Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4339, 27 November 1882, Page 2

A HEEriuct of the Catholic congregation Mas held in St. Joseph's school-room after vespers last evening, to appoint a committee to take steps to give His Lordship Dr Luck, the new bishop, who contemplates visiting the Thames on tbe 9th Pec, a suitable reception. The Rev. Father O'Mahoney convened the meeting. A sub-committee was appointed to prepare ac address for presentation to the Bishop. Pontifical High Mass will be said by him on Sunday, the 10th prox., and the Saorament of Confirmation will be administered to several children the same day. He will pre-ide at the examination of the schools of tbe Sisters of Me-cy on the following day.

At tha Shortland Weslejan church yesterday morning, before the commencement of the sermon, the Rev. Mr Bull took occasion to refer to a reprehensible practice of some of the churchgoers. He said a paper had been handed to him complaining of the practice of parties coming a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes before the time of the service, and loitering and talking in front of the church porch—-some even went so far as to indulge in smoking. He would Suggest to some that a library ia available, and to those who smoke a a walk away for ten minutes or so would be preferable. We heartily concur in the rev. gentleman's remarks, and hope the bint will be taken.

Captain Mobbis and Lieutenant Darwin, of the Royal Engineers, on their arrival in Melbourne by the Liguria took passage to Brisbane for observing (.he transit of Venus on the morning of December 7th. They have chosen Toowoomba for their station. The transit will be visible on the eastern half of the Australian continent; next transit of Venus in the year 2004. Lieutenant Darwin (son of the late Professor C. Darwin), after finishing his work at Toowoomba is going to either Java or Singapore to establish by tele* graphic signal* the difference in the longitude between the above places and Port Darwin. Lieutenant Darwin was also a member of Major Palmer's party for the same object a few years ago in New Zealand.

We (Te Aroha Mail) have nothing new to report in mining. The action of the County in accepting a portion only of the contract for the tramway has bad the effect of throwing a wet blanket over the operations of the northward claim owners, who feel themselves left out in the cold for another cix or nine mouths or until they can make their own connections with the intended line, A large cumber of notices of intention to forfeit ground were served upon mine owners and individual •h»r«holder» ou Saturday ,»ud Monday last.

Tho intention in serving small holders (even quarter shareholders, in some instances, being served) is to afford holders the fullest opportunity of defending individual interests, if the intention to- work is shown to be bona flde. The Werabiko, Waifcoki, Weloome, Moa and others will bo the first claims touched by the tramway.

The ball to Champiun Q-ordon and the carbine representatives promises to be a great success. The tickets are being freely applied for.

A PIMINO opportunity now presents itself to the dramatic clubs, or choral socie ies, on the Thames to come forward in a good cause. Mtb Ellings, widow of the unfortunate man who was killed last week, is not in good circumstances, and she has a large family to provide for. A benefit performance on her behalf by the Naval Cadet Minstrels is on the tapis, and will no doubt meet with a hearty response.

The contractors fo ■ the new Waiotahi aqueduct have had their hands employed for some* days past in lowering the old culvert seaward of Owen street, and iv making a culvert from it to a point opposite the Golden .Crown battery. This latter work is so far completed that the larger portion of the water is now flowing along it, and by to-morrow or next day the whole stream will be diverted into the new channel, instead of wending its way across the Hit to the beach as heretofore.

Ij the county authorities could see theiway to cut a track from about Crisps farm (where their present road terminates) to the forka of the Waiwaiwai stream, gome 4 miles, we believe there would be a considerable accession to the business of this place, especially during the holiday season, by the bushmen and others resident at that district who could then reach the Thames via Punga Flat, instead of as at present finding their way to Mercury Biy and Ooromandel for their suppi s.

Messes Casey and McDermott, contractors for the Mercury Bay tramway, are calling for tenders for the erection of a number of bridges and cdlreris on their contract. Mr Casey is prepared to supply full particulars to intending tenderers.

At the Oddfellows' Hall last night there was s good attendance. Mr E. H. Taylor spoke from the text in John 3—14, 15, and 16v., " And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even bo must the son of man be lifted up ; that whosoever believeth may in Him have eternal life," &c. It was commonly taught that all men would live for ever, but the evidence of the New Testament went to prove that eternal life Was only to be obtained by believing in Jeaus Christ. In many passages believers were said to have that life in Christ, in promise, in hope, in faiih, and in pledge, but nowhere was it taught that the power to live for ever was in man himself naturally. Adam had neglected to obtain that blessing, and the gospel was sntin to tbe world to give it to men. Mr Taylor quo.ted in support of his subject from the s'h chapter of "John, 2nd Timothy, Ist chapter, Collossians 3- —3 and 4v., and many other passages. In conclusion he dwelt upon the greatness of the reward laid up in store for the righteous, when death and sin would be no more, and all would he happiness, and urged all who had not done co to seek to obtain that life " which is life indeed." The usual Bible class will be held in the hall on Thursday evening at 8 o'cl ck.

The wiad on Saturday and yesterday raised a heavy sea in the gulf, and the tramway along the Bilt works suffered slightly, some of the legs being washed out of their places, and a few of the footboards carried away. Tbe damage was repaired to-day, and the men will resume trucking tomorrow.

Mb L. Gk Reid, of Timaru, has been appointed assistant law officer vice Mr W. M. Lewis. Mr Reid was formerly in partnership with Mr Button, solicitor, Hokitika.

An extraordinary birth took place at Ohau, Wellington, on the 23rd inst, when the wife of a settler was confined with twins joined together at the buck. One child is doing well, the-other is poorly, but is coming round. They are both girls.

Mbs Smite, a married ■woman who has been If ad ng a drui.ken, dissolute life, was found dead at Greymouth. The cause of death was drink. The ho <se was quite-desti-tute of furniture. The husband of the deceased had left her some time ago on account of her b«i habits. At the iuquest the verdict was "Died from alcoholic poison." It appeared from the evidence that the house was not fit for human habitation—the rain coming through the ceiling, the walls were wet, the paper broken, and tbe whole house in a wretched condition, and v^ry dirty. A man had taken up with her a few days ago, and she had been keeping him supplied with drink ever since. Both were drunk all the time. There was no food or aDy of the comforts of life in the place.

Ths city coroner, Dr Philson, held two inquests on Friday. At the inquiry into the cause of the death of James Byrnes, who died suddenly in Upper Queen street on Wednesday morning last;, a verdict of "Death from serous apoplexy, caused by excessive drinking " was returned. Byrnes made his livelihood by a handcart. At the inquest; on the body of William M. Moyle, formerly the licensee of the Wharf Hotel, but more recently engaged in horse dealing, a verdict of "Death from sanguineous apoplexy, caused by excessive drinking" was returned. At the inquest on James Byrae the foreman suggested that a verdict of " Death from natural causes" should be given, but the coroner asked the foreman if excessive drinking was a natural cause of death ? whereupon the foreman replied, " It can almost be called so now-a-days." It is indeed very sad that on one day two men should be consigned to unhonored graves with such verdicts recorded against them. . In no climate is the drinking of spirits, beyond a very small quantity, other than dangerous, but in this climate the excessive use of intoxicants soon ruins the system, even of a strong aian.— Herald.

The down train from Waikato on Saturday evening, when entering the Newmarket station, narrowly escaped what might have proved a very serious mishap. By some unaccountable oversight the pointß had not bean altered, and tha train, instead of continuing on the main line, ran on to a siding, colliding against a couple of trucks, damaging one considerably. The engine-driver on coming down the inoline, when under the bridge, had fortunately noticed the usual sigual, " line clear," was not up, and he immediately applied the break and sounded the danger whistle.

A sudden and mysterious, death was discovered to have taken place at Annandale Station, Piako, on Monday or luesday last. Geo. Scott, laborer, aged 50 years, a native of Scotland, who has been at work on the property of Murray Bros., at Annandale for the past six years, was discovered in his hut quite dead on Wednesday. When found he was in a recumbent position, on his knee, with one arm resting on his bunk, and the other on a table near, his pipe remaining between his lip's. He was last seen alive on Monday evening, going home, the worse for liquor, and>.was iniea d on Wedneeday morning by a fellow-workman named Barker, who went to his hut and found him as above-described. Information was Bent to Constable Graham, and Dr Beale, coroner, informed, but that gentleman failed to appear, and a 26 mile journey hud to be made for Mr Chepmell, J.P., before whom the inquiry was held, and a Terdiot of "Death from natural cauiea" returned.—Te Aroha Mail.