THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3029, 30 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

The County elections, nominations for which will take place to-morrow, are causing some excitement, and there seems a probability of the contests for representation of some ridings being pretty keen. For Ohinemuri Mr Mitchell does not stand again, but there are several names before the public of gentlemen to fight for the two seats. The new riding of Totara will probably bring into the field Mr L. J. Bagnall and Mr William Murdock. The former gentleman has hitherto represented Kaiaeranga Hiding, but publishes a valedictory address to the ratepayers of that portion of the County. Parawai will probably have several in the field, although at present Mr Carpenter is t the only one who has announced himself. Waiotahi has a greater choice than on former occasions, but it is not expected that the new blood will be sufficiently strong to affect the County Chairman's position, or even his colleague's. Hastings Biding has been spoken of as likely to be the scene of a contest, but up to the present time Mr. Thorburn, the old member, has possession of the field, and, from the requisition published, we judge that he will make a good stand against all comers. The Eauaeranga Biding promises to be the scene of a tough contest. Messrs Deeble, Hunter and Greenville— all local men and well known—are running for the seat, and each has a concrete following which nothing can break. Altogether we expect to see the seats for the County Council keenly fought for.

The anniversary of the Loyal Waikato and Charles Bruce lodges of Oddfellows will be celebrated this evening by a ball at the Academy of Music. , The affair promise* to be a great success, a large committee from both lodges hating been for some time past working it up, and Mr Bichard Oates, who has fulfilled the onerous duties of secretary, has really been quite indefatigable in attending to the thousamd and one things the secretary of a ball committee requires to give his attention to. A very large number of tickets have been issued, and MrChristensen'sfine

string..band: has bpen engaged to supply \tlie music for the..votaries of Terpsichore. Mr Curtis will provide the refreshments, and an efficient master of ceremonies has been appointed. The programme comprises 24 dances, apparently well selected, and we have no doubt but that this anniversary will be a most enjoyable re-union,' and as successful as any ever held here before.

This morning the Naval Brigade boats were inspected by Major Withers, and afterwards the officers took a number of ladies out for a pull, which was, no doubt, much enjoyed, as the morning was so. fine. The crews were in their summer jackets, and the boats in fine condition, so that the water party was particularly noticeable.

We have heard that the lowest tenderer for building the school to, supersede the old Thames School—Mr John Cornwell, Auckland —has declined to take up the job. The next lowest tenderer was an Auckland contractor, and in all probability the job would fall to him in case of Cornwell not taking up the job. Next to Watson (second lowest) came Messrs Farrell Bros., Thames, and from what we hear it is not improbable that they may get the, contract. We should rejoice to hear it, because it would be locally a good thing. At some future time we may hare occasion to notice the contract system as regulated from Auckland in regard to public buildings.

At the request of a requisition from the ratepayers of Hastings Biding, Mr W. L. Thorburn again announces himself as a candidate for the position of member from that riding in the County Council.

A NTTMEEorsLT signed requisition has been presented to Mr W. 8. Greenville, requesting him to stand as a can.didate.for the.suffrages of the electors of Kauaeranga Riding at the forthcoming election, and Mr Greenville in our advertising columns announces that he will accede to the request of the requisitions ts.

Mb William Cabpenteb announces himself as a candidate for the representation of Parawai riding at the forthcoming County election. He is the'only candidate who has yet come forward for this riding.

At the request' of a large number of ratepayers of Kauaeranga riding, Mr William Deeble has been induced to offer himself as a candidate for one of the seats for that riding in the County Council. In our advertising columns Mr C. F. Mitchell informs the electors of Ohinemuri Biding that of his intention not to seek the honor of re-election. • Mb,L. J. Ba4nai:l, ia our advertisement columns, announces that in consequence of his business connection causing him to cease to be a resident in Kauaeranga riding it is his intention not to stand for re election as a member for that riding in tbe County Council. A contempobaby tells the following story :—" Not one hundred miles from Wellington, a traveller pulled up at a roadside inn, with the determination to refresh the inner man with a pint of the best colonial. The pint was called for, the landlord paid, when our friend the traveller, remarked, 'I say, landlord, this is not full. 1 'There you mistake,' said the worthy host;. 'it is three-fourths full, and the duty will BaUance the rest.' But the knight of the road was not to be done, for he quietly remarked, ' True; but as I caa't take the Balance I will consider it my duty to take the pewter,' and he did." i ,

It is expected, says the Herald, that considerable reductions will be made in number of the Justices of the Peace throughout the colony during the coming year, owing to the irregular manner in which many of the local magistrates attend to their duties. The number of the great unpaid will also be lessened from other causes, amongst them being directions which will be issued from the Department of the Minister of Justice at Wellington, notifying that all civil servants who have been gazetted as Justices but have no judicial duties to perform, will have to relinquish their honors. The matter, even ia this light, will prove of considerable saving, as it will decrease the Government printing in the large number of Gazettes, Acts, and papers which have to be forwarded to gentlemen, a large proportion of whom never take the trouble even of filing their documents or making themselves acquainted with the provisions of the Acts which are transmitted to them.

The following is the report presented to the House to-day from the Public Petitions Committee :—Report on petition of Messrs Holt 'and McCarthy:—The petitioners state that they carry on the business of pross telegraph agents, and pray that they may have equal rights and facilities for using the telegraph throughout the colony as are granted to any other persons carrying on the same business as themselves. lam directed to report that the committee is of opinion that with reference to the press, or press agencies, no monopoly should be granted, and that all newspapers, whether evening or morning papers, and press agencies, in the colony should be placed with regard to the telegraph on an equal footing, and therefore recommend the prayer of the petition embodied in section 3to the favourable consideration of the House. (Signed) Thomas Kelly, Chairman.

A London journal has the following :— f 1 The evil results of getting into bad company have been illustrated in the case of Mr Thomas Harrison, a gentleman from New Zealand. On Monday last a Miss Ettelle Godfrey, of one of the groves Of Chelsea, was brought up at the. Westminister Police Court, charged with stealing £120 in. 'notes and gold from Mr Harrison, who arrived from New Zealand about three months ago. He made the acquaintance of la Belle Estelle, and she. lived with him in various places, but at his then residence, Cambridge street, Pimlico, she made off with the money in question. The prisoner acknowledged taking part of the money, but .said she left Mr Harrison because she found out he was a married man in New Zealand, with a son, and that he had come to marry another lady at South Kensington. The prosecutor stated in Court that he was a married man, but he had no intention .of committing bigamy. The other lady was only a friend. Finally, Mademoiselle Estelle was remanded for a week. .

An undertaker being asked by a lady who was employing him at some household work whether he would have a glass now or wait till he had finished the job, " I'll be takin' the glass, noo, mem,", said the artisan, " for there's been a power of sudden deaths lately."