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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2577, 11 April 1877, Page 2

Mr Aitken,''County Engineer, arrived at Paeroa yesterday on a visit of inspection of various works in progress, and to set out a few additional necessary works.

The adjourned meeting of the shareholders in the Candlelight claim will;be ., held at 7.30 this evening at the Governer Bowen Hotel.

The steamer Enterprise, which was advertised to leave the Thames for Auckland at 9 to-morrow morning, is now advertised to start at half-past 8.

At the 11 M. Court this: morning the only business was a case of drunkenness. The offender was fined 10s, and in exchange for a pound note he received some shillings change, which the magistrate hoped he would not spend in geting drunk again.

A sitting of the Supreme Court of New Zealand will commence at Wellington on the 21st May for: the despatch of business accruing under " The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867."

The Bank of New Zealand shipped for Auckland yesterday by the Eotomahana several boxes of gold containing in the aggregate 5022 ounces.

Some time ago it was understood that a ten inch main was to be laid along Albert street and on through Owen and Brown streets, to connect with the large main of the Thames Water Supply in Pollen street. As no steps seem to be taken in this diraction it would be well for the inhabitants to see what can be done. In case of fire a supply from such a source would be invaluable, and if the pipes were laid it would, we imagine, reduce the rate of insurance on what is now the highest rated block in the Borough.

A private letter from Wellington states it is reported there that it is almost certain Parliament will meet for business on the 19th July.

Me Jambs Cbaig sold by auction to-day, on the premises, the crushing plant formerly known as Vickery^s Battery in the Earaka, but lately the property of the Piako Goldmining Company. The battery consists of 22 stampers, water-wheel, engine and boiler, berdan.s, &c, with machine site and water right. The property was purchased by Mr J. R. Perry for £635. A concentrator and gear were also bought by Mr Perry for £21, and a Chilian mill and gear by ; Mr Judd for £45. The price paid by the Bright Smile Company for the battery some years ago was £1200, in addition to which the company spent £1000 in alterations and improvements, so that the price realised to-day would lead to the belief that the purchaser has secured a bargain. • .;

In answer to correspondence regarding the continuance of subsidies towards the maintenance of the Thames Hospital, we understand that a reply has been received stating that the Government have decided to bring this mattar before the Parliament at its next session, with a view to a general system of support to the hospitals in the Colony, and that in the meantime the subsidies formerly paid by Provincial Governments will be continued for the half-year ending 30th June next. A voucher for the quarter ending March 31st for the sum of £250 has been passed at the Treasury fpr the Thames Hospital. The amounts.of these advances are to be charged against the subsidies payable to Municipalities and Eoad Boards under the Financial Arrangements Act of last session. / ; :

Begurding the.interview of Mr Wm; Davies, Chairman of the Thames Harbor Board, with the Hon. F. Whitaker, briefly mentioned in our.telegrams yesterday, the Auckland Sfar has . the following :—rThe Chairman of the Thames Harbour Board waited upon the Hon. the AttorneyGeneral this morning, with reference to the Thames foreshore and harbour. The Chairman represented to Mr Whitaker that the question of taking over the administration of the harbour and fore-shore had been under the consideration of the Board, but the local authorities did not see their way to raise the requisite funds to carry on the necessary services in an efficient manner, and desired to know whether or not any subsidy would be forthcoming from the General Government. Mr Whitaker said he could hold oub no hopes that the Government would be able to give any subsidy for the purpose. The Chairman asked further time to consider the question, which was granted, and he withdrew.

At the inquest held yesterday afternoon on the body of the unfortunate man Macdonald, Mr W. J. Speight spoke on the state of the dead house and the condition in which the body was when the jury visited it. Mr Macdonald said he quite concurred with Mr Speight, and would see the matter- had investigation. Thereupon Mr Aitken of the hospital was called in, as Dr Payne had said something of the nature of an aspersion on Mr Aitken. The Doctor said that,he could get no assistance from the Hospital, and that had it not been for the voluntary assistance rendered by a disinterested person he would have been obliged to undress and lift about the body by himself, which he thought was rather too much. Mr Aitken defended himself, and said he did not consider ifc the duty of the Hospital officials to attend to matters of this nature. The subject was dropped without, as far as we could ascertain, anybody being found to blame.

Some readers may recollect having seen a-cartoon in Punch representing an elderly gentleman holding on to a lamp post—like grim death to a dead nigger, as the saying is. The gentleman was in that happy state of inebriation when he fancied everything was "going round," and, as he lived in a square and had been put down in one corner of it, in answer to the directions of a policeman to "move on," he replied that he was waiting until his house came round to him. Some may also remember a story (Rabelaisian) of a certain elderly gentleman being foun^ in a similar predicament, and on being asked (again by a bobby) what he was doing,'replied■: '""•Well, y'see, I'm in a quandary. sf I let go T shall fall down ; and 'f I stay here I shall —well, fall down and not be able to get ud again." There was an individual in Pollen street last night in a " predicament" or a "quandary," but he was holding oa to a verandah post, and he did hold on. But now and again he made as if to- clutch with one hand something from the gutter, or water table —never succeeding, but always/ recovering so far as to steady himself on the footpath side of the gutter. How he fared ultimately, or

what he had lost that he wished to recover, deponent saycth not, but if a friendly policeman came to his aid, the service would be well repaid by a contribution to the colonial funds of ten shillings and costs this morning at the It M. Court.

We are informed, and we hear it "with sincere regret, that Mr John Butt, Borough Councillor,.is seriously ill. ....

We are reliably informed that a Ca'lfornian firm have made overtures to a local broker, offering to back him with means to enter into competition with the banks in the purchase of gold, being assured of their ability to successfully run the banks and make money. Itivalry in gold-buying has been tried before on the Thames, but it has not being continued long enough to fairly test the question involved, whether producers get fair value, or buyers have more than a fair margin for profit.

The ordinary meeting of the Thames Domestic Water Supply Committee, which was to have been held at the Borough Council chambers last night, lapsed for want of a quorum. It appears that four out of the eight members of the committee are, or were, away in Auckland or elsewhere, on public or private business; and of tho other four necessary to form a quorum, who might have disposed of the business requiring attention, only one (Mr D. Macnab) put in an appearance, and he after waiting a reasonable time went away. The time of several persons was wasted, as well as a certain amount of gas, and the business to be transacted remains on hand for the next ordinary meeting or special meeting of the committee.