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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2993, 18 September 1878, Page 2

Me W. J. Speight delivered, a highly entertaining lecture at the Good, .Templar Hall last evening,: the . subject- chosen being " Oliver Goldsmith : his critics and his friends." ■ There was only a moderate attendance. The Rev. V. Lush occupied the chair. The lecturer gave a history of 'Goldsmith's career, and referred to his most important works. Mr G. N. Phillips gave two readings — Goldsmith's " "Village Parson" and Macauley's " Horatius."

If an additional argument were needed in support of those already. adduced urging the desirability of laying down permanent water tables in Pollen street, we might now pi 'nt to one nuisance created by the employment of labor to remove another. During the last few .days men have been engaged cleaning out the drains, and the stuff removed' in I some localities is both unsightly and un- | saroury —in fact, somewhat less bearable than before removal. If wooden water, .tables were laid down such quantities of offensive matter could not accumulate, as it would' be easy to flush them occasionally by means of a hydrant and.a length of hose, which also would save much expense.

In that exclusive publication the New Zealand Gazette, where it is least likely" to be seen by those whom it may concern, is an advertisement for an experienced junior clerk for the Survey Office, Christchurch, ■ for which written applications only will be entei^ained, and they must state the nature and duration of previous engagements and salary required. Two temporary clerks are also required, who must be good penmen. The advertisement further states :—" Applications will likewise be received from youths who, having passed the Junior Civil Service Examination, may wish to enter the department as survey or draughting cadets."

A veby pleasing incident occurred at the Kauaeranga Girls' School yesterday, it being the anniversary of Miss Haselden's birthday, and the children, wishing to testify the respect they felt for their teacher, presented her with a written address, in which they thanked her for all the kindness and attention she had shown them, and,' wishing her many happy returns of the day, they begged her to accept a small present as a token of their affection and esteem. On receiving this gift Miss Haselden expressed her surprise tnd gratification, and thanking the children for the trouble they had taken on her behalf she said this occasion was one' on which she would look back with deep pleasure. The children then sang " Old Lang Syne," and in the afternoon the scholars were in their turn surprised by the distribution of a plentiful supply of sweatmeats,. &c, provided by Miss Haselden, which were received with

great satisfaction bynthe pupils, who gave loud cheers in return. It would be impossible to say who felt the most pleased, Miss Hasclden or the children. The following passage occurs in Trollope's "South Africa ":—" Under tho' same roof with the museum is the public library, which is in'nature very peculiar and valuable. It would be invidious to say that there are volumes there so rare that one begrudges them to a distant colony which might be served as well by ordinary editions as by scarce and perhaps unreadable, specimens. But such is the feeling which comes up first to the mind of a lover of books when he takes out and handles some of the treasures of Sir Geo. Grey's gift. For it has to be told that a considerable portion of the Capetown library—or rather a small separate library, itself numbering ' about SCOO volumes —was given to the Colony by that eccentric, but most popular and munificent Governor. But why a MS.of Livy, or of Dante ahouH not be as serviceable at Capetown as in some gentleman's'country' house in England it would be hard to say; and the Shakespeare folio of 1603, of which the library possesses a copy, is no doubt as often looked, and as much petted and loved and cherished, in the capital of South Africa, as it is when in the possession of a British Duke. There is, also.a wonderful collection in these shelves of the native. literature of Africa and JNew Zealand. Perhaps libraries 1 of greater value have been left by individuals to ; their country, or to spec'al institutions, | but I do not remember another instance i of a man giving away such a treasure in his lifetime, and, leaving it where in all human probability he could never see it again." Thb advance in civilisation made by. the Natives of this district during, the few years of their intercourse- with Europeans has been marked and rapid.. Many of their old barbarous' customs have been swept away by the steady advance of the great giant—Progress, whose footsteps will soon pave' a way to tho realisation cf the pet wish of Sir George Grey—the amalgamation of the races. The hideous ou'sJom of tatooing is falling into disuse amongst the younger people, and another generation will see. it only as a thing that was. 'The only observances that will be difficult to eradicate from the unwritten code of Maori customs are their ceremonies at the death of a relation, and indeed ttteir funeral feasts or tangis will probably esist under modified circumstances so long as they are a people; and it is, >ot to be won i dered at, as, if we turn to many European nations, we find them clinging greedily to relics of barbarism in their funeral rites. Education amongst ;our native .friends has also made surprising progress. ' A" very large proportion of them read and write their language fairly,, and we have frequently seen with pleasure a number of them seated on the verandah of the old Court House at Shortland, reading the Napier Maori paper, Te j Wananga, to which not a few of the Haureki natives are subscribers. We noticed during the visit of Mr De Lias' theatrical company here lately that the management considered it worth while to post bills refe-ring thereto printed in Maori, and also that these same announce-, ments were not without effect, ,jas a large, number of natives attended the theatre and .appeared to take great interest in the plays, especially" the' Shakespearian tragedies. If the march of civilisation continues to proceed, as rapidly as at present, ere many years have passed over our heads we will have to cease looking on the Maori as oar, inferior in' point of intelligence or cultme.

Thj healthy climate of Tasmania conduces to longevity. It is never safe to call any one old across the straits, although there are a great many who, anywhere, else, might be considered; pi^ advanced age. . Quite recently a Tasmanian resident,, aged 75, was about contracting a matrimonial alliance with a giddy young thing some ten years. his junior. The event was imminent,' when a difficulty arose which stopped the nnptiali. ,■. She was a Roman Catholic and he was a Protestant,:and the hitch.was a failure to agree as to the religion in which the children of the marriage should be brought up.—iEgles.

A cohbespondbnt of the Herald sends the following from Taranaki:—Bewi I learn, has telegraphed to the Government, cautioning them not to believe anything that he may be credited with saying as to being opposed to the railway to Waikato, or that he has expressed himslf as approving in any way of ex-Judge Thomas's system, of land- tenure. He says that some time since there was another man from India who, had half a million of money, and he submitted, to the Maoris a similar scheme as that proposed by exJudge Thomas. The Maoris considered the matter, and could not agree with him, for they were not like the Indian natives who could live on a few grains of rice like rials. With>eferencfe to Mr Fox and ; Wi Parata, he says it is very small of them for the sake of again wanting to get jinto the Government in order to secure each £IOCJ a year,-to make little of poor Bewi.