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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2906, 8 June 1878, Page 2

Tni adjourned meeting of volunteers interested in obtaining land scrip for services rendered Will be held at the Gover-' nor Bowen Hotel this evening at half-past eight o'clock, when the draft of a petition to the Government, setting forth the grievance complained of, will be submitted for adoption. The petition sets forth that by the "Volunteer Lands Act, 1865," yolunteers were offered the inducement of

fifty acres of land or scrip to tlio value of £30 for five years of service. By " The Auckland War to Lands Act, 1876" the provision!; of r.lio Volunteer Lands Act were revoked except in regard to volunteers who had served three years. The memorial further prays that the Assembly will devise means for remedying this injustice. That it is an injustice is manifest. All those men who became volunteers before the passing of the Waste Lands Act did so under the impression that they would receive land for their services. If the repeal of the Volunteer Lands Act had been made effective only as regarded men joining after that date, no injustice would have been done, because recruits would be familiar with the terms of their service; but fixing the lerm of expired service at three years to entitle one to land seems arbitrary. The law should have been made to apply only to those who joined the force after the land grant inducement had been withdrawn. A draft letter has also been prepared to send to officers commanding companies in other parts of New Zealand, asking their--co-operation in moving the House to an act of justice.

We learn that advices by telegraph have been received by the Chairmau of the Thames Valley Railway Committee of the despatch from Wellington of papers and information regarding the proposed line and the bill to be drafted, on receipt of which steps will be taken to hold another telegraphic conference with the local bodies interested, preparatory to having a Bill prepared. We trust there will be no delay over this matter, as the time is short before the session of Parliament assembles, and the present time seems peculiarly favorable to having the preliminaries settled for the coming session. The floating of the new loan under such auspicious circumstances has replenished the Government coffers, and enabled them to ■■ prosecute works which were held in abeyance for want of funds. If the Thames Valley Hail way be not provided for during next session, we fear that its construction will be remotely postponed. The necessity for prompt and united action, must therefore be apparent to all, and should act as a stimulus to those to whom has been entrusted the Work of bringing the matter before Parliament.

We are informed that the Whakatane natives^ engaged in building Hoterene Taipari's carved house will give a haka on the ground at three o'clock on Thursday next, and the Chief hai promised that everything shall be conducted with propriety, so that ladies may be present without fear of offence. The Count de Zaba has been invited to be present, and the general public are also invited, as they were disappointed on two previous occasions. We would suggest a private rehearsal of the programme in presence of the local representative of the Lord Chancellor before invitations to ladies are widely circulated.

There was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court this morning.

We understand that the Rev. W. Salter is expected to preach in, the Wesleyan Churches to-morrow, both morning and evening.

Tee celebration of the anniversary of the Tararu Wesleyan Sunday School will be completed on Tuesday evening next, when a soiree and public meeting will be held in the school-room. A selection of sacred music will be given by the same choir whoe singing met with such approval at the Sunday service.

Theeb is on view in Mr Birlow'n window a beautiful winter scene of rural life: two peasants have slain a monster wolf, and are returning home in triumph, the prize being conveyed by a horse and sleigh. The picture is well mounted in a massive gold frame, and is the most valuable prise yet offered for competition at the Rifle Gallery; the contest for possession corner off on Wednesday evening next.

Some time ago it was stated that a project was on foot to turn the old Tararu battery into a flour mill. There appears to be some truth in it, as by our advertising columns Mr J. B. Steedman convenes a meeting of gentlemen interested in promoting the (Thames Flour Mill Company, to be held at the Governor Bowen Hotel on Tuesday evening next.

We recently had the pleasure of inspecting Mr Grigg's recent importations in the way of pianos and harmoniums, into which line he is going on an extensive scale. The instruments are chiefly from Chappell and Co., of London, which firm is well known for the durability of their instruments and fineness of tone. Being a direct importer, Mr Grigg can sell quite as cheaply as the large Auckland houses, and his enterprise will doubtless be appreciated.

A Thames miner, while in Auckland the other day, went to the surgery of a dentist of that city for the purpose of having a bad tooth extracted. The dentist examined the decayed tooth, and, shaking his head, gravely said: "I can't take it out unless I remove several others." " All right, boss," pluckily said our fellow townsman, "go back for a stope." And the dentist did go back, and " sfoped" out several teeth, when he was able to remove the offending molar.

The Government (says the Herald) has acted judiciously in deciding on a re-clas-sification of officers and men iv the Colonial Constabulary. The degree of rank awarded to some of the officers when the Gazette notice Was published in lr st January, surprised many people, and perhaps none more so than the officers themselves. It is most unfair that small places like Blenheim should have officers bearing equal rank with Auckland, Napier, Nelson, the Thames, and other districts where the work and responsibilities are four times that of the former place. If, as has been stated,-another conference of superintendents "of police is to take place at Wellington, it is only reasonable to suppose that the question of compensation, retiring allowance, or pension should receive the consideration of the responsible heads of the district departments; as, if any branch of the public service should" receive special consideration, the police is that section, not only from the arduous duties which they have to perform, but the continual risks to health which surround them. It is also high time that special constables were done away with, and one general system in force in all districts. The Constabulary frequently encounter considerable inconvenience in getting witnesses for inquests, owing to Parliament having made no provision for payment for such purposes. And this is another subject which should receive attention at the deliberations of the conference, whether another meeting of superintendents is necessary, or whether a general report

from the head of each provincial district to the Commissioner, in connection with the rarious details, is the more advantageous, must, we presume, be left to the Government itself to decide.

We unintentionally committed an error in our preliminary notice of the musical portion of the Count de Zaba's lecture. It appears that the Count forwarded to Captain Goldsmith the music and programme of pieces, which were handed over to the members of the Choral Society taking part in the vocal entertainment, hence Mrs Kilgour had nothing more to do with the arrangements than any other member, everything connected with the musical arrangements being entirely in the hands of Captain Goldsmith.

The racehorse Falcon, disqualified from running for ever by the Auckland Jockey Club, has gone beyond the reach of Jockey Club decisions. While being ridden the other day Falcon fell and broke a leg, and was shot to put him out of misery. '