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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3076, 2 April 1892, Page 2

Mr MonckmaD, of Hamilton, will, we understand, assume the proprietorship of the Wha'awhata H"tel after tbe departure of Mr H. M. Meredith.

Those requiring chaffing done should look to Messrs Baldwin and Watt's advertisement in this issue. We have seen the plant at work and it answers admirably. Mr W. J. Hunter notifies that he will hold his third (and last) sheep fair for the present season in the Ohaupo Yards on Wednesday, April 20th, for which he solicits entries. The cricket match between the Hamilton and Taupiri Clubs will bo played on the former's ground, Sydney Square, to-day. Play will start at 11 o'clock sharp, and players are requested to be punctual. An error occurred in our report of the meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board in our last issue. Mr W. F. Bell's tender for the supply of bread to that institution was at his usual rata to private customers, viz., 3Jd per loaf—not 2£d, as printed. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waitoa Road Board took place in the Nottingham Castle Hotel, Morrinsville, last Saturday, all the members being present. The engineer was unavoidably absent, and there was no business of much importance to transact. As giving some idea of the extent to which the crops hava been injured hy the rain in, Canterbury, it is mentioned that of twenty-six trucks of gram sent down for one of the vessels at Lyttelton the other day twelve had to be refused owing to the damaged condition of the grain. Our Supplement to-day contains a short and interesting story (" One Night"), from the pen of Ninette M. L'uvaterj "Farming in the ICaniwhaniwha Valley " by our travelling correspondent; "Sporting Notes," by Le Nord; an article on "Foot-rot in Sheep," and other interesting reading. At the Dunedin Bam and Ewe Fair the entries largely exceeded last year's, numbering 339 rams and 575 ewes. The principal demand was for Leicester?, and treble the number entered could have been sold. The highest price was 15 guineas for a (i-tooth Leicester sheep. Romney Marsh ranged up to 3igs. The industrial farms which it is proposed to establish in connection with the Labour Bureau will, the Wellington Post says, ba five in number. There is to he one as near as possible to each of the fmir Ur«e cities of the colony, and another will be established in the neighbourhood of Invercartfill.

Mrßarwell, ofTamahere, left at our office on Thursday a sample of dried apples, it is certainly the best we have ever seen, and we are told that7d per lb could he cibtiinod for any quantity of such fruit. Unfortunately Mr Harwell has not been able to procure enough apples of the right variety, the "New KngUnd Pigeon " (which has been proved to be the best for evaporating purposes), to be enabled to place any quantity on the market worth msntieuing. Mr Sam Mason,"the well known horseman, met with rather a surprise at the Hamilton sale yards on 'lhursday last. He mounted an old crock of a horse that locked as harmless as a dove, which started to go to market and before you could say, " Jack Robinson," the old horse landed Mason on the broad of his back, much to the amusement of the spectators. Mr Mason made a second attempt, and the naff again played up, but, this time Mr Mason, being on the qui vivc, he retained his Peat.

We are in receipt of the new railway time table for April, which came into force on the Auckland sections yesterday. With the exception of the discontinuance of tho fast train to Oxford, there is practically no change so far as the Waikato service is corireroed, from the running prior to Decomber last. Acting on instructions received at tho last meeting of the Waipa County Council, Mr N. T. Maunder has taken out summonses against fifty defaulting ratepayers. Unfortunately, this does not exhaust the list of defaulters, and those who wish to save themselves court fees had better pay up at once. At the Hamilton sale on Thursday, Mr Diprose, of Tauwhare, had a fine pen of fat cows, which realized £5 15s a head. His Bheop and lambs have also been selling well again in Auckland, 13s (3d for sheep and lis 6d for lainbs. At these rates it is evident Mr Diprose Bends nothing to market except of first-class quality.

In France one inhabitant in five is a land owner, in Italy one in 10, Belgium one in 11, Austria one in 14, Germany one in 10, and England one in 14G. But for her ttsta for glory and gunpowder, pillage and blood, and the maintenance of her huge inilitiry and naval armaments, France would be the most happy and prosperous country in the world.

There must have been an ab sence of buyers of big fresh steers, at Thursday's Hamiltin Market, or the pen of five steers, belonging to Mr Isaac Coates, would never have been allowed to be passed in at £6 a head. Judging by reports from all quarters of the scarcity, particularly of this class of stock, the owner will make no loss from having to take thein home again. Many intending exhibitors at the Cambridge Chrysanthemum Show to be held at the end of this month, are greatly troubled by the rapid manner in which fcheir plants are now coming into bloom. However, this need not cause them to be dispirited, for, from what we can learn, they are all "in the same boat," so tho contest will not bo a one-sided one. The ond of April is clearly too late for the show, and another year it will doubtless be fixed for an earlier period. We hear that Messrs Hellaby Bros, have started to buy cattle direct from

the farmers paddocks, an arrangement, we should say eminently satisfactory to the farmer, as he then knows exactly what he is doing. No further risk, no commission to pay. The first mob, a line of 50 fat cows purchased from Mr 13. B. Walker, of Moanavale, at five guineas a head, were driveil down by Messrs Filling Bros., and handed over in tip top condition to the purchasers on Thursday last. At the cattle sales held in Auckland during the past week, bidding was spirited throughout, and beef was bringing 21s per 10011). Fat wethers were sold up to 17s, arul ewes cached as high as 14s 3d, with an all-round upward tendency. Buyers of the fat sheep at Mr McNicol's fair on Wednesday could turn their money over very quickly, and at a good profit. Those who are competent to judge are of opinion that beef is likely to bo scarce until the turnip-fud cattle are fit to market.

The concert and social in aid ot the funds of the Catholic Church, Kihikihi, takes place on Easter Monday. The committee iiave already secured the services of several excellent lady and gentlemen vocalists. The energetic Secretary, Mr F. A. Jones, is working most assiduously to make the affair a success. And the ladies, who have charge cf the refreshment department, are evidently preparing for a large gathering, judging from the large and varied supply of provisions thoy jntend for the occasion.

The season shooting for native game opened yesterday, and a number of sportsmen were out in all directions on the Waipaand Waikato rivers after ducks meeting with varying success and mishaps. The best bag we heard of was nine and a-half brace bagged by a party who went from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia. Ducks are much more plentiful on the river than they have been for some years, and even at this time of year there were a large number of young broods, tnoro especially of teal. In the Hakaranoata ranges we hear there are a good many pigeons.

Mr D. Stubbing, the well known surveyor, of Cambridge, is about to proceed with the survey of the Pouakmi block of land recently purchased by Messrs Butler and Grace, on behalf ot the Government. In addition to the 42,000 acres coutained in this block, Mr Stubbins is now in Kihikihi endeavouring to arrange with the native owners for the survey of an adjoining block of about the same area. We understood Mr Stubbing to say that generally the land in this block would be rated second class, but some of the hush land would prove of much better quality. One of the most varied and unique stocks of lazors, cutlery and electroplated goods to be found in Auckland is that of Mr Thomas Samuel, 102 Queenstreet, Auckland. Mr Samuel imports direct from the celebrated manufacturers Messrs Rodgers, Lock wood and Johnson, of Sheffield. The goods are of the best material and workmanship and have given universal satisfaction. They are marked at the lowest price). We can specially reoommend Mr Samuel's collection of electroplated ware, forks and spoons, cruets, etc., also the general lines of goods which he has on sale. Wo advise our readers when in Auckland to give him a call. "We hear that amongst the virions features of the Cambridge Wesleyan soiree, to be held next Tuesday, there are throe items of special interest. These are* First, the presence of Miss Wainwright, of Te Aroha, who has promised to come over and sing, and who is jure to prove a source of attraction ; secondly, the rendering of the beautiful terzett, or trio, of Curselmann'.s, "Van Veilchen," in which the three parts will be taken with the flute, a soprano voice, and the violin, respectively ; and last, but not least, in interest it is an open secret that a presentation to the popular pastor of St. Paul's is to be a portion of the evening's programme. When lately our representative visited Mr .Tames Stator's office, Canada Buildings, Queen-street, Auckland, whose advertisement appears in another portion of this issue, he was engaged in drafting the plan of a steamer for the South Sea Island trade. Her length over all is to be 100 feet, with a beam 16ft. 'Jin., and a keel 00ft. Her lines are very fine, and she will have capital saloon and fora cabin accommodation. Mr Slator is a highly qualified architect and draftsman, and is capable of doing all kinds of professional work in these departments, ha vine been 35 profession in the United States, New South Wales and New Zealand. In our advertising columns will be found the advertisement of Messrs Robertson Bros., corn and seed merchants, Symonds-street, Auckland, one of the largest and most enterprising firms m this line in Auckland. They have a large and varied stock of the best garden and farm seeds, which have been chosen with the greatest care. Tho firm guarantee the soundness and cleanness of their seeds. In the matter of manures, they not only have an extensive assortment of tho very best fertilizers, but they can supply them to farmers in any part of Waikato at exceedingly low rates. They are also vendors of every description of tilea and pottery. We can confidently recommend our farming friends to patronise them. Most of our readers (says the Napier Telegraph) have heard of porpoisehide boots, and know that they are not made from the skin of the porpoise. We understand that " porpoise-hido " is merely IV trade term, although Beaton's Encyclopaedia tells us that the skin of the porpoise, when carefully tanned and dressed, is used for wearing apparel and for coverings of carriages. Be that us it may, about two or three years ago some porpoise skins were sent from here to England to be tauned aud dressed with a view of ascertaining whether a profitable industry could bo created. In due time the tanned skins came back, and were exhibited in the rooms of the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Society. The smell from them was strong enough to knock a healthy person down at ten yards, and the appearance of the skins was that of between burnt) leather and blotting paper. A report from the tanners was to the effect that in consequence ot the amount of oil in tho skins it was impossible to tan them, and from that cause porpoise hide, as an article of trade, was valueless. Altogether opposed to this report is a telegram we published from Wellington, which stated that some hides of porpoises, after being steeped in brine for four monthß, had been tanned, the result being the production of excellent leather, as light and as pliable as kid. This, we take it, iB very good news, as it promises to open up an industry which, in some measure, will take the place of whaling, which i 3 fast dying out for want of whalos, while porpoises aro m thick as blackberries.

One of the most beautiful monuments wo have seen Iris lately been erected in the Catholic cemetery, Symonds-.-treet, Auckland. It is constructed of sculptural Carrara marble, with a plinth of local blue stone. There are two marble bases, a large Gothic shaft, and a short column. Crowning the column is a Latin cross of chaste design, with a wreath around its top, carved with exquisite taste and finish. Tho monument is by the firm of Bonskill and McNab, of Symonds-street, and is erected to tho memory of Miss O'Dowd, the daughter of Mr O'Dowd, of the Caledonian Hotel, Auckland. We direct attention to Messrs Bonskill und McNab's advertisement appearing elsewhere, and would remind those of our readers who purpose erecting monuments r.r t mibstones that the firm make a speciality of country work.

A great sensation, says an exchange, his been caused among the friends of the Salvation Army by the new? that the General has been hooted and accused of "sweating," and of appropriating the Army tuuds, at a large East hurl meeting of the London poor assembled to do him honour. There is no doubt that tho malcontents hit upon tho very point on which the Army has disappointed its best friends in Australia. No one can tell what, is really done with the money, Tons of balance-sheets ara issued showing the totals, but no man on earth outside the inner ring could tell how much is devoted to tho charitable objects that each division is founded to d-al with, and how much is spent on maintaining the officers themselves. Unless this point is cleared up, the power and wealth of the Army will wane as rapidly us it sprang into existence.. The following are the particulars of a novel cure for cancer, published by a contemporary. It msy to pointed out, however, that before accepting the state- ! ment, it would be necessary to have a qualified assurance that the case was really one of cancer :—" Mr Smart a farmer, residing near Port Wakefield, had been for more than four years a sufferer from a large, cancer on the right shoulder blade, when his wife's attention was directed to a letter from an officer in California, who stated that throe of his own family connections and two friends of his had been cured of severe cancers by the application of the yolk of an egg beaten up with as much salt as would form a paste or ointment,and dressed twice a day. Mrs Smart resolved at once to try it, and in three days she saw an improvement; the cancer gradually diminished in siz3, the discharge ceased, and in three months there was scarcely a vestige left.

Two years ago the " American Agriculturist" gave a prize of 500dol for the best, acre of oats grown m the United States- The prize acre yielded the enormous quantity if 120 bushels. This oat is called White Bonanza. It is said to withstand the heaviest winds and r-iin without suffering. Mr J. L. Salzer (the grower) writes of it Ther.i is no oat ever planted that has given such universal satisfaction as my Peerless White Bonanza. From the hills'of Minnesota to tho sunny slopes of Florida and Texas, from tho prairie of the north-west to the Golden Gate, glowing reports come tlie earliness, vi»or, and yield of the White ]3onanza. Its strong points are many, its vield everywhere astonishing. It is eailv in ripening, find matures full pljitnp kernels." If this oat possesses anything near the good qualities claimed for it by the grower, it should prove a most acceptable addition to the varieties now being cultivated in the colonies.

The JNew Zealand Times gives the following particulars with reference to the proposed industrial farm:— Negotiations are now well advanced for the acquisition of about one thousand acres of land close to the Manawatu railway line, aud not far from Waikanae, for the purposes of the industrial farm in connection with the Labour Bureau. Once the land is obtained the farm will be started, and probably provido employment for a hundred men. These, of course, will be drawn from the ranks of the unemployed. The scale of remuneration will necessarily be somewhat lower than the ordinary rate of wages. Men of steady industrial habits will very likely after a time be permanently engaged, and then, besides receiving payment for thair labour according to scale, will also bo entitled to a share in the profits ot the farm. It is a social experiment, and the working of which is sure to be watched with the greatest interest both inside the colony and outside its borders.

Seeing that there is a market for an unlimited number of sheep in England, at a good price, provided they are of good quality and of the right weight-say from 551b to 651b, but that the market is likely to bo glutted with second rate sheep, it behoves farmers on this coast to give more attention to breeding for export trade, as showing what can bp done in this direction without having a prejudicial effect on the wool, a line of sheep from the farm of Mr G S. Robertson, killed at Castlecliff on Saturday, is worthy of mention. The sheep (bred by Mr Robertson) were by Shropshire Down rams from Lincoln ewes, and, although only two-tooth sheep, averaged a little over GOlbs, and were pronounced by competent judges to be equa 1 in quality to any sheep of the same age killed in Canterbury, where thov have been breeding for export for years. These sheep mature early, are small in the bone, have short meaty lege, and carry a large proportion ot lean. The line referred to was very even and have grand skins, both as regards weight and quality of wool. We think Mr Robertson is deserving of great credit for the way they warn finished off. We may mention that Mr Robertson had intended to show some of these sheep had the proposed A. and P Show been held in Wanganui, and there is no doubt they would have been hard to beat anywhere.—Yeoman.