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Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 376, 6 December 1898, Page 2

Mr E. B, Cox's letter will appear in our next. The Secretary of the Waikato Hospital thanks Mr F, W. Burnett for a gift of books for the institution, The name of Donnybrook (Bst Dibs) was omitted from the Maiden Handicap of the Waipa Racing Club, as published in our columns on Saturday. Nominations and entries for the Alexandra Races, the skeleton programme for which appears on our third page, clo3e with the Secretary (Mr E. H. Aubin), Pirongia, on Saturday, 17ch hist. The meetiug will be held on Boxing-day. Nominations for Hurdles', Handicap and Flying Stakes at the forthcoming Whatawhata Races close with the Secretary on Thursday next, Bth instant Mr Josh. Smith, of the Commercial Hotel, Hamilton, is authorised to receive nominations. One hundred and sixteen cooperative workmeu, all single, have been dispensed with from the railway works between Jackson's and the Otira Gorge. I'he married men have been retained. So far no reason has been given for this wholesale dismissal. The Rev. W. Beatty, of bt. Mark's, Remuera, preached at St. Andrew's, Cambridge, on Sunday. There were large congregations both morning and evening. At the latter servico Mr E. Walton sang " Why Do the Nations," from "The Messiah." Messrs McNicol and Co. announce in this issue that in consequence of their usual Cambridge sale day (Saturday) falling on Christmas Eve, they will hold their next sale on the previous Thursday, December 22nd, and will offer cattle, sheep, horses, produce, etc. Mr W. J. Hunter will hold his usual sale at Cambridge on Saturday next, 10th December. Among the entries will be found a large number of well-bred young cattle, choice yearling steers, dairy cows, ewes and lambs, and a lot of young Berkshire pigs, etc. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Ranfurly and suite left the Manakau on Suuday afternoon, on their return journey to Wellington. They intend staying a couple of days at New Plymouth, and then paying an official visit to Patea, before proceeding to Wellington. The heavy rain on Saturday forenoon rendered it necessary to again postpone the Spring meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. The date fixed was to-morrow, and as there have already been two postponements it is to be hoped the weather will be more propitious on this occasion. The privileges in connection with the Waipa Racing Club's meetiug on the 15th instant were sold on Saturday last at Mr Hunter's Te Awamutu sale. The publican's booth was bought by Mr Bathurst for £8 10s; refreshment booth, Mr Culver, £2 ; race cards, Mr Culver, £4. The gaies were passed in, there being a reserve of £25. At a meeting of the members and adherents of the Hamilton Presbyterian Church, held on Sunday last, and at which the Rev. J. Mclienzie, M.A., presided, the following were elected to the office of elder, viz,, Messrs D. Gardiner, J. Mclnnes, J. Primrose and G. Ruuciman. The ordination will take place at the morning service on Sunday, 17th inst. Yesterday tho No. 3 Corps of the Waikato Mounted Infantry commenced a week's drill at Cambridge, under Captain Coleman. The men will be billetted in the towu ; most of them at the Masonic Hotel, Through the kindness of Mr John Arnold, a first-class riile range has been placed at the disposal of the corps, and we have not the slightest hesitation in saying it will be one of the best in the province, for the target will be at the foot of an immense bank of sand, aud for a distance of 750 yards the range is a dead level, and at a trifling expense that distance can be extended to 1000 yards. Captain Hunt had a busy time last week making the necessary preparations—no slight undertaking with the miserable pittance the Government allows—but he lias everything arranged most satisfactorily. The entries for the Hamilton Athietic Club's annual sports meeting, to be held on Sydney Square on Boxingday, close with the Secretary, Mr C. J. W. Barton, on Saturday next, 10th inst. These sports have gradually increased in size and have now become the leading athletic carnival in Waikato, and as the prizes offered on this occasion are an advance on those of last year, it is expected that the entries will in like manner be more numerous. The club caters for all classes of athletes, the programme, which consists of 18 events, including professional and amateur running, amateur bicycle races, and a trotting race. The bicycle races should be an attractive feature of the programme, as the longer distance events have been replaced with sprints, aud these will afford no opportunity for " waiting." The trotting race is always popular, and this year the event will be run under the Trotting Club's rules, so that those competing need have no fear of disqualification. The running track, laid down a few months ago, is in a good state, aud this should be greatly appreciated by the pedestrians, while the 'cycle track, since its formation, has always given satisfaction.

We remind our farming friends and others of Mr W. J Hunter's hoise sale to be held in the Hamilton Borough Yards on Thursday next, commencing at 11 o'clock. Additional entries have been received, including sevcrnl highly-bred trotting colts and fillies on account of Mr A. E. Murray-McGregor. The committee appointed by the Hamilton Domain Board to carry out the improvements at the pavilion oii Sydney Square are performing the work most satisfactorily, and when completed the arrangements will be most advantageous to those using the ground and building. One of the rooms has been floored, and the sanitary arrangements, which had teen os'erlooked previously, have been attended to. On Sunday afternoon the Hamilton Brass Band, under Bandmaster Munro, rendered a choice selection of sacred music on Sydney Square. The beautiful afternoon and the attractive music tempted out a large crowd, and all thoroughly enjoyed the treat provided. It is to be hoped that the Band will sec its way tn continue its performances during the summer months, as their efforts are keenly appreciated. We yesterday inspected some Italian ryegrass at Mr G. E. Clark's store at Cambridge that had been grown at Raianui, Taotaoroa, Messrs Buckland's estate, which was raken from a phenomenal crop. Some of the stalks were seven feet long, the heads being as much as two feet. Messrs Buckland intend cutting it for seed, and as they have 40 acres of it a good return should result. The Ratanui land must be firstclass to give such crops. The contractor for the erection of the Hamilton Public Library aud Reading Room made a start with the work yesterday morning, and given fine weather he hopes to finish the job within the specified time. It is to be hoped that as the tender was somewhat below the estimate, arrangements will be made for completing the building according to the original plan, as wc understand this could be done far about the amouut estimated for the present building. Mr McGowan, M.H.Ii, for the Thames, has received a letter from the Hon. Mr Cidmau, stating that it has been decided to open the Thames-Te Arolia railway for traffic on the 19th inst. Mr McGowan has communicated with the County aud Borough Councils with the object of securing the formation of a joint committee to arrange for the openinc ceremony. It is proposed to invite the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones to accompany the Minister for Railways. Mr Ashwin, of Cambridge, formerly a resident in Canterbury, preached in the Trinity Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, on Sunday morning, and the Rev. Mr Cancel], of Cambridge, took the evening service, and the excellent sermons delivered were attentively followed by large congregations at each service. The latter gentleman based his discourse on Christian fortitude, and in the course of his remarks he referred to the bravery displayed by the British troops under General Kitchener during the late Soudan campaigu. We understand Mr William Escott has tendered his resignation as a member of the Cambridge Borough Council owing to the small support he received at the late Mayoral election. Although there was an overwhelming majority against him for the office of Chief Magistrate of the town, it does not uecessavily follow that the ratepayers are dissatisfied with him as a councillor, anil we are sure that all will agree that whilst he held the office he was most attentive to the duties appertaining to it; however, he has decided to retire into private life for a period, fully convinced that those who work for the public must expect to receive more kicks than half-pence. On Sunday last the anniversary services in connection with the Hamilton Presbyterian Church were conducted by the Rev. J. Mackenzie, M.A., of the Thames. There were large congregations. In the morning the rev. gentleman, who is a forcible and eloquent speaker, took for his text the words, " Without God in the world," and in the course of his remarks said it was not only professing atheists who were without God but also those Christians whose profession had uo effect ou their lives. In the evening the text was Ezekiel I. 1 : " The heavens were opened aud I saw visions of God," from which the preacher delivered an interesting discourse, dealing with atheism,, cynicism, etc. The Cambridge Polo Club had a good game on Saturday, when, in spite of the weather, there was a good attendance of spectators. The teams were as follows : Messrs Hannon, Potts, Wells and Kenderdine ; Hunt, Smith, Matsou and Banks. After au exciting game the result was a tie, each side having scored three. We noticed some of the beginners are improving very fast, and will soon make good players. Up to the present, through the kindness of Mr J as. Taylor, all the games have been played in on 1 ) of his paddocks, but the members feel they are trespassing too much upon his good nature, and intend trying to lease another ground, to be kept for polo only. A meeting will be held in the Borough chambers to-morrow (Wednesday) to decide what shall be done in the matter. If the club is successful in getting the ground it has in view, it is probable a pavilion will be erected for the use of spectators. During yesterday afternoon Hamilton was visited with a very severe thunderstorm, the fall of rain beiug heavier than any experienced for some time, and although the heavy downpour only lasted for dboufc an hour, the watertables and drains in many parts of the Rorough were awash. At the Hamilton Hotel the heavy flow of water found its way behind a portion of the brick retaining wall, where the filling in had not been completed and a considerable length was swept away. Fortunately, however, sufficient was left at each end to support the building erected on it, or the contractor would have suffered a serious loss. The rain in the afternoon was of a local character, as visitors from the outlying districts reported having had none ; but towards evening a steady downfall set in, aud this had the appearance of being more general and will, we are sure, be appreciated by the farmers generally. Passengers by the Auckland train report having passed through exceptionally _ heavy rain tit Rangiriri, while on arrival at Huutly the dust was blowing. During the progress of the thunderstorm a severe flash of lightning passed through the Hamilton telegraph ofiice. It went off with a crack like a pistol shot, and the Hash lie up the whole ollict. Luckily there was nobody at the instruments at the time, as the effect would have been anything but pleasant.