Memoranda of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4484, 19 May 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

Memoranda of the Month.

The Hinemoa took over 2000 stand of old arms to Wellington from the Auckland armoury.

Mobb " rows" are threatened at Ohinemutu. Mr Bobinson has forcibly ejected a Maori from land claimed by him.

, CAPTinr Ted Wright, of the Salvation Army, leaves Auckland shortly for Christchurch to open the theatre there for services,

Tub Te Aroha tramway to the battery is expected to be finished for the conveyance of quartz within three months.

Ebnest Webb, an apprentice on the Cairnbulg, atLytteltoh, fell from the mainyard, and, striking the winch in his fall, lived only for a few minutes.

The Salvation Army in Auckland are commencing their campaign now in the suburban districts, beginning at Onehunga.

• Mb Doedge, editor of the Louth Liberal, New South Wales, who was formerly connected with this paper, was recently married to Miss Mary Chilcot, lately of the Thames.

An inquest was held.on the body of the boy Downey who was drowned in the Waihi at tbe time of the late coach accident on the 30th ult. before Mr Austin, J.P. The body was found a mile and a half from the place where the capsize occurred.

Thb New Zealand Insurance Company are offering a premium of £250 for the best design for tbe block of buildings to be trected by them on the land at the foot of Shortlandstreet, Auckland, lately leased from the City Council.

Thb valuable thoroughbred horse, Palmbearer, who ran second in the Derby three years ago, was consigned by the fialcione, which arrived in Wellington from London on the Ist inst.,.to Messrs Clifford end Weld, of Flaxborne, Marlborough Province. Unfortunately, however, the animal died during the voyage.

About six hundted people availed them* selveß of the opportunity to " see a whale" on the 29th ult. The " Waitoa took out about 250 passengers." A number of persons went " down to the sea in boats," and the Eopu road (we would sooner have rowed) was well patronised by tho?9 desirous of observing the recently-captured cetacean.

A iad named James Tasker, employed as a blanket washer at the Alburnia battery, met with tin accident on the 25th ult. He 1 was going on with his usual work when his foot slipped and he fell, fracturing his left arm at the wrist. He went to Dr Payne, who set the limb.

A texxgbam has been received from Mr J. H. Moore, manager of the, amalgamated claims at Waihi, stating that the batteiy started on 27th ult. and worked very satisfactorily, a speed of 85 blows per minute being obtained.

Yebtbeday . there was exhibited in Auckland a number of crystals found by Mrßoberi Graham between his estate at Wairakei and Lake Taupo. They will be submitted to the hydrofluoric acid test in the course of a day or so.

Mb F. Coxok, colonial agent for the patentee of the refrigerating apparatus, has arrived in Auckland by the Wairarapa.and will remain there for a fevr dajs. Mr Coxen come from Christchurch, whore he supervised the refrigerating machim-ry on the steamer British King, and his vieit (o Auckland will doubtless be to enable him to do the same thing for the apparatus on board the steamer Westmeath.

Thbbe are now nine lawyers in tho House, namely, Mssßrsßath gat e,Conolly, De Latuour, Holmes, O,Borke, Sheehan, Tole, Whitaker, and Wynn Williams. Last session the number was ten, but the total isof course reduced by the resignation of Mr Weston.

Te Whiti and Tohu are so far civilised that they cannot enjoy their tea without a thick layer of either butter or jam on their .bread. The looal store is doing quite a brisk trade with the Ptrihaka natives, owing to the example set by the illustrious chiefs.

' The Governor visited the Onehunga ironworks onjthe 3rd, and,watched the process of making wrought iron from the Manekau sand. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so important an industry established in New Zealand; In the experiments performed Waikato coal was used instead of charcoal, and these were so successful that coal wi'l be used in future.

As the conclusion of the inquest held on tbe 7th ult., the Coroner gave the jury some advice as to what was best to be done when in a cart drawn by a run-away horse. Never try to spring out, but get out at the back, and rim along with the cart for a short distance before letting go.

A late Auckland telegram says:— All the single men and women by the Westmeath have found employment. Many of the Bangitikei' passengers are alsbengaged. Tbe Westmeath, after taking 350 tons of coal, leaves here for Port Chalmers on Monday of Tuesday, thence to Neweas.le, and then probably to China.

Nbws has beeu received in Auckland stating that Mr Bedmond will not reaoh there for two moutbe.

The Christchuroh Resident Magistrate yesterday fined a man a half penny for assault, saying that under the circumstances he almost would have done the same himself.

Mr Allan McLean, of Napier, has purchased from tho New Zaalani Pedigree Stock Com« pany a seveu mouths' old brown filly, by Musket, from MOW 7. price 135 guineas.

A SHOCKING- nnd fatal accident occurred at Wanganui on the 21st ult. William Kirkwc od, the licensee of the Red Lion Hotel, in shooting at a pigeon on the hillside at the back of the hotel, bit his son, 7 years of age, and riddled him with shot, some through the heart. The gun is a breechloading fowling piece, and was loaded with No. 4 shot.

The death of Mrß Twentyman, the wife of an old r. sidenton the Thames occurred 00 th« lutinst., after a painful illness. The deceased lady was well known and liked, and her various estimable qualities gatherfd around her a lurge circle of friends. Her many benevolences and good nature will cause^ her to bo missed by many who have received kindnesses at her hands, and were comforted by, the soothing influence of her presence in time of affliction. Her demise occurred at the comparatively early age of 42 years.

BIFFEBEHT opinions are held regarding the practice of treating winding ropes to a coat of tar before using them. It has been asserted that the tarring process does not ten 1 to improve them; but experience speaks, to the contrary, <r A piece of rope was thpw n to us last month, which was tarred some years ago, and had been in constant use for abut five, years; it was almost as good as new, none of the strands being rotten.

Bonuses are offered by Government of 50 per cent, on the value realised fois.tbe first £100 worth of cocoons of the silkworm produced in the colony ; £500 for the first £2503 worth of manganesian or of manganese bronze; £300 for the first £1500 worth of marble exported for not less than 9s per cubic foot; £500 for ths first 250 tons of antimony; and £1000 for the first 200 tons of iron 1 blooms of marketable quality from local •ore. '.'"'".

THE Eotomahana made her trial trip with the new screw on thelsb, and did the distance from Auckland to the Thames'"in 4hrs2omins, or ten minutes less than the usual _ time. This is equal to an increase of half a knot per hour in Bpecd The new screw is, like the old one, four-Waded, but the curve and shape of the blades are different. It was expected that this screw would " bring up" the engines, but on the contrary they worked quipker. ■".- ::<<■ :■ •• * ■■• *■ ■' • ;"■;■ '•• -'-^

It is stated in Auckland that Bishop Luck, in concert with other Catholic TJishops, throughout the colony, intends to prepare and invite the Catholic laity to sign a petition to, the Assembly re thn amendment of the Education Act in the direction either of payment by results, with Government inspection; or a denominational subsidy in the proportion of tbe Catholics to the whole popu'atioc A BATTING match, under the auspices of tbe Auckland Fox Terrier Club, took place at Montague's lat pit, Wakefield street, in the presence of a number of the "".Fancy." The match was a sweepstake for a silver cup. Nearly a dozen dogs were engaged. The Waiarapa Daily remark?:—The Colonial Architect's O : cc is evidently well informed us to itsjpwn -Operations. It sent a Clerk of Works up to Masterton this week to inspect the progress of the Court House Building, which as yet only exists on paper. AccoßDlNa to ; a contemporary.; a rail way employe has thus expressed his opinion of the service:—"l really believe that no one succeeds in the Government service, especially in the Railway Department, better than a man with a good dense wooden head. Such a man is on a par with his superiors, so then there is no-jealousy." TWO Tictonan legislators were travelling from Melbourne to Ballarat, and one bet the other five shillings that he did not know the Lord's prayer. The challenged one began— "1 believe in God, the Father Almighty." " That'll do, that'll do," said his friend, "I see you know it," and he handed over the money; We recently had occasion to know what the third commandment said, but after making enquiries throughout the office, we had to go for the public library. Two whales were'observed spouting in the harbor on tbe 26fh, ana* some fishermen's boats, which were coming down the Piako. river and a waterman's b at went in pursuit of the monsters. The e.s. Huia, also went to the assistance of the fisherman, and eventually they succeeded in driving one of, the animals ashore near the mouth of the Piako river. The captured whale is between 50 and 60ft. in length. An, attempt was made to tow the captured whale on the mud flat between the Piako and Thames rivers to the wharf at Kopn, but it was not successful, the animal having, in his struggles, made a bale in the mud, out of which the steamer Huia was not; able to pull it," The fishermen who first struck it are two brothers named Jennings, it has since been successfully taken to Kopu and out up.

The nominations sent by the 'Frisco mail which left Wellington on the 22nd ult. are. for the colony, 204 English, 171 Irish, 183 Scotch, and 9 foreigners, a total of 567 souls, equal to 491 adults, the amount of passage money deposited being £1892 3s The total number of immigrants nominated to date, since the renewal of assisted immigration, is 2242 English, 2211 Irish, 1383 Scotch, and 145 foreigners; total, 5981 souls, equal to 5297 adults, the amount of fees received being £26,491135. Of the returns Bent Home this month, 145 are for single men, and 128 for single women. Up to date the returns have been 1401 single men, and 2164 single women, the remainder being families. ■

Mbsbbs Kennedy Bros., of the Brunner coal mine, Grey mouth, lately concluded a con* tract with the Noumea Nickel Company to supply 250 tons of coke and 100 tons of coal monthly. The Pelham, an iron barque/has been purchased, and will be despatched this month. Another vessel will be provided by

Stone Bros., of Auckland. Previously to the supply by the Brunner Co., they have obtained all their coke and coal from Newcastle, but

having seen a sample of the Brunnerton coke and coal, they, have made the present contract. Hitherto the Brunner coke ovens have

been; turning out only ICO ions per month, though they have material enough to manufacture 3C9 tons per month. Tbe surplus has been thrown into the river. New coke ovens are now in course of erection, a cargo of bricks for that having been sent up a few days ago.

Thb body of John Moore who was missed at Whangatnafca on the 9th ultimo, was found on the beach near the Whahgamata Heads on the 3th mat. . The deceased, it

will be remembered left Sainsbury's Hotel to go on board a vessel lying in tb» stream and was not afterwards heard of. Diligent search was made for him, but; without avail. His remains were discovered about three miles from where be was last seen, and the residents held an enquiry into the cause of his death and buried the body. Ala meeting of the congregation of the Epiphany Church, Auckland, held on 25th ult., it was resolved to introduce the Hymnal known as " Hymns Anoient and Modern/into use in the church. This Hymnal is now adopted by all he Anglican churches in the city and suburbs, and in many churches in the country, districts. Copies can be obtained from the booksellers at prices varying from, four pence to one guinea. It will be remembered that an attempt was made at the last meeting of St. George's parishioners to introduce, for use in the church, this popular hymn-book, but the majority at the meeting—who were perhaps composed of those in advance of, or behind the age, or who knew very little about the subject of contention—resolved that the book could aot be vied in the cburoh.

Neae the Hinds' station in Canterbury, Samu 1 Ohe9»on, fireman on the Southern ex-. press, was firing up, and standing with one foot on the engine and the other on,.the tender, when suddenly the couplings parted, and Cheseon fell. The whole train passed over him. mangling Iris body dreadfully, flia neck Wii« broken, his right hand and left; foot were cutoff. He was a single than, aged ZO, and lived at, Timaru.

«' Ups and downs are" proverbial "haracterietics of colonial life, -and Bhould a story that reaches us from an authentic source prove oonfßot, a man who afcpresent tools the ribbons on an Auckland hansom; will ere long be the possasgar of something like £20,030 per ann urn. An old and highly respectable colonial family are reported to have fallen heirs to a fortune, of about one million sterling, and as our friend the cabman is the husband of one of the daughters of the house, he w 11 come in for a respectable slice of the wiriclfall. ■"', ..'.'

; At a meeting of. the GpunciljOf theUniver-. sity College in Auckland,,it was decided to cable to the Agent-General, Sir F. D. Bell, requesting him to communicate the intelligence of Professor Walker's detith to his parents. It was resolved to request SirF. D. Bellto fill up ,the Vacancy caused by Professor WalUer's death i from applications already received, if desirable.' !No news of the' recovery' of the body is to jhand. It appears that Professor Walker had = a very valuable watch upon him at, fie time of the accident. .It is contemplated to give the ,remains of> the unfortunate gentleman, when found, a Masonic fuueral. •

Ak Auckland paper, layjs —"His Excellency the Governor shows'a wise discretion in remaining ia Auckland as long as he can. No sane person would live in the Empire Oit.y if he could; do so here. Indeed there seems no reason why the Governor, should not live here during the recess, at all events. His official vrork could be done at "internals. There is bettor scenery, climate, and. society here than in Wellington." ,

The solar eclipse, which, wa-i looked . for-, ward to with muoh interest, took place on the sth inst., and was satisfactorily -observed throughout. the' town. The pass ge across the 'sun'commenced about 7 o'clock, and the greatest obscurity was about six minutes past eight. The end was about ten minutes past nine o'clock.' A large number of burnt glass operators had splendid observations of it, owing to the morning being: so fine and clear.

The returns from Reef ton announcing the return of Mr E; Shaw for the Tnangabui Beat in the House of Representatives, will be received with pleasure by all who kaow the successful man, and who are desirous of the

welfare of the district..': The new member is

a man of culture, ability; and. honesty, and likely to have considerable influence ia the House. Taking into account™ the two men who contested the election, it appears strange that such a political turncoat of the blatherskite order as Mr Wakefield is, should have found bo large a' following in the electorate ; but he has again been following up his old game, looking steadily after Number One. A MEETING was held in the vestry of the Shortland Wesleyan .Church on the 2ad inst., to consider the best means of removing a debt of £250 on the church properties of the circuit. The Rev. H.: Bull presided, and Mr H. R; Lawry,. Convener, introduced the business. Bazaars and gift auctions were mentioned a* instrumental liquidators, but were not regarded favourably. Mr Miller thought an immediate effort might be made to clear off the whole; amount and thus save the interest they were now paying, and be himself was ready to give £50 if the remaicing £200 were subscribed, Mr Lawry moved and Mr T. Kitohing seconded, that Mr Miller's offer be accepted, and that a commit-

tee of ladies be nominated to wait upon the

members of the congregations of the circuit to secure their co-operation. The chairman moved and Mr T. Caseley 'seconded, that the cordial thanks of the committee be present el to Mr Miller for his generous offer. The meeting then closed. The singing at the Salvation " free and easy" on the 25th ult. was accompanied by a cornet, but even thiß did not make the time fast enough to suit " Captain" Pollard, who repeatedly requested his audience to " grease the wheels" and "move it along quicker." In the course of his remarks, he said a Dunedin reporter had said his voice was anything but musical, and he knew it. He only wished it was more musical, and he would be better able to use it in the service of the Master. In a subsequent hymn, the first verse was sung rather slowly, but at the request to " clap; more steam on" the time in the second verse was much faster. ''Captain" Pollard thereupon took occasion to inform his audience that the two verses reminded him of: railway travelling—the former in New Zealand and; the latter in-England. The movement appears to be . well sustained. There was; a orowded attendance, the service being conducted by " Captains" Pollard and Wright. The former officer stated that he would only be here for a few nights, but he wanted to see a Salvation testimony meeting before he went away. They would have one that night. During the next halfhour a number of persons testified, and at the call of the " captain'% Borne two hundred hands were held up for' Christ. The larrikins at the back of the hall also "declared," but they were threatened-with expulsion. Most of those who addressed the meeting, however, claimed to have been converted before the advent of the "Army," while one well known gentleman commenced his address in these words: "Beloved brethren,—Christ has saved me, although I never was Very deeply sunk in sin.".—Auckland Star,*. A. TjUNatio named O'Shane escaped from the Auckland' Lunatic Asylum yesterday morning. Owing to the Asylum being connecttd with the police station by telephone,

the runaway was captured within an hour by

Sergeant Jackson aud Constable Dewes. Yei, in "the, face of such instances of the utility of telephone communication, , the Government have hitherto turned a deaf car to all requests that tbe gaol and the hospital might also be connected with the Aucklaad Telephone Exchange and police station. At a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday, Mr Graves Aickin moved, the Mayor seconded, Biid it was carried : That it was dejiroble that the Boardjshoriid assume the control of the harbor at Onehunga, being the western port for the commerce of Auckland, and that the matter be referred to the Works and Tariff Committee ;to assertain particulars as to the revenue, expenditure, endowments, &c, and report at an early date. We were shown on tho 14th by.Gapt. Ray- | ncr, who was recently here oonduating 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 a3 he was well, acquainted with' the district, and knew that' diamondiferous 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 soil on Mr MacGinnis property at Miranda, and some larger ones were found either, on or near Mr Gor* don's farm at Whakati*ai. The stones greatly resemble. those fro m Raglan, which were on view at this office a couple of months back, but are clearer. Captain Rayner is confident they are not quartz crystal's, and will shortly have them tested in Auokland. Had it net been for the wet. weather be would probably have been able to secure more specimens. He had to rough it" while prospecting, sometimes sleeping at the Maori settle* mentr* -.j.->v ../.■>:. ■'.-,:;;;,;. ■■ .-.■.,?' ■

—^. ■ : ■ ■ - i „ - :. On the eve of the departure of Mr D. Cloonan from th" Thames n, ln'fgfv number ofhis friends, desiring to testify tAeir recognition of his many good qualities, and expressing their good wishes for his future welfare,' decided on making hiua ■»-. presentation. O » the 16th a number of gentlemen met at the office of Mr Jno. Wilson for the purpose 6} handing Mr Oloonan a purse of sovereigns, containing a considerable amount, when that gentleman feelingly replied that -he was [ sensible of the good wishes expressed, and fully appreciated them ; he deaired to thank those who: had manifested their friendliness ; that satisfied him; he felt that he could not aocept the proffered present. Mr Cloonan left at 12, o'clock for Paeroa to enter into his new business, and a number of citizens saw him off. We wish him every prosperity in his venture, and he carries with him the hearty wishes of not only his intimate friends, but all whom be has come into contact.with,since his advent; here. Tha subscriptions to the presentation will be returned by the Treasurer, Mi ;L: Mdhose. ' .;., ';.

i A sum^ of £J.lB was found under a pnlow: iv the cabin of the Southern Cross? It has transpired that it is the property ;of a commercial, traveller who landed at Gisbbrne, fprgettiag ljis money. , „ ...j

The steamer Fenstanton sailed from Port Chalmers on the 10th with a full cargo of wool and grain, and 7840 sheep and four bags of ducks. There are 22 different; shippers of meat, which was all frozen by the. local Refrigerating Company. The average weight per carcase is 67^1bs. With 200 carcases the new experiment has been tried of sending Home only the prime parts, namely, the saddle and legs. It is likely that'four more steamers will be despatched from here during the year with frozen meat. .

A MBBTiNG'was held on the 15th of tbe parties interested in amalgamating the Thames River Steam Navigation Company and the service now being carried on by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, between the Thames abd Auckland. Satisfactory terms were agreed to, and it is proposed tr float a company of 25,000 guares of £1 each; at "once. . The management will be in Auckland. - '■ The Herald correspondent, whoaccom panied'Mr Bryce, telegraphed that the natives are positive that gold exists; and, aifc Te Kuiti, Wahanui boasted that the precious metal was to be found inland. One of Hetits, of Otorohanga, an intelligent halfcaste, promised that he would produce a native of Te Kuiti, who had pieces of quartz in his possession ; but, on the man being questioned, he said the specimens had been sent up the country some days before. These stories one hears may have something in them, but the opinion of practical miners, who have seen the country, is that it does not contain gold. At Mokau, Jones informed me that there was no doubt that gold existed there, and he stated if the Government offered a reward he would disclose the locality where it was to be found. Another European, who is thoroughly acquainted with the ground, also assured me that he had discovered traces of gold in the Mokau country. Time will show whether there is any truth in these alle-

gations

An indignant Oxonian thus writes to the Australasian:-—" To the Editor of the; Australasian, Oxford, Oriel Coll, March 4 —Sir,-—As I have only just seen your number of January 13, may I be excused

for being so late jn remarking that it is like your d—~ d Australian conceit to state that the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team, at present in Australia, in an eleven of repre,' tentative English cricketers." It is quite possible (and I should be most happy to do bo myself) to raise at least two elevens capable of beating the present English Eleven, on its return to

England. lam glad to see, though, that

in the second and third matches with Murdoch's team the English Eleven has taught the colonials that th^y are not the best cricketers in the world (as they are inclined to believe), though they may have beaten a "representative team of English cricketers" when they had the elements so strongly in their favour.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 0.U.C.C." We wonder what Bort of language this Oxford gentleman used when he read the account of the hollow licking the English team received at the hands of the Victorian—not Australian—; eleven. "■■ ;' ' ':; .: ■•■.". ' .