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Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1073, 15 October 1901, Page 2

Waixgako news will be found on our fourth page.

A police station and lock-up are shortly to ho built at Ougaruhe (lately known as Kawakawa), in the King Country. The constable at Poro-o-tarao will be transferer! to the new station, and the one at Poro-o-tarao will cease to exist.

We learn that Farrier Sergeant Hobbs purposes returning to South Africa and starting business in his trade. He had eighteen months’ hard service, and if of opinion that he can tow rest on his laurels and devote his attention to his material interests.

A case of shocking cruelty to a cow was reported at a meeting of the Weill gton Society for Prevention of Cruelty to animals. The animal had been burned all over the back and hindquarters, evidently with some corrosive acid, probably vilrol, and was in a te.rible condition.

On .Sunday morning, at JO o'clock, the Mining Inspector (Mr Coutts) and Sub-Inspector (Mr Ryan) paid a surprise visit to the Waihi Company’s battery, and, it is said, found IS men working. The company’s permit being for 10 men, legal proceedings, it is understood, will be instituted.

An important meeting of the Mint ns’ Union was licit! at Wuihi on Saturday night to consider the award of the Arbitration Court. The following resolutions were unanimously carried; ‘That this meeting, while fully aware there is no apptal from the award, emphatically protests against its injustice to the turners ; and regrets that Ihe Court thought fit to condemn men who follow such a dangerous, unhealthy occution to a miserable existence such as the wage award enforces ; that the lockedout men should continue to receive benefits till the award comes into force ; that the executive vote £SO lo Messrs Drumni and Morgan as compensation for loss sustained in connection with the dispute.’ Mr Charles Molloy was elected permanent secretary at £3 Kh a week. The award was severely criticised.

Mr 11. L. K ingsley, who some yfflis ag’’, some twelve or thirteen, was connected with the Hamilton Post ami Telegraph Office, lias arrived and taken ihe place of Mr Lye, who is to be otherwise employed daring the next thro months.

Sergeant-Major Rogers was engaged last evening instructing the noncommissioned officers of the No. I Waikato Mounted Rifles in the use of the now magazine rifl-s. This will enable them to pass this necessary information to the men of the corps. His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. W. Dyer) received the following telegram yesterday afternoon referring to the Hamilton traffic bridge ‘ln reply to your telegrams to Hon. Ministers, I am directed to say that careful consideration will be given to your proposal that the Government contribute half the cost of repairing the Hamilton traffic bridge, and, if possible, provision for the amount will be made on the Estimates. —C. W. Hdrsthouse, Chief Engineer of Roads.’ Yesterday the many Cambridge friends of Mr Thornton Walker, late of Mounavale, had a surprise visit from him, He was accompanied by his brother George, who returned from the Transvaal war by the Tagus, and lias since been at death’s door in the Christchurch hospital. Both of them are looking remarkably well, and we learn the former has sold his estate near Puhiatna at a satisfactory figure. We trust he may be induced to again settle in the Waikato where he is so well known and esteemed. Tho Minister for Lands, the Hon T. Y. Duncan, states that the anthrax scare in the Tauranga and Opotiki districts is dying a natural death, as the removal of stock from infected paddocks is having the desired effect. In some cases cattle had become infected through eating turnips. This would have been obviated if the farmers had first washed the turnips, as it was by means of particles of bonedust clinging to tile roots with the soil that the disease was communicated. The outbreak had now practically passed away. We are sure that the farmers and graziers of Waikato will be pleased to learn that Mr N. I. ffunt, who for many years managed tho Gorton and Matamata estates, has quitted the timber business and is again going in for farming. He has leased Mr Ellis’ Puketiti estate of 6000 acres, and will shortly take up his residence upon it. We are pleased Mr Hunt has gone back to his former occupation, for it seemed a pity that his great fund of prac'ical iufonna- . tion regarding farming should bo lying dormant. We trust he will again become an exhibitor at our agricultural shows, and be as successful as he was in former years, when he put bullocks in the ring that could not be beaten, There died on Saturday at the residence of his brother-in-law (Mr B. Craddock), Mr Gluts, K. Cornforth, an old colonist. He arrived here from London in the ship Gertrude, and was for aquartcr of a century a schoolmaster under the Auckland Board of Education, having been stationed at t'uriri, Te Rore, A'cxandra, and To Mata, Raglan district. He left Te Mata in September Df last year, and resigned his iffije as leaeher under the Board of Education. Mr Cornforth has been ailing since 1 March last, and was part of his time in i he District Hospital, but afterwards ( same out and died as above at Archhill, i

He leaves a widow hut no family Herald. Maori relics and legends were the subject of some interesting remarks in the Legislative Council on Friday. The, Hon. Captain Baillie drew the attention of the Government to a report which had come to him fro.n a Taranaki gentleman to the effect that there was in the possession of the Maoris a greenstoro ornament which had on it the representation of a serpent. If so, the idea might, he thought, have come from Egypt, through Pe sia and India, os the Maoris themselves had no idea ot what a serpent was. It was related of the relic that the rddest son of the chief who possessed it always died young, and this fatality attended it through eight generations till the spell was broken by incantation.

It always falls to the lot of the Hamilton Comedy Club to provide amusement for the visi'ors who are attracted to the town at show time, and it must be admitted that the Glut) does it fairly well. In ‘ Dandy Dick,’ 1 Sweet Lavender,’ ‘ The Magistrate,’ 1 The Private Secretary,’ and ‘ Charley’s Aunt,’ the members have demonstrated chat they are capable of staging difficult p’eoes, and have given the public of Waikato an opportunity of witnessing up-to-date comedies which they could not otherwise have tern without a trip to the metropolis. This year the piece to be presented is 1 What Happened to Jones,’ and after seeing the last rehearsal we feel sure that it is quite equal to any of the preceding productions. The box plan is on view at Mr Paul’s stationery shop. By invitation the visiting judges will attend the first night’s performance. He the Hamilton railway bridge, a resident of Claudelands informs us that prior to the publication of 'No. J’s’ letter a communication had been despatched to Mr Lang, requesting him to endeavour to ascertain, approximately, when the Government contemplate taking the work of re-construction in hand. If they intend doing so in the course of, say, two or three years it is hardly worth while taking any farther action in the matter of a footway ; but if they have no such intention the Minister, is to be asked if ho will do the work if the whole cost is subscribed, In the

event of a favourable reply being received it is intended to take active steps to endeavour to raise the necessary amount and get the work carried out as early as possible. If the Government are sincere in their promise it is thought they can hardly refuse to do the work temporarily on the terms mentioned. An exciting scene occurred at the Mercer Railway Station yesterday afternoon just before the departure of the Waikato train. From what we can learn it seems that ftlahuta and his bodyguard were on board, and they had been joined by another native who got on the train at Tuakau without a ticket. Trouble with the guaid naturally followed, and the native resolutely refused to pay the fine usually inflicted in such cases. On arrival at, Mercer an attempt was made to prevent him reentering the train, and the services of the local constable were invoked for the purpose.. One of the Maoris suddenly picked the constable up and dashed linn down on the asphalt platform, falling on top of him. 'J he other railway hands interfered, and an endeavour was made to arrest the man, whose name is Tahi Ho was a big fellow, and struggled violently, and it took five men to hold him down. While the constable was trying to put the handcuffs on him he suddenly gave the officer a fearful smack on the nose with his head, causing the blood to flew , freely. When the handcuffs were

eventually got into position, it was found that they were too small to close on his wrists, and it was only by kneeling on it that the clasp would act on one side, while the other would not close at all. With some rope, however, the man va l , after a lot of trouble, secured and landed safely in custody. It is stated that the gentleman in question is fond of a hit of ' divarshun ’ of this kind, and that His Majesty has on a former occasion had to ray a substantial (he for similar conduct on the part of this massive member of his suite. A number of horses arc impounded at Te Avvamutu. If not released they will be told on Saturday next,