The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 8500 Weekly. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1909

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVI, Issue 4003, 5 February 1909, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 8500 Weekly. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1909

Captain Edwin’s forecast: Modearc to strong easterly winds; glass fall slowly. L. M. Carnachan, of Waitomo, labourer, has filed a petition in bankruptcy. The first meeting of creditors will be held on the 10th inst, at 10.30 a.m. The Hamilton Town Band gave a very enjoyable programme at Steele Park last evening. There were about 200 people present, and they seemed to appreciate the etl'orts of the bandsmen to entertain them. The Railway Department will take over full control of the North Island Main Trunk Railway on February 13. Mr Lowe, railway district engineer for the section from Marton to Frankton, and Mr C. J. M’Kenzio, Public Works engineer, will make the final inspection this week. The first regular “through” train will leave Auckland on Sunday evening, February If, and the next will start from Wellington at 11.30 on the following morning. At yesterday’s meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board Mr T. Paterson drew attention to the sum charged by chloroformists for the month, £33, and asked if these fees were charged to patients.■— Dr. Douglas said they were and a large percentage of the fees were paid. —The secretary remarked that in a great many instances, where Maoris and indigent cases were concerned, the expenditure fell upon the noard. The enquiry did not elicit any further comment. Arrangements in connection with the forthcoming district meeting of the Auckland District, 1.0. R., to be held in Hamilton next week, were advanced a further stage at last night’s meeting of the Hope of Hamilton Tent. Information was received that about 30 delegates will participate in the meeting. The business sheet is not a formidable one, but several important matters effecting the financial position of the order will be discussed notice of motion having been given to increase the funeral allowance by a substantial sum, a question which will require very serious consideration from an actuarial point of view. The programme at the concert to be given on Monday evening, will be almost entirely provided by visitors, among whom are some excellent vocalists.

Dr. Recce, who has been on a visit to the Old Country for 12 months, returned to Hamilton yesterday, looking well after his extended holiday. The police have received news that a man named McDonald, supposed to be employed on the railway extension works, jumped out of the window of a hotel or accommodation house in Motcuka Valley, picked up a piece of glass and cut his throat. He is being brought to the local hospital.

New Zealand coal carried in New Zealand ships is going further afield. The Union Company’s steamer Kamona, is to leave Westport about the 20th of this month for Honolulu with a cargo of coal to be delivered to the British Admiralty.

Dr. A. McArthur delivered a reserved judgment at Wellington on Tuesday, and in its opening sentence, says the New Zealand Times, remarked that the plaintiff claimed £2O from the period when the debt was incurred, with interest “up to the Day of Judgment”—“No, no,’ exclaimed His Worship, hastily correcting himself, “I mean the date of judgment.” And the Court laughed. This recalls the old time story of the man who vowed that he would not pay a debt to an exigent creditor—no, not before the Day of Judgment.” “And this is the day of judgment,” remarked the callous Justice Shallow, as he entered up a verdict for the creditor, with full costs!

An old familiar face was missing from the Waikato Hospital Board meeting yesterday—that of Mr W. P. Ghepmell, who has been a continuous member of the board for about 23 years. Mr McGuirk expressed his deep regret at bis absence, and paid a tribute to the excellent services he had rendered to the board and to the district during that lengthy period. The chairman and several other members bore similar testimony to the good work done by Mr Chepmell, and a general hope was expressed that it would not be long before be reappeared at the board’s table. On the motion of Mr McGuirk a resolution was passed embodying the sentiments expressed by the members

A heated and almost acrimonious discussion took place at the Lyttelton Harbour Board meeting on the question whether certain figures collected by the board concerning the revenue collected on the Christcnurch-Lyttel-ton branch railway, which are to be part of a report which is being prepared with regard to the canal scheme, should be made public at once before the report is completed, in view of the fact that an erroneous set of figures had been given publicity in a newspaper. Mr Friedlander threatened that if the board did not publish the figures at once, be would reveal them himself at a meeting to be held at Ashburton tonight. It was pointed out that this would be a gross breach of privilege, Mr Friedlander persisted in his intention to defy the board. A motion to reveal the figures was lost. It is probable that the Marine Department will send a steamer out to look for the overdue auxiliary brigantine Rio Loge. Te Rio Loge left Kaipara for Dunedin on January 6, and on the 14th she was in company with the Isabella Defraine and the Waratah, both of which arrived at Dunedin on January 23, having got favourable winds about the 18th or 13th. The Rio Loge should have experienend the same weather so it is supposed that she must have been dismasted, and also, as she has engines, that either the oil must have given out or that the machinery must have broken down. The vessel was in good order, having been surveyed here a few months ago. Her port of registry is in Queensland. There is an insurance policy of £IOOO on the hull, and the cargo of timber is also insured. Captain Spence, the skipper, is part owner. He was accompanied by his wife and two children, a girl and a boy.

At the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Federick Docherty, fireman on the Greymouth Harbour Board’s new dredge Mawhera, was charged, on the information of the captain, with continued wilful disobedience of lawful commands during the voyage of the dredge from England. In his evidence, Captain Wayman staled that Docherty complained of being ill. Tire crew were the most unruly crowd he had ever had under him. They were a rough lot, and were mostly Australians who wantedto get home. He had picked them up in the Sailors’ Home, in Glasgow, and had taken them for charity’s sake. His officers had been mere children in their hands on the way out. The magistrate, Mr H W. Bishop, said that, after hearing the evidence of the men, and reading the entries in the logbook, he was of opinion that the crew of the dredge were a bad lot. There seemed to be something so “absolutely rotten” on hoard the dredge that he was not going to treat the case as he would have done had the vessel been an ordinary one. The case would he dismissed.

An important question was raised by Mr Thomas at the meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board held in Hamilton yesterday, in connection with local body insurance. He said in view of the increased rates he thought local bodies and public institutions similar to the board should combine and form an insurance society similar to the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Society. He instanced the case of the Piako County Council which last year paid over £2OO in premiums. Ho. had brought his proposal before that body which had approved of the idea and there did not appear to be any insuperable difficulties in the way.—The chairman, Mr Bell, said the idea appeared to be a good one and if a conference of representatives of local bodies were held the board would be glad to appoint a man to attend. He was of opinion that the county councils, should, however, move in the matter first.—Mr Fisher said he thought the proposal should emanate from the Local Bodies Conference, as unless they had a good strong organisation little or no benefit would accrue. A special Act would be required to enable such a step to be taken; but the matter was well worthy of consideration. The subject then dropped, but it will not be allowed to rest there.