THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 138, 19 March 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY , MARCH 19, 1872.

The election for the district of Rodney has terminated, as expected, in the unopposed return of Mr John Sheehan, who is, we believe, the first native-born subject of the European race born in New Zealand who has been sent into the General Assembly. Mr Sheehan is a young man of considerable ability, who has already given evidence that he would have succeeded well as a lawyer here—and in a profession which is usually ruled by intellect alone, this is no small testimony to his qualifications. We have no doubt he will be able to hold his own with his fellow members of much longer standing. There is one thing which we hope he will not forget, that although elected for a Northern district, he is to a great extent associated with the Thames, and whether lie remain Goldfields Secretary or not, wc trust ho will remember the wants of the field in his place in the Legislature, and the manner in which they nave been neglected. It lias always been our opinion that the delegation of the Governor’s powers on the goldfields has been wrongly placed in the hands of the Superintendents, and that it would have been very much better to have had a responsible Minister of Mines in the General Executive, but as we can only deal with facts as they are, not as they might have been had a wiser course been adopted, we take the opportunity of pointing out that the return of a member to the General Assembly who is interested in the Thames Goldfield—or, at all events, ought to be as Goldfields Secretary—is a step gained. This district is very inadequately represented in its one member, for the large area extending from Cape Colville to Te Aroha. It ought to have at least two, or more properly three—two for the Thames and one for Coromandel. Until this additional representation is given, which, however, the wants and importance of the place will eventually demand, it is not out of place to scan the qualifications of whatever members are returned throughout the colony, in view of the effect their vote and influence may have on the field. Wc think wc may calculate on those of Mr Sheehan as being likely to be given with a full consciousness of the importance of the wants and requirements of the Thames, as gathered by his own personal experience, and not from hearsay alone. He has made repeated visits here in his capacity as Goldfields (Secretary, and lias always shown an intelligent and appreciative sense of the wants of the place, it is true the performances of tne Government have not been equal to their promises as to the aid to be given to the Thames, but it is highly probable that the Goldfields (Secretary lias not been liis own master in several matters appertaining to the district which have been brought under his notice, and winch he has promised to give his attention to. it may be that the views of his Honor the superintendent have not been on all fours with those of his Executive on these and kindred subjects. We are therefore glad to find a man who, we believe, is inclined to do justice to this important district returned to the Generel Assembly. It is only justice which the Thames seeks for. Tiie district contributes more.to the revenue than any other, and has very little done lor it. Its local boards are all but powerless, and are unfortunately at loggerueads with the (Superintendent. As to the establishment of a Municipality, which would go far to remedy the evils now complained of, the people are divided as to matters of detail, which will probably cause some considerable deiay in tne formation of tins most useful institution. It is, therefore much to be desired that we should have in the General Assembly those who know the requirements of the place, and are able and willing to bring them before the Parliament. "Wc look upon the return of Mr Sheehan as an auspicious event for the Thames.

The committee of the Auckland Alliance for the suppression of the Liquor Traffic, appeal to the publie for pecuniary support, in order to make a canvass, and test the feeling of the public on the question of the Permissive Bill. — Herald. Mr Sheehan is the first member of the General Assembly, of the European race, born in the Colony. There was a very singular case heard at the Police Court on Saturday. The charge was that of inciting a youth to abscond from an Industrial School. But it turned out the lad was committed to the school by the Believing Officer, upon consideration of certain payments for his maintenance to be made by his parents. Committals of this kind in England are invariably made by Justices of the Peace or other Magistrates. The question arose whether the committal, being informal, and, indeed, illegal, the woman charged could be said to have committed an offence against the Neglected and Criminal Childrens’ Act. His Worship will give judgment on the case this morning.— Herald. The IJclcnsvillc correspondent of the I). S. / 'rofs says : —“ The Ilclensville end of the Kaipara Bailway has bccu progressing very rapidly lately. The greater part of the heavy cuttings arc approaching completion. But yesterday some dispute arose between the workmen and the contractor, which resulted in all hands knocking off work. No doubt Mr Edgar will soon place another lot of men at work, as this weather is too precious to lose. Mr Uundas, the contractor for the wharf and bridge across the Kaipara Liver, is here at present, making arrangements for timber, &c., to commence those extensive works.”

The Napier Telegraph says : —“ The accounts we have received of the condition of the ilocks within the province, the yield of the wool, and also the general appearance of the runs, are highly satisfactory. From these accounts wo gather that in no previous year have the sheep clipped so well, and this, added to the wool sale returns of last season, makes the prospepts of our graziers and sheep farmers brighter than they have been for many years.”

The Poverty Bay correspondent of the Jltuclte's Hag Herald says, *• There is another expedition out under the command of Inspector Pitt. Te Ivooti is reported to have been seen between here and Wairoa, with seven men. A letter was received from Inspector Pitt last evening, to the effect that he has left his horses at some place with au unpronounceable name, and followed the expedition on foot.”

In our description of the new Congregational Church here we committed a mistake in our remark that the building reflects gre«t credit on the architect, Mr Boss ;—it should have been Mr Cross, of Auckland. This gentleman took the first prize for the design in open competition, and he also was successful in taking the second prize for a design for St. Mary’s English Cnurdi, recently erected here.

The only business at the Police Court yesterday, consisted of two cases of drunkenness, in both of which bail was forfeited.

We are informed that about IL SO has been received during this month for dog tax. This sum goes to the credit of the local Highway Boards, and will be a regular god-seud to them in these hard tiim a.

Crimes of personal violence are of seldom occurrence in Auckland, and the use of the knife is still less frequent. Several years have now elapsed since a charge of this kind was brought against any person here, although m some colonies such offences are not uncommon. But a case of this kind seems to have occurred on Saturday night, about 11 o’clock, iu Nelsou-street. It appears that two men, named respectively Henry Powers, labourer, aud John Chase (the latter a coloured man, working on board the Caducous), had been engaged in a dispute respecting a woman, and Powers is alleged to have stabbed Chase in the arm twice with a kutfe or some other sharp instrument. Chase was attended to, and bis wounds bandaged up. Neither of the wounds is serious. Yesterday morning Powers was arrested by Detectives Ternahan and Jeffery, and will be brought this m'Tuing at the Police Court on the above charge. It is probable lie may be remanded for a few days. Cross.

The commanding officer of the Thames Hide llaugers decided that in consequence of the competitois not being able to see fairly at the 000 yards range on Saturday evening, when shooting for the company’s prizes, the same range is to be shot over again, and for that purpose 11 out of the 18 competitors i’ncd off their final score yesterday morning, at the Parawai Butts. The remaining seven have yet to fire at their convenience, and as Mr Fenton is amongst that number, it will be watched with great interest by all members of the above corps. Out of all the competitors, Mr Fenton is the only one who is likely to object, but his comrades knowing him to be such a crack shot, in fact one of the best in the company, believe that he will only be too happy to concur in Captain Williams’ decision.

The half-yearly meetingof the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand is advertised to be held on the 24th April, at noon, in the banking-house. The directors’ report for the half-year will be received, and a director will be elected. — Cross.

(Since last February no less than twentyeight companies for conducting the construction of asphalte paving have been started in England, with an aggregate capital of ltj. 100,000 dollars.—American paper.

There was a meeting of the Thames Hide Association last night. The attendance was very small, owing to which no business was transacted; but the meet ng stood adjourned to 8 o'clock p.m., of Wednesday, the 20th instant.

The p.s, lloyal Alfred will, for the present, discontinue her visits to the Thames, plying between Auckland and Coromandel only.

Our Fijian visitors made their first appeal* auce before a Thames audience last night. There was a good attendance. Judging from their looks, we should think that their cannibalistic propensities have not been gratified lately at the expense of their white brethren, although we have no doubt that the mothers of youthful families at the Thames would do well to keep a watchful eye on their offspring. If the antics indulged in by our Polynesian visitors at the Academy of Music are to be taken ns a true type of their habits'when at home, we should sav that they were a truly industrious race, for they danced and llourislmd their implements of war from the commencement of their performance to the end. As a delineation of savage life is rare, living as we arc amongst intelligent semi-civilised Maoris, we should advise all those who study mankind in its primitive state to visit our Fijian brothers.

There was not so large an attendance at the Theatre Poyal last night as we should have expected to have seen on a general holiday, but the counter attractions elsewhere" were sufficient to account for the scantiness of the audience. The acrobatic feats by Barry’s Gymnastic Troupe were again admirably done, and were warmly applauded.

The Toini mid Country Journal states “ The demise of Mr lingers by the breaking of a blood-vessel, at Melbourne,drops another link of the chain that binds the memories of old colonists to the past history of the drama in Australia. For considerably more than a quarter of a century his self-taught genius brought him into a high position on the colonial stage, his style being highly appreciated by every English actor with whom lie came into contact since the death of Nesbitt. Arabic, and other contcmporaiies. V bother on the stage or in the green-room, in public or in private life, bis distinguishing characteristic was thorough amiability, and it is too probable that s< me of his earliest admirers may give t p the hope of teeing his like aguin.”