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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3175, 23 April 1879, Page 2

The Rowena will leave" Auckland to-day in place of the Rotomahana, which is to be laid up for repairs and new machinery. It is expected that the new engines to be placed in the Roto&ahana will enable her to do the trip from Auckland in much less time than she has of late, and being of an improved description will render the boat less liable to stoppages through breakages, &c, which have frequently of late been a loss to the owners, and a great inconvenience to the public. The Rowena will only make trips upon alternate days.

The schooner Josephine which arrived yesterday from Lytteltou with a cargQ of breadstuff's, hauled alongside the Burke street wharf this morning, and commenced to discharge.

Coionbl Fbassb returned fromOhinemuri last night and left for Auckland this morning by the Rototnahana. We have heard it stated that he accompanied the members of the County Council at their invitation to take part in the deliberations re the Big Pump securities.

We have been informed that Mr F. Whitaker, the proprietor of the. Waikato Times, has forwarded to the Thames 103 copies of a late issue of that journal, containing a good report of the Volunteer Review and the Easter movements, for distribution among the several Volunteer Corps on the Thames.

We would draw attention to the advertisement of the Australasian Watch Company appearing in another column.

'I^ndebs are called for by Warden Fraser for painting aud repairing the Government buildings in Queen str :et.

The decision cf the Native Lands Court held^ in Shortland yesterday, was that Hori Mori was entitled to an equal share in Hape No. 1 Soutb, with the children of Eapana Maungaroa.

At the B.M. Court to-day, before Mr E. F. Tizerd, J.P., one inebriate was dealt with in the usrnl manner.

Thebb is »n agitation at Hamilton in favor of establishing en infantry corps there. Since the visit of tho Thames Volanteers Hamiltonia^s have all, more or less, been pffected with the " scarlet fever." =

Whilst riding up tin Kauaeratiga creek on Monday ksfc Mr Monro was thrown from his horse f.hd sustained severe internal injuries.

The repairs to the Thames Mechanics' Institute ai:e. nearly completed, and by the end of the week the library and reading room are^expected to be opened to the public. The alterations have been carried out-.under the directions of E. WV Hollis, Esq., Vice-President of the Institution.

Ms L. J. Bagnall contributes a long letter to the Auckland Herald upon the que9Lion'of New Zealand industries and iree trade. He advocates to a certain extent a protective policy, and instancea the working of f >;ee trade principles in Canada, New South.Wales, and England. - ] .

The Insurance Companies o? Auckland have decided to give the £10D offered for the conviction of an incendiary-to Detective Jeffrey and Mr Eogers, the former for securing, in a great measure, the conviction of Pitchett, and the latter for giving the information which led to that result. ;

Bx the mail newg we lea^n that Captain Soy ton hf.s. undertaken to swim from Pittsburg to New Orleans in his lifesaving amour.,' His course will be,down the Ohio and Mississipi Eiver about 5000 miles. , We believe lie will succeed if a Louisana allegrtor does not biieg the journey to an untimely conclusion., •

A Dunedin exchange avers that when a propeily acclimaii&cd Canterbury Iran condescends to smile, he enjoys it so thorough^, that there is but a trifling portion of his free left rO wash. That's pretty good ; for Canterbury, gays our, iunny mat), but some Thames people can sweeten their tea by smiling into it; and when, a few, Tarara men laugh all at once, thepeople at Parawai are sure (hey beard thunder in the air, or that the Navals are firing for iheir big gun prizes. From this it may be guessed that 'New Zealanders can laugh a little, but.t'jey cannot beat the lowa .champion smilet: when he smiles the [corners of his mouth pass each other at the back of his head ! - ;

A telegram under date .Dunediq,. Monday, says:—ln the Police Court today, Julius Eastwood, a member of tie Timtru Volunteer Corps, wai charged with having, on the loJv instant^ conducted himself in Stuari street ia a manner calculated to provoke a breach of tiie peace.

A military man, (says JEgles) who is regarded as a speoie3. of volunteer Harelock, very kindly acts occasionally as lay. reader in an outside suburb; By some mischance he got hold of an old prayer book, and before he was fully aware of what he was about he had fervently prayed for the bodily health of William, the Fourth* and then stumbled ov».lV Queen Adelaide. Discovering, his «rroi' he tacked on a supplementary prayer for the Prince of Wales, Her Most Gracious Majesty, &c. This trifling mishap disturbed his complacency during the rest of the service. As a iriend walked from church with him, said the former—in the pleasant way affected by dear friends— "How did you manage to make such a mess of the grayer for the Eoyal family ?" and then, that martial t lay reader, forgetting at once his cloth and his Christianity, laid, angrily, "Oh! bless the Eoyal family.'' Only the active verb was different.

Ma job Atkinson, our member •(■ays the Patea Mail) arrived in Carlyle on Wednesday last, haring paid a risit to the district in order to ascertain the feeling of settlers on the present native difficulty. The Majjr does not like the look of affairs, but having put himself in communication with Government, feels confident, if they carry out their assurances to him,, that nothing will be done to provoke a war till they are prepared. It is evident that the Maoris will not take the first step, but they are pretty sure to resist any attempt on the part of the Government to re-occupy the Plains. We are glad to see Major Atkinson amongst us, for it shows that ho is studying the interest of his constituents, and if Government do not carry out their promise, he will be prepared to call me?tings all through the County to discuss the matter with the settlers.