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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2741, 6 February 1890, Page 2

We hear that Captain Lindsay has let his fhx mill at Matahura to a company of five young men, who are turning out fibre at the rate of four or five tons a week.

Messrs Hubbard and Milne have made a start with their contracts at Waercnga for putting in culverts, &c., on tho new road leading up to the Government lands.

A school treat is to held at the W.ierrmga School house on Friday February lltii for the amusement of the children, to wind up with a concert and dance in the evening.

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the Waikato Railway Reform League, which was to'have been held y<jsti'i'da.y, was, from the paucity r.f attendance, adjourned to noon to-morrow.

Capt. Reid, during his visit to Auckland at Jubilee time, obtained souie capital photographic vie\v of the crowds in Queen-street, and of Queeri-slreet Wharf with the shipping in the harbour. The views were taken from the Waitemata Hotel.

We are informed by Mr Mahon, baker, that some person attempted to force ati entrance into his bakehouse on Tuesday night. A brother of Mr Mahon's who sleeps on the premises, beins: roused by the noise, went to the door, when the would-be burglar made tracks. We are sorry to hear that Mr R Lindsay, of Waerenga met with an accident whilst returning from the railway station with a load of timber. One of the wheels suddenly collapsed, breaking up into sundry sections. Luckily Mr Lindsay escaped without injury to himself or horses. Mr L- A. Caff, secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, has received a communication from tho New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association to the effect that it lias been definitely decided to hold their championship athletic meeting in May.

Very large sharks have been seen about the fishing grounds outside the Heads, at Dunedin, during tho last few days, greatly annoying the fishermen. A day or two ago a monster attacked the boat of a man named Kennily, knocking in the stern of the boat. The other fishermen came to the rescue of their comrade.

A hoy about 12 years of age, son of Robert Park, and nephew of the wellknown canoeist, was drowned on Monday hist. He was in a boat with his father and another man. The current carried the b.>at over the bar. The deceased was drowned in the surf but the two men were rescued. The body has not yet been found.

One of Mr McLaughlin's patent back delivery titree cuttors —a public trial of one of these machines it will be remembered was held at Woodlands some yearn ago—has lately been purchased by Mr Young, of Waerenga, which is intended to be used in clearing tho scrub growing up in his extensive wattle plantations.

Mr P. Bolton and his partner in the flax business at Waerenga are tnming out splendid fibre, and aro sending it away at the rate of eight tons per week. They expect to have an extra scutcher at work in the course of a few days, which, with extra mills for which the power is available, will enable them to almost double their output. It must be very encouraging, as we hoar the flax sent from this mill has realised top price in Auckland.

We hear that the first bridge on the Hamilton-Tuhikaramea road after leaving Frankton, would have been completely destroyed by fire on Tuesday, but for the timely attention of Mr W. Rothwell who succeeded in saviug tho structure, but not till some considerable damage had been done. The Road Board authorities in whose district thi3 bridge stands should have it seen to that it is not unsafo for traffic.

Sitting accommodation was very severely taxed at the meeting of the Hamilton Wesleyan Band of Hope on Tuesday evening last. Mr W. A. Sinclair was in the chair, and an unusually long programme was submitted, which proved greatly interesting to tho large number of people congregated together. These meetings, from time to time, prove very interesting, and have become very popular, not only with the Wesleyans themselves, but to other denominations, who frequently attend these fortnightly gatherings.

Mr James McKerrow, Chief Commissioner of Railways, Mr Douglas, Hastings, McArthur, of Feilding, and Mr Monk, M.H.R., the Commission appointed by His Excellency the Governor to inquire into questions concerning the Kaihu Valley Railway Company, are now taking evidence in Auckland. They will proceed to-day to Kaihu to inspect the railway and surrounding country and again take evidence, if necessary, on their return to Auckland. Mr H. Gore, secretary to tho Commission, will accompany the members to Kaihu during tho investigation. The Chief Commissioner of Railways will visit Waikato upnn completion of the Commission's work, which can hardly be concluded this week.

An eventful cruigeto the Solomon Islands has just been uoir.pleterl by the schooner Enterprise, of Sydney, which reached that port a few dayu ago. The vessel left nine months ago on a trading trip. In the Salomon Group a terrible calamity overtook the littlo company composing the crew, Ilia details of which have Steady bean reported. A man named Kelson ajjd three boys went ashore in the schooner's boat an.d were immediately tamahawked, and, ip js believed, were cooked and eaten by tho natives, Tho H.M.S. lioyalist shelled the native villages. On tho passage down from tho Solomon Group to .Sydney, the schooner f-Aji short of water. She was becalmed for come days;. It is said that the c-ew was exposed" to she burning heat of tha tropica at a time wfje» tlie gr.eate.sfc ec/./riomy had to be observed as to the rotjsijinpfciori of the fresh water. Eventually the Kiitcrprjso brought up off the Moreton Iky, wfcert) an i sbujidant supply was procured, '

The meeting of the committee of tho Hamilton Annual Swimming, Gala had to be adjourned lust night for want of a quorum. The members of the committee are requested to attend this evening at 8 p.m. sharp.

The California t.out recently captured in the Waikato River, at Hamilton, and beautifully rendered in water colour by Dr. Murch, is now on view in the hall, at Gwynne's Hotel. The opinions of those who have seen it are unanimous, that as a work of art, and a life representation of tho fish at the time of its capture, the picture has not been excelled by any artist in Now Zealand. Dr. Murch studied drawing, and passed his examination to the studies from life, for the sake of better becoming acquainted with the anatomy of the human form in every phase of its existence.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Peters's Church, Hamilton, was held at the Public Hall last night. There was a good attendance, and the statement of funds showed an improvement in the financial position of the parish during the past year, while it is hoped that the adoption of a modification of tho English Parochial system will improve tho spiritual standing. The following officers were elected Minister's warden, Mr I. Coates; people's warden, Mr H. Logie; vestry, Messrs Dyer. Swarbrick, H. M. Salmon, J. Salmon, Stevens, S'ippott and Graham. We will give a detailed report in our next issue.

There has just been constructed at the Newmarket railway workshops a new railway carriage, which was first put into U3e to convey their excellencies Lord Onslow and Lord Carrington to Auckland from Lichfield. It is a splendid specimen, both as regards design and construction. One feature of it is, that all the woods used in the structure are New Zealand timbers. It is divided into four compartments, the first of which is a roomy apartment containing a long lounge on one side and cross seats on the other. This compartment has accomodation for six passengers. An outlet by moans of a sliding door admits from this compartment to the verandah, from which is entrance to a lavatory, fitted with all appliances, and supplied with water from a tank filled with 50 gallons of water fitted on the roof. The construction of _ the carriage affords a double roof, which gives splendid ventilation, tha air space at the top giving a complete current of air. The lighting is excellent, for the whole of each window can be exposed. A handsome verandah runs along one side of the carriage, which is protected by an artistic and elegant wove wire.fence to a height of five feet, so as to prevent pussengers from poking their heads into danger. From the verandah there is an entrance to u first-class carriage, which is so arranged that a lounge can be at once fitted up either for sleeping purposes or the accommodation of an invalid. Tho smoking room is a feature of the cani-ige. It is fitted up with tho same elaborate) taste as the other portions. The car is built somewhat on the model of American cars, but it possesses many improvement--. For instance, over the window in the roof gause wire is spread to prevent dust or sparks entering the compartments. The carriage, when not required by tho Governor, will be used for tourist traffic to Te Aroha and Lichfield.