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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3015, 14 October 1878, Page 2

The sudden stoppage of works in, and discharge of all hands from, the Piako mine is an event seriqus enough in. itself at this time, when mining generally is so depressed; but it is very much to be feared that the cessation of work is only the precursor of something worse, namely the stoppage of the Waio-Karaka Pump. Should the Piako withdraw from the Drainage Association the whole cost of pumping will be thrown upon the Queen of Beauty Extended; and if the two companies together found the expenses of the pumping such a drain upon their resources, it cannot be expected that one will bear the burden

alone. A sum of money will be available from the £5000 grant if prospecting works are continued; and as the. County and Borough are urging the Government to make a special grant in aid of' pumping*, it is the more .to be regretted that the Piako Company should have felt constrained to'discontinue active operations just at this time.

We hear that the Collector of Customs has received instructions .to refund .the beer duty collected here. "W[b regret to learn that McKelvie, the victim of the late mining accident, is not doing so well as was hoped; It is feared that inflammation of the bowels will set in. < In the inwards shipping, of Wednesday last the cargo of the Lancashire Lass, 70 sacks of maize, wasjerroneously. put .down as consigned to M. Browne and Co., when it should hare been for Thomas Yeale. We would call the attention: of owners of mares to the notice' regarding the movements of the fine Clydesdale entire Prince Arthur which appears in another column. ■" . ' , The enquiry into the alleged malpractices of the contractor for supplly ing the rations to the poor, was finished to-day, so far as the Thames is concerned, and the enquiry has been adjourned to Auckland till about Monday next to allow Messrs Hewin to put in a statement, and, if possible, produce rebutting evidence^ t The Kev.W. Calder, of St. Peter's, Hamilton, preached at S. George's Church at morning and evening yesterday. : We are informed that the Rev. Allan Webb, of Auckland, has consented to give a lecture on " Personal Reminiscences of India" in aid of the funds of,the Young. Men's Christian Association, to take,place in the Presbyterian Church. These was no busineSs at the R.M. Court this morning. The opening cricket match of the season, 'which; was to. hare been, held on Saturday, was postponed ie consequence of the inclemency of the weather. We understand that the cricketers have been indefatigable in their exertions to prepare *.a good wicket. We trust the weather will permit of the, match being played next Saturday.

Ms W. Plant requests us to state that an advertisement will appear in the Star in a few days which should be read by everybody, as all may benefit thereby; also, "special advice " to a professor of the healing art. .'■'■.

Dickens' Dolly Varden was said to have been found in Nelson, and now the mysterious Mrs Harris has been discovered in Adelaide, notwithstanding Betsy.Prig's statement that she believed there "never was not no such a person." A contemporary says:—A singular incident occurred at the Key. Charles Clarke's lecture on " Charles Dickens,'" at Gawler, i*outh Australia. During the recitation of the quarrel . between Sairy Gamp and Be tßy Prig, Mr James Harris shouted to the lecturer that he would not allow him to talk about his wife in the room. A scene of indescribable confusion followed. Several ladies fainted, and the lecturer was loudly cheered. > •