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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2949, 29 July 1878, Page 2

These was a very large attendance at the Shortlrnd Roman Catholic Chapel yesterday morning when Father O'Keilly celebrated masa for the first time. Daring the service the Encyc^crV letter waa read.

We learn that Mr T. B. Hicks, long and favorably known here as manager of the City of London and other of our premier mines, is about to trrn his hand from mining to agricultural pursuits, he havrng purchased a fine farm at Pokeno. Mr Hicks' friends, of whom he has not a few, are getting up a testimonial to be presented to him on his leaving the district, which he does shortly. We wish Mr Hicks success in his new sphere.

Amongst the victims of the late terrible massacre at JNew Caledonia were M. Tellier, chef de poste at Boulapari, and his three children. M. Tellier was an uncle of Mr Maurice Casey, our fellow-towns-man. :■"■■

Peofessoe Scott, the renowned " King of Pa;h," gave another of his amusing entertainments at the Theatre Royal Hotol on Saturday evening. The features of the performance were somewhat similar to those of the previous evenings.

At the B.M. Court'this morning the only business was a case against an express driver for leaving a horse and cart unattended without securing the wheel of the cart. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s and costs. Capt. Fraaer, 8.M., was on the Bench. . .

The cause of temperance and morality constantly suffers through the improprieties of professing moralists. A couple of months ago a petition was presented to the British House of Commons against the sale of intoxicating liquors (in Ireland) on Sunday. This petition purported to be signed by 92,000 male adult residents of Dublin, but some one reminded the House that the last census showed that there were only 79,C00 male adults in Dublin ! It was suggested that when the Irish did agree their unanimity was wonderful. Amongst the-signatures were subsequently found " Brian Boru," ":Wm. Smith O'Brien," and "Aurora Floyd." I (" iEgles ■") have seen one or two,monster petitions in Melbourne which were not worth much more than the one I have described.

Our Wesleyan friends are doing well. As many as 15 children were baptised at the special service held at the Grahamstown Church, yesterday afternoon, and we hear that but for the inclemency of the weather, 24 'would have been christened. Apart from the solemnity of the scene, the faces of the 15 mothers all doing their level best to keep their offspring quret was a study for the physiognomist. Every, now and then one of the babies would shape ita mouth for a squeal, and a x\ the undivided attention of the mother was required to avert the catastrophe. When one infant unfortunately did " give mouth," the whole 14 others were bound to join in the chorus. One little two year old, while being sprinkled, is sad to have said, " Ma, stop that naughty man raining on me."

In a long article, on the military and naval resources of England, the Keue Preie Press© says that " the great point in favor of the latter is that if at first she could only put aa equal number of troops into the field with .Russia, the combative resources of the latter would gradually decrease, whilst those of England increased. Without taking the estimate formed by Englishmen of their own strength, it is an undoubted fact that the Eritish infantry is the best in the world, and many experienced generals are of opinion that the British soldier is individual'y equal to two FrsncLmen or Germans. In any c .se, it

is safe to assume that.3OO.C3O Russians would have their work cut out to drive 200,000 British troops into the sea,"

"A -would-be neighbor" misappre-. bends what was required of him. If he has information which would enable the Police to remove "a public nuisance" and " a scandal," let him give it to the police. His latest communication savors of abase rather than a desire to preserve public morality. If "A would-be neighbor" wrote his first communication in the interests of the public, and with a desire to promote morality, he cannot better arrive at the desired end than by rendering assistance to the Police authorities.

Me Henjby Dbivjbb, the newly elected member for Rostlyn, is an American gentleman, but a naturalised [British subject. He was one of the " new iniquity " at« traded to Otago by the gold discovery at Gabriel's Gully. Being a shrewd business man he has prospered in material wealth and in the eyes of bis fellow citizens.

At the Native Lands Court to-day business was unimportant. In the matter of the Ngaromahi No. Block of 31 acres, a sub-division order granting 2 acres 15 perches to Hoani Eipa was made. The continuation of the Hararahi case was then proceeded with and a considerable amount of evidence taken.

Br the Taiaroa, which left Auckland for southern ports via the East Coast on Thursday last, departed Mr W. Smith, unt'l lately a^id for nearly ten years past foreman printer in the office of our morning contemporary. Mr Smithy we understand, goes to a till a similar position on the New Zealander. He is an excellent printer, and a walHng as regards shipping matters, his memory being seldom at fault when taxed as to what ship any man of note in Auckland came out in. Mr Smith is a native of Auckland, learyfc his business in one of the early printing offices, and remembers men—raost of them long since gone to join the majority—who in those early days wielded the editorial pen. His reminiscences would, if properly collated, form en interesting chapter in the history of the Fourth Estate in New Zealand, dating as they do from the printing of a small sheet in a mangle to the present time. On leaving the Advertiser Office Mr Smith was presented by the Companionship with a German sUver " stick," and a copy of " The American Printer," both of which will be of essential ser?ice to hioi so long as he sticks to the trade, and will also remind him of his lengthy stay on the Thrmea. Mr Smith carried with him the best wishes of all his acquaintances and friends for the future welfare of himself and his wife and family.

" JEGLE9 " in the Australasian writes : After that excellent, but somewhat shy and nervous, fellow Eobson was elect'd churchwarden he was invite -\ to dine with the arcbdeacon, the ircumbant, and several clergy and vestrymen at the house _ of a friend. After dinner Iho conversation turned upon what might legitimately be done on the Sabbath day in the way of work or recreation. An instance was mentioned of a lady of spotle.ss reputation in the neighborhood, who was closely occupied all the week from dawn to dusk in the trying work of education, and whose sole recreation during the summer months was a gallop on horseback at daybreak on the Sunday mornings. Eobsoa, determined to distinguish himself, looked as wise as Solomon might have dons in his double-breasted. Sunday frock coat, and said that he considered it was " a clear breach of the tenth commandment." No response followed—a profound silencelooks of surprise and confusion on the faces of the clerics, and then Kobson had wit enough to perceive he had made a lapsus. He explained so much, and blushingly stammered out " I—l—l— meant the seventh ! "