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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2052, 2 August 1875, Page 2

Yesterday was the anniversary of the arrival^ the pioneers at the Thames in the Enterprise steamer, which on Saturday was gaily decorated with bunting, in honor of the event. The Enterprise was to have sailed on the 31sti July, but bad weather »et in, and consequently August Ist was the day from which dates the anniversary of the Thames. Many of the pioneers who came down on that first trip of the Enterprise are still in the district, although some of them have been, in different parts of the world iv the interim. The old Enterprise herself has grown antiquated in the service, having been almost uninterruptedly employed between Auckland and the Thames during the eight years which have elapjsed since she made her memorable trip. The district has been subjected to many 1 vicissitudes during eight years, but we believe at the present time the prospects of a permanent prosperity are; as good as at any previous time in the history of the goldfield. •.

Ouk readers will learn with regret that Judge Beckham is dead. For some days past he has been confined to his.bed suffering from bronchitis, but it was not supposed that the illness was dangerous. To-morrow in the ordinary course of events the deceased gentleman was to have held a sitting of the District Court in Grahamstown, but a postponement was decided upon in consequence of the Judge's indisposition. Judge- Beckham was one of (if not the) oldest members of the civil service of the colony, haying served in various capacities for about 36 years. He had seen some service with the Natives in the North, we believe, and has since held a commission as one of the oldest Militia officers of the - Colony. .He was generally esteemed for uprightness as' a magistrate, and being a hardworking man held numerous offices, to till which the Government will have some difficulty in finding a worthy successor.

The following facts, now that the subject of small-bore rifle shooting has been prominently brought before the public, may prove interesting. They are from the Sydney Herald, and give an additional reason Why wo should wish to see the Australasian Colonies represented at Philadelphia next year. In 1873 the Irish team, which won the International Match at Wimbledon, made at 800 and 900 yards the score of 805 being the highest score ever obtained at those distances. England 1 made in the same match 795, Scotland 776, and New South Wales, shooting in the intercolonial match, made 793, or only 12 behind the highest score ever made, 2 only behind England and 17 ahead of Scotland, notwithstanding the presence of the redoubtable E. Itoss. It must, however, be remembered that sighting shots were allowed to the New South Wales team, an undoubted advantage from which, the Home teams were debarred. We pass over the comparison drawn in the same paper between the scores, made by Ireland (the then champions) and New South Wales at a subsequent match, because the conditions of shooting and. the number of shots allowed were so different that no just criterion can really be formed. The writer, in the, Sydney paper makes the New South Wales team to hold a decided advantage, but, of course, where only a part of one score is compared with the whole of another score the result, to say the least, is unsatisfactory, but from what wo think we can see of the one-side, and have seen of the doings of the other, there is no reason why, if suitably represented, Australasia may not indulge in strong hopes of success..

"We wish to draw the attention of members to the fact that there is a meeting of the Excelsior Loyal Orange Lodge No. 6, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Shortland, this evening at 7.30 p.m.