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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3495, 8 March 1880, Page 2

There seems to be but little exiteraent at the camp, Nelson, for our correspondent sends us only the result of the match between the Carbine men of the North versus South. It will be seen that our island men have won, and it is to be hoped in the similar match with the rifle teams the same will be. the result.

The Thames Scottish team at Nelson have lodged a protest against the decision giving the Wellington City Rifles the third place in match number 16.

Fhom Paeroa we learn that a number of salmon fry have made their appearance in the Ohinemuri river. They seem to be making their way up the stream and have been seen above Paeroa, though they can be seen in the greatest numbers from Mr Thorpe's place at the Puke, to-*the township. The natives caught some thinking they were mullet, but the difference was apparent when they were esaimued. Precautions have been takeu to prevent them being destroyed, go that in a few

years we may have in our market salmon reared in our own rivers, and one of the most valuable and favorite of fish added to the already well supplied estuary of the Thames.

A musical and literary entertainment will be given at the Wesleyan Suuday School, Willoughby street, this evening at 7.3 Q. The proceeds will be devoted to the funds in aid of building the school.

As soon as the news reached the Corner on Friday afternoon that Mr Stone, on behalf of the old Caledonian Company, had purchased the mine a little excitement was apparent, but the effect upon one of the habitues of the scrip Corner was most apparent. It is well known that Mr Johnny Maher's grey horse frequents the Corner, and to his credit it must be said that in the - past whatever mining news he heard or swindles concocted he never gava any sign nor split upon the conspirators ; but on Friday evening the news of the settlement of the Caledonian difficulty so- excited him that wit-boat more ado, although his well worn cart was attached to him, and its wheel chained, he made straight for Hennelly's office in quest of scrip. It was with the greatest difficulty he was restrained from going into the inner room. He well knew the place where the little games were worked, and succeeded in getting his cart and all on the verandah, and his head half-way into the office. Johnny, his owner, only after a long discourse with him in Irish,, with a few well-worn tiaxon expressions thrown in convinced him _that he had nothing to do with scrip, aud that however much the fact of the Caledonian difficulty being settled might affect the future prosperity of the goldfields it could only touch him by enabling hi? owner, supposiug he advanced in wealth with the improving times,-to give him a larger supply of Ned McDonald's oats, and less hard work. This prospect seemed to please the animal, for he returned to his old stand, and is now anxiously waiting till the better days come s when Johnny can carry out his generous intentions.

At the meeting of persons interested in the railway on .Thursday it was decided to send a wire to the Minister of Public Works asking if he would kindly furnish the details of the expenditure on the railway which he said had exceeded the votes of Parliament for^the same. This morning a telegram in the following words was received from Mr Knowles, the Under Secretary of Public Works:—"The Minister regrets that he cannot supply the in formation asked for re the expenditure on the Thames railway." The reply may be taken by the local authorities as a quiet hint for them not to question again statements made by a Minister, but to accept the same as correct.

A meeting of the Harbour Board was held this morning for the purpose of conforming the Bye-laws.

The Easter review and encampment for our volunteers it appears will not take place, the Government having refused to contribute any funds for the purpose. This is much to be regretted, as few movements are more'calcuiated to improve men in a knowledge of their duties than Buch movements. This course is fully recognised in all other countries, and it is a pity the Government cannot see fit to encourage such in the Colony.

Colonel Leckie intends to inspect the Thames daring the present week, and at a meeting of volunteer officers held on Saturday night, the inspection days for the various^ corps were fixed. The following is the arrangement at presentThursday evening, Scottish and Naval Brigade; Friday, Cadets, Engineers, Rangers, and Maoris; Saturday, Naval gun drill and gun boats.

Thebe was a clean sheet at the E.M. Court this morning.

We believe that the ninth anniversary of the Juvenile Eechabites will be celebrated by a soiree in the Templar Hall on Wednesday, the 17th inst.

The following is the weekly state of the Thames Goldfield Hospital from 22th Feb. to 6th March:—Statistical Nosology : Zymotic Diseases—remained 4, admitted 0, remaining 4; Constitutionalremained 2, remaining 2; Local—remained 5, remaining 5; Violent—remained 6, admitted 2, remaining 6; total, remained 17, admitted 2, discharged 0, remaining 19. Out patients 80.— T. Aitken, Dispenser Thame3 Hospital..

In late issues we have published the statement of receipts and expenditure of the Court Pride of Parnell for the year ending 31st December. -From a perusal of the statement it may be seen that this Courtis in an exceptionally good position, having a capital of no less than £1,930 at fixed deposit in the bank, and having added to that account the respectable sum of £200 during the past year. Tins is certainly very fair progress and speaks well for the management. Benevolent gifts, outside the ordinary sick benefits payable to its members, to the amount of £30 2s lid have been granted, showing that not alone have the terms of the contract between members and their lodge 'been fulfilled, but that Benevolence and Chanty, watchwords of the order of Forestry, have been exercised. The Court is evidently in a healthy, flourishing condition, a fact worth knowing, and a matter of the greatest concern to its members. The statement is signed by the Secretary, C. Ahier, and Past Chief Bangers Schofield, Smith, and Wilson, the auditors.

A cuflious relic of one of the expeditions which sailed to the West ludies under the command of Columbus has (the Pall Mall Gazette says, quoting a Martinique journal) been recently discovered. On the 4th of August, 1498, a small squadron of three vessels under the order of Christopher Columbus was anchored at the south-western extremity of-the Island of Trinidad. Late at night Columbus, it is related by Washington Irving, suddenly saw a wall of water approachiug towards the fleet from the south. His own vessel was lifted up so high by the incoming wave that he feared it would be either submerged ,or dashed on shore : while the cable of one of the other ships parted under the strain to which it was subjected. The crews of the vessels gave themselves up for lost; but after a time, the wave, which it is surmised must have been caused by an excep.. tioually large body of water coming suddenly down one of the rivers flowing into the Gulf of Paris, ebbed back again. This sudden rise of the waters of the gulf is mentioned by Columbus' sou, Ferdinand, who adds that the fleet suffered no dainfige, save the loss of one anchor. It ia this anchor which has mow been found; and, strangely enough, it was "dug from a depth df 6ft

below the surface of the ground, at a spot 372 feet from the nearest point qi the coast line. Tho hind, it is well known, is gaining upon the sea along the shores of Venezuela, so that where once ships rode at anchor gardens are now planted. The anchor itself is of simple form and comparatively rude manufacture, the stock being Bft long, and .round, with a riiifc at one end, lffc in diameter, to which to make fast the cable, s»n>4 with flukes sffc long, the whole weighing lOOOlbs."

A new: champion at billiards has made his appearance in"England v*ho promises soon to challenge the supremacy of Cook and Boberts. The Sportsman by the last j mail gives an account of an exhibition in ] which Mitchell, a Sheffield man, played with J, P. Bennett, the ex-champion, receiving 100 points. .'The usual misses, were recorded, and then off a fluke the Sheffielder put together 336, exactly the amount credited to him as a chief effort in his first heat with Richards, only this time the spots were 111 against 105 on that occasion. The ex champion was thus 437 to the bad. It was soon evident, however, that if Mitchell had not found his master at his own game, he had found a worthymate, as the scratch player answered him with 379, in which were runs of 38, 10, and 73 spots Benuett's play in, this break was perfection itself. Mitchell was then silent for a time, while his opponent took a commanding lead with beautiful breaks of 68, 148 (36 and 4 spots), and 150 (43 spots). These efforts took the game to 747—478 in favour of the scratch player. Here, however, Mitchell by far outdid all his termer attempts, as he manipulated the spot 170 times, which took him out the winner in an unfinished break of 522, when amidst the greatest applause he consented to finish his contribution. He then made 22 more red winners before he broke down, his full innings, being 567 (192 spotsj. Both -m"n, it- will be seen, therefore, played wonderfully well In Mitchell's case a fluke or two certainly rendered great assistance, although they detract but little from his really extraordinary form. This game only lasted one hour and forty-one minutes, and to show with what effect both men scored, it may be mentioned that throughout the game Mitchell took up the cue But eight times, including the introductory misses, which gave him an average of 125 and a fraction for each innings. Bennett was only in charge of the table seven times, and his average for those efforts wa3 just over 106.

Mb Edison, the inventor, claims to hare discovered a a effective, cheap electric light, which is a complete substitute for gas for household use. After 15 months' experimenting, Mr Edison accidentally discovered that burnt paper is the best substance to use, and he therefore abandoned plutinum, devoting himself to perfecting this lamp. He cuts from cardboard a narrow strip, shaped like an elongated miniature horseshoe, the strip being two inches long and oneeighth of ah inch wide. This is placed in a wrought-iron mould, which is heated slowly to a white heat, driving off all volatile portions of the paper, which is then;. t gradually cooled. The charred remains of the horseshoe are taken carefully out, and are plaoed upright in . a little glass globe, the wires of the generating machine being attached at the ends of the horseshoe. The .air being exhausted from the globe, it is sealed, completing a lamp costing about one shilling. This, Mr Edison claims, will produce a.* bright, mellow light, without flickering or pulsations. ~

We are all sculptors and painters; our material, is our own flesh and blood and bones. Any nobleness begins at once to refine a man's .features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them.