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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3312, 2 August 1879, Page 2

To mohbow evening, Mr Neill will deliver another of his course of lectures on Bible Heroes at the Presbyterian Church, the subject on this occasion being The Tabernacle. The newly appointed Minister of the f Baptist Church who arrived in the Colony? a fortnight a«o in; the ship Langstone, will preach bis first sermons on the Thames in the Baptist Church, Wilr loughby street, to-morrow. The Rev. Mr Laishley will refer Xo the death of Mr 8. McClatchey in the course of bis sernlon at the Congregational Church to-morrow evening. The Children attending St. 'George's Sunday J School will hold their ohildrens service at St. Georges Church to-morrow afternoon. Further particulars can be learned from the advertisement.

The long'talked of exhibition of pedei-' trianism will eventuate at the Academy of Music this evening, when Mr O'Connor, the champion, will show the Thames people how to walk seven miles in pne hour. Mr O'Connor's liberja),'pffißr.of,.a silver cup to,any loQaipedV who wjllke.ep Up with him for one mile is likely to draw out some of our local talent, and we heard that the following will compete :^r-Allan Porter, W; Williams, A. Thomas, Orlando Long, Edward Gibbi, and perhaps several others. This galaxy of pedestrian talent should draw a good house. :

Thk members of the local bar tele* graphed their t'bnjiratuiatidnstt) Mr J. E. Macdonald yesterday on his appointment to the District Judgship of Auckland. We belieTe that the position was, much coveted ;by »everal< legal gentlemen in Auckland, so .that the officewas not by any means " going a-begging. Thebe was a clean sheet at the E.M. Court to-day. A COBBEBPONDENT telegraphs that Sir G. Grey fiercely defied the Opposition to refuse the supplies. A local poet, drawing largely on his imagination,,-, immortalizes the circumstance in the following stanza:— " Tours but to vote Supply, Yours not to reason why, Your Opposition I defy, Pass the £6,000,000." It will be remembered that four deserters from the ship Isle of Bute, now in Auckland, were recently arrested on j the Thames. They were sent to Auckland and received a short term of imprisonment. On returning aboard two of them severely assaulted their captain, and for their exploit have just inaugurated a six months' visit to a suburban retreat pear AucklandThe Thames Rifle Bangers paraded last evening, and had some capital skirmishing and firing exercise on the beach. We understand that some of our Shortland friends—those, we presume, of the more nervous temperament, and who have been of late thinking much, and perhaps dreaming, of Te Whiti, Titokoi wharu, and Co.—were somewhat alarmed, and doubtless came to the conclusion (for the moment) that Tukukino at least had arrived; but when informed of the true cause of all the din of warfare and brisk rounds of musketry, intermingled with stentorian words of command, which echoed and reverberated upon the serene moonlight air; were immediately reassured; and doubtless felt quite happy and secure at the thought of being in the midst of, and surrounded by, such a company, pf gallant; defenders, who iwere so assiduously preparing for in tilt or any contingency, the defence of hearths and home's.< There Vas a good muster: of the company, as also of the citizens of that end of the town, whoseemto take an interest in this old Shortland cor pi. On

returning to the Hall, their newlyappointed Surgeon (Dr. Andrews) was formally introduced, and warmly received^ He said, as an old servant of Her Most Gracious Majesty, he felt it his duty, and would be happy to further the volunteer movement to the best of his ability, and especially the interests of his own company—the Thames Rifle Bangers. He concluded by saying that being a shootist himself, he would be glad to encourage proficiency in the use of the rifle, and to that end would have much pleasure in procuring for them a handsome silver cup for competition by members of the company. This announcement was i well; received, three ringing cheers being given for the Surgeon, and three more for Mrs Andrews. Some new members being elected, the company was dismissed. The members of this corps seem now to take a lively interest in their various duties, and we quite expect to see it taking a foremost position amongst our many fine companies.

Okb of the arts in sensational advertising (we once heard remarked), is to commence with a subject , having apparently no possible connection with the thingf advertised,; and then' to work gradually up to the climax. Here is an instance which we clip from a pastoral broadsheet:—"Thu^er rand > ; liightningXJl W^hat is Hay coming to'? Tweed Suits at £2 15s. ' Where ? ■' and j then follows the address. : ; ; •■> Thb ; Sydney Co^^r, \ speaking of " Zealandia,'■" which is f bow being shown in that ,city :—rTJhe lecturer, Mr J>vM> Perri^'ry is the best we hare heard in the colonies during a quarter of a century. His style is free, unaffected, and. he contrives to convey. a> good deal of valuable information about oar Maori neighbours in a very agreeable minner. Thb average Thames youth, with a still green recollection of the time when his peccadilloes caused an application of the maternal slipper or the paternal bootjack to th^ seat of his unmentionables,|is proverbially 'cute.- ;one of these desired to ; leave tie Thames for pastures new, and to complete his outfit, he wanted a suit of ; blackicloth. This, is the expedient he hit upon to pet it j Assuming a most woebel gone appearance, he went to the shop of a Uocal . draper ■■ • and ' represented ;! that 1 his dear mother- had 1 died, and he wanted to'pay a last tribute of; respect to her .memory by attending her funeral, finally winding up by asking iick for a mourning ;suit. The draper touched 1 doubtless gave the boy the clothes, and it has since transpired that the lad's .mother is -not dead at all, and the young rogue is on Ithe eve of clearing out. ! Tkatestied from "Buttercup," and sung to the tunes of " Doleful Dumps," at the very latest Opposition caucus, by a leading hon member:— "Oh, bitter isour cup; And as we all now know it, \ .... Sic George has tripped us? up, .- *• ■ r ' . • Howerer could he do it."' •. ' —•Star. " . „ : ,_ ;. „,....;

" They've got the pluck, they'll get the men, and they'll get the money too."— It is stated in Wellington that fire of the banks'hare agreed to let the Government have an advance of £1,000,000 on the passing of the Loan Bill. The Bank of. New Zealand agreed to let them hare 5 ■£150,000. We have received from "Wellington a clever political skit in the form,pf a, pros*, pectus" of " The Fox Exploitation Company," the object,of which is stated to be for the "purpose of exploiting in an efficient and remunerative manner the varied and manifold attainments, of Sir William Fox, the acknowledged leader of Conservative thought in the colony." The capital of the company is £50,000, and amongst the names of the directors and > officials are those of the prominent anti-Greyites. The rerentie of the cor- 1 poration will be obtained; from a number of curious sources, a large portion being the proceeds* of political sermons aud speeches by Sir W. For, and one item of £13,000,is,put down as the proceeds of the obtaining of patents of nobility at the ■ rate of £250 per patent, to be issued at the rate of one per week. The company promise a bonus of £20,000 for the ab6li-; tion of the Land Tax, and it is stated the promoters -will commence to faithfully" carry out the programme, as soon as Sir George Grey is ejected. ! A certain percentage of tlie profit of the company will be devoted (as hereafter arranged*at a meeting of the shareholders) for the parpose of influencing elections, whereat only conservative members shall be returnsd if , possible,!and, giving guerdona to recaloitrant or needy representatives of the people. For ourselves we do not; think the spec is good enough. Mr S. Young is said to be the proposed company's agent on r the Thames, so we must refer those desirous of inVestihgto him. '

, i The Opposition talk of endeavouring to' disfranchise the Bay of Islands in consequence of the' recent irregularities there in connection with the /electoral rbii. ■"•''" " ■"■■■; ■':':;■

Sevehal seamen «jf the English ship Minister of Marine, ' t ' how lying inAuckland Harbour, made an extraordinary statement of cruelty 'to the B.M. yesterday; one alleging that he had been kept ten.days in. irons on bread and water. He was gagged, ironed round the back, and beaten when in that condition- The Magistrate ordered the police to inquire into the allegations, and if they were found true, to initiate a public prosecution against the captain. I The Auckland Star's special telegraphs : Mr Macfarlane says he will not contest Waitemata, as Auckland is all Greyite. He says,." Eh, inon, isn't it just domnable those fellows won't go out. Isn't it aw fu' ? "•—Sir Eobprt Douglas will again stand for Marsden. : Mr Tofe stands For Eden.

It is stated that the Government propose to submit this session the Electoral, Kepresentation, Chinese Immigration, aod Loan Bills, -