THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2842, 25 March 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1878.

Mb 0. A. Coaips has convened, a public meeting at the 'Academy of Music this etening to discasi the following subjects: Lands for the people, abolition of gold duty, and recent illegal expenditure of the Borough and County Councils. The Mayor and County Chairman, with the Councillors of both bodies, hate been inTiled to be present, and we believe Shit the two heads of local bodies will be there. Ererydne will be glad to do all in their power towards obtaining lands for the people, and a wholesome agitation —hotand frequent—may result in practical good. On the second subject—abolition of the gold duty—there will probably be some difference of opinion, and some.' warm debating." The third item depends altogether upon the nature of the resolution to be proposed, and the terms used by proposer, seconder, and others who may speak to the question. Wo trust the go^d sense ofspeaksrs will lead them to carefully eschew personalities, and argue the matter oiit as becomes sensible men. The Hon. Mr Sheehan was expected to be present'at the meeting, but he can scarcely arrive in time for my part of it unless the proceedings be very protracted, a 9 the Rotomahana does not leare Auck'and til six o'clock. .•« '

It is notified that the'usual weekly session of the Northern Pioneer L >dge, 1.0.GT., will be held this evening, the concert which was announced at the last meeting to be held this evening having been postponed till.next Monday.

Mb McDebmott has completed his contract for laying the pines, and notwithstanding that it is probable that he will lose by it, the work has been executed in a thoroughly conscientious manner. The work has just taken a month to do, and would have been completed on Saturday had not the water been turned on too rapidly, which caused one of the end pipes to burst and displaced several others.

The sharp crack of the rifle was heard for the first time for many months on Saturday night at Capt. Hazard's old rifle gallery, Brown street, and Mr Bar* low was evidently doing a roaring trade, as hia shop was crowded from seven o'clock to: considerably pasfc ten with Ido as well as young. ~ Mr Barlow's enterprise in providing Lealthy amusement for tbo public is evidently duly appreciated. • ' :

We are informed that the tramway bridge on -the Knraka tramway, near the Pretty Jane spur, is in a most dangerous state, and quite unfit for the passage of pedestrians, let alone loaded trucks. It is so dangerous, in fact ? that the lessee of the tramway will not trust himself on it when taking a truck down. This is a matter which calls for the immediate attention of the County authorities. There are other bridges on the tramway which are also in a dangerous state, the main piles being quite rotten. It is not only a possibility, but a probability, that a serious, if not fatal, accident will occur here if something is not doae, either by repairing the tramway or closing it eltogether. , . -

These was no business of any kind whatever at the B.M. Court today.

At the usual meeting of the Board of Education held oh Friday last, we find that an application for the cost of a school bell at Kauaeranga was granted, also, a request that the Girls' School be enlarged. The cost of a chimney t? the Faeroa school was grr.nted., Some excitement was caused on the Goods Wharf last night by the news that a fracas had taken place on board one of the coal vessels lying in harbor! The police made inquiries, and it appears that some men belonging to the Sissy, which is at present loading timber at the Thames River Sawmill, came alongside one of the cod schooners, a*)d on coming aboard that vessel the captain had some words with them, and one of them threatened to hit him over the bead with a piece of wood. The captain fetched the police, but when they appeared on the scene the men were non tat. A large crowd followed the constables, nnd as it was rumoured that the affair was more serious than it really was, there was considerable excitement.

The continued dry weather has had the effect of aggravating the hardships of the Waiotahi residents re the scarcity of water, to relieve which the County Chair*: man to-day authorised a supply to be taken up in tanks on drays, by means of which the wants of the residents for domestic purposes and the requirements of the Creek School cfrldren were partially supplied.

A rbtubn ball to the Native Volunteers and the Maori ladies who contributed to the enjoyment of their European friends on the evening of Thursday last is talked about. It is hoped that it will not end in " talk."

The brigantine Lapwing arrived here today and proceeded up the Thames to load up with some 200,0 CD feet of kaihikatca, at the Thames Biver Sawmill. She has not yet entered in at the Customs.

We understand that Captain Murray Sirs mndo application to tho Harbor Board f'oi- a reserve to bo made on tho foreshore for a public square. 'J his is dono ia tho interest of the Volunteers, but tho idea is a pood one and worth ventilating—not for a small area thill, might bo dignified by the name of a squ re, but 20 or 30 acres, which would serve for a public park. It may be asked whore would the money come from to re* claim the land? To which we say, that is a matter for consideration afterwards , Between Curtis' and Shortland wharves thero is a great stretch of shallow foreshore which will never be required for warehouses —at least . not for a few centuries. When some system of reclamation has been decided upon, this land could be gradually brought into a fit state for the purposes ef recreation, and being placed in front of the town would be easy of access and possess the advantages of tho sea: breeze.; It as also not improbable that from the Colonial Government might be obtained a sum of money towards adapting the reserve for the purposes indicated, they having more than once acknowledged the claims of this district to consideration in the matter of a recreation ground. .

The Cadets are reminded that their prize firing takes place to-morrow morning at the Government range. Ammunition will be issued at the Volunteer office.