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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2959, 9 August 1878, Page 2

A petition to the Harbor Board, asking them to take steps to repair the Tararu wharf so that it can be used for landing passengers at all states of tbe tide, was going round the town to-day, and being numerously signed.

The Thames Rifle Bangers paraded last evening in the Volunteer Hall, under the command of Capt. Farrell and Lieut. Hunter. There was a very large attendance, and much interest manifested in the several movements of drill. The Sergeants competed for the appointment of Color Sergeant, when Sergfc. Cloutt was declared the successful candidate. The following appointments were then made, as the result of the previous competition for Sergeants :—Vol J. Wilson, E. Gibbs, and I?. Scott, to be Sergeants; "Vol. Joseph Perkins, Corporal. At a meeting held alter parade it was arranged to hold a soiree at an early date, proceeds to go to the band fund.

Wk learn that Major Withers, recently appointed to the command of the Auckland and Thames Districts, will pay his first visit to fhis plane 'o morrow. Major Murray _ has issued invitations to the officers of volunteers and other citizens to meet Major Withers at dinner to-morrow evening at the Governor Bowen Hotel.

O.i« of our native friends, Takerei le Putn, has put a tapu on the fish in the Hauraki waters iv consequence of the drowning of the three men from the Colombo yacht. Yesterday iv Shortland Takerei saw a Native with a bundle of eels and immediately put the tapu on them, but wo believe the possessor of the eels, although feigning a compliance with a peremptory order from his chief to throw them away, ultimately put them into the pot. The European fishermen who are so strongly entreated by Takerei not to take fish from the sea until he removes the prohibition will probably regard his injunction as lightly as did the Maori with the eels.

The colored " Colonel" Davis (alias Shanghai), of Kopu, was in town last night, and through talking contemptuously of " dem Donufin' Britishers " was nearly getting the sizo of his head increased by artificial means on several occasions. He bailed our peripatetic against the wall of Butt's Hotel, and in response to a query after the health of himself and his " bull chicks," he replied that he was " hunkeydory." " But say, boss," he said, " the privileges of an American cit. was rioientated on the gral-orious fo'tb, and I was not 'lowed to sing the praises of my country." (He here gave statistical information concerning the (States.) He then waxed eloquent, and said, " Though poor Shang was cotched by the spinions of the law while celebratin' the 'versary of his country's freedom, his country is still a great nation—a damation great nation : the Stars are as bright as ever, and the fctripes as broad as ever, and under the motter ' E fluribust iinum,' which means one containin' of many, we shall live and conquer, and rise to a gal-orious resurrection." Shanghai then commenced to repeat the ten commandments, but stopped at the second and said, " Good night, boss ; thar's a chap a comin' round the corner that's goin' to punch this goss-eyed American game cock. By thunder, I ain't in a humor for fighting. I'm orf," and he ran round the corner.

The following story is told by the Timaru Herald:—" A gentleman who occasionally wiles away a dull evening by a game at 100, had a long run of illluck, which showed no sign of changing. At length one night, driven to desperation, he registered a solemn vow before commencing play, that if his luck should change he would give half his winnings to the Church. His luck did change. He won tremendously all night long, and by the time the party broke up, towai'ds daylight, had pocketed some three or four hundred pounds. Half of this he put into respectable currency—not lOTJ's — and enclosed it to the President of the Christchurch Cathedral Guild, with a note stating that he had much pleasure in forwarding an amount which had been •kindly contributed by his friends !' The Guild were of course delighted, but their joy was somewhat alloyed by qualms when they were informed shortly afterwards of the true nature of the kind contributions. They held a meeting to consider whether they could apply money so acquired to church purposes; but eventually decided that to return it would be encouraging vice. H non vero, ben irovato. The gentleman who thus combined precarious amusement with church eudowment, it shall be noted, was of quite a different kidney from the light-6ngered gentry previously referred to. He belonged, in fact, rather to the awindlees than the swindlers, and would no*~doubt willingly see all the profits of that'"transaction handed over to the Church to-mor-row. Were that done, we should see the Cathedral complete, instead of standing in melancholy plight, a monument of pretentious but half-hearted Anglicanism." An expression frequently heard in the shop of Mr Wilkes, Watchmaker and Jeweller, of Shortland, is : Sir, you have so great a selection of Earrings and Brooches that I do not know which to choose. The same might truthfully be said of his fine stock of Watches and Clocks. Therefore make an inspection. All articles marked in plain figures. Watches, Clocks and Jewelery repaired "by Mr J. Wilkes, and Guaranteed.—[AdVtJ