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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3770, 27 January 1881, Page 2

These? was no business at the R.M. Court this morning.

Thb County Council Council have accepted the tender of McCormick and. Driver for the construction of the Karaka Road. The prioe is £275.

The glass was higher to-day than it ha* been lor the last four months.

'^Ihb man Henry Moase/who left the Hospital unnoticed some time ago, and for whom fears were apprehended, has "turned up "{safe at,Tairua, where he ie work ing in the bush." ' ' ' -

The St. George's Naval Cadets were inspected last 'evening by Major Withers. They mustered very fairly under Lieut. Ross. The gttllant''Mwjir, after his inspection, expressed his approval of their effi. -ieucy at .drill.

Thb chief Rewi, in company wii.h Majors Jackson, Minett and Mair, and other gentlemen from Auckland, visited a few days ago, for the first time, his new house. H> seemed' delighted with the handsome furniture, fittings, and finish generally of the building. He will, it, is understood, take possession of it early in the next month, when the Eton the Attorney-General, or some other members of the Parliament, will be present, and make him a graceful offering of the much = desired Grown Grant ,•■....... ,

The situation in Ireland is daily deepening in gloom. Lawlessness is nearly everywhere triumphant, and outrages of ail kinds are frequent. Prevention of sale of cattle and produce at fairs, domicilary visits, masked men, night maiming of cattle, etc. Such acts of aggression are believed to be generally from pri.ate vengeance and jealousy under cover of agrarian political motives, but the state of anarchy and terror under which such outrages are possible is mainly produced by the Land Leaguers, the agitation, and violent speeches of the leaders. There are some signs now that the Land League feel thafc the popular passions are getting beyond'their control, and desire to cheok them.

Fobty thousand miners'at Lancashire have struck in consequence of a dispute with the employers, who reiuee to be broug t under the operation of the Employers' Liability Act, which provides that Compulsory District Insurance Funds shall be established to provide for injuries to workmen, to which fund musters and workmen are .required to contribute fixed proportions.

Thb Town Clerk calls attention .in another column to the fact that the supply of wa er in the township will be cut off at certain hours while repairs are being made-.

The Hauraki Engineers were inspected last evening by Mnjor Withers. There was a good attendance, and tho inspecting; officer complimented the corps on their efficiency ia drill. The offio rs present were Captain Small and Lieutenant Ley don The brass b<nd, un 'er the conduotorahip of the Bandmaster, M* D. E. O. Sullivan, played s veral selection*, and the efficiency of the in-truinen taints was rendered more markad by the addition of several fine new instruments that have just arrived irom Melbourne by the Hero. Great credit is due to the indefatigable Bandmaster, Mr O'-ullivan, for the admirable manner in which he has worked the Band up to its present state of efficiency.

Many ?ood results followed the challenge cricket and rifle matches,between the Thames and Wait oa settlers, and to Majpr Murra. and a few others a great deal of the credit is due. Wo understand that the settlers of the thriving settlement of the Wairoa intend to send a challenge to t:ie Thames people to fire a friendly rifle match, and have already promised those who may go a hearty welcome and good entertainment. It is probable the challenge will be accepted. One of our smart steamers might be chartered to run to j the Wairoa n three hours returning^the next evening, which would give time to-fire a match, and visit the places of interest in'JUie neighbourhood. There has always been a certain amount of trade between the .Thames, tradespeople and the settlers of the Wairoa, and probably a more intimate acquaintance would lead to an increase of business.

The serio comic play of " Forbidden Fruit" appears to be having a good run at the Auckland Industrial Home. The other day, three of the lade—Phillip and Charleß Aicock and Edward Potpsky—abßconded on a fruitstealing expedition from the orchard of Mr Black, Wellesley street, peaches and plums beiDg fieir particular weakness. They hare been captured by the police.

We lU'derst.and that so energetica7ty are the County Council proceeding with the works over the Kotokohu, and the cutting of the road through the swamp beyond Paeros, that within a month the road will be in such a forward state that a coach and four can drive to Te Aroha. This will be much appreciated bj persons travelling to the new goldfield, who find the steamer journey from i he junction to Morgantown the most tedious and uncomfortable.

Ala spiritualistic sceance held lately on the Thames, a gentleman who n we will call Jones asked the following questions—" Do you know "my mother, who died six years ago ?" A pause, followed by three distinct^ tups, w liich was the spiritual telegraphic code for "Yes." "Is she happy ?" Answer— " No." Question—" Do you know my father, who died four years ago ?" Answer—" Yes ; he and his wife are together, though in,life they were divided. Now their union is complete." Irate Jones—" What lies! Both my mother and father are alrre and< well!" Collapse of spirit, and tableau.

The County authorities, not feeling themselves adequate to the task of discovering the lost road in the Kauaeranga Valley, secured the services of a spiritualistic circle, comprised principally of Satan's " imps," and their indefatigable assistance secured the recovery of the road. The Council are calling for tenders for repairing the damagOß done when the road was -perdu, and are u-ing every means to prevent a similar catastrophe in future. " God bleßs the Duke of Argyle!"

A vesy pleasant hour may be pasaed at the establishment of Messrs Foy Broa., photographers, Pollen street, in inspecting the very large and well arranged collection of photographs. Within the last few months the proprietors have gone to a deal of expense, and their rooms are now the most complete and best arranged for photographic purposes in this province. By the way, the gallery is constructed so as photos can be taken in dull weather, "and ladies and children especially are saved the inconvenience of having to wait for bright and warm days, and to attend at hours when it is not always the pleasantest to .be! away from home. The newest mode of treatment of photos is now practised by Messrs Foy Bfos., and specimens of th ir enamelled work we have teen equal to any turned out by the most celebrated photographic artists. Every convenience in the way of dressing rooms, and pleasant and comfortable waiting rooms have been provided and, aB the work c*n be executed more expeditiously with the new facilities at com mand, there is little inconvenience suffered by visitors to the studio. The enterprise shown by Messrs Foy Bros, is deserving of support, and we shall not be surprised if during this summer their exertions are rewarded by a liberal support from the residents of the Thames. There is not the slightest necessity for persons to go to Auckland to get photos, under the impression that pictures are taken better in thai, citj, for we have heard of many being po displeased and disappointed with the work done in Auckland at > come to the Thames for well finished and good photos

A EAtheb good joke occurred yesterday. Tukukino's son was intently scrutinising the new bout being built, by Messrs Price Bros, for the Te Aroha trade. Mr Brodie came up at the time, to whom the Maori son and heir remarked "K»pai »c fighting boat." Mr Brodie explained that it was for the river trade, to carry passengers and cargo, but the aboriginal remained unconvinced, saying, "Tell that to Pakeba, no tell it to Maori." This is akin to the sentence among incredulous Englishmen, " Tell that to the marines."

We understand that M»jor Jackson, Captain Runciman and men of the* Waikato Cavalry are looking forward to an Easter encampment and review ia the Waikato with the Thanes Volunteers. The following telegram from Major Jackson to Major Murray will show thit the Wuikato men are already moving in the matter, and that so soon as Government consent is obtained invitations will be sent and preliminary arrangements entered upon, ft will be seen the intention is to ask other districts in the Auckland province to take part, and we have no daubt the encampment will be the largest held in the Waikato Bince the troops left. There is no doubt that under the energetic management of the Waikato officers and men the affair will be a grand success. We sincerely hope the Thames men will muster en masse for the second expedition to the Waikafo. The following is the telegram:—" Maj >v Murray Thames.—Waikato .Cavalry Volunteers propose holding a review during Easter week at Te Awamutu, for the purpose of meeting. the Thames Volunteers. It was further resolved to ask other Volunteer corps to attend. So soon as the Government notify us their approval of this meeting I wid communicate further with you on the matter.— Wju. Jackson, Major."

A verx singular case of suicide oscurred at the temporary Lunatic Asylum for females, (near the Provincial District Hospital), early on Tuesday morning, a patient named Margaret. Ann Wyatt, having handed herself to the roof of the apartment in which she slept, using portions of a sl!eet to accomplish her (.lurpose. The following are the circumstances surrounding the sad affair, so far as they have transpired :—According to tho regulations of the institution, the night nurse is accustomed to visit the patients at leaisfc every two hours, and the deceased was last seen alive by the nurse about 1 o'clock m the morning. She was at that time asleep in .her bed, and there were 28 other patients occupying the same room, who wer. also asleep. At half-past 3 o'clock, the night nurse again paid a visit of insjflotion to the dormitory, when to her surprise and horror elie saw the patieut Wyatfe hanging from the ceiling by the neck, deud. ■So fur as could be judged, sue hud secured the rope first to her neck, thence over a support of the ceiling, and jumped off her bed. Strange to say, none of'the inmates of the room were aroused by toe noise, or aware of the tragedy which had been enacted. The woinun was at once cut down, and Dr Cooper, house surgeon of the hospital, sent lor. He; is ibohncd to the opinion, as the body was quite cold, that the deed tnuut have been committed by the unfortunate woman between 1 and 2 o'clock iv tbe morning. Margaret Wyatt was admitted as a patient on the 3Och Soplember last, but during the whole period of her' custody never manifested any tendency to self destruction, but was quiet and inoffensive. An iuquest. will be held on the body to-day, at 2 p.m., at the Asylum.

o'Si.Gto promises to be the most strongly represented j.b the Hew Zealand Kifle Association's meeting in March next. The Danedin Rifles will probably send seven men, including Sergeants .Richardson and Johnston, Corporal Hutchison, and. Volunteer Marshall. The City Guarda will be well represented by Cuptain Wilson, Volunteer Smith, and Corp. Webßter, with Volunteer Harding and Bandsman King from the North Otago. The Clulha team of fire men, if possible, and luyercargill is sure to send at least one representative.

The country brewers id the Wellington district conlpkin that there is great difficulty thrown in their way of obtaining stamps. They cannot issue their beer without the stamps, nor can they afford to take a very large supply, at once j aud every time they require them they have to send a requisition in duplicate to the Customs authorities there, which entails a good deal of unnecessary delay. One brewer says he had an order for a large supply of beer, and, being out of Btainps, Beat to Wellington for them. It was tec days before he received the stamps, and, in the meantime, four hogsheads of beer went eour, so that he lost considerably by the

transaction. He wrote to . the Customs authorities, and received in reply an official communication in which he was poliiely informed that the Government did not intend to suit his convenience. XJ\.der the Act, the police are »ppointed inspectors to see that the ca«ks of beer are stamped, aud a correspondeofc argues that surely they might be entrusted with a stock of these revenue " tickets " for the convenience of inland brewers.—Post.

At the fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board held on Tuesday last, the important question of providing the port with a large and auitable dock was entered, and discussed at considerable length. The Board now etHnds committed to the work, for a vote of £50l)0 was taken for the purpose of providing a suitable site and commencing the work of excavation, &c , and the Engineer is instructed to report on the most suitable sites, leaving it for the Board to select one. The arguments used in favour of the project are those which have been so frequently urged; and, indeed, the Board was unanimous in the opinion that the large dock should be provided without delay.

WißEMtr Katene Tuwhakaruru writes to the Normanby Star as follows :—"Sir, —This is my word, which I wish mr.de public', with reference to the Waimate •■ We have no wish to have trouble wi*h those persons who have bought land. It is the wish of Ti Whid to maintain peace" between your race and our hop, and I see no cause' for troube on Waimate. There may be trouble if the cattle of the pakehas are not looked after ana break into our-cultivations, or if people of your race, when our peop'e are away at Parihaka, steal food from our cultivations, or take our tame pigs from the vicinity of our dwellings. It is for you to see that these things are not done to lead to trouble. If piga are doing damage to your lands, it is right that you destroy them, or you can buy the pigs and take them away. A great many have been sold # for one shilling each to those who want to cart them away. On the 7th of January a great many of cur people will be leaving to go to ParihaUa; only the very old will be left behind. It is for you to prevent your people giving us cause fdr annoyance and trouble, by cautioning Europeans to reBpect the property we leave behind us in our absence."

The Patea Mail has the following pleasant little story to tell about Tuhi's trial : — " Among the multitude present in Court to day might be seen six Wellington hangmen, each willing to tender his services in so laudable a service. These six some time ago, unknown to each other, tendered for the hanging of a criminal at Pieton. It would be a subject for Hogarth to view the ghastly smile which played on each of their countenances when certain points of evidence were powerfully sheeted home to the culprit."