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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 180, 7 May 1872, Page 2

The handsome sum of £25 was voted last night by the committee of the Thames Accident Relief Fund to the Thames Hospital. This is indeed a good beginning on the part of the committee, and we have no doubt will be duly appreciated. All connected with the Accident Fund may be congratulated on the progress they have made. There was a meeting of battery managers and others interested; iu the supply of water to the goldfield, at the Government offices yesterday, when a resolution was passed approving of a low level scheme, which, Mr Haugliton said, should be forwarded to the Government. A full report will be found in another column. At the Police Court yesterday three cases of drunkenness, one of vagrancy, and two applications for transfers of licences, comprised the business. Mr Puckey and Mr Power occupied the Bench. At the Warden’s Court yesterday judgment was given iu the long pending Pulcehiuau case, iu favour of plaintiff, with £63 costs, execution to bo stayed for ten days, pending notice of appeal, on the ground that the judgment is against the weight of evidence. There was a meeting of the Kauaeranga Board last night. The tender of Mr Wilson for the office of pouud-keeper was accepted. Several letters were read, the purport of which will be found in our report, and the Board then adjourned until Monday. Willie Steel, Southland’s Natural Songster, will give an entertainment at the Academy of Music this eveniug. The ship Caducous will sail for London to-morow morning (Wednesday). She has a cargo of about 1,500 tons and 67 passengers. The first number of a newspaper, entitled the Waikato Times, was published on the 2nd inst. It is reported that the Waikatos have sent a special messenger to Auckland for the purpose of meeting his Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Native Minister, and that the messenger is the bearer of an invitation to these gentlemen to attend an important native meeting at which Tawhio and all the Hauhau chiefs will be present. Should the report turn out to be correct we may safely say that it is the “beginning of the end ”of our native troubles. A little diplomacy just now may be tlie means of bringing round the Hauliaus, and of gaining permission for Europeans to mine at Tuhua. The latter would be a concession,the importance of which cannot be over-estimated ; indeed we believe tlie making of a few more roads, and the settlement of a large number of diggers in the Taupo country, would for evei settle the native question. It is fortunate that both the Governor and the Native Minister are iu Auckland at the present time, and no doubt his Excellency will see the immediate necessity of setting aside the gun and taking up the “ pen.”—Auckland Star.

On Thursday week, a little boy named John Harrison, at work at Mr Dcnnin’s new clearing, Wairoa, Kaipara, met with a singular and painful accident. He was digging a drain, or something of the sort, and Mr Dennin took the spade to show him how to do it. When he had done so, he struck the spade into the ground, just where the boy was standing—unseen by him. The spade, a sharp and heavy one, came down upon the poor little fellow*’s big toe, completely severing it from the foot. Mr Dennin, in great alarm, bound the severed parts together, and at once took the boy to Mr Webb, under whose care the too seems to be growing nicely iu its proper place.— Cross. The ship Naomi, loading at Russell for New Redford, takes the following cargo : 3,700 barrels sperm oil, 1,000 cases kauri gum, 700 bales flax and tow, and a quantity of whalebone.

Sittiugs in Banco, arguments on demurrer, rules nisi, rules absolute, applications to restrain, applications to appeal, leave to alter pleadings in answer to declarations, and applications for divers tilings which can only be heard by a Judge sitting on the bench, all came to a close on Saturday for at least the next month to come, as his Honor Justice is about to take his departure for Wellington. Bankrupts may for a time feel easy that no unpleasant questions will be asked of them by learned counsel on the part of opposing creditors. Miners may go on pegging out other men’s ground aud set to work to get at the auriferous deposits, without fear of any order of injunction to restrain being issued against them ; while the members of the legal profession will have ample time to shake themselves together, and lay themselves out for new actions, to be brought when the Court once more asserts its authority and sits again iu its Civil Jurisdiction. — Cross.

A number of leading merchants and other influential gentlemen, acting on behalf of the citizens of Auckland generally, invited the Hon. Mr Vogel to a complimentary banquet to have been given this day in the City Hall, the use of which was kindly offered by the owners for the occasion. It is much to be regretted, however, that the state of Mr Vogel’s health is such as to prejudice his acceptance of the proffered compliment. We are assured that the proposal to honour Mr Vogel was warmly responded to by gentlemen of all shades of political opinion, who appeared. to unite in acknowledgement of the great service he has rendered to this colony in the matter of the late postal arrangements with the colony of Victoria. The following is Mr Vogel’s reply to the invitation of the committee ■“ J. M. Dargaville, Esq, : Dear Sir, —I am very much gratified at the compliment the citizens pay me by their invitation which you, on behalf of the committee, have sent me. I hope you will convey to the citizens aud to the committee, aud receive yourself, my thanks and my excuses, for, very much to my regret, I am compelled, on the ground of ill-health, to decline the invitation by which I am so much flattered, and to accept which would give me so much pleasure.—l am, dear sir. yours, fcc., Julius Vogel.— Auckland, 4th May, 1872,” For the same reason Mr Vogel is unable to accede to a request that he should attend a meeting of his constituents during his present stay in Auckland.— Cross.