Page 2 Advertisements Column 3

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1532, 29 April 1882, Page 2

vWe are pleased/to'learn that Ctlie Hamilton Batid, which a few weeks ago seemed likely to collapse, has taken a f resh lease of life, and that the members are puce more enthusiastic in their endeavours'to attain proficiency. The instruments are nearly all taken up, and judging from the performance at practice on Thursday night, the public may look forward to having some excellent music during the forthcoming winter months. It is the intention of the members to hold the first of a series of quadrille assemblies in the Public and Volunteer Hall, on Tuesday evening next. Dancing will commence punctually at 8, and finish at 12 sharp, thereby giving .those who choose to avail themselves of the opportunity for tripping it on the "light fantastic" an opportunity of reaching their homes early. In addition Ito the monthly dance, the band will (weather permitting) play once a month on the east side of the river. During the past fortnight the members have also been presented with a set of very neat and portable band stands, which is another step in the right direction. The bandmaster (Mr Hadfield) is at present arranging a choice selection of dance music for the members, and it is to be hoped that the long-felt want of a quadrille band will thus be obviated. A conference was held on Thursday, at Dunedin, between the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr W. Downie Stewart, who was Chairman of the Bankruptcy Committee last session of Parliament. The present unsatisfactory state of the law was fully discussed. Mr Stewart thought legislation might well be postponed until the English Bill now before Parliament came to hand. Eventually the following resolutions were carried :—": — " That, in the view of the urgent necessity of an amendment in the Bankruptcy Law, the secretary write to the Colonial Secretary, asking him if any legislation on the subject is intended this session, and ior an early copy of any Bill that may be proposed to be introduced into' Parliament." 2. " That if no legislation is intended on the whole question "of bankruptcy, the law regarding bills of sale should, at least, be amended, as they operate most unfairly towards unsecured creditors." The statistics relating to' Shaw's team of English cricketers have been made up. They played 25 matches in the colonies, winning 12, losing 3, and 10 being drawn. They played 4 matches against a combined team of Australians, losing 2, and 2 being drawn. Ulyett heads the list in the batting averages, scoring 1007 runs in 39 innings, the average being 27*8, Shrewsbury conies next with 26-3, then follows Barlow 26-13, Bates- with 25 19, Selby IS'l9, Midwinter 16-8, Scotton 13*27, Shaw 13-23, Pilling 10*14, Emmett 8-13, and Peate S. Shaw comes out best in the bowling averages, his figures being 4"59 runs per wicket. Midwinter also did well with 5 # 7S per wicket. Peate bowled much more than anyone else, and secured more wickets, but they were obtained a cost of 6 10 runs per wicket. Batlow S'lB, and Bates B '3 are the other bowlers of note. We take the following from the Scientific American :—": — " Dr. Collenette, a Jersey physician of temperance principles, lately gave a lecture on the ' Manufacture of old Crusted Port.' One of the andience was reqnested to puri chase from a local wine merchant of repute a bottle of port, for which he paid 6s. This, with cobwebs, &c, was deposited on the lecturer's table. Dr. .Collenette then stated ho would, in the course of a few minutes, produce a similar article at a cost of five farthings. A judge — a gentleman said to be well qualified — was then elected by the meeting. A committee was chosen to come on to the platform and witness the operation. This consisted of weighing out ingredients. The basis of the composition was cider ; bullock's blood was used for a rich tawny color, tartaric- acid to give age, cream of tartar mixed with gum water was smeared on the inside of the bottle and gave a beautiful crust. Outside, cobwebs with dust and whitewash were applied to give an ancient look, and the bottle was stoppered with a well-stained cork. The expert was introduced, and tasted a glass from each bottle, declaring, with a knowing wiuk at the audience, that the wine a In Oollenctte was the genuine article. The temperance audience, of course, applauded to the echo. The oldest newspaper in the world is the Gazette de France. It first appeared in 1631, edited by Renaudot, a physician, and was patronised by King Louis XIII, and Richelieu. The first newspaper published in England was in 1663 ; it was entitled the Vnhhc liiteUiqeueei\ which was published for nearly three years. The first newspaper published in the United States was the Boston News letter, on Apiil24, 1704. Mr Bourbon, of Perpignan, has invented a new form of engine for dealing death and destruction to the dreaded phylloxera. It is a blowpipe -flame fed by means of bellows with a constant and regulated supply of petroleum. It is directed against the vine ; and while it carbonises the outer bark does not injure the woody tissues. Of course, in this charring process every form of insect pest is destroyed ; and the inventor confidently asserts that if for two successive years that treatment is adopted at a particular season, vineyards which may have been given up as useless will be restored to full bearing. — Chambers Journal. The "Lyttelton Times" in a article on the bad manners of the " Conservative " party in New Zealand, thus exhibits its own hnmaculatcness in this regard : — "Lord Salisbury is a,patrician, whose blood was ennobled two centuries and a half ago, and he is the elected chief of his side in the House of Peers, that temple of order and decorum. Yet a more ill-mannered, intemperate, coarsetongued, ruffianly fighter does not exist in any political arena. His speeches, from end to end, are virulent personal attacks, and nothing more. The basis of his method of warfare is habitually to attribute low and discreditable motives to all the actions of his opponents. This he does ,in public ; but, not satisfied, he practices the writing 1 of anonymous magazine articles in which the basest of charges .can be more easily made without the risk of proof beine; asked for." If the " Liberals " of New Zealand, and especially their champions, the Lyttelton Times and Mr Stout would carefully con the words we have italicised above they might profit by the task. ' ■ • The following from the Lancet of February 18th, will support the arguments of those jvho favour cricket, and who encourage its practice as a means of improving tlie stamina of the rising generation :—": — " In an interesting lecture, * given by Mr Fredrick Gale od the 13th inst., at, the Marlborough Rooms, a remarkable, instance was given of the longevity of cricketers. This , was the so-called B , eleven, chosen by Lord Frederick Beau'clerk'to play against t All England. Of these U men the youngest dida'at'the age-bf-^Qj^wllile the others raccumbed^ between^ that age arid. *95. The lecturer might, yell say that insurance offi'ces.wonld grow 'rich^if <'no lives'J but those of cricketers were taken. Mr Gale [swell-known asan enthusiastic cricketer ;J; J md. there was.an wholesale, honest, nng in!'his lively,; andqiriiHßrestuig> discourse,* «sigh 4 hj^.audience.^(a- large.and influential ;iaj\d;