THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2934, 11 July 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1878.

The accident which has happened to the steamer Buona Ventura in the Waihou Biver suggests the necessity for some steps being taken to effectually clear the river of snags. This is not the firs.t accident of the kind that has occurred, and it cannot reasonably be expected to be the last if the navigation is to be impeded by these dangerous snags, which are unlike shoals or rocks, whose locality is known and avoicfed. Snags are shifting dangers, and with the greatest precautions on the part of those in charge of the river boats cannot always be steered ; clear of. Mr Firth has recently done good work in improving, the navigation of the iJpper Waihou, but it is not to be expected that a work like this—which if done well would open up the river for navigation for over seventy miles— can be performed by or at the expense of one person, however rich or public spirited he may be. We have heard a very good suggestion, which if acted upon might obtain all that is necessary. Ife is for the public bodies interested to apply to the Government for the appointineutof a Board of vJonservators for the river, armed with powers and means to thoroughly clear the river of snags and other obstructions, and do any other works to improve the navigation. Owing to the tortuous nature of the channel in some places, and the character of the soil on the banks, the latter are be'.ng much encroached upon, and the earth thus carried away is forming banks in some other spot, lhe planting of willows along the banks would help to retain the soil and prevent further encroachments, beautify the country, and in the end prove a source of profit in the pollarding of the willows.. There is no native difficulty in the way of this work being carried out, all objection in that direction having been withdrawn ; and as the Thames and Waihou will probably be made the highway for traffic to the extensive eatates of Mr J. C. Firth and others, we have very strong inducements to endeavor to have the improvements suggested carried out, and so retain a profitable trade in our midst.

The defeasive alliance entered intoJba'tween Great Britain and Turkey, and the cession by the latter of the island of Cyprus, seem to have taken Europe by surprise. The powers had not been prepared for such a coup de maitre to be achieved by. British diplomacy. The news received to-day states that Russia does not object to the occupation .of Cyprus by the British, while the Continental Press opposes it. England takes a firm stand, and, disregarding the "opinions of the Press,'' orders three regiments immediately for Cyprus, nominates as Governor a distinguished general officer who, has won renown in some of Great Britain's recent little wars, and adopts other measures to take possession of what must prove to be another of " the gales of her enemies." With Cyprus held by a Eiitish fd'ce; the Suez Canal protected by a British fleet; and the route to India secured by a protectorate over Turkey in Aaia, there need be little apprehension of British interests in India suffering by the quarrels of European-States.

At the B.M. Court this morning three persons were charged with drunkenness. One of them being on bail failed to appear, and the two others were disposed of in the ordinary manner.

Natives have queer ideas of the rights and wrongs of things. One evening recently a white lad seeing the doorkeeper's b ck turned tried to get into a place of amusement "on the cheap." He was spotted by a native, however, who collared the would-be " dead head " and turned him out. When asked the reason thereof he intimated that he hadi been fool enough to pay a shilling to! get in, and he was determined that every/ one who enjoyed the same privilege should pay for it also. We direct attention id advertisement of an open meeting of the Star of Thames Lodge at the Templar Hall this evening. A full and varied programme will be submitted.. '■: - , v Me Albert Gtebeing, formerly master of the Kaurihohori and Kiri Kiri (Parua Bay) schools ', arid recently assistant master of the Onehunga School, has been appointed to the second mastership of the Kauaeranga Boys? School, and commenced his duties on Monday last. j

A calogbam from Wellington in the Sydney Morning Herald states that " Mr Eeed, one of the proprietors of the Otago Daily Times, will probably be called to the Upper House." : The Single'on Argus- states that a painful accident occurred io one of the pupils residing at the Single'on Grammar School. A quiet garuj of rouaders was being played n the vicinity of the school, the "bat" :n use being a stout stick somewhat " frayed" or splintered at one end. One of the boys named John Connal-, was attempting to strike the ball; the head-master being bowler, and another, H. Mayo, was back-stopping. Connal missed the ball twice, and, at the third stroke, in attempting to repeat a former succ?3sful sideways hit, he swung the stick round so sharply as to strike Mayo in the eye with the end he was holding, Mayo having got very close to him the quioker ti receive the ball if missed the third time. The result was that the pupil of the eye burst, and the power of sight was at once destroyed. Dr Eead was in-medi'ttely sent for. The unfortunato youth was well likeii in the scaool, and iv athletic exerckes, he was far in advance of many of his schoolfellows. Very great sympathy ; s felt ■nd expressed for him in his sr,d » " ?fo: .une,

At ihe Bitting of fcho JSalive Lands Court to-day a sf.^rt was mado with the evidence ro (he To Aroha block.