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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2848, 1 April 1878, Page 2

We learn that the Hon. J. Sheehan has consented to allow the use of the telegraph wires for half an hour to the local governing bodies for the purpose of a brief conference between the local bodies of the Thames and those of Waikato and Piako, with the Hamilton Borough Council. The time has not been fixed, but the lecal bodies of the other districts will be notified to hold themselves in readiness. The business is to be in connection with the Thames and Waikato Railway.

The lovers of the " delicious " bivalve known as the oyster may be informed that this is the first day of the open season. We haven't seen any open or closed yet, but we may assume that for the next eight months every day will be an " opening" day as far aa oysters r d oy«'»rers are concerned.

Mkjibkks of L.O.L. No. (3 are notified by advertisement that their usutil monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday ercniug next, and not this evening as previously tin notified!.

Mv L.w;i:ii: is* laying down the conereto blocks for the purpose of protecting the now (ire-plays in connection with the 9iticli mains. The blocks are of Mr, Laurie's nmnnfacture, and weigh 2cwt each.

To-pay is " All Fool's Day," as perhaps some readers may have been more than once reminded by irrepressible boys calling attention to the state of their shoe latchct, or some other article of attire. Chambers' Encyclopaedia gives the following particulars regarding the custom of " fooling " on this day :—-"The custom of sending one upon a bootless errand on the first day of this mouth, is perhaps a travesty of sending hither and thither of the Saviour from Annas to Cainphas, and from Pilate to Herod, because during the middle ages this scene in Christ's life was made the subject of a miracle-play (q. v.) at Easter, which occurs in the month of A. It is possible however, that it may be a relic of some old heathen festival. The custom, whatever be its origin, of playing off little tricks on this day, whereby ridicule may be fixed upon unguarded individuals, appears to oe universal throughout Europe. In Prance, one thus imposed upon is called tin polsson d' Avril (i»n A. fish). In England, such a person is called an A. fool; in Scotland, a gowk. Gowk is the Scotch for the cuckoo, and also signifies a foolish person. The favourite jest in Britain is to send one upon an errand for something grossly nonsensical—as for pigron's milk, or the History of Adam's Grandfather; or to make appointments which are not to be kept; or to call to a passer-by that his latchet is unloosed, or that there is a spot of mud upon his face. When he falls into the snare, the term A. fool or gowk is applied with a shout of laughter. It is curious that the Hindus practice precis3ly similar tricks on the 31st of March, when they hold what is called the Hnli Festival."

A cobbespondent of the Dnnedin Herald, writing from Palmeraton, says :— " It may not he generally known that one of the best—if not the best—coal-mines of the province is on fire. I allude to the Shag Point mine, which lias been on fire for months. The fire was caused through gross carelessness, and, as far as I can learn, no steps are being taken to put it out. It seems such a waste of public property. There is nothing to preyent :'c burning out the whole seam, consumin * hundreds of thousands of tons of valual.l coal."

The very latest " Turkish atrocit ' (says an English exchange) is to be be in Cheapside, London, where a peripate?" vendor of penny wares is carrying abo .. a trayful of "Bulgarian ears" made .' flesh-colored indiarubber, and imitatir.with frightful fidelity a human ear severed from a human head. It is the most horrible pennyworth erer seen.

Communication has been restored with Port Darwin. The West Australia line is interrupted beyond Streaky Bay.

Gone are the palmy days of the prize ring, remarks the Mirror of Literature; cockfighting is no more ; and in England, at all events, ball-baiting lias for some years been a th:ng of the past; but the national instict of this and the sister island still asserts itself, for the champion bull fighter in sunny Spain is an Irishman, with brogue complete, and the majority of the best maladores are not Spaniards, but Englishmen.

The Sydney Evening UTews relates the following incident which occurred in Sydney as the Lusitania was about leaving for Melbourne en route to London. At the time the exciting event occurred, there were hundreds of persons present bidding adieu and wishing bon voyage to their friends on board. A gentleman who, up to within a few days has occupied an important position in the Government of an adjoining colony, was just going on board with his bride when he vras rudely made aware of the presence of a minion of the law —a Supreme Court bailiff, in fact, armed with authority to arrest him. The authority was in the shape of a Supreme Court writ, issued at the instance of a Miss Kate Htvers, obtained at [Brisbane, for breach of promise of marriage. It is hardly necessary io say that the distinguished gentleman was much surprised, and most certainly in a fix, for on the owe side lay the Lusitania, with the steam up, and on the other Miss Kate Hevers s agent, and her writ for £500. The hoii. gentleman was just about saying he knew nothing about it, but the officer of the law turned round as if he could wait no longer. The hon. gentleman's friends, however, came to his assistance, and their guarantees to the amount claimed in the writ were accepted as sufficient to meet the difficulty, and the happy pair proceeded on their honeymoon."

The Bible is not prohibited in the schools of south Australasia. The Protestant Advocate says :—At the meeting of the Council of Education on Monday last, a circular from the Minister of Education (Hon. N. Blyth), was brought forward thanking the teachers for information recently furnished him on the subject of reading the Bible, and saying that ' o "wishes specially to point out—l. TV., neither by the Education Act nor 'ho H emulations is the consent of the par:" •" necessary before the Holy Scriptures be read to the'school children. If at • tain number of the parents request it is then competent for the Council to dir. the teacher to'commence the practi.. ; it is not competent for any number . parents to prohibit it. 2. If it is 1 wish of any school teacher to commen the duties of the school by reading portion of Holy Scripture before half-pas--9 o'clock to such scholars as may be sent by their parents, he need not bo influenced in his course of conduct by the popularity or otherwise of the practice."

Some months ago the Barony Board or Local Authority for Hogganfield and Springburn, suburb of Glasgow, gave a champagne spread at the opening of the local waterworks. Some of the ratepayers sued them for illegal expenditure, and considerable litigation ensued. This has now terminated. A recent date of the Glasgow Mail says : '• The case against the Barony Board for Hogganfield and Springburn, for alleged illegal expenditure at the opening of the waterworks of the district, has now been finally taken out of Court, the mosey spent having been refunded, and the pursuers' expenses being paid."

Fiiibnd, to get a good Walch, Gold or Silver, Genera, English or American, go to Wiikis, Shortland, for there jou will havo tho largest stock to select from ; also, if you were thinking of purchasing a Brooch, or pair of Eariogs, Gold Guard, or Bing—for there joit can see the most varied and best selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Clocks, and Jewel)erj repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranteed. F«tablished 1867.— Adtt.

The Wairoa Free Press is in trouble. .t';s staff is composed of one compositor, and this youth having injured his right aaiid while playing cricket, the editor announces that the publication of the paper on Saturduy will have to bo suspended in consequence. The Napier Telegraph thereupon recommends the editor of its contemporary to keep that one compositor rolled up in flannel when his services are not requred in the office, so as to obviate such another lamentable catastrophe.

The following amusing story from Bathursfc comes to us through the M.A. M:ail:—One 0/ those thrifty femdes, of whom crusty bachelors say that the breed is fast dying out, resolved upon converting a scarlet article of her apparel into a black one. The dye provided, amid which there was a quantity of nitrate of silver, and the article duly soaked therein by means of a washing-basin, the good lady retired to her couch. .Kot being of the Mrs Gamp class, so fearfully known by some husbands as "naggers," this lady fell asleep. Her husband having returned after working very late, thought, in the excessive dusty and warm weather with which Bathurst has recently been so favoured, that a sluice would do him good. Accordingly, on going to the washing-basin he found some water already there and duly washed prior to turning in. The next morning was Sunday, on which day it is said that people do not rise so early as on other days. Turning in bed, as folk will do, the wife saw a face as black as coal. With a scream and a spring she was soon out of bed, and the whole house alarmed. She thought some son of Africa's soil bad occupied her husband's half of the bed, and thus continued to scream the louder as her husband advanced to pacify her. Now most people are aware that nightshirts do not fall much below the men's knees. Looking at the man as he approached her, this thrifty womrn saw at a glance that though the face and hands were those of Esau, the legs were Jacob's. An explanation followed, and when Mr G-. beheld himself, as his wife held the mirror up to nature, his exclamations may not have been loud, but they were deep.

Db Millabd, vicar of Basingstoke, acd his curate, the Eev. C. H. Lacon, are active members of the local fire brrgade, which consists chiefly of tradesmen of the town. A few days since they had a torchlight procession, followed by a dinner, at which the vicar was present in full uniform, and in the course of his response to the clerical toast, he said—" I don't know that there has ever been an instance in history of a bishop bsicg a member of a fire brigade. E'ahops have done many things in past ages. We can scarce understand, in these our own days, the difference there must have been in times when bishops were certainly sometimes great warriors, and often great lawyers. Still, I know of no instance even of the clergy joining fire brigades save in the case of myself and my curate. But lam sure .the bishops would regard our purpose as being thoroughly sensible and useful, and practical and benevolent, and lam quite certain that, should that most improbable event occur of my being offered a bishopric, I should make it a condition with the Prime Minister that I shouldn't be obliged to leave your ranks."