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Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2560, 6 December 1888, Page 2

The Hon. Mr G. F- Richardson, Minister of Lands, has arrived in Auckland, on a visit to the North. The football match, New Zealandera v. Trinity College, Dublin, resulted in a draw, each side scoring a goal and a try. The Landgrave of Hesse, wno was recently on a visit to this colony, is reported to have jumped overboard at Maintok, at Java, from the steamer Volga. Hβ was mentally depressed at the time. The acreage of occupied lands in holdings over one acre in extent in New Zealand, according to the last census is as follows:—3i;,4.Sj holdings consisting of 11,728,231! acres freehold and r>,348,538 leasehold. Mr R. Laishley. L.LD., Auckland, has received the degree of Dostor ot Philosophy from the University of Leipsie. We congratulate Dr. Laishley on being the recipient ef this new honour from the famous seat ot learning. The total amount of Post-office Savings Bank deposits throughout the colony during the year ISS7 was £1,312.1!51, and the withdrawals £1,182,401). The amount of deposits in other Savings Banks (other than the Post-office) was £415.003, divided amongst 17,772 depositors. There is to Ihe credit of depositors in the latter institutions a sum of i'0!)4,414.

One or two New Zealand journals have already issued lithographs of our new (Jovornor. He has a very ynutlihil fucn, unci a carefully-groomed Charles the l'Vst moustache and sideboards. One paper wants to know why Onslow was appointed, and asks if we are not getting on slow enough already. Curiously enough Onglow'a motto is "festiua lente," which means hasten slowly—on slow. Not a bad pun.

A Melbourne merchant writing to a Dunedin acquaintance, says:—"The lnnd boom in Melbourne is pretty well played out, and those who have recently become enriched will look out for other fields of investment, and New Zealand is the coming colony. I wish I were out ot business now, with niy capital in ready cash ; I would have little hesitation in embarking m New Zealand property."

An exchange says—"The other day a Napier resident wanted fri send to a friend in Heretaunga, some willow cuttings. He took them to the railway station, and the hooking clerk decided to class them as timber. Timber must be charged at 100 ft., and bo the consignor was asked to pay as if he Wiis sending 100 ft. of timber. He objected, wrapping some straw round the cuttings, and took them back again, when they worn sent at parcel rates, charged Is."

Dr. Hooper gave the second portion of his lecture on Hiudiiuidin in St. Andruw's schoolroom, Cambridge, on Tuesday evening, when he dealt with the Hindoo belief in the transmigration of souls. Ho went must thoroughly into the subject, and explained the doctrine in a manner that made all present fully conversant with this remarkable religion. During an interval in the lecture the following instrumental and vocal selections were given:—Duet, "The Minute (Inn at Sea," Messrs C and U Garland ; piano duet, selections from Bilfe's Opera, " The Maiii of Honour," Messrs Macdepmot and Hartly ; song "She Wore a Wreath of Hoses, ,, Mr 0. Garland : song, " The Snow Hushoth All," Mrs O. Garland ; duet, "There Shall be no Night There,'' Mr and Mrs Garland. All the items were well renderod.

There were only a few unimportant debt cases before the Resident Magis trate's Court, at Hamilton, yesterday.

The next of the series of special religion* meetings in connection with B. Peter's Church, Hamilton, will he held on Sunday evening, after the usual service. The Rev. Mi Nelson, of S. Paul's, Auckland, will be the lecturer on this occasion, taking as his subject "Living Faith."

The attention of our readers is directed to the announcement in this issue, of the Te Awamutu Wesleyan Bazaar, which takes place in the Public Hall, on Wednesday next. A large and choice assortment of useful and ornamental goods has been obtained by the committee, including some specially interesting paresis of Japanese and other goods from Auckland. Contributors of produce are requested to send in their gifts as early as possible to Messrs Hunter and Roffey, or if later than Monday, to the Hall.

A private letter from Sydney says the weather on Saturday was the most peculiar ever seen in that city. It seems a dry fog amalgamated with the smoke of bush fires raging along the coast, and enveloped not only Sydney, but the whole coast line from Brisbane to Melbourne. It, lasted all day, but late in the afternoon a south-easter, accompanied by a dust storm, came up and chased the fog away, When it cleared a large number of steamers were found lying outside, unable to make the harbour. During the day the thermometer was 92 degrees in the shade, and the sun sh»ne down like a globe of molten copper.

We learn that Mr J. McNicol has decided not to take over the premises lately occupied by Mr J. S. Bnckland, as Mr W. K. Carter has offered him offices and the use of his horse bazaar upon most favourable terms, and Mr McNicol has, therefore, after well considering the matter, decided to keep his chief office, and hold his sales at that place. This will be a great olow for Dnko-street, as it will take the settlers up to the other end of the town, and although it will do good to the Borough sale yards and the National Hotel, we have, nevertheless, heard several settlers say they prefer the other site for sales, but Mr McNicol doubtless knows which is the better place for business purposes.

A recent Sunday was set apart in Melbourne for collections in aid of the hospital funds, and the handsome amount of £14,000 was raised, as against £10,000 which was the su.n given last year. The Toorak Presbyterian Church contributed £1,158, St. John's Church of England (Toorak) £1,107, the Australian Church £24219s Sd, Scots Church £222 15a (id, and the Collins-street Independent Church £I(>7 8s 9J. The contributions of the different denominations were as frllows :— Chinch of England £2,901!, Presbyterian £2,801, Roman Catholic £C2O, Wesleyan £HO7. Congregational £548, Baptist £382, tho Church of Christ £250, Australian £342, and Hebrew £109. In addition to the sum above mentioned, £10,000 has been raised principally by donations of £100 for the liquidation of the debt on the Melbourne Hospital.

The Post-office Money Order and Savings Bank transactions at the principal Waikato townships during the year ending December, 18S7, were as follows:—Cambridge : Money orders issued, £1,851; paid, £1,780; Savings Bank deposits, £8,058; withdrawals, £2.187. Hamilton : Money orders issued, £2,07(5; paid, £l,0!)S ; Savings Bank deposits, £2,914; withdrawals, £1,187. Alexandra: Money orders issued, £1,019; paid, £909 ; Savings Bank deposits, £SSO; withrawals. £433; Nsraruawahia : Money orders issued, £037 ; paid, £(jl2; Savings Bank Deposits, £531 ; withdrawals, £7!)(5. Te Awamutu : Money orders issued, £1,034: paid £852 ; Savings Bank deposits, £I,7(SS; withdrawals, £s(i(i. Kihikihi: Money orders issued, £n9S; paid, £058; Savings Bank deposits, £1,874 ; withdrawals, £712.

The best news of the waek is undoubtedly that of the rising matkets for nearly all products. Wheat, oats, butter, cheese, tallow, flax, are all selling at good prices ; the demand is strong, and the outlook good. The farmers have a prospect of doing well this season, and when they do well the colony of course is prosperous, because our means of growing wealthy consist in our ability to sell what we produce. There is no problem to be solved in New Zealand as to production ; the problem is that of sale at remunerative prices. The natural industries of the country are those connected with the soil. Those successful, and all others suitable to the colony will follow. Would that politicians would recognise this instead of endeavouring to do the impossible—trying to make the natural industries successful by spoon-feed-ing, at the State's expense, artificial industries.—Hawera Star.

We have been permitted to make the following extract from a letter received by a townsman from his brother, who lias been n resident in the Orange district, Raw South Wales, for several years. The writer says: "You have no idea of the state of the country here through dry weather. There will be no crops at all. They are only just out of the ground and in full ear. No one has ever seen anything like it. Destruction and ruin arc spreading on all sides. I do not know what farmers and squatters are going to do now. Black ruin is staring them in the tace. Dust storms and bush fires are the order of tho day. What grass the sun has not scorched up the bush fires are burning, and they cannot be put out. All kinds of produce are going up in the local market, and prices are expected to be very high next year. I was through part of Victoria last month and it is nearly as bad. It is very hot just now. I have made tip my mind to leave the colony at once, and you may expect me back in New Zealand at about the end of December.— Oamarn Mail.