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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 116, 22 February 1872, Page 2

At the Warden's Court yesterday the long pending case of Thomas v. Bright Smile wns again called on, and adjourned until the 20th March. The following cases arc set down for hearing to-day, Maliouey v. Brcunan—a complaint for non-working of the Early Bird claim. John Began v. Quinn and others—an action for breach of contract. The latter, wc believe, is the first case that has been brought uuder the New Gold Mining Districts Act. *

At the Police Court yesterday, one case of drunkenness and one, of permitting pigs to stray in the public thoroughfare, composed the whole of the business.

Yesterday the Zavistowski party, consisting of the three ladies so named and Miss Grainger, paid a visit to the Caledonian mine. They were accompanied underground by Captain llicliards and some other friends, and were shown all over the workings, at the extent of which they were greatly surprised. After inspecting the mining operations, the ladies sang three songs together, much to the delight of the hands, who loudly applauded. After seeing all the wonders, they returned to the surface all safe, quite pleased with their descent into the bowels of the earth.

The Provincial Secretary proceeds up the Tarnm Creek at !l a.m. this morning, at which hour he is to meet a number of gentlemen interested in the district, and proceed up the creek, to sec the proposed road, etc. The rendezvous is at the bottom of Tinker's Gully at !) a.m.

During the recent gale, no damage has been done to the shipping at the Thames, so far as wc have been able to ascertain. Fortunately, there were only two or three vessels in port at the time of the storm. If there had been a number of vessels on the hard, as usually is the case, some serious casualties would, in all probability, have occurred.

Wc arc informed that Mr McDonough, agent of the Government Life Insurance, arrived here last night, and that lie is at liberty to effect insurances on behalf of the Government.

The nomination of candidates for tlic Waikato district for the return of a member to the House of Representatives will take place oil March 1, at the Court-house, Hamilton ; and the poll, if one be demanded, on March itth.

One thousand pounds came up from the Thames on Monday evening, by the p.s. Golden Crown, in liaif sovereigns, consigned to the Hank of New South Wales, Auckland. How can we account for this when A half sovereign is very seldom to be got.’

Messrs Arclmrd and Brown, of Auckland, are the successful tenderers for the construction of the telegraph line between the Thames and Coromandel.

The AVaiotahi Highway Board meeting did not take place yesterday, there not being a snlliciont number of members present to form a quorum. Therefore, unless specially called in the meantime, there will be no further business transacted until next Wednesday.

The p.s. Comcrang, Captain Chrisp, arrived last evening at (i o'clock, with cattle and sheep, thus setting at rest the rumour of the vessel being lost.

The s.s. Hero, Captain Logan, was to leave Auckland yesterday in such time as to enable the Thames mails for Australia to go bv her.

The s.s. City of Melbourne was due in Auckland from Melbourne and Sydney yesterday. with the Australian portion of the homeward English mail, per U.S., N.Z. and A. mail p.s. Nebraska. The City will most likely be the bearer of the English mail, via Suez.

From, a letter from a correspondent at Ohincmuri, which appears in another column, it will be seen that heavy rains visited that port of the country on Tuesday, but, fortunately, little damage was done to crops or buildings.

Up to a late hour on Tuesday evening the body of Joshua Storey, who was drowned from the cutter Lapwing on the previous day, by being knocked over the bulwarks by a blow of the mainsail boom, had not been recovered. It is presumed that, from the direction of the wind and the set of tlic current, the body will be washed ashore somewhere in the vicinity of Shelly Beach.— JJ.S. ('rnxx.

It is currently reported, with what truth we are unable to vouch, that Thomas Ball, Esq., M.L’.C., has announced his intention to resign his scat in the Provincial Council.— Ibid.

■ The fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Tuesday afternoon. There was a good attendance of members, and a considerable amount of business was trauaeted. Two important letters were received from the Superintendent, one especially which went into the whole question of difference between the Board and the Provincial Government respecting the endowments, and the understanding come to in tlic last session of the Provincial Council before the Harbour Loan Bepcal Act was passed. His Honor suggested the propriety of submitting the question to the arbitrament of the Provincial Council al its next meeting. A feeling seemed to prevail with some members of the Board on Tuesday that it would lie advisable to at once pay the £5,000 claimed, and get a final severance from the Provincial Government. The consideration of the letters was deferred until Jtlic 27th inst. — 1). S. Crux*,

Shakspearc would uever have ,asked, *• What's in an aim if lie had bccu hit ou the head with a brick.

A Sweetly Pretty Thought.—lt’s impossible for celebrated actresses to live to an old age, because those the *' gals ” love Uw young.

One of the best snake stories of the season conics from Morrisons. On Tuesday, a little boy named Parker' was walking through a paddock that had been newly reaped, belonging to Mr Haywood, when a black snake coiled itself around his legs. A little terrier which accompanied the boy showed fight, nml the snake uncoiling itself the better .to do battle with its new enemy, enabled young Parker to make his escape from his perilous position. The dog, which had probably saved the boy’s life, followed his young master, who on reaching home related his adventure. On the following day, in the part of the paddock indicated by the boy, his father and Mr Haywood, the owner of the place, observed a black snake, measuring about four feet, which they killed. Shortly afterwards, Mounted Constable Wilson and Sergeant Tooliey came up, and being rather astonished at the thickness of the reptile, cut it open, when no fewer than twenty-nine young snakes issued forth. They were all lively specimens, and measured from five to eight inches in length. They were speedily destroyed.— Geelong Adeertiser. The recent debate in the Wesleyan Conference as to the admission of married ministers (remarks the Telegraph) has aroused some curiosity. The conference is not prepared, it seems, to welcome any number of ministers with wives and families, and the reason has not yet been explicitly stated. It is this. A minister in connection with the conference is in a very different position to a Church of England or nti Independent clergyman, whose official claim upon the church ceases when lie fevers his connection with any congregation. Tnc conference undertakes to find its ministers with districts, and married ministers are promised certain house accommodation, and a certain minimum salary. Young and unmarried ministers take junior places and receive junior salaries. The conference has now several married ministers in excess of the number of first-class districts, and it is anxious to do its duty to these gentlemen before it enters into new contracts with strangers by admitting them into the connection. A number of ministers thought that the conference would be justified in declining to receive new applications this year, but it was rccolvcd to consider each case on its merits, inasmuch as there is a prospect of a well-known English clergyman of great pulpit power being induced to settle in the colony, and every exertion, it is felt, should he made to secure his services. A destructive stroke of lightning is thus described by the Belfast. Gazette :—“ On Monday evening, about (i o'clock, a thunderstorm passed over the town. One flash in particular, which seemed to be simultaneously accompanied by the most deafening crash we ever remember hearing, burst over the centre of the town. Persons in the street found themselves enveloped in a sheet of flame : literally 1 the fire ran along the ground,’ while they were stunned by the crashing thunder. People in doors in most cases thought their roofs were falling, and rushed into the street. In several instances persons experienced the sensation ns of a shock from an electric battery, but in no case did we hear of any serious personal injuries having been sustained. As soon as the excitement had somewhat sut' ided, it was noticed that the building formerly occupied ns the flank of Victoria, and now the residence of Mr H. Chain! :rs, was partly stripped of its roof, and that one of the chimneys had disappeared. The ‘ lightning had evidently struck the house in 1 two places. At the west cud, the chimney was struck, and one of the large stones thrown over into Captain Grant’s yard, a \ distance of about 100 ft. A little distance , from this the roof was stripped from the , caves to the ridge, the galvanized iron ridg- ] ing being bent upwards. From this point it appears the electric fluid struck downwards, 1 tlic rafters on each side of a skylight being 1 splintered into thousands of pieces : the lead ] around the skylight was untouched, and the j glass not broken. The ceiling of the up] or room was shattered, but not that of the room 1 beneath, occupied as a bedroom. The fight- i ning entered this room Lorn the wall, in its j passage forcing out a stone. It set fire to 1 the bed curtains, and discoloured the iron i bed-post. Mrs C'hambc;.; was in this room at the time, but fortunately escaped without injury. It is fortunate that the accident did ' not occur a few minutes sooner, when several ' persons were in the d : rcct track of the lightning.” s