The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MARCH 1,1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 253, 1 March 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MARCH 1,1898.

Mr Labotjchere has a happy knack of always finding himself in a minority, but seldom has the majority against him been greater than is reported in this issue. He moved a reduction of the vote for the purposes of maintaining our position on the West Africau frontier, which is the Parliamentary mode of condemning the policy of a Government. In the course of his speech, he said that Mr Chamberlain was defying France. This is, of course, exactly what he is doing. Past experience with tho hinterland of our settlements on the coast, has taught the British Government that if Franco is allowed to have her way our possession in Africa would become valueless as trade centres. Her policy is one of bluff and scramble, utterly regardless of right. The arrangement of 1888 between Britain, France and Germany was that each should have the portion of the country running straight inland be» tween the extreme points occupied by either country ou the coast. The intention of this agreement was that each country should have its legitimate share of the island trade. Both France and Germany have ignored this agreement, and the former has sent expeditions in all directions with the object of making treaties for her own advantage and to tho detriment of Britain. As Sir E. Grey pointed out, there is no other course than to be firm, and the division on Mr Labouchere's motion must be conclusive to those Powers that they must cease their underhand machinations. Mr Labouchere by his motion has strengthened the hands of the Government in place of weakening them. The whole nation is convinced that there must be no more bending to the unjust claims of other Powers. Too much of this has been done already.

Mr C. Arnold, of Cambridge, takes over Mr W. H. Wright's butchering business to-mcrrow. A meeting of the committee of tde Hamilton Library will be held tomorrow evening, at 7-30 o'clock. Frank Philpott, alias Stanhope, has been sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Hawthorne, at Silverstream. The programme of the- Waipa Amateur Athletic Club's Sports, to be held at Pirongia, on Easter Monday, will be found on our third page. Entries close ou Saturday, 2nd April, at 6 p.m. Mr H. 13. Lusk, who has been assistant teacher at the Cambridge School for a considerable time, has been removed to Auckland. The notice given was somewhat sudden ; he received a wire one afternoon to proceed to town the next morning. We direct attention to Mr W. J. Hunter's advertisement re his second Sheep Fair to be held at Ohaupo on Wednesday, March 23rd, at 12 o'clock. Over 15,000 sheep hive already been entered from the principal breeders in Waikato, ami further entries are solicited. The second anniversary of the opening of King's College, Remuera, was celebrated lust Friday. Mr Graham Bruce, the headmaster, the teaching staff and all the scholars made an excursion to Lake Takapuna, Where a pleasant day was spent in swimming, boating and cricket. A boy, named Percy Grainger, was killed on Saturday, at the Fire Brigades' Competition in the Domain, Auckland. He, with many other boys, was persistent in encroaching on the ground. He was swinging on one of the wire guys, which held up a post, the post fell upon and fractured his skull. He died before he reached the hospital. We have received a lengthy communication from " Contractor," calling attention to the maimer in which the contract for improving Victoria Square at Cambridge is being carried out. He states the tod i 3 being buried under sand, which would not have been permitted had anyone else undertaken the work. In reference to the recent report of a'luvial gold at Tokaauo, a gentleman just returned from the Taupo district informs us that although indications of gold have been traced, there is not the slightest chance, so far, of a payable alluvial field existing. The country is very much broken up by volcanic action of comparatively recent date. Men intending to try their luck should await further developments. If they fail iu getting payable gold there is no chance of their getting other work within 70 or 80 miles.

The Raglan County Council intimate that all sledge traffic will bo stopped on the roads within the county on and after to-day (Ist March). When in conversation with Mr Shepherd Allen he informed us that he sold fat Shropshire Downs in England about Christmas time at £3 14s each. He added that if shesp of similar quality had been acknowledged as having come from New Zealand they would have realised about 15s. It is time the Cambridge authorities took steps to compel cyclists to carry lights at night. Of late a tandem bicycle has been "scorching" all over the town, both by day and night, and the other evening it ran in r o and nearly demolished a machine that was being ridden steadily up Victoria-street by a gentleman. Pastor Steed's lecture in the Public Hall at Cambridge on Sunday evening was well attended, the building being comfortably filled. He was listened to with wrapt attention, and there is every indication that his services in the hall will be well and regularly attended. He gives another one next Sunday evening. We were informed yesterday that Mr Harris, of Huntly, had purchased the Ciub Hotel, recently erected by the Campbell, Ehrenfried Co., at Huntly, and that he intends shifting it up nearer the railway station, the present site of this hotel has becu found to be too far away faom the station to allow ot passengers by train obtaining refreshments during the short stay of the train at Huntly. A party of Hamilton residents paid a visit to the celebrated Hot Springs at Waingaro on Sunday. We regret that we are unable to find space for the full account of the trip, but will do so next issue. We may say, however, that the outing was spoken of as a most enjoyable one, and from the description given of the scenery and the delightful baths at Waingaro, anyone who can spare the time, should make the trip before the season passes. The harvest thanksgiving service at St. Stephen's Church, Tamahere, was conducted by Mr Wheeler on Sunday, the 20th February, and large cong'ega tions attended both services. The decorations were more than ordinarily chaste, and evinced great taste on the part of the ladies of the district who had undertaken, to them this pleasant and agreeable duty. The congregation were so much pleased with the decorations that a request was made that they should be allowed to remain for another Sunday. A polo team from the Waingaro Club will proceed to Auckland on Friday next to play a polo match with an Auckland team, which has been arranged to take place immediately after arrival of the train. The local team have been in steady practice for some weeks, and hope to give a good account of themselves. Unfortunately Mr Basil Hewett, one of the best players in the district, will not be able to take his place in the team, and this will rather handicap the Waingaro Club in the forthcoming matches. In our advertising columns will be found a notice that the annual meeting of the Cambridge Harmoni'i Society will be held in the Public Hall on Thursday evening next. We trust all members and intending members will roll up for there is important business to be transacted. The balance-sheet will be read, and we understand the making of some new rules and the alteration of some of the old ones is contemplated. It is probable the annual subscription will be reduced, and the alteration of the evening of meeting will be discussed. A practice of those parts of the " Messiah " not taken at last concert will follow the anmual meeting.