THE Evening Star PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2916, 20 June 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1878.

The County Council were yesterday advised that the sum of £1922 4s 5d had been posted' from the Treasury to their •credit at the Bank of New Zealand, same being.the Thames County's share of the £4,0,000 vote, Jess. £300 retained for straightening the Karaka Creek. As a matter of course, the stoppage of £300 from the County's share of a special voto for a work in the middle of the Borough, and to be carried out entirely by the Borough authorities, caused some surprise to the County Chairman and Councillors, and the Treasury authorities have been communicated with on the matter, it being assumed that a mistake has been made. We can scarcely believe that the Government can justify the stoppage of £300 from the County funds to pay for work in the Borough. Probably the whole business is the result of some muddle in the departments, officers in some of which are lamentably ignorant of every place outside Wellington, and are constantly affording inLtancis of that ignorance. We are the more inclined to this belief from the fact'that ,by the last Southern mail the Borough received an intimation (published in yesterday's is.-ue) that the Minister for Pubic Works Lad agiec-tl to contribute the sum of £300 Inwards the straightening of the Karalifi t'icuk, which would scarcely have been conveyed in those terms if he hpd contemplated deducting the same from the (Jouuty funds. We have I no doubt the matter is "a mistake " on the part of some TJnder-Secretary or other official in the civil service. :

We are rather surprised to learn that our comments on the state of the Borough footpaths and street crossings have been construed by some as reflecting upon the Foreman of Works. Such was never intended, neither can we imagine how any one with ordinary sense cor!d so have understood our strictures, which were directed/at the Borough Councillors, and particularly the Works Committee! We are glad to" see that our remarks have had some effect, but we are by ho means satisfied with the results. We believe that since the passing" of the Borough By-law relating to the formation.of footpaths the discretion formerly exercised, by the . Foreman of Works as to putting a few loads of gravel or mullock in exceptionally dilapidated spots has been withheld. He has. now simply- to do as directed, and, however urgent a piece of work may be, it must be "authorised" before being undertaken. We would suggest to the Works Committee lo make a special round of the Borough on fool', in company. with the Foreman of Works, in order that they may make themselves personally acquainted with the state of the footpaths and crossings, and be in a position to prepare a report recommend:ng the immediate repair of. those parts which most urgently require the same. As the ordinary meeting of the Council will be held to-night, we would commend this matUr to the consideration of Councillors.

There was a considerable attendance at the meeting of N0.~2 Scottish Volunteers last evening. Captain Murray was in the chair in the unavoidable absence of Mr Macdonald, who was detained in Auckland on a Supreme Court case. Nearly 30 new members were enrolled, and a further large accession promis~d on Saturday. The necessary resolutions were passed authorising the ordering of new uniforms and helmets, additional rifles, new. waist belts, and realisation of old company assets. The members present were measured for uniforms, after which the meeting adjourned to same time and place; on Saturday evening, when it was expected the J maximum strength would be reached, and the order for uniforms and helmets be got ready for the out-going mail on Monday. The capitation in hand and current would enable Captain Macdonald to issue the uniforms and helmets free to members. Some other routine matters, such as election of finance and clothing committees, were left over until Saturday, when Captain Macr donald would be present. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and we entertain no doubt but a few weeks will see them full up, and working cordially towards efficiency as volunteers. Steady drill will not commence until Wednesday next. Some shooting matches are already.talked of between married and single teams, and a match between recruit teams of -No. 1 and No. 2. No. 2 company possesses a handsome champion belt, which will probably be fired for along with some money prizes at an early date.

We learn that Mr William Errington, C.E., lias be on cippoinfcod arbitrator in the case of Blow fieri v. Mo,rrin and ihe Auckland City C uneil, in the matter of the long standing dispute of the Auckland Waterworks contract, Messrs Morrin being the contractors, Mr Blowden subcontractor^ and Mr Emngton Engineer. It speaks volumes for the latter to say that he has been appointed arbitrator by" both sides on a question which arose through his determination to have the work faithfully carried out according to specification, and we have no doubt that his decision will be satisfactory, as jt is not the first worn of the kind in which he has been engage ft, as witness the late" arbitration between Mr It. N. Smith and the Government, which disposed of a matter that ;had been long in abeyance. Mr En.^gton, since he left the Thames, has not escaped detraction, but the recently conferred honor of membership of the Society of Civil Engineers was sufficient proof that his attainments are recognised in circles best able to pass judgment, and he has received numerous congratulations on his well won honor, which was bestowed in an unusually exceptional and complimentary manner.

The Committee appointed at the recent meei'ng to take into consideration a proposal to start a flour mill have been engaged during some days gathering statistics of a character bearing upon the proposed new indust»/, which will be embodied in a report to be submitted to a meeting which will be held in the course of a fsw days. Tiie promoters are, we hear, meeting with great encouragement, and there is every probability of the project being warmly taken up by capitalists and others.

]lefeebih(J to the correspondence of the Colonial Secretary to counties on the distribution of the vote of £40,CX> for counties in Auckland, last night's Auckland Star says :—The Colonial Secretary is a man of sense, end he no sooner discovers that he has committed a blunder Jthan'he hastens to remedy it. This is alikd creditable to the gallant Colonel and satisfactory to the Counties, which were threatened with deprivation of their share of the £40,003. He now admits that he had not the remotest intention of dictating to those Counties which refused to regard the Counties Act as a tbing of beauty and a joy for ever, and thus the entente cordiale is restored, revolution is averted, the roads and bridges will, be repaired, arid matters wi'l resume the even tenor of their way.

We notice that th^No. 2 Hauraki rifles will hold their monthly inspection next Friday eveniag, also that a special meeting of the company will be held after parade.

A Dunedin telegram states that the taxing officer has reduced Messrs Eees and Hislop's bill of costs in the George Jones libel case by £62D. The original amount claimed was over £200.

Ladies, a continuance of your esteemed patronage i* resprotfully so^cited Since I introduced Sewing Machines on the Thames seven yews ago, I have had the pleasure of adding to the comfort of an immense number of homes, aud shall still do ray best to maintain my reputation for selling the beat Machims I can obtein at the Lowest Prices. A large supply just receiv i.— J. G-FTGKJ, Pollen street.—[/dvt.]