THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3085, 7 January 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1879.

His Worship the Mayor sent the following telegram to Sir George Grey on Saturday last:—"l have great pleasure' in forwarding this day by Eotomaliana for your acceptance a case containing the barrow and spade used by you in turning the first sod of the railway. I trust that you may be long spared to see the successful result of your labors that day, and that the possession of the spade and the barrow my recall pleasant reminiscences of your last visit to the Thames.—W. McCullough." The following repiy was received today:— "Wellington, January 7th.—His Worship the Mayor, Thames,—l received

your kind telegram just as I was leaving Waiwera for Wellington, which place I was obliged to proceed to at once. I feel grateful to you for having forwarded the spade and barrow to me, and for the encouraging expression- which you made use of upon that occasion. I shall keep them both as reminiscences of my connection with the Thames people, which I trust may result in benefit to them, and of the pleasure which I enjoyei on my last visit there in inaugurating a work which I feel satisfied will result in great advantages to the whole of that part of New Zealand, so rich as it is in minerals and fine soil.—G. Gbet."

The Friendly Societies Committee who carried out the Hospital Demonstration met last night for final settling, when Mr George Wilson occupied the chair. Mr Honiss submitted a balance sheet, audited, and the same was found to be satisfactory, the net proceeds accruing to the hospital fund being £105 19s Id. Votes of thanks were passed to the public bodies for assisting, to the Judge, Clerk of Course and others who managed the racing, and all who contributed in any way to the demonstration, including the bands who gave their services. The following statement shows an abstract of receipts and expenditure:— Balance Sheet, Sports Account: To entry fees, £11 16s ; F Bennett's subscription, £5 ; J. Craig, auctioneer's fees returned as subscription, £2 2s; collection by Hospital Committee, £38 7s ; total, £57 ss. By amount paid in prizes, £48; balance carried to General Account, £9 ss; total, £57 ss.—General Account: To sale of booths, £39 10s 6d; gate money, i £92 13s 9d; balance from Sports Ac c unt, £9 ss; total. £141 9s 3d. By rent of Gardens, £10; advertising and printing, £12 3s lOd; gatekeepers, £1; bellman, £1; auctioneer, £2 2s; refreshments to bands police, and others, £6 3s; sundry other expenses, £3 Is 4d; balance to Hospital, £105 19s Id; total, £141 9s 3d.

Thb want of a parade ground was so apparent during the late inspection of volunteers by Sir George Grey, that there is a strong probability of Major Murray's application for a public srjuare and parade ground being granted, and of the neces sary funds being forthcoming from Government for acquiring the same. The Tiiames is acknowledged to be the best volunteer district in the colony, yet there is no general drill hall or exercise ground, each company having to pay a heavy yearly rental out of its funds towards supplying drill sheds. These are generally small, inconvenient, and badly ventilated rendering any battalion movements, or drilling even one large company, an im possibility. If the Government give the necessary funds for a parade ground, a large and commodious volunteer hall will also, no doubt, be provided. We understand Sir George Grey has expressed his willingness to do what he can to further such a desirable object.

Mb Patrick Trainor and party, the contractors for driving the water-race tunnel through the spur between the WaioKaraka and Waiotahi valleys, are now making fair headway with the work. Lately they have been put to considerable delay through the difficulty of procuring timber at this particular time of the year, when the busbmen are all enjoying themselves. The tunnel from the Waiotahi side is now in about 2GO feet, and is well timbered to witbin a few feet of the face, and the latter work especially appears to be very well executed. Several small quartz seams have been intersected since the commencement, but this has caused the influx of a little water making the workings wet. The drive from the WaioKaraka side is now in close on 100 feet, aDd is making very good progress, the grcund being dry and easy picking country. All Bpeed is being made with the extension of both drives, and Mr Trainor expects to have it finished in about three months. The total length will be 1400 feet. We understand that it is intended to carry the race across the Waiotahi Creek on trestles, and then carry the water round the Nonpareil spur in an open sidling to the Golden Grown spur, which will be tunnelled.

The only business at the R.M. Court this morning was a charge of lunacy against a man named Henry Ibbetson. Mr Kenny requested a remand for mcdi cal treatment, as the man was suffering from the effects of excessive drinking. Remanded till Friday. Mr A. J. Allom, J.P., occupiedithe Bench.

Yesterday the death of a. boy under suspicious circumstances at Coromandel was reported to the police. It appears that the lad in a quarrel with another boy received a severe kick in the groin which it is be lieved caused his death. Dr Haynes yesterday proceeded in the Argyle from Auckland to assist in a post mortem examination of the body.

"We have before us a lint of the trades and occupations and number of immigrants for Auckland expected to" arrive shortly by the ship Maraval. Under,the head of " married men without'families " there are seven farm laborers. There are 30 married men with families, seventeen of whom are farm laborers. Of single men th<re are 74; 58 of whom are farm laborers. The following list appears under the head of "Single Women."—Cooks, 4; Dairymaids, 1; Dressmakers, 3; Flaxspinners, 3; General Servants, 56; Housekeepers, 3; Housemaids, 4; Machinist, 1; Nurses, 2; Nursemaids, 2. It will be seen that the general servants muster very strong, and if the other districts are as short of this kind of labor as the Thames they will all be; speedily engaged. We are sure a good number could obtain engagements here. Applications to engage any of these immigrants should be made to the Dep&tmaster and matron at the Immigration Depot, Auckland.

A case of very considerable importance to publicans and hotel-keepers was brought before the Police Court on Saturday, says the Herald. Mr Eichmond, proprietor of the Nevada Hotel, was charged with a breach of section 42 of the Licensing Act, 1871, by allowing persons to gamble by throwing dice in his licensed house. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and was fined £25 and costs. The charge was laid under the 42nd section of the Auckland Provincial Government Licensing Act, 1871, which is as follows:— "No person „ holding a publican's license or bu*h license shall permit or suffer gambling or playing at any game of chance in or upon his house or premises." By clause 31 of the General Assembly Licensing Act, 18^it is pro-

vided that " This Act (the Act of 1873) shall lie taken and read as part of any existing Provincial Act or ordinance for the purpose of regulating the sile of alcoholic liquor," so that the Provincial Act of 1871 is still in full operation, so far &* it does not conflict with the Act of the General Assembly.

In compliance with a request from a number of citizens the Ma) or has called a meeting to take steps for suitably entertaining the Hon. J. Mli*ehan. The proposal has been warmly taken up by a number of gentlemen, and others hare cordially concurred in the scheme, and we are justified in saying that if the arrange* tnents are entrusted to an energetic committee the demonstration will be a great success.

Thuksday next is the day when the County Council should meet, but as several members have arranged to interview Tukukino, re the difficulties, the Council will not meet till Thursday week.

We have been requested to state that in future all persons issuing summonses and other processes in connection with the X M. Court—both civil and criminal — will require to puy all fees and fines in Law Court stumps in accordance with the recently issued regulations under "The Stamp Fee Act, 1875" In no instance can clerks of the Courts receive fees or fines in cash.

We lea»n from Captain Watson, No. 2 Sottish, that he is expecting the company's new uniforms by first steamer Irom Mtlbourne. The goods were sent from London to Melbourne in s.s. Kent, which armed about a week ago. The battalion resume drill on the 21st January ; the officers recommenced their sword exercise and extra drill last evening.

Mb T. Eawdon sent ns a fine sample of ripe peaches this morning, which for size, shape, bloom and flavor are equal to any sort vhat may come in later. They are no doubt an early variety, but much is due to the locality in which they were grown, the Waiotahi Creek, which is renowned as a fruit growing district, strawherri s, grapes, peaches and fitfs being ripened in perfection.

A cbicket match was payed in the Domain, Auckland, yesterday between the Taranaki eleven nnd 15 Colts, whicti was won by the former in one innings.

Our card almanacs for office and store use are now ready, and a considerable number have been delivered. Advertisers desirous of possessing a copy, who have not 'ieen supplied, chii have their wishes attended to by making known the same at the publishing office. We avail ourselves of this opportunity for stating that we are indebted to Brett's Auckland Almanac fur the calculnions of sunrise and sunset, and the tides, the difference between Auckland and Thames being of course added.

Thr cricket mitch. Taranaki v. Thames, Trill be played at the PHrawai cricket ground to morrow, the visiting (cam being expected to arrive from Auckland by this afternoon's Kotomahana. Play will C' mroence at 10 o'clock, and »s a splendid wicket has been made, there will likely be some good play shown on both sides, though betting so far is slightly in favour of the visitors. The players will be conveyed to the ground in Connell's four-in-hand, and a recherche mid-day luncheon will be spread at the grounds. The following are (he names of the players:— •Thames Team: Messrs Stneaton, Hargreaves, Lawless, Burgess, Spencer, vV hitford, Meadman, Bull, Dufuur, Young, and Murphy. Emergency men: Messrs Paul and Buttle. Umpires: Messrs Heron and Gellion. Taranaki Team: Messrs Sarten, Northwood, Adams, J. 0. Davies (captain), G. Bayly, Cunninahum, Harrison, Bewley, KiddiI ford, Cleary, and P. Bayly.

The: inhabitants of Rikutaia and Mackayfown will be glad to learn that through the exertions of Mr A. Porter, Chairman of the Ohinemuri School Comniittee, a school will be opened in each of those settlements immediately after the holidays. '1 here are, we hear, about 30 children at Mnckaytown, and as many or more at Hikutaa. The necessary buildings have been obtained at a small rental, so no delay will occur iv opening the school* on that score.

The Mayor of Taranaki, at bis installation, delivered an ad 'res*, in the course of which he said :—"The late Mayor had on two similar occasions to the present given the Council a luncheon, but he should adopt a different course. He pro* posed to get up a subscription to the hospital, and to head the list with a gift of five guineas. 1'

In addition to the donations of money, etc., previously acknowledged through our columns towards providing Christmas and >'ew Year fare for the Hospital patients, the follow ing contributions were received, ar hereby acknowledged with thanks by Mr Aitken, di>p>-nser:—Prom Mr fTqwg, 1 dozen ale; Mrs Marshall, 1 basket Hpples, 1 basket vegetables ; Mr Khrenfried. cash £1 Is; Mr Dalziel, salt beef; Mr Bobbett, suet for pu iding ; Mr Phillips, potatoes and vegetables; Mr Symington, 6 buttles wine; Osborne Bros.. 6 bottVs wine ; Mr MeCa'il. 6 tins preserved leaclieis; Mr Cain, 3 box*>B: tigs; Mr Healy, 1 bottle raspberry and ca>h 2s 6d ; Mr Joseph W. Day, 2 geese aod 1 cake. v ■- : ~ >;

A couple of pick *pbckefs have chosen the captive balloon at Paris as tlie scene pf their operations. A' young English female, of attractive exterior bad of late so frequently ascended in the fflrestat, accompanied by a well-dressed man with a wooden ley;, that the circumstance was' noticed. Very recently two ladies, after returning from their aeronautic excursion,; remarked that their purses had disap peared. A t the same time it was observed that the female and her companion hastened away in a very suspicious manner. The police,being informed of what had happened-to the two ladies, stopped the couple, and took then! to the commissary. I lie iiockets of the man having been examined, no'less than twenty portmonaies were found in his possession, containing an'aggregate sum of 3f).00l) francs. Both were committed to prison.

The Times' press-room in London hat been supplied with the electric light, The apparatus used is that of Kapuff'. which can furnish twenty separate lights. Six light* were sufficient for the large room containing the Walter presses. The light is now being adapted to a large composing room, where its purity and the absence of heat wiil prove of value to those employed The same machine pro vides the light for this room. The merits of the Hapit'ff apparatus are the length of lime (10 hours) the carbons last, and the number of separate lights that can be obtained from it,