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Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4628, 3 November 1883, Page 2

Tbb directors of the New Prince Imperial to day declared a dividend of 3i per share, payable on Thursday next. This is the ninth disbursement of profits in the past 13 months, and the amount now stands at 41s per share, or a total of £37,800 distributed.

We are requested to abate that owing to the oon-arrival of the ps. Enterprise, no mail will be made up for Auckland this evening. . An accident happened this morniug to the • T.B.S.N. Co.'B p.s. Pfttiki, through which she was unable to proceed to Te Aroha. While steaming down the Kauaeranga Channel at half tide she struck the anchor of the steamer Ruby, and knocked a hole through one of the plates in the forward compartment. The captain at once made for the Harbour Board gridiron, and secured tho vessel there. The damage was repaired this afternoon by Price Bros.' emplojoi, and Bhe will proceed on her trip to-morrow evening. The wisdom of having her built in compartments was shown by the accident to-day, as the water only obtained access to the foremost division, and did not injure the cargo. We understand that the anchor of the Ruby was not buoyed, so the captain of/the Patild had very little to guide him as to its position.

A MBBHNO of the Thames branch of the Irish National League was held laat evening, when a local committee of management was elected and representatives in the Upper Country districts were selected. The Treasurer received several farther subscriptions to the fund, and it was decided that subscript tion lists be left with Mr E. Twohill, Shortland ; Mr W. Mabony, GrahamstoMn ; and at the offices of the local newspapers.

Fbom the proceedings of the Board of Education yesterday, it appears that the names of 154 candidates were entered for the approaching competition for the district scholarships. The number of scholarships is twelve, each of the value of £38 a year if the winner lives at borne while attending the Grammar School, or £43 if he has to lire away from home, tenable for three years besides ires tuition. No doubt tbe winning of a scholarship will be a valuable boon to a boy or girl of 15 or 16 years of age, and the annual competition for them ougbl- to act a* a

keen incentive to Btudy to the advanced pupils of fche public schools j but the Boafd has made a very strange relaxation regarding the age at which candidates may be legible for competing. Any one (man or woman) who is attending a public Behoolcan compete. If he or she be over 15 years of age, the consent of the Committee to attend school must have been obtained : a thing, of course, which no committee will refuse. It is time that some much-needod amendments regarding this and other points were made in the Education Act by the Legislature.

The local Sericultnral Association here regard with great interest the persistent efforts of Mr Coohran, of Scotland, to establish the silk and tea industry, together with other semi«tropical productions, permanently in the northern districts of New Zealand. TneTa can be no doubt a« to the suitability of this climate for the growth of the mulberry, and it is now conclusively establishedthat oranges and lemons will also flourish luxuriantly. The Association therefore look hopefully to the future. Owing, however, to the general monetary depression now existing in the colony, much cannot be done here in the way of fanda,which at present can be obtained for such speculations only as promise a certainty of immediate returns. Industries Buch a3 silk culture and other kindred projects will be some time taking root in New Zealand commercially, unless aided by the enthusiasm and energy of such persons as Mr Cochran, and more especially by the outside capital which he proposes to introduce.

Some anxiety was caused this morning by the non-appearance of the p. a. Enterprise from Auckland, there not having been any severe weather to detain her. Her nonarrival is, however, accounted for by a telegram received by the agent, stating that owing to a defect in her boiler she will not leave Auckland till Monday night.

Theee wsb no business at the Police Courb this morning.

At the Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening the Rev. S. J*. Neill will lecture on the Roman Catholic and other Churches in connection with the education question and civil and religious liberty and growth. At the Oddfellows 1 Hall, Mr E. H. Taylor's subject will be "When will the virtuous be rewarded ? " Messrs Foster, Rowe, and Pascoe will conduot the services at the Weßleyan churches.

Yebtebday a largo number of intending tenderers went over the ground of the contracts about to be let by the County Council on the road between here and Paeroa.

The Harbor Board have procured a supply of luminious paint for the purpose of trying its efficiency on the buoys and beacons in the harbor. As an experiment, some of the lampposts on the Q-oods Wharf were yesterday coated with the paint, which showed up very plainly at night.

The Te Aroha Pnblic Library was opened yesterday.

The Government steamer Stella left Auckland yesterday, with the Premier, for Wellington.

Tenders are invited in another column by the Quoen of Beauty GKM.Co. for extending the Vanguard crosscut at No. 8 level 200 ft.

Thb Governor left Wellington for Christchurch yesterday afternoon for the purpose of being present at the Agricultural and Pastoral. Show to be held there next week.

An up-country paper says:—"Owing to pressure of new advertisements, we are compelled to leave out some columns oi leading and oth,er matter in this issue."—-Oh! that we dwelt in such a elysium.

About 5 o'clock on Thursday evening a constable was passing along Victoria Quadrant, Auckland, when he saw a man crawling along the street on his hands and knees. The constable saw that the man was in a fit, and removed him to the station. The services of Dr Haines were obtained, but before hia arrival the man had died without being able to give any account of himself. The body has not been identified. It is that of a man apparently about 48, respectably clad, dark brown hair and beard with whiskers, hair inclining to grey; about sft Bin. in height. . .

The quarterly returns of the Public Schools in the Auckland district show an increase on last quarter of.—Schools, 2; pupile, 932; average attendance, 1536. The total now on the rolls is 16,961. 61 boys and 93 girls have entered for the approaching competition for the district scholarships: In Auckland city, 14 boys, 20 girls; suburbs of Auckland, 22 boys, 25 girls; south of Auckland, 12 boys, 19 girls ; north of Auckland, 2 boys, 6 girls j Thames, 5 boys, 12 girls j Waikato, 6 boys, 11 girls.

We have not seeu the names of any ladies in the " admissions to the bar " in the colony, but the Auckland Herald publishes a telegram stating that Miss Travers appears for the defence in the Wanganui will case. Doubtlesr the old Wellington identity W. T. L. Travers, is meant.

Her Majesty Ihe Queen, has by Order inCouncil, declared that part 11 of The Fugitive Offender's Act,of 1881, passed by the Imperial Parliament, shall apply to New Zealand and the Australian Colonies on and after Ist January next. His Excellency the Governor has issued a proclamation to this effect.

The Native Minister, Mr Bryce, left Wellington for New Plymouth and Auckland overland yerterday after noon. It is expected he will be absent some weeks-

A deputation waited on the Chief Commißsoner of the Chriatchuroh Waste Land Board yesterday deprecating the regulation laid down at the Board's last meeting refusing to grant licenses to prospect for gold within a mile of the area already licensed as such regulation would discourage (if not prevent) proapsctidg in future. —Mr Baker asked the deputation to interview the Board at the next meeting.

The " Man about Town " says that the crowds of people that visit MEABS & Oo.'s establishment, in Pollen street, daily, is a sufficient proof of the genuine bargains that they obtain. Afc this great clearing-out sale of G-nfceries, Tea, and Provision', the whole of the stock must be cleared at any price at an early date. Now h the time to lay in a stock of provisions.