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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2637, 21 June 1877, Page 2

To-day Captain Digby and some of his officers were shown over portions of the goldfield by Captain Goldsmith, Mining Inspector, arid Mr A. Brodie, County Chairman. The visitors : were much pleased ; with what they saw of the "lions " of the Thames. There was no business at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. Mv James Ceaig sold by auction to-day that well-known hotel and boarding house the "Warwick Arms. The bidding was started by Mr Ehrenfried at £150,; and it was soon run up. Mr Ehrerifried's last bid was £295, audjthe house was knocked down to Mr J. G. Powell for £300. The furniture, stock and fittings will be sold by Mr Craig to-morrow. - The steamers Enterprise a;ad Pearl were laid on today to tuke vsUors on board the Sappho, and a brge number of persons availed themselves of the opportunity to view one of Her Majesty's ships of war. We understand that during the last few days persons connected with the Good Templar .Lodges have been going about collecting signatures in support of two petitions — one opposing Sunday trading'and the other in support of the Local Option Bill. Already several hundreds have appended their names to these petitions. . .

Owing to the shortness of the stay of H.M/s ship, of war Sappho in.our port, a proposal to entertain the officers at a ball has had to be abandoned, much to the regret of many ladies, who are thus, precluded from making the acquaintance of visitors at a dance; It is stated, however, 'that the Sappho will pay another visit to the Thamri shortly, and make a longer stay, when a citizens' demonstration will take place. Last night Captain Digby and some of his officers dined at Captain Fraser's residence,., and the Mayor and County Chairman were also present to meet them. To-night they will be entertained by Major Cooper and the officers of the various volunteers corps. It had been the intention of His Worship the Mayor to invite Captain Digby and his officers, but he consented to forego his intention in deference to the wishes of the Volunteer Officers. The Sappho is expected to leave these waters to-morrow.

A deputation of Geod Templars, headed by Mr W. J. Speight, P.W.C.T., Northern District, went off to the Sappho to-day to invite the Good Templars on board to visit the Star of the Thames Lodge to-night.

A 'correspondent writing from Paeroa yesterday says:—Paeroa presents a lively appearance to-day, having a large increase in its population, principally of Natives attending Court now sitting. The lighter cases are going through first. Two additional public-houses are considered necessary by some individuals, who are making preparations for opening early this week, that is, if Captain Frasez comes up and grants the removal of the licenses, both parties being Mackaytown publicans. Already there are signs that we shall need a reinforcement of our police force.

' The Orangemen of Wellington intend celebrating the 12th of July with a ball.

A writer in Truth says:—The Court newsman thus describes the head-dress of a lady who was presented on her marriage to the Queen at the last Drawing-room: —" The front hair was curled ala neige (like snow). At the top an ornament in diamonds like a peacock's tail. The back hair raised from the roots, accompanied on each side by curled marteaux (hammers). A recent book of travels gives the following account of the regresses in the interior of Africa:—" The women are satisfied' with little clothing, but they bestow much care in the decoration of their heads. Their woolly locks are saturated with oil, often of the most unsavoury description. In front they are arranged in masses of frizzy curls, and the hair behind is drawn tightly to the top of the head and twisted into a knot, into which is stuck a bunch of peacock, ostrich, or other feathers. If time and hair permit, there are other knots at the side of the head, to which more feathers and beads are attached. Suet or chalk is then blown through a reed over head and face, and the cheeks are plentifully bedaubed with red paint." Wnich is the more barbarous—l assert also the most preposterously absurd —the head-dress of a lady of rank or thafof the, poor savage ?

Something like a gun,, says Coming Events, has been invented by Sub-Con-

stables Kevnan and Patchells, of Waterford, and will (so we are informed) shortly be brought over to the War Office for inspection. It consists of forty chambers of regular rifle size, enclosed in a single qylincler. The chambers can be simultaneously charged with cartridge,-fired, and cleaned out with such rapidity that the weapon fires 800 rounds per minute. The inventors calculate that if 10,000 men were armed with 1,666 of these guns they would fire 1,332,800 shots' per minute; whilst if 600,000 men were armed with the Martini Henry rifle they could not fire more than 1,200,C00 per minute.. In other words, 10,000 men armed with 1,666 of the "Irresistible Guns," as they are called, would be equivalent to 1,000,000 men each provided with the ordinary British rifle. The gun is built on wheels, and is cased with bullet-proof steel; and in case of retreat the men could still fire about 800 shots per minute. ■ ■■ ' <