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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2876, 4 May 1878, Page 2

Communication has been restbred-on the Port Darwin line.

. Membess of Thames Eifle Bangers are reminded of the prize firing which commences at 8 o'clock on . Monday morning- '■' \ ■ - ,' ': ■ .;"

Sepabate tenders are called by the Bay of Islands Coal Company; for making a boiler for the p.s. Black Diamond and a Cornish boiler for the pumping engine.

A ctelegbaph station is now open at Tinui (County of Wairarapa).

The offices of the Thames Building, Land and Investment Society have been removed, to the commodious premises formerly occupied by the Bank of Australaiia.

We learn that the Thames Scottish Volunteers are likely to 1 be increased to two hundred strong, exclusive of band, by the formation of second company. The present one is up to its fullstrength, and as there are still numerous applicants for admission, it has been suggested to ask the Government to allow an additional 100 men, by the formation of a second company, the uniform and helmets to be the same as the present.

Mb H. H. Lvsk has resigned his seat \ at the Board of Education.

A message to the Auckland Star from Sydney states that it is probable the Marquis of Norninnby will succeed Sir Hercules Robinson in the Governorship of New South Wales.

Thebe is on view in Mr Pulleine's seedshop window, Owen street, a gigantic pumkin weighing 180lbs. It was grown at Parawai, by Mr Nikorima Poutoutara.

The usual monthly inspection of the St. George's Naval Cadets took place at the drill-shed, the Volunteer Hall, last evening. There were present —Acting Captain Bennett, Lieuts. Savage and Vernon, Warrant Officer Stephenson, P.O.'s Corbett, Gordon and Balcke about 30 cadets. Major Cooper inspected the arms and accoutrements, and after the company had gone through several company evolutions very satisfactorily, the lads were dismissed and a meeting was held for the purpose of considering the new uniforms. Captain Bennett announced that.Messrs Lang, Patterson and Co., of Sydney, were to make 60 or 60 pairs of blue cloth pants, wMch would be here in less than two months.

We were shown to-day by Mr Hughes of Tararu a pretty sample of gold washed from the Waiomo Creek by a man named Cole,'who has been prospecting in that locality for eighteen months on and off. The gold weighs 3£dwts, and is slightly mixed with quartz. It has evidently net long been detached from the reef. The quality is excellent, the Bank price being £4 an ounce. With such a prospect in the Creek, there is ample inducement to prospectors to try their luck on the hills. The discovery of the reef from which the gold came would be a good find.

The Standard and North Canterbury Guardian, in copying a local from our columns regarding the possession by Mr J. Cadman of the first miner's right issued in the Colony, makes a mistake as to the year, and renders the statement ridiculous. It is evidently a typographical error, but it makes the paragraph ridiculous. It gives the date of the first miner's right as 1872, whereas we stated it to be 1852.

Ma job Coopeb last night inspected the No. 2 Hauraki company and band at the Grahamstown drill hall, and complimented the officers on the clean condition of the arms and accoutrements of.their men. The distribution of the prize money won at the local district prize firing last month would be distributed, he informed them, at the Queen's birthday review. After the inspection the corps was ordered out for a snort route march to Shortland, via Pollen street, and back to Grahamstown through Queen and Albert streets. The company mustered with its usual strength, all the officers and sergeants being present, and about sixty of the company and band..

A meeting of the Auckland Racing Club members was held yesterday afternoon to consider a letter" from Mr Owen M'Gee on the disqualification of his horse Falcon, himself and his son. M'Gee was examined regarding the pulling of Falcon, but offered no satisfactory explanation or eridence, and the Committee decided to adhere to their former decision. With reference to the case of Perfume the Qlnb considered there was not. sufficient evidence to warrant their going any further with the matter.

Ok the reckless -destruction of young fish, "A Looker on" writes as follows to the Auckland Star: "Sir,—A circumstance was lately brorght to my notice that I think the legislature ought to put a stop .to, that is, the indiscriminate catching of flounders, too small for use, at the Thames. I am informed that the fishermen catch millions of young small patikis which are useless for food, and throw them away. Unless some check or protection is given, this fine fish will shortly become scarce in districts."

The Superintendent of the Shortland Fire Brigade has had prepared a plan showing the lines of street through which the water mains are laid, from Farawai to the Ghrahamsfcown end of the water supply, including the new main in connection with the County supply, with all the fire plugs marked in and directions by which members of the brigade can fix the localities in their minds. This plan has been prepared by Mr H. Crump, and is a most creditable piece of work, besides being a very desirable acquisition to the brigades, and one very much required. By studying this plan firemen can in a short time become acquainted with the exact positions of the fire plugs, and the possession of such knowledge may be the means some time or other of averting a fire. At any rate it will enable firemen to get their connections made and water on in much quicker time than could be done if only a few members knew where to find the fire plugs.

On visiting the Waiotahi Creek school yesterday we were forcibly reminded of the insufficiency of the accommodation afforded by the present building; This was more than once brought under the notice of the late Board of Education, who were so convinced of the necessity of enlarging the school that a sum of money was appropriated for that purpose. Owing to some cause or other the vote was never expended/and the consequence has been that during the past summer the teachers and children of the school have been confined in a place which was, as one frequent visitor to the school assured us, little better than a Slack Hole of Calcutta; while, from the absence of lining to the walls and want of a fireplace, in the winter the place is not fit for children to assemble in. It was proposed months ago to enlarge the building, have it lined, and a fireplace put into it. We would urge the local committee to get these additions and alterations effected at once, or the attendance at the school—always greater than the capacity of the building —must be affected. The Board of Education has been doing a good deal for the Thames lately, But as the erection of the newjschools on the flat are not likely to affect the Creek School, the very urgent requirements we have indicated should be carried out without delay.

At the ordinary meeting on Thursday of the Star of Thames Lodge, 1.0. G.T., liJ). Bro. Bates, assisted by Bros. French and Danby, installed the-following as officers for the ensuing term:— W.C.T., Bro. G. N. Phillips (re-elected); W.V.T., Bro. Fletcher ; W. 8., Bro. Honiss; W. A. S,, Bro. Sherlock; W. 0., Bro. E. H. Power; W.F.8., Sister Honiss (reelected) ; W.T., Sister Cocks (re-elected); W'JilL., Bro. Swinden; D.M., Sister Wine", press; 1.G., Bro. Downes; O.G, Bro. Houghton; E.H.S., Bro. Cook; L.H.S* Sister Bowie. , The W.G.T.being elected to the chair for the third time ; "Bro. J.S. Small continues to act as P. W.C.T.

The Grafton Football Club have elected Mr W. W. Kobinson Captain for the coming season.

As winter is approaching the exhilarating amusement of roller skating may be expected to absorb a share of attention. Already, we may state, it has been resorted to in certain social circles, and it will be observed from an advertisement in another column that a meeting of members of the Thames Skating Club is called for the afternoon of Monday next, in S. George's Hall at four o'clock, te make arrangements for resuming and carrying on through the season the meetings of the club. For two seasons the club has been the means of affording healthful amusement to its members, and even those who do not skate have had an opportunity of cultivating social amenities—perhaps enjoying the " moving accidents of the more awkward, and the "graceful evolutions" of the practised skaters. There is not much doubt of the coming season being equally successful, and as preliminaries are to be settled on Monday, there should be a good attendance of members.

The members of the Grahamstown and Shortland Fire Brigades assembled at the Grahamstown Fire Brigade station for the purpose of testing the capabilities of the new 9-i*ch mains in case of a conflagration. In all there were between 40 and 50 firemen, the Shortland contingent being under the command of Superintendent Macdonald and Capt. Bull, and the Grahamstown contingent under Superintendent Price and Captain Wright. The appliances having been brought to the Bank of New Zealand Corner, several hundreds of feet of hose were rapidly run out, and the nozzles being manned, 11 or 12 jets of water were soon working splendidly, and in a way that would frighten the life out of a good sized conflagration. Nine jets were directed on the Pacific Hotel, which very soon resembled an enormous fountain, and such was the quantity of water thrown on the building that we are informed that Mr Curtis' piano and other articles of furniture are considerably damaged by the water. Other jets were also directed on the "Corner" offices, and on the Bank of New Zealand. Other little cold water amusements were indulged in at the time of our going to press, and after the practice the brigades were to be regaled with a spread at the Gresham Hall.

A TEiEGEAM from Wellington (says a Southern paper) dated the 4th ult. says : —Mr J. M. Perrier has been summarily dismissed from the editorship of the Chronicle, late Argus. His dismissal arose in this wise:—Mr Gardiner, the new proprietor, is a Californian Scotchman of great decision of character. Yesterday morning Mr Perrier came down, to the office as usual, when " Mr Gardiner said to him : " Look here, I'm not going to keep a man who does so precious little. Make out your account and vamoose." Mr Perrier made out his account for five weeks' salary and £30 in place of notice. Mr Gardiner instantly; gave him his cheque for that amount and told him to clear out, which he did, after a brief editorship of three days.

A wbiter in Truth observes:—lt says, in proof of the old saying, that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, that a party of ladies went out in a waggonette last week to witness a meet of Garth's hounds, and that whilst trying to follow the pack in this vehicle across a boggy field, the horse slipped up and fell, upon which one of the ladies sprang out, and in the most orthodox manner proceeded to " sit on 'is 'cd. " So well did she perform this interesting ceremony, moreover, that in a few minutes the animal was found to be smothered, a victim to mud and petticoats. ''I've always seen them do that to cab horses in London," she said, when she found the mischief she had done.

" ThebeS nae luck about the house upon a washing day." The old parody is still true enough in many homes where the washing is done by hand. Those who wish to get the work finished before breakfast and dried by the morning tun, should purchase a Cottage Washing Machine, Wringer and Mangle included— £2 10s. J. CteiOG, Pollen street.— [Advt.]