The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1280, 11 September 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Ot \vhate\cr state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawed by influence and unbribed bv ffain.

47. J operaiipns have after all contributed ■but/little to the agricultural work of Europe. They have opuied up a large trade with the different continental countries ; but still an immeasurable area of land remains upon which steam cultivation has not operated. It is certain that a very reasonable profit would be realised by the difference in the price of horse and steam cultivation falling to the farmer. But in ma.ny places the application of the steam plough is impossible either by reason of the configuration of the land, or of the existence of other physical difficulties which are. allowed and maintained by landlords, as stupid as they are exacting. Timber and antiquated fences are allowed to bar the way to successful or even profitable farming in a way which is positively distressing. The morn of another era, is, now at hand, and farmers howsoever dragged down by obstacles such as those mentioned immediately above, have promise of alleviation. This new era is the introduction of the "steam digger." We do not suppose that a reference to it here in any but a general way can have much practical interest for Waikato farmers, but it must interest them to know what advances are being made in agricultural mechanics. First of all, the inventor of the steam digger, Mr T. C. Darby, of Chelmsford, claims for it that it is not. subject to the disabilities under which the steam plough labours, inasmuch as it will work as effectively upon triangular as upon square fields, can easily make circuit if necessary in the case of timber intervening and can do its work upon hilly country as ably as upon the flat. The principle, according to a description of the machine given in an English paper, consists in applying the motive power at the point where the work is ; effecting the cultivation by direct acting tines or blades; utilising the thrust of the tools in a backward direction to aid the propulsion of the engine forward, and by taking a great width and going at a slow rate avoiding the transport of the machine over the land as seldom as possible. Width is obtained by placing the boiler which is 17 feet long, parallel with the cultivating machiners, and consequently causing it to travel " side on. " By an ingenious contrivance the heat is shut out of that portion of the boiler which is uppermost in going down or up hill, and burning is thereby avoided. It would occupy too much space to go into a minute description of the method of working, and it will he sufficient to say that the process consists in ploughing so many furrows 7 feet long, by cutting and turning them over cross-wise instead of lengthwise. The implement has been tried on stiff soil, and found thoroughly effective. An eight horse-power engine, nominal, working with a pressure of 70 lbs, has been found to dig at the rate of 10 acres per day, land that takes three horses to plough an acre at the same depth. What further trials may discover remains to be seen. It is probable that improvements may be effected to overcome the defects which must of course exist. But it is certain that, if found thoroughly workable, this machine Avill bring about, a revolution in agriculture, the influence of which will be felt immediately in Britain, and may, at no very remote period, extend to the colonies.

We have the authority of the member for Waikato (Mr Whyie) for stating that the bridge to cross the river at Hamilton on the line of the Thames- Waikato railway has hem ordered ; that in fact the tender for its construction has been let. The erection of this bridge, together with the first four or five miles of line beyond, will probably absorb the whole of the unexpended portion of the vote for the Thames- Waikato line, namely, £15,000, but it will set at rest the question, is Waikato to be connected with the Thames? It will do more than this ; It will mark the commencement of the Cambridge branch, because it is perfectly well understood, or if it is not it is through no fault of the energetic member for Waikato, that no scheme could be considered as link j ing the districts of Thames andWaikato which left Cambridge unregarded. When it is seen to what purpose the money which it was attemped to transfer to the Cambridge line will be put, no great disappointment need be felt. Four miles of the line will be constructed, and no more could in any case have been done without a fresh vote, and that was scarcely possible to obtain. We hope that before the advent of the next session of Parliament the members for the Thames and Waikato will arrive at a proper understanding in regard to these works. The sooner it is recognised that they are not rival schemes but inseparable parts of one, the better.

The thoroughbred mares Dundee Katie, with foal at toot by Feve, Lyra, and Locket, in Foal to Feve, all the property of R. H. D. Fergusson, Esq., of Gorton, near Cambridge, proceeded to Auckland yesterday, on a a isit to Musket.

A leading article, Arrows, and other interesting matter are unavoidably held over owing to pressure on our advertising columns.

Owing to the pressure of ' Gazette" notices, we aTe compelled to carry several advertisements into our fourth p3°re which usually appear in the third, including the auction advertisements of Messrs KenQedy Hill and B. Tonka & Co.; also that of Mr Moses.

Owing to the Rev. H. S. Davis beng called upon to dp duty at Bombay, ilierc will bo no service at Hamilton East ;o-iuoitov\\

fese team chosen to represent the Hairiiltofi .Contingent at the match to b hold Wday at To Awamutij consists of Licuts. Johnson ami Hunt, Sergt. llidler, Troopers Cochvanc and Young, with Sergeant-Major Seddon as emergency man. In practice lately the teams have made very good scores indeed, and if they are fortunate enough to get on the spot to:day they will require some beating. The change in the ground is however very likely to upset the younger shots, and for this reason the Te Awanmtu. men ought to win.

Earnest preparations are being made for the great ploughing bee at Cambridge on the loth. In addition to twenty-five teams of horses which will lie employed, there will be a large number of volunteers armed with spades and shovels on the ground to fill in the holes and level the hillocks. The refreshments will be provided on a grand scale, 'and everybody is expected to join in the humour of the hour and be merry.

Mrs A.Raynes, of the National Hotel, Cambridge, has offered a very handsome special prize to be competed for at the forthcoming Agricultural Show. It is a silver teapot, -with stand and spirit-lamp attached. The design is very chaste, and the prize is likely to create as much pleasure in the breast ot the winner as its selection has done credit to the taste of the generous donor. Mr Raynes has also offered a silver cake basket of beautiful design. The classes for which these prizes will be offered will be found in an advertisement elsewhere in this issue.

The proprietor of the National Hotel Cambridge intends proceedingwithout delay to enlarge his hou>e This step is randered obligatory by the demands of a largely increasing- trade.

We understand that Mr. J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., h.is ahked the Government to make a. survey of the proposed routes to Cambridge, in order chat the data upon which the FJou^e will h.ive to go next sc^ion will be of the mo^t unexceptionable character G-reat etfoits will be made in Cambridge during the recesa to collate all the information obtainable, with a view to bringing 1 the advantages of the proposed r.iilwav more prominently under the notice of hon. member^.

Hares are very plentiful in the Pukekura district, and one or two of the fceUleis have ceased to regard them in the liirht of n bta^injr. This nee 1 not be cause for astonishment when it is known what damage has been done to the young treo. Eabbits are also unfortunately on the increase in the same locality.

The survey of the Cambridge Town Belt, undei taken by IVJr. G-wynueth, C.E. for the Domain 80-ird, will be completed in a very few weeks. The Board will, we suppose, report the completion of the work, and proceed to deal with the lands, with a view to loading or letting them.

What might have proved a fatal accident happened at Ng.iruawah.ia on Thursday afternoon. A boy about sixteen years of age, named O'Connor, was driving a cart containing fnrnitun\ which wns being removed to Mr. "Wallace's residence, when, in polling the horse up, he slipped off the dray between the shafts, frightening the horso, which started off at a furious pace, parsed the Dplta Hotel, and, swerving across the railway line, ran into a right-of-way between Friar and Davis store and' "Mr. Lining's butcher's shop, coming into collision with the building, breaking tfoth shafts, thus setting the horse free. But for the shafts breaking, the boy must inevitably have been killed, as he was clinging to the cart. As it was, he escaped with a slight cut on the head.

The Waikato District will be well off this season for thoroughbred Entires. Hercules arrived on Thursday from Napier. This horse is descended from Sir Hercules, of whom the Australasian says: — "'No family has gained such a reputation as that of the colonial bred Sir Hercules." Hercules combines the best of blood, with good bone and immense posvcr His height, 13 \ hands, will commend him to those desirous ot breeding good upstanding hacks or carriage horses.

A young lad, named Mahon, was arrested yesterday, charged with entering the residence of Mr (i. Browne, and taking a number of trifling articles to the value of about 20s. It appears that during Mr Brownes absence in Auckland for a few days the lad entered the house by means of the front door, which had, no doubt, been left unlocked, and helped himself. The lad will appear before the R.M. this morning at 30 o'clock to answer, the charge.

Support Local Industries.— Messrs. Hidler and Dalton, Kiwi Mills, are producing the besfc of flour from Waikato grown wheat. For prices, see advertisement in first column, page two. — [Advt.] :

8. S. Graham, Esq., Chairman Cambsidge Highway Distiut, publisher for public mroim.'ituni an Otder-in-Counc.il regarding land in the Cambridge Highvs.iv Dishic t, noticquired tor public, use .md authoiised to be sold. Anihevv I'ummse, Esq., Cluurm in Kikikiuio.i Highway Distiut, publishes tor public mlormation an Oider-m-Counc il reg irding lamK in tin 1 Kikikhiroa Highway Di.tnct, not requiud tor public use, and authori .ed to bo sold. Henn Reynold, lisq., Cb.uim.m famiheic Ilighwav Distru t, publishes foi public lnfotmntion an Order-in-C oiuuil legarding laud in tic Tamaheie Highway District not required for publu us*-, and authoused to be sold. John Kno\, Esq , returns thanks for his election to the oflu c ot Councillor of the ]>orough ot Hamilton. A public meeting will beheld .it Xgamauahi.i this evening, at the Roj.il Mail Hotel, to dei nle wh.it at tion shall be t ikeu n withdraw. il ol suburban lands in that distiict fiom sale. Mr. R. Onyon advertises the timc-t.ibles of the steamers le Aioh.i and Riro Rno. Intending conti.ictois toi woiks on the Whatawh.it.i lo.id, tendeis tor which aie called foi b> the Hamilton Highway Board, are notified by advertisement, that the Engineer will meet them to-day at Stokes Bridge, at 1 o'clock, to point out the different works. Tenders arc invited for painting the Rojal Hotel, Hamilton. L.0.L.->-Sons of Ulster will meet on Tuesday night. A vocal and instrumental concert, in aid of the building' fund of the Catholic Church, at Kihikihi, will be held in the Kihikihi School-ioom ne\t Friday e\ening, at half past 7 o'clock. The Town Clerk r.otihe-. that Messrs Kennedy Hill, John Kno\, and William Jones were the burgesses chou c at the election for tlnce Councillois, held at Hamilton on riimsda\. Thl new Puie Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly piove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sjdmy and Melbourne, and when strictly ( arried out the customer who bu>s at an establishment whem the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapcij milhnary, and clothing at such pi 11 es for rash a, gives the buyer the advantages of ,1 .shareholder in a co-operatn c society, without the risk of being called upon to be.ir.i portion ot the loss should the yen's business pio\e tins ttisfacton . Girliik and Cian\\(ll will aim to retain the confident c whit h the public h i\e hitherto shown them, and aie determined to gi\ c the pine ( ash s^ stem a tair tilil; whether the\ gain or lose the hist ' iv.r. Country buyers on remitting rash with older will be supplied with goods at co-operative pru es ; iust the same as though the\ made a peison.'lselettion. Furnishing goods, stir h as caipets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and genei.il house tuinituie, the Ingest ptrtion ot which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest leninneratue pru es, and 1 disc mint of five pei t ent. will be allowed to those who pay at the time ot pun hase. G. & C having realised the entire value ot their stock during their late < ash s ile, the present stock is \i \v v\n c m u-ly Itou.nl. An inspet tion is united. — Gykikk \no Ck \\w 1 Ir . Cit\ Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queenstieet, Aut kl md.