THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2059, 10 August 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1875.

We can scarcely believe that the programme of the Opposition, as foreshadowed by the article from the Auckland Evening Star will have much effect in strengthening their-party. When we heard tho tenor of Sir George Grey's telegram to the Mayor of the Thames, we were somewhat curious to know the nature of the proposals which were to supersede the Government measures, and entice the electors from their adhesion to the very defiuite and substantial inducements held out by the Abolition and Local Government measures, but if the policy enunciated by the Opposition is no more decided than that promulgated by authority, we are wofully disappointed. It is useless disguising the. fact so patent to everyone ■ that the Opposition policy is that of obstruction to the abolition of Provincialism. It seems to be a cardinal point .with the members comprising the Opposition to defeat the intention of the resolutions of last session, and yet they have nothing to offer in their place but specious, promises of a. vague and undefined.character, the .real gisfc of which is the postponement of the principle decided upon by a large majority of the members during last session. If the

Opposition had been prepared with a measure, or even the outlines of a measure, calculated in the remotest degree" to substitute some more acceptable form of local government for the Provincial system, we could believe that they would have recruited their strength from amongst the waverers in Parliament. But", when their aim is so transparent,- namely a relegation of the great question to constituencies which have already pronounced' so largely in favor of abolition, the whole thing looks so much like a shelving of the question that we cannot see in -any direction reasonable grounds for their procedure. The people say that they want abolition, and even members of the Opposition agree with the principle, but demur as to details. Yet in the face of their professed convictions they would substitute some abortion of a measure which would relegate the decision to the future. Until the Opposition xcan submit some more definite proposals we are inclined to think the constituencies will pin their faith to the Government measure?, and show their preference .for something tangible rather than be beguiled into accepting vague promises. . [JFrom the telegram in to-day's issue from our Welling.J;o,n correspondent, it will be s .on that the 'JNew, Zealand Times gives the Opposition programme, and that it is identical with that published by the Auckland Star.] -

The bad weather which threatened during Sunday aud visited the district yesterday culminated in a thunder storm of considerable severity last night. The lightning was very vivid, and the rainfall during some hours very heavy.

Another vacancy has occurred in the House of Eepresentatives by the death of Mr W. A. Tolniie, reported in yesterday's telegrams. It is only a few days since leave of absence was granted to the .deceased member, but his illness has terminated fatally in a most unexpected manner, and the Opposition is thereby weakened by one vote which might have been calculated upon with some degree of certainty.

A cobbespondent writes to the Ohio .Cultivator: —" I placed a lubful of water, with plenty of ice in it, by the side of a large kettlcful of water which was boiling very fast. I then rolled up my sleeve above my elbow, and thrust my arm into the kettle of boiling water up to my elbow, then instantly back into the tub of ice water, letting it remain a few minutes, and into tbe-boilingjwateragain, repeating the process ten times a minute, without injury or inconvenience, not even making my arm look red.' From this'experiment, I suggest the propriety of using cold water baths immediately after being scalded. .Cold water is always handier than Lot water. The sooner cold water is applied after the scalding the sooner will be the cure.

A good story is told of an old farmer whose son had for a long time been ostensibly studying Latin in a popular academy. The old father, not being perfectly satisfied with the course and conduct of the young hopeful, recalled him from school, and placing him by tho side of a carfc one day, he thus addressed him : —" Now, Joseph, here is a fork, and there is a heap of manure aud a cart; now what do you call them in Latin ? " " Forkibus, cartibus, et mannribus." replied Joseph. "Well, now," said the farmer, "if you don't take that forkibus pretty quiekibus, and pitch that manuribus into that cartibus I'll break your lazy backibus." Joseph went to workibus forwithibus.

A West Coast paper says that a resident at Beefton purchased at auction a thousand scrip in a local mine for the sum of £37 10s. His last dividend amounted to tb.3 goodly sum of £1200.

■-' Me Macandbew, Superintendent of Ofcago, is the oldest member in the House of Representatives, except one. He was a member of the House in 1854—'twentyone years ago, and according to his own calculation he has. spent between two aud a-half. and three years in attending to his legislative duties at Wellington.,

Mil Shapter, who was lately a member for Westport in the Nelson Provincial Council, took his departure from Melbourne for England by the Northumberland.

There are believed to be three thousand black swans in the Wairarapa district, Wellington. The Standard says as many as four hundred of these, birds have been seen at one time on the lake there.

A cokktsspondent writing to tEe Hawke's Bay Herald under the norn de plume of "Stella," critising Dr Carr's lectures on the "Public Men of Napier," •thus delineates the. characteristics and peculiarities of the phrenologist:—The brain is massive and. well-balanced ; forehead broad and the bump of affectation well developed. The facial developments indicate a love of sensual pleasures, and. the possession of modesty in the proportion of three per cent.; capable of accomplishing good things in the paths "of science, he has graceful and alluring manners ; gifted by nature with the poorer of flattery in an extraordinary degree, he would be to ladies a most dangerous companion—one capable of doing much good and also much the reverse. Manners and address refined; fond of society especially of the ladies : can move with ease in it, and, when inclined, bo very good company. Quick at detection, and unmerciful in exposition ; passionately fond of amusement, but chiefly at the expense of others.: Temper soft arid agreeable when cool, hut, when ruffled, harsh, stern, and unbending; pained by adverse criticism, but capable of bearing castigation without shrinking. With ladies artful rather than open/and though as fond of variety a.H. Lord Byron, is yet so well gifted wifch; the power of flattery by nature, and has .worked it to such perfection by art, that each becomes the goddess for the time being. ... „.;.-. .