The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1901.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 936, 24 April 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1901.

Eon the time it has lasted, the war which there is reason to hope is ncarlv at an end has been the most expensive ever waged, but as a counterbalance to this fact the nation was never, in a financial sense, better prepared, and had she been as well prepared in other respects the cost would not have been nearly so great. Sir M. Hicks-Beach iian sent in his little bill, and the Commons have made provision lo meet it. Uo told the Committee that the two wars have cost one hundred and fifty-throe millions, two and a half of which are chargeable to the Chinese trouble. lb is in the nature of things that when additional taxation becomes necessary the class upon which the burden is placed should think, or at any rate protest that the incidence is unequal. The addition of 2d in the £ to the income tax, it is stated by some English papers, is calculated to alienate the middle classes froniHhe Government party. There is, however, no getting over the fact that the people best able to bear taxation are those who are living on the interest on accumulated capital, or on the profits realised by commerce, and it is to the credit of the Government that they have placed a considerable portion of the war burden upon the shoulders of this class, notwithstanding that it is they who support them in power. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has selected sugar under its different denominations for taxation. In this no doubt he is wise, as, owing to the fiscal policies of certain European countries, the people of Gmat Britain have been supplied with sugar at an almost infinitesimal fraction over cost price, if not at an actual loss. The imposition of Is per ton on the coal exported should yield a very large revenue. We have no later return to hand showing the magnitude of this export than that for IS9S. In that vear the value of the coal sent over sea was valued at £18,145,592. The greatei proportion of this coal is used for steamer purposes, and is sent to the coaling stations on the different trade routes, and con sinned by British vessels, it has, however, been no secret that the Continental Powers have during the past few years accumulated enormous quantities of British coal in preparation for war, .and there have been periodical agitations for the adoption of some measure of restriction of export for the lastnamed purpose. The colliery owners 'jnd workers and those interested in shipping have protested strongly, but the House of Commons has, nevertheless, sanctioned the imposition of the duty. This step should cause, nu increased demand for Australian coal ; the Is impost on English coal will be of the nature of Is bonus to Australian coal owners. " 'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good." The Budget provided for a loan of sixty millions. This has been raised without the slightest difficulty, and had ten times as much been asked for it would have, been forthcoming, There are only two nations in Europe which could conduct a war on their own resources —Great Britain and France. Russia, fortunately for the rest of the world, is in straitened financial circumstances ; otherwise there would be reason for grave fears that a terrible war would take place in the near future. Italy and Austria are impecunious, and the millions said to have been put away by Germany out of the French indemnity would soon melt under the fierce heat of war. The bill the British nation has to pay is a big one, hut its payment will not seriously hamper her progress, or bear very hardly upon her population.

A uei'OKT of Saturday's meeting of tho Buiigiaohia Road Board will be found i u our fourth page.

The history of the past century is continued in a supplement pul.lishcd with this issue.

The Now York press ridicule the statement, declaring that America is able to starve Europe.

Enormous numbers of breeding oitrle .ni'. being sent to Basutoland in exchange for ponies.

There is strong agitation amongst the British coal owners, colliers, and expor.ers against the duty on exported coal.

It is probable that the Hon Mr. Walker, the Minister of Education, will accompany the Premier to Melbourne next Saturday.

The lion. W. Brodrick has appointed a committee to report on the question of training the applicants for army commissions.

The Government has purchased from the Assets Realisation Board the Mangatoro Estate of 19,550 acres, mar Dinnevirke, at £4 I.os an acre.

The Government have purchased from the Assets Realisation Hoard tile Maugatouu estate of 10,550 acres, near Dannevirke, at £4 10s per acre.

Very welcome rain has fallen in New South Wales and Victoria. 11l Melbourne on Monday there was a heavy downfall—over 3j inches. The Queen Victoria National Mi'inorifil Funds amount to £71.000. The Duke of York contributed £SOO. and an American list has been opened in London.

Burglars entered the premises of IS. C. Browne and Co., Queeu-stree", Auckland, between Saturday nii'ht and Monday morning. The window was forced open at the back of the premises, and cash and noods stolen. The census sho.vs there are 331 S more wonnn than men in Sydney and suburbs. At the last census there were 7595 more men than women. The troops cent, to the war are largely accountable for the iib-er.ce of men.

A young woman named Amy Susan Heather, aged 21. committed suicide ou Monday at Anderson's Bay Bridge, OU'go. Sdie bad been despondent lor some time. She left a note addressed to her mother asking forgiveness.

Admiral Canevaro, tho Italian ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the course of an interview at Toulon, assured the Paris Figaro interviewer that it whs furtilu of civilisation to require Europe to consider the necessity of uniting against America.

.Mr E. K. Lindsey, representative of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works, Indiana. US.A., is at present ton ring the Waikato in company with Mr W. J. Potter, of T. and S. Morrill, Limited. This latter firm are the sole representatives in New Zealand for the Oliver Chilled Plow.

Owing to one of his nominators for the Mayoralty not being on the roll Mr Bennett, the present Mayor of Hastings, bus to retire from the contest. Not desiring to take advantage of the oversight, Mr Eil/.roy, the other candidate, h.is generously retired, and both will be re-uomiiiiited.

We have been requested to intimate that those who are interested in the. formation of a girls' class in connection with the Hamilton Gymniisum will meet in St. Peter's schoolroom at '2.30 p.m. on Thursday. It is hoped there will be a good attendance, so that matters in connection with the class may be advanced.

The suggestion is made by the Poverty Bay Heraid that hospitals for the treatment of Maoris should be esfaldished by tho Government in various na'ive districts, and that the niu'sillt! stiff should consist of Maori jrirls sp> cmlly trained for the work. Our oon'cmpnraiy believes th it by charging lees it would be possible to make the institutions a in ost sclf-supportiug.

We (Northern Advocate) have been shown a healthy-looking plant of the Anvrioni peanut, i>rnwn in Whangnrei. We must confess that we do not know 'he precise market value of the peanut (the oil of which is used for some pu-poses) ; but the upvjearance of this little >tr»neer, coupled wih the fact that one Whaugarei resident has a date plant also thriAing in his garden, emphasises the contention that our soil will grow " almott Anythiujt."

A case in regard to an appointment, to the Civil Service has j:ist come beloie the Uuhiiieb. The hobb'r of a Queen's scholarship, having also pissed the Junior Civil Service examination, was amongst those elect'd to an appointment in the Civil 'Service. The question i hen loose whether he could retain the scholarship and ;ir the same time hold his appoin' incut. Cabinet has decided that he niu-i. elejt either to continue the scholarship or surrender it if he remains ill the service.

Miss Coleman, of the China, la-l-.nd Mis-ion, will give an address on mission work among the Chinese in St. Peter's schoolroom, Hamilton, on Friday next, at 4 p.m. It is hoped there will be a huge attendance, as Miss Coleman is ;rble to speak with authority upon this interesting and important subject. Though the meeting is to be held in St. Peer's schoolroom, the address will lie of an undenominational jhanu.ter, and all will be heartily welcome. There will lie ii'j charge for admission and no eollec-

Our readers may remember that, about a foi tniglr, ago .Mr J. A. Kinseila, Dairy Commission t, came up to Auckland for the purpose of having a thorough examination of the dairy factories in operation in the Auckland district. Since his arrival Mr Kinseila has beon as busy as he could be, having found more work here than he anticipated. Dining his stay he has \ isted most of the stations in Waikato, Wainku. Pukekohe. etc., but there are several yet to be inspected. This will probably bo done by Mr D. J. McGowan, one of the dairy instructors. Mr Kinseila is narticu'arly in love with the drained swamp land in the Wiiiuku district. With such land as that, he thinks dairying must be truly successful. He expects to be able by-aud-by to place a thoroughly competent man at thi terriee of the Auckland factories the whole season, and he considers the potentialities of the district are deserving of such assistance.

A cable to the Now Y'ork World from London says:—The peis.mal transformation which King Edward lias undergone is astounding to everybody. Society is asking itself. Car. it possibly last ': oinca Henry V ascended the throne and inconsistently cast off his light companion* there his been nothing like it. Kdward's friends arc still waiting, hoping against hope, to be summoned to the Royal presence, but there is no sign so far that Edward is awar" even of the existence of the boon companions and baccarat cronies of the Prince of Wales. Lord Marcus Bercsford is the only one of his old pals whom be has summoned. As Prince of Wales, Edward was very familiar with [Marcus, who comes of a family that stands no nonsence. even from Royalty. It used to be, " Well, Marky, my boy,'' This time Marcus was ushered in with the utmost state, whi'e the King assumed the loftiest possible manner and addresecd him formally by his full title, and communicated his Royal wishes like a stage king. In the same fashion he freezes off overyono, and extorts to the last drop the homage duo to his position by Court etiquette.

The valuation of Mr Leslies Hold, Te Awamutu. was earii'd oat mi Monday, Mr John Knox net in a for .Mr M. 8. Laurie, and Mr Lewis Audi land for the outgoing terumit.' Mr Laurie took possesion imnedia'e.y.

Malooln McTntyre, third engineer at the Lone bun Frerzng Works Valmerston North had his right arm smashed to a pulp yesterday mo-ning through being drawn into some michinory The arm was a m puis ted at the hospital shortly after the accident occurred.

With a view of taking full advantage of fine weather during the threshing season, an enterprising ma-chine-owner in the West Eyreton district. Canterbury, has fitted a small dynamo to his engine. Tnis supplies ac are lamp of sufficient brilliancy to ett'.blo work to b« carried on at nig. t.

HsAs ptoof of tho profits of the poultry industry, Mr Hyde recently quoted the case of a young Auokkuider, a won) in, who last year netted £SO from 200 Minorca hens, and this is the worst egg market in the colony. The Scacliff Asylum antherities last year made over £250 profic from the sale of eggs raised oh a run of eight acres.

Oft the train from Cambridge this morning a truck of straw fire. The truck was uncoupled at Ruakura aud tun on to the siding, but the fire had such a hold that the truck and its contents were all destroyed. It would seem from tho above that the using of Southern coal does not entirely do away with the danger from sparks.

On Sunday last a child, (great grand-daughter of Mrs Kingdou, Cambridge West) narrowly escaped being drowned through falling into a well, whilst playing with a kitten. Portunatelv her father, Mr 1. Hall of Mata mala wa-J present and quickly rescued her from her perilous position, but nor before in; and tha little one had received a good ducking, the well is about 20 feet iii depth.

A well known Gore resident, who tvas cycling on the Waimea Plains last week, had a rather unpleasant experience (says the Ensign) The cyclist hid passed a mob of cattle, and a young bull cantered up from the rear unknown to the rider, and, executing a sunrt flanking movement., tossed the cyclist cif his machine into some tussocks along the edge of the road. The frisky bovine was content to allow the incident to terminate at that, and im great damage resulted.

The Wyndham Farmer says : An earnct deputation of farmers waited on us tin other day to imike a somewhat novel, though possibly not altogether impract cable, suggestion. 'Briefly, the gist of their pioposnl was—That the farmers, who are tlio backbone of the country, are suffering a manifest hardship by being underpaid for their oats. At the ruling price—-viz., Is Ud —they declare the staple c real is whnhy unprofitable to grow. IT.ey believe they ar,at the mercy of a powerful and un-cru-r.iilius ''tine." What they desire to point out is that the Government should come to the rescue, as it so oft bus done in other directions in the past, and make a standing offer of Is 3d per bushel at stations for fair feed. They assert that it would pay the Govcrunn nt to do this, besides proving of immense b"tiefi'. to the farming community at huge. Of course, the law of supply ami demand might not meet i he conditions of this new e onomy —but that is a mere detail. We are posting a marked copy of this issue to the Right Hon. tho Premier, and trust he will give the matter Iterein referred to his lies' consideration.

l)v Pomare, Government .Sanitary Inspector amongst the Maoris, arrived from Gishorne yesterday. He ha< been doiusi Jgood work on the Coast. and giving the Maori people much useful instructions. In this lucent address to the natives at Mnrewai, Dr. Pomare explained that the Government had not sent him '() cure the people, but to teach them how, by ri lit moles of living, to avoid the necessity for being cured. Hi) Jul vice was emphatic concerning the election of better houses in pi ice of their wluires, wherein prov sion would be mode for ventilation, flooring, li ing, and the division of the bab tati ns into apartments. Where th? natives are too poor to take this Step he bsisfs that they shall as lo is!, raise ami Hour their whares, provide for chimneys, and aso divide them into apartments. " Open your houses," he urged, ''and let the pure fresh air come in and purify your blood. That will make good tissue ; goorl tissue, will ensure hotter brain; good brain means good thoughts, and Cool thoughts mean good lives. Hence the letting in of an abundance of good, pure ail will make good men of you."

A most distressing accident happened to Harold Lewis, an employee of the VYaihi Company, at the company's Waikiao tram-iine, about 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon, about midway between Waikino and Waihi. While the engine with a train of about 18 trucks was coining from Waikino to Walhi one of the wheels of u truck containing bullion slimes, and which Lewis and another employee named Weymouth wki ;: sitting, came off. Tne truck immediate'y joggled off the line. Weymouth and Lewis then sprang off the truck on to the engine. The former succeeded fn getting a footing on the engine, but the latter slipped and f~ll back on the line, Before the train could he stopped seven trucks passed over his right leg, about six inches above the ankle, crushing the limb frightfully. Di* Gummas was quiek'y dcquainied with the occurrence, and was in the briefest time possible conveyed by >p:'ciiil eug'me to the of the accident. He made the sufferer as cmfortable ns 'he circumstances would p emit, and had him brought up in the train to Waihi without delay and the; on a stretcher to Nurse Gilmour's house, where i'r Porter was called in consultation It was decided to amputate the injured limb. Great sympathy is felt for Lewis in his sad misfortune.