The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1898. The frequent assertions, that the Bri-

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 238, 22 January 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1898. The frequent assertions, that the Bri-

tish army is inadequate for the duties which the extension of the Empire demands from it, has caused considerable anxiety to those who watch the course of events. By the mail to hand yesterday we have received a report of th 9 speech of Lord Lansdowne, the Secretary for War, delivered at a meeting of" the Primrose Leagno at Edinburgh, which is of an assuring nature. He maintains that while the present system is not absolutely perfect, in all essential principles it is souud. Ho foreshadows that the army at homo will be so strengthened as will admit cf its bearing the strain of maintaining the army abroad; there is to be a large increase of artillery, sufficient not only for the regular army, but to supply guns for the militia and volunteers. There is also to be an improvement in the conditions of service, calculated to attract to the ranks the men required. The speaker had little difficulty in disposing of many of the recent criticisms applied to the army, and as au illustration of the worthlessness of much of their criticism ho referred back to the attack made by Lord Randolf Churchill, who had professed that if he could obtain a Committee of the' Commons* .vith adequate powers, recommend reductions which .would effect a saving of four millions a year without injuring the efficiency of the army. The Committee sat and the outcome of its report was to effect minor economies to the amount of about one hundred thousand pounds a year, and to add to the estimates a capital sum of four millions, the interest of which far exceeded the annual saving. Lord Lansdowne added that the result would be of a similar nature were the late wild criticisms brought to the test of exhaustive examiustion. • Speaking of the recruiting system, tho Secretaryfor War showed clearly that while under • the present system, fifty per cent, of the recruits are twenty years of age and

older, the country would have to pay very heavily if it was insisted that only men of mature years should bo taken, as they would have to be bribed out of trades and callings. As to the reserve ho clearly demonstrated that so far from being a sham it consists of men better trained than those of any continental army. They come up for pay every quarter and turn out with great regularity for their periodical training. He proved from returns that there is only one battalion in the service which would not be made up to its full strength by tho men trained in its ranks and who have passed into, tho reserves, and who would be recalled iii case of war. He announced that it was the intention of the Government to iu tho i first place provide three army corps for the protection of Great Britain; In tho second the power of mobilising two army corps for offence irrespective of the forces abroad. Next the capacity to despatch at short notice without a general mobilisation small bodies for minor emer-. gencies. The speaker pointed to the fact that out of the eighteen thousand men with Sir W. Lockhart, thirteen thousand have four years' service, and only 330 less than two. The battallions it is intended to add would help to foi m four regiments of four battalions each. The speech was opportune, and as we wrote above is reassuring that those in power recognise the gravity of the position.

The Ohaupo school picnic will be held on Wednesday next, and the committee invite the parents to attend.

A meeting of the ratepayers of the Kirikiriroa Road Board is convened for Friday, 4th February, at the Council Chambers, Hamilton East, to- decide re stopping a road iu the district. The harvest thanksgiving service at St. Peter's Church, Hamilton, will be held on 13th February, Sexagesima Sunday. Contributions of grain will be thankfully received by the Verger at the Sunday-school at any time.

Mr O. E. Hugo, who is wellknown in the colony as a writer and speaker on physiognomy and phrenology, will lecture in the Cambridge Public Hall next Tuesday evening on heads and faces. The admission will be free, and there will be no,collection.

The fencing and tomb erected on the hill known as Little Tatipiri, marking the supposed resting place of the late King Tawhiao's remains, were destroyed by fire on Tuesday and Wednesday last. It is supposed that the fire was caused by a spark from a passing engme setting alight the scrub at the foot of the hill. Mr T. H. White was in Cambridge yesterday, and inspected the National Hotel with a view to its thorough restoration. It is contemplated to put ib in thorough repair. He informs us that the portion built of kauri is as sound as the day it was erected, but that the kahikatea portion will require extensive repairs. We understand that Messrs Kusabs Bros., of Mamaku, have disposed of their timber business to a powerful syndicate, who intend to float the property aud business into a company, under the name of the Mamaku Mountain Rimu Company. The prospectus will be issued during the coming week, and no doubt the shares will be speedily taken up.

As will be seen from an advertisement in another column, the morning service at the Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, to-morrow, Will.be conducted by the Rev. W. Slade, from Fiji, and the Rev. Dr. Hosking will discourse in the evening on " Astronomy aud the Bible." Foreign mission meetings will be held at Hamilton on Monday, and Te Awamutu on Tuesday, at each of which Mr Slade will deliver an address.

Mr Seddon was entertained at a public dinner in the Town Hall, Hokitiiii, on Wednesday, the Mayor occupying the chair. He had an enthusiastic reception. It was a non-political affair. He made the announcement that- the Police Commission of Inquiry would consist of Messrs Poynton (Invercargill), Wardell, and Col«nel Pitt. Dr. Giles, of Auckland, had been asked, but ill-healih precluded him from acting.

The (loath is announced of Mr J. C. Richmond, who at one time was a prominent politician and held office in the Weld and Stafford Ministries. In the former he had the portfolio of Colonial Secretary from January, to October, 1865, and was Minister for Native Affairs in the latter from 1865 to 1869. Mr Richmond was a journalist of some ability, which he showed as a contributor to the old Wellington Independent and as editor of the Nelson Examiner. •■•, .

It has been decided to hold the Cambridge racing meeting on Thursday, 10th March, on Mr Clements' eourse at St. Kilda. The programme contains seven events, viz:. Trial Handicap, of £lO ; Handicap Hurdles, £l2 ; Handicap Pony Race, £7 ; Cambridge Cup Handi-' cap, £25 ; Steeplechase, £lB ; Trot, £10; and Flying Handicap, £l2. Nominations close with the Secretary, Mr TV. T. Carr, on Wednesday, 16th February, and acceptances on Friday, 4th March. On Thursday evening, about 7.30, a fire, which was fortunately checked before much damage was done, took phce in Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen's warehouse, Auckland. It arose from one of the employee's accidentally pushing a gas jet under a row of suspended baskets; these CAUghfc fire, which spread rapidly along the line, and the baskets, ,as the parts from which they were suspended were consumed, fell upon other inflammable articles upon the counters below. There is a good hose on the premises; this was speedily brought .into use, and the fire pub out before the Fire Brigade anived on the scene. The loss is estimated at about £3OO.

Wo have received from Messrs Alderton and Wyatt, of Whangarei, the first number of " The Resources of New Zealand." This number deals with the distr'cta north of Auckland and admirably fulfi's the principal object of the publishers, which is to make the resources and beauties of that portion of New Zealand known the outside world. The illustrations are really verj well executed indeed, and reflect the highest credit upon the artists and on Messrs Alderton and Wyatt ior their enterprise The descriptive matter is well and tersely written, and gives an cxcellfiit idea of the industries of the north and of the manner in which they are pursued. We have not seen any publication in New Zealand so well adapted to answer the questions which are so often put to colonists by their frieuds at Home and in other countries. —What is your country like? How do you live? We can with every confidence recommend settlers to secure copies of this publication and send it to their friends—the above questions will then be in a considerable degree answered. We understand that it is the intention of tho publishers to deal with the whole colony by degrees. If they do thisas ably for the rest of the colony as they have doue for the north subscribers will have a volume of the greatest interest at the present lime, and in a few years to become of considerable value from an historical point of view. History in the colonies is very rapidly made. .