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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3064, 10 December 1878, Page 2

The following telegram has been handed to us for publication:—" Mayor and others, Grahamstown —I am directed to inform you that the Hon. Mr Macandrew leaves for the North this afternoon, and that you can therefore see him iv reference to your telegrams re Grahamstown end of railway.—Jno. Knowles, TT.S.P.W."

It is likely that a large number will run in the principal foot races on Boxing !Day on the occasion of the Friendly Societies' Demonstration. A number of amateurs have been going in for practice heavily of late.

Theee will probably be great doings in the crying and feeding line at Komata Bhortly. News was brought to town today of the death of the wife of Tukukino, the obstructionist.

In our report of Saturday's cricket match, iv yesterday's issue it was erroneously stated that the Union team made 46; the correct score was 49, three made by Hoskins not having been entered in the scoring book.

Me H. T. Kowe, surveyor, has; just completed the survey for the Government of fiotungaio block of 11,000 acres, situated above Hikutaia, and has forwarded the plans to the Chief Survey Office. A great deal of the country about Hikutaia is good agricultural ground, and it will shortly come uader the administration of the Waste Land Board. Thames people should take steps to secure it under the deferred payment or some other system.

Me Q. N. Phillips, head master of the Kauaeranga Boys' School, delivered a highly interesting lecture at the Willough by-street Baptist Church last evening, the subject being " Dr Johnson and his Contemporaries." There was a good attendance, and Mr T. L. Murray occupied the chair. The lecturer haying briefly introduced his subject, described in a realistic manner the early struggles of the great lexicographer in consequence of the non-appreciation of his great genius, and related many amusing anecdotes of the stra'.ts in which he frequently found himself. It was not until advanced in years that Dr Johnson surmounted all obstacles and rose to eminence, after which the remainder of his life was spent in ease, enjoying the society of his literary friends—Bpswell, who wrote his life, amongst them. The lecturer adverted to the works of Dr Johnson, referring esspecially to " The Eambler." The lecture was replete with anecdote, and was highly entertaining. At the close a: vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, and also to the Chairman, after which the assemblage dispersed.

It is to be hoped the laxity referred to a few days ago in telegrams from Wellington as existing amongst volunteers and others in regard to the National Rifle Association of .New Zealand does not apply to the Thamss, where rifh shooting has been so assiduously practised. We, should like to see our volunteers and civilians support the Association cordially. It is an institution which, if fostered in its infancy, may grow into a powerful auxiliary to the volunteer movement. It is well calculated to replace the Colonial Prize Firing meeting, now discontinued, and in time sufficient funds may be accumulated to pay the'whole or part of the expenses of representatives to the great Wimbledon meeting, thus giving members a holiday trip home, and the opportunity of pitting themselves against the most finished shots in the British' dominions for the most coveted prizes in the world. The Thames ought to show well at the first contest of the Association, in order to prove, what is really the fact, that neither volunteering nor rifle shooting has suffered since the Government discontinued the Annual Colonial Prize Firing.

We have seen a number of testimonials pf Drltovy bottom, who has recently taken up his residence here, having procured a cottage in a central position in Pollen street, nearly opposite the Junction Hotel. Dr Howbottom has diplomas from the Koyal College of Surgeons of England, the Apothecaries' Hall, London, and he is also a member of the Medical Board of Victoria. The testimonials extend over a number of years, and emanate from various personages, showing that in England and the Colonies Dr Rowbottom has had a large experince. Under the circumstances, with the fact that the medical men here have been over worked %$■ a v^rp Jong j;ime, Dr Bowbottom's advent should ]be welppmed with pleasure by all classes. '

An ex-Thames resident now in Melbourne in a letter to a friend here says he }ias seen Harry Sailers, the negro pugilist, 'ther.e. Sgflafg, Jem J^ace, Abe Hickens and La:Ty Fojey are gMng e^h|bitiop of tjie manly art of self defence at 'ihe Victorian capital. "' ' " '' l

" GATJ^pjjr " writes :—Some little time .ago there'resided jp^jiept a hotel in a flourishing' jowfi in .Auckland, province a gentleman who may be called A. ijTot

to mince matters lie was a great rogue. B was a fast young mau about town, in the habit of frequenting A'a public house, aud one night the two worthies commenced throwing. " Yankee Grab," at which innocent diversion the green 'on lost a considerable sum. Presently when B was about squeezed dry, there came into the room a friend of B's, looking happy and jingling a pocketful of coin. A drew B aside and whispered " Play that chap grab. He's awful green, and the dice are as crooked as . Juct dribble 'em out, and they will turn out sixes every— —." The old blackleg here stopped suddenly, lememoering how he had just " had " his confidante with the same trick. B saw the point at once and laughingly sa;d, " Well, old man, you're the best scoundrel I ere.' erne across! To rob a mai aud tell huo of it after. Ha, ha I It's so rich, I'll forgive you. Come and have a drink."

A number of people went to Tararu Gardens early this afternoon, in anticipa-, tion of the al fresco coiree and concert in the G-rders this evening, The weather is everything that can be derired, and it is expected there will be a large number present.

Theke was a clean sheet at the E.M. Court to-day.

The principal cartoon in Melbourne Punch for November 7 represents Sir George Bowen riding a racer. It is called " ' Mauritius ' Tried," and" Jockey Bowen" is saying "He's not half the screw the other was. I wonder if he'd carry a few more pounds." : < < •

"A Pabent " writes complaining of "the obscene and lewd language made use of by the Borough workmen while making the new footpath," and says " many residents; can prove hie' complaint." The charge is so general in character, and the Borough workmen are spread over such a distance, that if there is anything in the charge at all, the whole may be blamed for the offence of one. There is a remedy for the offence complained of, and. "A Parent" should have recourse to it.

We have received the four principal speeches delivered by the Premier daring the late session, reprinted from Hansard. One of these, on the " Special telegraph wires for newspapers," we reprinted some time back in extenso under the title ."Sir George Grey on a Free Press and Telegraph Monopoly." The subjects of the: other three orations are—" The Judicial Commission Bill," "Land Tax Bill," and; "Electoral Bill." !

The following is the state of the Thames Hospital fdr the week ending 7th; instant:—Statistical Nosology.—Zymotic diseases : admitted 1, remaining 1; local: remained 7, admitted 2, remaining 9; developmental: remained 1, remaining 1; Violent: remained" 1, remaining 1. Total: remained 9, admitted 3, remaining 12; 51 outpatients.

The Sydney Morning Herald learns that at a recent sitting of the High Commissioner's Court at Levuka, a summons was applied for against the Rev. Geo. Brown, of New Britain, for manslaughter, but that as Mr Brown's brethren in Fiji thought it would be fairer for the accused to be tried in New Britain, the application was not pressed, If it had been granted it would have gone by the John Wesley, which was then about to sail. It will probably be sometime before the Judicial Commissioner can proceed to New Britain to inquire into the matter.

On Saturday evening, the members of the staff of the Otago Daily Times assembled in the editorial room, for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr G-. M. Reed, on his retirement from the editorship, preparatory to going to England as Emigration Agent. About 60 were present, and Mr Fenwick, the managing director, acted as spokesman, and expressed in war"m terms the sorrow felt by every member of the staff at the parting, and their cordial wishes for Mr Reed's prosperity and happiness. The presentation consisted of a very valuable diamond ring. MY Reed replied, expressing his sense of the exceedingly kindly relations that always existed between him and every member of the staff, and assuring them he would always cherish an affectionate memory of the happy hours they had spent together. He proposed the toast of the Daily Times, saying it was never in such a flourishing condition as at the present hour, and anticipating a magnificent future for the .paper! Other toasts followed —■? the manager, the new editor, the heads of the various departments, the Press of JNew Zealand, &c, and the affair closed with singing the National Anthem.

It is a mean action for a mau who finds himself in possession of a base coin to try to pass it off on another person, bat that other person would undoubtedly prefer to have a bad half-crown foisted upon him rather than a joint of diseased meat. This fact is apparently not recognised by the Rev. W. Hcopet, who appears as the chief actor in a charming little scene from rural life in Dorsetshire, which has obtained unexpected publicity owing to proceedings in the Police Court. In the quiet little hamlet or Chilfrome there lives a rector who, with £242 a-year and a residence, is above the reach of poverty, and who, with a population of 105 spuls in the parish, is not overburdened with work. A cow belonging to the rector fell ill, and the cow - doctor, after treating it for a few days, said that though he could cure it for a time, it would die in calving. The rector, anxious to save some part of his loss, if possible, sent to a butcher and sold the beast to him for £2. When people sell animals to butchers they may be pretty certain what will become of them. In this case the butcher killed th.c cow and then sold the carcase to another butcher, who sent it up to London, where it was detected and seized by a vigilant inspector. The butcher was fined £20. The rector was not chargeable with any offence, and the only penalty inflicted upon him was a severe castigation from the magistrate, who could come to no other conclusion than that it was scandalous conduct on the part of a clergyman. I should have thought the law could reach such a case, but, if not, public opinion will. . .

At the Glasgow Presbytery the other 4ay a potion caiue qa fp.r discussion as to tlie appointment of a day of thanksgiving " for peace and' for an abundant harvest." Notice of this motion was given just at the time when all the talk was about the " peace with honor," which Lprd Beaconsfield was supposed to have brought back vy'i^h him ipm Berlin; b f ut tap C^b^ii trouble having broken out suddenly, and peace being by no means assured, the author of the motion,' with praiseworthy caution, suggested'that it would be •^&\\ to postpcjie thanking the Alm^g&tv fo^. peai?e yth\]o tfre' present stipe ol" things

lasted. The word " peace " would have been removed from the motion, but for the prompt application of the Scotch love of hair-splitting, by which it was unanimously resolved that, the thanks to the Almighty for peace shoald be offered on tlie express understanding that the peace was tlie peace of Berlin, and had no reference whatever to the present complications and impending war in Afghanistan.

It seems that a French war steamer I has lately biu-n engaged in lowing an old ship out to sen. to form a torpedo train-ing-vessel. Attached to one <f the towing cables was a conducting wire, with '• one end on either vessel, and it was found that by the action of the sea on the copper, sheathing'of the ships, an electric current was set up, and telephonic communication whs at once established along the circuit. So successful, indeed, was the experiment, that conversation could be readily carried on between the two ships. This result, suggested to the comtrander of the French war-vessel the service of the diver, and in this way—One of the glasses of the diver's helmet is replaced by a-copper plate, and in this is inserted a telephonic wire. As in the case; of the ships, an electric current is established, by means of which it becomes an easy matter to hold converse with the divers, even while they are *' fathoms deep below " —at the bottom of the sea. In cases wheve it is necessary that' divers should make observations, whether to the state of the keel .of a ship, or as ( to. > wreckage; and,' report; thereon, the practical value of. this new use for the telephone is obvious.

We remarked briefly the other (says the Pall Mall Gazette) upon'the singular fact that England, which is more; deeply; interested in the maintenance of relative value of silver and gold than any other country,; should have resolutely set its, face against any attempt toremonetise that metal. The matter is mani fes tly one; of increasing gravity to the empire., Our net loss by exchange on India is calculated for the current^year at £3,000,000, and there is nothing whatever, to show that we,have arrived at the limit to, this seriqas loss/ But the^effect of this is precisely what would arise' from a danger-: ous shock to the credit of the Indian; Government; that is to say, it increases: the amount of interest on loans from! Great Britain nearly 50 per cent.,! if added under that head. It is very; remarkable that private persons, who also: suffer largely on, their remittances for pensions which they may derive from or! rents which they may receive in India payable in silver, have never attempted! any action on this subject. But the fact is, the whole question of currency is Bui'rounded to ordinary people „with so much difficulty that they accept a shrinkage of income from such a cause as a result as inevitable as an eclipse.