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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4023, 19 November 1881, Page 2

The Thames contingent paraded on the reclamation ground, Shortland, this morning The officers present were :■—Captains Wildmari, Johnstone, and Captain and Adjutant Schb* field. After drill Captain Wildman addressed the men, and referring to the church parade to-morrow, expressed a wish that the men would appear without either colors or flowers, as such adjuncts did not form part of their uniforms. Volunteer Hyman asked if the rations were to be the same here as at Parihaka. The men, he laid, were paying four shillings a day. Captain Wildman said he would confer with Major Murray, and apprise the Volunteers of his decision to-morrow. The Scottish and Naval Bands will, we understand, attend to play to and from Church.

A ietxer appears in the Auckland Free Press above the signature of " Old Colonist,'' addressed to the electors of the Thames district. The following are portions of it:— Accident of birth seems to form a considerable element in a successful public life. By it one is King, another a shepherd. By the accident of circumstances one is a member of the Kelly Gang of bushrangers, while another, a near relative perhaps of those worthies, is a Cabinet Minister of New Zealand, although even then, a mere accident of birth ! True worth, however, is invariably modest and retiring, qualities which do not distinguish th& legal gentleman seeking our suffrages, and those of other constituencies, and who thrusts himself upon our notice without tbe slightest invitation, thereby creating a suspicion that the office is sought rather for private and sinister purposes, than for the good of the Commonwealth, or upon patriotic principles. It is not denied that the profession of the law includes a large proportion of great men, aßtute thinkers, eloquent speakers, profound scholars; men of wit as well as men of wisdom abound in its ranks, but it is found that they do not make honest reforming politicians. Indeed a modest, retiring lawyer, or a lawyer whose diffidence in any way obscured his merit?, would in these days be a sight for G-odsandmen. ... . There is one thing, however, that should be strikingly brought before the minds of the electors, that is, that the lawyer throughout criminal trials and the general practice of bis profession is a free and willing agent. There is neither legal or moral compulsion to urge him on. No; it is no intrepid defence agaimt tbe tyranny of a government, or the usurpation of power. It is the assertion of no broad and immutable principle of truth or justice. It is simply a matter of legal acumen, and persuasive eloquence to the amount of fifty pounds, more or less, endorsed upon his brief. It follows therefore, that if the lawyer cannot be true to himself and the principles of justice, he cannot be true to other men, or to political rectitude

The anniversary services of the Cocgregational Church will be held to-morrow. The fiev Mr Adatnson will occupy the pulpit in the morning, and the Eev Mr Watkin will officiate in the evening.

Mb Leydon held a horse sale at Faeroa on Thursday last. There was a large attendance and every lot offered was sold at satisfactory prices. Mr Leydon notifies that he will hold periodical sales at Paeroa on the third Friday in each month.

Mb Sheehan will address the electors at the Theatre Royal this evening.

We are requested to ask parties who pur chased fruit, &c, at the flower Show the other evening, and who took away the baskets containing same to return them at once. If left at our publishing office their delivery will ba seen to.

An extraordinary ineetiug of the Alburnia Company was held in the Insurance Buildings on [.Tuesday, to consider the deßirabiliy ,of forming a new company with a capital of £12,000 divided into 12,003 shares of £1 each, of which 8,000 would be allotted to the shareholders of the Alburnia GhM. Go. in exchange for their mine, and d.030 to be reserved for the company. One hundred and seventy sharei old ere were present or represented by proxy. Mr T. McFarlane occupied the chair. In the course of the Chairman's address, he said : " The battery has not been working full time nor to profit, in consequence of the depressed state of the mines. But Mr Bad* ford has at last succeeded in getting the County Council to charge for the quantity of water actually used, whereas formerly we paid whether or not we used the water. This is a considerable saving." Eventually the meet* ing was adjourned until the Bth prox.

A TEiBauAH says the Volunteers embarked on the Hinemoa at Opunake at six this morning. There is noth iug doing at Parihaka, ererythiog being quiet.

Ms Cadmak will tddrees tha electors on Mondiy night at St. George's Sebool-rooni at six o'clock.

Giidebot baa been entered for the Pub* licans' Purse and Goldfields' Handicap.

A TSZJE&JtiM. Bays: "On examination of the Penguin on the slip, it was found that she hag not received a scratch. She aiagistsrid enquiry will be held on Monday.' 5

A i*x> named Minns, in dunning down Augustus street on Thursday afternoon, fell and broke his collarboue, and injured his right shoulder. He has been attended by Dt Huxtable, and to-day is progressing most saliciuctorily.

Messbs G-ellion and Co, will sell at their rooms on Monday a large stock of boots and shoes, all new and fashionable. Heads of families will fiud this a good opportunity of laying in a frssh stoak, •

Mb J. D»ban wishes us to contradict a statement made Jin* a local referring to him in the Observor, The letter was not from his pastor, but was anonymously iorwurded. Anyone who knows the Rev Father O'Beilly knows full well that he is the lust man to bo tyrannical.