THE THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2838, 20 March 1878, Page 2

THE THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1878.

Some indignant ratepayers are calling attention to the. expenditure of the. Borough in order to give a cordial reception to the Governor. One does it by means of an advertisement, another by letter. Wo have no wish to restrain these ratepayers, as they show that they are alive to the doings of ihe Council. At the same time we are constrained to remark that the item of expenditure they have fixed upon to cavil at is not one that will gain them sympathisers. " In every part of the British dominions the local governing bodies take a pride in showing their loyalty to the Queen or Her Majesty's representatives, the most radical amongst the people's representatives seldom objecting. Here we cannot see why there should be an exception. We have the privilege of living under a free and liberal constitution; we, or some of us, are proud of our allegiance to the mother country and the Queen ; and therefore we should be pleased to show our loyalty when occasion offers by paying respect to the representative of the Queen. The expenditure of the local bodies in this direction is not a subject for petty carping. If ratepayers will carefully watch the proceedings of their representatives they will not have long to wait for opportunity for legitimate grumbling, but don't let us give way to petty fits of economy when the proper reception and entertain* meat of the Governor are involved.

The various banking establishment here will be closed to-morrow in honor of the visit of His Excellency the Governor.

The native residents of the Thames are, we perceive, going to shovr their loyalty by a ball ia honor of the Governor's visit. The Academy of Music has been engaged for the occasion, aud a mixed committee of natives and Europeans has been chosen. The givers of the ball embrace some of the most influential native chiefs, and they are about to set an example to the Europeans in the matter of invitations, they being issued on a liberal scale. The Governor and suite will be invited, and will probably be in attendance, as well as the Naval Officers of the Nymphe. We can confidently expect that a large gathering will be the result.

We learn that the race horse Firetail, brought from Taranaki at Christmas time bp Mr Hoskins, has been sold to Mr Buckland of Coromandel for the mm of £60.

Yestebday Mr W. Davies, Chairman of the Harbor Board, sent a telegram to Auckland asking what was the draught of water of H.M.S. Nymphe, and to-day a telegram was received to the effect that she drew 17 feet. She will thus have to lay some two or three miles below Tararu.

A clean sheet presented itself at the R.M. Court this morning.

Ms A. Gbossman, the noted Swiss wood-carver, whose carvings have been highly spoken of by the Auckland press, announces that he will open for a few days on the Thames next Mr Finlay's, jeweller, Williamson street. .

We are sorry to hear that a well-known officer of the Naval Brigade is now confined to his residence by an injured leg, he having trusted himself outside ahorse, and while under a heavy press of canvas on St. Patrick's Day coming from Paeroa, the horse seems to have collided against a sharp bank or bend in the road, injuring the rider's leg, We presume the horse missed stays, or the rider would not hare been run ashore.. A limb of the law narrowly escaped losing a limb at the same time, but, as the saying is, the looks after his own.

At a special parade of the IN To. 2 Hauraki Rifles called last night, there was a strong attendance. The corps was marched out on the Beach Itoad and manoeuvred by Major I. 11. Cooper, commanding the district, after which Captain Small put the men through the manual and firing exercises. A full dress parade of this efficient corps, is ordered for tomorrow at 5 p.m., when they will be officially inspected by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and probably by His Excellency the Governor.

The Thames rifle gallery in Brown street, formerly carried on by Captain Hazard, is to be re-opened on Saturday by Mr Barlow. We have no doubt but that the gas lighted range will be extensively patronised by both volunteers and civilians. Itifle shooting has always been a favorite pastime on the Thames, to the interest in which may be attributed the success of the volunteer movement in this district.

The black and tan terrier slut known by the name of To.Kooti, belonging to Mr C. F. Quint, recently gave birth to eight pups, one of the number having only three legs and a " bittock," but otherwise healthy.

At the last annual meeting of the proprietors of the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company, says the Herald, held at the chief office, Norwich, a dividend was declared for 1877, at the rate of £25 per share, £30 per share paid, or at the rate of 83 per cent, per annum. The corresponding dividend for 1876 was £22 10s per share, or 75 per cent, per annum.

Majok William Gmffin Stack has been appointed to command the volunteers in tho Wellington District.

The Thames Cricketers have sent a challenge io the officers of the Nymphe to play them a game of cricket 10-morrow at Parawai. Of course there will be a number of officers and men who will Hot be included in the retinue of the Governor, and who may bo pleased to pass the time in n frieudly game of cricket. The Thames men propose to have a cold collation on the ground, and entertain the blue jackets in the best manner possible at a short notice, and the match, if it comes oil', will be sure to attract a large attendance of the fair sex.

During the last few weeks about a dozen men have been engaged digging tailings on the foreshore, between the Goods Wharf aud the Moanatairi battery. The tailings nre disposed of to the proprietors of the various reduction works, and we understand it gives the men fair wages. The most of the tailings is the deposit of some years.

The new steamer Tongariro made her second trip to the Thames yesterday in a little over five hours. She was just two hours and ten minutes steaming to the spit, after which some time was lost in priming, but the company owning the steamer believe that in a short time she will be able to make the run to the Thames in four hours at most.

We are glad to learn that there is a probability of Turkish Baths being established, here. Mr Sykes, the proprietor of the' establishment for providing this oriental luxury in Auckland, accompanied by Mr Wilcocks, has been down here for a couple of days looking for a suitable place, and wo hear that he has taken the premises lately occupied by Dr. O'Flaherty, hear Karaka Bridge. We hope soon to be able to announce the opening of the baths to the public. /

The following letter appears in a late issue of the Otago Daily Times, over the signature of Mr John Hislop :—" Sir, — Permit me to state, in reference to _ a paragraph which recently appeared in your columns, that I did not draft the Education Bill of last year, and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, Mr C. C. Bowen is alone entitled to the credit of having drafted the Bill."

The following specimen of oratory from one of the "lords of creation" and of the Upper House, namely, Colonel Brett, is given by a contemporary:—" Although that important body had been frequently snubbed, still he must say a few words on its behalf. He felt very much the honor they had paid to him in placing him in the chair that day. He flattered himself, and he hoped they would agree with him, that all the members of the Upper House would compare most favourably with any similar body in the world—aye, even in Great Britain. (Cheers and laughter.) He believed they did credit to New Zealand. (Renewed laughter.) At all events, he for one had done his best, and if he had failed, he could not help it. At present they were drifting on a lee shore, and were surrounded on all sides by rocks and alligators—{loud laughter)— and, therefore, he would advise them to keep a broad look out, and ha7e their weather eye open. (Laughter.) If not, they would be pursued and devoured by the one or smashed up on the other. (Renewed laughter.) There ,would then be no more marriage or giving in marriage, and no more nobblers for their friends, for the country would go to the devil. (Roars of laughter.) Let them take care when there was a dissolution— and there was bound to be one before long—that they sent the very best men they could get into Parliament. The did not want ' blatherskites,' or fellows who gave good dinners and all that. (Laughter.) They had a country to look after, and if they did not look after it they did not deserve the name of Britons, but deserved to be hanged. (Roars of laughter.) He felt proud when he looked around that day to see those 400 gentlemen around him. And if they asked him, why, he would tell them because be was in the same business himself. (Laughter.) He hoped to gain the remainder of his livelihood by the sweat of .his brow. The farmers were the backbone of the country. Clergymen were all very well for marrying people, and doctors were no no doubt useful at a subsequent stage, buc the farmers and the dear ladies were after all the great objects of their consideration." (Loud laughter.)

We understand that a discovory, which may materially affect the prosperity of the North of Auckland district, has recently been made at Hokianga. A squatter there has several times found colors of gold and small pieces of quartz in a creek in the vicinity of his farm, and having an idea that there might be a quartz reef in the neighbourhood, commenced prospecting, and has discovered the outcrop of a reef some two feet thick lying on a soft wall of clay. The finder sent several pieces of the rock to a friend resideat on the Thames for the purpose of getting his opinion on it, and having it tested. We have seen some of this stone, which is really likely looking stuff, several minerals, including a large percentage of antimony, being visible in it. The gentleman to whom the stone has been sent has not jet tested it, but will do so in a day or two.

A TELEGEAai from Maryborough to the Australasian says : In the Supreme Court, before Chief Justice Stawell, the case of Lauricsou v. the Count Bismarck Company was heard. It was a claim for £1000 for injuries received in a mine. His Honor in reference to the [Regulation of Mines Statute, 1877, which says, that an accident occurring in a mine is to be taken asprima facie evidence of negligence on part of the owner, put two questions to the jury—" Are you satisfied or not that the evidence given on behalf of the defendant has neutralised this presumption of law ? Supposing there was negligence, could the plaintiff by the exercise of reasonable precaution hare escaped the injuries inflicted on him in the drive? The jury replied, " Yes," and gave a verdict for plaintiff, £125. His Honor gave leave to defendants to apply to the full Court for a verdict to be entered for defendant.

Fklbnd, to get a good Watob, Gold or Silver, Geneva, English or American, go to Wilkes, Shortlaxid, for there jou will have the largest stock to select from ; also, if you vrcro thinking of purchasing a Brooch, or pair of EariDgs, Gold Guard, or Ring—for there you can sco the most varied and best selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Clocks, and Jewel'ery repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranteed. Established 1857. —• Anvc.

She was plump and beautiful, and he was wildly fond of her. She hated him intensely, but, womanlike, she strove to capture him. He was a flea.