The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 302, 16 June 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1898.

The public meeting at Ohaupo has again brought the sugar question into prominence. Those who convened the meeting, and those who attended and passed the resolution, urging Parliament to pass the Bill introduced by the Ministry last session, acted in the best interests of the Colony and this district. The time has passed when it is necessary to urge the fitness of the Waikato and other parts of the Colony for the successful prosecution of the industry. The climate, soil and facilities of transport, however, which the Waikato possesses, place the district in the premier position. The question is not as to whether the industry would pay, but as to the best means of initiating it. Experience in other countries shows that a large amount of capital is necessary, and it is equally clear that the capital for the purpose is not available within the Colony. It follows, therefore, that the funds must be found in one or other of the large money markets of the world. The Bill which the meeting on Tuesday supported proposes that the Government shall offer a bonus of £50,000, payable over a series of years in proportion to the quantity of sugar produced, and further secures to the investors of capital and the growers of the roots that they shall be protected to the extent of a halfpenny per pound. The prospective advantage to the Colony being accepted, is this too much to ask 1 We think not. It may be urged that a bonus is a form of protection, and that all protection is bad in principle. In considering the question, however, the fact must not be overlooked that the establishment of the sugar beet industry not only means the working up of raw material into a marketable commodity, but it means, in addition, the creation of the raw material itself. Protection, as applied to most materials, only means the guarding of labour against competition, and thus enabling wages to be earned. If protection has a good feature, it is when it is applied to industries, the raw material for the prosecution of which is a natural product of the country imposing the duty. It is still more justifiable when it leads both to the production of the raw material and its conversion into a saleable article required by the whole population, for the purchase of which large sums of money leave the country annually. In the case of sugar, at the present time New Zealand only benefits by the labour incidental to converting the raw material, the cost of the material, with freight added, is drawn from the pockets of the people, and the country is poorer by the amount so abstracted.

As to the principle involved in granting a subsidy for the purpose, it differs in a very immaterial degree from granting money for the making of sluice channels and sinking shafts for the promotion of the gold industry. In the one case the grant is to enable miners to extract from the earth wealth that already exists, and in the other ic would be to enable the farmer to create that which does not exist, because in the absence of a factory and the capital necessary to work the sugar busi-

ness, the beets would be comparatively useless if grown. It has been urged that the Government should take the business in hand and work it by Government officials and public money. This is on the same lines as were taken by the Auckland Liberal Association some time back, when they urged that all railways, steamers, and all sources of wealth should be under the direct control of the Government, and for which proposal the Premier gave them such a wellmerited rap on the knuckles, and in so many words told them that they wore making fools of themselves and injuring the party to which they professed to belong. It was a palpable case of save me from my friends. The zealous friends of the Premier with a socialistic turn have done hint and the country incalculable mischief. The remarks of Mr Swarbrick at the meeting on Tuesday go to show that if the Government and people of New Zealand offer sufficient encouragement there will be no difficulty in finding the money. It is true that there have been gentlemen in the field for somo .time, but nothing has resulted beyond vague statements that the money would be forthcoming. They secured the guarantee of the farmers to grow the roots, but they have not up to this time divulged the names of their principals, and the belief has not unnaturally arisen that the guarantee of the farmers and the granting of a bonus by Parliament were expected to bring men on the scene who were, and yet are, in nubibus.

The Waikato hounds will meet at the National Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday next. A telegram from Dunedin states that Sir Dillon Bell is in so low a state of health as to cause anxiety to his friends.

We are sorry to report that Dr. Waddington is a patient in the Waikato Hospital, suffering from an attack of influenza. He hopes to be able to attend to his practice early next week. Waikato dairy farmers are invited to meet Mr A. Busck at the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, on Saturday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. A short address will be given, to be followed by a discussion.

At the sale at Tiraaru of the Willow Bridge Estate, of 800 acres, near Waimate, on Tuesday, in 17 lots, the prices ranged from £l7 15s to £33 10s per acre. The homestead of 200 acres brought £3O per acre. We have received a notification from the Acting Hamilton Postmaster, Mr Potter, that the Hamilton Telegraph Office will in future be open to the public from 5 to 5.30 on .Sundays, for telegraph purposes only.

There was a good attendance at the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, on Tuesday night to hear Pastor Steed's lecture upon " The Sabbath." Considerable interest was manifested in what the speaker said by an attentive audience.

The jury in the Carterton infanticide case added to their verdict the following rider : —"That, considering the amount of juvenile depravity prevalent in the colony, legislation should be so amended as to mete out greater punishments to the fathers of illegitimate children."

Dr Chappie, in the course of a lecture, delivered in Auckland on Tuesday, said that tuberculosis is only infectious in the teat of the cow, although it might be latent in other parts of the animal: but he warns all svho would be guided by this fact alone that the teat of the cow i 3 always exposed, and the danger of infection is constant. As stated some weeks ago, several survey parties have recently been engaged in the King Country exploring for road lines through blocks of native lands that have passed into the hands of the Government. We hear that Messrs Hursthouse and party have hit upon a good line of road into the Hauturu Block, extending some thirty miles. This road will be of easy grade and will open up a large area of good land.

In all parts of the colony the various organisations of the Liberal party have been engaged in selecting candidates to contest the seats at the next election, and the party in this part ot the district are determined not to behind in their efforts to win the Waikato seat. Several meetings have been held in various parts, the outcome of which is, we understand, that Mr W. M. Bankart, of Kuuroa, Raglan, is likely to be the Liberal candidate at the next election. This gentleman has taken a leading part in local politics for some years, being an active member of the Raglan County Council and other local bodies, and is well known throughout the greater part of the electorate.

The spell of frosty weather which ended on Tuesday morning has been the most severe experienced in the district for some years ; indeed, it is very doubtful if such a continuance of heavy frosts has been known. On Sunday morning no less than fourteen sparrows were found under a row of pine trees at Frankton, apparent victims to the severe cold. These little chaps generally kuow how to look after themselves, and that they should perish from cold shows its intensity, and it is the first time we have heard of such an occurrence in Waikato. The dry weather is causing considerable inconvenience, many people being out ol water, a thing never before known at this time of year, and creeks and swamps which had been looked upon as uncrossablo in the driest summers are now easily negotiable.

Mr W. H. Herries, M.H.R., writes the Tauranga correspondent of the Herald, lias been touring the electoral district, and has just returned from the coast, where he has been received in quite an enthusiastic manner. Mr Herries has interviewed all the local bodies, and placed himself in touch with the requirements of all the different parts of the district, and at all points where ho has called he has met with most hearty receptions. Last night the representatives of the Borough and County Councils waited on Mr Herries, and urged on him that he should apply to the Government to have funds provided for the completion of the road between Tauranga and Cambridge, or that Tauranga should be connected with the railway system. This could be done by having the present road between Cambridge and Tauranga completed, and a distance of 32 miles would then connect Tauranga with the nearest Government railway station, at Mangawhara. The next matter of importance was the extension of the Papamoa Road to the goldfields. If this road was completed it would bring Tauranga within 15 miles of the goldfields, instead of, as at present, 26, and open a lot of unused Government land. Mr Herries took notes of all these matters, and other minor suggestions brought before him, and promised that, so far as he was conoerned, the district should have its needs attended to, for it had been sadly neglected in the past, and its share of the public works and railway expenditure was really nil.

A remarkable instance of the excellence of tho Queen's memory was given a few days ago. A copy of the memoir of tho late Thomas Best Jervis, of the Bombay Engineers, was presented to the Queen at Cimiez by the author, who is Conservator of the Museum at Turin. Pier Majesty expressed her pleasure at the presentation, and mentioned having seen the model of Sebastopol made by Colonel Jervis, and exhibited by him at the War Office, as far bick as 1855.

It is stated that the Queen's trip to the south of France this year will cost something like £2OOO a-day. This, however, is a sum Her Majesty can well afford, since she is without doubt tho richest woman in the world, it having been estimated that quite apart from the £385,000 per annum allowed her by the State she has had left her in legacies £3,000,000, has saved nearly £16,000,000, and that with compound interest on both sums she is to-day worth rather more than £35,000,000 sterling—an enormous amount even in these days of gigantic fortunes.

The Marconi apparatus for telegraphing without wires has been considerably improved, all that is now necessary being a tall pole from which a large cylinder containing the large coils and other apparatus is suspended and connected by a wire to the instrument in the inventor's room. Such a pole and connection is erected at Totland Bay, near the Needles. The inventor is able to communicate from Bournemouth, where he is staying, with his assistants on the other side of the Solent, a distance of 35 miles, by meaus of his new telegraphic system. A letter received in Gore from Mr S. M. Robbin 3, who was at one time a resident here (says the Standard), but who is now at Oregon, U.S., says : " Tell your local papers from me that they can warn New Zealanders as strong as they like against going to Klondykc. The best of experts say ; t is no richer than California was, and takinc everything into consideration the percentage that will make anything is or will not be over 50 per cent, of what there was in California, and the hardships are not dreamt of. I have talked with several who have come back, and if they could talk with those who intend going, the latter would never start from New Zealand."

Some interesting relics of the Balaclava charge were sold recently at London. The series comprised the bugle upon which the late TrumpStMajor Joy, 17th Lancers, sounded the charge, the instrument bearing an inscription to that effect, also his four medals and documents relating thereto. Ihe bidding commenced at fifty guineas, and after a very keen competition the lot was knocked down at 750 guineas amid considerable applause from a crowded room. The purchaser was Mr Middlebrook, who announced that upon his decease the relics would be given to the 17th Lancers.

A recent despatch from Paris states: "France will not let Spain go down without a sustaining hand. The considerations that prompt" active interference upon her part are many. From the point of view of self-preservation, the Monroe doctrine must be combated. The hundreds of millions of French capital invested in Spain must be protected, and the Latin rate must be upheld against. the Anglo-Saxon. The army has been under a cloud lately, and would be glad of a diversion Finally, French prestige would be restored by the step, and it would meet the approval of Russia, Austria, Italy, and even Germany."

On Tuesday, His Excellency, the Governor, unveiled an obelisk at Akaroa, which had been erected on the spot where Captain Stanley, of the Britomart, hoisted the British flag in the South Island, thus forestalling the French in annexing the South Island. Before performing the ceremony, Lord Ranfurly contrasted the present position of affiirs with that which existed 45 yeais ago. He hoped that the war clouds which from time to time obscured the horizon might be scattered by diplomacy, and that all places flying the British flag would be always ready to confront an attack, recognising that they were all members of one body.

The Lyttelton Times, being, like most other folk, quite at sea about the Premier's municipal franchise rsmarks at Feilding, asked MrScddon himself for enlightenment, and received the following communication in reply :-—" To make sure that this most important reform shall be carried we propose to introduce a chort bill dealing exclusively with the franchise. The franchise will be extended to those who are on the Parliamentai y electoral roll by virture of the residential qualification within tho district of the local authority, and who have resided within the district for a year. These new electors will have a vote for the election of members of the local authority, but not at any poll relating to loans or rates."

Bull-fighting is still very fashionable in Spain. Nowadiys a "star" toreador makes as much as the most eminenl tragedian or tho greatest Binger. A Spanish paper gives some of the amounts made by certain toreadors last year. Reverte, giving 71 exhibitions and killing 160 bulls is said to have earned £11,500; Mazzantini, with 65 exhibitions aud 168 bulls, £16,000 ; and Guerita, 76 exhibitions and 147 bulls, £19,000. The profession is supposed to be full of dangerous risks, and the promoters endeavour to foster this idea, but as a fact, Mr Bland Holt is in greater danger every night when he rides his horse up the face of a wooden cliff than is any toreador at a bull fight. Commenting upon the political corruption in the appointment of Justices of the Peace, the Wanganui Chronicle remarks :—While on this subject we cannot but remember that right up to the death of the late Mr Ballance it had been the practice of his and former Ministries to ask the magistrates in the different centres to report on the fitness of those gentlemen whom it was proposed to enroll on the Commission of the Peace. This practice was, however, discontinued shortly after the present Premier took up the reins of Government, the only apparent reason for the discontinuance of such a desirable safeguard being that conscientious magistrates might, through their reports, interfere with the freedom of political preferment.

It is not generally known how great English interests arc in Cuba. As a matter of fact, most of the principal cigar factories on the island are run by British capital and belong to British companies. For instance, the famous "Bock" and "Henry Clay" factories at Havana belong to Liverpool merchants. The "Tntimidad "is owned by one London syndicate ; the " Presiosas " by another. Amongst all the fine brands of cigars made at Havana and in Cuba generally, only two belong to nonEuglish firms, one being owned by a Spanish company and the other by a French one. This, it was pointed out by a well-known cigar importer, is the reason Americans have to como to England if they desire to get really good cigars. The best brands are all shipped to England direct to the firms owning the factories they come from. Now that war has broken out between America and Spain, the Havana cigar business will be completely stopped. This will be a chance lor the few far-seeing cigar merchants who, two and a-half years ago, on the hint of coming Cuban troubles, bought up and laid in bond all the best brand cigars they could purchase. One big Fleet-street dealer is reputed to have laid out £40,000 in this manner. As prices of genuine cigars are expected to rise at least 30 per cent, the profits of these dealers are likoly to be handsome ones.

Summonses have been issued against three Dunedin master bakers, to show cause why a writ of attachment shoulrl not ho issued against them for contempt of Court in not observing Hie conditions of the award made by the Arbitration Court in December last, in the dispute between the Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Union and the Master Bakers' Association.

It is estimated that the Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria and Italy—could put 280*6 battalions, 1088 squadrons, aud 075 S guns into the field, ns against 2GBS battalions, 1753 squadrons, and 7954 guns of the Double AllianceFrance and Russia--should war break out between them. The Triple Alliance would have the greatest number of reserves. Germany has 1305 battalions of infantry, 508 cavalry squadrons, and 3624 cannon ; Austria, 934 battalions, 435 squadrons, and 2144 cannon ; and Italy, 507 battalions, 145 squadrons, and 1590 cannon. On the other hand, France has 1133 battalions, 500 squadrons, and 4176 cannon ; and Russia 1555 battalions, 1253 squulrons, and 3778 cannon. Sir John Scott, who is about to resign his post as Judicial Adviser to the Egyptian Government, is one of the Englishmen who will undoubtedly be entitled to rank with such men as Colonel Moncrieff and Lord Cromer, as one of the makers of modern Egypt. At the time of the British occupation early in the eighties the administration of justice was corrupt and disorganised, and the task which confronted Mr Scott, as he then was, presented what to any but a level-headed clear - sighted Knglish lawyer would have seemed insuperable difficulties. With undaunted courage, however, Mr Scott set to work, and his reforms, though drastic and wide sweeping, have nevertheless been such as to secure the wholehearted appreciation aud approval of native as well as the foreign litigants. So highly, indeed, are Sir John Scott's services regarded, that the Khedive has declared that his departure is a great loss to himself and to the country, and will be universally regretted. His Highness has personally conferred upon the Judicial Adviser the Grand Gordon of the Osmanieh in recognition of his services.—Home News.