The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 372, 17 December 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1898.

The Waikato Aug us will not be published on Tuesday, 27th inst. Advertisers please note. January 13th is fixed as the date for the payment of Income Tax fcr 1898. Mr W. G. K, Kenrick, solicitor,' of Paeroa, has been appointed captain of the Ohinemuri Rifles No. 2, vice Captain Marsland (resigned). At the morning service at the Hamilton Presbyterian Church to-mor-row the ordination of the four recentlyelected elders will take plaee. We remind members of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association of the meeting to bo held at Ohaupo on Tuesday next for the consideration of important business. The Commissioner of Police has selected Sergeant Wright, chief clerk in Inspector Pender's oliice, to proceed to Monte Video by the Ruahine to briDg back Myers. The handicaps for the Hamilton Athletic Club's Sports Meeting, to be held'on Boxing-Day, which were due last night, have not come to hand. We will, however, publish them in our issue of Tuesday next. The Hamilton Amateur Comedy Company produced "Dandy Dick " to a large audience at To Awamutu on Thursday evening (race night). All the parts were well sustained, and the audience were delighted with the performance. At its conclusion the members of the company and a number of friends were entertained at a charming little supper by Mesdames Long, Gresham and Andrew, before proceeding on their homeward journey. " Christmas comes but once a year, and >vhen it comes it brings good cheer." This is an old and trite saying, for the fe3tive season is associated, in the minds of old and young, with baked turkey, roast goose, plum pudding, mince pies, various varieties of cake, etc. Having due regard to this fact, we publish in our "Ladies' Column" this morning a number of seasonable recipes, which are recommended by a highly-qualified cook. A capital recipe for home-brewed beer—a most important item in the Christmas menu— will also be found therein.

It will be sonic comfort to visitors to Auckland to learn that the roll of cabmen has been carefully considered, and that twenty-cue licenses held by men of doubtful character are to be cancelled.

Mr E. Mason, the registrar appointed under the Old Age Pensions Act, is busy making preparations for giving effect to it. Application forms are being distributed throughout the colony. It is expected that no payments will be made under the Statute until March. It is believed that the claims will bo head hy stipendiary magistrates some time in January. The payments will date from February 1.

Mr Nepean Kenny, Clerk of the Ohinemuri County Council, has been appointed Major of the second Auckland Rifle Battalion, and Mr E. W. Porritt has been gazetted as captain and adjutaut. The battalion comprises the Te Aroha, Paeroa, Karangahake, Waihi, Thanes, OnehuDga, and Coromandel Rifle Compauies, and its headquarters wiU be at Paeroa, and Major Kenny will have charge of the district. Wo learn that Mr D. L. White, who for the past nine months has been with Mr Brooks in the Bank at Cambridge, has received instructions to move to Auckland, where he was formerly stationed. Mr Buillon, who has beenstaying in Cambridge for the benefit of his health, will fill the vacaucy caused by Mr While's removal. We are sure that all the customers of the Bank at Cambridge will wish Mr White success in his future sphere, for he has been most obliging whilst stationed here.

A special meeting of the Hautapu Drainage Board was held on Thursday evening, when there were present : Messrs W. H. Thomas tChairman), G. Watt and J. Browne. It was resolved to fix the amounts to be paid by those in the respective classes as per the list settled at the late court, as follows : Class 1, 1-J-d in the £ on the rateable value ; class 2, Id ; class 3, It was also resolved to strike a rate for the year ending 30th September, 1899, on those lines, and notice of such intention appears in this issue. A plan of the district showing all the existing drains with their levels is to be obtained, after which a comprehensive scheme of drainage will be prepared and be laid before the ratepayers of the district.

Mr John Knox has received the following letter from Capt. McPher3on, and has handed it to us for publication : Kirikiriroa, loth December, 189 S John Knox, Esq., J.P., Hamilton.— Dear Sir,—Mrs Henry Reynolds, in a letter addressed to me, received this week, desires me to convey her warmest thanks to you especially and to the members of the old 4th Waikatos, who paid a kindly and special mark of respect and affection to the memory of her late father, Capt. Steele, by following his remains to their last resting-place in a body, taking up a noticeable position just behind the immediate relatives. Living as she does at the other side of the world, it has been some consolation to her to know, that her dear father held to the last day of his useful life the affection and respect of his old comrades and fellow-settlers.—Yours truly, Jas. Mo Pherson, Captain New Zealand Militia. Mr and Mrs H. Windsor, of The Narrows, had a most unpleasant experience on Thursday, while on tliei--way to the Te Awamutu races. On reaching the Mangapiko Creek, near the course, Mr Windsor decided to ford the stream in order to water his horse. When it was too late, he found that it was far too deep for crossing, and the horse finding the water rising rapidly commenced to plunge violently, and soon had the occupants of the buggy immersed breast high. There were a number ot people about the spot, but no one appeared to relish the idea of a wetting, and notwithstanding Mr Windsor's appeals for help no one lent a hand until a young Maori came to the rescue and succeeded in pull ing the animal through the creek, thus releasing Mr and Mrs Windsor from their predicament, unharmed beyond the wetting. Yesterday afternoon a pleasing ceremony took place in the Hamilton West schoolroom, when Mr Murray, who is about to sever h»s connection with the school, was presented by the teachers and scholars with a handsome set of carvers. Mr Castleton, in the absence of the chairman, made the presentation on their behalf. He expressed the sorrow they all felt at Mr Murray's departure. Mr" Murray replied in feeling terms and thanked the donors for the-'mark of affection and respect they had shown him. The' children were addressed by Messrs Young and White. Mr John Andrews, an old boy of the school during Mr Murray's time, expressed the sorrow he felt at Mr Murray's departure. He felt great satisfaction, however, at being one of the few old boys who had the opportunity of wishing their old master farcwelh Cheers were given for Mr Murray, the teachers and the school committee. A meeting of those appointed to. arrange for a general picnic of the Sunday-school scholars of Cambridge was held in Victoria Hall on Wednesday, when the following denominations were well represented : Anglican, Pies byterian and Wesleyan. It was resolved to hold the annual united picnic in Mr Peppercorn's grounds at Clements' Park on Monday, 2nd January next. It was also resolved to invite the Catholics and members of the Salvation Army to join iu the undertaking and thus make it thoroughly representative. A general committee was appointed, consisting of the following : Mesdamcs Jas. Taylor, H. Ferguson, H. Canuell, T. Nixon, Puyze, J. Fisher, N. I. Hunt, Misses Priestley and Selby. Miss Selby kindly undertook the duties of Secretary,. and various sub-committees were appointed to arrange about refreshments, games, etc. If the day proves fine, this gathering will undoubtedly be a great success.