THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2997, 23 September 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1878.

We were shown to-day the present to be forwarded to Mrs James Mackay at Wellington from a number of old resident of the Thames. It consists of a very handsome brooch and earrings. The brooch is Mosaic wort, the design being a star, the body being fine greenstone, the points of the star Thames quartz, and the other inlaying red jasper and what is known volcanic glass, a hard substance capable of a fine polish. The earrings are also of greenstone and auriferous quartz, the gold setting representing New Zealand ferns. On the back of the brooch is the following inscription, very nicely engraved:—" Presented io Mrs James Mackay by the pioneers of Shortland in recognition of her many kind exertions on behalf of the public institutions of the Thames. Sept. 1878— E. C. Morgan, O. O. Grant." It is intended to forward to Miss Mackay ,a very pretty necklet and locket.' The above articles were made to order by Mr Cookson, Brown street, and are unique specimens of the jeweller's craft, and, being made of the Thames gold and stones procured in this district, will serve to remind the fair recipients of their residence here, and of the goodwill of the donors.

N0..l company Thames Scottish Volunteers fired for the company's medal on Saturday; ranges, 2CD, 400, 500 and 600 yards, five shots at each range. "Vol. George Price was the winner with a fine score of 64 points, Corporal Lucas (the present holder of the District Belt) came next with 62, and Sergeant T. Heron 61. A large number of the second company were on the range on Saturday firing for practice, and some excellent shooting they made. A meeting of No. 1 was held in the evening for election of additional Sub-Lieutenant, when.Vol. E. Brownlow was unanimously elected. Both companies parade for inspection on Wednesday at seven o'clock.

A eifle match between seven members of the Thames Naval Brigade and a similar number of the Eangers took place at the Government butts on Saturday. The ranges were 200, 4CO, and 500 yards, five shots -at each range, and the prizes were a Colt's revolver for the highest scorer in the winning team, and a pair of pictures for the second. The Navals ■ were victorious by 43 points, their team putting together 336, to their opponents' 293. At the firing at 200 and 400 yards, P. Gordon made the splendid score of 39 out of a possible 40, but his shooting at the long range was poor, and he failed to secure a prize.

The Kifle gallery in Brown street continues to be attractive to young men. The shooting on Saturday night for an oil painting of "Pat and his Pig" produced some good scoring, notably Vol. White, Thames Scottish, 26; Mr Tetley, 26; Sappers Dare and Thorburn,^ Engineers, 26 each; ties will be shot off to? night. •

It is a curious fact (says.a contemporary) and one that is not generally known, that King Victor Emmanuel was, by the strict law of succession, the rightful King of England. He was descended in a direct line from Charles I. The youngest daughter of the unhappy monarch, the

Princess Herrielt:i Maria, married Gaston d'Orfeans,, the brother of Louis XIV. She died leaving two daughters. The e-liiest became Queeif of Spain, and died childless; The"youngest married the lieir to the house of Savoy, and was the ancestress of the late Kin« of Italy. After the Revolution of 1688, when the right to the succession to the British Throne was settled bj Act of Parliament, the House.of Savoy was excluded on account of Catholic religion professed by its members. The House of Hanover, of which Queen Victoria is the representative, was several removes, farther from the direct succession, deriving, as it did its claims from James I. through Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, and her daughter the Electress Sophia. A striking commentary on the consequence of human.actions is afforded by this story of a royal inheritance. When Charles I. espoused a Catholic princess he could scarcely have imagined that by this act he was excluding his direct descendants from the throne of their fathers; and still less could his Queen have foreseen that any descendant of her favourite child, so carefully trained by her in the tenets of her own religion, should ever overthrow the temporal power of the Pope, and be himself installed upon the throne. '

At the R.M. Court to-day two old offenders were punished in the usual manner for drunkenness. Capt. Fraser, R.M., was on the bench.