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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2787, 19 January 1878, Page 2

It is stated that Mr James Marshall has purchased tho builrliiiK known ns tho Bank ol' Australasia, at the corner of Pollen and Willoughby streels, Sbortland. This same building was ncenlly offered to tho Thames County Council for £500. Having been built for a bank and private dwelling, it should be cnsily convertible into a first-class place of business.

The cricket match, Married versus Single, commenced at Pannvai on last Saturday, was resumed this afternoon on tile same ground in presence of a considerable number of spectators, many being ladies. When tho stumps were drawn last week the game stood — Married, first innings, 143; Single, four wickets down, 46.

We are glad to be able (o state that arrangements hare been completed for exhibiting Clifford's Mirror of tho World at the Academy of Music, to commence about Monday the 28th instant. This show is one cf the most instructive and entertaining, and the most refined that has been presented in New Zealand. We shall refer to it at greater length in a future issue.

Messrs Foy Brothers, photographer*, Sbortland, have just completed one of the largest portrait groups they have ever made in their extensive experience in this line. In size it is about four feet by three, contains the portraits of the No. 2 Eauraki Eifles, 115 in number, arranged in an oval. Tho company and staff officers occupy the centre, the band being placed at the top of the group. The portraits are exceedingly well taken, and the arrangement of such a large number is very good.

To-mobbow the anniversary sermons of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School will be preached at the chapel, Mackny street. The Bey. S. J. Neill will conduct the morning services, and the Bey. J. Nixon the evening, and in the afternoon there will be a children's service, at which the Eev. J. Nixon will address the children. .. On Tuesday evening a soiree will be held, after which there will be addresses and music. i Mil E. Cahe will preach on " Grace ; and Truth" at the Christian Meeting House, Templar Hall, Eolleston street, at 6.30 to-morrow evening. On the fourth page of to-day's issue appears an extract from Froude's " Eevival of Eomanism " entitled, " Attraction of Romanism for uneasy Protestants," and other interesting matter. We would call attention to the fact (hat Mr T. W. Gudgeon has been appointed agent to the Standard Insurance Company here. What was nearly proving a fatal accident occurred in the Harbor yesterday. Messrs Wicbards, junr., and J. Porter were out for a sale in the yacht Eover, when a sudden gust of wind caused the boat to capsize and sink. Porter immediately after the capsize managed to catch hold of the dingey, and Bichards sustained himself with the hatch. After being about an hour in the water they were picked up by the p.B. Euby under Capfc. Buruingham, which was going to Ohinemuri, nnd, noticing the two waifs, altered her course, and saved them from a watery grave. The Euby continued on her way to Ohinemuri, and when at the Thames Eiver Saw Mill she transferred the two saved men to the Piako, which brought them into Grahamstown, no doubt thankful for their narrow escape. The yacht has not yet been recovered, though parties are oat searching for it. At a meeting of the Board of Education yesterday afternoon, it was resolved to advertise for a head governesß haying a diploma, to assist Miss Stodart in the high school for girta, the advertisement to appear throughout New Zealand and Australia. The salary will be £350 a

Phofessob Ben Allah gave his second entertainment at the Academy of Music last night to not so good an attendance as on the previous night. The feats of magic were similar in character to those presented before, but the Indian Box mystery was substituted for the ariel suspension business. The ventriloquial portion of the entertainment, or Talking Heads, was very good, the professor displaying great flexibility of voice and immobility of feature. The distribution of gifts caused considerable excitement, being by no means the least attractive feature of the the entertainment. The two principal prizes were a silver lever watch and a set of drinking cups. The system of distribution adopted at Ben Allah's entertainment differs from that usually followed, inasmuch as the holders of blanks have a chance of carrying off one of the principal prizes, a privilege usually confined to those who have already obtained prizes. La9t night two extra envelopes were given to each person in the house. There will be no performance to-night, as the professor is leaving for Napier.

. There is a probability, we learn, of the Thames being ,favored with a visit from Mr Stephen Masset, a gentleman who has been delighting audiences in Auckland and suburbs with his clever readings, singing, and recitations, with imitationsjof celebrated vocalists and lecturers. After Mr Masset it is within the bounds of possibility that Mr Levy, the famous cornet player, will appear for a few nights in conjunction with his concert company.

The Dunedin Evening Star of a recent date supplies the following particulars of a singular accident:—" Another accident has taken place at the Anderson's Bay railway works. This morning one of the men working there, named Harry Brown, charged a hole and lit the fuse, and then turned and carried away the tub of powder from which he bad filled the. charge. As he did so a spark, presumably from the fuse, ignited the powder (some 201bs) which he was carrying, and he was lifted bodily into the air, falling almost insensible on the road dose to the water. Brown heard some of the workmen cry out that he was on fire, and he had sufficient strength and presence of mind to roll himself into the bay, thereby extinguish* ing his smouldering clothes. On being taken out he was placed in a cab and taken to the hospital. It was there found that he was severely burned about the face and arms, and also much bruised about the head and body. This afternoon he was progressing favourably."

The Press Agency telegragh from Dunedin, to the effect that a nolle prosequi was to be entered by the Crown Prosecutor in the case of the Attorney-General ▼• George Jones, was erroneous. The case will come on in the second week in March. A similar assurance regarding the Proudfoot case would remove from the public mind the impression now prevailing, that justice has miscarried in a flagrant way, reflecting discredit on the present administration.

A telegram from Wellington to the Auckland SJar last night says :—The annual New Zealand Wesleyan Conference began its sittings in Wellington last evening. The opening service, admitting the public, was of an imposing nature. The President of the Conference, the Eev. Win. Kirk, and nearly all the ministers Sent by their respective circuits, were upon the platform. In accordance with the time honoured custom at Methodist Conferences, at the opening the congregation sang the appropriate hymn, beginning with—

And aro wo yet alive and sec each other's face; Glory and praise to Jesus givo for His redeeming grace. After tho preliminary portion had been gone through, ballot was taken for President, and when scrutinized it was found that the Rev. J. Crump, formerly of the Thames, was elected. The ballot for Secretary resulted in the election of tho Rev. W. Morley, formerly of the Auckland Circuit; and the Itev. R. Bavin, AssistantSecretary. The retiring President, on vacating the chair, handed to his successor the seals'of lhe Conference and other honored documents, and gave the usual address. The Rev. J. Crump followed briefly. After these addresses and singing and prayer, the first gathering was brought to a close at about 10-o'clock.