THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT PUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3432, 22 December 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT PUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1879.

We must protest against further delay in laying the nine inch mains along Pollen street. Time upon time we hate urged the residents of Shortland to take the matter in hand, and to follow the j example act by the owners of property in Grahamstown, and subscribe a portion of the cost of placing the large main along their streets. In last April we called attention to the situation, and in forcible language urged the residents to set about the work, pointing out how inadequate was the supply of water in Shortland, and the great risk to property in ca«e of fire. There is nothing now in the way of having the nine inch mains placed from one end of Pollen street to the other, if the residents will only contribute a small proportion of the" cost of laying the pipes. It is well known the Borough Council are willing to carry out the work, that they have incurred a liability of £2000 for the pipes, but the want of funds alone prevents them undertaking the remaining part of the work. Water is to be had in abundance, and only the pipes sufficiently large to carry it are required. Under the agreement made by the late Mayor jwhen in Wellington, the right to take water from the large water race is secured to the Borough, and connections can be made when and where required. Under such circumstances, why delay such a necessary work ? How much longer will owners of property run such risks when a few pounds from eack would render their houses and goods comparatively safe ? The pressure, and the large supply of water from the large race, was amply demonstrated in the case of a late fire, when a building was literally inundated with -water, and the fire not only prevented from spreading to the adjoining houses, but confined to one storey of the building on fire. Now that the necessity for a better supply in Shortland is apparent, the evidence at the fire yesterday proving the fact without question, we advise some resident to take the matter in hand, and ask for subscriptions towards the cost of laying the mains. If it is taken in hand energetically, few obstacles will be found in the way, ani* " if it were done, when it \is done, then 'twere well it were done ! quickly."

In another column will be found the advertisement asking for tenders for the formation contract on the railway at the Hamilton end. The Government are to be thanked for their promptitude in this matter, and we hope in a fow days to hear of tenders being wanted for a section towards Puriri. Messbs Whitehead, Crocker, Morgan, Quadri and Dauby all desire to call attention to their advertisements in another column of this day's issue. Their stocks have lately been replenished and for summer goods the prices aaked aro reasonable. Those wishing to support local manufacture can have their choice of good useful articles guaranteed to fit and wear well. By the Eotomahana on Saturday night Mr Speight, M.H.It., returned to the Thames. ' The New Zealand agent of Melbourne Saturday Fight, Mr Langbridge, Queen street, Auckland, announces the presentation with the Christmas double number of that popular journal of a piece of music entitled " Meet me in the Twilight," and invites intending subscribers to enrol themselves in order to ensure regularity of delivery. We were to-day shewn two yery handsome specimens of the silversmith's art, manufactured by our townsman, Mr James Finlay. They are a compass and square in solid silver, which are to be presented to the Lodge of Light at the Installation ceremony on the 15th proximo byjtwo of the members of that Lodge. The compass is a working one, and altogether the two articles are a credit to the maker. The Warden notifies that all claims stand protected from to-morrow, 23rd inst., till January 3rd, 1880. The Government offices will be closed from Christmas Day until sth January. We hear it is the intention of the Tararu Eoad Wesleyan Sunday School to hold a Christmas Tree at the schoolroom some evening this week. A large number of useful and ornamental articles will be given away. We haye 4 to acknowledge the receipt of the postal time table of the San Francisco and Colombo-Brindisi Mail Services* from our local post-master Mr Coney. From it we notice that during the coming year, New Zealand will enjoy as nearly as possible, tho advantage ot a fortnightly mail service between here and England, which should prove a great boon to our bmineii men,

Tins evening a unique and very interesting entertainment will bo offered to tbe public at the Academy of Music. The six valuable prizes offered by the local school committees, which have been competed Tor by about 60 children attending the public schools, will be presented to the fortunate successful candidates by the Mayoress, and nlso the certificates to the 58 youthful musicians who have passed the examination for the " Junior School Certificate of the Tonic Sol-fa Uolh'ge." The programme includes a number of part songs by the juvenile choir, and a " test piece " in the form of a small original composition which has been printed during the day, and is to be submitted to the children to ascertain their ability in reading new music at sight; this is certainly a bold venture on the part of their teacher, and it remains to be proved by its success or otherwise whether his -temerity is justifiable. Messrs G. N. Phillips and Gray are to give readings and a cbarade is to be acted by some of the schoolboys, all of which, will doubtless afford considerable amusement; suitable addresses will be offered by well-known gentlemen, and after the distribution of the prizes to the children the medal of honor will be handed to the head teacher of the school which claims the boy or girl who takes the highest prize. The committees hare very considerately arranged that the body of the hall shall be free to the public, the expenses being covered by a very small charge for admission to the front seats and gallery. His Worship the Mayor will preside.

We noticed this morning in the garden of Mr D. Henderson, junr., Pollen street, a small peach tree, the fruit of which was quite ripe, and presented a very tempting appearance. We are not very well up in the names of the different varieties ot the peach, and therefore cannot recommend this one by its proper name to our fruit growers, but we think that the fact of having such a fruit ready for the Christmas table should make our local gardeners discard to some extent the variety more generally grown, which is at times quite a drug in the market owing to* the quantity offered for sale, and cultivate a similar one to that under notice.

Mb Plant desires the burgesses of the South Ward to meet at the Karaka School-room this evening on matters connected with the representation of that ward in the Borough Council.

It is notified that the Banks in Grahamstown will be closed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next, thus giving the employees in these establishments a holiday of three clear days.

The IKifle Bangers attended divine aerrice yesterday at the Wesieyan church, Willoughby street, when the Sev. Mr Watkin preached an interesting and appropriate sermon.

The members of the Protestant Alliance Society are called together to-morrow evening at 7.30 for the election of officers and the transaction of other important business.

We learn that Major Murray has been in communication with the War Office regarding medals for Indian and New Zealand service! by old soldiers now resident on the Thames, and in every case the applications are at once attended to by the British War Office, and instructions issued to prepare and forwarded medals to the applicants entitled to them. In some cases the men have left their Regiment years ago, and are only now applying for their medals for the Indian Mutiny of 1857. One applicant, Mr P. Hennessey (at present a volunteer in No. 1 Scottish), fought through the Mutiny of '57 in the Ist Troop of the Second Brigade of Bengal* Horse Artillery, and almost the only officer now in the Army who could certify to Hennessey's services is General Eoberts, now doing such hard fighting at Cabul, in Afghanistan. To him Major Murray had to apply direct on behalf of Hennessey, and a reply has been received by this mail to the effect that instructions have been sent to the Horse Guards, London, to forward the Indian Mutiny Medal for presentation to Hennessey.

Mb W. McCullough, urging upon some of the residents in Pollen street yesterday the necessity for baring the nine-inch mains laid along the street, was authorised by several gentlemen to put down their names for subscriptions towards the cost. Dr Payne offered £10, Mr Renshaw £10, Mr Hogg £5. and a number of others expressed their willingness to subscribe if a subscription Hit wero taken in hand. A list lies at the Star office, where subscriptions will be receded for the purpose. At the time the mains were laid in Grahamitown, the inhabitants subscribed a seventh of the whole cost, so that if the residents from Albert street corner to Parawai were equally liberal, a sum of £350 would be required. There is every reason to suppose the insurance companies would subscribe, but even without their help, if the laying of the mains pay the tradesmen of Shortland as well as it did those of Grahamstown, the saving alone in their insurance premiums will recoup them for the amount of their subscription. We know more than one instance where the donation of £5 towards the cost of laying the pipes, caused a saving of from £15 to £25 on the first year's premiums alone. We trust the matter will be taken up energetically.

Thb distribution of prize's to children attending the Turua district school took place on Friday evening last at the schoc Ihouse, Mr L. J. Bagnall presiding. A programme of songs, speeches, and recitations were gone through. The' prizes wire distributed as follows : — Standard IV.—Harold Bagnnll Ist, James' Hartley 2nd. Standard lll.—Mary Palmer Ist, Win. Griffiths 2nd, Standard IL—Fred Griffiths Ist, Emily Hartley 2nd. Standard 1. —Winnie Hartley Ist, Maud Hartley 2nd, Edith Griffiths 3rd; Primmer.—Maud Glasson Ist, Hannah Webb 2nd, Alice Palmer 3rd; Alphabet.— Willie Glasson Ist, M. Hartley 2nd; good conduct, Alice Palmer.

Mb M. J. Wiikes, of Shortland, and Mr J. Finlay, of Grahamstown, notify that they have moat superior stocks of jewellery on hand, and suitable articles oan be obtained at their establishments for Christmas and New Year presents. There is now no reason why Thames residents requiring rings, locketi, brooches, &c, should go to Auckland for them, as was once the custom, when, in many instances, they were made to pay a great doal more, than the same articles could be bought or manufactured on the Thames. It. is a great mistake for people to take money away from the place when they can be as well suited here ai in Auckland, under the impression that goods bought in a distant place are alwtyi better.

In our notice of the fire in Pollen street yesterday wo have refrained as much as possible from mentioning any of the names of gentlemen who exerted themselvea in the preservation of property. Where all worked !>o well it would be invidious to mention names. The brigades did the best they could, and as usual with the Thames public, volunteers for active service were more numerous than required. If mistakes were made they were not made intentionally, but the result of overanxiety to afford help to their neighbours in the time of trouble.