The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 310, 5 July 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1898.

In another column we print a digest of the Beetroot Sugar Bill which has been laid on the table of the House by the Government. It will be noted that ib makes provision for subsidising three factories in the colony to the extent of £12,000 each, payment to be made in four equal instalments of £3OOO, such payment being conditional on 1000 tons of sugar being produced in each year, the present duty of a half-penny per lb being guaranteed till 1910. Provision is also made for the granting of a loan by the Government. .This would lessen the amount of capital which the company taking the matter up would be called upon to provide. AVe do not, hewever, anticipate that there would be any difficulty in this respect, the bonus and the guarantee of the half-penny protection for ten years, combined with the undoubted prospects of the undertaking, should be quite sufficient inducement to attract enough of the enormous surplus of capital which is seeking profitable investment, combined with reasonable security.

We have from time to time published results attained from the prosecution of the industry in America and on the continent of Europe, and in our issue of Thursday we gave those which have resulted from the first year's working of the Maffra factory in Victoria. The results to the growers have not been so satisfactory as there was every reason to anticipate, due to the exceptionally dry season. Owing to this the average yield will only be about 12 tons, though on some farms where special attention was given to the crop the yield has been from 25 to 30 tons to the acre. The price paid by the Maffra Company depends on the percentage of sugar the roots contain as shown by analysis. This year the average has been 15s, and taking the average of 12 tons the return is £9 per acre, the cost of production and delivery is estimated at .£6 per acre, leaving a net profit of £3 per acre. This is the result in as unfavourable a season as there is any reason to anticipate. We have contended throughout the discussion of this question that there is no other industry equally calculated to increase the value of land and have given numerous illustrations of the fact from time to ticne, and we have also pointed out that even if a much larger bonus were granted by Parliament than is proposed in the Bill now before the House, that the increase in value of the land held by the Government directly and indirectly through the Assets Company would reimburse the country many times over. An illustration of this fact is afforded by the price at which ISO acres of the Boisdale Estate, Maffra, a rental of 25s to £3 per acre was bid for this land, the total rent obtained for the 180 acres being £265 5s per annum. It must not be forgotten that this price was given after the experience of the first year's working of the factory, and in face of the somewhat low percentage of saccharine, which the roots containfu. The proposal to subsidise these factories in the colony should remove the opposition, consequent on the original proposal that only one district should benefit by the bonus. It must be remembered also that the bonus is only made payable o'v results, so that the country Avill only pay a small percentage on the amount which would be saved by not having to purchase from abroad, the greater proportion of this saving would go into the pockets of the farmers. There is another point of view, and a very important one from which the monetary side of the question must be considered. The industry will afford employment to a large number of people, and will enable a man to get a good living from the cultivation of a small area of land. The spending power of the people would, therefore, be increased, and a long step be made in the direction of solving the unemployed difficulty. We believe that the patriotism of Parliament will be sufficient to deal with this matter as a non-party question, and thus in consequence, the day will not be far distant when an impetus will be given to the colony, which cannot be looked for from any other source. When the Bill passes the capital will without doubt be forthcoming.

A serial story, entitled " Under a Strange Mask," will be commenced in our next Saturday's supplement. It is from the pen of th.it well-known writer Frauk Barrett, and maintains its interest from start to finish. Our lady readers, especially, will find a peculiar charm in the character of the heroine, Miss Sylvester, who is no mere novelist's ideal, but A woman blessed with a loving heart and a desire to assist her fellows. How she accomplishes this and at the same time imparts her enthusiasm to others the story will tell. In Mr W. J. Hunter's column this morning will be found full particulars of the clearing sale to be held at the residence of Mr P. Guthrie, Ngaruawahia, on Saturday next, July oth, at 11 o'clock sharp. Sydney Square looked quite gay or. Saturday, there being two football matches in progress at the same time. The Hamilton juniors pegged offa ground for themselves, and it was not bad at all. There is ample room for the two fields, a little levelling being all that is required. We understand that there is a movement on foot to raise sufficient funds to build two permanent dressing rooms at the Volunteer Hall. These are urgently required, and as Capt. Reid has taken the matter in hand, no doubt the work will be accomplished ere long. The Colonial Military Gazette (Sydney) says it ha 3 high authority for stating" that when operations in South Africa are begun the services of Australian troops will be welcomed, and that each of the colonies will probably be invited to furnish a regiment or detachment. To-morrow evening an entertainment will be given in Ngaruawahia in aid of the English Church funds. The members ot the Hamilton Comedy Company have consented to assist, and a bright little comedy entitled "Withered Leaves" will be produced. This piece was most successfully staged in Hamilton a few nights ago, and we can recommend it to our Ngaruawahia friends as being well worth seeing. Mr A. Furze has given notice to move at next meeting of the Waikato Hospital and Ciuiritable Aid Board, to be held on July 14th inst, that the alterations and additions to the by-laws adopted by the Board on August 12th, 1897 ; also the by-laws governing the appointment and instruction of the probationer nurses, passed at the last meeting of the Board, be made, the said bylaws to come into force on the 18th day of August, 1898. Messrs McNicol and Co. advertise in this issue particulars of their annual Spring Horse Fair to be held at Cambridge in connection with the Waikato Farmers' Club's annual stallion parade on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 21st, 22nd and 23rd September. Entries will be numbered as received at the Hamilton office, and clients are requested to forward particulars with each entry, stating the list entered for. The sale will commence on Wednesday at 12 noon, Thursday at 9 a.m., and Friday at Sa.m.

There seems to be a demand for property in the vicinity of Hamilton just now, two of the nicest places in the district having changed hands :iuriug the hut few days. We refer to Silverdtile, the property of tho late Mr C. A. Davis, and Breton, MrN. I. Hunt's properly on the Cambridge Road. The names of the purchasers have not been disclosed nor the figures ; but we learn that the price was a most satisfactory one in each instance. " Property Owner " writes asking if the ranger has heen dispensed witli in Hamilton, as judging by the nuniher of cattle and hortes on the streets at night, they are not receiving much attention at his hands. We may inform our correspondent that the ranger it still in existence, but we must agree with him that there has not been much evidence of a zealous discharge of his duties of late, but now the lights are brighter no doubt stray animals will receive his attention. The writer of Weekly Whispers in the NelsoD Mail says : —" It is said to be an open secret that King Richard intends to " shunt " the present member for Nelson in order to secure the seat for one who, passing into the office of Attorney-General as soon as elected, will pa?a out theDce to the Supreme Court bench. Meantime, en active Nelson supporter will be elevated lo the Upper House, and room will be found on the directorate of the Bank ofNew Zealand for the ex-member. These are some of the " canards " that are flying about; and of course one cannot tell whether there is any truth in them or not. They are given for what they are worth, and a denial is courted." A lot of trouble is being caused at the corner of Manners and Wiiiisstrects, in Wellington, in connection with the drainage works excavation, by the presence of a kind of mud spring. The mud is of about the consistency of thick porridge, and bubbles up in a maimer somewhat resembling a boiliog mud-pool in the Hot Lakes district. This liquid mud, rushing from under the verandah, has caused a subsidence of the paving blocks and of the verandah itself, aud the earthenware drainage pipes have broken. One old identity says that in 1855 the depth of this mud-pool was so great that it could not be ascertained. Another rcsiden 1 ; suggested that it should be rilled up, to which a third interjected that there was not enough earth in New Zealand to do that. " Subscriber's " letter, which appeared in our columns a week or so ago, re the Hamilton Library, seems to have struck sympathetic chords in all direc tions. Already several proposals are on foot for raising the necessary amount. We understand that the members of the Te Awamutu Comedy Club have generously offered to give an entertainment in aid of the fund whenever they may be called upon to do so, and the Hamilton Comedy Club has reserved the Voluuteer Hall for show nights, when " Dandy Dick " and some other attractive comedy will be staged. This appears to be a long way off, but it is worth the wait, as bumper houses are always assured at that time. This is a definite move, and, given an ordinary amount of luck, we hope to see the new building started earlv in the sumni_r.

A man, named Austin, attempted to commit suicide in Marmionstreet, Auckland, on Sunday morniug. Constable McDougall was informed of the matter and proceeded to the house, and on his arrival he found Constable Matthew there. Austin was in bed and appeared to be suffering great pain. He told the constables he had taken spirits of salts and gave worry as the reason. The constables made an emetic aud gave it to the mau. They then sent for medical assistance and Dr. Coates was soon in attendance, and'ordered the man to be removed to the hospitai. A sou and daughter of Austin said they had seen him swallow some mixture. The doctors at the hospital analysed the mixture and found the contents sal amonica ; they said it would take a lot to hurt him. The mau was then brought to the Police Station aud charged with attempted suicide"

M. Roux, of the Tasteur Institute (according to the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph) has made the important announcement that he and his colleagues have discovered a real and efficient cure for tetanus, or lockjaw. The Germans, it appears, have already used a scrum for subcutaneous injections in cases of lockjaw, bat no beneficial results were obtained by the treatment. M. Roux came to the conclusion that the anti-tetanic stuff should be iujected into the brain, under the membranes, so as to reach the seat of the malady. Experiments were tried on animals with remarkable success, and M. Roux then entered into communication with the leading medical men of Paris and conferred with them ou the advisableness of trying the effect of the serum on a patient. A man afflicted with tetanus was accordingly trepanned on April 26th last. Dr. Quenu performed the operation of trepanning and M. Roux then made an intracerebral injection of the serum which he had prepared. The patient is now as well as possible. A full communication on the matter will be made, as usual, to the Academy of Medicine.

In our war news this morning mention is made of "hospital ships," and as this is the first time these ships have been used, the following will be of interest:—Some of the horrors of war are to be alleviated by the institution of " hospital ships," which will be found doing duty in the course of the war now proceeding between the United States and Spain. The first ship equipped and sent forth under the Red Cress flag is appropriately named the Solace and belongs to the American Government. She is a beautiful boat, fitted up with 500 spring beds and several hundred hammocks, medical and surgical stores, delicate food especially prepared for the sick and wounded, and has a lot of surgeons and nurses on board. She ia painted white and green, the most couspicuous colours and stands high out of the water, so that she can be seen at a long distance, while at her masthead floats the flag of the Red Cross, which wdl protect her from all civilised belligerents. In the midst of a battle she will stand by out of danger, but within signalling distance, and when the fighting is over the other ships will deliver to her the wounded to be cared for and the dead to be prepared for burial. Nor will her attentions be confined to the injured of her own country, for if a ship of the enemy is captured or sunk she will offer her merciful hospitality to its officers and crew. Other vessels have been fitted in a similar manner to the Solace. Lovers of peace will rejoice at the growth of humane methods uf conducting warfare, and may hope that the refining process is but the prelude to the final abolition of that barbaric method of settling international differences. On Saturday about noon a man named Henry Vincent Martin caused the police some trouble. It appears that Constable Stackpolc was on duty in Vulcan Lane, when he was informed that Martin was conducting himself in an extraordinary manner in the upstairs rooms of his premises in High-street, and that he was believed to have a revolver in his possession. On upstairs the constable found Martin in an excited condition. He kept his right hand in his pocket, which went to confirm the report that he had a revolver, and he warned the constable not to comej near him. He, however, approached quietly with the intention of grasping Martin's arm. Martin then drew his hand from his pocket and aimed a blow, and the constable threw up his arm and wrenched an engraving tool from his hand. He then went dowa the

stairs to find the sergeant on duty. When near the bottom of the stairs a tomahawk whizzed past his head. The constable then went to the Police Station for assistance, and in a short tine Chief Detective Grace and Detectives Kennedy and Mcllveney, accompanied by Sergt. Lyons, were soon on the scene, and ascended the staircase. Martin had then put two bars across the d< or of the room in which lie was, and otherwise barricaded it. Grace asked the man to open the door and come out. Martin then took some implement and smashed one of the pane's of the door. Giace inserted his hand through the aperture aud removed one of the bars barricading the door. Martin then struck him on the wrist. After some persuasion Martin opened the door, and the party rushed in and secured him. Martin is the man who, some time back, fired a revolver from his window and struck a young girl on the leg. He was charged at the Police Station with assaulting Constable Sfackpole when in the execution of his duty.:—Herald,