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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 18, 27 October 1871, Page 2

Wc are informed that the whole of the interest of Mr. 0. M. Creagh in block 27, Shortlaud, has been purchased by Messrs W. Rowe and Edward Thomas. The tender of Mr. Harvey has been accepted for the erection of workshops on the beach, Grahamstown, called for by Messrs Fraser and Tinne of Auckland. The works, we understand, are to be commenced immediately. This morning, for the first time, the cry of the dustman was to be heard at the Thames. Every householder will do well to have a heap of sweepings, rubbish, <Scc., ready to lie carted away, and they will thereby do much to avoid a possible charge of neglecting to keep their premises clean. How that summer is approaching, this is a matter of no little importance in a sanitary sense, aud much credit is due to the Road Boards for their exertions in the m atter. A meeting of the debating class in connection with the Thames Mechanics’ Institute was held last night, at which Mr Roe read a paper on Spiritualism.” The subject was very ably handled, the lecturer in a great measure agreeing with the new revelation, of which Andrew Jackson Davis, the American, s the head. An animated and interesting discussion followed, in which Messrs. Bagnail, Gray, Perrier, Carpenter, aud others, took part.

We are requested by F. H. Lewisson to state that no gold chains or alberts are of his make without they are stamped F.H.L., 18:carat. Having engaged a gold chain maker from Loudon, he is prepared to make any English pattern chain to order. — [Adv.]

The fourth and last of the present scries of evening entertainments at the Mechanics’ Institute will beheld on Tuesday evening. October the 31st, at- the Academy of Music. Great preparations arc being made to make the affair a success. A prize is to be given for the best prologue to the evenings entertainment, which will consist of an Amateur Dramatic Performance. The third and fourth acts of the “ Merchant of Venice” will be produced, with a musical interlude, and the drama of “ Time Tries All.” Two ladies, who have previously taken part in these amateur performances, with so much credit to thcmselvc and pleasure to the audience, will again appear on this occasion as Portia and Narissa respectively in the first named play, and as Laura Lecsou and Fanny Fact in the other, and as the other characters will be performed by talented amateurs, some of whom hare had no little experience in amateur theatricals, a most successful entertainment will be looked forward to. Persons desirous of competing for the prize for the best prologue are requested to send in their compositions to the honorary secretary on or before Monday next.

An accident, which might have been attended with fatal results, took place yesterday morning at the Caledonian mine. One of the men employed carting quartz to the battery got into the hopper to loosen the. stuff, and whilst there the brace-man ran a truck-load of stone out, and before he perceived the man in the hopper, a large stone, abont 401bs weight, fell off the truck. Fortunately, it hit the woodwork first, and this broke the force of the blow. The stone caught the unfortunate man on the forehead, over the right eyebrow, inflicting a nasty, jagged wound, tearing the flesh away from the"bone. The sufferer was carried to a neighboring house. Dr Trousseau was quickly in attendance, and sewed up the wound. The wounded man was able to go to his own home, aud no serious consequences are anticipated. The Cross of yesterday states, “ There was a long sitting in bancoon Wednesday morniug, in the Supreme Court, when the very old case of Macfarlane and another V. Harris was resumed, on demurrer. The case is so involved, of such ancient standing, and beset with such peculiar surroundings, that counsel on demurrer and declaration appeared to have become involved themselves as to its true bearings. The Supreme Court-house was used for the first time since it has been metamo:phosed. The Hall is now handsomely fitted and furnished, and the voice of his Honor, instead of, as formerly, being wafted upwards, and passing outwards through the lantern into the regions around, now falls distinctly on the ear. So also can be heard the arguments of learned counsel, which will enable the reporters in future to obtain the nature of matters brought before the Court. Heretofore it has frequently been difficult to ascertain whether barristers were pleading for plaintiff or defendant, or whether a prisoner was under a charge of petty larceny or manslaughter. The accoustics of the Court are now perfect. The re-opening of the building yesterday was marked by one of the most dreary and protracted arguments which have probably ever fallen to the lot of reporters to listen to, for an almost uninterrupted term of five hours. In this case Mr Hesketh displayed, in an eminent degree, his knowledge of abstract law based upon a series of hypotheses, which probably his Honor thoroughly comprehended as well as the members of the profession, but of which few persons unversed in law would ever understand the ontline or drift. The Court adjourned a few minutes after four o’clock.”

The following are the unwarrantable comments made by the Hobart Town Mercury upon Bray’s case, referred to in our yesterday’s issue :—“ The charge, as stated in the Police-sheet yesterday, was that of ‘ forging a promissory note for Lloo.’ It is not alleged, apparently, that the prisoner derived any pecuniary advantage from his supposed crime, and it is certain, at least, that he brought nouc of the produce of his cleverness here, if, indeed, the forged document was ever uttered. It is stated on the other hand, that the charge of forgery is a mere pretence to get back to Auckland a young man who only arrived there a few months ago, brought with him some capital, obtaiued an excellent situation through good letters of introduction, fell into a den of mining speculators and thieves, and who, having lost all his money, thought it best to get out of their society, leaving New Zealaud suddenly, followed by a warrant, procured under false pretences, for the purpose of bringing him back within reach of his sharebroking creditors at the expense of the Government.”

The excurtionists by the 1 Golden Crown’ had a little more fun for their money than they anticipated. The steamer left Tararu at 3 p.m., and arrived at Coromandel shortly before six. Owing to the time, however, which was occupied in embarking the passengers—for it must be understood the only boats employed were the two belonging to the ‘ Golden Crown’—the tide had so far run out that it was found impossible to leave there the next flood, which was at 4 o’clock yesterday morning. Fortunately the musical talent was well represented on board in the persons of a harpist, violinist, bones, tambourine, and concertina. As a natural result among 200 passengers, dancing was proposed. The band, t herefore, under the management of Professor Webb discoursed sweet strains, and “ all went merry as a marriage bell,” till arrival in Auckland at 7 yesterday morning. Mr. H. Wise, of Dunedin, has now in course of preparation a Directory of New Zealand for 1872. The volume will be of demy Bvo. size, bound in cloth, and lettered on tha side in gold. The prospectus states that it will Pc corrected up to the very latest date, and will contain a mass uf lufumuiilou likely to be of great use to the professional and commercial community of New Zealand and the neighbouring colonies. The price of the work is one guinea. .