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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3003, 30 September 1878, Page 2

The Times, in a leading article on Education, says the majority of Englishmen have never readily accepted the idea that education can be entirely dissociated from some form, however simple, of common religious training.

This morning, under the supervision of the Borough Foreman of Works., ten of the unemployed started work for the Harbor Board. It having been decided to fill up under ilie Burke street wharf, from the silling works inwards, this'is the work that has been first smarted, and the men who commenced this morning are engaged laying a tram line from the street to the United Pumping Association mullock tip. When this is finished trucks will be put on the line, trap holes cut on the deck of the wharf, and the work of filling up will proceed rapidly. Mr Rawdon expects to be' able to put on some more men on Thursday, but these harbor works will not, by any means, absorb all the unemployed element, as the expenditure is limited to £€9 per week, out of which has to come horse hire and other incidental expenses.

At the K.M. Court this morning the only business was the transfer of .the Nil Deaperandum Hotel from E. J. Angove to James George. Captain Fraser, R.M., occupied the Bench. . . .

Thebe was but a moderate attendance at the Academy of Music on Saturday evening, when the entertainment of the Eoyal Combination Troupe was repeated. The programme was the same as at the last performance, and it appeared to give great satisfaction to the audience.

The velvet smoking' cap given as a prize for all-comers at the rifle gallery in Brown street was won late on Saturday night by Sapper Cartwright of the Hauraki Engineers with a score of 25 points. The proprietor advertises a prize tor the current week in another column.

The presentation to Mr James Mackay of a souvenir subscribed for by Thames pioneera for Mrs Mackay will take place at Shortknd.this evening at 8 o'clock.

Ybstebday Was Michaelims Day, an important occasion to landlords .and tenants at home, as being one of the quarter days for payment of rent by tenants, but which has: no peculiar significance in the colonies, and is not unfrequently passed over without remembrance.

We hear that Mr A. D. Bennett, for several years, clerk in the office of Messrs Macdonald and Miller, is about to leare the district. Mr Bennett is best known from his connection with the Naval Brigade, of which popular company he has been a deservedly popular officer for some six years. He also organised the Naval Cadets, which is now a favorite company amongst the- cadets; and when Mr Bennett leaves he will be greatly missed in both companies, no less than in certain other circles where his urbane and courteous demeanour has rendered him a favorite.

The first of two grand concerts by Mdlle. Alice Char bonnet will be given in the Academy of Music to-morrow evening. The talected young lady will be assisted by Miss [Florence Neville, the accomplished vocalist from Melbourne, Mr C. Harding (baritone) of Auckland, and Mr H. JSf. Montagu, elocutionist, who will recite Tennyson's " Charge of the Light" Brigade." We have the programme of. to-morrow's concert before us, and we notice that Mdlle. Charbonnet is down for no less than six pieces of instrumentation on the pian< forte,' including " Grand caprice de concert" in the Grand Duchess, variations on the popular air "Baa, Baa. Black Sheep," and "The Last Kose of Summer," for the left hand only, which is pronounced by those who heard it. in Auckland to be a marvellous piece of fingering. Mr Harding and Miss Neville will be heard in choice songs, and Mr Montagu's elocutionary effort will form no insignificant item of the performance. We may mention that reserved numbered seats and programmes may be secured at Mr Burra's stationery depot. Mr Owen will act as accompanist for the singing.

Me Egbert Kellt, proprietor of the Puriri Soda Water Springs, is going to give this.mineral water a fair test.' The analyses made of the water assign to it many c ' the most valuable properties of other famous springs, and are therefore sufficiently encouraging to warrant the proprietor in. going to some expense to utilise the water and send it to market. A building (the timber for which is on the ground) is to be.built over the springs and aerating machinery erected, and as soon as possible the water will be placed in the local market and also prepared for shipment. When charged with gas the soda water is not only valuable as a curative, but is acceptable as a pleasant, invigorating drink.

Mb E. T. Wildman, who last year offered a valuab'e prize for competition in S. George's Sunday, School, has this year repealed his gift ?'u the shape of "The Prince of Wales' Tour in Ind:a," a very handsome and costly book. The subject of the examination, for which sixteen sat, was " The Miracles of Our Lo d." The papers were separately examined by the Rev. V. Lush, Miss Haselden, Mr Puckey and Mr Phillips, and t".ie result of their award was that Henry W. Guthrie's paper entitled lr" nto the prize. A second prize given by tne Eev. V. Lush fell to T. Johnston, the winner of Mr Wildman's last year's prize, and a third, given by Mrs J. E. Macdonald for the girls of her late class, to Annie Joll. On a final review of the papers, two more of nearly equal merit were thought worthy of recognition, and for these Mr G. N. Phillips, Superintendent, gave prize books, Mr Lush kindly adding two additional for those next in order: these four additional rewards were taken by J. D. Gibbons, Kate Fletcher, H. Keary, and T. P. Whitaker. The seven prizes were presented by Mr Phillips yesterday afternoon, who express 1 his satisfaction at 'he general excellence of the papers, and the hope that the unsuccessful • oaipaiitors would be stimuluted Lo prealer efforts instead of feeling discouraged by their nonsuccess.

We are pleased to notice that in spite of the proverbial bad times numbers of our local tradesmen are determined not to be behind hand in anything pertaining to their several businesses. The latest enterprising spirit that has come to our notice is that of Mr W.Jacobs, bootmaker, who has just imported a large quantity of new machinery for the better and cheaper production of boots'and shoes, and judging by his price list, published in another column- the public will certamlj reap the lion's share of the results of nis ecterprise. ■

Eegakpinq the probable duration of the Session, the Herald's special at Wellington says:—l am of opinion that the work of the session is rapidly progressing, and I have long since stated that the Opposition will not attempt any obstructive movement. Their early tactics were wise from their porit of view. They professed utter c.>orgaiisatioj, and led the Minis-

terial supporters to suppose that there was nothing for the Ministerial party to fight. The result was that raw and " odd " members gave their crude notions tongue, and for want of other foes attacked the Government measures. The first little battle, however, has drawn the Government supporters more closely together, and now they are more consolidated, and ir ore cordial working' together will follow the Opposition shewing its teeth. '

In the Legislative Council Colonel Brett has given notice that he will move to-morrow: —"That there be laid upon the table a return of the latest practicable date giviog the following information: —The names and stations and strength of each Volunteer and Cadet company, troop, battery, or brigade; the number of efficient;) in each on the date of the return; the number and description of the ordnance and arms with each; the quantity of rifle ammunition (blank and ball).each; the quantity and description of ordnance and ammunition in the reserve depots, and also the number and description of ordnance and arms to make up any deficiencies existing now en route (or ordered) from England.

The Auckland correspondent of the O tago Daily Times says that at Mass on a recent Sunday morning at St. Paul's Cathedral, the Key. Father O'Dwyer took occasion to review .Mr Sheehan's speech on education. That politician, he said, was neither a credit nor an ornament to the parish to which he belonged. JJo true son of the Church could hold such views. It was left for a Cabinet Minister, with his superior knowledge, to denounce the conclusion arrived at by the collective wisdom of the Cathelic world that religion and education must go together. The prayers of the faithful were invoked at the conclusion that Mr Sheehan's darkness might be removed. Some of Mr Sheehan'g relations were in Church.

In the year 1877 the Sydney Mint coined 1,590,000 sovereigns, and the Melbourne Mint 1.487.CG0 sovereigns and 80,0C0 half-sovereigns. Since the opening of these two branches of the Royal Mint, in 1855 and 1872 respectively, there have been coined iv them 47,620,500 sovereigns and 4,172,000 half - sovereigns. The Deputy Master of the Mint states in his report this year that the uniform accuracy of these coins, both as, to weight and fineness, continues to.be well maintained.

Ik a trial at Winchester, a witness, failing to make his version of a conversation intelligible by reason of his fondness for " says I" and "says he," was taken in hand by Baron Mariin, with the following result: —"My man, tell us now exactly what passed." "Yes, my Lord, I said I would not have the pig." " And what was his answer P " ",He said he had been keeping it for me, and that he—" "No, no; he could not have said that; hp spoke in the first person." "No, my Lord, I was the first person that spoke." " I mean, don't bring in the third person: repeat his exact words." " There was no third person, my Lord, only him and me." "My good fellow, he did not say he had been keeping the pig ; he said ' I have been keeping it.'" " I assure you, my Lord, there was no mention of your Lordship at all. We are on different stories. There was no third person there, and if anything had been said about your Loxdship I must have heard it.", The Baron gave in.