THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2582, 17 April 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1877.

We have heard that it is the intention of the Borough Council to "go for " the sharebrokers; in other words to take steps to compel all. sharebrokers to take out a license. It is stated that evidence has beejQ obtained against seventeen brokers, or persons doing business as such, but without licenses, and if these were all paying the revenue accruing to the Boi ough would amount to the not inconsiderable sum of £425. Should the Council proceed in the matter we imagine it will have the effect of thinning, the ranks of those who do business on commission at the Corner.

The adjourned meeting of persons holding volunteer land scrip will be held in the Naval Brigade Hall at. seven o'clock this evening.

A very great improvement has been effected in the footpath at the western side of Brown street, which.for a long time was in a wofully dilapidated state, and to which we on several occasions called attention. The old wooden pathway has been torn up, and stones and earth put down, with an ash sprinkling on top. People can now walk over it in the dark without the risk of coming to grief over a projecting board, or getting a sprained ankle in some hole. " There are other places in the Borough where a similar improvement would conduce to the comfort of pedestrians.

It will be noticed—with pleasure, we are sure, by some —that the St. George's Hall Skating Eink will be opened for the season to-morrow evening, the hours being from seven till ten o'clock, and the admission, including use of skates for one hour, a shilling, Mr Macgregor has been at considerable expense in renovating the hall, and putting the floor in order, so that the latter is now admirably adapted for rinking. We have no doubt but that skating will become very popular this season." Already we have heard of one

club as being in course of formation, and probably others will be made up, each securing one night a week exclusively for the club, under n-greement with the proprietor.

We hope that (here is but scant need to remind our readers of the concert which is to take place to-night at the A cadeiny of Music. The concert is given in aid of the funds which support the Catholic Bo^s' School, and in it many ladies and gentlemen of well known ability will take part. Besides these those who are fond of novelties will have the pleasure of hearing Miss Shanaghan, who, with other Auckland friends, has kindly promised to assist. The programme is an excellent one, and when finished, such holders of front seat tickets as wish will have the opportunity of indulging in a dance. The following items, not included in the programme which appears in our advertising columns, will be given to-night: —Duet—" Elfin Call," Miss Shanaghan and Mrs Lawless; Song—"Out on the Rocks," Mrs Lawless; Song—"Steer my bark to Erin's Isle," Miss Shanaghan.

There was a clean sheet at the R.M Court to-day.

The Globe Combination Troupe gave their second performance at the Theatre Royal last night. Owing to attractions elsewhere the audience was not large, but the entertainment was carried out in a successful manner, and the various features were done full justice to. Professor Hennicke's magic was as skilfully manipulated as on the first night of the company's appearance, and Mr Herman showed that he could use his voice in a surprising manner. The aeriel suspension of Madame Stella and Arabian Box Mystery were vastly interesting, particularly the latter; the cording of the box being superintended by a gentlemen from the audience, but, notwithstanding, the lady got into the box" in less than two minutes, to the amazement of the audience. To-night will be the .ast of the company.

We received by the last Southern mail a batch of papers laid before Parliament during last Session, which, apparently, have only'just been turned out by the Government Printer. The batch includes a Return of Educational Reserves throughout the Colony, general and provincial; Papers relative to the election in. the Eastern Maori Electoral District; Report of the Native Fuel Committee ; Papers relative to-the appointment of an Inspector of Lunatic Asylums for ihe Colony, and others. '

The benefit of the Brothers Reed came oft at the Academy of Music last night, under the patronage of the officers and members of the Borough Fire Brigades and other local celebrities, and in the presence of a very good audience. The entertainment consisted of musical selections by Messrs W.H., F., and Gr. Reed, local songs composed and sung by the former, and instrumental duets by the tyro elder brothers, who are both quite at home with a. number of instruments. The appearance of the stage'was something like a, music-seller's shop. There were large instruments and small—wind and string, from a piano to a penny whistle, disposed in every part, and, during the performance of a programme comprising twenty-three items, these were all more or less brought into requisition. Mr W. H. Reed accompanied his brothers, while they played cornet and concertina solos; he sang Emmett's song " Saur Kraut," with banjo accompaniment; and the "Brother's' Lullaby" with guitar accompaniment. His local songs appeared to give much amusement, especially, a new one on the " Moanatairi," and in rendering these Mr Eeed accompanied himself on the seraphene. He played on a small fiddle and on two tin whistles, and throughout the evening,' assisted by his'brothers, gave such an exhibition of versatility as a musician and general entertainer as is seldom witnessed. The Thames people have frequently heard and seen Mr Reed in various characters, but not before last night had they an opportunity of seeing him in such a round of characters. In fact he did . what he" promised : he let them see what he could do. It is due to him to say, however, that even then his repertoire of characters was not exhausted,\but the programme was very lengthy as it "was, and would not permit of any further extension, especially as the entertainment. wound up with a dance—a fitting termination to an evening's amusement.

The Kin a arrived fcpm Coromandel last night, having on board a number of excursionists, some of whom were former residents on the Thames who availed themselves of the Kina's trip to pay us a visit. We believe the excursion now being enjoyed was arranged some time ago to come off at Easter, but circumstances prevented it, and the promoters, not to be disappointed, are now taking their holiday. The Tvina returns to-day, leaving the wharf at 6 o'clock.

We have received a copy of The Cooktown Courier of the 17th ultimo, but ifc does not contain any very startling items of intelligence.—A crushing of 27 tons of stone from the Band of Hope claim, Hodgkinson,-is recorded, the yield being at the rate of twenty-six and a half ounces to the ton.—The Chinese residents having heard of Sir Arthur Kennedy (the new Governor of Queensland) from their friends in Hong Kong as a " welly good man," were preparing to present- a grand address to welcome the new-comer, and intended letting off onia r million and a-half of crackers.—The Municipal Council, judging by a report of their proceedings, is anything but a happy family.

yEsiBS writes: At the local Land Boards the investigations are sometimes rather . brusquely conducted. Probably the applicants are occasionally perverse and slow. There is one official gentleman who is not considered to love selectors much. He was once scandalised by a minute from the Minister of Lands, which, after detailing certain instructions, concluded by directing " the surveyor " in connection therewith " to embrace all the applicants." Since then, while he was assisting at a Land Board, there was an applicant - who was young, buxom, and female.

" Aye you," he inquired, "married?" Seleetress : " No, sir." District Surveyor : " Have you any intention of getting married 1" Seleetress: "Not at present; but—are you a bachelor?"

He asked n© further questions, and that young woman got her land.

.DtmiNG- the hearing of a case recently tried at Tamworth, Queensland, before his Honor Judge Meymott, the following is reported -by the Tamworth Observer to have oceivred :—" Witness, '"^regard-

ing the holy book, leaned over to the judge and whispered—' lioborfc Alexander , your Honor, legally-qualified medical practitioner.' The Judge : ' Have you ever taken an oath before ? ' Doctor:

1 Oh, that's all right; never mind.' The Judge: 'What do you mean? It's not all right.' Doctor: ' You see, I'm a barrister myself as well as you ; it's all right. The Judge : 'You're drunk, sir.' Doctor: ' I'm not; I'm not drunk.' The Judge : ' We'll take this man's evidence, and then commit him.' Crown Prosecutor: ' I think, your Honor, it would be an insult to the Court to take his evidence.' Doctor : 'Go on, old boy; barrister myself, you know ; it's all right.' Judge : ' How dare you address me as an old boy P' Doctor :' No offence, old boy ; familiar term, you know; know you privately.' Judge: 'Lock this man up for 24 hours.'"

" Fbank Fudge " writes as follo,ws in the Saturday Advertiser :—" The good folks of Lawrence must be extremely fond of the law and the lawyers, or they would not insist upon having such an expensive farce as Criminal Sessions in their peaceful and orderly town, where there is usually such a light calendar. Tommy Pope, Cobb's well known whip, had the honor of driving the entire Court from Havelock to Lawrence a few evenings ago. There was - one solitary prisoner, a gigantic policeman, the Crown Prosecutor, and another limb of the law, a hungry looking reporter, the Judge himself, the Judge's Associate, and the Judge's Associate's dog. Shades of Coke and Blackstone ! "could ye visit this sublunary sphere, how ye would have been shocked had ye peeped into Cobb's coach at Havelock the other evening and seen this happy, though incongruous mingling of accused, accusers, peripatetic journalists, and judicial authorities. ' Facilus est decensus,' as we say in the classics."