The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 329, 18 August 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1898.

It will bo remembered that tho. Premier told the House that if the Opposition prolonged the debate on the Financial Statement they would be responsible for keeping the men who had been discharged from the railway works from being taken on again, they having been discharged because the vote for the construction of railway plant was exhausted, but that they would be taken on again so soon as the House voted the necessary funds. The object of this was, no doubt, to bring the Opposition into disrepute with the men waiting to be employed. He could not, for one moment, have supposed that the Opposition would neglect their duty of debating the Statement. The discharge of the men was also to make the Opposition unpopular ; the Premier gave as his reason for* not continuing them in employment and paying them by means of unauthorised expenditure, that the Opposition had condemned him for his action with regard to the Parliamentary buildings. The cases are not synonymous ; in the one there was no urgent necessity for the work to be proceeded with at once, unless it were to gain popularity with the working and trading classes of Wellington ,' in the other the railway department is urgently in want of rolling stock, to say nothing of the deprivations the workmen and their families were subjected to from want of employment. This was a political trick of a stamp which is only too common with the present administration.

The amendment to the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, moved by Capt. Russell, has been a thorough exposure of the latest exhibition of Seddonian bunkum. It reads as follows :—" That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that the Government should take immediate steps to provide sufficient money to enable the construction of railway rolling stock at once, thus making due provision for the pressing needs of the colony, and immediate employment of men out of work." The motion was lost, not on its merits, but for the reason that the Premier once more resorted to the expedient of treating it as one of want of confidence. In refusing, however, to allow the motion to pass and of immediately acting upon it, shews how much less the Premier cares for the workmen out of employment than he does for gaining a Parliamentary advantage over his opponents. Capt. Russell's motion completely unmasked him, and it is to be hoped that the working men will, in a figurative sense, take careful note of the appearance of his political countenance without the mask which conceals it under ordinary conditions.

Good rains have fallen over the agricultural area 9 of South Australia., and the harvest propests are bright, A section of the New South Wales Opposition are advocating the coalition of parties on the federation question.

A meeting of the Pirongia Company of the Waikato Mounted Rifles will be held in the Public Hall, Pirongia, on Tuesday, 30th inst., for the purpose of swearing in members, electing officers, etc.

Thanks to the untiring energy of Mr E. Hewitt, the Organ Fund cf St. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, now stands at £2OO. It is really wonderful where the money comes from, and from the liberal response that has been made to the appeal, it is evident the.£2so will soon be subscribed, for as yet nothing under a guinea has been put upon the list.

Mr W. J. Gribble, who has for the last five years acted as manager for Messrs Hallensteiu Bros., at Hamilton, ii about to leave the company and the Waikato, and it is pleasing to know that he takes with him the highest testimonials and credentials from the firm. Mr Gribble will be succeeded by Mr Varney, lately from Dunedin, who arrived on Tuesday, to take up his duties.

Tickets in connection with the forthcoming variety entertainment, to be held on August 30th, in aid of the funds of the Hamilton Public Heading-room, are meeting with a ready sale throughout the district, and there is every prospect that the whole affair will prove a brilliant success. Mr P. E. Stevens, who has taKen the show in hand, purposes to provide the best shillings worth ever given in the town, and one glance over the programme assures us that.he will succeed in his endeavour. All the best talent in the Waikato has been enlisted, and there is every prospect that the efforts of the promoters will be richly rewarded.

In a case heard a few days ago at Hawcra, in which a farmer admitted that he had sent in a falsa return of sheep under the Stock Act, Mr Northcroft, S.M., in delivering judgment said he was sorry to see that cases of fatae representation were becoming alarmingly prevalent—in fact, the country was getting so corrnpt that a great many, including even some farmers, seemed to take it as a matter of course to make declarations that were absolutely false. What at one time a man would blush to do was now considered a creditable thing. At one time a man s word was as good as his bond ; nowadays, even declarations and certificates as to charac tor were looked upon with suspicion and could not be relied on. Such a state of thiDgs was to be deplored. .On Wednesday, the Bth inst., a meeting of all those desirous of forming a minstrel troupe in Ohaupo took place in the Public Hall. About fourteen young men attended, and apologies were received from several others who were willing to assist. Mr T. Prince was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, viz., to form a nigger troupe, the funds accruing after expenses, to be devoted to whatever purpose may |be decided upon, such as the library, or any other good purpose. After considerable discussion the following appointments were made :—Mr T. Prince, manager ; committee : Messrs T. Prince, Colhoun, and Chittenden ; Massa Johnson and the corner men were decided upon. Mr J. Parkes, who has had considerable experience, attended, and gave some useful information. The rehearsals will commence immediately, and the troupe expect to perforin in about six weeks' time—(Own Correspondent.)

A correspondent writes to the Wellington Post drawing attention to the fact that on the evening of to-day and to-morrow Jupiter, Venus and Mercury will he close together, presenting a very beautiful sight. The contrast of colour will add to the effect—Jupiter, bright with a soft blue t : nt ; Venus, the brightest of the group', somewhat yellowish ; Mercury, rather a dull yellow. He believes, if the .sky should chance to be clear, that Venus will be visible on the afternoons of the above days, and possibly Jupiter also. The following paragraph is clipped from the London News : —The enterprising German merchants have lately begun to run the proverbial carriage and six through the Contagious Diseases Act and regulations of the Agricultural Department, Under the regulations l>a?ed on that Act, the prohibition ot the importation of cattle from Germany is strictly enforced. A method of evading the requirements of the Act has, however, been discovered, and is now in operation. The German merchants ship cattle cm .steamer.", and send with them butchers, who kill the beasts during the passage, and have the carcasses all dressed for market by the time the vessel arrives at the English port.

The New South Wales Agricultural Department, with a view of affording specially deserving lads in the colony an opportunity of acquiring a training at the Agricultural College and Experimental Farms, has decided to extend the present system of bursaries, so that in each division of the colony one or two lads may be chosen to undergo a course of scientific and practical agriculture. Four additional bursaries are to be granted at the Hawkestuiry Agricultural College, and two each at the Wagga Wagga ana Bathurst experimental farms. Competitive examinations will be held, and the most eligible candidates will be selected for attendance at the institutions, but in no case will the bursary be given unless it can be shown that the parents are not in a position to pay the cost of their son's education.

An exchange states that there is a leading shop in the West End of London, in which not a single joint of English meat is kept ; but were huge quantities of New Zealand mutton are sold as Scotch. With this place, as well as with lots of other shops, unscrupulous cooks arc in league. Receutly a householder on a large scale opened a letter addressed to him from the establishment in question, and found that it contained a cheque for £l2, drawn in favour of his cook. Further inquiries elicited the fact that it had been put into the wrong envelope ; also that the cook had been buying New Zealand mutton instead of Scotch, and paying the full price for it too. The cheque represented his bonus. The story may be, and probably is, quite true, and it proves the frailty of human nature and the excellence of New Zealand mutton.

Mr R. Morris, secretary of the Taurauga Hunt Club, has received a telegram from Mr A. Bach, secretary of the Waikato Hunt Club, stating that the Waikato hounds will leave Cambridge for Tauranga on September 2nd. The visit here will extend over a fortnight, and a gay time is anticipated. The Waikato Secretary has posted a letter giving all particulars, upon the receipt of which Mr Morris will call a meeting of members of the Tauranga Club to fix up all arrangements. In addition to the four days' hunting, which are already planned out, there will be the Hunt Club ball, a fishing excursion, and either a dramatic entertainment or a monster smoke concert. It is anticipated that numerous visitors from Te Puke, Katikati, Whakatanc and Opotiki will be with us to assist in making the visit of the Waikato folks a memorable and pleasing one.—Bay of Plenty Times. The practice of adulterating wheat flour with maize flour, and also with whiting, is extending, not only in Great Britain, but also on the Continent. Millers and bakers are now frequently receiving circulars offering whiting for mixing purposes. The French authori tics have lately administered a salutary lesson to some unscrupulous adulterators in this line. At Versailles seven persons were recently tried on a charge of adulterating flour with 45 per cent, of whiting, so that many people were taken ill on eating the bread made from the mixture. Five of the seven were convicted, the principal delinquent, M. Gillernat, ex-Mayor of Gaillon, being sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a fine of £4OO, while the others were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fines of £l2O. It is much to be hopscl that any other cases of adulterating flour with whiting will be dealt with in the same rigorous manner.

I am sorry to say Lord Salisbury's state of health causes some anxiety to his friends, who are by no means confined to the Unionist camp (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney Herald). When he returned from the Riviera he seemed to have obtained a fresh lease of strength and vitality. With renewed application to work the good effects have lapidly worn off. He looks in wretched health just now, and would gladly, if public affairs permitted, withdraw from the scene. It is doubtful whether he will face another session herring the double yoke of the Premiership and the Foreign Secretaryship. It is the difficulty of finding a successor that delays this inevitable step. Lord Salisbury is, I believe, willing that the post should be filled by the Duke of Devonshire. The Duke, not enamoured of hard work, does not want it, but what is more important, the Duchess docs. It may therefore be assumed that there would he no difficulty about the acceptance of the offer should it be made. But the Conservative wing of the Unionist party, whilst personally liking and trusting the Duke of Devonshire, think that he and his friends have already secured more than their share of the loaves and fishes. The alternative to the Duke of Devonshire is Sir Michael Hicks Beach, who will probably before the year is lar advanced leave the Treasury for the Foreign Office. The ordinary meeting of the Pukekura Mutual Improvement Society was held on the 11th inst., Mr T. A. Hicks in the chair. After the formal business had been disposed of the programme for the evening, which consisted of essays, was proceeded with. Mr J. Dean read a very interesting paper on " The Ancient Empire of Peru," in which the essayist dealt principally with the ways aud manners of the inhabitants living at that time. He also described the mode of Government that was in vogue, which, although tyrannical and barbarous in many ways, had various good points. One of the principal good features was that the Emperor never allowed any of his subjects to starve ; as in case of floods or famine he always allowed them a certain amo'unt of food aud raiment. Mr W. Clark followed with a very valuable paper on "The qualifications requisite tor a young man starting out in life." This essay was very well written, Mr Clark pointing out the various rules necessary for a youug man wishing to succeed in life, when going out into the world to make a start for himself. The Chairman also read an interesting and amusing paperon " Fashions," particularly so for the lady members. Mr Hicks gave a descriptive account of fashions, not only in relation to dress, but also of many other things, giving instances of what people will suffer and endure merely to be in the fashion. The essayist also attacked the ladies as being " slaves to fashion," but we could give many instances where the men are as equally susceptible as the fair sex. All the papers were freely discussed by the members present, many taking exception to the essayists' views. The next meeting will be held on the 25th inst., when a debate on the " Old Age Pension Billj" will take place,

At a meeting of tho Cricket Association in Sydney, it was stated that the committee was awaiting a reply as to whether the IS'ew Zealand association had definitely decided to send a team. In view of the, hospitality extended to the New South Wales tenuis in New Zealand, the committee had offered 75 per cent, of tho net proceeds. In the event of a team coming during the Christmas holidays, a second eleven would be got together to play New Zealand, as the representative team would bo out of the colony. If the New Zealand team came later in the season, the first eleven would play.

On .Saturday a deputation of a few of the claimants who were rejected in the last Commissioner's report on the naval and military claims waited on the Hon. Win Jennings at the Commercial Hotel, Auckland. In the absence of the chairman (Mr Ja«. Stichbury) the deputation was introduced by tho secretary, Mr R. B. Mason. The deputation consisted of Robert. Hutchinson, late Sergeant GSth ; Charles Crozior, late Sergeant Goth ; John O'Brien, late Sergouit 65th ; W. J. Casely, Hauraki Rifles ; and Mrs Louisa Ewins, whose husband belonged to the 2nd ISth. After Mr Jennings had heard the remarks from those present he promised on his return to Wellington to bring the matter before the Premier, as he himself was quite sure that several of the cases had bee" wrongly dealt with, especially that of Mrs Ewins.