The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 314, 14 July 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1898.

It is recorded in our report of the proceedings in Parliament that after a somewhat lengthy discussion '•The Municipal Franchise Reform Bill " has passed the second reading. This Bill confers the right to vote on any municipal question, except when the poll relates to loans or rates, upon all whose names have appeared on the Parliamentary roll for twelve months previous to the date of the municipal poll being taken. The Bill also provides that no matter what the qualification no person shall have more than one vote. Freeholders have of course

the right to have their names on the municipal roll, regardless of their names not appearing on the Parliamentary roll of the district. No serious opposition was offered to the second reading of the Bill, but several members expressed their intention of trying, when the Bill is in committee, to gee the voting restricted to ratepayers and householders. This would secure that the interests of the Borough and its inhabitants would be properly looked after. The owners of property and those who pay rent should surely be better judges of the requirements of a Borough than their sons, daughters or lodgers. It is to be hoped that the Bill will be amended on the above lines, and if not that the Council will throw it out.

Another Bill before the House is " The Local Government Voting Reform Act." This provides that all questions which shall be submitted to the poll of the ratepayers shall be decided by a simple majority of those who record their votes. At the present time, a poll for borrowing and other matters becomes of no avail unless a given proportion of ratepayers record their votes. In the case of authorising loans for a useful purpose, the intention is often thwarted by the required proportion of ratepayers not recording their votes. This arises,. in some cases, from carelessness or indifference; the loan may be for some necessary work in a thinly-populated section of a district; the ratepayers of the more populous divisions are not directly interested in the matter; consequently abstain from voting, and the loan, therefore, cannot be raised, or other useful measures carried. This Bill will be useful in so far that general indifference on a question will not prevent those who are immediately interested from gaining their ends. On the other hand, if the opinion of a district is against any proposed measure, it is fair to presume that a sufficient number of votes would be recorded against it.

Mr P. Dignan, Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present in Hamilton on an official visit. The Piako County Council intimate that the Tirau-Rotorua Road between Tirau and Waimakariri has been stopped pending repairs to the bridges. A married man, named Joseph Shaw, of Huntly, was brought up to the hospital about 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening, suffering from a compound fracture of the left arm. No particulars of the accident are obtainable, and the unfortunate man himself is singularly reticent about the matter. The congregation of a church at Clyde (Otago) were scandalised the other Sunday to see two young men busily engaged in a game of cards in one of the pews while the service was proceeding. The names of the culprits were noted, and steps are to hc taken to prevent a repetition of the unseemly conduct. We announce in the usual column the marriage of Mr Percy M. Richardson, second son of Mr D. Richardson, late of Cambridge, to Lilian May, youngest daughter of Mr James Beel, of West Bendigo, Victoria. The many friends of Che family in the Waikato will wish the happy couple long life and prosperity. On Tuesday at the Auckland Police Court a man, named Jno. C. Oldbury, was charged with selling ammunition to an aboriginal native, the said native not having a license in the form prescribed by the Arms Act, 18S6. Mr Buddie, who appeared for the accused, stated that the Act had been repealed by an in 1885. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of one shilling, and added that such a nomiual fine will not be inflicted in future. Mr S. Ij. Biss, Chief Postmaster, has been spending ' a day or two in Hamilton, and the result of his visit, as detailed in another part of this issue, will be hailed with delight by the business people of this town. No doubt this is the outcome of the action taken by the committee recently appointed by the Hamilton Borough Council for the purpose of bringing the matter under the notice of the postal authorities, but whether or no it is an alteration which will be greatly appreciated by the public of Hamilton. Capt. Runciman, who takes a great interest in the welfare of the Waikato settlers, was at Ohaupo on Tuesday, and interviewed all the milk suppliers he could meet, re the conditions under which they would supply next season. In several creameries the season commences on the Ist August, so it is high time definite arrangements were made. With that end in view, a meeting is to be held next Tuesday at Ohaupo, and it behoves all who are interested to put iu an appearance. The question of tests will also be brought forward, and any other business in connection with the milk supply. People of the present time are fond of amusement of all kinds, but they like to get that amusement or entertainment with the least trouble, and it is the endeavour of inventors and others the world over to try and devise means whereby this may be done. The phonograph has lent itself admirably to this end, and, as will be seen by an advertisement in this issue, Mr S. P. E. Francis fs at present visiting Hamilton with a sample parlour phonograph, which he can sell at £5, and which should place the pleasure of entertainment within the reach of most. Mr Francis will have the instrument on view at Mr Maunder's to-day, when he will be pleased to explain the working, and, needless to say, he will also be pleased to receive orders for the supply of the machines. A very quiet but pretty wedding took place iu St. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, yesterday morning, when Mr Thornton Walker, of Moanavale, eldest son of the late Mr E. B. Walker, of-that place, was joined ia the bonds of wedlock to Miss Hester Newmarch, daughter of the late Colonel Nowmarch, of the Bengal army. The ceremony was performed by the Veil. Archdeacon Willis, the bride being given away by Mr Richard Reynolds. Miss Wenie Walker was bridesmaid, and her brother, Mr George Walker, was groomsman. Only the friends of the happy couple were present, but they were sufficient to make the service a rrusioal one. The usual lengthy marriage hymns from Ancient aud Modern were sung, and the Wedding March was played as they left the edifice. The bride was attired in a very pretty and becoming travelling dress, a brown coating jacket and skirt, aud yellow silk vest, brown hat trimmed with check ribbon. The wedding presents were numerous aud costly, not the least valued being an egg cruet from the employees on the Mangapiko estate, The happy couple left Cambridge for Hamilton eu route for the hot springs at Te Aioha or Rotorua.

We are pleased to see that Mr Harold Chnrton, represeutativeof Messrs Sharlatid and Co., who had the misfortuue to break his'eg while coming over from Raglan about Easter time, is " on the road " again, and looking as good as new. The- adjournment of the House of Commons, moved in recognition of the public sorrow caused by Mr Gladstone's death, was an unparellcled incident in British Parliamentary history. The House of Commons has never been adjourned owing to the death of any personage —not a member of the Royal Family—who was not a member of Parliament with a seat either in the House of Lords or in the House of Commons. We are informed by Mr S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster, who was in Hamilton yesterday, that in future the following hours will be observed in closing mails at the local Post-office, viz:—For Auckland and intermediate offices, daily, at 9.15 a.m. and 1.30 p.m.; for Ohaupo, Te Awamutu. Pirongia, Kihikihi, Otorohanga, Te Kuit s , etc., daily, at 1.30 p.m. ; for Cambridge, Tamahere, etc., daily, at 2 p.m.; for Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Rotorua and intermediate offices, daily,at 2 p.m. ; for Raglan, etc., as at present. We notice that the Auckland and Te Awanuitu line mails close 30 minutes later, and those for Morrinsville, le Aroha, Paeroa, Rotorua, etc., 55 minutes later than at present. This is an improvement which the public will, we feel sure, appreciate very highly and acknowledge gratefully. The following is the Curator's report submitted to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society :—The curator's report from the Waimakariri hatchery for the month of June showed that he had been very busy during the spawning. In June he had taken over 200,000 ova, making a total up to date of 256,000. Nine hundred fish had been taken to Otorohanga, and liberated in first-class order, He had also sent 300 to Mr Clifford, of Morrinsville, who not only gave a great deal of attention to distributing them ; but had been very active in promoting the iuterests of acclimatisation. Mr Clifford had also been instrumental in getting fishing and shooting licences taken out, aud in keeping a check on poaching. He had scut a consignment of 10,000 ova lo Whaugarei. These were a good lot, well graded, and should arrive iu good order. There were about 50,000 young fry looking well. The eggs were doing better than last year. He had had difficulty iu getting milt ; but, on the whole, everything was working satisfactorily. He expected to get about as many more eggs, before the end of the scasou. There were more than half the fish to go through yet ; but the first of the season was the best of it. He found it better net to take all the eggs at one stripping ; in fact, it was impossible, as a rule, to do so.