Untitled

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 240, 16 July 1872, Page 2

A mail named William Barkc was takeu into custody last night on a charge of stealing a table-cloth from the Scotia Hotel, and assaulting a constable. Two men named respectively Edward Ford and George Ward were apprehended last night ou a charge of liaviug no lawful visible means of support. A meeting of the Thames Miuers’ Accident Belief Fund was held last night, when the routine cf business was gone through. The fuuds of tlic society are iu a healthy condition.

We (Herald) are glad to learn, on inquiry, that the report published by us in our issue of Saturday, with regard to the illuess of a gentleman connected with the Bank of New Zealand, was without adequate foundation. At present the cost of a telegraphic message of twenty words by the English and Australian wire is nearly £lO, aud this is inclusive of names of sender aud receiver.

A recognition soiree will be held this eveuing iu the Baptist Chapel, Willoughbystreet, Shortlaud, to receive the Rev. William Jones, tlieir pastor, who has lately arrived from Kuglaud. Should the weather prove propitious, a numerous gathering of the friends of the Church is anticipated. At the Police Court yesterday two cases of drunkenness, oue of vagraucy, and oi.e of maliciously injuring three watermau’s boats, were disposed of. The last was *> very lengthy case, occupying the Con t du ug the greater part of the day. The pr. .oner, William Kerr, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court.

The following cases are set down for heariug at the District Court, Grahamstowu, today :—Allen v. Dixon Bros., Home v. Little Wonder G.M.C., Thames View G.M.C. v. Schedule of Contributors ; aud the following iu bankruptcy:—James Marriott, Charles Stepheusou, James Hicks, John Hall. J. SV. K. Guilding, E. V. Dixon, David Williams.

Some ten or twelve of our meu who arc to take part in the rifle match started for Auckland yesterday cveuiug in order to ue able to have a little practice ou the raugc io-day. The remainder of the competitors will start this morning by iho Duke of Edinburgh, and iliey are all pietty confident, as, indeed, are also the Aucklanders. We anticipate a pretty tight match.

Much activity and briskness was noticeable ou ’Change yesterday, when the once tauiiliar uaitte of tne Uuiednumil was iu eve;ybody’s mouth. Brokers seemed to be busy ruuuing uack.vards aud rorwards, aud the latest news from the mute was eagerly sought by ail. We understand that a fair amuuut of business was done, though both buyers aud sellers are still shy, the confidence of the public having been greatly shaken of late in mining speculations. A slight disturbance was caused yesterday afternoon iu Brown-street by a gentleman who had evideutly been imbibing pretty freely, aud was making use of what may be termed " very bad French.” Ho was escorted to her Majesty's hotel by a gentlemau iu blue, who good naturedly fixed the gentleman’s hands behind his back with a pair of plain aud inexpensive bracelets, which prevented his making too free use of his hands.

The Kauaeranga Highway District Board met last evening aud transacted business, of which a report will be found iu auother place. A special meeting will be held this afternoon on financial matters. Tenders are called for up to Friday next at noon from persons willing to fill the offices of Secretary, Collector, Engineer, Valuers (2), for the ensuing year.

The Dispenser of the Hospital desires to acknowledge the receipt of a parcel of English papers from Mrs E. S. Millett, as a present to the above institution. This is a generous act of Mrs Millett’s, and one which the patients cannot fail to hold iu grateful remembrance. Others would be bestowing favours on those who need by imitating Mrs Millett’s commendable example.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Thames Total Abstinence Society was held last night at St. George’s Hall. The Rev. Mr Wilson, the President, occupied the chair. The Rev. VV. J. Williams, Messrs R. French, aud J. P. Jones addressed the meeting, Messrs James Jones and Sawyer each sang a song in good taste, aud Miss Thompson delivered a recitation. There was a very good attendance, aud a good meeting was the result. The Chairman announced before the meeting broke up that it is intended to hold a concert ou behalf of the Society in a month’s time, which he trusted would be a great success.

The Moauataiari aqueduct is rapidly approaching completion, the last set of supports having been placed in position, and the fixing of the bottom or rather sideboards also nearly finished, so that iu a short time we expect to see the creek flowiug down this new channel, which, we trust, will for ever put au cud to periodical burstiug of the old culvert. The work is all done in the strongest and most complete manner, and has been carried out expeditiously iu spue of the very bad weather vvntch prevailed for so long a time.

We have received the second number of the New Zealand Homoeopathic Gazette, published in Auckland, ediied by Dr F. A. rlaruuauu, M.D. Its contents arc ” Homoeopathy of the present time,” •• What is Homoeopathy ?” " Email-pox,” *• luliuenco of Homoeopathy on Life Assurauce,” aud “ Miscellanea.” Tne puulicuuoii is very interesting, and contains some very well wmteu arucies. Mr J. F. carter, ol Brown-street, is the Thames agent for the Gazette.

Mr E. Honiss, Secretary to the Thames Goiufields Hospital, begs to acknowledge ttie following subnetlpuous aud dona.tons : J. Robinson, Li ; noikmeu Wiudsor Castle u M.C., Li 2s ; 'v . Bubuett, Ll ; McNamara, 2s ; J. H. Jclfeiaou, 6o ; ri. C. Kichmoud, 5s ; u. - aiier, os ; ihames Scottish Volunteers, nett proceeds of concert, L3l Is ; H orknteii UnaG.Af.C., Ll 8s lod ; W. Pardcu, 10s ; Mrs Dare, 2s ; John Bu.toii, Ll : Treasurer ihames .scouisii Qua.iiiiie Asn-uto.y, 1.3 IGs 7d ; J. J, FhzGioooU, Ids ; lli.iiims Hunt. 2s Gd ; J. 11. cyniLuru, os ; W. Keyes, •>s ; F.umndge ami Aimer, 5o ; J. Paueisou, lUs ; J. .ncXaugiitou, os ; ii. Coides. os ; vV, Bunou, os ; C. Burron, os ; Rev. Father Nivard, Ll ; Pacific Box. os Gu ; Theatre Royal, 4s ; Gmernor Bowen, 7s 2u ; (Juitcd Fumpiug Association Box, los ; Caledonian Battery do., os ; Dr. Carr’s benefit, L2 lis 4d; Workmen Sbotovcr C.M.0., Id los ; Workmeu Alburuia G.M.C., L2 8s Gd ; Wotkincu Moauataiari G.AI.G., L 5 2s: J. W. Bhaw, 10s ; Peter Nor bury, lUs ; Edward Cameron, Ll. J, Grigg, os.

Mr T. F. S. Tinne, of the firm of Fraser and Tinne, was a passenger by the Nevada on Saturday Wo understand that Mr Tinne proceeds to England to procure machinery for a paper mill, together with improved rope making machinery, both of which industries it is intended to establish in connection with Messrs Fraser and Tione’s fiax-mill in the Kaipara district. There is thus a prospect for the early establishment of A paper manufactory here, and we feel sure that such an industry will prove a profitable one to the proprietor, besides conferring a benefit upon the province.— Cross. The Herald tell 3 us that the Auckland team assembled at the Mount Eden riflerange on Saturday afternoon, and made capital shboting, considering the stiff N.E. breeze they had to contend against. The men express great confidence of coming off the victors on -Wednesday next. We are pleased to hear that the employers of some of the men of the Auckland team have' generously offered them a holiday for the occasion without waiting to be asked—a course which we hope will be followed by the employers of every man who is to fire for the honour of Auckland.

A practice meeting of the Grahamstown Fire Brigade was held last night, under the orders of Superintendent Mackie. A little after 7 p.m. the fire-bell was rung, and within five minutes all the members of the brigade were at the engine-house, thinking that a fire had occurred somewhere. This promptness speaks well for the men, and will give the public confidence in the brigade. All the fire-plugs from Queenstreet up to Bourke-street were tried, and no less than three of them were not ready for use : in two instances at least, they beiDg completely covered with heaps of the street scrapings, necessitating their being dug out before the hose could bo fixed. Wc would call the attention of the Highway Board particularly to this fact, and suggest to them that the recommendation contained in the report presented to the annual meeting of ratepayers, be at. once carried out—that is, that all the fire-plugs be built in with stone, in order to protect them properly. At the same time, the men who are employed in looking after the streets should have orders always to keep the plugs clear, as five or ten minutes loss of time might mean the entire loss of a building in care of a fire occurring. We feel confident that the matter need only be brought forward in a proper light, and that it will be promptly looked to. The 1). S. Cross says—Mr L. A. W. McCaskill writes in support of our remarks on the very unreliable nature of the native evidence. He points out the disadvantages under which settlors labour in the event of dirptues nrisiug between them rnd the natives who, travelling in three or fours, are prepared to swear to any story that may suit their ends. He says :—“ It is well known that the natives now-a-days have a habit of using the most insulting language and violent threats, not unfrequently with the deliberate and express object of frightening the European into some act or assertion for which, either by their own lawless law or by European law, they can demand reilress.” He reviews at length the discrepancies in the native testimony given at the trial for shootiug at Hikutaia, and points out the evils resulting to settlers from the readiness with which native testimony can be got on auy required point. *• The recent prosecution has,” he says, “ caused the abandonment of a farm on which large sums (several thousand pounds) have been expended in improvements, besides 33 years of personal labour, and I have been absolutely reduced to apply to friends here and at a distance to enable me to pay the costs of a defence. Now, sir. 1 have friends, and I am widely connected throughout Canada and Scotland with people in my own rank and profession, graziers and farmers, and these numbering among them some of the must enterprising and well known in their respective countries. I and my relatives here carry on a continued correspondence with those countries, and .what can we report concerning these matters but in a way which will place New Zealand in an unfavourable light in respect to investing capital and knowledge iu agricultural pursuits in it ?” The Thames evidently is not the only place where noisy Highway Board mee’ings are held. We perceive from the Herald that they have been pretty “ rowdy ” at the Dedwood meeting on Saturday last. They write ns follows :—“ The most discreditable conduct that has been displayed at a public meeting in Auckland found vent in the proceedings at the Highway Board meeting of the Dedwood District on Saturday last—not by any means that blame can be attached to the whole of the ratepayers of the district present at the meeting. On the contrary, the whole of the disturbance appeared to be caused by some half-dozen persons, who kept up a systematic system of annoying all others present, with the apparent intention of enjoying all the ‘fun’ themselves. To such an extent was this conduct carried that a gentleman, who is not in the habit of wasting words in useless threats, cautioned one of the delinquents if he continued interrupting the meeting he should prosecute him under the provisions embodied in the Highways Act. Wc could not particularly notice what effect the threat had upon the person to whom it was addressed, but should he be prosecuted, and mulcted to the full penalty of the law, he would not receive much sympathy.