THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17,1871.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 November 1871, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17,1871.

The New Zealand Agricultural show at the Albert Barracks, on Wednesday, appears to have been a considerable success, as regards the exhibits and the attendance, and we may say the same also of some of the speeches delivered, in which the part played by the Thames Goldfield in the development. of the province filled a conspicuous place. The Bucolical mind is often apt to see little good in goldfields, notwithstanding the fact that the farmer, above all other men, derives an advantage from a digging population who consume his produce ; for as a rule, they purchase instead of raising for themselves the necessaries of life. The Chairman, Mr. Bassett, is reported as expressing his doubts, whether the Thames goldfields were an unmixed blessing to the province. Probably there is no good thing without some alloy, according to the old adage, that “ something of bitter will arise amid fountains of pleasure, and something sweet will be found in a fountain of grief.” Probably, therefore, the goldfields are not an immixed good, but without them the Province of Auckland would have collapsed, and the Bucolicals in the neighborhood of Tamaki would have had a poor market, if any at all, for their produce. Everybody knows that, but for the discovery of the Thames goldfields, the Province would have collapsed, and its affairs would have been administered by the General Government, which was itself nearly bankrupt. We arc glad to see that of those present at the Agricultural dinner, some remembered this, and spoke to good effect. Notably among these were Captain Daldy and Mr John Sheehan. The former, in proposing the toast of the Mining Community, (we quote from the Morning News) said:—

This community was taking a prominent position in the prosperity of the country. Was not the Thames taking a large portion of the produce of the province ? (Cries of “ no, no.”) He was sorry to hear such signs of disapproval. He spoke from fact, by the cargoes taken to the Thames daily. The mining interests were then drunk with enthusiasm. Mr. Albyn Martin endeavoured to correct assertions made by Captain Daldy, but was declared out of order. He was, however, permitted to speak, and he made a few-remarks, in which he was understood to disagree with Captain Daldy.

Mr John Sheehan then responded to the toast, and deprecated their going into debateable matter on occasions like the present, but he would say that it was the Thames Goldfield that had deprived the Bankruptcy Court of its business. It had brought this province from its insolvent position to the most prosperous province in this colony. The gold produce of this province was greater than that of all the other provinces of this colony. The gold produced within the last quarter was greater than the whole of last year, so that the mining interests ought to be mentioned on occasions like the present.

We are surprised to find a man of good sound sense like Mr. Martin dissenting from Captain D,Tidy’s statement, which was founded on facts sufficiently stubborn to convince the most obstinate man alive ; but we know that “ a man “ convinced against his will is of the “ same'opinion still.” The thanks of the* goldfields community is due to these gentlemen, who took upon themselves to enlighten the darkened minds of their agricultural friends upon the part the Hauraki District has played, and is still likely to play in the history of the Colony.

At the Theatre Royal last evening, Miss Stephenson appeared in the comic drama •ntitled Asmodcns. She supported the role of Carlo, the little devil, with considerable skill. Mr. Burford was very successful as Don Rafael. Our space will not permit us to give a detailed notice.

The lecture delivered on Wednesday by the Rev. W. J. Williams, has produced a large amount of correspondence, and we publish in to-day’s issue a few of the letters received. Mr. Williams lias, at all cvcuts, achieved notoriety, if lie has done nothing more.

An emergency meeting of the Lodge of Light (Masonic) was held last evening, at the Lodge room, Wharf Hotel.

Mr Charles Burford will take his benefit at the Theatre Royal this evening, when wc hope to see a large attendance, as Mr Burford is a most deserving and popular actor.

We have been requested to call attention to the fact that the steamer ‘ Enterprise No. 2 ’ will leave for Auckland at 10 o clock on Saturday evening.

Yesterday's holiday and the sports at Tararu passed off, so far as wc can learn, without'accident or a “row,” with the exception of a slight alternation and recourse to fists in the marquee, but it was not a very serious affair.

A little girl named McKnight, whose parents reside in Pollen-street, strayed from home yesterday, and following the Odd Fellows’ band towards Tararu, eventually got lost. She was, however, fortunately picked up by Detective Murphy, and taken to the station, where every care was taken of her, and in the evening she was restored to her mother. The police, of late, have had a great deal of trouble in seeking lost children, and we understand that in several cases reports have been made of children being lost. The police have gone out in search of the wanderers, and in some instances the children have reached home, and no report lias been made to the police to that effect, and they have gone on searching. In all eases where a report is made to the police of a child being lost, a report should also be made as soon as the lost one is found.

Bacheldcr’s Diorama of the American War was repeated last evening at the Academy of Music, to a fair audience, which, doubtless, would have been larger but for attractions elsewhere.

We have observed of late that a great many transfers of publicans’ licenses have taken place, which is usually taken as a sigu of activity iu the business, and of genera prosperity.

It will be seen by reference to our advertising columns that Mr Craig will offer for sale to-day a large assortment of household furniture and effects, the property of a gentleman about to leave the colony. To parties about to enter upon housekeeping this presents an eligible opportunity of making a suitable investment.

There was considerably more than the usual amount of shipping arrivals and departures yesterday,—there being 12 arrivals and 15 departures.

It is high time that something was done to get our streets watered. The dust, yesterday, was most frightful and disagreeable. We suppose by tlie time some of our drapers and vendors of fancy goods get a few hundred pounds worth of goods spoiled, they will agitate tlic water-cart question once more, and wc hope with success.

At the sittings in banco oil Wednesday, two gentlemen were admitted to practise at tlie Bar as solicitors and barristers, namely, A. E. T. Devore and James Bannatyne Graham, Esquires. In according them the privilege, the learned Judge passed a very high compliment upon these gentlemen for the efficient manner in which they' had passed their examination. —Morning Mews.

We are requested by F. 11. Lcwissou to state that no gold chains or alberts arc of his make without they are stamped F.H.L., 18 carat. Having engaged a gold chain maker from London, he is prepared to make any English pattern chain to order. —Advt.

Clothing for the Million, at Warmoll’s Cash Palaces. Just received, per * Countess ofKintore,’ £5,000 worth of Clothing, Boots, Shoes. &c., comprising the. best and cheapest assortment of goods yet imported into the * Auckland Province. In order to make room for further shipments the Goods will be offered at such prices that cannot fail to effect a speedy clearance. Waumoll’s Cash Palaces, Grahamstown, Thames.—Advt.

We have opened several oases of men’s and youths’ clothing, just received per Ballarat, to be sold cheap.—J. Cosgrave & Co., Owenstrcct, Grahamstown. —Advt.