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Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2561, 8 December 1888, Page 2

The New Zealand Footballers won their match against North Ireland by two tries to nothing. Oapt. Steele, who has been absent from home for some months, returned this week. We are glad to hear he is much improved in health. The English mail by direct steamer closes at the Hamilton Post-office to-day at !).45 a.m. This mail is due in London on January 24th. We remind our readers ot the address to be given in the hall to-morrow night by the Rev. Mr Nelson, from Auckland, on " Living Faith." A private letter from the Etheriatre Goldfields, Queensland, says that on account of the the drought, flour is selling at £4 per lOOlbs, and potatoes at Gd per lb. Of the recent shipment of horses taken to Calcutta by Major Waluisley, word has been received that 120 have been sold, but it is not stated at what prices. The time for receiving entries for the different events at the forthcoming Hamilton Boxing Day Sports has been extended to Monday week, December 17th. The usual monthly meeting of the Kirikiriroa Road Boaid lapsed yesterday for want of a quorum, Mossrs 1 runrose and Edmonds being tho only members present. The funeral of the late Earl of Seafield, at Oamaru, was of a public character, and was the largest that has ever taken place there. All the local bodies, societies, volunteers, &e., were represented. An aquatic carnival is being held in Brisbane. In tho Intercolonial Sculling Race, Matters™ won the first heat. won the second, beating Kemp, Neilson, and Beach. We learn that the Cambridge Tennis Club will receive a visit from an Auckland team at the commencement of the New Year. The Aucklanders also hope to play Hamilton and the Thames Clubs, while on the tour. We hear that a number of sheepowners have not yet paid their sheep rates ; these should have been paid by the Ist September. Instructions have been issued to inspectors to proceed by law for the recovery of the same. i Mr McNicol had 70 head of cattle ' in his last drive, which left Waikato on the 4th. The settlers are so well satisfied, and i the support being accorded Mr McNicol in his undertaking is so extending, that he has decided to despatch a moo every week.

Section 15, Block XI, Te Aroha Survey District, containing 210 acres, Section 20 in the same block, containing 25 acres, and Section 21, Block XII in the same district, containing 03 acres, have been reserved for primary education purposes.

We learn that the vestry of St. Andrew's. Cambridge, intend holding another garden fete next February, instead of tho usual social gathering. Major Wilson has kindly placed his handsome grounds at the disposal of the vestry, and a committee of ladies has been formed to decide upon what lines the fete shall be run. A meeting of the committee of the Hamilton Foot Spurts is called for Monday night, to consider the question of holding the sports on the Claudelands racecourse. We believe the change would be acceptable to the public generally, as with the usoof the grandstand, tho spectators would have a tine view of the different events.

As previously announced by Captain Edwin there was a hard frost 011 Wednesday night which was severely felt at Morrinsville and Lichfield. The ground was quite white, and the potatoes and part of the lirst crop sustained much injury. So severe a frost in December is quite phenomenal. Mr'R- Salmon, the Hon. Sec, to the Waikato Farmers' Association, is in receipt of a commission to purchase 5000 bushels of wheat for Sydney. The limit as to price has not reached us, but wo understand it is much higher than the price current now ruling. We are, we think, safe in saying that unfortunately there is scarcely this quantity left in the hand of the growers in Waikato.

Mr B. Ruge, of Cambridge, is now exhibiting a number of cases of stuffed birds and animals, and also pictures, in the small shop adjoining the Criterion Hotel, Mr Ruge is an excellent taxidermist, and an adept at picture framing, as the above-men-tioned works p'ove, they being all done by him. Ho has also an eye to business, and intends disposing of them by the " Art Union" proenss, which is apparently a very popular one. The quarterly session of the Waikato Archidiacon.il Conference is advertised to be held on Thursday next, at Cambridge. We understand that amongst the subjects down for consideration are the fol-lowing:—-"The organisation of lay help in the carrying out of the work of tho Church," " The country districts under the new Tension Fund Scheme," "The Lord's Day, the Christian Sabbath." The proceeclings will as usual be open to the public. A Supplementary Gazette of November 28tb, contains in extenso tho new volunteer rules and regulations. They aim at improving the efficiency and discipline of the defence forces. We shall publish in our supplement next week, such portions as refer to the strict observance of discipline and obedience, in order that each of the local volunteers may possess a copy of that part of the regulations directly interesting to them.

Lieut.-Col. Fortes, of Lake House, Hamilton, has just completed his full term of military service under the Imperial Government, and now attains the rank of full colonel. Col. Forbes, for a number of years, filled the high and important post of Commissioner in the province of Lucknow, India, and came out to the colony, on extended sick leave, for the benefit of his health. We trust the admirable climate of Waikato will enable him to enjoy his promotion for many years to come.

The Waikato Farmers Association have already made themselves felt, as we hear they have bought up all the oG per cent. Lawos' Superphosphate. Messrs Laurie and Co., of Auckland, had in stock, tngether with a large quantity of this firm's Ngaruawahia bonedust, which, from its purity, seems most in favour. The operations of the Association, in manures for turnip sowing this season, up to the present time, roach nearly to 100 tons. The favours of the Association are certainly worth the attention of manure merchants and seedsmen.

Mr William McLean, an old Coromandel prospector of high reputo and intimately associated with many Waikato settlers in the opening of the To Aroha (ioldfield, was a passenger by yesterday's train for Te Aroha. We learn from him that he has visited most of the goldfields of Australia during the last two or three years, having lately come from Croydon in Queensland, where he returns shortly. Mr McLean not long since, met an old WaiIjatQ resident, Mr Kennedy Hill, looking halo and hearty, and his friends will be pleased to hear that he has inade » lueky hit in securing a prooerty in jyhich a valuable lode of tin ts now boing worked,

Mr J. McNicol advertises a very large and important sale of first-class horses to take place at Cambridge on tho 19th inst. Amongst the stock to be offered there are several from tho West Coast. Referring to these, the Fielding Star says : —The well-known horse dealers Messrs Hockin Bros., who have been making this place their head quarters for somo time past, have been selecting a mob ot horses for the Waikato market. As they have had the pick of the country from Taranaki downwards they have succeeded in getting together twenty good looking well bred, upstanding weight carrying hacks, some of which have already proved themselves good across country. We hope Messrs Hockin will meet all that success their enterprise deserves.

Says a Napier Exchange:—"The universal feeling in Napier to-day is one of great satisfaction at the verdict of the Court of A.ipeal in the Renata will case. When Chief JusticePrendergast gave his decision in favour of the Donnelly 'crowd' everybody was disgusted; today everybody is glad that the stupid decision of asemisenile arbiter has been reversed by the combined common sense of four men, who thank goodness, are not Chief Justices. There is no doubt in tho mind of anyone who knows the true facts of this cause celebre that a most iniquitous, nay infamous attempt has been made to substitute a forged will for a genuine one, to misrepresent a dying man's wishes, to turn into the channel of selfish, unprincipled interest tho wealth belonging to a whole tribe, and of which the aged chief had so long determined that his adopted son, his agent, his manager, his most true and best friend, should be the sole administrator. Landgrabbing has been the curse of Hawke's Bay, but the landgrabbing interest has received a distinct smack in the face. The impudent adventurers who attempted to prey upon the natives in this instance met with deserved discomfiture, and all honest men in Hawke's Bay will rejoice over the verdict. Bravo Bronghton !

In congratulating Dr. Laishley upon tho degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which has been conferred upon him by the University of Leipsic, one of the oldest and most honoured seats of learning in Germany, the Star says : Some time ago the Vice-Chancellor of the University wrote to to the German Consul in this city, stating that a special Board had been appointed to report upon Dr. Liishley's writings, especially his comparative report on the education systems of the world, which is considered by educational experts to be the most exhaustive treatise of the kind extant. The Board returned a very favourable opinion, whereupon the ViceChancellor, in compliance with the usages of the University, wrote to the German Consul at Auckland for a biographical record of Dr. Laishley for the archives of the University. It is a high testimony to Dr. Laishley's ability and industry that he has attained these honourable distinctions entirely through his own perseverance. A boy in the shop of Mr W. Morrin, grocer. Queen-street, he passed into commercial life in the service of Messrs Brown, Campbell and Co., became directly connected with literature on the staff of the " Southern Cross " newspaper, studied for the law, and has now received the highest degree for literary attainments in the gift of the University of St. Andrew's at Edinburgh, and (he University of Leip.ic. He is also a Knight of Belgium (Chevalier de 1' ordre de Leopold) and "mi Ofncier de lTustrnction Publique." The cordial recognition accorded to Dr. Laishley's work by European Governments and Universities contrasts with the shabby conduct of our own Government, which had not even the courtesy to write thanking Dr. Laishley for the expensive educational services which ho undertook on behalf of the colony, services which to this day remain entirely unacknowledged.