THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2923, 28 June 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1878.

Captain Magdonald informs us that No. 2 Scottish is already 90 strong, and he has a few more names to be balloted for on Saturday. It is* his intention to strike off all members who £»re.at all careless in attendance, every"allowance will be made for men absent from necessity, but no " paper" men will be allowed on the company's books. A requisition for 1C ) rifles went forward to Government by today's mail.

When our peripatetic reporter was on the Mining Exchange last night in search of the., latest stock quotations he found the promenade deserted, and instead of the Chairman's usual suave address and gentle voice, the reporter's ears were greeted with the short sharp words of command peculiar to military matters. On further enquiry the members of Exchange were found in the sanctum of an old Volunteer who was putting them through elementary drill as No. 2 Scottish! The banking. element was also well represented, and considerable interest was evinced in the training of the young ideas. Our reporter could get no mining quotations that time, but had numerous persuasive requests to become enrolled in the new Company, &{•■• though " paper" men are not wanted as a rule. ,

In the.matter, Brassey v. Quint, aa apology having been tendered by the defendant to the plaintiff, together with costs incurred up the time of actfon, the same has been accepted iv settlement of the case. :

The attention of the Catholics is called to an advertisement appearing in another column reminding them that to-morrow, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, is a holiday of obligation, and that mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Francis' Church, Shortlaud.

The usual weekly drill of the No. 2 JBaurakis takes place to-night. TJin Major commanding has recommended the application of the " HauraLis" to the Defence" Office to change their character and designation from riflemen to engineers. An engineer corps is certainly needed in the leading volunteer district of New Zealand, and we hope the change, if granted, will be for the benefit of the corps.

Mr John L^ydon offered Mr George's jneat little cottage at Upper Albert street for sale by auction to day. The highest bid was £41, at which price it was withdrawn, Mr Goorge having placed a reserve of £60 on it. Immediately after the sale Mr Leydon received a private offer of £50 which he refused. There was a fair attendance. We learn that Mr John P. Hall, manager of the Crown Princess mine, is leaving the district, he having accepted the appointment of manager of the Tokatea mine at Cor./'&andJ, which lucrative billet has been rendered vacant by ■the resignation of Mr Kelly. As an instance of the high appreciation in which Mr Hall's abilities are held, we may mention there were a large number of applications for the managership, and Mr Hall, not even having applied, was offered the office by the directors at'a most handsome remuneration. While logretlini? Mr Hall's deptir are "to fresh fields and pastures new," we can cordially wieh him success in his new sphere, trusting-that his preferment will be for his own bemfit and that of the valuable mine he is to i ike charge of. Mr -Hall's experience of this gold field dates from its commencement, he having been favorably, known as manager of the Shotover, Alburnia, Crown Princess and other of our premier mines.

So3ii3 curious scenes may be witnessed at times amongst the congregated Naf.ve people at present in this township. The other day one Takerei treated the visitors to a couple of banels of beer and a thousand loavc\ These were deposited in the public street in an open-house sort of fashion for every one to partake of. The beer casks were the centre of attraction for some time, but the more substantial representatives of " John Barleycorn " were not neglected, as the dis ribution was rapid. Another chief subsequently outdid Takereils generosity, we believe, but in a less ostentatious manner. Then there was another munificent chief who ordered a big box of "ship's bread" and a large tin of fancy biscuits Id be sent to a certain locality. These, by some "means or, other, were deposited at the wrong place—not for the recipients, wbo fell to, and they did eat. The mistake was discovered when too late to recover the bread, but the local firm managed to put matters right, and the payment is said to have been secured. It would be well, however, for people doing business with our present visitors to keep a native interpreter on the spot, and so make themselves acquainted with their customers when the terms of business are not "cash down on the nail."

The Natives, in towa for the business of the Lands Court have been rather lavish of their money for the time they have been here, but, not having unlimited credits at any bank, they are beginning to frel the effects of living at the rate of a thousand a year for a week when their incomes are decidedly precarious. Some of our Native friends are still well.provided for as regards the rex pecuniarum, but others are getting short; and if the present sitting of the (Jourt should be as protracted as some imagine, there will hf.ve to be a resort to the old system of rising the wind, namely, reihanas, or the more aristocratic resource post obits : th j old people must die come time; meantime the young must have their fling.

There was an impression abroad before the Native Lands Court openc j that the Police force of the district should be . strengthened, but some of those in authority thought it would be unnecessary. Perhaps this is a right view to lake of if, the disturbance which occurred on Tuesday night showed that an occasion might arise for an augmentation of the force. The natives on the whole are orderly enough ; but it is when inflamed by drink that any danger is to be apprehended ; and if any case occurred of a unilrl effort of natives against the y■"•lice, the consequences might be serious for the member.o of the latter force.

Dueing- tie drought (says iEgles) a day of humiliation and prayer was proclaimed in New South Wales, and there were some most sincere supplications for rii'n. Now, it so happened that on tfcis particular day, though the drought still prevailed in Sydney and elsewhere, there was a tremendous downpour of rain and a heavy flood at Glen Innea, with no sign of cessation or abatement. An eccentric magistrate of that town, in despair at what vcd s occurring around him, telegraph -d thus'to the nearest bishop, "If you don't stop praying for rain, we'll enter an action for damages. We are up to our necks in water! "

The natives are a peculiar people, and it seems that the male portion of the community cannot conduct their business at the Court without the assistance of their wives and children. The s:ae wives and children shine in the public br.rs and billiards rooms, but, the wives have also in many instances an interest, superior to their husbands', in the Court. : On these grounds their presence is explainable. But when the Court business fc:* the day is over, some of the captivating waihinas leave their liege lords at their billiards and wander away to. indulge in mild flirtations 'in some quiet back room. In this they but follow the bent of their sex.- Last night one rangatira discovered his spouse in close converse with an admirer. He didn't punch the head of the gallant gay Lotba io, but he closed upon the-wrist of h's spouse and dragged her forth, peremptorily ordering her to her tent. The wife demurred ; more violent struggles ensued ; and a most rmmated discourse ensued ; the feminine voice .being heard above everything. As translated ;by a Maori scholar, the woman was heard to say: "Is this my husband that accuses me with having another husband ? A'Way!"' And away the husband took her. He was strong; she was not dispc eed to enter more than a mild protest p.ninst his jealousy.

The following we commend to the consideration of members of the Thames Borough Council:—"ln a recant discussion at the Chrlst^liurch City Council

(says the Ly Helton Times) it was incidentally mentioned that the Uity Corporation had been great gainers by liberally advertising. Several Councillors mentioned — and the remarks'elicited .not an expression of dissent—(hat since the Council had taken to advertising fully they had r ceived far more tenders, and that the Council, though apparently a little move out of pocket, had re-liy effected a great economy. This testimony of the city fathers should convince the sceptic.

An exchange says :—What is a new-, paper? Is it a huge benevolent institution, run without moliFes of profit, and for £he advantage of everybody except the proprietor ? If it be that, then for pure disinterestedness, it is an institution unparalleled. It is like that knowledge which passeth all understanding That a man shonld embark his capital, devote his best energies, and risk his health in the most worrying and exacting of all human employments, and do all this without the admixture of one particle of expectation of reward, would indeed be a sight for men and angels to stand amazed at.

Either there are two parties, a violent party and a moderate party, composed, within the new Zealand Ministry, or the Ministry has an arrangement for talking different policies according to the circumstances of the case and the feeling of the meeting addressed. Sir George Grey has for some weeks been carrying out his threat of stumping the provinces- and has in many speeches of ibrmidab c length laid a red hot democratic policy before the. electors. A manhood suffrage was to be introduced, plurality of vuting was fo be abolished, and suggestive hints were skilfully thrown out about the possible restoration of provincial institutions. More recently Mr Ballance, the latest addition to the Grey Ministry, has delivered an address to the electors at Mar ton, in which he sketched the intentions of the Government /during the ensuing session. From Mr Ballance's speech it is clear that the pledges and promises given witi such lavish liberality by Sir George Grey are the veriest moonshine. He emphatically denied that the Government h.id the slightest idea of reviving provincialism. With regard to the intended measure dealing with electoral reform, it appears that the property qualification is to be reiainrd,, besides leasehold, ratepaying, household and residential qualificatioas; and so far as can be understood from his speech, votes will be allowed to an elector in as many corsLituencies as he holds qualifications id. The Civil Service, which Sir George Grey regards pretty much as it, is regardc 1 by Mr j^erry, is, iv the estimation of Mr Ballance, " the backbone of the Government, and should not be swept away. Af!er careful s'udy, he' did not believe that any reductions could be made." ' But without going any further into the elaborate refutation of the declarations of Sir George Grey, "furnished by Mr Ballance, it is clear that there is a screw loose somewhere. Either the New Zealand Ministry has as many policies as it has Ministers, or the moderate, sensible section have determined to check the reckless incendiary proceedings of the Premier; or, while it allows that erratic politician to tickle the ears of the groundlings with extravagant fusL'an and bluster, it seeks to conciliate -;'?e support of tte intelligent classes by milder and more practical statements. The future must show whijh conjecture comes nearest the truth.—Australasian.