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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2482, 7 June 1888, Page 2

Severe snowstorms have prevailed in Scotland. Mr John Bright, MP., is now much stronger. There are thirteen entries for the forthcoming pigeon match. We notice that th 3 Commercial Hotel, Hamilton, is advertised to be let. The alleged hoisting of the French flag at He Maitre has been officially denied. An old man, named John Law, fell into a boiling pool, just outside his wharo at Rotorua, and met with a dreadful death. Mr Somerset, the collector to the Raglan County Council, is taking out a number of summonses against defaulting ratepayers. The annual meeting of the Cambridge Licensing Commissioners was held nn Tuesday. Present: Messrs C. Boyce, (chairman), Jones, Webber, and John Hally. The meeting was adjourned until to-morrow. The ordinary revenue of the colony for tho quarter ended 31st March last, was £1,239,571), and for the same quarter last year, £1,145,914. The expenditure for the two periods was £033,373, and £582,023 respectively. The football match between the Ohaupo and Cambridge teams arranged for the 'Jth inst. has been postponed at the request of the latter t:> Saturday, 10th inst. The same team as proposed for the !)th, will represent Ohaapo on the lu'th. At the meeting of the Hamilton Licensing Committee yesterday all the applications for renewals, the transfer of the license of tho Royal Hotel to Mr Meredith, and a New Zealand wine license to Mr J. Knox, were granted.

The Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Attor-ney-General, provides for re-hearings being granted by justices on payment of fees and entering on recognisances, and also for acceptance of bail for indictable offences.

The Chambers of Commerce at Christchurch and Invercargill are opposed to the Tariff, and think further retrenchments in the public service, tho raising of the school age, and lowering the Propertytax exemption should be effected in place of increasing the taxation.

There was not a very large attendance at the Hamilton saleyards yesterday at Mr McNicol's sale, and the muster of cattle was small, but good prices were realised, and a number of horses were sold well. It is now evident that arrangements must be made to hold only one sale a month in the public yards.

The plot of ground attached to tho Public Hall, Cambridge, is assuming an untidy look from weeds, etc. As the ornamental shrubs have now attained a good hold and are well grown, the plot would preserve its appearance if sown with grass seed as well as any other way, and give tho least trouble.

Mr G. P. Mettam, bandmaster of the Hamilton and Cambridge bands, is about to open a dancing class, where those who wish may receive tuition in the Terpsichorean art. Mr Mettam is a thoroughly capable teacher, and intends that his classes shall be select. Particulars are advertise*! iu another column.

The following handicap has been declared by Mr K. Kirkwood, tho handicappor for the forthcoming pigoon match0. Uitchman, 30yds ; H. McGregor, 2S yds; \V. McMillan, Long, J. McCaun, and I). Long, 20yds ; J. Case, C. K. Fraser and .1. \). Amaboldi, 2oyds ; J. Marshall and G.Kay, 23yds; <f. Williams, 22yds; and John Arnold, 20yds. Capt. Colomb, M.P.. proposes the adoption of a plan for training armed cruisers in the art of privateering. The vessels are to be despatched to carry on a sham attack on British commerce, each vessel way-laid to be marked with a "B" or "C " to signify " burned or captured. British ship 3 of war would be kept on the alert to intercept the amateur cruiser.

The timber syndicate has been launched, and bought all tho kauri forests, sawmills and other prop3rtiea belonging to tho timber companies in Auckland, comprising 2S mills, 1,1)00,000,000 feet of timber, and 130,000 acres of land. The directors are Melbourne residents. This huge monopoly means dearer kauri timber for the New Zealand building trade.

Mr N- I. Hunt, who has been managing the Gorton estate for some years, is about to take over the management of the. tine Matamata estate. We congratulate Mr Hunt upon what is undoubtedly a "step up the ladder," and are pleased to find that his untiring energy and zeal have gained a fitting reward. Mr Hunt's loss will be greatly felt in Cambridge, where he has always taken an active part in cricket, football and tennis, and has, indeed, always been to the fore in any matches that have taken place.

The root show advertised by Mr G. J. Neal is likely to be a success. The idea being taken up with more spirit than the promoter expected. From the fact that one-hmrth ot the seed sown in tho counties of Piako, Waikato, and Waipa was purchased from Mr Neal, thoro should be a large quantity of exhibits to select from, and numbers of roots are already coming in from various directions, some of which are grand specimens. From the manner in which tho coming show is generally regarded it is quite likely that it will be made an annual institution. The somewhat unusual sight of a second empnf peas from the same sowing may be seen in the garden of Mr R. Davis, saddler, at his private iesidenco, Cambridge, where from two short rows, about ton feet, each, he has gathered about a peck whilo there are now remaining 1 nearly half that quantity of well filled pnds'containitig large peas of'good flavour. The peas am not growing from ?hed seed as the new stalks can bo traced down to the old roots, and the rows bear a fresh green appearance nearly equal to that of early summer. Air Davis does not remember the name of the pea, which bora a fair crop at the usual season,

Mr F. Edgecumbe is at present engaged surveying on behalf of the Government, a road to the head of the Mangapiko and Waiiriai creeks which will open up about 10,000 acres of land in the Raglan county, of very fair quality and fit for agricultural settlement. Until the mad is formed and opened up, however, there is no access whatever to the land, and there fore it will remain useless till then. In order to encourage people to take up sections, the Government must offer very liberal terms, somewhat after the Canadian system.

A most interesting lecture on the " Good Old Times " was delivered in S. Andrew's Schoolroom, Cambridge, on Tuesday evening by Mr W. S. Stewart, who handled the subject in a masterly manner, and. won frequent rounds of applause. If the lecturer had not drifted into temperance principals towards the close, the lecture would have been the best of the sories that have so far been given. As it was, it was completely spoiled, and made the audience feel that they had been " had " under false pretences.

The manufacture of cider has spread from Cambridge Went to the other side of the river, where Mr Robert Morse has erected a plant, the whole of which, with the exception of the screw for the press, is his own handwork. The mill for crushing the apples answers its purpose admirably, the fruit passing through toothed rollers of a peculiar shape, which do their work well and easily. The press is a simple screw press, and Mr Morse adopts the old-fashioned medium of straw to hold the pomace, preferring it to hair cloths, and the juice on being squeezed out, is placed in a capacious fermenting tun, whence it finds its way to the casks where the process is completed. The first brew is scarcely ready as yet, but promises to turn out first rate, the maker having considerable experience in the Old Country.

Says a Napier paper:—Here is a chance for "a smart young man" advertised in an Auckland paper. Wanted, as general assistatit and reporter on the staff of a country newspaper, a smart young man, having a general knmvledgo of accounts ; must be a good penman and quick at taking notes ; one with some previous experience and with knowledge of shorthand preferred, must be a total abstainer, and willing to assist in any work required. Excellent opportunity for a young man desirous of improving himself in journalistic work. Satisfactory references as to character and ability required." Tho only wonder is that the advertiser did not add what church the young man was to attend, and also ask for a premium for giving so fine an opportunity for " improving in journalistic work." ' The good young man is now "improving' himself on a certain paper not a hundred miles from Te Aroha. Notwithstanding all the piteous appeals made to the Hon. G. Fisher, during his recent visit to Auckland, for the abolition of the property tax, on the ground that the country could not bear the weight of taxation, no one has propounded a substitute. Social luxury and personal indulgence grow apace, and tho motto seems to be, " Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die." Had the Hon. G. Fisher been permitted, after hearing the melancholy statements of the deputation, to take a look into the Opera House during tho Amy Sherwin season, he would Jiavo done so with very mixed feelings. Never in Auckland's palmiest days had T siffli more luxury manifested in the dress circle, or throughout the building, which was completely packed. All wore an aspect of joyousness which betokened no dread of the advent of the tax gatherer. Mr Fisher could thon have gone over to the rink where (iOO people were on the floor at one time, making rinking almost an impossibility, and the Minister would go away puzzled to ponder over "a state of profound depression. ' Last week over £2,000 waa spent in Auckland on concerts, lotteries, rinking, dances, soirees, &c, a self-imposed taxation, which is cheerfully paid, while 400 summonses have been issued this season for non-pay-ment of rates.—Correspondent Otago Daily Times. " Manfred" in the Nelson Weekly Mail, writes as follows:—Protection, some people seem to think, is going to do all that is necessary to restore prosperity to tlie colony, and by way of aiding the agricultural population who cannot find a ready sale for their produce at remunerative prices, they propose to place a heavy tax on all the machinery they use. When politicians talk like this it is not surprising to find them rushing to extremes in their public deliveiances. As an example, let me quote from a speech delivered at a meeting held at Dunedin a fortnight ago for the purpose, of considering how population was to be retained in the colony, and everything generally set to rights. Dr. Fitchett was the speaker, and he " believed none of the remedies that could be suggested would compare with Protection. So strongly did he feel this that although a strong party man who would fain stand shoulder to shoulder with

his party, he wanted Protection from any man who gave it, party or no party. If Satan himself had a seat in the House and brought down a strong tariff, Satan would have his vote," n sentiment which, we are told, was greeted with loud applau-e by the audience, who, it may be mentioned, refused to listen to anv speakers who took the other, or anti-Satanic side. I have not the privilege of being acquainted with Dr. Fitchett so I may bo excused for remarking that on reading the foregoingextraotfrom ht3 speech the first thought that suggested itself to my mind was that, although apparently disposed to go to extremes, he might not. after all, be doing any great violence to his feelings in announcing his preparedness to sell himself and his voto to the leader of his choice on easy terms. But Dr. Fitchett is not the only man in New Zealand who grows rampant on the subject of Protection, and it is quite possible that the Premier he would select might find many other followers besides himself in the House of Representatives. If his Dunedin speech is to be taken as a sample of those that are to be delivered in Parliament there is likely to be a powerful sulphurous atmosphere surrounding the debate on the tariff.