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Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2298, 2 April 1887, Page 2

It is likely that after all Mr Mitchelson will not resign his seat for Marsden. The faith healer Dowie, has taken the Choral Hall, Auckland, for three weeks, foi lecturing purposes. The railway arrangements for the Easter holidays will be found fully detailed in our advertisement columns. Admiral St Hilaire, of the French raan-o'-war Duquesne, will visit Kawau before leaving New Zealand water.-', and will be the guest of Sir G. Grey. The Waiteti contract, Trunk line, has been signed by Messrs J. and A. Anderson, of Christchurcb, and work will be actively proceeded with at once. The contractor for Bradley's bridge, Hamilton East, Mr John Wright, has completed the job to the satisfaction of the Borough Council. The bridge is now open for traffic. The date of the Winter Meeting of the Waipa Racing Club has been altered from the 24th May (Queen's Birthday) to Monday, the 20th June, Jubilee Day. The programme appears in another column. Private advices have been received by the last mail, from an apparently trustworthy source, which gave a very encouraging view of the improvement in the position and prospects of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Mr E- Pearson's carbolic sand soap is rapidly pushing its way in the market, and will doubtless soon be found in every household in the colony. He Ims just completed orders for three-quarters of it ton of the article for Auckland, and the

manufactory at Hamilton East is still going full time. We congratulate Mr Pearson on the amount of success which his industry has attained.

The Waingaroa Hot Springs reserve is to be leased after all. Mr John KnoK will offer the lease for twenty-one years by auction at tho Hamilton Mart on Saturday, the 30th inst., at 2 p.m. Particulars will be found in the advertisement.

A fresh attempt on the life of the Czar was made at Gatschinaon the3oth March. Further arrests in connection with former attempts have been effected. On the whole the lot of his Imperial Majesty is not a particularly happy one just at present.

Last year 233 ; 119 persons of British origin left the United Kingdom for places out of Europe, besides 94,239 foreigners, and 3540 whoso nationality could not be ascertained. This shows an increase of 0(3,503 emigrants over the former year.

A Press Association telegram states that at the next Meeting of the full Cabinet it is intended that the question of introducing a Bill to hand over the control of the railways to non-political boards will be discussed, but it is doubtful whether the Government will introduce a Bill this season.

We have received from Mr John Robertson, of Pukerimu, two fine specimens of the brown Spanish onion, grown from seed supplied by Capt. Souter, of Cambridge, the agent of Messrs Yatef. They weigh together just 41bs, and twelve of their brethren weighed 231bs. They are worth seeing.

The following cases are set down for hearing at the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Thursday, April 21st:—Josiah Clifton Firth v. Panapa te Pea and thirteen other natives: For possession of land and £100 profits. There is a counter claim between the same parties. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board v. County of Waipa: Claim for £238 14s Sd, contribution. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board v. County of Waikato : Claim £277 14s 4d, contribution.

The prospects of peace in Europe are not very bright. Cables messages inform us that. M. de Giers is vainly trying to prevent tlie expression of hostility to Germany by the Moscow Gazette, in which M. Katkoff continues to fulminate against that country. Things in Bulgaria are very unsettled. The Bulgarian refugees at Rein and Odessa threaten to mako a descent on Varna and Bourghas, where the fidelity of the minor officers of the national troops is suspjetod.

The Irish people are rising up against the Crimes Bill, which is the most drastic measure of the kind ever yet introduced. Mr Gladstone has pronounced against it, and Mr Parnell predicts that the Irish people will passively resist its operation. Its first victims, according to the latter gentleman, will be the writers in the Nationalist papers and the Homo Rule orators. It is fully expected that the Government will withdraw some of the more objectionable provisions, the adoption of which would be tantamount to stigmatising the Irish as an inferior race.

The duck snooting season commenced yesterday. Before daybreak several well-known sports were out in the Waikato river, whilst a good few scoured the bank-:. Five, brace was the largest bacr we have heard of. Most of those who availed themselves of the opening day, however, secured a few brace. Between Hamilton and Ng.i.rnawahiaducks were not very numerous, but up the stream towards Cambridge they were plentiful. It may be mentioned incidentally that a number of tame duek.s belonging to various residents of the district have not been seen since Thursday night. Their disappearance is of course iu no way connected with the opening of the spurting season.

The following is the return of estimated population (inclusive and exclusive of Maoris) of the colony of New Zaa land on the 31st December, 1885 :—Population, as enumerated at the census of 28th March, 188(5 : Males, 312,221 ; females 200,201 ; total, 578,482. Increase from 28th March to 31st December: Males, 5425 ; females, 5479 ; total, 10,904. Estimated population on 31st December, 1880 (exclusive of Maoris) : Males, 317,0413 ; females, 271,740 : total, 559,38(i. Maori population census, March, 18S(i : Males, 23,808 ; females, 18,900 : total, 41,828. Total estimated population on 31st December, 1880 : Males, 340,514 ; females, 200,700 ; total, 031,214. On the opening day the Hawkosbnry Autumn Meeting <>n Thursday, at 1-Liwke.sbvii-y, though the weather was showery the attendants on all parts of the ground was large. The programme started with the Hurdle Race, a handicap of 100.-iovs., which was a gift to Whitufoot, with (Juong Tart second, and Dragon third. For the Rowley Mile fifteen horses started, the racs resulting in a great^finish. Metador winning by a short head. Stanley was second and Honey-comb third. Ino Hon. Jas. White's Abercom won the Claret Stakes, of lOsovs. each, with 300 sovs. added, easily from Sumaria, Huntingtower being third. Folly won the Railway Handicap, with Willeron second, and Dreamer third.

The Shorthand Congress this next autumn, on tlni strength of the Jubilee of the Pitman system, and the tercentenary of Timothy Bright, the father of modern shorthand in England, bid fair to be very successful. Mr Pitman himself has given

£100, another donation of a similar amount has been announced, and other substantial promises have been elicited. All existing systems of any pretensions whatever will be represented and delegates will attend from France. Germany, America, and other conntries, and it is to be hoped that New Zealand will be added to the number. The

Lord Mayor of London has already signified his intention of entertaining the members of of the Congress at a banquet at Guildhall. The monthly meeting of the Waitoa Road Boad was held last Saturday. Present : Messrs W. P. ChepmeU (in the chair), H. Burnett, J. Horrell and S. Seddon. The Engineer reported that he inspected Te Kawana road and estimated the cost of repairing the damage caused by fire at £20. The engineer was instructed to get the road put right. The cost ot replacing the bridge burned down on the Maungakawa-Waiorongomai road was £28 18s. The engineer was instructed to get the Morrinsville-Hamilton road repaired as far as the confiscation boundary. The followin? tenders were received for the Piakoiti road at Richmond :—C. Collins, £45 ; .Tames Shaw, £41 (accepted) ; John MeSweeney. £40. The following accounts were passed for payment : —A. Bremner, £12 2s ; Jas. La-very, ,£]3 Is ; C. Collins, £8 8s (id ; Jas. Shaw, £14 ; John Mellon, 15s. A lot of other routine business was transacted but not of very great impotance. —(Correspondent). The usual monthly meeting of the Kirikiriroa Road Board was held.at the Waikato County chambers, Hamilton, yesterday. Present: Messrs A. Primrose (chairman), B. Maclean, andH. Steele. The engineer reported that Mr Arthur Swarbrick had neglected to cut down the furze growing on the road abutting on his property in acrordance with the board's notice, and the clerk was instructed to take legal proceedings against him. T he engineer reported on road improvements required through Mr Gray's estate, lying between Hamilton and Taupiri. The manager, Mr Cox, had cut a quantity of timber, suitable for bridges. He (the engineer) would suggest that the board contribute to the cost.—The chairman said the usual way of doing these things was for the board to "undertake the work, the persons interested paying a subsidy.—After some discussion it was agreed that Mr Cox be allowed to erect the bridges under the supervision of the engineer, the board to do earthwork at a cost not exceeding £30. — The chairman and Mr Steele were appointed a committee to open tenders on Saturday, the 9th inst.—Messrs Littlewood and Welsh wrote offering to cut a track through the titree to give them access to their lands on the Mangawhara, provided the board allowed its engineer to pick up the old road line.—The board resolved to allow the engineer, the cost not to exceed £C, a guarantee, for the completion of the track to be obtained from Messrs Littlewood and Welsh.—Mr A. Bruce Suttor wrote, stating that a bridge was urgently required between his property and the ICureka railway station.—The engineer was instructed to make enquiries regarding this matter.—The Surveyor-General telegraphed that the Government had made u. grant of £ for £ for draining , the special settlers' land on the east side of the railway near Ngaruawahia, and asking if the board would undertake the work and contribute the remainder of the money required—say £80. —The Chairman said it was not the function of the board to drain the lands of private individuals, and, on his motion the board passed a resolution declining the request, and expressing surprise that the Go

verninent should have placed settlers on land, requiring to be chained. Some other business of a routine nature was transacted, and the board then rose.