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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2856, 10 April 1878, Page 2

We understand that Mr E. McManus of the Thames has challenged Mr J. Daly of Aucklaud to run 200 yards at Auckland on Easter Monday. Great interest is felt in the event.

The mail news announces the death of James. Ham Friswell, author. The deceased was born at Newport, Shropshire, in 1827. He has contributed largely to Chambers' Journal, Leader, Spectator, London Review and Saturday Review, and was also author of " Houses with the fronja off," "Out and about," &c. "Men. of the Time" says of the deceased : "Ho has taken an interest in the advancement of the working classes, delivering lectures, giving readings, and forming classes for their instruction."

In its report of the proceedings of the R. M. Court yesterday, the Advertiser of this morning's issue falls into Iho very serious error of having a man remanded for lunacy instead of being .-cutenccd to seven days' imprisonment for habitual drunkenness.

Some person created a disgusting nuisance at Beach Road, Grahamstown, this afternoon, by bunging several bags, in which there had evidently been some oar* rion, over a fence. The bottoms of the bags were covered with maggots, and the stench was quite unbearable.

Mil H. C. Nankkbvis has taken the Theatre Royal Hotel, and having replenished the bar with a new and varied stock of good liquors of the best brands, he may bo expected to sustain the good name of this favorite pub. He announces that he ia in a position to supply his patrons with the best quality of Dunedin beer, having that celebrated article on/draught.

An excellent opportunity will be afforded the residents of the Thames of spendiug a few days agreeably at Easter. The itotomahana has been chartered to make an excursion to Waiwera, the fare for steamer and hotel expenses during the trip being fixed at a very moderate rate. It is intended that the steamer shall leave here at about 8 or 9 o'clock on the morning of Good Friday, and steam direct to the Waiwera. „On Monday the passengers will be taken on board again, and brought home by way of Auckland, reaching Thames about nine or ten in the evening. The trip will cost each adult the sum of 355, namely fen shillings return ticket by steamer, and twentyfive shilling expenses at Waiwera, which will include board and lodging and use of the baths. It is not often that a chance like this occurs, and wo have no doubt a good number will" avail themselves of it. The fame of Waiwera is widespread, the accommodation is proverbial for comfort, and the medicinal properties of the springs have been testified to by hundreds. The cost of the trip is exceedingly moderate.

One day last week a carter in the employ of Mr S. Dickey was taking a dray load of bricks out to the Tararu cemetery, two young horses being in the dray. When near the cemetery gate, which is situated on a steep rise 60 feet above the level of the beach, the horses by some means or another, backed with the cart down the incline! The cart was smashed to pieces, but, strange to say, the horses both escaped with a few scratches. The part of the road where the accident took place is very dangerous indeed, the side next the cliff being quite unprotected. The authorities should do something to this at once.

Wheitbveb our " esteemed " contemporary has anything to say of as he falls back upon the convenient correspondent, who seems to be always accessible, like a big brother, to come down upon us with the'force of a literary sledge hammer. We are in blissful ignorance of the " contemptible statements " which hare raised the bile of our friends over the way and drawn out the bogus correspondent who is " showing up" our shortcomings— literary, political and mechanical. Perhaps it is imagined that the very just strictures on the proverbial dulness of the Advertiser's columns, which appeared in our issue of Saturday over the initial 11B.," was the production of some one in the office. Our correspondent "II." will perhaps state that his communication was spontaneous. We are certain his sentiments are shared by scores who regard it as hopeless to lodge a protest. We can scarcely flatter ourselves that these little wordy passages will possess any interest for the public, but they will perhaps excuse them as it is in their interest that we now and then administer to our contemporary a healthy stirring up. If we did not do this, there is no telling what his paper would com* to; and instead of snarling and hounding on a pack of hangers on to abuse us, our contemporary ought to regard us as his best friend. If he cannot defend himself, he might preserve a dignified silence, and decline the services of those sycophants who butter himup so lavishly in his own columns. The reference in the paragraph to business matters is on a par with the statement made some time ago about borrowing type. It is simply untrue. An instance occurred this week which may-be taken as a fair sample of the Advertiser's way of doing business in estimating a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Tenders were asked for some printing for a public department. The Advertiser was successful, the price being £17. The proprietor of this journal, knowing with whom he had to deal, cut things low and tendered for £17 10s. The tender of the Auckland Star was £24. If our contemporary wants some instances to, prove how far it has gone down and utterly lost caste as a leader of public opinion, he has not far to seek. His opinions on most public questions for some years have not had the weight of a feather in guiding or directing the public; and it is bccau?i> he feels this so painfully manifest that he pours" out the rials of hia wrath on our devoted heads—the effect of which, however, we hope to survive to administer as occasion may require some further discipline to keep our contemporary in order, and not allow him to trespass too far on the forbearance of his readers.

TnEEE ia lyin^ on the village green at Tapu an old 5-pounder cannon, which it is said formerly belonged to H.M.S. Buffalo which was wrecked in the vicinity of Mercury Bay some 28 or 30 years ago, and there the remains of her timbers can yet be seen. The piece of ordnance was brought round to Tapu in a canoe by some natives several years ago, being doubtless intended to defend that part of the coast of the Hauraki Gulf from the tread of the invading pakeha. This relic of the past is used by the villagers of Tapu as a pastime, it being considered a feat of strength, to set the cannon up on end single handed. Might it not be worthy of a place in the Auckland Museum ? .

"We (Duoedin Morning Herald) hear that the Government has offered a scat in the Legislative Council to Mr Eeynolds, who has accepted it. The appointment is a very proper one, and Mr Reynolds's numerous political friends will be glad.to see him in harness again.

Befebiiino to the case of the New Zealand Herald being mulcted in costs for a telegraphic mistake, the Poverty Bay Standard says:—"We recommend the proprietors of the Auckland Herald to change their solicitors. The Government by saying it is not responsible for error does not escape its responsibility nny more than a man who appropriates what does not belong to him escapes because he has given notice of his intention. Owners of ships in their bills of lading ignore responsibilities which the law docs not admit of when appealed to. The Government cannot ignore their responsibility for employing bungling clerks or operators." Perhaps the editor does not know of such a law as the Telegraph Act. The Government, or any government, can get over anything apparently by Act of Parliament.

DtrniNo a banquet at Guildhall, on Lord Mayor's Day, the coachman and fool in in of. a West End couple of guests hacl imbibed freely in the servants' ball. " James " said the master to the footman, " I'm afraid Robinson is not guile steady; get on the box and lock after him." " Sartinly, s*v," said James, and he mounted to the po?t assigned him. Robinson whipped up the horses, and the occupants of the Tehicle were rather alarmed when a Hansom cab and a lot of foot passengers hurried out of their path. While crossing Hoi born viaduct, a policeman shouced to the coachman to atop, and a lame crossing-sweeper was nearly ran over. A few digs with an umbrella in the coachman's back brought the pace back

nearer to police regulations, but soon the horses wore again lashed into a gallop, and everything made way for the equipage. On reaching home the master called up the footman, and desired an explanation of the coachman's behaviour. " Well, you know, sir," said James, " I 'ope as 'ow yer won't mention it to Robinson, sir; but afore he was in your service, sir, ho used to drive a fire-engine; and having had something to drink he forgot himself a bit, sir."