The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1781, 4 December 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and evict justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here sh ill the Press the People's riffle maintain, Unawed b\ influciu c and tinbribed by gain.

TV ESI) AY. DEC. J h 1883.

We are told that Mr Bryce is somewhat proud of the result of the Kihikilri meeting. We do not wonder at it. Few men have better right to feel elated than he has. He has accomplished that which some of his predecessors would have given half they were worth to attain, and he has done this, moreover, in the simplest and most unostentatious way, with no big following of Maori medicine men, and with a minimum of the Hour and sugar which used to be so lU>er.tll3 r dispensed in the good old clays. Ignoring the fancied claims of Tawhiao and the " King " party, Mr Bryce has gone straight, to those really concerned in the settlement of the land question — the an at chiefs and land-owners themselves. He has laid the cisn clearly, fully and without equivocation before them, and the result, as might have be( n for.seen, is that his proposals have been accepted. In times past it was our custom to approach the Maori as we would a spoilt and wayward child, offering him sugar plums in lieu of arguments, coaxing him instead of reasoning with him. From the very first Mr Bryco struck out a new lino of policy, and he has firmly adhered to it throughout. In his eyes, so it seems to us, the natives are a race of people endowed with intelligence, whose most pronounced faults and failings have sprung from the treatment which they have received at our hands. Subjected to different treatment, dealt with fairly and squarely, lie recognised that much might bo gain d which methods less worthy had failed to secure. He has put his theory to a practical test, and he may well feel at the success of the exes periment. The great chiefs who have signed the application for the " external survey" represent eveiybody whose interest is worth considering in this regard. They are : Rtnvi, Hitiri, Wahanui, Taonui and Hopa. Wahanui deferred signing the application until Saturday, in order that he might, by afhxing his signature to the document in the presence of the assembled native?, the more forcibly impress them with the firmness of his purpose. It is true that one chief of importance, Wecere te Eerenga, has yet to put his name to the paper ; but the fact that he was not at the meeting' is-tfie only reason for his not having done so. Wetere is known to be one of the foremost of the p t )rty of progress, to whom Mr Bryce is indebted for the rapid maturing of his plans. There cannot now be any drawing back ; the surveys, so soon as the necessary arrangements can be effected, will proceed out of hand, and it may reasonably bo expected that before long the whole of the fine country on the south- western border of the Auckland province will be thrown open for settlement, with convenient roads and, let us hope, a railway, connecting our railway system with that of Taranaki and the Waimate Plains. The survey to be immediately undertaken is for the purpose of determining the " external boundaries" of the lands held by the tribes of the applicants, but there is no doubt that this will bo quickly followed by an %l internal" survey, to determine the limits of the possessions of the different hapus. But perhaps the most obvious result of Mr Bryco's negotiations will lie the breaking down for good and all of the miserable remnant of royalty to which Tawhiao has for years so persistently clung, and which has been so fruitful a source of annoyance to the colony. " Kingism " is now a thing of the past, and cannot in any shape be again revived. The son of Te Whero Whero may hold his court where lie pleases, and may affect as many of the airs and graces of royalty as he likes ; he is no longer the leader of his fellows. They have at length been brought to appraise the hollow farce at its true value, and henceforth they intend to look to the Queen as the only sovereign holding sway over these islands. With the native difficulty, ws shall probably lose the Native Office as well, and Mr Bryce will not, in all probability, have a successor. We believe it is bis earnest desire to be the last of his race, te leave no legacy of native intrigues, such as were bequeathed to him, after he has gone. He has almost cut through the limb upon which his forerunners have sat for so many years, and when it falls he goes with it. To bo the last Native ■ Minister were a distinction more to be, coveted than knighthood, rand r and Mr Bryce bids fair to aohieye, ft, ',«',.

At the Piakd races on Friday, the Maori Race was won by Hector, the Galloway Raco by Rat, and the Consolation by Kobjit-the-Devil. It is estimated that close on £3030 will be needed to repair damages to ro.ids .and bridjfiw in the Wuikotlaiti Country by ihe recent floods. The collection at the Choral Festival in S. Andiew's Church, Cambridge 1 , on Fiiday evening last, amounted to £(> 0j Id. Thi«> la -B3 nrno th.in w.is collected on the piewous occasion. The Cambridge Highway Board did not meet ou Sat inlay evening last, as arranged, to open tender* for the contract of gravelling and forming Ewen's hill, on the Cambridgc-Hamilto.i road. A statement appeared in the Auckland Her.ild a few days ago to the clfect that Mi Bradley, coach proprietor, of Te Aroha, had sold out his business stock, &c, toMrChas, R. Johnson, of Hamilton. We have been requested to contradict this btatement, it being incoirect. The civilian cricketers of Cambridge sustained a rather severe defeat at the hands of the Armed Constabulary on Saturday. The former only scored 40, this score being excelled by that of Mr Collins alone, who played for the constabulary, and cai ried out lii.s bat. Mr Collins wab chaired off the ground. Mr A. B. Stubbing and party returned to Cambridge over from Napier on Saturday last, having finished the job of laying and surveying the several stations at intervals through the interior in connection with the Auckland Meat Freezing and Storage Company.

The hon. the Native Minister arrived in Hamilton one Sunday night from Kihikihi and put up at (iwynne's Cottage. At nine a.m. yesterday he left in the (lo- \ eminent waggon for Raglan and Kawlria. Mrßiyce was accompanied by Mr W. J. Butler, private-secietary, .and was attended by a mounted orderly. He is expected to leturn to Hamilton cm Friday or Saturday ne\t.

A meeting of the promoters of the Whatawhata Christmas races and sports will be held at the Whatawhata Hotel on MonHay evening next, to elect a committee, and arrange the programme for the spoits. We understand that subscriptions amounting to between £30 and £40 have been given towards pioviding funds for piiz&s, etc.

The ill-fated steamer Triumph still lieb on the veef at Tiritiri, notwithstanding that energetic attempts have been made to get her off. On Sunday four ste.uner.s endeavoured to tow the htranded vessel into deep water, but ni.ule no |>rogres-,. The captain is desirous of handing the hte.uner over to the underwriter*, but the matter lias not yet been .settled. The cause of the disaster still remains a matter for conjecture, as the captain and officer* are leticent on the .subject.

To-morrow week the public of Cambridge will be afforded an oppnitunifcy of spending a most enjoyable evening in the Public H.tll theie. The Prchbytui i.ins, by way of inipro\ ing the financial position of their chinch, intend giving . i hoiree, which the ladies of the conjjfi egation have taken in hand to look after. After the soiree a musical enteitainment is to be held, at which not only \ocal and instiuniental music will be provided, but several interesting addresses as well.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hamilton Domain Boaid was held last night. The Secretary rejxnted that the Department had refused to contribute towaids getting the water off the board\s lands adjoining the railway in Hamilton West, and it was resolved to biing the matter under the notice of the Minister for Public Works. Accounts amounting to about £20, chiefly for work done and material on the Park lands at the Lake, were passed for payment, and the board adjourned.

A correspondent writes from Alexandra :— There is now every probability of the road between this place and Kawhia bemg constructed at an early date. The satisfactory turn which affairs at Kihikihi have taken has no doubt determined the Native Minister to push on this road, which will afford an easier means of access to the gi eat harbour than that via Raglan. Kawhia is. distant only 17 miles fiom here by the present track, and the cncuinntancßf) that a native lately did the join ney on foot in five hoius goes to show that the country is not a very difficult one."

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held last night, but the business was not of great impoitance. Them were present — His Woiship the Mayor, Cr . Bradley. Davy. McDonald, Lovott, Cocbiano, Tippen and Peat. The Kiiikiriroa Road Board wrote declining to contribute towards the repairs of Bradley "s bridge. The usual report of the woiks committee on repairs to the stieets was lead and adopted, and se\ eral small accounts weie passed for payment. One or two other unimportant matters having been attended to, the council rose at 8.30 ii.m.

After some considerable delay, the directqi s of the Bank of New Zealand, having been impressed with the umnistakeable progress of Cambridge, and the stability of the town, have decided on enlarging, and otherwise improving their banking premises there. A new storey is to be added to the present building, the idea of the new stone building having been abandoned for the present, and the banking 01 office iiccommodation is to be considerably enlarged. Contractors will be able to .see the plans and specifications at the Hamilton branch up to to-morrow, and after that at the office at Cambridge.

Owing to the very unsettled state of the weather the attendance at S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, on Sunday morning last, was not so large as might have been expected. The service was conducted by the Rev. W. Tebbs, incumbent of S. Matthew's, Auckland, and the sermon of the day was also preached by the reverend gentleman. The text was taken from the first epistle general of S. Peter, 4th chap., 17, 18, ami 19 verses. The discourse was a very thoughtful one, the subject having special reference to the day, it being the first Sunday in Advent. The Rev. Mr Tebbs took the service in tho afternoou at Christ Church, Ohaupo, and in tho evening at S. Peter's, Hamilton. There was a Luge congregation at the latter. The iev. gentleman took his te\t from John XII. chap., part of 25th verse.

An old indentity named Davey Nesbitt, who for many yeais past has lesided at Cambridge, and who, in the capacity of a tailor and a pensioner, was wellknown to the residents of that town, passed away on Friday night la^t. The unfortunate old man lived by himself in a small shop in Victoria-street, and, like many otherf. of his cla.s,s, his good nature made him the prey of a few notorious vultures who traded upon his hospitality some time before hi.- death, and notonly inthiswaydepruod him of his proper nourishment, but, he being a prohibited person, they became the low means of his dobaiichory that they might the better share in it themsolves, We do not care to name these persons, but as they have not escaped the viligant eye of the police, we have no doubt that before long they will figure in public.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Road Board was held on (Saturday afternoon. Present : Messrs Atkinson (chairman), Way, Ridlor, Exelby and Gelbton. The following tenders were received :— For carting fascines to Stokes' road— R. Waite, fls (accepted) ; John Deegan, 12s Gd. For gravelling and forming Narrows road— F. O'Neill, forming (5s 9d per yd., gravelling Is Od per yd., draining 4d per yd., laying pipes, £4 ; H. Miller, Bs, Is !)d, (id, £3 15s ; McCallum, 4b 4d, Is 3d, Od, £3 Is (accepted).— lt was resolved to write to Messrs J, dribble and J. Raynes, notifying that they roust out down furze on the road abutting on their properties within fourteen days, or the penalty will be enforced. — Accounts amouuting to £13 17s lid were passed for payment. — It was resolved to insert a notice in The Waikato Times, intimating that all rates remaining unpaid on the Ist of January next, will be sued for,

The branch of the Blue Ribbon Army at Cambridge, whioh has ,been attended with such unqualified _ success since its inauguration, and has enlisted the sympathy of the general public there v is about to bring itself more, forcibly ' under the notice of the public by giving' a ? service of song, entitled 1 "John Tregenoweth ; his mark, ' in the Pub,]J6 Hall to-morrow evening. Deserving organibafeionu of th, j# nature are not always financially, healthy,:; indeed as in this case they are more pecuniarily consumptive. > Doubtless as tomorrow evening'^ proceedingd'will/be in aid of-aJjQVWtJPg this undesirable complain};, so far" as the Cambridge of the 'army is concerned, ' the ' public generally will' manifest their sympathy by oxiosiding a libeval patronage. The f act ' tha^i tfte? Wn- fs nsotive:*eß#wgs wW b« by. tye,,

Rev. H. A. Dewsbury is a sufficient piarantee that an excellent treat will be ff >rded all who attend.

There are a few subscribers of the Cambridge I*ub!ic Library to whoto we would like to address a few remarks which we hope will have the necessary remedial effect. A practice has sprung up of late — not a vary creditable one by any. means — of subscribers taking away books, lending them to others, leaving them at their hotels and boarding houses and otherwise neglecting to return them. Some people in fact seem to keep them for the purpose of filling the shelves of their own piivate libraries long after they themselves ha\e finished with them. There is something very inconsiderate about this, surely. People who aie given to this practice should consider that they are not the only people who desire to read the particular books, they have not paid for the purchase, but merely the loan, and are therefore expected in all honour to return them when finished with.

The Fiako Racecourse on a wet day, is not one of the pleasantest or safest that can be found, as last Friday's c vperience plainly shows, there having been no less than five different accidents during the meeting on that day. The heaviness of the ground is one fault which cannot be improved upon unless by good fortune in the weather, but we think the barbed wire fence at the entrance corner, which was the cause of two of the accidents on Friday, might well be improved upon. A good high post and, rail fence would not be such a temptation to horses to runoff the coui>e at this corner as is the present invisible wiie fence ; and if the stewards would consider not only their own interests, but that of their patrons, and the lives of the jookeys, they would have something done in this direction before their next meeting.

The following special messages to the Press Association dated London November 27th and 30th have appeared in the N.Z. Herald -.—The New Zealand Shipping Company has ordered the building of two more steamers of large size. —The English Cabinet has offered to nominate the Right Hon. Geo. Joachim Goschen as ►Speaker of the House of Commons when the Right Hon. Sir Henry Brand retires.— The Emperor of Germany states the relations between Germany and Russia are of a perfectly cordial nature.—The Times advises that the surrender of Massowah should bj offered to Abyssinia on condition of that Power checking El Mahdi's caretu in the Soudan.—Prince Bi.smarck is seriously ill with jaundice.—lt is expected that the French Chamber of Deputies will appioye of the amendments made by the Senate in the Recidivistes Bill, and that it will consequently Iwcome law.—The AgentsGenera/ have been bringing additional pressm eto bear on Loi d Derby, to endeavour to enlist the approval of Government to the annexation scheme.—Attention ha\ - ing been called to the fact that the dates of the South Kensington and Adelaide Exhibitions will clash, His Roy.il Highne-s the Piinco of Wales has replied that the arrangements for the foimer having been settled, he is now unable to make any alteration in regard to them.

A meeting of the directors of the vaiious companies now ciushmg at Te Aroha was held at Mr D. G. MacDonnoll's office, Auckland, on Saturday, at half-past eleven a.m., Mr J. M. Claik in the chair. Present: Messrs J. C.'Firth, P. Coiniskey, W. R. Vines, F. Sheriff, and H. 15. Whitaker. After the ordinaiy routine business, the discussion tinned upon the question of letorting, etc, which has lately been agitating the public mind. Mr Whitaker drew attention to the fact that a rumour had been current in town that he had practically charge of the arrangements ments in reference to the crushing, which, lie stated, was not the case. At the conclusion of the meeting, the following resolution was piopo.sod by Mr Filth, and carried unanimously:—"That at a meeting of the directors of the Colonist, Premier, New Find, Waitoki, and Werahiko Companies, it was resolved, after careful consideration of all the circumstances relative to the intci mediate retorting recently made, that the directors of the alwve companies are perfectly satisfied that Mr H. E. Whitnker acted disinteie->tedly and to the best of his judgment in the interests of the various companies."—Herald.

"Subscriber," who is evidently a gentleman of a grumbling turn of mind, writes from Cambiidge as follows:—To the Editor. Sir,—ln perusing your valuable paper a few days back, I felt encouraged by the remarks—at least the complaint—of another " Subscriber," about the yelping of certain dogs belonging to a certain party in Duke-stieet, to indulge in a little grumble on my own account of a like nature, if you would only allow me the privilege. Well, Sir, next door to my humble domicile, (which, by-the-by is not in the .same street as our friend's dogs) resides a sucking musical professor, who seems to know a smattering of everything, from a Jews' haiptoan organ. Now the old pioverb tells us that birds of a feather flock together, and this, my latest experience, fully verifies this time-honomed saying, for sure enough, all the birds of the musical feather (at least it seems so to me) within a radius of milus, flock into my neighbour's sanctum on certain nights every week. You talk and sing about your "German Band," and your "Musical Lodger," but if either could hold a candle to this unneighbourly combination of mme —well, I pass. As I recline on my vhtuous couch of an evening, I am inflicted with every torture, on almost every conceivable instalment, accompanied by every imaginary kind of vocalism, from a B flat to an F sharp —a veiitable attack of musical rheumatism. And, dear me, both myself and my wife have to spend our Sunday evenings out, as our neighbour has taken to spending his in, and endeavours to while away his miserable life by sitting on his wind organ. What misery ! Where is the panacea '> Why, I suppose eitherassassination or evacuation; so,an the latter is the safest, I think I'll move to a more peaceful retreat, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the landlord.