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Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1811, 12 May 1874, Page 2

%* The English mail closes at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Copies of the Thames Adveruser Monthly Summary may,;;Ve obtained at oar publishing office, or at the booksellers, .Tliob,B. ! City of Melbourne/'due yesterday from Sydney and Melbourne, had not put in an appearance up to the hour of closing the telegnph office last evening. It will alio be seen that tko San Francisco mail steamer--'Cyphrenes' has been delayed South, and is hot expected to arrive until to-day. :' The long-continued drought has at length j broken up. Rain fell nearly the whole, day yesterday, and at times very heavily. It was much wanted, as all.the creek batteries,were idle with piles of quartz stacked, and it will also emble the mills to get logs down. • The Secretary to the Thames Hospital Committee yesterday received a note enclosing £5 as a donation to the funds of the Hospital from an anonymous contributor. A meeting of the members of the Grahamstown Fire Brigade was held at the shed last evening. Superintendent S, Young presiding It was intended to have a practice, but the evening was too wet. Four applicants were balloted for, and admitted members of the brigade. Some dUcuasion took place relative to the formation of a salvage corps, to be composed'of men who will devote themselves to saving property at a fire, and to preventing all and sundry from interfering with the operations of the firemen. A letter was ready from the Town, .Clerk enclosing a resolution passed by ■ by the Borough Council conveying the hearty' thanks of the Council to the Grahamstown and Shortland Fire Brigades for the valuable.services, rendered by them at'the late fire in Albert-street, Mr Young handed in £11 o£ subscriptions which had been received by him within the last few days, and votes of thanks were passed to the donors,' When it was known in town yesterday that the ' Crown 1 was not coming to the Thames, and that consequently there would be no mail to Auckland, considerable .vexation was felt, as it was thought that the'chance of tho English mail would be lost. The postmaster telegraphed to Auckland on the subject, and was informed that the 'Cyphrenes,' the vessel taking the mails, would 'not leave Auckland till Wednesday at four o'clock afternoon?. All letters, therefore, posted prior to three o'.clook to-day will be in time for the mail.' To say the {east, the treatment of the Thames public by the A.S.P. Company in tho matter of steam communication with Auckland is'very disgraceful, and we can only hope that 4he owners of the new steamer ' Hauraki' will be asked to place their vessel on the trade, and that she will be well supported by the peopleof the Thames, as an inducement to keep her in the trade. She will he admirably adapted to the trade, and a promise of support; if carried out, may induce tho Messrs Holmes to send hertotheThameß, , We observe that there is quite a, commotion - * in the Auckland Police Court on the .nonappearance of Major Keddcll, KM., to give evidence in the charge against Mr J, S. Macfarlane of inciting to murder. A warrant is talked of to arrest the Major and bring him before the Court. We believe the fact is, that Major Keddell has not yet received a subpoena to appear. His Worship the Mayor (W. Davies, Esq.)' and Councillors Kilgour, J. Butt, and A. Anthony, were to leave for Auckland yesterday to interview his Honor the Superintendent at - 11 o'clock this morning, by arrangement, on the subject of the endowments of the muaici- / pality, but the steamer not coming down yesterday the interview had to be postponed. Wo believe, the deputation will proceed to town to-day, and interview the Superintendent on the subject to-morrow, morning. ..> A literary and musical entertainment will bo. given in the school-house, Meston-street, this. evening in aid of the funds of the St. George's Church Sunday-school. . We are sure that many of our readers will feel grieved to hear that Dr. Merrett died at the hospital at four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Dr Merrett was admitted a few weeks ago, ' suffering from inflammation of the lungs, and - the attack was so severe, and the unfortunate . patient's constitution so much shattered, that from trie-first but little hope was'entertained ' that he would recover,. Dr Merrett was for some years practising in Auckland before the i Thames opened, but: though admitted to be , skilful in his profession, his unfortunate habits of drinking prevented ••him g«ningany large practice. When this goldfield opened, he came to Shortland, and for- a time was' the only medical man in the district.' ; -In the rough early days of the Thames, Dr. Merrett i was of great service. He was willine; to take any trouble to attend a case, careless of whether < he got a fee or not. ,He was also kindly and good-natured, and had not a bit of spite or malice in his whole composition. A, great* many of those who were here in the old days are now scattered abroad over the colonies, and ' as everyone know the doctor,, many a sigh will be given to his memory. He was his own worst enemy, and his constitution must have been of great strength to have endured the trials he put it, Dr, Merrett has been resi-, dent on the goldfield since its opening, with the exception of some months in Fiji, The Claus-Kekel concert at the Academy of Music last evening was-fairly attended, not- s withstanding the steady downpour of rain which oontinued all day, and was unabated in the evening, depriving many from participating in the pleasure of. listening to these talented artistes on the occasion' of their second and last appearance at the Thames.. This is tho more be regretted because such an, opportunity mty never again occur. Mademoiselle Jenny CUus is a genius, and her performances on the,violin should be hoard' by allSwho have the opportunity afforded them of attending one of her concerts.- The reception she met-with last evening by a Thames audience was an unmistakable evidence of this, for after twice appearing to bow her, acknowledgments to the audience in answer to deafening applause, she ■ was, compelled to confer the favour of another solo on the instrument she controls with so much ( Bkill and. ability her hearers.'. The "Lombardi Grana Fantasia" was a gem of violin accomplishment, and her. "Transoription N on afavourite Scotchair" was also applauded to the echo.. Mons. Mel's ' piano solos and Mdlle. Rekel's singing were highly appreciated. 7 The trpnp will appear in Auokland to-morrow night, and leave. for Syd- ' ney by the' City of' Melbourne'. 1 , , ' The'meeting of teachers to consider the pro-' , posed new Education Act which was to have been held last evening, was .adjourhad till Fiiday evening next. ■'■''■ It will be seen by advertisement' that a newly constituted troupe of local amateurs, 'the Magnet, Variety Troupe,. will give a performance' at the Acidemy of Music on Thursday evening next, for the benefit of* the funds of' , ' the Ladies Benevolent Society. The programme , includes gymnastic performances ; in great ' variety, comic and sentimontul sougs, dances, ; including the golden Bhoe dance, and Mr Jim Mcliver will appear in his characteristic delineations of negro and other descriptions^: iOn the whole the entertainment is likely to prove 'a;' good one, and we hope ihe patronage will be.. such as to make the benefit to this deserving ioaUtvitioa tk substaaUoil , : ■'