FEATHERS AND CHAFF.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 798, 28 July 1877, Page 3

FEATHERS AND CHAFF.

(From an Auckland Correspondent.)

July 14. COILABIEG THB COLLARLBSB.

I strprosß you have all read the lateat joke here about the amorous peeler vy Jwe visit* to jb»'. lady Iqy? wew

take the water to an outlet fiva mi'es off when it could be done in three. The Chairman quite agreed with Mr Keynolds, when Mure were no natural watercourses. Bin, with regard to the ctep h of dmins, he had been goiug twelve feet in some pliices, but hejdid not think the drains would do for fences. On Eurl Duties relate in Dorsetshire some ol the dramsv were eight and nine feet wide, but Ino cattle were fouud to tcr.imble through ibem*

Mr James Runciinau said he wished to say a few words more on the subject. He should not hare asked the question about re-deepening drains if he hud understood that it. was only in drains where there was timber, that Mr W>»lk r nrivocale;! going lo the required depth at once. Iu other cases he thought it was better to let the Bwi i,p subside and solidify, and redeepen if necessnry three or four times. As a proof that swamps were at One time dry land, he oitcd the instance of Moa bones having been found some distance beneath the surface of a swamp a short time ago. Mr Walker, in reply, said that he did not think it possible to over-drain. If the surface appeared to be too dry, it 1 was not roally so. The ground was kept moist by capillary attraction. With regard to the places uTthe Moanavale Estate which appeared barren, it was not the fault of the drainage. It had been sown tbo early, and the grass did not take. In suggesting a cat oh water drain at the base of the hills that skirt the swamp at Fencourt, he did not menn that it should divert the main streams, but to turn the small springs into them. In swamps 20 or 30 feet deep, the drains should be dug as deep as possible, if they did not olose in at the. bottom, which they were liable to do. He did not agree with the Chairman, that it was better to follow the course of old streams in every case. Water always took a direct course ; if it was diverted, the flow of water was not so great. A half-inch pipe would . carry off one-third less ii bent than if it * was straight. A sligh b scratch once got into the nozzle of a hose attached to a fire engine in Loßdori.and in coneequence they were n ot able to throw water the requisite height; wheu the scratch was polished out it made all the difference. More water will be carried off by straight drains than by crooked ones. He did not think the drains would do as fences, and this was another reason why they should bo straight, as all awkward angles were difficult to fence across. Mr Clark proposed a vote of than to Mr Walker for his paper. MrH Eeynolds seconded.— Carried. DONATION TO THB^ SBCRBTARY. Mr Buttle was then requested to withdraw, and while absent, it was resolved, »n the motion of Mr Clark, to recognise Mr Buttle's valuablo set vices to the Club >y a email donation. CATTLE SHOfr COMMITTEE.

. Mr Fantham having, by a vote of the Club, obtained the suspension of rule 6, moved that the Show Committee lay their proceedings before a meeting to be confirmed. He thought that, as the Show was being got up under the auspices ' of the Club, all tbe members should know what the Committee were^doing. In other associations of this kind, it was always necesßary for the sub-committees to submit their proceedings to the parent institution, to be confirmed. A show, such as they contemplated, was a great undertaking, and it would be far better for the whole Club to bear the onus of the affair. Many little things that might escape tbe Committee, might be noticed by som3 other members of the Club. Mr Hicks seconded.

Mr Clark thought that, aa a committee bad been appoiute 1, abe Club might safely leave the affair in their hands. The Club might Vote what amount they liked towards the show, but, it was public money which would be principally given in prizes, and, therefore, he thought it should be left lot he Committee.

After further discussion on the subject, Mr Fantham's mo lion was put, and carried by 5 to 3. The Secretary then read the amended prize lift.

Mr Fantham suggested that a priza should be given for dry mare*. If a mare had a dead foal, or, had been put to a boise that was no good, it would be very hard if she could not b* shown.

The Chairman thought she should be disqualified. / Mr Fantham's motion fell through for want of a seconder. v

In the class for cattle, Mr Hicks asked if they had a separate class for pedigree cattle. There might be a grade beaßt entered whicb, by a freak of nature, would be far better looking than pedigree stock. He thought there should bo a class for pedigree cattle, and put forward a motion accordingly. Mr H A C Fergusaon seconded.

Mr Clark asked, what would constitute pedigree stock, and shouid the pedigree be handed to the judges, to be judged with the cattle, or retained by the Club. It was suggested that' pedigree stock be allowed as, such, if the names were mentioned in any xecognised herd book, and the pedigree ehould not be given to the judges.'

Mr Fani ham said that, fif pedigree stock could not compete with grade, it was not, worth the name. It was well known that Bome cattle, as pure bred as the Eclipse, were to be had' whose pedigree had, by some carelessness, been lost. Cattle with short pedigrees in England, now, were taking more prizes than those with long ones. He knew of some breeders who had some pedigree stock which was a disgrace to the colony. He would not name tiem, as it would not be right to do so, but their stock had degenerated. Mot, enough attention had been paid to the dams, and he thought a breeder should pay even more attention to them than to the sires. la Arabia, the Arabs do not care at all about the sires, but preserve tb«j pedigree of the dams with tbe strictest care.

Mr Hicks' motion was then put, and lOBt.

Mr Fantham moved — ' That in the Hereford s and Shorthorns, a class be made for calves under nine months.' There were Borne bulls in the district which it would be well to see as soon as possible what kind of stock they were getting. He thought the class v\ oukl be seJf-supportin?, and, at tbe show, would be tile one most interesting to Jadies and children.

Mr W Martyn seconded.— Carried,

Mr Fau'bhuin then moved — ' That a class be made for aay other bree V An Ayrshire. or Devon, or any other breed might be imported, and they should not be debaired from sboniLg th'-in. , Mr Bunciman seconded. — Carried. Tbe other part of the programme was then read ani passed.

The Secretary stated that the regulations bad been taken frum those of several ether institutions.

Mr William Martyn then proposed that the names of all members be submitted to the commute for approval, before being proposed a* numbers. Mr Clark seconded. — Carried.

Mr Brooks asked what time would then be required before a member coulil be proposed.

It was agreed that the committee would consider the names of new mem* bera before each meeting. Oo this occaBion, bowever, they vtoulU reure |o

seriously hindered by a bull-dog. When he went to the back gate aud softly whistled ' come inlo the garden Mary, a greatbull-dog rusbed ont and run off with a piece of his trousers as a kind of souvenir. In a moment of desperation hu went; and got his revenge by Bummoning tb& owner of the canine for having a colhirless kuri. It has been reserved for a policeman in oue of the upcountry distiic^s cf Ofca^o to dircover anew way of protecting the revenue. The ingeuiuh man advertised that he wanted to buy a dog, aud requested that the animals with their respective owners whould appoar on a certain day and hour mentioued At. the time appointed, §16 do^s were duly offered, and of this 390 were found to be unregistered. Next day 390 persons contributed 10a each to the revenue, 5s fine, and a similar sum for a collar.

ON THB SANDS.

There- is a place on she North Shore which stands as the Margate of Auoklund. Any Sunday afternoon iou may behold a score of spoony couples silting on the rocks and gazing upon the waves after the manner ol lovers whose bliss is ioo big for words. I hero was a couple there last Sunday — rather a youthful couple, but as affectionate as turtle doves. The young man' told the story of his burning love in tall language, and tht. young woman blushed and murmured Ajly, ' Ask Mamma.' ' When they got up to leave they were rather surprised to aee the heads of two urchii.s pop up over an adjacent rock, ami to hear a juvenile voice call out in soft accents, 'Grood-bye darling !'

THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

There is a certain clergyman here, who fhall be nameless, who is very nuieh addicted to lecturing his congregation on the sin fulness of extravagance in dress. He has inveighed against the fashions until one young lady declared that if they .acted strictly up to the teachings of their respected pastor they would have to appear in the simple garb of the Shakers. On a recent Sabbaih he moralised on the extravagance in the matter of ladies' gloves. Ho said the difference between plain serviceable articles aud the perishable expensive kid represented an amount sufficient lo pay off the debt on the church in a year or two. One lady met him after church and suggested as a compromise that tbe rev. gentleman should abandon cigar and thereby se fc an example to the mal 8 ' members of the congregation. The mia e ister has taken time to consider th matter.

A RIDICULOUS SITUATION.

A paterfamilias of irreproacliablo character was placed in a verj absurd plight in a -Mew Zealand Court the other d^y. tie was tummoned by a draper for alleged to have been supplied to his wife and daughter. There was a dispute as to the measure of the various stuff's, an<l several shopwomen. and experts were called to give evidence. It transpired that Bometimes three yards of stuff are required to go round a lady's waist, and that one mysterious garment is sometimes small, sometimes large. An experl Eit'h ml Brooke was convinced that Miaa Adams would require a full-sized— ahem —tell it not in Galh. Mr Nalcler (the learned counsel in the case) : I have no deeire to make jou blush, but did yo u take in.y measure of the lady's ? Brooke : I took no measure for them , but judging iroui x the price charged 1 ehould eay that the linen of which they were made wa-s.of avery superior quality and they should wear irell. '

THE MOMENTOUS QUESTION.

We lately heard that the Kiug o* 3amoahad entered into a treaty with the Kaiser of Germany under which the fleets of the two powers were to unite lor offensive aud defensive purposes. Hawaii has lately issued a proclamation informing the world that, during the war between .Russia and Turkey, it will observe the strictest neutrality. At last advices,- the naval armament of King George, of Samoa, c6u&isted of a topsail schooner, aimed with a three-pouuder, with a large flotilla oi war-canpes. The navy of Hawaii may be eomtwjiat larger. It is uonsuling to know that, in tbe event of England going to~ war with Kussia, the Sandwich Is'undsjjwll not side with the Czar, aud seml4||gj|tt to Lombard Auckland. i^wf ijyjT

OUB SHODDY AEISXOCBACr.

Auckland is going ahead. There are several high.toned families here, who have set up liveried minions, and keep footmen and tigers. One of these nobs lately advertised for a coachman, and a new arrival applied for the billet, when something like the following colloquy took place :-—

- New Chum: I was coachman for 15 yeara with Lord - , and I have testimonials with me.

Nob : Fifteen years ! Ah, my man, I'm afraid you wont do.

New Chum : Well, sir, you might give me a trial. I used to be reckoned AI as a coachman, and I only left home for my health.

Nob : It's just because you're a coachman, that you wont do. New Chum (scratching his head, and puzzled) 5 Well, sir, I cau'fc see that. Nob j Well, the- fact is, I haven't enough work for a coachman. I want a man who can. do a little gardening as well. t New Chum : Well, I can try my hand at that. . J

Kob (after a long pause) : Well, I'm afraid you wont suit. Good day, my man.-

New Chum : But, you might give me a trial. I'll do my best. I should be glad of a place, and would take very moderate wages to begin with. N ° b • Well, look here, the fact is, you would have to wait at table sometimes, and, perhaps, you're not up to the business.

New Chum : Anything else ? Nob: Well, let me see, yes, perhaps you might have to sea after the pigs, and milk a cow. v b

New Chum : Is the washing given oat ! Nob: Whyt New Chum: Oh, nothing, only I thought, p'raps, you might want me to do that too

He didn't &et that situation,