Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 28 January 1880, Page 2

The grand vocal and instrumental concert to be held to-morrow erening at the Academy of Music in aid of the funds of the Catholic Boys' School promises to be a great success. Miss Bruce, Miss Swan, Miss Shanaghan, and Messrs Airey and Carnell will each cater to the amusement of the audience, and we understand tbatMrJaines Vie Liver, our premier comic vocalist and " tf irardist" has written a funny local song, which he will sing on this occasion, for the first time. We believe there is to be a dance after the concert.

'Some excitement was occasioned in Baillie street last evening by the cry " A child down a well." This proved to be true, a two-year old child of Mr O'Connell, late wardsman of the hospital while playing on the rotten covering", having fallen into a well thirty feet deep. *^The alarm was given by some children, and ..Mr Fleming, Mr Jackson, and other neighbours hurried to the spot. Mr Fleming and Mrs Picket lowered Jackson with the rope, and he succeeded in recovering the almost lifeless body of the infant. The child was at once taken to the surface, and by the application of brandy and other restoratives, soon recovered from the effects of its immersion. Mr Jackson and Mr Fleming deserve the greatest praise for their promptitude.

The Naval Brigade gig and St. George's Cadet pinnace left here this morning Tor Auckland with 40 of the former, and 20 of the latter aboard. As the wind was favorable they expected to reach Auckland a little after midday. The gig is in fine trim,having recently had an additional depth of keel added, and a new suit of sails. It is probable our boys in blue will have a spin with their Auckland brethren.

Ths concert iv aid of the Ensor Fund will be held at the Academy of Music oeit Monday week,

To mokbow, the 38th anniversary of the colony, will be observed as a close holiday, the banks and principal business establishments being closed. The annual festivul of the Sunday Schools will erentuato, und at an early hour the children will racrch to the Paiawai gardens with banners and flags flying. The St. George's and two Tararu Sunday Schools will enjoy themselves in the sylvan shades of Xararu gardens. Lovers of athletic sports will have an opportunity of gratifying their tastes, a. committee oi Tararu gentlemen having prepared an excellent programme of footraces jumping and vaulting. A large number of Thames people will proceed to town in the Rotomahana this evening, to be present at the regatta there.

The Thames Scottish Battalion finished the competition for Kelson this morning. There were two contests, the first yesterday morning, at 200, 500, and 600 yards, the second this day at 400, 500, and 600 yards. The weather on both occasions was very bad. On Monday the target was almost invisible at the long ranges, on account of the rain, and to-day the wind was , strong, baffling, and unsteady. The 'following are the five who qualified, and in their order of merit:—Vols. Downie, Weir, G. Lawlor, Penk, and Cochrane. The first two are members of No. 1 Company, and old, well-tried shots, the other three belong to No. 2 Company and though comparatively young shots, they are often brilliant scorers, and, wo have no doubt, will be able to give a good account of themselves at Nelson. In addition to the above five, Major Murray, Vols. G. Price, and T. Fenton are likely to go at their own expense. If so, the Battalion will have the strongest team they have ever sent, and we hope, for the credit of v tliis volunteer district, the eight shootists named will be able to go, for with them and the first class carbine team of the Naval Brigade, we may hope to see both champion belts brought to the Thames this year.

Me George Vidal is announced to lecture at the Academy of Music on Friday evening on " Fathers Chiniquy and Henneberry." Mr Vidal has lectured before on the Thames, and was very successful, and we have no doubt but that the subject will be skilfully treated by him.

In a local in yesterday's issue would be noticed the decision of the Orphanage Committee re the child Fitzsimmons, viz., to hand it over to Mr Anderson of the Hauraki Saw Mills. It will be remembered that when the proposition was made some time ago a protest was made against it by Mr Mcllhone on behalf of the Roman Catholics of the Thames, on the ground that the infant being a Catholic child it was undesirable that it should be brought up as a Protestant. Since then the Catholics have taken no action in the matter, and the Committee decided to handover the child at yesterday's meeting. This has raised the ire of a section of the community, and it is rumored that measures will be adopted to cause the Committee to reverse their decision. '• And this is how the matter stands at present. The poor child stands a good show of becoming rs fruitful a soarce of trouble as " Ginx's Baby."

The moon was obscured by banks of murky clouds, and the cold north wind moaned and whistled round the deserted street corners. It was a night suggestive of dark deeds of murder and rapine. Nothing dreadful occurred, however, the only incident being the appearance of a small boy at the Bank- corner. He whistled the opening bars of " My own New Zealand- Home," and then disappeared in the gloom on < the. opposite side of the road.

We hear that it is probable that the election of the Ohinemuri School Committee will be upset, owing to some informality.

The meeting of the committee of the Irish Relief Fund will be held this evening at the Hibernian Hall. It is probable the subscription lists will be published. We hear that close upon £150 have been collected up to the present.

Messbs Martin and Son's salvage sale is now taking place at the shop opposite Mr Nodder's Pollen street. The large and valuable stock is being disposed of at a great reduction, and bargains may be had by those willing to pay cash. Messrs Martin and Son will dispose of the whole of their stock, and as the sale will only be continued for a short time, intending purchasers should be in time. The sale commenced yesterday.