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Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1068, 29 April 1879, Page 2

Pbivate Township. — The Caversham Counoil, Otago have adopted a resolution m favour of petitioning for amendment of the Municipal Act, so as to prevent townships being laid out m less than quarteracre sections, with permission of local authorities. This step has been taken m consequence of owners of property cutting up their land m such small lots that only shanties could be built on them. As the character of the district, and the value of adjacent property suffers from this system of indefinitely multiplied allotments, the majority of the Counoil consider it a matter concerning which there should be legislative restriction.

Mb. William Mautyn, brought into Cambaidge on Saturday . last, a gigantic mushroom, which grew on his farm at Hamilton. The dimensions were taken with a tape ireasure, with the following result. Diameter of the top ten. and a half inches ; thickness of the same three inches : thickness of the stalk four inches , height from the root; ten inches. The shape was perfect and flavour quite equal m quality and taste to the smaller ones of the same species of edible fungi. It may still be seen at Mr Walker's National Hotel (if the cook has not got hold of it for a stew.

Tenders for the formation of the road from Kirikiriroa boundary to the Eureka gate wiU be received by the Secretary of the Tamahere Highway Board up to "the 13th proximo.

The Rev. H. S. Davis held his first service m the Ngaruawahia Church on Sunday morning last. The congregation was much larger than usual. Had it been known, or advertised m your paper, that the Rev Mr Davis would officiate, the building would have been filled. The general opinion is, that the rev. gentleman is m his right place. His hearers were very pleased with the manner the service was read, and delighted with his frst sermon, and hoped he would be with us every Sunday morning. I have no doubt the church will be filled the next time he holds the service.— COBEESPONDENT.

The amatuers who are about to give a performance at the Public Hall, Cambridge te-night, m aid of the funds of the Cambridge PubUc Library, are determined to make it as great a success as possible. The play is entitled Tender Precautions" and is of a very amusing character, New dresses have been made and no pains and trouble have been spared m the wise en scene. A full dress rehearsal was to take plaoe last night, and ne dpubt all the characters are well up m their parts. A few vcoalists have been invited te add variety to the proceedings by singing solos &c. With regard to the object for which the entertainment has been got up, it is well to state that it is nearly a year since the books were removed from the school into the present building, and both the Library and the Reading Rot _a are well supported. About one hundred and fifty members have subscribed since that time. But m moving and fitting up the building great oxpense was incurred and the committee were obliged to go into debt. This debt therefore, it is hoped to lessen or pay off altogether by the : proceeds of the entertainment, and considering its object, and the popularity, and able management ef the institution, a large audience may be expected at the Cambridge Public Hall to-night.

Auckland Grown Flour.— The Herald of Saturday Bays : — " The superiority of flour produced from Auckland wheat over that of imported Southern has often been demonstrated by our bakers, bui although cognisant pf suoh, we were not aware

that the difference m favour of the local . growth was so great as m the following , example furnished to us by Mr.' Lamb;— j 2 J°i bs,of aweU known Southern brand i of fienr and 'the same weight produoed £° m ucklan d. grown wheat were tested : the other day, and the result was most surprising,— the' Auckland grown gave ' 81bs,- more bread than the Southern. It ia needless to comment on such apraotioal illustration, but it is further evidence of the splendid grain that can be grown m the Auckland district." Apropos of the value, of Auokland grown wheat, wo would ask is Aucklaud grown flour of such extraordinary value also, that flour m Auokland shculd be werth— well sell at £13 per ton,vide last Friday's Herald's quotations„and m the South, say Canterbury, ai appears from the quotations m the 'Lyttleton Times' of the 19th inst. at from £8 to £9, according- to brand and size of parcel. A large number of natives, about 600, passed through Cambridge during the latter part of the past week, on their way to a. huniffa at Tamahere. Many of the leading natives of that settlement say they do not intend to go to the great meeting at Kopua.

Thk Choral Festival.— We would remind our readers that on Thursday, May 1, Sts. Philip and James,! will be a day possessing much interest,for and affording much pleasure to the people of Hamilton. AU good church people mnst feel that it concerns' them deeply that on this day, a new pastor shall be added to the number who already minister to the ever gowing needs ot the people of Waikato. The office of the ordrmg of Priests will commence at 10 o'clock ; and there will'be a celebration pf the Holy Communion?, the Bishop being Celebrant ■ and the preacher, Venerable Archdeacon Pritt. At four m the afternoon there will be a combined practice of all' the ohoirs at St. Peter's Church; tea, .at which the 'clergy and members of the Vestry will, meet at half past seven. It is hoped that this will be the first of many such meetings m the future. Many difficultias, such as leng distances from plaoe to place, otc, stand m the way of their being the success their might be, were communication more easy; but we trust that as this is the beginning m point of number, so it wiU be m point of merit, and that each year such progress will be made as' wUI bring us nearer the object m view, namely, the perfect rendering of'God,s praises m the Church, and also, the friendly intercourses Between all her members, and the kindly interests that one parish should have for another.

Mr E. E. Finch, bookseller and stationer, of Queen street, Auckland, advertises the arrival of new goods monthly, and. is prepared to receive the names of subscribers to a long list of English journals which he regularly receives per English mail. Instruction books for any kind of musical instrument will be forwarded to country addresses on application.

A gentleman of the tramp persuasion entered a hotel the other day and called for a cigar, and after receiving it, he said : — " Here, take this cigar, and I will take a glass of beer instead," and after swallowing the beer moved off; -. The landlord hollered after him, ' " You didn't pay for that beer," tc which the tramp replied, " I gava you the cigar for it, didn't IP" " Yes," replied the landlerd, "but ypu did npfc pay for the cigar." "But I didn't take the oigar, did I?" asked the tramp. " No, that's a fact," said, the landlord. When last heard of, the landlord was busily engaged m the study of mental arithmetio.

The Native Meeting. — From a gentleman arrived m Hamilton, from Raglan/on Saturday, we learn that the Raglan nativesleft on Friday and Saturday morning' for the Kopua meeting. It is likely they will be joined by those residing on Waipa, and proceed en masse to Alexandra, when, after crying with Tawhiao, over his daughter's death, they will come past Pikia's settlement. It is not Likely that they wiU go on to Kopua until Sir George Grey's arrival. Kawhia and Aotea are deserted of almost every inhabitant. The Coast people have been unable te attend, owing to their visiter, the King ef Hawaiki, not arriving ; they are compelled to wait for him. Only four or five of their chiefs are gone on to Kopua. It will most likely be the greatest native gathering that has taken place since the King movement started. There i? no truth m the rumour that Mr Sheehan 'will not be present at the meeting.

An extraordinary yield of oats, even for New Zealand, is recorded m the - Advocate ' : — Some of the crops gathered this season m the Rangitikei district have been prolific far beyond expectation, one i crop of oats from about 9 acres of land on Messrs Death and Lynch's estate being oomputed to yield between 90 and, 100 bushels to the acre. The straw m thi 8 crop stood nearly 4ft. 6in. high, and wae so thick that it had to be cut with, th sickle. ' The oats, which are of th c description known as white Tartarian, aacr c also very full m the ear. Amongst th c many fine estates on the Hangitikei and Porewa rivers, this ranks second to none," consisting of a thousand acres of fine level land, all cleared, with the exception of a patch of valuable bush. At present the land is only carrying some 2,500 sheep, nearly pure-bred Lincolns, the fleeces of some of them reaching the extraordinary weight of 171bsof washed wool, and m many instances 13 or 141 b being an average clip. I

It would seem that their recent visit to Waikato, has impressed the military enthusiasts of the Thames, with the desire to follow the example of this district m its Volunteer specialty, a dashing cavalry corps, as we learn from the Grahamstown papers that the it is proposed pn the Thames to form a Cavalry corps.

The following may be a remarkable decision, but when we call to remembreance the dismal tones of a oertan fife and drum band that not long since was wont to make night hidipus, we feel thankful for being able to put such a precedent on record. Says the ' Wairarapa Standard' —"A most extraordinary decision was given the other day by the Wairarapa Resident Magistrat, Mr Wardell. A local policeman, fired with zealous enthusiasm, summonsed the members of the town band of Carterton for playing m the public street. This band, it may be remarked, was on the meve at the time the officer of police first interviewed it. When the case was heard the facts of the information were "proved," and they alleged that the band has been " obstructing the Queen's Highway by playing music." Each unfortunate bandsman was duly convicted of this heinous breach of some antediluvian law, and sentenced to pay a fine of 5s together with 6s 6d costs, or m default of payment being made, we presume, the instruments would have to be levied upon.

Hamilton Burgess List.— The Revision Ceurt for revising the Burgess List will be held m conformity with the 43rd clause of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, at the Council Chambers, Hamilton, to-morrow evening.

Cambribge Public Library.-— The annual meeting of members will be held to* morrow evening at the reading room.

An application will be made to the Supreme Court at Auckland, to-morrow at 11 a.m. for a declaration of the complete execution of a deed of arrangement made between Bernard Charles Beale and his orators on the 16th last.

Borax for Butter Salting. — The Italian minister of agriculture, industry aud commerce, has addressed a ceramunioation to the Chamber ef Commerce of Milan relative tb experiments m salting butter with borax whioh have beeu carried out ut the agricultural station at Florence. From the accouut whioh appears m the " Giornale di Agricoltura,' borax would appear to have a most marvellous effect m insuring its absolute preservation. Samples of fresh butter made at the Florence station, and pur-? posely not carefully freed of their buttermilk, w.ere found, on the addition of about 8 per cent, of borax, to maintain • their natural fine flavor, without the least change whatever, for upwards of three months. To attain this satisfactory result it is necessary that the borax should be perfeotly dry and m very fine powder, and oare must be taken to insure its thorough mixure with the whole mass pf the butter operated on. Among the further advantages of this plan, it is noted borax imparts no flavor of any kind tp the butter while it is entirely harmless m its nature, and aldo' reasonably cheap. Still later experiments have shown that a very much smaller proportion of borax suffices to produce the desired effect, and also that simple solutions of the salt act quite as well as the dried powder,— ' American Dairyman.'

A valuable Bullock Team. — I was told the other day (writes " JBgles" ih the ' Australasian') that a team of cattle worth £4000 has been yoked m a bullock dray near Heidleburg. One m the team was Roan Dutchess, which cost a couple cf thpusand, or so. The explanation is T believe, that some of Mr Gardner's pure stock, being much too fat for their intended purpose, are being exercised m this Way m order to bring them into lower condition.

The ' Dunedin Age ' thus ridicules the much' a do about nothing made by certain parties at the action of the banks m the South m witholding money for land speculations : — In our own little financial world of New Zealand people are goiug about talking of a crisis and a tightness m the money market which they evidently consider is similar to the general distress pre .alent In the United Kingdom. In Dimedin we are supposed to be suffering from a crisis, and it is quite true that, m a mercantile sense of the word, money is very tight, but it is simply ridiculous to draw any parallel between the condition of affairs here and at Home. We have only to take a glanae at the daily life of the city or Colpny tp see the immense prosperity of the people as a whole, and to realise the fact that our crisis merely means that there is not much money available just now for land and other speculations. But m every other , sense ef ,the word money is by no means tight. A fearful accident happened at Kaitangata, and we may say with safety that, by this time, fully £10,000 have been collected for the relief of those left destitute.. However, as this has been given by the public under circumstances ,that would make 'people ceme ferward with all they could afford, it is soarcely as far an indication 0 f general prosperity as others that could be mentioned. These are to be found, however, on every hand. There is no lack of money, to patroni-re public amusements of all kinds — theatres and various exhibitions; horse races and athletic sports. Nor, we expect, do the collections at churches show any ap» preciable falling off, whilst it is pretty certain that the breakfasts, dinners, and teas that are eaten by thousands daily exhibit no mark of penury or stinting. Walking through the streets, men and women are clothed as comfortably as ever. No pictures of wide-spread want or penury meet the eye.

. A Meeting of the Hamilton Borough Counoil was held last night. Cr. Hume, eccupied the chair, m the absence of the Mayor. Present: Crs. Gwynne, Dawson, Potter, Gardner, Knox and Beale, Or. Potter as<ed for an expression of opinion whether it would noc be best to elect a deputy Mayor so that m the Mayprs absence, the -executive power ef the Council might go pn uninterupted. Cr. Gwynne deubted that the Ceuucil cr the Mayer had ppwer to appoint a deputy. A letter was read from the Solioitcr of the Borough referring the Council to section 189, of the Municipal Corporation Act, under which action could be ta ..en to stop the nuisance m Collingwood street; A letter was read from the Waikato County Council offering to contribute a sum ef not mpre than £15 tewards the expense of th*e ceremony of turning the first sod of the Thames- Waikato Railway, and was' ordered te be ackncwledged with thanks. A letter was read from Messrs Campbell and Coates, shewing, that the prices charged for timber were fair and reasonab!e,and the 'Cpuncil was npt justified m disqualifying them as it had done at last meeting, from further suppling timber to the Council. The Engineer reported that the upper structure of the bridge was now cemmenced, and (the tressels iv place fer the first span, and asked what width the Ceuncil wished the road and pathway of the approaches to be. It also stated that the Cock street contract had been unsatisfactorily performed, and that the contractor had already commenced the formation of Grey street. A petition was received from C. C. Wood and others, asking for a drain and c:ilvert between lots 16 and 22. A complaint was received from the contractor, that Mr I. R. Vialou had cut away a portion of the curbing, though completed according to the Engineer's instructions, and that m consequence the Engineer had condemned the work. Referred to the Werks Committee. In respect te the Nuisance at the ccrner pf Cpllingwpod and Victpria streets. Cr. Petter meved that instead ef taking arbitrary measures fpr its abatement. That a superficial cevered drainage be ferthwith ccmmencingfrcm Collingwdodstreet along Anglesea street, and onward towards the gully at the foot of Clarance Street. Seconded by Cr. Hume. Cr. Knox denounced it as a wild scheme, and unfair te others tp carry the nuisance tc their door and leave it there. <>. Dawson moved that the Engineer be requested te repprt on the cheapest way of abating the nuisance, seconded by Cr. Beale. The amendment was carried. Cr. Knox moved that 2 per cent, be paid to Mr. F. A. Whitaker, for raising the loan of £5000 for the Borough ; seconded by Or. Dawsen, and carried. The portion of the Engineer's report, referring to the cuttings required for the appoaches to the bridge at the English Church, was ordered to be considered by the whole Council m committee. It was resolved to erect a brick oulyert at Clarence Street. Cr. Knox drew attention to the apprehensions m many ratepayers minds, that m making the footpaths m street, the Council were favouring certain property owners at the cost of the Borpugh, and explained that unless clauses 203, the individual property owners benefited would be charged with their just proportion of it. Thursday was ordered to be proclaimed a public holiday.

We would draw attention tp the f-ale pf stock, office furniture and bcok debts, at the stere ef Messrs Reberts and Lacen, Alexandra, which will be held by Messrs J. D. & K. Hill, at Alexandra, to-morrow. The sale will commence at noon.

Owing to the miscarriage of our Cambridge Correspodent's letter, which came late to hand yesterday, we are reluctantly compelled to hold over the full report of Utsfc Friday's public meeting till our next.

An amended notice m the Bankrupt Estate of George Mann appears m to-days issue.

Invasion of the- Ai C. Road Camp by Rats. — The party of Armed Constabulary under the charge of Segeant Chitty, working on the road beyond Ferguason's Gully; at a place they have named Messopatam'ia, have been very much troubled with numbers of rats. . Droves of them have been seen m the evening trooping to and fro, round the spring frpm which the drinking water is obtained, and devastating the contents of the store tentr The men amuse temaelves by ocmmitting wholesale slaughter on these troublesome vermin. They have already lulled 236 (all told) since they have been encamped on the sppt (barely twp months. Immediately after sunset, the cry of ♦' Rats ! Rats ! !" is raised, and the men turn out and lay hold of such weapons as are at hand, such as pickhandles, shovels, sticks, stones, &c, and a general crusade is waged against the kiori (Mapri fer rats.) This affprds agreeable recreation tp the men, and they seem to regard it as a practice pn a minature scale cf what may be required of them, if Mr Mackay and Captain Blake fail to get the Waimate difficulty settled amicably. The rats are of , the Norwegian species, and are very tenacious of life. They seem to think nothing of driving ten era dozen yards. Settlers planting that locality m crop, wculd find them very destructive, and it would be well to second the endeavours of the constables to exterminate them, by introducing a reinforcement of cats. No doubt, contributions of feline recruits would be thankfully received.

Last night Dr Beale toek a seat at the Hamilton Berpugh Cpuucil table, although strcngly dissuaded frpm doing so by some of his friends, Mr Vialou, at the last moment, oalling him out, and endeavouring te disseade him frem taking a step which might render him liable to public prosecution at the suit of any burgess.