The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 251, 24 February 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1898.

Pressure on our news columns has compelled us to hold over our leader and other interesting matter. The Presbyterian service at Paterangi on Sunday will be held at 11 am, The polo match between Waingaro iu.d Auckland has been fixed for March 4lh. A meeting of the committee of the South Auckland Racing Club is convened for Saturday evening next, at the usual time and place. Mr Ritchie, Secretary of the Agricultural Department, left Wellington for Wanganui en route for Auckland, yesterday morniug. Mr Kirk, Government Biologist, has experimented in the vine-yards at Masterton, with bi-sulphide of carbon. It has been very successful in treating phylloxera. On Sunday next the Rev. J. M. Mitchell, of Hamilton, and the Uev. T. Scott, M.A., of Cambridge, will exchange pulpits. The latter gentleman, we regret to hear, is indisposed. The direct steamer Ruahine arrived at Auckland from London yesterday morning. She brought 100 passengers. The voyage was accomplished in the gocd time of 46 days. At the Auckland Police Court yesterday a long-sentence prisoner, named William Marshall, was sentenced to fourteen days' close confinement on bread and water for feigning lameness. The annual sports meeting in connection with the Waipa Amateur Athletic Club will take placo on Easter Monday, at Pirongu. The programme will appear in our columns in a future issue. The Union Company has made a claim on the Shaw, Saville and Albion Company for £3OO salvage in respect of the ship Nelson, which was towed into Wellington by one of the claimant company's steamers, after striking a rock in Cook Straits. Mr W. J. Hunter has received instructions from the Assets Company to sell at the Rangiatea Estate, near Wairoa, early in March, the whole of surplus breeding ewes, fat and store sheep, horses, implements, etc. Full particulars will appear in a future itsue. The following are the names of the Te Awamutu players for the cricket match Te Awamutu v. Hamilton, to be played at Ohaupo on Saturday next : Rcid (2), R. Livingstone, C. Drabble, Blackett (2), Bowden (2), J. Case, 'S. Conn, Stevens. The result of the coroner's inquest as to the fire which started iti Mr Mendel's shop, Ponsonby, Auckland, is the following verdict : "That the fire was caused by an explosion of gas in the shop portion of the building (where the gas meter was situated) but there was no positive evidence to prove how the explosion occurred." Mr Thos. Wells, of Cambridge, returned from his Southern trip on Tuesday. While taking his holiday he visited many of the chrysanthemum growers in various parts of the colony, and he will doubtless have something to say about them at an early date, for we must recollect that the Queen of Autumn flowers will soon be blooming. Mr Malcolm Niccol has been elected Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. The election rests with the members of the Board, and the voting was five for Mr Niccol and five for Mr W. J. Napier. The decision was made by the names of the gentlemen being written on separate pieces of paper; these were placed in a hat, the first name drawn being that of Mr Niccol, and he was declared duly elected. At the meeting of the Auckland Education Board, held on Tuesday, the Teacher's Selection Committee submitted the following recommendations:—Mirs A. Pascoe to Hautapu ; Miss E Masefield, second assistant Ngaruawahia; Mias L. Talbot, sewing teacher, Ohinewai. The committee are to be consulted as to the following proposed appointment : Pokeuo, Mr A. J. McCracken. The Board agreed to procure a site for a school at Golden Cross, Waitekauri. At the petroleum works, Taranaki, on Tuesday, a depth of two thousand feet six inches was reached. Oil showed freely, there apparently being at first (after the bore had been undisturbed for an hour or so) about eight fert of pure oil on the surface of the water. Several days must elapse before pumping can becin, but it is hoped the result will be to free the bore from water, and to demonstrate that in this instance the well is payable. Miss IJarre, who arrived in Hamilton last week to take up her duties as nurse at the Waikato Hospital, waa admitted to the fever ward yesterday, suffering from typhoid. The unfortunate young lady has lately been nursing a typliod patient in Auckland, and this no doubt accounts for the appearance of the disease at the local institution. As Nurse Millar left for home by the afternoon train yesterday, they are again shorthanded at the hospital. Mr John Selhy, the well-known 'cyclist, put up another record on Tuesday morning, by accomplishing the journey from Cambridge to Te Arooa and hack, in 4 hours 58 minutes. He left the Cambridge Post-office at 6 a.m., went to Biidge-strcet at Te Aroha and returned to the starting point at 11.58 a.m. His previous best time for tli3 journey was 5 hours 15 minutes. The roads near Mornnsvillc were very heavy, having been lately rounded up, which made it hard work with a highly geared machine, such as Mr Selby now rides.

In the list of successful candidates in the Junior Civil Service examinations published in this issue will be found the names of two Waikato competitors, viz , Miss Nora O'Neill and Master E. A. Cox. The former is a daughter of Mr Lewis O'Neill, of Hamilton, and was prepared for the examination by Dr. R, Hatusler, of the Waikato College. Master Cox is a sou of Mr E. B. Cox, ol Frcshfield, Taupiri, an.l he has been studying at King's College, The Tower, Remuera, under Mr Graham Bruce. We congratulate the young folks on their success. On Monday evening a meeting of the Ohaupo School Committee was held in the Council Chambers. Present: Messrs R. Mears (chairman), J. T. Edwards, A. Jones. Kusabs, C Ranch, Graham and Prince. The Chairman announced that he had granted leave of absence to Mr Colhonn for a few days, he having received notice of his mother's death. He proposed a vote of condolence with Mr Colhonn in his sad bereavement, which wascarritd, A notice was received from the Education Beard that the sum of £3 ss, capitation grant, had been placed to the credit of the school fund. Re the election of members to seats on the Education Board, it was decided to vote for Messrs Luke, Bagnall and Farrell. Re the picnic, n hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies for providing refreshments and looking after the wants of the children on the occasion. A few small accounts were passed for payment, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.—(Own Correspondent). The Herald's Paeroa correspondent writes on Tuesday :—The rimu timber industry is now likely to receive a fillip by the organisation of a strong syndicate to work Kusabs Brothers' extensive bush on the Rotcrua ranges. The syndicate in question has acquired a portion of the Kusabs Brothers' inter ests, and at a meeting held at Paeroa this morning the following directors were appointed : Messrs H. C; Wick, W. G. Nicholls Hope, A. L. Kreutzer, and E. A. Kusabs. It was decided to erect powerful and effective michiuery, including all the lacest improvements with regard to timber-cut-ting and dressing, the plant to be capable of turning out 20,000 feet of timber per day. About three miles of iron tramway arc to be laid down through the heart of the bush to the further boundary, and according to the plan of operations the bush will be gradually worked back to the mill. A steam locomotive is to be used in this connection. At a meeting of directors held subsequent to the general meeting of the syndicate the following officers were appointed : Chairman of directors H. C. Wick, managing director E. A. Kusabs, secretary end manager W. F. Brown. The directors have also retained C. Kusabs as foreman of the plant.