THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2804, 8 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1878.

■ : Ths monthly meeting of the Corinthian Lodge, E.G., was held at the Masonic Hall, Queen street, last evening, end the proceedings were rendered the more interesting by the presence of the following Grand Officers, who were met bj Bro. K. M. Mitchell, P.M.:—Bro. G. 8. Graham, District Grand Master; Brothers W. Lodder.D.G.S Warden; E.G. Wade,D.G.B.; J. W. Moat, D.G.J. Deacon; and IK Cole, D.G. Sword Bearer. After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been disposed of, Bro. C. F. Quint presented the tracing board of the second degree, for which the thanks of the Lodge were tendered by the W.M.

Mb Wai. Cabpjbnter submitted to auction to-day, at the Exchange, three well known battery properties, two of which were sold. The first lot was the thirty stamper battery known as the Bailmt and Clones, with buildings and

all requisites, which was knocked down to Mr John Brown for £600. The Shamrock battery, Waiotahi Creek, was also knocked down to Mr John Brown, the price being £1000. The Manukau battery, in Corornandel street, of 41 stampers, building, steam engine, &c, was withdrawn, the highest bid for it being £1130, the reserve price £1250. There was a considerable number of mining men present.

We Lave been requested to draw the attention of the Thames Eifle Bangers to the advertisement in another column announcing their next prize firing, and especially to the change made in the time for competing, to give members working shifts and in the country districts a chance of being present without much loss of time.

A meeting of persons desirous of forming a Horticultural Society, convened by Mr F. A. Pulleine, is to be held at the Governor Bo wen Hotel to-night at halfpast seven o'clock. We hope there will be a good attendance, and that arrangements will be made for forming a society on a firm basis.

We hare been requested to call attention to the alteration in the time of departure of the Durham to-night. Instead of leaving for Auckland at ten o'clock she will not go till eleven, to suit the convenience of some Masonic visitors returning to Auckland. The Durham will sail from Curtis' wharf, and not the Goods Wharf, as previously advertised.

At the Mirror of the World last night the first part of Scotland was shown for the last time to an inconsiderable audience. To-night the second part of liondon will be exhibited, the series of views being one of the best in the whole entertainment. The several groups of statuary and the architectural beauties of the Albert Memorial, shown in about a dozen different views, are alone worth a visit to the Academy of Music. In addition to these, however, the Houses of Parliament, Admiralty, Horse Guards, Parks, National Gallery, Public Gardens, London Clubs, Albert Hall (several views, interior and exterior) embrace the most interesting places in the great metropolis.

With reference to a local paragraph in the Thames Advertiser of this date, finding faulf:, as usual, with the action taken by His Worship the Mayor—in this case relative to the delay which has occurred in publishing the report of his interview with Ministers on the 29th ultimo—we may state: (1.) It is not true that it was " bottled up until fairly dragged out." The notes of the meeting were at once sent to the Evening Star, and were partially noticed on January 30th, but not published in extenso, owing to their length. (2.) It is not true that two guineas (£2 2s) was voted as a "fee for the expense" of that interview. Two pounds (£2) was voted by the Borough Council to defray the cost of the Mayor's journey to Auckland as one of the delegates from the Eailway Committee to wait upon Ministers. (3.) It is not true that the Mayor was answerable for the report of his interview with Ministers not being laid before the Borough Council at its last meeting. The Mayor naturally desires that every publicity should be given to the success of his efforts in behalf of the public interests of this Borough and district.

What might have been a fatal accident occurred in the Harbor this morning. A pleasure party, consisting of Mr H. C. lawlor (J.P.), Mr Lawlor (jun.), and three young ladies, were out for a sail in an open boat, which, when off the Lamppost at Shortland, suddenly capsized, precipitating its occupants into the water. Mr C. Lawlor, with great pretence of mind, steadied the upturned boat, and assisted the ladies to hold on to the keel. In the meantime, the disaster having been seen from the Shortland Wharf, two boats, one containing Messrs H. Bush and Roulton, and the other Messrs £. Stone and Tyson, put off from the Wharf, and rowed with all speed towards the upturned boat, to which, when it was reached, it was found that the whole party were clinging in safety, though much exhausted. The party were conveyed ashore, and soon recovered from tho effects of their immersion. The promptness of the rescuers is certainly very creditable.

A numbbe of experiments with a primitire form of telephone were conducted in different parts of the town yesterday, with Tarying success. Some of the most satisfactory as regards results were made by Messrs Steward, father and son, in Willoughby and Mackay itreets. The " apparatus " consisted of two small tins with parchment heads, connected by a thread about SO yards long, the thread being attached, to each piece of parchment, in the centre. Some portions of conversation were heard yery distinctly, and the singing of " In Happy Moments " and " Johnny Comes Marching Home "• were distinguished easily.

We hare been informed that the liability of mining companies for accidents occurring through carelessness or want of due precaution is shortly to be tested. A miner who had hi 3 arm broken in the Piako mine a short time ago, by the falling of a slab down the shaft, is about to sue the company for damages. It appears that the man's arm is so badly hurt that he is likely to be permanently disabled, and he has entrusted his case to Mr Edwin Hesketh, having refused to settle the matter by accepting a sum of money offered by the company.

The installation of officers of the Hauraki Koyal Arch Chapter will take place at the Masonic Hall this erening at seTen o'clock, at which some of the visiting companions from Auckland will assist. Companions of other chapters are invited to be present.

A sibeting of committee of the Borough Council was held at the Chambers this afternoon, at three o'clock, for the purpose of framing a code of rules for the conduct of Borough Council business. A special meeting will be held at noon on Monday next to consider a letter from the County Chairman re proposed conference of Borough and County Councils at Hamilton, on the 15th instant.

" The Gatheeeb," in Cassell's Magazine for August, say«: —A law exists in New York State which may well excite envious feelings in the hearts of all footsore and weary travellers in the other parts of the world. This statute is to the effect that any inhabitant liable to highway tax, who transplants to the side of the highway any forest shade trees, or fruit trees of suitable size, shall be allowed an abatement of his highway tax amounting to about 4s 2d fos every four trees. Certain regulations are laid down as to the distanced the trees are to be apart. Dims are not ilo be nearer than seventy feet, maples and

other forest trees not nearer than fifty feet,- except locust trees, which may bo set thirty feet apart. Fruit trees are to stand at a distance from each other of at Ipast fifty feet. This is pleasant to read about. Here is a State, not satisfied with providing wayfarers with shelter from tho too fierce rays of the sun, but taking care that they shall hare apples and other fruits ready to hand, and so be no longer tempted to enter tho fields to steal raw turnips. Many a dusty road in our own country might be treated in the same fashion. Good feeling, without the prospect of a remission of taxe-3, will perhaps prompt some one to make a beginning.

This story is told by "^Jgles," in The Australasian:—"Amongst tho latest batch of free immigrants to Sydney were several stonemasons. A few days after landing, one of them was accosted by an old home acquaintance—" Hallo, Jim, you out here —when did you arrive?" And his curiosity on this point being satisfied, he continued, " Well, what do you think of the country!" " Country," said the now arrival, " finest in tho world. The Government brought me out free, and now the Masons' Strike Committee are paying me 30s a week to do no work I"

- The following gem appears in a London paper:—•" The son of Mark Lemon, the famous editor of Punch, has been appointed editor of the Monawatu Times in that Colony." We suppose this refers to the Manawatu Times, in the Provincial district of Wellington and Colony of New Zealand.