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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2353, 9 August 1887, Page 2

Several letters, already in type, are unavoidably crowded out of this issue. The quotation for New Zealand mutton at home is now fourpence per lb. News to hand from the gumfields in tho Henderson Mill district are very encouraging. The New Zealand Shipping Company have greatly reduced their passage fares both out and home. A cablegram dated London, August sth, states that Mr J. C. Brown has sold the Blueapur mines at Tnapeka to an English syndicate. Pilfering still continues at Otorohanga. We were told that a five-gallon keg of rum was recently abstracted from the goods shed or trucks. The floods in the Goulburn valley, Victoria, are increasing, and causing immense damage to the crops. The main roads are submerged and traffic suspended. A little four-year-old boy, son of Mr Thomas Gleeson, of Mount Eden, was accidentally drowned on Sunday by falling into a cistern at the back of his parents' residence.

Mr John Ormsby, chairman of the Ngatimaniapoto Native Committee, has been visiting Te Aroha, preparing for bis electioneering campaign in the Western Maori district.

We understand that an English company is being formed, with a capital of £IOO,OOO, to supply Now Zealand mutton direct to the consumers, without the intervention of middlemen.

A concert and dramatic performance, in aid of St. Saviour’s Church, is announced to take place in the Public Hall, Alexandra, on Priday evening next, to be concluded with a dance.

Several hundred rabbits are forwarded weekly from Alexandra for the Auckland market, being procured on a standing order. Poor bunny has not a happy time of it just now in that quarter. Sir Gerorge Grey addressed a crowded meeting at the Hastings Town Hall on Saturday night, and met with a tremendous reception. When the special left for Napier hundreds assembled at the railway station and cheered the -veteran.

As showing the high estimation in which'the Kussian journalist, Eatkoff, Was; hold by his confrere’s in France, twenty-one French press men attended Ids funeral, while the Alsatians sent wreaths to be placed on. the collin. A cablegram, dated London, 7th August, states that Mr John Bright has furiously criticised the action of Mr Gladstone, who, ho asserts, has stooped to. unworthy acts, and openly defended illegally disturbing business in Farlia-, ment.

A requisition is being very extensively signed amongst the Auckland horss 4 owners for presentation to the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club, asking that body to appoint a committee to supervise all future handicaps. Mr Sindon, blacksmith, of Alexandra, is the inventor of a gold-saving machine, which was recently given a trial at Dunedin and found to be most satisfactory. It is intended to give it a trial with the alluvial dirt found at Waitoa.

The natives at Waihao and Waimato were particularly industrious last season, and grow some excellent crops of wheat, most of which has been ground to dour and sold. Oats and potatoes were also cultivated, and large quantities sold to Europeans.

The grave diggers in the cemeteries around New York have struck work. They are, it seems, paid “by the piece,” ami they complain of “ the want of steady employment. The demand, therefore, either a higher rate of payment or “more to do.”

The example set by New Zealand, of carrying children to school free on the railway, has just been followed by Now South Wales, where the Assembly has resolved that provisions should bo made for the issue of free passes fop children travelling by railway to school. We should like to see some substantial improvements made on the lower

road between Te Awamutn and Alexandra. The great holes and seas of mud not only make heavy work for horses, hut also make travelling between the two places at this time of the year an excruciating pilgrimage. A telegram dated Wellington, last night, states that the Mariposa left San Francisco on the 2!) th ult., contract timetable date,-and that the Zealandia arrived in Han Francisco yesterday. The members of the Hamilton Eight Infantry to the number of about HO (including officers) attended church parade on Sunday. The men fell in on Sydney Square at half-past 10, and headed by their band marched to S. Peter’s Church, where an excellent and appropriate sermon was preached by the incumbent, the Rev. R. O’O. Biggs. Agnes Gilston, the child heroine of the strange story, was brought back yesterday afternoon by Constable Wild from Mr Radford’s farm, and delivered over to Mrs Vincent, who has adopted her. Tho story of the chain is now believed to he a fiction, and that the child is either of feeble intellect or imbued with a spirit of pure mischief.

Some settlers of Alexandra recently found some fine prospects of coarito gold on one of the slopes of X’irongia, which on being tested yielded about 2ozs. to the ton. No one thinks of creating an excitement over the discovery, but we noderstand the same parties intend following up the indications in the hope of coming across the parent reef.

Whilst Mr Sage’s coach was being driven down Goodfellow’s hill on Saturday last, by some means or other a portion of the harness became undone, and the horses cleared out at full speed. The passenger on board jumped off and fell on his face, receiving a black eye. Fortunately the horses were pulled up after going a little further, none the worse for the bolt. At a meeting of the working printers of Napier on Saturday night, which was largely attended, all but four out of the total number of workmen in the trade being present, resolutions were passed condemnatory of Mr Ivess’ action in cutting down wages in Timarn, and expressing a determination to resist any attempt at reductions in Napier.

A meeting of Mr J. B. Whyte’s committee was hold at the Hamilton Hall on Saturday, when most satisfactory reports were received from local sources, as also from outlying districts, in the latter ease surpassing the expectations of even his most sanguine supporters. A meeting of the General Committee will be held in the Hamilton Hall on Saturday next at 7.30 p.m. While New Zealand farmers have to complain that frozen meat is only fetching about 4d per lb wholesale in England, the following prices are being paid there : Begs and loins of mutton lOd per lb, shoulders 9d, neeks Bd, and breasts (id. Beef is retailed at lOd per lb for sirloins and rounds, (Id for ribs, and 7d for brisket. These are taken from an Isle of Wight butcher’s circular, and the prices are underlined as “for cash.”—Hawke’s Bay Herald. Whilst the Native Land Court was recently at Otorohanga Pat Murphy, the first Pakeha over triad in the King Country for offending against the law, was brought before Major Mair, J.P., charged with assaulting Constable Berriman and damaging his uniform. In honour of the occasion he was let off with the slight fine of 5s and costs, together with cost of the policeman’s shako. Mrs Shaw, whose name was men tinned in a paragraph on Saturday, headed “A Strange Story,” has called upon us to say that the statement of the girl Gelstmi that she had been living with her is absolutely without foundation. Mrs Shaw naturally feels very much aggrieved at what would appear hearties- conduct mi her part to a child, and we ore glad to take the earliest opportunity of putting Mrs Shaw right.in the eyes of the public. Mr H- Smith writes to say, that the man Phillips, arrested for arson in connection with the fire at the Royal Hotel, was never in Mr E. L. Smith’s employ as billiard-marker. Mr E. L. Smith had simply given him the table to make what he could out of it, knowing that the man was in indigent circumstances. But that he had turned him away a week before the fire, as he was not taking sufficient care of tho place. Mr Tanner has dismantled his boarding-house at Otorohanga and removed it bodily to Te Kuiti, for re-erection there ; Mr Mac Donald storekeeper is also removing all his stock to the same place. Now that the native land oonrt has failed tn carry on its sittings at Otorohanga, the storekeepers there find no inducement to remain, especially as the To Kuiti section will soon be open for traffic, and Otorohanga will no longer be the stopping place for travellers.

The winter rains had the effect recently of making the railway embankment across the Kawa swamp on tho Otorohanga section very shaky. The department has now a gang of men at work strengthening the road and . driving in willow limbs an both sides of the entire length of the swamp formation. We lately noticed similar weakness mi the line across the Ohaupo swamp, where the oscillation of the carriages was so great as to alarm timid passengers. It is generally supposed that they are not so particular about saving time in the country as people are in the hurry and bustle of town life (says “Aulus,” in the Australian) but there is one farmer who could not be beaten, even in the Lane. As his harvest hands were retiring to rest, after a good 16 hours hard work, he gave out the order :—“ Now, lads, such of you as smoko, fill your pipes to-night, as it will save time in the morning, and your time is mine.” And yet they say that farming does not .pay.

Have you seen “The Heroes of New Zealand?” It is a gaudy volume, and no mistake. Some of the “heroes” never smelt powder, I fancy, and would have run a mile any day sooner than have faced a Maori with a gun in his hand. One “ hero ” did shoot a pukaku or a kupapa, or some oilier sort of biped, but it was in a swamp long after the war ! Poor Colonel Noake has been awfully reproduced, with a helmet that looks three sizes too big for him. Some of the likenesses are very good, others are simply atrocities!— Lounger -in the Yeoman.

To night a meeting of those interested in forming a racing club will be held at the Commercial Hotel, Hamilton. From what we can learn, there is every probability of a strong club being formed, and judging from the experience of those who have already signified their intention of giving support to the club, we are sure to have some first rate racing in Waikato ere long. A finer racecourse than that at Claudelands—with ail its advantages of being easy of access by rail or road—can hardly bo met with, and we trust there' will be a large attendance at the meeting tin’s evening so discuss the matter fully. ■ The American Dairyman says : Let a drop of fresh milk fall into a glass of fresh water. If the milk promptly disseminates itself through the water, the cow that yielded that milk is not with calf, but if it sinks to the bottom of the glass as it falls upon the water, and does not produce but little of a milky eioud, the cow is pregnant. The specific gravity and viscidity of the albuminous milk being heavier than water, thus retains the drop of milk and causes it to sink. If reliable the above information may be of great use tu dairymen. The Mataura Ensign (Gore) editor has got them very bad. He. closes an article- on the Parliament just closed in this sulphur and brimstone style :—Let the day perish in which it was born, and the night in which it was said : 1 The House has met.’ . Let,darkness and the shadow of death stain it. Let it not be joined unto the days of the; year, let it not come unto the number of the months; because it shut not up the doors of the House, nor hid contempt from our eyes. For then it should have been where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.” "

Mrs 0. H- W. Hill, (travelling correspondent for London Morning Post) passed through Hamilton from To Aroha, en route tor Rotorua, on Monday morning. Mrs Hill has seen many of the greatest marvels of our wonder land, unfortunately, for the moat part, under unfavourable auspices, but Airs Hill, who is an old traveller has no doubt learnt to take the rough with the smooth; she expresses hereelf as much struck with what she has seen in New Zealand. The wonders of Rotorua, the pink and white terraces are things of the past, but Rotorua possesses many wonders still, and we have no doubt the lady will add another interesting item to her many other unique experiences by a court seiour at the Hot Lakes,

The Fielding Star of the 19th iust. says “.The friendships of animals are singular. In Feilding there livesja well-bred terrier, who, from age and infirmity, is nnable to pursue the pleasing occupation of rat-catching, which it followed in the days of his youth with considerable success. His chief friend and companion now is a cat, which, from her youth upward, developed considerable skill as a huntress of ‘ rats and such small doer.’ She, knowing the proclivities of her friend, ‘ goes a hunting,’ and brings her prey to him alive, which he slaughters with many demonstrations of delight and satisfaction, she standing by watching the proceedings with much interest.

That the sun never sets on the British Empire is shown by a correspondent in tho Timarn Herald as follows ; About four hours after the sun had risen on Great Britain he will rise over some of the British West Indian Islands. Two hours later he will be visible in the Western part of Upper Canada, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Three hours later he will have risen nn the western part of the Hudson Bay Territory;. Throe hours later still, when just setting on the British Island, he will he rising on the eastern part of New Zealand, and two hours later he will have risen on Australia ; four hours later on Calcutta; two hours later on Aden; about an hour later on Cape Colony; and two hours later on Great Britain again.

A interesting case, involving, it is believed, a terrible miscarriage of justice, will, says tho Vienna correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, shortly he revised by the Competent Court, at .Ticin, in Bonemia. Six years ago the Assize Court at Taboz sentenced to sixteen years’ penal servitude a man named Jelinok, found gniltybythe jury of attempting to poison his wife. After the trial Bran Jelinek obtained a legal separation, went to America, and married. She has just written to her parents to say that her former husband was innocent. She herself put the posion in a plate of preserves in order to get up a charge against Jelinek, and thus obtain a separation. He has already undergone five and a-half years of the penalty. The tomato leaf is credited with almost extraordinary powers in eradicating blight that may attack trees. Attention appears to have been first drawn to this fact in Valparaiso, —here a gentleman placed the leaves of the tomato around the branches and trunks of peach trees which had been attacked, and found to bis surprise that not an enemy remained, except where a curled leaf prevented the tomato leaf from exercising its influence. Another application banished tho rest of the blight. The infusion from some tomato leaves steeped in fresh water sprinkled over roses, oranges, and other plants completely freed them from insects. The discovery is an important one to those engaged in gardening operations.

The London Times paida very high compliment to the Australian ladies and to the Flemington racecourse in its introductory notice of the last Ascot Cup day on July 9, After remarking that the number of visitors who saw the gold cup won by Bird of Freedom this year was estimated to be tho largest which ever assembled upon the heath, it declares that “there can be no question that, as regards the beauty of the women, the lawns at Ascot present such a spectacle as can he. seen at no other race meetings in the world, unless it be at Flemington when the Melbourne Cup is about to be run for.” Tue Prince and Princess of Wales and numerous other princes andpiiucossos and a' large number of the nobility attended. A profound sensation was excited in Inverness by the sad news that The Chisholm had died suddenly at March-hall, his mother’s residence at Midlothian. The. sorrow which this event causes in the Highlands is intensified by the fact that the late chief of this powerful clan was the la-t male representative of the ancient and illustrious family of the Chisholms of Comar. The Chisholm was in his twenty-fourth year, and was known to be in delicate health, but no danger had been anticipated. He was greatly beloved by his tenantry; and at an estate dinner, which he gave at Erchleas Castle a few weeks ago, his health was drunk with an enthusiasm rarely witnessed on such occasions in these days. The family estates in the comities of Inverness and Ross, which extend to nearly 120,000 acres, pass to the two sisters of the late chief.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Road Board was held on Saturday, at the office of the hoard, all the members being present, a considerable, amount of correspondence was read. Messrs May and Booth reported that they had attended to the work required to be done at Mr Hill’s farm, having employed labour costing £4 4s. The chairman and Mr Booth reported on the work required to be done at Mr O’Brien’s farm, Pukete, they estimated that the cost would be £SO. It was decided that T. G. Sandes Esq. should lay off the road and make estimate of what the cost would be. It was resolved that tenders should be called for grading the cuttings at Stokes' Creek, the tenders to be in by 20tb inst., a special meeting of the board to be held to receive and open the tenders. The following accounts were passed for paymentOdlmn, £4 4s ; Goodson T., £1 Is; Sandes T. G., £7 17s (id. Jones Wm., £8 19s 9d ; Secretary, £IG 4s Goodson J., £3 8s ; McCallum, 0. S. £4 10s Gd : This concluded the business of the meeting. Says the Sydney ‘ Bulletin’—The church in which a recent N.Z. wedding took place, was wooden and aged and rickety, and when the lovely bride accompanied by her consummate ma entered the building it shook beneath them. Things went on smoothly, enough,'however, until the clergymen inquired, “Do you take this man—?” and then before he could finish the sentence the floor opened and the whole happy squad went down together into the cellars. The bride led the way head-foremost, with the baptismal font; the altar, and a spectator’s baby close behind, and after them came the bridegroom witli the bulk of the wedding party on top ofhim,.his collar burst, his hat flying loose,. and a black eye. The parson, however remained above, clinging to the pulpit-rail, and the last tiling lie heard was the voice of the bride calling out “I will,” as she was half-way down. She was under the impression that the bridegroom was beneath her, and as he was a wealthy man she had resolved with great presence of mind to get through the service and get a claim on his assets before she fell on him and squashed him flat.

A strange story is told in the New York Sporting World regarding a jockey named Harris, who rode Mr B. Prior’s horse Richmond, at the Washington Spring Meeting in May, when he won a couple of well-contested races. Harris had a mount at the Latonia races a year ago, when his horse fell in front of a field of thirteen, and dragged the stunned jockey for nearly a furlong. Harris was picked' up for dead, placed in a coffin, and kept for a couple of days to enable his wife and sister to be present at the fnneral. When his relatives arrived they were taken to see the body, and while they were present the attendant raised one of the eyelids, whereupon to the horror of the spectators, the eye was seen to move. He was quickly removed from the shell; and soon gave more pronounced manifestations of life; but when he recovered consciousness and bodily health it was found that he was insane. He was then placed in an asylum, where he remained three months, and his reason returned as suddenly as it had left him ; but bis memory is a complete blank from the time of putting on the colours for the race until he regained his mental faculties in the asylum.