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Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4479, 14 May 1883, Page 2

Since the beginning of the month the police have been obtaining samples of liquor from the licensees of hotels in the Hastings district. This has been done in pursuance of a request made by the Licensing Committee at its last meeting. This morning Constable Stapleton was sent to Auckland with the samples in charge, bo that they might be analysed by Mr Pond, the Government tinalyist.

The Government gained to the extent of •'* imprisonment till the rising of the Court " on a "drunk" case this morning. There was no other business, so the bibulant left.

We were shown to-day by Captain Rayner, who was recently here conducting experiments relative to the use of electricity in gold saving, specimens of crystals found by him lately in the neighborhood of Miranda. Captain Rayner did not go over for the express purpose of looking for diamonds, but as he was well acquainted with the district, and knew that diatnondiferous soil existed, he did some prospecting, and found quite a number of stones. They were embedded in a brown, soil, similar to that in which the Raglan crystals were found. A number of small specimens were washed out of the coil on Mr MacGinnis' property at Miranda, and some larger ones were found either on or near Mr Gor« don's farm at Whi»kati ai. The stones greatly resemble those fro o Raglan, which were on view at this office a couple of months back, but ore clearer. Captain Rnyner is confident they are not quartz crystals, and will shortly have them tested in Auckland. Had it not been for the wet weather be would probably have been able to secure more specimens. He bad to rough it" while prospectiug, sometimes sleeping at the Maori settlements

We were glad to learn this afternoon that Dr Payne had partially recovered from his indispoiition. He is much better. An inquest was held this morning on the fire which took place in Shortland on Thursday last on the premises of Mr Butter worth ; the verdict of the jury was to (he effect that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. The impression was that it was caused owing to a defective chimney.

When Mr Cato's yacht was coming over from the Miranda on Friday ni^htlast, a school of blackfish,about 15 in number, was observed. The animuls were from 20 to 30 feet in length, and spouted as they swam along. They appeared to be making for the direction of the Piako river when first observed, but were afterwards seen travelling towards the mouth of the gulf. Some disappointment and inconvenience was felt by business people here on Saturday, when the Enterprise did not put in an appearance at her usual hour. The weather, we presume was too boisterous in Auckland to allow of her leaving on Friday night, and consequently she did not. arrive here un'il late on Saturday afternoon. No intimation was sent to the agent of the steamer here as to her non-departure from Auckland, and the public were left to draw their own conclusions at her non-arriral. If a boat belonging another] company were on this trade, it is very doubtful indeed if the public would be treated in this manner; at any rate a shilling would be spent by the owners in apprising the agent of any alteration of necessity made to the advertised time.

The barqu ntine Pelican, havidfz discharged the cargo she brought from Oamaru, was this morning towed to BagnaU'a mill by the s.s. Vi»H| where she will take in a cargo of ktthikates.

On Saturday night a tremendous gale raged at Coromandel. Pufcara, a native chief, was blown off the wharf while walking from the steamer. .

The Parawai Highway Board has received the following telegram from the Colonial Under-Secrdtary's Department:—" Government is advised that the action of the Road Boaid in pottponiog election is right. Time for election will be extended, and meanwhile old Board continue in office.

OWING to the very light wind prevailing in the Auckland Harbour on Saturday, the race between the yachts Rita and Arawa was postponed until to-day.

A storekesfbb of Awhitu named Thiel,* who levanted to Fiji about ten days or a fortnight ago, was adjudicated a bankrupt on Saturday in Auckland at the suit of Messrs McArthur and Co., who are creditors to the extent of £65. It seems that shortly before his departure Thiel gave a bill of sale over his property and stock to a man named Hombuy, who thereupon seized, and has since been dis posing of these assets, The consideration was £400. It is said that Mr John Buchanan is the largest creditor, his claim being some* thing like £300.

A TKiiB&EAM dated Saturday states: — It has been raining at Te Aroba steadily for the last twenty four hours, accompanied by heavy gales' of wind. During Friday night the roof of the Te Aroha battery was completely removed, together with a large portion of the side-wails; other damages of a mibor nature have also been experienced. The river is rising very rapidly, and if the rain oontfuaeu floods way be expected.

Mb Nicaoi, of North .Shore, Auckland, has received an order from the Tongan Government to build a schooner which is to cost £1500, and within a short time it, is expected the Government will call for tenders in Auckland for the building of two other schooners.

GtavEBIuIENT have deciJed that it would be best not to take any responsibility in connection with the Boston Exh bition as the time available would not give New Zealand an opportunity .of being satisfactorily represented.

Tawhiao has telegraphed to fie principal Maori chiefs in the Te Aroba district, communicating his intention of visiting Te Aroha a* an early date His Majesty is now bound on another tour, this time tlirough the northern portion of the province.

Shoktlt after noon on Saturday Mr Duross, coach proprietor, drove in great taste from the Coromandel wharf for a doctor, bringing intelligence that three en bad baen drowned in the harbor. The police and h number of people hastened down, and found that one man was drowned, abd the o' her Iwo were rescued. The pnrticulara ;<f the c se are as follows:—Batnford,the misung man, wag going down the wliarf the worse or liquor, assisted by a compjnion. Banford's hat blew off, and his companion left him to get it, when Bamford, for want of support, went over the wharf. His companion sprang to his assistance with a rope, but Bam ford seized his companion's legs and drew him down. A third man came up with a flit-bottomed boat into which Bamford and his companion were placed. While pulling for the shore the put went down with all threa aboard, and came (o the'surface bofclo n up. Bamford did nt again make his uppeanuice, and the police search d for his body. The steamer Coromandel lowered a bo.tt, picked up the paddles and secured the punt and a man clinging to it. The second man swam to the wharf. D.* MacMulen was quickly in attend*' cc, but his services were not called in<o requisition. Bamford i described as a respectable man, a native of Canterbury, und a baker by trade. He was recently employed at, Whangapoua, and had cashed an order for £8 previously to going on the wharf.

Fungus picking is a recognised industry in Taranaki, and a very profitable one. It is quite a common thing for the juniors of a family to realise £40 to £50 in that way, and a bad burn is not looked upon as an unmixed evil, as the worse the burn the more numerous the fungU3«bearing logs.

A well-known ginger-beer man in Auckland, has the following placed prominently in bis office :—Office hours—for listening to solicitors of church subscriptions, from 10 to 1; book agents, Ito 3 ; advertising men and life insurance agents, all day. We attend to our own business at night."