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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 267, 16 August 1872, Page 2

Mr Severn's lecture on chemistry, which was to have been given this evening, has tieeß postponed until to-morrow at 7.30 p.m. There are some fourteen cases set down for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, all of them apparently of the usual character. In spite of ihe dullness of the times we perceive that several new buildings are now being put up in both townships—a good sign, •specially as rents are generally high. The Thames Rifle Rangers held their usual weekly parade yesterday evening, for squad drill. The usual weekly quadrille of the Naval

Brigade took place at their drill-shed, yesterday evening, much to the enjoyment of all present. At the Warden’s Court yesterday the' case of Boxall and others v. the Comstock 6.M.C. was struck out by the company having paid the amount of the debt and costs. There was no other business before the Court. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Caledonian Goldmining Company is to lie held at the large room of the Ne>r Z -a* land Insurance Company’s Building, on tlic 28 th iust., at 2 o’clock. We see by a notice in the New Zealand Gazette of the 3rd August that Mr. Edward O’Meara has had his licence to survey lands under the Native Lauds Act restored to him by his Excellency. At th*. Police Court yesterday one caseo drunk* n less, one ■of assault, and one of neglecting to keep premises clean were disposed of by the K.M.

A General Government Gazette, published on Saturday last, contains :—Proclamations and Orders in Council and appointments ; regulations for the affiliation of Scholas-io Institutions to the New Zealand University ; the acceptance of the resignation of Lachlan Allan McCa»kill as a Justice of the Peace ; Transfer Act notices, &c. The Native Lands Court at Shortland wa s engaged all yesterday on the Waiwakarunga block, and will resume Ggam this morning. A very large number of natives are now to be seen daily in the vicinity of the Court ; and “ Butt’s corner ” looks as lively as it used to do in the early dajs of the field, so far as the native clement is oonccrned.

W« are glad to notice that some of tie pieces between the-tramway and the road opposite the Long Drive Claim are be* ing filled up* which will make a great improvement to the Appearance of the road. Greville and Co. telegraph from Auckland to the fitaf last night;—“ An ekpressman named. Moom dropped dead at his residence this morning. An inquest will be held tomonthly iuspeeSmi*rf the Volunteers, and the time of be if sued in his district orders, wenkope there will be a full muster ,on this occasion. There are some New Zealand war' medals to be distributed. .UV./ .• i. Gfih Now that the GTahamstown and Tararu Tramway is in full working order. .are hope that the'twmpMj wilr«rect 1 Z gor>a*bui':di>i as a waiting room; in fact if they only had ■ • building pot? up, it-eotfid, we imagine? le. at a handsome, prpfit to;Bqrne> confectioner who would attend to the' wants and confronts of passengers going to,and fro.. ; ; i:r . j The work 6f forming a footpath along' the beach from the Karaka foot-bridge to the Naval Brigade' Hall’ has been commenced. *nd,’ ! if the fine weathciTadts, will soon be completed. The pathway along the beach all the way to Shortland has beenoften pointed out. The cost of putting a plank across the water-courses at the foot of Richmond and Sea'ey-streets would con.tribute much to the comfort .of pedestrians, especially of ladies and children. An active canvass is being commenced for

signatures to the petition published in our issue of yesterday, praying the Assembly to esiuse'strelj air'amendment to be mattein the Representation Act as will give ipereased representation to' the Thames. The prayer of the petition.is one aching for simple justice, and if the inhabitants generally unite in agitating the question they will succeed eventually in obtaining the object in view. A petition unanimously signed, with the signatures properly verified, must have weight with the House, and we hope every one on the field will sign the petition. . ~ i - ; / >. -V j A rifle match was fired at Parawai Butts, yesterday, for a sweepstake between Messrs O. M. C’reagh, R. Cashel and Captain Lips y. The ranges were 300, 400 and 600 yards. Mr Oasnel came off victorious, he having scored 16, 16, and 9—total 40... Captain Lipsey was next with 14, 14, and 11—total 39; Mr Creagh making 13, 16, and 6—total 35. In the afternoon Captain Lipsey and Mr Cashel fired another match at the same ranges, when Captain Lipsey made 16, 20. And 16—total 62 ; and Mr Cashel 12, 14, and 15—total 41. the former gentleman thus winning with 11 points to spare. We understand that's match has been arranged to come off in a few days, between Captains Williams and Lipsey. Messrs Creagh and Cashel for a sweep of £5. The return of imports and exports for the year 137 L presents some curious features. We are not yet so sure of the truth of Mr McLeau’s much-vaunted *t peace with the natives ” that we can afford to do without arms and ammunition, aud we have expended about £20,000 under that head : £65,000 for candles is a heavy item, as is £120,000 for coals. The hardy Orcadians who are to settle upon Stewart’s Island ought to make a profitable industry of fish-curing, for £23,000 left the country for fish of one sort or anothei. Toung ladies may be glad to know that we imported 296 cwt. of hair, and £l7 worth of curiosities. Ferhaps a few ultraabsurd chivnons are classed under the latter head.— Wellington Post. A meeting of the Thames Debating Society took place yesterday evening. Mr A. B. Bain occupied the chain The discussion before the meeting was, *• Is man a free agent ?” The subject was opened in the affirmative by Mr McUowau, who was followed by Mr Power in the negative. Of course this is rather a deep subject—too deep, in fact, for the abilities of most of our local debaters, nwbo certainly did not display much eloquence last night during the discussion. It is a subject that requires deep thought and study ; this evidently had not been given it by the members of the Society. Before the meeting adjourned, several members complained that a speaker who had addressed the meeting on several occasions was present neither at the opening nor at the finish of ♦he debates, which it was thought should ,:c J •* allowed Pvrlmj vi. was J h>- in-' • >;•< cold Ihiii had an efftoi on i'u- ;h»w: n> ■ -h speakers, f-r our reporter could nop at (he conclusion, see thac either side had biought forward any good argument. After the subject for the next meeting had been decided upon, the members adjourned. The Wellington Evening Post says:—The , Hon. Mr Gisborne is fertile in expedients. Writing to the Agent-General upon the contemplated introduction of Scandinavian immigrants to Hawke's Bay, he says: “On the voyage out, every inducement should be offered to them to short-draw, or its value, will materially assist in fresh starting them on arrival." In the first place Mr Gisborne states in a former portion of his letter that the men will be allowed one or two week’s rations free, when they reach their destination : and in the second, we venture to assert that a more ridiculous proposition never emanated from any man holding so responsible a position as Mr Gisborne. These unfortunate .immigrants are to be encouraged to halfstarve themselves on board ship; they are -to be landed here in an emaciated condition —for what ? In’ order that they may convey to the Forty Mile Bush a few morsels,of salt jqnk,‘half-a-dozen tins of bouilli, and a peck of peas apiece. Brilliant idea 1

The first charge tinder the Stamp Amendment Act, 1871, was called on at the Police Court yesterday. The defendant pleaded guilty, under circumstances given jnthe report of the case. The Court could, of couise. do-nothing but follow the law, and enable the defeudaut to find the required amount for payment of the fine,, and adjourned judgment until Saturday next. His Honor thought it desirable that the public should be made aware of thfe stringency of the Stamp Act, and requested the reporters to publish that portion oi. the Act under which the charge then before the Court .was laid. The information had been laid under the 19th section of the Stamp Amendment Act, 1871, the “ digest ” of. whioh is as follows: *• Upon the sale or transfer in any Corporation. Company, or Society, or transfer of shares in any goldmining claims, the full purchase money,, or consideration, which shall be directiy or indirectly paid, or given, or agreed to be paid, or given, for the same, shall be truly expressed aud set forth upon the principal, or only instrument evidencing such sale or transfer: and in awe such full purchase money shall not be inserted, then the purchaser, as well as the salesman, shall forfeit the sum of £6O. — Herald , , .

Mr A. W. Murrav, the missionary, has written to the Sydney Morning Herald to check certain exaggerated expectations which seem to exist as to the auriferous richness of New Guinea. He states that, though it is likely enough there is gold on the island, the missionaries have seen no traces of it nor heard anything about it from the natives, and that to go in search of it under present circumstances would tie a wild and hazardous proceeding. He adds that Redscar Bay, to which the ill-fated Maria was bound, is an open roadstead. with no shelter; that the voyage was undertaker at the very worst season of the year ; and that the adventurers, had they landed, would have found a great mangrove swamp extending for miles along the coast. He further states that it is his intention, in a few months, to reinforce the pioneer missionary party —that by degrees a better knowledge of the island will be obtained, and that any information likely to be useful will be published. In this way the missionaries hope to prepare the way for the - colonising of the country, and the developing of its resources.— Cross,