NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2299, 5 April 1887, Page 2

NOTES.

The Taranaki people seriously contemplate embarking in the butter export business. A meeting was held a few days ago, which was attended by over a hundred farmers. The convener of the meeting, Mr Arrowsmith, said his motive for calling this meeting was to see if the farmers—he was one himself—could not in some way band themselves together so as as to carry on a butter export to any country where good prices for their article could be realised. In the manufacturing towns in the north-west of England there was, he said, sure to be a good sale, at good prices, for butter from Taranaki ;,aud he was confident that, if a small trial shipment was sent, his assertion would be found to have a sound hypothesis. The time for sending butter to England, Australia, etc., could, he stated, be regulated. To • become exporters of such pretension would mean that the farmers of the district would have to form themselves into- a Farmers' Association in order to raise capital to work upon. Another way, he thought, and one that would incur less expense, was to be affiliated to the Co-operative Society. Either, of these projects • was feasible. The meeting then appointed a committee to collect information and report at a subsequent meeting. Our neighbours at Taranaki are going the right way to work. They, have shown us that it is possible to make a profit on fat beasts sent to Sydney, and it is not improbable that they will before long be in a position to teach us how to dispose of our butter profitably. It is outside markets wc want in New Zealand for that which we can produce in abundance, and not protection to mythical industries.

In reference to what appeared in our last concerning the case of Bates v. Peat, we have seen Mr W.-M. Hay, who acted as solicitor for Mr Peat in the case, and he informs us as follows :—The statement of claim alleged that.Mr Bates was the first and true inventor of the Cambridge girth, and that by letters patent dated the 28th June, ISB6, the sole privilege to make, use, exercise and vend the invention for 14 years was granted to Mr Bates. The statement of claim also alleged a continuing infringement by Mr Peat of Mr Bates' privilege, and claimed (1) that he be restrained therefrom by injunction, and (2) £100 damages. The statement of defence denied that Mr Bates was the first and true inventor of the girth,- and that the invention (if any) was nb't'new to the public, and Mr Peat had for a long time anterior to the date of Mr Bates' letters patent manufactured and sold the girth at Hamilton. Also that the invention was not properly specified, and that the letters patent were void by reason of the matters averred in the statement of defence. Mr Peat's witnesses were all ready to proceed to Auckland on Thursday last, when Mr Hay received the notice of discontinuance. We were in error in stating that Mr Bates would not have to pay any costs, and are informed that costs, probably on the lowest scale, will be allowed, but these will not nearly represent the expense and trouble Mr Peat has been put to. It may as well be known that letters do not protect the patentee except in cases where he is the first and true inventor.

A Paparoa settler named Stick was killed by n falling tree on Saturday. The Banks in Waikato v/ill lie cloned on Fiiday, Saturday, and Monday next, for K.ister holidays. The Taupo landowners are deviS' ing a scheme for endowing a railway to that district. Some good crops of wheat have been grown in the Taranaki district this season.

The evidence taken at the inquest on the Bulli mining disaster discloses gross carelessness on the part of the men, and neglect of necessary precautions by the Company.

Mr Aldridge, late of Hamilton, has been leotming inTimaru on conditional immortality.

Siy G. F- Bowen is to retain the Governorship of Hong-Kong for a further j/£ri"d of two years. Sir Robert Stout was a through passenger co Auckland from Rotorua by yesterday afternoon's train. The Minister of Mines is at present in Auckland. Ho will shortly visit the Thames, Coromandel, Waibi, Te Aroha and other mining centres. The Kaihu Valley Railway is going ahead. The Governor has signed an Order-in-Council guaranteeing £47,000 of the company's debentures. A concert and dance will be given in the Old School-house, Ngaruawahia, on Monday evening next, to reorganise a Good Templer's Lodge. The Ngaruawahia Brass Band will be in attendance. Lytton Sothern, the actor, son of the late E. A. Sothern, the creator of "Lord Dundreary," died on the 11th ult. at New York. Some years ago Mr Lytton Sothern made a tour of this colony. The Government of New South Wales have telegraphed to the delegates of that colony at the Imperial Conference, questioning the advisability of their taking part in any discussion on federation. To-day is the last day for receiving acceptances and general entries for the Ngaruawahia races. The name of one of the horses, Pepin, was uncorrectly spelled in our list of entries "Pepiu." The Colonial delegates of the Imperial Conference have been banqueted by the Federation League, and some pretty sentiments were vented all-round. India is not to be represented at the Conference. ' \ Mr A- Scott, of Hamilton, has left at our office a splendid specimen of the bolway peach, grown in his orchard. It fs perfect in shape, and weighs 14|oz. Wje shall probably know something concerning its flavour by next issue. The second day's ratting of the Hawkesbury Club took place on Saturday. Stanley, Frisco, and Sorella were, respectively, first, second and third' for the .Autumn Handicap. Sentence won the Shorts, and Exbank the Selling Plato. The Sportsman's Handicap was pulled off by Folly, t-.- •; '

A man named Edwin Cox, an employe on the Rukuhia Estate, met with an accident on Sunday evening whilst riding. His horse fell into a ditch, throwing him heavily, and dislocating the felt shoulder. He came to Hamilton yesterday morning, when the dislocation was reduced by Dr. Waddington.

The privileges of the Ngaruajwahia races were sold by- Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. after their cattle sale yesterday. The booth was purchased by Mr E. L. Smith, Royal Hotel, Hamilton, for £9. Xhe gates were sold to Mr G. O'Connor for £15, and the cards realised £3 2s" 6d, Mr A. Wallace being the pur.chaser.

The annual meeting of the Federation League was held in London on the 31st ult. Mr Service made a long speech, counselling caution, but at the same time reminding British statesmen that engrossed as they were in party differences and petty h'ehts they were neglecting imperial matters of great importance.

Fires are still plentiful in Auckland. Scarcely a day passes without a flare-up of some kind. At two o'clock yesterday morning, a six roomed house in Beresford-street was destroyed. A house at Pakuranga has gone under, and .on Saturday the bonded store belonging to Mr Firth, Qjueen-street, Auckland, had a very narrow escape.

Mr A. G. Hughes, of Cambridge, returned from Auckland on Saturday evening, and brought with him three dozen young American catfish, which he turned into Te Koutu Lake on Sunday morning apparently in good health. This is a graceful action on Mr Hughes's part who, although about to leave the town, is not unmindful of the wants of those he will leave behind.

At. the Cambridge Police Court, yesterday, before Major Wilson, J.P., Wirimin Te Whitu, alius "Paddy Reyan," was charged with being drunk on Sunday, and was fined 10s and costs or 48 hours imprisonment. James McCormish was also charged with being drunk on Saturday. He had been locked up, but was admitted to bail on Sunday, and did not appear when called upon. His bail, £1, was ordered to be estreated. .... -

The New South Wales Government are going in strong for retrenchment and economy. Retrenchments in the land office will affect over 150 officers, whose dismisals date from the end of June. This will produce an extensive saving in the public expenditure. The publication of the finanoial proposals of the Parkes Ministry has had an excellent effect. One result of the announcement that no loan would be floated for some time is that stock has become firm.

Remedies for the codlin moth :—. Keep the ground underneath the trees from all vegetable growth and as smooth as possible, so as to afford no place of lodgment for the larva? ; scraping the stems of infected trees of all loose bark and burning it, and afterwards .washing the stem with some chemicals,, so as to destroy any larvse that may remain in the crannies ; tying bands of cloth or paper round the stems, so as to trap thia • la'rvaa ; iind gathering all apples and pears which have grub-holes in them.

The following tenders have been received by Mr D. Richardson for a stable for Mr G. Walker, of Waitoa:—J. A. Bunting, Hamilton, £10 15s : W, F. Madi-. gan, Cambridge, £11 10s ; W. B. MePherson, Hamilton. £13 10s; Geo. Stnerdon, Cambridge, £15; A. Connolly, juur., Hamilton, £16 10s ; Chas. Potterton, Cambridge, £17 ; Robt. Kerr, Cambridge, £17 10s; A. Bygrave, Te Aroha, £21; J. D. Arnaboldi, Cambridge, £23 10s; James West, Te Aroha, £28; Edwin Stewart, Cambridge, £28 7s.

The attention which English farmers are now paying to their pigsties,; barnyards, and dovecotes shows that they, are beginning to learn the lessons which the thrifty cultivators .of Franco and Belgium have been teaching them for many years past. The minor industries of country life have long been neglected by us ; but the bad seasons of the past few years have led our tenant farmers to try whether money cannot be made in other ways than those to which hitherto they gave most attention. Wheat, everybody knows, is no longer a profitable crop, and even grazing is barely remunerative at present prices.

The totalisator of late has been receiving a lot of attention, and anti-totalisa-tor people call it a villainous instrumeut— worse than bookmakers. One of our contemporaries thinks it might bemadeof state value, as it is estimated that a sum equal to the whole bank note circulation, which is just under one million pounds, is put through the totalisators in this colony during the year. A stamp duty of two pence each ticket would give a return of say £8000 nett a year which might be spent in charit-: able aid if the "machine" survives next session of Parliament, which is very much doubted.

An affecting scene was lately witnessed on the platform of tho Masterton Railway Station, when an erring husband was received to the bosom of his loving and forgiving wife, after he had tasted the swebts of this life for over a twelvemonth in company with a young and guileless maiden. He left our midst with all the ardour of a young lover, taking with him the young lady referred to, to whom he was old enough to be her grandfather. However, after travelling around he found there was no place like home, and, like the prodigal son, he arose and came to his — wife. She saw, or heard of him afar off, put the house in order, donned her best attire, and rushed to meet him at the station.

The ordinary monthly meeting oi the Hamilton Borough Council was held last night, but the business was not of a very important character. There were present : Cr. Knox (in the chair) Edgecumbe, Dey, Tippen, Scott, Bell and Barton. After some preliminary business, accounts amounting to £75 odd . were passed for payment. After some discussion as to what works were most urgently necessary, it'was decided to form and gravel Liverpool-street, East, Little Liverpoolstreet and Clarence-street, from the culvert to the Ohaupo road. Cr. Tippen objected to increasing the overdraft, but the council decided that the above works were urgent, as'the roads were in a very bad state. It was resolved to call for tenders for supplying gravel to the borough for the ensuing twelve months. This was all the business.

The Russian Government has published its Budget for the new year. The ordinary revenue for 1887 is estimated at £75,311,840, taking the rouble, as wo usually have done, at 2s of our money ; and the ordinary expenditure is estimated at £82,9(17,0(58. There is thus a deficit of £3,GG0,863; but in addition there is an extraordinary expenditure of £4,841,410, so that the real deficit is between 8J and 9£ millions sterling. And this is without any allowance for extraordinary war expenditure which is likely to occur. There is to be no new taxation, and no increase of existing taxes ; because in fact, -the Government feels that tho limit of taxation' has been reache.d and shrinks, therefore, from imposing further burdens upon the population.

We clip the following from a Staffordshire contemporary of January the 2i)th. Some thousands of persons visited Princes End on 'Pwcsday to witness, the funeral ot Mr Samuel Murfitt, who was recently exhibited as the largest man in the world. The deceased, who died on Friday after a few day's illness, was a native of Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, and was fifty-years of age. His dimensions were as follows—Height, 6ft. lin. ; weight, 40 stone; girth of waist, lOOin.; and he measured 20 inches round the calf of his leg. A hearse could not be'found large enough for tho deceased's removal, and he had to be conveyed on a flat. The sashes had to be removed from the windows, and nearly twenty men employed to get the body through the window on to the flat

The members of the Cambridge Lawn Tennis Club intend having a gala day on Good Friday, when a match takes place with the Devenport club, who are sending representatives to Waikato. The team to meet .the visitors will be selected by the committee from the ten best players in the club, and should any player feel aggrieved at being omitted he can challenge one of the selected ones, who I will play him the best of three sets; the winner to join the team. In this manner -it is hoped to choose the best players. M(jssrs ; Morrinson, Hudson and Dr. Posnetfi intended coiriing on Friday, but there would not be sufficient time to play them and the Devenport club, so Mr Cooke has written asking them to play on Saturday. ; We trust they will be able to do so, as it would be a treat to see the 'champion play. : .

In an artiole on the potato, the Weekly Scotsman says : —"ln addition to being used for food, the potato is utilised in a-multitude of ways. •. The ' production ~of. potato starch, and the use of potato flour in the adulteration of flour, are largely responsible for any insufficiency in the supply. The.potato is also used to a considerable extent in the production of vegetable ivory, and in the manufacture of paper. For the latter purpose it has proved an excellent material. The paper produced from it is extremely soft and smooth to the touch, and in strength approaches parchment more nearly than any vegetable substanoe. The presence of saccharine matter in the potato has attracted attention, and report has it that an inventor has obtained crystalised sugar from it quite equal to that extracted from the sugar-cane.

Professor Huxley, in writing to the December number of the Fortnightly Reviewon "Science and Morals," evolves the following smart paragraph :—" Tolerably early in life I disc<l vetted , that one of the unpardonable sighs in the eyes <>f n.iwt people is for a man to go about, unlabelleci. The world regards such a person as the police do an unmuzzled dog, not under proper control. I could find no label to suit me, so, in my desire to range myself and be respectable, I invented one ; and, as the chief thing I was sure of was that I did not know a great many things that the— ists and the—ites about ine professed to bo familiar with, I called myself an agnostic. Surely no denomination could he more modest or more appropriate ; an-1 I eumot imagine why I should every now and then be haled out of n>v refuge and declared sometimes to be a Materialist, sometimes an Atheist, sometimes a Positivist, and sometimes, alas and alack, a cowardly or reactionary Obscurantist."

The moral reputation of England's illustrious navigator Captain Cook has been aspersed by an Hawaiian, who has contributed to the Times an interesting account of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In order to clear Hawaii from the unenviable notoriety which it gained through the murder of Cook, the writer declares, says our London correspondent, that the death of the great navigator was solely attributable to his own conduct. His story his worth repeating, if only as a myth of the Pacific. He says: "At the time he landed the island priest predicted the coining of a god, and mistook Cook for that deity. Cook took a fancy to the sister of one of the chiefs, and attempted to carry her to his ship. The .chiefc- seized his wrist and twisted it. Cook groaned, the chief finding he was human, as no god was supposed to feel pain, instantly killed him." The Times protests against this attempt to envelop a known historical occurence in a haze of scandalous fiction, and briefly relates the actual facts attending Cook's martyrdom by way of correction.

The red cap or hat is said to have been granted to Cardinals by Pope Innocent IV. at the Council of Lyons, A.n. 1245, and allowed to be borne in their arms at the same time, as an emblem that they ought to be ready to shed their blood for the Church, especially against the Emperor Frederick 11., who had just been deposed, and his subjects absolved from their allegiance. Gilbert de Varennes, however, looking for a less temporary reason, quotes Gregory of Ngeson to prove that this colour was the mark of supreme dignity : and appeals even to the prophet Nalium (ii. 3) saying:—"The valiaut men are in scarlet." Hence he concludes that the royal priesthood belongs to the cardinals, and that they are the chief leaders of the Church militant. So their eminences must have the royal and : martial colours—purple and scarlet. Bayle says that cardinals wear red because Rome is the solar or holy city, Sunday belonging to Christianity, and cardinals therefore use the colour of the sun.

In the fashionable suburb of St. Kilda quite a romantic elopement case, has occurred. The parties to it are very youug and foolish, and the talons of the law, which have fastened on the youthful pair, will help to cure them of their romantic tendencies. Ernest Reid was a youth of eighteen, who fell in love with Annie Maude Hogan, aged sixteen., daughter of a bookseller. The bookseller was a hard-hearted parent, howevar, and gave his daughter a beating because she persisted in speaking to her lover. The result was that the. couple arranged an elopement. The girl got out of a window at three o'clock one morning. Beneath the window was the lover in a cab. They hied to the city, got something to eat at a restaurant, and by the early train set off to Sandhurst. There Master Reid took his sweetheart to an empty house, to which he brought food and blankets from a neighbouring coffee palace; but on a charge of vagrancy Miss Hogan was arrested and brought back to her father, and Master Reid stands committed for trial for abduction.

Talking of the new gold-field. "Puff' says :—An extraordinary rich goldfleld has been discovered in British Columbia !—All right! Let's go ! The rushes to Kimberley and Teetulpa and Big Bay have been such a splendid success that a jaunt to British Columbia in search of the red, red gold seems quite the proper thing!—Harum scarum jaunts in search of the red, red gold often make the jaunters look uncommonly blue, before they've done with it! Where is British Columbia ?—On the west coast of British North America, between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean ! If there really is a big goldfleld there, it will give an impetus to British trade, and we shall come in for our share of the benefit ! —lt will give the Canadian Pacific Railway a good start ?—Yes, indeed ? And it would be in a good line for New Zealand too ! But do you think there's anything in it ? Have they ever found gold there before ? — Found gold, indeed? Rather! Why, in 1858 they found one of the richest goldh'elds in the world there, but it got pretty well worked out and of late years years goldmining's not been up to much ! —Still, there's no reason why this new discovery shouldn't be just as rich as the other, or richer !— Not the least ! The only fear is that it's some sharebroking swindle, like so many other " extraordinary rich goldfields" that have been '' discovered " lately !