THE Thames Advertiser WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1783, 8 April 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1874.

The first meeting of the Borough Council of the Thames takes place at toe Court-house, G-rahamstown, to-day. There is abundance of business before the Council, but the members will hardly plunge into it at the first meeting., Tbey will content themselves with setting their house in order, and making the necessary preparations for commencing work. We understand that for the'office of town-clerk there is only one applicant, Mr. F. 0. Dean,. Mr. Wildman, whose name, has been mentioned; not being a candidate. Mr. -Dean has been most energetic in' his discharge of the duties' of secretary to the Waiotahi Board, and in that, capacity has formed an with the affairs.of the district which! will be most useful to him. Anticipating that Mr. Dean will be elected, and feeling sure that he is the best man whoj could be obtained, we would recall to his recollection that saying, ascribed to ! Talleyrand and half-adozen others; "Above all, let us.have no zeal"—meaning, we suppose, that " zeal without discretion"spoken of by ahigher authority. As to the Mayoralty, the Council contains several gentlemen who could efficiently discharge the duties, and do credit to themselves and to the' office, but it is probable, we think, that each and iall, will .be. willing to stand aside in favour of Mr. William Davies, who has the .best claim that can be made upon the office, namely past services in part of the duties which the Mayor will have to discharge, ahd who, during the long time in which he has discharged those duties, has gained confidence for straightforwardness and honesty. The only .other eligible man who can be said to have any claim is Dr. Kilgour, who through good report and bad report has endeavoured to forward the movement for a municipality, and' whose efforts have been successful.' The only other names we have heard mentioned in connection ■ with the Mayoralty are those of Messrs Ehrenfried and Kennan.

After the officers have been elected, the first business before the Council will

bo to arrange with the old highway boards which ave still in existence, and respecting which there may be some difficulty. The trustees of the Kauwaeranga district, instead of stopping when the district was constituted by proclamation, as they ought to have done, plunged into contracts, and made roaids in the borough and collected rates illegally. Whether they will be brought to book for this, we do not know, but by their action they have complicated matters with the municipality on the one hand and the residents of the highway district on-the other.

A pew days ago, in an article on the position of affairs amongst the Kingites, we showed the antagonism which has been latent for years between the Waikatos and the Ngatimaniapotos, and stated that the only hope of anything advantageous to us emerging from the native gathering was that this should come to an open rupture. Telegrams from Waikato would seem to show that there is just some chance of this taking place, and that both Tawhiao, the head of the Waikatos, and Rewi, the chief of the Ngatimaniapotos, are disposed to open up communication with the Europeans. The' Cross' is, however, too sanguine, and discourses about what the natives must do if they would obtain peace and pardon, pretty, much as if they were at our feet. They are a long way from that position yet, we are quite Bure, and if Tawhiao were to see the Native Minister to-morrow, the first words he would utter would be a demand for the restitution of Waikato. Rewi may couaent to hold a distant kind of commuuicatioii with us, but we will be very little the better of that, as it will be a very long time indeed before he will consent to our exercising full authority in his country, and he certainly will give us little aid in an endeavour to bring Tawhiao to his senses, , ■

The Southern Cross of yesterday has an article on the Franklin election, in wjiich the electors are soundly lectured as to their duty; It states that the contest will be between Mr Woodward and Mr May, and strongly advises that Mr Dargaville should be withdrawn, in order that votes might not be lost to Mr Wood • ward, It then strongly urges, indeed, insists, that Mr Woodward should be elected, because he "professes opinions favourable to the Ministerial programme/' and will give a "willing" support to the Ministry. The Gross then glorifies the Ministry, speaks of the success of their native policy "a3 evinced in the present desire of the King and his principal chiefs to come in," : No such desire has been evinced, or indeed exists. The only argument the Gross uses in favour of Mr Woodward is, that he wquld be a "willing" supporter of the present Ministry, and indeed it is the only argument it could use, It is not very complimentary to Mr Woodward that not« withstanding the Gross's anxiety to have him elected, it can say nothing iu his praiso. It cannot say, or it' would, no doubt, that ho would make a good representative, or that he is an ab'e man, or that he has extensive political knowledge. Our contemporary does not say any of these things, because to do so would simply be to raise a laugh. It can only say that he would be a humble follower of the Ministry. If the Gross could possibly say anything else of Mr Woodward, it does not thiuk it necessary. If even he were an able and accomplished man, the Cross would not think it worth mentioning by the side of the fact that he would be a "willing" and thorough-good supporter of Mr Vogel. We know nothing of Mr Woodward beyond what we have seen of his utterances as the most absurd member of the Colonist's Protection League, and we are quite sure that if he goes to the Assembly Franklin will have the most asinine representative in the two Houses,

■' A meeting of the Miners' Accident Relief Fund waß held last evening, at the Governor Bowen Hotel. Mr T. B. flicks was, in the absence of the president, called to the chair. The business was of a routine character, and there were no applications for relief. '

The following additional subscriptions towards the Boiler Accident Belief Fund have been received by Mr C. Xotbill, and lodged to the credit of the fund in the bank:—Kuranui (J.M.C., £50j Mr W. Wosfcon, £2- per Mr George Hanney, Coroinandel subscriptions, £5 18s—£5718s. We may remark that in response to the call mide on their benevolent feelings in regard to this fund, the inhabitants of Coromandel havo very handsomely como to the front. The amount collected by Mr Hanney was altogether subscribed by the men working in the Coromandel tunnel and in the City of Auckland claim.

The transfer books of the Old Whau GUI.C. are to close on Saturday next, and a dividend will be payable to shareholders on and after the followiug Wednesday.

His Honor the Superintendent has intimated by telegram from Wellington that the extension of the telegraph to the Tokatea range, as desired by a deputation who waited upon him during his recent visit to Ooroniandel, will be commenced forthwith.

There was a crowded house at the Academy of Music on Monday evening, every part of the hall being well filled. The entertainment coinmenced with a grand Ethiopian selection by the members of the Oxford Troupe, assisted by several gentleman amateurs. Mr Owen was .the pianiste, and performed his part 'with his usual skilLand ability. .."Molly Darling' was extremely well rendered by Mr R, White, who has a most pleasing tenor voice, The choruses were evenly balanced, and were given with much taste, and feeling. Mr Dave Fox sang the Chair" as a substitute for Mr S. Catr'an, who, was unavoidably absent. Mr J. Reid was quite at homo in the ballad of!' The Grave of Little Nell j" his magnificent "basa voice tells well in this description of song. Messrs Fox and Verfcen, as bones and tambo, are all there as corner men; their funny stories and anecdotes were well received by the audience, the story of "Brown's Horse" being amongst the most noticeable. Mr Verten's tenor songs arc always acceptable, and his rendering of "The Irish Emigrant "and the "Low Backed Car" seemed to take tho audience quite by storm. A new sensation was introduced for the first time, when the celebrated Australian George walked along a telegraph wire from the stage to the upper circle, and.returned backwards without the slightest apparent difficulty. The miraculous feats performed by this daring gymnast are quite beyond description, Messrs Hurlit and Seager were loudly applauded for their accomplished golden shoe dance. The feats of agility on the horizontal bar were gracefully gone through by Messrs Somerton and Anderson. The entertaiament was brought to a conclusion with some amusing song* and dances by Messrs Mo Liver, Verten, and Fox. To-night there will be an entire new entertainment.

Thursday next is the day fixed for the polling for Franklin. The contest will be botweeix Mr Woodward and Mr May. That is the general opinion, and we bolieve, the correct one. . Mr Dargaville'a absence, and his not lwiug given any address, or notification direct from himself, his being enable to meet the electors or put in an appearance fro n the opening of the; contest to its close, practicilly | destroy any chauca of election, he might have, had.—Cross, '

. We- have been requested to State that Mr Wildinan is not a candidate for the position of town clerk for the, Borough of Thames. Mr Dean is the only candidate at present in the field, and from his long service to the district is pfetty'certain to receive the appointment.

The s.s. 'Go-ahead,' Captain McGillivray, left the Manukau on Monday] for New Plymouth and Wangakui. Passengers—MessrsFrancis, Luke, Hawkend, Quinlivan, Bobbett, Samuels, Campbell, Furnival, Sanderson, and Coates,

At the annual soiree and public meeting in connection "'■with' the Pitt-street Methodist Sunday School, held on Monday night, the

Rev. J. J. lewis and the Eev. W. J. Williams

took formal leave of the congregation. The -uWesleyan Mutual Improvement Class pre-. .'Wsented Mr Lewis with ten volumes, namely, Aidin's "Biography" (2v015.), Motley's "Rise and Fall of the Dutch Republic" (4 vok), Motley's "UnitedNetherlands(2vols.), Mill's "Logic" (2 vols) Mr Williams received £25 at Uoromandcl and £20 at the Thames on taking his leave, whilst the Rev. MrSmelley, of Wellington, another minister who came out to the colony in company with the above, received £50 and a handsome Bible on leaving that circuit. '

The barque 'East Lothian,' which arrived in Auckland a few days ago from New York viaDuuedin, has been condemned, the crew having complained that the ship was unseaworthy. Messrs Barber, as agent for the American Lloyds, and Dr. Campbell as agent for the British Lloyds, made a survey, and pronounced the vessel unseawdrthy, —Gross.

The following are the entries for the undermentioned races:—Auckland Autumn Steeplechase.—Mr A. Murray's ch g Mount, aged; Mr A, Murray's ch g Pharoah, Mr A. Murray's b g Sam Weller, Mr Joseph Banks' b g Oostello, Mr E. Wynyard's bg Sam, Mr Joseph Thorp's r g Rarey, Mr R, Kirkwoods big Sultan, Mr R. E. Mcßae'a b g Rustic. Auckland Autumn Handicap,—Mr H. C. Young's g c Tattler, 3yrs; Mr R, Wynyard's chm Discord, 3yrs; Mr James Watt's Parawhenui, 4yrs; Mr James Watt's b m Batter, 3yrs; Mr James Watt's ch m Calumny, 4yrs j Mr Jame3 Watt's bin Lurline, 4yrs. Auckland Cup — Vlr R. Wynyard's ch m Discord, 3yrs; Mr Watt's Parawhenua, 4yra; Mr Watt's b m Batter, 3yrs; Mr Watt's ctm Calumny, 4yrs; Mr Watt's b m Lurliue, 4yrs.

A phase of swindling well known to Londoners Las commenced in this city, and which, suggests a word of caution to confiding storekeepers. Within the last fe* days a respect-ably-dressedlady-like person, fluent in speech, apparently oppressed with the heat, of the season, went into the shop of Mr Macrae, at the'eornerof Wellington and Hobson streets. The lady took a seat and began to talk in a most, .agreeable, manner upon a variety of subjects, including the weather, the coming of Ms Governor, the absolute need of a water supply, and her husband, the doctor, who wa3 about to issue a pamphlet oo the water question. She! descended at length to snch common place things as cheese and pickles, and tasted Mr Macrae's butter, and. spoke of it in terms of profound satisfaction;' it was really exquisite j'she'could not get better anywhere— not even in the Market! She then turned with like feelings of admiration to Mrs Macrae's new stock of .drapery goodsV and was pleased with the" general appearance of the well-stocked store. The lady said that she and her family hid been residing for some time in Dedwood,. but the place was too dull, and it was inconvenient for the doctor's patients to come so far, They had, therefore, taken a nice residence on the slope' in ' Grey-street, which, was not only healthy, but commanded a fine view of the harbour and the North Shore; and did Mrs Macrae know of a good cook, who would have no objection'to'a comfortable home, and fifty pounds a-year salary ? It was so difficult to get good, steady servants; they all had sweethearts, and seemed to be of one mind in respect of the married Bfcate. Would Mrs Macrae have any objection to supplying the family with groceries, ic, on terms of monthly payments, as the doctor preferred settling periodically, aud detested long bills ? The lady's silk dress rustled musically in the ears of both Mr and Mrs Macrae, and at once established the lady in her favour. Bhe ordered goods which were sent, and the next day the little feet of the family were dancing in new sines from the Wellington-street store Vegetables, bacon, butter, and sheeting were duly ordered and duly praised, and a whole page in Mrs Macrae's ledger was filled with the favours of the doctor's lady of Grey-street, She duly left Dr. Farrow's card, with a.request that Mrs Macrae would send- for orders on Thursday morning. The good, over-kusting woman, with serene confidence in colonial honesty, sent for further orders, when lo! the house was empty, and "This House to Let" appeared on a bill in the window. The doctor and his lady, with their interesting little 'family, had gone away, and left Mrs Macrae to wonder how people could 'be so pleasant in discourse and so wicked in their ordinary dealiug3 with mankind. The news was told to the milkman, who set down his milk-pails, and exclaimed, "She bilked me also." A word of caution to the wise ifl sufficient,—Auckland Star.

In a recent bankruptcy case at Wellington, Mr Justice Johnston is reported to have made a remark which (says the Independent) will not be palatable to indiscreet traders, large or small, who'"overrun the constable"in defiance of prudent maxims, His' Honor hinted that, although there was no special provision in the Act relating to bankrupts being compelled to pay off their liabilities after passing through the Court, it was still within the power of the Judge to make an order which would compel a bankrupt to set aside a p'ortion of his earnings for the liquidation of his debts, notwithstanding the fact that he had passed Such an order would of course only be made where the Judge had good ,reason to suppose the bankrupt had not made reasonable endeavours to pay his creditors,

The following, from a Southern contemporary, is dated Queenstown, March 16:-" The census enumerator has returned from Martin's Bay. He met the collector from Hokitika at Big Bay, thirty days out, who asked that he should be reported; he was injured in the knee, and had met with great difficulties. He might take fifty days to return, The Hokitika enumerator stated he crossed thirteen rivers, and lost his swag. He would attempt to return by tho Haast River, where there were nine miners. The Big Bay settlers and the Martin's Bay were doing enough to pay Mr Hatch down in gold for all the supplies. Andrew Williamson had laid in a stock of five tons of provisions to encourage mining. He seeks no profit. The Westland enumerator met strangers prospecting in different localities in a two hundred miles journey. Settlers rejoiced in the prospect of obtaining supplies,"

Referring to the taking up of new country in 'the interior for sheep runs, the Hawk's Bay Herald says:—"One of the main causes of the high price which sheep have reached of late has been the drain on the stock of the province to stock new country. Within the last few days extensive purchases, we hear, have been made by Mr Maney—without oxception the most enterprising of our run-holders-to stock the country recently taken up by him on this side of Patea. The Waikohurun at Poverty Bay, 21,000 acres, with stock and improvements, has been purchased, we hear, by Mr Locke, of Napier, from Mr Hargreavos, its present occupant,

The West Coast papers report that whole families of; grown-up people are leaving Nelson for the southern provinces, where employment and high-wages may ..be found. The siugle men are all clearing out. "This is the one province in New Zealand (remarks a Westport paper) where energies lie dormant, where resources aro unworked, and half the population are living a hand-to-mouth existence,"

_ The Cknes Guardian has been lately giving its'attention to the following kind of narratives: —"A modest couple, who had been married for a year or two, went into a draper's to get a small cloak for baby tho other day. They were supplied, and before leaving the Bhop wrapped the cloak around tho precious little nuhance, Unfortunately, the cloak had been taken from the'window,,and the unsuspecting couple went along the street exhibiting the child ticketed 'Our own make!"'