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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2962, 13 August 1878, Page 2

At the meeting last night Mr John Brown and several other speakers fell into the error of speaking of Mayor Macdonald's mission to Wellington as having been undertaken " last session." It may be said that Mr Macdonald went to Wei-" lington two sessions.ago. His business was to urge upon the Government the claims of Thames to Government coaside« ration owing to the exceptional (the word ha 3 become hackneyed in connection with local affairs) circumstances under which the Borough was incorporated and municipal Government inaugurated, and which had landed the corporation nearly £10,0C0 in debt during two years. The special object of the Mayor's visit to Wellington at that time was to induce the Government to remove this load of debt by taking to themselves the Borough overdraft. That Mr Macdonald was successful in doing this, was last night'urged as an argument why a delegate should be sent this session. The speakers, however —it would almost seem purposely, from the persistent manner they referred to what was done." last session "—did not inform the meeting what really was the fact last session, .namely, that Mr Eowe was entrusted with the care of keeping Borough matters before the. Municipal Conference and the House, and that not the least of these matters was the Thames Valley Railway question, which we were then trying to carry through entirely unaided, whereas the interests of several other' powerful districts sending members to Parliament have lately been enlisted. So much for the correctness of speakers as to what was done "last session." One other point we would set the speakers ri.»ht upo.n. When Mr Macdonald went to Wellington the Ministry as a whole were very favorably disposed towards this district, and it was not the cas-that Mr Whi taker stood alone amongst his colleagues inclined to do scant justice to a district which has had to depend much upon its own self-reliance and natural resources. From the late Ministry we got the water race and a £50,000 grant for keeping the Big Pnmp going. If we succeed in getting as much out of the present administration, we need not fear those evil times which the gloomy forebodings of some prognosticate.

At the It. M. Court this morning tho only business was the disposal of one case of drunkenness.

A soieeb and.dance in connection with the Thames Rifle Bangers will be held at the Volunteer Hall, Bichmond street, on Tuesday evening next.

To-night Mr W. C. Dennes, of Auckv land, will give a grand lime-light exhibition entitled " A trip through America and. Ireland." To add to the attractions of the entertainment, fire: sewing: machines will be drawn for by the audience. \ Mr Denned entertainments ha?e become 'g^ry popular at Auckland, and we hope to'see a good house.

At the Native Lands Court to-day the Kopuatai block of about 7000 acres, situated at Piako, went through the Court. The block was divided into six sections, and were awarded as follows:—No. 1 to Tatana and others, No. 2 to Hunui te Oti and others, No. 3 to Eruei Tumakere and others, No. 4*to Wini Kerei and otherSj No. 5 to Hua Mutatui and others, and No. 6 to Wini Kerei and others.

An evening party is announced to be held at Mr Addey's Hall on Tuesday evening next, in aid of the families of Thrupp and Benney, victims of the late boating accident. \ .

We have received from the Government Printingpffice No. 1 Hansard, New Zealand Gazettes, Financial Statement end a number of Bills and other Parliamentary Papers.

The statement communicated by telegram from Wellington yesterday and published by us, that Mr E. H. i'ower was coquetting for a seat in the Upper House with some chance of success, we have authority for stating has no foundation in fact so far as the chance of success is concerned.

It will be with great pleasure that our readers will notice that we are to have a visit from Mr Lytton Sothern, whose great character—Lord Dundreary—waa made famous by his father's rendition of it. The season, which is of three nights only, commences on Thursday next, on which will be played "Our American Cousin." Mr Sotheru will be assisted by Misses L. Morgan and Laura Wiseman, and the members of the Cricketers' Amateur Dramatic Club, Messrs Burgess, Bell, md Young being amongst these latter.

We are glad to notice that Mr T. Rawdon, Borough Foreman of Works, who has been very unwell and confined to bis house for some time past, has so far improved as to be out once more. We hope to see him in good health very soon.

A contempobaet states that Johnny Martin, one of the newly-fledg^d lords of the Grey Administration was once a carter, and a very common carter too. ; lie is now immensely rich, and has acquired a taste for rich viands and choice wines, which constitute his sole claims to the distinction accorded to him by elevation to the Upper House.

We have received from Mr Jefferson the August number of the Sketcher. Amongst the illustrations are a view of Sir George Grey's residence at Kawau, and the Wellington Club. The Australian views and portraits are of average excellence.

TH3 celebrated Royal Marionettes are announced to open at the Academy of Mucicon Monday evening next. This show has been drawing well in Auckland, and is really worth a visit. The wonderfully natural., antics of the puppets are very amusing, and they cannot fail to please. The prices, we notice, are what are known as "Million prices."

The appointment of Major Withers, New Zealand Militia, to the command of the Auckland and Thames Militia Districts, appears in New Zealand Gazette of July 27. The appointment took effect from Ist August.

In the Gazette of July 27 thirty notiv fications of reservation of land for endowments of Municipalities appear. The reserves comprise areas from 3 to 2000 acres. The Thames Borough is not amongst the favored corporations.

Says the Herald:—A Mrs Lrird, wife of Alexander Laird, formerly of the Thf mes, reported herself on* Saturday morning as being in completely destitute circumstances. She was near her confinement, and had come on to Auckland to her sister, but after remaining a day or two the sister sent her about her business. Kelifving Officer Graham gave her some food, but as she had no means of procuring lodgings, she slept beneath the shrubs on the Barrack Hill on Friday night. She was kept at the station-arid fed during the day, and on Saturday afternoon,, as soon as her-wretched state became k«,own, Mr Brakenfigg came and took her under his care, kindly- providing her witlusuitable lodgings and means of support. "Other generous people subsequently _came to the Police Station, and. Without any solicitation'wliateyer subscribed towards her immediate relief. The subscriptions sent to the. station were :—Fisher and Co., £1 ; Milne and Choyce, 10s ; and Mr Burslem, of Abercrombie street, 2s b'd. „ * ;.

Maeeiage reform appears to be making headway in the Oamaru district. According to the North Otago Times—" A wedding of a somewhat novel character came off'in Blagdon parish church recently. The bridegroom was at work in the neighbourhood of the church during,the morning in question, felling trees. On being informed of the arrival of 1 the bride at the sacred edifice, accompanied by her parents, he left his work, proceeded to the church, and went through the marriage ceremony, at the conclusion of which he 1 returned to hia occupation at the trees."

A TELE^BAM appeared the other day stating that Soeaka had been garrisoned by Indian Troops. The name was variously interpreted to mean " Cirocco in Malta " or "Cerena in Cyprus." We believe neither to hare been, indicated, but that the name should have been Socotra, an island in the Indian, Ocean, at the entrance of the Gulf of Aden, 70 miles k>ng and 15 miles in breadth. The island is large, but mountainous and sterile, though with some cultivated valleys, supporting a few sheep, goats, and camels. It contains a few thousand Arab inhabitants, and its sole products are aloes and dragons' blood, these plants flourishing in the rocky arid soil. The "island formerly was claimed" by a Sheik of the opposite Arabian coast; latterly, the Imaum of Muscat has been the nominal owners It has been for centuries a stopping place for Arab trading vessels going between Arabia and Africa. The British occupied the island during and after the Egyptian campaign in the beginning of of the century, but abandoned it subsequently. Within the last year or two it has again been occupied by a, small detachment on account of the wreck and plunder of British vessels there. It will be probably found that its cession is in connection with the increasing trade in the Gulf, and the necessity for greater protection to shipping. All vessels entering and leaving v the Gulf pass near and usually within sight of Socotra.