MATTERS IN THE UPPER THAMES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3875, 31 May 1881, Page 2

MATTERS IN THE UPPER THAMES.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,-—Did ycu ever have the tooth* ache; if not, get it, and go down to catch one of the Thames Steam Navigation Company's boats at the advertised time, walk two hourß up and down the bank of the river beyond the advertised time of sailing, get on board, and remain six hoars in company with cockroaches, black bags, and other minor parasites, and if that does not cure your toothache, then go to the Hospital and get it drawn, —We have turned musical up here. The Scotch portion of the community for some time past have been holding choir practice on a Friday evening, and latterly, since the advent of his highness the Key. Mr. », ,of the Wesleyan denominaV tion, a tort of joint meeting has been held, but as two of a trade was never known to agree, so it has been found in this instance. The two youthful divines who have been sent amongst us seem to be endowed with a double portion of the spirit for which the place has always been notorious—to wit, want of unity, andtnow it is found that we cannot even practice Psalmody without an amount of temper been shewn that is disgraceful to all cog cerned. Just fanpy a clergyman and some of his followers getting up and leaving a meeting because time could not be found to practice tuneii that the majprity of those present disliked and never used, although the same parties have an other evening, at which they i

could practice at tUeic hearts' eoatenta any tuues they wauted. s ome of U8 ■ begiuning to think that the sooner we ate left as we were in the ancie&t days, when Bridget resideJ amongst ü ßj we V ould have more peace in the district.—One of our local celebrities has started to run a I paper, and there can be no doubt bat that a large amount of good can be done to the district by a local journal in such able hands, in showing our wants and looking after the requirements of this large, and what will before long be a highly populous district; for our mining interests at present at O'wharoa and Waile'kaurl are good, and all we want is some of the spare population that is to be found wandering about the streets of Grahamstown with nothing to do, just to come up (here and give the district a trial, aud I I believe they will be paid for their labor.— Coming events cast their shadows before them ? An active canvass is already going on as to who shall be the chosen to represent the district next November. Some are of the opinion that the present members have fairly repre> seuted the district; oihers that, they are the two greatest duffers that, ever were elected to represent any locality; but the free and independent electors will be able to decide this question on the fourth Wednesday in November, at which time we also expect to hare a general election, and to have a hand, in electfpfc some one who will look AfUr this portien of the human race, and who will occasionally dud time to ask after our wants and requirements, and who will not b« found to agree to any such jobs' a? that Grahamstown Reclamation, where money enough was spent to have connected paeroa and the Thames by rail. But I think, Mr Editor, you had a band in that business. Report als > says that; a late Mayor of the -Thames went to cpllar the £10,000 that the-Grey Ministryjare fft the Patea Board, ouly His Worship arrived too late at "Wellington for that purpose. What a blessing he didn't get it, as monuments>«of folly erected by them are to be seen in several direc*. tions, and all that was wanted was tne £10,000 to burst their boiler.—l see by the new terms, of the Grammar School fellows, they are to s'obaa seinjent again clothed, and iv their right mind, and are offering some slight inducement to settlers. In the great FW-UonsoTs speech delivered a short time ago at the Thames, he accused the Auckland Waste Lands Board of selling poor laad «^k trig price. Surely he forgot the fact that some of his chosen followers, Messrs Speight, Kilgour and others, are asking a larger price for the right to use for a term of» years land equally! as> poor.? sft doel seem strange that atter the sum of £3500" being paid, to Broomhall by Grey to get him out of the district, not one acre 01 land was opened by the late Ministry, and now the best portion of the. block has been banded over to foreigners.—Have you got any eligible young ladies at the Thames, if so send up 32 of them here,: as that is the number of bachelors who are in want of wives at Owbaroa and Waitekauri, and as they are really a jolly fine lot, and could keep wives, only, like the writer of this letter, they are rather; bashful, but, as they believe: this is leap year intend giving themselves to the first eligible offer; •■ ■■■■■"• ..'«• : r.mM .«*.* Vrv»TT Paeroa, 28th May, 1881.

(To the Editor of the Efeniog Star.) Sib, —On two occasion a this week correspondents have referred-to the qualifications necessary for 'Surgeon to our Hospital. I would like to know whether victimising poor tradesmen and billiard., playing would be considered necessary" qualifications.—l am, &c., V ". .?,