THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1878

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2964, 15 August 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1878

A special meeting of the Borough Council is to be held to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock —probably to c6nsider resolution arrived at by the public meeting held on Monday evening, that a delegate should be sent to Wellington to look after the Thames, and Waikato Railway Bill and other local wants. How far members of the Borough Council will be influenced by the representations of a public meeting, we' have no means of knowing. Certainly no obligation rests on Councillors to be guided by an expression of opinion elicited in such a roundabout way, and if there should be no better arguments brought forward tomorrow than were used at Monday's meeting for sending a delegate to Wei lingtoß, Councillors will have to answer to their constituents if they authorise the expenditure said to be necessary for this purpose. As we havtl before pointed out, the Thames Borough Council is but one of a number of local bodies interested in the Railway Bill. Already a considerable expenditure has been incurred in regard to the Bill, which will be borne proportionately by all the corporate bodies which sent delegates to the Auckland Conference. It is therefore only reasonable to assume that if a delegate is sent to Wellington to push the Railway Bill, such delegate must, or undoubtedly should be, appointed by the Kailway Committee. It is neither the province, nor within the power of the Thames Borough Council to arrogate the authority of nominating such representative; and it certainly will not be agreeable to the burgesses to bear the whole cost of such a mission. We warn the Councillors plainly, that if they incur the responsibility of sucli an act they must be prepared to abide the consequences of engaging in illegal expenditure. If, then, it is admitted that the Borough Council would not be justified in such a proceeding as that suggested by the public meeting—of the attendance at which, perhaps, one-third were Borough ratepayers —namely, sending a special delegate io look after the Eailway Bill, there is not another matter which could possibly form an excuse for spending £100 or £150 to give any one a holiday trip to Wellington; besides which, to send a special representative to be continually button-holing the Premier and Mr William Rowe, or importuning other members to whom such representative might secure a casual introduction would be an insult to our two representatives, and barren of results. We do hope that members of Council will rise superior to any consideration of present popularity, and show that they will not bedctated tp by a mob at the instigation of a few plausib'e speakers and political parlizans. We say emphatically, that if it is necessary to have any one on the spot to pro-note the Eailway Bill besides the County Chair man, a paid parliamentary agent, instructed by the Eailway Committee, should be employed. All other matters affecting the welfare of the B rough can be safely left in the hands of our members if they are supplied with data on which to proceed.

We will again remind our readers of opening of Mr Lytton Sothern's dramatic season to night, when the celebrated comedy "Our American Cousin " will be performed.

Mr W. C. Dennes' lime light entertainment was again given at the Theatre Royal last evening to a poor audience. The two machines were won by two boys named Everett and Dunn.

At the Native Lands Court to-day the case was the same as that being heard yesterday.

A meeting was held at the Pacific Hotel last evening for the purpose of devising means to raise funds for the relief of the widows and families of the late drowning accident. Mr A. J. Allom was chairman, and the following influential committee was appointed : —The Chairman, ' aptaju Fraser, Messrs Reddish, McLaren. Kelly (Hikulaia), Guilding; Bufferty, Tizard. O'H&lloran, H. T. Rowe, W. Wilkinson. Wardell, T. L. Murray, Darrow, Dunlop, J. Brown, J. B Mason, T. Radford, and F. A. Pulkine. Ten pounds was voted to relieve the. more pressing wants of the bereaved families, and lists were distributed to the following :^Messrs H. T. Rowe, John Paul, G. MeYey, Thos. Radford, W- Loder and Mrs M. Hogan. An offer from Mr Lyttou Sothern to give a benefit for this praiseworthy object was received with thanks. Mr H. 1-. Rowe was appointed treasurer, and/Mr Pulleine secretary.

Notwithstandi^a it was blowing a stiff gale to-day, Captain Wildman left the Grahamstown Wharf early this morning in the Naval gun boat with a crew of picked men lo continue the search for the bodies of the unfortunate meu lately drowned. We are informed that the officers of this company, with their usual courtesy, have kindly promised to make every effort to recover further trace of the late catastrophe, and that the boat will again leave Grahamstown Wharf in the morning if not successful to-day. Two search parties were to have left Shortland this morning, but in consequence of the rough weather' and heavy sea running in the Gulf they did. not start.

In an article on the beer tax the Auckland Star says•;«—The resolut'cn carried by the 1 names Association was an insjlfc to the intelligence of those to whom it was addressed. It is scarcely credible

that, a number of sensible men could, after'"cool consultation..and discussion, affirm that a tax of less than a farthing per pint on beer is a "tax which falls heavily on the working classes ; " or that it is " contrary to the profession of sympathy with a class already over-taxed," (meaning thereby wo presume, the aforesaid working classes, and not the brewers and publicans). In the face of remissions on the most universally used commodities of life, amounting to over £103.000, it is absurd to raise the cry of the working man. The sham is too palpable to deceive anybody; and it is always better and more honest to deal with a question on its real men's. If the brewers act wisely they will meet the Licensed Victuallers in a fair spirit, and endeavour to adjust between them what may be an unpleasant burden, bit is still an equitable and moderate tax.

The seventh annual meeting of the Thames Land JBuildiug and Investment Society was held at the Secretaiy's office, Albert street, last evening. There was a fair attendance, and Dr Kilgour was voted to the chair. He called on the Secretary to reatl the minutes of the last annual meeting wh eh were confirmed. 'i he Secretary then read the annual report which showed that the transactions for the year had been over £14,000, bting. an increase for the year of about £4500. The committee had permitted withdrawals wKli full interest and an interim dividend of 7^ per cent., which had been taken adva.itage of to the extent of over £3X3. There, was £866 19s 3d available for a dividend of 9 per cent., and the present reserve fund of £150 will more than eever losses likely to occur. The balance sheet showed the receipts from Bank of New Zealand, subscription payments, redemption payments, entrance fees, fines, &c, to have been £14,519 9i lid. The disbursements were : —Dividend paid, £874 9* 3d ; shares withdrawn, £4618 14s 8d ; office premises, etc., £110 3s 2d ; books, .cheq\ies, etc., £9 15s 10d; general charges, £222 14s 4d ; advances on mortgages, £8526 l'Js 3d; Bank of New Zealand, £157 0s sd— £14,519 9s lid. - The assets and liabilities account was as follows :— ■Mortgage Accounts, £3.4,767 14s: less unaccrued interest, £2528 9s 4c1—£12,239 4s 8d ; office premises p,nd -fitungs, £110 3s 2d; mortgage forms, cheques, and stationery, £20; iron safe and deed boxes, £21 ; Bank of New Zealand, £157 0s 5d —£12,547 18s 3d. Investing shareholders, £11,516 2s 5d ; dividend account, £866 19s 3d reserve fund, £15,0; profit and loss, £14 16s 7d—£12,547 18s 3d. The report and balance sheet was adopted, after which Messr3 McCullough, Whitehouse and McGowan were elected on the Committee. The usual compliment to the Committee and the chair, finished the meeting.

At the E.M, Court to-day, the only business was a case of permitting two goats to wander at large, and in which the offender was fined 2s and costs.

The Auckland Star's special at Wellington relates the following : —A gentleman who called on Sir George Grey at his residence relates a touching report of the Premier's strong patriotism and affection for the people. He admitted that his health was breaking down, and that his recent visits to various parts of the colony, especially exposure to severe weather in the King country and at Waitara. had seriously impaired his health, but added that he felt perfectly resigned to any contingency, evm death, in the consciousness that he had succeeded in establishing a party which would not suffer to die the great principles which he had advocated. The only desire in the closing years of his life was to remove class prejudices and see the people free, contented, happy, and prosperous. For this he had laboured, and for the same object he was prepar d to spend whateve.. 1 remaining intellect and strength are left him. My informant expressed some fears lest Sir George Grey shou d be removed by death before the completion of his greaL policy, -to which tbe Premier replied in tones of deep emotion that he felt Confident that the seed so«n would grow into a. goodly tree and bear fruit abundantly. He laid great stress on. the intelligence of the people who, being a smaller class and better educated than tbe masses in Kngland, as well as having a more comprehens'veand firmer attachment to political liberty, would nohsuffer themcslvea to be manoeuvred as the Liberals of Britain were, but would see behind the scenes, pencil ate the designs of powerful monopolists and those who would absorb political power in a few hands, and frustrate attempts on the liberties of people. Sir George Grey also attached much importance to the native policy which bad broken down the barriers between the two rjces, and paved the way lor permanent peace and progress My informant left Sir George Grey powerfully impressed with his self-sacrificing patrioiism and undyrng affection lor the people.