The Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3,1874

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1868, 3 October 1874, Page 2

The Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3,1874

We are glad to learn that a movement will shortly be made for the purpose of establishing a High School at the Thames, uuder the amended Education Act of last session. Residents here who now wish their children to receive a better education than that afforded by the common schools, are compelled to send them away to Auckland, where they are left without home restraints and home influences, and where their education is frequently acquired by great self-sacrifice and self-denial on the part of their parents. There is not another town in the whole .'colony, of eveu half the sizi of the Thames, without either its Grammar or High School, and it is a reproach', not. only to the Provincial Government and'the Board of Education, but to ourselves as a community, that we should not endeavour to provide a better class of education for the most promising and advanced pupils in our common schools, as well as for the children of people who can afford to pay school fee?. We hope the movement will be taken in hand in an earnest and energetic manner, and that the Provincial Government will assist it to the utmost of their power, even if they have to go in for a lump of " unauthorized expenditure'' to help in carrying out the object.

The decision come to by the Hospital Committee last evening will probably take the public by surprise, after the result of the motion moved by Mr Bagnall at the meeting held on Wednesday last, when the committee refused to refer the matter under investigation to a tribunal outside of itself, and resolved to proceed with the inquiry in the same nvinner as at the preceding meetings. 'I he committee has now agreed to petition the Provincial Government to undertake the investigation of the case of Maurice Power. This proposal was brought forward by the chairman-of the late sub-committee, and agreed to in the most unqualified manner by all" those members who, on Wednesday last, considered it would be infra dig. to allow the matter to pass into other hands. Mr Bagnall's motion provided that the committee should appoint the tribunal to which the subject was to be referred, a proposal which is far. less undignified than to throw up the sponge entirely, and ask the Provincial Government to take over the matter.

However much surprise may be expressed at the committee's decision, still more will be felt at the result of the charge made by the Kev. Mr Hill against a member of the committee of attempting to tamper with one of the witnesses, and also of the conduct of that reverend gentleman in reference thereto. On the first occasion when tho committee met to proceed with the investigation, Mr Hill mado a statement that he had good

grounds for believing that an attempt had been made to tamper with some of the witnesses, notably Miss Mil grew, his best witness, and that he thought any member of the committee who had been guilty of attempting to tamper with witnesses- should not be allowed to take any part in the investigation. Mr Tyler, who felt that this ehargo was directed at him (and justly, too, as the the result has proved), withdrew from the proceedings, requesting that the charge might either be substantiated or withdrawn. Mr Hill declined to withdraw the charge, but did not, as fair play would have suggested he should have done, attempt to substantiate it. How could he, when he knew almost from the first, the groundlessness of it ? He puts Mr Tyler off by stating on two or three occasions that he had grounds for believing that Miss Milgrew would come to the committee, and give her statement of the charge. It does not appear, however, that Mr Hill had any foundation for this belief, as it appears that Miss Milgrew has persistently refused to come to the, committee. His statement, therefore, was not the fact. At the last minute Mr Hill produces a statement which he says he had from Miss Milgiw's own lips in Mr Tyler's house soon after ho | made the allegation about tampering, j which he had since read over to her several times, aud at last got her to sign in presence of a justice of the peace. He then withdraws the statement. Why did he not do so as soon as he had heard Miss Milgrew's statement ? He had as much I reason for doing so then as he had last evening, when, to the disgust and astonishment of almost every member of the committee, it was found that there was scarcely a shadow of foundation for so grave a charge, One fact alone which has come out shows clearly that Mr Tyler was wholly innocent of the charge of attempting to tamper with Miss Milgrew's evidence, which is, that at the time the conversation took place between Miss Milgrew and Mr Tyler her evidence had been given to the sub-committee, and the general committee had not then resolved to have a further investigation. Mr Hill having the statement in his possession, knew this, and must have been fully aware that there could not possibly be any grounds for, or object in, attempting to tamper with this witness.

The sub-committee, by their action last nigbt, place themselves in a most humiliating position, and virtually plead guilty to the charges made against them by the witnesses, of suppressing truth and suggesting falsehood. When the general committee commenced their investigation, the members of the sub-committee were so anxious about this report that they succeeded in diverting the inquiry from the case of Maurice Power into a comparison of the notes taken by them, with the evident intention of bringing the general committee to the same conclusion astheyhadcomefo in their report. Had the sub-committee allowed the case to be commenced de novo, and had Mr Hill kept to himself his remarks about tampering, we firmly believe the investigation would have proceeded in a satisfactory manner, and probably have been ended by this time, when the sub-committee could have compared their work with that of the general committee. The public would not then have had any cause to fear for the position of the Hospital from the evil effects of the disgraceful conduct of some of the members of the committee.

In conclusion, we think the result has fully justified the course we have taken in this matter. We have not objected to the investigation, nor expressed any opinion on the treatment received by Maurice Power while ia the Hospital. We have only objected to the unfair manner ia which the enquiry was being conducted, which was calculated to prejudice afairtrial and to lead to a result unsatisfactory to all concerned, except perhaps a few of the members of the committee. We hope that if the provincial authorities do take the mater up they will not be influenced by any of the members of the committee in the choice of the persons whom they appoint to do the work which the Hospital Committee have so ignominiously failed in doing. Although we confess that we should have much more faith in the proposal made by Mr Bagnall at Wednesday's meeting.

Our Australian telegrama contain .a mournful item of intelligence to the many residents of the Thames who admired that promising young actress, Miss Hattie Shepparde. Only a few short months ago it was our pleasing duty to chronicle tlie progress she had made in her profession, as evidenced by the flattering notices she received in the Australian Press. This announcement was followed by the telegraphic record of her union with Mr Henry 'Hallam, the tenor singer (now connected with the English Opera Company which so recently visited the Thames), and to-day it is our painful duly to announce, in the words of the telegram, that poor Hattie Shepparde is dead and buried, not having survived her confinement. Mrs Hallam left Auckland during her husband's appearance with his company at the Thames, in order that she might be with her mother during the usually interesting event which has in her case terminated so unexpectedly mournful. She expired, no doubt, at her residence, 20, Igin-Btreet, Catlton, Melbourne, and the telegram informs us that her memory was much revered there, as it doubtless will be here, and that her funeral was a very large one. The Melbourne press suggests very graciously that a memorial Bhould be raised to one so much esteemed, and who played her part in the drama of life with so much honor to herself and those connected with her, and theirgus newspaper has undertaken to receive subscriptions in furtherance of this object. Mr Hallam is at present appearing with Allen's English Opera Company in Wellington.

The steamer 'Luna, 1 with the Suez English mail, is due in tlie'Manukau this morning. Her mailwill probably 1 be delivered in Auckland in time for the transmission of the Thames portion per ' Golden Crown' this morning.

Yesterday Mr (J. M. Keed, the Provincial Treasurer, who is also a member of the central Board of Education, paid a visit to the Waiofcahi creek school, and afcer seeing the system of teaching adopted, aud the perfect discipline maintained by Mr Brown, he addressed a few words of seusible advice to the children, highly complimenting the hwd teacher ou his method of instructing 'he scholars, without resorting to harshness or unkir • ness. The school wa3 full of c'lildreu-in fact too full—;,nd the ventilation was most impevf:bt, 'rendering, the room close aud stilling. The attention of the local committee should at once 13 drawn to this matter.

At a meeting of the Italian and Nonpareil directors last night, the confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting haviug reference to the terras of amalgamation between the two companies was agreed to. ' It was also resolved that each company should collect proxies to carry nut the object in view, aud a motion to this effect was unanimously agreed to. '..

The brig ' Djrover' left Newcastle for the Thames with a cargo of ccals ou the 2ith ■ultimo,

We have received a letter from the chief Tarapipipi, relative to tho Piako river, which we shall publish in our next, with an interpretation.

The natives of Hauraki are no sooner done with one "spree" than they are on with another. The pretext for the Whakatiwai feast was the re-interment of the bones of certain ancestors who had been buried elsewhere, and who might just as well have remained elsewhere, but that the shifting was an excuse for a prolonged " wake." Then followed the sitting of °the Native Land's Court at Shortland, and the Borough Council election, out of both of which our Maori brethren managed to extract a' large amount of jollity at a very small expense to themselves. And now, when the last resource seemed gone, and it appeared as if the Maoris would have to go back to the hum-drum of their every-day life, comes the death of Haora Tipa, over whom, of course, there must be a great "uhunga." or crying match, with, the accompaniments of feasting and merry-making. We heard an easy-going and cheerful friend of ours once remark that he preferred to be at a funeral rather than a marriage, because there 1 was more drinking and less crying. Maoris seem to be of the same opinion, and to prefer a funeral to anything else as an excuse for a spree, but they have a maximum bcth of crying and drinking A large quantity of flour and other neccessaries for th'e obsequies of poor old Saul are now being collected at Shortland, having been obtained from Mr Maekay, we presume as payments on the land, and in a few days the weeping will begin

We understand that during the short time Mr Vogel was in Auckland, he was communicated with by Mr Murray, M.H.R., on the subject of a road to connect the Thames river with the Piako. The road would he of great service in opening up the district, and in giving the settlers a choice of means of communication. During the summer, a large part of the upper waters of the Piako cannot be navigated by boats, and it is of importance that those now settling there should be able to get easily to a navigable part on the Thames. Mr Vogel, we understand, said that he was willing to do anything he could for the opening up of the country, but aa he had not time to enter into the matter, he referred those interested to Dr. Pollen. There are now several good and influential settlers on the Piako, who may do much by combined action to have the country opened up.

The Borough Council have now under consideration the state of the Beach between Grahamstown and Shortland, and we think,, notwithstanding the objection that the business connected with the foreshore has not been settled, that some steps should be taken to make a passable footway along the beach, and to protect the allotments from damage by the sea The tide has greatly encroached on the whole line between Grahamstown and Shortland of late years. As the foreshore at Grahamstown, Kuranui, and along the line to Tararu becomes filled up with mullock and the constant deposit of bailings from the mills, it comes in farther at Shortland. The last high tide destroyed all the feeble attempts that have been made at road formation, and some of the gardens upon which a considerable amount of money had been spent were utierly spoiled.

The spell of bad weather which has existed over the whole colony, seems now to have taken off. We at the Thames have had our share of it, although we have been more mercifully visited than most other places. Yesterday was bright and clear. High winds and heavy rains have prevailed all round the coast. In Auckland it came like a tropical hurricane-sudden and violent. Iu the Bay of Plenty and all along the east coast, there were days of storm; the Ohiwa bar could not be passed, and vessels had to lie in Tauranga for shelter. In the interior of the province of Wellington, and at the Hutt, the countries were flooded, roads were stopped, bridges carried away, and other damage done; at Blenheim and Picton, and throughout the province of Marlborough, every river was flooded, and throughout the provinces of Canterbury and Otago, the damage done by the heavy rains has been considerable. During this season there has been a much larger proportion than usual of easterly weather, bub this storm seems to have prevailed on both sides of the islands, as Taranaki could not be reached from the sea, and at Greymouth and Hokitika ships making the harbours have bad to run great risks. In the weather report of yesterday morning, we find a great change. The fine weather seems universal over the colony. For the most part, the bars are subsiding, and the rivers falling, although the sea at Timaru and Oamaru has still a "heavy swell" the remains of the dreadful gale, and the bars of Hokitika and Greymouth are still rough. Almost everywhere we have " blue sky," and the storm we have hid seems passing off at the extreme southern parts of the colony.

There wag a fire in the Waiotahi Creek on Thursday night, by which a hut occupied by a miuer named Daniel Elkin, situated close to the Shamrock kttery, was destroyed, and the owner, after sustaiuing some severe injuries, narrowly escaped with his life, and the whole of his effects were destroyed, It appears that Elkin, upon returning home, boiled his billy, and was about to cook some meat, bat while; waiting for tbe water to boil he fell asleep/ The fire appears to have taken hold of the wood near the chimney, which was itself iron. The building was small, only 8x 10 feet, but there was a considerable quantity of light firewood about tbe premisea, which burned fiercely. Elkin was awakened by the heat, but not before his hair was singe I. Se attempted to get out at the doorway, but being blinded by the smoke, he was unable to reach it, and he finally made his exit through a snnll window, Iu doing so, he sustained some ugly wounds about the face and head. His nose was laid open, and he was cut on the side of the side of the head, at the back: of ths ear. He looked a fearful sight, and Mr Brodie, who with Mr Booth and Mr Eugill and Cooper, miners, resident iu the locality, by this time had arrived on the spot, sent him to the hospital, to which he was accompanied by Messrs Logan and Fugill. Mr Aitken put stitches in the wound on his nose and attended to his other injuries, l)r Letbbridge was also in prompt attendance. Meanwhile the house; burnt fiercely, and although the water from the dam at the Shamrock battery was turned on, nothing could be done to save it. In fact; strenuous exertions were necessary to save the Shamrock battery, as tbe sparks Lw over and on the shiugles. The whole of - Elkin s clothes and furniture was destroyed. Mr Brodie and others attempted to extricate the box in which Elkin kept his most valuable effects, but it was completely burnt. In one corner of'it,' however, the remains iof '.;a pocketbook was! fouud. This contained the poor fellow's money • in bank notes and sovereigns, but they wereso completely burnt that very little of them remained;" After the lire was extinguished, and the safety of the battery secured. Those who had assisted searched the charcoal for any further effects, and Mr Cooper found his gold' watch,' which was much damaged. Mr Brodie brought the pocket-book containing the charred remains.of the notes and other papers to Mr Severn, at the Bjuk of New Zealand, yesterday, who after steeping them in water, by careful manipulation, managed to separate them into their several parts, and reduced them to some resemblance to the form they, originally bore.. The notes are all destroyed, except a few small pieces sufficient for identification. The numbers of a few of them can be traced, and Mr Severn hopes by chemical process to be able to make all the numbers legible. If so, of course tbe money will not be lost. Three consecutive miners' rights taken out by Elkin during his residence at the Thames were also contained iu the pocketbook, as well as the license for a house which he owned. The poor fellow had just purchased a lot of new clothes on the day before the fire, ; and these were of course destroyed with the others A great deal of sympathy, is felt for. Mr Elkin by the residents iu the creek. He was popular on accouut of his willingness on all occasions to be serviceable to his neighbours.

A Proviuoial Government Gazette, issued on Thursday, contains a notification under the. hand of the Mayor, appointiug Mr Charles Curtis a fire inspector, under the Municipal Corporations Act, for tho borough of Th&inea, ;

The barquentine ' Prince Alfred' is expected to leave the Thames to-day with a full cargo of timber, shipped at Mr Gibbons' mill for Lyttelton. She is in charge of Captain Sopivith, owing to the illness of her former master, Captain Bennett,

Thomas Skellie, the. champion ten-mile runner, is announced to run this afternoon in the Parawai Hardens ten miles withifpan hour, and further announces that any other pedestrian at the Thames can join and compete with him for the last two miles for a bet ot £5 or more as may be agreed upon, Skellie's performances in the Waikato and Auckland have excited a forge amount of attention, and we have no doubt a large number will attend to witness his race against time.

The entertainment at ,;the Theatre Royal last night by the Californian Minstrels was fully up to the mark of the previous performances of this troupe. There was a large audience, which testified to the attractive character of the performance. To-night the company will appear in an entirely new programme.

The usual weekly parade of the Thame3 Rifle Rangers and No. 2 fI.R.V, took place last night at their drill hall. There was a very good muster-'of <both companies. The officers present were: Hazard, Captain McP»obert3, Lieut. Dignan, Lieut. Carnie, and Sub-Lieut.- Young. Major Cooper and Ser> grant-Major Grant were in.attendance. After inzpection of arms, &c, by the Commanding Officer, the companies were handed over to the Sergeant-Ma jor, who put them through position drill in a most creditable manner, after which they were dismissed, when a meeting of each company was held for the transaction of important business in connection with their respective corps.

A rather exciting scene occurred at the A, S. P, Co.'s T, Queen-street wharf on Wednesday afternoon, asthep.s. 'Gpjden Crown'arrived and the s.a. 'Victoria' sailed, it being known that there were two gentlemen on hoard the 1 Golden Crown' extremely anxious to catctfthe 18,s. 'Victoria,' having by telegram arranged with the agents of that vessel to detain her till 2p, m, Punctually at that time the word was" given, "letgo the lines," andvery soon the extra warps were hauled aboard, and the good ship hung by a single line, while fully tea minutes would elapse before the ! Crown' could reach the wharf, gallantly striving against wind and waves to reach the jetty before her greater sister cast off. At last she touched the wharf; the eager travellers, portinanteus in hand, sprang fearlessly from her rail, despising the use of gangway, and frantically running and gesticulating, just managed'toleapon board the ' Yictoru' as the noble vessel swung away from the wharf.—Cross. "