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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2676, 5 September 1889, Page 2

The Colonial Secretary, Mr Hislop, has been a second time condemned by the Legislature for his action in relation to the Ward-Christie episode. The Petitions Committee's report was an exculpation of the judge, and the Committee appointed to enquire into the matter connected with the correspondence between Mr Hislop and Judge Ward over tho sentence passed by the latter on Christie, the Omaru bankrupt, has unequivocally censured the Minister. The natural consequence of this lias been the resignation of the Colonial Secretary, who, it is rumoured, will also resign his seat iu the Assembly. The view taken by the Committee of his share in the correspondence with Judg-c iVard was a very proper one, for nothing deserves so much condemnation as undue interference with the independence of tho Judicial Bench, or any attempt to contaminate the parity of the Law Courts by political influence. The whole Cabinet were in a sense associated with Mr Hislop's quarrel with the judge, and may be said to participate in the stricture cast upon the principal offender. The Cabinet is being gradually lopped of its members ; it would be a blessing to the country if a dissolution eould be secured to cause a change in the entire Ministry.

To-morrow evening a concert and dance will take place in the Kirikiriroa schoolroom, the proceeds of which will bedevoted to providing prizes for the scholars attending that school.

A concert and entertainment will be given in the Public Hall, Cambridge, this evening in aid of the Catholic school. Miss Knight and tho Rev. Fathers Egan and Lenihan aro advertised to sing.

Nominations of candidates to fill the vacancies in the Hamilton Borough Council causod by the retirement of Councillors von Stunner, Lees and Wood take place at noon to-day. There is, apparently, not much interest taken in tho matter.

In our advertising column will be found a notice that the annual general meeting of the Cambridge Lawn Tennis Club will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. We trust all the members will roll up, as business ot importance is to be transacted.

A committee meeting of the South Auckland Racing Club will be held to-morrow evening at tho Commercial Hotel, at which tho question of fixing the date and arranging the programme for the Club's next summer meeting will be considered.

The Minister of Lands in Queensland does not regard education for the masses as an unmixed benefit. He thinks that the reason for the distaste which young Mueenslandfirs show towards agriculture is that they have been educated beyond their station.

The three retiring councillors— Messrs Priestly, Hally and Bond —of the Cambridge l'orough have been re-elected, they being the only persons nominated. This will render it unnecessary to alter any of the committees. Mr J. I'. Thomson was the returning officer.

Prior to the arrival of the Rimutaka and Coptic (writes the London correspondent of the 11 Evening Star '' on the 13th July) with their cargoes of frozen meat, New Zealand lamb was selling atlOid a lb., whilst prime English only fetched Is a lb. This worth noting?, as a conclusive proof that English people have quite got over their prejudice to frozen meat.

The champion acrobatic skater of Australia, Professor Durney, will give nil exhibition of his skill as ;i skatorial artist at the Acme Kink on Monday evening next. His feats include fancy trick skating, chair jumping, high stilt and hoop skating, and as Hamilton folks have not yet had an opportunity of witnessing a professional skater, no doubt the performance will be well patronised.

The concert and dramatic performance, in aid of the funds of the Anglican Church, at Kihikihi, takes place tomorrow evening in the Kihikihi Town Hall. The entertainment concludes with a dance, and we hope to hear that the affair has been successful financially and otherwise. The committee deserve that it should bo S'>, for they are working energetically to place a good programme before their patrons.

In connection with the strike of dock labourers and the consequent loss of Now Zealand frozen mutton in the .ships' holds, the question arises, "Who will suffer the loss?" We should think, the shipping companies. It is true that one of the conditions attached to a frozen meat bill of lading is that shipping companies will not be answerable for any loss arising from any cause whatever. Jiut the present case is an exceptional one. It is consequent on the companies' refusal to pay wages employees have demanded, the damage and loss c-tuld have been avoided by the companies. It appears to us, therefore, that the loss will not fall upon the shippers, but upon the shipping companies. We do not see how tim law could hold that shippers must be so seriously involved in the disputes between ship-owners and their servants.—Oamaru Mail.

The flax industry bids fair to prove a great benefit to the colony. Mills are springing up on all sides, there being a brisk demand for the manufactured article, One miller in the Lower Waikato has a contract to supply -10 tons at .€23 per ton, delivered in Auckland. In addition tu those already in operation, mills are being erected ou the western bank o£ the Waikato

river at Huntly, on the eastern .side of Llie Wiiikaro Like, and at T.nnvhaiH, the latter being the property of Mr Clements, who has secured a largo area of raw inatelial. Having had considerable experience in fhx-dressing in Ireland, lie intends, as an experiment, to grow three or four acres of Irish flux, believing that tho machines in use here will answer equally as well for tho Irish variety, and that the higher cost of colonial labour can beobviatedby cutting the flax with a reaper and binder, instead of by hand as is done in the Old Country. We wish this enterprising colonist eveiy success in his new venture). Seeing that such largo quantities of flax aro being used, it is a matter for consideration how tho supply is to be kept up. In this connection we may mention that Mr Kensington, who has charge of tho Government plantations at liangiriri—acting under instructions—has seized a considerable quantity of flax, cut by the natives on the Crown lands in that distringas winch as 12 tons being "annexed "in one lot. Similar seizures have been made by the police at Mercer, the flax being sold on behalf of the Government. These summary proceedings are rather rough on the unlucky cutters, who plead ignorance of the laws, but as the penalties have been enforced they will know all about it for the fut.ire and are not likely to repeat the offence.