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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3452, 17 January 1880, Page 2

The following is the memorandum sent to Mr Whi taker by the deputation upon the railway :—Memorandum to the Hon. the Attorney-General for transmission to the Hon. the Minister for Works.— Deputation wished to bring before Ministers the following urgent reasons for the immediate prosecution of works

Thames and Waikato railway—Thames end. 1. Parliament has approved the line and voted the money for its construction. 2. The amount appropriated for Thames end of line the session of Parliament just ended was £35,000, to be expended during present financial year. 3. That the land over which the section asked by deputation to be constructed to Puriri has been satisfactorily negotiated for, and the largest portion of purchase money paid. 4. That plans and specifications for this section have been completed for home mouths. 5. That out of the appropriation for 1878-89, £30,00Q, No. l contract has been completed, and No. 2 and the bridges nearly completed at a cost of nearly £17,000. 6. The plant and labour available from contracts now nearly finished will enable further works to be taken at a much lower figure than would be done if any space is allowed to intervene before other sections are let. 7. The knowledge that Government intend vigorously to prosecute this work will materially enhance the sum to be realised by Government from the sale of the Te Aroha lands. —8. The difficulty raised by Tiikukino with regard to the line beyond the section asked for—viz., Kornata, has been virtually settled by the purchase of Mr Young's interest in this block for £4000.—Under these circumstances, it is asked that Government will at once authorise the dlling for tenders for a third section ot the line from Kauaeranga Bridge to Puriri, a distance of about eight miles.—Signed on behalf of the people) L. Ehbenfried, Mayor; A. Bbodie, County Chairman.—-Thames, 15th January, 1880.

Last evening at 5 o'clock the^Rotomahana arrived with Pastor Chiniquy and a number of Auckland friends. It was dead low water, at the time and some delay was occasioned in the landing. The Pastor was met by the members of the Keception Committee, and driven off to the residence of the Rev. S. J. JNeill, where he will stay during his residence here. This evening the Pastor will lecture on the subject, " The dangers ahead to England and her Colonies from the Church of Rome." To-morrow, two sermons will be preached at the Theatre Koyal at 2.30 and '6.30 p.m., in consequence of which it is announced most of the other places of worship will be closed during the evening. , . ,

In another column we publish the programme of the athletic sports proposed to be held at Tararu on tne 29th inst. It includes a mile handicap, 300,200 and 100 yards handicaps, jumping, vaulting, etc.

It is proposed to wind up the Watchman GKM.Oo., and dispose of the property. A meeting for this purpose will be held at the Governor Bo wen Hotel on Tuesday, 10th February.

The Oriental Exhibition continues to draw well, and the proprietors are evidently satisfied with the patronage they receive. This evening at 9.30 as an additional attraction Messrs Kauri and Baghel will appear on the stage with their full and magnificent wardrobe and their arms, showing the mode of f warfare practised by the ancient Turks. The first combat is to be with scimitars aud the second with scimitars and shields. Theft? will be no extra charge for seeing the assault of arms, and every visitor receives a present.

Mr W. Wood, fruiterer, is displaying a very fine lot of fruit at his fruit depot, Central Pollen street. Some of the cooking apples weigh over half a pound each. The Whangarei fruit possesses a splendid flavor, and is much superior to any in the market.

Of the defeat of the Liberal Ministry a London journal called Brief says :—" The defeat ot iSir George Grey's administration in New Zealand is a decided check to that democratic movement which just now seems very rampant ia the Australasian colonies, more especially in Victoria, air George Grey held office simply as a party leader, and ia order to conciliate his extreme supporters he, like Mr Berry, the Victorian Pre^ mier, took up a hostile posiiion towards the Home Government. The immediate cause of his fall seems to be the unsatisfactory course taken with regard to the Maori agrarian troubles in Taranaki. Meanwhile, the late Democratic regime has landed the colony in a deficit of a quarter of a million sterling."

A Chinaman named Ah Gee was charged aY the Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, with, attempting to evade the payment of gold duty on a parcel of gold. He pleaded ignorance of British law, bmt had to forfeit the gold notwithstanding.

The house and furniture of Mr Frearson in the Karaka Koad was sold by Mr Leydon yesterday. Both house and furniture sold very well, the price realised for the house being £40. Mb Eolisstow, Minister for Education, .will visit Auckland in about six weeks time, for the purpose of carefully looking iuto educational matters, and especially into the question of further provision ior school buildings. He does not believe in one portion of the colony being luxuriously provided in this respect, and other portions bring left in the deplorable condition that the North Island is in. Bargains negotiated daily from 2 to 5 p.m. in iron bedsteads, door mats &c, to effect a speedy clearance. A large stoco of pianos and harmoniums now on salk for cash or monthly payments. J. Grigo. Pollen street.—[Ad vt. n