THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3004, 1 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1878.

At a meeting pf the Kauaeranga School Committee held last evening, M> J. Grigg stated that having accepted an appoint* ment under the Board of Education he considered it desirable that he should resign his seat as a member of committee. The resignation was accepted with regret, and Mr Thomas James was elected in his stead. Mr Grigg consented to continue to act as secretary and treasurer for the remainder of the year. To-day Mr Grigg accompanied Mr Davies, Chairman School Committee Waiotahi District, round to the different schools in the* district and was introduced as the teacher of singing in the schools.

We would again draw the attention of Volunteer officers, committees from companies and civilians to the meeting to be held at the Governor Bowen Hotel this evening for the purpose of taking steps in connection with the formation of a National Bifle Association.

It was frequently remarked to«day that the Borough Council wanted " another touching up about the state of the footpaths;" We entirely concur in the wisdom and justice of the remark, and we would politely suggest to that new element in the Council known as the " new blood " that the members evince a disposition to fall into the procrastinating habits of the old fogies. The repair of our footpaths, the asphalt question, and kindred proposals hare been postponed from month to month as if members of Council were afraid to tackle the business. We hope they will change front and relieve us of that nuisance of muddy footpaths which follows every shower of rain, or the touching up process will have to be oft repeated, just to see what importunity will do.

At the R.M. Court this morning one person was punished in the usual manner for drunkenness. Captain Goldsmith occupied the Bench.

The annual soiree in connection with the Primitive Methodist Chuch will be held at the church, Mackay street, this evening. After tea, which will be on the tables at half-past six o'clock, those present will be addressed by several ministers and friends.

Jfy an advertisement elsewhere it will be teen that Mr W. B. Langbridge. (formerly proprietor and editor of The Bay of Plenty Times) has opened a bureau for the. conduct of literary and financial business connected with newspa-. pers in the country districts of Auckland. Mr Langbridge has had- large experience of newspaper work, and will therefore be in'a position to look after the interests of papers favouring him with commissions. As Mr Langbridge has been entrusted with the agency of this paper, Auckland advertisers and subscribers may transact their business through his office.

To-day we were shown a handsomely mounted six-chambered pin-fire revolver, which has been presented to the Naval Brigade for firing competition by a member, whose name does not transpire.

Apropos of the recitation of TennyCharge of the Light Brigade to be i given by Mr H. N. Montagu at the entertainment to-night, it is not generally known that our township possesses one of the veritable heroes of Balaclava in the person of Mr W. Bennett, "who nas been for some months in the employment of Mr Marshall. Mr Bennett was one of the few of the " death or glory boys," as *H.M. 17th Lancers are familiarly termed, who rode safely out of that -memorable fight. Mr Bennett afterwards completed his term of service in the Royal Engineers.

. By the last Suez mail a gentleman in Melbourne received a packet of peas, which were taken from the folds of- an Egyptian mummy, unrolled in the British museum, 3000 .years old. On receiving them he placed some of them in a glass of water, and in twenty four hours they had swelled considerably: They were then taken out and planted in pots, with good manure, and are now springing into life.

We learn that the eminent oculist and aurist, Dr Schwarzbach, may be expected on the Thames next week, where he will remain for a few days, and may be consulted at the Pacific Hotel. During the doctor's previous visits here, the general success of his operatisns has won for him golden opinions as indeed he has in all the many places it has visited.

The "Intelligent Vagrant" in the Bruce Herald is responsible for the following :—" Of the Wellington gentlemen who travelled in the special train to Lawrence on {Saturday, one was MrJ. H. Wallace as decent an old fellow as you would wish to meet in a day's march. In order to persuade people that all the distinguished risitors had not been left behind in Dunedin, Mr Wallace was introduced on all possible occasions as the Rev. Dr Wallaoe, M'.H.B. This sue ceeded, so far as I am aware, admirably, except in two cases. In one of these a gentleman, on being introduced, said, '.No, no; you can't hare me. That face was never got up on cold water.' And in another case I heard one. gentleman, who had been watching* Mr Wallace, say to another, ' I tell you he's like the rest of them, an old humbug. He may talk cold water in the House, but he takes whisky out. I saw him do it fire minutes ago." Anyone who is acquainted with Mr Wallace will appreciate the joke.

An occasional correspondent of the Beridigo Independent writes :—"I hare it on the best authority that the Melita rush, which was the sensation of the betting market for some time, was a mere

bubble blown by the book-makers to get the public to invest. They commenced betting among themselves—mere dummy. bets, of course, —and so gradually got backers of horses to come in. The ruse —one often practised—succeeded marvellously. I hear that the owner and the stable have not backed Melita at all. The public ought to be very careful how they allow themselves to be ' sucked in' in such a manner. If yon want to bet, make up your mind as to the horses you think have chances, and back them." The following table-—extracted from the .Registrar General's Eeport on the vital statistics of the Boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Kelson, Christ* church, Dunedin and Hokitika for the month of August—gives the population, number of births and deaths, and proportion of deaths to the 1000 of population of each borough :—

Auckland .. Thames .... Wellington.. Nelson ..., Christchuroh Dunedin.... Hokitikft .. Borough. Estimated Population. . 13,732 5,425 19,037 «,603 13,402 22,491 3,244 Total Births. 47 25 78 25 46 61 7 Total Deaths. 13 7 25 5 12 40 3 Proportion of Deaths to 1000 of population. 094 l-2» - 1-31 0-76 0-89 '. 1-82 0.93 T0ta1.... 289 105 ..