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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2480, 2 June 1888, Page 2

Fruitgrowers in Papakura and Auckland are much opposed to the proposed ta>c on frwit trees. The resignation of the commission held by Lieut. James Cooinbes, in the Hamilton Light Infantry, is gazetted. A consignment of about thirty ferrets went up to Alexandra on Wednesday last. They will be in charge of a rabbit inspector located at Alexandra. The man 0. E. Smith, who was found dead in his bed at Kaikohe, Bay of Islands, last Saturday, was insured by Mr Aldertou only six months ago for £500. There will be a football practice to-day at 3 o'clock. A full muster of players is requested, as arrangements arc to be made for a match with the Huntly Football Club. The gross Customs receipts for the financial year ended 31st. March last, was £1,350,4G7, and the cost of collecting the same was £2 15s Gd per cent, (less drawbacks and refunds.) We are glad to hear that the total proceeds of the entertainment in Hamilton on Wednesday, in aid of the Cricket and Football Clubs, reached the substantial sum of £12. At the annual election of officers of the Alpha Lodge, E.G., at Cambridge ou Thursday night, Bro. W. M. Searancke was elected W. M., Bro. J. P. Thomson Treasurer, and Bro. J. S. Masters, Tyler. The fourth of the series of literary evenings at S. Andrew's, Cambridge, is advertised for Tuesday next. Mr W. S. Stewart is to be the lecturer and wo understand his subject will be " Olden Times." The report of the performance of the "Pirates of Penzance" at Te Awamutu on Wednesday night is unavoidably held over till next issue. It is the intention of the Company to give the performance at Cambridge on Wednesday week. Messrs Walton, Coulthard and Graham's flour mill at Te Awamutu is now in full swing. The latest and most improved machinery has been obtained. A full description of the mill will appear in our next issue. The Chinese Government have protested against the indiscriminative exclusion of Chinese from Australia, but agree to its application to all foreigners. They think the colonies should unite in proposing a treaty with China. We learn that tenders hava been received from all parts of the colony for falling the 2,000 acres of bush belonging to the Thames Valley Land Company. This shows how the scarcity of work is being felt in the South, as well as in tlio North Island. The local option poll was taken for the Kirikiriroa district on Thursday, the result being, seven votes for the increase in all cases, and at the annual meeting for the district yesterday, an accommodation license was granted to Mr W. H. M. Lovell, of Taupiri. The mills and extensive property of the Union Sash and Door Company, Auckland, were sold by auction on Thursday by Messrs Arthur and Buddie. Thore was only one bid made, of £30,000, and at that figure one of the largest local industries in the colonies was knocked down to Mr John Murray. Speaking on the question of taxing the totalisator, Mr. Beetham stated that the amount of money passing through that machine annually in New Zealand was, as calculated by experts, between £500,000 and £lioo,ooo. A tax of 2 per cent, on that sum would produce £10,000 for assistance to local bodies. Such a tax was levied on the totalisator in Parin, and the revenue used for charitable-aid purposes. Whilst the s.s. Taupo was at the New Hebrides, she was visited by the Rev. H. A. Robertson, the only resident missionary at Eromanga Island, one of the groupe, who informed the captain that the three missionaries who had previously been located on the island had been eaten by the natives. Mrs.Robertson was not well, at the time of the Taupo's visit, but otherwise Mr. Robertson was satisfied with affairs in the island.

We have received a copy of the first issue of the Mildura Cultivator, a twelve-page weekly journal, exceedingly well got up and devoted to the agricultural and fruit growing industries. It is published at Mildura, on the Murray, in Victoria, which is a settlement founded by Mr. Ueorge Chaffey, of the firm of Messrs. Chatfey Bros , who have entered into extensive irrigation contracts in Australia. The paper contains a portrait of that gentlemart^ There was only one voter at the local option poll in the Tamahere district on Thursday, and he decided that there should be no increase in that district for three years. Although at present thero is no house in the district, it is ridiculous that one man should have the power of closing the locality up for three years, by which time thero may perhaps bo requirements for cither hotels or accommodation houses.

A correspondent writes, expressing surprise "ThatCapt. Reid, after the patronage of the Hamilton Light Infantry had, by vote of the company, been extended to the entertainment on Wednesday night, had retuscd to allow his men to appear in uniform. After it had been advertised that the performance would be given under the company's [patronage, the least the Captain might have done was to have informed the promoters of his intention of not allowing his men to appear in uniform."

Our Wellington correspondent states that the Financial Statement was put in the Wellington telegraph office at ten p.m. on Tuesday. The North wires were working badly, but notwithstanding this and the fact that the Cook Straits threewire cable is still unrepaired, the Statement was finished North at 12.45 a.m., and South at 2.13 a.m., and elsewhere at 2.80 a.m. The tariff resolutions also were telegraphed to the various collectors of customs, and the

ordinary press work was exeedingly heavy. The whole of the morning press work was cleared off at 3.30 a.m. for tho South, and much earlier for the North, and everything was cleared off by 7.15 a.m., the operating staffs at all the stations having done exceedingly good work throughout the very heavy night. The youth, Henry Palmer, on remand from Te Aroha, was brought before Messrs Seddon and McPherson, J.P.'s, at Hamilton, on Thursday. The charge of stealing a gun, valued at 30s, from Mr W. Wilson, was dismissed, the accuscd receiving the benefit of a doubt. A second charge against him for breaking and entering into the house of Mr G-. H. Bleasdale and stealing a gun, valued at £10, was heard, and the prisoner was committed for trial. The lad is of a respectable, quiet appearance, but unknown to the district. Mr W. B. Souter's window in Duke,.street, Cambridge, attracts much attention from the handsome display of roots from in the neighbourhood, principally on . the West side of the river. Some white Belgian carrots grown by Mr J. R. S. Richardson aro very fine and the crop is estimated at 200 tons to the 10 acres. Some turnips from Mr Day of Tamahere are fine specimens, and were sown with Mb of seed to the acre which proved tm> thick. Mr ! Day has -10 acres of this crop. Mr R. ! Watson of Pukeritnu, sends fine specimens of Taunton swedes of good shape with no neck, also some Suttons Imperial green globe turnips which are splendid roots, quite equal in appearance to the illustrations in seedsmen's catalogues. Some long red mangolds of a very rich colour and large size are also exhibited, also a gigantic drum hoad savoy cabbage, grown by Mr C. Dunn of Cambridge West.

Tli3 rinkintr mania has fairly caught tho Cambridge people, and promises to make the present season the best that the club has experienced. The average attendance is about sixty, which is quite as many as the Public Hall can accommodate. Following the example set by the Columbia in Auckland, a series cf races has been instituted, the first one —of a little over half a mile—was commenced on Thursday evening, when the following gentlemen competed J. Ansenne, -lmin. 42sec. ;J. McCroa, 4miw. 32sec. ; P. Eweu, 4min. 45sec. ; R. Angus, 4min. 42scc. The race will be finished next Thursday when Messrs AV. Carr, F. Sargent, H. McCrea and Richardson will be the competitors. The Cambridge band greatly add to the attractiveness of the meeting, by holding their weekly practice in the Hali at the same time that the rinking is going on.

Mr H- G- Glassford, of Richmond, has forwarded some samples of roots grown by him to Mr G. J. Neal, which are now on exhibition at Mr Neat's premises, Dukestreet, Cambridge. The samples consist of Webb's Imperial Swede, Purple Top Mammoth, and Green Globe White Turnips, and tho crop, a heavy one, has boon pronounced by competent judges to be the best in Waikato, the turnips being large, sound, and beautiful in shape. The Imperial Swedes were sown from the 7th to the 14th January, and the other varieties on the Ist. February, on land which had never been ploughed previous to this sowing, and were manured with two cwt. root manure and Coral Queen Guano mixed to the acre. This speaks well for the Richmond district as well as for the quality of the seed. Mr Neal also shows some very fine Webbs' White Belgian, and long red and yellow carrots grown by Mr J. R. S. Richardson ; some fine roots from Mr Allwright; a.grand sample of swedes from Mr E. B. Walker; and green top Scotch turnips which are equal to swedes from Mr Rhodes, Tamahere.