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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2859, 13 April 1878, Page 2

These will be a united serrice at the Parawai school-house on Monday next, at which the Hers. B. S. Bunn and R. Laishley will delifer addresses.

The sum of ten shillings has been left at the office of this paper as a donation to the Ladies' Benevolent Society from " A Dumb Animal."

The advent of Cooper and Bailey's American circus and menagerie is being heralded by posters and other descriptions of printing. There are fancy cards printed in colors, showing different " feats of the arena," illustrated sheets and bills, "Grand Zoological March," and other attractive adrertising. We understand that during the continuance of the show in Auckland facilities will be offered to the Thames public to go and see it by providing excursions at low rates and at suitable times.

The first dray that has been driren orer the road from Puriri to Thames arrired this morning with a load of bones for Mr T. Spencer's mill, brought by Mr Gallagher. The bridges are not all finished, and in some places the creeks had to be forded. Shortly, however, it will be an easy matter to drire between lhames and Puriri.

We learn that an additional attraction will be offered to the Waiwera excursionists by the ltotomabana at Easter. The return trip will take place by way of Auckland, and as Easter Monday (the 22nd) will be the opening day of Cooper and Bailey's great circus and menagerie, it is proposed to give excursionists the chance of being present, and return to the Thames after the performance is over. *

Thb anniversary of the establishment of Good Templary on the Thames will bo celebrated on Sunday and Monday, the 28th and 29th instant. On the Sunday the Key. S. Edger will preach a sermon, and the proceedings on the Monday will be of a diversified character, a committee of members of the three lodges having been appointed to prepare n programme, of which particulars will shortly appear.

ME3SB3 Gudgeon and Co. announce that they will sell at an early date, without reserve, the premises now occupied by the Bank of Australasia, Albert street.

We hear on good authority that the lieutenants at present in charge of our N avals here are sending an order to Sydney for a set of marine, brass instruments, and that the company are forming a marine brass band. The present fife and drum band of this corps has been in existence about seven years, and is the oldest band in this district. We believe all the members can play brass instruments, and knowing the energy displayed in this company, we may anticipate seeing a brass band that will be creditable to the corps.

The Auckland Star has stated, and our " esteemed " morning contemporary has copied the statement, that we displayed our ignorance of science by writing of the "midden" discovered by Dr Ton Haast in a jocular strain. We might with equal justice say that the associate editors of our evening contemporary have displayed a wonderful acquaintance with science by pirating from one of the numerous encyclopedias of the day a technical description of a " midden;" which would most certainly be contrary to our convictions. From their style wo should imagine that they are very nearly related to those literary cocksparrows whose crow is loudest on their own midden.

Two painters—a big one and a little one—were going down Pollen street the other day, when a friend called them to ■top;' After- a few common-place observations the friend remarked to the little painter, " I say, Johnny, whenever I see you two coming down the street it reminds me of an incident that happened in the old country." The men of color were both desirous of hearing the reminiscence, doubtless expecting to hear some pretty story of the Damon and Pythias kind. The friend related the story as follows: — " Whon I was a youngster at St. Helens, a sharp and mysterious-looking Yankee came to our town and announced that on a certain evening he would exhibit' The Wusser, exhibited so many nights at London, and so many at Paris, etc' The town was plentifully billed, and the expectation of our little community was at fever heat though no one knew what this mysterious ' Wusser' was. On the night

appointed for the show the Theatre Royal was crammed, and on tho curtain rising tho 'cule downeasfc exhibitor came before the audience lending a grant Newfoundlaud dog, and said ' Ladies and gentlemen, this is not the wusser. I will show you tho wusser.' He then brought forward a nianjiy littio poodle, and said, 1 Gentlemen, this is the wusser—of the two.' • Now, Johnny,' continued the narrator, ' Whenever I see you two going along I always think that you're tho wusser of the two." Painters exeunt amidst tho laughter of the listeners.

An accident, happily unattended with any serious results, happened yetterday to two young men named William and Nathaniel Kowe, employed in tho Moanatairi tunnel. As is customary, the brothers having bored six or seven holes in the face with the rock drill, charged them, and prepared to fire them off in succession. The two first were successfully fired, and as the brothers were proceeding to the face to ignite the fuse of the third one, the charge exploded, when they were within 20 feet of the face. William Howe was struck rather severely in the groin with one stone, another inflicting a deep cut on his thigh. His brother also received a blow, but nothing of any consequence as he was able to go to work again. The more injured of thtf two was taken home, and on medical aid being obtained it was found that the injuries were not very serious.

At the inquest held on the body of John Hare or Eyre, who was found dead in the lock-up (Coromande!) on Sunday last, a verdict was returned —" That deceased died from mortal injury to his lirer, but how or by what means said mortal injury was receired there is no eridence to «how." Deceased came from the Miranda about a fortnight before his death to look for work at the Tiki on the road at present being made by the Maoris between Coromandel and the Thames. After perform* ing half a day's work on the 29th ult., he knocked off, stating he was unwell, and proceeded io the " Half Way House " Hotel (a bush license) at the Waiau, a short distance from where he was at work, which is kept by a person named Gleeson, where he seems to have stayed up. to the sth instant. On the latter date he was brought in to Coromandel by Gleeson, being then in a state of delirium tremens, and suffering from an injury to bis right side, which he (deceased) stated was caused by a fall off a fence. He not being then in a fit state to bo at large, he was locked up about 12 o'clock noon, and got the usual attendance, haying been risitedbyDr. Horell the two following days, who prescribed medicino for him, which was giren to deceased as directed by the doctor. The Sergeanl saw deceased alire for the last time at 10.30 p m. on the 7th, when he covered him up with the blankets, and, although he heard him repeatedly during the night afterwards, ho, on taking him his breakfast at 8.30 a.m. the following morning, found him quite dead, and he must hare then been so for at least three hours. On post mortem being made, the liver, which was of immenso size, was found to have been ruptured to the extent of three or four inches, which the doctor, in his evidence at the inquest, stated was the direct cause of death, and the tordict was in accordance with the medical testimony. Deceased was a native of Ireland, but has been for a number of years in the Colony, and his parents reside in Howick, his father being an army pensioner. He was a single man. He had no property on him when taken into custody, but he is said to have been the owner of some sort of a farm on the Miranda, near the Sandspit. He blamed no one for the injury to his side, his constant statement being to the effect that it was caused by a fall oh? a fence.

It is quite a common thing to hear people say that if England went to war with Russia, the sympathy and assistance of America would be with the latter. Some persons, in fact, hare an impression that Americans would rejoice to see England humiliated. They forget that in America there are thousands of loyal British subjects, and many thousands of American born citizens who are proud to trace their descent from the same old stock, and instances have not been wanting lately to prove that amongst men in America eminent in statesmanship, in arms, in literature and in the Church there are many who cherish a loyal and friendly feeling to our Mother Country, while amongst the " emigrants " can be found numbers who would bo prepared to draw the sword in defence of the country which gave them birtb. An index of this latter feeling may be gathered from an extract from a letler received per last mail, by a gentleman resident here, from his brother, who has been for a quarter of a century resident in America, in which country he has filled important public and civic positions. Ho says : "We get the European news several hours before it happens—at least, what occurs in England during the day and evening we have it the same day at breakfast time by telegraph, so while sipping our coffee for reakfast we can season it with the news transpiring in that little but important island Old England, which I pray and hope will continue to rule the waves, ns Britons, wherever they are, whether in adversity or prosperity, never can be slaves. In fact, I feel young enough, should war break out between England and Russia, to take a musket to defend old Bible reading England, right or wrong." On the state of things in the States the writer remarks:—" We are living through years of hard times, such as this country never experienced before in its history, and it is so much the worse now for people who were reared in luxury to have to come down to want. For many years of success, and easy t© make a living, our nation became traders and neglected the true source of wealth— farming. Now the fact stares us in the face that we will be obliged one and all lo quit trading jack knives and telling pea nuts, and go to mother earth for a living."

PitntKD, to get a good Watch, Gold or Silver, Geneva, English or American! go to Wilxes, Shortland, for there you will have the largest stock to select from; also, if you were jthinking of purchasing a Brooch, or puir ef Barings, Gold Guard, or Bing—for there you can see the most varied and beet selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranteed. Established 1857. —- Adtt.

Paterfamilias: "Well, Tommy, lad, hare you been attentive and gained any prizes ?" Master Tom :"Oh, yes, pa, several!" Paterfamilias: " Well, I mast give you a Christmas-box. How would 30U like Haydn's Dictionary of Dates ?" Master Tom : " I think, pa, I'd rather have a drum of figs."