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Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1169, 23 December 1879, Page 2

Ma job Mair returned to Waikato on Saturday evening after a prolonged sojourn in the "Empire City.' Major Mair is appointed Civil Commissioner for the Auckland District, and will in future reside in Auckland, paying periodical visits to Waikato, and representing the Government with the King party. The removal of this old and valued Government official was a. very grave blunder on the part, of the late Government, and the action of the present administration in reinstating him will meet with as much approbation from Waikato residents as it docs from all sections of the natives. Mr F. A. Whitaxer, M.H.R., and Mrs

Whitaker arrived in Hamilton yesterday from "Wellington, and were greeted at the railway station by numerous friends.

Cahbridoe Branch Bailway. Immediately after tho public meeting on Saturday, the report of which will be found elsewhere, the committee appointed sat, and elected Mr .Robert Ferguson permanent chairman and Mr J. P. Campbell permanent secretary. It was unanimously resolved to telegraph to Mr Gwyneth, C. 8., to come up immediately to survey the whole line. Subscription lists were opened, and all present put down their names for a considerable sum for the payment of preliminary expenses. A portion of the subscriptions were paid at once to pay for telegrams, &c. Mr TV. N. Paul, agent for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, is now at Cambridge, which neighbourhood he is now canvassing for life insurance. He -has already been fairly successful in ejecting actual business, and has a good j, o(i >k for prospective business, to be completeu' ear ly m &• neir y ear ' The a fS° and stai/" 8 °* this society makes his canvas an easy o ne ; tne society's last bonus, just declared, unparalleled in thehwtory of life hißuranc> Mr Paul revisit this district early vea , r « ' . Mr L. H. JnamraP ba f the racers Tui and Waverly from Mr Robert Kirkwood and Harry Mount from Mr S. 0. Caulton. Ho intends to run them at the Ohaupo and Cambridge meetings. All these were onfc yesterday morning shortly uftec frve frr a gatyop <tf

Garland's. Tui is in first-class conditioni and in doing his work well, and looks At to' pull off some of the shorter races if not too heavily hiiudioaped.' "Waverly is doing good work, but seems to have still rather too much flesh, tie Will be entered for,the Hurdles. Ma ry Mount is in firstclass condition, and if fairly weighted will stand a good show for the steeplechase. That this horse now is owned in the district will bo a cause of satisfaction to our local sportsmen. Mr W. Smith has Loafer in training, and he seems very At, and will make hot company * for the hurdles. Soveral other local owners ate training horses for the different event.", to oome off at Cambridge and Ohaupo. A meeting of the Wesleyaa Church G-ift Auction Committee was held last night. There was a large attendance Mr French read the minutes of the pre* vious meeting. On the motion of Mr Gribble, seconded by Mr Manners, it was agreed to nold the gift auction during tho Easter holidays. Tho Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. H. Bull. A correspondent writing from Cambridge yesterday says:—" Messrs Thompson and Graham have now nearly completed Duke-street. It has been leveled. Nearly two feet have been taken off opposite the Masonio Hotel, much to the disgust of many of the shopkeepers. Some, however, are looking at it in the right light, and altering their shop door steps, &c. Mr McVeagh is now letting his floor down to nearly the level of the street. Messrs Thompson and Graham have taken contracts for extensive road works'hoth in the Taotaoroa and Pukekura Highway Districts. The heavy rain which fell last week must have done some damage to the hay laying cut. Those farmers who hod theirs out and stacked, or had not yet touched it are most fortunate —The Cambridge District School broke up on Friday last for a months holidays. The whole school was examined by the Revs. W. Evans and W. N. de L Willis, and Colonel Lyon. A large number of prizes will be distributed on Tuesday next at S p.m., when tho examiners report will he read. Mr EM. Edgcumbe, the proprietor of the Waikato Times has kindly presented two handsome books as prizes. Several local residents are also giving prizes, so that nearly every child attending the school will have something to take home. The parents of the children are invited to attend the school on Tuesday at 3 p.m."

The Whatawhata Bridge.—We understand that a sum of £4,000 was voted for the bridge over the Waipa atWhatawhata, not £4OO as erroneously printed in the Auckland papers. A sum oil £6OO haa been voted for the Hamilton and Whatawhata road.

On Boxing Day a cricket match will be played at Cambridge, Married Men v. Single. The married men are:—Mackintosh, Camp, Hector, Robertshaw, ash well, Kerr, Boyd, Pellew, Webber, Whitehouse. Hughes. The team of bachelors is not yet picked.

We notice by advertisement that the Banks throughout the Waikato will be closed, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next, for the Christmas holidays. Waikato Hand Book.—lf the opinions of the Colonial Press may be aocepted as a criterion, this publication will prove an immense, success. We remind intending subscribers that the last days are at hand for forwarding description of property. Three young men belonging to West Hamilton, charged with a breach of the peace at the Railway Hotel, Frankton, on Saturday night, will be brought before the police court this morning. On the landlord refusing to serve more drink he was violently assaulted, a window smashed, and two inner doors broken in.

A Christmas Novekpy.—We have received from the - Associated News and Advertising Bureau, of Auckland, advance sheets of an "advertising paper dinner napkin "—the first issue of the kind in the colony. It is printed in two colors, on what is known as siltc tissue, and contains a "tissue " of Waikato business notices, around which is a very tastefully executed border and design. This novel invention has been registered by the manager of the Bureau, and all rights for New Zealand reserved. As a first attempt it is a highly creditable production, and a charming little novelty particularly suitable to this festive season.

Sale of Racecourse Privileges.—Mr Kennedy Hill will seJ! on Saturday next, at 2.30 p.m., the right to collect entrance money at the gates of the Ohaupo Racecourse at the forthcoming summer meeting ; also, the grand-stand booth and luncheon room, the temperance booth, and the cards of the races.

The forecasts of the weather furnished from Wellington, for general information, by Commander Edwin, of the Meteorological Department, have been extremely accurate. To take the last three, we find the weather on Dec. 13th predicted as follows !• " Any directions between S. and E. and N.E., glass fall within 12 hours. Expect weather very cold." That was Saturday week last, up to when the weather had for a week been fine; but within 12 hours rain it did, and steadily throughout Saturday and Sunday, and muohly throughout the past weekt On the 17th, Wednesday last, he telegraphs: —"Any directions between S. and W. and N., glass fall again within 12 hours, and likely much rain." This forecast too was correctly made. The direction of the wind was N.E., and the rain more or less heavy and continuous. On Friday last he predicted wind " any direction between N.E. and N. and W., the glass rising within 12 hours." This prediction was literally fulfilled. The wind on Saturday went round to north, and on Sunday blew hard from N.W., the glass rising within 12 hours, and the weather settling bright and clear.

Mb TrewheeliLAr, as usual, has made ample preparation for the Christmas and I New Year's holidays, and it will be for ! the public to take advantage of them. \ Confectionery of all kinds, and some of it very tasteful in its way has been imported by him for the occasion—much of it French—and, as might be expected, uniting elegance with variety and, quality. Amongst many other things some very elegant holly wreaths are noticeable, the red berries contrasting prettily with the leaves, which fti some cases are the natural green—in others silver or gold, Mr Trewheellar has ako received a fine assortment of candid fruits of various kinds, and the gelatine lozengers of almost every flavour a're quite a speoialty in their way, and far superior in flavour and delicacy to the ordinary article. In addition to these are an inexhaustible variety of articles for Christmas trees, wax tapers for Christmas trees and other illuminations, Christmas and Hew Year's presents, &c. Nor have the time-honored mince pies, for which Mrs Trewheellar is so deservedly famous, been forgotten.

Vooai. Music. —The Hamilton Choral Society will resume practise at the beginning of the New Year, and the committee are anxious to add to the Society as many vocalists as possible in order to perform heavier choruses and selections. By far the greatest number of individuals have sufficient qualifications of voice for singing to justify their pursuit of the art with reasonable hope of success, indeed, very considerable and valuable vocal faculties are much more common than is generally imagined. There is' certainly less deficiency of natural gifts than of persons observant and talented enough to discover, to ml toquMvaMheia, Jufcto

meantime, if indeed every one have not disposition and means (and good fortune) to become of some consequence as a singer, < let us consider that oven with an iricon-' siderable voice much of the most touching and joy-inspiring capabilities be attained, if feeling, artistic cultivation, and a vivid conception, speak through a medium but slenderly endowed. Why should any one be dissatisfied if small means and trouble? have made him capable of touching our hearts with a joyful or tender song, or have enabled him to participate skilfully in the choir and choral assemblies. Whether it may be advisable to proceed further in singing, and the cultivation of the voice, must be decided » by the circumstances and inclinations of each individual. From composers, conductors and high masters, a complete knowledge of everything belonging to singing is to be absolutely demanded, and also practical execution thereof; unless organic defect should render it to them impossible. A composer who does not expressly study singing, and practice it as far as possible, will scarcely be able to write for the voice; he will with difficultly acquire the more delicate musical declamation; he will never become entire master of the life-like conducting of the voice, which is something far different from. mere correctness.

A second promenade concert—this time on behalf of the funds for purchase of prizes for, the East Hamilton School—will take place, this evening in Mr Gwynne's gardens, and with the recollection of the great success which a similar concert of Friday week was for a like object, a very large attendance may be looked for. The Military Band of the Hamilton Light Infantry «orps, and several local amateurs will all assist in making the affair as great a musical success as the last. On that occasion we had to compliment the people of Hamilton on the care taken in doing no damage to the gardens, and trust that the same regard for the kindness of Mr Gwynne in placing his wellkept grounds at the disposal of the committee will he observed.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Mangapiko District Board was held on Saturday last, when the following business was transacted, Messrs Mackay, Krippner, Tisdall and Legertwood being present. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the correspondence was disposed of. Correspondence from the County Council re the repairing of Mangapiko bridge was considered, and the Secretary was directed to forward details of expenditure together with axheque for half the balance in hand, and to inform the Council that there is no Alexandra Board with whom to confer and to request the Council to take steps Jto ensure ; the repairing properly of the approach on the Alexandra side. Letters from the Tuhikaramea District Board were read, and the Secretary was instructed to refer them to the Gazetted boundaries, but promising to bring the matter before the annual meeting of ratepayers, and to ascertain the opinion of theßangiaohia Board as to the opening of the road through Mr Gubbins' property. A letter from Mr Taylor, requesting the stopping of a road was held over for next meeting, so that several roads might go together. The accounts paid were:—J. Sage (bridge), £10; do. on account cutting, £4O; McOallum on account, £i7; Meredith, £ls Is 9d; W.S.N. Co. 15s; G. Boyd, £4 16s. Tenders accepted were:— C. McCallum for ploughing Paterangi Station Road, section 1, 3s lOd per chain; section 2, 'Js 10d per chain; formation, 2s lOd per chain. Arrangement for a few minor works brought the meeting to a close.