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Thames Star, Volume VIIi, Issue 2825, 5 March 1878, Page 2

Theee was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court this morning. To-day is what is known as Shrore Tuesday, and to-morrow will be the first day of Lent, " commonly called Ash Wednesday." A; meeting of the newly appointed Eauaeranga School Committee was held last evening, when Dr. Kilgour was elected chairman and Mr Grigß secretary and treasurer. The Governor has been pleased to authorise Te Ngakau of Waikato to frank free from the prepayment of postage letters and parcels posted on the public service. This is, we presume, carrying out the arrangement entered into at the lute meeting of the Premier with the Xingites. to enable Tawhiao's secretary to communicate with the Government, although he may not happen to possess the necessary small change to pay for stamps. . In the Junior Civil Service examination, David Gordon Berry, formerly of tho Thames, passed ninth in the order of merit amongst 48. Berry was a pupil at tho Thames School for three years, and at the Auckland College and Grammar School for two years.

Wu ore informed that tlio allotment of land in Queen svreet, Aucklnnd, for which the late Masonic Hail Company paid £1200 sonic two years ago, has been sold lntely for £1050. The land was Ihe property ol the several lodges in Auckland, and was bought lor the purpose of erecting a Masonic Temple thereon, whioh project seems to have fallen through. Tho difference in the price of laud does not speak favorably for Auckland.

Wjj would call attention to the advertisement of Mr J. Nodder, stationer, Shortland, in which the public are informed that he has just received a consignment of fancy and other stationery. Mr Nodder's stock of books and stationery is varied and select, and he has also one of the best assortment of fancy goods and toys from which to select birthday gifts on the Thames, and birthdays are always in season.

The Bay of Plenty Times of a recent date has a spirited article on the Eastern Question, and tho new phase of the same presented by .Russia's exorbitant demands embodied in the conditions 01 peace. After reviewing these the writer says: So far as British interests* are concerned there can be but one obvious answer to such demands, and the sooner that answer is given, the more likely will England be to come out without loss of honor, and] that which the Ultra-Liberalism of thej day—the party whom Mr Carlyle satirised' in Shooting Niagara and After—evidently regard as more precious than national honor—the almighty dollar. So far as a plain mind, and a mind nncorrupted by diplomatic labyrinths, and swiuish subordination of soul to money, can judge of the present state of things, there is really nothing for England to discuss; and moreover, receut experience goes to show that discussion would merely give Russia time to make further advances, to exact more griping terms, and to fold the Ottoman Power in that bear's grasp in which bone and sinew would be crushed out of life. The one answer to such insolent demands is war—war to the bitterest extremity—the immediate seizure of the lines of Bourlais [it could be done in six hours], which protect the approaches to Gallipoli; the strengthening of these lines, and of Gallipoli itself, which would give England the gate of the Dardanelles, and render .Russia's naval ambition absolutely hopeless; the immediate blockade of Kussian ports in the Baltic, and the suspension of her foreign commerce, and such other military operations as the chances of European alliances and other circumstances might justify. One fact is clearly apparent to the mind of an observer—-Eussia evidently counts on support and aid in some quarter of Europe, and is prepared to incur great risks with the chance of scouring enormous gains. The end is within no man's ken, but no one need have any apprehensions as to the result of a bold and honest policy on .the part of England—of a re-v turn to that policy which made her great and respected, before the lust of gain, the luxury of wealth, and the spread of a maudlin and hypocritical Christian meekness of disposition had rusted her weapons, and undermined the old haughty dominance of the race.

At a public meeting recently held in Dunedin, to promote the early closing movement, presided over by the Hon. %H. S. Chapman, and at wliich the speakers comprised ministeriortlie poipeJ, judges, merchants, &0., the following resolutions were passed :—(l.) " That it is the opinion of this meeting tbat the time has now arrived when the retail drapery and clothing establishments may be closed at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, without inconvenience to the public or detriment to the employers, and with great social advantage to the employed." (2.) " That this meeting, approving of the efforts of the Association, pledges itself not to: shop after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. (3.) "That this meeting, with a new to remove all obstacles for the .carrying put of this object,-respectfully request that all employers of labor pay their hands early in the week." (4) " That a deputation be appointed to wait upon the employers to endeavor to arrange for the commencement of the movement, the deputation to consist of Mr Justice Chapman, Judge Bathgate, and Richard Oliver, Esq."

The Hobart Town Mercury of February 9 «ays: —" Whatever doubts may bare bitberto existed in the nrinds of the public, and there is no question that many persons hare expressed their disbelief as to the success of the efforts made to acclimatise the salmo salar, they hare now been practically set at rest by the capture of a veritable specimen. Owing to the smallness of tlie fiali hitherto caught, and the circumstance of no large specimens baring been captured, there has, for some time past, been a doubt, more especially with the unprofessional portion of the public, who constitute the majority, as to the identity of the fish captured from time to time with the true salmo salar. This difficulty now, however, no longer exists, for early yesterday morning a most symmetrical specimen of the mlmo salar species, turn* ing the scale at the satisfactory weight of 61b., was captured in a fisherman's net in the rirer Derwent. The fish was netted with a number of flounders upon a sandy beach, and was afterwards exhibited in Mr Cearns' fishmonger's shop, Elizabeth street, where it w»s seen by Messrs Morton Allport and H. J. JBuckland. These gentlemen, it is well known, are the two most trustworthy authorities we have in the colony on piscatorial matter?, and it will be rcry gratifying to iearn that they agree in pronouncing the fish we refer to an undoubted specimen of the 'salmo salar. At #n early hour yesterday Mr Cearns also exhibited four grilse, weighing about 21b each, which had been Caught in the river Derwent."