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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2024, 30 June 1875, Page 2

We have received from Mr J. H. Jefferson the number of the Australasian Sketcher for June 12. As usual this very creditable colonial publication sustains its high reputation as a first-class illustrated paper. The engravings are of an interesting character and well executed. The title page contains a fancy picture of "Young Australia Eelix," and'the inside pages are replete with pictures which will compare favorably with those which are seen in the best papers of the old country, the attractive, features of which, lie principally ia the illustrations •

The Mining Inspector left for Tairua this morning on an official visit. He is not expected, so that he will catch some of the miners on the hop. Tf they have not got. the required number of men employed they will probably hear of it.

Steam was got up in the boilers of the Bright Smile Company's new battery yesterday, the time occupied being two hours and a half. This was done as a trial, and the time was considered short, remembering that everything in connection with the work is newiand damp.

1 The Thames Amateur Cricketers' Dramatic Club announce in our advertising columns that they will give a performance in aid of the Thames Hospital on Thursday, the Bth of July. They will enact " London Assurance," a pjeasant comedy, which the club have been rehearsing for some time.

A TELE&H4M from a Wellington correspondent, received last night after we went to press, informs us of a reported discovery of gold of a payable nature seven miles from the Empire City, on the property ef Mr Robinson, at Makara.

Thk 'two-headed calf and the fourlegged rooster were visited by a number of persons last night, and inspected with a certain amount of curiosity. The former is a well nourished animal, sueh 1 as one would expect to see in a calf which has-two mouths to eat and drink The rooster, is a i well-grown Jbird^ and very tame, and seems to be on the most friendly terms with his companion. The curious in such matters should not miss the opportunity of seeing these two strange animals during their short stay.

These was quite a busy night on 'Change last night, Tairua scrip being again in demand. The .unusual activity displayed under the verandah and on the boards of tho Exchauge is cjuite refreshing after the long spell of dulness which has characterised mining affairs and exercised its depressing influences on the ) sharemarket. The quotations at last night's meeting showed Tairua company's shares as sold at 77s 6d ; after the meeting transactions took place af> 80s. A notice appears in our advertising columns from Captain -Murray, ThamesScottish Volunteers, directing members of the company to return their old rifles (with appurtenances complete) Jto Quarter Master Carpenter at once, in order that they may be supplied with new Snider rifle*. We are informed that there are in Auckland 120 stand of the arm for the Scottish, and a similar nuin-, bar of Snider carbinei for the Naval Brigade. cThe 'Colonial Government are afmingthe whole of the Volunteers with Spiders —at least all those who have previously used the Enfield rifle. i

Me Sevebn's experiments for his last lecture on Thursday next will include some extraordinary displays relative to light. He announces that a photograph; will be taken in the dark, or in the violet end of the spectrum, from a magnificent self-acting electric lamp, sending forth a light of great; splendour. We are to be shown the conversion into vapour of copper, brass and silver, and their spectrums or analyses on the screen. Mr Severn will exhibit the decomposition of water into its element?, on the screen, which is a new experiment; also a number of views. A drop of water will be thrown on. the screen, when the animalcule will be seen swimming about like young whales, until tho whole are instantly killed by an electric current. A number of live fleas are also to be shown, human blood, etc.

Some time ago a trial was made by Mr Severn of a gas assay furnace (Fletcher's) with a view to facilitate the ordinary process as carried on by the'various Banks; and economise the time of both mine manager and such miners as may require their gold assayed. The apparatus in in question was found thoroughly up to -the mark, and orders were sent to London for such a furnace in its most complete form; with a number of duplicate parts. At the present time it is being used in the department of the Bank of New Zealand with the, most unqualified success—a saving in time of at least an hour in the completion of an assay is effected, no coke is burned, and no lighting of the usual assay furnace, but simply turning on a gas tap, and. in fire minutes it is ready for work. It is hardly necessary to say that the importation of this little furnace will do much to facilitate gold operations; and as a saving in time means a saving of money, the Bank of New Zealand certainly deserves credit for taking the lead in a matter that must result in advantage to the gold producer as well as the Bank. To day Mr Severn had a trial to see what saving of time could be effected in the manipulation of a.parcel of gold by using the gas stove for assaying. A parcel of 100 ounces gold was treated, and the whole operation of melting and assaying occupied 57f minutes.

The funeral of the late. Key. J. Davis took place at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Tbere was a large number of members of the Good Templar Order present. The coffin was first conveyed to the Baptist Church where a service was engaged in, at which the Hevs. Cornford, Hill and Laishley took part. The pall was borne by four deacons of the deceased's Church and two officers of Good Templars. • -At the grave prayer was offered by the'Bev. Mr Cornford, and the Good-Templar service was performed. Deceased was held in great respect by all with whom he had been brought into contact during life, as was testified by the large attendance at his funeral and the tokens of real feeling displayed. '

A singular case of retribution deferred was observed in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, when a young man appeared before Captain Fraser charged with having stolen a watch from a man named Sutliffe go long ago as October, 1871. He pleaded guilty, his only excuse for committing the crime being that ho was only 14 year 3of age when- he did it—not a very good excuse many people will think. But the singular feature of the case is that the defendant's guilt was brought to light by mere accident. A constable, on a special mission bent, being in the neighborhood of Waikawau, and having occasion to enter the habitation of defendant 1! parents, found there, not that whereof he was in quest, but a certain property which he su«pected had been stolen, The arrest of the young man followed, and he was sentenced to six months' hard labor this inorriing. After a lapso of four years the gentleman might with some reason have considered that all traces of kis faux pas^ were wiped out, that old Time with his. rake had hidden it amongst the many things of the past. But those policemen will be going around, and are always on the- look out for something—though they know not half their time what that something is, as is' shown in the case under notice.