THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2500, 10 January 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1877.

We have before this drawn attention to the state of the footpaths in Grahamstown, in the hope—a vain one, it appears —that something might be done, or somebody made to do something towards remedying the disgraceful state in which they are at present, a state not only unseemly and unsightly, but positively dangerous to those who walk on them.' The boards of which these pathways—mantraps would be a better word—are to a great extent composed have, either through age or rottenness, or such other infirmity which wood is heir to, in many places given way, and to remedy the defects small pieces of board hare been nailed over them about three-quarters of an inch thick, just thick enough to catch the toe of the unwary passer, and send him or her with a crash to the ground, or into the arms of one approaching from the opposite direction; the result being in one case pain, in the other expletives—very often both. Again, these boards—some of them—" have given way " in some places, not in the sense in which the T.N.B. crew at Nelson would use the phrase, but have given way at one end or the other, and also remained raised above the level of the footpath, laying for the pedestrian the same sort of trap as the former, with the addition that partaking of the nature of spring boards, arid suddenly collapsing when trodden on, they are very distressing to a person of heavy weight. But perhaps the worse trap of all which these pathways present is, that in them many holes appear visible by day to the observant traveller, but not so distinct at night. There are so many of them that any man walking about the town at night, as is the custom generally on a Saturday night, might put his foot into one of them, the result being perhaps a violent wrench, or perhaps a fall, perhaps an anathema. Should a lady do this, that is put her foot in the hole, the result might be much more serious; while in the case of a child a dislocated ankle or even a broken leg might follow. Something certainly ought to be done in the matter. We are clamouring for roads to open up the country, and cannot walk in safety on the pathways in the middle of the town.

The presentation address to Lieutenant Field on his leaving No. 3 Hauraki Volunteers has been tastefully illuminated by Mr J. W. Boon, a member of the company, and will shortly, be completed by framing, &c, preparatory to its being despatched to Mr Field.

The annual meeting of the congregation of St. James' Presbyterian Church, will be held at the church this evening. The business will be the reception of the annual report and balance-sheet, and the election of a committee for the year 1877.

A meeting of the Thames Water Supply Committee was held yesterday evening in the Borough Council Chambers. There were present—Messrs J. E. Macdonald, Davies, Kilgour, Gibbons and Scott. The business for the most part was all postponed until the next meeting. Accounts to the amount of £10 3s were passed for payment, and the Turncock reported that the spring of water in Irishtown was a good one, and that it would probably yield 18,000 gallons a-day; that the spring was high enough to supply Block 27; and that it would cost £350 to lay a pipe from the spriDg to Irishtown. This part of the business was also ordered to stand over.

Mb Craig's cattle sales at Ohinemuri are now becoming well known, not only among the settlers of the Ohinemuri and Thames districts, but also in places at a distance. To-day he received a telegram from Napier advising him of the intention of the sender to sell several head of cattle at the next sale. In addition to that Mr Craig will have some 60 or 70 head to dispose of for local settlers.

In last session the vote for the Waka Maori was struck out, but the publication is still to be continued. The paper, it is announced, will only be supplied to subscribers. We quote , the following paragraph, which makes a serious charge against a native belonging to the Thames :■—•" Hohepa Tamamutu and Erueti te Paura, of Oruanui, Taupo, inform us that during the month of May last, Kaurikamu Takahia, a chief of Ngatiterangita, of Taupo, went to Hauraki on a visit to the Ngatimaru tribe. During his stay there a quarrel arose between him and a member of that tribe over a game of cards, during which strong language was used on both sides, and sundry oaths indulged in; the Ngatimaru man, being excited by his losses, threatened to wound Kaurikamu with an axe. About ten days after the quarrel, the JNgatimaru man, still brooding over

the matter and cherishing feelings of revenge in his heart, procured a bottle of grog and gave BLaurikamu a glass of it. He refused to give any of it to his own people, although solicited by them to do so. Kaurikamu on drinking the grog immediately became seriously ill. He recovered, however/ sufficiently to enable him to commence his homeward journey on horseback, but on arriving at Tauranga he was again taken ill, and died there on the 30th of September last. His relations believe that the grog which he drank was drugged, and complain bitterly of the conduct of the Ngatimaru people." — Herald and Cross.

Afteb the departure of the Hero, yesterday, and while numbers of people were returning down the wharf, a scene occurred, the like of which is happily not often to be witnessed in our streets. It appears that a couple of portly matrons (sisters) with babies in their arms, were proceeding homewards, when they overtook a third matron of diminutive stature, also carrying a child. They had all at one time resided on the Thames, the sisters keeping a store on the goldfield, which the third matron patronised to such an extent that her credit had to be stopped, and she remains to this day a debtor to the sisters. Naturally, meeting with an old debtor, the creditors asked for the money due to them, but the reply given by the debtor was more forcible than polite, and an intimation that they might do as they liked, —it would not be forthcoming. Some few words passed, when the short woman (the debtor) made for one of the sisters with such suddenness and vigor as to knock her down. Before the combatants wereparted both were bleeding from scratches on the face. The one who had first struck, returned to the attack once more, and succeeded in reaching the feather of her opponent's hat which she tore away, and then flauntingly threw back. At this moment the husband of the little woman came up, and by his persuasive powers succeeded in carrying both her and the baby beyond the reach of the tongues of the sisters.—Herald.