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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3077, 27 December 1878, Page 2

Yesterday morning, at 3 o'clock, as Constable Haslett was passing the premises of Mr Norbury, grocer, he observed what appeared to be a light in the stable, but supposing it was some one in the stable he proceeded on his beat. On returning, however, he saw sparks issuing from the out-building, and, on climbing, the fence, discevered that a barrel of sawdust was on fire. With the assistance of the inmates he extinguished the fire with a few buckets of water. This is the second fire that Constable Haslett has discovered in its preliminary stages lately, and great credit is due to him for his watchfulness and promptitude on both occasions.

A most amusing scene might have been witnessed in Chapel street, Auckland, on Christmas Day. A number of Thames miners—Bill Catran being amongst them —collected all the juvenile element of that aristocratic vicinity for the purpose of getting up sports for their amusement. There were three-legged races, boys' races and girls' races, for " bobs" and " tanners," and scrambles for pennies. These latter were most diverting. Occasionally- some dirty little urchin would get his fingers stamped on, and would then commence to bawl, which had the effect of bringing a few affectionate and indignant mothers, thereby diversifying the amusement. The fun was continued for several hours until Sergeant Mulville appeared on the scene, and the youngsters made themselves scarce. We do not suppose the gallant sergeant wished to interfere with the amusement, but the "kids" evidently knew him.

On the Tararu course yesterday, in addition to the usual attractions in the way of sports as provided by the Committee several speculative gentlemen had little ventures of their own. Black Bob invited the visitors to "make a pool; one in, who makes two?" Aunt Sally in another locality presented her unattractive visage ami gaudy costume to the assaults of her admirers, and some game of skill in which a number of spikes on a board and rings constituted the material for playing the game was not without its votaries. Cake and fruit stalls there were, and the owners seemed to do a good business. Drinks were in demand, the dust and heat being considerable, and it only wanted a Richardson's show, a branch of Wombwell's menagerie, a shooting gallery, and a few other adjuncts to have made the scene very nearly approaching to that at a country fair at home.

There was a regular dusi: storm last night, almost as bad as a "bricktielder" on the other side, barring the hot wind accompaniment. It, blew from the northwest, and at times was. so bad that even the lights in the streets were obscured. The rain which fell subsequently was gratefully welcomed.

. The Legislature of New South Wales voted the following address to Her Majesty :—" To the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. May it please your Majesty,— We, your Mejesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly ot New South Wales, in Parliament assembly having heard with unfeigned sorrow of the decease of your Majesty's daughter, her Royal Highness the Princess Alice of Hesse, desire humbly to approach your Majesty with an expression of our heartfelt sympathy and the hope that the Almighty disposer of all things may enable you fittingly to bear this great affliction."

The committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club have resolved upon a rule which it may be hoped will terminate some unpleasant disputes which we have had lately over cricket matches. It has been no secret that some celebrated players nominally playing as gentlemen have received money for their engagements in great, matches largely in excess of the sum paid to professionals. In the match Gentlemen v. Players, this arrangement told unjustly against the latter, and was naturally complained of by them with some bitterness. This abuse will, it may be hoped, prove io have been effectually remedied by the law which the club has just passed, that no gentleman ought to, make a. profit by his services in the cricket-field, and that anyone doing iio cannot play for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord's. All that cricket clubs ure to be permitted to do in the case of gentleman players, ia to assist them towards defraying expensea when they are actually out of pocket.