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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3089, 11 January 1879, Page 2

The banquet to the Hon. John Sheehan, Native Minister, has been fixed for Monday evening next, at the Governor Bowen Hotel. As the issue of tickets is limited, it will be necessary to make early application for the same to Mr H. Mcllhone, the hon. secretary. These is now on exhibition at Mr Burton's Junction Hotel a very artistic piece of work in wrought iron. It is a fuchsia plant trailed round a twisted iron rod, and represents leaves, stem, and flowers in all stages, from mere buds to full blown blossoms, each being faithful copies from nature. The leaves, petals, stamens, and other parts of the plant are so delicately made that it is scarcely possible to realise the fact that all have been hammered out from a piece of iron and welded together at a blacksmith's anvil. But such is the case, the clever artizan who made the thing being Mr Birley, at one time following his trade on the Thames. It is intended, we hear, to send this artistic piece of work to the Sydney Exhibition.

The following notice was posted to-day at tbe office of the United Pumping Association :—" United Pumping Association, Grahamstovrn, January 11th, 1879.—Notice to workmen.—The workmen of the Ueited Pumping Association are hereby informed that owing to the stoppage of the works their services will not be required after the end of the present month. While regretting the present loss of employment to you, I beg to tender my thanks for the willing and efficient manner in which you have always carried out my instructions.—Geobgb Black, Manager."

Cornell's four in hand coach will make a trip to the Soda Water Springs to-morrow afternoon, leaving the Pacific corner at 1.30 p.m. It the day is fine the trip should be an enjoyable one. To-day Mr Watson, the contractor for the erection of the Thames school, opened tenders for painting the same as follows :—Conroy, £118 (accepted); Hill (Auckland), £120; Birch, £124; Fricker, £125; Lymburn, £128 16a. This is some of the closest tendering we hare seen for some time, there being only £10 difference between the five tenders. We (Herald) learn that the Directors of the Pumping Association wrote yesterday, informing Mr Black, the manager, that his services would no longer be required after the end of the month. This is in consequence of the agreement with tbe County Council terminating then, and the association have no funds in hand to carry on the undertaking. At the K.M. Court to-day Alexander McNeill, for the third time in as many days was fined 10s and cost, or 24 hours' imprisonment for drunkenness, and was also sent to prison for 7 days under the Licensing Act for being an habitual drunkard. Col. Fraser, K.M., occupied tbe Bench.

We sincerely regret to learn that Sergt. Jacbson, who lor some time past has been in charge of the Grahamstown Police Station, is about to leave the Thames, having been re appointed to the charge of Farneli. Daring the short time Sergt. Jackson has been on the Thames he has made many friends. He leaves for Auckland this evening, and his place is supplied by Sergt. Mulville. An accident happened this morning to Mr James Foughey, one of the contractors for the tunnel being put through from WaioKaraka to Waiotahi. While engaged with one of his mates extending the tramway at the tip, Waiotahi end, he stepped on to a board which was not nailed down. The board tipped, and Foughey was carried over, striking his head against some boards and receiving a nasty cut. He lost a considerable quan tity of blood, but was able to walk down to Mr Denby's shop and have the wound dressed. At the quarterly meeting of the Star of FTauraki Tent, independent Order of Bechabites, Friendly Society the following members were installed officers for the ensuing six months by F.C.K., Bro. Nodder :—W. D. Trewren. C.R.; Josh. Tredennick, D.JJ.; Edward Honiss, Secretary; Sam. T. Whitehouae. Treasurer; H. Fletcher, 8.T.; Geo. Ellis, C.T.; J. Ryder, Levite The Stewards reported a clean sheet for the sick list, and the Secretary presented the most satisfactory balance-sheet that had come before the Tent for several quarters.

It is stated that over £2000 has been cleared iv one year by the Telegraph Department from " urgent" telegrams alone. A large sum will also be realised frem the " delayed '' system recently introduced by Dr Lemon, General Manager of the Telegraph Department. The Hon. W. J. Clarke, M.L.C., is the largest landed proprietor in Victoria, being registered as the possessor of 164,352 acres of land, worth £476,727. The land tax on this property amounts to £6000 per annum.

The Bay of Plenty Times is responsible for the following :—A meeting of Maoris, including .Te Kooti, was held at Katikati, on Hew Year's Day, for the purpose of considering the opening of the Thames and Ohinemuri Railway. It was then resolved to support Tukukino in his opposition, notwithstanding the Native Minister's threat to send soldiers to force a thoroughfare.

Tbhsible as is the disaster of the Scotch Bank failure, there was one characteristic incident with a gleam of humour in it. An old maiden lady, who was postmistress and telegraph agent at Wick, had all her savings in the local branch of the City of Glasgow Bank. A message came through early addressed to the manager, instructing him not to open the doors, as the bank had suspended payment. The old lady presented herself at the branch at the opening hour, and drew out all her cash. She then proceeded to the bank parlour and informed the manager that as an important telegraphic message had arrived for him she had just brought it along herself!— Australasian.

THEYolunteer Gazette advocates the formation of a New Zealand Railway Tr nsport Staff Corps, to be composed of gentlemen holding such responsible positions in the Railway Department as commissioners, managers, engineers, &c. Such a body could be charged with the duty of superintending movements of Volunteers by rail.

The ups and downs of life in the Colonies are well instanced iv the following paragraph, which we take froml the Ashburton Mail:—"One of the present inmates of the Old Men's Home having apprised Mr 0. Bourn, farmer of Southbridge, of the hospitality of the Mayor in providing a Christmas dinner for the bid gentlemen, Mr Bourn very kindly, while bound for Titnaru, brought to the Ash burton railway station on Boxing Day morning some ham and bacon and a sackful of green peas, new potatoes, and .cabbages for the use of the inmates. It *a worthy of note that Mr Bourn was once >.'&, ten ant of th« man whose letter was the means of his* doing the kindness cited, and that Mr -Bourn, who came here in '1850 as a farm labourer, is now a proprietor, while he* who was then a wealthy proprietor is now landless, and a temporary dweller in the Old Men'sHomeS) „ No more miserable picture could be pourtrayed than the appearance of the town yesterday, sayi the West Coast Times, of the 27th inst. The holiday of the year, to which town and country folks were looking forward as a day of rest and recreation, added one more to the 250 wet days of the past year. After the flood of Monday and Tuesday last, which carried away numbers of embankments and approaches to bridges in every direction north and south, and which will cost the County Council over a thousand pounds to repair the public had naturally

concluded that Christmas Day would be the forerunner of a week's summer weather. But. just as it happens each year, aye, each month, when any sports are arranged—whether it be a race meeting, a cricket mutch, a picnic, or whatever else—all plans are sure to be marred by an incessant downpour, Christmas or Easter, it matters not when. All the season round the elements set in, and the very best efforts are thereby frustrated. At least such has been tbe experience of the past two years.

One of the most dastardly and malicious offences that could possibly be imagined was perpetrated last night or early this morning, says the Kumara Times of a recent date, by tome person or persons who no doubt labour under the idea that their actions were a capital joke It appears that early this morning Graham's express was driving up Seddon street, when the driver was alarmed at seeing one of the four wheels abruptly leave the vehicle. On examination, he found that the cap of the wheel had been removed. On this becoming known, the wheels of the various coaches in town were examined, and it was found, with one exception, all bad been treated in a similar manner. Had the coaches started, loaded with passengers, the consequences would have been frightful to contemplate, as serious accidents could scarcely have been avoided. As it was two coaches had to remain in town the whole day, through inability to procure new caps for the axles, to the great detriment and loss of the proprietors. It is to be hoped that the delinquents will be traced, and of their reward we have little doubt.