THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2968, 20 August 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1878.

A special meeting of Thames Cricket 'Club is convened for to-morrow evening ' at Mr T. Lawless' at eight o'clock, the object being, we believe, to settle upon some mememto of Mr J .E. Macdonald's with the club, which has been ''along one, nnd that of a thorough cricketer -not only us regards work in the field ...and at the wicket, but in sheer hardwoik to. prepare, the, grouud for playing with ;; coffxiQik 'If bur memory serves us, it ' was at a cricketing dinner some months ago Mr Macdonald hiuted at what all are sorry is now coming to pass, namely, his severance from the Club aad district. i

We have som a privale letter from Wellington iv which the following occurs : —" Wo do not know much about the railway at present, but moro will bo known when the Publ;c Works Statement is mado. The work will not be furthered by Kilgour's coming, but I fear will be hindered." This is the opinion of one who enjoys the confidence of Sir George Grey on matters affecting Thames.

Ws^iave seldom seen greater unanimity than was displayed #t the meeting last night, convened by the Warden to elicit an expression of opinion from the inhabitants as to the best means of paying a tribute of respect to a citizen on his departure from tho Thames. Mr J E. Macdonald has made himself popular in many capacities. It is not at all a pleasurable thing to part with a worthy citizen, even though it may bo known as a fact that he leaves to belter his condition ; but it is undoubtedly a source of pleasure to the departing one-to know that he is held in esteem, and that a large number of people amongst whom he has lived are sorry that they are losing him. From the spirited manner in which the proposal to give Mr Macdonald a parting tribute of esteem was taken up—nearly a huudred pounds being subscribed in the room—we think that the result will be especially gratifying to the proposed recipient. . Mr Mpcdonald has been a good citizen and a liberal one, and we are glad to know that the proposal to acknowledge his good qualities is likely to be largely appreciated.

The Mayor has, we believe, gone to Wellington, but so far as we know he has not obtained leave of absence from the Boiough Council, so that no substitute May> r hns been appointed. How long it may please His Worship to stay in the Empire City deponent sayeth not. It may bo a month or longer. He has gone at his own expense, but, ao ho is pleased to say, in compliance with the unanimously expressed wish of a public meeting. How he can reconcile this course of conduct with liis previously expressed views, we know not. As he (the Mayor) put it, he had no private business in Wellington, and if requested to go he would do so with reluctance. As the Council refused to guarantee his expenses, it seems strange that he should go at all, the public meeting having sug gested that the Mayor or some accredited agent should be sent. But the public meeting was only the skeleton of his constituents. So it seems that the Mayor —against his inclination—has proceeded to Wellington at his own expenso in deference to a wish of a public meeting, and in the face of the Council's decision that they did not want anybody there who was not already on the spot. Perhaps he will come back a perfect " lord." Whoknowji?

In yesterday's issue we published a local concerning some wholesale "shouting " on the part of the natives, in which it was stated that " 40 or 50 bottles " of brandy, etc., had been purchased. After the departure of our reporter from the shades of Shortland to the arcadian bowers of Grahanistown, some Coromandel and other chiefs, stimulated by the force of example, purchased drink in a manner that would make every Good Templar turn his eyes up to heaven, and perhaps wish he didn't belong k> that Order. It is roughly estimated that three hotels sold between 30') and 4"0 bottles of liquor. One house sold 70 bottles of rum alone, that liquor'being in great demand, end was sold as fast as it could be bottled. At about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon almost every adult— male and female—of the colored race had a bottle of some kind of waipero, and to celebrate the happy event the chiefs decided to have a grand war dance, which thereupon even'uaied, the performers brandishing their bottles of "liquidlightning " like meres. As might be supposed a number of bottles were smashed, but as a rule almost all the liquor went down the right road.

We would again call the attention of our readers to the soiree, concert and dance at the Volunteer Hall this evening in connection with the Thames Rifle Kangers. We understand the proceeds are to go towards the formation of a band for the Rangers, and from the number of tickets sold, the affair should be a great success. One gentlemen, a member of the company, informs us that he has sold no fewer than 40 tickets. The committee have gone to considerable trouble in decorating the hall—the sides and rafters of which are almost covered with .flags and fern and nikau fronds. At tlie'^end of the hall are some handsome scrolls and designs painted by Mr H. Driver, and several neatly formed stars of bayonets and ramrods. A number of lady and gentlemen amateurs will render son;*s, while the musical arrangements are to be under the efficient management of Mr T. A. Bell.

The appointment" of A. F. Puckey, Esq., to be interpreter to the Resident Magistrate's Court, Thames, vice Gr. T. Wilkinson, Esq., resigned, is gazetted.

We are pleased to learn that Miss Macky has not experienced any ill effects from the exposure she was subjected to on Friday night, not having even caught a cold.

Cktjelty to Animals : Honest Charlie (entering room in which his deaf old helpmate is seated, copy of Star protruding from left hand pocnet): " Them ere dommed scoundrels as runs the newspapers wunna gi' the puir Doc'iter any peace." Deaf old lady: "Peas! Wha' do they want to gi' him peas for." Charlie (desirous of making a joke) : " Peas ! Peas is nothing. They've been agi' in' o' him beans. Just egle that."

A "whiter on theatrical topics in the Dunedin Star sajrs :—" Ey the mail today I have letters advising me that George Darrell is organising in Melbourne a dramatic company.to procaed with him to Enpland. It will be called " The Represervative Australian Dramatic Company/ and will produce the plays of -Darrell, Walter Cooper, and Garnet Walch. Mr Darrell tells me that he expects it will take him.;till Christmas to organise liis forces; but that he is engaged to open at the Queen's at Sydney, on December 21. Thence lie c .rries his corn* pany over to Auckland, and will visit all the principal towns of this colon}', returning to Melbourne for a farewell season; next to Adelaide, thence direct to London. His company will be engaged for a little over three years, and in a future letter he promises to let me have particulars concerning its members. In London he purposes to open in 'Transported for 'Life,' which has been an immense draw in Mcl bourne. AJrs Darrell has of late been very unwell, but at the date of her husband's letter she was fast recovering."

We have received from the Government Pointing office Gazette No. 79, some Bills ;md other Parliamentary Papers, and Nos. 2 and 3 Hansard.

The following; is from the Law Times for June Sih, 1878 (published in London), and is quoted by (hat publication from the Chicago Legal .News :—" A New Zealand Court has recently committed a barrister for one month, for alleged contempt of Court, while acting professionally. There is hardly a month passes in New Zealand but what some lawyer is committed fo gaol f.r sontempt of Conrt. They must'have a very bad Bar, or else a very bad Bench there. We are inclined to believe the Judges in New Zea'and are a set of pretty tyrants."

Mr S. Young requests insertion for the following ;—" Pacific Hotel, August 20th, 1878.—Mr S. Young.-Dear Sir, — As it is currently reported that you received money from Mr Solhern 'for playing for him at the Academy of Music on Thursday, Friday, and Sc^urday nights last, I think, m justice to yoarself, you ought to contradict such st.temeot, as I am in a posilioa to say that you refused to take one penny. You can make any use of this that you may think fit.—l am, &c, C. Courts."

A corv.c rs"O^Dfl!XT of Ihe Dunedin Star writes:—bir, —The consternation excited in the public (house) mind by the imposition of lfd excise fax per gallon upon colonial beer is really amusing. Iv Dunedin, those who indulge in this luxury have to pay 6d for a small glass, or something less than half a-piut. The exact profit I leave to the calculation of experts, but it is certainly not less than 1C J per cent, to the publican. I wonder, sir, that one aspect of tho liquor question has not forced itself upon the attention of the public—namely, the enormous profits, out of all proportion to the work done or the capital employed, which a re made in the public-house business.