THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2501, 11 January 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1877.

Theee was a meeting of the Thames Borough Councillors held yesterday with the County Councillors. The alleged purpose for which the meeting was held was to consider the advisability of amalgamating the Borough with the County, or rather merging the former into the latter. It was obvious from the first to anyone who had read the Act that the meeting could do no more than simply express an opinion as to whether the course proposed was advisable or not. They were called together on account of a requisition signed by some Borough and County Councillors, and sent to the Mayor requesting him to call such meeting to discuss the matter. He, of course, had no option but to comply with the request. It seemed, however, to those innocent of the subtle thoughts which originate with great minds that a request to discuss a question also involved the question of an opinion being expressed on the same. It appeared in the minds of some of those present that this was not the case. It was said they were only there to discuss the question; merely to talk about it, and then go each one his own way. If that was the case there was certainly plenty of talk about the matter, and after a very wearisome sitting of over three hours, some of those who were appointed to confer on the subject took up each man his hat and went his way. One councillor, a county councillor, said he thought that this was an act of discourtesy, and perhaps he was right when he said it. The councillors who departed had certainly this to urge in excuse of their conduct that much had been said and nothing done, and nothing appeared likely to be done at the meeting; at the same time we cannot help remarking that having been instrumental in getting the members of either Council to assemble it was their bounden duty to see the termination of the debate they had been called upon to take part in. The ratepayers, both those in the Borough and those in the various ridings, will be called upon to decide the question, and we take this opportunity of expressing a hope that as much depends upon the various votes given in the separate cases none but ratepayers' votes will be taken and none but ratepayers allowed to argue the question. We have seen so much of these public meetings at which the upraised hand or hands of a boy have been allowed to count as much in the decision of a question as the vote of a man having a stake in the district, that we particularly draw our readers' attention to this point. Perhaps if our suggestion be acted on the nuisance of having a crowd of people whose sole object is to make a noise may be abated, and public meetings made of some little use.

The adjourned conference of the County and Borough Councillors was held this afternoon. A resolution that four members of each Council should be a committee to get information on.the subject of the Big Pump was carried.

We are glad to learn that the health of Dr Payne has improved so much during his sojourn in Auckland, that it is his intention to resume practice here in the course of a week or so.

The reductions in the Armed Constabulary have been entered upon. A notification appears in the New Zealand Gazette of January 4th to the effect that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to dispense with the services of one inspector, four first-class sub-inspec-tors and seven second-class sub-inspectors, whose names are given. -

The Wellington Evening Post, referring to Mr J. E. Macdonald's speech, in which he related his experiences in negotiating with Ministers, says :—" Evidently Mr Ma3 Tor Macdonald and Mr Billy Kowe, the hon. member for the Thames, are admirably adapted to pull in the same boat. Arcades Ambo."

We would direct the attention of butchers and others to Mr Craig's announcement of his next cattle sale at Ohinemuri on th instant. Over a hundred i ip .." ■■ including a lot of fat bulhead of cattie, , JU £ offered besides locks from Napier,,.. M A ' • j 100 sheep and 25 lambs. _*" .^onmade special arrangements for t*.

veyance of purchasers to Paeroa,ahd he has also arranged to have a punt up the river to bring down what may be purchased by Thames butchers and dealers. A large attendance is expected at the sale.

From Goldsbrough's Monthly Circular we learn that the export of wool from Victoria from the Ist October to the 23rd December amounted to 188,198 bales.

We have received from Dunedin a "Prospectus of an Association for promoting the introduction of the study of Economics as a branch of ordinary education into the School." About a year ago we acknowledged receipt of and commented upon a brochure "The Savings Bank in the Schools," and the Association now formed is the outcome of the movement initiated in Dunedin by Mr W. Dabrymple. We shall on another occasion return to this matter.

A telegram to the Auckland Star from Dunedin says :—ln connection with the passage, of the Jane Anderson from Kaipara, Captain Sanders reports a rather unusual incident on the 31st December, at 11.30 a.m.,. off Cape Campbell bearing N. half W., 30 miles. The Captain, who had not long laid down in his cabin, having been up all night, coming through Cook's' Straits, was startled out of his sleep by the vessel going through water at about eight knots, receiving a severe shock as though she had come into collision with some wreckage. Immediately running on deck, he was surprised to see a large whale just clear of the schooner, carrying with it a portioa of the false keel. The pumps were immediately sounded, and finding the vessel was rapidly making water, an inspection was held, when the leak was discovered to be forward. It was also seen that the forefoot had been displaced, and was hanging across the stern. Nothing could be done to ease the leak, so she was kept on her course, and having a favorable northerly wind, she made a quick run down. Several of the men were pitched out of their bunks.by the force of the collision.