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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3391, 4 November 1879, Page 2

Thkkk is more Irutii iv the talk of people le.ivr.ig tl»o d'striet in consequence of their being tumble to obtiiin land for settlement titan many suppose. Some lime ago a. parly o! ten or twelve Thames residents forwarded applications to the Waste Lands .Board for land in the Thames Valley to settle on, some of the applications being made through the County Council. All these applicants had sufficient money to purchase the land uud commence (arming with. A reporter of this journal, iv conversation with one of ti!s p.u-ty some days bade, was informed that out of the whole number only two now remain on tho Tunmes. The remainder have packed up their traps, thoroughly disgusted with thediiatoriuess of tho authorities. Some of these men are now settled in llu* Wai' rto district, and have, lad the foundation of smiling homesteads, which should have been located in the Tliames Valley. Up to the present the cry has been " land for the people," but if the existing state of things is permitted to on much longer, it will be reversed when tho land is opened: there will be a scareitv of men of the right stamp to settle on it. Let the people of this district agititc, avd obtain from tho Government an earnest of tho sincerity of their intentions, by at once throwing open the land for settlement.

The meeting of the Orphanage Committee was being hold at the Council Chambers when tve went to press. There were present —Mr L. Eliren fried, ActingMayor. Messrs MeGowpn, and Osborne, and Mesdt>mes McCullough, Hume, Ehrenfried, McCanl, Payne, and Wilkinsou.

The teachers? and friends connected with the Shortland Wcsleyan Sunday School appear to have been busily engaged during their season of preparation ioi the festival trees, which will be on view in the Volunteer Hal!, llicbmond street, this evening. T'hero are about 800 articles, either collected or manufactured, and one of these will be fuven away to eery perfion who pays for admission. Moat of tho gifts are, we believe, worth fully the price of admission There is to be a musical and literary entertainment during the evening, at which Master Archie Morgan-Morriss will sing " Little Sweetheart," and recite the pathetic poem, " Gone to Sleep." Tho funda to be raised will bo devoted towards the children's treat.

There was no business at tho E.M Court today.

The Major coranianditig tho district has received a telegram from Lieut. Johnson, commanding; the Hamilton Cavalry, to the effect that on account of objections raised by Government, the contingent under his command would not be able to attend the Thames review on Monday next. This has caused considerable disappointment in Volunteer circles hero as it is felt that the proceedings will be robbed of some of the eclcl that would have attended it had tho Cavalry been present. To-day we had the pleasure of inspecting a plough manufactured by Mr John West of Willougbby street, intended for exhibition at the coming show of the Auckland Agricultural Societ}'. The plough has been inspected by several connoiseurs, and they pronounce it to be a superior article, comparing favorably with those imported both for strength, workmanship, and utility. The great fault found by colonial farmers with Knglish-inade ploughs is that they are not well adapted to the kind of work required of them in reclaiming tiie primeval farms of New Zealand. The plough under notice is exceedingly creditable to its maker, Mr West, and if; will no doubt be favorably noticed by the Judges of the Show.

Notwithstanding the cry of dull times wo hear so frequently nowadays, things cannot be quite sc bad as represented. When we took a look into our enterprising fallow-townsman's (Mi 1 S. Hclherington) boot shop, Pollen street, to-day we arrived at the above conclusion. Mr-S. Hctherington has recently gone to considerable expense in erecting this store adjoining his drapery establishment, just about doubling the former s!re<'t frontage of the premises. The new shop is handsomely lilted up, nnd presents a more attractive uppearunce than any we have seen in the provincial metropolis. The handsome glass cases which surround the walls contain a Luge and valuable stock of understandings for all sexes, ages, sizes, und conditions, and includes many novelties in the various lines. In conjunction with the shop the proprietor has started a boot-making establishment at the rear of the building, and it being under the control of an experienced hand, 4'ir Hetherington's customers, who prefer bootc made to order to those ready made, will receive the greatest satisfaction for their money.

A ?EBioi7s accident happened last night about 10 o'clock (o an old and respee'ed resident of Pollen street, Mrs Ballard. It appears that she was going home at the time slated, ',ye brlievo, fn-m the Baptist meetiug, aud when near Cos's, chemist, a b'g black dog flew at her, knocked her down, and broke her Jeft leg below the knee in two places, loth bones being broken. Mr Forsailh immediately went for Dr Payne, wljo was soon iv atts-ndancts and set tho fractured iimb. She was taken on a sofa fo the Hospital. Dr Payne informs us that the patient is progreasipg as well as can bo expected under the circumstances.

A correspondent signing himself " Tapeworm " writes—Sir, I think the only way to do away with this continual annoyance of natives stopping roads and surveys is {he organization of a force of armed workmen iiko that we had some years ago. If (.he railway is parried through Komata I think this will be an absolute necessity.

Sjsvj;bali times yesterday lightning struck the telegraph wires and seriously interfered with tho working oi" the lines. Tho electric bell iv our sanctum pealed forth violently iioui this cause hiore than once. The in unites, however, were not the least alarmed. JN.Ji. —They did not kuow the cause.