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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 20, 30 October 1871, Page 2

Two men arc iu custody, and will be brought up this morning, on a charge of fighting iu Brown-street on Saturday night. We hear that proceedings have been taken against the parties engaged in the recent pugilistic encounter at Tararu. Several persons were taken into custody on Saturday and yesterday, on charges of drunkenness. Wc have been requested to warn the public not to be alarmed at the ringing of the firebell this evening, as it will be merely for the purpose of calling the Brigade together for practice. ;; r ■ • . ,<; • « There was a large attendance at St. George’s Church yesterday, both morning and evening. The Bov. V. Lush announced 'that there would be' three services next Sunday, being the first Sunday in the month, and that the whole of the offertory would be devoted to the buildiug fund of the new church. There will be a vestry meeting on Tuesday evening, at 7 p.m. Three very beautiful water-colour drawings by Mr Frank Varley, were raffled on Saturday evening, at the Pacific Hotel. There was a good attendance, and the list was quite filled shortly after 8 o’clock. Mr. Varley himself won two of the prizes, and Mr W. Robinson the other. We published iu our telegrams of Saturday last the death of Mr John Campbell, of Shelly Beach. Deceased was 72 years of age, and had been a resident in Auckland for many years. He was living at Maliurangi when seized with the illness that resulted in his death.

The Goldfields Secretary, Mr. John Sheehan, left for Auckland yesterday, but will return this afternoon. On Wednesday, as will be seen by reference to our advertising columns, Mr. Sheehan will hold a public enquiry at the Court-house, Grahamstown, into the truth of any charges which shall then be made, or which have been previously made of misconduct in reference to the Providence claim on the part of any officer on these goldfields, over whose office the Superintendent has control. At the request of the Inspector of Mines, his office will be included in the enquiry. During Mr. Sheehan’s short visit, for he only arrived on Friday) he has made good use of his time. He has made satisfactory arrangements for the new Go. vemment goods wharf, at the foot of Burkcstreet, and on Saturday visited the proposed site of the new works, in company with MrWarden Fraser and Mr Millett, Government Engineer, who, we regret to say, met with a serious accident on the return home, the particulars of which will be found in another place. We. are sorry to hear that a serious accident occurred to Mr H. T. Ilowe, surveyor, yesterday, at Puru, Whilst walking in company with two friends over some sidling ground he fell, and came into violent contact with the rock. We hear that he has sustained considerable injuries. Immediately after the occurrence a boat was procured and manned by natives, who brought the sufferer to Grahanwtown, to be placed under the medical care of Dr. Sam, under whose skilful supervision we hope Mr Bowe will soon be restored to convalescence,

A painful accident occurred on Friday in Albert-street, when a Di ummond, in the employ of Mr. Craig;.whilst lifting a ' bag of maize, burst a Vxd vessel in one of his legs. Before. r. hlfrcc cor'd be rendered, he bad lost a qur, "▼ c' bc: '. but eventually the limb was temuovar’iy bandaged, and he was taken to the surge./ of Dr. Lee, where the; rupture was attended to, and whence Drummond was taken to his home.— Cross.

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:cnrat. Having engaged a gold chain maker from London/he is prepared to mike any English pattern chain to order.—Adv.] A meeting was held in the Haymarket, on Friday, to consider the question of changing the market-day from Saturday to Friday. His Worship the Mayor presided, and both city and country interests were well represented by those presented. The meeting was remarkable for the great unanimity, and the business was transacted with a commendable despatch well worthy of imitation by all similar gatherings. Resolutions were passed affirming the desirableness of the proposed change, and appointing a committee to carry the wishes of the meeting into effect. The Mayor stated that Auckland would not be long without a market-place, as tenders would be called for the erection of one during the ensuing week, and no timo would be lost in completing it. The market-days would be fixed by the Council, and would probably be Tuesdays and Fridays.— Cross.

The Diocesan Synod continued its sittings on Friday. The sitting was a very lengthy one, and many matters were discussed of interest to the Church. The subject of facilitating marriage was well ventilated, and ultimately carried to the effect that, in circumstances where the Bishop ssw. fit, he might instruct the clergy to remit the usual fee charged for a marriage license. The education question evoked a very warm debate. This was what might hav« been expected. A few very wholesome truths and home-thrusts were made during the debate. The religious element of the education of the youth of the province was the great bone of contention. Dr. Nicholson explained at considerable length the nature and principles of the Common Schools Act, and also the bill ttjat was brought- into the General Assembly during the present session. It was shown that there was nothing in the Education Act in force at present in the province to prevent religious instruction being imparted in the schools, although not within the hours set apart for secular education. Mr Boardman reminded the clergymen present that they were very fond now and again of getting up a little sensation by talking about the neglect of religious instruction in our common schools ; but how few tried to remedy it I Before the regular school hours and after them there was no obstacle to clergymen coming and teaching the children belonging to their Church. That course involved a little trouble to the clergy, and strange to say he found few did it. He recommended that the clergy should act a little more, and not confine their efforts to mere talk. We are compelled to hold over our extended report. — Crozs. Dr Goss, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool, is so determined not to be buried when he dies with the orthodox trappings of woe, that he has entrusted the duties of his obsequies to four Protestant gentlemen on whom he can place the utmost confidence that his request will be complied with.

The Melbourne Leader of a late date states that “ a pe r son is not allowed to open a public-house or publish the mildest thing in the shape of a newspaper without giving the law some security of his substantially and bona fidcs, but lie ::.vy inaugurate a life assurance institution, ir d enter unen contracts, his liability upon which may not accrue for lialf-a-centurv, without being asked for the name of a surety or required even to take out a licence. Protected iu so many other directions of far less importance, the public is expected in this colony to look after its own welfare in the matter of life assurance. Now the public is notably a gullible animal. Even iu such ordinary swindles as mining shares and thimble-rig it is perpetually getting into difficulties when bereft of adequate police protection. But were it as wise as it is otherwise, it might well find it no easy task to decide without professional assistance upon the soundness of a life assurance company. Actuaries of profound skill have not unfrcquently been mistaken in tlieir estimate of the position of these valuable institutions, and in America it was speedi y discovered that stringent state regulations alone could ensure the security of the iusursnee offices. England followed suit after mauy years of laborious delay, and now the Australian colonies are beginning to awake to tlic conviction that they are behind the age in this as in some other respects. It is an ill wind that blows no good, and perhaps the misfortunes of the policy-holders of the European Assurance Company may result in a legal reform which shall prove beneficial to the rest of the community.”