THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3023, 23 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1878.

We are told that the Harbor Board Bill was shelved in the Upper House last night. This is not what was expected after the recommendation of the Committee that it be treated as a public bill. The Harbor Board and the Thames community have reason to feel aggrieved over this business, and we cannot altogether acquit the Government of blame. Indeed, it may turn out that the principal blame rests with the Government for not introducing the Bill earlier in the session, and pushing it through with some show of earnestness. Had the Bill been passed it would have enabled the Harbor Board to carry on some desirable works, and by employing labor relieve the prevailing depression, improve the facilities for shipping and remove the bad name which the port has acquired. Now they can do nothing, and the disappointment is all the more keenly felt because Sir George Grey has been so lavish of promises as to inspire every one here with the confidence that he would carry out what he said. The community has been scurvily treated. After fighting for years against " the power behind the throne " of the late Ministry, and nearly succeeding in getting justice from them, it will be no wonder if people feel irritated and speak harshly of the present administration—especially the Premier— and the influences which seem as potent with them as with their predecessors in any matters where the advancement of this district is involved.

In the House last night the Minister for Public Works made a statement when moving the second reading of the Bail* ways Construction Bill, but the report furnished by telegraph is so "mixed" that we cannot make much of it. The Government propose to spend £400,000 in public works this year, and the proposals embraced in the Public Works Statement are to be extended over six years, although the Government ask ths House to make the appropriations during this session. We have seen a copy of the Bailway Bill, and the " Thames to Waikato" line is scheduled, but the sum set down in the Public Works Statement, £168,009, remains the same. As this would be quite inadequate to make a railway line from Hamilton to Thames Borough, we are less sanguine than ever of seeing the railway authorised this session—at any rate, of seeing its commencement authorised. The Native Minister is pledged to

this, we believe, and he may succeed better than some of his colleagues have done; but if the Thames to Waikato line item shares the fato of the Harbor Bill we shall not be surprised, although it will be a second grievous disappointment, and probably evoke an indignant remonstrance.

The s.s. Australia arrived yesterday with the English and American mails via San Francisco. The summary of news per telegraph appears in our first and fourth pages. Owing to there being no steamer from Auckland to-day the Thames portion of the mail cannot be delivered until to-morrow morning—36 hours after arrival of the mail steamer.

At the sitting of the District Court in bankruptcy to-day, His Honor, Judge Fenton, warmed up a bankrupt under examination for a habit be had of repeating every question asked him by the counsel. His Honor remarked that it was considered _ being rude in polite society, and he did not see that it should be doie in Court. His Honor's strictures on this matter are very just, as the public can hardly imagine the vexation caused by the t?me wasted over such evidence to those whose duties compel their attendance at the Law Courts.

At the R.M. Court this morning the only business was the hearing of a case of vagrancy, the defendant in which was suffering from the effect of excessive drinking. Tbe Bench sentenced him to three days' imprisonment, chiefly for the purpose of getting him "on the square."

The case of Owen McGee versus the Auckland Jockey Club, for alleged libel in connection with the disqualification of the horse Falcon, resulted in a verdict for defendants on all the issues, of which (here were twenty-one.

Ik the Legislative Council yesterday, several reports on bills were brought up. It was recommended that the Timaru Harbour, Norsewood Mechanics' Institute, Newmarket Reserve, and Foxton Bills should pass as agreed, and. that the Thames Habour Sill should not be proceeded with. The Council then proceeded to consider the amendment made by the House of [Representatives in the Harbour Bill, and ultimately manners were appointed to confer with the other Chamber on the Sheep Bill. A free conference was appointed on the Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment, which was read a second time on the motion of the" Hon. Mr Wilson,' as was the Law Amendment Bill, and the District Hallways Act. On the motion to read a second time the Otago and Southland Education Reserves Bill there was considerable debate, which was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.

A cobbespondent of The Sun says:— A terrible scandal is agitating the creme de la crime of Wellington society in respect to the late Club ball. It is whispered that at an early hour in the morning, mysterious sounds were heard in one of the bedrooms, as if some one in the dark was trying to remove the lock. The door had been locked on the outside, and the prisoner inside was found not to be undergoing solitary confinement. The key could not be found, and so, to avoid exposure, patience was recommended, and when the guests bad departed and the servants gone to bed, the door was forced open as quietly as possible, and a pair who are not married—to each otheremerged. Tho gentleman left on urgent business next day. The name of his fellow prisoner has not publicly transpired, but of course in all the boudoirs and at all the afternoon tea-tables, there is great speculation as to the name, end many charitable guesses.