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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2631, 14 June 1877, Page 2

We are requested to call attention to the " caution" of the Thames Water Supply Committee against cutting timber on the gathering ground of the water supply. The boundaries of the ground are given, and any person cutting wood thereon after this notice will be prosecuted.

Majok Cooper, about whom some anxiety was felt a day or two ago in consequence of his absence over the time he was expected to return, returned to the Thames last night safo and sound. He has been on a riding tour to the East Coast, through a part of the Waitekauri and Ohinemuri districts, and he states that everywhere the roads are in a bad state.

We would remind members of the Independent Order of llechabites and i friends of Mr G. Sawyer that a special meeting will be held at the Tent room of the Star of Hauraki Tent No. 3 this evening at 8 o'clock for a social soiree and presentation to Mr G. Sawyer, who is leaving the district. Mr Sawyer is very much respected by his brethren and sisters of the Eeehabite Order, ar-d by many friends outside the order, and we have no doubt there will be a large attendance this evening to say " Good-bye" to him on his departui:-.". We understand that objections have been forwarded to the Governor against the petitions from Kauaeranga and Parawai Highway Districts for merging into the County of Thames, and also against the signatures of the said petitions, as not being in accordance with the Act. At Maryborough, Victoria, two men have been fined £5 each for distributing hanr-bills without a printer's name.

Theub was a clean sheet at the lI.M. Court this morning. Yestehday Mr H. C. J^awlor held a Revision Court at the Warden's Court house, Grabamstown, to hear objections against the names of persons being placed on the Electoral Koll for the Thamos District. The objections were of.a formal character, made by the Registration Officer, Major ICeddell, chiefly on the ground that the names objected to were already on the roll, the new registration having arisen from the returns furnished by clerks to local bodies, in conformity with the Act of last session.

We notice that Mr H. J. Weeks, formerly of the Thames, has entered into a partnership with C. J. Hill and H. M. Moor for the purpose of carrying on the business of general printers and publish, ing the Nelson Daily Times newspaper, under the business title of Hill, Moor and Weeks.

A Hawke's Bay paper says:—" As showing the mildness of the present season, notwithstanding that we havo occasionally had a few bleak days, we may mention that the apple iroes in Mr Whitty's garden are bearing fruit forlthe second time this year."

The probability of England becoming invoked in the struggle between Russia and Turkey—considered by some to be very remote—has had the effect of stimu : lating the Australian Colonies to a consideration of their defences, and, as is pretty well known, two eminent officers of the British service have been commissioned to, and are now engaged in examining the defences of the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. Both these colonies have expended considerable sums in fortifying the approaches to their capital cities—the one by erecting batteries and organising a permanent force; the other by procuring an iron-clad monitor and by its liberal encouragement to volunteering. The gentlemen alluded to are expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly, and it is only natural to suppose that their examination of the defences of this Colony will be confined to the approaches to the principal harbors and cities of the Colony, such an insignificant port as the Thames being without the pale. We are inclined to think, however, that if any foreign foe should visit New Zealand for the purpose of levying contributions—which is all that any civilised nation would think of doing —the Thames would be sure to receive a visit in the hope of making a haul of gold. The present would therefore be a very good time for our volunteer corps to represent their wants to the Government. If they require improved arms, let them ask. The danger from an internal foe is trifling, so that if the volunteer force is worth keeping up it should be maintained at a standard to be useful in case of invasion, to repel a foreign foe. The South Australian Government have become so convinced of this that they have ordered by telegraph a large number of Martini-Henry rifles, and the work of enrolling a volunteer force is rapidly proceeding. Here we have in a comparatively isolated and exposed district a force of five hundred men, and it would not take long to make this force thoroughly effective on land. If the establishment is worth the expense to maintain it on its present footing, it would surely be worth ah extra effort to make it more effective in case of being called upon for action. We are not alarmed at foreign invasion, but it might pertinently be asked, what service could our volunteers render with their present, equipment in case of a visit from an enemy bent upon spoliation ?

The proprietors of the Australasian announce that with the issue of that journal of June 9 would be presented gratis " a carefully prepared map of the seat of war in the East," showing the scene of the war on the European and on the Asiatic sides of the Black Sea. It is also stated that " in preparing it the best available authorities have been consulted, so as to make it as complete as possible, and to enable it to supply all necessary information for the elucidation of the great struggle now in progress." Judging from former productions of the kind issued by the Australasian proprietory we look forward to something good, and we have no doubt there will be an extra demand for the number of the Australasian containing the map, as most people are interested in the present struggle, which may be said to have barely commenced.

Me W. Horace Bent seems to have drifted into his proper sphere. He is now doing " corner man " with the United States Minstrels in Melbourne. Mr Bent is a good nigger, in the sense of negro minstrelsy, but he has aspirations above the line. When he undertook the role of lecturer to Batchelder's diorama of the American War he was not so much astray; but when he essayed to " lecture " the "Apocalypse," with readings from Holy Writ, the Yankee-Negro twang betrayed him, and he was a failure. He was more at home in h s famous trombone solo " Just before the battle, Mother." " Billy Bent" is now in his proper element, and if he sticks to it he will find it pays best. At Adelaide a surveyor named Alfred Nicholls has died through taking chlorodyne. The quantity he took is not stated.

The influx of Chinamen at Queensland has been the source of much distress amongst the celestials, who are s.tated to be wandering about the country in a state of starvation, and robbing everywhere. Numerous outrages have taken place, robbery and murder, which are traceable to Chinamen. A serious difficulty is threatened, which will engage the attention of the Queensland Government to prevent its assuming a dangerous: aspect, the European population being greatly exasperated at the repeated depredations of the Mongolians.

The Bristol Post reports that at the Bridgend Petty Sessions the Bey. Bees Prichard, vicar of Llandyvodgw, Glamorganshire, appeared in answer to an adjourned summons charging him with having used profane language, and also with assault. Evidence was given to the effect that the rev. defendant, during an altercation in a railway carriage, spoke profanely six times; and the bench inflicted upon him the penalty—imposed by an old statute —of 5s per curse. The charge of assault was dismissed. It was pointed out during the hearing of the case that the statute imposes 53 for every oath if the guilty person be in the condition of a gentleman, and 2s in the case of persons of low degree.

The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol writes: —"I have become definitely a total abstainer. I have not taken any pledge, but I am now just as settled in my mind as if I had become ever so bound. I latterly took a little alcohol, but I find no difference between abstaining and non-abstaining; still, as I may encourage some, I drop the alcohol altogether."

Among the gifts presented to the Emperor William on his birthday there was an engraving by Prince Henry and a booktbound by Prince Waldmar, the two youngest sous of the Crown Prince. Under the thrifty habits of the dynasty, each of its princes, it is well known, in order to become acquainted with the popular aspect of life, has to learn a craft. His -Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is a compositor, and the German Emperor is a glazier.