The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 233, 11 January 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1898.

Ix Saturday’s issue we published a paper read by Mr Morgan at the last meeting of the Farmers’ Club. The reader endeavoured to show how by combination farmers could become the dictators in place of being the dictated to as to the prices they shall receive for their produce. In noticing his^paper it is unnecessary to refer to his remarks in reference to co-operative stores which confine their operations to distribution amongst their members, except to point out that they have no bearing whatever upon the farmers’ side of the question, which is to get better prices for what they produce from their land. Mr Morgan asks us to consider what combination has done for the working classes. He tells us that some years ago a tradesman worked twelve hours a day and received in return about Gd per hour, and that he now works eight hours and received Is per hour. This is somewhat of an exaggeration, but we will deal with the deduction the essayist draws from his statement. He asks us who pays the difference between the former and present remuneration. In reply to the question, he says the consumer pays a fair proportion of the extra cost, but the producer of the raw material has to take less for his produce to make up the balance. The farmer is both the producer and consumer, and Mr Morgan concludes that the great proportion of these extra wages comes out of his pockets. This statement must be modified by remembering that machinery has addod enormously to the production of each workman. Mr Morgan tries to confute the inexorable law “ that supply and demand regulate prices,” and asserts that the markets of the world are ruled by a few wealthy combinations and speculators. The cure he tells us is in the farmers’ hands, they have only to combine in order to put prices to whatever point they like. He considers it a very much more simple matter for farmers by combination to put up prices, than for Trade Unions to put up wages. Mr Morgan thinks that farmers would not require money to attain their ends, it would simply be necessary for them to withhold their produce from the market and prices would go up. Never was a greater fallacy propounded. If all the farmers in New Zealand were to combine, say to withhold their wheat, a supply would flow into our ports from other countries if they fixed the price at 3d per bushel more than it could be imported for. The price of wheat in every country is ruled by the world’s supply, and a combination of New Zealand farmers would have very little more effect than a single drop of rain has upon the current of the Waikato river. Markets are in a commercial sense as difficult oi- impossible to control as is a river, clam it up in one place and it will make a channel for itself in another. Mr Morgan has looked in the wrong direction for relief. We believe that if a scheme cf co-operation on a cash basis could be established that good would result, the fact is evidenced in. other places. But for New Zealand farmers to talk of controlling markets is to talk nonsense. It is somewhat surprising that perhaps the principal contributory cause of the unsatisfactory position of farmers should have escaped Mr Morgan’s attention. This we maintain is the large amount of taxation which is levied at our custom houses, taxation levied on what the farmer consumes, but which he cannot produce himself, and much of this taxation is levied in order that town inerchanics may bo able to earn high wages, and has been imposed at the dictation or the suggestion of Trades Unionists. The evil of this docs nob end with the farmer having to pay more for his boots, clothes and other necessaries, it is more far-reaching, protection creates an artificial rate of wages, and the farmer again suffers. There is no getting over the fact that if you increase the cost of living you increase the cost of production, or, to put it in another way, there is less margin of profit to the farmer. The moral to the story is that no farmer who studies his own interests will vote for a candidate for Parliament who is not pledged to insist upon reduction of Customs duties and general expenditure. The friend of the Protectionist is the enemy of the farmer, and for that matter of tho whole country.

Mr 11. S. Poole, dentist, Cambridge, intimates that he will be prepared to receive patients oa and after Thursday next.

The gold yield for Victoria last year was 822,6320 z , being an increase of 10,5-lfioz. on the previous year, und highest return si"oc 1882. Woolgrowerß are reminded that the second woil sale of the season, und-.r the auspices of the Auckland Woolbrokers'Association, will tike place at the Wool Exchange, Auckland, oa Wednesday, 19th inst.

We have been requested to state, that the ordinary meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, which falls on tomerrov, will be adjuirned until the 19th inst., the date of the special meeting to tix the day for the weekly half-holiday. Orchardists will bo pleased to learn that active operations are again commenc'ng at the Cambridge Fruit Evaporating Factory. Mr L-gge will again have charge of the works, and in this issue he advertises for girls to assist him.

With our issue to-day we publish a special supplement containing the paper read at a recent meeting of the Waikato Farmers' Club on " Sugar Beet." This paper gives a vast amount of information on this important subject, and will Le read with interest in this district.

From a Christchurch paper we learn that Mr Seddon has been chosen by the Canterbury members of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand to act as Grand Master of the Freemasons hailing under the New Zealand constitution. "He will be installed in April, and will hold office for two years.

The Kincmatograph Company did good business at Cambridge. They had a bumper house on Saturday night, and a vciy fair one las-t night. On Sunday Mr McKcnz'e gave a sacred concert in the evening that was also well attended. The entertainments were similar to those given in Hamilton, which we have already noticed at length.

A telegram received last night from Christchurch states that information was received on Sunday that another horse he-d been killed in identically the same manner as the last one slain by the horse fiend. It appears, however, from later information that the animal was running in a paddock at Sumner, and the owner notictd a large hole on its back. On closer examinat'on it is now thought the wound was caused by tho horse rolling on a glass bottle. A fine show of new goods is at pre:ent on view at the local branch of the New Zealand Clothing Factory. By change of advertisement in our columns to-day it will be seen that men of every description of figure can be fitted in suits or single garments in their well-known make of clothing, while a speciality is made in their selection of boys' clothing. Their whole stock of gentlemen's reauirements will be found very complete with latest novelties, and their largelyassorted stock of boots and shoes is now tr-o well-known to need special mention.

The death of Mr J. Wiseman, the head of the firm of Messrs Wiseman and Son, saddlers, of Auckland, occurred on Saturday morning. Mr Wiseman was an old colonist of 30 years' standing, and has conducted the saddler's business in Queen-street for many years. He commanded the respect of all who had business transactions with lr'm, and will be deeply regretted by a very large number of people who knew him in private life. He leaves a widow and eight grown up sons and four daughters to mourn their loss.

Mr Ed. Allen, of Pukekura, was last week threshing a large stack of cats that had been standing for over a year. He was astonished to find that every sheaf was intact, as usually they fall to p : eces when disturbed after having lain in the stack twelve months, owing to the ravages of rats and mice. In the above-mentioned stack not a rat or a mouse was seen, but instead there was a weasel's nest with four young ones in it together with their mother. Before there was time to discuss the advisability or otherwise of destroying them the dotis settled the question by administering the coup de grace.

A naval contingent of 193 sailors and marines, bound for the Pacific Station, passed through Ottawa recently. The train equipment provided by the Canad an-Pacific Railway for the 3000 mile journey was most complote in its character, and was (says The Times) a source of amazement to the bluejackets who were mostly young fellows fresh from the training ships. The company had constructed a special commissariat car to "supply the wants of Imperial troops and bluejackets while being conveyed over its lines. The car U practically an hotel kronen on wheels. It can provide 1500 meals at one time, aud carries supplies capable of sustaining 1000 men for ten days.

Scotsmen are naturally proud of the way the Gordon Highlanders stormed Darcai. It must, however, in justice, be noted that of the 43 killed or injured 15 were English, two Irish, and one was born in India. Colonel Mathias himself copies from Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire, aud he and his nnkiltcd men have addci to the great reputation of the regiment At the storming of the Begum Koti, Lucknow, one of the pipers of the Gordon Highlanders behaved with great bravery. Entering the breach in the front ranks of the storming party, he piped away inside while his fellows were at work clearing the enemy out. Piper Fmdlatcr, on the 20th inst., was not so fortunate, for he was disabled in Loth legs at once, but that did not put him out of action.

The inquest on the body of the old man, Alexander Dealley, which was found in the Waikato River below Tanpi! i, on Fiiday last, was held at the I'aupiri Hotel, on Saturday last, before Mr T. H. White, coroner. The native who found the body gave evidence, and VV. Crawford, of Hamilton, deposed to having seen Dealley on the mght of 31st December, which U apposed to be the last time he was teen alive. He also stated that he knew deceased was in the habit of crossing the railway bridge at night. Constable Forbes, of Hamilton, identified deceased, and gave evidet.ee as to his habits. Constable Cavanagh rehite:l the circumstances in connection with the recovery of the body, but there was no evidence to show as to how deceased got into the water, and a verdict of " Found Drowned " was returned,

A special general meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was held in Wellington on Friday. A motion by the Awarua Boating Club, Bluff, that maiden four-oared races be rowed in inrigged boats instead of outraged was lent on the voices. The Horowlunua and Ngaruawahia Rowing Clubs were admitted to membership. It was decided "That the resolution passed at the half-yearly meeting at Picton relating to the Championship Resatta being-held not later than the 17th March in each year be rescinded." A motion, "That the. Championship Regatta be held not later than the 31st March in each year," was withdrawn in order to leave a free hand in the selection of the date for future championship regattas. An application by the Po t Chalmers Rowing Club for the reinstatement as amateurs of Messrs James and George Holdcn was deferred till next annual meeting of the Association. It was decided to ask the loeil officer of the association at lnvercargill to report upon the alleged wilful failure of the Port Chalmers club's junior crew to win the senior four at the Bluff regatta for the' reason that they would thereby lose their junior status and become seniors.

In the course of the examination of a witness in a mining shares case before the Supreme Court, at Christ church. Mr Justice Dcnniston drew tho distinction very hippily between the working miner and mining company promoter. " You are more interested," said His Honor, " in getting the gold out of the cliiim, than out of the pockets of the public " Ye? your Honor," replied the witness, who is a miner.

According to the Duneilin Star's Parliamentary correspondent, the Left Wing has adopted a " platform." but Ims decided not to make it public till the meeting takes place in Christchurch in March, when these Independent Liberals will take the platform in eoncert. They comprise Messrs Montgomery, 6. J. Smith, Tanner, Pirani, and J. W. Kelly. Is is an open secret that they conspire at the overthrow of Mr Seddi'ii, with a view to placing another L'beral Administration in power, with Sir Robert Stout as leader of the House.

Another of those pleasant gatherings for which Cambridge is noted, is to take place during the current week at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, when an on?an recital, on the really good instrument in that church, ha 3 been kindly undertaken by the talented organist of Beresford • street Church, Auckland, who will render several pieces of music calculated to please the most fastidious, but so as not to weary the hearers the pieces will be interspersed with sacred songs and airs by BOine of the best singers in the neighbourhood, therefore a most enjoyable evening may be looked for by those who attend. The criminal statistics of the city of Wellington last year show that 2590 cases passed through the hands of the police. This number is considerably in excess ol that of the previous year. Lust year there were 1011 charges of drunkenness, an increase of 191 ; 87 cases of d:sobtying Court orders, increase 24 ; 105 charges of common ass-ault, increase 18 ; 63 of burglary and house-breaking, increase 33 ; 464 charges of theft, increase 108 ; 55 rases damaging property, increase 29 ; 84 males and 8 females were committed for trial, 42 males and 3 females being convicted ; 1414 males and 223 females were summarily convicted.

A telegram from Wellington states: —When Mr Beetham, S.M., of Chris'church, inflicted on a number of bookmakers fines of £lO or 14 days' imprisonment for laying totalisator odds on the Riccarton Racecourse, an appeal was lodged against his decision. The persons concerned, hovever, decided this week not to proceed farther with the appea', but to " take out " their senteuccs. Accordingly four of the bookmakers sentenced (three bein;> Wellingtonians and one hailing from Auckland) have given themselves up to the police during the last few day 3, and are now quartered at Terrace Gaol.

" Several weeks ago in London," said an English tourst, "I was standing beside an American acquaintance, wheu I expressed a wish to know which point was the north. He pulled out his watch, looked at it, and at once pointed out the right direction Tasked him if he had a compass attached to his >vatch. 1 All watches are compasse?,' he replied. Then he explained to me how this was. Point the hour hand to the sun, and south is exactly half way between the hour hand and the figure XII oa the dial. For instance, suppose it is four o'clock. Point the hand indicating IV to the sun, and II on tho watch is exactly south Suppose, again, it is eight o'clock. Point the hand indicating VIII to the sun, and the X on the dial is due south. My American friend seemed surprised that I did not know this, and, not wanting to be alo le in my ignorance, I asked Henry M. Stanley, whom I met the following clay, whether he knew of this simpie means of taking the points of the compass, My self esteem rose when the famous traveller told me he had never hrird of it. So, perhaps, there may be plenty of folks in your country, who still remain in my original state of ignorance. I don't know what place my American friend hails from, but somewhere in the Great West,"

Local athletes are busily engaged putting in the winding up gallops for the meeting of the Waikato Amateur Athletic Club, to be held on Saturday, 29th inst. A most attractive programma has been arranged, and competitors are expected from Auck'and, Thame*, Pa?roa and other centres, and no doubt the racing will be of a most interesting nature. As this is the chief attraction in Waikato on Auniversary Day, the popular litt'e club can rely on a large attendance if fortune will for once smile on it and provide a fine day. Op to the present the Waikato Club has been nio3t unfortunate in the matter of weather, and we sincerely hope their bad luck will not fjllow them oa this occasion. The cycling track is in perfect condition, and will without doubt compare favourably with anything in the North Island, and we understand a number of Auckland cyclists intend visiting the meeting for the purpose of lowering times fir the various distances. There wil', we understand, be a day excursion from Auckland, the train arriving in time for the first event, and passing Hamilton West Station on its return journey in the evening, and these arrangements should prove most convenient for the town contingent. Entries close with the hon. sec (Mr C. Blackburn), Hamilton West, on Siturd.y next, at 9 p.m. Tho Nelson Mail writes :—" A werldiug which created more than ordinary interest was solemni.ed at St. Luke's Church, Capleston, en Monday, the 20th instant, by the Rev. J. H Da't,between Mr F. Co'eman.hcnd master of the Capleston school, and eldest s m of Mr Win. Coleman, of Kelson, and Miss Grace Howell, only daughter of Mr J. Howeil, of Caple-iton. The church, of which the bride was organist, had been beautifully decorated by the friends of the bridp, assisted by the lady mamberd of the congregation, and wis filled with spectato.s long before the time appointed for the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a brained dress of cream silk, trimmed with satin and lace, with veil and. wreath of orange blossoms. She was attended by Uvo bridesmaids, Miss Annie Coleman, siatpr of the bridegroom,dressed in cream nun's veiling trimmed with apricot silk, and Miss Ellen Slattcy, also in cream trimmed with pale green, hits t-> aaitch. The groomsmen were Mr J. Howell and Mr Stuart Ferris. During the service, which was fully choral, the hymn " The voice that breathed o'er Eden " was iUng by the choir, the congregation joining, Miss Rogers kind'y presiding at the organ, and as the bridal party left the church the " Wedding March " was played. They were met at the door by four little girls in white, who strewed hVvcri along the path, and they drove off amid showers of rice and hearty che-rs from the assembled ciowd to the resiil.-nee of Mr and Mrs Howell, where a recherche hreakf <st was provided. The bride and budegroom were the ivc'pients of a great many prescn'.s, including a handsome clock and p'ated inkstand from the school children. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a gold bangle, and to the bridesmaid's gold aud greenstone brooche3. The bridegroom is the grandson of Mr P. Colenfan, who lived for many years at Kirikiriroa, and is the nephew of Mr Isaac Ooates, of Hamilton East.