THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JULY 8, 1878

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2981, 8 July 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JULY 8, 1878

The Borough financial position has improved very much of late. The windfall of nearly £2GOO from publicans' licenses —although not unexpected—has helped to remove that incubus under which municipal bodies in New Zealand chronically labor—a Bank overdraft. At the last regular meeting of the Borough Council the gratifying intelligence was communicated to the City Fathers that a sum amounting to about seven hundred pounds—deducted in excess from Govern- , rnent subsidies for. charitable aid purposes —had been placed to the credit of the Borough at the Bank of New Zealand. These two Amounts coining so opportunely afford matter for congratulation, but it is not for this purpose alone we rcvjrt to them. We sire reminded by the circumstances that the Borough should now proceed with Ihe utmost diligence in carrying out urgent works. We perceive that the spreading of metal has been commenced, and it is to be hoped that no time will be lost in carrying out the recent recommendations of the Works Committee regarding footpaths. Each week of the season, with weather such as we have had for the past two weeks, sees the footpaths becoming more unbearable. On Saturday night, where sand had been placed on footpaths they were decidedly sloppy. Besides the consideration dae to the burgesses who have to be out at night, there is a class who are very much affected by the state of our streets, and from whom we are surprised no remonstrance has come ; we refer to the storekeepers, whose Saturday nights must have been very unsatisfactory for some weeks past, and which may be attributed in some measure to the state of our Borough highways. There is, we are sorry to learn, plenty of labor available for all requirements. Let us see if the Borough people can be equal to the occasion now they have means at their disposal.

Two movements recently initiated are likely to militate against the successful passage of the Thames Valley Bailway Bill through the House. Although the delegates from different parts of the country were pretty unanimous in adopting the draft bill, we have not been sanguine of this unanimity being preserved while the Bill was going through the ordeal of legislative analysis, with the many conflicting elements that are sure to be aroused. The causes which we regard as likely to be inimical to a safe passage of the Bill through the House next session are (1) the split in the Waikato County and industrious movement for separation initiated by the Cambridge people, and (2) a proposal which has emanated from the residents of Hamilton West to form a tramway from the present terminus of the Government railway to a wharf at the river. These causes, we say, it is possible will create an unexpected diversion in the camp of the promoters of the Thames Valley line, and branch to Cambridge. If these differences can be healed in so far as to ensure a unanimous support for carrying through the Bill as adopted, it will require " a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether " to get the Bill through. The Thames Valley Railway Bill will prove an admiiable test of the sincerity of Sir George's Grey's professions, oft repeated in this district and in the House; but if he is once afforded an excuse for not pushing the Eill he will avail himself of it, and come back here saying it was not his fault the railway has not been made. We, have heard that the Government positively decline to make the line a Government one; when Sir George Grey was in Opposition he urged this as a most desirable and commendable work. Notwithstanding these facts, we believe that, although the present Government are reported to be " so strong that they can dp as they please," they will not give this scheme of ours (and theirs) a cordial support if by so doing they render doubtful a single vote.

Theee was no business at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. We learn that Mr T. B. Hicks has resigned the management of the Queen of Beauty mine, and that Mr T. Radford, pitmen to the Waio-Karaka pumping association, has been appointed in his stead. Mr James Darrow also has resigned the management of the battery, and it is said the directors will supervise the crushing themselves, for a time at least.

It is proposed to form a new County in the Waikato District, of which Cambridge is to be the centre. The Waikato Times gives the following particulars of the localities proposed to be included:—The ridings which it is thus proposed to associate in the formation of the new county of Cambridge are Pukerimu from the present Waipa County, Cambridge and Tamahere from Waikato County, Taotaoroa, and Patatere, with perhaps parts of Matamata from Piako County. This amalgamation -would form one of the richest counties in the North .Island, and would extend the working of-the Counties Acu over a large'area, where hitherto it has not been in operation. The greatest enthusiasm and unanimity ot the ratepayers of thrse ridings has been exhibited in their desire to carry out the object in view. :

The pi'oporly of fclie Co'iban Goldmin- I ing Company was sold by auction at noon to-day by Mr James Craig. The first bid was £5, but Mv I) ■}. MacDonnell at once capped Ibis with a bid of £50. Some other small advances were slowly made, and the property was eventually knocked down for £58 to Mr D'.-Gr. MacDonnell, at whose snit the sale was made. i Saturday and to-day's sittings of the Native Lands Court were occupied with the heaving of the Waiharakeke case. The evidence is now finished, and judgment was to be given this afternoon. It will probably be the same as in the Waiharakeke West aDd Te Aratiatia case. Some time ago we (Herald) referred to the fast that the heir to a very valuable property in London had been discovered in the person of a Corornandel miner, named Michael Collins. The matter was placed by Mr Collins in the hands of Messrs Whi taker and Russell, and from inquiries which have been made, and instructions received from the London firm of solicitors, there appears to be little doubt of Mr Collins being able to'establish his identity as heir-at-law.

A stokt is told of how a smart Shortland policeman was caught napping one night lately. Loud and many had been the complaints made by the residents of a certain aristocratic vicinity of the ruthless behaviour of a set of larrikins, whose nocturnal amusements had become a great plague to the inhabitants. Inconsequence of these complaints our smart constable was detailed off to put a stop to the nuisance by bringing some of the offenders tp justice. He ensconced himself in a cart lying by the wayside, with his head towards the cart tail and his watchful eye jammed against a chink in the tail-board. He continued his vigilant look out for perhaps half an hour, when •—alas for frail humanity—he fell asleep. This he demonstrate! by snoring in a m®st conscientious and bona fide manner. Now several specimens of the genus larrikin had watched with heivy heart the laying of the cruel trap destined to put a stop to their evening's amusement. A heavenly ray of joy brightened their features as the guardian of the peace commenced his slumbers.. One of them stepped forward and undid the tail-board of the cart, while half a dozen others tipped up the vehicle sending the constable out head-first on the saad. ExsvM juvenes. (Little boys skedadd'ed.)

A Maobi kune kun or dance came off at Shorlland on Saturday evening, and all appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. There were several Europeans present, who entered with great zest into the amusement. Many of the Native ladies were tastefully attired, and amongst those present we noticed several chiefs' wives and daughters. One little incident occurred which created some little amusement amongst the on-lookers. A young white fellow was " swinging round" a shoeless Native beauty when suddenly the latter disengaged herself from him, much to her partner's astonishment. On going after her he noticed the cause of her exit: her skirt was coming down. He got unmercifully " chaffed," but he did not seem to care much. While the young people were indulging in the European school of the saltatory art, a number of the o'd conservative Natives were amusing themselves with a hakaover the way, and seemed to enjoy themselves quite as much as their sons and daughters.

The gossiping writer in Truth says :— A friend of mine went a few days back to have a tooth stopped. The dentist advised him that he had better have the tooth taken out, and assured him that he would feel no pain if he took laughing gas. " But what is the effect of the gas ? " asked my friend. "It simply makes you totally insensible." remarkt d the dentist; " you don't know anything that takes place." My friend submitted ; but just previous to the gas being administered he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his money. " Oh, don't trouble about that now," said the dentist, thinking he was going i;^ be paid his fee. • Wot at all," remarked the patient; "I was simply going to see how much I had before the gas took effect."

The S. F. Post says: "It is an ill wind that blows nobody good." The Russo Turkish war has done a great deal of good to the gun manufacturers of this country, and wrought more than a counteracting evil to the unhappy subjects of the Porte. One gun manufacturing compa: y in "New York received $12,0C3,000 for guns pnd $9,0C0,000 for powder, etc., from t^e Turkish Government since the war began. Payment was made promptly as agreed upon, fortnightly, through Baring Brothers, liondon. Of course the holdeis of Turkish bonds had no interest in this expenditure.