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Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4274, 12 September 1882, Page 2

The shabby treatment of the Thames Volunteers who went to Parihaka by the Defence Minister has been the all-absorbing item of interest to-day, eclipsing entirely the Queen of Beauty mine and the municipal election. We have hot met any person yet who did not strongly denounce the language of Mr Bryce as being, false, cowardly, and contemptible. In the beginning of the Session no praise was too great to shower upon them ; vow their conduct is scandalous and mercenary. And all because they a'aked the Government to fulfil the engagement entered into by its servants. At present Mr Bryce is master of the situation ; he achieved a Victory by the dsstardly expedient of proclaiming this comparatively unimportant matter a Government question when many of the Northern members 'bad left for their homes. He thus forced pome members who had given the volunteers their hearty support, to either abstain from voting, or risk turning the Government out of .office., As for the volunteers, if all else is* loat, honor remains. That the volunteers will demonstrate their resentment by aome means is very probable. Some suggest resigning en masse. That would mean making a present to the Government of the capitation money already earned, and possibly leaving a legacy of unpaid debts to various tradesmen. A feeling is gaining ground that Mr Bryco should be burnt in effigy. Others suggest that he should be invited to visit the Thames as an experiment to try which of the two tunes the band, which would be guaranteed to meet him at the steamer, would strike up, the "Conquering Herb Comes "or the " Eogue's March." Not a few speak of instituting law proceedings. His name is never mentioned without epithets of detestation. We certainly advise the volunteers, to meet, and pass resolutions burling Mr Bryce's slander back in his teeth, with compound interest.

Viokbut'S battery at the foot of the Karaka Creek was Bold at auction yesterday by Mr Win. Carpenter for £250. A portable engine by Hornsby was offered, but the reserve £150, was not reached, and it was withdrawn. Tbe bidding was languid. Meßsrs Bobbett, Bateman, and Sherlock were the purchasers of the battery, which consists of 22 stampers and 6 berdana. We learn on good authority that it will be offered to the Eureka (Otuniii) shareholders to-morrow night at their meetine, at the sale pri'.-e. The transaction displays a .-pint of enterprise aud confidence, ou the part of our local tradesmen that we hopo to aec rewarded ten-fold, the gentlemen being themselves shareholders in the Eureka mine, on whose behalf, indeed, the venture VMS raaje. Whether the offer is accepted or not, it is pretty certain a better bargain will not be had*. The 6-head battery recently bought by Mr McLean will be erected at Otunui as soon as possible, so that the field should shortly be supplied with crushing power.

LAMB 8u03.' timber yard in Mary street had a narrow escape from destruction by fire about 2 o'clock this afternoon. Shavings were being burnt, and some sparks therefrom issuing from the chimney fell on the roof, which they ignited. Happily.numerous ami willing hands went speedily to work and hipped the career of the fire in the bud by pouring buckets of water on the burning portion, -

Capt. Wildmak, in a notico in another column, cautions members of the Naval Brigade against taking any part in the proposed burning of an effigy of the Hon. J. Bryce.

Twenty-thkee of the Tp Aroha settlers arrived by the Enterprise last night. They came to the Colony in the Rakaia, landing at Lyttelton.

The inquest on Mrs Sarah Cleaver's death at Auckland was resumed yesterday, and after Dr Richardson's evidence had been taken, Dr Walker, who corroborated it, said that even if Mr' Pond gave an adverse opinion, he would stand by hiß evidence, and believe that the girl died from an irratiant poison, and thn test revealed crystals .of arsenious ascid,