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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3648, 4 September 1880, Page 2

We wich to remind our readers that Mr Neill'fl second lecture on the scriptures will be giren in the Presbyterian Church tomorrow evening.

The Sightascope still retains its popularity, large numbers of people having visited it during the past week.

A Service ok Sono- will be given in the Shortland Wesleyan Sunday School on Monday evening. The tifclo of the service is " The Great Teacher." Charge for admission one shilling ; children sixpence.

It is very seldom, indeed, in our experience, that individuals unsolicited pay us in sterling coin of the realm for benefits they consider thpy received from a perusal of cur columns, but an instance happened last week, when a gentleman insisted upon leaving with us a sum of money to cover, ns he said, the extra cost; we must have incurred in publishing Mr Laiehley's sermon in full. He remarked that it was with the greatest pleasure he had read the address referred to, and further paid us compliments w'lid; our modesty prevents us from repeal ing.

lNr<plv to "Private Box" and "One of the Public," we are informed by the Post Office officials that, cur correspondents were in error in their communications. The mails were sorted within one hour from the time of the steamer's arrival, and also that the Office was opened to the public seven minuteß before nine yesterday morning. Such complaints should be sent to the Head of the office who would, no doubt afford ample satisfaction or explanation.

Thebe was a meeting of the railway committee this morning, when the only business transacted was a vote of thanks to Mr Speight for his action in the matter of the railway. It is intended to present Mr Speight with the resolution upon his arrival this evening.

We hear that the Borough Inspector of Nuisances has served Mr Higgins, the proprietor of the wild beast show with a notice to abate the nuisance caused by the animals. Mr Higgins informs us that any smell that may be occasioned is that of deodorising powder scattered about the cages.

A meeting of the Committee appointed at the public meeting re the matter of Miners' Bights, held their first meeting at the Stab Office last night, Mr McCullough in the chair. After a careful consideration of the several agreements made by Mr Mackay with the natives of this district, the meeting was adjourned pending some enquiries at. the Warden's Office for information required in the preparation of the report for the public meeting.

Mb W. Qt. Simon will lecture in the Academy of Music this evening on the subject, "Spiritualism explained and expounded." The lecture will commeuce at 8 o'clock, and the small charge of one shilling will be charged for admission.

Some time ago we stated that it was probable Mr George Black would soon take charge of the Karao Coal Mine, and to-day that gentleman leaves to take up his new appointment. Mr Coutts will take charge of the Southern Cross mine, lately managed by Mr Black.

How essentially Amerieau is the following lines, which we clip from the bottom of a column of a Chicago journal :— " These two lines which look so solemn, Were shoved in here to fill this column."

The following will probably be the only returns asked for in the new acbedules of the Property^*! :•=-

Total value of all freehold land after

deducting liabilities due by me \ thereon ... £ \)o. all other lands, buildings, leases * held by me after deducting liabilities thereon ... ... £ Total value of all other property

belonging to me, shares in public companies, after deducting my just debts, for which I claim exemption, less exemption £500. Balance taxable value ... £

The following telegram has been received from Mr Sheehan in reply to the invitation to be present at the soiree:—"Many thanks for your kind invitation to attend the publio soiree on Tuesday next. I regret very much that it will be impossible for me to be present. I informed Sir George Grey and Mr Speight of my inability last night, when they were leaving here. Besides a considerable amount of professional business I have Btill a number of matters of importance affecting the Borough and County, which I desire to get finished before leaving. These matters I have withheld during the session at the request of Ministers. I hope the gathering will be a successful one, and that I shall be remembered kindly, though absent. I am glad that Mr Speight is associated with Sir George Grey and myself, for although not the member for the district, he has upon all occasions acted as such, and fought the good fight oh behalf of the people of the Thames. —J. Sheehan."

The Post of Wellington says it is understood, that a preliminaiy sale of land on the Waimate Plains will be commenced on the 25th of next month. The block which is to be placed in the market contains 7000 acres of the finest land in the colony. The price is said to be £4 for cash, or £5 f(?r deferred payments, the latter extending over ten years.

The following is the substance of the report of Mr Itothery, the Wreck Commissioner, on the Tay Bridge disaster. He saya the conclusion to which he has come is that this bridge was badly designed, badly constructed, and badly maintained, and that its downfall was due to inherent defects in the structure, which must sooner or later have brought it down. Mr Eothery continues;— " For these defects, both in design, and construction, and the maintenance, Sir Thomas Bouch is, in my opinion, mainly to blame. For the faults of design he is entirely responsible. For those of construction he is principally to blame in not exercising that supervision over the work whioh would have enabled him to detect and apply a remedy to them. And for the faults of maintenance he is also principally, if not entirely, to blame, in ha»ing neglected to maintain such an inspection over tfce structure as its character imperatively demanded. I think also that Messrs Hopkins, Gilkes, and Co. aro not free from blame for having allowed 6uch grave irregularities to go on at the Wormifc foundry. The company also are, in my opinion, not wholly free from blame for having allowed the trains to run through the high girderu at a speed greatiy in excess of that which General Hutchison had suggested as the extreme limit."

" Man, a Social Being," was the subject of an interesting and instructive lecture delivered by George Bell Esq., under the auspies of the Dunedin Y.M. Christian Association. Mr Robert Gillies occupied the chair, aad there was a email attendance. The lecturer briefly traced the history of man from the earliest times, and concluded as follows:—" Let our present nim be to make New Zealand the leader in knowledge, justice and equal institutions. Whatever his occupation, ' A man's a man for a' that j' but I want the men of New Zealand to be models of energy, industry, and worth. This cannot be effected by reproducing the past.". The coil, tbe climate, the mineral wea'ib of this country lie tit our 'command, uud can only give forth their treasures 'foe tlie benefit of allcomers through the influence of equal laws and and applied knowledge and industry. As Christian young men, seek what is true— shako off worthless traditions—act before yourselves your perfect model, and learn to admire and imitate it —for remember, he that

can see the beauties of his model must have within him the germ of likeness to it. Your Success depends upon your own progress, for a nation generally reflects the average man ; but ns an average must have some below the standard and some above, seek to be foremost that you may lead in all good thoughts and works, and thus fulfil man's highest duty."

We have received for the Hospital the sum of one pound from Mr Christensen. We shall be pleased lo acknowledge the receipt of similar sums from the well disposed. Mr Christensen says he was led to make this donation from our remark that the Hospital was in debt and much in want of funds.

Geobge Hensy Shbppbbson, the man with three wives, was charged at the Auckland Police Court with threatening Mary Anne Featon, and was bound over to keep the peace. A charge of bigamy will probably be preferred against the prisoner as soon as the necessary witnesses are procured. The certificates of Shepperaon'a several marriages were in Court, and will be produced in evidence at the proper time. His marriage with Lucy Watson was solemnised at the parish church of Botteford, Leicester-hire, England, on the 3rd of March, 1862. His marriage with Mary McGuire on the 20th of June, 1864, at the Alexandra street Primitive Methodist Chapel, Auckland, by the Rev. Joseph Long, and the third certificate shows he was mar' ried on the 6th of December, 1879, to Mary Ann IBYaton, at the office of the Auckland registrar.

A telegram: from Oiinemulu yesterday says:—The son of the chief Potitai was buried yesterday. There was a great tangi, after which over 300 native chiefs held a meeting ro the vexe.i matter of Ohinemutu Hotel. Attention was directed to the telegram published by the N.Z. Herald a few days ago, alleging that the native owner had given Mr Robert Graham notice to quit Lake House. It was resolved that the author's name should be demanded of the editor of the Herald." The meeting confimed the gift of land whereupon the hotel is erected to Mr Robert Graham for ever.

Laugh numbers of people - continue to visit the "Wild Beast Show, the patrons beieg evidently as greatly interested in the anecdotes related by the proprietor respecting his charges as with anything else in the exhibition. The bear is a great favorite, and though only eleven months' old, is au extraordinary powerful animal. The monkeys are also great sources of attraction, their whimsical tricks causing great amusement. One day recently one of the "jockos" picked a Maori's pocket of a purse containing five shillings, causiug great amusement to a large crowd of onlookers, the native robbed especially looking on it as a first-class joke.

Mr Alley laid an information to-day against.Tamati Paetae, of Hikutaia, for unlawfully j seizing a horse which was being worked by a man named Bipley, in the employ of Mr Alley. This same native was concerned some time ago. in a disturbance over some land up the river.