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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 934, 18 June 1878, Page 2

A Numerously Signed Requisitionto Mr F. A. WMfcaker to come forward as a candidate for the representation of Waipa in the General a sseinbiy will be found in another column. In accepting the requisition, Mr VVhitaker lias notified the places where and'dates at which he will add ess the electors in different parts of the district. The time has as yet been too short to allow of requisitions which we believe are being numerously signed to be received from Raglan and Alexandra. A Select Quadrille Party will be held in the Town Hall, Hamilton, East, to-morrow evening. Library Grant.—The following public libraries in Waikato have had their claims recommended \o the Executive Committee of the Education Board, at the meeting of Friday, for the following amounts: — Cambridge, £25 ; Ngaruawahia,' £9 ; and Te Awamutu, £lO. At the meeting of the Hamilton East School Committee, held on Tuesday evening last, the principal business was the confirming the minutes of the preceding meeting, in which the compulsory clauses of the Education Act were brought into force m • that district. Mr Macffarlane was nominated as a representative for election to the Central Board. We understand that the contract for Section No. 2 Piako and Thames Road which was abandoned by the first contrac tor has been relet to Messrs Smith and Grieves, the price given for the work being at the same rate as the contract was first let at. Work has been actively commenced, and will we trust be carried on with vigor, so as to get the road opened up early next summer. Tawiiiao, when in Raglan last week, was with several of his chiefs entertained by the settlers at a public dinner at Powell's Hotel, on Wednesday evening. After the cloth was cleared, several speeches were made—that of the King being remarkable for the fiiendliness of its tone. The evening, by Royal bespeak, was concluded with a nigger entertainment and a dance, the latter being kept up with spirit until the small hoiu's of the next morning. A meeting of the Narrows Bridge Committee was hold at Gwynno's Hamilton Hotel on Saturday afternoon last, whim nil the members were present; .Dr Waddington in the chair. It was stated that a communication Avas received from the contractor, IVJr Briton, to the cfl'oct that he could not commence upon tho work for two months to come, but that the whole should be completed according to specification, within six months from the date of signing the contract. There was some difficulty in procuring the necessary timber at the present time, but as the timber was obtained it would bo placed on the ground. Mr George Edgeoumho was appointed secretary to the committee.

The ITamii.ton' lOntbiitainmrnt Piano. —AVe have been requested hy a member of the Entertainment Committee to stato —in answer to the letter of " lenor," Avhich appeared .in our issue of tho Bth instant—that the 'piano is the sole property of the Committee, and that, if " Tenor " had attended the first entertainment given by tho Committee, he would have heard it distinctly stated that the money paid for admission wasifor value received in the way of entertainment, and nothing- more. The Alleged Scab Case. —Tho joint committee appointed by the Cambridge Farmers' Club and tlio Waikato Pastoral and Agricultural Association to examine Mr Jolly's flock at Hamilton, in company with tho sheep inspectors, who have been invited to attend, will meet at Hamilton to day and proceed to Mr Jolly's farm for the, purpose of making' a minute inspection for tho discovery of scab, or declaring the flock clean if it should so turn out to be tho case. Upon tho report thus obtained, the Cambridge Fanners' Club will hase its futuro action in tho matter.

Trot Hist Back.—A bright" story is told of the accomplished wife now dead —of General Hooker. When she was the admired Miss Groesbeck, of Cincinnati, she was onoo at an evening party, when a fashionable young dandy was asked if he would like to be presented to her " Oh, yes," said he languidly, "Tirot her out." The lady overheard the remark, and when he was presented, she adjusted her eye-glasses deliberately, and slowly scanned his clothing from boot to collar. The survey finished, she waved her hand, and carelessly said, " Trot him back. I have seen all there is of hira."

Bells for Sheep, as a preventive to dog worrying, is thus recommended in the ' Southern Farmer.'—The cheapest and best insurance against dogs killing sheep are bells—plenty of bells. The sheep dog is a great coward Avhen in pursuit of mischief, and he wants to do it quietly—wants no noise, no alarm. Bells bought at wholesale prices do not cost much. Buy a side of bridle leather at the currier's for'collars, and put a bell on every sheep, if your flock is small. The price of one sheep will buy a gross of bells, and leather enough and buckles to strap them. Put this gross of bolls on a flock of sheep, and they will frighten every dog out of the field. Flock masters are slow to adopt a simple and cheap remedy like this, but will go to the Legislature, hire lobby influence, and spend large sums of money to little purpose. Members of the Legislature are fond of dogs themselves, and do 'not Avarit them taxed. They own no 'sheep, and care but little about their protection. A Laxd Tax, to-touch up absentees, and prevent undue speculation in land, laid upon all holdings of immoderate size, would produce revenue, and what is of even more importance, be a good and useful tax in itself. Let us have that by all means, but there is no need to press an income tax upon New Zealand, nor any reason why the taxes on necessaries such as sugar, flour, tea, and some other articles should not be done away with, Avhen so ready a means as the folloAving suggestion affords is open.to the legislature. We take it from tie American correspondent of a contemporary:—The State of Virginia, finding itself compelled to support goals, hospitals, lunatic asylums, and a plentiful supply of paupers, owing to the liquor traffic, and perceiving that repressive or prohibitory legislation failed, conceived the idea of taxing drinks, and compelling drinkers to support the criminal establishments. Accordingly a tax of two cents a drink Avas imposed The liquor dealer was compelled, under heavy penalties, to use a bell punch, which registered, each drink sold, in the same Avay that the bell-punches register fares in street cars, and check the conductors. The law came into operation six months ago, and Richmond, a sober city of 70,000 people, paid 150,000 dollars on single drinks during that period. It has been estimated that a similar tax on Chicago alone Avould yield four million dollars yearly, and one million dollars Avould be raised in San Francisco and Oaldand. It is certain that sufficient revenue might be raised for all purposes of Government by the expedient of taxing single drinks. This is an idea Avhich your Permissive Bill might adopt. It Avould come to the relief of the temperate, and could not be objected to by anyone, inasmuch as the payment of the tax would be purely voluntary."