Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2821, 28 February 1878, Page 2

A TJETiTiON praying His Excellency the Governor to divide the Borough into wards has been going about for signature during the last two or three days, aud is, we understand, being numerously signed. It is said that this petition is got up principally as a means of facilitating the merging of the Parawai Highway District into the Municipality, as it is asserted that the Parawai people in favor of the movement wish the Highway district to be made into a ward of tlio Borough instead of joining the County. There was another exhibition of "The Blacksmith's Dream " last night in the Theatre Eoynl, and to judge from those present when wo risited it, was well patronised and appreciated during the evening. The exhibition pan honestly be said to bo well got up, and the raeehanipal effects are second ouly to those displayed by the Marionettes. Altogether there must bo about 40 little automatons, each engaged in a particular manner : the blacksmith at the anvil— from which lie occasionally turns to heat hiji iron at the fire—the carpenter sawing wood, Another sharpening an implement at the grindstone, which he apparently turns with his leg j s woman weaving, and another working very naturally al a loom, all these busy figures working to p. lively tune, make up an interesting spectacle, and such an one as is not .often presented to Thames people to see. Then occasionally this partot the entertainment has a spell, and wicked Punch makes his appearance and diverts the onlookers by his rough usage of Judy, the baby, and

several other characters, all of, whom, except " Old Harry," ho makes victims by the tieypcrute handling of a stick which is placed in hi 3 hands. Punch and Judy show is suro to amuse the young people immensely.

Mb W. Cabpenteb sold by auction today, at the Crown Hotel, Queen street, three lots of freehold property. Lot 1, which consists of the allotment fronting Queen street, on which is erected the Crown Hotel, fetched £75. Lot 2, comprising an allotment having frontage to Owen street, at present under lease to Mr John Foss, was knocked down for £40. Lot 3, at present under lease to Mr Hewin and brother, brought a similar sum.

There was a dance at a well-known public house at Shortland the other night. Amougst others, present was a young man who, having drank and danced more than was good for him, went outside, and professing to be jealous of a young lady he had been dancing with, sent in word to her that he was going to drown himself. He thereupon ran down tt the waterman's landing at the Shortland Wharf and walked into the water, clothes and all, till the water reached his neck. The cold bath evidently brought him to his senses, as he came out and returned to the ball room a wetter, if not a wiser man.

An application was made on Monday to the District Judge for a winding-up order against the Bed Queen G.M. Company; The application is what is termed a friendly one, and was asked for on behalf of the directors, it being their intention, with the consent of the shareholders, to re-form. The basis upon which the company is to be re-organised is that the capital will be £60Cr), at 12.C00 shares of 10s each, nothing paid up. The liabilities of the company at the present moment are very light, some £130, and it is found that as the whole of the capital of the old company is paid up, the development of the mine cannot be prosecuted so vigorously as the prospects warrant. The recent discoveries in the Cure mine, and tlie large extent of ground unprospected within their own area, demand that operations shall be carried on more vigorously than nt present, and under existing circumitancea this cannot be done.-—Herald.

Mb Stilwell, nurseryman, has left at the office of this papear for exhibition half a dozen cucumbers which he calls the "Matchless." They are not perfectly straight, but very nearly so, and they average nearly two feet in length. They are reserved for seed, and the grower informs us that the Matchless is a most prolific producer. These cucumbers will be exhibited at the Horticultural Society's show on Saturday next. The Herald has been informed that at the Thames " a good many people there, including the shai-ebroking community, are not very busy at present, and the telephone mania has spread to such an alarming extent, that people walking about are constantly getting entangled amongst the strings and threads connecting the jam-tins."