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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2619, 31 May 1877, Page 2

To-mobhow the election of two auditors for the Borough of Thames will take place at the Council Chambers. There are nine candidates, so that the burgesses will have nothing to complain of in the matter of choice as far as numbers go, and the candidates are well known.

We are requested to call attention to the fact that the funeral of the late James Rodger sy which was to have taken place to-morrow, has been postponed tilt Saturday, June 2, at 2 o'clock. The wife of the deceased is in Ohinemuvi, aud it is to allow of her being present that the postponement has taken place.

The last exhibition of the Hibevnica was given at the Academy of Music last night. It was intended as a joint benefit to Messrs D. Howard and H. Nicholson, but there was such a very poor house that it was a benefit only in name. The entertainment was given in the usual style of excellence. The fine paintings in the diorama were described by Mr Howorth briefly but concisely, and the comedy was well sustained, and Mr Nicholson sang " Old Uncle Joe" in capital style, and he gave a very clever dance on being encored. The other characters in the comedy were ably sustained. The Hibernica opens in Auckland shortly, aid we have no doubt it will be well patronised, as it deserves to be, the entertainment being one- that possesses excellent features, and nothing in the least objectionable.

At the R.M. Court this morning the only business was a charge of drunkenness against a Native, and a charge of stealing a saddle and bridle laid against a Native named Heta, which was a remanded case. The former delinquent, who was on bail, forfeited the same by'his; non-appearance; and the latter prisoner was again remanded till the sixth pror. on account of the absence of Mr Bullen. H. Goldsmith and E. W. Puckey, Esqs., J.'sP., were on the Bench.

The arnual meeting of the Central Italy Gr.lVl. Co., which was to hare be»n held at the Governor Bowen Hotel last night, lapsed for want of a quorum. There were only five shareholders present, and nine was the number required.

We understand that Mr A. Brodie and several other irembers of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge have gone to Auckland to confer with members of the Auckland Lodges and arrange for the installation of the Hon. P. Whitaker as Provincial Grand Master S.C. for the North Island.

A special correspondent of The Auckland Star, writing from Tnhua.says:—l have lived in the Tuhua country for over twelve months, but as yet have not seen a speck of gold, yet the natives assure me that at one place there is bo!h alluvial and a very rich reef of gold quartz. I have not as yet visited this spot. Time will tell if such be the case.

Thb following letter, signed "Shareholder," appeared in yesterday's Herald : —" Sib, —Your strictures on the mine manager's telegram of the Moanatairi in your issue of to-day are deserving of all praise and commendation from shareholders. Coming as they do on the eve of the general meeting, I hope your remarks will be the means of rousing shareholders from their lethargy, to cause inquiries to. be made as to the propriety of such reports. Lately we have been told that there was a horse in the reef (query), then again that the shot to break down reef in the winze did not act, and last, though not last, that the rope had got the dry rot, and, consequently, that the works would have to be delayed. Now, sir, permit me to ask, what were all these canards issued for ? Was it for the purpose of elevating or depressing the shareholders' property, or was it through ignorance ?"

The South British Insurance Company directors have determined to increase the capital of the company to £I,OC 0,003, by the issue of 12,500 new shares. The present capital of the company is £750,C30, composed in 37,000 shares of £20 each, on which £2 has been paid up. The new issue of shares is to be offered pro rata to shareholders it £3 lOs per share, being thirty shillings premium. The payments are to be 10s on application, £1 on September Ist, £L on November Ist, and the remaining £1 on Jannary Ist. The increase of shares will have the effect of raising the paid up capital and reserve fund to £158,750.

The Otago Daily Times in an article drawing attention to the defenceless state of the Colonial ports, thus refers to Dunedin in particular :—a The rich booty, moreover, that lies at the mercy of any privateering vessel in these seas would tempt any power to come and seize it. Here in Dunedin there is money, as the phrase is,' sticking oat' for the first vessel that ranges itself outside the Ocjan Beach and threatens the city with bom« bardment unless its requisition meets with a prompt response. What defence have we under such circumstance.? ? Absolutely none. Let our volunteers „be as valorous as they are held to be by their warmest admirers, they cannot all swim, and if they could, they could not capture the cruiser by deft natation. We have a Naval Brigade which is full of daring, no doubt, but which would look very small indeed in the face of a decent cruiser with half a dozen guns. We have a few somewhat old, though no doubt excellent guns, which are admirably adapted for firing a salute, but which would be of little use for defensive purposes,"

As the Boyal procession was wending its way to St. Stephen's on the opening day, a kilted Highlander reclining in one of the Royal carriages attracted the notice of the crowd. " Hooray I" cried the many-headed ; ■■" ere's John Brown ! " The Highlander thrust bis head out of the window in a rage. " I'm not John Brown!" he cried; I'm Canieron of Lochiel! "—World.

Mackie's steam-driven composing machines are rapidly ncaring perfection. One of a number now in the London office of the Warrington Guardian" we (Register) watched some clays ago setting minion at the rate of 8000 an hour, with only a lad to attend it, whose duty was to supply it with type and remove what was set in long lines. Apart from that, the machine might have been in a locked-up room. We also saw Mr Mackie's perforators worked by a young woman, who had no difficulty in keeping up to 8000 an hour. One composing machine of a large size was setting a nonpareil edition of the New Testament which is to be sold in the shape of a newspaper (Globe-size) for a penny.

With all the croaking about loss of population and paralysis of trade, this paragraph from the Melbourne Telegraph is significant:—" One of the leading softgoods firms of the city has set an example which the others would do well to follow. It is generally known that the last halfyear has been a profitable one for the trade. Bad debts hare been scarce, prices have been good, and sales have increased. The resident partner of the firm referred to determined not to keep all the fruits of this prosperous state of things to himself, and one day last week he gave his salesmen and other hands a splendid picnic, after which he distributed £1000 amongst them as bonuses."

The London Times has devoted ar. article in its leading columns to the " Public House System," in which it gives three reasons for the activity at present displayed on the question:— " First, Drinking has increased among us during the ten years." The second cause is the reduction of the Franchise. The control of the large popular constituencies is now in the hands of the working classes, and those of them who are interested and who look to legislation to do them any good, know that drink is the thing that keeps the working man down, and they want to get rid of it. A third reason, however, why the Permissive Bill recommends itself is, "The existing system of licensing dces^ not square with that of our recognised principles of legislation." It opposes total prohibition, but warmly careful restriction.

Apbopos of the Prussian horror of fresh air, a Berlin letter writer reports this mot of the Crown Prince. Alluding to the Kaiser's palace, he said—" I feel as if I were in my native air when I go to mj mother's and father's, for I don't believe they have opened the windows since I was born."

An exciting scene recently occurred at the Paris Jardin dcs Plantes. A large crowd was gathered round the Polar bear pit, when a little child of fire, leaning over its nurse's arms, fell headlong into the den. The two bears, accustomed to presents of food, sprang towards the child, but were startled by a cry of horror from the crowd. Nobody dared attempt the child's rescue till a gentleman courageously fastened a rope round his waist, was lowered into the pit by the keepers, and succeeded in bringing up the child in safety just as the bears recovered from their surprise, and were darting upon him. The little one escaped with several bruises and a broken arm.

In a paper on Earl [Russell at Pembroke Lodge, the World remarks: — " Now, in a bright and congenial home, tended by the most devoted of wives and children, he displays to a younger generation the mature beauty of virtues which his life has illustrated. The patience and cheerfulness which supported him through a long and arduous career find the fullest scope for their exercise amid the increasing infirmities of advancing years. The cheerfulness and lore of fun which enlivened the tedium of office are none the fainter or dimmer for physical weakness and decay. The sturdy courage with which be confronted difficulties and dangers supports him still in the immediate prospect of the close of this life. At the end of a long career of beneficent exertion he is confident and calm. Lord Russell enjoys the most pure and perfect solace which old age can hare."

Her Majesty has a pleasant wit when she chooses. On lancliug at Portsmouth to come to town for the opening of Parliament, she found that smart young beau, Sir Hastings .Doyle, the General commanding the district, waiting in the bitterest cold weather to receive her. " Sir Hastings," said the Queen kindly,."it is far too bad a day for you to be out." " Madam," replied he, " it is the duty of your generals to die in your service." " Yea," reiocted the Queen, smiling, " but not in that way." Sir Hastings has Wurn a comforter ever Bince.—Yanity Fair.

Mks Cabbie N. Thomas, editor of the New York Temperance Times, has just been burned out, sued for libel, and held to lOOOdol. bail; but she is " game," as witness this: " Scorched by fire, deluged by wate: 1, and indicted by the grand jury, we still live, for we are on the side of God and all right, and it is impossible to crush us. We went to Rochester not worth a penny, and returned worth lOOOdol. As our fighting editor weighs just 721b, weighed by Mr Fairbanks scales at the Centennial, and 1,030 divided by 72 equals 13,86, we are worth 13,86d01. per pound." Mrs Editor Harrow, of tbe Eldorado, Indiana, Herald, undertook to cowhide Bob M'Bride of the rival Ledger the other day. Sob took the little woman under one arm, the whip under the other, and marched down the street, to the amusement of an immense crowd.