The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1903.

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6018, 15 July 1903, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1903.

Day by day the wire flashes some item of news in connection with Russia's action in the Par Ease which is calculated to give the impression that the struggle between Great Britain and her allies and Russia is nearer at hand than is generally admitted by public men and diplomatists. lb is only the other day that we learnt that there were fifty-two Russian war vessels at Port Arthur, and to-day wo learn that Russia has concentrated 30,000 troops at the same place and that 10,000 more are expected. An American statesman said a few days back that there would be nr action taken until September, when Russia has promised the Powers that she will evacuate Manchuria. The hurrying of forces to Port Arthur must be taken as an indication that she has no intention to fulfil her agreement. Japan recognises the seriousness of the position, and there is an agreement to drop internal differences and devote the whole energies and ability of the country to preparing for contingencies. On the other hand, a conference of high Russian . Government officials is being held at Port Arthur, the object, it is stated, being the consolidation of her Far Eastern possessions and placing them under the control of a Governor-General. In spite of all Russia's movements it is difficult to believe that she will go to the extent of forcing a war at the present time for the sake of Manchuria. If Britain, America and Japan insist upon the evacuation of Manchuria, Russia will have to give way, in appearance, if not in fact. War with these three Powers would inevitably result in the destruction of the whole fleet mustered at Port Arthur and of every vessel Russia could bring on the scene, an event which at any rate would secure that Russia's insidious advances would be checked for at least a decade. All the nations of the world aro interested that there shall be an open commercial door in the East for all traders alike. American statesmen are clear that if the trade ot the great Republic is to b 8 extended to its utmost limit they must look to the East for this result. The risk to Russia is too great, arjd wo don't believe that she will take it.

The Waikato Licensing Committee sat at Hamilton at half-past twelve to*day to deal with the question of the licenses of the Cambridge Hotels which waß adjourned to allow the owners to make certain improvements, The Court -was still sitting as wo went to press.

A Mr Henry Spratt has. been appointed an Inspector of Fisheries.

The Stud Bill was: condemned by by the Farmers' Club on Monday at Cambridge. There are 19,979 signatures to the petitions which have been presented to the House favouring the totalisator. The business at the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, this morning consisted solely of a few undefended debt cases and old age pension applications.

The second Dorothy social, under the auspices of the Hamilton Band, will be held this (Wednesday) evening in the Volunteer Hall, at 7.30 p.m.

Mr Manning, of Shortland, has we think put up a record in the growing of white (horse) carrot 9. It only takes ten of the carrots to weigh lewt, while a splendid specimen weighs no less than 131b.-Thames Star.

During the year ended March 31 last £210,144 was paid in old age pensions in tho colony, as compared with £207,248 for the previous year. The record, so far as numbers of pensions is concerned, is held by June, 1902, when the total was 12,481.

A correspondent of the Mataura Ensign mentions a somewhat curious coincidence in the fact that the first customer to partake of a drink at the Stony Creek Hotel when it opened on July Ist 1884, also had the last drink in the house before the bar was finally closed.

The New .';ealand, vaccination lymph, which is made at Hastings, is regarded as the best produced, and is supplied both to Australia and elsewhere. Judging from the amount distributed, there have probably been 7000 or more vaccinations in the colony within the last fortnight. We have received from Messrs S. Vaile and Sous., Land and Estate Agents, Auckland, a copy of their catalogue of properties for sale. These comprise sheep and cattle stations, farms, suburban and town pripertics in all parts of the colony, full details of which are given. Copies of the catalogue may be obtaiued at their land sale rooms, 95 Queen-street, Auckland.

At a meeting of the local members of the Whatawhata branch of the Waikato Hunt Ciub, held on Saturday evening, a very satisfactory statement of accounts was laid before the meeting, A good deal of business in connection with the forthcoming meet of the hounds was put through, aud a vote of thanks was passed to The Waikato Abgos for a donation of tickets, etc.

The Island of Heligoland, which was the cause of much ill-feeling between England and Germany some years ago, being finally sold to the latter country, has proved of littla value. The sea is fast encroaching upon it, and to preserve it it is said that oaves along its shores are being filled with cement, while in one threatened spot a thick wall is being built to protect the had from the ravages made by the sea.

At the meeting of the Farmers' Club at Cambridge on Monday a letter was received from Mr W. Johns, late of To Awamutu, intimating that the Fruitgrowers' Association had represented to the Premier that they would be glad if that geutleman were called to the Upper House, and asking that the Club would back up tho jequest. The letter was received, and the secretary instructed to write Mr Johns that the Club declines to entertain the request.

We (Northern Advocate) are indebted to a well known resident of the Tangihua Settlement for an item of great interest—to less than the discovery of payable gold in the Tangihua mountain. For some time gold has besn known to exist in this locality, but it is only lately that the present discoverer has been able to locate the reef. Should the find come up to the discoverer's expectations, we may shortly expect a gold boom for Whangarei rivalling those of the palmy Thames days.

There is a growing feeling in milling circles (says the Otago Daily Times) that prime milling velvet is going to be very scarce this season, which is all the more serious, as, owing to the softness of much of the red wheat, a greater proportion of the velvet has to be used for gristing first class flour. It is reported that an Oumaru miller has pa.id up to 4s Id on trucks for a large line of prime velvet, and many farmers in the Oamaru district hold the opinion chat a considerable advance in prico will yet take place.

The following resolution re fire insurance was carried by the Farmers' Club, on the motion of the President, seconded by Mr Sturges :—' That this Club is of opinion that mutual fire insurance, as established in parts of the United States, is the best and cheapest means of securing farmers and agriculturalists against loss by fire, and of the two Bills now before the House the farmers nail their colours to Mr Kirkbride's Bill, and urge all branches of the Union to acquiesce in this proposal and forward their recommendations diruct to the Government.'

The meet of the Waikato hounds at Lochiel on Saturday was very enjoyable, and those present will look back with pleasure to a pleasant afternoon with the pack. Not the least portion of the success of the meet was due to the warm hospitality shown by Mr and Mrs Taylor, of Lochiel, whose kindness was much appreciated, especially by those who had come a long way to the meet. Two enthusiastic sports from the Waipa declare that they were never better treated, and as one of them kept close to the redcoats to the finish and the other asserts that he spent most of the time in the ditches, the pair may justly claim to have had a leading part in the function.

Mrs Bracher, who will lecture in aid of the Hamilton Library on Friday next, is, we believe, the only lady member in Australasia of the Sanii;ary Institute of Great Britain. H.R.H., the Duke of Cambridge (the King's unule) is the president of the Institute, which has its headquarters in London, and the Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the vicepresidents. After a course of study at the Institute, in London, Mrs Bracher was elected an associate, eight years ago.. Last year, in lecognition of the work she has done in the cause of hygieae in England and New Zealand, she received the honour of being elected a member There is a large number of men members of the Institute, but only, as yet, about twenty lady members. Mrs Bracher is now a resident of Hamilton. Wo learn on reliable iiuthority that the Government's bank note issue scheme will be practically the same as that now in operation in Queensland, where it is said to work very satisfactorily. In brief, the scheme is as follows :—The Queensland banks pay to the Government in gold 25 per cent, of the face value of the notes applied for. That is to say, if a bank applies to the Government for £4OO 000 worth of notes, a payment of £IOO,OOO in gold is paid to the Government, and a small percentage charge is made by the Government to the bank for the remaining 75 per cent. If the bank elects to pay the whole £400,000 in gold, then no charge is made. Thus the Government holds in gold at least 25 per cent, of the notes issued to the public, which are known as Govern" ment bank notes, and are redeemable in gold at the Treasury. There in no issue of notes by the respective banks, and the notes, having behind them State security, the whole schemo is on a perfectly sound financial basis.—Otago Daily Times. For Bronchial Cough take Woods Great Peppermint Cure, 1/6 and 2/6 verywbere

The longest piece of straight railway in the world is tint between Nangan and Burke, New South Wales. This line ruus 156 miles on a level in a dead straight Hue. It is a very common thing in the vicinity of Taku to see deid children lying about the ground, says the China Times. Tho Chinese have a habit of enclosing the bodies in , matting and throwing them out in the open, where the dogs often worry the corpses. The oldest cricketer in the world is supposed to be Mr George Wilmer, who though 87 years of age commands the Christchurch Veterans' Cricket Club. His friends claim that he certainly is the oldest active cricketer, for in spite of being partly orippled he leads his boys to flannelled glory every season. The club has just presented the veteran with a purse of Fovereigns. He came to the colony in ISSB. lauding at Lyttelton. Speaking on the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr Arnold, a prominent labour representative, expressed the opinion that no labour legislation would be passed this session. He accused the Opposition of having stuffed the Labour Bills Committee with the object of making labour legislation impossible. If the committee is as stated it appears to us that it must be taken as an indication that Mr Seddon means to go easy in deference to the Farmers' Union. We specially draw the attention of dairy farmers, dealers etc., to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Aeency Coy's sale at Cambridge en Friday next, when a lot of choice young cattle are entered, two year-old steers, fresh conditioned cows, fat cattle etc., also some firet class dairy cows at calving (from Morrinsville and neighbourhood), and eight choice springing heifers, A number cf vehicles and a quantity of furnitnre will also be submitted. Sale will commence punctually at 12.30 with fat cattle and dairy cows immediately afterwards.

The question of precedence raised by the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Judges, under the published text of the petition to, and correspondence with, the Colonial Office, has provoked considerable comment, mostly favourable to the attitude of the judicial bench. The opinion is furthermore held that, so far, Sir Robert has had the best of the argument, and rather knocked the legs of Mr Seddon from under him. There are still a variety of opinions expressed as to the real cause of the action of the Government, but gossip holds to the view that there is a lady in the case. You have perhaps heard the story, which runs something to this effect: —That when the Duke and Duchess of York visited the colony, this question of precedence arose. The wife of the Prime Minister was not then entitled to occupy the position she will occupy under the amended table, but it was thought it could be arranged. Accord* ingly, an ambassador of huh local standing was commissioned to approach Lady S., on behalf of Mrs S., with instructions to plead that the latter should for this once, at anyrate, be permitted to take precedence in approaching the presence of Royalty. But the mission was wholly unsuccessful, and the ambassador laid himself open to a severe snubbing, which he probably got. From that time on, the Miuistcral miud has been occupied with the problem of how to get even with the lady who insisted upon her rights, with the result that has just been proclaimed.—Christchurch Truth. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS Wanted : Messenger boy. Tuhikaramea Road Board : Result of poll. The Esplanade Hotel, North Shore, is now open. For sale : Posts and strainers ; horse and harness, £l3. Hams, hacou, and lard on sale by the Waikato Bicon Co. MrC. Walluutt, land agent, inserts a new list of p'operties for sale.