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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3675, 5 October 1880, Page 2

A meeting- of the Orphanage Committee was held this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

The grand ball, in commemoration of the anniversary of the Suvul Brigade, will take place at the Academy of Music this evening. Everything possible has been done to make the affair t% success, which if; doubtless will bo from the number of tickets dispoeed of. The committee have been unremitting in their labors, and to Mr W. H. Potts, tho indefatigable secretary of the Havala, a medo of praise is due. The Academy has been tastefully decorated with flags, and stars formed with bayonets. The bunting was kindly lent for the occasion by the owners of the Rotomahana, the Harbor Board, tho Borough Council, and by a number of private citizens, tho whole making a most gorgeous and brilliant - display. Well lighted and filled with gay throngs of dancers, the Aoademy will look its best to-night. We must not forget to mention that the catering is in the handß of the host of the Empire Hotel, Mr 0. F. Quint, a fact which should be sufficient proof tkat that portion of the arrangements will be " up to the handle."

Fhom a passenger by the Te Aroha this morning we learn that although nothing new in the matter of a goldbeuring quartz reef has been found in Te Aroha yet v great many persons are out prospecting, and the general impression is that some good reefs will be discovered. The boundary lines between the Native and High School reserves were to be cut to-day, so that prospectors may know upon which block of land they are working. The natives are encouraging men to prospeot, and are assisting in every way the men already out.

The anniversary soiree of the members of the Presbyterian Church takes place tomorrow evening in the Volunteer Hall. Friends should bear this in mind, and so not make engagements to prevent their attending. ♦

We were shown a very neatly executed plan of the township of Ruakaka, Te Aroha, the property of Messrs Burt and Stephenson. Mr B. C. Long surveyed the property and prepared the plans. The, proprietors have already, we understand, had offers for portions of the block, but have not yet parted with any. Within a short time the property will be placed on the market.

Mb W. J. Barlow has transferred his rifle gallery and decorating business to the shop in Brown street, lately occupied by Mr Miller. The rifle gallery has been very much improved, and Mr Barlow has just imported several small-bore breach-loading rifles, with which marksmen may improve themselves. The little weapons are very elegant and serviceable, and the action of the breach is much admired. We have no doubt but that Mr Barlow's gallery will be liberally patronised.

Some amusement was caused in Brown street to-day through the anticg of Mr Higgins' monkey, which had broken its chain during the absence of the proprietor. Jacko, after doing some damage to the vases and fancy goods displayed in the window, mounted to the fanlight over the door, and squatted chattering and gnashing its teeth at paßsers by. The monkey wes captured without much trouble by one of the assistants at the show and was then securely chained. While at Cambridge, one of the BhowmanV petr wtia amusirig itself on top of the cheetah's cage, when that festixe animal skilfully amputated the monkey's tail with one blow of its claw. Since then the monkeys hare loft the tiger severely alone.

Me Thomas Lawless, tobacconist of Brown street, haß been appointed agent by Mr North of Wellington for his £4DOO sweep on the Wellington Cup of next year. Mr Lawless has had considerable experience in the matter of sweeps, and as he has now a good thing to offer hie old friends will no doubt master around him.

We are informed that steps are being taken to endeavor to obtain a re-opening of the question of the management of the Hospital, regarding which Dr Skae recently made an investigation on behalf of the Government. We feel called upon to deprecate strongly the adoption of such a course, as the charges have already been twice fully gone into, and have been proved to be groundless, while the officers of the institution have passed scathe* less through the ordeal. The raking up of this matter again will only tend to create ill-feeling between those amongst whom amity should exist, without doing the slightest particle of good—not even gratifying thespite of the instigators.

Pebhaps no body of men throughout the colony are more benevolent than the employees of the, Moan a tain. Besides giving a fixed sum monthly to the Thames Hospital there is nearly every pay day a subscription list for loune charitable object demanding their support, and to which every man feels in duty bound to give his mite. It is estimated that every year, tfiese men give ten per cent, of their gross earnings. How little sorrow and suffering we would have in the world if every one imitated the example of these men, who out of a small pittance give so largely? ,

Kb doubt the marder of Todd, the surveyor, by the natives of the Upper Waikato is still remembered by many of our readers, and it will likewise be recollected that the natives gave out among other reasons that poor Todd's amours with a native woman was the cause of the ebullition of aboriginal ire, which led to his assassination. We are told by a gentleman of unquestionable veracity that some months ago he was informed by one of the Maories indirectly implicated in Todd's murder that the story about the woman was all "gammon," and that the true cause was that the unfortunate surveyor's death was because he had discovered gold. Becoming aware that Todd possessed this knowledge, and fearing a " rush " of the hated Pakeha, the Maories acted on the principle that" dead men tell no tales," the unfortunate possessor of the secret losing the number of his mess. This story, if true, is particularly interesting at the present time, when so many rumors of a Waikato goldfiold are prevalent. We may add that for yeara past the Pirongia mountains have been supposed to be auriferous.

In our last issue we mentioned the case of Murphy, a cabman of Wellington, who died from the effects of a fall from his vehicle. The Coroner's inquest returned a verdict to the same effect, adding there was no blame to attach to the police.

Thk Government have replied to the memorial re the removal of Mr Lusher, of the Auckland Telegraph Office, to the effect thuts the list of officers dismissed through retrenchment will be kept, so as to give employment, if opportunities ocenr, but Government cannot comply with the request for Mr Lusher's reinstatement at the Auckland station.

In Messrs A. and G-. Price's foundry yard may be seen a novel application of the water engine. In this instance it acts as a pump, and throws the water taken in by it a good height, und in a continuous stream. The driving wheel of the water engine is driven by a belt from a pulley on the shaft from the steam engine, and with every oscillation the water is drawn or sucked into the cylinder of the engine from the well, and then forced into a tang many feet above the level of the ground. It is worth a visit from the curiouß to see this most simple of pumps at work.

It is said Borne persons are agitating to have a meeting culled to take steps to secure another candidate for the office of Mayor next year. Colonel Eraser has informed his friends of his intention to offer himself, but we believe other gentlemen wi'l al»o be in the field.

The Treasurer, Mr Bawdon, of the €toahatnstown Volunteer Eire Brigade acknowledges the receipt; of a cheque for £2 2a from Mr Wilkinson towards the funds of the Brigude.

Mb G-ordon Forlong, who will visit New Zealand on an evangelisfcio tour, is said to be a miniature of Mr Moody, of Moody and Sankoy celebrity. A barrister by profession, he imbibed sceptical sentiments which led him to contemplate a litoiary attack on the authenticity of the Bible. To accomplish this, he devoted several years to the study of the Scriptures in their original tongues. The result of his investigation led him to accept Christianity as true, and since then he has devoted his energies to evangelistic work.

Mb Masters, M.H.R., says the Inangahua ■Herald, it is rumored in Wellington is to be appointed Minister for Mines. We should not be surprised to hear of Mr Olivet resigning his portfolio before next session; he is in ill favor with both political parties.

Sib John Coode has written to the Harbor Board, stating that he has been placed in possession of certain newspaper reports respecting Mr Bees, and informing the Board that he declines to have anything further to do with the New Plymouth harbor works, or to acoept any responsibility respecting them.— Taranaki Herald.

The Rev. Father O^Gara, who came to Auckland with the first party of Dominician priests is, it appears, a leading member of the British Meteorological Society. His observatory at Ramsgate was one of the Society's recognised stations, He expects shortly a complete set of instruments for the purpose of taking observations in Auckland as a corresponding member of the Society. Lord Abbot Alco'ck, Father O'Sullivan, and other members of the Dominican Order, are expected by the next mail steamer. They will probably take up and farm the land at St. Mary's College, North Shore, which has baen left for so many years in a state of desolation.