THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBBB 29, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3722, 29 November 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBBB 29, 1880.

Thsbs was a meeting held this erening at Mr Hume's office of persons interested in forming a oompany for the purpose of build* ing a steamer suitable for the up-river trade. There were present—Messrs Price, Lamb, Smith, Mahoney, Symington, Dean, Benshaw, Wilkinson, Hume, Watson, and several others. Mb Coney, after arranging for the Poßt Office at Te Aroba at Mr GK S. O'Halloran's store, returns to the Thames;

Mb Chbistib has erected a small hand berdan at the south end o the Te Aroba t'Wnship, where tests can be made and specimens and gold bearing stone reduced.

A iabgb number of persons assembled at the Greshamßallon Saturday night in accordance with the advertisement signed by Mr Comer calling a meeting of persons interested in collecting funds for the benefit of Mrs McGregor and children. After some conversation the following resolutions were passed :—" That Mr T. G. Comes be requested to act as secretary," and " That Messrs Comer, Marshall and Murray be appointed trustees, with full power to deal with all funds collected." The secretary was ordered to have subscription lists printed and circulated, after which a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Comer for calling the meeting.

Wa learn that Mr C. Tonga has purchased the winding engine and plant lately us<4d by the Crown Princess Company, and intends using the engine to drive a number of berdans upon the foreshore. ,

Eldeb Batt preached in the Odd Fellows' Hail yesterday in the morning at 11 o'clock upon "The principles of Mormonism." In the afternoon, he took for his subject, " How to obtain the benefits and privileges of Mormonism," and in the evening on "'The book of Mormon." The attendance in the evening was large, and the speaker gave a great deal of information upon the subject treated. Possessed of a good voice, and a pleasant delivery, the attention of his hearers was secured during his discourses.

A VBBY pleasing ceremony took place at the Tararu School this morning, when Miss Steedman, one of the most painstaking teachers in the school, was presented by Mr Gray, on behalf of the teachers, with a handsome locket prior to her removal from them Mr Gray in a few well chosen remarks regretted Miss Steedman's removal from their midst, but trusted she would be as successful in her efforts to promote the welfare of the WaioKarafca children as she had been with those of Tararu.

In the course of his summing up in the action of Barbour v. Jones (the defendant, being the proprietor of the Pastoral Times) for libel, his Honor Mr Justice Hargrave is reported to have eaid of the rights of the Press :—" Newspapers had the same right as individuals to comment upon the actions of public men. They had a right to praise and a right to censure, but if to gratify ill-will they exceeded their rights then law could interfere. The right of the public to comment on public men had been in existence for the last 200 years and there was certainly no reason ,to alter it now. During that period there had been no liceaiing, and people had been allowed to print and publish their opinions without license, provided they did not exceed.fair comment." Speaking from a personal point of view, his Honor remarked: —'' For himself he had been a publio man all his life, but he never took any notice of what newspapers said. There were men connected with the Press who would write one way, and if you gave them a glass of whisky and water, would write another way."

The Rev. S. J. Neill preached in the Presbyterian Church last evening ta a large congregation upon the "Difficulties and beauties of scripture." In a very careful and comprehensive manner ,the speaker treated th» subject, pointing th»t a great many of the objections and inconsistencies referred to by sceptics were capable of explanation. Many persons held that the Bible was a guide to anything—to science an well as to religion, and because certain ' statements were made in th*t Book which were not agreeable to accepted facts of the present day, many tried to throw discredit upon the whole of the sacred writings. The first chapters of Genesis were then referred to by the speaker, who said that although there appeared inronsietenoe in it, fair explanations were, possible of all the statements usually objected to; yet there was a certain mystery surrounding the first eleven chapters of the book. Many - of the other well-known statements—such as the sun and moon standing still, recorded in the book of Joshua were explained, after which in eloquent language, the beauties of the holy record were referred to. The discourse was listened to with marked attention, and the earnest and simple language in wbicb. the excellencies of the Bible were pointed out, was such as carried conviotion with It, and went to the hearts of the littone»>