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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2412, 24 December 1887, Page 2

The Raglan County Council have resolved to bring the Act into force. The public schools in Hamilton broke tip on Thursday for the vacation. The late Sir William McArthur has bequeathed f(i0,000 to charities. Lord Cairns has been married to Miss Olive Berens, an American beauty. According to Lord Salisury the Sugar Bounties Conference strongly supports Tree Trade. Members of the working classes of London are emigrating to Queensland as farm labourers.

An extensive fire occurred in Sydney on Thursday, at Harden’s furniture factory, doing damage to tho extent of £20,000. Bates, the English cricketer whilst playing in a match in .Melbourne on Wednesday, received a severe blow in the eye, endangering his sight. After the evening service at S. Peter’s to morrow, the choir, under the leadership of Mr Templer, will render a number of Christmas carols. A cricket conference held in Melbourne on Thursday decided that six balls should go to an over. Leg before wicket and other questions are to be considered. At the Cambridge R.M- Court ycstciday a few civil cases were adjourned until January. The Court did not sit ten minutes. The Hamilton Light Infantry will parade for Church to-morrow (Christmas Day), on Sydney Square at 10 a.m., and inarch to S. Peter’s. On Tuesday next a shooting competition for prizes will be hold, commencing at 7 a.m. The Bounties Conference propose an absolute guarantee from the Powers that no bounties in any form shall be granted on the export of sugar, but that a system of duties on the quality of the sugai- be substituted. An interesting article on Church Work in India appears in our Supplement, by Colonel Forbes, who is very desirous of drawing attention to the need for help being given to further the cause of mission work in that vast country. In our supplement will be found seasonable reading; A Christmas Story, called Surprise Creek ; a carol styled Christmas Bells; Bohemia; A clever bibical Enigma; Tie and Trick ; and several other articles of interest. We understand the requisition to the Mayor of Hamilton to proclaim Thursday next a close holiday is being unanimously signed by the business people. This will afford an opportunity to the whole of the inhabitants to welcome Admiral Fairfax and the officers of the squadron on the occasion of their attendance at the South Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Claudelands. This evening being Christmas Eve midnight mass will be held in the Catholic Church, Cambridge, when the choir will sing “The Heavens are Telling” from Hadyn’s Creation. Special services will be held at the whole of the churches tomorrow. At St. Andrew’s the anthem will be “ Behold I bring you glad Tidings ” by Sir John Goss. The published railway returns for the four weeks ending 12th November show an increase in the general traffic. On the Auckland section the number of passengers for that and the corresponding period in 1880 were: Ist class, 4,482 ; 2nd class, 24,320. 1887, Ist class, 5,448; 2nd class, 211,003. Parcels and goods show a falling off, whilst in livestock there is an increase of nearly fifty per cent. The revenue lias only a sight improvement. The unseemely dispute between the rival members of the Cambridge bands still continues, and every day the breach seems to be getting wider. A resident of that town has suggested the following as a solution of tho difficulty, viz., that both sides should agree to decide the matter by arbitration, and that Mr Northcroft, R.M., be asked to undertake the office of arbitrator. There would doubtless be some expense in connection with the matter, and the gentleman who makes the suggestion has kindly offered to subscribe towards it; and wo think there are many others who would willingly do so if this method were adopted, as the much vexed question of who are to have possession of the instruments would be definitely settled.