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Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 87, 28 January 1897, Page 2

Mr lien Tillett, who will shortly visit New Zealand, is to have a free pass on the railways. Messrs McNicol and Co. will hold their second Sheep Fair in the Ohaupo Yards on Wednesday, March 10th. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Choral Union Society in Kihikihi is convened for Tuesday next, 2ml February, at S o'clock. An Auckland telegram last night states that Mr T. Sloan Morpeth, of the firm of Messrs Morpeth Bros,, in that city, died of apoplexy yesterday. The man Carroll who threw the acid at Paeroa has escaped the vigilance of the police. It is now thought that he landed from the Mahinapua at New Plymouth. At the meeting of the Auckland Board of Education on Tuesday, the resignation of Mr 15. C. Housley, pupil teacher at the Hamilton West School, was accepted. The Ohinemuri Jockey Club will hold their annual race meeting at Paeroa on the 17th and 18th March. The full programme is advertised in the Sporting Review. Mr J. T. Home was the purchaser of the privilege of supplying refreshments on Sydney Square to-morrow, on the occasion of the Amateur Sports. The price paid was £2. The cricket match, Hamilton v. TuhikaraniPa, which was arranged to be played at Tuhikaramea on Saturday, has been postponed until February 13th, at the request of the latter team. On Saturday next, at 1.30 p.m., two European mails will be despatched from the Hamilton Post-office—one via Suiz (per Rotjniahana), and the other via Rio de Jaueiro (per lonic). Sunday next, being the church anniversary, there will be two services in the Wesleyan Church, Ngaruawahia —at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mr Freeman will preach on both occasions. The ratepayers in the Mangapiko Riding. Waipa "County, are requested to attend a meeting, to be held on Tuesday, 16th prox., at 12 o'clock, for the purpose of deciding re closing a road in their district. Mr J. R. S. Richardson, of Cambridge, has written us stating that the sale of Mr Clements' property was not withdrawn in consequence of its having been advertised by mistake, as stated by us in our last issue. It is reported from Wellington that important changes are impending in the management of the Bank of New Zealand. No doubt these will be in the direction of at last recognising the fact that to have grossly mismanaged one Bank is hardly sufficient reason for appointing men to the management of another. The postmaster at Hamilton informs us that there will not be any mail delivery by the letter carrier to-morrow afternoon. The only delivery, therefore, on that day will be the usual short round in the morning. Apart from this there will nipt be any alteration in the postal or telegraphic arrangements. One of the attractions of tomorrow's holiday will be the Band Contest, to be held in the Domain grounds, at To Aroha. This is the first contest of the kind ever held in Wai« kato, and the management have left nothing undone to ensure its success. A special train has been laid on from Auckland, and there should be a large influx of visitors to the goldiiclds township. The funeral of Mr George Levers, who died at the Waikato District Hospital on Monday last, took place on Tuesday afternoon. His remains were iuintcrred in the Hamilton "West Cemetery. The Rev. J. ,T. Mather conducted the service. We understand that the deceased had made a will leaving his property in Hamilton to a friend who had been attending on him during his last illness. It is stated from Wellington that the Governor has refused to make any further appointments to the Legislative Council on the eve of his departure, but will follow the precedent set up by Lord Ouslow of leaving the matter to be dea't with by his successor, Mr E. M. Smith, and others will therefore have to wait some better time before they wlli draw £l5O per annum from a grateful country. The victim in the To Kuiti stabbing case, Bayne, is, we are glad to hear, again making satisfactory progress at the Waikato District Hospital, and Dr. Kenny hopes to pull him through. After his depositions had been taken he rallied somewhat, but at the latter cud of last week had another bad turn. This, however, has now passed away, and much more favourable sympto:ns are evidenced. The Land Act lays down that no settler shall acquire more than (i4O acres of first-class Crown land. Notwithstanding this, the Government is reported to have sold to two sons of the Minister for Lands, the Bushy Park Estate, which comprises 2340 uercs. This estate is valued in the official Blue Book at £22,000. The regulations for the disposal of Crown lands lay down that they shall only be disposed of by sale by tender or by auction. It is alleged that this has been a private sale. This appears to be one more scandal with which the name of the Hon. Mr McKenzie is bracketed. Yesterday afternoon Mr Chas. Martelli was engaged unloading some timber at the river bank at the site of the llaxmall, at Hamilton East, when the horse and cart backed over the platform into the river. APer some time, during which the horse was nearly drowned, and with great difficulty the harness was cut and the animal released and got to the bank. Several who saw the accident were <|iiickly on the spot, and with their assistance the cart was pot out. Wc hour that the cart and harness were the same as used by Mr Chas. Tippin, when his horhe was drowned at almost the same spot. In dealing with the resignation of Mr Henry Worthington at the meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday last, Mr Muir, the Chairman, »c----ferred to the high position occupied by that gentleman in the teaching profession and his lengthy association with the Board,and said the resignation would be received by the Board with the utmost regret. He moved that this Board accept the resignation with regret, and record its sense of Mr Worthington's long and officii lib services. Messrs Luke, Lambe, Woodward, Bates, and Wright also bore testimony to Mr Worthington's sterling qualities and worth as a teacher, and referred regretfully to his enforced resignation, after which the motion was put to the meeting aud unanimuusly adopted,

Mr Jobson, Inspector of Machinery, is at present in the district on his usual tour of inspection. He has visited the greater part of Upper Waikato and on leaving Hamilton, where he is at present engaged, will proceed Aueklandwards.

Mr Kobert Thompson, member for Marsden, arrived in Hamilton yesterday afternoon with his wife and daughter, and stayed the night at the Hamilton Hotel. Mr Thompson, who is looking well after his recent contest, will proceed to Rotorua by the exptess at noon to-day.

The monthly meeting of the PVaikato Hospital Board will be held today, and prior to the meeting the members will pay a visit of inspection to the Hospital and grounds. At the last meeting the question of providing a stable for the Surgeon Superintendent was brought up, but deferred until after the inspection to-day, when no doubt it will be settled.

The Hail way Department have just completed the erection of a good shed at Te Kumi, for the accommodation of the Tukatiti and Awakino settlers. It is at this station where all requirements BUch as stores, feucmg material and grass seeds arc unloaded. Until the approach to the shed is formed it will be almost impossible to get a vehicle to it. Tfte attention of the railway authorities has been directed to this matter, and we hear steps are to be taken at once to remedy it.

The native proprietors in the King Country are not slow to avail themselves of the conveniences opening up to them by means of the railway service. As yet the train has only made one or two trips through the tunnel, but on Monday last a truck load of wool belonging to one owner wa3 awaiting the arrival of the train. This lot of some 15 bales is probably the first down freight from Clifton County yet despatched over the main trunk line, and was consigned to Messrs Sutherland and Co., of Ouelumga.

On Tuesday last at the meeting of the Board of Education, there were 23 applications received for the position of headmaster of the Wellesley-street school, Auckland, vice Mr Henry Worthington resigned. The Board decided to send to the City Sehools Committee the names of ten of the applicants, with the view to their making the final selection. Among the ten selected we notice the name of Mr P. E. Stevens, at present headmaster at the Hamilton Fast school. Should the City Committee select Mr Stevens, they will obtain a. man who, we are sure will, give them every satisfaction ; his results during the time he has been in Hamilton give ample evidence of his ability, and he has gained the confidence of hia scholars and their parents also.

We have received the following letter over the signature A.M. : —ln the interest of the travelling public I should like through the medium of your valuable paper to call the attention of the Waipa County Council to the condition of the bridges between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, particularly the one nearest the former township. In this ease one of the planks is so broken that the first horse which treads on it must inevitably fall through. The second bridge from Hamilton lias a hole through it about 18in. or 2ft. long by 3in. wide, and as the planks in this ease are laid lengthwise, there is every chance of a wheel going into it. On the third bridge one of the planks is only fixed at one end, and one part is from two to three inches above the level cf the others.

The special settlers, on the at one time much-taked-of Ohura Block, have lately been subjected to two serious visitations. In the first place the caterpillars have swept their small clearings, eating up grass and crops of all descrip tious, and on top of this the Government Inspector came along and insisted upon the occupiers building houses iu accordance with the conditions of their occupancy. This it is urged by the settlers is unreasonable, as with the probability of fire starting in the block the houses, un--less roofed with iron, would be doomed. Under these circumstances the settlers are throwing up their holdings and are moving away. One of these settlers who has quite recently left says he is satisfied that the Ohura Valley is unlit for small settlers' occupation, both from the broken nature cf the country and the distance from market. Iu his opinion this block can only be beneficially occupied as a cattle run.

The following appointments of teachers have been made by the Board of Education at Auckland, viz. :—Mr F. I). Woods, to be teacher of the Te Aroha West School; Mr H. G. Cousins, to temporary charge of the Waihou School in the absence of the head teacher ; Mr A. J. Murrlock, to the temporary charge of the Te Mata School pending the appointment of a teacher ; Miss E. A. Russell, to be teacher of Rangiriri School instead ef Mss E. A. Hill ; Miss J. F. Davis to be teacher of the Pukerimu School; Mr A. N. Bowden to be seventh assistant at the Newton East School ; MissN. M. fecandrett to be substituteassistant at the Hamilton West School; Mr j.'. W. Dean, pupil teacher from Cambridge, to Hamilton West School; Mr G. E. Harper, pupil teacher from Matakohe, to Waikomiti School ; Miss E. M. Maingay, pupil teacher from Waiorongomai, to Paeroa School ; Miss M. J. Elliott, probationer from Cambridge, to Marsh Meadows in absence of pupil teacher ; Miss E. Kingsford, pupil teacher from Waikomiti, to Cambridge School; Mrs Jenkins to be sewing teacher at the Karamu School. There were numerous other appointments, but these were the only ones having special reference to the Waikato.

There is hardly any part of this colony where foot-rot at certain seasons of the year is not prevalent, and the ravages wrought by this disease, in many of the flocks are, very severe. Flockmasters are ready to take up almost any remedy to reduce the prevalence of this malady, but unfortunately many of the so-called foot-rot cures are so in name only. The discovery, therefore, of a specific, proved to cure ami prevent the disease is one that farmers will largely avail themselves of. From what wo have seen and read of Graham's Patent Permanent Foot-rot Cure, wo believe perfection has almost, if not quite, been reached in this preparation. The sole proprietor and patentee, Mr W. A. Graham, has had the specific before the public for years, and the testimonials he has received from flock-owners in Australia and various parts of this colony and also from various Government Stock Inspectors, and the success he had obtained at various exhibitions should be sufficient to secure a ready sale for it. What, however, will be more satisfactory to our local breeders will be the result of a local trial, and this will be found in our advertising columns in the shape of a testimonial from Mr Joseph Barugh, of Wartle, a well-known farmer and sheep owner. In Mr Barngh's ilock 300 sheep were treated, and that the result was satisfactory is fully evident. Mr Graham is now in the district under engagement to treat several flocks, and he will be at the Hamilton sale to-day and Messrs McNicol and Co.'a sheep fair next week, when he will bo glad to meet any shipowners who may wish to have their sheep treated. He dues not fear the result of any trial, and to demonstrate the efficacy of the treatment is prepared to treat a small number of sheep free of charge. and in eisos where his method is followed in using his specific, if the result is not beneficial he will refund the money. The cost of the treatment is small, amounting to not more than Jd per head. Mr Wells, of Cambridge, has accepted the agency for the cure, and supplies can be obtained from him.

Mr A. E, Manning, who recently took over the pharmacy business in Hamilton, established by Mr A. W. G, LeQuesuo, has now purchased the business in the same line of Mr C. R. Tennent, in Cambridge. The two businesses will be carried on by Mr Manning, who will put a thoroughly competent man in charge at Cambridge. The most recent drugs and chemicals will be stocked at both establishments, and nothing will be spared to give the utmost satisfaction to the public.

At the Hawera Magistrate's Court, a native chief was sued by a business man for the value of certain clothing purchased for thy Maori himself and other members of his family. The native did not understand that he should be liable for anything except what he wore himself, and to demonstrate just how much he considered himself entitled to pay, he suddenly divested himself of his hat and coat, which he threw on a chair, and was only prevented by the inter preter from stripping off his other garments, all of which he held himself responsible for, but nothing more. Truly it is dawning upon the native mind that the law is a thing of mystery, which he can no more hope to understand than his poor benighted white brother. Doubtless, his opinion like that of Mr Bumble, is that " the law is aHass." The Christchurch Press thus concludes an article on the Levin State Farm :—" As an exhibition of incompetence on the part of a Government that prides itself on the establishment of an Agricultural Department for the purpose of teaching farmers their business, this object lesson of the State farm can hardly bo surpassed. It is a striking illustration of the fact that whenever the State attempts anything that is usually managed by private enterprise, it is sure to make a mess of it. It is quite possible that wc may yet have to resort to so-called " farming-colonies," as a means of applying a labour-test in connection with our Charitablo Aid. If so, however, they will have to be managed very differently from the Levin State Farm. That institution will be remembered for years to come as a colossal monument of Ministerial incapacity." The Beresfords—Lords William, Charles and Marcus—have earned reputations that are not possessed by many men for courage, dash, and general " devil-me-caredness." Here is a story taken from an English paper which may be supposed to explain their characters fairly accurately :—" After a recent Newmarket meeting a trio of cardsharpers fell victims to misplaced confidence. When the train from Newmarket to Liverpool-street stopped at Bishop's Stortford, the ticket examiner who boarded it found three well-dressed persons in a third-class carriage with first-class tickets. They were engaged in rendering each other " first aid," and they certainly needed it, each being severely battered about the face. Asked by the examiner why they had got into a third-class carriage, they replied that they had been ejected from a first by a demon of some description. The official went to the carriage indicated and found there a noble lord of the Bcresford family, who curtly explained that because he declined to play cards the trio had flattened his tall hat, whereupon he had prevented tkem raking further liberties—with the result already indicated."

During 1890 there was exported from New Zealand flax to the value of £282,000; this respectable sum from various causes had declined in 1S!)5 to £21,000. In the former year there were 177 mills iu full work, and 3201 men and boys were employed in the industry. There is considerable diversity of opinion as to the causes which have led to the stoppasc of a demaud at remunerative prices. It is now proposed to seud Mr John Holmes to America and Europe in order to sift the matter to the bottom, and seek to re-establish the demand in old markets and find new outlets for our hemp. It may be that our system of preparing the fibre does not commend itself to the manufacturers who use it, or that some other materials have been substituted, either because a supp'y can be obtained at a lower price or that they are better suited to the purpose. The principal demand was from the makers of binder twine, of which enormous quantities ar: consumed in America and Europe, amounting in Canada to "25,000, in the United States GO,OOO, and Great Britain 30,000 tons. The Government has undertaken to contribute £250 towards Mr Holmes' expenses, and an appeal is made for subscriptions to supplement; this amount. Those who are owners of flax machiuery and flax land are directly interested in the revival of the trade, and it appears to us that Mr Holmes' mission is calculated to bring it about. He is thoroughly acquainted with the proeesi of preparation, and it is quite possible that the knowledge he may acquire on his travels will enable him to suggest modifications in the mode of treatment, which may have the effect of leading to the revival and permanence of the trade.

The Press has the following in reference to the political demonstrations by the Opposition : —The presentation to Br. Newman at Johnsonville was made the occasion of some very effective criticism of the Government. The speeches of Sir R. Stout, Mr G. Hutchison, and the Hon. T. W. Hislop summed up in a telling form some of the most serious counts in the indictment against the Ministry. Iu this way it formed au effective pendant to the highly successful demonstration made at Kaiapoi on the occasion of the banquet to MrR. Moore. Sir Robert Stout's denunciation of the methods by which Ministers managed to defy and hoodwink Parliament and the unscrupulous means they adopted to influence elections was very telling. So, too, was his exposure as to the way iu which the Premier shuffled with such important questions as the old age pensions and refused information which the House was entitled to demand, and which an independent Parliament worthy of the name would have insisted upon being supplied. We gather from further remarks made both by Sir Robert and the other speakers chat it is intended to organise fully the Opposition party before the next session, and that there is a steadfast determination that the next Parliament shall not be thwarted and trampled upon by the Government like its pusillanimous predecessor. We thoroughly welcome the present display of energy and public spirit, and we are glad to see that leading politicians, opposed to the Government, have at length aroused themselves, ami are making their voices heard in the land. To be perfectly frank, we think they have not done quite so much in this way in the past as they ought to have done. They have been content to leave the work of criticising the Government during therecess pretty much in the hands of the Opposition Press. It may be said that the newspapers ought to accept this as a compliment, as implying that, even unaided, they are quite capable of keeping the Government in order. For ourselves wc are prepared to dispense with compliments of this kind. We realise that tiie platform has a mission to perform as well as the. Press, and where the interests of the colony are concerned we think that leading politicians should personally exert themselves in the task of arousing and guiding public opinion. A good start has now been made, and we hope that the work of educating the people will be vigorously eontiuued."