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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3063, 9 December 1878, Page 2

An emergency meeting of Lodge Sir Walter Scott will be held at the Freemasons' Hall to-morrow evening at halfpast seven o'clock, when-visiting brethren are invited. As a reminder, it may be stated that the lecture by Mr G. N. Phillips on "Samuel Johnson and his contemporaries " will be delivered in the Baptist Church, Willoughby street, this evening, doors open at 7.30. It is estimated that in consequence of the al fresco soiree in Tararu Gardens tomorrow evening, the ordinary arrangements of the day will be suspended. The resignation of the commission of Lieutenant, Thames Bifle Hangers, held by Andrew Carnie has been accepted. Sub-Lieutenant Scott Hunter is appointed to be Lieutenant in the Thames Biffe Bangers, and Charles Gordon Brown to be Lieutenant in the Thames Naval Brigade.

We would direct the attention of scholars attending the common schools of the Thames to the announcement which appears in our advertising columns from the Auckland Scripture Gift Association, regarding the prizes to be distributed by the Association for the holiday Scripture exercise. The contractors for the Kopu wharf will be finished wjth the work of erection in about a fortnight. The wharf is 400 feet long, and at ebb tide there is six feet of water at the end, whilst at flood vessels drawing 16 or 17 feet can come alongside. This jetty will be a great convenience to passengers by the Ohinemuri steamers, which will be enabled to ply at all states of the tide. Fathee O'Reilly announced at the Catholic Church yesterday that Father Henneberry would preach here next Sanday. On Saturday night and to day—the j former especially—the several articles to be disposed of in Mrs Addey's art union of fancy work, attracted a large amount of attention as they were exhibited to much advantage in Mr J. Grigg's music saloon. These beautiful specimens of fancy work comprise woolwork pictures — one about four feet by three feet—banner screen, brackets and other articles, all in the most exquisite taste, the shading and coloring of the pictures being perfect. The articles are still on view, and in our advertising columns may be found particulars regarding the mode of distribution. A cobbbspondent, writing to a Southern contemporary, says " a public teetotaller never increases his stock of common sense ; he only grows in impudence."

In a leading article on tbe alteration of the constitution of the Upper ii ouse, our contemporary thus indicates the qualifications which should be insisted upon in candidates. We commend the same to aspirants :—" We want, for such a task, only men of standing and political experience—men full of honors and blameless in their lives and social positions—men Untrammelled by any party associations, and who have acquired independent freight by maintaining their own opinions in a community. There is an amount of moral weight to be upheld and personified in such a body, and only men coming up to this high standard ought to be selected ; and any Prime Minister of the day who is satisfied with a choice of men I

short of these qualifications is open to a charge of prostituting the high and honorable functions entrusted to him in this matter. We are not surprised that members hare had some difficulty in deciding who should be chosen from this community to occupy the exalted position of our representative in the Upper House. Who among us can lay claim totlie perfections we hare sketched as absolutely necessary qualifications for the office ?"

A singular occurrence is reported as having taken place at the White Wills, Sandhurst, recently by which a man named Martin M'Mahon narrowly escaped losing hii life. M'Mahon was lying on the grass, wearing a fur cap. The cap was espied by another man who was on a rabbit-shooting excursion, and mistaken for a rabbit. The man fired at the object, but, fortunately, for a distance slightly beyond the range of the gun. Some of the shot with which the weapon was charged, however, struck M'Mahon on the forehead, and his right eye was so seriously injured that it is feared that he will lose his sight. The unfortunate victim of the extraordinary accident now lies at the hospital. : Beyond the injury 10 his eye the wounds are not considered serious. .

The New Zealand Christian Record in protesting against horse-racing says:— " One of the most objectionable features of colonial life is the prominence it affords to that most disreputable institution known as 'The Turf.' At this seasonof the year, one can scarcely turn to a newspaper or list of telegrams without having forced upon his notice an amount of ' Racing Intelligence' fitted to sicken his inmost soul. Indeed, believing as we do, that only a small minority of our cobnuts have any personal interest in the business of the. turf, we are puzzled to understand how it happens that the newspaper Press and the telegraphic agencies unanimously assign 10 prominent a place to the racing and gambling fraternities. In the telegraphic intelligence of the day, the death of a race-horse bulks as largely as that of the greatest author, the wisest statesman, or the most popular preacher. And we can account for this only on the supposition that the votaries of the turf have an influence behind the scenes but of all proportion to that which their numbers, intelligence, or social standing entitle them to hold."

The London correspondent of the Sydney Mail writes.—" The Capel Fitzgerald scandal, I daresay, has been thoroughly ventilated in your columns, and the whole story of the young baronet's robbery of the frail woman who appeared to have both loved and trusted him, is too disgusting to be recapitulated, nor should I have mentioned him at all but that a serious and' terrible legend is related about his family. The first baronet, his grandfather, was known as "hanging Fitzgerald; "he was created a baronet for the active part he took in the suppression of the Irish Rebellion of '98, when he stalked through the country, shooting, hanging, and flogging men, women, and children, and all whom he chose to suspect of disloyalty. One day an old woman knelt in the blood of her two sons, whom he had shot dead at their own door, and lifting her hands to heaven, cursed him and his descendants to the third generation, and prophesied a death of disgrace to all his race so far. Twentyfive years later the object of the malediction died by his own hand. Ten years ago his son, the second baronet, cut his throat, and Sir Capel Fitzgerald, the third and last of the line, is now in prison awaiting his trial for a felony of the most disgraceful nature."

The following good story is given in the Leisure Hour for August:—We remember an audacious trick in which a living ex-judge, then, Sergeant 8., once obtained a verdict for £1000 on no evidence or materials at all. He informed the jury that the case waa a short undefended one, an action on a bond for £1000 given by Messrs Cubitt, the great builders, for the completion of some houses within a certain time; and that, there being some mistake in the specification, the bond was therefore forfeited. The learned counsel then called for his witness to prove the execution of the bond, but again addressing the jury; said that the bond (holding up a paper) carried interest at 5 per cent., which they would not press for though it amounted to £250, but would go simply for the £1000. This unexpected speech surprised the very excitable Sergeant C, who defended, and who immediately started up and said that "he feared they could not contest the bond ; it was a mere question of interest, and as that had been given up they would take a verdict by consent for the £1000 without any proof of the bond." This was done; the two sergeants met in the robing room. " Brother," said Sergeant C, "you sold your client nicely!" "How so?" quoth Sergeant B.; "I'm not accustomed to sell my clients, though I sometimes sell the counsel on the opposite side." " But why did you not go in for the £250 interest? You must have got it, if you had read your bond." "We did not want to read it." " Why ? " •" Because we've lost it." " Why, what was the paper you had in your hand ? " " Only a blankl sheet of foolscap, brother 2 " The verdict had been taken by consent, and could not be disturbed.