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Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 7 November 1874, Page 3

The Aucklaud correspondent of a Coromandel contemporary offers some suggestions to the people of that place which might be appropriately addressed to business people and others at the Thames interested in improving our communication with Auckland. The writer eaya: —" Now that Uoromindel people are likely to be inconvenienced by the irregular departure of the boats for (Jorooian-Jel and Auckland, would it not be well for the people of your district once more to take sonu steps towards haying a boat of their owo, which I believe could be managed, if the matter were but set about in an earnest and business-like manner. lam led into the;e remarks from a conversation 1 hare had this morning with Mr l\ Masefield, of Masefield and Co. Tue firm is willing tu Bupply au iron steamboat, fitted with the most approved engines, suitable for the Coromandel trade, the probable estimate of cost being £6,000. The firm is willing to take £1,000 worth of shares, and its bankers are quite prepu'ed to advance another £2,000, re-payable,in shares iu four • instalments.'' There is a harrowing description of a " man* eating plant"going the round of the papers. It is said to be a native of Madagascar, aud to trap men and women as the Dion®* does flies.. We quote one of the least seosatunal piragraphs of this " strange story The retracted leives of the great tree kept their upright portion during 10 days; then when I came one morning they were prone again, the tendrils stretvhed, aud nathiag but a white skull at the toot of the tree. The indescribable rapidity aad energy of its movements may be inferred trom the fact that I saw a Soulier one seize, capture, aud desiroy t l au active little lemur, ■vuicb, .Iroppinj by aceilent upon "it, while I \v r 4ch'ug and gniiuiug at tue, in vain eudw\ v i wed, to wcjga fcora, the fnU CQila,"