The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1747, 8 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1874.

The telegram published in the Star last night, respecting the reported new discovery at the Palmer, caused great excitement. " What do you think of the news?" was a question on every one's lips. The •xcitement would have been much more intense but that public feeling was diverted by the reported discovery of rich stone in the Old Whau; which, like the new rush at the Palmer will probably prove, was very much exaggerated. The genuine digger is always more or less affected by news of a fresh discovery. It acts upon him like the bugle to an old war horse, and but for the difficulty which attends the getting away from one place to another, where the places are separated by hundreds of miles of ocean, many would rush away on the first sound of a discovery of gold, especially when comparisons are instituted between the new el dorado and the far famed Ballarat and Bendigo of twenty years ago. This news from the Palmer must be received with suipicion. The reported yield is so improbable that we,shall not be surprised to learn that the report is altogether untrue or that the yield t has been greatly exag

gerated. Queensland is known to be extraordinarily rich in minerals, and the area over which gold has been found is a most extensive one; but until confirmation is received of tlie report which has reaohed us via Newcastle a considerable amount of doubt will exist in the minds of all but the most sanguine of diggers. The arrival of the steamship Victoria from Sydney (due to-day) will probably establish the truth or falsehood of the report which has reached us by the Woodbine. Should it prove to be true, an exodus of miners from this field will follow as a matter of course.

We notice that two members of the Hospital Committee have requested the Thames Advertiser to make an explanation regarding " the action taken by the committee "in appointing a sub-committee to investigate certain " grave and serious charges made by an anonymous writer against Dr. Lethbridge and the Hospital management." For the first time we learn that "the Committee declined to take any action in the matter; " thereupon " Mr. W. McCullough then laid the charges, and on this the committee took action." This assumes that Mr. McCullough has laid certain grave and serious charges against Dr. Lethbridgo and the Hospital management. He did nothing of the kind. When the Committee declined to appoint a committee of enquiry into the charges preferred by an anonymous writer, Mr. McCullough moved for a sub-committee to enquire into the or falsehood of certain charges of mismanagement which had come under his netice. Then the committee agreed to the appointment of a sub-committee of investigation; but Mr. McCullough was careful to inform the Committee that the source of his information was the Star ; and the attempt of certain members to show the contrary is a mere quibble. It is a distinction without a difference. But we maintain that the Committee would be fully justified in instituting an inquiry into the Hospital management even if charges were made anonymously. If they refuged to do so, they would be undeserving the confidence of the public. We repeat, the management of the Hospital ihould be above suspicion.