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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3578, 15 June 1880, Page 2

A MEETING of members of the Teachers' Association is called for Wednesday evening for the discussion of matters of great importance to them. . -

Fbom time to time some persona have made complaints respecting the management of the Hospital. Those persons will now have an opportunity of airing their grievances and substantiating the same before the House Committee of that Institution in accordance with the notice appearing in another column.

An Emergent Communication of the Lodge of Light will be held on Wednesday evening at the Masonic Hall, for the purpose of receiving the R.W. Provincial Grand Master and Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Irish Constitution. After the formal business of the meeting is concluded, an adjournment will be made to the Governor Bowen Hotel, where a banquet will be served.

The proposed tax on beer has been a subject that has engrossed the attention of people connected with the hotel business during the last few days. The proposal to place 6d per gallon on beer will necessarJy inflict an extra burden on brewers, publicans, and others deriving a living from the sale of alcoholic liquors. In order to counter-balance the loss incurred, it will bo necessary to raise the price of beer to consumers, who will in future have to pay an extra price for their John Barley corn. It has been suggested, and it appears a reasonable suggestion to do away altogether with "half pints," and sell the pints and glasses as heretofore, and to retail beer outside at the same price as in doors. By making any other arrangement the result would be an inevitable increase in the quantity of spirits imbibed. It is a well known fact thttt beer is hot half so injurious to. the system as spirits, and we therefore hope that the brewers and publicans will be unanimous in their action and will show a satisfactory way out of the difficulty. At the present time when licenses are high, trade bad, and ex'ra accommodation required by the Licensing Bench, of publicans some means will have to be adopted by them to ensure their indemnity from loss inflicted by the extra impost proposed. Travellers at the Thames remark on the excellence of the fare and sleeping accommodation, and are unanimous in the opinion that Thames hoatelries stand unrivalled for cheapness and generally good quarters.

The Christchurch Star publishes a statement, showing that various Road Boards in the Canterbury provincial district had oash in hand on the first January, 1880, amounting in the aggregate to £346,063 12a lOd. If such is the case is it not wonderful there should be such cries from the unemployed, and that some should actually hare to be sent to the much despised North for employment ? We think if some of this large amount was judiciously expended in finding work for many mon who are now eating the bread of enforced idleness it would speak belter for the City of the Plains than instituting soup kitchens, however laudable some people may. consider such institutions.

The Ngaruawabia correspondent of the Herald telegraphs as follows :—The prospecting for gold is still going on briskly, but the parly have given up (he old spot, and are prospecting at Mangaratn. A second party, O'Ghrady and company, have been more euc-

ceaaful, and show a mullouky sort of rock with looße gold plain enough to be seen in it. They will not-, however, roveul (hi spot wheto they havo been working, anc 1, as a conse« quencc, distrust is engendered.

A btxk near Invercargill of 60,000 acres hna lately been thrown up by the Hon. It. Campbell on account of the rabbits. It i« being rented by tome rabbiters for £30 a year, for the sake of the skins, and they expect lo mnke a good thing of it; It is said steps are being taken to improve the breed, so as to increase the value of the skins.