Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1477, 20 December 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Fqu.il and e\a< t j ustice to .ill men, Ot wh.itMcr st ite or persuasion, religious or polifcic.il Here "•)) ill the Pi <^ss Uie Pooi>le's- 1 iijht m untam Un.iwed by influence .uul unbiibcd by yam.

TUESDAY, DEC. tfO, 18SI.

A Few days ago we directed attention to some of the evils against winch the fanners of this portion of the colony have to contend. It was pointed out that in the present depressed state of the beef market there was not, under present circumstances, much chance of holding our own unless some other means for the employment of labor and capital were cUnispd and adopted. That occupiers of the soil have seen this for themselves wo have liftle doubt, but that they fully recognise the importance of the situation we cannot say. Some at any rate do. Many landowners in Waikato have within recent years, turned their attention to agriculture with very encouraging results This year a considerable area of country has been laid down in crops of various kinds, and so far all promises well. But, there now arises a fresh difficulty, upon which in our previous notice we did not touch, but about which we have reason to know the settlers not only in this district, but in all parts of the colony are greatly exercised. We refer to the present railway tanlf. The railway system has revolutionised the colony; since its introduction it is probable that no country has made such rapid strides in material progress as New Zealand. There are those who hint that we have paid to dear for our whistle — that the iron horse costs more than he i& worth. We are not of that number, but neither are we optimists, and it is possible enough that. Great as are the benefits deiivable from the vastly improved meano of transit and communication to which we are mainly indebted to the genius of one man, they are not so good as they might be. Consi ier first what the most obvious effect of the railways has been A wide cvt'iitof country distributed over both inlands, hitherto unoccupied because of its lemotenovs or occupied in large runs and used only for the growth of wool, lias been divided into small area^. and brought under the influence of a system of farming-, compared with which, antiquated as some of it still is, the old was patriarchal. To say that the country so situated has been taken up and improved by the expenditure of capital because of the menus of eommunicution afforded by the railways, is to say what most people know to be the case already, But now arises the question : Havo those people who havo planted their household gods and invested their all in. these sometime desert places, reaped the benefits which they had a right to expei t, '? Wo venture to think that in too many instances they have not. Led away by the near proximity of a railway they havo paid high prices for hind, and now find themselves handicapped by an injudicious tariff which is a sore tax upon their means. The case is strongly stated, "but it is better if there bo a w r orst side that it should be shown. The railways cannot of course subsist on air, and if they cannot be made bclf-supporting', we know perfectly well that the money 10 support them must come out of tlie taxpayer's pocket. The proposal which some have had the hardihood to make, that the farmers' produce and manures should be carried free, while the rest of the population pay the piper, it is too absurd to require a moment's consideration. There is no necessity to go to extremes. The railways ought to, and must ho maintained by those who use them, but to do this the system must be popularised, placed within the reach of the many, or, in other words, it is to be accomplished not by a high tariff, but by offering inducements to increase the amount of trade clonel Now there is nothing in the rates presently in force to deter all classes of producers or consumers taking advantage of the lines for short distances it is when the length to be traversed reaches or exceeds a hundred miles that the hardship is felt, and it is, as we have endeavoured to point out, localities lying thus remote from commercial depots which railway communication has, is presumed, advantaged. We need only tb take the case of the Upper Waikato and Wai pa country. In the case of many articles of export,'- the tariff amounts to little short of a prohibi-, tory impost, and upon everything its effects arc strongly marked.' Le|' us instance potatoes., x There t jls\ nj^ reason 'why . t^e-, 'supply > of- this

esculent needed £oi< the Auckland market should not be drawn solely and wholly from AVaikato, except it be the amount of freight chargeable upon them! Tor what profit can be looked for when the mere cost of transporting them to Auckland is 14s or 15s per ton, and when the fluctuation of the price may touch £2 or even lower ? AVhat is there left to cover expenses of cultivation, digging, carting, interest on capital invested, or rent, to say nothing of profit ? And in the case of wheat things are little, if at all better. A tax of 5d a bushel is a serious charge in. addition to other expenses. There is' another aspect of the case, of much interest to farmers also, and that is the excessive rates imposed on artificial manure. Of late wo know that Waikato settlers have resorted largely to turnip growing-, to which end experience has taught them that manure is a valuable auxiliary. The extreme sourness of land long encuinb(ji»d with fein must be removed before roots can be grown to anything like perfection, but before it can 'be done a heavy tax has to be paid, and so the candle is burned at both ends. Now, it does appear to us, and we wonder that it has not appeared so to others who are in authority, that a policy which aimed at encouraging the farmers of this and other districts similarly situated by a finer adjustment of the present sliding tariff would end in increasing the traffic so enormously that the receipts would, at no very distant period, show largely in advance of their present amount. We believe that Strong ropre&Gntations are , about to be made to have the tariff reduced or re-organised in time to be of service during the coming harvest, and we earnestly hope that they will be fruitful. We need not add that under such circumstances no immediate increase in the receipts need be looked for, but the effect upon the following harvest would surprise the most unbending supporter of the present tariff. Apart from this, the agricultural and pastoral classes have a right to fairer treatment than they have hitherto received, and even if a little temporary loss were sustained, a loss which would have to be made up out of the general revenue of the colony, it would be wisdom to foster those who are, beyond cavil, the backbone of New Zealand.

The offices of the Bank of New Zoal.tud will bo closed on Monday .and Tuesday next, tbe 2Gth and 27th inst., for tho Clinstmas holidays.

I A meeting of the Cambridge Domain Board was called for Thursday evening last, but fell tlnougli for want of a quorum.

Mr A. J. Hunter, Resident Engineer, hab commenced work on the Cambridge railway, and working plans may be expected to be ready in a short time.

Mr Knorpp, superintending engineei for the Noith Island, is at present on an official visit to this district. He will inspect the Tauranga and Rotorua roads, and determine certain matters in connection with the proposed railway tei minus atCambudge.

We learn that the Board of Education have decided to appoint an assistant master to succeed Miss Nicholson m the Hamilton West School. They have, subject to the approval of the committee, appointed Mr Meagher, a gentleman who presently holds an assistant mastership ■ in one of the Auckland schools, to the post.

The proceeds of the bazaar advertised to bo told next Monday and Tuesday in the Cambridge Public Hall will bo applied to the liquidation of the debt ou the new Anglican church, which stands now at £SGO. The building 1 has cost £2137, of which sum £1277 has been collected.

The weather for the past week or two has been singuUrly unseasonable. The rain that has fallen, has greatlyimpeded haymaking operations, and a large quantity of hay has been spoiled. Per contra it may be s lid that for grazing lauds, and oat and root crops, more especially swedes, the rain has been very welcome, though the wheat could do better without any further moisture.

Mr D. Elliott has opened the premises lately occupied by Vialou & Co., Victori.i-street, Hamilton, as a furnishing 1 deptot. He is prepared to execute all orders for furniture, having an exporiencad cabinetmaker in his employment, as well as a stock of well seasoned timber. Those contemplating furni&hitig, would do well to give Mr Elliott a call.

It will he seen, by our report of the meeting of the Hamilton Cavalry, ou Saturday, that arrangements have been made for affording th,o members exercise in sword drill, single stick, fencing with foil 3, and for acquiring the art of self defence, in the new Volunteer and Public Hall, Hamilton. The first practice will take place on Saturday, 7th Januaiy, and we have no doubt that the members of the , troop will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity.

At the Licensing Court on Saturday, at Hamilton, before Capt. Jackson, and Messrs S. S. Graham, and W. P. Ohepmell, the only business brought forward was that of an application by S. W. Buck, for tbe licensing of new premises at Morrinaville, named the Phosaix Hotel. The application was supported by Mr O'Neill and opposed on behalf, of, Mr H. Vaughan by Mr Hay. The ' Court found that the premise's had 'not been completed in terms of the Act, and the application was refused.

The native Tuhi, who stole, father, Luok'a borse on' the 3Qfch "November from Harapepe, and who was arrested by Constable Bond prer the Puniu on the 7th. in«t, , was brought up afc the Police f Court, Te Aivamutu, on Friday last, before Messrs Parsons and Macky, «T.P, and, evidence being' taken, committed to take his trial at the next feitting of the Supreme ■Court, Auckland, The case is a very • clear one against the prisoner. He took tbe horao out of a. padlock belonging 'o Mr McGruivk, and| riding into Te Awamutu, sold it the tome day. to. Mr ATenell, ,who unhesitatingly,- ,-idontified. , Tuhi when brought iaoe to face with him. Should Monday next turn out fine those'of tbe, Cambridge 'public ' whp jdo not find* itf convenient to qo tS tq seethe Auckland* races, but' whd 'nevertheless ' UMt& see agoocl tla^'a raciij^'wJill^lm^e ■ a^.' opportunity 6i enjoying themselves" at" jtlie' pxford' face's. -The 1 ' ffyffi&Hintf' , jyhich" has already been 'puUli^Red^'tfb^ ;,^istB (jf no less, th^h six eyehts'j^cla'din'g

hurdle aud flat-race^ aud aliout £50 wil bo given away iv prizes. For those whi do not relish horse r.icmg, a drive alouj the beautiful Oxford road to the ho springs would well repay for , the, visit for we venture to say a nicer drive coiil< not be had in the province. This is thi first time that races have been hold it this- par b of the country, aud as tht stewaids intend making it an annua meeting, it in all probability will not bt the last. Mr Groffrey Maclean will acl as judge, MrR. Kirkwood, of Cambridge: as handieapper, aud Messrs Kallendai anb 'Richardson as atarteix We migh' also remark that there is a good hotel &i Oxford, wheie every provision is made for travellers.

It will be seen by advertisemeni in another column that tenders are in vited for the construction of a bridg< over the Wai pa near Alexandra, agreeable to the wish of Tawhiao.

It has been decided to observe Monday, the 26th mat., and Monday the 2ml prox., as Post and Telegrapl office holidays. The hours of attendance will be as follows :— From 9 to 10 a.m. and from 7.30 to 8 p.m., instead of th< usual Sunday hours.

The parents and friends of the pnpila attending Mrs Watts' seminary, The Lodge, Hamilton, spent a most enjoyable evening on Tuesday last, on the occasion of- the breaking up for the Christmas holidays. Prizes were distributed by the Yen. Archdeacon Lush, whe addressed a few appropriate words to the recipients, as follows : — Scripture — Special prize presented by His Lordship the Bishop of Auckland, Miss Mmnett : certificate of merit, Miss H. Cawkwell. General term work — Miss Jolly ; certificate, Miss Mmnett. General examination — Miss Nellie Sandes ; certificate, Mis« Minnett. Aiithmetic — Miss Minnett ; ceitificate, Miss H. Cawkwell. Latin— Miss Wood and Miss Blanche Lyon. French — Ist cla&s : Miss Mmuett ; certificate, Miss Jolly ; 2nd class : Mis^ Sandes ; certificate, Miss Carey. Music — Miss Sandes ; certificate, Miss Jolly. Needlpwoik — Special prizes presented by Mis Lush and Miss Bell : Miss Lyon and Miss Minnett (ties) ; 2nd, Miss Bell ; 3r<i, Miss C. Bell. The samples of needlework were most excellent, and reflected the highest credit on both teachers and pupils. We are glad to notice that the average number of marks obtained were much in excess of those obtained at the preceding examination. After the distribution ot prizes the following programme of vocal and instrumental music was admirably carried out by the pupils : — Quartet (two pianos), "Zampa," Misses Cox, B. Lyon, Sandes, and Atkinson ; sonata (duet on two pianos), Misses Lyon and Sandes— this piece showed careful study and was well executed ; the same may be said of " The Carnival de Venise " (solo), by Miss Slides ; "Figaro " (quartet), Misses Jolly, Carey, Minnett, and Flood; "■Grand Valse " (duet), Mis&ess Lyon ; " Wedding March " (quartet), Misses Lyon (2), and Sandes, all contributed to the enjoyment of the evening. The vocal selections consisted of "Come with thy lute " (part song), by the pupils, and " Come, let us all be merry," by the same. These were both well executed under the conductorship of Mr T. A. Bell. During the evening MiBell was presented with a handsomely bound copy of Hymns Ancient and Modern by the members of his singing class. The address was read by Miss B. Lyon, and responded to by Mr Bell A few solos and duets by some of the guests brought a very pleasant evening to a close.

The examination of the Waikato candidates for the ten scholarships offered by the Board of Education will commence to-day, and continue over to-morrow and Thuisday, in the Hamilton West School. The examination will be conducted by Mr Garland, of the Education Department, Auckland. The examination is also for certificates of proficiency. Out of 109 candidates in the province of Auckland, !4 will be from Waikato, divided as follows : — Te Awamutu, 4 ; Cambridge, 4 ; Hautapu, 1 ; Hamilton Ea&t, 2 ; Hamilton West, 3. This is the first examination of the kind held at Waikato, the candidates having had heretofore to proceed to Auckland. The change was effected at the request of the teachers in Waikato, who felt that they laboured under a great disadvantage under the old system.

Things seem to have arrived at a pretty pass in Ireland under the reign of terror established by the the Land League. The latest and most novel phase of boycotting has just been exemplified in a parish near Mallow, County Cork. A young lady, daughter of a well-to-do farmer, was engaged to be married to the son of a neighbour, also in comfortable circumstances, but who had the misfortune lo come under the ban of the Land League, and was undergoing boycotting in it? severest form. The night befoie the day appointed for the marriage the bride elect was waited upon by a number of members of the local Land League, who informed her that, should she marry the intended bridegroom, both she and her family would be equally boycotted. So greut was the persuasion brought to bear upon her, that the poor girl has broken off, or at least postponed the match. ,

The cricket match between the English team and an eleven of Victoria, was resumed at Melbourne on Saturday. The attendance was large though the weather was showery during the day, and owing to the rain, the cricket was not so lively as on Friday. The Victorians continued their first innings, which closed for 351. Edwards made 6p. The fielding of the Englishmen was weak. The lattei then went in for their first innings, and all were disposed of for 146. Bates waa caught for 42, Scotton bowled for 28, and caught for 23. The Englishmen being 105 behind the Victorians, followed their innings, and when the stumps were drawn for the day they had put together 47 for the loss of two wickets. Selby was caught for 32.

In view of the approaching visit of the English cricket team to Auckland, we hope some steps will be taken to match a twenty-two of Waikato against the old country players. We are aware that the matter haa been v mooted by some of the local cricketers, 'but it has been allowed to remain in abeyance until a meeting of 'the new association Qould be hold. Owing to circumstances which are unavoidable, this has been postponed from week to j week, and it is not probable that any. thing will be done until the new year. It is out of the question that one, or even two clubs could organise a team sufficiently litrdng to proceed to Auckland to' play the Englishmen. The work could 'only be done, with satisf action to all, by a body such as the'association, presumably free from all looal prejudices, and therefore it is of the, utmost importance that the moving spirits tff this institution .should bestir, without _ delay. 'We do not anticipate that our men will succeed in carrying of£ anylaurela/bufc that they would -fakly uphold the honor of the district we hare no doubt. Such a ' match wpuld al§o, do much for , cricket in , ,-, I^wpuldiaflo.rd; ,spme s of put fbest^eg at* pppPs6unityol,jneeting-andl combatj^g wijh^na^of* t^^nes^tea^q, ijj th.e-jwor]£,MftwquJd imbu.e tjheioVwiUv a spirit of jjpi^|a^[o ; n,^h§;ef|^cjs! ii\yhio|i would .be apna|^fcigß j^ar|,, ,so far,,'haa,jnrtaae a f a^o^d^tep jn advance this' itfTWaikAtp Jaad th'i%f aofcleads . us to beUw-iW no peat;, difaQu}^^'

be experienced iv arranging for a battle with the representatives of the mother country. Prom a recent comparative statement it appears that, omitting vessels of less than 50 tons measurement, Europe possesses 42 tons to every 1000 iuhabitants ; Amtrioa, 40 ; and Australia, 79 ; while "sia and Afiica have only two tons per 1000. Liverpool rarko as the most important port iv the world, with a tonnage of 2,647,373; this is succeeded by London, with 2,330,6^8, and Glasgow with. 1,432,304; New York comes next, with 1,153,676 tons. The nine leading ports of Great Britun have a tonnage of 8,724,123, while the first four porta of the United States have only 1,976,940. St. John, New Brunswick, i>s in this respect as important as Boston or Charleston, and more so than Philadelphia . GreatG reat Britain and Ireland possess a gross tonnage of nearly 12,000,000 (-ailing-.ve-^el tons, and with the tonnage of her colonies the British flag covers 14,000,000 tonnage, out of the total existing world's tonnage of 27,000,000. Tho United States, twenty years ago, carried 66 per cent of their foieign trade in their own bottoms, whereas now they carry something less than IS per cent.

A notice by the Te Awamutu poundkcepcr appears in our advertising columns. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell by auction on Thursday next, at the Cambridge yards, a large number of useful horses from Poverty Bay. j Messrs B. and J. Coleman, butchers, | Hamilton, make an important announcement in regard to Christmas beef. Tenders for drapery, &c, in the assigned estate of Mi N. R. Cox, Hamilton House, are wanted up to noon of Saturday next. A quadrille assembly will take place this evening in the Hamilton Volunteer and Public Hall. Dancincr commences at half-past eight. The programme of the Hamilton East Boxing Day sports will be found m another column. Mr J. S. Buckland's next Ohanpo sale will t>ikc place on Tuesday, the 27th mst. Arrangements have been made by the Waikato Steam Navigation Company for running the Delta to JaupinandHuntleyoii Jso\ing Da}, at excursion fares. Me&brs W. 0. Hunter & Co.'s sale at Frankton, advertised for to-da}, has been postponed. Messrs Samles & Co., Hamilton, have openod up ,1 choice assortment of Chiistmas goods, and mute inspection. An important announcement appear* in i our advertising columns from Mr T. AVeIK, of ! Cambridge, who recently purchased the stork of Mr Kcesing, and Mr Cox, of Hamilton. There will be a cheap sale during the Christmas term, when exceptional bargains can be made by all purchasers, both in drapery and ironmongery. The members of the Hamilton Band intend holding a quadrille party in the Hamilton and Public Volunteer Hal! on Boxing njght. Dancing; will commence immediately after the promenade concert on Gwynne's Lawn. We have no doubt that their efforts will meet with success, as the band is deserving of support, and it only remains for the public to lend a helping hand in aid of the funds et a local institution. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prote 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 d) apery, millmery, 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 pro\e unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the cohdence which the public have hitherto shown them, and arc determined to give the pure cash system a fair trial; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country bu\ers on remitting cash withordcr will be supplied with goods at co-operatve prices ; just the same as though they made apersonal 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 factor), willbe marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay .it the time of purchase. G. and C. having reahsed the entire value of their stock dunng then late cash sale, the present stock is m,\v \nd cm vpi\ hoogh 1. — V.ll inspection united. — Gvklkk vmj Ck \jv % .\ 1m , Cit> Hall Fui lushing Arcade Queen street, Auckland.