AMUSEMENTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 70, 29 December 1871, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

The Cagli and Pompei Opera Troup have had a very excellent season at the Thames, and we have no doubt hut that they arc well pleased with the result of their visit. The Caledonian sports, which were. held on the 30th November, were a great success. _ In the evening a Masonic ball was held in St. George’s Hall. His Honor the Superintendent and Mrs Gillios were present. On the 2nd inst., a cricket match was played between the Ist eleven and the next sixteen. The eleven, in tho first innings, made 4G, and tlie sixteen, 15. The game was well played on both sides. ACCIDENTS. A very narrow escape from drowning occurred on the 2th inst. at Tararu to two young ladies who were bathing. One of them lost her presence of mind, and had it not been for the timely arrival of two men, they would have undoubtedly been carried away by the current. A man named Patrick Sullivan received severe injuries on the Ist inst. through incautiously letting a spark fall amongst a quantity of gunpowder. AVe understand that he is now rapidly recovering. GENERAL NEWS. A new Court of the Ancient Order oj Foresters was opened at Coromandel on December 2nd, and the usual officers installed. This is the first friendly society at Coromandel, and we trust it will be successful. The tramway between Tararu and Graliamstown was opened on the 2nd inst., and has been found to work remarkably well. The amount of traffic has been considerable since the commencement, and wc have no doubt that when it is continued to Shortland that it will prove a great benefit to the district. This is the second tramway in the province, a fid wc trust that it may he as successful and profitable as the first tramway at the Bay of Islands. We hope at no future date to see lines of tramways all over tho North Island, for in

construction and maintenance they would be far cheaper than the ordinary roads now being formed in the colony. A public meeting was held at the Academy of music on the 11th inst., to take into consideration the formation oi : Harbour Works at the Thames. The meeting was well attended, and there is no doubt but what good will ultimately result from it. Handel’s sacred oratorio of the Messiah was given at the new Church of England (now nearly completed) on the 14th inst. The local Choral Society were assisted by the Auckland Society. The rendering of many parts was exquisite, and showed that we had many amongst us, although a digging population, who not only understood, but appreciated the works of God’s great gifted genius. The proceeds are devoted to the benefit of the church.

Tho loss of the mails by the P. and 0. Company’s vessel, the ‘Rangoon,’ has been very severely felt by many in our midst, but we trust that they will be recovered at no distant date.

■ At a meeting of the Thames Hospital, Dr Lethbridge stated that 20 one-tenths was the average number of patients. Yv r e should be glad to see the Hospital accommodation extended in view of the increasing population, whose employment is in very many instances dangerous. A very interesting lecture was delivered at the Thames Mechanics’ Institute, by Mr W. -J. Speight, on the Bth inst., on the subject of debating societies. The Hape Creek quarry continues to turn out splendid stone, and if it only prove lasting, another mine of wealth will have been discovered in our midst.

The anniversary sermons of the Shortland Wesleyan Sunday - school were preached on the lOtli inst., by the Rev. J. J. Lewis. The anniversary services of the Baptist were delivered on the same day, by Mr Kernick and Mr Mason. A caso has occurred during the month of stealing gold-bearing stone from the Caledonian Gold Mining Company’s ground. Two youths were caught in the act, and after a long hearing at the R.M. Court, the culprits were committed for trial at the Supreme Court. On the 12th inst. the Hon. Dr Pollen visited the Thames on business connected with the Native Department. During the month a great want has been supplied by Mr C. Curtis, who has erected handsome and commodious baths, at the Grahamstown Wharf. A cricket match was played on the 10th inst., between the “ old ” and “ young men,” which resulted in an easy victory for the latter. The Opera Troupe lent their valuable assistance at Mass at the Catholic Church on two occasions, when the building was densely crowded. Eloquent sermons were preached by the Rev. Father Nivard. The brigantine •Annie Moore,’ Captain Henry, arrived on the 17th from Sydney, biinging a cargo of cereals, iron and general goods. This is one of the pioneer boats of a direct line between the Thames and Sydney. An inspection of Volunteers was held on the 17th by the officer commanding the district (Major Cooper). The various companies, including the Cadet corps,went through the usual evolution and were complimented by the gallant officer upon the manner in which they acquitted themselves. Dr Macartney, late of Fiji, has delivered a series of lectures here on those Islands, and concluded with a lecture of the Irish Patriots of ’1)8. The steam launch ‘ Fairy ’ has been subsidised by the Government to run between Grahamstown and Ohinemuri. The town is now partially supplied with water, and a proposition has been made for the Government to hand over the works to a private company, who arc stated to be willing to pay a handsome sum down, and to extend, the works, but the proposition has not been altogether favourably received, and the matter stands in abeyance. A meeting is to be held to-morrow to consider the desirability of forming the three townships of Grahamstown, yhoitland, and Parawai into a Municipality, and it is probable that, in the event of a Municipality being established, it will have the control and management of the water works. The fund for the relief of the widow and orphan children of the late .T. Baty, accidentally drowned whilst endeavouring to save another’s life, has reached the handsome sum of £720. The Scottish Volunteer concert was held on the 20th inst. The proceeds were devoted to the Mechanics Institute. There was a well filled house, and a substantial addition was made to the funds of the Institute. We should be glad to see the other corps getting up entertainments in aid of this Institution. The Fire Brigade had a practice on Friday last, when the pew hydrants made by Messrs Price & Co/, a local firm, were first brought into'use, and were found to work admirably. A rather serious accident occurred on the Mpanataiari tramway on the 22nd, by which a man named Inereou sustained

a very severe bruise on the upper part of the left. Had it not been for the precaution ? of putting on tl-.c break, much more serious results would in all probablity have ensued.

An inquest was held on the 20th instant, before Dr Kilgour, Coroner, touching the death of Margaret McGinn, an infant four weeks old. The evidence went to show that the child was accidentally overlain by its mother, and a verdict was returned in accordance with the evidence.

On the 7th instant, the employees at the Caledonian battery presented Mr Rowe on his retirement from the management of that celebrated mine, with a handsome silver cup. On the 19th a gold watch and chain were presented by the miners in the employ of the Caledonian company, - and in the evening the same gentleman was entertained at a public dinner at St. George’s Hall. Mr Hoskins, Miss Colville, and Mr Clinton, are paying a visit to the Thames, and arc drawing fair houses. They are accompanied by their agent, Mr Mothersill, who is well known in that capacity, both hero and in the sister colonies.

A very successful amateur performance took place last evening at the Academy of Music. The pieces chosen were, “ Still Waters Run Deep,” and the trial scene in Bardell v. Pickwick.

Wc have been requested to call attention to the alteration made in the time for holding the public mectipg in connection with the municipality question to-morrow night. The hour of meeting is now advertised for 8 o’clock this (Friday) evening, at the Academy of Music.

The Resident Magistrate was employed nearly the whole of yesterday in investigating the case of John Stevens and Patrick Shine, charged with stealing'from the person of Richard Briggs the sum of £7 10s. A report will be found elsewhere. Both prisoners were fully committed for trial at the Supreme Court. There is now on view at the Theatre Royal buildings, a very pretty model of the U.S. p.s. * Nevada.’ The model reflects great credit on the artificer, who must have exercised great skill and perseverance to bring it to such perfection. It is an exact representation of the ‘ Nevada,’ and is beautifully executed in all its details Tlic windows arc of coloured glass. The model will be on view this evening, for the last time on the Thames. It is well worth a visit.

Mr W. Kelly, ! 'of Opotiki, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the colony, and Captain Macphcrson of the Waikato has been appointed Adjutant of Militia and Volunteers. Thus two safe Ministerial votes have been rewarded. Of course Mr Kelly will be reinstated in his commission, of which the Stafford Government deprived him. After an impartial trial, Kcrcopa has been found guilty of the murder of the l!cv Mr Volkncr, and was sentenced to death. There seems to have been a difficulty in procuring a conviction upon the native testimony alone, owing to the lack of direct proof of Kereopa’s personal responsibility for the murder. The missing link in the chain of evidence was supplied by Captain Levy, who, it will he remembered, was at Whakatauc at the time of the murder.

At the Auckland Police Court on Wednesday a man named Farrell was charged with the serious offence of attempting to drown a man named William Gribble, by throwing him off tho Queen-street Wharf into deep water. It is said the man was rescued with some difficulty, and the alleged offender was given into custody. The Right Rev. Dr Cowic, Bishop of Auckland, lias received from the Diocese of Sydney, the following resolution, passed by the Synod of New South Wales : —“ That tho members of the Church assembled in Synod desiic +1 express their deep sympathy with the Churches of New Zealand, in tlic loss which they and the whole Church of Christ have sustained in the removal, by a violent death, of the late devoted Bishop Pattcson and his faithful followers, and t > assure them of their hearty concurrence and co-operation with them in the course proposed in the Synod of Auckland in furtherance of the Melanesian Mission. 2. That the very reverend the President be requested to communicate the resolution of this Synod to the several Bishops of the Provinces of New Zealand.” Mr Gillies writes to the Crons : —“Sir.—ln your article on Wednesday morning upon upon my address to the electors of City West, you have imputed to me language which I did not use, and commented upon expressions whicli I did use without giving their context, thus imputing a very different meaning to those expressions from what they were calculated to convey.” The Cross has a second leader on Mr Gillies’s .speech, in which the decadence of Provincial Institutions is attributed to “ the natural growth of the Colony,” and to “the natural growth of public feeling.” The writer proceeds to say “ The day lias gone by when New Zealand was an aggregation of isolated villages, with their vestry politics and petty jealousies. There have been growing aspirations after national life, which arc not tho product of the policy of the present Government, but of which that policy is the expression. The extraordinary readiness with which the great and comprehensive scheme of colonisation was accepted by the country, after the first feeling of surprise had subsided, showed how deep and general has been that longing after national life. That policy was Necessitated by the advance of public feeling.” These statements are simply absurd. There is no “ longing after national life ”in the Colony. The policy of the Government was rendered necessary, as its author said, in 1870, to remove the ruinous stagnation which then prevailed everywhere, and it was accepted with “ extraordinary readiness” b y the colonists, who hoped to retrieve their position by tlic expenditure of borrowed money. The Herald of yesterday has a severe article criticising Mr Gillies's address to the electors of City West. The artiolc is well written ; but, like most articles on Colonial politics, in the Auckland newspapers, there is a great (leal of special pleading in it. Tlic Herald is more than fair to the General Government, as anyone aware of the facts who reads its article will perceive ; it is also less than fair to Mr Gillies. Unfortunately for that gentleman, he lias not bccu fair to himself. His speech, as reported, neither does justice to himself nor the party with whom he acted. He is outspoken to a fault ; and, although few would believe it, he is somewhat imaginative also. As a rule, however, he is one of the most painstaking and industrious members of the Assembly—always at his post, and ever foremost in promoting the interests of his Province. . It is stated that in Great Britain from 200 to JOG persons die annually from swallowing the eggs of a small tapeworm called tsonia echinococcus, and that in Ireland no less than •nc-sixtli of the population shuffle off the mortal coil from this cause. As an experiment. Dr Cobbold procured some hydatids from a Clare Market sheep, and gave them to a dog for two days running in liis food. In fort V-six days the dog was killed, and Dr Cobbold found that there were 8,800 t;euia inside it. At each of the final segments of the tamia contained on an average 5.000 eggs, there must have been upwards of 40.000,000 in that one dog. This is T)y CobV old's particular argument against irrigation sewage—that it helps to pro'pogatc these destructive little pests ; although Mr Hope indighantlv deuies th'aC after the rough treatment it has received in the sewers, a single trunk, could be left alive. At all events, considering that most of the taenia came into the human system through our beef and mutton, the question is decidedly worth considering.

From various correspondents in different parts of the group we learn that the coming cotton crop promises to be a very heavy one. In all cases we arc told that the trees are very heavily laden : and if the weather is propitious, a very handsome return for the labour of the planters may be anticipated. In some cases picking has already commenced.—Fiji Times. - • *— The Otago Bail)/ Times remarks : —*• The meanness of the Otago Provincial Council in the matter of the honorarium has been matched by the Provincial Council of Auckland, which is henceforth to be supplied with tea and coffee at tlie public expense. Wc would recommend to our wranglers over farthings in the honorarium this method of keeping up tlicir reputation for meanness.” The s.s. ‘ Wellingion,’ from southern ports, arrived in the Manukau on Wednesday, bringing a full cargo and passengers. JI.M.s. ‘ Blanche ’ left Wellington for Auckland port ou the 20th.

The s.s. ‘ Albion,' from Melbourne, arrived at the Bluff on the 21st at 7 a.m. She was announced to leave Wellington for Napier and Auckland on the 20th. Tlic three-masted schooner ‘ Amateur' was loading at Lyttelton for Auckland when tlie s.s. ‘Wellington ' left on the 23rd. Tlie following were passengers by the ‘Wellington,’ s.s.. Kennedy, from southern ports . —Mrs Carpenter, Miss Cosgrove, Captain Orkney, Mrs Brice, Mr James Lees, Mr George Gordon ; Messrs Gordon, W. L. Edge, J. Stevens, Butler, Carsou, Bond, Graham, Mrs Burns, Messrs Smith, Alexander, Harley, Guilford, Miss Whitaker, Mrs and Miss Yealc, Mr Davis, Archdeacon Govett, Captain Newland, Miss Hondin. Mrs Kennedy, Mrs Koddy. Master Koddy, Miss Hoskins, Miss George, Miss Joll. Messrs Ollivcr, Birch, Mr and Mrs Horton, Mr Cashcll. Mr Hill, Mr Lowe, Master Lowe; and 35 in the steerage.—Combes and Daldy, agents.