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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3323, 16 August 1879, Page 2

Aietteb signed "A Well-Wisher to the Thames," and other local matter, is crowded ont.

A welcome soiree to the Rev. George Smith, the new Primitive Methodist minister, took place at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Mackay street, last evening. There was a very good attendance, and Mr Manners . occupied the chair. Addresses of welcome were delivered by the Revs. S. J. Neill, Watkins, R. Laishley and the Chairman, and Mr Smith made an excellent speech in reply. We have received a copy of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald for August. The pictures are up to the standard/ but there is still a great dearth of New Zealand tiews.

At the B.M. Court to-day, before H. Renrick, Esq., R.M., James Gordon was called on to find support for his wife and children. There being a mistake in the information the case was withdrawn. Thb Eev Mr Neill will lecture on "The Temple," at the Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening.:, )MCb W. Carpenter, will hold a sale of unredeemed pledges on account of Mrs Kae, pawnbroker, on Monday, at the hall adjoining 'the pawnoffice Pollen street, Shortland. '.:;.../:^ •■.: '-■■■'■: : - .-. ■'■■ ■■: i.- i

In another column Mr James MeGowan notifies his retirement from the electoral contest. : ..'.,'."/

"A hohse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse! The cry is still they come I" Another Richmond in the field I It seems there will be no lack of aspirants for senatorial honors, as we see by our election notices that Mr Thomas E.Atken has come forward, we believe, on tb^e working men's ticket, and if returned is determined he will not be "bamboozled" by the most tempting of bribes, but see that all is done ,*■'• on the square, and above board.'** .;■■■■.■■-, ;'. :..;.:.>.;. -?■.;■-■:.

The two exhibitions were well Ittended last evening, that at the Gresham Hall apparently obtaining the largest share of patronage. The views are excellent and are alone worth the price of admission. The prizes given away gave the greatest satisfaction. Mr Phillips, 'bus proprietor, won the watch.

Mb Shebhan attended the Pressmen's dinner in Wellington lately, and made himself very entertaining, singing comic songs of a very diverting nature. He was also exceedingly pleasant, specially recounting old journalistic reminisciences. Mr Sheehan will be on the Thames shortly, and it has been suggested that curing his stay r concert should be got up, when the Thames people could have a taste of his quality. A Minister of the Crown singing •• Walking in the Zoo," or "Tim Flaherty," certainly ought to prove a most irresistible draw.

Though our Australian cousins are doubtless clever at many thincs they are "no counts " so far as bushranger hunting is concerned. During the past few months some hftlf a dozen banks have been stuck up and rifled, a policeman or two shot,' and three or four townships terrorised over by a small band of desperate men, who, notwithstanding the lar^e rewards offered for their apprehension and the thousands spent in wages for a large pack of ";Kelly hunters," continue to laugh at the authorities and proceed with their depredations. The latest exploit of the bushrangers— supposed to be the Kelly gang—is the sticking up of a bank in Lancefield, Vie, as chronicled in our telegrams today. The enterprise was apparently a daring one, at Lancefield is a town of about 500 inhabitants, and is within 37 miles of Melbourne, having railway, communication with the capital. '• •• -'• ' -

It is mere modesty which prompts people to use opera-glasses at a burlesque performance. They don't want to view limbs with the naked eye.

Thk third competition of the Naval Brigad^ifor the coffee percolator and other prizes place to-day. There was a fiopd master"of the morning squad, and notwithstandingthe bad light and heavy raiti,some'-'.good shooting was made. The ranges fired at were 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards. The*principal scorers were were: Lieutenant Gordon 64, Bandsman Hirst 60, Armstrong 57, Penk 55, Fagg 55, Lieutenant Lawless 64, Frearson 64. Armstrong still leads for the chief prize, with Lieutenant Gordon second. Four competitions hare yet to take place before the prizes are won.

At a meeting of the Parawai School Committee, held torday, Mr Spencer in the Chair, the appointment of Mr W. Johnson, late of Newton East school, Auckland, as head master was approved of. The residents are to be congratulated on haying obtained a thoroughly efficient teacher. Mr Johnson will take charge of the school on Tuesday next. Mr Compton has been appointed to the assistant mastership of the Tararu school.

The Local School Committees of the Thames having made application to the Board of Education for a Drill Instructor for the Thames District Schools, their request has been granted. Several candidates have sent in their names for the ap* pointinent, amongst whom is Mr*4 Barlow of the Engineers, who is generally considered to be the one likely to receive the appointment.

Mb Horace Lingard and Miss Alice Dunning, supported by an efficient opera bouffb and burlesque company, will arrive in the colony shortly. Their date of opening is the 30th of this month, at the Queen's Theatre Dunedin. They are under the wing of Messrs Hiscocks, Hayman, and Co. ; * Mr J. P. HydeV " Gem Burlesque Company " has broken up. A mkktino of the District Belt Committee was held last night at which it was decided that the competition will take place next Saturday week . Ranges, 200, 400 and 600 yards, five shots at each range. ,In addition to the belt and annual money prizes, the trophies given by J. Leydon; Esq., will be competed for.-'- 'v ■■■•■• ■ ■-; ■ ■ .--■•■ We always understood that the " unearned increment " had something to do with land. But it appears we are wrong. A correspondent to an Auckland contemporary says:—" The ' unearned inorement' means the two hundred guineas virtuously appropriated, by way of honorarium."