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Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4281, 20 September 1882, Page 2

A CONPIDBNTIAI/ communication was received yesterday afternoon from Mr Sheehan relative to the matter of the| formation of a line of railway from Kopu to Te Arolia, and as the matter was of much moment, such of the members of the Borough Council as could be goi together met last evening and replied to that gentleman. Upon receipt of a favorable telegram from Mr Sheehan, public steps will be taken in the matter. Mb Gbeekvizae received the following letter from the Warden to-day:—"l am re« quested by the Hon. the Minister of Mines to inform the petitioners respecting the Otunui road routes, that after inquiry and consideration he does not see his way to interfere with the proposals of the Thames County Council, which appear to be in the direction of consulting the best interests of the miners, as far as funds afc their disposal will admit." It appears that it was riot Jack Comiell's milk-white steed which bore the Hon. John Bryce, in effigy, to be burnt up. A well known knight of the cleaver is proud to own the animal which was so highly honored on Saturday night. The Naval Brigade mutter for their usual monthly inspection to morrow (Thursday) evening, and the Hauraki Engineers on Friday, at the hourß named in the notices of the two companies which appear in another column.

The Herald, in an article on Mr Bryce's treatment of the Thames Parihaka Contingent, says :—" The words of the oath administered were, that the engagement was to be "for two months, or until lawfully discharged." The Thames men understood this to mean, that they wore to be kept for two months, or as much longer as they might be required. The interpretation put upon the word's by the Minister of Defence is, that the men were, to be discharged whenever they were no longer required." Our contemporary might have gone further, and said that the representation made to the men by the officer who onrollod them—the inducement held out to them to volunteer—was that the term of service would be two months at least. This, wo consider, the germ of the question, for if people are under Buch circumstances given to understand a certain thing, they are not apt to review the document giving effect thereto critically. BeiDg a public matter, and prepared by Government officers, they naturally accept it as correct. A yotjng man from Te Aroba, named Cornelius Bigley, was charged at the Police Court this morning with lunacy, and remanded for seven days, to be brought up sooner if required Pbiob to leaving Wellington Mr Cadman had an interview with Mr Rolleston in regard to the distribution of the sum of £20,000 voted for roads, tracks, &c, in goldfields districts. Mr Eolleaton said he would shortly visit the Northern goldfields, when he would ascertain the requirements of the districts, so as to enable him to apportion the money. Several applications for grants in aid of prospecting have been received by the Mines Department from this district, and when here Mr Rolleston will deal with these cases. Penny pieces, coated with silver, are being passed off as florins in Christchurch. Mb Hone Mohi Tawhai has evidently a bad opinion of the existing system under which lawyers earn their fees. While the Natives Lunds Act Amendment Bill was in committee in the House of Bepreaentatives, he said that the present way of dealing with lands was very much like two persons having hold of a cow, one by the tail and the other by the horns, and while they were holding her the lawyers got the milk. One peculiarity of the present Licensing Act has hitherto (says the Lyttelton Times) escaped the notice of most critics, legal and lay. According to the interpretation clause, " a spirit merchant" means " any vendor of 'duty paid' spirituous liquors or fermented malt liquors," Ac. It is an open question, therefore, whether any of our merchants are duly licensed to sell spirits or malt liquors " in bond." Ok Sunday morning, at 2 o'clock, the Auckland Stud Company's magnificent mare Onyx, dam of Sardonyx, and own sister to Bobinsoa Crusoe, dropped a colt foal to Musket at the company's ground, Sylvia Park; and at an parly hour yesterday morning another of the company's thoroughbred mares, Hannah, dropped a filly foal to the same sire. —Herald,

The ohn'rg»s a^d rounfrpr-c'mrgps rrnde by the head and second masters of the Boys' High School, Wanganui, have been inquired into by a Conference of, the Committee and the Education Board. The Committee occupied cix hours in taking evidence, which wenb to show that., the second master (Mr Steedman) was guilty of grossly insubordinate conduct towards his superior, whi'q Mr Francis (the head master) was greatly deficient in tact and judgment. The report of the Committee recommended that Mr Francis receive three Months' notice of the termination of his engagement, and that Mr Steedman receive instant di'mi«sal. The conference adopted the report of the Committee, with a modification in fivor of Mr Steedman, that he be requested to send in his resignation on or be ore the 25th inst., on the receipt of resignation, one month's salary to be paid him in lieu of service. It was understood that it would be open to Mr Francis to apply again for appointment. A VEST extraordinary lusus natures in the shape of a calf furnished with eight legs, three eyes, four ear 3, &c., was catved in March last, at Botany, near -Sydney.