Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1898. LOCAL AND GEENRAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2084, 12 March 1898, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1898. LOCAL AND GEENRAL.

The Rev Joseph Campbell, M.A., will conduct the services at St. Mark’s Church to-morrow, both morning and evening. In the evening Mr Campbell will preach on ‘ The Greatest Thing in Te 4,roha.’

We were advised by wire last night that Mr P. R. Dix’s concert party will give a sacred concert in Smardon’s Hall on Sunday night, alter theJChurch services. We .are glad to be able to state that the Piako County Bridge suffered little if any material damage in consequence of the late bush fire at Waiorongomai, as was at one time feared.. The water-race escaped unscathed, thanks to the exertions of the miners',

The full strength of the Te Arota Brass Band will be present on the racecourse on Monday, all the Komata boys having ar* ranged to be present with the important exception of Mr Charles Lawn, who finds it impossible to attend.

There are a number of casual advertisements in to-day’s issue, moßt of which are mentioned in the locals.. Advertisers in order to insure notice in the ‘ local ’ columns should hand in their advertisements in good time. Mr Murphy, Waiorongomai, it will be noted, is advertising for a strong lad, and that he has a small quantity of building material for sale.

The Vicar of Te Aroha called yesterday. Although run down and emaciited by his long spell of sickness, he speaks hopefully of the good the sea-trip he has been ordered, before he ventures to speak again in public, will do him. The Rev Joseph Campbell has kindly undertaken to take many of his services at St Mark’s, thus relieving Mr McFarland of much anxiety in connection with the large and influential congregation it is his duty and pleasure to minister to in Te Aroha and the district. Mr McFarland,, probably, leaves to-day for Auckland, and goes -followed by the good wishes of many friends and well-wishers not confined to the Anglican Church. On Wednesday, March 23rd, as will be seen from an advertisement in another column, we are promise# a treat of great and exceptional interest. We all know the Rev Joseph Campbell, not only as an eloquent and persuasive preacher, but as a man who has seen more of the world than most men. - It is only natural, consequently, that our curiosity should be keenly stirred to hear something about what actually came under his observation during his extensive travels. From a notice in another column it will be seen that on the date mentioned, Mr Campbell has been induced to give one of his bright and cheery lectures on a subject, which, from what we know of the rev gentleman, should form one of the happiest in his collection. * Sketches from my travels abroad,’ or ‘ An evening with Rev J. Campbell, ’ is the attractive title of the promised entertainment, to be illustrated with lantern pictures. A small charge for admission will be made in aid of the Vicarage funds. ' - '

The question of overcrowding of theatres and halls has been before the Legal Com* mlttee of the-City Council. It is recoin» mended that, the Commissioner of Police be written to on : the subject. This is a question of some importance to the public, and we are glad to observe the Legal Committee of the Auckland City Council has taken it into consideration, nor does this question apply to places of amusement in town only. During- the progress of such a company as Mr P. R. Dix directs, the crowding, we, are told; is excessive and scores are. turned away. The company, in the jargon of the profession, is * playing to crowded houses nightly.’ From experience we can say that the entertainment Mr Dix is providing for our numerous visitors during the Te Aroha Racing Carnival is an exceptionally good one, and we have no doubt of its being a success.

Huddleston, late magazine-keeper at Mt Eden, pleaded guilty to having appropriated Government monies. Probation was granted and he was discharged. His Honor, in the course of his judgment, said that he was well acquainted with most of the members of the prisoner’s family, and that made it extremely embrassing fo: h‘m to deal with the case It is noticeable that His Honor did his utmost to wring from Mr J. T. Dumbell an admission that the prisoner was entitled to a retiring allowance, and although Mv Dumbell,'--the Government auditor, and presumably an authority, would not admit even the probability of such being the case. His Honor, while deprecating any charge of leniency that might thereafter be brought against him, concluded his summing up by saying that it was probable that prisoner would be entitled to a retiring allowance, so tW the Government would not be a loser by t. He thought he would be fulfilling the ends of justice by admitting prisoner to probation for 12 mouths. • .

Mr Duthie (0) was returned at the hv rt eleoM’ou bv n mnjoritv of 1029 over Mr Kirk on Wednesday. Au old lady, Mrs Martin, was burned ti death at Kimihia on Tuesday evening. During the month just ended the Waitekauri G.M.00. treated 1730 tons for L 5486. \ A chrysanthemum show will he held on the 28th and 29th April next at the Thames.

The attention of our readers is drawn to Hetherington and Co.’s new advertisement, which appears on the fourth page. • The Ohinemuri County Council engineer (Mr Armstrong) wired us yesterday that the date for receiving tenders for • wideniug drains in the Waitoa district had been advanced to Monday, 21st inst. From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that the Matamata Road Board calls for written tenders for about 2| miles of road formation, at Matamata. Tenders returnable March 22nd, up to 5 p m.

Messrs McNicol and Co. will have for sale, in a few week’s time, some 10,000 sheep and rams. Full particulars are advertised in their usual space in this issue."

We have to acknowledge the receipt of tho March number of “ The New Zealand Country Journal.’ As is always the case, it contains a number of anicles which cannot fail to prove useful to the farming community.

Mr McClure, of Katikati, met with an accident on Thursday last. He was driving a live horse team, the waggon being loaded with chaff. When near Buckworth’s he was sitting on the top of the load, when the vehicle jolted and the bag on which he ,was sitting toppled over, taking him with it. He received a severeshaking and his arm was much bruised, necessitating his laying up for a week or ten days.

Elsewhere in this issue will be found the advertisement of the Ngarauwahia Monster Maori Regatta. This should prove an immense success. The war dance is a challenge affair between the upper and lower Waikatos and will be ‘hair raising’ enough for the most bloodthirsty. For each of the war canoe races four or five large canoes, each manned by from thirty to forty natives, have entered. The canoe hurdle events will provide screaming fun, while a real novelty is provided in a mounted swimming race. A special train leaves Paeroa for Ngaruawahia St. Patrick’s Day morning, returning- the evening of the same day. The Auckland daily papers are full of rumours of war. The turn which affairs have taken in the Far East is having a disturbing effect on Americanand Continental exchanges, there being evidently a fear that they may lead to the outbreak of war. It is quite evident that if the concessions forced from China by Russia and Germany, and attempted to be forced by France, should in any way interfere with freedom of trade enjoyed by England, they will be opposed by that country, even at the cost of war. She makes no claim to territorial acquisitions herself in China, but she is determined, coute que coute, that trade with the Mongolian Empire shall be open to the world. The relations between America and-Spain are also a dis quieting factor. The States are making ready for war with an energy and earnestness which they have not hitherto displayed. The Indian frontier policy of the Government has been discussed in the House of Lords. It was generally approved. The probabilities of a Russian invasion of India was mentioned, but so long as Britain retains possession of the passes it was not thought that she had much to fear. It is essential, however, that her prestige should be maintained. It is apparently part of Russia’s policy to humiliate her in the eyes of Eastern nations. The Dervishes are advancing down the Nile. We have pleasure in calling the attention of our young readers, who are fond ©f dancing, to an advertisement in another column from which it will be noted that a social will be held in the Waiorongoinai Bchool on Friday evening the 18th.

On Thursday night an interesting ex» periment waa tried by Mr Sherlock, secretary of the Te Aroha Brass Band. For some time, since Mr Charles Lawn's departure in fact, he has been • eoachiDg ’ some half-dozen boys with musical tastes with a view of qualifying them in due course to take positions amongst their seniors in the local band, and on Thursday night last these lads, under his direction, gave an open - air performance in the Domain. Of course they were a trifle nervous, but those present considered their performance gave evidence of a co sider--able amount of syhtematic work having been gone through. It was distinctly promising. The lads are all well known and deserve encouragement at the hands of their parents and the public. They will have to practice a good deal, however, before they again appear, as we will expect more of them. Their names are : Masters Fessy Craig, Bob McKee, Wm. Maekie, P. Heathcote, Geo and Jim Comes.