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Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2556, 27 November 1888, Page 2

As was to be expected, the effects of the drought in Australia have already given a fillip to the export of New Zealand agri cultural produce and breadstuffs. There can be no doubt that prices will become very much inflated as the demand across the water increases, which must, necessarily, be the case. This state of the market ill the other colonies is likely to be sustained for a lengthened period, probably extendiug over Dext year, before the Australian colonies can begin to recover from the severe calamity that has come upon them. The demand for potatoes, chaff, grain, flour, &c., &c., should, as we said in Saturday's leading article, induce the farmers to cultivate as extensively as possible to meet the requirements for export as well as In me consumption. We find that agents from Auckland are actively buying up produce cf the kinds named, in anticipation of the increasing markets in Australia, but we think that the farmers, by organised combination, can arrange to ship their produce direct, without the intervention of the army of middlemen ; thus securing for themselves as much of the fruits of their labour as possible, in place of seeing them swallowed up by non-pro-ducers. Hero, again, the Farmers' Association could make itself very useful. / The Sanatorium at Rotorua was totally destroyed by tire on Friday night. I There were fifteen patients in the building, but they were all got out in safety. The Rev. Dr. Hooper lectures to-*' night at the Baptist Tabernacle, Cambridge, the subject being Mission work among the Hindus. From the lecturer's intimate acquaintance with the subject, tho lecture should be most interesting. At an influential meeting held in London on Thursday, it was decided to support the scheme for laying a cable from Vancouver, via the Harvey, Vanning Islands, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand, provided the custom of the various Governments was guaranteed for twenty-five years. We would recommend settlers, or any one desirous of locking up their paddocks, to call at Mr Wells' store at Cainbridge, and inspect a new padlock that he has lately added to his stock. It is called the "Perfect Padlock," and certainly comes as near perfection as anything we have seen in that line. We regret to announce the death of Mr E. T. Davey's eldest daughter which took place yesterday evening after a very brief illness, from dropsy of the heart. The deceased young lady was about Hamilton as usual on Saturday and at Church on Sunday, apparently in good health. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, The present wintry weather is playing havoc with the strawberries and fruit crops generally. As an instance of the exceptional severity of the season, Dr. Waddington informed a Cambridge correspondent that on leaving Taotaoroa at daybreak on Sunday, he noticed the ground was white with frost, while the summits of Pirongia and Maungatautari were covered with snow. EES. Egeria has arrived in Auckland from Tonga and Fiji. She made soundings around the Tonga group and surveyed the sea bottom from Tonga to Fiji and from Fiji to New Zealand for the proposed cable route. The last two days stormy weather caused the soundings to be discontinued. She will leave in about a week to finish the survey in the vicinity of the Kermadec Islands. On more than one occasion lately we have referred to the healthy demand setting in for good land in small lots. We hear that several sections of land in the neighbourhood of Taupiri have been disposed of to desirable settlers within the last few weeks. The principal lots have been selected out of the Hon. E. Grey's estate. Mr E. B. Cox is managing for Mr Grey and the transactions referred to have been completed through his agency.

The garden thieves in Cambridge are out upon the war-path again. We have not only heard of several very barefaced robberies of gooseberries, but ut the end of last week one of the morn impudent members of the fraternity stole a quantity of Mr Geo. Hamblin's rhubarb, and stHck up a card with "Catch me if you can " upon it. We sincerely trust he may be caught, and made such an example of as will deter others from following in his footsteps. There were very large congregations at the Salvation Army meeting at Hamilton on Saturday and on Sunday. They were considerably strengthened by the assistance of Mrs Hutchinson, of Auckland, who is again on a visit to Hamilton. Mrs Hutchinson intends to stay in Hamilton for two or three weeks, and as she is widely known as a very earnest worker in the ranks of the Salvation Army, no doubt a great number of people will take the opportunity of healing her during her stay in Waikato. The weather has been most extraordinary. On Saturday afternoon a severe storm of hail, accompanied by thunder and lightning, swept over the district. With the thick hailstones wore also unmistakeablo snow flake?. The weather continued boisterous throughout Sunday, and yesterday the wind, blew cold and fierce. Frost has been heavily felt in many places, and we regret to say that a, serious amount of damage has been inflicted on crops and tha fruit. In the Te Aroha district the fruit ia almost entirely ruined. The Rev. Father O'G-ara, of St. Benedict's, Auckland, is at present staying at Cambridge, where he is conducting a mission. It commenced on Sunday and will be continued throughout the week, and will finish next Sunday. The services will b« itt a.m. and 7.30 p.m. daily, except on Sunday, ivliei} they will be at the usual time. Father G'Gara ia most cordially welcomed to Cambridge, not only by members of the Catholic Church, but also by members of other congregations, amongst whom he has a large circle of friends, for in former years he resided in the town and was deservedly popular. The Kev, R Q'C. Biggs announced during the servioas nn riuijday, that arrangements had been made for a spries of special religious meetings being held in tha Hall, Hamilton West, on successive Sund<iy evenings after the termination of the ordinary even-song. They are organised with the objepf of drawing luke-warm church people and non-churchgoers to hear addresses on essential points of religious feea/jliipgs, and will be adapted to till classes. The firsjt.pi £j)et>e will i held rm next Suptlay Sfghf, and (the Rev. Mf Sprotfc, of S. Barr)g.bjg-' pjjufgfi, 4vklapiJ, will be the speaker.

Shearers on the Emu Creek Station have been acting in a lawless manner. The Riot Act was read, and the rioters were firod upon by the police. An entertainment in aid of the annual sports of the Hamilton West School will be held in the Volunteer Hall on the 4th prox. We trust the affair will be well supported. The fine band of the Hamilton Light Infantry is an institution of which the people of Hamilton are very justly proud. The town would be pesitively forlorn without it and its excellent musical entertainments. The admirable efficiency of the baud is entirely due to Mr Mettam, the able bandmaster, and we are pleased to see that an entertainment for his benefit is being organised, for no one is so deserving as he of this recognition. Referring to the weather, our Cambridge correspondent says : — The cereal crops are looking well, but with that exception everything and everybody appears to have had quite enough of cold winds, hail, rain and frost, and are anxiotisly awaiting the warmer weather. Storekeepers are grumbling that the supply of eggs has diminished, and that the quality of butter is very inferior for the time of year. The farmers combat tho latter statement by saying the grass has no nourishing properties in it, in consequence of the continued showery weather, and tho other day we heard a settler say "he did not blame the poultry for ceasing to lay, for, if it had not been for the almanack ha should have thought it was June instead of November." Bee-keepers are almost in despair, having used up all their stores of feeding materials, and the stocks are gradually dwindling away from pure starvation apparently in the midst of plenty, for the country is covered with clover and other blossoms, which, however, until we get a more genial atmosphere, will not give anything like an inadequate supply of honey. "Chilled brood," has become very common in apiaries, and although it does not appear to be contagious like its virulent relative " foul brood," it is, nevertheless, causing great destruction. We trust we may soon hail tho arrival of real summer weather.