindley, the officer in command of the Tauranga District, and also by Mr Eric Gold-Smith, District Surveyor, by whom he will be taken over the Government lands in the Bay of Plenty, including the Rangiora and Te Puke Blocks. The members of the Hamilton Troop, Waikato Cavalry, mu&tered for their usual half-yearly drill yesterday, under the command of Lieuts. Johnson and Hunt, with Sergt. Major Carley instructor. A large attendance was not anticipated, owing to the action of the Government in stopping the pay laat drill, but some disappointment was expressed when only twenty-one turned up for the morning parade. In the afternoon, however there were 31 on parade. The appearanco of the men and horses was very soldierlike and demonstrated that whatever the feelings of the former might be in regard to the suspension of their pay they were determined to maintain the credit of the Troop to the last. The new plumes which arrived yesterday are certainly a great improvement on the spikes, imparting a more martial air to the appearance of the wearers. We are glad to hear that it is in contemplation to revert to the system of paying the Cavalry. By no other means we are certain can the regiment be kept together. It is quite enough that the men should give their time for nothing without expecting them to be as an actual pecuniary loss. A Correspondent writes to us concerning the progress of works on the Rotorua Rdwd as follows : -"No. I.formation, better known as Coombes's contract, between the Paeroa and Okaroiri stations, is now open for traffic. Messrs Maunder, Bros, having completed the bridge over the gully that which was the only obstacle to travellers and others using this road before. Mr Hetley the Government Engineer is in hopes of having the road from Paeroa station to the Waimakariri River sufficiently far advanced to be used for traffic before the bad weather sets in. This will be a great boon to people using this road, as it might be said that the road for an additional 12 miles will be first-class this winter in place of a track over very steep hills and through horrible swamps as it was last winter. About twenty of the A.O. Force are engaged roadmaking some two miles above the Paeroa station. Messrs Maunder Bros, party is encamped about a mile above the A.C. They hope to finish their present contract within the month. Their party consists of five carpenters and eight navvies. If they complete their contract by the time they expect, they w'll finish some three weeks under time. Mr Graham with his party of 34 navvies are camped at the Waihou River. Mr Graham hopes to finish his five miles of formation between the Oraka and Waimakariri Rivers early in May, the above rivers have already been bridged by Messrs Maunders, Bros. A writer in the London Quarterly Review, for October, gi?es a somewhat startling account of the condition's of Presbyterianism : — '-The works whose titles we have placed at the head of this paper ," he says "are among the 'Sign of Times.' They add to the many, palpable and abounding' evidences that in Scotland the retreat from Calvinism has become a stampede. The defection began long ago, and uttered its voice in many a moan of 'Moderatiam ;' but during the last halfcentury the spread of science, the advance of wealth and culture, the disruption of churches, the agency of Methodism, and thecontactof Scotchmen with men in every part of the earth, have combined to weaken the theological system which once seemed so firm. Now its collapse seems so imminent that men literally over-run each other in their flight to other places of shelter," The remedy suggested by the writer ia as follows i They do not recognise the fact that Methodism is escaping the schock of modern Rationalism to a very large extent, because it separated from Calvinism a century since. They have not permitted themselves to be sufficiently uuprejudiced to learn from Wesley and his followers that "good works" are an essential part of the Gospel as well as "faith", and to vindioate the one they repudiate the other. The first note of a High Church war has been sounded in Riverton, a Mr J. B. Hunter charging the curate of St. Mary'a with " idolatrous practices." The woolshed belonging to Mr Samuel Henry, situated near May's Diggings, in the neighbourhood of the Lammerlaws, was totally destroyed by fire last week. The fire ia supposed to have originated from a grass fire.

A meeting of the creditors in the estate i of Thomas Baker was held in the Court-house, Hamilton, on Saturday, when Mr H. T. Siblcy of To Awamutu, was elected trustee in the I estate. | A special meeting of the Cambridge i Fanners' Club trill be held to-morrow evening:, Hi 7,30 p.m. Mr J. S. Buckland -will hold a special sale of housohold furniture, cattle hoises, farming implements, ■ &c, at the residence of Mr Henry Puttie, Pukorimu, on Wednesday, April 13. Mr J. S. Buckland announces a tale of, horses at Mr W. K. Carter's Yards, Cambridge, on Saturday next, jtf t o'clock. .Tenders are invited for the supply of chi^ff *nd oats to the Volunteer Camp at ' Te Awamutu, during the Easter Renew.