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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2553, 13 March 1877, Page 2

We are constrained to refer to a "mischievous paragraph appearing in the columns of our contemporary this morning with reference to the- Moanatairi mine. We hold it be the duty of ] a journalist to call attention to anything in, the management of mining or other companies which may be deemed prejudicial to the interests of the shareholders or : the public. At the same time in publishing strictures of this v kind it should be undoubtedly a necessary condition that' the data on which sueh 1 .strictures are based are undeniable facts. The comments of our contemporary, this morning on the conduct of matters m connection with the Moanatairi mine have no such basis- They appear to be the petty, splenetic titterings of an ignoramus, .who knows as little-of the ethics of journalism as He appears to have regard for truth. We cannot suppose that the writer of - the paragraph in question is the ordinary writer oh the Advertiser, and it is only charitable to imagine that the paragraph was inserted in error, or without the usual surveillance. It is calculated to do great injury to the Mcanatairi mine and to.the district at large. Tt betrays a mixture of arrogance and , ignorance on the part of the writer, and is withal, self-contradictory. If it is expected "by those who ought to know" that the'next yield will reach 35C3 ounces, " those who ought to know ; " can only be guided by appearances in coming to this conclusion ; and how the 14 we" can say directly after this that , "appearance's do not warrant the conclusion that the present fortnight's yield can ibe maintained,"' and further, that "those who are able to judge say it is i very probable the rich run .will be cut <off," " <fcc.,~ *we - are. at- -a loss to say.. As, " those who. ought to know" ' attcL ]tf those "who- are- able to judge" are probably parties ,'■ Who would like to depreciate the scrip for {heir own selfish ends, it is to be hoped that their mischievous intentions will be frustrated. For informtion as to the progress of affairs in connection with the

new find in the Moanatairi we refer our readers to the account furnished by our" mining reporter after a.visit to the mine to-day. One word on thflfgeheral principle involved hex'e. We deprecate as much as any one giving too glowing accounts of mines under any circumstances, ; but (p. raise false alarms and^ndeavor to create a, panic by such manifestly unfair and dis ■ paraging statements as; those to which we have alluded is little less than criminal, and deserves reprobation at the hands of the public. We would advise our contemporary to pay a visit to the Moanatairi mine, and by a personal inspection satisfy himself that he has committed a grave error. -:' ,'.-' " • ■ : '■'■'; ■ ' '

itEVEBTiNd to Mr Plant's letter of yesterday, and the questions asked regarding the Government subsidy, we may state (1) that the Government subsidy will not, in our opinion, be irrecoverably lost on all rates unpaid on the 31st March, and (2) the Borough will get credit for the same next year. Clause 13 of the Finan-: cial Arrangements Act states : that " there shall be issued and paid out of the Consolidated Fund during, each financial year, for five years" after this Act comes into operation, but no longer, the following 7 sums, that is to say ■--To every Borough Council:a sum equal to the amount received by; such Council byway of general rates during, the year ending on the 31st day of March^ previous,; but not exceeding the amount so receiv-i able on the rate of one shilling in the pound on the annual value of the rateable property in the Borough." Fjrom this we infer that the subsidy lost on unpaid rates this year would accrue next year, provided the total amount collected before the 31st March, 1878, did hot exceed the amount receivable if the whole rate were paid, which is not likely to be the case, as defaulters will be found even in the most prosperous times. Thexemainder of Mr slant's letter, we believe, indicates the sentiments of a large number of. burgesses who deprecate the wholesale' sum * nionsing which has been resorted to for compelling the payment of rates ;? the amount involved, so far as thesubsidy is concerned, being scarcely worththeharshness of the measures necessary to obtain it. ■; ■■■ ••■■ .-■■•'■-■ ■■■' ■■ ■■■'. ■'-. ■■■■■<?■■■>!■; a'-

•We call attention tothe ..advertisement intimating that on St. Patrick's Day the H.A.C.B.S: will march in- procession to Tararu. Sports of various kinds including a game of football wiH take place.

lira local yesterday the weight of the specimen exhibited'from the Moanatairi mine at the Bank of New Zealand was erroneously stated to be 1139 ounces. It should have been 437 ounces. -

We understand that the Good Templars intend having a-day's outing on Easter 'Monday. The-%ay they hare choseh to enjoy themselves is by having^ a picnic expedition either "to Ohinemuri or some other place within easy distance of the Thames.

. It will be seen by our telegrams that Pooley <the.cricketer has,been fined £5 for assault*- and -is also" committed to take h^ trial on the charge of,^wilful destruction •of property. This is not the first time that the same man has been called upon to answer a charge of assault.. The pending case will be a source "'of great weakness to'the Eleven in their''match against a combined team'of Australia should Pooley not be able to play, as well as act prejudically to their reputation. ,

• With the Australasian of March 3rd is published an Electoral Map of the Colony of Victoria., The map is excellently got up and will be found useful to New Zealand residents. '

The .monthly meeting of the Mark Lodge, Abbotsford Royal Arch-Chapter, will be. held at the freemasons' Hall, Owen street, at half past^seven o'clock this evening.

We would ball attention to the sale of leasehold £>ud freehold properties which will be held to-morrow by Mr James Craig, under instructions from the proprietor, Robert "Graham, Esq., at the Stock Ex»change, Albert street. The properties to. be offered include a number of valuable freeholds in .Grahamstown and Tararu, which are to be sold'without reserve. The, change which has come over.the aspect of affairs during the last fortnight should materially enhance" the value of town, properties. One thing in connection with the sale will be worth noticing, namely, the price' realised*&s compared with" the value jut upon certain allotments by the Borough valiilMbTS. " ;"

The Australasian says :-—The officers of the Mining department are busily engaged in equipping and sending out prospecting parties in all parts of the colony. Information; was^repeived on Thursday that one of these, parties bad started from Maryborough; with the intention of prospecting ranges y between Natte Yallock and the Emu Creek.

. We are in receipt of The Illustrated New Zealand Herald-for March. The principal illustrations are a view of a peak and valley on" $xc You Yangs, Victoria; Sketches in Queensland, landing wild animals in Melbourne from the steamship Macedon for Cooper and Bailey's Circus, Holiday rambles from Melbourne to New Zealand, the town of Oamaru, and portrait of the late Richard Davies Ireland, Q.C. The present number of the Herald is a good one. Tales innumerable have been.told of luckless colonial wights exported by their friends because of their fast tendencies, jumping suddenly from abject poverty into immense fortunes through the opportune death of" wealthy relatives. It is something much more satisfactory, however,' to" be able occasionally to chronicle the success of those who, by-plodding industry and careful'habits, prove that even amidst the competition of crowded colonial cities there are fortunes to be amassed if you only go the right way to work about it. Duncdin boasts a city crier who has the reputation of being a good deal wealthier thanmany a German prince, although to his credit be it said, he was not born with a silver spoou, nor has he profited by the demise of a rich relative. An instance of rewarded industry of a still more astounding character has to be cited. A Chinese costermonger,-' whose" face, accompanied by turnips, cabbages, and other culinary delicacies, has been as familiar in Princes street for some years past as the face of the town clock,- has been paying a farewell visit to his customers. As the rcsultof his morning visits, he: has accumulated a fortune of over £3000, and with this nice little competence he is about to rejoin his " poor old mother " in the Celestial Empire.—Otago Guardian.

The Wellington Post is rough upon the writer of the local drama, " • Check

and Countercheck/ a sensational play from the pen of J. J. Utting, of Christchurch, which (the Post says) was perforated at the Theatre Royal on Saturdayevening. Tfie theatre was fairly attended. ,The,dranla is certainly sensational, but the characters are such as we never met; with in real life., We do not believe that anywhere outside of a lunatic asylum would a number of people behave as they are made to behave in that drama. -.The plot is of the most improbable description. There is move than trie usual quantity of , blood and agony introduced and plenty of raving and gnashing of teeth also. ,As far as the actors were concerned, the drama ran smoothly; enough on Saturday night, but the plot was too much for the audience, who were riot' sorry when it" came to an end." .

As an instance of the process employed by the Missionaries in New Zealand in the early days to,christianise the natives, the North Otago Times relates that a certain Rev. Mr -Wilson acquired in the days of the past, from the natives of Opotiki, under a doubtful tenure, about 10, C:0 acres of land. The land was of an excellent quality—better than the tenure.' The purchase money, or the consideration, given, was one cow,-one old plough,, two; pairs of blankets, and sundry bottles of rum. The doubtful title "was, however, validated by the, Missionary's son, who, somehow or another, happened not long ago, to become one of the Land Purchase Commissioners under Government. ;