THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3500, 13 March 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1880.

Col. Leckie was unable to proceed to Paeroa this day to inspect the No. 3 Scottish, Mr Grant, the district instructor, doing so instead. The gallant Colonel had to leave for Auckland by the Rptomahana at 8 this morning. The inspection of the Naval guns' crews, boats, and boats' crews, and Naval Cadet boat which was arranged lor this afternoon, was made by Major Murray, who 'reported most favorably of the men and their drill, but said he would again strongly urge upon the Government the necessity to issuing two Armstrong breech-loaders to the Brigade, and further that the gun boat should bo supplied with new gear, and that the repairs to the gig be done at Government cost.

Major Mubbat received a telegram to day from Major Jackson, Commanding the Waikato Cavalry, stating that about 150 of his force would probably attend the Thames review on Easter Monday, and asking the cost of billeting men and horses. Major Murray at once put the telegram in the hands of Quartermaster Symington and Lieut Denby, who acted so judiciously on behalf of the Thames men last year at Hamilton, and these gentlemen at once procured the desired information, which has been wired to Major Jackson.

An instance of the risk that is run. by permitting a policy to lapse and neglecting to reinsure for a few days recently occurred in our midst. A geu^eman of onr acquaintance allowed a fßlioy of £1000 on his valuable store and stock to expire last Saturday, and on Sunday morning a house adjacent was destroyed by fire. Had there been, any wind, our friend would probably have been a ruined man to day.

The following are the principal prizetakers at the Nelson ."Rifle Meeting : — Pnrnell (Wanganui), £46 and a silver mpdal; Thomas (Thames), £45 10s, champion belt, and the gold medal; Oakey (Taranaki), £41, champion rifle belt, and gold medal; Paynter (Nelson), £36 and the rifle challenge cup; Somerville (Wanganui), £31, silver medal, and carbine challenge cup ; Itogers (Blenheim) £27 10s and a silver medal; Buckley (Christchurch), £24; Smith (Dunedin), £22; Gordon, £18, and Parslow, £16.

"At Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.'s meeting in .Dunedin it was stated that of 10,000 shares sent to London 5 855 were t«iken • up. After floating the .remainder no more, will be issued. A letter' was read from the Lyttleton shareholders disapproving of the entire good will being written off the first year, and sug«esting £2,500 only, and a declaration of 7 per cent. dividend. The proposition yeas negatived.

. Wri are glad to learn that by the English mail just arrived -the Indian Mutiny medal applied for some months ago by Volunteer Hennessey, No. 1 Scottish, through Major Murray, has been received by the latter from the Under Secretary of State for India. The bar for extra service in Central India, and the seige and storming of Delhi has also been applied for, and may be expected out at an early date. Hennessey is to be "congratulated on receiving the medal, as more than 20 years have elapsed since the mutiny, and we believe the application ought to have been made within seven years. We hope the officer commanding will present the medal on a general parade of the local volunteers.

Captain LeEoy, of the Naval Brigade, has received a telegram from Captain Wildman (now with the Thames repre» sentatives at Nelson) informing him that they expect to reach the Manukau on Sunday, and .promising to wire more definite information upon their arrival at Taranaki. Should the steamer containing the men make the Mauukai on Sunday morning, it is in contemplation to hold a church parade, and afterwards to march in procession through the city with the carbine champion mounted upon the gun carriage. The Volunteers would then lunch together at Waterman's Dining Booms, aad afterwards disperse.—Star.

A most dastardly piece of wanton mischief has been committed in our midst by some rascals who as" yet remain undiscovered. Between the 4th and Bth inst. the orderly room of the Thames Itifle Itangers was entered and a number of new instruments of.the band were destroyed. We trust that the reward offered by the will bring the perpetrators of this wanton outrage to justice.

We. would direct attention Mr H. B. Cooke's new advertisement in another column.

Ateachebs' examination will be held at the Waio-Karaka School on Monday, 22nd March.

The Thames Kiflo Rangers offer a reward of £5 for the conviction of the person or persons, who destroyed the band instruments of that corps.

The ship Loch Dee which was announced to sail from London for Auckland about the 3rd of February lias on board a fine marine engine with all the latest improvements consigned to the order of the Auckland and North Shore Steam Ferry Company. We believe the directors intend to have these engines fitted in the Te Aroha now plying between hera and Paeroa, and when this is done it is' confidently expected that the passage will be made in about 2$ hours. We hope these expectations "may be realised more fully than were those about the other importation of the company, the Tongariro.

Dunedin contributes nearly double as much to the Customs revenue as any other port in the colony. Auckland is fast outstripping Christchurch in the vtdue of her imports.

The tender of Faraell-Bros., for alteration and' improvements to the High School property in Baillie street was accepted by the «" overnors to day.

On dit that the Hon. John Hall left Matamata fully convinced that a/railway from the' head of navigation is not required, the river being quite sufficieut for the trade for some time to come.

Fiioar a Government paper just to hand we leurn that the income of-the 65 Ni'w Zealand Municipalities was £624.278 15s 2d, during the year ending March 1879, while the. total expenditure had been £537,997 17s 3d, of which sum considerably over three fifths had been incurred for public "works. Salaries and departmental expenses cost upwards of £40,000. The income of 48 Counties had been £498,246 Is 6d, and the Public Works expenditure nearly three fourths of that amount—£3*sl,2lß. The income of 325 Road Boards sendiug in returns was £547,587, and the expenditure £360,898 14s 7d, of which £300,000 was spent on Public Works. This figures certainly speak in favor of the Highway Board system as being the least expensive.

Mr Jeffrey, fruiterer, showed us this morningtwo varieties of plums known as the Takapuna and Victoria, grown by Mr Jenkins, of Block 27. They are both of splendid quality and flavor, and coming to maturity as they do at the close of the season should prove a profitable investment for the grower.