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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2168, 15 December 1875, Page 2

A meeting of Mr Davies' Committee will take place this evening at Mr E. Binney's Auction Mart, at 8 o'clock sharp.

Theue was a clean sheet at the Kesident Magistrate's Court this morning. (The printer is requested to keep this paragraph standing, as it comes in very handy very often.)

An examination of the children attending the Roman Catholic and Convfnt Schools took place yesterday and to-day — the ordinary school yesterday and the superior school to-day— in the presence of a large number of parents and friends. Our report of these interesting proceedings is unavoidably held over till to-morrow.

A iiAuaE deputation of tributers and others interested in mines in the Moanatairi Creek visited the District Engineer's office this' morniDg to urge the necessity and desirability of repairing the damages done to the tramway by a landslip in the late rains. In tho absence of Mr McLaren through illness the deputation were received by Mr M. Donovan, who promised to bring the matter under Mr McLaren's notice at once. The latter will, we xinderstand, telegraph to Sir George Grey in the morning asking for authority to undertake the repairs. It is stated that there are now four hundred (400) ions of quartz waiting to be brought down for crushing.

MeDavib*' Committee are perturbed. Certain advertisements appeared in the Star last night, not authorised by them. It would have been time enough for the Committee to put in a disclaimer when called upon to pay. As the advertisements came in in a legitimate way, from supporters of Mr Davies who are able to pay for them without assistance from the Committee, they were received and inserted, as would also be any others, whether favouring Mr Davies or Mr Macdonald.

An escapee from the Whau sends the following:—Why is our great friend Sir George Grey like a drunkard ? Because he is always ready to make a sacrifice to back us (Bacchus). My first makes my second, and thinks himself my whole. Do you give it up ? Pat makes a riot, and while doing so thinks himself a patriot.

It is feared that the cable across Cook's Strait is broken. Communication has been stopped for two days, and the only explanation is that the cable is broken. Telegrams for places in the Middle Island are now posted at Wellington for Picton, the nearest station, and thence forwarded to their destination. This will cause considerable delay in the transmission of messages, but w<rhave no doubt steps will be taken at once (o repair the cable.

A correspondent tells us that he believes that though some suffered both in pocket and expectation from the nonperformance at the theatre last night, yet the only gainer was the person who, having entered the theatre and evaded payment on entrance, wken it was announced that the money would be returned and that no performance would take place, went out and demanded money which he had never paid. This was given to him, and consequently when the last applicant came there was no coin for him, and he went his way complaining that he should have paid a shilling for the privilege of walking into the theatre and out again.

We regret to say that there was no performance at the Theatre Royal yesterday evening. In spite of the undoubted claims which the Thames Amateur Dramatic Club have on the public for support, the house was so small that it was determined not to go through the programme advertised, and the money of those who paid was returned. We are at a loss to account for this lack of public sympathy which we could have wished to have seen evinced with the object for which the performance was to have been given, and the only surmiso we can make is that either the holding of two performances together was injudicious, or that the meeting at the Pacific attracted many who intended afterwards to have made their way to the 1 heatre. We hope the T.AD.C. will make another attempt to hold their benefit performance under more favorable auspices, and trust that it will be crowned with success. x

In the Native Lands Court this morning judgment was given in the Pakirarahi case, the principal grantees being Eiwai, Nikorima, Te Moananui and W. H. Taipari.

We have received from the local agent, MrH.H. Wright, copies of the New Zealand Insurance Company's card and book almanacs. Both these publications are turned out from the establishment of Mr W. C. Wilson, on which they reflect credit, as the handsome illuminated card does upon Mr Alfred Hutchinson, the designer and delineator. The design of this card is this year entirely different from any that have preceded it.

The Saturday Advertiser, published in Dunedin, says the watchword at the ensuing elections should be, " not the abolition of the Provinces, but an abolition bearing far more powerfully on each of us for good—direct taxation, and abolition of the Customs duties."

A veey handsome presentation is about to be made to Mr Charles Ahier by the officers and members of Court Pride of Parnell, Ancient Order of Foresters. It consists of a handsome ormolu clock under glass shade, purchased from Mr Ledingham, Owen street. A silver plate bears the inscription — " A.O.F.—Presented to Charles Ahier by the officers and members of Court Pride of Parnell in token of appreciation for services rendered."

Ateopos of holidays, iEgles, writing in the Australasian, says: — There is no greater nuisance of a little kind than the breaking off the continuity of business by occasional bastard holidays, which but a few people respect, and many only keep by the compulsion of custom. My friend Crackbrain suggests that the holidays should be all run together and enjoyed once, or at most twice, a year. By putting together Whit Monday, Christmas Day, Separation Day, Constitution Day, Good Friday, regal birthdays, New Year's Day, and a few friendly saints' daysj a consolidated fortnight's vacation might be comfortably arranged. And a fellow could take a run out of town and enjoy his rest days thoroughly.

We (Herald) understand that the basis of an arrangement has been come to between the gentlemen acting for the parties interested in reference to the Bright Smile plant and claim. Mr Rowe, who has been in town since Friday, in conneGwith this matter, has been untiring in his efforts to effect an arrangement. The agreement is that the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will sell, to an association, the pumping plant, shaft, and winding ■ gear for £7000, reserving right to access to mine by the shaft, and to winding, at a fixed price; and the creditors guarantee that they will take over the balance of the property for the balance of the debt, being £7000 or thereabouts, besides taking an equitable share in the Pumping Association —one third, if necessary—the use of the pumped

water to bo reserved for the Bright Smile mine. The Bright Smile, the City of London, and the Queen of Beauty will form a pumping association, which will levy contributions for drainage from the surrounding mines". Experience :has shown that this is a somewhat difficult thing to dp, but if ;the present Act is inadequate we hojte that an amendment will be obtained in the next session. -/We presume that as soon as the above agreement is ratified, the pumps will be started ; and that when the water which has accumulated has been cleared away, which cannot be till after.the holidays, work will then be resumed on the lower levels of all the mines. ,This : will, materially,, increase the yield of gold from the Thames, and we hope, will be the commencement of permanent prosperity, for the district.