THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. PUBLISHED DAILY AT ?OUB O'CLOCK P.M. MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2504, 15 January 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. PUBLISHED DAILY AT ?OUB O'CLOCK P.M. MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1877.

Thi quettion of the Big Pump which lias been more or less occupying the minds of many people for some days past wa« brought again before the notice of the Hon. F. Whitaker to-day, when a deputation from the Thames County Council and the Tnsmes Borough Council waited on him to see him and take his advice on the subject as to how the Big Pump and its workings might bf-st be carried on. There seems, from what can be gleaned from the telegrams, to have been a long discussion on the Rubject, and aa the question is certainly one of importance it was vipht, if necessary, that this should take place. The result of the interview seems to have be^n that Mr Whitaker proposed the following conditions to remain in force for a period of two years : —First of all the Pump is to be kept in order by the contributions from the ■ various mines which are benefited by its working. Secondly, that I the Goldfields Bevenue raised within the Borough shall be appropriated to the same purpose ; and thirdly, that if there be any further sum requisite to meet the i expenditure necessary the profits arising from the water rates shall be taken to meet the same. In the event of all these sources of revenue failing, then the whole of the gold duty of the District is to be used. We have nothing further to add to our previous remarks until we have received a fuller account of the interview.

At the "Resident Magistrate's Court tbis morning there »as not a single case for h arinn. This satisfactory state of th'ngs has been the rule rather iban the exeep tim of late.

It is state! that the following gentlemen will be candidates for seats at t c Harbor Board, three members of which are to be elected on the 19th. instant: — Messrs W. Davies. W. Souter. J. Brown, J. Osborne. E. Binney, J. Butt and R McDonald Scott. Probably there will b • other candidates besides iho above before Friday next.

Wr understand that a match between the Thames Scottish Volunteer* and No. 2 H.R.V. will be fired on Saturday next for a stake of, we. believe, a thou-aml rounds of ammunition. Ten members from each^company are to compete, and as theT>.V will be represented by such .well-known shot* as Keed. Murmy «nd Clark, and No. 2 have among their number* Armstrong. Brownlovr. Grundy and the match ought to be a very close one, and will, besides beiny interesting, doubtless prove very exciting.

At Parawai ou Saturday a cricket match was played, not by the sides original y intended, as sufficient players were not present, but sides were oliosen by Messrs V< liitlord and Crawford, and a pleasant game was the result. Wlntford had Kobinson on his side, and Crawford, Stecdman, 80 the bowling talent was equalised. Crawford's side went in firjst, and the chief characteristic of the innings was the play of Crawford, who hit freely and played well. Whitford and Robinson bowled, the latter especially being well on the spot, and a litile faster than u>ual ; the innings clos>d ♦or 43. For VV'hitford's side. Kobinson went in 6rst and played well, and had he had a competent partner, would have doubled the 15 he scored. Whitford's innings of 32 was 'he best we have seen him play yet, he has greatly improved on his form of last year, and if he will get over a tendency to p kethe ball into the slips, ought to have'a place in the Twenty - two V. Midland. The in ings closed for 81. Steedman and Crawford each bowled well, and the latter made a good catch at short slip. The fielding was not good, and told against the efforts of the bowlers, but we must except the name of W. Masters, who throughout the 'afternoon paid the greatest uttention to the game, fielded well, and threw in in such a manner as would put to shame matfy much older players. Though very young 'his play was -praised by all the cricketers on the ground, and w hope to see him improve still further, which he will do if he continues to persevere. Tie question wasas^ed, why do not more boys eorrie out and play cricket P

Shoetly be'ore the death of Mr John Millar. P.S.A., it will be remembered he Buffered a criminal prosecution at the instance of the Nelson Provincial Government, and was acquitted Amp-i« his papers after his death was found the following letter, a copy of which has been forwarded to Mr J. Lazar, of Hoh'tika. TheMetter was dated August 1, 1876, and read -*as 'follows:-" Alas, to-day, the change in my symptom* is of such a nature that ajfatul termination is not improbable, even before I reach Nelson. Should Providence so direct it, I desire, before then, to give you he assurance of an honest man's dying declaration. Ktornity now staring me in the face. I declare before the Great Architect of the Universe, that I never, in thought, word, act, or deed, defrauded the Government of Ne'son of a single shilling. Therefore. I depend np<>n you, and my Masonic brother Stanton, to assure the world of the fact. I look to you both to protect my tn >ral rectitude of' character when I am gone to that bourne ' whence there is no return. (Signed) J.'Mililak "

.<32oi.es saj's :—I can imagine how Ihe can us of some venerable English cathedrals w uld shudder at reading the following example of Presbyterian presumption :—At the Auckland City Council meeting a complaint was made against the ** Knglish churc es causing a nuisance by ringing their belts when other congre-* gational are holding service !"

In an article on " Self Kespecfc "jin the Australian the following passage occurs. The lesson therein contained might well be taken to heart: — " The man of self-respect is cv« n as the rebuke ot the righteous. Sophron was conversing wiih a fri nd whose sense of injury is very xbiding. An absent man nas named. Fierce denunciations were on the lips of Sophron's companion, who

looked bells, books, and candlfs at the mention of the name. "My dear sir," said Sophron. permit me to say to you the very words I once said of you. Lately some gentle-men were abusing you,. I said, be he what he may in your eyes, to me lie lias been a friend ; fbrbiar, in generosity to me. Now the man you are abu-iog has been to me. compared with ymrs If, even as a thousand is to one. Keep, then, your opinion, but refrain from expressing it out of kindness to me." " You have conquered," said the other. " I will think of your words whenever his name is mentioned."

Commenting on the death of Sir Donald iVJcLean Te Wananga says :— Auainst Sir Donald McLean, as a private individual and a personal friend, we have nothing to say. He has rendered this colony many signal services—more than enough, we hope, to counterbalance those aciions of his which from time to time we have been comp lied to comment upon in the Wananga. The grave closes upon all private and personal feuds—and we do not desire to speak one bitter or unfriendly word of the dead.

Says in the Australasian of the 16th ult.:—ln a daily paper last week there was aa advertisement for six donkeys—wanted, I may say, for New Zealand, where the commodity is scarce. In the course of the day the advertiser received *a postal card to. this effect:— " Apply to the Speaker, Parliament Houses. Kather a mulish lot. To be had cheap unless previously ' withdrawn.' "