The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1903.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1477, 9 February 1903, Page 2

The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1903.

On our fourth page to-day appears : ' News and Notes.' At the fire brigades demonstration in Auckland on Saturday the Thames brigade won most of the events. During the month of January work was found for over 100 men on Government works and otherwise by the Christchurch office of the Labour Department. The Hamilton Brass Band, under Bandmaster Mettam, gave a very enjoyable open-air concert in Victoria-street, Hamilton, on Saturday evening, and the music was greatly appreciated. On Wednesday evening the band will give a conceit in tne Waikato Hospital grounds. We remind the members of the Waikato P. ultry. Pigeon and Canary Club that the annual meeting will take place thiE evening at :>t. Peter's SchooNroom, Hamilton. The committee will meet at 7-15 p.m. at the offices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. We understand that an order has been placed with a local tradesman for a monument in memory of the late Mr Tennent, who for some mouths was in charge of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, and who was drowned in the Waikato River in January, 1902. The memorial is being erected by the members and adherents of the church, the managing committee of which took the matter in hand.

The sale of farms in Waikato to Southern purchasers still continues. We understandgthe Bukuhia listate Homestead block has been purchased by a Mr Quinn from Tatauaki, and also that Mr Mr Main |has sold his fine farm at Hautapn at a very satisfactory figure. We learn that as soon as the harvesting is over in the South Island there is likely to be a big influx of young men on the lookout for farms in Waikato.

As will be seen by an advertise" ment in this issue, arrangements have been made for holding concert? in Ngaruawahia to-morrow, Taupiri day 12th, and Huntly, Friday 18th, in aid of the respective Romau Catholic Churches. Rev. Father (O'GaUagher, who is in charge of the district, has arranged splendid programmes for each evening, at which the local performers will be assisted by friends from Auckland and Hamilton, and pleasant eveDings may be anticipated at each centre. Each of the concerts will bo followed by a dance. A party of young men left Hamilton for Cambridge on foot yesterday. They started about 10 a.m., and reached their destination in ample time for their midday meal. In the afternoon they did the sights of Cambridge, and after tea sec out on their long tramp home, which they reached, in various stages of weariness, at about 10 p.m. We understand that as the result of their first venture they contemplate inaugurating a pedestrian rambling association to visit in rotation the various centres within reach, provided that arrangements can be made to have the hearse to accompany thorn, as upon the initial occasion. At a meeting of representatives of the local bodies interested in the Auckland Hospital, the following resolutions were carried :—' That this meeting emphatically protests against the proposal of the Public Health Department to erect an infections diseases hospital at Point Chevalier, as all minor cases of infectious disease could be treated at the Auckland Hospital and accommodation provided for same in the hospital grounds.'—'That this meeting considers the management of the Auckland Hospital requires the strictest investigation, as the lucrease of expenditure is out of all proportion to tho increase of population in the district.'

In the course of an interview, Dr. Morrison, the famed Chinese correspondent of the London Times, who is now on a visit to Australasia, remarked: — Undoubtedly the Chinaman is a brave man. Those who have seen him cuffed and kicked in the streets by foreigners without striking back say that they are cowards ; but it is a mistake, and one must not judge a whole nation by one or two cases of that sort. General Gordon testified that they were brave soldiers, and that is the opinion of present day military experts. During a siege I saw one piece of bravery of which any nationality might be proud. A number of men were wanted at a certain spot, and though one after another was shot down there was no lack of volunteers amongst the Chinese coolies. They ire courageous enough, my word for it, and only require to be well led to be really a formidable power.'

The following is from the Electahuna Express:—Mr AY. W. McCardle stated at the banquet tendered to Mr Hogg in Eketahuna recently that he had always supported the present Government, and that, although he had on more than one occasion retired from political contests to save Government candidates from defeat, he had, so far, received no reward. Now, it is uot for us to inquire if candidature against Messrs and O'Meara at successive elections constitutes support of the Government ; we can sav, however, that Mr McCardle has at length received his reward, for he has been appointed to a seat on the Northern Native Lands Council, which position, of courjp, carries pay. The knowledge he possesses of tho Maori lingo is, we be>lieve, quito as extensive as that possessed by the Premier and the Duke of York, who some months ago let the telegraph operators and the world at large know that'Kia ora ' meant ' good luck.' But beyond that we should not go. Mr McCardle, however, has got the reward to which all good Liberals are entitled. The moral attached to the business is char: If aman wants a good fat billet let him stand for Parliament, or threaten to do so.*

In the Ashley county, 'owing, it is supposed, to the quantity and succulence of the grass, many fat lambs have d cd suddenly.

The Cromwell Areus reports that a party of four Chinamen working above the Cromwell coalpit last week washed £IOOO worth of gold. According to information from reliable sources, breeders in the South Island are finding it impassible to supply the demands of the North Island for South lowns.

At Opawa, during the recent storm, a three-year-old child was struck behind the ear with an exceptionally large hailstone with such force as to cut the flesh. The little one was rendered temporarily unconscious by the blow.

In the pericardium of a heifer, killed at the Lyttelton abattoirs recently, there was found a packing needle. The animal did not appear to have been inconvenienced, but no doubt would have died when the needle reached its heart, towards which it appeared to have been working.

One of the regulations of the Public Service Act under the Commonwealth provides that a female servant who has been in the service eight years may upon getting married claim two months'leave on full pay when retiring. One lady civil servant has already taken advantage of the provision. Wo have to thank Mr T. Walter, of The Lake, Hamilton, for the meteorological returns for January. The total rain fall was 7-4 S inches, which fell on 20 days. The heaviest was between 9 a.m. ou the 17th, and 9 a.m. on the 18th, when 2.46 inches was recorded. It will be remembered that this was the period during which there was such a downfall all over the district. Rain fell every day from the 23rd to the 31st. Mr Justice Edwards said recently that first offenders should not escape payment of the costs of prosecution. It would be well if a general direction were issued to Magistrates to forward, for the Supreme Court's information, the costs of prosecutions, especially in the committal of first offenders. His Honour also said he would be glad to order aceused to abstain from liquor during the period of his probation, but he could not see that he had the power to do so, though some Judges had taken that course. At the annual ram fair at Palmerstoo North on Tuesday lust the feature of the entry was the large yarding of Komney Marsh sheep These increased in numbers since 1901 from 317 to 719, while during the same period Liucolns have decreased from 872 to 407. However, whilo the top price for the former was six guineas in the latter 9J guineas was reached. as a class, although some of the best ever shown at the fair were brought under the hammer, were a drag. The tone of the market for Romneys was above expectations. Yesterday afternoon there was a large gathering of the inhabitants of Cambridge to accompany the mortal remains of the late Mr Sydney Thornburgh Twentyman to their last resting-place in the Cambridge Cemetery He was comparatively a young mau, being only 38, when that fell disease consumption claimed him. For many years Mr Twentyman was accountant with the South British Insurance Company, aud he was well known and respected in Auckland. He was sent up to Cambridge when too late, and he gradually faded away. Mrs Twentyman has the sympathy of all, for she has indeed had a hard trial, and at the present time has one of her little ones dangerously ill in Auckland. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS Wise's New Zealand Post Office Directory, 1903, is now issued. Cheap muslins and cheap gloves at the Cosy Corner Store, Hamilton. The resolution to clear the balance of seasonable goods at any price is being adhered to at Mr Tudehope's Cambridge. Sale of Mr F. W. Burnett's stud flock of Shropshire sheep at Otahuhu sheep fair grounds on Thursday, 19th inst. Concerts iu aid of the respective Catholic Churches: Ngaruawahia, tomorrow evening ; Taupiri, Thursday ; Huntly, Friday. Messrs McNicol and Co. aunounce a clearing sale at ' Bruntwood,' Tamahere, on Wednesday, February 25, and their Waihou stock sale on Friday, February 27.