The waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1897.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 192, 5 October 1897, Page 2

The waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1897.

It will be seen by a pain graph in another column that Mr Boss, the Inspector of Stock, has had a cow slaughtered which was found to be suffering from tuberculosis in a very advanced stage. The Inspector noticed the animal in the Ohaupo saleyards on the 21st September, and ordered its withdrawal. He has since had the animal under supervision, and resolved yesterday to have it destroyed. It is of course a physical impossibility that the Inspector can be in all parts of the district sufficiently often to always detect diseased animals in time to check the evil spreading. It is well, therefore, that we should call the attention of stockowners to section 25 of the Stock Act, ISO 3. It enacts that every owner of eliseased stock shall within twentyfour hours of discovering or suspecting that he has a diseased animal give notice to the Inspector, and shall keep the stock from coming into contact with any other slock. The penalty for non-observance is a fine ranging from £5 to £SO for every day he shall omit to perform the duty. In this connection wc are clearly of opinion that it is the duty of every person to assist the Inspector to enforce this necessary provision of an Act which exists for the proteclion of all and for the common good. We may mention that a man was convicted of a breach of this section of the Act before a Magistrate in Wangauui and a cumulative fine of £2OO was inflicted. Section 2G imposes a similar fine to the above and can be imposeel for driving diseased cattle. We have heard some peojile who ought to know better complain of the arbitrary power with which the Act endo.vs Inspectors. If they were not so endowed there would be no reason for their appointment, for the reason that they would cease to be useful. ■The Acts make provision for compensation in tin; case of tin Inspector making a mistake and ordering an animal to bo slaughtered which upon examination i s f omi( i ]lo t to be diseased, the full value of the animal is to bo paid to tI U: owner. If the animal destroyed was suffering from any other than a scheduled disease, then Hie compensation is fixed at two-thirds of the value. In t] l(J cnse of cattle no compensation shall be paid on tin assessed value above £8 per head, the value to be decided by arbitration. If a destroyed animal is found to bo suffering from a scheduled disease no compensation is to be awarded. Our object in drawing attention to this matter is in order that stock-owners mav bo better aware of their legal and moral responsibilities than they appear to be at, present.

Wo have been requested to state that family tickets at reduced rates for " Pinafore " perf< nuances may be obtained beforehand from the secretary. Messrs MciNicol and Co. have received instructions from Mr C. Marwood to sell at his residence, mar Ngaruawahia, oil Saturday, October 10th, at 1 o'clock, his live stock, implements, furniture, piano, etc. Fill! particulars of the sa'e will be found in their usual column. At the annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 2s per share for the half-year ended August 31st, 1897, making the total distribution for the year 3s Gd per shaic. The sum of £10,211 14s 9d is carried forward. Messrs Ralph and Philips have visited Te Awamutu and Oliaupo, in the interests of Ralph's Taupiri Co'.l Mine. We learn that they have met with great success in the direction of securing sharehold' rs and future customers. The above gentlemen will be in the district for some days yet, and purpose visiting all the centres. On Sunday morning Mr Charles lletet, son of Mr Jno. Hetet, died at Te Kuiti. He had been in the Waikato Hospital for some time, suffering Irom inflammation of the lungs, and as there was no hope of his recovery, his friends decided to take birr, home on Thursday. The parents have the sympathy of many friends in their affliction. Mr Charles Cox, son of Mr N. R, Cox, of Hamilton, and well-known in 'cycling circles, who left for Perth, West Australia, some fciv months ago, has not been long in adding to his successes on the track. We were shown yesterday a very handsome trophy, recently won by Mr Cox in a twenty-mile contest, in which race he started as scratch man. On Saturday morning, a young man, named William James Beiriug, was arrested at Hamilton by Constable Forbes, on the charge of stealing a watch at Taupiri. Two of his mates, who are alleged to be implicated with bin:, were arrested at Ngaruawahia, on Friday evening, by Constable Cavtuiagh. Beiring was taken to Huntly by Constable Forbes yesterday, and he "will be tried there with the others. Mr Jas. Reid, of Hamilton, who has more than a local reputation as a scenic artist, has been engaged to paint the sccneiy for the production of H.M.S. Pinafore at Te Awamutu on Friday next. This important adjunct to the performar.ee could not have been placed in more capable hands, and the management wi'l, wc are sure, have no cause to regret having given the work to a local artist. Mr Reid has a'so a series of scenes for one of the halls on the goldlields in hand. Wo direct attention to the advertisement in this issue from Sir J. Jones, general auctioneer, produce merchant and commis-ion agent, 235, Queenstreet, Auckland. In sending their produce to Mr Jones, farmers can rely on having it placed to the best advantage and also receiving prompt remittances and account sales in return. Fruit sales arc held every day during the full teason, and at other times on Tuesdays and Fridays. The auction rooms are well situated, and being well lighted afford exceptional advantages for display. The Australasian Amateur Athletic Meeting opened at Sydney on Saturday, but the success ot the New Zetilanders was limited to a win by Wilson (Auckland) in the one mile walk, and two seconds by Holder in the 120 yaids hurdles and the 110 yards flat 'respectively. In the 100 yards Holder could only get a dead boat for second place in his heat, and he did not start in the final. In the mile Hat MoKean and Hawthorne, the New Zealandcrs, gave up. Our mcu are charged with not having paid sufficient attention to training since lauding ill Australia. There was a fair attendance at the meeting on Saturday evening for the purpose of forming a town band for Hamilton. The attendance would have been larger but sonic who hid purposed attending were prevented by other engagements. After some discussion it was decided to form a baud, and to apply to the Borough Council for the use of their instruments. As wc said in our Saturday's issue, there is no lack of musical "talent, in the place, and the result of Saturday's meeting should be the establishing of a goad band in Hamilton. As illustrative of the necessity that exists for the erection of public abbatoirs and for the proper inspection of meat used for human consumption, we may mention that at a late Oliaupo sale an animal was condemned by the local Stock Inspector, Mr D. Ross, withdrawn from the sale and slaughtered under inspection. A post mortem revealed the fact that there were several hideous tubercular tumours at the root of the tongue, which gave the throat externally a very swollen appearance. This is only one of the many little incidents that crop up to show the value and necessity for the inspi ction of s'aughtci ed animals with a view to the prevention of the spread of disease from animal ox to the animal man. A meeting of the members of the UamiUon Branch of the St. John Ambulance Association was held in St. Peter's Sunday-school, on Saturday afternoon. Close on twenty of the members were present, and the certificates gained in the recent examinations, under the nursing course, were presented to the successful candidates. The lion, secretary was requested to write to St. Peter's Vestiy, thanking them for having granted the use of the building for hold ing the classes. Before dispersing a presentation was made to Miss Nowell, who has acted as lion, secretary to the ladies' classes for two coui.se.*, as a small mark of tin; members' appreciation of her services on their behalf. Miss Neweil thanked the members for their kindness towards her. His some time since so attractive a programme has been presented in Hamilton, as that to be given at Mrs Whitaker's concert in the Volunteer Hall, to-night. One of the principal attractions will be the appearance of Mr Lloyd, a young mill who has delighted his audiences in other parts of the Waikato, and Mr Edgar Walton, who is always sure of an enthusiastic reception in Hamilton, is down lor two songs. Miss Garland, Miss Lc Q.uesnc, Miss Keid, Miss Ciissen, Mrs Whitakcr, Mr Meachem and Mr Mali on complete the lists of performers, till of whom have before this established themselves as warm favourites with Waikato audiences. In addition to the vocal itrms, instrumental music will be given by the, .Misses Sandes (piano), and'Mr T. 11. Wllito (violin). On Sunday morning the Von. Archdeacon Willis preached at St. Andrew's Chinch, Cambridge, taking for his text " The edifying of the body of Christ," Ephesuins, 4th Chapter, part 12, sth verse. He said he could hardly expect a large congregation on such a wet morning. He had asked them to help to make a gcod start with his fiesh endeavour to enlarge the attendances at the Sunday services, ami could not help but tool disappointed ; however, he was not tin; oi.ly one that had suffered in that direction, for many farmers were also much disappointed at not being able to get. their seed in in consequence of the wet. He was proceeding to say that it was sometimes an advantage to begin in a small way, when the rain came down in torrents, and, notwithstanding the roof being a shingle one, the noise Mas so great that it was impossible to distinguish what he was saying.

The debate on the Address-in--Keply was continued in the House on Friday The on'y speech which calls for notice is that of Mr Fraser, who said : He did not intend dealing with the Governor's Speech, but would explain the sale of Bushy Patk. Ho blamed Ministers that the opportunity to do so had not been given him during the April session. He denied that the estate had been sold at too low a price, and stated that the reserve placed on the estate was £8 per acre, which sum had been offered by the McKenzic brothers, whose offer was the lirst and only offer re ccived by.the Assets Board. The fact that the Board had advertised in all the principal papers in the colony from the 2nd April to 25th April calling for offers for any of ihe estates under their control was proof that the purchasers had not been afforded opportunities denied the public generally. The Premier knew nothing about the conditions of the lease. He was not present when the McKenzics' offer was under discuss'on, nor when it was settleel.