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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2918, 22 June 1878, Page 2

On dit' that, important changes are shortly to be made in the Volunteer Staff of this and the Auckland district. It is said that a recently promoted officer in Auckland is to be appointed to the command of that district, while a Tolunteer officer here is to receive the honorary command of the Thames Battalion,

Membebs of the Thames Rifle Hangers are reminded of the "competition for Mr Aitken's watch and other prizes, which takes place on Monday at 9 a.m.

The mid-winter holidays for the schools in this district will extend from Monday, the Ist July, to Saturday, the 6th.

We had the pleasure the other day of viewing, at the studio of Mr Lindauer, some very beautiful oil paintings—portraits. These comprise likenesses of the Chief Paul of Orakei, the famous Hapuku, who died a short time ago, Mr \7i Tako, M.H.R., and other Maori rangatiras, and also portraits of the Native woman Julia, who saved several lives in Nelson harbor, for which she received a public address and presentation, and another Native woman belonging to the district of Wairarapa. The pictures are really beautiful productions, and do infinite credit to the artist, Mr Lindauer, who is bringing a rather lengthened tour in the Colonies to a close. The likeness of Paora Tuhaere is perfect, and so are some of the others. These portraits of the Maoris, Mr Lindauer intends carrying with him to Austria, from which country he comes. He is now engaged upon some portraits of citizens,and other work, and will shortly leave for his home. It would afford many in the town an agreeable treat if some arrangement could be made for a public exhibition of Mr Lindauer's works before he takes his departure.

At a meeting held in Auckland recently to consider the formation of a company for the erection of a Temperance Hotel, one Mr Beal is reported to have said that "if such an hotel as that proposed were to be realised, the outside public and men of position and influence must be appealed to ; teetotallers would never do it, even if the shares were but a shilling each. It seemed to him that so soon as a man became a total abstainer be became mean and miserly. It waa a remarkable fact, but it was so."

Messrs A. Bruce and Montgomery left the Burke street wharf between 10 and 11 o'clock this morning on a shooting excursion. A man named Porter, working on the hills, observed the boat leave the wharf, and shortly after a squall came oh which hid the boat from view. On the squall clearing away, Porter was unable to see the boat. He at once went down to the wharf and communicated with Mr Arnold, a waterman, who had also noticed the boat before the squall, and saw the occupants taking in the sprit, showing they noticed the approach of the gale. Porter, Arnold, and Montgomery's brother left the wharf in a boat to see if there was any trace of the boat, and they returned at about two o'clock, having seen no trace, so that it is probable they,got through the squall safely. The only business at the R.M. Court this morning was the disposal of one case of permitting goats to be at large, in which the defendant was fined Is and costs. Capt. Fraser R.M. was on the Bench.

The usual monthly Government inspection of the No. 2 Hauratu Rifles took place last night in the Grahamstown drill shed, when the usual fair muster of this fine corps was present. The state was made out as follows:—Present on parade —1 Capt., 1 lieut., 1 sub.-lieut., 1 colorsergeant, 5 sergeants, 1 bugler, 45 rank and file, and 15 bandsmen ; .total on parade of all ranks, 70; absent with leave—l corporal and 35 privates; absent without leave —7 privates ; sick—2 privates ; total strength, 115. The corps, being sized, proved, and told off, was divided into two companion, and Major Cooper assumed command, Captain Small acting as major of battalion, and the staff instructor aa adjutant, Lieut. Barlow as captain of the fight, and Lieut. Denby of the left company.- Several evolutions were gone through, but the - limited space of the hall admitted but small scope for extended or echelon formations. After the arms, &c, had been minutely inspected and the roll called, Major Cooper thanked the men for their attendance, stating that he was much pleased with the clean appearance of every man, and their steadiness in the movements gone through. As Wo. 3 Haurakis had become ITo. 2 Scottish, it remained for them to maintain the prestige of the Haurakis. The officers then fell out and the men were, dismissed, after which a special meeting took place in the lecture *oom at which a resolution was passed that the designation of the corps be changed to the Hauraki Engineer Volunteers subject fo the approval of the Government, the uniform of the Royal Engineers to be adopted. Captain Small, in advocating the change, said that an Engineer corps was much required in this the first volunteer district of the colony, and their lieutenant, Mr Barlow, who had twelve years' experience in the Royal Engineer*, would do his best to impart instruction to them and make them an efficient corps of sappers and miners.