WAIKATO ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9206, 7 October 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO ELECTION.

VICTORY FOR THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. | Auckland, October 7.— The chief returns j are now in, which show the result of the | election to be as follows: — Lake (Opposition supporter) ... 653 ' Murray (Government supporter) 430 A few small returns are yet to come in, but they cannot affect the result. Captain Edwin telegraphed at 1 p m. today :—": — " Strong west to south and southeast winds, with rain, and glass further rise, with considerable sea." We notice by the New Zealand Timts of Tuesday that a w*)l-known character in Wellington has gone the way of all flesh. Mr J. S. Harris, more familiarly known as the " Whiffler," died on Monday night, at the age of 43 years. Mr Hams came out from England about ten years ago as a representative of the well-known firm of Messrs Greatrex & Co., but owing to his eccentric habits lost his position, and sunk in the social scale. The victory of British Lion in the Spring Handicap at Hastings, on Tuesday, mußthave been a bit of a surprise, judging by the handsome dividend (£5l) that was paid out on the win of the son of Leolinus and Spritsail. " In the closing hours of the session, the Premier in the course of his reply on the Appropriation Bill, attacked Mr Fish. The latter wrote to Mr Ballance demanding an explanation, and the Premier, in reply, charged Mr Fish with conspiring to lead the labor members, and at the Bamo time ; endeavoring to stab them. This Mr Fißh absolutely denies, and he has culled for facts to support the assertion. He promises that when the correspondence is completed it shall be published. Some spicy reading may be looked for." — Dunedin Star. A petition is in course of signature in Auckland which requests the Governor not to consent to the appointment of any furthor membors to the Legislative Council. Copies of the petition have been sent for to Auckland, and we expect they will be ready for signature in a few days. The petitioners makp the following statements in the petition :—": — " 1. That the purpose for wbieh such appointments are designed is the passing through the Council of certain Bills which the Council has hitherto, in the exercise of its rightful discretion, refused to pass, judging them to be hurtful to public interests. 2. That the great majority of the electors of tbe colony are opposed to special class legislation, and also disapprove of the proposal to override the Legislative Council in the free exercise- of its functions, and they ask that His Excellency, taking these matters into his consideration, should act in such a manner as be may deem best for the public weal." The Tasmanian bush-fellers have determined to form an association to be called "The United Australian Axemen's Association." The first exhibition is to be held at Latrobe (in the North of Tasmania) in December next, and prizes to the value of £300 have been allotted for the following events, a " Handicap Chipping Match," an " Underhand Chipping Match." Then a grand championship match to be chopped in heats, the first prize to be a valuable one with 75sovs. added, the second prize a trophy with 25sovs. added, and so on. There are to be "Champion Sawing Matches," " Champion Paling-splitting Matches," "Whip Cracking Contests." The prizes in the Champion Sawing Match are valued at £200 The contests are to be open to axemen fiom all the colonies, and it is to be hoped that the several colonies will be represented. We should have some experts with the axe in the North Island. It is further arranged that axemen from Australia if unsuccessful will be allowed £2 towards their expenses and men from New Zealand £3. The Secretary's address is Mr H. A. Nicholls, Latrobe, Tasmania. " Will you be kind enough, sir, to hold this ram for mo while I open this gate? It ia fastened on the inside, and 1 must climb over." This modest remark was made by a man who was standing at a gate on a lonely road running out of Nutfiold, in Surrey, and it was addressed to a stalwart sailor who had just come up. The only other object visible on the long straight road was the large black ram, whose massive crooked horns were being held by the man as the two stood quite still in front of the gate. " Why, sartinly, shipmate," said the obliging tar, as he seized the big horns and relieved the first holder. The latter climbed quickly over the gate. "I thank you very much," he said politely when he got to the other side. '• You will be surprised to hear that I never saw that ram before to-day. The brute attacked mo about half-an-hour ago, and we have been tussling together ever since. As long as you stand before him holding his horns firmly he can't hurt you much. Good-bye. I hope you will be as lucky in getting away from him as I have been. The Nutfieldite, when telling this story, neglected to repeat the sailor's reply. X Ladies, for afternoon tea use Aulsebrook's Oswego Biscuits — perfect delicaoy. The following anecdote is too good to be allowed to pass unrecorded. A captain in a distinguished regiment has just returned from leavo, and was talking about some company matters with his color-sergeant. Missing a name from the roll, he asked. " What has become of Sergeant ? The color»sergeant at onoe replied, " Sergeant hus gono to hell, sir." The captain's face showed his astonishment and anger, so the color-sergeant added, " Yes, sir,' he wont to hell last week 1 ' This astounding piece of news was soon explained away, for the color-sergeant, of unfortunately misplaced aspirations, only meant that the oth;r sergeant had been transferred to L company. A young shorthand writer was once told to report a speech by tbe late Sir John Macdonald, the Premier of Canada. Now, it happened that the Premier had come on to the House from a dinner party, and his speech in matter and form was of a decidedly post-prandial character. The youthful 'reporter, however, could not believe it possible that Sir John should want editing, and took down every word. Hie editor, on seeing the copy, told him it would not do, and as it was not wanted for the next morning, he was advised to go and Bee Sir John and get him to correct it. Tho reporter, on being shown in, found Sir John, as usual, exceedingly affable. Having explained the object of his visit, the reporter was*desired to read his notes aloud, This he did, while Sir John lay on a sofa listening with a face of extreme solemnity to his own incoherences and correcting them as occasion required. When the notes were finished, the Premier rose, laid his hand oa the young man's shoulder, and began in tho most fatherly of tones :—": — " I see exactly what has hnppencd. Now, my dear young friend, lam an old man and you are a ono, und you will therefore not mind if I give you a word of advice as to the practice of yom irofession. My advice is this: Nevei attempt to report a speech unless yon are pcrfeetly sure that you are sober." With tliiß. Sir John bowed out his astonished visitor. Tne popularity and enormous pales oi Wolfe's Schnapps testify to its intrinsic meats,