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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3477, 16 February 1880, Page 2

The people of Auckland will lose the opportunity of having the Opera Company in their city unless a guarantee is given for their expenses. A writer in the Star suggests a subscription list being opened for the purpose. At 9 o'clock on Saturday morning Mr Stone launched from his yurds, Shortland, a fhe new steamer for the Thames Produce Company. At the hour appointed Master Carpenter, son of Mr Carpenter, the company's manager, stepped forward and broke a bottle of champagne over her bows, christening her the Blanche. The launch was very successful. Her dimensions are : Length of keel 60 feet, length over all 64 feet, beam 11 feet, and depth of hold 5 feet. Her tonnage, builder's measurement, is 34 tons.' The engines and boiler were turned out at the establishment of Messrs A. and G. Price. The fittings were 'astefally decorated by Mr P. Birch, lhe little vessel wi'l be employed in the coastal and liver trade.

The fact that the baths at the end of Curtis' Wharf were sadly 'in want of repair induced the Ray*. Mr JDavies, a lover of sea-bathing, to interview His Worship the Mayor on Saturday, to see if some steps could not be taken to repair the baths or to erect new ones. Mr Ehrenfried said that funds were not at the disposal of the Borough for such a purpose, but if a subscription list was opened for the purpose, he would be happy to help the object. Mr Davies, with Mr McCullougb, interviewed Mr Curtis, the owner of the baths, this morning, who expressed himself willing to subscribe towards having the baths put in good repair. He had lost money for years upon the speculation, and therefore did not feel disposed to expend any further amounts in keeping the baths in good repair for a public that did not seem to appreciate the value of them. It is suggested to ask subscriptions, and for each 10s subscribed to give a season ticket*. The repairs wil! co3t about £15 and it is intended to so erect the palisading that during the winter it can be removed, to be replaced again when required. Subscriptions for this very desirable object will be received by the Bey. Mi* Davies or His Worship the Mayor.

Pboeessob Fraser ' gave his second lecture afc the Academy of Music on Saturday night. The subject was " What is Phrenology, and what pre its uses? " The lecture was listened to with attention, after which several well-known citizens took. seats on the stage had had then* bumps felt and explained-

We were not aware at the time we mentioned the other local production that gained a p;is!e at the Sydney 'Exhibition that the light beer highly commended as Brown and Campbell's was a Thames production. Mr Hogg informs us that the beer in question was brewed a£ the Thames breweiy, Bnd it is with pleasure we make known the fact to our readers.

Mb E. W. Puckey, departed overland this morning for the native settlement Mania, near Coromandel. It appears the natives are creating some disturbance over the construction of the telegraph line, which is being taken a shorter and more convenient route than formerly.

A meeting of the Eotnau Catholics took placa yeslarday afternoon in their 'schoolroom, Willoughby street. The object of tho meeting was to devise means whereby to give a suitable recep|ft>n to Jiis Graeme Archbishop Steins, who isdpected hefti in the latter end of this week:/ A Committee of twelve gentlemen wss appointed to make the necessary arrangements, and we have no doubt but the matter ' will be carried but in a becoming manner.

Afi'ES the cricket match on Saturday, and the throwing of a 12ib hammer by McCormick and Willis, of Waitoa, against Charley McLean, when the Waitoa mebi easily bent the Thames man —the lattfjp? however, was in anything but good form— the Waitoans with their friends were invited to tea by Mrs Strange, of Parawai, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Tonight Mis Worship the Mayor gives a l> fll to the visitors, where inauy Thames residents have been invited to meet; them. . • /

ThE Hon. Mr Oliver, the Minister of Public Works is at present in Christchurch.

The Timaru Herald gives the following reminiscence of Judge Bathgate:—" In < arly life he held the post of Town Clerk of Peebles, and a tender attachment for that place is well-known to be an amiable weakness tof his. There is an excellent story told on that subject, which is none the worse for being true. When he was first appointed. Resident Magistrate at Dunedin, he had a foolish habit of asking almost every prisoner tb begin with the question, * Where do you come from ?' and thß popular belief was that the wisest answer the prisoner could give was 'Scotland, your . Worship.' One day a woman named Bridget O'Flanaghan, or some such name, with a countenance to mutch, was brought up for some minor offence. • Where do you tome from, ray good .woman ?' asked the Magistrate kindly. ' Pables, yer Honorr,'. replied the prisoner with a winning smile', amid roars of laughter, which, of course, were 'promptly suppressed." Her Irish wit sared her twenty four hours in prison, but the joke stuck to Mr Bathgale, and is likely to do so for a long time to come. When he went home, we need hardly say that the judge made straight for ' Pable«,' where he received a hearty ovation from his fellow townsmen."