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Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 4 January 1873, Page 2

i The Nevada is advertised to sail with the Hails for liono- , lulu, America, aud Europe, on Sunday next,, the sth Jani, at 5 p.m. i The great native mealing will take place at Maungatautari ■on the 21st instftnt. A native arrived m- Alexandaa on the : Ist instant with a letter from Tawhiao to tho (Joveruo, -inviting him to be present. A cattle sale was held at Ngaruawahia on the 2nd inst. IbyAl rJ. Xnox The stock ottered wei'e of such a mixed ! character that to give prices would not be any guide to dealers. The prices realised were, however, considered satisfactory by the vendor*. There have been no sports or amusement of any kind m Cambridge during the Christmas holidays. This is to bo accounted for ov the fact that all the settlers are now busily engnged harvesting. There is some talk of having races about tho beginuing of February, after the harvoat is over. It is, however, extremely doubtful if it will end m anything tut talk, as there seoius to bo a want of unanimity and spirit ! m getting up any amusement amongst the Cambridgo folks. On (lie 3rd February the Education Rale is payable at the Provincial Treasury, Auckland. This appears to us to be a nijst absurd order., how, for instance, ia every householder m the Waikato to comply. There are a number of Government officials m the shape of telegraphists and post-masters stat oned all over the province. If common sense had been brought to bear on the matter, those officials would havo beeri*wiiipcd. A sni&tl commission would ensure the proper conduct of the business. It is useless, however, to look for tho exercise of common seuse m conducting the thousand aaJ one governments with which this colony is cursed. The long-looUed-for steamship Dakota arrived m harbour yesterday afternoou from San Francisco aud Honolulu, after a rapid rim through of twenty-five days. This shows that i£ the steamers aie kept m proper trim they are quite up to the work imposed upon them. We hope, now that a third boat has been put upon the line, that they will keep up to their time-table. The Dakota is a 6ne vessel, and of great steam power. Her passenger accommodation is of the best class, .-w^d it will not be long before jfhe will be quite a favorite amongst* travellers. Wo have much pleasure m welcoming Captain Ingorsoll and his fine steamer to our port, and hope to often see him m command of his :©:Jly magniticent steamer. — Herald, Jan 2. A meeting of ratepayers of the Cambridge, Pukekura, and Ta'niahcre District* was held at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday, tho 28th Dec, at 3 o'clock p.m. On the motion of Mr Martin, seconded by Mr Fitther, Patrick Leslie, Esq., was called upon to occupy tho chair. The chairman road the advertisement convening the meeting, which was held for the purpose of considering the motion of Mr Slicehan m the Provincial Council on the subject of railwaj communication with the Thanioa. After some conversation it was resolved, " That this meeting unanimously desires to co-operato with tho inhabitants of the Thames district m then 1 oudeavours to obtain direct railway communication between the Thames and Waikato, and pledge themselves to assist m every way m their power m carrying out this desirable object ; and will at once petition tho Government m ' favour of such works." The meeting, which was vory unanimous, afler passing a cordial vote of thanks to tho chairman, then separated. Tho harvest about Cambridge promines on tho whole Tory ! fairly. Hay is a good average crop, and has all been well i saved, thanks to tho tine weather. Judging from the quantity | stacked, there should bo no lack of hay m the district for the next 12 months, and there should also be a considerable quantity available for export to the other settlements m tho delta and elsewhere. Tho oat crQp is not so good as was expecicd. The caterpillar has dono considerable damage to it, and smut is very prevalent. Of course it is irapossiblo to j say what the avcragi? yield will bo, as very few have yet thrashed. The wheat promises to be the best crop of any, and one or two of tho " crack" fields m the district are expected to yield from '10 to 45 bushels to the aero. Tho caterpillars have been very numerous, and havo done considerable damage to both tho hay and oats, but any damage j clone to the wheat hft3 been very trifling. Potatoes look well, but want rain. There are now about ten reaping and mowing machines m the district, all of which arc busily engaged. Mr Kirkwood, of Clover Park, Tamahere, is importing n steam thrashing machine into the district. It is expected to arrive by to-night'a (Tuesday) steamer. It will be a great acquisition to tho neighbourhood, as thrashing by steam can be dono bo much more cheaply, speedily, and effectually, than by hand. Mr Buckland has received a clover dressing and thrashing machine, and intends to set it at once to work m saving the seed from a very fine paddock of red clover now on his property at Tootaoroa. The Board of Education held a meeting yesterday afternoon, and disposed of a good deal of business preliminary to the regular working of the school system under the new Act. We are glad to notice the Board have seen the propriety of adopting the advice wo tendered them relative to tho secretary's salary, and have rescinded their resolution making a half chargeable to the provincial funds and the other half to the funds of the Board, and have constituted Mr Moss secretary to the Board, aolely, at a salary of £300. Mr Shcohan stated that the arrangement, as we predicted, could not be satifactorily carried out, and the Board unanimously rescinded their former decision. Tbo Superintendent and some members of the Board placed a different construction upon the Act with regard to the collecting of the school rate, the former being of opinion that tho duty devolved upon tho Board, and tho latter that it came within the province ,of tho Superintendent. Homo discussion on tho poiut took place, and it was finally resolved that the duty rested with the Superintendent., who was requested to furnish the Board with the necessary funda for performing their functions. The subject of the imposition of the capitation rate for children was brought under the notice of the Board, but its discussion was postponed until next meeting, *when it will probably cause some debate, one or two members having expressed a disinclination to enforce it. — Cross, Jan. 1. Mr Stewart, C.E., Government Inspector paid an official visit yesterday to the eteaincr Nevada, and was' engaged for several hours m making a thorough examination 'of her machinery and boilers, whioh have been und^r repair since her arrival m port. Men havo been employ^ night and day m getting her ready for sea, and wo are glad to hear that tho result of the examination is so far satisfactory as to enable Mr Stewart to pass her as fit to proceed on her voyage to Honolulu and San Francisco at the advertised time, on Saturday, 4th January. Mr Stewart's report will be immediately forwarded to th& Goveramcjit at Wellington, after which wo presume it will ho made public- The mnin point of it, bb we understand,* is that the Nevada is now m an efficient state to make this voyage with all convenient speed, and with safety and comfort to the passengers. Intending travellers by this routo may feel assured that the Inspector would not have passed her for the voyage unless all necessary repairs had been satisfactorily executed, aud the vessel rendered ia every way seaworthy.: — Ibid.