THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2943, 22 July 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1878.

The numbers one and two Companies Thames Scottish Volunteers had again good musters at drill on Saturday evening. The nomination and election of officers and non-commissioned officers for No. 2

were postponed until next Saturday on account of the unavoidable absence >of daptaia Macdonald in Auckland. At the conclusion of drill several new men were

elected to No. 2, the intention being at present to continue recruiting for both Companies, and when found necessary to iorm a third Company. In addition to the company officers required for' No. 2, there are two lieutenants required for the colors one from each company. No. 1 will fire for prizes on Saturday if the range is available. A large number of prizes arc ready for No. 2, as soon as their new rifles are received.

The annual meeting of subscribers to' the Mechanics' Institute will be held in the " Museum" or lecture room this evening to receive, the report and balance sheet for the past year, nnd elect officers aud committee of management for the ensuing year.

The bearing of the Te Aroha case was finished on Saturday afternoon, and judgment will be delivered after the arrival of Chief Judge Fenton and Mr James Mackay. This morning the following small Ohinetnuri blocks were called on, and partly heard, but were ordered to stand over, pending the completion of the survey :—lLakanui, Onebahamuti, Ngihangilm, and Farahamuti. A large number of the Tauranga and "Waikato Natives have left for their homes.

Again there was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court to-day.

At about half- past fivo o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the Richmond street firo-bell clanged out the fire alarm, and the Shortlaud Brigade turned out with the hose reel ana appliances. The cause of the alarm was soon apparent. A largo volume of flame was observed issuiug from the chimney of Mr J. Nodder's residence, Pollen street, but the firemen speedily coupled a few lengths^ of hose and extinguished the flames before any damage was done. The Shortland brigade deserve praise for the alacrity they displayed. They had water on the fire five minutes, after the alarm rang. As the Karaka bridge and Grahamstown bells also rang, several members of the Grahamstown contingent turned out,, but arrived at Shortland after the flamea were extinguished.

We are informed on reliable, authority that there is every chance of the Komata difficulty with the chief Tukukino be'ng amicably arranged.

In our mining article "The Week," which appeared in Saturday's issue, it was stated that the prospecting from the southern cross-cut had not been commenced by the united, companies. We are informed that this is not correct, the first contract having been begun on July 8. Dilatory as the companies^ have been we have no desire to do. them an injustice; hence this correction.

The Hon. J. Sheehan, Native Minister, was to leave Napier for Wellington today.

A special meeting of the Thames County Council will be held at the County Chambers to-morrow to take into consideration the readjustment of the representation and alteration of borndaries of ridings.

The Lady Superior, of Mount St. Mary, Auckland, has received the sum of £17 2s 6d, through the Very Eev. Father Fyhes, from Father Chastagnon, of the Thames, collected for the use of the convent.

A Pbess Agency telegram states that Sir George Grey has been so unwell during the past few days as to be viable to attend at his office.

Pbofessob Scott gave a free entertainment at the Theatre Royal on Saturday, and as a matter of course had a full house, thereby accomplishing the primary object he had in view, to get together as many people as possible to hear him dilate on the merits of his King of Pain mixture. The professor has a strong, pleasant voice, and accompanies himself on a small instrument partaking somewhat of the character of a harmonium. He tells droll stories, and spices his talk with American humor. Several persons submitted themselves to be operated upon with King off Pain mixture, and expressed themselves as feeling immediate relief. Professor Scott keeps his audience amused fur about two hours. It is announced by advertisement that he will give another free entertainment on Wednesday evening, and from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. of jthatjday he may be consulted free at his private room, Pacific Hotel. Owing to indisposition in his family the Professor had to return to Auckland on Saturday evening.

EditorEveningStar, Grahamstown —• Owing to the presence of the famous clarionette player, Signor Bosso I)onizelti, the new Tapu Hall committee gave last night a grand concert, which caused the building to be filled at the appointed hour by everybody, his wife and fanvly. The programme, which was a lengthy :>ne, was interspersed with locals, which created much amusement, as the hits were very good, and no one was spared. Miss Murray presided at the piano, and was supported by the Signor on the clarionette, also a master hand on the violin. The band gave some choice selections. Miss Ginn, a young lady visitor from Grahamstown, also kindly lent her assistance, and went through some pieces in a brillant style; altogether the peformance was a grand success, and we trust the committee will keep up the amusement they have so well inagurated.—Your own correspondent, Tapu, Saturday.

" Ignobamtjs " writes a letter under the head " Is Truth Infallible," and proceeds to put a ncmber of questions regarding the Mosaic account of the Creation. As its publication would probably elicit a reply, and necessitate the opening of our columns to a controversy of a polemical character, we decline to insert " Ignoramus's " communication.

This is the latest joke perpetrated by the St. Jjngoes in connection with politics and Eastern European geography: " Boaconsfield," said, the other day, an enthusiastic member of the war-at-any-price party, " is the Boss-for-us."

It is said that when Pope Leo XIII. was Nuncio at Brussels a certain Marquis showed him one night at dinner a snuffbox, on the cover being a very lovely Venus. The men who were present thought the joke rather a good one, and, as for the Marquis, he was choking with laughter, until the y: priest-diplomatist, having carefully examined the grace of the unadorned figure, returned it to the nobleman with the remark : " Tres jolie! Est cc le portrait de Madame la Marquise ? "

A London correspondent of the S. F. Chronicle writes :—Here is rather a stupid story wbich I am assured is both genuine and amusing : A gentleman recently lost his wife. On the joyful—l mean melancholy occasion of the funeral, he was informed by the undertaker that, in following the hearse, he would have to ride in the first mourning coach alone with his mother-in-law. " That I won't," declared the bereaved one, with a resolute air. ",But you must," said the undertaker, looking supremely shocked. Ah, happy man he had no mother-in-law. " Dash it!" growled the widower. [N.B. —He used a much stronger word than " dash."] " You must, indeed," insisted the undertaker : - " you must, because to ride with your mother-in-law is in accordance with etiquette." " Then," groaned the victim, "if I rnus,£> I must; but hang it, if I have to go with her all my pleasure will be spoiled."

The following anecdote regarding Mr Gladstone's lately broken windows is said to be true: Tlio day after the news-

papers had published to the world the fact that the estimated tlatuagos inflicted during that celebrated Sunday by tho Hyde Park " Sfc. Jingoes," amounted to £3 10s, Mr Gladstone received from a workingman an ill-spelled but heartily expressed letter, in which the writer said he had been so ashamed to think that the distinguished statesman should have suffered such an indignity from any calling themselves workingmen, that he and his family had scraped the sum together to pay for the breakage.