Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2852, 5 April 1878, Page 2

In tho report of the County Council, in this issue, is tho Finance Committee's report in which reference is made to Mr Vcrnon having applied for the oflice of pcriiiHiient valuer and collector to tiie County. This is evidently a mistake of the committee, as Mr Vernon only applied for the appointment of permanent valuer.

The following licensed holdings have received from the Mining Inspesfcor the preliminary notices of forfeiture, which will be completed so soon as the forms required by the Act have been complied with:—Express, Eagle Heef, New Candlelight, Pandora, British, and Lord Kelson.

A meeting of the Justices of the Peace was held at the Court House today at' 12 o'clock for the purpose of revising the Jury List of the District of Grahamstown. There were present— Dr. Kilgour, Messrs Puckey, Tizard and Allom. There were no objections, and the list was adopted. It is stated that Mr William Bowe has secured a tribute in the Caledonian mine which he has been trying to get for a long time. Shareholders would be gratified if this should lead to the recovery of the lost run of gold. The Alburnia is greatly indebted to tributers for her present position.

Says the Herhld: Sir George Grey still remains at the Itawau, and we regret to hear that he suffers considerably in health; He will not leave town for the Waikato before Monday, tho unfavourable state of the weather having made it necessary to delay the jury.

An old Native Cuief was recently relating bis experiences of the Native Lands Court, judges, lawyer?, and such like institutions of the pabeba, that he had come into contact,with. He said he thought at first the Native Land Court was a fine institution, but when he found it giving his land to people who bad not a shadow of claim to it he altered his opU nion of the Court. :{He was favorably disposed towards the judges, because he thought they were fair men, dealing out even handed justice. f> He found out he was mistaken, and between the Courts and the Judges he rushed into the arms of the lawyers, but he says with emphasis he "found them the very devil." The experience of some pakehas might be found to agree in a remarkable manner with the ancient cannibal's, especially as regards the lawyers.

The half-yearly balance-sheet of the South British Insurance Company lias been issued, and shows a rather unprofitable business during the past six months, owing to unprecedented losses. The total cash receired for premiums during-the half-year amounts to £66,057, being £7600 more that the corresponding period last year. But against this income must be placed the losses in both branches of business, £41,174; and the expenses, reinsurances, &o, amounting to £21,597, which leaves a margin of only about £3280. The interest received upon capital invested amounts to £5012, but seeing that it only requires £7164 to pay a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent, per an-, num, we think the South British Company is in a healthly condition, and we (blcrald) quite endorse that portion of the report which declares that the company is now placed in "a very favorable position for meeting, without disarrangement of iti finances, these recurring periods of unprofitable insurance business."

It will bo seen from an advertisement in another column that a meeting of the Thames Scottish Volunteers is called for Saturday night to re-adjust squads and make preliminary arrangements for increasing their efficiency by more extended, drill, 'ibis, we believe, will consist in placing all recruits and non-efficients in squads for rudimentary drill by themselves, practising the remainder of the company, mounting and, relieving guard, marching reliefs, posting and challenging sentries, &c. ; also shelter trench exercise: attack and defence of positions. It is also intended, in order to give officers and non- commissioned officers a thorough knowledge of the work, to make them take drill with the men, as well as command their respective guards. The whole will be carried out in accordance with the latest j authorised "Keld Exercise," and under Lieut. Johnston, whose experience has been gained in the Crimea, Indian.Mutiny, and New Zealand War. The recruits will be in the charge solely of Instructor Schofield, as the non-commissioned officers are required for guard duty." We also learn that officers of the Scottish are, in addition to the'above, going through a regular course of infantry sword exercise under Instructor Hyraan. We are further informed that a gentleman of considerable experience as a Boyal Engineer has offered to instruct the Scottish in field work, rifle pits, field telegraphy and signalling, making fascines, Ac, and' c arrangements are ,

likely to be ma3e at the meeliug on Saturday to accept the offer and carry out this farther instruction.

Ak extraordinary general meeting of the Shareholders of the Waitekauri G.M.Co. was held at the large room of the Insurance Buildings on Wednesday afternoon. There was a good attendance, and* Mr L.Ehren fried occupied the chair. The Chairman, after explainig the position of mining operations, said that they had met to consider a proposal from the mortgagees of the battery which was worthy of the consideration of the shareholders. They owed the mortgagees £16,000, £10,000 of. which would hare to be paid in six months, and the balance in one year from date. The mortgagees were willing to forego the claim for £5009 cash. This was thought such an advantageous offer that the directors had at once brought it under the notice of the shareholders. He referred to the good prospects of the 95 feet level, which he hoped would be yielding quartz in two months' time. Mr Wylde-Brown asked how it was that the mortgagees were willing to take £5000 for £16,000. The Chairman inti-. mated that it was nit for them to question the motircs of the mortgagees. Mr Brown, one of the mortgagees, explained that they did not care much either way. If the shareholders could net pay the £10,000, the mine would fall into their (the mortgagees) hands. They, however, wished to act fairly with the shareholders, and had made the pro* posal. Mr Stovin suggested that as the directors had such faith ip the mine that they should buy the shareholders out at 5s per share. Mr Brown pointed out that the mine would theirs in six months, and the shares would be forfeited. One month would be given for consideration of the proposal. Mr Stovin moved that the mortgagees buy the shareholders' shares at 5s each, and those willing to retain them might do so. Mr Howe strongly supported the mortgagees' offer. In answer to Mr Alexander, the Chairman said it was proposed to obtain part of the £5000 by overdraft, and the remainder by calls. After further discmssion, a resolution to the effect that a committee to consider the offer of the mortgagees be appointed to report to the shareholders in three weeks, was carried. After it had been decided not to let any portion of the mine on tribute till after the accepting of the committee's report, the meeting terminated with the usual compliment to the Chairman. (The above has been abridged from the Herald s report.)

Wjb have been favored with the perusal of a private letter from a young gentleman now m England, formerly resident on the Thames, in. which the Busso-Turkish war and the probability of England bein> involved are discussed from a lad's point of view. Some extracts may be interesting—not bo much for the value of the opinions expressed but as showing how the war feeling must have have seized upon the people at home when a youth writing to his parents here can occupy so much, of his letter in discussing the '• situation ":—" The war is lasting along time, far longer than has been expected, and I am sorry to say that it is likely to last much longer. England before long will take up arms against Bussia, and it is feared she will have to fight against Germany too. The days when England used to 'gain so much glory, both on land and sea, are passed, and it is likely, that Germany or Bussia are going to

take her place. English people in our day, both hero and abroad, can't understand that it is impossible for England to do what she has done in the days'of old. She has not got a second Nelson ; she hag not got a second Wellington; but' at the same time it is Irue if she went to war she .might have both. But again, what U3e would a Nelson or a Wellington be in our day ? All our ships are not built of wood—they are of the thickest iron. Our guns are' not the same, they are breech loaders, and some of the new rifles are repeaters which fire a great number of shots in succession. . • • A great deal depends now on the number of men placed in the field. If war were declared to morrow we could only send..out 90,000 men, that is what we. call our "standing army," but it is not a standing army at all

Bussin could march 2,000,C00 men into the field if she were hard pressed, and Germany nearly twice that number., . . . England is in a very critical position; she at present is working alone, but there •till remains a chance that Austria will support England. . . • • Let us keep our honor as a British nation, and Old England till be Old England still. If there is a war thousands after thousands of her children will raise their hands to support her government, and I am sure that the Colonies—namely, New Zealand, Australia, Ac, will not be the last on the list to support the Mother Country. Her colonies will go hand in hand to support her, and every Englishman on the globe, if he has a true Englishman's heart, will endeavor to support his country's government to the last."

Thb rumored deration of "Johnny Martin " to the raoant seat in the Legislative Council caused by the decease of the Mod. W. B. Rhodes is causing hostile criticism to the Government in some of the Sod them journals. Theßangiora Standard remarks:—" Sir George Grey's only political fault at the present moment is, without doubt, his pandering to the ultrademocratic taste, as has lately been shown by his monstrous enunciations re manhood suffrage: To disfigure the nominated branch of our Parliament with men of the ' Johnny' Martin class, let them be as rich even as Boss Tweed or Croosus were, will simply prove the small end of the wedge which will ultimately demolish an Institution already, very unpopular. If, the Government wish to reward rich Mr Martin for his active canvass in the Barton's election, let them present him with the traditional tea-service, and increase his already large stock of heirlooms, while not endangering their political relations with theGUpper House." At the -time of the coup d'etat, one of the Commissionaires of Police, .who was charged! with the arrest of sotae twenty or thirty Republicans, being newly married to a very loving and jealous woman, had some difficulty in finding an excuse for'his noctural absence that would satisfy' her. Finally he hit upon the happy thought of telling her that he had been called upon to arrest the paramour of a wealthy nobleman's wife; that a cunning trap had bean laid to surprise the guilty lovers; that it would be one of the greatest scandals of the century; and that ibe would have- the-earliest and most exclusive and authentic,account o£ the whole affair. The Gonmiffsionaire's wife naturally did .not close an eye all night, and early at daybreak, hearing a hum in the street without, rushed to the ; window, drew back the curtain, and behold her husband with-a strong force escorting a score of prisoners or more. " Well, I ne7er P How many lovers had she ?'" said she, with a dftgree of surprise that, tinder the circuinstancei, was perhaps excusable.

Fhibnd, to get. a good Watch, Gold or Silver, Genera, iEnglisa or American, go to Wilkks, Shortland, for there you' will have the largest atjck to select from ; also, if you were thinking of purchasing a Brooch, or pair of Barings, Gold Guard, or "Ring—for. there you can seethe most varied and best! selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranteed. Established 1867.— Adtt.