Events of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4580, 8 September 1883, Page 4

Events of the Month.

— Trout ova is introduced amongst us. — Afire occurred on the 12th inst. which threatened to demolish a block in the township, .but owing to Fire Brigade exertions it was confined to a small limit. Some suspicious circumstances were attached to it. ; —« The Harbor Board dredge is looked upon as a white elephant. The Harbor is a trifle too large for it, although it can raise and drop about 50 tons an hour. — After a considerable amount of fuss the Canterbury diamond craze " fizzled." We have bucketsful of the same quartz— chrystals—in our peninsula. Some indignation was caused by the fact becoming known that immigrants by the ship Oxford were allowed to leave England while suffering from typhoid fever, and complaints were made as to the filthy state of the depot at Plymouth. — An enquiry has been held into the conduct of one of the largest penal establishments in the colony, i.e., the Dnnedin gaol,.a°d a report of a most unsatisfactory nature has been furnished by the commission appointed to investigate charges made against its management. Visiting justices appear to have added sentences to prisoners terms most unwarrantably, a system of espionage was adopted by the gaoler/ the doctor of the prison proved plastic where required, and the institutution generally seemed to want a "Dickens" to found a story on it. It has resulted in the governor of it being recommended for retirement upon a pension, .the doctor being put, down for a requested resignation, and three warders being removed. Inspector Hume is to be credited with this cleansing of a penal Augean stable. v — The Koman Catholic portion of the community have been petitioning Parliament, complaining of the present secular system of education. —- Extensive operations in our kauri forests are being undertaken ; this denudation will have an unsatisfactory result j in the future. — The local Choral Society gave a concert on the 30th August. It was a great musical success. — Considerable of quantities of kahikatea, or white pine, is being shipped from ' the district,to the neighbouring colonies. '. —This colony is apparently very apathetic in the matter of Pacific annexation. When it is swamped with foreign criminals it will probably awaken to the fact that something of the kind should bare been done. A half-hearted proposal has been " made by the Premier in the direction of a reform of the Legislative Council, but it was only an attempt to please everybody and consequently will, if carried, be of little effect. i team of Auckland footballers is make a tour of the colony. They secured a victory over Canterbury, and managed to draw the game they played against - Dunedin, the strongest football team in the colony. They play the Eugby Union game. — The Blue ribbon Army has enlisted a large number of adherents at the Thames. ■ —We are without the services of a settled minister of the Church of England here. The late incumbent accepted an Auckland charge, and the parish is on the look-out for his successor. - — The town and district still lies '■ " under the ban " of the Government, and the concluding session has done nothing for us. It is generally attributed to the . fact of our continually sending Opposition . members to Parliament. . — Her Majesty's reverence for the memory of John Brown is much appreciated at the Thames, and the various ■telegrams and mail items published arouse the loyalty and enthusiasm of the people. — The Auckland Harbor Board is ... about to spend £120,000 on a dock, and £70,000 is about to be spent on reclamation. „ * , -i • f- Mr S. v Lowe,» New Zealand railway

employe has been appointed to tak charge of an important Canadian line. —Sheridan, the American tragedian, is just finishing a most successful season in Auckland. — The li?ing game of chess is becoming popular in the Colony. A game was recently played in Auckland with " real live " figures. — Our intelligent Lords have thrown oat the Affirmation in lieu of Oaths bill. — Kusden's historical lies have created some indignation in the Colony, and much sympathy is felt for the slandered Bryce. — The coldest day known, even to that astute chronicler—the oldest resident— was felt here a fortnight ago; the thermometer fell to 45d eg. — An anti"shooting" army is being formed in the colony. A white ribbon is the badge. —Bumor hath it that the New Zealand ' Government is growing weary of their life assurance scheme. — The Lodge Sir Walter Scott of Freemasons have presented to their Brother Mr Thomas Ilawdon, on the occasion, of his retirement from the office of Tyler Of the Lodge—a position which he has filled for a considerable number of years,—a very handsome illuminated address, expressive of the esteem in which bq is held by the members of the craft. The illumination is the work of Mr Patterson, of Owen street, and the frame, a handsome one of mottled kauri, was furnished by Mr Meachem. — On the 24th August the fireman of a railway engine was shot dead by boys who fired at the train when it was en route between, Clinton and Inyercargill. The boys, who disclaim any intention of injuring life, have been committed for trial for manslaughter. — The land owners in Hawkes Bay are taking measures to prevent the district suffering from the rabbit, pest. They propose to erect a rabbit proof fence along the provincial boundary. — On August 25th a fatal fire occurred. A man named Henry Woods, living at Parawai/ intending to coat the inside of an iron tank with tar, placed a boiler of that material on his kitchen fire, and while he and his wife were absent from the room the tar boiled over and set fire to the house, burning to death an infant five months old, and inflicting serious injuries on both parents, who tried to save the child. The father only lived about 34 hours after, and his wife is still in the local hospital being attended to for her burns. ; ~ ■ ''' — A Crimean dinner is to be held in Auckland on the 10th inst. A large gathering of veterans is expected. — A Mrs Dr Potts from Ameriqa has been lecturing throughout the colony, and has raised the indignation of Otat an mothers by her lectures to women on family matters. It is said she indulged in hints of the Bradlaughßesant type. — Snow has fallen in several places in the northerrimost portion of this Island. — Two new quartz crushing batteries have been opened in most important parts of the district during the month. — A boy named Hughes was out shooting seagulls in the Auckland harbour, with another one named Bydder, when the latter's gun went off, and lodged the charge, a marble, in the back of his companion. The wounded lad is progressing favorably. ■ . - . — Considerable indignation was felt upon the arriyal of the Irish informers in dne of the colonies. The action Jof the English Government in the matter has been severely commented upon. — On the 30th August tbte body of a man which was recogiiis^Mta^that of Patrick Quinlan, a bush iJHHkfound hanging to a tree about twenty^lßsfrom the town. No reason has beei^Hcertained for the committal of suicide.^fcch was recorded as the cause of death a^kin inquest held. m — On the Ist inst. a fatal accident Mscurred in the harbor. A vessel arriwd, and required piloting up the Thames Kiver. The Harbor-master, who is also pilot, went with an irregular crew, and the boat sheering off from the vessel's side while the pilot was endeavoring to get on board, caused a man named Harris to be pulled overboard, and he was drowned. His body was found floating in the harbor this morning.