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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2814, 20 February 1878, Page 2

The s.s. Rotoiti will make a special trip to Ohinemuri to-iriomm, leaving Grahamstown Wharf at half-past seven o'clock. Members of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society are reminded that their usual fortnightly meeting will be held this evening at the usual time and place. One drunkard was punished in the usual manner at the 11. M. Court this morning. Capt. Goldsmith, occupied the Bench. A preliminary meeting was held at the Governor Bowen Hotel last night of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Boating Club. There was a good attendance considering that very little publicity had been given to the matter, and the question was discussed at some length, the project being unanimously approved. The object in view is to get together a good club, and send home for a couple of boats from the best builders, so as to give the crews taking part in any events at regattas a fair show against their opponents. Mr J. L. Whitford was appointed Hon. Secretary last night, and was instructed to communicate with a number of gentlemen who are considered likely to join the club. A further meeting will be held on Wednesday next, when it is expected a good stnrt will be made.

The annual picnic of the children attending the Roman Catholic School took place to-day. The procession wfcs formed at St. Bridget's Church, Queen street, whence it marched, headed by the band of the Hibernian Society, to Parawai Gardens. There were about 300 children present, almost two-thirds being girls. Some of the bigger boys carried banners, and the procession was accompanied by teachers and parents. On arrival at the Gardens the children dispersed to engage in the amusements provided, and during the day they were treated liberally to refreshments, including sandwiches, cake, fruit, and exhilarating beverages. A pleasant dny was spent, the rather dull weather tending to make out door sports more enjoyable than if participated in under a glaring sun.

A BEBIDENT of the town writes :—lnhabitants around Albert street, this morning, were awakened from their chronic state of apathy by tho strains of aweet music—a rather unusual occurrence so early as 9 a.m. Various were the conjectures, but the most prominent was that tho Scottish Band were escorting their gallant Captain and his two companions —Mr Garrick and Mr Fryer—who were off on a walking tour to tho Lakes. This illusion was dispersed on seeing a long train of chidren with their banners and flags—the future representatives of the Catholic community of this town —who were off to enjoy their annual picnic.

The Borough asphalters have lheir hands pretty full of work just now. They have just completed a co: • derab c stretch

in front of the Queen's Hotol, Queen and Albert streets, aud have started on a portion of the eiisl side of Owen street, from Kenshaw's corner to llewin's. The next largo job in the lino will be paving tlio footpath in front of Mr Marshall's new draper's shop, (late Bank of Australasia) in Pollen and Willoughby streets, Shortland. A considerable portion of the principal streets arc now well paved, and it is to be hoped that the new By-law, with reference to paving, will cause the benefits of good footpaths to be more widely extended.

We yesterday inspected another racing whaleboat just completed by Mr Valentine Savage of this place for the New Plymouth Bowing Club. This boat has been built specially for speed, and has every appearance of proving an exceedingly smart boat, is a beautiful specimen of skill, and does credit to the builder, and we arc sure w ill afford satisfaction to the Taranaki people. Mr Arthur Bennett took orer the boat yesterday for Mr Govett, the secretary of the JNew Plymouth Club, and forwarded the boat to Auckland to be sent to Taranaki from the Manukau to-day. Mr Bennett forwards the boat in haste, as this Club purposes row'ng in her at the forthcoming regatta. This, we believe, makes the fourth boat of the kind sent to Tarauaki lately.

An instance of the trouble to which the mining community is frequently put by the foolish regulation requiring the signature of a Justice of the Peace to the permit to purchase blasting powder, happened to-day. A mine had run short of powder and a lad was sent to get some, and, after hunting about half-au-hour for a J.P., he found one, but that gentleman refused to si 311 the order as the lad was not the person named in the order as the purchaser of the powder. The messenger had to return, and the manager was obliged to hunt up a justice himself, which he did after fully an hour's search, and a walk down to Shortland. All this time the men in the mine were waiting for the powder. It is time that the miners themselves took some steps to hare this useless and troublesome regulation done away with. At the same time, knowing the difficulties in the way, mine managers should not let their men use the last charge before they start some one to hunt up the necessary permit to replenish the stock of powder.

The frequenters or habitues of a well known hostelry in Shortland were last night startled by the advent amongst them of three newsmongers with a story that they had just seen calograms stating that three British transports, including the well known Himalaya, had been captured by the Russians in the Straits of Dardanelles with 10,000 troops on board. The hand of the genial host was stayed half way as he was pulling at the beer engine; customers who were in the act of drinking set down their glasses without tasting ; and as the news travelled to the billiard room the striker paused in the act of making a stroke to hear the news. Consternation sat on every face. for a few seconds, but very soon a score of tongues were loosed, and then ensued a most animated discussion, in the course of which the utter improbability of the story dawned upon some. It was clear that 10,000 troops would find a difficulty in the matter of accommodation even on three vessels of the Himalaya class. .Then what the deuce would 10,000 British troops be doing in the Dardanelles? And if they were there, what would the fleet be doing off Stamboul to allow the Russian to swoop down upon the transports ? These and other reasons suggested themselves to the hearers of the news, and the bearers of the canard, after refreshing themselves, returned to Grahamstown chuckling at the way they had i " sold " some of the Shortland people.

The editor of the Poverty Bay Standard does not seem to have much faith in Sir George Grey's finance. Criticising his speech in the House when the financial policy of the Miniitry was disclosed, the writer concludes as follows :—Here we have Sir George saying that there are fo j millions sterling which ought to be paid forthwith, but which he had no iv tention of paying ; but would still like to have the money by him to pay the amounts in case they should be demanded. There is about as much honesty in this as if a man were to say, " I don't intend to pay what I owe unless I am brought to Court and compelled to pay." Sir George Grey asks that his honor may not be doubted. He says let me have the four millions, and leave it to me how it shall be dealt with. We really do uot know why Sir George Grey should so be trusted. We do not doubt his honor for a moment; but on getting the money in his possession unless checks are placed on him, he may spend. the whole very foolishly but still very " honorably," the debts for which the money was borrowed still remaining unpaid. Of all men those who ought not to be allowed the free play of other people's money are political visionaries—-rud we take Sir George Grey to be one.