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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2581, 16 April 1877, Page 2

We notice that in consequence of the unexpected return of Mr Tinsley to Auckland this morning there will be no " open lodge " in connection with the Northern Pioneer, as had been previously announced.

The Globe Combination Troupe will, it is announced, give a matinee to-morrow for the benefit of schools and families, commencing at four o'clock. We have no doubt there will be a large crowd of juveniles, who, we are sure, will be delighted with the magic feats, humours of Mr Herman's Johnny, and Madame Stella's mysteries.

Insertion of the following letter has beed requested: — ".To Mr P. Dillon, President of the H.A.C.B. Society.— Dear Sir, —In response to the letter from our friend Father Nivard to N you, published in the Thames Advertiser of the 12th instant, I have great pleasure in forwarding my mite —a cheque for one grinea—to you, for the turpose of trans-

mission to him. I sincerely trust. that the remembrance of the kindly disposition and Christian charity of Father Nivard when amongst us will prompt a liberal response by Catholics and Protestants alike.—l am, dear sir, faithfully yours, Edward E. Tyler.—Vulcan Lane, Auckland, April 13th, 1877."

We would briefly call attention to the programme of performances to be given.at the Academy of Music this evening for the benefit of the Bros. Reed. It consists of a number of songs and instrumental selections,- some of the former being " local" and written for the occasion. Mr W. H. lleed and his brother have at various times given their services on occasions of benefits for local charities and other special objects, and a good house this evening will be some small recognition of their services. A dance takes place after the performance.

On Saturday evening the cricket season at the Thames was brought to a close by a pick-up match. As the game did not commence until late it was arranged that no one should be allowed to bat longer than fifteen minutes, so that all playing might get an innings. This rule spoiled the chances of itobinson and Steedman of making long scores, as each of these had :to take their pads' off owing to "the effluxion of time." Whitford and Frater came on the ground towards the end of match, and enabled Colson's side to beat Macdonald's by'some twenty runs. The cricket itself calls for little comment. Steedman'a services as bowler were not called into request for his side, which shows that the side was pretty strong in bowling, or, which is more probable, that the captain of his side was liable to err.

; The opening performance of the Globe Combination Troupe at the Theatre Royal on Saturday n'ght attracted a good pit and gallery audience, but the front seats —as is usual on. Saturdays — were not very liberally patronised. The first portion of the entertainment consisted of a number of very clever feats' of conjuring by Professor Hennicke, some of which were very uncommon, and performed with that skill which deceives the eye and gives an appearance of realism to what is but an illusion. The magic bottle, from which liquors of several different colors were poured, was of white glass instead of the customary black bottle. Several card tricks, dancing plate, magic drum, and extracting a number of fancy boxes from a hat borrowed from one of the audience, were all well done, and the professor received hearty applause. Then the manipulator appeared to eat a' lot of cotton wool, and from his mouth drew yards of ribbon; winding up the first portion of his entertainment with a needle trick, which consisted of eating a few yards:of cotton and some dozens of needles, and immediately thereafter drawing from his mouth a thread with some seventy or eighty needles threaded on it. This feat was well performed; and the deception, whatever it consisted of, was most complete. Mr Herman next appeared with his little man Johnny, and gave specimens of ventriloquism. The manipulation of the voice was excellent, and would compare favorably with some of Mr Herman's predecessors in that line, but the effect was somewhat marred by the figure—not a good one by any means, and further, the noise made by the shutting of its mouth made it appear too mechanical. This is a defect which should be remedird, as it detracts from the merits of Mr Herman's performancei which otherwise is good, and the dialogue humorous. The aerial suspension was performed with good effect, and e2^V: °9 much interest as ever. .The^ntertMnmeut embraced some further exhibition of ventriloquism and magic, and concluded with the famous "Arabian Box Mystery." This trick is one of those illusions which if one knew how it was done would no doubt appear very simple, but not knowing it appears simply wonderful. The troupe should have a succesfful season here, as the performance is a meritorious one. The Professor of- Magic would do well, however, to repress the familiarity of the boy element in his audience, for on Saturday night it was nearly realising the old adage.

A telegram from Wellington on ■Friday says :—ln Banco to-day a special case was stated for the opinion of the Court, without any pleadings, by consent by virtue of an order by Mr Justice Bichmond. The facts agreed upon were that Bobert Sparke Lowe, before his decease, effected a policy of insurance upon his own life with the Victoria Life Assurance OomSany, of Melbourne. At the time of his eath this hp.d endured for more than five years. Upon his decease defendant was administrator to the estate, and received the amount assured. Lowe left a.widow and five children, now living. The only property left by deceased, besides the amount received under the policy, was £120, of which £42 was expended in payment of funeral and testamentary expenses. At the time of his decease Lowe had several creditors (of whom the plaintiff is one), and owed £2,133. The plaintiff in the action now sought to recover the amount due him. It was contended by the defendant that under the provisions of section 46 of the Life Assurauce Companies Act of 1873 the money received under the policy is divisable between the wife and children, to the exclusion of creditors. Plaintiff contended that the money received under policy was assets in the hands of defendant, and applicable in the ordinary course of administration, and that the creditors of deceased are entirely to be paid out of it as far as it will extend. After argument on the construction of the statute (Life Assurance Companies Act, 1873), the Court reserved judgment.

Decidedly one of the most novel catches that has ever been made on a cricket ground, the Hamilton Spectator states, was that which disposed of Mr Chandler on Saturday in his second innings at Cavendish. He was batting in splendid form, doing pretty well as he liked with the bowling, when Captain O'Connell sent him in a slow one. This he. got hold of very well, and sent it away to long-on—a low, skimming hit, that but for a strange accident must have been the means of adding six to the score. One of the Cavendish players (Mitchell), who was standing at mid-on, made an attempt to catch it, but missed, the ball travelling altogether to fast for him to hold it. Suddenly the leathern sphere disappeared; none could tell where it had gone, those in the field were nonplussed, the spectators wondered, and the batsmen continued to run. Then Mitchell, recovered from the shock he had received, felt a lump in the- body of his shirt, put in his hand, pulled out the ball, and joyfully cried, " How's that ? " " Out! " said the umpire, and Chandler had to retire, very

crestfallen .at his bad luck. The ball struck Mitchell on the wrist, ran up his sleeve, and safely lodged itself in the body of his shirt.

The Oia^o Guardian, noticing the regular publication in the Auckland papers of the list of visitors staying at the Hot (Springs, says : —"We fail to find the names of any Dunedin ' cripples ' in the list.'*

People in Shortland are beginning to enquire " What has become of the oysterman ? " They know that the open season is in, but the " taking " of oysters might still be under prohibition for all Ihat, judging by the scarcity—not to say utter absence of the "delicious- bivalve" from the market. It is strange' that no one can be found to go into .this trade to an extent sufficient to supply a large community like the Thames, but such seems to be the case, for beyond seeing one shop open in >shortland for a. few days at the beginning of the month no attempt seems to have been made to take advantage of the open season to supply the market—that is, the Short* lanct end of the town. There is money in oysters for at least eight months in the year, and it is surprising that no one has taken up the business this year in. : a way to keep up a continual supply. There is a chance for some one owning a small boat.

As soon as the Borough Council can see their way to a little expenditure -in a direction not previously entered upon, it would be desirable" to consider the expediency of erecting a few street lamps. There are some parts of tho Borough where a light is much needed c '. dark nights, and thr'expenditure require -ouldnotbearety great item, because a l.^'inning might be made with a very fey< lamps. A considerable revenue will accrue to the Borough, during the present financiakyear from publicans' and other licenses, and a portion of the money thus obtained might very well be diverted to lighting the streets. There might be an objection to spending the money raised as Borough rates in illuminating one portion of the streets, but no one would cavil at the trifl:.ng expense necessary to keep a few lamps alight on dark nights where most urgently required. The hotel lights are a sort of guide to night pedestrians, but these after closing hours are often reduced to a mere glimmer; and considering the number of men whose occupation requires them to be out at late hours—miners going on and coming off shift, for instance —a few lamps judiciously distributed would be a great boon. On Sunday nights a few lights on the eastern side of Pollen street™would.obviate, the weekly "collision " between members of different sects going to and returning from worship. We would suggest a committee of the Borough.Council to. consider this matter of lighting. ; ' "'■'.

The Echo asserts, that a solid cylindrical figure, about seven inches ia length and three inches in diameter, which has been brought from Babylon, and must have existed 43CQ years ago, was evidently used by the ancients as a printing machine, and may be, said to ; embody the identical principle of the newspaper machines of the, present day. Gould one of tb.3 hands from the Babylonish office see into an establishment like that of the Times of the present day, he would surely admit that though ." there is nothing new under the sun," there have been considerable improvements. ....:>•-■ , .

A whiter in the Otago Witness says : —The railway people have put up' every-; where a remark of singular brevity and force—"Stop." X aim reminded of the man who, finding one of these notices, did what he was told, and stopped. He stopped all one day, and the best part of one night, having a natural disinclination to make food for the cqw. catcher. At the end of a forty-eighty hours' stop, he went on and met his fate. He now says that the next time he stops for an engine he will see the railway company somewhere first. "Shut this gate!" is another remark that the railways like to make. What an education in manners! "Pudding," the small child said.—"lf yoii—what ? " said her mother.— "If you've got any," was the reply.

The Otago Witness says—lt is a most extraordinary thing that every lad here, no matter what his capabilities or taste, is put into a bank or an rifice of some sort, perhaps most comrn'r- tries law. The consequence is that w'-: 5 underpaid clerks swarm in the commr»'-ity, the supply far exceeding the demand, tradesmen of all sorts, and mechanics, are scarce; and in receipt of twice as much as many clerks. This insane desire to be genteel, for this is what it amounts to, is by no means a hopeful sign, and in consequence •of it many a good farmer, or mechanic is spoilt, and becomes an underpaid and indifferent clerk. The law, owing to this, is crowded by young fellows, who have no capacity for their profession, and for the half of whom there is no employment. Other professions, such as Civil Engineering, are becoming overcrowded in the same way*

An experiment is now being made (says the Otago Times' correspondent) to see how the famous system of conducting the driuk traffic in Gothenburg will answer in London. The experiment is being made by a company, of which the .Duke of Westminster is the leading spirit. He has taken the lease of a public-house in Oxford street, about half way between Oxford Circus and the Marble Arch, for the purpose, and is being aided by a number of the leading firms in the neighborhood, as well as by Mr Cowper Temple, Mr Samuel Morley, Sir Harcourt Johnstone, a,ud other gentlemen of influence, The establishment was only opened at the beginning of November, so that it is too soon yet to judge of its success. Wellcooked food of all kinds is provided, together with ale, beer, wine, &c.—but not spirits, for the present—and the. leading features of the Gothenburg^ system, viz., that no profit shall be made from the sale of intoxicating liquors, is rigidly adhered to. One would think this would open up a new temptation, in the shape of cheaper drink. When not required lor meals, tho dining room is used as a reading room. The experiment is being watched with much interest by those who seek to effect a reform in the drinking habits of the nation.