The Waikato Argus, [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1907.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3565, 24 August 1907, Page 2

The Waikato Argus, [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1907.

The Millers’ and Bakers’ Combine which was formed for the purpose of upholding the price of flour and lowering that of wheat, has led to large importations of wheat Horn Australia into the Southern division of the colony-- this in spite of the duty levied at our ports of entry. Fortunately, combines arc unable to increase or depress the value of foodstuffs beyond or below their true value. If the local price is above actual value, importation immediately follows, and if below, vessels ale chartered to carry it away to another country which is prepared to pay a higher price, with the cost of freight and expenses added. There was an agitation by trade unions the other day to have the duty taken off flour and wheat, the idea being that the price to the consumers would be less by the weight of the duty levied. This probably would be the case; but would such a step have been fair to the wheat-growers and millers of the colony who have to pay an enhanced price for many of the manufactured goods they require consequent on the high duties which are levied in order to bolster up industries which the circumstances of the country would not otherwishc allow to live. ’1 ho duty on Hour is about the only protection the farmer receives; there are other duties imposed, but it is mostly upon produce of which we arc almost invariably exporters, for the reason that v.’u produce more than we can consume. This is also usually the case with wheat and Hour, but this year, consequent on the want of rain and otherwise unfavourable circumstances it has been necessary to look abroad fora portion of our supply. Surely there should bo no objection to the small duty levied if it has the effect of somewhat reducing; the loss which a bad season invariably inflicts upon the farmer. What a contrast is this to the Act which, in the event of foreign competition endangering the businesses of the agricultural implement makers -- they may be awarded a bonus of 33 per cent.

Mails for Australia only via Hobart, close on Monday 2Gth inst. at 3 p.m. at Hamilton per ss.. Warrimoo. Mr J. Bell, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., Hamilton, has received notice of his removal to the Stratford branch.| Visitors to Hamilton should not overlook the “Highcroft” private boardinghouse situated in Collingwood street. ' It is well-appointed in every respect, and superior accommodation may be obtained at reasonable rates. Although the Hamilton Baptist Church has now been opened nearly twelve months, up to the present no “ church” has been formed, and with the object of considering this important question, a meeting of all those interested will be held alter the evening service to-morrow, Sunday. The case, Assets Board v Piako County Council which has been put off from time to time, has been specially set down for hearing at the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Tuesday next. Over 20 witnesses are engaged, and it is without doubt the largest Waikato case that has yet engaged the attention of the Supreme Court.

About 9.30 last evening a lire broke out in the cottage formerly occupied by Mrs Wright, near the railway line, mid-way between Hamilton and Frankton. No reason can be given for the outbreak, and there was no one living there at the time; hut it is supposed that it occurred in a little room at the back of the house. The building, which was very old, was soon down and nothing whatever was saved. The house was insured, but the exact amount is unknown. It is believed to be £l5O.

No trace of Mr Rigby, of Hamilton, has yet been found, beyond the fact that' on Saturday morning last ho drove from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia, and joined the express train at that place. He is believed to have had about £SO in his possession at the time. At last night’s meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council a letter was read from his partner, Mr Warren, who did not mince maters with regard to his disappearance, and asked that under the circumstances any further payments should be withheld in the meantime.

■ It will be seen by a report in another column, that there were 41 applications received last night for the position of Town Clerk oi: the Borough of Hamilton. This result from sufficient advertising, more than justifies, if any justification were required, our censure of the Mayor, who, by his own confession, was respon. ibie for the fact that as little publicity as possible was given to the wants of the borough, short of deliberately disobeying the mandate of the council to advertise. Yesterday Constable FitzGerald stationed at Kibikihi, assisted by the native policeman, Mutuai oi Tc Awamutu, arrested four natives on a charge of stealing five sheep the property of Messrs Mason Bros., runholders of Manugatautari, beyond Kilnkiln. During the afternoon they were brought before Mr Hugh Irvine, J.P. at the Police Court, To Awamutu, and on the application of the police were remanded until next Fiday. Bail was refused. It appears that sheep stealing has been suspected in the locality for some time and further arrests are likely. A. man named Edward Vinton Sut-

ton was brought up at Cambridge yesterday, before Messrs J. Fisher and J. W. Smiter, J’s.P., charged with having stolen a bicycle from Messrs Wilkinson and Co. of Cambridge, of the value of V 7 10s, on the Ist of July last. Mr Lewis appeared

for accused. From the evidence it appeared that accused hired the bicycle and rode it to Frankton, whore he left it in a ditch. It was subsequently found by one of the railway men and was placed by him in a shed,

where it had lain ever since

eused was arrested in Christchurc! and remanded to Cambridge; am

after bn was arrested he states where he had left the machine, am so it was found. The case was dismissed, it being considered there van no intention to pcrmantly deprive tin owners of their machine.

Sir Edward Grey,the Foreign Secretary, in the course of a printed replv to a question in the House of Commons a few weeks ago, told the story of the fate of a part of No. 2 Company, Camel Corps, who evacuated Mir Natron in the Soudan in April last, intending to proceed to Abu Tabari, whore they expected to meet a convoy of supplies. The party consisted of one otlicer, forty men, eight women, one child, thirty-eight camels, and a guide. On tiie fourth day of their march, having failed to reach Abu Tabari, the guide confessed that he had lost his way, and advised that scouts should be sent out. Scouts were accordingly despatched, and they found the convoy, from which they obtained water .for their party, and retraced their steps. On regaining their party they found only eleven men, seven women, and a hoy; the otlicer, nineteen men and one woman, and two Arabs having for some reason, which cannot be ascertained, gone southwards with all the camels. A search party was sent out to find them, but a dust storm frustrated their efforts, and the remainder of the party, with the help of the convoy, moved into Aim Tabari. It is feared, Sir Edward Grey added, that the officer, Mulazirn Awal AH Efi’endi 1 iassan, and the twenty-two persons with him lost their lives. All the survivors have arrived at El Bab, in Wadiel Kali.