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Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1874, 10 October 1874, Page 2

We believe that the Provincial Government have selected Mr E. B. Lusk, the Provincial sub-Treasurer,' and Mr J. B, Macdonald, solicitor, of the Thames, to conduct the proposed enquiry into the treatment of Power, while an inmate of the Thames Hospital. The selection is a wise one, and we believe will give general satisfaction, as the gentlemen named are above suspicion, Mv Macdonald, it is rumoured, thought it only light and proper to represent to the Government that he had privately expressed an opinion upon the man,, ner in which the Sub-Committee of the Hospital acted, so there is some doubt whether ho will really sit at the ouquiry. But wo think that this fact is not of itself sufficient to cavi'e the Government to make any change in the commission.

The Waio-Karalta road has beon commenced Mr Bagnall, whose tender was accepted by the Borough Council, has signed his contract, and given the requisite securities for the completion of the work, and yesterday men were employed removing a house belonging to Mr McGregor, which stood on the proposed road. This house is being removed by the owaer, who is to be compensated by a payment of £30, agreed to by the Council.

Mr James Mackay is still at Whakatiwai, but is expected over soon. He will proceed to Ohinemuri next week.

The new firebell, erected at the corner of Richmond and Pollen-strejts by the Borough Council, was rang last night, at least so we are informed, but no person in Grabamstown appears to have heard it, aSLiugh many listened for the sound Sergeanr fllliott took a position at the Grabamstown firebell to prevent any person from ringing it, but he did not hear the Shortland bell, although he waited for a considerable time. This might in some measu'e be accounted for by the fact that there was a strong wind blowing from the north-west at the time.

A very serious accident occurred at about 7 o'clock last evening on the Tararu tramway, to a boy about 6 years of age, son of Mr Harvey, who resides on the Tararu Road. There were a number of children opposite the City of Glasgow Hotel, rolling trucks along the line. The bop who was injured was called away, and he ran on in front of the truck, but he was not quick enough. The. truck caught him, threw him down, and the wheels went over his leg, in* Aiding a terrible lacerated wound. .The bone was not broken, but it is astonishing how it escaped. Dv Payne was sent for, and promptly galloped out to the scene of the accident. He at once attended-to the wound, the extent of which may be guessed when we state that before bandagiogit up in splints, about thirty stitches had to be sewn in the cuts.

Major Cooper yesterday received a telegram from Colonel Moule,' inquiring if a suitable piece of ground could be obtained at the Thames on which to conduct the Colonial Prize Firing in January next. This looks as if the Government really intended to have the prize firing here. It has been the custom to have the firing alternately in the North and South Islands, and as last year's competition was at Napier, we were doubtful whether the competition would this year be held at the Thames, From Colonel joule's telegram we would infer that it all depends upon whether a suitable place can be obtained. The present rifle range would not be suicient, as it could not be used for the rapidity, skirmishing, and other competitions.

We observe that Mr Redfern, the contractor for the foundations of tho new battery which is about being erected by Mr Kennau and other shareholders of the Bright Smile, has commencjd to make the nesessary excavations on the site selected. The excavation will be 80 feet in length and 12 feet wide, and will be sunk to the drift with two sump holes—one at each end—to draw off the water. It will be sunk to a depth of 12 feet, with the sump holes still deeper. On top of the drift there will be placed a bed of liquid concrete, over which will be placed transverse and longitudinal planks 3 inches thick. Orer these planks there is to be 4 feet of solid oetuent, and in this the bed log is to be placed. The present contract is only for the foundation, but other contracts in connec 5 tion with the plant and ; bmldings will be let immediately.

There appears to be a useful philanthropic iusfitutiou in San Francisco which might ba 'copied with advantage iu this colony. A letter was received yesterday by the' Mikado,' which bad been posted in San Francisco, but evident y was not fully prepaid, for it bore the usual postage mark "held for postage." The requisite stamps were, however, affixed by soma authority, and on one corner of the letter was pasted a scrap of printed matter containing the following intimation: —"This letter was found in the San Francisco po3t office without the requited stamps to forward it, and should have been sent to the dead letter office. Please return stamp enabling us to oblige others. address, P. 0., Box 297, S. F., Cal." We very much doubt whether any trouble would be taken with a letter under similar circumstances in any post office in this colony. It would have been sent to tho dead letter. office and destroyed, and in all probability the person who should have received it would have blamed his friend for not writing. We heartily, commend the philanthrophy of the person or association in San Francisco who so generously oblige the public in. a matter of this kind. The arrival or non-arrival .of a letter may be of the utmost importance, and we feel sure that any persoi obliged in this manner would endeavour to rep iy the expenses incurred on his behalf,

The fire which broke out in the grocery store of Messrs. Murphy Brothers was most fortunately checked in time to prevent serious damage through the promptitude of Mrflawkes and others, but had it been allowed to tike a firm hold, the results would have been disastrous in the extreme. The store is situated in the middle of a valuable block of buildings on the we3t aide of Owen-street, and extending from the Theatre Royal in Williimson-street to the Empire Hotel, corner of Abraham-street, and had the fire taken firm hold nothing could have saved the block, if, indeed, the fire could have been prevented from spreiding further. The origin of the fire was discu3se'd pretty generally yesterday, and a judicial investigation will be held to-day. ; We have gleaued the following particulars regarding the occurrence:— U"es3rs. Murphy and theirstoremauleft the premises and locked them up at 8 o'clock on Thurady night, leaving everythingsecure. Fire was observe! at about 11 o'clock by Mr Hawkes, who lives i<i the adjoining premises. He was walking in lii 3 own yard at the time, and siw the fire coming through a hole ia the roof. vVith others he broke into the store, and by a liberal use of buckets of water succeeded in quenching the fire, although the whole ceiling was in fhmes, The general opinion yesterdiy was that the fire wa3 ciused by rats gn wing wax matches, for there were a lot of matches stowed on top of caudle-baea. which wero ranged along the side of the store, and they reached almost to the ceiling. The ceiling wjs. only canvas and piper, "nailed to the .rafters, and this of course burned readily; but we do not think this accounts satisfactorily for the-. fire. There is a hole burnt in the shingles netf. the gutter, and the shinghs'are more charred on the outside than the inside. Tliere is a chimney within four feet of this hole. It is quite possible that a spark from this chimney may have fallen on the shingles and rested there, -and that after some time it burnt through and fell on the canvas. The flame would, of course, spread-, swiftly across this, and set fire to the matches which were at the opposite side of the shop. What makes, this theory seem more probable i 3 the fact that the shingles are much more charred on the outside, and that the under portions of the shiu« around the hole, which is about six inches in diameter, are quite sharp at the edge, thus evidently showing that the fire penetrate! from, outside instead of from inside the store. No doubt, however, the facts will be fully investigated to-day, and iu the meantime we have to congratulate the inhabitants of_ Cfrahamsfcwn I on the prompt manner in which the fire was checked.

A London correspondent, writing -on the 21st August, says:-I am glad to inform you shipping to all ports in New Zealand has been exceedingly brisk, especially to Auckland and Wellington, as you will see per list enclosed* Emigrants and paid passengers are "applying freely, and we have no difficulty in fillius; up with goods for every, port. Our new iron clipper ship ' Waitangi' sailed on the Ist of this month, and was quite full of passengers aud cargo. Being in splendid trim, she is expected to make a quick run out. The fourth new ship of the compauy—viz., 'Waimate'— launches on the 29th of this month at Suß&jr* land, and will load for Canterbury. sister ship to the' Waitangi.' and fitted up the same in every respect. The fine powerful ship ' Assaye' leaves for Auckland on the 29th of this month. " She is a likely ship, and we expect something wonderful out of her. She will be quite full of passengers and cargo. Every 'one here is quite astonished at what yon are doin» with the passengers and cirgo in New Zealand, and admits the New Zealand Shippiug Company is doing Wo trust the San Francisco.mail service will not drop through as it is circulated in London. ' St/of India,' for Wellington, sailed August 30, with 386 souls, equal to 3054 adultj — 'Ocean Maid,' for Nelson, saded August 18 wih 343 souls, equal to 236 adults-Waitaw, ,vith 57 adults.-' Waitangi,' for Anoklaud, sailed August 1, with 408 sonls, eauil t0,326 adults. -' Uataun,' forOtago, sailed August 18, with 43 adu'ts. , _ ; :

We notice that the anniversary services of the Grahamstown Wesleyan Sunday School will be held tomorrow (Sunday), and that the Eev J. H. Turner, who, we believe, has not before occupied a Thames pulpit, will preach morning and' evening. An afternoon service will be con. ducted by the Rev J. Daviea.

We understand that a meeting was held yesterday afternoon of gentlemeu who propose to take steps to get the Provincial Gtoverdment to establish some kind of higher school at the Thames. The meeting was a private one. There is a very urgent necessity for the erection or purchase of buildings for common schools, especially in the Kauwaeranga district, but to the repeated representations of the committee the answer invariably is, that the Board has no funds which can be devoted to the purpose. Perhaps those gentlemen who have taken this matter of a grammar school in hand will bo able also to assist in this direction. ■

"Uncle John" writes:—"To the Editor: Sir,—l was pleased to notice the improvement you are making in the study of alcohol, as evidenced by your leader of the 7th instant, in contrast to your last on a similar subject. Mr Gillan's letter of to-day is to the point, aod supports the statements in your leader, which also supports the teaching of teetotallers, that liquor unadulterated—that the alcohol is poison. Far be it from me to say that adulterated liquors are not sold sometime. A c.ise- has lately occurred in the Glasgow Police Court, where cheap hard ale was found to contain about two ounces of strong vinegar to the pint, Three hogsheads of this stuff were rolled out into the street, and the bungs sprung in presence of the populace. What I wish to be clearly kept in mind is that alcohol is poison. As you state in your leader previously referred to "a man who is dead drunk is nearer death than is commonly imagined. He i 3 like a man lying on the verge of a precipice, whom the s'ightest push may send over." As Mr Qillan puts it, a man may be a "living dead man," or in other words a man's constitution may be so strong that for a considerable period he can withstand apparently the effects of alcoholic poisoning; sooner or later the crisis comes, "Died by the visitation of ,60d," or some similar cause, is the verdict of the inquest, or the report spread, died by the poison of alcohol is the record of the recording angel. Your correspondent speaks of the exercise of Christian charily. What a prostitution of holy words to be used in reference to the defence of liquordom. Christian charity, I should think, would prevent a man iu any way injuring his brother man, even although the Government would grant him a license to do so. We commend, and justly, the noble enterprise of the Herald and Telegraph in sending H. M. Stanley to do what he can to abolish the infamous and lucrative slave trade, and ye 1 , we nourish a trade equally infamous and very lucrative, and license a man to do what ?—' Licensed —his neighbour's purse to drain, and rob him of his very last; licensed—to heat his feverish brain, till madness crowns his work at last. 1 Facts are stubborn things; they show that pure rum and milk can do their work."

The New Zealand fferald, referriug to tho telegram from Tauranga, that Wepiha to Poono, of Whakatane, in liis horror of alcohol, had broken all the bottles in a case of spirits, says: —"If that chief does not have half of the letters of the alphabet tacked to lis Maine by the various temperance bodies of tho province, then we say they are not " worthy " brethren, and do not properly appreciate the meritorious, if extravagant, act of Wepiha te Poono, whomsoever he may be." The writer of the above must be a new chum. We would recommend him, if he wants to haar something exciting, to get any old Bay of Pleuty settler to relate the stories current about Wepiha.

Greenstone, the scene of the recent rush in Westhmd can boast of a real " Claimant " A miner, now working in that locality, not only maintains that his name -is Sir Roger Tickborae, Bart,, but likewise attempts to substantiate the same by exhibiting the tattoo marks on his arms, and: speaking very indifferent French. He appears thoroughly acquainted with the names:of: the Tichborao family, and is at present:, so demonstrative in detailing his history and in denouncing the imposition of any other claimant than himself to the title, that it is not unlikely an examination, will shortly be made, -with a view of despatching him to England, or elsewhere nearer hand.— TwnmoM News

An inebriate got into a car in Boston, and became so annoying to the passengers that it was proposed to ej'tCt him;: but a kind-hearted reverend doctor interposed fir him, and soothed him into good behaviour for the remainder of the journey. Before leaving, however, he scowle I upon the occupants of the car, and uttered some words of contempt, but shook hands warmly with the doctor, and said: —" Goodday, my friend. I see you know what it is to be drunk."

"jThis year," states an agricultural reporter of the Tines, "France is rich in bread. Last year she was poor, and had to import, probably £,12,000,000 worth of wheat and flour. She should in 1874-75 be able to export £3,000,000 to £4,000,000 worth of wheat, so that the Finance Minister may congratulate the country on an increase of wealth from the wheat harvest of about £15,000,000 sterling Many miles of travel anil visit* to the fields have given assurances of the above agreeable facts, agreeable to England as to France since in the years when Franco if) a nonimport r of wheat bread is cheap in Great Britain, Ever since last autumn the news from the French wheat districts has been exceptionally favourab'e, and person il inspection and actual results provo the good reports to have been exceptionally true."

On Friday, the 4th instant (that being tlio pay day of the Great Hustler's Company), the mtn, on receiving their pay, wero requested by the mining manager to sign the new i ules; all the men refused to sign with the exception of two underground bosses, tlio lander, one blacksmith, and the tailings man. After the lapse of about three quarters of an hour the afternoon shift went to work, at the request of the mining manager, pending a final settlement of the qntation. At twelve o'clock that night the men were informed that the company had not settled what they were going to do. On Saturday night one of the miners (Robert Stirton) received notice that he was not wanted any more, the cause being in the part he had taken in refusing to sign the rules, On the following Monday the manager again requested a portion of the men to sign the rules, telling them that the mles wonld be modified shortly. Some of the men told him he had better let them see what the modineations were before asking them to sign. Two fresh men were put on, and signed the rules, border to induce them to sign they were told that all the men had promised to sign, On these men going to work the miners objected to it strongly. The mining manager ou being appealed to, first told sonic of the men that no more men should be put on until the matter was settled, a>.ul afterwards told them and others that they would have to make room for any men that signed the rules and came to work. Finally, on Friday, tlio 11th instant, the mining manager gave the men notice publicly that they would have to sign the rnle3 that day or leave the works. The men then, with the exceptions noted above, refused to sign them."— Bcndip Advertiser.