THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 1886.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2124, 18 February 1886, Page 2

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 1886.

If Lord Rosebery ever gets to the Colonial Office we may expect to witness some important developments. Hitherto, it must be confessed, Secretaries of State have not, apparently, thought it worth their while to break new ground. The ordinary routine of business between the Mother Country and her children, and now and then quebtions involving the extension of British territory, the expansion of the Empire, have been sufficient to engage their energies. Anything like a systematic attempt on the part of the Home CJoverninent to increase the colonial population or develop the resources of these great dependencies lias never been attempted. On several occasions we have pointed out how mrfaar it is fco expect the colonists fr undertake the whole burdea of.

immigration, seeing that England benefits by the removal of her surplus population. Heretofore we have borne the whole cost, and it cannot be said thnt we have got our moneys worth, while we have contributed in some small degree to mitigate the evil which is a constant .source of anxiety to British {Statesmen, by adding to the troubles of our own. One of the causes of the present wide-felt depression is unquestionably tlio importation of unsuitable, l.ibour. We are not of that number who would put nn end to immigration, but we do think the time has arrived when a poition of the cost should l>e borne by Great Britain. Lord Itosebery is a man with an idea, not by any means an uncommon thing in these days perhaps, hut not a usual thing in the Colonial Office, and if he can only manage to keep his idea, warm after he gets into harness we may derive some profit from it. The noble lord has only recently visited Australasia, and has taken back with him, not only many pleasant memories, but, we have reason to believe, a good store of practical information as well. He is young, too, and ha» a reputation to make. In a speech which he delivered at Sheffield at the close of last year, Lord Rosebery opened his mind on the subject of colonial politics, and the Pall Mall Gazette made reference to it in the following words: — "We commend his plain-spoken reference to emigration. Some of the Radical leaders detest emigration. Not so Lord Rosbery. He sees clearly what we have never lost an opportunity of proclaiming, that emigration is. the condition of our existence. He asks • whether it is too much to say that the State may be called upon to assist those who cannot find employment here to find a new home and new opportunities in a new world,' and he obviously would answer his question in the negative. He would find a little money from the State to provide for emigration, and lie lays down two principles to guide the Emigration Department of the future. The first is that the State must only find one-half of the passage money ; and the second, that no emigrants must be sent to colonies which do not want them. But there are other principles quite as important. One is that the colonies and the mother country should federate on this question, if on no other, in order that so far as the distribution of surplus labour is concerned the whole Empire can be treated as an administrative unit like England or Scotland. Another is, that the enormous tracts of waste and unoccupied land which lie in the back country, say, of Australia should belong to the whole Empire, and not to the first few handfuls of colonists who squat on the rim of the continent. For our part' we are disposed to look forward to the establishment of a free ocean bridge between all parts of the Empire as a possibility by no means so remote as some may be inclined to think it. The shrinkage of the world goes on apace, and the ferry-boats of the Empire may in time be made as free as the bridges across the Thames. It is not so long ago that every one paid toll in crossing from Westminster to Lanitoth, just as every one now must pay for his ticket to Canada or Australia. In a few years we may be as familiar with free passages between the mother country and the colonies as we are with free bridges between the banks of our great river. Of all the keys to the solution of the social problem, this appears to be the most simple and the most hopeful. Passengers may have to victual themselves en route, but the transit will be free, and we wish that some of the managers of our great steamship companies would calculate the annual charge which such a freeing of the ocean tolls would impose on the Budget of the Empire. The establishment of an Imperial penny postage is a more immediate step which might be taken in the right direction, and taken at once. The moment the unity of the Empire is firmly grasped, and Canada and Victoria are regarded as being as much integral units of one country as Sussex and Durham, the chief difficulty disappears. If we are to advance State funds, as we are now advancing them, to buy miserable plots of land in the old country on which a half-starved labourer may eke out a miserable existence, why should we scruple to advance a less sum of money to plant out families on spacious farms over the sea where they could live and thrive to some purpose? The more the problem is studied the more clearly will it appear that the maintenance of the Empire and the consolidation of its unity are indispensable to the solution of our social problems." This is undoubtedly a very large order. Now Lord Rosebery's proposition is not new, though it is, as we have said, a novel view for a man in his position, and there is nothing impracticable in it. But the scheme promulgated by the Gazette is a different thing altogether. II touches bottom at once and pierces it. This is our contemporary's habit, and we are not disposed to deprecate it. Whatever views we may hold in regard to the largo questions, some present and others looming on the political horizon of Britain, we are bound to admit that the best thing that could happen to the struggling inhabitant of tho old Country is to transplant him to a land whore he may enjoy ny r ■ comfort, and where he is really wnuted. There are unquestionably many national wrongs iv England which cry aloud for reform, but thoso who givo voice to lh« cry are likely to starve meanwhile. It is not a qit63tjon of Emigration against Reform. Both are national wants, and it is as much the duty qf the Imperial Government to see to the one as it is to promote the other.

Mr T. Wells Ins returned to Cam bridge from attending the Go ioral Synod of tlio Anglican Church.

The police have instituted proceediiiga nganut Mr 1). Shorntf, <>f Oxtdrd, for sluughtcrin^ without a licence.

A considerable quantity of timber is now htackrd at the booms at Cnmbridire, having been brought down wince the rains.

The road from Cambridge down the liill to the X ir.tpiro Bridge is very 1 1 Midland \w>uld bo the better f»r n little attention.

The Cambridge Te Awamutu roatf w very heavy after the rocunt rain«, nnd \ory nir.oli needs foimutimi between Koto r.in^'i and 'IV Awsuntitu.

Mr H. Cowper has resigned his recently conferred appointment of necrotary t<» S. Andrew'n Ve<try, Cambridge, .md Mr S.inder-i, tlio former secretary, him been re-<ip[)ointed.

The death is announced of the Very Roy. Principal Tulloch, D.D., VicaChanci'llor of the University of St. Andrew.-', aged si\ty-three yenra.

A correspondent informs us that n bridge on No. 1 Station Road, Hamilton and Cambridge road, is very much out of repair. The plankn arc lornte and rattle in a most disagreeable way when anything goes over.

Several hundred acres of virgin land at Fencourt, have been cleared of .scrub, and are no a- being put under the plough. The work is in the hands, principally, of Maori contractors, whoso camps are dotted all over the property.

The country is looking greatly rerived with the late rainfall. Around Rotorangi, Kihikihi and Te Awanmtu the grass is looking green and plentiful. At Ohaupo and Pukerimu the farm* look well and fresh. Wo notice some largo fields of turnip* looking hexlthy anil promising.

There does ntt appear to be much interest taken in the proposal to bring Cambridge nnder the Municipal Coi in »r.itions Act, neither have we been able to discover any definite expression.-) of opinion on the part of the townsfolk which could be treated a» public feeling.

At the Hamilton Police Court yesterday, before Mr Northcroft, K.M., two mon, named respectively James HerI bert and John Strung, were charged with vagrancy and sleeping in an unoccupied building. On the understanding that they would leave the town they were discharged with a caution.

The Right. Rev. Dr. Suter, Bishop of Nelson, wan a passenger hy yesterday morning* train to Hamilton. He proceeded to Cambridge by the evening's train, en route for the Hot Lakes. Hit Lord-hip will preach at the Harvest Festival at S. Andrew's, Cambridge, on Sunday.

I There are twenty-four boys of varioui ages attending the Cambridge night school conducted by Mr Parry, the a»BUstant master of the District High School. Under the board regulation*, tiieie arc entitled to be added to the general roll, and will, therefore, be a connidurable increase to the regular average.

The Cambridge Jim Company has jubt received a few cample labels, which they affixed to two or three tins of pro served fruit, and have had thsin placed iv Messrs <^ and Soutter's window for public exhibition. They expect to receive the bulk of the order for labels very shortly, when they will place a large quantity of their product in the market.

The shooting match between the Waiuku and Te Auamutu cavalry troops will be fired on Tuesday. 23rd nist., at To Awamutu. In the evening the visitors will be entertained at a dinner, to which tho public will be admitted, at James's Hotel. On the following day there will be volunteer and public sports on the racecourse. The programme is advertised in this issue.

Mr C Tippen, of Hamilton East. lost a valuable horse by drowning yesterday. The horse was h.irnessid to a dray which was just loaded with dials from a barge, when the barge broke away from her moorings, allowing the dray to run back, and before assistance could be afforded, the animal was dragged into the river and drowned. The dray was subsequently recovered.

Further telegrams are to hand from Lithgnw Nuvr South Wales rchtive to the outbreak of fire in one of the coal triines near the township. The exertions made to rescue the i:>ino manager «nd two of the miners unable to effect their escape resulted in the lecovery of the mine manager in an uncont>ciou.s state. The other two men were brought up dea<*. Th ly had apparently been suffocated. The manager has since died.

The late heavy rain has done a little damage to the mads in various parts of the district. In Leslio'a gully, on the Hamilton-Cambridge road, the water has overflowed the roadway And wanned a portion into the creek, making it exceedingly dangerous for wheeled traffic after dark. There is only ju»t room for a buggy to panri. This is a matter which the Cambridge Road Board should aeo to without loss of time.

A service of son? entitled "Buy Your Own Cherries" was giv«n in the Public Hall, Hamilton, im Tuesday evening, in aid of the funds of the Gospel Temperance Mission. Thu attendance was not lurge, but those who assembled «t>eutud to be well satisfied. The Rev. J. Dcllow opened the meeting with prayer. The Rev. H. R. Dewsbnry g.»ve the connectivo rending*, and it is needless to add, read them well indeed. The narrative abounded with comicalities which frequently tickled the risible facilities of the audience. The musical part of the service, consisting for the most part of familiar settings, was fairly well rendeied by a choir of about twenty voices, the effort* of the soloist* meeting with great approval. At the conclusion of the service Mr Rotherhiim moved a vote of thanks to Mr Dewsbury, and to the choir, both of which were carried by acclamation. Rev. Messrs Dewsbury and Dellow briefly responded, and the meeting was brought to a close with the benediction.

At the usual fortnightly sitting of the R.M. Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., tho following civil cases were heard :-— Qualtrough and White v. Chas. Lovett, claim £2 Os 7d. H. McDonald v. D. Elliott, claim £2 I.h <sd, for plumbing work, etc. Mr ODea, architect, deposed that the job had not been executed in a workmanlike manner, ana plaintiff was nonsuited with ciwt«, £1 18*. (r. Fielding v. W. Cannell, claim £1 13s, for lettering a signboard. Defendant pleaded that the work had not been done in a workmanlike manner, and the case wan adjourned until the afternoon for tho production of the evidence of experts. Subsequently evidence was taken, showing that the work had not been done satisfactorily, and the plaintiff was nonsuited, with costs, 10s, the defendant agreeing to pay the amount claimed when plaintiff makes some slight alterations in the letters, the alterations to be subject to tho approval of Mt Calderwood, who was examined as an expert.

The following special messages to the Press Association dated London, Fcbuary 15th and 16th, hare been published — The annual moeting of the Federation League was held to-day. The report presented was of a hopeful character, and considered that the cause has been greatly advanced by the action of the New South Wales Government iii despatching the contingent to the Soudan. Sir Alex. Gait, High Commissioner for Canada, and Mi Dobson, of Tasmania, urged the immediate projection of a scheme of federal defence. There wan only a small attendance, and Lord Rosebery and Mr W. H. Smith, who were present, did not speak. — Mr Morrison has introduced a bill into the American Congress for tho purpose of reducing the amount of duty on various importations. The proposed amount of reduotion to be effected is twenty million dollars, and wil] be principally on sugar. The reduction on wool will be only very alight. — Mr Gladstone expresses sympathy with the movement in favour of State emigration.— The Corjjoration of the city of London are arranging for the reception of notable? visiting India and Colonial Exhibition.

Writing on the translation of the Bishop of Melbourne to the See of Manchester, the Melbourne corretpondeut ol the Otngo Daily Time* says ;— The secret of Bishop Moorhouse's popularity is not a deep one. It is simply that his education for the pulpit has not ruined him for the world. He has not Railed away up amongst the clouds, imagining because he was a cleric he was nearer to Heaven than other people. That he has never forgotten he was only a unit amongst the other units has been the basis of his popularity. Of course there h.nve been other causes, but they have bten minor one*. Hp h&i hepn ft man ol enthusiastic convictions, always, CosKwn

lie was right, and nlwayn courageous to Hpeak hix ininri ; but he hit* never done it offensively, und never has foigottun that other men nmy have been ju"t as «vie they also were in the right. He has not entirely wrapjwd hinmclf up in hi> church. He has wen thnt people must sometimes think of other tilings, and nas himself aUn thought of thorn, and given the public the benefit of his thought on questions like iirigution, about which ho exhibited a tremendous enthusiasm, and liko Imperial Federation, about which he displayed a magnificent eloquence. Ho wa< bbei .il w ith nn uucleric.il liberalism about opening th« public library on Sundays, and he scouted the idc.v thnt pr.iymg would bring i.nn ; and liw had tho gift of most atti.ictiw pre.ichuig— a perfect oratoncil »tvlu, rlegant eloquence of w«rcK, snd always the hre of his wonderful cnthuM.iMii. He has been in the colony eight ye.n-, .md will loavo his Church in a much mote pi<wppn>us !»tatf> than he found it. He has laired £00,000 for a cathedral, which is building rnpidly, and he has lifted the college of the Anglican Church out of stagnation and dfbt. All denominations acknowledge that his luha will bo not only a severe one to hi-> own people, but that it will be a colonial one. He is to go to his new sphere of woi k in March.