THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2780, 11 January 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1878.

Thb final meeting of the Friendly Societies Committee of the Hospital Demonstration is to take place at the Pacific Hotel this evening at 8 o'clock, for the settlement of accounts, and it is satisfactory to learn that the balance sheet to be submitted presents a very creditable state of things, there being available for the Hospital, after meeting all claims upon the fund for expenses, a sum of £137 Bs. The gross receipts were £179 Is Cd, made up as follows: —Sale of booths, Sr.c, £46 ; cash received at gates, £103 19s 6d; from Aunfc Sally and bowling alley, £8 2a 6d; gift, Mr ,J. Leydon, £1 10a; do. J. Gerrish, 10a; balance from sports, £18 19s Gd. The disbursements were—Paid Hoiles for garden, £20; printing and advertising £12 7s 6d; gatekeepers and refreshments, £1 iOs; refreshments for bandsmen, £6 3s; cartage, &c, £1 8s; balance to Hospital, £137 Bs. For the sports account a sum of £55 4s was collected by Friendly Society delegates, members of the committee, and £12 15s was received as entries ; £46 10a being paid away in prizes, and £2 9s 6d for hurdles, giving a balance of £1,8 19s 6d to the general account. This handsome, result is attributable to the assiduity with which the demonstration was carried out by the Friendly Societies' delegates, who this year, had the sole management ©f the affair, and the liberality of the public in responding to the invitation to make the demonstration a success.

The monthly inspection parade of the Thames Scottish was very fully attended last evening, both as regards the company and band. Advantage was taken of the parade to present the District Belt to Vol. Kendall, as well as several company prizes lately competed for. Mrs Kilgour very kindly attended to present the prizes, addressing a few. words of approbation and encouragement to each winner. After the ceremony three hearty cheers were given for Dr. and Mrs Kilgour. The Company then had a march out, headed by their excellent brass band and piper Fotheringham. .. . ,

Two gentlemen connected- with , or belonging to the Audit Department are at present " looking into " things on the Thames. One is a travelling inspector whose duties are to .examine ordinary accounts' connected' with public departments. The other gentleman's investigations are in the" direction of certain irregularities or defalcations of a former Eeceiver of Goldfields Eeyenuo.

The Married r. Single of the Thames Cricket Club will meet in friendly rivalry to-morrow afternoon at Parawai. The game will commence at 2 o'clock sharp, and players are urgently requested to be punctual. The teams are as follows:— Married.-D, H. Bayldon, J. Bull, W. Lough, T. Lawless, E. 8., Macgregor. Fewby, J. E. Macdonald, J. Murphy, P. W. Paul, F. A. Pulliehe, J. B. Steedman, F. J. Wardell, J. B. West, W. Young. Single.—G. A. Buttle, P. Burgess, H. Crump, W. Curtis* E. B.Cameron, W. Carrick, D. E. Gelliou, W. H. ffargreaves, H. St. Paul, Lumsden, J. L Whitford, H. Woodward, Mills.

To-dat was celebrated as the anniversary of the first meeting of the Thames County Council by the flying of a flag at the County offices, and a dejuner a la fourchette. The first meeting' of the County Council was held in the Court House, Grahamatown, on January 9th, 1877.

We are sorry to hear that several of the members of the Naval Brigade have lately joined other companies. We hope that there may bo no foundation for the report, as the Naval Brigade have always been regarded as a valuable and serviceable body of men, and to be depended upon should necessity call the corps into active servce. And the company until lately has been always 1 notable for the unanimity that existed amongst the officers and men—arid wo know the men are often subject to strong persuasion by some of the Officers of others companies to get transferred, but the Naval men under ordinary circumstances always stand by their officers.

With reference to the desired reform in our New Zealand Volunteer system, and the probability of a Koyal Commis-, siou being appointed during the present Parliamentary recess to consider the condition of the who'e thing, we are favored with a few practical suggestions by an old and esteemed Volunteer pulside the Thames district. We apologise to our friend for publishing hit remarks, but the necessity of the case requires that the opinions of far-seeing, practical and experienced Volunteers should bo as widely known as possible. He says: "With reference Jo remodelling the Volunteer Force, the first thing to be dono is to ahpljsh aJJ cMptricJt staff's, aud make

it obligatory on officers conimnndinjj corps to instruct their own companies, and to havo officers, subalterns and non-commis-sioned officers, who could assist—or cancel all their commissions and appointments. And in doing away Svith stall nurses, officers and mon would be much better qualified :to take the field if required; onething is certain,.the "muffs" could not take their nurses with them, and' those officers who lean so much on staff assistance would soon be found worse than useless, in fact tin obstruction and encumbrance in actual work. In lieu of district staffs I would hare a first class Inspector eTer on the more, doing the i inspection and examination duty, say two for each Island, so as to inspect once at least every three months; and all officer* or companies who could not or would not improve up to a certain standard, let them be disbanded. The Inspectors ought to be meQ well up in the latest drill, accustomed to handling and dealing with troops, not merely ornamental things with jingling spurs, perfect only in flirtation and waltzing."

Ovn Paeroa correspondent, writing yesterday afternoon, says: "Mr T. Knecbone, manager of the Young New Zealand mine, Waitekauri, has just brought in the news that one of the workmen, named Robert Collins, has had his left thigh broken by the falling of a mass of rock. It was known that the ground was unsafe, owing to a soapy head, and instructions had been given to secure it. It was while ao engaged that Collins met with his accident. Mr Zneebone was too late to catch the Huby, which was nearly at Puke when he reached Paerca, but he has made arrangements for the Piako to leave immediately on Collies' arrival here; expected about 4 p.m." [In accordance with the above arrangement the Piako returned to town yesterday evening as soon as she had discharged her cargo and passengers, bringing Collins, who was taken to the Hospital and had his leg set.]

to support the Government so long as they kept within the law, and retained the confidence of a majority of the people. His position was one of strict neutrality. That was the view taken by the Imperial authorities; The Civil Service is iv a slate of disorganization, in consequence of the uncertainty as to who will be dismissed: next. Licenses cannot be grunted in con- J sequence of the übseneu of the Police Magistrates. Tenders are to be invited for fifty cases of torpedoes. - Sir William Jervois leaves for England in the Stad Amsterdam iv February.