The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2115, 28 January 1886, Page 2

The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Efjukl and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state 01 persuasion, religious or political Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28,1886.

"he recent appointment of Mr H. Driver to the position of District Agent in Dunedin for the Ne\r Zealand Government Life Insurance \ssociation has called forth a considerable amount of public indignation in all parts of the colony, whilst the action of Sir Julius Vogel in conferring the appointment on a political partisan, and at such a high rate of pay, has provoked its condemnation by the policy-holders, expressed in no measured terms at meetings willed for the purpose. In the person of Mr Driver, who possesses lit-tle of tho practical knowledge necessary for such huch an oth'ce, the appointment will it is feared degenerate into a oinecum There is little doubt uiat tho true commercial character of the Association is degraded and by the importation into it* manage

ment and dealings of political influences. There have been instances of gross favouritism, I' personal pecuniary awards, and officiftt v *^ writes, of a nature tliM would never be tolerated in any mercantile house. Cotnplaihta have been rife for years with the public, as well as often heard in Parliament, of the scandalous internal state of that institution, iCm^it^fcas oiring to the pressure of /these- complaints and the evident determination of members to effect a reform, that the local boards were created, in order as the Government professed, to place the Association entirely outside the sphere of political contamination and allow the policy holders a controlling voice in its affairs. How far that praiseworthy object has been attained, recent events will prove ; for, besides this appointment of Mr Driver, there was, a short time back, the seriously intended proposal to appoint Mr Macandrew to the Chairmanship of an Otago Board, also at about a thousand a year or more. If useful institutions like this are to be conducted in a manner creditable to the country, and on recognised legitimatff^fcwinercial lines, there mupfclje a complete emancipation of all direct Government central. It should be, pure and simple, an independent corporate body under the supervision of, and accountable to the Legislature only. Under existing circumstances it is always possible for an unscrupulous man, temporarily placed in power, and insensible to public morality to ease himself of the importunities and pressure of past personal associations, by filling the highest offices with imcompetent friends, to the detriment of the service and the injustice to the most deserving and well tried servants of the society. We have no doubt such a pronounced instance of a stretch of patronage as this under review, will form the subject matter of an enquiry during the next session of Parliament, when no doubt the outraged feelings of the policy-holders will be appeased by the revocation of the appointment Sir Julius Vogel has made.

Mr T. Wells left yesterday to attend the General Synod.

We have not heard of any further damage to the railway line neur Rtukura. The rain has, it ia believed, removed the cause of danger.

Commander Edwin telegraphed at 1.3G p.m. yesterday :— Expect b»d weather between north-west and west and south. Glass rise, and weather cold.

The Howard-Godfrey conspiracy case was resumed at Christchurch on Tuesday. A considerable amount of evidence was taken tending to confirm facts already known.

known.

The Native Lands Court at Cambridge, closed its sittings yesterday, and adjourneds me die. Judj?e Gill will open the Court to be held at Mercer on Wednes-

day next. Haixnoqa Patara, who conducted the Ngatihaua case in the Native Lands Court, has made an application to be appointed an assessor. Judeo Gill said he would recommend him.

We draw the attention of the Cambridge Town Board to the gorse and fern growing up in some of the streets, especially in Grey-street from its junction with the Hamilton Road, where the footpath has become choked.

The Chief Inspector of sheep, Mr F. C. Lewis, was quite astounded at the number of rabbits in the district beyond Kihikihi in the native country. He is of opinion that prompt means will have to be taken to extirpate the pest, or it will before long assume very serious proportions.

The Ngatihaua broke off in the case very suddenly on Twesday. They expressed themselves aggrieved with the way the Court treated them and withdrew from the Court altogether, stating they would apply for a rehearing of the whole case.

An entertainment under the auspices of the Whatawhata branch of the Blue Ribbon Army was held on Tuesday evening in the schoolroom. There was a good attendance notwithstanding the rain, and with the valuable assistance of ladies from Hamilton, some really good ringing was contributed, and a very pleasant meeting wm the result.

Mr Cecil Gkrdner, of Penny Time-table fame, is at present in this district on his usual annual visit. Messrs Scott and Gardner's time-table has been constituted am official guide to the railway, aud it is in future to be sold by every stationmaster. This concession was obtained during the recent visit of the Minister of Public Works, aud speaks highly for the reputation which this useful little publication has attained.

To the Editor-Sir,— In the present disturbed state of political parties in New Zealand and the impending prospect of a dissolution of Parliament, I think the elector* of Waikato would like to hear the views of their present respected representative. It is now some time siuce he has met the electors at a public meeting. Yours truly.— Waikato ELEcrron, Hamilton East, January 27th, 1886.

Judge Gill announced to the natives on Tuesday that he and his assessor had decided not to make any subdivisions in Maungatautari of lands to be cut off for ■ale. He said applications would h&ve to be sent in for such claims, to come before a, fresh court Several of the Ngatihorua expressed their satisfaction and also pleasure at the manner in which the court had heard their cases, and said they bad seen no errors committed.

The heavy rain which fell throughout the district on Tuesday has been the means of putting out many of the bush and fern fires which have been burning for the last month. One of these fires wai the means of destroying the house of Mr Fawkes, a settler near Whntawhata, one day last week, while the owner was away in Hamilton. A quantity of timber stored under the house was also consumed. A fern fire destroyed about twenty chains of fencing on the farm of Mr Win. Salmon, in the same district.

Tne condition of the road through Jolly's swamp, near Hamilton, would be greatly improved by the addition of a few loads of earth to blind the fascines. Two settlers have had horses injured in consequence of the bad state of this road. The fascines on the long swamp, on the game road, have been on tire in several places during the pa«t few days, and the rain which fell on Tuesday has not sufficed to wholly quench the flames. In some places there is now barely room for a dray to pass.

The case of Studholme v- tlie Queen, which has been before the Supreme Court at Christchurch fop some day*, was decided on Monday evening, when the jury fjave a verdict for the plaintiff for £400. The claim was niado on the ground that spark* from a railway engine had set fira to the plaintiff* run. Notwitbntandinjr that it was proved a spark-deflector had been in ute on the onpino, the jury found that the Government had been guilty of negligence, chiefly on the ground that brown coal had been used at the time.

The body of the unfortunate man Inakip, who was buried altre in a well at Avnndale on Monday, was recovered at about tf n o'clock the same night. The poor fellow's groans were beard for about two hours after the occurrence, though there was tan foet of stuff, brick* and earth, on top of him. From the appearance of ths face, however, the deceased did not seem to have endured any agony. Inskip waa about 60 years of asre, and an old resident of the district. Ho leaves a widow and family. An inquest was held on Tuesday, and ft verdict of accidental death returned.

The following special messages to the Prons AsaociutJon, dated London, January 25th, have been published: — H.M. warships Opal and Kavon have been recomniiissioned for service on tho Australian station.— The Times hat an article on the proposed separation of Queensland into northern and southern district-), and expresses the opinion that the change in not needed. — The Victorian loan of a million and a half id taint? woll receded, and it will probably realise a premium of £1. — It is re]x)rted that Mr Parnell has expressed himself satisfied with the attitude taken by Mr Gladstone, and that he. will not insist on any explicit assurance being given respecting an Irish policy.

During the election of the new vestry at Cambridge on Tuesday night., Mr Wells commented in forcible terms on the reprehenbiblo conduct of those who accepted office yet never took the least interest in their duties, or in the work of the church. It was seldom they were able to get a quorum together, though they waited till ten o'clock for those who did not attend. Ho likened them to so many blocks of wood or stone, ao little was tho feeling they displayed of Christian sentiment or charity, and he hoped the gentlemen about to be elected would show a better spirit and zeal. Mr Wells's remarks were not savoury to one or two. Ono of the late vestry, however, admitted the justness of the reproof, and in a very frank, open manner, confessed his tins of omisfion, which had been through want of love for his church, or lack of religious feeling, but, that during the past year his attention had been distracted by many unusual cares, which, probably, would not be the case fur the future, and he hoped to do better.

The annual meeting of the shareholders in the Taupiri Extended Coal Company was held at Auckland on Tuesday. The following report was submitted and adopted :— The directors beg toy -aub-* mit the balance-sheet tor the naif-year ending December 31st. 1885. The profit and loss account shows a net profit for the half year of £2907 12s sd, which the directors recommend to appropriate an follows :— £6oo to payment of dividend of Is per share, and £900 to bonus of Is 6d per Hhare, the balance of £1407 12s sd, to be carried forward to new account. The dividend and bonus will be payable on the 27th day of January. The profit and loss account for the past year w.is as follows ;-Dr., July 31, 1885 : To dividend and bonus on 12,000 shaies at 2s Gd per Hhare, £1500; investment account, £2000. December 31.— Mining expenses. £4,449 17s; rent and royalty, £1,008 6s 7d; Mining plant and buildings— written off for depreciation, £134 3s ; charges, £317 8s 9d ; bad debts, £18 3s 6d ; coal mine lease, £1000; balance carried to new account, £4,498; total, £14,923 18s lOd. Cr M July 1, 2885. —By balance, £GO9O 7s 7d ; December 31, coal Bold, £8,587 0i 5d ; interest, £246 4s lOd ; total, £14,923 18s lOd.