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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2820, 27 February 1878, Page 2

Tee Maoris about Purawai and neighborhood are busily engaged harvesting their potatoes. We hear that the crops are pretty good.

Messbs Mallet, Adcock and Hogg have been successful in drawing horses in Lynch's £2000 sweep on the Sunedin Cup. All three, however, are non starters, which will entitle their holders to a nhare of the £200.

The Hanukau battery, when submitted to auction on the Bth instant, was withdrawn at £1130, the reserve price being £1250. To-day the same property sold for £800. If all other property of the same description has depreciated in the same proportion, the deorease must be rapid. The former bidder of £1130 might have got a bargain today if his previous bid was bona fide.

The householders of Parawai and Tararu meet this evening for the election of School Committees for the ensuing year—the former at half-past six o'clock and the latter at seven. The Parawai retiring Committee have made their election of members for the Education Board, and their selection includes two local men, Messrs W. Pavies aad H. "Vernon.

At the E>. M. Court this morning one individual was punished in the usual manner for drunkenness.

Wu learn that the petition to the Government asking for the appointment of an assayer at the Thuraes, to whom miners could apply for ascertaining the value of their gold, has received 400 signatures, and that it is probable a deputation will wait upon the Borough Council to-morrow night (at (he usual fortnightly meeting), to present the samp, with a request that the Borough will support tke memorialists and urge upon the Gorprnweut the advisability of making the appointment at once. We believe that the appliances formerly used at the Government laboratory are' -lying idle in the premises used by the residVnt assayer an 4 mineralogist years ago, so that tho expense t.o the Colony should be trifling, as the establishment; might be made to pay by giving a moderato salary to the assayer and authorising him to charge a small fee for all assays, according to .quantity, &c. The name of Mr George Ham>urfc has been mentioned as a probable candidate for 'the office, should the Government agree to make the appointment. We do not know what Mr Harcourt's qualifications may be, but we hare heard that he is thoroughly competent fiw tjjfl work ; and his application would probably be baekpd by the local authorities, some of whom may be in a position Jo. vouch fojr his capacity for the pfßpe..

■ The Ohinomuri main road is now passable Tor a carriage from tho Kauaerauga Bridge to the Native aottlemotit of Kerikeri. Ihose who knew this part of the district a few years ago, and have not been over it lately, can scarcely form any conception of the work that has been done by the County authorities during tho lost few months. Tho road is well formed, with deep ditchos ou both sides, and culverts across tho road where necessary. As it runs chiefly through native property the road is also substantially fenced, in some parts with posts and rails, and in others with posts, top wooden rail and four wires. With the native cultivations on either side (in some ports) the country is beginning to assume quite a settled aspect. As soon as tho bridges over the Kerikeri and Matakoe Creeks are completed it will be quite possible to drive right to Puriri. Not only has tho road been formed, but metal is now being prepared for it. The best and driest portions will be covered with sliitigle from the Creeks, and tho metal will be placed on the bad spots. A branch from the main line has been nearly completed to the Kopu landing. This is under the sole charge of Tapihana's son John Robinson, through whose land it partly runs. This branch line is about ten or fifteen chains long, and will be a great convenience for landing and shipping passengers in the Ohinemuri and up river trade. The sum of £50 has been voted by the Harbor Board for building a landing stage, but to take the jetty out to deep water it is calculated that about £100 will be required. Altogether we may say that very steady progress is being made by the County authorities in opening up the country.

A vest commendable effort it being made to resuscitate the farorite sport of rowing as one of the outlets for the exercise of muscle on the Thames, and we hope it will succeed. A meeting was held on last Wednesday evening of those favorable to forming a Rowing Club, and the interest displayed in the matter was sufficiently encouraging to the promoters to persevere in their efforts. An adjourned meeting will be held at tbe Governor Bowen Hotel this evening at eight o'clock to give practical effect to the preliminaries already undertaken. Since the first meeting was held circulars hare been sent to a large number of gentlemen who had promised to become members, or who were favorably disposed towards the projected Bowing Club, ard it is believed that the attendance to-night will be good, such as to warrant the formation of the Club and some other steps being taken to enable members to commence next season under favorable auspices. Of course the primary object of the Club is to provide boats, in order to enable members to become proficient in rowing, which is a healthful and pleasant amusement; but, besides this, it is always more or less an object with Rowing Clubs to be represented at those delightful aquatic displays known as regaltas, and to do this successfully it is necessary that tbe very best boats obtainable should be acquired by the Club. Tbe business this evening will therefore be to form a club, appoint officers, we presume, and make arrangements for sending to some famous boat builder in England for two or more boats of different build, so that next season there may be a chance of sending crews to compete at some of the principal regattas of the Colony. Of course it cannot he expected that all the members of the Club can become proficient oarsmen, but many will become members who prefer being pulled or propelled in some way to pulling an oar. These can render assistance by their countenance and support; and if the matter be taken up, as we believe it will be, there is no reason why the Thames should not be able to boast of one of the best Rowing Clubs in the Colony, and a perfect fleet of boats of different builds available at all times for members and their friends, either for practice or pleasure.

We have received from Mr J. H. Jefferson The Australasian Ske'cher for February. It is a very interesting number, the illustrations being above the average. They embraco portraits of the late Mr Edward Wilson (senior proprietor of The Argus), and Sir Samuel Wilson ; Fit^roy Fall, Burrawanfj, TSevr South Wales; Lake Wakatip, from the picture by Mr Gully; The Month (a series of sketches); several views showing Incidents of the Drought; and "England's Forgotton Worthies," from the picture by Mr Brierly in the National Gallery.

That wonderful piece of mechanism, entitled " TJie Blacksmith's Dream," was exhibited for the first time at the Theal.'e lioyal last erening by Mr Bobertson, the maker and proprietor. The " dream " consists of a large cabinet, on which are arranged a number of little automatons. In the centre on a raised stage a group of negro minstrels are to be seen going through the " chair business " in orthodox fashion, all the movements being most natural 1 Lower down there is a minature lake of real water, with a small fountain in the centre round which paddles a small steamer, which stops on a Bignal being given by the conductor of a train which emerges from a tunnel on the banks of the lake. lv a wooded park are to be seen a number of ladies and gentlemen enjoying a bicycle race. On the lower portion of the cabinet arc to be seen a number of pigmy workmen, all engaged at different trades, pile driving, boiler making, blacksmithing, carpentering, &c- The movements of the figures are most natural, and, indeed, it is hard to believe that they are nofc endowed with life. In addition to the ••' dream," a laughable Punch and Judy show is added to the entertainment. The whole is well worthy of a visit, and we can heartily recommend our readers to pay it a visit during the time it will be exhibited here.

Alebady the propose 4 yis'.t of the Australian Eleven to this country (says the Anglo-Australian) is creating some sensation among cricketers. But not alone shall we be visited by Australians in the coming season, for a team selected from theParaee Cricket Club of Bombay will reach our shores in June next, and propose after playing matches in London, against the Marylebone, Prince's Club, and p\ie Surrey Club, to go into the provinces to contend against the leading ebiiniy and 'other cricket Associations. The tour throughout England" accomplished, they intend to play a few final games in London and to return to Bombay in September. These sun worshippers are by no means novices of the game, as their creditable display against the strong Gymkhana Club, of 'Bombay, and other Aiaglo.^ndian clubs testify. It will seem strange, after being accustomed to such simple names as Gracoj Jupp, Daft and

Walker, to read of a gentleman being out —"caught Bhimjeebhoy, bowled Libuwalla;" or that "Bbicajeo was run out for 30." The Grace testimonial hanjjs fire and tho list is to remain open till next season. The first match for the Australian Eleven is set dowu for May 27 at Lords.