HAMILTON. (From Our own Correspondent.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 385, 31 October 1874, Page 2

HAMILTON. (From Our own Correspondent.)

A Finn, which might have proved a very disastrous calamity, bioko out on tho cast side of the rivor yesterday. It appears that a party of tho Aimed Constabulary was engaged in clearing the rifle range for the purpose of allowing the annual musketry instruction to tnke place The furzo and fern were set fire to — the wind at thut time blowing strong from tho westward No notice vuis taken of the fact that the fire was spreading in tbo direction of tbo cemetery, and tho men left the range to get their dinner. The flames ran along the dry undergrowth until they reached tbo burial-ground, and spreading iner its surface destroyed tbo headstones of the diil'ercnl graves, leaving the place a complete wreck. The mtsonio burial-ground, winch lias only latoly been fenced and put in order at considerable expense, was laid bare, and Captain Maepbcrson's place was next threatened. The fire laid hold of the gorse hedges bounding tho farm, and although two attempts wore made by cutting away to stay its progress, it was not until close to the houoo, Mint the efforts of thoso present were crowned with suecrs^, and the flames extinguished. Had tho fences on tho en>t sido of the road caught fire, the properties of Captain Steele and Mr Seddon must have Buffered severely, nnil in all probability tho residences of thoso gentlemen would hnve beon endangered. It is estimated that tho dania go done to C.iptain Macpherson's property alone will not bo covered l>y £80. The amount of damage done to the cemetery, ami i specially that part of it constituting the masonic buuai giound, I cannot ascertain,

bit it must be uoiisiulcmbli , as tin- in isons have but recently been at tho expense oi f.'nemg and embellishing their portion ol the "round. The Q-jvermnent will, I presume, have to .-ettlu tho difleient chums. The occurrence should serve as a warning to parties to exercise the greatest caution in firing fern dunn» dry seasons, and when a stroujj wind is blotting in the direction ot unproved laud. About 18 of the Armed Constabulary bare arrived for tlis purpose of musketry inbtruotion, and other batches are expected to follow when those aow hero have finished tbe COU.tHJ. A man of the name of Dolinage was to lecture on India on Tuesday evening lust, but ora» to the extreme scantiness of the attendance, the interesting event did not culminate. On visiting our local brewery the other day, I saw an excellent sample of hops grown by the natives in the king country. They were ot a darker colour and I was informed were stronger than the English hop*, though not so well pressed. About half-a-ton was produced by the natives last year, and doubtless if sufficient encouragement were piven, a very much larger quantity would bo grown. The culture of the lop plant is admirably suited to the native population, as there always is plenty of labour available for picking at a nominal cost. I think this industry should bo encouraged by the Government amongst the natives as much as possible