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Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 221, 11 December 1897, Page 2

From some cause, which we are unable to guess,our usual batch of Political Notes, by our Wellington Correspondent, did not reach us last night. ■ The next ordinary meeting of the Fiako County Council will be held at Moirinsville, on Thursday, 16th inst., at 11 a.m. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with St. Mary's Monastery, Hamilton, will take place on Thursday next. The full programme for the Kopua Races, to be held on the 24th December, is advertised in this issue. Nominations close with the Secretary (Mr W. Searanckc, Pirongia) on Thursday next, December 16th. Horse owners are reminded that nominations for the Alexandra races close on Saturday next, 18th December, at S p.m. The comedy, " My Wife's Mamma." will be performed in the Public Hall, Pirongia, on the evening of the races. The chess match which was played last night between the Hamilton and To Awamutu Clubs, at Ohuupo, resulted in a win for Te Awamutu by 6 to 1. Theic is one game to bo adjudicated upon, which is thought to be in favour of Hamilton.

Intelligence has reached Auck-' land of the death of the wife of the Rev. Shirley W. Baker. The deceased lady was on a v'sit to Tonga, accompanied by her husbard. The immediate cause of death was peritonitis. It appears that the deceased lady had a presentiment that she would die at Haapai. The Hamilton Town Band has kindly volunteered to play the following items at the Waikato Hospital on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock (weather permitting) :—Sacred march, " Hiding in Thee " ; fantasia, " Welcome Day of Rest " ; march, " Realms of the Blest " ; sacred song, " Ora Pro Nobis" ; chorus, "To Thee, 0 Lord"; march, " Stabat Mater."; selection, "A Star Hangs Bright " ; march, " Through the Darkness."

The members of Lodge BetaWaikato, No. 12, have decided to hold a social evening on their next lodge night, January 6th, to which ladies will be invited. The lodge will meet at 7.30 p.m. sharp, and after disposing of the business of the evening, the social will be held, each member being privileged to invite a lady. The arrangements are in the hands of a capable committee, and it is anticipated that the gathering will be very successful. General regret was expressed when it became known that the Rev. R. Scott-West would be unable to be present at the soiree on Thursday last, owing to the serious illness of his wife. If the lady has sufficiently recovered tho rev. gentleman will occupy the pulpit iu the Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, to-morrow mo niug and even ing, and conduct a children's flower service in the afternoou, to which all children are cordially invited.

At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Church, the Rev. Phillip Walsh, ot the Bay of Islands, was uppo'nttd a Canon in place of Rev. Canon Bales, deceased. Canon Walsh is au old resident of Auckland. He was educated at St. John's College, and was for a time in charge of the Waitara district, and afterwards at Coromandel. Since 1884 he has been stationed at Waimatc North. He was ordained as a deacon in 1874, and priest in 1876.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Thursday, at the offices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Hamilton, Mr Jas. Hume (President) being in the cha ; r. Correspond?ncc was read, including the report by Messrs J. Fisher and Jas. Anderson, who represented the Association at tho late Agricultural Conference at Auckland. The report, was adopted, a resolution being passed thanking the delegates for the trouble they had taken, and directing that the report be printed. Other routine business was transacted.

It will be seen by an inset in today's issue that Miss Maenaughtan is making a nduclion of 10 per cent._ on her choice selection of ladies' and children's millinery during the Christmas season. Since the opening of this establishment the really first-class display shown has attracted considerable attention and evidently the response from the ladies of the district has been satisfactory as we think it is Miss Macnaughtan's intention to remain pernauently in Hamilton. It will also be teen that the drawing for the Christmas Tree, every ticket for which obtains a prize, Ins been postponed till Wednesday, the 29th hist., and will take place in the Volunteer Hall at 7-30 p.m, on that date. The beautiful selection of art needlework goods, etc., for this purpose is attracting very great notice, ai.d should lead to the speedy sale of remaining tickets.

A meeting of the committee of the Hamilton Athletic Club was held in Mr LtQ.uesne's Woikato Hotel last night. There was a good attendance of members, Mr Isaac Coates (President) in the chair. The report of the ground committee appointed at the Dunual meeting of members was received and adopted. The appointment of handicappors for the various events was then considered, when the Secretary was requested to write and ask the following gentlemen to act : For the amateur bicycle races : Messrs W. von Sturmer, J. Hammond and C. Speight. Amateur foot races : Messrs W. von Stunner and J. Hammond. For open events and trot : Messrs C. Beorc, A. Peacock, and C. J. W. Barton. The ground committee reported that after careful examination ot the ground they decided that the Trotting Race could be run off inside Sydney Square We have heard considerable compluiut from sorce of the purchasers at the Assets Board's sale recently as to the treatment they arc receiving at the hands of the company. One of the conditions was that the property was not to be handed over until four weeks after the sale, but ?. deposit of 10 per cent, was required on the fall of the hammer. At the time of the sale some of the lots were stocked with cattle, afterwards horses were put on, and now in addition sheep have been turned on to the sold portions, apparently with the intention of eating the land as close a 9 possible before handing it over. Of course the purchasers have got to grin and bear it, but it certainly does seem very small that with the extent of country the Board has at its disposal it should be found nccessaiy to stock these particular portions so heavily just at this time. This action is not likely to assist the Beard in disposing of the remaining portions of the estates.

The members and friends of Mrs Freeman's Ohaupo Bible Class held the closing social ot this session in the church, Ohaupo, on Wednesday evening last. The weather was fine, with a moonlight night ; the attendance was very good, showing the increasing interest which is taken by the residents in these meetings. The gathering took the form of an entertainment and coffee supper, the refreshments being provided by the lady members. The following was the programme :-Hymn, prayer, Jubilee hymn, by Misses Caley, Runciman, Clapham, and Messrs Freeman, Caley and Jones ; reading, Mr Jones ; song, Miss Maud Sturges ; recitation, Miss Gane ; song, Mrs Millar and Miss Caley ; song, Mr Gane Sturges ; address, Mr Freeman ; song, Mrs Prince ; Jubilee hymn ; recitation, Miss Gane. (Refreshments were then handed round). Jubilee hymn ; hymn ; Benediction. The Bible Class meets every Sunday one hour before eervice.

The last " bee " in connection with the preparation of articles for the sale of work to be held in the Public Hall, Hamilton, on Tuesday next, was held on Thursday afternoon, when a large amount of work was completed. The result of these " bees," which have been well attended, is that there is a large quantity of goods prepared for disposal on Tuesday next. These articles will be further supplemented by donations, from many who were unable to attend at the " bees," but the supply, although varied and plentiful, will, we hope, not be in excess of the demand, the wish of the promoters being that the whole ot the work be sold, and to effect this end, the prices will be fixed at the cost of the materials with the expense of making added. The sale will commence at 11 o'clock, continuing until half past five, and during the afternoon tea and refreshments will be provided in the large raom at the back of the hall. In the evening an entertaiument will be given of a most attractive charncter, incroducting many fia'Kres, entirely novel, and which will, we are informed, be of a most pleasing nature. The promoters of the sale and other departments, have worked hard, and we hope that their efforts will be j rewarded in the shape of a considerable J addition to the church funds. I

Mr James Wingate, senior partner in the firm of WingateandCo., wholesale ironmonger*, died yosteiday, aged 07 He took ill about a week ago, and two days ago symptoms of typhoid fever set in. This disease was the immediate cause of death.

Two German cruisers have arrived at Hayti, in West Indies, and demanded reparation for the illegil imprisonment of Heir Ludens, a German subject. Tho Government of the Haytian Republic were given eight hours within which to pay the amount of indemnity claimed, failing which tho Germans threatened to take rirompt measures to obtain satisfaction. A settlement of the difficulty was arrived at before tho time allowed had expired.

It has been definitely decided to hold an Industrial Exhibition in connection with the jubilee of the settlement of Otaco in March uext. Although only taken in hand a few days, a guarantee has been already secured sufficient to justify the promoters in going on. The building h to be erected alongside the Agricultiual Hall, Dnnedin, and the latter will be used for the competitions and concerts. It is proposed to open en the 23rd March, and to conclude with the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's winter show. Local manufacturers have already given promise of support.

Mr Ellis, chemist, of Stratford, has invented an automatic voting machine which he has patented all over tho worid. It is based partly on tho principle of " the penny in the slot" and partly on that of tho totalisator. The voter slips a metal disc through a slot and a bell rings. At the close of the poll the tstal number for each candidato is shown on a dial and thfl result is shown at once. Mr Ellis claims for hie invention absolute secrecy, and great saving of time and cost. He had sDcnt five years in elaborating the machine and guarding against every contingency that can arise. Tho apparatus is to be shown in tho lobby of the House to members.

A letter has been received by the Secretary to the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board from the Minister for Railways (Mr A. J. Cadmpn), in reply to a request from the Board that persons travelling to Rotorua or Tc Aroha for treatment be conveyed at excursion fares on presenting medical certificates countersigned by the Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, regretting that he cannot see his way to comply with the request, the expense attendant on matters of this sort being for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards to bear rather than a charge against railway expenditure.

The date of the opening of the New Zealand Rifle Association Meeting at Oamaru will be about the sth or 6th March. The conference which took place between Colonel Penton, Commandant of the Forces, and Majors Sommerville and Collins, executive officers of the Rifle Association, was of a most satisfactory character. Colonel Penton is inclined to treat the Association with every consideration, the only condition which he asks being that a little more encouragement shall be shown to members of the volunteer forces. In order to meet this stipulation the Association will add to its programme two matches to be open to volunteers only, to be fired for with Government weapons from the Defence stores.