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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2564, 26 March 1877, Page 2

We would remind members of. the H.A.C.B. Society that their usual fortnightly meeting will be held this evening, when, in addition to the usual routine of bnsiness, the quarterly report and balance sheet will be considered.

We are requested to state that the business of the {Resident Magistrate's Court which should be disposed of on Friday next will be transacted tomorrow, the usual day for the sitting of „ the Court being Good Friday.

r As soon as the crowd at the Corner had commenced to assemble on Satur-

day, conjectures were hazarded as to what, would be the return from the Moanatairu Like most conjectures these were various. Some thought it would not be much—about 4000ozs (as if 4G~oozs of gold were a mere nothing), while others put the figures as high" as IO.OCOozs ; some even exceeding this" number. Scarcely any professional tout, save in the matter of getting up early to watch the trial of "some dark dead'un bound at last to win," has worked harder in the way of asking questions than did somehesitatingbuyers anddoubting sellers of Moanatairis up to noon on Saturday last. At that time it was generally understood that the yield would be GOOOozs, that vague word " about " being, of course, introduced to allow a margin of 900 on either sides. In the afternoon the thronging multitudes increased to such an extent that an attempt to get through reminded one of a scrimmage at football. JJagerly waited the expectant crowd, not with " bated breath," nor yet with "whispering humbleness," and as they saw a chariot not drawn by " four spanking greys," as novelists describe such vehicles, but guided by -Jack Connell driving four steeds, the crowd > surged forward towards the Bank of New Zealand. The poetic language of | Shakespeare, as the carriage was in sight, was much too high flown for those bent on such a practical matter as the weighing of gold, so instead of the cry a la Macbeth being raised, " They come," a gentleman foremost in the crowd contented himself with saying, " That's them;" them, if amalgam be plural, it "certainly was, and the "glittering masses" (looking something like dusty clay) were conveyed within and there weighed, the result being 6235 ounces. The "crowd then '^quietly dispersed,, some to their own'Eomes, others elsewhere; all to talk, some to think, others to drink. '

It is expected that an Auckland Eleven will come to the Thames on Easter Monday to try conclusions with the Thames cricketers. Some of the latter had a pick up game on Saturday, though not sufficient players were present to have eleven a side.

The Central Board of Education have at the last meeting, sanctioned the appointment of Mr G. N. Phillips as headteaclier of .the Kauaeranga Boys' School. The offer of Mr A. J. Allbm to erect school buildings at Ohinemuri for £700 if the Board guraranteed the cost was referred to the Building Committee. The payment of Mr H. Mason's salary as, teacher at Tararu for the quarter ending December, 1876, was authorised. , ;

Thebe is a .general idea afloat that a cubic foot of igold weighs a ton. This is not the case, as a cubic foot of gold is found to weigh 12031b5, a cubic foot of mercury 8471b5.

Mb Stmonds, boatman, who with several mates igi washing foe gold at Mata Creek, returned to town on Saturday. He informs us that there are at present above 20 men employed there washing for gold in the bed of the creek, and most of them are making gOod'wages. He also states that there has been quite a rush of gum diggers to that locality, arid some of the men are making from £1 to £1 10s per day. ' , We understand that the people of Coromandel have applied to our Naval Brigade to send their band down to play at some sports to be held at Coromandel on Easter ■Monday;; and the company and 'bandy with their usual pbliteriesaV are making an effort to send the baud there in one of their boats at the end of the present week. The Foresters of—Coromandel intend to have a grand turn out on the occasion.

In another portion of our present issue we reprint from The Otacjo Guardian an able article on a late Court of Appeal case, haviag reference to what is justly characterised a " grave judicial scandal.'' We believe our readers will thoroughly concur in the justness of the strictures in the article referred to.

■At St. George's Church yesterday the Bey. B. Burrows preached morning and evening, the Bey. V. Lush assisting in the services. It was announced by the rev. incumbent that on Friday next, being Good Friday, there would be two full services in the church. On Wednesday evening there wouldbe full evening servico, and on Sunday next (Easter Sunday) there wouldbe two celebrations of the: Holy Communion. The churchwardens' report and balance sheet>on. church matters for the year 1876, submitted to the parishioners' meeting on the 18th January last, was yesterday circulated amongst the congregation. * <

The Thames Naval Brigade and Band, S. George's Cadets, and No. 2 H.B.V. and Band turned out yesterday for Church parade. There was a fair muster of the men, No. 2 H.K.T. and the T.N.B. each having from 30 to 40 men, exclusive of officers and bandsmen, and the cadets, between 20 and 30. Major Cooper having inspected the companies they marched to S. George's Church, the Bands of the T.N.B. and No. 2 leading the way, and playing alternately. A large concourse of spectators assembled at the Corner, and from the remarks made, the appearance of the men and the. performance of the Bands was considered very good. '

Foe the last two Saturday nights some young men have held religious services in Brown street, near the Pacific Hotel, which have attracted considerable numbers of listeners.

We notice that at the aquatic sports of the Auckland College and Grammar School, held on Friday last, W. Souter, son of Captain Souter, won the swimming match, distance 100 yards, open to all boys under 15 years of age. The Herald says that the first three proved themselves regular experts in the side stroke.

A southern paper states that Mr B. J. Creighton and Mr W. Dalziel (who is better known from his connection with the Sydney press, and by having married Miss Dickie Xingard) have started a newspaper in San Francisco.

At the Assessment Court, held ii Dunedin, Mr -Bathgate/; R.M., remarked that the present Hating Act was an excellent one, as it had a uniform rate throughout the Colony. Mr Anderson, the Corporation solicitor, said that the Government would act wisely and save expense if they sent to England, and obtained the services of two or more draughtsmen to draw up Acts of Parliament for our faulty Legislature. Mr Anderson considered the present Act an injustice to corporate bodies.

The game "La Crosse," which-has now taken firm root in England, would no doubt be a novelty, arid therefore a source of amusement if played at the Thames. The rules of the game are simple, and those who don't see much fun in football might be induced occasionally to take part in "La Cro>se." .

The following extraordinary scene took place in a County Council not a thousand miles from Geraldine: — One of the councillors addressing a brother councillor said, " You contemptible would-be informer, you thought to lead the sergeant on to me and to my house." The councillor to whom this was addressed replied, " It is an infernal lie. ■*£* never did anything of the sort. I don't go near your house, and don't want to know whether you sell liquor on Sunday or no I." The first named councillor, who it may be stated is a publican, then rushed over to his brother councillor, and striking* an attitude that is sometimes described as " shaping," he shouted at the top of his voice "It is not a lie. You. did do it./ You gave the sergeant the names of thth persons who went in and came out of my house on Sunday, and I have a— — mind ' to ——-.'.' At this point the other councillors and some ratepayers interfered, and the " scene " ended.— Kangiora Standard.

The necessity for consolidating the Various mining regulations in force on the goldfields of the Colony has, says the Grey River Argus,'long been recognised, but so long as the administration of the goldfields was left in the hands of the Provincial authorities each Province made its own regulations, and there was no means of framing rules applicable to the whole Colony without interfering with the functions of the Provincial Executives. On the West Coast the inconveniences of two sets of, mining regulations, differing materially from each other in many important particulars; lias been much feit, but the abolition of Provincial Governments has opened the door to a remedy of this anomalous state of things, and we are glad to be able to say that the General Government have taken steps to avail themselves of it. It is intended, we are. informed, to frame a code of regulations dealing with every description of mining and applicable to the whole Colony, and for the guidance of the Government a Commission, consisting of three of the senior Wardens of the Colony has been appointed to sit at Wellington to consider and report upon the question. The Commission consists, of the senior Warden at the Thames," the senior Warden in Otago, and Mr Warden Charles Broad, representing the West Coast Gold-fields. The Commission will be opened shortly at Wellington.

.Bell's Life in London says:—"T. Walters, trainer and jockey to a society in Sweden, was married on Tuesday last to Miss Clayj eldest daughter of W. Clay, of that place." Mr Clay must be exceedingly well known if Sweden is a sufficient direction to find him, as would appear by his being_designated "of that place." To those who know him not it might appear that searching for Mr Clay in Sweden was about as satisfactory a way of spending time as looking for Mr Smith in London.

W. Finlat, one of the earliest established Watch and Clock Makers on the Thames, WISHES IT KNOWN that he has .again commenced business in Williamson street, in connection with the Manufacturing Jewellery Business of his brother, Mr James Finlay, and is prepared to undertake all branches of the Watch and Clock-making business. Bepairs executed with promptness. Charges moderate.—[Advt.]