The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4017, 12 November 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1881.

We hare been compelled to hold over the article prepared for this column by the press of telegraphic messages from the Front, and the arrival of the San Fran* cisco mail news.

Membees of the Thames Scottish Battalion and band are requested to parade to-morrow (Sunday) at the Hall, Brown street, at two o'clook, to attend the fuueral of the late Captain Bkene. Captain Skeue was captain of the first Volunteer company on the Thames —that company is now No. 1 Scottish. Memberß of other corps are respectfully invited to attend. ' _■

The Thames -fctiiie Rangers met at the butts to shoot for. Mrs Nick's fern picture, when the old veteran, Sergeant Gibbs, again showed to the front. The ranges were 200, f 400, and 500 yards, 7 shots at each range. The leading scores were—Sergt. Gibba, 77; Vol. Ingles, 70.

A Gbntiesian who has hud a good deal of experience in mining matters, and who visited the new find at Te Aroha quite recently, says it is the best thing he has seen for some time. The gold appears to be right through the reef. Tery little wo*k has been done as yet; a tunnel has been started to cut the reef at a lower level, but it is not being worked very vigorously. Mb Gueenvilus will address the electors of Kauaeranga Biding on Tuesday evening next, the 15th, at the Boys' School. Mr Comer, also at a later hour in the evening, will address the electors at the same place. We have seen a letter from a gentleman resident iv Victoria, and by profession a mechauical engineer, iv which he refers to mining pumping works. He mentions that the pumping engine on the Golden Stream claim, Avoca, throws out no less than 2432 gallons of water per minute. The engine is a 50-inch cylinder, Cornish beam, working twj 22-inch pumps abreast, and making 9fc strokes per minute, with an eight ftefc stroke. He says euoh a eight is not often eeeu as two streams of water of such mogßj* taie muHjug froai one shaft.

A telegbam from Auoklaud informs us that Mr Stopbenson, late of the Thainos, has succeeded in gelling from Government the sum of £40 paid by him for a publican's license, but owing to some opposition on the part of Mr Ketmek to grant a transfer after his liotel was burnt down, Mr Siephenson was unable to make uso of the license first granted him. The money wbb paid into the Borough fund, but the Council refused to return it; but now the Government has handed the money to Mr Siephenson, and will deduct the amount from subsidies payable to the Borough Council.

Titoktwabxt, it is said, sent a message to Te Whiti to the effect that he would order the Pakehas to leave Piirihaka in twenty-four hours, or they would have to take the consequences. Te Whiti sent back word that Titokowaru was to do no such thing, but that everything was to be left in his (Te Whiti's) bands. Michaei ('EOb&e Gbebn was poisoned at Reefton by taking strychnine. The jury found there wi>s not Buflicieut. evidence to show by whom administered. The Alpine Coy.'c battery, at Lytll, for the past week reduced 193 tons of Btone, for the return of 2160zs amalgiru from the top plates " CIVIS," in the Otago Witness, speaking of the approaching elections aaya, " Score out religiously the candidate who has got a' block vote.' If the block rote system be tolerated it will soon be possible for an imbecile without three political ideas in his head, but who has swallowed the formulas of Good Templarism and the Bible in Schools, to beat the best candidate that can be ru < against him. Whoever he may be, score out the nominee of block voters."

An officer who has had extensive communication with the principal natives of the East Coat, report that they utterly disclaim sympathy with Te Whiti, expressing great contempt for him, and hopa the Government will take decisire measures to prevent his doing any more mischief. Two chiefs of the Wanganuis alao state that Major Kemp had sent two chiefs to Parihaka, for the purpose of endeavoring to induce his people to leave that place and return to their homes. He is very angry with them for refusing, and says he hopes the Government will arrest them if they still refuse to go. These expressions, taken in connection with King Tawhiao's outspoken sentiments show that the policy of the Grovernt has throughout appealed to the native admiration for power and firmness. The Wellington Wanganui chief, Topia te Hakarai, who was in Wanganui to-day, corroborates the reports of Kemp's hearty approval of the arrests, and of his indignation that any of bis own people should bs among Te Whiti's deluded followers.

Mb R. N. Smith addressed the electors of the Totara riding at the Puriri school house last night. The attendance was not very large owing to the notioes calling the meeting not getting delivered. Mr Morrison was voted to the chair. Mr Smith commenced his address by saying he disapproved of the large salaries being paid to the County Chairman and officials of the Council. He believed an amalgamation of offices might be made with advantage, and thought the time had arrived when a change was desirable in the members of the Council. Those there now considered themselves as being there almost by divine right. As he was instrumental in having the Totara riding formed, he bad always taken the greatest interest in its welfare. He objected to many of the practices of the Council, and believed more money should be spent on roads and tracks, and less upon the cost of administration. A number of questions were ath d, to ull of which Mr Smith gave satisfactory replies. He was in favour of the Chairman being elected by the ratepayers, of the annual eleelion of Councillors, and that all works should bo contracted for. Travelling allowances should not be allowed either Councillors or Chairman. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed and carried unanimously. Mb BaotrN will address the electors o Waiotahi on Monday at, 7.39 o'clock. Mr Bull will also, address the Kauaeranga electors at St. George's Schoolroom on Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Mb Deeble's Committee meet at his residence on Monday at 7.30 o'clock.