GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3766, 22 January 1881, Page 3

GENERAL.

In our last issue brief mention was made at the reply of the (Government to the request of the public meeting held here re the inclusion of this district in the telegraph system of the colony. The answer as our readers are aware was a " taieoa " one ; and indeed no more .than we anticipated, as the, Government could scarcely be expected to' entertain such sanguine opinions of the .stability of the field, as a party of miners, filled with nil the enthusiasm attendant on a new rush. Again, the cost of the extension of the telegraph here would not be trifling, it having been calculated that no less a sum than £3500 would have to be expended ere we had our first wire through. We are in possession of information, however, which leads us to hope that we shall soon be accommodated in the matter indicated. We, hear that it is the intention of the Superintendent of Telegraphs as soon as the Xomata difficulty is settled, to carry the Waikato-Thames line via Te Aroha, thereby doing away with the troublesome and expensive telegraph towers at the mouths of the Thames and Piako rivers.

We understand that at the end of this month no less a sum than £1118 from goldfield fees,etc., will be divided amongst the native owners of Morgan's and Lipsey's Blocks. At Waitekauri a large amount of stone is coming put. The special correspondent of the Thames Evening Star started to have a look at the district with the visitors, but found pigskin rather harder than green hide, and left several pounds of flesh in the saddle. He has used up all the sticking plaster to be found in the district. A few weeks ago a young couple, residing not far from here, in a humble path of life, decided on amalgamating their life interests in the Court of Hymen. The wedding day was fixed, and the happy bride sent to the Thames for her dress and other finery so necessary to a woman when entering the state of holy matrimony. On the goods arriving at one of the river stations a boy was despatched to bring up the precious parcel, with numerous injunctions to bo awfully careful of it. Johnny got the consignment, and, sad to relate, went on the beer, the consequences being that he arrived at, the girl's house late at night attired in the tattered remnants of a bridal dress, the handkerchiefs, towels, etc., etc., having been left on the road to the mercy of the wind. However, all's weli that ends well. The young lady soon purchased another dress, in which she was as successfully and happily " hitched " as though it had been the one of satin and fine lace.

Nbtt to the Premier (says the Timaru Herald), we are bound to say we think Mr Dick is decidedly the most suitable representative ia the Intercolonial Conference. He

is Tory earnest in anything he undertakes, And yefc is not crotcnetty; and he has a festienfc, unprejudiced way of looking at every subject, which is invaluable on an oocasion of ibis kind. He has another very

eminent, qualification in a member of the Conference. He is a sincere advocate of free trade, and is, therefore, in a position to enlarge upon that subject in the interests of New Zealand without oucragiog his political conscience. Mr Hall is a half-hearted protectionist, and Major Atkinson is more than a half-hearted one; . and we fail to see how either of them could very well have asked the Australian Colonies to adopt a policy towards us which they hare shown no desire to adopt towards our neighbours. We sincerely wish Mr Dick all success in his mission.

I It will be remembered that some time back a tragedy occurred in San Francisco, in-which J. C. Kallooh deliberately walked into the office of Mr Dp Young, of the Chronicle newspaper, and Bhot him dead. The murderer was subsequently tried for the offence, and the jury brought in a verdict of justifiable hompcide, and the culprit was discharged from custody. So much, for American

injustice. Fiopix in Westland seem to go in for honour and glory—and screw. At the recent election of a County Chairmaa, there were only *ins candidates. The event was run off in beats, and in the final heat, Mr Seddon, M.H.8., just got his noee in, winning by a short head. There is a trifling salary attached to., the office, £250 we believe. Not a bad little sum to be tacked on to the honarium as a member of the House.—Canterbury Times.