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Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 405, 2 March 1899, Page 2

On our fourth page wo print the report of an interview which a representative of the Canterbury Press has had with the Hon. .Mr Rolleston, on the political outlook. Dr. Scanlon has commenced practice in Cambridge. The discovery of seams of good coal near Waihi is reported. Reweti Te Riakaherea has been elected Native Assessor for the native licensing district of Taupo. •Suppliers of pigs to the Cambridge Dairy Association are requested to give the manager a week's notice before killing, as the cool storage space is limited. Mr W. J. Hunter will sell at his Cambridge sale on Saturday next, March 4th, well-bred calves and yearlings, choice dairy cows and heifers, fat cattle, store sheep, pigs, etc. At a meeting of the Waipa Amateur Athletic Club on Saturday it was decided to hold the annual sports meeting at Pirongia on Thursday, 13th April. The programme will be published at an early date. The death is announced of Mr Horatio Phillips, who has held the position of head teacher of the Kauaeranga boy's school, Thames, since 1879. Mr Phillips was very successful as a teacher, and was very highly respected at the Thames. The Northern Roller Flourmill and business, Auckland, have been purchased by a company, of which Mr H. Brett, Major George, Capt. Colbeck, and Messrs John Brown, R. Hellaby and T. Peacock are the directors. Mr P. Virtue will continue to act as manager. The Hamilton Corps of the Salvation Army will hold their annual harvost festival in their barracks, commencing on Saturday next and continuing uutil Tuesday. The local officers are leaving no stone unturned to make the affair a success. The services will be conducted by a special offioer,

In the caso, Miss Hastie v. Beattic, of Sydney, cluiin for breach of contract, judgment has been given for plaintiff for £774.

Mr Dutliie will speak to-morrow at Wellington, when no doubt lie will give an authoritative sketch of the pol;cy upon which the opposition purpose appealing to the Country. The Manager of the New Zealaud Shipping Company has advised the Secretary of the Post Office that he has received a cable, stating that nothing is yet definitely settled by the Queensland Government respecting the Vancouver service.

The following tenders were received by the House Committee of the liVaikato Hospital Board for the painting; of the doctor's residence and out buildings (labour only):—R. Locke, £l2 i7s 6d ; A. Merringtou, £8 17s; C. Cowley, £8 ss; D. Hammond, £6 4s (accepted). In a review of the trade of the year, the Glasgow Herald says that Scotland has had a more prosperous time than has ever been experienced in the history of the uation. The prospects for 1899 are brightest. Clyde shipbuilders have more work already on hand than they launched last year. One of the effects of the scandal with regard to Marine officers certificates has been that the Union Steamship Company have issued a circular calling upon their junior officers to furnish full particulars of the manner in which they obtained their certificates, by whom they were coached, and where the examination took place,

A proposal is made in Wellington that the New South Wales Rugby Union be asked if they are willing to offer inducements for sending over a New Zealand representative football team to play against the Englishmen at Sydney. The cost is estimated at £I3OO. A team will be sent if Sydney agrees to allow New Zealand a fair proportion of the gate money. The Committee of the Taranaki Farmers' Club has addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture at Wellington, urging that a meetiug of delegates from all Farmers' Club iu the colony should be held at Wellington during the early weeks of the coming session, to arrive at some definite agreement in regard to the Noxious Weeds Bills and other kiurlred legislation, and to organise all Farmers' Clubs into a corporate body, with centralisation at Wellington, and to seek the establishment of similar clubs at every centre not at present served, coding of ruling, distribution of literature, and systematic arrangement of expert lectures.

It will be interesting to producers of butter-fat (writes the N.Z. Dairyman) to know that Mr C. Day, of Tamahere, Waikato, has lately imported from the United States a purebred Jersey bull, % double grandson to the famous Exile of St. Lambert. This celebrated sire has the remarkable record of sixty-four tested daughters, a greater number than any bull—living or dead—can boast of. The value of this record will be better understood when it is known that to pass the test a cow requires to have a record of over 14lb of butter a week. Mr Day is to be congratulated on having secured the introduction of this magnificent strain of Jersey blood into his already highly-pedigreed herd, which is now not only a credit to New Zoaland but might be envied by any dairying country. The young bull has been named New Zealand's Exile.

Ohrist Church, Taupiri, was crowded on Tuesday, to witness the marriage of one of the old members of the choir, Miss E, J. Haddon, daughter of Mr A Haddon, of Taupiri, to Mr W. H. Capper, third son of Mr Capper, farmer, of Ohinewai. The church was tastefully decorated by members of the choir and congregation, and the service was choral. Mrs White presided at the organ. The bride looked charming in heliotrope cashmere, trimmed with cream silk. Miss Capper, who acted as bridesmaid, was attired in Cambridge blue crepon. The bride was given away by her father, The Rev. A. M. Bradbury offlcated. The " Wedding March " was beautifully played by Mrs White as the happy couple left the chureh.amid showers of rice and good wishes. A large number of friends was entertained at breakfast. The bride and bridegroom left by th-3 1.30 pm.-train for Cambridge, to spend the honeymoon.— (Own Correspondent).

A meeting of the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute was held at Ohaupo on 25th of February. Present: Misses Macky and Gillespie, and Messrs Stevens, Rees, Dean and Phillips. Proposed by Mr Stevens, and seconded by Mr Dean, that Mr Phillips act as seoretary pro tern. Proposed by Mr Stevens, and seconded by Mr Dean, that circular re helping widow, whose husbaDd had been killed accidentally in Southland, be forwarded to members seeking their help in the matter. The resignation of Mr Chapman as a member of this Institute was received with regret, and it was the unauimous wish of the members that Mr Chapman may be eminently successful in whatever he may undertake. Proposed by Mr Rees that the best thanks of this Institute be tendered to Mr Stevens for the very able way in which he represented this branch at the annual conference held at Ohriatchurch, seconded by Mr J, S. Phillips and carried unanimously.

The way in which some people place themselves almost at the mercy of the criminal machinery of the country through downright stupidity was exemplified before the last meeting of the Wellington Land Board. A local journal states that a tall decent-looking man attended to explain why he had made a false and fraudulent declaration. Ten years ago' his son. then a boy of 14 or 15, having been left a sum of money the father decided to invest it in land. Although the boy was under age, an application for a certain area of Crown land was made on his behalf and the declaration was duly filled up and signed in the boy's name by the parent." Since then between £BOO and £9OO had been expended on the affidavit to the effect that no fraud or even evasion of the law was deliberately perpetrated was put in, and the board, after making due inquiry, came to the conclusion that the case—a most unusual one—was the result of sheer iguorance on the part of the individuals concerned. They had no option, however, but to declare the land forfeited.

Ou Friday evening lust the young men of Ohaupo gave a grand ball in the Public Hall, The night was fine, with bright moonlight and pleasantly cool, the affair was a decided success ; about sixty couple attended, all the surrounding districts were represented. The music was all that could be desired, Mr Round tree played the piauo and Mr F. Corboy the violin, which blended well together, both gentlemen being excellent players, the hall was nicely decorated. Mr Chittenden acted as M.C. Very few of the ladies »vere in evening dress ; in fact, ball dresses were conspicuous by their absence, while the young gentlemen on their part were dressed to advantage. As for the " belle," there were only about half-a-dozen in ball dress, and I suppose they were the ." belles.' Dancing was kept up till about 3 o'clock.' Mr Bathurst, of Te Awamutu, sang a couple of songs, which were well rendered (this gentleman can sing) and applauded, and thus ended one of the pleasentest balls that has been held in Ohaupo for a long time. Mr C Teddy, the lion, sec, and the committee deserve every credit for the manner in which all the arrangements were carried out.— (Own Correspondent).

A deplorable mishap occurred to a young lad at Woodbury (Ashburton) last week. He was standing barefooted on the step of a bicycle when a young man was riding it. Suddenly the lad's big toe, on the foot that was hanging free, caught between the chain and the cogwheel, so that the machine was brought up and capsized. The boy's toe was literally torn off with the wrench, and the pain must have been excruciating for the little chap, but from all accounts he scarcely uttered a cry.

There was a time in English history when corruption was rife in politics and in the public service ; but with the extension of empire and the increased sense of responsibility the conscience of the natiou was stirred against the scandal, and both at Home and abroad public life has been freed from this blight. A Secretary of State in the present day would be puzzled to tell the political opinions of 5 per cent, of the gentlemen in his office, or of those in the public service abroad. —Joseph Chamberlain.

Does any sane man seriously contend either (1) that the "problem of poverty " is a factor in our natural life in New Zealand or (2) that the people are suffering from overwork ? While we in New Zealand feel a glow of enthusiasm at the supreme efforts which are being made to conserve British commercial supremacy amid fierce competition, we are conscious of a " cold snap" of conviction that here at any rate the sinews of industry are being emasculated by meddlesome and coddlesome legislation merely to keep in power the Government of opportunism.—Wairarapa Times.

Co-operative butter-making concerns might well take a lesson from the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company, of Dunedin, in regard to the way in which that concern is fosteriug winter dairying. Suppliers of winter milk are rewarded by a bonus paid them on their summer supply, in proportion to the amount of milk delivered during the winter mouths. They are thus receiving an enchanced winter value besides having the additional price on the summer milk. The step is certainly in the right direction, and as competition tightens on the Home market and we will be forced to start our competition for the winter trade at the beginning of the season—instead of as now, in the middle of it—some such means will have to be taken in order to encourage suppliers to take up the winter production.—New Zealand Dairyman.

The inspection by Mr Park, Government veterinarian, of the dairy herds in the neighbourhood of Napier has been fairly satisfactory. There were very few herds in which there was not some trace of the disease. We think, however, the Government might go further than merely empowering an expert to look for the presence of tuberculosis, and also mete out to him the right to see that any cattle which suffer from the disease are immediately destroyed, In cases where Mr Park has examined a herd and discovered a certain number attacked, the owners have promised that they will destroy those affected, This does not apply to the immediate present, and the milk of these animals is meanwhile being distributed through the town, and their presence in a herd will affect some of the sound cattle also. The dairy farmers concerned intend to kill the diseased beasts when they can replace them with sound cows, but not till then. This is pleasant for the consumers, and the sooner it is remedied the better will we value the services of the expert appointed. No one will deny the hardship on settlers in having to get rid of cattle, but, on the other hand, the health of the community must be the first consideration.—Havvke's Bay Herald.

The possibility of Victoria losing her horse trade with India (says the Australasian) is one of the contingencies that may arise in connection with the tick pest in Queensland. It is evident that the Indian Governmtnt, dreading the introduction of the pest, are seriously con. templating the prohibition of the landing of horses from Australia, bearing that something of the kind might be done, the Minister for Agriculture, a few months ago, wrote to the Indian authorities, explaining the system of quarantine in force, and pointing out the practical impossibility of disease being disseminated from this colony. The New South Wales Government is now about to follow the same course. It is high time for this to be done, for the Government of Java has placed an embargo on the landing of all Australian horses, and India may elect to follow suit at any moment. As far as Victoria is concerned, the danger of introducing the tick per medium of horse is infinitesimal. Queensland stock is not allowed to come in by sea, while as regards animals introduced by land, they are subjected to inspection by New South Wales inspectors, and, furthermore, have to undergo a quarantine of three months in that colony before being examined by Victorian inspectors previous to their introduction into this colony. While such strict precautions are observed, the Indian Government need not fear that horses shipped from Melbourne will cause the spread of any infectious disease whatever. If our regulations err at all, it is on the Bcore of strictness, for we are just as much interested in keeping out the tick as the Indian authorities. During 1897, the export of horses from this colony was as follows:—To West Australia, 172 ; Bengal, 2295 ; Bombay. 200 ; Madras, 100 ; Mauritius, 140 ; Straits Settlements. 400—total, 3347. During the years 1895, and 1896, the number of horses exported to West Australia averaged 3000 per annum, but owing to the extention of railways to the goldfields that trade has now nearly ceased. During the last six years the average number shipped to Indian, Mauritius, and the Straits Settlements was about 4000; and for the whole of Australia about 7000.