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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2488, 21 June 1888, Page 2

The Suez Canal has been blocked. and twelve steamers delayed. The English harvest production is 130,000 tons below the average. It is said that a " dark horse" is to be brought out for the Mayoralty of Hamilton. There is a general feeling in the House that the Estimates can bo vary much reduced. Mr Bruce, M.H.R., has given notice to impose a tax of £1 on bachelors over 21 years of age. Mr Malcolm Nicol has been elected chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, vice the late Mr Waddel. Mr, Rusden, in a letter to the Timeß. ridicules Mr Parnell's recent statement that the whole of Australia is in entire sympathy with the Irish National movement. Te Kooti is again desolating the East Coast with 500 followers, who eat the resident natives out of house and home. The Government have been petitioned to put a stop to his perigrinations. A meeting of those interested in forming a string band was held in Cambridge on Tuesday evening, when twelve enrolled themselves as members. We wish the movement every success. Dr. G-albraith, of Invercargill, was shot in the street on Tuesday by n man named John Maloney, who has a morbid antipathy to medicos. Tho doctor was severely wounded in the leg and thigh.

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Te Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Factory will be held on the3oth instant, to consider the position of the company.

A change in the management of two Hamilton hotels has taken place. Mr Bright, late of the Waikato Hotel, has taken over the Commercial, lately occupied by Mr Barton, and Mr Le Quesno will, himself, look after the Waikato Hotol in future.

The poll for or against bringing the Libraries Act into force in Hamilton was taken yesterday, and resulted in favour of the Act by 70 votes to 55. Mr John Knox was working very actively all day in looking up voters for the affirmative.

Messrs R. Qoldsborough and Co's. monthly report for May gives the following figures showing the export of wool from the several colonies up to date from Ist July last:—Victoria, 342,52!) kales, being an increase on the same period last year of 14,598; New South Walos, 3!)1,272 bales, increase, 01,331; South Australia, 1-10,710, increase, 215(i; Queensland, Bli,ool, increase, 22,921; West Australia, Ki,438, increase, b's ; Tasmania, 11>,(!57, increase, 1,904; New Zealand, 240,(183, decrease, 18,890. Total shipments, 1,243,2'J3 bales, an increase of 83,219 bales over last year.

In an article on the " Hardships of Progress," the Australasian says: —In ISBI the freight of a ton of wheat, from Calcutta to London, was 71s 3d, and in 1885 it was only 275. Thus in four years the rate fell by the almost incredible sum of 44s 3d, principally, to all appearance, on account of the now inventions in marine architecture. Another equally astonishing instance may be cited. In 1850, 14,500 pounds of coal were required to do the work that is now performed by 300 pounds; so that tho same expenditure on coal will enable a shipper to carry nearly 50 times the cargo. The statements made on the application of science to trade by Sir L. Playfair in the Contemporary Keviow. "A cube of coal," he says "which passes through a ring the size of a shilling will drive one ton of cargo for two miles." Yet such an assertion is borne out by hard and dry figures. The rates of transit across the Atlantic have fallen in six years from 9.|d per bushel in the case of grain to Id, and in the case of bacon and lard from 45s to 7s 6d per ton. Now, it is obvious that the Victorian farmer cannot possibly control the Atlantic freights, which are determined by competition.

The Earl of Seafield, whose death was announced by cable message the other day, was the ninth Scottish earl of that title, but ho sat in the House of Lords as Baron Strathspey. His family name was James Ogilvie-Orant, and he succeeded to the title on the death of tho previous earl in 1884. It will be remembered that on his accession to the earldom, his eldest son, who thus became Viscount Reidhaveu, was living at Oamaru, pursuing the humble calling of a bailiff. Since taking the courtesy title Lord Reidhaven has remained at Oamaru, and at two elections has unsuccessfully contested that seat in Parliament, on the first occassion being beaten by Mr Shrimski, and later by Mr Hislop. He now succeeds to the earldom and the family estate, which is one of the largest in the United Kingdom, comprising 305,930 acres, bringing in an estimated rental of £78,227. The forests, which extend over 43,371 acres, were valued in 18S0 at £1,211,130 for the timber alone. The Barony of Strathspey is expected to yield £50,000 a year in 30 years' time from its 19,315 acres. The encumbrances on the estate in ISB4 were stated to bo £800,000. Prom bailiff to a peerage, and the possession of such estates in four years, is a very startling transition.