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Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2618, 23 April 1889, Page 2

The attraction in Auckland just now is the "Switchback" railway on the reclaimed laud near the railway station. We are pleased to hear that Mr Bright, mine host of the Commeicial Hotel, Hamilton, and his son are now couvalscent. We are very pleased to see that Hamilton's popular hostess, Mrs Gwynne, is recovering satisfactorily from her recent indisposition. Mr Denis Lees being the only candidate nominated for the vacant seat iu tho Hamilton Borough Council, has been declared duly elected. Sportsmen have been heard on the river since tho season opened, and others have gone on special expeditions, but we have not heaid of any notable bags yet. The stewards of the South Auckland Racing Club have sent a complimentary ticket to His Excellency the Governor, inviting him to bo present at their Autumn meeting on Saturday next. Sergeant Parslow, the champion shot of New Zealand, was a conspicuous figure on Sydney Square on Saturday, and looked remarkably well in hia uniform and belt with a blaze of medals and shooting trophies. The Sydney Morning Herald warns New Zealanders against holding back their grain, as it will lead to buyers sending to 'Frisco and India for supplies, and their competition would be prejudicial to New Zealand interests. An entertainment will be held in the Kihikihi Public Hall, on May 10th, in aid of the public school at that place. We are assured that tho promoters have taken considerable trouble to arrange a varied and popular programme, and we hopo that their efforts will meet with success. The Oamaru Mail says We loarn from good authority that Mr Larnach is about to return t:> Now Zealand. It is, therefore, probable that he will take his seat in Parliament next session. Mr Pym, who entered into partnership with him on the other side, will also return and establish a business in Wellington." Some boys were on the rocks at the Red Point, off Akaroa, on Saturday, and came across a nest of old cannon balls. A small landslip had caused theso old stagers to roll down, and the sea had washed the clay away from them, Some of them are the real old 32 pounders, and must havo been fired from the French men ofwar nearly 50 years ago. They are eaten away with age, being quite rough on the outside. One boy was seen wheeling four of them up in a barrow.

S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, was most tastefully decorated on Sunday. The style was very similar to Christmas decorations, but with less floral display. The arrangements at the altar, chancel rails, choir stalls, pulpit, pillars, wiudows and font were perfectly uniform, tho whole of tho designs being effected in lycopodeum and chrysanthemums. The ladies who did the work deserve great praise for it, and it was much admired by the officers at Church parade.

Rather a good story has been told concerning some members of one of the Auckland Naval Companies who were out upon a foragiue expedition in one of the orchards in Hamilton East. Whilst tlicy were engaged iu appropriating some apples, which they were consigning to the inside of their jackets, the owner of tho orchard passed along tho street, and addressing one of the blue jackets, called out, " Throw us au apple, mate." "No, I'm blowed if I do," was the rejoinder, "come and help yourself, the same as we are doing." The owner of the orchard then announced himself as such, but, good-naturedly, allowed thetn to take what fruit they wanted, provided the trees were not injured.

In our Thursday's issue under the head of "Latest Auckland News," reference was made to a. letter that had been received by the Board of Education from the Ohaupo School committee, calling the Board's attention to tha dilapidated state of the teacher's house and inferring that Mr Bedford, who is about to leave, was responsible for the disrepair ; and from the fact that the letter was referred to Mr Bedford for explanation, it would seem to be of a serious character. A lasident of Ohaupo informs us that two respectable settlers have been called on and they have reported to tho Board that the charge was entirely unwarranted. No doubt their report will be read at the Board's next mooting, and we shall be glad to publish it.

During Saturday and Sunday the ranks of the Salvation Army in Hamilton, were largely uugmentod by detachments from the various volunteisr companies atton ding the encampment, and it is needles* to add that the outdoor meetings wore considerable livelier than usual.

A fair amount of business has been doing recently in grain at Ashburton (says the Lyttelton Times), and some farmers have been showing more readiness to sell than they have done of late. Many are adopting the plan suggested in loading articles in these columns of selling a portion of their crop now, a portion three months hence, and the remainder later still, tho idea being not to glut the market by a rush into it of the whole crop at once. Sales of Tuscan wheat have boon made at 3s .Sd to 3s 9d, and as high as 3s lOd for special lines, and 3s Od has been taken for pearl and Hunter's white, but for f.a.q. wheat 3s 8d is not difficult to get. Oats are in strong demand, and 2s (id is the price for best sorts. The season's crop "f grain is not yet by any means all threshed, but work goes on when weather permits, and that good work ia being done by the machines the quantity of grain coming into the township every day fully provos.

Writing on the carping tone adopted by the Financial News and other Home papers regarding colonial public extravagance, tho Napier Telegraph thus expresses itself The En glish national debt is exceeded by the capital of the Home railways, yet wo never hear Englishmen refer to the money spent on railway lines as debt. But when the same men speak of the colonial debts they aro in a great measure referring to what has been spent on railway lines. The national debt of England is not productive ; it is u legacy from their ancestors, and the money was spent on a series of wars. It may be a bond that binds Englishmen togother, but it would liavo been better if the debt had never been incurred. How different are the colonial liabilities. Even those colonies which have spent borrowed moneys in works that are not reproductive have much of a substantial character to show for the expenditure. But the great bulk of the colonial .borrowings have gone to make railways.

The Southern News reports that while tho cutter Bravo was at one of the Mutton-bird Islands, a sensational incident occurred. A number of birds had been secured, and the crew having returned to the cutter, a start was made for home. One of the crew —Fred Arnett, of Riverton —was struck by the b»om, and knocked overboard. The accident was not noticed by his mates, and Arnett was not missed until the vessel had gone some distance. When tho alarm was given Arnett was seen in the water a good way off. He was apparently as much at home there as on the deck of the cutter, diving occasionally to get out of the way of the heavy seas. A boat was very promptly lowered, and one of the crew pulled off and rescued Arnett from what most men would consider a dangerous position. He however, was in no ways concerned about his own safety —his anxiety taking the form of fear lest tho boat would bo swamped, or the cutter —only one man having been left on board— coino to grief.