Local and General.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7005, 9 May 1906, Page 2

Local and General.

Raglan news and a report of a meeting on the sugar beet root question appear on page 1. As it will necessarily be some weeks before Mr J. D. Morton can resume his duties, either at this otEce or in connecton with his evening classes, some of his friends are trying to make arrangemeats to keep the keep the classes going on his behalf, without prejudicing the interests of the students. Fully qu- lified instructors have generously promised to lend their assistance, and if students will put themselves, without delay, in communication with Mr S. \. Eracher, at the Waikato Timrs office, matters csn doubtless be satisfactorily adjusted. Last night, before its regular sitting ai a committee, the Hamilton borough Council held a spociil meeting to confirm two special orders. Oue was to make an annual recuring rate of £d in the Jc upon the unimproved value in Hamilton West for the purpose of providing interest and other charge- on the waterworks loan of .fiiliy. The other special order was fur a rate of £d inthejEonthe unimproved value of the whole borough to provide interest and charges on the saloyards loan of .£2OOO.

A social in connection with St. Anthony's Church was hold in the Hunt'y Ha'l on Friday evening (writes our correspondent). A large number attended. The music was supplied by Mr A. Turner. Mr W. Northmonre, Mr H. Lloyd, Miss White and Mrs A Stewart. Songs were rendered by Mrs A. Stewart and Mr Elliott. Dancing was kept up with great spirit till the early hours. Refreshments were supplied by ladies. This is the first of a series of socials to be held during the winter months, and it proved a most successful beginning. For some months past, prospectors have been at work on an auriferous reef in Kauri Mountiia, Whangarei Heads. They have now cut the gold bearing reef, which shows a face seven feet in width, running through an extensive area, and having 600 feet of backs width, There is enough quartz available to enable mining operations to be carried on for many years. 'i'h6 assays show splendid results, X 6 12s 6d per ton. Three other reefs have .ilso been cut, varying in width from iiv6 to fifteen feet, and the assayer's report thereon is exceedingly . satisfactory. We have been shown a letter received lately trom Ohristchurch by a Hamilton merchant. The writer i a thinking of startle,.; business in the Waikato, and his epistle ia paokad full of questions, there being no less than The writer could have found the answer fco come of them in a railway time-table, but it was t easier to ask somebody else to write oui I the informtion be wanted. a string i-f queries relating to his own trade, he goes on: " What are the rents like in Hamilton Are there many shops vacantr Can the weather be depended on for any length of timer- What/kind of weather have \ou hid this last season- Are the rivers and creeks bridged in the country jWhat are the staple industries of the town and neighbourhood:-' What are the average earnings of the young man in the country p" One would think Chriatchurch folk regarded the Waikato as a remote and foreign land, a sort of terra incognita, The district evidently needs advertising, and it is to be hoped that the effort to be made at the Exhibition will do good.

An Hickland telegramrop rts the de. tb of tie Rev La wry, the well known Mer.iiodi.«t Minister.

The contractors for the new Hamilton '"ourthouse made a start with the work thi.s week.

At the Hamilton Police Court this morning, John McDonald, for drunkenness, was tinod 10s and costs, uud for obscene language -£s,in default 2 months' imprisonment.

At their Himiiton sale (o-uiorr >w, Messrs MoNicol aud Co., will offer a full yarding of stock, fat cattle, forward bullocks, good entry of well-bred young cuttle, fat sheep, ewes in lamb, 20 draught horses, and six thoroughbred mares. The sale commences at 12 t.oon.

The six thoroughbred mares for unreserved sale at Messrs McNicol aud Co.'b Hamilton sale to-m rrow, huve been running with Westmero throughout the season. This sire is three pirts brother to llotchkiss, being by Escutcheon (Musket— Rosettd imp., half sister to the Great Hendor) and hia dam, Leonessa, is by Leolinus (imp.) out of Petreleuse (imp), dam of Hotchkiss, For Westraere's pedigree in full.see N. 3. Stud Book, Vol. 11, Folio 237. A meeting of the Hamilton Golf Club was held last evening to make arrangements for the opening of the>r new links on the Waikato A. and P. Association's ground, at Claudelands, on Saturday next. Good progress has b. en made in preparing the greens, and by !he opening day they ought to be in very food order. The profor the coming season are very promising, judging by the enthusiasm of the members auu tbe number of Dew pHyers joining the club. Fifteen new members were elected last evening. Arrangements have been made with Mes-rs Dalgliesh and Macdonald to run a coach to the links every Saturday, leaving the post office at 2.15 p.m., which ought to prove a great convenience to players. On Saturday next, afternoon te* will be provided by the ladie •' committee (Mesdames Drury, Smith and Valder, and Miss O'Neill) for players and their friends.

In his lecture at the meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Club on Monday evening, Mr Hattrick, Australasian repr<: - sentative of the Potash syndicate, spoke of experiments in Australia with regard to potato crops. The best results had been obtained with the following dressing: 4cwt superphosphate, scwt sulphate ammonia, lcwt sulphate potash to the acre. Mr Gray, of Pukerimu, said he had known of 7cwt of bonedust to the acre being used, to which Mr Hattrick replied that it was a great mistake. Although the manunal dressing he recommended was expensive, its use was fully justified by the results. In some cases he had known of an increase in the yield of o\ tons, the lowest in' 'ease being 1 ton locwt. He illustrated by the aid of a diagram that what was taken out of the soil by a crop must be replaced by artificial means if it was intended to sow the same crop and get good results, and that was done in the case of potatoes by spraying the dressing previously mentioned. Experiments were being conducted in New Zealand, but so far they were inconclusive, but were scientifically carried out, and would doubtless succeed her-).