Memoranda of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4224, 15 July 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

Memoranda of the Month.

♦— — The .ship City of Perth has been sold privately for six thousand pounds to Mr John Mill, of Port Chalmers. Captain Wiliiam Jaokbon Baeby, who has been lecturing in the Waikato settlements, interviewed Tawhiao and hie chiefs, and was courteously received. The natives at Parihaka are now idle and indolent. They cay they expect to see Te Whiti coming in the clouds from the South Island. The manager of the Tokatea mine reports having got 1251bs superior picked stone on the 22nd ult. from the intermediate level. The mine is still looking well, and the gold ia much coarser than usual. The Commodore was 'greatly pleased with the new dock Bite, Auckland, and stated if the dock was completed before he left the station he would be happy to open it with H.M.S. Nelson. The manager of the Queen of Beauty Company has made application for a twelve months' supply of water. This Company evidently haa not lost faith in the future of the low levels. Paxmeb Wilson, a ringleader of the Pon sonby larrikins, was fined £5 and costs for using obscene language to Mr Alfred Board* man. The presiding Justice told Wilson he would get imprisonment without the option of a fine next time. . W. Battbay, clerk in Native Land Department, was arrested on.the 30th at Wellington, on a charge of embezzliug £27 10s Government money, and remanded till Monday next. Bail was accepted, himself in £100 and two sureties of £25 each. The death is announced of Mrs Mary Jones, relict of Thomas Jones, brother of the late John Jones, so well known in the early days of Otago, as the principal merchant and shipowner. Mrs Jones was the first white woman in Otago, having settled there in 1810. Ma Goodwin, inspector, examined the Waiotahi school about a fortnight ago. 162 children were present 83 per cent, of the scholars presented for examination in standards passed, only 12 of the whole number having failed. The anniversary services in connection with the Congregational Church Sunday School, -were conducted on Sunday, 9th inst, by the Rev Mr Robertson, of Auckland, who preached eloquent sermons both morning and evening. The soiree takes place on Wednesday evening. Thb gold from the Martha claim, Waihi was valued at the high figure of £3 4s 8d per ounce. The gold from the trial parcel treated some months ago brought £3 14s 6d, bat the last crushing was not taken from the same place, which may account for the difference in value. At a meeting of the Licensing Committee of the Thames North held at the Gresham Hall on the 30th, on the application of Mr Brassey a license was granted to Mr George Symington for the Theatre Royal Hotel. Mr Miller also obtained for MrD.Barty a transfer of the license of the Prince Imperial Hotel from John Taßker to himself. The Commissioners were—Col. Fraser (Chairman) and Messrs Fricker and Thorburn,

The Waihi battery works well, baring been run as many as 85 strokes to tbe minute. Crushing for the company 1b now proceeding. The Martha stuff is making a good show on the pKtes, but the battery is not working satisfaotrdrily owing to a Bhort supply of water caused by the race not being properly fixed. Cleaning up will take place at the end of the month. Probably not more than fifty tons per week is being put through. At a meeting held at Taupo, Topia Turoa repudiated the report of his h»7in» given his country to the King, and declared his earnest desire to hare a railway from tho North, to the South pass through the district under hi* authority. Other Taupo chiefs declared their unanimous readiness to open up the country for a railway. Turoa telegraphed these facts to Sir G-eo. Otref, asking him to m-ntion them in the Hous*. A public meeting was held nt Hamilton on the 27th ult, the Mayor in tho chair, to urge on the Government rhe desirability of quartering the men of the A.O. force in town- | ships where house accommodation could be I afforded. A deputation intet viewed Colonel j Lyon next day, »nd in reply to their representation, Col. Lyon said he had no objection to winter tbe men at Hamilton, but Hamilton was not a station, and he must refer the matter to the Defence Minister, who alone could decide the question. Thb Auckland Harbor Board bare adopted the proposals of their sub-committee re pilot service, and decided to advertise for applications from competent persons willing to undertake pilot service ; they to find their own boat and residence, and have option of renting the pilot schooner Vindex. The cruising ground will extend to Tiritiri or a radius of ten mile* from Bangitoto Beef. The annual meeting of .the Lodge of Li^ht, No. 454, I.C, was held on the 28th ult. The following officers for the ensuing year were installed, Bro. W. Finlay acting as installing master s—W.M. Bro. Climo j P.M., Bro. W. Finlay; S.W.; Bro. B. H. Foster 5 J.W., Bro. T. A. Gentles ; Treas., Bro. J Ferguson; Sec, Bro., J. Patterson; S.D., JBro. D. W. Pitkethley } 3 J)., Bro. B. Wolff; 1.G., Bro. J. S. Small; Organist, Bro. W. Batcliff; Stewards: Bros. J. Mellhaney, and G. Meachem. Mb Joseph J. Tie, at one time well known on the Thames, and a popular comic singer at amateur concerts, died of inflammation of the brain at his residence, Kemuera, on Tueiday. After leaving the Thames he established a considerable auctioneering business at Waipawa.Hawke'eßayjand for the past two years held the responsible position of salesman for Mr Alfred Buckland. Wherever he went Mr Tye was always popular. Mb B. Stoke, shipbuilder, of Shortland, hns just laid the ki-el of a steamer, 45 feet long, to the order of Mr Cox, one of the Lincolnshire farmers at Shaftesbury, Te Aroha. bhe is designed to trade on the Upper Thames River, and will be adapted for towing. Mr Stone has also received from the same gentleman an order for a barge of the same dimensions as the one recently launched from his yard. Thomas Tbonb, of Mangere, the settler who died from injuries received by falling off h~'s horse in retnrning from the Otahuhu polling, at the North Franklin election, was a single man aged 33, a native of the North of Ireland. He has a brother, David, residing at Napier, and has left a considerable amount of property. He was apparently under the influence of drink at the time. The directors of the Thames Sericulturul Association have cabled to Sydney for 1000 plants of the mom alba mulberry. By the first boat from Sydney the plants are expected. This is the largest importation of these which has ever been made in New Zealand, and we understand that applications have been made to the directors from gentlemen in the South Island for a portion of tbe shipment. - The Thames Association. deserves credit for the manner in which the matter has been per* severed in. , . The Bank of New Zealand has opened a branch at Te Aroha, under the management of a popular young officer, Mr Gh A. Burgess, thus taking time by the forelock. But this Bank always does forestall business, and there is scarcely ever a township sold wherein it does not secure some of the most valuable sites with a view to business. Our correspondent informs us that the Te Aroha folk are grateful to the Bank authorities for acting so promptly. The citizens' ball to Coinmodre Erekine and the officers of the Nelson was given on the 6th inst., in the Choral Hall, Auckland. Among the guests were: Captain Eercher, and the officers of the German warship Carola, and the German Consul-General, Captain Yon Zombesch. Five hundred were present. I Tbe hall was beautifully decorated. There was no speech-making. At the half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Waikato Lodge, No. 5444, Independent Order of Oddfellows, the following officers were elected for the ensuing six months:—Noble Grand, John Adamson ; Vice-Grand, George A. Christey ; Elective secretary, Patrick Herbert ; Auditors, A. Hume, Thomas Gentles, and C. J. Ohristey. The sitting of the Native Land Court at Paeroa has terminated. Some 73,000 acres were passed through, 65,000 of which are the property of the Government. Certain reserves are to be laid off for the natives from their own lands and rendered inalienable. As the lands dealt with are in the Ohinemuri goldfield, the Government obtaining possession of them should lead to a considerable augmentation of the County revenue. The half-yearly . meeting of Court Pride of Parnell, No. 4409, Ancient Order of Foresters, was held on the 29th when the following members were elected for the ensuing six months :—Chief Ranger, David Henderson ; Sub-Chief Ranger, R. J. Stone ; Sjnior Woodward, Mdngnus Bystrora ; Junior Woodward, Wallace Henderson ; Senior Beadle, G-eorge Ghttiiner; Junior Beadle, James Caombes; Surgeons, Drs Payne, Hu-itable, and Cullan ; Auditor, S. C. Schofiold ; District Delegate, Charles Ahier. The recent test of the Newcastle and Katao coal by Hie engineer of the Nelson is exceedingly satisfactory. The trial was made on one of the picket boats, and resulted greatly in favor of the produce of the Kttmo mines. The tiginesr'i calculation; reduced to.plain figures amounts to this: —One shilling's worth of Newcastle coal carried the launch a distance of five miles, while Kamo coal, to the same value drove her seven miles, or two miles further. At the same time two bags of Bay of Islands coal were pub up for the engineer to use, but unfortunately were left achore. Mb, Bobebt Gbaham, whose name has been associated with works of enterprise from the earliest days of the colony, and who started the Ellerslie Gardens, Rotorua Hotel, and Waiwera Hot Springs, is about to float the Waiwera property, which has attained a celebrity almost world wide, into a company. It is paying at the rate of 20 per cent;, on capital invested, and it is an investment bound to increase in value. Mr Graham, we understand, is going home, and wishes to dispose of those properties which need much of his personal supervision. For the year ending the 31st May, the Union Insurance Company's balance sheet shows an available balance of £18,871 83, out of which amount the directors propose to pay the usual dividend of 10 per cent., absorbing £7500; to place £2500 to reserve fund; and to carry forward to next year £887.1 Bs. The premiums for the year amount to £1)2,428 4a 2d.

The concert in aid of the funds for the purchaße of the freehold of the eround on which the Convent schools now stand, held on Tuesday, the 4th instant, was an unqualified success both as to attendance and merit. Miss Swan contributed some exquisite gems to the entertainment of the; audience, and to praise Mesdatnes Kilgour and Payne were superfluous. Other ladies, including Misses Oonroy, Brown, and Reardon Bang songs, all being well received. Amongst the male performers were Messrs Airey, Vowles, Haydon, and Wiseman. Mr Wiseman's new song, "The harbor and the railway," brought down the house, the applause being hearty and continuous. Mr R. Owen presided at the piano. At the conclusion the Rev. Father O'Reilly returned thanks for the numerous attendance, and expressed his gratification at finding so many of other denominations present. During the entertainment several young pupils of the Convent gave instrumental selections, which reflected the greatest credit on their teachers. A MEETING of the members of Sr. George's Episcopalian Church wus held on the 4t.-h instant, the Rev. W. Cnh'er presiding. Relative to the adoption of a hymnbook, a resolution was passed by the casting vote of the chairman to the effect that the question should Btand over till ih« annual meeting in January. The sub-committee appointed to take steps for wiping out the debt due by the Church to the Trust Committeo reported they had commenoed a canvass ot Church members for donations or monthly subscriptions, extending over twelve months, during which period it was purposed to clear away the amount due. From 70 persons, the sum of £132 14s 6d had been obtaioed. The committee asked that some ladies might be appointed to take up the monthly contributions appearing upon the present and the future lists. The Chairmen undertook to call the ladies together next week in order to arrange for the matter being carried out. The monthly meeting of the Orphanage Committee was held on tba 4th instant. Present: Mesdames Fraser, Neill, Ehrenfried, McDonald, and Calder; Messrs McGowan, Oiborne, and Speight. Mr Osborne occupied the chair. Mrs Ehrenfried apologised for the absence of Mrs Wilkinson. Six pairs of knitted socks for the children were received from a frie"d through Mrs Wilkinson. The replies pent to a circular by the Secretary (,o the Committee stute. that the experience which has been gaintd by the Committee in the management of the Orphanage leads to the following, among other,* conclusions :—l. That fourteen years for boys and fifteen years for girls are the earliest ages at which children from the Home are sent to earn their livelihood. 2. The weekly costs of the inmates at present amounts to 5s 4d. The average annual cost per inmate for medical attendance imd medioine has been 4s 4d. The total cost of maintaining the institution for the year 1882 is set down as £484 14s lOd, while the average annual cost per inmate is stated at £7 14s 2d. Mesebs Fraser and Tinne, of Auckland, are constructing a new crushing plant to the order of the inventor, Mr Robinson, for many years battery manager in connection with the Tokatea and Bismarck mine?. A model of the plant worked very successfully and the. order now in the engineers' hands is of sufficient size to thoroughly test the capabilities of the design. It will, it is thought, crush the quartz as fine as flour, by means of a Beries of rollers instead of stampers. All experts who have examined it speak hopefully of its chances of superseding the present appliances for quartz crushing. Should this be so it will prove a great boon, especially to out districts. There is not a piece of the machinery but cau be packed on horseback, and it is estimated the cost in many instances, would not be more than' a tenth of expenses-under-.existing cireamstances. The new crusher is expected to be finished this week. Patents have been applied for in both this colony and Australia. The kauri tree has* for along time been supposed to have reached the most southern limit of. its growth at Katikati, near the Ohineroa Gorge, where William Thompson was buried. It appears, however, that the kauri is to be found further south up a branch of the Wairoa river, at the back of the Paengaroa block. The Maories have for a length of time been aware of the existence of from sixty to one hundred trees there, but the track to it goes through such rugged aud precipitous country, with huge falls and entangled undergrowth, that the locality is visited but very rarely. So far as we can learn, Messrs C. and N. Kensington are the only Europeans who have ever visited the locality, and seen the kauri trees. They report that it is exceedingly difficult to get to the place in question, and that the trees are full grown, and the majority of them over four feet in diameter. The journey to where the trees grew takes five hours to accomplish from the native settlement at Paengaroa, so that anyone desirous of seeing the most southerly spot where the kauri grows has no easy task to undertake.—B. P. Times. The 20-stamper battery recently erected at Waihi by Mr Adame for the Waihi and Young Colonial Companies, was started on the 22nd ult, at 11 o'clock. The machinery was found to work smoothly, and there was an abundant supply of water even when the stampers were going at the rate of 100 strokes per minute. The 10-head owned by the Young Colonial Company were to start crushing to-day on quartz from tbeir big reef. Now that crushing power is available, we hope soon to see the Waihi field come up to promise, and turn out as much, if not more, gold than it was said by the prospectors it would. There are now two crushing mills at work, and as the quartz already obtained from the Martha, Young Colonial, and Waihi' mines is said to be of good grade, the monthly returns should compare favorably with those being obtained by older mines on the Thames. The first of a series of lectures on " Conditional Immorality" and kindred subjects was d livered at the Oddfellows Hall on Sunday, 9th July, by Mr Taylor. The speaker took us the base of his lectuce the Ist of Timothy, and more especially the 13th to the 16th verses. He contended that man's nature was mortal; that God alone was the possessor of inherent immorality; and that eternal life was the gift of God to mou through Jesus Ctirist. He quoted passages from Genesis' Job, Psalms, St. John, Romans, and Corinthiuns, in which it was plainly s 'id that man was mortal, and in which men were urged to seek immortality through Jesus Christ. He concluded by urging all to come to the sutue place on Thursday night, when a discussion would be entered into, aud to search their Bibles for themselves. There was a fair attendance, and Mr Taylor was attentively listened to throughout. A "WBLL-attended* meeting of the shareholders in the Albion Licensing Holding, Otanui, was held at the Pacific Hotel on the 11th. Mr D. Miller occupying the chair. Mr McKeowo, who pegged out the ground, said he thought that the Eureka reef should be i cut in about 50, and certainly not more than 100, feet of driving. The reef runs through nearly the whole of the ground. Other business was transacted, and it was resolved that two men should be kept constantly employed driving for the reef. A meeting- of the shareholders in the New Columbia licensed holding, which includes the old Papakura, Dumbarton Castle, and Nil Desperaridum mines, Punga Flat, was held at Mr Horsbrugh's. office, lately, The prospeots of the enterprise were, discussed, and a feeling.. prevailed that remunerative gold should Vsoon be obtained. Mr John Bowler was appointed manager, and authorised to commence mining operations forthwith, £200 being ou hand for the purpose.

Messes Pbice Bbos. will ship for Roßsto*n, near Hokitikn, by the schooner Q-ael, which leaves here in a day or two, n I'irga hydrauli'pump for mining purpoae?. The cylinder is ,11ft. in length and 18in. in diameter, and as the pressure of water obtainable is about 1301b3 to the square inch, the pump is capahle of lifting nearly 15 tons. It is of course s lfacting, and is worked by equilibrium valves, which are in turn governed by sm Her ones under fcho control of (he enginepr, who is able by self-acting arrnngements to regulate the speed. The pump was tried a few weeks ago, and was found to work satisfactorily. A. commbmobatite sorvica re the 12th of July was held on Sunday, 9th innf-., in the Pitt Street Wesleyan Church by the members of the Auckland Lodges of the :Ornnge Institution. There was a good attendance. Grand Master David Goldie, North lslund Juri'dic lion, presided. The Yen. Archdeacon Maun--Bell gave an address. Among the brethreiTin regalia were v number of the seamen of H.M.S. Nelson.- A. collection whs made, to be forwarded to the Irish Emergency Committee in I reland, which, the Grand Master stated, bad expended £17,000 last year in relieving the necessities of persons of both creeds persecuted by the Fenian organisation. The Thames Rifle Bangers' monthly inspection was held on the 29th. There was a good muster, under the command of Capt. Douglas and Lieut. McFarland. The Native Corps also paraded, under the command of Capt. Nahe, Lieate. Raika and Poona. After inspection Major Murray presented the prizes, and before doing so, said he had much pleasure in presenting Adjutant Grant with his commission as adjutant, which he'had just received from the Government. The announcement was louoly applauded by the parade.' Sergt. Gibbs was called to the from : and presented with the Manning Champion Belt, the Andrews Cup (being winner of it at the last competition), and two money prizes. He was aleo presented with a distinguishing badge, being second prize for efficiency in the bayonet exercise, &c, Volunteer Lynch being presented with the first badge. Corporal Buckley also received two money prizes. Vols. Rowe, Greenville, Hales, and Hill received ous money prize each. The half-yearly meeting of the members of G-rahanislown Branch, H.A..C.8.8. Society, was held at the Hall on the 26th June. The secretary submitted the returns' and balanee-jheet for June quarter, which disuloed on the whole a satisfactory state of affairs. ', Notwithstanding the greut drain oh the society through sickness there is to the credit of the Biok fund £613 12s, and to the incidental and management fund £237 Is, including goodß and effects purchased out of this fund. There has been also a great drain on the latter fund owing to an adverse judgment in the R.M. Court amounting to £43 3s for medical attendance which had to be paid twice over. The number of members financial and otherwise is about 70, one of them; living in no nearer a place than Chifoo, in the province of Shantung, China. Time was when those who watched over the affairs of the Branch during its infancy were only too anxious to have to dispense some of the benefits guaranteed by it, as there was a long immunity from sickness, but they had not many years to wait when claims bad to be met to satisfy the most philanthropic and calculated to alarm any man laying claim to be of an acturial turn of mind. The books of the society show that for the list eleven years the large sum of £887 Os lOd has been paid away for sick money, and £230 for funeral claims, making a total of £1,117 Os lOd, or over an average of .£IOO a year. The stability and prosperity of the branch so far may be attributed to the large number aggregated to it during the heydey of its pros-perity,-who paid a lot of money in entrance fees and contributions, and received no benefits in return, being mostly young men who left the Thames when times became dull for •' fresh fields and pastures green." To return to the business of the meeting, the election of officers for the ensuing term was then proceeded with, and resulted as follow! :— President, Mr James Moran ; Vice-President, Mr H. Sullivan ; Secretary, Mr M. Landers; Treasurer, Mr E. Twohill; Warden, Mr C. MePike; Guardian, Mr M. Toohuj Sick Visitors, Messrs Scanlan and Griffen; Medical Attendants, Drs Callan and Huxtable. The annual meeting of the Southara Cross Gold Miuing Company took place on the 30th. The directors' report stated that since the lust meeting 204 tons of quartz had been crushed for a yield of 4050zs 18dwts of gold, the value of which was £1,064 0s sd. In his report the mine manager stated that there is a good chance of coming on a patch of gold in the hangingwall leader of the Caledonian main reef. At present an intermediate level was being driven on this reef with the object of prospecting. He had seen no gold as yet, but hoped to come across some. A prospering level was also being carried in on the main reef. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £2,302 sd, of which £1,238 had been realised by calls and the balance by gold, while the expenditure had amounted to £1,626 6* 9d, leaving a balance of £475 13s 8d in the bank. Mb James Kelly informs us that he did not find the road between the Thames and Tanranga nearly so bad as he anticipated. From Tauranga to Owharoa. it is fairly good, but from Owharoa to Mackaytown it is pretty heavy. The road from Mackaytown to Faeroa is in a fair state, and hence to the Thames he found fairly passable, except near to swamp. He thinks there should be no difficulty in a four-horse ooach leaving the Thames in the morning and reaching Tauranga that night, with of course changes on the way. He is of opinion that next; summer a coach should run through twice or thrice a week. It would carry the mails, and be most convenient for the goldfields townships which are springing up in all directions on the route. It would be a boon to ladies«nd children, and others who do not like travelling by steamer or riding. But besides, quite a large number of persons, he is assured, would go to Tauranga from Auckland via the Thames instead of taking the steamer. Persons either proceeding thither or to the Hot Lakes from Auckland would, in many cases, prefer tbia way, and almost all would certainly accept it as an alternative route, for there is more to be seen on this journey than any other. A 'double marriage took place at St. George's Charch on the 27th ult;, Mr J. F. Day being united to Miss Annie Corbett, of Wellington, and Mr A. S. Webber to Miss Emily E. Day. There was a choral service through compliment to Miss Day, who was a member of the choir. In the exhortation Mr Calder said that a man and woman agreeing to sink their individuality and become as one person was one of the most wonderful miracles of this or any other century. . These was a capital house on the 27th ult., at the Academy of Music to the cantata " The wreck of the Argosy," rendered by the choir of St. George's Church. The several solos were excellently reni dered by Misses Probert and Coney, and Messrs Airey, Coney and Catran, while the chorus and orchestra deserve commendation for the manner in which their part of the performance was given under the able conductorahip of Mr W. R. Steward. The voting on the tramway proposal on the 23rd, resulted in 472 for and 85 against, thus giving a substantial majority in favor of its, construction. Many persona who were opposed to the undertaking did not vote, thinking that a vote unrecorded wua equal to one opposed to the enterprise.

Two petitions relative to claims upon the (3- vernment for goldfields revenue from the Thames and Ohinemuri districts were forwarded on 10th to Wellington, to be presented to the House on behalf of (lie County Council. Mr Cad man presents to one from the Thames, and Captain Morris that for Ohinemuri. Mr Sbeehan and Mr Whyte will be asked to assist. The petitions were engrossed at the office of Mr J. A. Miller, solicitor. Thb anniversary soiree in connection with the Congregational Sunday School was held on the 12 th July, and v> as well attended by the young people. The Rev. Mr Laishley presided. Apologies were read from Revde. Messrs Bull and Noil!. Interesting speeches were delivered by the Revd. C. E. Barley, J. Robertson (of Auckland), and the Rev. T. Ij. Davies. Vool selections were given at intervals, the choir singing anth'-ms and Miss Adams and Mr Leech aolos. Mr jLaisbley, ia felicitous terms, referred to the late Arch* deacon Lnsh The intellig-'ncn of the death of the Yen. Archdeacon Lush will be received with profound r.'gret by all sections of this community. He had been identified with thn Thames from its earliest days until quite recently, and his sterling character commanded the respect of not only his own flock but of persons of other denominations. Some possibly regarded him as too narrow in his views, and inclined to High Churchism, but he swerved neither to right nor left when he was in the p»th of duty. He was a thorough gentleman, alike in bearing, instinct, and character. Whatever his views, in him were embodied the grandest of Christian principles —to do ill to no one, and to endeavor to do all the good pot" sible. Those t^ere were,, of course, who thought differently from him, but none could in any respect point at him the finger »f scorn. His reputation was perfectly in consonance with bis office as a minister of the gospel of right.' ousness, purity, and lore. He was ailing before he left the Thames some months ago, and the removal to Waikitb did not effect auy improvement. Indeed, it is said that he was stricken with grief at severing the associations which he had formed here. Archdeacon Lush came to the colony in 1850, and was for 15 yeara minister in the Ho wick district, and for 13 years at the Thames The rev. gentleman was 65 years of age. The Bay of Plenty Time? says with risferanae to th« proposed railway from Taurtnga to Rotoma : —We understand that it is proposed to issue a total of £250,000 capital stock, the first, £300 at 50 per cent discount, the next £47,700 at 25 per cent discount, and the balanbe of £200,000 at par. The issue of £47,700 of stock at a discount of 25 per cent we are unaware, but as to the £300 to be issued at 50 per cent discount we understand that the object is to raise the sum of £150 with which to defray the preliminary expenses inoident to obtaining an Act and certain concessions from the Government." ;" " About thirty gentlemen attended a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, on the 27th ult., to discuss the question of forming an electric light company for New Zealand. In a lengthy speech, Mr Travers spoke of the advantage? to be obtained from lighting cities with the electric light. He hoped that one company for the whole colony would be su cessfully floated, as in the event of having separate companies throughout it would be attended with considerable expense. Of course, local directorates in other parts would be appointed, but the chief directors would reside here. The following resolution was carried:-—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is expedient that a company should be formed to be called ' The New Zealand Electric Light Company, Limited,' to undertake the business of public and private lighting, and the application of electricity to purposes of-loooTnotton^whib-i^ipitaLMi^iW*—. to enable it to carry on business in all parts of New Zealand." : The locally-invented machine for making improved gas was Bent to Mcl bourne from D unedin on Saturday per Manipouri A patent has been obtained in New Zealand, and also for. Australia.' Steps are to be taken to exhibit the* process here and at Melbourne. The inventor claims that he can produoe purer gas at less than one-third the cost of the present article..", Thb Bay of Plenty Times in an article advocating subsidising a coach .between Tauranga and the Thames says:—Now that 5 through passenger traffic by coach is practicable from Tauranga to the Thames no time' should be lost in applying to the Government: for a liberal mail subsidy. The communica-' lion between here and the Upper Thames District, which adjoins Katikati, is of so intermittent and uncertain a character that some better provision than at present exists is urgently needed. It seems an utter absurdity- that two important' districts adjoining eaoh other should, have no better mail communication than the present one. If a person at Katikati wishes to communicate with a friend, at ; Waihi, a distance of between fifteen and 20 miles, he has to post his letter at Waterford, which letter, after a journey of 28 miles, reaches Tauranga. From there it leaves on Wednesday for a journey of 137 miles to Auck- ; land; resuming its peregrinations, it departs on another voyage of 42 miles to the Thames, and from thence goes overland a distance of 40 miles to Waihi. Thui a distance of 247 miles. is traversed by the unfortunate letter underour present defective mail arrangements. If everything is propitious, and no accident occurs, the letter reaches Waihi ia eight days, and before an answer can be received via the same channel, a further period of aboutlO days will elapse. It is certainly a hopeful state of affairs when a letter and reply to go a matter of 15 or 20 miles and back has to go a. distance of 494 miles and consume nearly three weeks on the journey. Thb Herald is informed that details of the scheme of the settlement of the Patetere Block by immigrants from England may be expected by the next San Francisco mail. A body of settlers for that block may be expected, it is said in the spring. Mr Howard Jackson, surveyor, who was conneoted with the survey of the Fielding settlement, has cut out the native reserves in the block and ] marked them off, a procedure which was necessary before the certificate could issue, so that everything is now in train far the settle-^ - ment of the Patetere Block. , . • .. The Orangemen of Auckland did not hold a procession this year. There was a soiree at the Lome street Hill; addresses by Archdeacon Maunsell, the Revs. A. Reid, Salter and Potter. Grand Master Goldie presided. There was a good attendance. The glorious twelfth has come and gone, . and not a word has been heard of the pious and immortal William 111, who delivered . Ireland from Popery, brass money,. and. wooden shoes! Is Orangeism dead on the . Thames, where it received its first great impulse in this Colony, or is it only sleeping ? Possibly the orange has coalesced with the " green, and that the \ occasion was being celebrated in a hall in Shortland, over the door * of which the mystic symbol H.A.C.B.S. shines brilliantly in large gilt letters. The sound of merry dancing, to the enlivening strains of the loyal tunes, " Garryowen" and "The Wearing of the Green," was.to be heard proceeding from the inside up to a late > hour last night. At the half-yearly meeting of the New ' Zealand Insurance Company the report showed that after making ample provision for all liabilities, and carrying £20,000 to the reserve fund there remains £21,584 for division. A dividend of fifteen per cent, was paid, and £6,554 carried forward.