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Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4967, 10 December 1884, Page 2

The County Chairman has received the following telegram from the Acting Undersecretary .'or Public Works, re the amount granted to the Thames County out; of their application for £5000 under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act: —" In reply, amount to be allotted is £756 under section 18, and £1996 under sections 12 to 15 j total, £2752. You will receive letter shortly showing further particulars, and stating requirements to be complied with before grants are issued." Considering the large number of Councils and Road Boards which' sent in applications, the amount to be granted to tbe local body cannot be regarded as other than satisfactory, it being in excess of balf the sum asked for. As soon a^ the preliminaries are arranged, the Council will be able to call for tenders for works of an aggregate cost of nearly £5000, and the contracts thus let should afford employment to a large number of men.

The agitation for neparation from tbe Thames County, which has been exciting the miflds of Ohin'inuri residents for some time past, has received what is likely to prove a death-blow, the Chairman of the Separation Committee having received a letter from Government announcing that the prayer of the petition had been refused. It is also stated tbat it was thrown out because tbe number of signatures was one less than that required, showing that public opinion on tbe matter has been very evenly divided. Ohinemuri therefore still remains a riding of the County.

A SBBIE3 of three entertainments will take place in the Academy of Music during Christmas week. They will be given by local amateurs, and we are assured that very attractive programmes for them are in active rehearsal.

TiJE Thames Jockey Club have, as will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, added another event to tbe programme of the first day's racing at the Summer Meeting. In addition to the events already announced for Boxing Day, a Maori Novel Race for 20 soys., with catch weights, is to be run, the winner to be sold after the race, and the proceeds to go to the Club.

The following telegram was posted at the Corner this afternoon, by the manager of the New Prince Imperial mine i —" Holed through to winze, No. 7 level; drive not on proper leader, which is still in the bangiugwall.— G. S. Clabk."

We are informed in reference to'the resolution carried at a meeting of the Waikato Lodge of Oddfellows, and rsad at the Hospital meeting last month, to the effect that no steps would be taken by that Lodge to'aid the funds of that inslHution while Dr Payne was its permanent surgeon, that it was rescinded last night at a meeting of thirty-seven members, •with but two dissentients, and tbe above resolution was ordered to bo expunged from tbe minutes of the lodge.

We notice by the Q-azette of December 4th thet the officers of the Thames District Court have been appointed a Local Patent offices, and Mr A. J. Allom agent. The regulations for the formation of special settlements, a precis of which was published by us a few days ago, are aleo notified in the same Gazette.

The following New Zealand patents are applied for in the last number of the Gfovernment Gazette —E. S. Lees, of Oamaru, fencing brace or suspender j R. T. Dobbie, of Melbourne, improvements in brickmaking machines j G. H. Smith, of Greymouth, an improved hand-hoe ; to be called " Smith's Despatch hoe j" G. Bodley.of Dunedin,"The Eodlry Botary Reversible steam engine " ; W. B. Bust, of Dunedin, automatic rotary doorhingss, to be known as "Excelsior rotary hinge ;" and William Queenin, of Pamell, AucMand, an invention for turning night-soil into a manure, to be called " Queenin'a patent KighUoil manure."

Thk Naval Artillery and JEtifle Bangers are calls i together by the offirar commanding the district for daylight prade on the Wdo-Karaka Biat at 5.30 p.m. to-mo:row evening. The hour is inconveniently orly for a number of the members, but as Major Shepherd is to be present, we hope to see a good muster.

The lecture on " The City of the Seven Hills," to be delivered in the Ac; letny of Music this evening, and the pro( eedß of wbioh are to go to the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Fund, should attract a large audience. The lecturer is known as a fluent and entevfeaining speaker, and the subject, ai dealt with by him, i§ sure to prove very interesting. Music will also be introduced at intervals, Misses Belcher, Murray, and Hunter assisting. The charge for admission is small, and none who visit the Academy this evening are likely to go away other than patiefied.

In accordance with the request of the settlers residing on the Wharepoa Block, near the banks of the Thames River, who petitioned the County Council to have cert tin roads laid off in that locality, and by instruction of the Council, the County Chairman and Engineer, with Cr Townsend, member for the Riding' yesterday proceeded to Omahu, where they wera met by Mr Elliott and son, who, from a map in their possession, pointed out the roads which the settlers wished to have surveyed and made from the main road to their reeps ctive holding. Mr Elliott also pointed out tbe several blocks on which the petitioners were located, and how advantageous it would be to the residents if the Council could aid in the formation of the road which his men were then engaged draining. The party then went over the estate, and were surprised to see the large amount of dninage works execut-d by Mr Elliott and tenants, and were also much pleased to see the large amount of arable land ready for the plough. After proceeding along the principle drains, the party met nearly the whole of the pet:tioners, w!io reiterat.d the prayer of the petition sent to the Council, and urged the necessity of the works. A friendly chat was indulged in re the advant3ge3 of the road, and the enormous aid the settlers would derive from the outfall drains necessarily required for the railway. Mr Brodie suggested that the settlers should take advantage of the provisions of the "Roads and Bridges Construction Act" ra distri tro ,ds, which would enable them to have a good road made without delay by tbe striking of a rate, to extend over 15 year?. He also pointed out that if they bad bought the land from Government, instead of from private parties, they would have had a stronger claim for assistance. After further consideration by all present, it was agreed that the matter should stand in abeyance till the result of the action re the railway was apparent, especially in respect to the outfall drains, afxer which Mr Elliott and the petitioners would be in a position to make definite proposals to the Council as to their contribution towards the works aßked for. The party then proceeded to Hikutaia and inspected the proposed roads there, and after examining the estates of Me3srs Townsend, Ripley, and other, returned home by the coach in the evening. The settlers expressed satisfaction at the early visit of their member, Cr Townsend.

Fi.OM a telegram in another column it. will be seen that Mr R. T. Douglas, of Shortland, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace.

At a meeting of the shareholders in the New Zealand Land and Mortgage Co., ye3terday, Sir Frederick Whitaker (chairman) stated that the London directors contemplated declaring a dividend of Beven pemnt. on the first year's operations in February next.

The second scraping of plates at the Ead Queen mine Mohikinui, gave 140oZs lldwts from 97 tons stone. None of the lately-struck rich stone has yet been crushed.

An influential committee has been appointed to make preparations for giving Sir J. Vogel a b mquet on his visit to Christchurch.

In connection with a telegram published by us yesterday regarding a resolution passed by a committee of the London Telephone Company accusing; Sir Julius Vogei of enriching himself at the rompany's expense, a Press Association telegram from Wellington states that:—" Sir Julius Vogel requests us to state that he cannot believe that the Investigation Committee of the Telephone Company have made the statement attributed to them by the London correspondence, and that he declares such statement to be utterly false and libellous."

TeJiDEES were opened last night for the construction of a water race (fluming and ditching) 11 sapply the N"ew Kureka Co'npiny's battery, Otunui. Only two tenders were received -- McDeimott's price being £120, and Smith and party's tender, at £109 15s, being accepted. Work in connection with the other alterations to the mill is being pushed on as rapidily as possible.

The Harbour Board dredge was remove 1 and mond inside the intake on the northern side of Goods Wharf M-day, where it is expected the water flowing from the various batteries will prevent the wood becoming worm-eaten.

The contract for cutting down Lower Hobson street, Auckland, has been signed by Winstone. The amount is £3147. It is estimated that the contract should gire employment to IC3 men. 36,000 yardß of earth require removal.

The City of Sydney sailed for San Francisco yesterday afternoon, taking 58 passengers.

DiviEl Tooket hßs offered to supply the Auckland Harbor Board with a method to prevent the destructive ravages caused by the sea worm in the Auckland wharves, and other works. He says that after numerous experiments he has eucccsded in discovering a method by whioh these ravages may be prevented.

PBEnariNAEY steps have (says the Auckland Star) juet been taken in a suit for libel, which promises to engage considerable interest as well as to afford ample opportunity for pleasantry, should it find its way into Court. A clergyman of the Church of England is the plaintiff, while the defendant is the well kuown skipper of a London trader now in port. The alleged libel was committed both during the previous voyage of the vessel to. Auckland (when plain iff wjs among the passengers), and also after her arrival here. It consisted in the captain denouncing the cleric before the passengers as a swearer, a pugilist, aud a gambler, and similarly cheapening his character to Bishop Cowie, the alleged result being his failure to obtain employment or recognition. He tben made application to the Board of Education, and failing there also attributed his want of success to the same agencies. The reverend prosecutor, we understand, also prefers a number of minor complaints against the capta:n, amongst them being that he was subjected to the derision of the passenger* through bis effigy being slun| up to the yardarm, doubtless to signify -what, in the captain's opinion, was the fate which he merited. The captuin will doubtless put another complexion upon the story, but at present he has taken no action.

Foe sinking spells, fits, dizziness, palpitation, and low spirits, rely on Hop Bitters. JTofcica.

"Rough ok Oobns." —Ask for Wells^ " Rough on Corns," Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warta, bunions,-— Kempthorne, Frosser and Co., Agents, Auckland.

A SIUGHJIiAB accident h&z happened to David Dewar, of Milton, Otago, proprietor of a traction engine and threshing mill. He was camping for the night on a round hill, and having disconnected the travelling gear, was intending to pump some water ouc of the engine. Being on an incline it started off with the mill behind it, and soon got to a great speed. A man named Kelly, also on board, jumped off, but Dewar stuck to it until it ran over an embankment and capsized. He was severely crushed, and one rib severed fora the backbone and three others fractured, and was badly cut and bruised. The engine and mill, &c, were completely wrecked.

The hearing of the charge against William Waring Taylor was resumed yesterday in Wellington, when the prisoner was charged with mis-appropriation of the proceeds of certain Colonial Bank shares, Loan Investment Association shares, and mortgages in Cantebury and Wellington, belonging to t'>c New Zealand estate of the lat3 Mr May, and representing a value of upwards of £10,000. After a nuumber of witnesses had been examined, accused was further remanded until to-day.

" Cbbdenda " requests us to correct two typographical errors in his letter published last evening. In the sentence, " The unconditioned must be incognisable and inconceivable, its motion," &c, the last named word should be " notion," and the sentence, "Immortality estiblieb.es the eternity of the Creator," should read "Immutability establishes," &c.

" There are sciences as well as many arts of getting rich. Poisoning people of arge estates was one employed largely in the middle ages ; adulteration of food of people of small estates is one employed largely now."—Buskin. What people dare not do in their own city, they perpetrate in Auckland. Adulterated pepper is now continually serl by a Southern firm as fit for your consumption. Any one can easily detect the fraud by comparing the Bame with ours; which is prapared and sold by ub genuine only. Brown, Barrett, and Co. also guarantee that their genuine Mocha and Ceylon coffees can be relied upon ; and that their various brands Excelsior, Standard, Lion, Anchor, and Crown, consist of pure coffee, mixed with pure chicory in such proportions as we have found from experience to be generally appreciated.—Brown, Barrett, and Co., Elliottstreet, Auckland. »