THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2801, 5 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1878.

We have a grievance with the Press Agency. YesSerday they favored us with a large dose of not very interesting details of the interview between the Premier and Tawhiao, going to the trouble of wiring it from Alexandra, Auckland and Wellington, bat they did not send us a line of calograms, which they were able to supply to our Auckland evening contemporary, and which we have to publish second hani. A little war news—or rather news regarding the European situation is regarded with interest, and we could wait for results regarding the meeting in Wai' kato. We knew that a steamtr with messages was expected at Batavia on the 3rd, and it was a disappointment that we had to go to press yesterday without later calograms.

' These does not seem to be any probability of the projected match between the Eleven Australian Cricketers and Twenty-two of the Thames coming off, which is very much to be regretted, as there is no doubt it would have been the most interesting match ever played here. It appears, however, the Australians have to proceed to Australia by the incoming mail steamer from Frisco, which, although it is not due till the 13th instant (Wednesday), is expected by the agents on Tuesday, and is (o sail the same day. If this difficulty could be got over—if it could be known for a certainty that th# mail steamer would not anticipate her due date, the Australians might have a steamer ready to bring them to the Thames on Saturday night or during Sunday, play here Monday and Tuesday, and take steamer for Auckland on return Tuesday night, any little festivity or hospitality to be shown them taking place on Monday night. The falling through of the match is the more to be regretted as arrangements were going on swimmingly, no difficulty having arisen of a financial or any other nature.

We would just remind our readers that the excursion to the Miranda to-morrow will leave the Goods Wharf at half-past seven o'clock, and if the weather proves favorable we doubt not - that the excursionists will have a very pleasant day's outing.

To-day we received the 40th number of Hansard—the last of the reports of proceedings of the late session of Parliament. This last number is a bulky one of 150 pages, and the total number of page. 1} the reports occupy for the session cannot be much short of 2000—the greatest session in length and for talking known in the annals of responsible government in New Zealand.

Mb Waliee Fbickeb's large bunch of pears has been almost excelled by another bunch from the garden of Mr Wm. Moorcraft, Upper Albert street, now exhibited in the window of Mr Jeffery, Conrent Garden fruit depot;, Brown street.

To-pat at the Exchange Buildings Mr Wm. Carpenter sold at auction a large number of shares in the Alma Goldmining Company, forfeited for non • payment of calls, Ac. They realised from twopence to fourpence per share, and the buyers were principally former shareholders in the company. Thebe was no business of any kind at the R.M. Court this morning. The quarterly installation meeting of the Northern Pioneer Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held last night in the Good Templar Hall. Bolleston street. There was a fair attendance of members, and sereral visitors. Bro. Hammond, L.D., acted as installing officer, being assisted by P.C.T. Bro. Sims, from Auckland, acting as G.W.M., and Bro. Speight as G.W.S. Bro. Danby having taken his seat as P.W.C.T., the following officers were installed for the ensuing quarter: — W.C.T., Bro. W. Eose; W.V.T., Sister i Addey (pro. tern., Sister Bichards, penr., I I elect, being ill); W.S., Bro. W. J. W. I Addey (re-elected); W.A.S., Bro. E. Doidge; W.C., Bro. E. Stevens (reelected) ; W.T., Bro. James Cocks (reelected) ; W.F.S., Sister Slate Eichards ; E.H.S., Bro. Scott; L.H.8., Bro. Keen; W.M., Bro. Anderson; D.M., Bro. MoCoid (pro. tern.); W.1.G., Bro. Cartwright ; and W.0.G., Sister Nicholls, who assumed office amidst the applause of the Lodge, it being quite a unique thing for a sister to occupy this position, and she having volunteered to take it when no brother coud be found to do so. The installation ceremony having been completed, Bro. John Scolfc, one of the representatives from the Thames to the Grand Lodge recently held, gave an account of its proceedings, shortly after which the Lodge closed.

We have bad many evidences this season of the adaptability of the soil and climate of tbis district for fruit growing. Such splendid apples and pears bare been exhibited; luscious apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums; fine grapes—in fact almost every kind of tree fruit, it bas been proved, can be grown here, not in a feeble kind of way, out without extraordinary attention, in quantity and superior quality. Another instance was afforded to us yesterday, when we received from Mrs JRae, Pollen street, Shortland, a basket containing lemons, apples and pears. The lemons ate fully matured, of good size and delicious fragrance (the flavor will be a matter for future study), and on the branches with the ripe fruit are fragrant blossoms in different stsges of development. The apples and pears

are fine samples. How when lemons cv bo successfully grown iv the back gardens of houses of business in Sliortlund, it fellows that with selection of locality—some of the sheltered liltle gnllies of this goldfield, for instance—it is pre'.ty c«r tain that lemon gro\riug, and perhaps orange growing could be made a soun.e of great profit. At any rate wo cau commend f.uit growing to the attention of settlers, for ttio importation of it is still a considerable item in our daily expenditure.

The writer of Home Gossip in the Bay of Plenty Tinaep, dilating on the prevailing fashions, says: The somewhat absurd fashion of wearing fruit is becoming more general; it began with currants, grapes, and such small fruit, but now apples and pomegranates hold undisturbed sway; even piue-apples have been worn. Little birds are worn in the front of the hat, the head very conspicuous popping out from a mass of feathers and-ribbons. What will fashion come to next P A facetious lady remarks that tlie only other trimming yet to come will begin with white mice and end where ? With the rugged hide of the colossal rhinoceros. Very large mob caps are yet worn by all ladies, of the same material as the dress. The newest fashionable work for ladies is embroidering cocoa nut matting for passages of conservatories, but I doubt if it will ever be very popular. With these few remarks I will conclude my present budget for the ladie?, hoping that the next ship may be laden with the " golden grain " of pretty fashions to delight the fair sex in your remote though lovely land.

Amid tbo din of faction and the clamour of revolutionary politics, it is refreshing lo lurn for a moment lo the perusal of the remarks, full of wise philanthropy and general social insight, contained in a recent speech of Dr Moorhouse, the bishop of Melbourne, at Adelaide. Dr Moorhouse, after referring to his object and desire to aid "in trying to lift up the human nature of the Australian colonies to a little higher level ot social, mental, and intellectual culture," proceeded—" lam sore you will excuse me if I say that in the days of early enthusiasm I used to dream—that dream so absurdly extveme as some may imagine it—of voluntarily becoming a working man myself, in order that I might legm to sympathise with the workiug men'a ckss, so that I mi.^hfc the better, if the providence of God would give me the grace lo do it, elevate it a little higher. I believe that to be the great problem of modern history, not to elevate one class above another, not to make one class the master of another, but to take the common mass of humanity, embrace it in the arms of our affection, and lift it bodily up. I believe that is the problem in England at the present time, and it is some satisfaction to me to feel that this problem is receiving some solution in these Australian colonies." The bishop declared that he is " not a bit afraid of what is called over-educating the masses." " When the working classes find that plough-driving pays better than quill-driving they will stop the ' quill-driving.' Depend upon it, these things arrange themselves very quickly. Ido really try wherever I find any people to listeu to me to impress Upon them the necessity of inculcating their children with the feeling of the dignity and the pleasure of labour." " Let us," said Dr Moorhouse, " try to make people take their pleasure in their work, not after it. There are people who think of making their fortunes and then giving the slip to their daily tasks, and being happy for ever. They will be miserable for ever." The speech was full of good points and of practical wisdom. We sadly want all of the good offices and wholesome influences of such men as Dr Moorhouse to help men to see the dignity of honest labor.r, and to aid in smoothing the asperities of class feeling in a community where so many men are pursuing their objects by seeking to fan class jealousies into internecine hatreds.—Australasian.

Hospital balls (says lhe Baliarat Evening Post) are often a novelty, but one held tlrfa Christmas possesses a special notoriety. In a hospital not tar off, the employes were enjoying themselves on the light fantastic, and nil wont merry as a marriaKe bell till about nine o'clock, when " the Caledonian " quadrilles was being performed, and the M.C. had just culled out "'cav;ilier seul " when the word was passed that v Chinaman had just died in number ten, and the hands were wanted. Dancing proceedings were stayed for the moment; the ladies were left standing in their places, while their partners went out on business, tucked the deceased into his narrow bed. shouldered the stretcher, and conveyed him to the dead-house, after which they returned in peace, the fiddles struck up, the M.C. took " cavalier seul " where he left off, and the dance merrily proceeded This is reducing the combination of business and pleasure to a science.