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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 25 February 1875, Page 2

This morning a number of townspeople waited upon His Worship tke Mayor and requested him to invite Sir Donald McLean to a dejeuner or something of the kind at the Thames. His Worship at once put? himself in communication with Sir Donald, and conveyed the invitation to him by telegram. Sir Donald replied, thanking the Mayor and citizens of the Thames for theii; courtesy, but stating that he had but a. limited stay in Auckland, urgent business in connection with Native matters afc Poverty Bay and other places on the East Coast requiring his immediate attention.

The Thames Scottish and Thames Naval Brigade will parade for Commanding Officer's monthly inspection this evening at seven o'clock. The latter will afteirwards march out.

Thb members ot No. 3 MauraM Eifle Volunteers met last evening in the drill-shed, Shortland, an(* were inspected by Major Coop er, and put through bayonet- exercise, for practice in which drill the meeting was specially called.

We have received from the publisher, Mr J. H. Witheford, ironmonger, Newmarket, a copy of the Newmarket Almanac for 1875. It is a well-got-up production; contains calendar and other useful information, a number of advertisement! and three colored views, namely Huia Point, Beeidenee of; Sir G-eorge Grey at Kawau, and Mill Creek, Huia. The almanac was printed at the Herald Steam Lithographic Office.

A MElTiira of the shareholders of Lowe's (Tookey) Tribute was held yesterday, when a dividend of £107 18s 2d per share was paid. The company's percentage was £113 16s 3d. This is the produce of six weeks' work, after paying all expenses.

We have been informed that Mr Palmer and his party have lost no time in cutting the boundary line from the Ohinemuri river to the Arohoa, a distance of about 7 miles, in order to facilitate the opening of the goldfield. The work was finished on Tuesday arid Mr Palmer was occupied all yesterday in getting the plaa ready for the Natives to sign.

AMONGB'J} the passengers t;> the Thames from Auckland yesterday was Mr J". J. Fitzgibbon, formerly Postmaster of the Thames, and now occupy ing a similiar position at Christchurch, Canterbury* Mr Fitzgibbon has not, we are sorry to learn, enjoyed good health during his residence in the south, and he is now completing a two lnontha'leaveof absence, haviug been a portion of the time at Waiwera, testing the efficacy of the hot springs, from the effects of which he has experienced considerable relief. Mr Fitzgibbon'i stay on the Thames is limited, as he returna to town today, en route for Christchurch, to resume his official duties.

The Dunedin telegraphic correspondent of the Echo ?ays that Mr Chantrty Harris, formerly well known on the Thames, and at preeent shipping reporter of the Otago Daily Times, on boarding the ship City of Dunedin, was threatened with violence and had to retreat to his boat. It arose out of an old grudge. The Times (Harris 3 paper) contains a long account of the affair, and gives the Captain " beans." Servo him right, s y we; he ought to know how to treat the representatives of the " fourth estate" with courtesy ; if not for their own sakes for the oredit ,of the institution with which they are connected.

"An Elector," writing to the Cross, Tuesday last, suggests that a requisition should be got up to Mr Eobert Graham to Btand for the Superintendeney, and nays that he hns left a larger number of landmarks than any other person who has filled the office of Superintendent; instancing the Post Office, Supreme Court, Houee, Tamaki Bridge and" turning the first sod of the Auckland and Onebunga railway. r

TniT resolution of the Weetlarid Proviacial Council, publßbed ia our telegrams yesterday, was a graceful tribute to the worth of a public roan. John Williatneon was essentially ap>bl;o man. He devoted his life to the welfare of the colony with a singleness of purpose unexceptionably rare in these days. If he hid a weakness it was to forward the advancement of Auckland, the immediate scene of his labors, the birthplace* of bis children, the place he had made his homo. But his public caieer showed that ho had broader views than most ■public moa, and the resolution of the junior Provincial Council of the Colony shqws that his disinterestedness was recognised where least expected.

One day list week we published in our Ohinemuri special reporter's letter certain information regarding the area of claims p*oTided for in the regulations prapared for use under the G-oldfields Act, 1866, afc Ohinemuri. This fame information we find copied into the Cross yesterday, and acknowledged from the Coromandel Mail. The latter again professes to have derived its information from " pretty reliable authority." We are assured of this, because the authority was our own columns, from which the information was extracted by the Mail verbatioß, and without any other acknowledgment, than that it was from " pretty reliable authority." The matter is given so precisely in our reporter's own words that there is not the slightest difficulty in detecting the literary theft, and the Cross ought to make the amend. The Mail we regard as incorrigible.

'*■ The Auckland City Council, profiting by the example set by the Thames Borough Council, have adopted and forwarded a letter of condolence to the widow of His Honor the late Superintendent, John Williamson, Ksq. The Good Templars of Auckland have also followed suit. The bereaved lady of the late Superintendent has caused to be published the following general reply .:—" Mrs Williamson returns grateful thanks for the numerous letters »nd expressions of condolence which she has received from all parts of the Colony."

An opinion has been expressed that on the coming into operation of the Goldfields Act, 1866, the old Mining Board will also fiad itself in existence, having been elected for the Province of Auckland, and not; having been legally deprived of existence. We were under the impression that this useless body had died a natural death — not requiring extreme measures to put it put of existence, but in the opinion of some people His Honor T. B. Gillies did not kill but only scotched the Mining Board. Anyhow, we fancy it would be difficult to get together a quorum at the present juncture. : Complaints are beginning to be heard about the want af daily communication with Auckland. It is not.so much the Thames people who complain as those who come from the capital with the view of proceeding to Ohinemuri. As the present time table stands it makes a serious hole in a week for any one to get from Auckland to Ohinemuri and back. This stats of things cannot last if anything liko a rush takes place, and thoee who are first in the field with a regular and reliable daily line of steamers will reap the benefit of whatever traffic may result from a rush to Obinemuri. '..," ;

We notice from the Auckland papers that Mi 1 and Mra Hoskins will make their re-ap-pearance at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Monday next. Mr and Mrs G-eorge Darrell have been playing successfully at the same place of amusement for the last ten days. At the conclusion of their engagement they will probably renew their acquaintance with the Thames public.

The Sydney Town and .Country tloui'ual, writing on the death of the ?'lTnfortuoate Man," says the deceased gentleman had a foreboding that the end was nigh, for lio wrote parting letters to his wifa and a friend, and legal adviser in Wellington. Mr Small was one of the best known of all colonial professionals. He commenced his career as a vocalist soon after the diacovery of gold in New South Wales, played in every up-country town and city in fie Australian and New Zealand, and travelled through America, Honolulu, China, and India. He retired lately from the stage, and established trading relations between; New Zealand and jChina, where he was about to settle down in a permanent business. As a character vocalist Mr Small had no equal, and his eong, the "Unfortunate Man," will always be remembered a? a masterpiece of humour and facial expression. In prirate life, he was much respected for his sterling 4t«egTO^4UldJibjßralily towards any unfortunate members of hiTp^oife»sfei«--JM^Snoall, who was a native of Sydney, leaves a wifiTSuir child there.