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Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 543, 9 January 1900, Page 2

Tho January meeting of the Waipa County Council, which should under ordinary circumstances have been held to-day, will not take place, and the next meeting will be held in February. The first meeting of interested musicians for the purpose of arranging for the concert to bo held in the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, iu aid of the Patriotic Fund, will be held in the hall on Wednesday evening, at 7.30 p.m. There will be a practice. Mr Adams will be present and conduct. At a meeting of the Hamilton Cricket Association, it was decided to continue the round of matches ou S turday next, when the Moanas and Toilers will meet on Sydney Square. Mr A. E. Manning resigned his position as Secretary, and tiffs matter will come up for cousideraliou tn Saturday next. At Gisborne on Saturday, a man, named John Racket!, was found on the river bank with Ids hands and face badly injured by the explosion of a dynamite cartridge. The police arc of opinion that it is a case of a premeditated attempt at suicide. The man was removed to the hospital and is progressing favourably. Several methods have been tried of finding the live weight of cattle, and the following seems to he lire most correct : Measure the girth around the breast, just behind the shoulder blade. Multiply the girth by the length, and if the girth is less thin 3ft, multiply the product by 11, and the result will be the number of pouuch. If between 3ft and sft, multiply by Iff ; if between sft and 7ft, mulPply by 23 ; if between 7ft and Oft, multiply by 31; if between Oft and lift, multiply by 40.

Tho Wellington Post, in an article 011 “ Our Defences,” rays " Whithersoever the war in South Afiica may lead the Old Country, it is now clear that vve must manfully share the risk and bear our part We have with full consideration elected to support the Imperial idea, and must take our part in the risks of the Empire, fight for the cause of Britain be the quarrel just or unjust in our opinion, and maybe shall be compelled because of some such quarrel to defend our own homes with all the stronuousness we can command, . , . We must pay tho price as well as secure the reward of our patriotism, and the first cost will be incurred in a largely augmented and reorganised volunteer force, armed with modern rifles which the men who handle them can use to kill.”

On Saturday evening about half past six o’clock, a sailor of the s.s. Star of Victoria, named* Arthur William Deadly, was accidently killed while in a state of intoxication, by falling over the gangway guard rope, and fracturing his skull by striking the side of the ship, and then tho wharf stringers with great force. After being three or four minutes in the water, he was rescued by some of the members of the ship’s crew. He gasped a little, but was unconcious and never spoke. He died about a quarter to eight the same evening. At an inquest yesterday, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death, uud that no blame was attached to anyone,” They also appended ths following rider \~- “ That the Harbour Board should provide captains of vessels with a copy of the wharf regulation ; also that nets should be stretched the whole leugth of the gangway, ami be inspected by the authorities.

A telegram received from Wellington last night states that the Racing Club has decided not to reopen the case of the disqualification of the horse Wedlock.

An extensive bush fire is raging on the side of Pirongia Mountain, and is doing considerable damage. It is supposed to be the result of a fire lighted by a picnic party on New Year's Day. A brown mare and a boy’s pony are advertised for. They were lost from Cambridge. A milking cow is impounded at Cambridge. It is supposed to have been sold at Mr Hunter's sale there last Saturday.

Mr H. J. Davys has some timber on the ground that he lately purchased at Cambridge, and u ill commence the erection of a largo boarding house there forthwith.

Mr Pantham, of Hawera, bao been paying Cambridge a visit, where ho met with a number of old friends. He came through via To Kuiti, and stayed with Mr Richard Reynolds, at Trecarne.

A correspondent from Mangapiko writes drawing attention to the growth along the sides of Awamutu and Pirongia roads, and suggesting that the present is the most suitable time for the owners to deal with the same.

In Messrs MaNicol Hid Co.’s column to-day will be found full par tieulars of their annual Sheep Fair, to be held, at Ohaupo on Wednesday, 31st January, when upwards of 15,000 ewes, wethers and lambs will lie submitted. Affdr the above they will offer some 300 pure-bred Lincoln, Shropshire, English Leicester and Romney Marsh rams, from the best breeders in the Waikato. Further entries arc solicited.

Mr A. A. Fantham, late of Gwynne'aii'is, Cambridge, but now of Hawera, passed through Hamilton today. He came up the coast by steamer to Kawhia, and then by coach to Pirongia, whence he passed c n to To Awamutu and Cambridge Mr Fantham is looking very well, and his seventeen years’ absence from Waikato has net aged him much. He, is very pleased with the appearance of the country, one feature which struck him - being the marked change affected by the growth of fine trees in all directions.

According to a latter received from a shearer on the Multi shed, Longreach, Queensland, prospects are terribly bad in the back blocks. He writes: “ What a season it has been out here ! There has been no rain, and not even the sign of it. There is starvation everywhere. Ten weeks ago I started from a station with 15,700 sheep, and arrived last week at our station with 7000. We have also lost 21 horses. . . . All

the station owners are catting scrub iu order to try and keep the few sheep that are left alive. In the worst of years I ave seen nothing si bad as this season.”