The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1897.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 88, 30 January 1897, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1897.

At the last meeting of the Wellington Land Board there was a large number of applications for reduction of rent from Crown tenants. The Commisaioner of Crown Lands stated that if there was a chance of a Eevaluation Act being passed next session, which he considered was the case, the Board was not in a position tu go .into the applications ; he did not like to ask the Board to go into the cases piecemeal, except where it was known great injustice was being indicted. Mr Hogg, M.H.R., said the grievances were not of recent origin, and added that the greater proportion of the settlers were paying from 20s to 30s per acre for land which was only worth half the amount. It was decided to call the attention of the Minister of Lands to the necessity of passing a Eevaluation Act, to be in force for one year, to enable the Land Board to deal with applications for reduction of rents. If Mr Hogg's statement is correct, there must have been a system of sweating by means of over-valuation of the land, in the Wellington district, as all rents for Crown Lands are based upon the supposed value to sell, and in the case of lands purchased by the Government from private owners, upon the price paid with the cost of roading and other improvement added. It was foreseen that so soon as the voting power of Crown tenants became sufficiently strong an adjustment of rents would be demanded. The Revaluation Act contemplated could only be with the view of reducing rents ; it could not be made to revise rentals stated to be too small without breaking the contracts made with settlers who hold under unduly favourableconditions. We have arrived at this position in consequence of the refusal of the present ministerial party to allow a clause to be inserted making all rentals subject to adjustment at stated periods. This was Mr Rolleston's suggestion some years back, and that of course was sufficient reason for the leaders of the great Liberal party to endeavour to go one better. Where's the use of calling yourself a Liberal and courting the votes of the least informed of the population, if you cannot hold a tempting bait before their noses. All they ask is showy colours ; this provided they do not hesitate before taking the fly to consider what may be the consequences. The omission of this provision as to re-valuation has put the whole, system of Government land tenure in such a mess as will puzzle Ministers and Parliament for some considerable time before it is once more placed upon a sound basis.

IT will be seen by a cablegram we publish this morning that the Chairman of the Indian Famine Relifif Fund appeals to the colonies for subscriptions. That they will liberally respond we have little doubt. It will be recognised that the people on whose behalf the appeal is made are fellow subjects, who through no fault of their own, arc reduced to a state of starration, and that unless speedy and sustained assistance is afforded must die by millions. It is impossible for the mind of any man to conceive what an Indian famine means who has not witnessed the dreadful and heartrending scenes in former years. Famine in India means absolute want of food by millions of people living in districts difficult to communicate with. The extension of the railway system has done much towards surmounting this difficulty, and the enormous sums of money expended upon irrigation works have very much lessened tho chance of famine in the districts in which they have been constructed. In spite of all this and many other enlightened measures, want of seasonable rain is inevitably followed by the most dire distress. We have, no doubt, the mayors and chairmen of public bodies will take the mutter in hand, with the result that Woikato will contribute its fair share to the fund. For our part, wo shall be glad to receive subscriptions, acknowledge them in our columns, and see that tbey are duly forwarded.

On our fourth page this morning is printed a full report of the proceedings of Thursday's meetiuij of tin: AVaikato Hospital nuil Charitable Aid Board. The Rev. I' 1 . Walker, of New Plymouth, who has exchanged duties with the Vcn. Are'.idoacon Willis, for a few weeks, will conduct the service at Tamahcre to-morrow evening. A meeting of tlio Ngaruawahia Prospecting Association is called for Wednesday next in the Ngaruawahia Public Hall for the purpose of winding up the business of the Association. Missrs McNicol and Co., in their usual column this morning, advertise full particulars of a clearing sale, on account of .Mr W. F. Bell, who is leaving Hamilton. The sale will he held on atunlay next, tith iust.

Owing to the rain tho proposed vide match between Wathi and Te Aroha has been postponed sine die, Mr J, A. Young, dental surgeon, will be away from Hamilton on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. The annual meeting of the Cambridge Athletic Club will be held m tho National Hotel, Cambridge, on Wednesday next, 3rd February, at S p.m. In tho neighbourhood of Christchureh lately some miscreants have been killing horses. On Wednesday morning a valuable horse belonging to Mr White, of New Brighton, was found dead with its throat cut. The bi-weekly mail for Lichfield, which up to the present has been made up at Hamilton, will be discontinued. Letters arc now forwarded daily to Putaruru, the Lichfield mail being dispatched from that office. Mr 11. W. Northcroft, S.M., Auckland, has received an intimation from the Government of his transfer to take charge of the West Coast of the North Island. Mr Brabant wdio now holds that position will be transferred to Auckland. In noticing the fact a few issues buck that an excellent likeness of Mr W. H. Herries, the member elect for the Bay of Plenty, had appeared in the Christchurch Press, we should have stated that the engraving was from a photograph by Mr James Reid, of Hamilton. The Secretary of the Bay of Plenty Jockey Club (Mr K. F. Harris, Tauranga), intimates that he will be pleased to receive money up to 4 p m. on Wednesday, 17th prox., for investment on the totalisator in connection with the club's meeting, to be held ou Thursday and Friday, 18th and 19th February. The anniversary services in connection with the Ngaruawahia Wesleyan Church will be preached tomorrow by Mrs Freeman, of Ohaupo. Special collections will be made on behalf of tho Trust Fund. Mr S. Holloway will preach in Trinity Church, Hamilton, tomorrow morning and the Rev. Mr Mather in the eveniug. The members of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board made the usual quarterly visit to the Hospital ou Thursday morning. The Board expressed intense satisfaction in the revolution that has been worked in the nurses' quarters since their last visiting day, ami the good taste of the ladies to whom the selection of the furniture was entrusted was largely commented upon. On January 12th an Industrial Schoolboy, named Channing, working for Mr Mickle, at the Chathams, twice attempted to hang himself to a tree. The first time the branch broke, and the second time the noose did not tighten. He was cut down and brought before the magistrate, to whom he said he could not put up with the life ho led. He could put up witli the hammering he got, but could not stand the " jaw." He will be sent back to Bnrnham. In the Police Court, Dunedin, in a case in which the licensee of a hotel was charged with permitting a barmaid to be employed after 11 o'clock on the 23rd inst., namely at 1.50 o'clock next morninc, the defence was raised that the prohibition against employing a barmaid in the bar could only apply to one clay of twenty-four hours, and therefore the prohibition came to an end at 12 o'clock. The case was adjourned to enable the Magistrate to consider the point. We wish to direct the attention of the farming public to the advertisement of Mr John Had, seedsman, of Otahuliu, which appears in our columns. Mr Hall is offering an unusually heavy and well-assorted stock of new and reliable seeds, ex s.s. Kaikoura and s.s. Ruahine. Mr Hall has steadily maintained a reputation for high-class seeds for many years, and will, no doubt, do a siill further increasing business. He asks farmers to sand for samples and price lists. We notice that Mr T. Mervyn Wells, son of Mr Thos. Wells, of Cambridge, has passed his' matriculation examination, which takes the place of the general knowledge examination for solicitor. Mr Wells received his primary education at Miss Young's Lynton school, then he was under Mr K. O. Dyer at tho Cambridge public school, and finally at the Auckland Grammar School. For nearly a year he has been articled to Mr W. F. Bucklaud, solicitor, of Cambridge. We congratulate Mr Wells on having been so successful. The excursion train, which passed through Hamilton yesterday, was well rilled with passengers, and notwithstanding the depressing weather, all seemed in a happy mood. Although it was raining steadily in Auckland before, and at the time of departure fully 250 left there, and this number was added to at nearly every station on the way up ; seventy joming the train at Hamilton. Unfortunately, the day was a very wet one throughout the district, and the enjoyment of the excursionists must have been considerably lessened in consequence. We have just had the pleasure of glancing over the plan of the Opouatia Block, Lower Waikato, where Mr E. de C. Drury, licensed surveyor of Hamilton, with his .staff has been engaged for some months past surveying the whole block, laying off roads, aiid getting things shipshape for cutting up into suitable sections for settlers. Mr Drury describes the land as good, though rather broken, and certainly a glance at the course of the different roads marked on the big plan, which, ly-the-way, is admirably drawn and a credit to Mr Drury's office, would indicate that there is some rough country to deal with. However, if the land is fertile it will compensate for all. A few days ago Mr John Browne, of Cambridge, well-known for his veterinary skill, performed a very successful operation on a horse belonging to Mr J. McNicol, assisted by Mr G ■ McCullagh. About two months ago the horse in question became seriorsly lame, caused by what appeared to be a cut in the groin. The abrasion did not heal and an examination failed to indicate any foreign substance in the wound. MiBrowne was called in, and on inserting a probe to a distance of over seven inches an obstruction was met with. An operation was decided upon as necessary, with the result that a piece of wood six inches long by fully two inches in circumference wits removed. The horse is now doing well and the operation bids fair to be entirely .successful. Much credit is duo to Mr Browne for the able manner in which he carried out what must be considered a dangerous operation, considering tho position of the wound and the character of his patient. On Thursday an accident occurred at the Rumanian level railway crossing, which had the effect of stopping the traffic on that portion of the. line, delaying a number of trains. The goods train, which left Auckland at 1.45 a.m., ran into a bullock at the Runeiniatt crossing, the outline being derailed and the line blocked for four hours. The cow catcher apparently failed to act, and the engine running over the bullock was thrown off the line. The bullock had to be out to pieces to get the engine on the line again. In consequence of tho block the passengers by express to Rotorna had to change trains. The early morning train was also delayed, the mails, passengers and parcels had to be transferred. The Mercer down train had to take the place of the express, wlr.le the express came on to Auckland with the Mercer passengers, who reached Auckland tit noon instead of 10 a.m., while the Rotorna express reached its destination two hours late. The other Waikato trains were about an hour laty.

Patrick Lcith Ritchie, convicted at Dunedin, of entering at the Customs I nine bales of wrapping paper, cartridge paper, with the view of evading duty, was fined £IOO, which is to be reduced to £25 and costs, while paper to the value of £6O was confiscated. Silk weaving by hand which had become almost a lost; art is being revived in England. It is found that for rich silk hand weaving is leas expensive than by loom. This fact is looked loin the near future jto afford employment for a large number of girls, and sebools to teach the art have been started. It is said that girls of 15 and upwards can earn from 15s to £1 per week in their own houses. Dr. Helena Burnaby, M.D., D.D.S., who is on a visit to Cambridge, purposes giving a phrenological drawingroom entertainment in the Oddfellow's Hall, Cambridge, on Tuesday evening, 2nd February. There should be a good attendance to hear and sec the lady doctor and phrenologist. The entertainment will b« very amusing, as the doctor will matrimonially mate couples from the audience, and also read character blindfold, etc. Mr T. C. Clark, engineer to the WaihiG.M. Corny any, has, after several attempts, succeeded in getting the large cylinder on to the grounds. The cylinder had been at Bowenstown for some months, but the bad state of the roads during the winter, and want of sufficient power, prevented its being taken to its destination. Mr Clarke used the Company's troction engine, the joint weight of which and the cylinder is 21 tons. The wheels broke through the road up to the axles several time?. The Ngaruawahia residents are entering enthusiastically into the Aquatic Gala which they have arranged for 17th March (St. Patrick's Day). This date was usually the one on which the Mercer regatta was held in past years, and which was the fete of the season outside of the city. The regatta to be held at Ngaruawahia will be on somewhat similar lines ; in that several of the items will be provided byMaoris, and these to a great number will prove the chief attraction, as among the more recent arrivals and our rising generation there are many to whom Maori scenes and habits are practically unfamiliar. In addition to these events others, particulars of which will be found on the posters, arc provided for members of the Rowiug Clubs, and as crews from several of the Auckland Clubs have announced their intention to compete, our Ngaruawahia oarsmen, who of late have been in active training, will need to look to the laurels. An energetic committee have the arrangements in hand and their canvass for subscriptions has been substantially responded to, with the result that good prizes will be offered.