THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2845, 28 March 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1878.

Me F. A. Poxleine comes to the rescue of the defenders of the gold duty with "a few facts,-' and a little criticism of some of the speeches delivered at the public meeting on Monday evening. Passing over the criticism, we come to one positive statement. Mr Pulleine says: "Certain lam that the whole duty collected on the Ohinemuri goldfield since its opening would not exceed £165." To this we retort that since iho. Waitekauri Battery was opened, in September, 1876, the Waitekauri Company's mine alone has produced in round numbers 10,000 ounces of gold, which at Is 6d per ounce duty would return £760. Then we may roughly estimate the produce of the other mines of Ohinemnri—Karangahake, Owharoa and Waitekauri—at 3000 ounces, paying another £225 of duty. How then can Mr Pulleine have arrived at the certainty that £165 would cover the whole duty since the opening of the Ohinemuri field ? We have not time to correct, all the inaccuracies of our contemporary's correspondents, but we cannot allow " facts of such a damaging character as the above to pass unnoticed.

Me Jomk Buit, Telegraph Department, informs us that communication on the Port Darwin line is now restored.

The St. George's Naval cadets paraded last night to the number of some 40, under the command of Sub-Lieut. Vernon. The Major commanding the district was present, and complimented the corps on their success at the late District Prize firing.

Mb John Mekzies, proprietor of the well-known Auckland Hotel, wishes through our advertising columns to draw the attention of visitors to Auckland to the many advantages offered by him at his establishment, situate in Queen street, Auckland. Mr Menzies is well known to be quite au fait at his business, and needs no recommendation at pur bands. We would refer our readers to his advertisement for-fuller particulars.

Messbs B. Graham, W. Errington and B. Dixon arrived from Auckland te-day to inspect the contract of Mr B; N. Smith on the Thames Water Bace prior to arbitrating on Mr Smith's claim upon the Government for extras disallowed by the Besident Engineer. '*

rTipHon. J. Sheehan arrived by the Bofomabana this afternoon. The com* mittee appointed at the public meeting on Monday evening to lay before him the resolutions Te lands for the people, &c, will meet for that purpose at the Pacific Hotel at nine o'clock sharp. This is rendered necessary as Mr Sheehan proceeds to Ohinemuri early in the morning.

The first quarterly communication of the District Grand Lodge of Auckland, English Constitution, was held in the lodgeroom, Masonic Hotel, yesterday evening. Bro. G, S. Graham, the Eight Worshipful District Grand Master, presided, and the whole of the officers of. the District Grand Lodge, except Bro. E. T. Wildman, Deputy Grand Master, were present, and nearly- every lodge holding under the Constitution was represented, those of Auckland vicinity having especially large representation. There were many visitors; including G. P. Pierce, K.W^P.G.M. of the Irish Constitution. The principal business transacted was the adoption of the by-laws and standing orders for the conduct of the business of the District Grand Lodge, which were read seriatim, as prepared by the committee, and adopted with some slight amendments. We may add that the Grand Lodge, officers were decorated with the new and very handsome regalia which has been imported.— Herald. r "Lotamy "scores one for " a printer's error." We put it now correctly, as he had it, and as we intended. To the question—"What hope have we, then, with an exhausted exchequer, and large uncompleted contracts on their hands, that the present Government will recommend £10,000 a year be placed upon the estimates to meet our manifold wants P" We reply, &c. (Tide yesterday's Star.) Perhaps "Loyalty" will now explain how he came to overlook the insignificant items of expenditure we pointed out as having been voted to this district " when the ten million loan was being merrily spent," Ac. Scissoas and Paste in the Morning Herald writes: I never look at the gallant Colonel Stavely — or, is it General Stavely P — when ho passes along the streets, without thinking of the " Array and Navy, coupled with the Voluntesrs." Ever since the muddy and

miry days of Dunedin, the name of Suavely lias been associated in my mind with pistols aud bayonets, pipe-clay and the bast of " The Artuy and Navy." But the gallant Oolouol—or General-— comes from the G roeu isle; and, like, a true Irishmuu. ho recently expressed him* self in mellifluous toiies to the following effect:-"He was quite satisfied that if the Volunteers of Dunedin were compelled to turn out for active service, they would give n good account of themselves. They would not be found behind Mount Cargill. In case of emergency, not a few of the citizens would join their rank and go to the front. There was one thing he would like to say. We have no ordnance, and the guns we have here are are utterly useless. If any cruiser came here at present, the v olunteers would not be of the slightest use." At first sight it might be supposed that this was was a quotation from an Irish paper. That is not so, but the gallant Colonel may have .been misreported by an after-dinner* reporter. <

A qujseb scene in the Magistrate's Court ,at Timaru is thus narrated in the Lyltelton Times.j~" Mr Woolcombe, in giving judgment in the affiliation case McKinnon v. Louden, which had been adjourned till after hearing the result of the perjury case, said he' would make an order for Louden to pay 2s 6d per week maintenance. Mr Hamersley, who appealed for the complainant, said that, in the face of the good position occupied by Louden, such an order was ridiculous. It was a perfect farce, as a short time ago Mr Woolcombe had made an order for 10s a week in a similar case against a labouring roan. He could not remain longer in court to argue the matter, as he had an appointment elsewhere ; but his Worship might make a reasonable order and send it to him. Mr Hamersley then picked up his books and walked out of the court. Mr White, who appeared for the accused, called Louden, and told his Worship that they intended to leave the court, and the Bench could not then make an order in the absence of the parties. Counsel and client then left. Mr Woolcombe surveyed the scene for a few minutes, picked up his papers, and followed suit by leaving court without making any order."

One of the oddest of objects for which a limited liability company can be formed (says the Citj Press) is surely that of advertising on dinner plates. For this "The Continental Advertising Refreshment Plate Company" ask for £5003 from the public, the total capital proposed being £10,030. The method projected is, we are told, " by neatly designed advertisements on the rims of refreshment pistes, dishes, saucers, Sea., 'which are to be made of porcelain, china, earthenware, or other material, and to be distributed amongst the different hotels, restaurants, and cafes in the chief cities and towns of France and Belgium." This is to be " the cheapest mode of permanent advertising ever yet introduced," and so many plates will be seen by so many people per day, and " the average cost to advertisers will be about lfd per plate for each advertisement." The ingeuuity of adver. tisers and those who take them under their wings is boundless.

The Taranaki News of the 23rd instant says:—The meeting held at Parihaka this month was distinguished, if for nothing else, at. least for the lavish preparations made for quenching the thirst, or rather stimulating the excitement of the visitors. There were provided 30 hogsheads of beer and an immense quantity in bottle, quarter-casks of brandy, and some cart loads of bottled brandy and other spirits; No less than 50 hogsheads had been ordered, but the brewer at Hawera was unable .to furnish the full supply, as one of the boilers was undergoing repairs. Titoko Waru supplied 15 hogsheads as a gift; he had ordered 30, and Luke 10. It is thus that a great portion of the money obtained for the grass seed harvested by the natives from' the Waimate plains— nearly £4000—has been squandered. The balance has gone in dress, saddles, a thrashing machine, and a few other articles. Iv the matter of dress, evidence was shown by the gorgeous attire of some of the fair, or, rather, dusky belles at the meeting, who were arrayed in new cloth riding-habits of bright colors and hats in the latest fashion. The gents in new tight-fitting buckskins and. top-boots and natty cutaway coats. The investment in saddlery has also been very large. In Hawera alone they completely cleared out one saddler's shop. Master Titoko had been indulging over much on his way to the meeting when be met with the accident which, though at first reported as serious, turned out to be nothing but a spill without broken bones.

The Cambridge correspondent of the Bay of Plenty time writes as follows : The discussions which hare lately taken place of the minor incidents of the late meeting hare not increased the popularity of the Government. First, there is the secret meeting between the Native Minister and Te Kooti. Possibly you never heard of this taking place P * It was kept very quiet for a time, but now it is freely discussed. Mr Sheehan, on the last night of his stay at Te Kopna, spent more than an hour in Te Kooti's tent, heard the whole story of his deportation to the Chatham Islands, and promised io use his influence to procure his pardon. Then again, the lavish offers made ! Here is a sample. Sir George Grey offered to be at the entire cost of building a wooden house for Manga at Te Kopua; after some hesitation Manga consented, but when this offer was followed by that of a thrashing machine, he said stoutly " No, I cannot accept such, things as gifts, and I have not got any money to pay for them." Now our wily friends want to know what all this honied conduct means ; they are haunted with a dark suspicion that there is maminga at the back of it. Altogether the position is not a pleasant one for us to contemplate, and unfortunately the astute Maori knows that we know that he is getting the best of it!

In an article on the defenceless condition of New Zealand ports, the Morning Herald (Dunedin) advocates Ing guns and torpedos for the principal ports. The writer concludes as follows:—'After all the outlay need not be excessive. £ICO,OCO would probably pay for guns enough to arm the principal seaports; and the Assembly has many a time Toted that amount for some so-called public work whose principal use was to secure the seat of a Ministerialist supporter.

Fhibnd, to get a good Watch, Gold or Silver, Geneva, English or American, go to Wilxes, Shortland, for there you will bare the largest stock to select from; also, if you wore thinking of purchasing a Brooch, or pair of Eariogi, Gold Guard, or Bing—for there you can lee tb'e moat varied and best selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Glocks, and Jewellery repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranteed. Established 1867.— AVT£.

The Key. James ilullcr, in his March letter to the New Zealand Wcsloyan, and dated from London, says : "I met Mr Thos. llussell at the Bank of New Zealaud, a short time siuce, and was glad to see him looking remarkably well. Me does not intend to remain permanently in England. All New Zealanders have a strong home-feeling for their adopted country; and well they may. lam very sure that when (D.V.) wo shall return, it will be-with a rapturous joy of " Home, sweet home!"