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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3159, 3 April 1879, Page 2

The farewell soiree to the Rev. J. Nixon will be held this even-'ng at the Primitive Methodist Church, Shortland. The telegraph line south of Tauranga has been repaired. . At the E.M. Court this morning Thomas Greham, a publican, was fined Is and costs for permitting his hotel lamp to go out. Col. Fraser, E.M., occupied the Bench. Majok Mttbbay is urging upon the Government the necessity of providing a better class of rifles for our Volunteers, and yesterday had a long communication from Col. Whitmoro upon the subjeci. Major Murray stated that he believed, with a few hours' notice, he could muster a strong force to take the field, in case of a native disturbance at Waimato, of the finest men in the Colony. Well done the Thames : always to the front, and second to none in ability to act as well as to speak!

No contract was let by the County Council yesterday for the Puke-Paeroa Eoad as all the tenders exceeded the sum available for the work. It is probable frosh tenders will be called.

The correct returns of the result of the ILaitangata benefit performance are, now to band, and allow the proceeds io have been £39 17a 6d, expenses £10 13s 6d. A cheque for the balance, £29 4s, has been handed to His Worship the Mayor who is a member of the general committee, and with the subscriptions will be forwarded to Dunedin by the hon. Treasurer Mr T. L. Murray. We regret the Thames offerings are not larger, but hard times will stint the liberality of the most benevolent. Great credit is due to those who toot the matter of the benefit up, and brought it to a successful issue.

The newly elected Tauranga Eailway Committee are settii g about their work in impractical manner, and have forwarded the resolutions passed at the public meeting, held there on the 26th uH., to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, and haveappointedapaidsecretary to lookafter their interests. Still we cannot approve of the narrow views expressed by some of the speakers at the hte public meeting, who deprecated the construction of a line connecting with the Thames. It seems strange in these days to hear persons objecting to the construction of roads or railways, no matter in what direction, except such subjects as Tukukii.o; and the fear that the trade of Taurauga would be absorbed by the Thames if the ports were connected, is a very narrow way to look at the matter. We trust that the Tauranga people will not only agitate for a line to Ohinemutu, but urge as strongly a branch to the Thames.

We are in receipt from tho Government Printer of Gazettes of the date 21st, 24th, and 27th of March. The whole of the issue of the 21st is taken up with notices of the appointment of sheep

inspectors for the colony and the several districts, and their tub-divisions. Notice under tho Native Lands Act of the claims intended to be investigated at the court to be held on the 10th instant ut Wakaraka, Poverty B>y, fills tho issue of the 24th ultimo. The proclamation notifying tho assumption of tho Government by Sir Hercules George Robert Eobinson is published in the Gazette of the 27th; also, one defining the middle lino of the Eiverhead and Auckland railway, the season in which wild duck, bittern, pied stilt plover, wild geese, dotterell, native pigeon, teal, black plover and quail can be killed throughout the colony. (In Auckland the season is from Ist April to 3rd July.) A notification of tho standing orders of the Legislative Council relative to local bills, lands open for sale by certain Waste Lands Boards, and appointments in several of the departments of the Government.

Notwithstanding- their iinpecuniosity the Harbor Board at their meeting last evening did not make an effort to reduce the salaries paid to their servants, the matter being brought up for discussion by His Worship the Mayor. Some members of local bodies on the Thames remind us of iEsop's fable of the old man and his ass trying to please everybody, and yet satisfying none. For some time past the current of public opinion regarding Harbor Board experiences has been that the Board have too many officials for the work there is to do. It is not the amounts of the individual salaries that are grumbled at so much as the number of officials. The Board might have affected a saving by amalgamating some of the offices. On the other hand the Chairman should receive a small allowance, and the Secretary is worthy of a salary.

A iettee appears in our columns upon the position held by Mr Jatr?9s as manager of the Caledonian mill, and at the same time underviewer under the Mining Inspector. If it is true as stated by the writer of this day's letter the matter calls for attention at the hands of the Inspector, who cannot very well hare his instructions carried ouf, and the duties of the office fulfilled to the letter, by a gentleman who has also charge of a very important mine.