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Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 112, 27 March 1897, Page 2

The farce of electing members o* Licensing Oonimittees has been played in this district and there are ten gentlemen elected to meet periodically with no power to do anything unless it be to shake hands and offer each other congratulations on having attained a position by the popular vote. We were torgetting—also to draw their travelling expenses. If this had been done at no expense of time and money to the country, nobody would grudge them the satisfaction, This, unfortunately, is not the case, and the local bodies will bo some thousands of pounds minus in consequence of the absurd provision in the Licensing Act which makes the elections necessary. So strong is popular opinion throughout the colony with regard to this matter that there can be little doubt that the Act will be amended next session in the direction of vesting the formal duties in the Stipendiary Magistrates, who under the Act as it stands are ex-officio the Chairmen. It surely does not require six men to give effect to the popular voice as expressed at the hustings, they can only do as they are directed, they have absolutely no discretionary power. If the popular vote says there are to be reductions, the proportion of reductions is laid down by law. If the vote declares that there shall be an increase of licenses, the Act is equally imperative. This muddle is the result of Ministers' incapacity in the first place, and in the second is due to the necessity they are under to satisfy all manner of men. It is the old story of the man and his ass, a system of working which has resulted in so much silly and irritating legislation during Mr Seddon's term of office. On our fourth page this morning will be found reports of meetings of the Waikato Hospital and Te Aroha Town Boards, as well as an interesting article frein the Kgmont Star on the gambling evil. It is notified in this issue that Stewart's Bridge, on the NgaruawahiaTaupiri Road, will be closed to all wheeled traffic from Monday to Thursday next. The ladies and gentlemen of the Raglan district have decided to give a dance in tins Public Hall, Raglan, on Friday, the 2nd April. No invitations will be issued. A telegram from Napier states that a fair amount of interest was taken in the licensing election ; 1500 vo%!d. The two female candidates were at the bottom of the poll. The rainfall for February was as follows :—Auckland, 5.38 inches ; Wellington, 5.018 ; Christchurch, 2.72 ; Dunediu, 1.59. Duncdin was below the average for the month. Mr Wilford, Bosher's counsel, at the request of the convict, obtained an interview with the condemned man on Thursday. It is understood the question of lodging an appeal was discussed. On Sunday morning the Rev. J. M. Mitchell will preach in the Hamilton Presbyterian Church, on " The Lord's Supper," and in the evening on " Children who break their parents' hearts," The following tenders have been acceped by the Waipa County Council for gravelling viz., near Mr Lake's u'ate and at Morrisons hill, Williamson and Vickers, at 10d and Is Sd per yard, respectively. We understand that Mr P. McMahon intends building on the site of his shop that was destroyed by lire a few months back. Trade in the building line in the neighbourhood appears to be pretty brisk, most of the hands being in contsant work. Another change has just taken place in the personnel of the stuff of the Bank of New Zealand at Hamilton, Mr Stone, who was recently transferred from Cambridge, being now moved on to the Auckland office. [He will be replaced by Mr Mair, who arrived to take up the duties yesterday. We learn that an extensive outbreak of ch'ptheria has accurred iu Huntly. Although spread throughout the township, some 30 odd cases having already been reported, the attack is not generally a very severe (me. In consequently of the epidemic, the public school has been closed for a time.

The arrivals in the colony in February were 1012 and the departures 1781. In February last year the figures were 1510 aud 1781, the departures, curiously enough, being identical in both instances. We remind readers of Mr W. J. Hunter's clearing sale of Mr W. J. Smith's live and (.lead stock, which is to cake place on the farm, Tamahere, on .Monday next, commencing at 12 o'clock sharp. The stock is all of A 1 quality, and is to be sold absolutely without reserve. Mr Thos. Wallnutt, who was for many years in the Union Rink in Hamilton, and has been since then in the Auckland branch, has, wc are ulad to hear, received promotion to the po.-ition of accountant at Auckland. He suec eds Mr Field, who bus been appointed to a managership of one of the Houtheru branches. Messrs McNicol and Co. held their Autumn Horse Fair at Cambridge yesterday. There was a large entry of horses of all descriptions jand notwithstanding the unfavourable weather a good attendance of the public. Bidding was fairly brisk and all horses of a good stamp sold readily. The sale wilt be continued this morning. We warn the public and tradespeople in particular that there arc spurious florins in circulation. One was passed to Mr C. LeQutsne, of Hamilton East, this week. The imitation is suffi ciently close to deceive any person, when offered with other coins. The. colour is rather more blue or " pewtcry " than the genuine coin, and it is much lighter. We remind members of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association that the annual meeting will t.ikc place at Ohaupo on Tuesday next, 30th insfc., at 11 a.m. The business includes the consideration of the icport and balance sheet (a copy of which was printed in cur ls.-ue of Thursday, 18th inst.) as well as the election of officers for the ensuing year. A large attendance is desirable. Intending competitors at the Waipa Ainareur Athletic Club's Sports ou Easter Monday, are reminded that entries close with the Secretary (Mr 1. T. Hodgson) Pirongia, on Friday, 9th April, at 8 p.m. Kntry forms are obtainable from Mr G. Edgeeumbe, Hamilton ; Mr Creamer.Cambridce ; Mr D. Bockett, Te Awamutu ; and the Secretary, Pirongia. The programme will be found in another column. According to a notice in the Gazette the president and members of the Courts ot Arbitration are to be paid two guineas per day while absent from their place of residence, and the chairman and members of Conciliation Boards one guinea for each day sitiiug and £1 10i when absent from home. Travelling fares will also be allowed. These rates are to date back to October 31st last year. The cricket match referrrd to in the Aitous some time ago, and which was postponed from last week, between an eleven of the Kihikihi Cricket Club and an eleven from Waotu (captained by Mr K. Aubin), took place on Thursday afternoon last, on Messrs Gorrie Bros.' property, some fifteen miles from Kihikihi. The result was a win for Waotu, who scored 20 and 20 runs, ngainst !) and 20 runs put together by their opponents. The pitch was not a good one, the grass being very long. Owing to the retirement of the Chairman of the Kihikihi Town Board, Mr W. S. Laurie, there will be a vacancy on the Kihikihi Town Board, and as may be seen by advertisement in the AuGUS an election will be held on April 13th, and the nomination of candidates will close on April 3rd. At a meeting of the Board-ou Friday (yesterday) Mr Laurie's resignation was received. The members expressed regiet that their late Chairman had. owimi to pressure of business anil bis absence from Kihikihi, found it necessary to resign. Mr H. Atkinson, who has been entrusted by the Directors of the Hawera Gas Company with the duty of erecting the works, has arrived in Hawera to make arrangements. Mr Atkinson has had long experience in connection with Auckland works and is thoroughly acquainted with the business, so that the Hawera plant and service may be expected to be quite up to date. There has been a little unexpected delay in shipping the plant from England, but everything that can be dune loca'ly will be pn.-hed on with energy.—Egmont Star.J The Pioneer Bicycle Club held a race meeting, at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Thursday. About 500 people were present. H. Thompson was barred from competing as ho had ridden record races paced by cash riders, but. at the end of the meeting he essayed to lower Shorlaad's mile amateur record of 2m. 114-03.' He was paced by cash riders on a triplet, and covered the distance in 2m. i) 4 ss. The event creating the most interest was a two-mile race for multicycles, in which a quadruplet, a triplet, and a tandem competed. The tandem, receiving 180 yards, beat the quadruplet by 30 yards. The triplet was far behind. On reference to our advertising columns, will be found a notice relative to a grand sacred concert, tendered as a farewell to the Rev. J. J. Mather, who is atout to leave Hamiltou to take charge of a Circuit in the South Island. Mr Mather, who has been in Hamilton for three years past, has made many friends, and we predict a large gathering ou Wednesday night, when, in addition to assistance from leading local vocalists, help will be rendered by Miss Butcher, of Ngaruawahia, and also by Miss lliuimer, of Auckland, whose reputation alone is bound to attract a large and representative audience. On Thursday afternoon Mr T. 11. White, of Ferndale, Taupiri, met with an accident which might have been attended with serious results. Mr White was riding into Ngaruawahia when his horse, shied at a calf on the roadside and threw him. He managed to recover his horse and get on it again, and staited for home, whither he was assisted by Constable Cavaoagll, who had overtaken him. On airiving home Mr White had to be carried into tiie hou-e, and as it was thought he was seriously injuied Dr. Brewis was sent for, but proceeded to Taupiri as soon as possible, and we are glad to stale that beyond a severe shaking Mr White escaped without injury. The muscles of his back arc strained, which will compel hi'm to stay in the house for a few days, but wc hope to soon see him about again. At the meeting of shareholders of the Union Company next month a new departure will be suggested for the purpose of giving a pro rata 3hare of protits to the employees 'is well as to the shareholders. The matter is of great importance as a forerunner of other industrial possible developments. One scheme of which notice has boon given is—" To arrange for sharing profits, or some portion thereof, among the employees of the company, or some of them, and to establish and support, or aid in the establishment and support, of associations, institutions, funds, trusts, and conveniences calculated to benefit the employees or ex-employees of the company (or its predecessors in business), oi- the dependants or connections of such persons, anil to grant pensions and allowances, and to make payments towards insurance, and to subscribe or guarantee money tor charitable or benevolent objects, or lor any exhibition, or for any public, general, or useful object."