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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3449, 14 January 1880, Page 2

The hint thrown out by us some days ago that the local authorities should see about our railway has borne fruit, and this morning a meeting was held, and a number of gentlemen appointed to proceed to interview Mr Whitakerupon the subject. One of our representatives, Mr Sheehan. will be in Auckland on Friday next, but we are. not aware if time will permit of his visiting this district; however, we feel confident that he will render every assistance to the Railway Committee.

We have been informed that the Eev. S. J. Neill and Mr Mcllhone had an interview this morning regarding Pastor Chiniquy's reception and entertainment. We have heard that such arrangements have been agreed upon as will be satisfactory to all concerned.

We would direct attention to the advertisement iv another column of an excursion which is to be made to the Upper Thames on Saturday next for the purpose of affording intending land purchasers an opportunity of inspecting the district, which, in view/of the Government land sale eventuating on the 26ih inst., is very opportune. The p.s. Te Aroha will leave here on Saturday erening for Paeroa, at which place the Kiro Bird will take up the running early, on Sunday morning, and all being well, after a sojourn of seven hours at Te Aroha, passengers may expect to arrive back here on Sunday evening, thus only being away from business one working day.

We learn that counsel has been engaged to test the question of the validity of Mr W. Wilkinson's election to the South Ward. Ifc: appears that Mr^|Wilkinson was last year a contractor to the Borough Council for the supply of stationery, and upon that plea we learn his election is to be questioned.

A meeting of the Railway Committee was held at the Borough Council Chambers at 10.30 a.m. Present—The Mayor, County Chairman, Messrs Speight, Mennie, Brodie, Porter, Carpenter, and McGowan .Copies of telegrams sent by the Mayor, County Chairman, and others, together with the replies received from the Minister of Public Works, Mr Oliver, were read. ,Th«;latter were by no means satisfactory, ak \no definite information could be obtained as to when the next section at the Thames end of the railway would be let. Mr Porter proposed that a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, County Chairman, Messrs Speight, Porter, Dean, and two Auckland gentlemen be a deputation to proceed to Auckland t<s interview the Hon. Mr Whitak'er, on the matter of the railway to-morrow. This was carried, and the meeting adjourned.

Me D. McGeegob, of the Waiteraata "Hotel, has presented the regatta committee with a silver cup, of the value of £7, and 12i sovereigns added, as second prize for the champion, schponer race. This, sjpth; the sum of ill, set apart by the committee, inakos the total value of the second prize £80. —Herald.

Theep.s. Hinemoa left Auckland last night for papier and Lyttelton. withstjbe «ofitefish o^va. - Messrs J. W. Firth and J. C. Young have made arrangements at Taurauga for depositing in the fiotorua, Eotoiti, Tarawera, and Taupo Lakes a consignment of white fish.

The Mayor of Auckland, Mr Peacock* has started a fund for the relief of the Irish distress, and has headed the list with £10.

Me Pbickee, of Tararu, brought to our office this morning some samples of peaches grown by him. The fruit were fully ripe, of a delicious flavor, and were' above J,he ordinary The varieties wenf'the Ebyal George and tho Newington. Mr Fricker will, we believe, be pleistd to give persons wishing to propagate these varieties of early peaches facilities for budding their stocks. Iv addition to his peaches, Mr Fricker has a. splendid display of grapes, as his vines are heavily loaded with fruit this season.

The following is the report presented at the annual meeting of the St. James' Presbyterian Church:—Your committee have to report that the depression experienced in 1878 has increased during the past year; that joiany families have left the district; and thafi the congregation has suffered iv the matter of *at rents and collections; jtet they are thankful to be able to present a clean balance-sheet. The sum for pew rents in 1879 is £106. There is still a considerable sum owing from this source of revenue. The amount

raised by collections during the past year is £220. Tho singing class is still continued, but it has ceased to be self-sup-porting. The SSunday School is fairly attended, there being 200 ou the roll, and an average attendance of about 140. Teachers are urgently needed, as the present staff of 16 is not sufficient for the wants of the school. The attendance at the Bible Class is good, and 25 new names have been added during the year; but the older boys and girls do not attend regularly. The Committee would recommend that, at a convenient time, a special effort be made to clear off the debt of £18 owing to the general fund by the harmonium fund. Your committee are sorry to find that a large number still attend only once a day, or very irregularly, and thereby leave the burden of church maintenance to rest upon a few. It is earnestly hoped all who are able, and who seek the services of the church, will take pews in the church, and not suffer themselves to be in arrears; but it is even more important that all should attend regularly, and give as God has given to them ; this the cjnimittee would recommend as the easiest and best method of giving. Your committee would also, on your behalf, tender their sincere thanks*to the members of the choir for. their free and very valuable assistance in Divine worship. In conclusion, we express our gratitude to the Jjrive^ of every good and perfect gift in the past, and hope for greater prosperity in the future.— 8. JT. Neill, Chairman.

Many years ago, before the days of telegraphic messages, the late Mr James Wood, the then editor and proprietor of a local paper, at his wits' end for news to fill his columns, incautiously gave expression to his thoughts, and wished that somebody would commit suicide, or come to an untimely end, or meet with an accident. Poor Wood got a fearful wigging for his wickedness; but if people knew what it is to go up and down the face of the town seeking for news and finding none, they would sympathise with caterers for the reading pubhc,*and think it no wrong of them for wishing something to happen that would make their hair stand on end. There is no news, and nobody will help to make any. In peace rest the ashes of James Wood. —Exchange. *

Veet remarkable changes have taken place during the 42 years reign of Queen .Victoria, s? She has outlived by several years every Bishop and Judge whom she found seated on those benches in England, Scotland, and Ireland, She has witnessed the funeral of every Premier under her, except Lord Beacoasfield and Mr Gladstone. Not a single Cabinet Minister of her uncle and predecessor's day now survives. Of the members of the Privy' Council who sat in June, 1837, to administer to her the oathy only four survive. She has received./"the homage of four Archbishops of Canterbury, ■ four Archbishops of York, and five Bishops— Chiebester, Lichfield, and Durham successively. She has filled each of the Chief Justiceships twice at least; she has received the addresses of four Speakers of the House of Commons. She has entrusted the Groat Seal of the Kingdom to no less than nine Lord Chancellors.

A new life saving bed for the use of passengers on board»ship (says OasseH's Magaziue) has been recently approved and adopted by the United States Naval Department for use in the American Navy. These mattresses possess a remarkable power of buoyancy! They are made of elastic felt, and one measuring six feet six inches long by two feet nine inches wide, and five inches thick, of which the entire weight is only 251b, floated a man weighing 1501b, in addition to an iron grate weighing 501b more. To sink it so that its upper surface was level with the water, a dead weight of 3001b was required. An average steerage bed of this material would cost only 13s 4i&, and would be capable of sustaining 651b, which is equivalent to the weight of three men under water, or, in other words, when swimming. Several lines of steamers running to the West Indies now employ those buoyant beds, and they are, we hear, about to be tried for adoption into the Eoyal Navy.