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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 8 March 1875, Page 2

The Vaccination Mr E Hj Power, brought three cases under the Public Health Act this morning, and was defeated in each case. Mr Power is not to be sympathised with, because, Had he adopted the course which most persons would hare done under the circumstances, namely, procured the advice and services of a solicitor, he might hare gained these cases instead of losing the an. It is assumed so at least without hearing the defence in, either three, as the failure of the prosecution did away with the necessity of advancing any defence. ,In ordinary cases of law it is sufficiently difficult for one inexperienced to hold'his own, but this Public Health Act teems to be specially made for raising points of law; add to this that there are cer- c tain forms to be observed in Court proceedings which tke unsophisticated are supposed to know nothing of, and we do net wonder at Mr Power becoming, confused over his case; the only wonder beiDg that he cou'd not foresee the probability of his becoming so. - ' ■ ". ' ' '

At the corner to-day Mr Spencer exhibited a fine sample of alluvial gold from the Waikawau district. It appears that for a period extending over two years a party of miners hate heen working on one of the creeks at the Waikawau, and Mr Spencer has purchased their gold. The sample shown today was brought up last week. It is rich looking and worth nearly £4 an ounce. It is the opinion of many that the peninsula between the Thames and Cape Oolville offers inducements to prospectors equal to those existing even at Ohinemuri. > • .

On Saturday afternoon, at four p.m., 24 men, one petty officer, Liemt. Bennett, and several honorary members of the Naval Brigade proceeded to Ohinemuri in the company's gig, and reached the Puke about 8.30 p.m. Pitched their tents under the willows, and camped for the .night. At 5a m. yesterday, most of them started for Mackaytown, and the diggers there were aroused rather early by the welcome sound of the fifes. Most of the men were soon exchanging compliments with a lot of their comrades, in the tents, a great, many of whom accompanied them back to the boat, which was again homeward bound about one o'clock. Our correspondent observed some on horseback, double banked, and one lot who, out of reach of their officer, had treated the proprietor of a; spring cart rather freely, who allowed them the use of the cart to go for a cruise in, and who seemed greatly to enjoy themselves. Seme would keep hauling up to take in a little more ballast, to stop their ship from rolling, and when the cart was steered ibto its moorings at the camp, some of the men were found in the bottom, where they had taken Bhelter from the heavy weather. The cart was immediately sent back in charge of several new men to search for the driver, who was found all snug in a store. The boat arrived back here about 7 p.m. yeaterday, after haviDg called at several places on the river j the men having enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The passage up was made rather quick, owing, no doubt, to there being a relay of crews at the oars.

On Saturday night Captain Skeae, J.P., and a Mr J. B. Bennett were brought down from Ohinemuri suffering from severe rheumatics. They were taken to the Hospital. Captain Skena had heen unwell for some day*, and on Friday night his illness assuaed a much more serious form. He was unable to walk, a«d had to be carried on board the steamer. During his illness up the country he received Buch attention and comforts as were to be obtained, but it was deemed advisable to send him dov/n here in order that he might have medical attendance. Mr Bennett's attack is not of such an aggravated form as Captain Skene's, we understand.

The effect of the minoral water in our mines upon all kinds of substances is pretty generally known to be grea,t, but a specimen of steel to be seen in the window of Mr Carter * ill doubtless astonish many. Three pieces of steel, the longest of which would not measure a foot, are the remains of what at one time were three drills of different sizes, the smallest being 16 inches iv length and 1 inch in diameter. These specimens resemble pieces of petrified wood, and are totally unrecognisable for what they have been. They were placed in the hands of Mr H. A. Severn, who; we understand, purposes ending them to the Auckland Museum.

The effect of the exodus of our population during the past three weels was very noticeable on Saturday night, when the streets of Grahamstown presented a very deserted appearance; it being usual on that particular night of the week, however dull the times, to see throngs of people ptrading the footpaths.

The N«w Zealand • Herald estimates the population of Ohinerauri as two. thousand five hundred males, which we believe to be greatly exaggerated. Of course there is no means of arriving at the correct number on the field, but judging by the number of miners' rights issued—a good proportion of which are held by storekeepers—we should say the number of adult males does not exceed fifteen hundred all told. A little over a thousand rights have been issued.

The Lalla Beokh proceeded to Ohinemuri yesterday morning at six o'clock, with a number of passengers. The protection accorded to claims terminated this morning at 10 o'clock, so that many miners who came to the Thames on Saturday were compelled to take this opportunity of returning.

Ms Fox has received a minute of the Directors of the Otago Guardian Company, apologising for their editor having attributed an article reflecting ,on the Judges of the Supreme Court to him—an article of which Afr Eox said he knew nothing, but which the editor, with infinite bad taste, refused to acknowledge even after . this assurance had been given.

At Alexandra (Otogo) Mr Gin Lee, a Chinese storekeeper in the township, resolved to celebrate the Chinese anniversary by giving a dinner to the European residents, and there was a thoroughness in the manner in which he went about it that throws the efforts of barbarians completely in the shade. Cards of invitation were sent to all the inhabitants; and for fear that any one should have been neglected, Mr Gin Lee in person went round the township inviting every one he Baw. A large number of the inhabitants attended the feast, which was well worthy of the name, the tables being loaded with the choicest viands, including an unlimited suppy of liquor of all kinds. The event will be a£> memorable one in the annuls of the domestic poultry o fthe district, scarcely ft fowl of any note but has to mourn 'he loss of some near relative who had fallen a victim for the occasion. At tho conclusion of the repait, the health of the host was drunk in bumpers of champagne ; and after the usual complimentary speeches, the company dispersed.

The Daily News of Nov. 21, in respect of breadth, length and solid contents, was the largest newspaper without supplement ever published. Its printed matter was nearly equal to that contained in three numbers of

the Cornhill or the Gentleman 1! Magazine, wa3 more than is contained in the Edinburgh Review or the Quarterly, and exceeding the proportions of two -volumes of the average novel. The pieces of metal lying within the sixty-four columns were 1,044,GC0 in number. The paper on which it was printed was rolled on cylmders a single one of which holds four and a half miles in leagth; each, copy was delivered from the machine printed oa both sides ond duly cut from the cylindrical web of paper; and the whole edition was printed on five of the Walter machine at the rate of 50,000 copies an hour.

Refebbin& to the prevalence of measles, a writer in the Melbourne Argis contends that it is caused by the mildewed straw in the palliasses of thousands o f beds in rooms from which the sun has been excluded—the summer having been peculiarly favorable to the growth of fungi. The theory, he says, is not a new one, having been mooted several years ago by an American physician, Dr Salisbury, who actually produced measles by innoculatingwith mildew after the manner of vaccination

It would seem that the dust at Mackaytown was laid to some extent by the late rains ; for one,or two gentlemen came straight from that localify on Saturday without having previously cleansed their bodies in the river, and were comparatively speaking clean. A few days since, in the. same circumstances, they would''have been undistinguiihable frpm Bweeps.