The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1899.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 399, 16 February 1899, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1899.

As various rumours are in circulation on the subject, we think it desirable to state briefly that an action has been commenced in the Supreme Court by Mr Wesley Spragg (The New Zealand Dairy Association) for a libel alleged to be contained in a letter forming part of the correspondence which has lately taken place in our columns with refer - ence to the dairy industry. We have placed the matter in our solicitor's hands, and, as the proceedings are now pending, we, of course, refrain from all comment thereon.

" It will pay you to use Westfield manureß for grass." See front page. The Fuller season of three nights commences in the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, this evening. As the result of the inquest on the remains of the late Mr Jackman, a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned.

A little girl named Healing, aged eight, whilst bathing in a creek near Whangarei, got out of her depth and was drowned.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Auckland Exhibition, it was decided to keep it open till the end of the month

Mr Dumbell, the Government Auditor, was in Cambridge on Tuesday, auditing the accounts of the Borough and Domain Boird.

A poll of the ratepayers to decide re raising a loan of £SOO for works in the Ngaroto Drainage District will be taken on Saturday, 25th February, at the Board's office, Te Awamutu.

A young man, named Mason, was injured in the Globe Mine, Reefton, on Tuesday, through the cage being lowered too far. He was removed to the hospital in an unconscious state. A man named Robert Beatie has boen committed for trial by the Coromandel Bench, ou the charge of having stolen retorted gold, to the value of £l4 8s 4d, from some person or persons unknown.

The London correspondent of the Herald says, Mr Henry Reynolds was expeoted to reach London on February 3, and that Mra Reynolds has returned to London from Cumberland in order to meet her husband

An easily-detected error occurred in an impounding notice in last issue. It was stated that some horses in the Hamilton Pound would be sold on "17th December "—it should, of course, have been 17th February (to-morrow). An accident occurred at a fireworks display at New Brighton Canterbury. A mortar containing chemicals exploded, and a portion of the iron struck a lad named Stokes, one of the assistants, breaking a rib and injuring him internally. Three spectators were also injured.

There has been a great clearance of fat lambs from Waikato during the past few weeks. Mr Vosper a few days ago sold the last of his—some 400—at top prices to Messrs Beviu and Co., and he has had the satisfaction of learning from tho firm that they are the best lot of lambs that have so far passed through their hands.

The headmaster of the Cambridge school (Mr R. C. Dyer) registered another birthday on Tuesday, on which occasion the scholars presented him with a handsome writing case. The presentation was made by the senior scholar, Miss Stella Empson, who assured MiDyer of the continued good wishes of his pupils. Old colonists avlio can remember the rush there was for the " Home News " when the monthly mail arrived will be interested, and perhaps a little sorry, to learn that it has ceased publication. These was no cable in those days, and the contents of the Home News was eagerly scanned for news ot the outer world—then some two months old.

Mr James Hoye, of Clevedon, wa-i at Mr G. Munro's farm with his steam-threshing plant at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, when a spark from the engine caught hold of one of the stacks and in a few minutes five large stacks were in a blaze and part of two other stacks which were being threshed. The whole was totally consumed. The engine and plant were saved. There was no insurance ou the stacks as far as can be ascertained.

Mr O. Day of Tamahere, who recently, sold one of his yearling pedigree Jersey bulls to Mr Hutchins, of Woodville at a good figure, has had the gratifying news from this gentleman that the youngster took first prize at the local show only a lew days after landing. The young bull iu question is very fashionably bred, being by Waikato Fancy out of Queen Bountiful. Mr Hutchins is so well satisfied with hia purchase that he has written to Mr Day to put a price on some of his young heifers, with tho view to purchase.

Commenting on the letter of "New Chum" re Bending Home store cattle, which recently appeared in our columns, " Straggler," the pastoral contributor to the Weekly Press, says:— 41 New Chum " has given rather a largo order, but has omitted to explain two difficult points—How about space for a consignment of 3000 head of cattle, and how would they stand the long sea voyage ? Hitherto the freezing chamber has proved the only solution of the difficulty of forwardiug our meat to the British consumer, but if " New Chum " can demonstrate successfully how a branch of the trade can be profitably carried on as he suggests, he should have no difficulty iu persuading his friends in the Waikato to take it up.

The ordinary monthly European mail, via Frisco, will be despached from Waikato to-morrow at the usual hour. A nice little conspiracy appears to exist in D.medin for keeping up the price of bread. It is said that tho Miller's Association and the Dunedin Baker's Association have entered into an agreement to keep bread at 7d per 41b loaf, tho millers, in the event of any baker underselling, to atop supplies of flour. Messrs Wardell Bros., the wellknown firm of grocers, have ess.vyed to break the ring, and advertised bread at " a fair price for cash—4d per 41b loaf." The Dunedin bakers not to be outdone, threatened to supply tea at prime coat price—offering tea of the usual 2s quality for la 3d per lb. Messrs Wardell Bros, profess to!regard this threat with equanimity, but* say that if it is given effect to they will carry the war still further into the enemy's camp. In the case of tho Gisborne Harbour Board v. T. B. O'Connor, contractor, and Martin Bros., sureties, claim £2913 damages, for non-fulfilment of contract in connection with the harbour works, judgment was given by His Honor Mr Justice Conolly on Tuesday. In non-suiting the plaintiffs His Honor said the contract between the Board and O'Connor had not been Droperly exc' cuted, as the Board had omitted to place their seal upon it, and, failing legal execution of this document the bond between the parties had no basis, and the attempt to ratify tho contract after the action had been brought, His Honor said, there was no authority to support. There had been no contract and no ratification, and the plaintiff must fail on all grounds and bo non>suited. Costs on the highest scale were allowed.

The well-known cyclist and maker and breaker of road records, Mr A. Selby, who has been staying with some of his relatives here, has been putting up a record between Kihikihi and Otorohanga. The road is in places very rutty and in bad condition, and is at its best very hilly and full of sharp curves. Selby left the Kihikihi Post-office on Tuesday morning at exactly 7.15 a.m., and having reached Hetet's Hotel, Otorohanga, wheeled round at once and arrived back at the starting place at 9.57 a.m., having done the 38 miles in two hours and 45 minutes. lam not aware of any record previously existing ou the road mentioned, but think this would be very hard to beat. Ido not know Mr Selby's time for the single journey cither way, but he informed me that on a previous trip fiom here to Otorohanga taken at leisure the cyclometer registered 19 miles. Although the day was extremely hot, he did not show any fatigue after his tough spin.—(Kihikihi Correspondent).

A very influential chief of the old order, named Wi Perera Tarakiteawa, died on Monday night at the Karikati settlement. He was a chief of the Ngapotiki, a hapu of the great Ngatierangi tribe, and closely related to the three leading hapus of the Arawa tribe. Hie deceased chief had an illustrious past as a warrior, and was famous both for his warlike and political ability. He was a loyal friend to the British, and in the old warlike days was the principal adviser and mediator in the district, and confidentially trusted by Mr H. T. Clarke, the Commissioner at that time. At the time of his death Wi Perera was about 75 years of age. He enjoyed a pension from the Government for his past services, and died honoured and respected and with a comparatively Urge amount of wealth. Ho was the most important chief that has died in the district since the demise of Hori Tupaea, 12 years ago, and a large tangi will be held and attended by the leading natives from all parts of the island.

An important discovery has been made (says the Daily Telegraph) by a contributor to the new number of the " Proceedings of the Auglo - Russian Literary Society," which holds its meetings in the Imperial Institute. The Romanovs—the ruling family of Russia—derive their descent from Andrew Campbell, a Scotchman. The Czar of All the Russias is by descent a Highlandman, and the M'Callum More is his tribal or clan chief. Andrew Campbell, the progenitor of the Romanovs, found his way across the Continent, through Russia to Moscow, to the Court of the Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, and his descendants rose in high positions there. The Czar Ivan Vasilievitch married a daughter of one of these Moscow Campbells, and this lady became known to history as the Empress " Anastasia Romanovna." It was from her brother Nikita that the Romanovs descended. This is further evidence iu favour of the assertion that a Scotchman will be found at the North Pole when it is discovered.