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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 22 March 1880, Page 2

The Enterprise will not leave for Auckland this evening, as advertised in the morning paper, but will at 7 o'clock tomorrow evening.

At the Primitive Methodist Church yesterday the Bey. G. Smith preached his farewell sermons. Both morning and Evening services were largely attended. A valedictory soiree will be held at the Church on Good Friday evening.

Mb Mason has received the expenses given to two "witnesses in the case of Driscoll v. Norwich Union Company as a donation towards the Orphanage.

At the tenth quarterly competition of the Thames Rifle Bangers for the Manning Belt, held on Saturday, the coveted trophy was carried off by Vol. K. Long with the score of 65, Vol. E. Simpson 6d, Vol. Wilcox 63, Vol. Gilpen 63, Sergt. Gibbs 61, Vol. Samson 60, and Vol. Woods 60.

- His Worship the Mayor will welcome the Waikato Cavalry to the Thames on behalf of .the citizens and the volunteers.

A meeting of officers of the several Volunteer companies was held on Saturday evening for the purpose of making arrangements for receiving the Waikato Cavalry. The Major commanding the district presided, and informed the meet* ing that the Waikato men might be expected here on Saturday afternoon, but the time would not be definitely known till the arrival of Lieut. Johnson, who would be here on Tuesday. It has been decided that a general church parade will be held on Sunday, and ths review will take place at Tararu on Easter Monday. His Worship the Mayor was asked to welcome the visitors, which he had promised to do. The following committee was appointed:—Captains Wildmau and Watson, Lieuts. Grant, Denby, and Lawless. The officers will entertain the officers of the Waikato Cavalry at a luncheon on Monday, evening, and the non-commissioned officers will extend a similar courtesy to the Waikito brethren of the same rank.

The officers of the volunteer corps are called together by Major Murray at Mr Lawless* office tomorrow evening at 6.30., and by another advertisement, the non-commissioned officers and men are invited to meet at the Governor Bowen hotel for the purpose of arranging a suitable reception for the Cavalry contingent from Waikato. We anticipate a hearty welcome to the. men of Waikato, and for the credit of our district no stone should be left unturned to make the reception a success.

On Saturday last, a number of our premier shots assembled at the Government range for the purpose of firing off a little sweep amongst themselves. Tlio affair. would be of no importance if it were not for the score made by Carbine Champion Thomas, which, we believe, has never been excelled aDywhere with a large bore weapon. At the first range, 200 yards, Mr Thomas made 23 at the 8-inch bull's-eye, which is a very decent score for seven shots, though five points under the possible. At the 400 yards range he made seven consecutive bull'seyes, and at 500 yards six bull's eyes and a centre, jaakiug the surprising fcottl of 78 out of a possible 84. The brother of the champion put together the decent, total of 72, and Vol. Downie made 73. Pavslow and Armstrong made 72 and 71 respectively.

• Thb wires are down on some of the southern lines, which will Recount for the paucity of telegraphio items.

The Herald says :—-Mr W. J. Hurst, one of the M.H.ROs representing Auckland City West, has convened a meeting of his constituents for Tuesday, the - 30th March, at the Young Men's Christian Association Booms.

At the R.M. Court this morning a genial-looking : Chinese market;gardener stepped into the witness box to give evidence in a case of larceny; The Magistrate asked him if he was a Christian, to which he responded with a grin and "No understanee." His Honor: " Would you like to be sworn. Will you kiss the book." John stated that he would kiss the book, and said, "Kissee bookee, blow, machee, alasamee. Likee blow matchee best." A match was then struck by the constable on duty, which John solemnly puffed out, and then resuming his habitual grin turned to the Court and gave his evidence.

A iate cablegram states that the gravity of the situation^in Russia is attracting general attention in Europe. The increased severity of the law against treasonable organisations has only developed greater daring on the part of the Nihilists. The Czar declines to yield to the advice of his Ministers, who counsel moderate measures and the granting of a constitution in order to allay popular excitement. It is believed that the abdication of the Emperor can alone restore public confidence. The Duke of Edinburgh has undertaken the task of submitting this proposal to the Czar, and has gone to St. Petersburg for that purpose. It is intended to hold a conference of the members of the Imperial family to deliberate upon the course to be pursued, having regard to the existing state of things in Russia.

Turkey, as usual, is rery dilatory in carrying out the condi'ions of the Treaty of Berlin, and may yet by her conduct lose the confidence and support of some of the European' nations. A calogram informs us that the non-compliance with the recommendations contained in the Berlin Treaty with respect to the annexation of certain Turkish territory to Greece has been the subject of repeated protests on the part of the Government of the latter country. The commissioners appointed to consider the question of the rectification of the frontier line have been so hampered by dilatoriness and want of bona fides on the part of the Porte that they hare abandoned the task assigned to them, and Greece has accordingly appealed to the Powers of Europe to enforce the fulfilment of Turkey's treaty obligations.. .

Eccentricity (says a correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) has by no means died out in Eussia. The Metropolitan (not the railway, but the Archbishop of Moscow) has thought the time a fitting one to preach a sermon in the Kremlin upon the infallibility of the Czar ; and for the offence of criticising it a newspaper has been suppressed and its editor sent to Siberia. The device ot drying the sea up with mops has, of course, been tried before; but as a proof of intelligence— not. to say of infallibility—it is not encouraging. The information that the Russian authorities are distributing the said sermon broadcast among the people is, however, satisfactory, since the day cannot be far off when it will form a text for the preaching of a different gospel.

In Auckland on Saturday at the Temperance Hall, Albert street, addresses on temperance topics were given by the Revs. J. Wyley, Oteppo, Otago ; Mr Rennie, Otago; and H. W. Sheriff, Blenheim, members of the Presbyterian General Assembly.

We learn on good authority (says the Sydney Freeman) that the Eev. Charles Clark, the distinguished lecturer, was received into the Catholic Church about two months ago at Clifton, near Bristol, England.

The annual examination of teachers under the Education Board, and candidates for appointment, began this morning in the Waio-Karaka School under the supervision ofjtr Felton, assisted by Mr New.ell Phillips. 47 out of 49 answered to their names, of whom 1 sits for certificate D, 14 for E, and the remainder are senior or junior pupil teachers, or candidates for situations as such. English Grammar, Composition, and History were the subjects taken to day. The examination will last all the week. Three more teachors, holding prorisional certificates, have to come up in special subjects later.

Notwithstanding that Mrs So-and-so did not work the picture that we got first prize for at the, Exhibition, and Miss So-and-so did work it, we can safely assert that the pictures iv our smoking and reading room are far better, and only require the criticism of the public to ensure prizes at the Melbourne Exhibition.—Lawless and Co., Tobacconists.—[Advt.]

Josh Billings' Philosophy.—Mothors and grandmothers, when you want your frionds to use McQowan's 33 Tea, 'juat skirmish ahead on that line yourself.' One pound of this example is worth a cartload of precepts. —[Advt.]