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Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5116, 10 June 1885, Page 2

An American paper states that the first and only auger manufactured that will bore a square hole is now in the shops of the Cleveland Machine Company. This auger bares a 2 inch square hole, the size used in ordinary frame buildings and barns, but they can be made on the same principal to bore square holes any size. Its application is the ordinary one, and it works on the same principle as round hole augers. Its end, instead of having a screw or bit, has a cam motion which oscillates a cutter mounted on a steel rocking-knife which cuts on both sides. In order to prevent the splintering of the wood, the ends of the cutter are provided with small semi-circular-shaped saws, which help in cutting out perfectly corners. It is estimated that this new process will save the labor of three men who work with chisels, as one man can conveniently cut a 2-inch mortice in the same length of time they can bore a round hole.

Wiliiam Beiungham, a carpenter, of Poosonby, got out of his bod on Monday night ut midnight, and jumped down the well. His wife, missing him, gave an alarm, and the neighbors grappled him up, but he was dead. He leaves a wife and two children. Three years ago he got a blow on the bead, and has lately been desponding and eccentric. A verdict of "Found Drowned " was returned.

The question of what constitutes a sufficient notice to a volunteer to attend parade arose in the Dunedin B.M. Court yesterday, when a member of the South Dunedin Rifles was charged by his captain with absenting himself without leave from a Government parade. The Act provides that notice of parade must be issued in a manner customary in Her Majesty's military service, which means verbal. The counsel for the prosecution argued that as there is no portion of Her Majesty's forces in the colony, the custom of calling a parade by advertisement should be regarded as sufficient. The case was adjourned for further evidence on this point.

The following encouraging telegram was posted at the Corner late this afternoon from the manager of the Cambria Gt.M.Co. :-— "351bs specimens from etope, No. 3 level, fair show left.—H. W. Moobb."

The woodwork of the Old Caledonian battery, a relic of former times, is being pulled down and removed to Aletsra Price Bros.' foundry, where it will be used in making an addition to their already large premises.

The veil of peace has apparently been cast over this portion of our sublunary sphere. Here transgressions against human laws are almost becoming obsolete—-a model community will in time spring up. Not even a drunk bad to be dealt with at the Police Court (bis morning.

The successful tenderers for repairing the Otunui road from the mines to the battery (Messrs Maxwell and Short) have commenced operations, the Eureka Co. having lodged the £50 promised by them to the credit of the Council. We are pleased to notice that this necessary work has at last been commenced.

Db £chwabzbach leaves Auckland for Sydney at the end of the month, and intending patients should consult him early.

The New Zealand Times has the following : —"Mr Arthur Bell, whose skill in fortifying Auckland is so highly spoken of, is fourth son of Sir Dillon Bell, Agent-General for the colony. He is an old Pressman, having been at one time engaged on the literary staff of tha Wellington Independent. He was educated at Ohriat College, Christchurch, and took the first scholarship of £75 offered by the Now Zealend University. In fact, he was the only competitor who carried off that honor the year that he competed for the scholarship. He is a pupil of Sir John Hawksbawe, one of the most eminent engineers in Great Britain. Colonials will be pleased to hear that Mr Bell was born in the colony." William McGeeqoe, a laborer, has been committed for trial in Cbristchurch for in* decently assaulting a girl un ier 11 years of At a meeting of the La Monte syndicate held in Auckland, a working committee was appointed, and has already succeeded in securing a site for future operations on most favor* able terms. No delay will take place, but the erection of a furnace will be proceeded with immediately on the receipt of the plant from Sydney. The Island Bay Racing C nb (Wellington) has decided to hold a race meeting about a week after the Wellington Bacing Club's Steeplechase Meeting at the Hutt. A Dunbdin telegram is to the effect tint the polioo hare received information that tbo body of a man, supposed to be a swagger, was discovered close to the church »t L-well's flit. It is not known w'nther or not he died from ripoaure. A Miss Weight, daughter of Mrs Robert Wright, was thrown from her buggy on the road from Ohako to Kaiapoi, Canterbury; on i Monday. She never gained consciousness, and died in a few hours A "WOMAif named Mary Adainaon, wi(a of Peter Adamson, a baker, at Hawera, drowned herself in the river lafce on Monday night. The Hinemoa sailed from Auckland for Wellington yes'erday afternoon with the following Auckland members: — Ihe Hons. Chamborlain, Dignan, and Swansou. Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Sir George Grey, Colonal Fraser. and Messra.Hurst, Luke, Moat, Whyte and Hanilin, M.H.R.'s. Mr Hislop, member for Oamaru, was also a paeaenger. Messrs Thomson, Moss, Peacock, and others will leave for Wellington by the Waihora on Thursday. , Ix has been decided to incorporate all the corps of the Naval Volunteer Artillery in the colony into a Brigade. It is contemplated to make Admiral Scott, of Dunedin, honorary Commodore of the Brigade. Admiral Scott is at present at Home, but will shortly return, bringing with him one of Hotchkisu' rapid firing guns, which has bee a lent to the colony for experimental purposes. A MEETING of delegates from the Christchurch City Council and three suburban local bodies was held yesterday to consider .tbe desirability of establishing a District Local Board of Health to take tbe place of the present one, whiob is about resigning. Tbe Sfdeaham Borough Council waa not reprc* aented, as it considers the work should be done by eioh of the local bodies. The meet* ing decided that in order to secure unanimity of action in sanitary matters, a Board of Health, composed of representatives from the local bodies in the Christoburch district drain* age area, which embraces the city and euburbs, should be formed. Lazy and dull feelings always preceed sickness, which nothing but Hop Bitters will banish, <Jet tbe g-uuiqe American. Bead

A HEW Commission of the Peace has been issued comprising 80 names, the following being the names of fchoso appointed Justices for Auckland, Thames, Tauranga, and Waikttto:—J. Atphison, Woiroa j W. Davis, Waimate; A. Guiders, Botorua; A. B. Harri?, Otahuhu; J. W. Hill, Ale*andra ; W. F. Hirst, Te Aroba; H. W. Johnion, Kotorua; F. L3wry, Auckland ; T. B Lewis, Cambridge; T. Mitchell, Kariori; J. N. Pegler,Rr\glan } a. Ross, Parua B»y \ J. Ros3, Tairuu; W. H. Snolling, Maungatnuroto j Hugh Stewart, Katikati; Thomas Thomson, Auckland; W. Thomson, Ruspeke; R. Thompson, Whangarei; and G. T. Wilkin* eon, Alexandra.

The ChristcHurcli correspondent of the Herald telegraphs:—There is still <& hot fire of correspondence going on in the newspapers about the island trade. Mr Stead is not alone in his disparaging remarks, and in answer lo a taunt that bo bai never done anything to push the Queensland trade, he replied that rs long ago as 1871 he brought it under the notice of the then Minister of Publio Works, who agreed with him. Mr Titchborne is the leader of the party who are all for the islands, and he has contributed a lot of useful and interesting information on the mbject. Amongst other tbings, be says that the whole cau?e of the reputed unpopularity of Sir Arthur Gordon was a quarrel with the editor of a Fiji paper, and that the letter's opinions are not shared by the bulk of the colonists.

A destructive fire broke out in Auckland about midnight lust night in a two storey block of wooden-buildings at the corner of Prince^strflet, opposite the Northern Clu'i, and formerly used hb Government offices during the Woikato war. The loss is estimated at £4000. The. building and contents of Hatwell's, grocer, stock and furniture, ore insured for £400 in the Colonial; and Pearce, grocer, shop and boarding house, for £300 in thelPire Association. The stock and furniture in the above premises was totally destroyed. Partially damaged, the dwelling of A. K. Murr y— furniture insurod for £500 in the London and Lancashire ; Miss Temple, dressmaker insured in tho Fir 9 Association —amount unknown. The whole block was owned by Mrs Outhwaite, and insured in tho B>yal for £sjOO, New Zealand £400, and Northern £800 (latter partial loss only.)

At the Christcburch R.M. Court yesterday, John Christopher Cuff, a half-caste Australian native, wag brought up charged with uttering a forged note at Invercargill in 18SL. He was only just about to leave the hospital, where he has been for some months, in consequence of injuries be sustained from exposure when he escaped from custody at Waiua some months ago. He had lost as arm, blood poisoning having rendered amputation necessary, and at one time there were little hopes of his recovery. The prosecutor and the police did not give evidence, as the man had been punished enough by his suffering, and the Bench allowed the charge to be withdrawn.