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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3379, 21 October 1879, Page 2

A pobtion of our telegraphic news will be found in the first and fourth pages, the press of advertisements necessitating our adopting this course. It is a sad thing to think that in a free country like "this, with liberal provision for the education of the people, there are not a few children, almost of an age to commence work, who can neither read nor write. An instance of this presented itself in the Court this morning—a well* dressed and intelligent-looking lad stating that he could neither read nor write; nor. had he been at school a day in his life.

Several leading citizens havo, we understand, requested His Worship the Mayor to ask the school committees to give the schools on the Thames a half holiday on Thursday in'celebration of the opening of the Thames Orphanage. It has also been suggested that a public half holiday should be declared to enable all citizens who are desirous of 10 doing to attend the opening ceremony.

The ladies who assembled at the Par■onage for the purpose of making clothes for the children of the Orphan Home made no lesf than 50 articles of under clothing, which ware sent to the Home before Satardaj evening. The material was furnished bj the Borough,

We bare to acknowledge the receipt of a Budget of Parliamentary Papers from the Government Printer.

Thb resident! of Parawai and Shortland complain of the nuisance caused by a number of collarless Maori dogs which prowl about the thoroughfares of these localities. At the II.M. Court this morning the B.M. gave a native to understand that the Maories' dogs must be registered as well as such animals belonging to the pakeha.

Wx learn by telegram that Mr Thomas Rawdon, who is at present at Waiwera. has taken a turn for the better, and hopes shortly to resume his duties.

The Lodge Sir Walter Scott, S.C. meet this evening for the nomination of officers, a good attendance is anticipated.

We understand that the preliminary arrangements, re the International Rifle Match are proceeding satisfactorily It is probable the match will come off within a month from date.

Ax advertisement appears iif our columns from the engineer, Mr John Goodall, for the extension of the Timaru Mole 360 feet. Many of the old residents will remember Mr John Goodall, the owner of one of the first crushing batteries on the field, and a lucky shareholders in the Golden Crown mine.

A lahgbly attended public meeting was held at the Public Hall, Faeroa, on the 18th inst., when it was resolved that steps be taken to establish a Liberal Association at Ohinemuri. Mr C. F. Mitchell occupied the chair. As will be seen by reference to our advertisement columns a further meeting is called for the purpose of carrying out the resolution of the preliminary meeting. Mr Thomas Shaw is the hon. secretary. We wish the Liberals of Ohinemuri every success.

The Herald's special in Wellington says: Tomoana, the native member of the Executive, is reported to be exceedingly displeased at Mr Bryce's statement. He has not been consulted on any matter since he entered the Government.

The heading of an account in a San Francisco newspaper of a mining accident, "One man and twelve Chinese killed," is an indication of the ruling prejudice in that city.

Steps are being taken, says the New Zealand Church News, for the erection in the Christchureh Cathedral of a very interesting memorial and that by no less a person than the Dean of Westminster. Mr Gerald Harper, the Primate's youngest son, has written to his father, by the last mail, to say that Dean Stanley has communicated with him on the subject. The memorial is to be erected by the Dean to the memory of his brother, Owen Stanley, B.N. Capt. Stanley hoisted the British flag at Akaroa in June, 1840, and thus secured the sovereignty of this Island for Great Britain. He was only just in time, the French settlers arriving only four days after. It has not yet been deter* mined what form the memorial is to take.

The Government have been coquetting with almost every member of the Opposition, and it was rumored on Saturday that they had succeeded with two Auckland members. The Auckland members have been the most zealously; laid siege to, because it is thought that Sir George Grey having abdicated his position, they could be had by the Government, as they are not bound to follow any other leader. The two Auckland members named were Messrs Colbeck and Hurst. A Liberal member tells me that Mr Hurst has been coquetting with the Government, so as to induce overtures, as he sees there is not much chance of getting into the Macandrew Cabinet, as Messrs Sheehan, Header Wood, or Moss would be preferred, and that he is not averse to getting an offer of the vacant portfolio in the Hall Cabinet. Ido not think any of these offers will be successful.

The advent from Englancbof the mag' niflceat steamer Botomahana has created quite a sensation, and thousands of people are vising her at every New Zealand port. She belongs to the Union Company, and some £85,0 CD were paid* for her. Whether such a costly marine gem will prove remunerative to the company is more than questionable. The s.s. Stadt Harlem, a bigger and quite as useful, if not a much stronger boat, was sold the other day for £42,003. The Botomahana is certaiuly a faster boat, and luxuriously got up. Is it not possible that we New Zealand colonists are much ahead of the times in a variety of pleasurable things. Of coarse a carriage and pair is nicer than a one horse shay, aud champagne more delectable than small beer. Yet it is not always prudent to select the two more expensive of the four articles, especially when the bottom of one's purse is easily discernible.—Exchange.

An exchange says :—-Ererybody was of opinion that the Prince of Wales had become an altered character lince his straggle with death some years ago, but it seems he cannot forget hit old habits or entirelj discontinue his former practices. If rumour speaks correctly the Prince of Wales, Lords Landsborough, and Lonsdale, will be co-respondents in a dirorce suit with Mrs Lan^trey, one of the fashionable beauties of the late London season. •

The special correspondent of the Star at the Sydney Exhibition speaks as follows of Thames exhibits :—Ehrenfried Bros., of the Phoenix Brewery, Thames, hare some rery excellent pale ale. It is rery clear and of a delicate amber colour; the body is good, and the taste mild, but well-fiaroured, and of a fair pungent bitter. Alexander Hogg is another Thames brewer, who gives us some good invigorating liquor. Kelly and Fraser hare a good exhibit from the Puriri Springs, of which Dr Hector says that they are fit to rank with the best mineral springs of Europe.

Tux Pas de Calais publishes thefollftwing particulars about the proposed submarine tunnel between England and Franet. The engineers who hare ¥••■

engaged in the work have not yet commenced the tunnel itself; all they have done has been to sink a shaft near Sandgate in order to ascertain the depths and current of the water. When these preliminary experiments are concluded the work of making the tunnel itself will begin. The shaft now being sunk has a diameter of about nine feet, and is to go a depth 260 feet. Work in the shaft has been suspended for the last three months, as the water comes in so rapidly that it has been necessary to construct a machine which will extract 600 gallons per minute, or double what the machine at first used could remove. The shaft has already been sunk to half the proposed depth, and work will be resumed before the end of the year. The walls of the shaft are being lined with small oak planks with a barking of eonerete. The earth which has been excavated ii of a white chalky nature, and very hard.