Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1833, 17 November 1874, Page 2

A tsixgxam from a correspondent, published in yesterday's issue, Btated that Mr. George Staines had, at the request of a number of influential gentlemen of the Thames, consented to address a public meeting here on next Saturday evening. Who the influential gentlemen of the Thames are who have induced Mr. Staines to consent does not appear, and we are equally in the dark as to the subject of Mr. Staines' proposed address. Perhaps the people's champion will enlighten us in due course.

The fortaightly meeting of the Thames Miners' Accident Belief Fund Committee was held last evening at the Governor Bowen Hotel. There were present Messrs Bichards (in the chair), Donnelly, Day, Comes, Lowe, and Goldsworthy. The business was of a routine character. Two appli cations for relief were received, and authority.given to recognise them.

Thb monthly meeting of the committee of the Thames Mechanics' Institute was held in the Mechanics' Hall last evening. Mr B. IST. Smith eocupied the chair. It was resolved to call in all books by the 30th of November, and to close the library during the first week in December, is order to compile a new catalogue, to include 180 volumes recently purchased. Mr John Beid was elected a member of the committee in room of Dr. Lethbridge, disqualified by non-attendance. A committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the building, and were empowered to kave all necessary repairs executed at onco. Aleo moved that Mr. Graham should be at once communicated with, in reference to the price of the allotment next to the one on which the present building is erected. The meeting terminated- with a vote of thanks to the chairman. [In reference to the above Mr. Binney desires us to Eay that Mr. Graham came down from Auckland last night, and on mentioning the subject to him ho has Mr; Graham's oflfyr to convey the land for the sum of eighty pounds if paid by the 15th of December.]

The Intelligent Vagrant writes of Proftsgor Tyndall's address at Belfast thusly:— " Professor Tyndall has startled the world. Noli exactly by tho announcement of new theories, but by the announcement, as President of the British Association, that he hat) adopted certain theories. The subject is too far advanced for inje to argue upon, and Professor Tyndall's is a name -which commands a certain respect for anything he may say. But reading orer what ho says about the origin of life, the yielding of religious to scientific teaching, and other things, I am tempted to observe that Professor Tyndall shows very satisfactorily, no doubfc, how we can get on in this life without religious belief; but does aot substitute at the same time anything to inform us on that which religious belief does show us—whence we came and where we are going to. You see that's the difficulty this materialism gets mo into. It neither after all can. initiate life, nor can it prevent death. The Christian religion has at least this advantage, that ib reasons oh a certainty—death, and promises us a new life hereafter. Ido not doubt the advantage of science, but, being old fashioned, I prefer to keep such belief as I have got. By the way, it may be interesting to notice, however, that Professor Tyndall's opinions, when reported in full, do not sound quite so advanced, as they did in the very 'brief telegraphic paragraph which first announced thorn to us."

We aro requested to state that Mr. Phillips' early 'bus for bathers will positively start to-morrow morning. Fares as per advertisement in another portion of this issue.

We understand tbat there is every probability of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge celebrating their anniversary on St. Andrew's Day, 30lh instant,, by a atenm-boat excursion to Ohioemuri. It is stated that the United Friendly Societies' Demonstration will tako place on the came duy at Turaru (Pardons.

In the 1 Eesident Magistrate's Court this morning, Eliza Collins was convicted of haring been drunk and disorderly. This was the only business.

In the garden of Mr. Man ton, Hapo Creek, may be seen a curious thing in flowers. A rose bud has developed from its centre a cluster of five other buds which bid fair to mature into perfect roses. Enveloped in the corolla of the parent bud, these little roses bare an appearance which has suggested to the proprietor of the garden that he has grown a green rose.

The Grahamstown contingent of the Borough Fire Brigade had a wet practice at the Bank of New Zealand corner last night. The officer* were nil present and a good attendance of members. After the practice a meeting took place at the Engine House, when a committee was appointed to make final arrangements for accepting a challenge from the Shortland contingent to play a cricket match. The question of raising the roof and putting an additional story on the Engine House was then discussed, and it was decided to adopt measures for raising the necessary funds to complete the work, with a view to having a reading room and library.

' A Disteict Ootjbt was to have been heM to-day, but the Olerk received an intimation from parties to the only case to be heard that the case had been withdrawn, and so the Court was adjourned pro forma by the Clerk till time of next regular sitting.

The Shortland end of the town is beginning to have quite a lively appearance, especially in the vicinity of the wharf. A number of business people also are migrating to that quarter, while others already there are renovating their establishments ov making additions thereto. We notioa that the Messrs Foy, Photographers, aye making a considerable improvement; to their place of business, in the shape of a more imposing front; and Mr. Bishop has established himself in the uppor part of the premises in which Mr. dribble has lately opened a drapery establishment. This mild stampede in one direction must be traced to tke prospects of Ohioemuri being opened, whenever that prospect is likely to be realised.

Thb.-writer of "Notes," in the Timuru Herald,' referring to the distinction lately accorded to Dr. Haasfc by the Emperor of Austria, says: — Dr. Haast has a genius of a sort no doubt j as an arranger of moa bones and a cadger of curiosities, he is without an equal perhaps in New Zealand; while tho skill which he has shown in fitting Dr. Hochstetter'a mantle to his own shoulders, and sucking the brains of every scientific man he came ia contact with, commands admiration where it doss not claim respect. Many a real savant who had spent his whole life in conscientious study would not hare made so good n director of a museum as Dr. Haast; the agile manner in which he palmed off broken moa bones, of which cartloads can be got almost anywhere, as uomething unique, and got from Italian museums priceless antiquities in exchange for them, deserves all praise; tho nerve which he displayed in asking the sculptor Woolner for casks of his works-T-actually obtaining a most beautiful one—is a study for physiologists; many a man with more science in his little finger than Dr. Haast has in his soul and body, would have shuddered at the thought of making such a request; and the Canterbury Museum would have gone without its plastic gem.

The Buona Ventura left the Shortland wharf for Ohinemuri this morning at. 10 o'clock. By her proceeded a number of passengers, among ■whom we noticed Mr. John Gibbons, Mr. Horton, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Ehrenfried.

The steamer Lalla Rookh has been put on the Thames River trade, with Mr. Harry Dalton as master. Mr. Dalton should be well qualified to bold the position, as his knowledge of the river is extensive. The Lalla Rookh took her departure from the Short land wharf at half-past ten o'clock, en .route for Ohinomuri, with a few passengers. Should the upper country be opened and a concomitant trade intercourse established between it and the Thames, the chances of this Venture pi the Lalla RooVh's owners proving a success are more than probable. She is peculiarly adapted for the trade, being sufficiently light t® be navigable, while her carrying capacity is sufficiently*large for all ordinary purposes.

Gents' clothes cleaned, dyed and pressed. Gents' light; suits cleaned, sa. N.B.—ln future all goods and orders will only be received at the Thames Dyeing Establishment, Rolleaton-street, Shortland.