The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3799, 4 June 1908, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908.

For a Government to control the colunms of a newspaper at the expense of the country is bad in principle, and is always mischievous in practice. The Prime Minister has, it appears, consented, on behalf of New Zealand, that the Dominion shall join with the Commonwealth in subsidising the old Conservative London paper, the Standard, on condition that it devotes a certain portion of an "Empire supplement" to the printing of a given quantity of Australasian news. In considering this matter, it must not be forgotten that New Zealand is already paying a subsidy to Reuter for the forwarding of a given amount of New Zealand news to the British press. There was no necessity for this, as the editors of the great papers in England have already ample means of procuring New Zealand news, which, in their opinion, is of sufficient interest to their readers to justify space being devoted to it. The subsidy is indirect, the payment being made nominally for the use of a page for advertising purposes. How much is to be paid for this has not, so far as we know, been made public. The message contracted for is to consist of 500 words each week. Who is to control the compiling of this message? As the Government will pay for the advertisement, it is to be presumed that they will control the compilation. Whether this be so or not, they will have the credit of doing so, and the news in consequence be received with much caution. For the greater proportion of the year the compiler will be puzzled to find news of sufficent interest

to be acceptable to the Standard's readers. There will also be the danger that some of the readers of that newspaper will attribute undue importance to the writings of the New Zealand scribe, being unaware that his news is coloured before being served out to them. Even supposing that the writing is as colourless as the most limpid spring water, the source from which it is drawn will excite suspicion. The question we have to consider is will it pay New Zealand. The Melbourne Argus, in denouncing the Commonwealth connection, asks: What is the Commonwealth to gain by the publication of weekly doses ot dull news in a single London newspaper of limited circulation? Sir J. G. Ward, in entering into the contract with the Standard, seems to have overlooked the fact that the Press is powerful and useful, only so long as it is free from outside control.

The meeting called for last night to discuss the proposal to establish a Fire Board in Hamilton lapsed, there only being the Mayor and a couple of others present. The poll in connection with this matter will be held tomorrow.

L. H. Hewitt rode Truffle de Perigord to victory in the Newark Plate at the Nottingham Spring Meeting on April 16. This was Hewitt's only mount at the meeting, and the race in question was the principal event on the programme. Moss of Ancrum, the champion sheep dog at the Masterton trials last week, is valued at £IOO. His companion, Tweede of Roxboro', is regarded by his owner as being worth £BO. The general opinion of Wairarapa sheepmen is that Moss of Ancrum is one of the most intelligent dogs ever seen in New Zealand. The Hawke's Bay A. and P. Association has inaugurated a new rule in connection with the election of officers at its annual meeting, by which members receive voting papers prior to the meeting, and, if they wish, may vote by post. An innovation of this description is likely to intensify the interest in the elections, while at the same time it is a concession to those who may be unable to attend the meetings.

An American newspaper proprietor quickened the memories of his subscribers in the following manner:— "All persons knowing themselves indebted to this office are requested to call at this office and settle. All those indebted to this office and not knowing it are requested to call and find out. Those knowing themselves to be indebted and not wishing to call are requested to stay at one place long enough for us to catch them!" At a certain school in Waikato a teacher was much perturbed at the unwholesome appearance of one of the pupils, a youngster of nine or ten years, and daily sent him out to perform his ablutions ere commencing the morning's work. Losing patience at last as the hint was not taken home, she pointedly told him to have a bath. This was too much for the youngster, who replied that he "had never had a bath yet!" Fact! A novel method of putting a stop to gossip and scandal has been adopted by an American evangelist, says a Home paper. All the gossips in the neighbourhood are invited to his home one day in each week for a sort of slandering bee, the idea being that if they are allowed to hammer away at their neighbour's foibles to their hearts' content they will use up all the available material and have nothing else to gossip about. It would be interesting to know what they say about the evangelist on returning from the weekly meeting.

The annual conference of the Trades Councils will be held shortly, and the usual long and unwieldy agenda paper is set down for consideration. The Wellington Council has set down only one item, and perhaps it would be a well if it was the only item considered by the conference. It urges the conference to deal with the federation of all labour within the Dominion. This federation is of more importance than anything else, and the replies received by the Waikato Miners' Union on this question show that the majority of unions are favourable to the idea.

A deputation from the Fish Hatcheries Board asked the Minister of Marine's assistance at Dunedin recently. Mr Millar spoke approvingly of the Board's attempt to introduce Home fish into our waters and of the success that has attended their experiments. He intended next session asking Parliament to vote £SOO for the purpose of introducing sea fish, and intended to give what assistance he could to the Board. If, as has been stated, they would have a million lobster ova in the pond next year that in itself would be ample justification for the Government taking steps to ensure that the hatchery would be erone on with.

The following new regulation under the Scaffolding Inspection Act came into operation on 28th ult.: —All scaffolding for carpenters shall be erected according to the following specifications, namely: Standards up to 20ft in height to consist of not less than 4in by 2in; beyond this height, not less than 4in by 3in for the first 15ft, thereafter 4in by 2in. Standards to be not more than 9ft apart. Bearers and cleats to be not less than Bin by lin, well nailed to walls and standards. All scaffolds to be well braced with not less than 6in by lin braces, well nailed. Approved wooden or iron brackets may be used, placed at not more than 9ft apart."

The Empress of Japan has lately learned to use the typewriter. She came across one in her husband's library, beacme interested in the strange little machine, and had it explained to her. She soon began to finger it herself, and now, it is said, she does a good deal of correspondence for the Emperor. Queen Alexandra of England, Queen Maude of Norway, the Tsarina, and Queen Amelie of Portugal are also typists. But all of them put together probably use the typewriter less than Carmen Sylvia, the Queen of Roumiania, who rattles off her novels, poems, and essays on the machine. The click of her typewriter is heard in the palace from six to seven hours every day, and often at night.

A good stroke! Recently a party of sports were swapping stockwhip stories. Some of the feats, as related by the performers, were marvellous. After a particularly tall story by "Ted" an eighteen footer, was produced, and he was invited to show his prowess. Said he: "Bet you drinks I'll cut that whisp of paper out of the gutter first try." "Done," cried two or three, and Ted, measuring the distance with his eagle eye, made his cast, missing by an inch. "Double or quits," he shouted, and this time the paper was lifted out, and, unrolling, disclosed a pound note! As the joyous party "breasted the bar" the opinion was freely expressed that "If Ted fell overboard in mid ocean, he would come up with a mermaid and a bag of pearls." An American tourist, on a visit to Glasgow, a short time ago, on emerging from the railway station, was accosted by a lad with the usual cry of " Carry your bag, sir?" The gentleman, handing the boy the bag requested to be shown round Glasgow. Crossing George's Square they came opposite t>ir Walter Scott's monument and the boy said proudly :"That is one of the largest monuments in Scotland." "Oh" said the Yankee with an air of indifference "we have three-cent, cigars as big as that in America." They boarded a train going east and just as they alighted at the terminus a large bar of iron on a lorry drawn by twelve horses came up the street. The American asked the boy what that was for and the lad remembering the cigars replied: "Oh a new hotel has been built in the city and that's the kitchen poker,"

Mr W. C. Davis, J.P., sat at the Hamilton Police Court this morning. Joe Smith, charged with drunkenness was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in Mt. Eden gaol.

The formation in Hamilton of a strong literary and debating society should be heralded with pleasure by the young men of the town. We note a meeting is called in the Old Borough Council Chambers for tomorrow night at 7.30, and have no doubt that it will be the first of a series of interesting and instructive evenings to be held during the coming winter. . The entries for examination of candidates for employment as pupil teachers received by the Auckland Board of Education total 45, eight males and 37 females. This number is smaller than was the case last year. The examinations will be held at Auckland, Thames,. Hamilton, Whangarei, and Aratapu. As well as this examination of candidates, a special examination of pupil teachers will be held at these centres, beginning on Tuesday, June 30. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, and Dr. Pomare, Native Health Officer, who left Auckland on Saturday for the Waikato, will subsequently go on to Rotorua, Tarawera, and Napier. The object of the visits is to meet the natives of those districts with regard to matters of improved sanitary conditions, and the prevention of consumption among the natives. This is in pursuance of the Government scheme for improving the health conditions of the natives by getting them to co-operate with the Health Department to this end. Several big meetngs are being held. The newly formed Shakespeare Club at Cambridge, will have its first open night on Monday next, when all reading and honorary members fare asked to attend. The play "As You Like It," has been shortened by the elimination of the under plot. The dramatis personage is as follows: — Duke, Senr., and Adam, Mr E. J. Wilkinson; Frederick, Mr E. Caddy; Amiens, Mr J. G Hindmarsh; Charles, Jaques, and Le Beau, Mr M. Wells; Oliver and Touchtsone, Mr E. W. Shanahan; Orlando, Mr S. Lewis; a person representing Hymen, Miss K. Willis; Rosalind, Miss Willis; Celia, Miss Young. In connection with the controversy regarding trapping or poisoning of rabbits in Auckland, a South Island Agricultural correspondent writes:— "It is evident from statements that have been made lately that there has been a considerable diminution of the rabbit pest during the past few years. A gentleman who has been through the Macraes and adjacent districts in Otago, which formerly supported a rabbit canning factory and a host of trappers says that during all his travels he only saw three rabbits. He assigns three causes for the extirpation, remarking that the extensive trapping thinned out the rabbits, the heavy snowfall of about five years assisted, and the natural enemies have done the rest. In some parts of Southland, too, where rabbits at one time were numerous, there is scarcely a rabbit to be seen. The Woodlands district is not, however, in such a happy condition, for the rabbit pest is pronounced very real down there just now." The lion and the lamb. Replying to a requisition asking him to stand for Napier, Mr Vigor Brown said: "It was was satisfactory to know that his business knowledge and exj perience were so appreciated that, alj though he was connected with the ! wine and spirit trade, men prominently identified with the temperance ■ movement had joined in asking him !to stand. Those who really knew the I position and were acquainted with \ the facts would recognise that the liquor party and the teetotallers were i to a very great extent on the same j platform. He believed that at least ■ 90 per cent of those engaged in the- ' trade would join with the temperance ! people in an endeavour to have it ' ■ properly regulated and controlled. It would be in their interests, and he j believed in a few years' time the two j parties would have no differences. I Personally he would support the temI perance party in all reasonable de- : mands, but wished it to be distinctly | understood that he would not go so 1 far as to support confiscation without compensation. Such a proposal he would strongly oppose.