The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4719, 21 February 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1884.

The annual election of members of Licensing Committees is again placed within the power of ratepayers, and as far as can be seen, a slight conflict ef opinion is—by design* ing persons probably—being madd- much use of. Ihe temperance body—possibly

in humane interests—is taking a prominent part in the business, and we must accord them every sympathy in recognising their apparent desire to benefit mankind, and wish them—if their desires are those we give them credit for—every success. Nevertheless, having some idea of the failings- of fellow men ; recognising tbe weaknesses of our brethren in this sublunary sphere; and acknowledging the strength of mind possessed by the ordinary man, we must admit that we are afraid a tinge of bigotry | can be associated with such a question as this, as well as be connected with any other. It is. true that much trouble is wrought in the world by over indulgence in that enemy to mankind, which laws innumerable have been framed to control; and doubtless many other laws are abused as much as this one is; but it would appear to be undesirable that any separation of the people should occur, , that any conflict should arise, or any misunderstanding exist, because many are divided in opinion as to how this traffic .should be earned On. There can be no doubt that for the sake of public convenience (he existence of hotels is necessary, and the perfection of the accommodation required should be the sludj of the public. While not advocating a multiplicity of licenced houses, we would endeavor to spur on competition , for- general comfort and tbe convenience of travellers, ill rightminded people will agree, that temperance is not ojily esseniial to 1 ealth, rational end natural, but that it is neces* sary for the prolongation of life ; yet the existence of houses of accommodation proparly carried on under the provisions of the Licensing Act are absolute r<-

quisites. We hope that in the coming

. .ntests those who are apparently opposed to each other will endeavor to untte for the. public good, and try to adopt a middle coarse between their opposite views, -with the result tl-it t'te general iuteregt w?H be

conserved, and the public weal be benefitted by such action.

We would draw attention to the advertised spaci:.! meeting of Fovesters this evening.

The nominations for members of the Licensing Bench for the district of Perawai took place to-day, the following were nominated—The Revs. 0. E. Barley and F. Bull, and Messrs W. Carpenter, IL 0. GKllespie, J. B. Hansen, M. C. Hickey, T. Veale,: and J. B. West.

In consequence of the bad weather, the inspections of (he Naval Artillery and Rifle Bangers will be hfld, the former at 6.30 and the latter at 7 p.m., in their rupective -drill halls. Major Shepherd will be the inspecting officer. ** With reference to the proposed new battery for the Golden Crown Claim, Karangahake, which was reported on several weeks back by a Thames g.?ntleman, we leatn that a low level is now being driven, and should the reef look aa well (here as it does above, the erection of the mill will, no doubt, be proceeded with at once. The reef should be to hand in a few days, and judging by the cless of country now being penetrated, it will b« of good quality.

The adjourned meeting of the proposed Leather sad Boot Factory Co. was held last evening in the Borough Chambers, Mr M. C. Hiokey in the Chair. Owing to giving notiea of the meeting having been inadvertently omitted, there was not a large attendance, and it was decided that the meeting stand adjourned until next Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock at the Borough Chambers.

The Hibernian Hall was well filled with an appreciative audience last night, on the occasion of the concert in aid of the Catholic Suuday School festival. The programme was faithfully gone through, and seemed to give satisfaction, every individual fffort beuig encored, most of -the singers in response repealing the last verse. Mr Haydon's rendering of " The Dear Little Shamrock'» was the best piece of the evening ; the rendering of " Dreaming and Home and Mother,'' by Misß Cocks, a young hdy of about 11 summers, was very good, and the musical recitation " The Lost Child," by Miss Esardon, was excellently given, provoking much merriment. The remaining items were— song, "The-grave of Lilly Dale," Master Barlow; •• Children's Voices," Mra Eyan; " Some day I'll wander back again," Mr McLougWan ; " Paddy's Dreatn," Mr Wright; "Jessie's Dream," Mrs Bruca; "Beautiful Isle of the Sea," Mr Bryant; " Ehren en the Ehine," Mrs Eiuce ; "Home, sweet Home," Miss McLoughlan; "The old. Wooden Rocker," Miss Eeardon. The accompaniments wero played by Mrs Bruce. The company gave three choruses, " Softly falls the Moonlight," " Come o'er the moonlit sea/ 1 and " Sweet chiming bells," "God Save the Queen " being the finale. The hall waa then cleared, and dancing indulged in with spirit, to the strains of the Naval band. -

Fob the fourteenth time during the past four weeks a clean slue'twaa'presented at the Police Court this morniag.

Mb E. H. Tatlob will lecture in the O Jdfellows' Hall this evenin , taking as bis subject "^Pious irauds." W,e have reason, to be ieve welcome changeYrom 1 the' highly npi^A taligovffika Tnamesyitepple hare teen treated loifuifog the past few wesksj at'd that certain soznalional harangue** at i prt sent holding forth in a certain ohapel in I Willoughby street will receive attention at Ihe hands of the lecturer.

Tbe cricket match, Hawke's Bay v. Wellington, concluded yesterday, being an easy, victory for Wellington by 166 runs.'.;;' Wei* linglon's second innings clo, rd for^l^S/ arid*' the-Hawke'a Bay men were got rids>f for 32. j

These has been an explosion of petroleum gas in the South Pac'fic Company's bore which has filled with loose debris eighty feet of the bottom o4tbe hole. Thic, however, is below the pipes, and as the boring tools wera out at the time no barm is done beyond the necessity of taking out the stuff. It is thought to show the certain nearmss of oil.

■ Two informations, in which a Christcbui-ch merchant was charged by a Wellington firm with fraudulent bankruptcy, were he/ird before the R.M. in the httor city yesterday morning. Alex. Mcßae, of Christchurah, was charged by Edward P. Wilson and Alex. Strifch, of Wellington, with that be, being a debtor, within four months next before the i ommencoment of his bankruptcy, obtained on credit 15 quarter casks of whieky from Smith and Wilson, while on the pretence of carrying on business in the ordinavy course of trade, with intent to defraud. The evidence given was to the effect that in November accused sent to Smith and Wilson for a quantify of whieky, whioh was sent, the price being 6s 4d per gallon. Before obtaining it it is alleged that he Bold it to a firm in Christchurch. The Magistrate committed acjused for trial, bail being allowed in his bond for £50.

At an inquest held on the late fire at the premises of Mr Maloney, saddler, Maka>aka, Hawke's Bay, the jury returncl an open verdict, witirthis rider—"That the Talue of the stock ha 3 been much overrated, and it would be adrieable for insurance agents to look more fully into the value of 3toek before issuing policies."

The Wailato Coal and Steamship Company have had a new steamer built in London for the West Coast coal trade. Sbe is of 303 tons register, light draught, and will carry 200 tons of roal on cix feet of wa!cr. Her name is the Thomas Bussell. She left London on the 28th December, and may be expected in Aucklaud next month.

The representatives of the Hechabite Order^ who have been to Aratapu holding their annual district meeting there, have re. turned to Auckland. The Thames men returned hone to-day.

Thb Pvetbyterian Assembly met at WeiJington yeeerday morniDg at 11 o'o?ock. The discussion in reference to Mr S:dey's right t3 take part in the proceedings was continued, and the matter was settltd last evening by the Bey. Mr Killen withdrawing his motion, and the petition of Hawkes Bay Presbytery was therefore sustained. Ihe Eev. Mr Sidey was then unanimously elected clerk. ' The Bey. James Puterson moved the adoption of tbe report on the Ministers' Widows and Orphans Fund, and that lha opinion of a comj::tentacutury be obtained as to financial position of the fund, The report of the infirm and Aged Ministers' Fund was read and agreed to.

Wise Foixy.—"For ten years my wife was confined I o her bed with such a complication of ailment that no doctor could tell whet was the matter or cure her, ahd I us d up a small foMune in humbuz stuff. Six months ago I taw an American fl^? with Hop ■Bitters on if, and I though I would be a fool once move. I tried it, but my folly proved to bo wisdom. Two bottles cured her, she is now as well and strong as any man's wife, and it cost me only two dollara."—H. W., Detroit, Mich. Eead

The names of those intending to t-.ke part in the Bifto Association meeting at Auckland next month must be banded in to Mr E. T. Wildman to-night. The Rangers esnd ten men, ami the following will probably bo those chosen:—Lucas, laglis, Simpson, llawke3, J. Thomas, Cloutfc, Clark, Q-ilpin, McLsan, and Downie. Tbe company was to have fired this morning for positions, but owing to the wet weather culy tbe above tea rolled up, and they fired but a shot or two. Several men from the Navals will also fc.ke puifc in the meeting, but they will, we understand, pay all their own expense:.

Tbe " big goojebeiry "is beiDg cdipied. A potato seru-oa has set in, and a single tuber grown at Paeroa has produced the remuneratire price of 20a. On the favm of Mr N. Dickey a " murphy " a foot Jong was recently grown, and its weight was nearly three ponnrls. The way the 20s was arrived at was the raffli-i? of the monstrosity, the funds arising from the speculation have bfen forwarded to the Themes Hospital by Mr D* Cloonan, Paeroa.

The Cheviot and Waipara districts, Canterbury, have witnessed a singular phenomena. A waterspout was seen to rise in the sea, travelling rapidly inland to a boatshed where the Honi W. Robertson 10-icls wool. A team of bullocks with a dray were beiug driren by, «nd just as they reached a bridge over a gully tbe deluge descended. In a few minutes the approach to the bridge was swept away. The leading bullock fell into the uilly, bis cha'n j snapped, and lie di?appe red under a mass of earth dislodged from the banks, and was carried out to sea. Tbo waterspout traversed nearly the whole d'strict with terrible effects. No thunder or lightning or wind prevailed.

Can't Preach Good.—No man can do a good job of work, preach a good sermon, try a lawsuit well, doctor a patient, or writa a good article when he feels miserable and dull, with sluggish brain and unstrung nerves, and none should make the attempt in such a condition when it can be so easily and cheaply removed by a little Hop Bitters. Look for

Weits' "Rough on Corns."—Ask for Wells' " Kouoih on Corns." Quick relief complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts bunions.—Moeec, Mobs and Co., Sydney General Agents.