WAIKATO NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 207, 6 September 1897, Page 3

WAIKATO NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Hamilton, Friday.

St. Peter's schoolroom presented a very pretty appearance this afternoon on the occasion of the afternoon tea given by the ladies of Hamilton as a farewell to Mrs Gwynne. The building wits beautifully decorated, being transformed into an immense drawing-room, and it was just about filled to overflowing with friends and wellwishers from all parts of the Waikato. There was nothing formal about the gathering, and no speeehinaking. It was arranged purely and simply to give the many friends of Mrs Gwynne an opportunity of saying farewell, and they were not slow to embrace it. After refreshments had been dispensed a very pleasing musical programme was carried out. It included the duet, "What Are the Wild Waves Saying," by Mrs Whitaker and Mr E. B. Cox ; "Look Back," Miss Ida Cussen; "Plymouth Sound," Mr E. B. Cox ; " The Carnival," Mrs Whitaker ; pianoforte solos by Misses Sandes and Hilda Graham, and other items.

Mr W. 11. Wallis, late of Okete, has been appointed district valuer under the Land Valuation Act, and will in future reside at Hamilton.

Miss Yates, who has occupied the position of head nurse at the Waikato Hospital for some years, has tendered her resignation. Mr McKerrow, Commissioner to inquire into old soldiers' claims, attended at the Courthouse, Hamilton, to-day, when some 30 or 40 applicants presented themselves in support of their claims. This number included five widows. It is understood that claims dating after 1878 will be disallowed. An entertainment will be given hero in the course of a week or two by the pupils attending Dr. Haensler's Waikato College and their friends, to raise funds for the establishment of a museum, which it is proposed will occupy part of the new library building. The doctor has promised to present to the museum part of his geological, zoological, botanical and arcineological collections, which means some thousands of specimens, and also to add to this collection from time to time. The move is a good one, and Dr. Ilaensler is to be commended for his liberal offer. Hamilton, Wednesday. The quarterly meeting of the Waikato Licencing Committee was held at tho Courthouse, Hamilton, today. Tho business was not of a very extensive character, The 'following transfers were granted : — Royal Hotel, Raglan, 0. F. Billing bo H. Roland ; Royal Hotel, Hamilton, Thomas Baxton to Thomas Preston. The police objected to the application for removal of the license from bhe old h*>u.«e at Mercer to the new house on bhe adjoining allotment, as thero were no outbuildings and no back yard. The Chairman (Captain Jackson) Baid ho had visitod the place, and bhero was no doubt tho new place was a decided improvement upon the old building ; tho only drawback he saw was that the land at the rear was so web and low lying that there was no yard. Mr Halletb, the licensee, explained that it was intended to use the old buildings and yard until the yard at the new place could be formed by filling in, aud the application was granted on this condition. As the time allowed for selling liquor in his temporary premises had expired R. Lynch was requested to open up his new house. This (he said) had been already done, and the stables and outbuildings would be finished within tho six weeks allowed. The Chairman read a decision from the Lord Chief Justice of England bearing upon the question of serving liquor to men who have already had sufficient, on which point he said he felt very etrongly.

A meeting was hold this evening for the purpose of forming a mutual improvement society on broad unsectarian lines, and there seems every prospecb of the notion being taken up with enthusiasm.

Ohacpo, Wednesday. The WaikatoFruitgrowers Association hold its usual quarterly meeting in tho Ohaupo Hotel yesterday. A letter was read from Mr Hanlon, of the fruitgrowers oxecutivo at Whangarei, pointing out thab the southern growers wished to introduce moro stringent clauses into tho Orchard Act. The members present exproesed themselves as being Btrongly opposed to any alterations being made in the present Acb, which they considered would be stringent enouurh if brought into force. Tho secretary, Mr Johns, said the Association funds were in credit, but thab he experienced considerable troublo in getting in subscriptions. The Association considered thab Mr Tooman's agency had been vory satisfactory, and decided that ib should bo continued, Leaflets issued by tho Stock Department containing a great deal of valuable information regarding insecticides and mode of application were distributed among tho members, and before tho close of tho meeting a most interesting paper on cider making was read. Te Awamutu, Friday. An incpiost into the death of James Kenneth Taylor was held here yesterday by Mr Thomas Gresham, coroner. Charles Cruickshank deposed that he was riding with deceased at the time of the occurrence. They were riding at a canter round a corner when a waggon came in sight. The pony the boy was riding swerved and fell, throwing deceased upon his head on the hard road. —A verdict of accidental death Avas returned. NGARUAWHIA, Friday. A meeting of those interested in the Ngaruawhia Regatta held on Wednesday night was well attended. The Secretary read the balance-sheet of the last gathering, which showed that there was a very handsome credit balance to he carried forward. Officers for the ensuing year were then elected. The Rowing Club met the same evening. The report showed that the past season was the most successful one on record, and the boats were in a much better condition than at this time last year. The balance-! sheet set forth the receipts at £18 17s 8d and the expenditure £12 18s lOd, leaving a balance on hand of £5 18s lOd. After the officers for the ensuing year were elected, resolutions were passed that proprietory members should be asked to pay same subscription as non-proprietory members, and that any person entering the boats with his boots on should be expelled from the Club.