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Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3083, 4 January 1879, Page 2

We are indebted to our contemporary th? Press for the following interesting paragraph:—"As an evidence of the large traffic which is springing up in connection with the railways of the South Island, and the very extensive employment which they give to labor, it may be mentioned that the railway employees between Christchnrch and Inrercargill number no les& than 2708 persons, ■ of whom 1500 are employed between here and Oamaru, and 1000 between that place and Invercargill, the balance being made up of servants on the small branch lines." ~'

The Taranaki News says: Mr John Lewthwaite, formerly a Taranaki settler, "but now of Halifax, Yorkshire, who has spent a large portion of his life in inventions, has recently invented a method of copying writing or drawings, by means of a printing pad and prepared inks. With the aid of a common letter-press fifty copies of a letter may by these pads be printed in eight minutes. Inks of various colors may be used. The invention seems to recommend itself to solicitors, merchants, architects, and other persons requiring copies of letters, specifications, and plans. We are indebted to Mr G. Duncan for a copy of Mr Lewthwaite's circular.

The correspondent at Teheran of an English paper writes:—The chancel of the Armenian Church here has a badly carved white marble slab, with the following inscription :—" In memory of Charles Scott, of Her Majesty's mission, second son of the late Sir Walter Scott, Bart., of Abbotsford. Died at Teheran, the 28th of October, 1841, aged thirtysix." A stone close by marks the last resting place of Dr Glenn, the translator of the Bible into the Persian language. Close to the Church are the old English mission buildings and grounds. They ouce had a value of £12,000; now they are let to some Persians at the rate of £16 per annum. I believe some years ago a Persian offered to buy them for something over £10.000, but the offer was refused. The buildings are now rapidly tumbling down, the garden is a wilderness, and the grave of a daughter of Sir W. Ouseley is in a very sad state.

Subelt the holidays have caused an emigration of all our "good drinking men" to Auckland or elsewhere. For the second consecutive time a clean sheet presented itself at the R.M. Court today.

It is notified in our advertising columns that the old established bakery business carried on ia Davy street by Mrs George Wash will, on and af^Mktonday next, be removed to Eollestou^Het.

The contractors for the erection of the new Thames School are making good headway. The studs are now in position.

Since the hot weather has set in one of the most filthy smelling holes in the Borough has been the water table in Spaley street near the beach, and the effluvium arising therefrom is certainly Btrong enough to breed a pestilence. It is rery difficult to scent out which is the ruling stench in this gutter. It would be greatly conducive to the health and comfort of the neighbourhood if the authorities could see their way to continue the Sealey street water table from Pollen street to the beach, and periodically flush the game.

The following Press Agency telegram appears in Southern papers under date Grahamstown, Dec. 18:—The Mayor elect was not sworn in to-day, owing to the absence of a quorum. It is believed his political opponents absented themselves purposely.

The wheelbarrow and spade used by Sir George Grey in turning the first sod of the railway were despatched by the Mayor per steamer today to Sir George Grey's residence at Kawau.

Mb H. T. Rowb is now engaged in the survey of native reserves in the Waikawau block prior to its being handed over to the Waste Lands Board. The total area of the block is 41,000 acres, and we understand it is to be cut up into suitable farm sections. Mr Howe informs us that some of the land is first class for agricultural purposes. Up some of the creeks there are valleys containing from 500 to 1000 acres of splendid flat alluvial land.

The Ist of January will be long remembered as a day of thorough enjoyment in Puriri by both young and old, for if games of all sorts, with refreshments at very short intervals, in the shape of cakes of all varieties, syrups, and ginger beer ad libitum, can make glad the youthful, then the children of Puriri were on that day supremely blessed. For the older portion of the community Mr Say had provided in a most liberal manner. A tent was erected in one of bis paddocks, swings placed in every available branch of his magnificent willow trees, and a free lunch provided for all who chose to partake thereof. With regard to that lunch, what I remember most distinctly about it ia the sucking pigs and turkeys. It appeared to me that the number provided must have been infinite, as fast as they disappeared before the attacks of the hungry cricketers and quoit players, fresh relays were brought on ; and if a few partook of more than one luncheon that day who can blame them ? What better solace could a man have for being bowled out first ball than a slice of sucking pig, or the wing of a turkey, and if successful, what better reward could he desire p lam told that an entire sucking pig was to be seen on the table next day, which I can scarcely believe, unless the litter was something cut of the common way. In the afternoon we had horse racing, some of the older children being the riders, and really they seemed as much at home in the saddle as a few years before they would have been in their cradles. After this the children were handicapped in foot races, and liberal prizes were given to the winners; the whole concluding with chasing a pig whose tail had been greased, and which was captured after causing great fun. There were a number of visitors from Shortland, and all, I believe, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. [Communicated.]

The match between the Taranaki champions of the willow and our local men will take place some time next week at the Parawai Gardens, but the day has not yet been fixed. The Thames men have been practising very hard of late, but it is feared the Southern team will be too strong for them. The match would hare been played on Monday next, but the Thames Club were unable to get the ground in order by that time; Water has been laid on to the ground, and it is proposed to " hose " it well and then give it a good rolling.

At the meeting of the Governors of the Auckland College and Grammar School yesterday, Mr O'Eorke suggested that £2000 be appropriated for the purpose of founding a boarding school establishment.