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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2899, 31 May 1878, Page 2

We hear that it is probable we shall soon be favored with a visit from Mr DeLias' dramatic company now playing at the Theatre Royal, Auckland. The company includes, besides the American stars (Mr John Jack and Miss Firman), those old favorites Mrs Walter Hill and Mr J. B. Steele, and their performances have been highly eulogised by the city Press. A high ciass dramatic entertainment will be much appreciated, as it is long since Thrmes prople had such in their nv.dst.

The annual licensing meeting for the districts of Thames and Hauraki w?U take place at the Court House, Queen street, on Tuesday next at noon. For Thames District the following applications have been lodged :—1 new license for new house ; 7 new licenses for old houses ; 41 for reiewals ; 5 for transfers. For Hauraki :-r-2 new licenses for old houses; 9 renewals; 1 transfer. Totr.l applications, 66.

The Wsnganui Herald has the following :—" During Sir George Grey's visit to Tawhiao's, an alarmist telegram was received by the Governor, who seized the golden chance to avenge the humiliation he, felt when the visit of Sir WiHiam Jervoi3 was declined, by prevailing on the weaker or more supple members of the Cabinet to pledge themselves to the expenditure of £44,CC0 for the purchase of cannon and construction of fortifications. The Premier was away, and to evade his opposition to the reckless folly, the guns were instantly telegraphed for, and the country is saddled with an expenditure, that instead of giving security,, vail only invite attack. Had he been consulted, the probable answer to the Marquis would have been, that, as New Zealand has had no voice in making the quarrel, it will not accept any share in warlike operations.' He was not long since roundly abused for stating that a party in England deaircd to tax the colonies for a ishare of naval and military expenses, aid now the spirit of this despatch proves him to have spoken correctly. There is no warrant of lawfor what is accomplish d by a trrasparent trick. When the batteries are greeted, a permanent force must be retained to man them, and thus the Colonial Office, aided by the Governor, has succeeded in deluding Ministers into takirig the first step towards saddling the country with the grievous burden of a standing army."

Me Stanley, the English Consul at Odessa, has a fine house fronting the harbour, on which there is a broad balcony. He found himself constantly watched by two men. They dogged his steps whenever he went abroad, posted themselves so as to command a view of his door whenever he was at home, never relinquishing their watch upon him. After about three weeks of this it became monotonous* He got tired of it, and knowing them to' be in the employ of the Government, went to the GovernorGeneral to complain of it. That official heard him and replied "Well, if you wish me to tell the truth, I will explain it, and I hope you will not be offended. It is a fact that you have been watched, and there have been very grave reasons for it, as we have been informed that every night when you come home, which ia sometimes very late, especially when you have been to your club, Mr Stanley, you take a dark lantern and go out on your balcony, and there, by moving and flashing your light, make signals in the direction of the sea, whence we fear an attack from the Turkish fleet." Mr Stanley laughed immoderately, to the very great surprise of the Governor-General, and when he could speak, said "Yes, it is true that I go out on my balcony at night with a lantern, and I will explain to you why. Every English Consul abroad has instructions from the Home Office to take meterological observations three times each day for forwarding them to the Home Office. The last daily observation I make is when I go home 'at night. My thermometer hangs on the balcony, and as I am nearsighted, I have to hold the lantern up close to examine its indications."

A gentle Chinese youth measuring already eight feet six, and who, report says, is still growing rapidly, has left the Celestial Empire bound for Paris, where during the preat Exhibition, he hopes to make capital out of his superabundant inches. Yano Shan, the youthful giant in question, although not yet nineteen years of age, overtops considerably his predecessor TJhang, another interesting point about him being that his head, eschewing the example set by other members of his body, retains its normal size. The parents of Yano Shan say that until the age of sixteen their son differed in no way from other lads of his years; but at this epoch he went fishing one day near, the parental house, netted a fish of strange appearance, cooked it, ate it, and subsequently fell seriously ill. It was after this malady, of wliich the fish is supposed to be

the primary cause, that Yaiio took to shooting upwards, his growth increasing the move rapid'y in proportion as ho regained his health. The Chinese consider the unknown fish he caught belonged to the species called the growing fish; and ascribe the circumstances of his head not sharing the development of the rest of the person to the fact that the fish's head was not eaten. Whatever may be the cause of Yanb Shan's extraordinary height, whether it.be owing to a fish or freak of nature, the young phenomenon will prove a godsend to French anthropologists, who are becoming rather tired of examining the Esquimaux now domiciled at Le Jardin d' Acclimatisation, end. will welcome joyfully* fresh matter for study in the person of Yano Shan.

The bravest among us often quail at the prospect of a visit to the denlist, and. endure a very martyrdom from toothache rather than submit to the extraction of the offending tooth. But when one's courage is screw d to the extracting point it is evidently to a patient's advantage that the operation should be performed by a skilful hand, rather than by the unprac* tised one of the sufferer. A Frenchman residing in the environs of Paris held a contrary opinion, and it is still doubtful weather his error may not cost him his life owing to the unusual manner in which he played the role of dentist. He had long been suffering from toothache, but obstinately refused to have recourse to a dentist; and at length, finding the pain unendurable, took the following uncommon method of extraction:—To the tooth he attached firmly a long string, to to the string a heavy stone; thus aimed he proceeded to the topmost story of the house he occupied, opened the window, and hurled the stone into the air. The weight of the stone and length of the string produced so violent a shock, that not only was the tooth pulled out but with it a portion of the man's jaw, his neck being so painfully twisted that he fainted. Hours ensued ere conoiousness returned. When he ultimately recovered his senses it was only to find himself deprived of the faculty of speech ; in short, his condition was such that it was found necessary to remove him to a hospital, where he now lies in a most precarious state. Should he quit the hospital a living man, it is to be hoped he will also be a wiser one. :

Fbibnd, to get a good Watch, Gold or Sliver, Geneva, English or American, go to Wilk^s, Shetland, for there you will have the iargest stock to selrct from; also, if you were thinking of purchasing a Brooch, or pair of Earingß, Gold Guard, or Bing—for there you can seethe most varied rid best selected stock on the Thames. Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery repaired at Auckland prices, and guaranty .d. Est -blished 1867.; — Advt.