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Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4701, 31 January 1884, Page 2

What is becoming a customary serenity was observable in the region of the Police Court to-day ; the Hall of Justice remained cloesd, and the charge-sheet unsullied by any offence against law and order.

Pbicb Bbos. s.b. Despatch returned from Auckland last evening, doing the distance in 5i hours, or exactly the same time as was occupied on the trip up. Captain Boe says there was a heavier swell on last night than on Tuesday. The Despatch was cruising about the Auckland harbour on Regatta Day, and on two occasions she beat the ferry steamer Victoria, which has the reputation of being the fastest small steamer in Auckland.

We are in receipt of the first number of " Labour," a journal published in Auckland, as its name implies, in the interests of its title It is capitally got up, carefully edited, and its contents are well written. In its opening article its disclaims any thought of assisting class'distinctions, and states that it will be its duty to foster the running side by eide of capital and labour, but, it manfully says, "should they unfortunately conflict, our place is by the side of labour." The new journal is excellently printed, and is published for the proprietor by Mr Win. Atkin, High street, Auckland. We wish it every succesß.

We must once more call the Borough Council's serious attention to the elongated frog pond which tries bard to do duty as a water channel on the west side of Pollen street between Cochrane and Albert streets. It has now been stage ant for weeke, and the conglomeration of animal and vegetable matter in it which lies festering in the hot sun is exceed* inglj dangerous to health. This nuisance should be at once removed.

"Labdue" comments thus on the recent miner's strike at Te Aroha. After referring to the manner in which Auckland speculators obtained their intaresto in the mines, it says that they " having the ear of the Governmept, of the calony, being possessed of political; influence, and the control of votes in the, General Assembly, the sp3oulators obtained a krge fe?ant of public money, to aid them in carrying out their private undertakings/ Stripped of disguise, the matter stands thus: The prospectors found the gold, the public found the money to prove the mines j when the mines were proved shares in them were gives to speculators to erect machinery ; and the people from the North Cape to the Bluff are taxed to aid in making roads and tramways to improve and to develop privats property. There was no sentiment in the transaction whatever. All the fustian that has been written about energy/patriotism, and enterprise, on this matter, is fustian and nothing more. Those who put up the machinery thought they had got a good thing; and if they had not put it up some other persons would. . . . The strike came about in this way. After the banquet was over, and while the sound of the wish for " higher wages " was yet lingering in their ears, the men employed at the mines were away, or left work, for a week's holiday. Over a hundred of them. It was just the Christmas time. The mines were wet, and the wages were nine shillings a day. A week's pay was kept in hand. When the men returned from their holidays they were told their wages would be reduced one shilling a day. They refused to go to work. Hence the strike. They have found employment, so we are told, elsewhere; let us hope with more reputable employers. Their week's wages in arrear was paid them after some delay, as-the law if invoked would have compelled payment. The intention of those controlling the mines will be apparent to all. The men, it was thought, when returning from their holiday, would be short of money and would take what wages were offered them. The petty meanness of the transaction is very valuable to us as a guide, showing what those who have the direction of the mines would do if their power were equal to tbeir greed."

Thb South Pacific oil bore in Gisborne is now down 200 feet, and has got beyond the papa rock and into the quartz which contains quantities of pyrites. Prom the last 30 feet oil ib brought up in considerable quantity. The news causes much interest in Q-isborne.

In Wellington yesterday afternoon the annual report of the New Zealand Wesleyan Committee was read at the Conference by the Bey. W. Tinsley and adopted. The thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. John Crump for his sertice as editor, and the Rev. W. J. Williams was appointed editor for this year. The Committee w«b thanked and reappointed. It was decided to change the name of the paper (0 the N.Z. Methodist, and the Committee was recommended to take steps for the weekly issue of the paper.

A meeting- of those interested in the formation of a company for the encouragement of the leather industry will be held on Wednesday evening next. The hour and place of meeting -will be published in a future issue of this paper.

A SHOCK of earthquake was felt in Wellington at 1.10 yesterday morning.

The yearly report of the Dunedin Coffee Palace Company shows an excess of expenditure over income of £138 14b sd, which, with depreciation at the rate of 10 per cent., throws the balance of £603 4s 2d to the debit side of profit and loss. The company thus have to call on the proprietor of the building for his guarantee of £200 per year.

IK Wellington Charles Watson has been sentenced,to 12 months' imprisonment for indecent exposure to three young ladies, who were driving though Carterton. This is his second conviction for a similar offence, and Watßon has been a nuisar?ce to the town for some time. He was also charged with aßSulting a lady who was riding home in the evening, but the evidence vras not ctn'clusire, though be was seen near the place after the ftieault was committed*

A coiiiEoilVE return has just been compiled at the Customs Office of the total number, tonnage, and crews of all vessels which entered at the Port of Thames coastwiße during the year ending 31st December, 1883. It uas follows :—Sailing vessels, 584 entries, representing a tonnage of 15,783 tonß, and crewa numbering 1520 men ; s(eamera 1400 entries, tonnage 74,875 tons, and crews 9380 men ; or a total of 1984 entries of vessels, with a gross tonnage of 90,747 tons, and 10,900 men.

The New Zealand Shipping Company has received the following cable:—London, Jan. 29tb.—Ionic left Plymouth for Wellington on the 28th, at noon. Delayed by gales.

Painiesb Dentistry.—Dr Sinalair, the eminent Dentißt, will arrive, and can be coa« suited at the Pacific Hotel, from the 15th to the 21st February. See Advertisement. — [Advt.] *

You ciN be Happy if you will stop all your doctorting yourself and families with expensive doctors or cure-alls that do only harm, and use Nature's simple remedies for all your ailments, you will be well and happy and save great expense. The greatest remedy for this, the great, wise, and good will tell you, ib Hop Bitters. Sec.

Weils' "Rough on Cobns."—Ask, for Wells' "Rough on Corns." Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts bunions.—Moses,, Mose and Co., Sydney, General Agents.