Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3137, 8 March 1879, Page 2

Feom a special calogram to the Auckland Star, which we reproduce in another column, it will be seen that rumors are current in England that France has acquired the Island of Rhodes on terms similar to those on which England acquired Cyprus. fThe island of Rhodes is situated in the Mediterranean, off the south-west coast of Anatolia, from which place it is distant some 10 miles. The length of the island is 45 miles, and its greatest breath 20 miles, and its length is traversed by a chain of mountains, the highest of which is close on 6000 feet.. Its population is about 30,G00, only onefifth of whom, however, are Turks. Of all the islands in the Levant, Rhodes possesses the most'beautiful and temperate climate, oranges, citrons, &c.i being grown there in considerable quantities. As in Cyprus, however, agriculture is in a very depressed state, and corn is not raised in sufficient quantities for even its present limited population. Doubtless, however, great impetus will be given to tiade and commerce by its new proprietors, and we may expect to hear of great alterations there in the course of a few months. The capital of the island is also named Rhodes, and was once a most important maritime city ; it now, however, is in a far from flourishing state, and has only a population of about 10,000 souls. At the entrance to the Harbour the celebrated brazen statue of Helios, popularly known as the Colossus of Rhodes, which" was some 120 feet high, stood. For several centuries the island was in the possession of the Greeks, but from the 16th century Turkey has been the owner of it.

The Rotomahana is advertised to leave the Goods Wharf this evening at 7 o'clock;

We believe it is the intention of the residents of Shortland to call a public meeting to discuss the action of the Harbor Board.

At the K.M. Court this morning, before His Worship the Mayor and A. J. Allom, Esqs., J's.P., one person was punished in the usual manner for drunkenness, and a publican for a breach of the Licensing Act,: by permitting the light over the principal door of his licensed home to go out, was fined Is and costs.