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Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4311, 25 October 1882, Page 2

fja successful tenderer for the mail service between her* and Taurangs, Mr A. Young, left for the latter place yes(#j:d«y afternoon to arrange lor. the starting of the Una. The first dip *iil probably be made some time next, week, after which communication wjll be Kept up regularly.

Thk Nhthl Cadets parade this evening and bold a meeting afterwards.

The Thames representatives for the Rifle Association meeting at Dunedin left by the Enterprise for Auckland yesterday afternoon. They were, to leave Auckland to-morrow by the Arawata, and will arrive in Dublin some days before the firing commence. We hopn that our men will again bo successful in bringing to the Thames the Carbine Belt, but 'whether they do or not we are confident the district will have no cause to be otherwise than proud of their shooting.

At the Police Court this morning Messrs Rbbt. Graham and L. Ehrenfried, J.P.s presided. The only case before them was one of larcenr. Alfred Drew, a well dressed selfpossessed lad of 13 summers, who figured at the Court a fortnight ago in connection with I a similar offence, and was discharged, the prosecutor not pressing for punishment, appeared with unperturbed demeanor to answer for stealing a cigarette-holder from Mr George Denbj, chemist, of Pollen street. It appears that as Mr Denby was going to church on Sunday evening, accompanied by his son, the accusad met him and asked him to compound some medicine for bis mother. This Mr Denby went back to do, and while so engaged Drew appropriated the cigarette-holder, which lay in a china pot on the oounter. Missing it when he returned from church and remembering where -be had laid it, Mr Denby's suspicion rested on Drew, and Detective Doolan was communicated with. That officer baying a fair idea of the young gentleman's idiosyncrasies, proceeded to his residence, and cross-examined him in the presence of a relative. He stoutly denied the impeachment, and continued to do so until, being compelled to produce a miscellaneous assortment of articles—the accumulation of much industry— from his pocket, the missing cigarette-holder was found, to be amongst the fish hooked. The indictment was laid under the 193 rd section of the Justices of the Peace Act, which enables Justices to send lads under 14 to prison for two months, or instead order them to be privately whipped. After the case had proceeded for some time, the lad pleaded guilty, and Mir Denby said he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty, still this habit might grow upon the lad if not dealt with. The Bench informed the prisoner that this was the second offence, but they did not like to send lima to gaol. They would order him to be whipped once, after the rising .of the Court, and if ever be appeared before the Court again he would assuredly be sent to the Supreme Court. But then came the question, " Who was to do the flogging ? '' The lengthy conference which ensued between bench, police, and—by far the moat important of all—the Clerk of the Court, on this knotty point, has only- one parallel in history—that ever-memorable parliament of rats, in which a ministry was turned out of office through failing to find a satisfactory solution for the problem which threatened the well being of the Community, viz., Who shall bell the cat? Their Worships looked as if they had committed them selves instead of the prisoner ; pondered much, and said not'a great deal. The experienced Sergt! -Major evidently was angry and disappointed : he said nothing, but looked a great deal.-. The light and airy Clerk of the Court, on the contrary, talked to everybody, ten timer, more than.anyone else, and looked all round the compass. He was in a congenial element ~of fuss-, dictating to the justices, and correcting the sergeant, in the one breath.,. As for Detective DoolaH; he had been to StjtprsUnd after the wretched hnp no less' than bi'x times yesterday, and looked as if he could have done the whipping with gusto. Judging by appearances, if the boy bad been fortunate enough.,to fall into his hunds he would have acquired 1-a thoroughly practical knowledge of one Bubject, namely, what a sound whipping, means. Filially a list of the Constabulary was handed in to select one to handle the cane, and it it was decided to be done, a tender-hearted,; one being chosen. The Constabulary are very core about being called upon to do this sort of thing, and although the Sergeant said he would obey the order of the Court, he looked—well, that he considered an indignity had been cast upon the force. Mr Drew may congratulate himself upon getting off very lightly wiih ten or twelve taps of the cane, and those who know him best entertain bat slight hopes that the punishment will be sufficient to act as a deterrent. Ihe whipping took place at-12.30, and if blood did not flow, tears did. <; :

We would remind inteading competitors at the forthcoming sports of the Athletic Club to be held on the Prince of Wales Birthday at Parawai gardens, that a committee meeting of the club is to be held to-morrow night for the purpose of receiving entries, after which no further entries will be received for any of the events, particulars of, which- appeared in our advertising columns yesterday-

The Pacific Hotel was vieited by an uninvited, unexpected, and unwelcome guest, this morning. A mob of bullocks was being driven along, when one of them—a thirsty eoul, that is if bullocks hare souls—made a detour into the hotel. Two or three gentlemen were standing at the corner door barring bis way. One of the most convenient; had just time to wheel round, when his bullockship planted his horns on the softest and most prominent portion of his person, and pushed him gently .ahead into the bar parlor. In this room were Col. Eraser and Mr James Liddel, the well known prospector. Here matters became slightly mixed. The animal turned its attention to its newest acquaintance, and its former one was next seep issuing forth at\amtber door like a flash of greased lightning. The gallant colonel was writing at the time, but instinctively feeling that there was a stranger in the apartment, lifted up his head, and, circumstances being favorable, displayed the better part of valor. Happily be is still at the service of his couutry. Jim Liddel being cornered, showed grit and generalship ; he put a table between himself and and the bullock, and prepared for battle. However, the intruder was nob on the warpath, he was only on a cadging expedition, After staring long and steadfastly at Mr Curtis most imploringly, through the bar window, and finding the landlord was not inclined to shout, he turned round and departed the way he came, wearing a disappointed, not- to Bay dejected air ; but not. before he had broken two chairs.