Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3772, 29 January 1881, Page 2

We understand that the Waio Karaka and Waiotahi Creek Schools will not open on Monday, owing to the day being a holiday on the Thames. The pupila will picnic at Tararu and Parawai. The sohools open on Tuesday morning.

Bum's old hotel at Hikutaia was dcs troyed by fire early this morning.

The Town Clerk notifies defaulting ratepay era in another colum.u that, in order to save legal proceedings being taken, it will be necessary for the rates to be paid before the 7th of February.

We would draw the attention of the police and Inspector of Nuisances to a grevious nuisance that exists upou the Karaka tramroad. One of the inhabitants emptied a quantity of refuse matter on to the roadway, and IS has become offensive in the extreme, both to the neighbours and pedestrians passing up the road. The attention of both the police and Inspector of Nuisances has besn called to this nuisance, and we trust they will take action in the matter, as if something is not done fevers may be anticipated.

Mr Thomas La.-wxt£S3, mine host of the Empire Hotel, informs the public through our advertising columns that he has just completed the renovating of his commodious establishment, and that it is now one of the best licensed houses on the ground where accommodation can be obtained. In addition to being agent on the Thames for Abbott's and Gillett's Consultations on the Dunedin Cup, Mr Lawless has on his own acoount started one on the Melbourne Cup for £1000. During tHe past few yeara a considerable sum of money has been sent away fram here to Auckland and elsewhere for investment in this line of business, but the prizes gained by speculators have not been so very numerous. Mr Lawless now intends to keep the whole of the money in the district if possible, and has therefore; instituted tbe present Consultation. Thames people are of a well known speculative disposition, and, while therefore we may regret to see it grow into such large proportions both here and in other parts of the colony, it is a step in tbe right direction to have the management of a local oharacter. SebgwantMflvmm:, the much respected A.C. Sergeant on the Thames, has received instructions to proceed to Te Aroha to replace Sergeant Russell, who is to be removed from that station. A presentation of a handsome gold watch, chain, and signet ring will be made to Sergeant Mulville at the Academy of Music on the eve of his departure, by* his numerous friends on the Thames. This will be the second time the services rendered by the Sergeant have received public recognition in a substantial form.

The obnoxious plant, the Scotch thistle, is growing and multiplying to such an extent that numbers of paddocks and by-roads are almost over-run with it, and it should become a matter of some moment to owners of land whether they should not take steps to eradicate it. it has been stated in favor-of the thiatle that the roots by penetrating deeply into the earth fei tilizes it, and that while a tenant of the land it tends in no small degree to preserve the grass until late in the autumn when it is most needed j that it soon render up its title and leaves the ground in good heart. The latter is a most fallacious argument in its favor, as so fur from exhibiting an inclination to quit laud after a few years occupation, the lapse of ten years finds them as luxuriant as at first, with no signs of evacuating. Extermination is the wisest course to be followed with this obnoxious plant.

Seveeai of the most influential chiefs and members of the Ngalitamainu and Ngatikotara tribes, accompanied by the well-known Haubau chief Te JSgakau, went to Maungatautari on Tuesday, for the purpose of protesting against the sale of some of the native lands in thai district.

A veby early resident in the Waikato in the person of the Rev. Father Pezant lately departed this life. Tha Rev. gentleman's career is sketched by a contemporary as follows. He was one of the pioneer missionaries of the colouy. He landed at Eorokareka on the 11th of July 1840, in the Worth Island, from the French warship L'Aube, and s nee that date many are the places where he has carried the good teachings and consolations of religion, and many are friends he has won to himself by his cheerful and kind, disposition. Shortly after his arrival in the Colony, he accompanied Bishop Pompailier to Akaroa, then a French settlement. Afterwards he attended the distrtcts of Tuuranga and Rotorua for four months, and spent three years amongst the natives of Waikato. It may be mentioned that in the opinion of the 1 most competent judges Father Pezunt was deemed to be one of the best Maori scholars in New Zealand. The rev. gentleman performed his missionary duties for some time in Auckland and Wellington. He had the charge of Taranaki for abont nine months, and afterwards of Otaki for about six months, bnt the place of predilection, where he apent 17 of the happiest years of his life, was" Wanganui During that time, or at lease lor nine years, he. had to visit New Plymouth several times a year on foot; His last 11 years were passed in the Provincial District of Marlborough where he died.

The Grey River Argus of Friday last has the following paragraph;-—" Rathor a strange circumstance happened in connection with the p.s. Dispatch. Yesterday morning the vessel was laying alongside the wharf, Mawhera Quay, when it was discovered about six o'clock to be nearly full of water. Assistance was at once procured, pumps rigged, and the services of the donkey engine brought into requisition, when the coals were taken out, and the water got rid of. The cause has not yet been discovered, but there are certain euspiciouß circumstances in connection therewith that demand a searching inquiry.". The vessel is suspiciously old, and probably needs repairing. :

The Wanganui Herald says: "It is not the intention of Mr Seymour to seek re-elec-tion at the hands of the Wairau constituency, and that it is sot unlikely he may seek a safe refuge from the bubblings of the political arena in the stagnant atmosphere of the Legislative Council, where probably the •peakership may be seen in the distance. He, and Mr Curtis, of Nelson, are likely therefore to be the next pensioners on the colony."

Sjjt£EAJ& teachers of the Board of Education complain that while they hare been dismissed for failing in their examination, others have been kept on who failed likewise. Ifc is to be hoped that the Chairman will see justice done to all, and that there will be no " helping the lame dog orer the style."— Observer.

A pigeon match was flown on Wednesday, 12th instant, from Amberlei to Ohristohurcb, between Mr R. Foulke's G-lanmore, Mr GK Bryenton's Scud, Mr A. Walker's Bridgewater, and Mr W. Ashby's Flying Scud, with the following result:—Scud, 37min.; Bridgewater, 38min.; Glahmore, 38min.; Flying boud, 39min. 40seo. The tie flown between -Mr Ashby's Blueskin and Mr Foulke's Chippendale on New Year's day wan flown off on Wednesday, and, resulted in Chippendale winning by 12min.

Why ought Mr Miller to be one of the leading men at the Thames ? Because he is the real JAM.

lisr r«ferenoe to Mr Firth's attaok on the unfortunate Mr Green, the Obs rrer says :—r Mr Firth has received a letter from a "person" of the name of Green, and Mr Firth is so full of wrath thereat that at a recent meeting of the Waste Lands Board he positively boiled over with indignation, and I am sorry to say expressed himself in language unbecoming a miller and a member of th<j Waste Lands Board. The amusing part of the matter is thao the contents of the letter which so roused Mr Firth's ire are not published in the newspaper report of the proceedings. It has been whispered to me that this letter " from a party by the name of Green" contained some extremely sound, strong and logical arguments against Mr Firth's proposed gum tax (hincillctlacryma). in the course of a very long experience, as Mr Firth plaintively pleads, he had never seen the like of thie letter, " for folly, conceit, ignorance, and impudence." The " folly "of that " party by the name of Green " consisted in his not seeing the wisdom of a gum tax ; the " conceit" in his imagining that he ooald have any opinion in the matter. The " ignorance and ; impudence " was displayed in his daring to presume to address the worthy miller and member of the Waste Lands Board, &c. &c. This " party by the name of Green" actually, shrieked Mr Firth, " holds mo responsible for the sparrows," then, as glancing round at the fases of his colleagues, he saw a smile stealing over their grim visages, and suddenly remembering that he was in a great measures responsible for the sparrows, he added, "or rather, all the curses that have followed their introduction." This, my dear Mr Firth, is a distinction without a difference. If I introduce rattlesnakes into the country, am I not responsible for the deaths resulting from their bites ? It will be of no use for me to say that I only imported them because they had such lovely rattles in their tails. Mr Firth's first thought, he tel'B us, was to " nail the letter to the public pump." As our public pumps are all iron, he wouid have some difficulty in accomplishing his purpose, but there is still another alternative ; his second thought was "to send it to the Museum." Now this latter opens up a large question,"granted that Mr Firth would be allowed by the Museum authorities to make use of that public building to gratify his private spleen; would other citizens be allowed the same privilege, should they desire to exercise it ? The chairman, who, with his usual perspicacity, took it all in at a glance, and for fear his colleague should make a still bigger fool of himself, he interjected that this " party by the name of Green " had already written to the Board referring to Mr Firth, and he went on to state that this " party " objected to the Board "assuming authority over private lands which the settlers bad bought and paid for, and be failed to see what jurisdiction the Board could exercise over private lands." Upon this Mr Firth breaks out again, " I think this unfortunate man mußt be a very long way on his road to the Whau," and he continues, "the poor man asked me to read bis letter to the Board," but owing to changing his dress for the levee he had not got it with him; and then once more as the contents of the said letter flashes across his memory, bursts out with, " as a compound of folly, impudence, puppyism and ignorance, I never Baw its equal." Ah ! well Mr Firth, such a silly, intemperate, snobbish, impotent ebullition of temper as this I have seldom seen before and certainly did not expect from you.

The Observer says :—" There was a Blight scandal at St. Pul's oq Tuesday evening. Mr Nelson had advertised a dedication service ("evensong with sermon,") and a large number of people (pious sduls) metto do honour to the occasion. What was their surprise to find the door closed, and receive notice to the effect that the incumbent had changed his mind. On enquiring the reason of this somewhat erratic conduct, I wa» informed that Mr Nelson had determined not to sit in the same church as Professor Swallow until the latter vindicates his character. Fearing the Professor might force nis way into the building, and that there would be a row, Mr Nelson thought it better to close the church, and no doubt he acted rightly. The sooner the present state-of affairs is brought-to a climax the better. I hear that several families intend to give up their seats unless Mr Swallow either retires or rights himself, and public opinion will moat certainly uphold them in this course."

The holidays being now over, and the " A. 0. de Frietas" having brought me a fresh supply of musical instruments. I am going in for business with renewed enrgy. My stock is now very large, and I must sell or else give the things away, as I have more goods coming by the " Sydenhatn."—John G-BIQG, Pollen street.