TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 173, 21 August 1897, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Library Meeting.—At a meeting of the Library Committee he!d last Tuesday evening, the chairman (Mr Vause) reported that as the result of the recent lecture hy the Rev. Mr Mitchell and Jubilee entertainment, the funds of the library had benefited to the extent of about £l3. All magaz'nes, etc., were paid for to the end of the year, a good selection of new books had recently been added to the library, and the accounts showed a credit balance now in hand of over £l3. It was resolved to obtain a further supply of new books, at the same tin:e providing tor renewing some of the much worn stanJard works now in the library. Rate notices were received from the Waipa County Council and Te Awatnutu Town Bo rd. The committee not being satisfied that the library property was rateable, the matter was held over for inquiry. A communication was read from Mr Sand. Vaile, of Auckland (in reply to an inquiry from the chairman), stating that he would shortly visit the Waikato, aud be pleased to give an address at Te Awatnutu en railway matters, as it was in Te Awatnutu where he (Mr Vaile) made his first attempt at public speaking, and thus discovered a power which up to that time he did not think he possessed. The arranging of a date for Mr Vaile's meeting was left in the hands of the chairman. Oil the motion of the chairman it was resolved to strictly enforce the rule allowing subscribsrs only two books at a time, except in special cases where exceptions m»y be made tc subscribers living at a distance of over rive miles from the library, it vai agreed also that subscribers paying for twelve months' subscription in advance receive a full catalogue. Copies of the spec : al Jubilee numbers of the Illustrated London News and London Daily Mail (the latter paper printed in gold) secured by the chairman for the library as a record of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee were hid on the table. On the motion of Mr Barker a special vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and all those who had assisted him in carrying out the Jubilee entertainment so successfully. " Fenny Readings."—The next of these popular meetings is to be held in the reading room on Tuesday eveniug next, and I have no doubt will be as attractive as usual.

Stoats, Wka3Els and Other Varmint. —At the present time when the good (?) and bad points of the two first named ot these " hiusccks " ars being discussed, the following extract from a recent issue of the Lancet may be of interest :—At Brotnsgrove, an inquest was held on the body of Ernest Lewis, aged two years. The deceased and four other children, whose ages ranged from five months to seven years, were left in 'bed, locked up in a house at Dodford, whilst the parents went to market. Two ferrets, which were kept in the house, broke loose, and getting upstairs attacked the sleeping children. The eldest boy repeatedly threw the animals downstairs, bnt as there was r.o door to the bedroom they returned. The boy Ernest sustained a number of severe bites, to which he succumbed. A large part of his mouth a-.d nose were eateu away. The medical man stated that all the children except the eldest would be permanently marked. The Jury blamed the father for not taking proper precautions to secure the animals. Such is the matter-of-fact account furnished by tome of the daily papers of this gruesome tragedy. The sufferings of these unfortunate children both from physical pain and terror mnst have been intense and long continued. It is difficult to conceive anything more ghastly. It does not appear to be generally known howvery ferocious these beasts are, especially when hungry. To the censure of the Jury on the father we would add that the animals shou'd not have been kept in the house at all. We trust the case will serve as a warning ; hut we fear it may not attain the publicity that it should. Band.—A meeting of those interested in the formation of a band in Te Awamutu was convened for Thursday evening in the Town Hall, but owing to the inclemency of the weather, the attendance was not very large. It was decided to adjiurn the meeting until Tuesday evening next at 7MO p.m.—(Own Correspondent).