WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 5

WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

[FUO.M OUItOWJJ CORRESPONDENTS ] Hamilton Friday. The Waikato Turf Club races on the 17th and ISth inst. promise to afford most excellent sport, if the list of entries published in the Herald of yesterday be considered. Nor is tliis to be wondered at, considering the amount of stakes offered and the standing of the club. Coming as this event does alter harvest operations have been fairly brought to a close, a very large attendance from all parts of the district may be looked for on the Ohaupo racecourse. It is, however, to be regretted that Mr. A. V. Macdonald has thought fit to decline to accede to the application made by the club that I reduced rates should be charged on the railway for this occasion. The policy is a shortsighted one, for it will deter many from travelling to Waikato during the race week who would otherwise have done so. Some little anxiety is occasioned here by the report that Miss Williams, who has lately been attached to the West Hamilton School, is about to be removed by the Central Board to East Hamilton to supply the place of Miss Staunton, who takes the Kirikiriroa school. Miss Williams has proved of great value since her appointment to the West Hamilton school, and her loss would be severely felt. The local committee are determined to make a stand against her removal without their consent. The plan hitherto dismissing or appointing teachers, and then consulting the opinion of the committee after action has been taken, is one which local school committees will no longer passively submit to.

Tβ AwAJitTTU, Friday. I see that Mr. Walton has stepped forward, and in yesterday's Herald defended the accuracy o£ my report in the matter of the late church meeting at St. John's. The matter is too notorious here to need defence, but it is well that those at a distance should know that the charge of Ritualism was not lightly laid. The bazaar in aid of the erection of the proposed new church at Kihikihi takes place in the public hall here on Wednesday and Thursday next. Even yet contributions in money and kind will be gladly received by either Mrs. Whitaker, iu Auckland, or Mrs. Calder, in Hamilton. Mrs. Whitaker and Mrs. Anderson, Miss Hunter and Miss Maudeno will preside at the stalls, and Mrs. Minnett and Mrs. Thomas will have chai-ge of the refreshment stalls. Hamilton, Friday. A parade of the Hamilton Light Infantry corps was held last night. Colonel -Lyon, Captain Dawson, Lieutenant Breakell, and, about eighteen members of the corps, beside the band, were present. Also many honorary members, amongst whom were the Mayor, Mr. Gwynne, and others. Captain Dawaou assured those present that if the parades were not better attended the Government would disband the corps. Many members he knew were anxious to attend but were prevent cd from doing so. The band had declined to fall in under arms. He deprecated strongly the misreporting of what he said at the last meeting by the local paper, as placing him in a false position with the corps. He asked the band if they wished the company to be carried on to become members and parade once a month. Col. Lyon quoted from the regulations re volunteering to show that members of the band could not count in making up the numbers on parades. This was the case with the bands of the four Auckland com panies. They, however, fell into the ranks in uniform and he hoped the baud of the Hamilton corps would follow Captain Dawson's suggestion and do so too. The band, however, unanimously declined to fall in, and notice was then given to them by the officer commanding to give in their arms and instruments by that day week. The meeting then terminated, and a parade was held of the other members of the corps. The corps is now virtually disbanded, and the resignations will be at once sent in. [l!Y TELEGRAPH. —OK CORKK.SfO.VD.KXT.] Hamilton", Friday evening. Now that the Light Infantry corps are resigning, the question arises what shall become of the band and instruments purchased by the corps by aid of public subscriptions from the inhabitants of Hamilton. According to the volunteer regulations they are legally vested iu the commanding officer of the corps, but he also resigns, though practically not till the disbaudment is gazetted, in which case considerable delay is sure to arise. It has been suggested to meet the difficulty by the officers who are desirous of coming into any arrangement to meet the wishes of the public, that a meeting of subscribers to the band fund be at once called, with the view of appointing trustees, to whom tlic instruments may be handed over, on behalf of the inhabitants, as a public band. Such an arrangement, it is thought, will satisfy all parties.