Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2987, 11 September 1878, Page 2

We learn that a complimentary dinnc:: will be given to Mr James Mackaj by his numerous friends at the Governor Bowen Hotel on Thursday evening next. Mr Mackay has worked yvell in the interests of the Thames since before it was opened, and tbis token of appreciation of his many services is only what he deserves oh taking his departure.

The tender of John Emerson for laying about 34 chains of four-inch pipes along Rolleston street towards Hogg's corner, was accepted by the Waterworks Corporation to-day. Price, £58.

At the R.M. Court this morning the only business was the. hearing of a charge against a publican—Mr E. Twohill—-of neglecting to keep a light burning over the principal door of his licensed house: The defendant admitted the offence, and was fined Is and costs. Captain Eraser, R.M., was on the Bench. :

An entertainment will be given in S. George's Sunday School tonight by the senior scholars in aid of the School Enlargement Fund. The programme comprises vocal and musical selections, dramatic sketch, selection from the comedy of " Paul Pry," recitations, &c, all by the pupils. The Rev. V. Lush will preside and deliver an opening address! We understand this entertainment was originated by the pupils, and they have given such care to rehearsals that they are expected to acquit themselves creditably afford a pleasing entertainment. •

We have pleasure in calling attention to the fact that Mr G. D. Chap'in will take a benefit at. the Theatre Royal on Friday night, when the fine comedy " Money," by the late Lord Ly'ton, will be played. It is long since we. had such an eminent actor as'Mr Chaplin amongst us, and we would bespeak for him a bumper hou3e. The play is not often produced now-a-days, and all who can appreciate.high class comedy well enacted should not miss Friday night's performance.

A nabkow escape from fire occurred in Shortland last evening. Between seven and eight. o'clock smoke was observed issuing from the shop of Mr T. Wood, tobacconist, Pollen street. This attracted the attention of passers by, and on looking for the cause of the smoke it was discovered that the rear porticn- of the shop was on fire, the flames having burned through a portion of the outer weatherboarding, and at the time the danger was discovered were just communicating with the inside lining, but a few buckets of water soon extinguished the fire. Ten minutes later the shop would have been a mass of flames, and with the not too efficient water supply in this part of the town; there is a strong probability that the greater portion of the block from Grey street,to Willoughby street would this morning have been a heap of ashes. The fire, we understand, was caused by the careless disposal of some hot ashes near the wall of the house. We would here urge on the authorities the urgent necessity of carrying out the proposed extension of the 9-inch mains from Hogg's corner on Parawai road to this Albert street pipes, which would partly obviate the danger of an extensive conflagration during the coming summer, j

A lectube, the subject of which was " Personal Recollections of Paris, during the reign of Napoleon III.," by Mr Geo. N. Phillips, was given in the Templar, Hall last night to a fair audience. Mr J. Renshaw occupied the chair. The lecture throughout was of an exceedingly mi teresting character, carefully prepared, and delivered in Mr Phillips' usually easy and finished manner. A graphic description of the situation of the city of Paris was given. The lecturer had-paid his first visit to the great city in the year 1859, and a year, or two later took up his' residence there as a correspondent of an English paper. He spoke of events preceding the notorious Commune,—of his having seen on several occasions Napoleon (whose, facial expression he likened unto a grim wooden figure) and his consort the Empress, also the boy prince,—of the nobles who associated with them. In a most happy manner he related his experience of the domestic " bons," and the frog and snail eating peculiarities of the French. •In quick succession he glanced at some of the notable buildings of France, in particular its restaurants, and cafes; its spacious boulevards,—how they were illuminated by night,"—how.the "cabbies" dressed and behaved,—and many .other topics which our space will not permit of notice. It should be mentioned that Mr Hilton sang the " Marseillaise " in the course of the lecture in good style. A vote of thanks by acclamation was accorded the lecturer. ■

At the Wimbledon' Meeting Private Humphrey, of Cambridge University, who was shooting with a Remington match rifle, at the long ranges, put together the highest possible score—3s points at. 1000 yards, for-the Ne Plus Ultra Prize, thus completing the unique total of 21 bullseyes in 21 shots in three days. 'His first " possible " being registered for the Ar-. mourers' Prize, and the second for the Whiteley. This fairly eclipses anything that has ever been done before.

A t^ebiblb famine at present prevails in Morocco. It is in the Southern District where the famine is most severely ,felt. The suffering is indescribable. It seems to"be an extension of the great famine in India. Some rice and'flour are being imported from England and France. The cattle are dying by thousands. Cows are driven into the city and sold for a faw shillings each. Want of rain is the cause of the distress and famine. Relief societies are being formed in the cities in Gibraltar and other adjacent places. The Jews are said to be acting nobly in the crisis. The British Government subscribed £200 to the relief fund raised in Gibraltar. *

Looking to the novel forms of disease met with in our widely-scattered cosmopolitan possessions, the Lancet suggests the formation of a colonial medical service, as affording the means of obtaining a systematic record of maladies about which we now procure knowledge always fragmentary, and hence to k certain extent unsatisfactoiy. •

TtE correspondent of the Press writes: —I have been very much amused by a rumor that hasfbeen spread about here the last two days. I do not myself believe it, but give it you fo£ what it is worth.. Grey, it is said, is having a Bill drafted for the establishment of a.political institution affiliated to the New Zealand University. Ho himself is to be Chancellor, and there will be four professors elected by the two Houses. I have heard Messrs Martin, Manders, and Barff mentioned as likely men to fill the professorial chairs. The students are to receive an allowance of £150 to £2CD from the State during their studentship. The politics taught will be those Of the present Government, and Sir G. Grey is to give during the first year a series of lectures of the wonderful resources of the English lr»H guage. .

A curious freak of nature in the hor' cultural line was brought to our (Wa> kato Times) notice yesterday, by Mr W. Cumming, of the Waikato brewery, namel/, two ripened apples on a tree which was quite destitute of leaf." The branch, with the apples On, which m^y be seen at the office of this paper, are small, but apparently matured.- Possibly, a too near growth of the tree to the brewery, and the inhalation of the intoxicating vapour's of the mash tub may have kept the poor tree in such a muddled state that it mistook the season altogether.

A cobbEspondent of the Herald telegraphs the following :—I have ascertained that Superintendent Thomson and Warden Fraser, who were appointed a Eoyal Commission to inquire into certain alleged charges against the Shortland police, have forwarded their report, with minutes of evidence, to the Minister of Justice here. Mrs McManus, of the Thames Goldfields, it appears, complained that whilst her daughter was confined in the local lockup, pending an examination by medical men, as to whether she ought to be Committed to one of tjie public institutions, some irregularities and ill - treatment followed, and in consequence of representations the Commission was appointed to make a full enquiry. The testimony, of several persons were taken, including Dr Aickin, of the asylum, where the girl is at present, and some of his subordinates. I believe there is no doubt but the Commissioners have, entirely acquitted the police from all charges which were brought against them.. The sworn testimony of several of these who were examined went to show that the police 'acted in a most considerate and humane manner, and did nothing more or less than take precautionary measures during the time Mrs McManus's daughter was confided to their safe keeping previous to ' being sent to the asylum hospital for temporary medical treatment. This, I hare no doubt^is the result of the investigation!, and there is no need whatever of going into any further details of a distressing case.

The London Daily Telegraph publishes a report as to the course to be adopted about Turkish bonds which may have been invented for Stock Exchange purposes, but which in itself looks probable. Bosnia, Thessaly, Epirus, and the two Bulgarians are, it is said, to contribute £2,500,000 a-year, and the remainder of Turkey £3,500,0C0 towards a creditors' fund. This £6,000,C00 will then be applied, half of it to pay off the Eussian indemnity, and half to provide-for the guaranteed loans and interest, at about If per" cent, for the general debt: As.the financiers are powerful, the arrangement is possible, but a main detail is wanting. What iis to be the gaurahtee tfhat the pashas will pay the' £3,500,C000 a-year reserved to infidel bondholders ? Tiiey may want it themselves. It is clear hovrever, that the arrangement is approved 023 the Bourses, where " Turk 3"• have been going up:in a way which has enabled speculators with early intelligence to clear fortunes.