THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2815, 21 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1878.

We understand that during the Mayor's visit to Auckland the other day, in accordance with a resolution of the Council passed at a meeting held some days ago, he saw Mr Tyler and got a legal opinion from him with reference to the Borough's claim to the reversion of the Grahamstown and Tararu tramway to that body in 1881. Mr Tyler's opinion is, we believe, in effect, that the Borough has good grounds for its claim, as the document which has caused the trouble is a grant, and not an agreement between the Provincial Government and the private parties interested. , ■.

It ii with regret we hare to announce the death of Mrs O'Connor, the wife of Sergeant O'Connor, Armed Constabulary, Grahamstown, which took place at seven o'clock this morning. The deceased lady has been in delicate health for a number of years, but shortly after coming to the Thames she experienced a beneficial change. Lately, however, a serious relapse ensued, and she succumbed to the insidious disease, consumption, as stated above. It will be seen by announcement in another column that the funeral will take place at half-past thr> c o'clock to-morrow afternoon. We understand that a solemn requiem mass is to be celebrated on Sunday next for the repose of the soul of Pius IX., in Willoughby street Catholic Church. Mb John Lktdon held a sale at Mount Albert Cottage yesterday. There was a good attendance, and excellent prices were realised, the house bringing £80 and the furniture £4.0.

Mb James Craig sold at auction today, at the Exchange, the whole property of the Golden Arrow Goldmining Company, Tairua, consisting of battery, engiue and boiler, buildings, and all appliances for working the mine and battery. The bidding was commenced at £50, aud quickly mounted to £200, and afterwards by slower bids to £260, at which figure it was knocked down to Air Hume. Some blocks and tackle, sold at the same time, fetched £4, and two quarter casks and one hogshead of Colonial wine were sold to pay bond rents at a shilling a gallon, to be turned into vinegar. As one gentleman who sampled the " wine " remarked, "It wants rery little ' turning,' being vinegar already."

Oue Auckland evening contemporary accuses us of cribbing paragraphs from its columns without acknowledgment: the writer must have meant the Thames Advertiser. However, if he will point out our laches in this respect we proiniao to make the amende, in order to " preserve " our " character for literary honesty." At a recent meeting of a certain corporation within a radius of 100 miles of Auckland, an official joyfully informed the members that another corporate body had that day invested cighteenpence in a Bible, so that the Johnson's Dictionary, tied with red tape, on which the statutory declarations in connection with Iho corporation had hitherto been sworn, was now available for its legitimate use as an authority on the spelling and meaning of words.

A simple instance of ignorance of Court proceedings occurred yesterday afternoon iv the Police Court, says last night's Auckland Star. A decently dressed lady applied to the Magistrate for a protection order under the Married Woman's Protection Act, but, as the Court orderly was absent, Mr Cunningham proceeded to administer the necessary oath before giving evidence, and told the applicant to kiss the book. The applicant, evidently misunderstanding the words, made an attempt to kiss the clerk, which was prudently resisted. The lady, seeing he? mfatake, apologised blushingly, and performed her proper duty by kisßing tho JJible. '

Thb dull weather yesterday turned to rain between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, and the picnic of the Catholic Sunday School children was interrupted before tho usual lime tor reluming home. Up to tuat time, however, a very agreeable time had been spent, and the little ones did not care much about the slight wetting they j;ofc. In the evening the teachers of the schools had an enjoyable party at the Hibernian Hall, to which a number of their friends were invited. The amusement took the form of a dance. .Refreshments were liberally provided, and a few hours were passed very pleasantly by the company assembled. Wo omitted | yasterday to mention that the Her. Father Chastagnon accompanied the children'H procession, and rendered assistance in contributing to the enjoyment of the little ones.

Mb H. A. Severn, formerly known as " our local scientist," continues his career as the peripatetic philosopher, and we are glad to learn from the Brisbane Courier that he has met with great success in Brisbane. Eeferring to Mr Severn's first course of lectures the authority abore quotcd>says:—"Those who have listened to the course of scientific lectures lately delivered in this city by Mr H. A. Severn will be glad to learn that there is every probability that gentleman will favor the citizens of Brisbane with a second series of lectures on subjects not previously dealt with. Yesterday morning a number of gentlemen, headed by hii Worship the Mayor, waited upou Mr Severn, and after expressing their high opinion of the lectures already delivered by him in Brisbane, requested that if possible he would resume his lectures next week, dealing with some subjects hitherto passed over. They also assured him that they would render him every assistance in their power, and expressed a belief that by complying with their desire the lecturer would reap a substantial reward, besides conferring a grent favor upon many of the citizens. We understand that the deputation represented the wishes of a large number of persons, and that Sir Maurice O'Connell has lent the weight of his influence in aid of tho proposal. Mr Severn said that if his arrangements could be made to fit in, he would be happy to accede to the request of the citizens." From the same source we notice that Mr Severn has been making experiments with the telephone, in the Brisbane Town Hall.