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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2693, 15 October 1889, Page 2

The R.M.S. Zealandia, with the San Francisco mails, arrived in Auckland on Saturday, Sir H. Loch, Governor of Victoria, and party, arrived in Auckland by the Zealandia, and received a cordial recaption. At a "dry practice" of the Newton Fire Biigade, on Saturday, a little boy was crushed to death beneath tho hose reel. Severe shocks of earthquake have been felt in Samoa. Tamasese's fortifications have been abandoned, and no more fighting is likely to occur. The lecture on "Character," that was to have been delivered by the Rev. C. !.{. Garland, at the Wesleyan Church. Hamilton, last evening, has been postponed to November 4th, on account of the inclement weather. Mr J. B. Whytehas consented ' to join the Auckland Railway Reform League, but declines to support Vaile's system as he considers it impracticable, I illogical, and absurd, as it introduced a j worse system of differential rating than [ hitherto existed. The Post says Waipa is an illomened constituency. Of tho five members who have at different times repressented it in Parliament, three have met with violent deaths. Mr M'Minn was killed by a fall, Mr F. A. Whitaker shot himself, and now Major Jackson has disappeared. As there is a probability of the writ for the Waipa election being issued shortly, wo are requested to intimate to those who have charge of the requisitions to Mr liryce to use their beat endeavonrs during the current week to secure signatures, and to return the sheets to this office by Saturday next. Owing to the wet weather the Acme Rink was not open last evening, and as the renowed Frank Lincoln will be occupying the Hall next Monday thore will be no rink on that evening. On the following Monday (October 28th), the manager at the request of members has decided to hold a fancy dresa carnival, full particulars of which will be advertised later on. In reply to a question, we may state that tne onun of declaring the Waipa seat vacant rests wholly with tho Speaker of the House. If he is satisfied with the tact that a vacancy has occurred, he is bound by the constitutional at usage to ordt* the Clerk of the House, within a specified period, to issue a now writ for the election of another momber. Tho Government have nothiug whatever to do in the matter,

Mr Albert Potter, of Mount Eden, has forwarded ua a sample hank of hemp for inspection by those interested in flax, which has been prepared by liis new patent stripper. The hemp is bright, cleandressed, and of good texture. The process is intended to be an improvement on the machines now in use, and produces an article on true manufacturing principles, and not, as is often the case, a mere rough product. We shall have more particulars later on.

We announced some weeks ago that Mr Frank' Lincoln, the great American humourist, would visit the Waikato. He has been having a very successful season in Auckland, whose people he has filled with laughter. He will appear before a Hamilton audience on Monday next, and give us an opportunity of enjoying his inimitable representations and fun. He has the rare faculty of keeping, singlehanded, the largest assemblage of people in a state of continuous and uncontrollable laughter. No ono can keep a straight countenance in his presence. He has earned world-wide reputation, and the press of all countries speak in high terms of his extraordinary powers of mimicry. Mr Gladstone said he "compelled laughter the Prince of Wales told him his "imitations were simply wonderful," and Rev. H. Ward Beecher styled his performances "sanctified humour." We must all go and see him.

The Bay of Plenty Times says In the matter of making known the advantages of this district for settlement, we are glad to testify that Mr J. A. Clark, by his valuable and reliable articles in the New Zealand Herald, has powerfully contributed. But it was clear that after the insane Waikato craze, bolstered up by interested individuals, had ended, the Bay of Plenty district, for so many years utterly ignored by Government, and, unlike the pampered Waikato, depended highly on its own resources, with no expensive and useless public works, and without local burdens, was sure to come to the front as the most eligible district in New Zealand for settlement, i.e. with first-class land near, splendid natural harbours, at a mere fraction of the prices of the heavily burdened land in other parts of the colony. Our New Zealand Herald contemporary used to be all Waikato, and we were agreeably surprised on taking up a recent issue to find that now ho is all Bay of Plenty.

Mr Chapman Ewen's new wire strainer was shown on Saturday at Cambridge during Mr McNicol's sale, and attracted groat attention from numerous farmers and others present. Attached to tho wire of the fence opposite the sale-yard tho strainer appeared to possess all the advantages that are claimed for it, and if properly put in the market should command a very extensive scale, as it is not likely to cost more than the ordinary iron rollers, and dispenses altogether with tho pins, being complete in itself. An objection was raised by a few present that, owing to the shape of the strainer, cows might loosen it with their horns, but unless a cow was specially educated and trained to do this, there would not appear much likelihood of such a thing happening ; at any rate, on his own farm, Mr Ewen has found his strainers undisturbed. Of course, as the wires slacken through weather, the strainer would be more easily moved, but no one expects a fence to always remain as taut as the day it is put up, and the simpler the contrivance and more free from additional pnrts the handier it must be. Mr 10wen also exhibited a potato separator and bagger. By the aid of this machine a man and a boy separated and bagged twenty-six bags of potatoes in an hour and a-half at Mr E wen's farm. Tho potatoes are shovelled into a hopper, from which they run over a screen, the sinallor ones falling through on to screens with a smaller mesh, and are thus divided into three classes—market, seed and piir potatoes, doing the work more regularly than it could be done by hand, and saving many a back ache.

A lecture on "John Bright" was delivered by tho Rev. G. O. Griffiths at Tamvhare on Wednesday evening. Though the lecture had been postponed on account of the wet weather, and only a few hours' notice given, the school-room was well filled at 8 o'clock ; an hour after the advertised time. The chair was occupied by Mr Dipro.se. A pianoforte solo "II Corricolo," was played by Miss Walworth. Mr Diprose then introduced the lecturer, who gave a very interesting outline of the life, character and work of the late eminent statesman and orator, whoso death, a short time ago, cast a gloom over all tho United Kingdom. During an interval a duet, "The Roving Minstrels," was very well rendered by Miss Jose Walworth and Miss B. Hansford ; song, " Lr.ssie," Miss Hansford ; song, " Red White and Blue," Mr H'jwie; duet, "The Minute Gun at Sea," the Misses Hansford. At tho close of the lecture tho duet "Gipsy Countess," by Miss Walworth and Mr Drinkwater, gained an encore. "The Troubadour," by Miss B. Hansford, was also encored. This was acknowledged to be the song of the evening. All the performers acquitted themselves credit ibly. The two gentlemen who sang, either from shyness or some other reason, did not turn their faces towards the audience, and so spoilt tho effect of their singing. Votes of thanks were given to tho singers, tho lecturer and the chairman.

Major-General Edwards, who inspects the volunteers of the Auckland district to-morrow, is no " feather-bed " soldier, as the following, taken from an exchange, will showMajor-General James Bovan Edwards, C.U., who has been directed by the Home authorities to inspect and report upon tho colonial defences ami volunteers, is an officer who has seen a large amount of service in different parts of the world. He was born on the sth November, 1834, and received his first commission in the Royal Engineeis on the 22nd December, 1852; Lieutenant, 17th February, 1854; Captain, 14th April, 1850; Brevet-Major, 15th June, 1800 ; Field Rank, sth July, 1872; Lieuten-ant-Colonel, 21st October, 1883, and MajorGeneral, sth November, 1887. He served during the latter portion of the Crimean campaign, and was employed in destroying the Dock Yards in Sebastopol. He also took an active part in the Indian Mutiny in 1853 and 1850 in Central India, was present at tho siege and capture of "Chandairee" and Jhansee, Battle of Betwn, and actions of Koonch and Jowlowlee, capture of Calpee, and action before "Gwalior," for which he received a Brevet Majority and C.B. His next active service was in the Soudan, whore ho commanded the R.E. and took a prominent part in tho actions of " Masheen " and " Tamai," and repulsed a fierce attack made on a convoy on the 20th March of that year, for which he was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette. He was appointed to command the troops in China on the Ist March, ISBO.