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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 41, 23 November 1871, Page 2

We are sorry to have to report another min jug accident. This time the casualty was in the All Nations mine. From the information we could glean, it appears that a man named King was working in one of the slopes when a large piece of stone fell upon him, break’ ing his leg, and also causing somewhat serious injuries to his back. Medical aid was at once secured, and every attention paid to the sufferer. Mr. Beckham has subscribed a guinea to the Thames Mechanics’ Institute, an example we should be glad to see followed by all Auckland officials interested in the Thames. There will be a mcciing of the Debating Class, at the Mechanics’ Institute, this evening, when Mr. Hollis will read a paper on the formation of gold in quartz. The monthly inspection of the Thames Scottish Volunteers took place last night, when <lO persons were present. The Major commanding complimented them on their cflicicucy. After parade, a meeting of the company was held for the transaction of general business. Corporal Maddock was elected sergeant, vice Sergeant Ferguson (resigned), and Volunteer Campbell was elected corporal. The following were chosen to compete with the Masons on the 130th iust. : Ensign Stewart, Colour-sergeant Schofield, Corporal Campbell, Volunteers Aartiugton and Graham. Two working and three honorary members were elected. The men have subscribed for a handsome licit and sword for Drill-Instructor Schofield, as a token of their appreciation of his zeal in working for the corps. The payment this session to members of Parliament who have attended regularly, will be about £So each. .

Mr. Watt performed an important duty for the public the other day, the exercise of which cropped up rather curiously. It appears the Hcception Committee, among other of its arrangement, required a .Secretary, and some member proposed a person who had just passed through the Bankruptcy Court for that office. Major Nixon and more strongly Mr. Watt opposed such an appointment as a scandal. and |we think these gentlemen are entitled to thanks for taking such a stand. It may seem ungracious, but if the public are not prepared to draw some distinction between meu who are toiling to pay their debts and these who do not seem to care whether they pay them or not, it is a poor sign of the community. People canuot help being unfortunate from time to time, but no matter liowmisfortunccomes,the bankrupt,as amatter of good taste ought not to speak of anything else, should not, for a while at least, after passing through the court seek any prominent position among his towns nen, and if he does he should be made to understand his position. Wanrjanui *Vtran iclc.

The following address to the Queen on the subject of the death of Bishop Patteson, and the labour traffic among the South Sea Islands, was adopted in the House of Itepresentatives on November 7 :— -1 Most Gracious Sovereign,—We, your Majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects, beg to express the deep sorrow with which we have heard of the death or the Plight Ileverend John Coleridge Patontes, D.D., Bishop of Melanesia, and his missionary companions, the ltev. Mr Atkin and an aboriginal Islander, who, on the 20th September last, were martyred by the inhabitants of the islands of Nukapu, in the Southern Pacific Ocean. We have reason to believe that the cruel deed originated in the exasperation of the natives at ill-usage received by them from certain Europeans, subjects of your Majesty, who. under colour of providing free labour for the Australian colonics, have been guilty of acts inconsistent with the law of nations and the first principles of humanity. It is known that these persons have deceived the natives by false pi ctences, and kidnapped them from thei? homes; and it is believed

that the murder of the Bishop and his companions was an act of blind retaliation for the injuries so inflicted. One of the latest utterances of the good-Bishop was a solemn protest against this iniquity, which he addressed to the Synod of his Church in this colony, with a prediction of such results as that of which, too soon, he was himself the victim, a copy of which is herewith respectfully forwarded to your Most Gracious Majesty. We venture to submit to your Majesty that a grave duty rests on the British Government, that of protecting the Islanders of the Pacific, against the infliction of wrongs by the hands of British subjects—wrongs little less grievous than those of the African slave t radc. And wc beg to assure your Most Gracious Majesty that we, the Commons of New Zealand, will at all times be ready to assist your Majesty’s Government, by every means within our reach, in surpassing the practice referred to. And wc pray that your Majesty may long live as the protector of the weak and defenceless in every part of the world.”