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Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5033, 28 February 1885, Page 2

A new departure in the way of excursion* is to be inaugurated on Monday evening, the p.e. Tc Aroha being advertised to leave Shortland Wharf at 7.30 p.m., calling at CuriiVs Wharf, for a two hours' moonlight trip about the harbour. The boat is a suitable one for the purpose, tickets have been fixed at the low price of Is, and a good musical programme bas been arranged, so we bare no doubt the trip will be liberally patronised. '

As will be aeon by a telegram in another column, Mr Ba! lance has jnbt. forgotten his promise, made to the Thames Volunteers on the occasion of his visit, that the Hinemoa should be placed at their disposal for tho purpose of attending the Eifle Association Meeting afe Wellington. This will enable the Thames men to go free of charge from Auckland, and no doubt several besides Messrs Hawk and Weir will avail themselves of.the' opportunity.

Dttbinq- the next fortnight a considerable exodus of Maoris is likely to take place from the T lameß district. Taipari informs us tbat. the Hauraki Batives have reiolved to accept Tawhiao's invitation to nfctend a large native meeting at Whatiwhatihoe on March 12th, and that most of them will proceed there. There fa to be a big feast and korero. "

FtTBTHBK particulars of the bush fire at Tairun show that it is believed to have been originated by guru-diggers, for the purpose of facilitating their operations, and spread very rapidly. Two bushmen whose names are not given are missing, and are believed to have perished in the flames. These two men bad just lately started work on thiß contract, having arrived from another part of the district. Mr Murdoch, saoretary to the company, will go to the scane on Monday to inquire into the extent of the damage, and into the origin of the fire. "

Thb poll to decide whether or not a special rate of 3»l6ths of a penny in the £ wna'to be struck, for the purpose of forming a road to the Sbortland Cemetery was taken yesterday, at the St. George's School-room, by Mr D. R. GellioD, and resulted, as might have been expected, in the proposal bein* almost unanimously carried. The total number of votes polled was 101, of which 10 were informal, 3 (representing property of the rateable value of £1^0) were against the proposal, and 88 (representing £11,914) were in favour..

• Thb quarterly competition for tho District Belt (won last by Vol. Brownlow, T.R.R.) took place to-day. The ranges wore 200, 300, and 500 yds, 7 shots at each. The morning squad comprised nine ishootiate, t.he highest scores boittg—Gill, N.A., 86 ; Hawk, T.R.R., 82; Floyd, N.A., 82; Lucas, T.R.R., *7 ; Weir, N. A., 77. The highest afternoon scores W ere—Johns, IS.A., 74; Downie, T.R.U., 73 ; Cameron, N.A., 69. Grill therefore takes the BeU.

A pleasing ceremony loot place at the Waiotabi Creek School yesterday afternoon, when the bend-master, Mr La Trobo, who is leaving tho district, was presented with a handsomo ond valuable writing deak, gs a mark of tho esteem in which he is held-by-teachers nnd scholars.

These will be an entertainment givou in the Academy of Music this ovoning by tho American Novelty Company. The programme ie a varied one, including Irish and nigger songs and dances, and horizontal bar, acrobatic, and other exorcises, the whole to conclude with a coraic pantomine.

- A CAM of 6d haa been made by tha Devon G.M. Co. . '

The ilauraki Tribune eaye :—"Mr E. M Oorbott has been out to Karingahako to repovt upon a cite for a second battery to utilise the Go'den drown stuff." ' .

Thb Presbyterian Sunday School teachers offer the public a treat, in the way of a moonlight excu-sion, on Tuesday evening in the a c. Rotomahana, with the additional attraction of having a brass band to play during' the trip. The low price of tickets, the character of the entertainment, and the object, in view, namely, replenishing the Sunday School funds, shouti ensure a large number of Excursionists.

In tho Pollen street Lecture Hall to-morrow evening Mr Taylor will speak on " The -Wonderful Testimonies of God." Mr. H. Exley had purposod speaking in the Teroperancs Hull to-night, but owing to its being engaged he cannot do s?. Ho speaks tomorrow night on " Life and IShmortaljty brought to light by tho Gospel," and also lectures on "Wednesday and Saturday evenings next.

GbeymooTii atate echool ie closed, partly because of the prevalence of sore Lhroti and supposed fliptberia among the children.

In Cbristchurch last n^ht, on Haiku fighmonger named Th&mas Q-robelM burst a blood vessel while walking in High street, and died in about five minutes.

It is stated that Major Cantley draws £1000 per year wbile engaged on New Zealand defences. Ho is also provided with a sacratary, and both draw travelling expenses |

, Thb result of the examination of pupil teacbers under the North Canterbury Eiucatjon Board is most satisfactory. Out of 170 candidates in the various grades, only ei^hh failed. ■ The > inspectors reported that the failuros are lets numerous than in any previous year. ~

, Tde barque Glenqra arrived in Auckland to-day, havii.g among her cargo the necessary apparatus for' the electric light wiiiuh Mr G. W Bull proposes creating in his battery. It should therefore come to hand very shortly. A NEW lot of Indies* md children's Boots and Shoes received this day, at M. Whitehbas's, Pollen street, Shortland, and Owen street, Grahamstowu.—[4pvt/|

A/r the last meeting of the Board of Govern'ora of the "Auckland Grammar ' School VPsiordiiy a report, accompanied by v statement iti detail of accounts, was submitted by Mr J. Waymouth of the investigation he had made into the books and accounts of the Board at the death of their lato Secretary and Treasurer, Mr J. James. After the reading of '■ the report, the Chairman moved that a claim . b i made for the integrity guarantee of £500 to the Staudard Insurance Company in which the deceased was ioeured. Jatneo' shortage seems, to have been occieion.d by unlucky speculations wi'h a Bbip owning firm that got into difficulties aotne month* ago. Hia accounts were, tohavobenn audited by the Provincial Auditor, L. Durriou, n few dsya after his death, and now that thn defalcations are knowu it is believe t the dre.idful anxiety under which.the unfortunate man labored had much to do with the attack that oused his death. About two months before his death one of the members of the Waitsmata County' Council discovered there was some little irregularity in fcha Secretary* c»sb, and on the matter being mentioned it whs at once set right. From inquiries made of of Mr Mays the present Secretary to the Council, it appears the accounts of that body are quite correct. It is believed by those who had an opportunity of knowing that at one timo deceased's accounts were in a much worse condition than they now are. Indeed that for mouths before his death he had oeon scrimp* ing and saving to wipe out his liability to the Board.

At a meeting of the Exhibition Committee at the Borough Chambers this morning there were present Hi* Worship the Mayor (in the Chair), and Messrs.. Renshaw, Smith and MeGtowan. The Clerk said ho bad received replies from the various schools; Waiot&hi and Waio-Karaka echolars would exhibit several small articles ; from Kauaeranga Boys' School some 44 scholars intended to exhibit; and from the, Kauaeranga Girls School, exhibits of needlework and frames would be forthcoming. The entries for this branch (the Home Industrial) did not close till April Ist. The list of ordinary exhibitors was then made up as follows :~0. Palmer, cordials ; .H. L. Koefoed, tomato sauce; H. Driver, preserves} D. Henderson, patent bellowB; W. Wood, bookbinding; R. Stone, veneers ; Thames Paint Co., hematite ; J". R/Hudson, preserves } R, N. Smith, do ; A. and Gh Pries, machinery ; ■B. Peel (Te Arohft), asrated wafers; Climo and"Bft.wdeni water wheel; Glasgow Bros., apiarian »equi ites; Wm. Carpenter, k^uri gum ; J Darrow, sleepers ; W.Laurie, water wheel ; Thames Newspaper Co., printing; Q Crocker, boots ; Ehrenfried Bros., beer; C. Judd, jacks ; H. Fisheiy self-acting.cradle. The applications wp re ordered to be sent to Wellingion, and the meetingadjouned, Bagnall Bros, will also scud bee-hives, &c. The total space applied fo» is about 263 feet. No answer has yefc been received aa to whether Government will supply power to work the various machinery.

At the native meeting at Kihikihi, to consider mutters in connection with the Main Trunk Railway and Land, Wahanui stated that the natives were about to proapeob the interior for gold, and Mr Barry, who was present, was to have charge of the party, with full discretion. *