The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1901.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1009, 30 July 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1901.

Mr Barugh, the President of the Waikato Farmers’ Club, at the annual meeting had a satisfactory report to make of the year’s work. More than the wonted amount of energy has been displayed, and the farmers of the Waikato have derived some substantial advantages therefrom. The reduction in auctioneers’ fees and Bank interesthave saved them some thousands of pounds per annum, and the forming of branches in the different centres of population, also the work of the year, can hardly fail to do good. In the first place they concentrate thought upon questions affecting the agricultural and pastoral interests. There is no better educator than discussions on questions which those who lake part in them understand. It is true that the parent club has its regular meetings, the proceedings and the opinions expressed at which are as fully reported in our columns as our space will admit, and our reports are read by nearly every farmer in the district, but this is not nearly as effeetlvG as listening to and taking parfc in a discussion with men who have had large practical experience, and who have devoted much thought to their subjects. No good purpose would be served by dealing at length with the President’s report, it speaks for itself, and he and the Executive of the Club, we write without hesitation, have earned the thanks and gratitude of the community for the results they have brought about.

No man who knows what he is talking about will dispute the accuracy of the hypothesis of. the President expressed in the first paragraph of his speech in introducing his scheme for the affiliation of all the farmers’ organisations throughout the colony. He said ‘ The need of combination and organisation of those who get their living by agricultural and pastoral pursuits has now become so glaringly apparent and is so universally acknowledged that it is hardly necessary to use argument.’ The only question to be arrived at is, therefore, as to how this is to be brought about. Mr Barugh has formulated a tentative scheme which appears to be fairly workable. The interests of farmers are nearly identical throughout the colony as regards the legislation they require and the fiscal policy which should be adopted. There is little fear, therefore, but that a platform can be arrived at which all will be able to accept, and which, in their own interests, they will insist upon being carried out. As the President has pointed out, party politics, as such, must be eschewed as far as is consistent with the attainment of certain definite ends, which, in the opinion of farmers, are necessary and just, and we are confident that they will ask no more, tempted though they be by the example set them by other combinations. If the farmers are at last alive to the necessity for action, and we think they are, every one of them will shortly belong to his local club or association, and thus have a voice in framing a programme with which all may agree. The membership of these Clubs should not be confined to the owners of land, but should embrace every man who earns his living by agricultural or pastoral pursuits. The interests of the farmer and the man he employs are identical, except as regards the rate of wages to be paid. Improve the position of the farmer, and he will be able to pay higher wages than under existing conditions is possible. We refrain from suggesting planks for the farmers 1 platform, but it is perhaps well to point out that the key to the position is unquestionably the reduction of customs duties down to what is termed a revenue tariff, with possibly a leaning towards the protection of some industries. All other matters affecting the interests of farmers are of minor importance. The ball has now been set rolling, and it is to be sincerely hoped that it will be vigorously kicked till the whole country population of the colony is enrolled under one banner with one object in view—the assertion by combined political action of their right to fair treatment. It is absurd to suppose that they will get it by any other process.

An Auckland telegram announces the death of M-- George Fraser tu> founder of the well-known firm of G. Fraser and Son, of Stanley Street Auckland. Deceased was 69 years of age.

Mr W. J. Hunter will hold a clearing sale on Thur.-day, August 15th, nt Te Kowhai, ou account of Mr W. H. Wyman, who has sold his farm. Particulars will be found in ttie usual column.

Those earlier inhabitants who remember Mr Kennedy Hill, a former rendent of Hamiton, will bo pleased to hear that he has arrived in Auckland and is contemplating a visit to Waikato in order to renew old acquaintanceships.

A Scotch syndicate own a con-siderable-sized run in New Zealand. They instructed their manager if anything was radically wrong to cable home at once. The manager cabled : ‘ Five inches of snow ; ewes lambing and dying by the hundred.’ The syndicate cabled back : 1 Stop lambing at once ! ’ Mrs Smith, wife of Mr Alex, Smith, of Hamilton East, died very suddenly on Sunday evening from rheumatism affecting the heart. Mrs Smith was one of Hamilton’s oldest identities, having arrived here with her husband, who wos a member of the Fourth Waikatos. The funeral will take place ou Fridav.

During the past day or two several properties in and around Hamilton have changed hands. Among others we learn that Mr Coates has purchased Mr Jno. Reid’s property of fifty acres at Kirikiriroa, Mr Lewis has secured 150 acres from Mr Hurd wood on the Ohaupo Road, and Mr J. T. Horne has sold a section in Hamilton, near the Lake, to a gentleman from Taranaki.

Surgeon-Captain Watt, speaking at Dunedin at the reception to the returned contingents, said, ‘ Coming from a campaign men were inclined to go loose, but the New Zealanders carried their liquor more gracefully than the Australians—(laughter)—and others. New Zealanders did not think they were better than the stock of the old world, but they were glad that the blood in this new country was as good as that in the old.’

A Swede created some excitement in Cashel-street, Christchurch, on Sunday afternoon. He was (says Truth) snowballed by some festive colonial youths, and, instead of replying by the same method, he drew a long naked knife, and started to chase his attackers. One boy was nearly captured, but he was swung out of the way just as his pursuer reached him. The man was thereupon set upon by the whole band, and sought safety in flight.

On Saturday afternoon at the Asylum, Mr Gresham, Coroner, held au inquest on a widow aged 72 years, who had been au inmate since 1887. Ou Friday she died, and the medical evidence showed the cause of death to he heart disease, the jury returning a verdict accordingly. Another female patient, aged 22, whoso father and mother died in the Asylum, died yesterday, and Mr Gresham, Coroner, vwill hold an inquest at the Asylum at four o’clock this afternoon.

During the encampment of the No. 1 Company of the Waikato Mounted Rifles at Claudelands list week the catering was carried out by Mr and Mrs Bettley, of the Hamilton Coffee Palace. The arrangements were all first class, and the wants of Bremen were admirably attended to. At the conclusion of the camp a deputation from the men watted on Mrs Bettley and presented her with a handsome gold brooch as a token of their appreciation of her efforts on their behalf. In our columns this morning Mr Bettley thanks the men for their kind present. A telegram from Wellington received last night says The Government, it is said, does not intend to proceed with the State Fire Insurance Bill this session. It is probable that an expert, or a small body of experts, will be appointed to go carefully into the Bill with the object of advising the Government as to whether the proposed scheme is feasible, and if so in what direction, if any, the measure should be amended. This work will be concluded before Parliament again meets, and with the information so obtained members will he enabled to form a much more accurate opinion than is now possible.

At an inquest at Melbourne on the Bth inst. concerning the death of Loveday Katherine Mankey, aged 22, whose body was found on the St. Kilda Beach, the police stated that over 500 people presented themselves at the morgue to see the body, either to identify or, what is more likely, to satisfy a morbid curiosity. At the same time, scores of letters and telegrams came to hand from parents in the country asking for further details in the description of the clothes, etc., worn by the deceased. They indicate pretty clharly that a large liumber of young women have disappeared from their homes in recent years, and have not been traced by their anxious relatives.

A meeting was held at Wanganui on Monday under the auspices of the Ministers’ Association, at which the following resolutions were passed unanimously :—* That in the opinion of this meeting gambling is a growing evil, and seriously detrimental to the moral and financial well-being of the people ; that this meeting considers it most unrighteous on the part of the Legislature of the colony to legalise in any form such a national evil as gambling, and respectfully urges the Government to pass the Bill for abolishing the totalizator introduced by Mr Ell ’ A resolution was also passed commending the action of Mr Willis, member for the district, in supporting the abolition of the totalisator.

‘Employer No. I,’ who says he is interested in the payment of a large amount of wages, writes as follows to a Southern contemporary on the Workmen’s Compensation Act;—‘What between forced insurance and wages fixed by so-called unions, this splendid country is going to the dogs, and the wise capitalist will, before the storm bursts, realise, even at a big loss, clear out and settle down—even in Russia, in preference to New Zealand. Trade is already contracting in New Zealand in many lines, and nothing can save some of our present industries from utter collapse in a few years ; and all brought about by these miserable labour laws compelling a master to give a wage that no other country would dream of giving. This, of course, has only one ending, which even now all masters see coming.’

On (Saturday evening there was a pleasant surprise when Coppins Dramatic Company, opened their Waikato season in the Papakm a Hall, to a large and enthusiastic audience, when they produced the well-known drama ‘Struck Oil.’ The applause and laughter was at times uproarious, Mr George Coppin as Julin Stoefel and Millie Collier as Lizzie Stoefel, fairly carried the audience away, and were called before thn curtains several times. The rest of the company played their parts to perfection. Struck Oil will be played in almqst every town in Waikato, Those who intend seeing them should not miss the chance given t his time, as they intend opening a three month season in Auckland on their return. To-night the company will produce ‘ Struck Oil ’ in Volunteer Hall Hamilton, and should the weather clear they will no doubt be well patronised.''