THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3811, 16 March 1881, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1881.

The energetic Chairman of the Coromandel County. Council, Mr A. J. Cadman, has been directing; the attention of the Government to the requirements of the Coromandel district, and especially to the urgent need of a vote of money to open up the new goldfield at the Tiki. The prospects of that part of the Coromandel district, are most encouraging, and Mr Cadman is quite right in making every effort to have roads formed and facilities given to the miner to develope the resources of the new district. Coromandel has fared even worse than the Thames County in the matter of votes of money, .and.there appears little disposition on the part of the present Ministry to; interest themselves in the advancement of this ' portion of the Provincial district of Auckland. Notwithstanding that the Warden, Mr Kenrick, has recommended the expenditure of money from the vote set apart by Parliament for the opening up of goldfields by tracks and roads, the Government have not yet placed any money at the disposal of the Coromandel County Council, and the Chairman justly complains of the way his district is being treated. In a late communication Mr Cadman says that with the exception of £100 the district has not received one farthing from the Government for the past twelve months, which, fact bears out our remark that little attention appeared to be given by the Government to the wants of our goldfields. The conference of members of the Thames and Coromandel County Councils, to take place on Friday, we trust will result in the adoption of a •united course of action, and in steps being taken' to have a vote of money made by Parliament at its next session solely for goldfields in the North Island, or for this particular district. In view of Parliament dealing with the question of represeptation, it will be quite within the province of the Conference to express an opinion as to the electoral divisions of the district, for it is manifestly unfair to Coromandel to tack on- to it a suburb of the Thames, with a population sufficient almost to return the member for the district. The subject of representation is a most vital one, looking towards the future of the goldfields, and requires more than ordinary attention. The feeling among the inhabitants of this peninsula is daily growingl more and more in favor of local men representing the electorate in Parliament, and as both Coromandel and the Thames may be soon called upon to choose men to represent their interests, too much consideration cannot be given to the subject. The improvement of the main road from the Thames to Coromandel will no doubt receive the consideration of the Conference, and we hope to see steps taken by both Councils with such an object. We have referred to only a few of the matters that may with propriety be discussed by the Conference, and we shall be, pleased to be able to accord credit to the members for the result of their deliberations.

We call attention to the excursion to the Miranda to-morrow. There are very few more enjoyable outingg than one on the waters of the gulf on a fine day, and with the present. very settled weather, excursionists may reckon on a pleasant time of it on board ihe Enterprise to-morrow. The proceeds of Ihe excursion go towards the building fund of the Primitive Methodist Church. The Botomalmnti will leave for Ooromandel and Auckland at 8 o'clock instead of 7 o'clock as previously advertised. It is notified that Mr Thomus Kitchen has purchased from Mr James Marshall the business he has so long managed in Pollen street. Mr Kitchen 19 well liked by the general public and tho lurge connection he worked up for Mr Mars ball will no doubt patronise him now that he has the busmeos on his own account. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand ■with his accustomed courtesy notifies through our columns that that establishment will be ckmed to-morrow in honor of Ireland's patron saint. Wk call attention to the notification under the band of D. A. Tole, Esq., re land open for selection under the Homestead Jiys'.em. The following additional Melbourne Exhi bition awards to; Thames people have just been made public :—First order of merit— John Walker, C. ED. Thames, for tomato sauce; and Mrs Tizird, Thames, for water colours of New Zealand flowers. Third order of merit— J. Regan, Thames, and Mrs Tizard, Thames, for collections of New Zealand ferns ; Bagnall Bros., for bee-hives. The Free L mco has the following, speaking of Mrs Hampson's mission and the persons lately baptised : —" This lady evangelist has had a good tinio down in our mode3t little mining town. Hundreds of lost sinners have been reclaimed, and are now staunch pillar B of the church. The fact that bo many vile sinners needed lavins sh'.ws what an infernally wicked place the Thames must have been before thia female Apostio planted her foot on its polluted shore*. What a glorious revolution has her mission accomplished ! No more swindling, no more sslting of mines,

no more false reports. Everything is to be on the square, and the Auckland holders of mining scrip may rest contented, knowing that their interests are well taken care of, and that the mines are now worked on the Hampson principle."

Fbom an advertisement in another column calling for tenders for the erection and completion of a church at Paeroa, it would seeai that our Calholic friends, in undertaking the" work they have set about, have pinned their faith in the permanence of the Upper Thames District, of which the township just named, in all probability, is destined to be the centre. The site which the Church is to occupy is the finest in the locality, being part of an allot ment purchased by the Rev Father O'Eeilly on very advantageous terms some time ago. The design, which is of the Gothic order of architecture, has been prepared by that eminent architect, Mr Mahoney, of Auckland, free of expense, as well as the specifications, and when the sacred edifice i» orected, it will tend —apart Irom the religious purposes for whioii it is destined —to beautify the sylvan aspeut of Uiat up river settlement.

We notice that the Primitive Methodists have commenced to enlarga their church in Mackay street. The want of a larger place has long been felt, for the present building is too small to uccoinrnodate the number oi people who attend the services. For months they have submitted to an uncomfortable packing, especially at the Sunday evening services ; but when the additions and alterations are finished they will be able to worship in comfort. The present building will be shifted back and turner] round, and a piece 30 feet by 26 feet built in front, forming a T. Several other things will be altered, such ab raising the present building, so as to have more ventilating f»pace; and also having more comfortable seats, &c. The contract is let to Messrß Boyer and Chappell, the tenders being as follows :—Boyer and Chappell; £203; Farrell Bros., £209 ; McAndrew, £210; Donovan, £218; Home, £239; Thompson and Sinclair, £247 10s; Penk, £252 17b.

The funeral of the late Cadet Grant, son of the popular drill instructor took place yesterday afternoon. The procession marched off from Mr Grant's residence in Quern street in the following order: —Brass band (composed of musicians from the Navals and Engineers), plumed hearse containing deceased escorted by four of the St.. George's Naval Cadets as pill-bearers, chief mourners and civilian friends of deceased, St. Greorge's Cadets under Lieut. E.O3S, a company 40 strong, the elder boys of the Wajp K».ruka School, each one wearing a crape armlet as mourning and marshalled by their drill instructor, Mr Barlow; Mr G-. N. Phillips nnd Mr Carey Davis were also present; Thames Scottish Cadcfes under Captain Mennie, and representatives of the Naval Brigade, Eifie R-ingers, and Hauraki Engineers, under Major T. L. Murray, Captuins Wildruan, Small, anri Douglas ; Lieutinants Leydon, McFarland, Burton, and Etching. The intermeut took place at the Sbortland Cemetry, the Ejv. W. J. Watkin reading the burial service.

The schooner Lizzie Guy is afe present loading timber at the Turua mills for Oamaru. She will probably clear our for her destina tion on Saturday.

Members of the Court Pride of Parnell are requested to take notice that their financial meeetiiag wiil be held on Friday next instead of Thursday evening, the latter being a holiday.

It is nearly 40 years ago since the first Customs Act waß pissed in New Zealand. The schedule describing the duties levied may afford some interest at the present time by way of contrast to our existing tariff. It* re ids as follows :—A table of dutie3 of customs payable on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the colony of Naw Zealand and its dependencies. Spirits or strong water*: For every gallon of such spirits or strong waters, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' Hydrometers and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, for any greater or leas quantity than a gallon —Viz.—Not being spirits or strong waters the produce of the United Eingdom, of any British possesion in America or of New bouth Wales, or Van Dietnan's Land ss, Spirits or Btr>ng waters the produce of the United Kingdom, of the British possessions in America and of New Soulh Wales and Van Dieman's Land 4s. Wine for every £ICO value £15. Tobacco manfactured per 16s 9d. Ditto manufactured (except cigars and snuff) Is. Cigars and snuff 2s. Tea, sugar, flour, wheat, rice, and ot.her grain and puise for every £100 value £5. On all other goods (except goods the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom, or of New South Wales, or Van Dieman's Lund), for every £100 value £10. By an Ordinance taseod 23rd June 1841 no ! person was to keep or use a still for the J distillation of spirits under a penalty of from j £100 to £500.

Yotr can be measured fr»r a Trousers for 17s 6d, or Trousers and Vest 28s 6d, at Cioonan's (late Cosgrave and Go.) Plenty of Tweeds to select from.—[Advt.]