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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3330, 25 August 1879, Page 2

•A meeting is called this evening of persons; desirous of forming a Liberal Association on this Thames. This is a step, in the right direction, and is following in the steps of the Wellington Association, formed upon the suggestion of Sir George Grey. Taking advantage of the experience of Wellington Liberals it will be well for the promoters of the branch on the Thames to avoid some of the mis-. takes made by the parent Association; The platform should be pure and simple-— the views enunciated in the speech ,of : the t Grovernor ? at •, the opening of 'ParKament as the policy |6f the Government of the day. Upon such a platform men can meet who have been political opponents for years, for, while all Sir George Grey's views are not included in the programme, still few can be .found to offer any opposition to the policy set forth in the speech referred to. Themis- :- take made by the Wellington Association i and which at one time threatened its , existence, and in some measure retarded its progress, was the action of the Executive Committee in attempting to pledge the Association to support certain candidates for Parliament. This attempt was promptly met' by the members, who at once showed that, while acknowledging that the Executive Committtee had many important duties, to, perform, still it was outside its functions to commit the whole association by its action without consultation and an expression of opinion being first ascertained. The over-zeal shown by the Committee at so early a stage gave occasion to the Opposition to find fault and call in question the advisability of such a combination. The Committee attempted to make, an electioneering organ of the movement to carry out the views of a few persons at the expense and under the patronage of the Association, f The splendid reception accorded to Sir George Grey at Chriitchurch, the head centre of Squatterdom, must be taken as a direct contradiction of the statement frequently made in the House last session, that Sir George Grey has lost the confidence and respect of the people. The great enthusiasm inspired by his speech in the City of the Plains may be accepted as an earnest of the manner he will be received in other Southern centres of population. In reference to this matter, we cannot help comparing . his postsessional receptions to those of Sir Wm. Fox—the one, with his weight of honors increased, received .as a victor, and the other derided and,mocked by his own constituents, with the probability of being a political nonentity for ever. ' His -Worship the Mayor interviewed Mr Stewart, the Engineer in charge, at Auckland, on Saturday re railway matters. Mr, Stewart^ said he intended to proceed to the Waikato on Monday tor the -purpose of letting tenders at that end of the line, and he will visit the Thames during the week. The plans for the bridge over the Kauaeranga at Shortland are completed,; and tenders for this work will be called in a few days. Small contracts for the construction of the line at Kerikeri will be let to the natives. MrrNolan informs us that the news in this morning's paper that he has received Tn,« •tractions to proceed to lay' off small contracts is without foundation. . „ A telegram in .yesterday's , Herald says: —Tenders fpr the/ first section of the Thames-Waikato railway at this end will be called for almost immediately. The route of this line has been finally ficed to strike the rjver at the landing place opposite to Aroha, instead "of Some tow miles lower down. ' Otje E.M., Harry Kenrick Esq., left this morning for Coromandel on official business, and during his absence (which will probably be all the week), the levaral J's.'P. will be required to attend the Bench in accordance with the plan of rotation agreed upon a few weeks ago. A letter fi-om Dr Eilgour will appear in our next. {, ■ Ma Shebiian will visit the Thames on Wednesday, and probably Paeroa on Thursday to address the electors.

It is rumored that still another candidate will be brought out on the working men's ticket. On Sunday night about eleven o'clock most vivid flashes of lightning were seen in the north-eastern sky, whore there was a small bank of clouds. The moon was shining brightly, and during some of the flashes, a mid-day radiance was apparent.' The sight was a very beautiful one.