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Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3635, 24 June 1880, Page 2

About two thousand logs were brought down to the booms of the Shortland Sawmill at Parawai by the heavy fresh runniDg in the Kauacranqa Creek on Tuesday evening, sufficient to keep the mill fully employed for six months.

Tho road along tho Shortland reclamation from the wharf to Richmond-street, is now in a disgraceful condition, owing to the material of which it ia composed having been reduced to sticky mud by the recent heavy rains, and it is almost impossible for carts or-other vehicles to pass along it without getting bogged. The consequence is that the residents are put to much inconvenience and trouble through the refusal of carters to conrey goods along tho road, except at exhorbitant rates, and we believe application will be made to the municipal authorities to inako it passable, Yesterray morninc a horse and cart, driven by Mr Poter Maxwell, were conveying a load of firewood to Mr J. E. Coney's residence, when all at once they sunk into the mud fully three feet, and it was only after considerable difficulty that they were extricated, The softness of tho clay may be imagiucd when wa state that before the horse could he got out bags had to bo laid down for it to tread on, and that it took four men an hour to prize the cart out of the mire. We trust the Council will consider tho application, which the residents intend to make, in a favourable light,

The examinations for the two scholarships of the Thames High School, given by Mr Ehrenfried and Mr Ppeiglit, M H.R, resulted as follows For. the open scholarship—J, 8, Bums, 622 marks out of a possible GGS. Mr Speight's scholarship, for pupils of elementary schools only, Beatrice Watlcin, 285 marks out of a possible

_ The Police Court was occupied all yesterday in hearing the joint charges of abduction and rape preferred against William H. Curnow. The only witnesses examined were the girl Margaret Ferguson (the subject of the case), and her father (Samuel Ferguson). The girl's examination occupied nearly five hours, and she gave her evidence In a very straightforward manner, In cross-examination, however, by Mr Brassey, priaonar'a counsel, she was Bomewhat confused, which is not to be wondered ut when the age of the witness is taken into con. sideration. At the opening of the Court the building was orowded with men and boys, who wished to gratify their prurient cariosity by listening to the disgusting details which would come out in the evidence, but with a strong sense of decency, highly commendable, the worthy Resident Magistrate ordered all persona to leave the Court during the hearing of the child's evidence, and the doors would not have been re-opened had not Mr Brassey directed the Bench' to the fact that the order for hearing the case in private only extended to' the examination of the girl, The public were then re-admitted. It, is somewhat curious that in two cases of a similar nature in which Mr Brassey appeared for the females ho made application (successfully) .to have them heard with closed doors, and yet when one comes on for hearing in which he appears for •the defendant he opposes the application io have the case heard in private, and so far succeeds as to have the public admitted during the greater portion of the proceedings, The hearing of the case will be resumed this morning,

MfW, J. Barlow writes—To the Editor.— Sir,—No doubt you wish this pen and ink war« 'fare would end, A well-known boniface sug> gests that the Academy be engaged for an assault of arms—weapons, sticks or gloveB; that after a bout with Lieut Denby, I should takeCapt, Small. It. is. very easy to .make aS3ertionp, as I find by the effusions of my cl> divant brother officers. In answer to Captain J. Stormonl Small that my knowledge was acquired in the Hauraki Engineers, its absurdity requires no answe". Capt. Small talks ot buugles: When he would not allow his company to' be addressed by the, adjutant, by reason enmi'y, his right "'guide could but lead. the.4campaiiy_to—its incorrect front. Captain SmaH's quotation! of an official letter merely transmitted through him in on a par with his generel military conduct of affairs; My information that second captains were allowed in the Itoyal does not prove that they ' are in the, Hauraki Engineers,' or, that' the idea emanated from me. As for thinking that his company was entitled to a voice in the affair, the captain gives his men no opportunity to have a say; meetings are studiously avoided, The doubtful honour of being a subaltern under Captain Small I felt no regret at resign- ■ ing, more than, as he truthfully says, the onesided friendship by which Captain' Small, I boldly assert, now holds his. eminent position. On my suggestion the corps took its position as Engineers, and secured its splendid band. . Without the latter the corps would, soon dwindle to boots and bayonets,

'' One who was in Court" writes!—To the Editor.—Sir,—l was very much amuseij to-day, ' and must.say was'pleased to see the vigilance exercised by the local police with- respect to collarlessdogs.. Being inside the Court-house' when a case was called on, I observed no less • than four dooja without collars within its precincts,'three retrievers, and one diminutive, poodie about 31bs weight,'. Our active >ergcant of Police at once ordered the poodle to be seized ' and placed in durance' vile," whilst tho others were allowed to go unmolested. It appeared subsequently that the poodle had been registered, but the police had no collar small fenougli to fit her, and her owner Quint) was compelled to take one that might be used to bell a "cow. I have since learned that Mr Quint had to pay another five shillings as kennel fee -a pretty good fee to chirge for looking up a registered dog, and I have'come' to the conclusion that kennel fees is only another name for police perquisites, • , "The (Sold and Silver Mines'of Colorado and New Mexico" is the litis of a descriptive address to he given at the; Academy of Musio by Mr Edwin Browne, a member: of tho lateWheeler Geological Survey,'.who is passing through New > Zealand on a visit, to the Melbourne Exhibition, and whose 'versatile talent has been highly commended feyihe'"American press. Mr Browne intends to give a,history of the districts', the story of the Comstock and other bonanzas of Colorado and' Mexico, which cannot fail to prove interesting to the Thames community, The address will be interspersed with a fund of humour and anecdote illustrative of American life, mining adventures,.and the ups and downs of reefing in the districts visited, ,

The ship City of .Quebec sailed from Auck« laud yesterday for London with sereral"paßsen> *

gcrs t and the following outgo:—Kauri gum, valued at .£25,121; wool, £5560; tallow, £1220;' leather, i' 69 3; pearl shell, £780 ; manganese, £179; sundries, £465; zinc, £35; bark, £9S ; bones and horns, £32; cotton, £10-total, £34,193.

At a public meeting at.Pahautanui thefoK lowing resolutions wero carried:—l. This meeting is of opinion that the Property Tax before the House should he done awiy with and substituted by an Income Tax, 2, The time has now arrived for all native lands to be placed ou the same footing as that belonging to Europeans as regards general and local taxation. 3. That tho honorarium paid to members of the Legialativo Council should be done away with. The honorarium to members of the House of Representatives to be reduced to one half, 4. That tho Civil Service of the colony bp reorganised to meet the present 'financial position,

A burglary was committed at a shop-in Thames street, Oamaru, on Tuesday night. A pane of glass was out out by the burglar, who not finding, any money on tho premises, de« camped with two dozen bottles of porter.,

Mr Adams, B.A;, Master of the Thames High School, will deliver a lecture in the Congregational Church, at S o'clock this evening, oil the Waimakariri River, Fouth Island. The lecture is under the auspices of the Young Men's .Christian Association,- and will be illus.

irated with diagrams.

"One of those ridiculous, ill-informed, bombastic articles, for which the IlcroM has lately become'famous, graces its loading columns to-day. The only conclusion that can be put upon these extraordinary combinations of ignorance and unabashed conceit is that our contemporary occasionally delivers the swiy of the illustrious 'we' over to some'prentice hand,' who revels in such chances to play pranks that shall startle if not edify the select circle who draw their intellectual pabulum from that dreary sheet. In this ho has assuredly succeeded to perfection to-day." The above is from the Auckland Star of Tuesday, and we Certainly realise the force of the quotation when we read, not only the article referred to, but one in the following issue, pretending to put the action of the Chairman of the Thames licensing Commissioners in its true light, by attributing the closing of certain public-houses ■to an ill-feeling alleged to exist between the Board and the brewer, who happens to be the owner of the shanties in question. Anything more absurd we have not seen for some time pa3t, oven from the' old .lady of Wyndham street, with all her celebrity for eccentricity in politics or social topics. We have not space today to give extracts showing the utter absurdity of the arguments used; the fallacy upon which they are founded, and the injury they are calculated to inflict upon a gentleman who has gained the respect and esteem of all classes of this community during the short time tb y have been favoured with his presence as presiding magistrate and dispenser of justice • in the district committed to his care, Up to the present we h&ve taken no part in the action of a few persons who are striving from various causes to sow the seeds of discord amongst the Licensing Commissioners and to point an arrow of ignominy against the altar of justice, but when we find a newspaper at a distance enlisted in the cause, and pandering to the meanest accusations in order to bolster up their conduct, we think it is high time, to interfere, and shall have something to say on the subjcct in our .next issue.

•The anniversary soiree in aid of the Sunday School in connection with the Congregational Church, came off last eveniDg, and in spite of the unpleasant weather, was very well attended, the commodious church being nearly full. The chair was taken by the Bev. Mr Laishley, who apologised for the absence of the Rev, S. J, ' Neill. In reference to their Sunday School he must be honest, and say he supposed it was the smallest one on the Thames, but he was proud to Hay that as to intelligence their school would compare favourably with any other, and their knowledge of Scripture was very satisfactory. They haida lengthy programme, and he would not take up their time then. He called upon » the choir to give "Thine is the Greatness." ' Mr Leitch sang, "low at Thy feet," aud rendered it very creditably. The Chairman then called on the Eev. Mr Davis, who V Baid he was glad of the opportunity >• of fraternising with them. He spoke of the purpose of the Sunday Schoo', and he took it that it was the duty of such to impart to children, not so much a theoretical tuition as the life and toul of the religion of Christ, the story of the cross, 'which, he contended, was the sweetest one that could be told to any child. , He argued in favour of childhood conversion. The best evidence of such was, he said, a pure love of the Saviour. Miss Manton sang a solo, " Tired," and succeeded in pleasing the audience. The choir next gave an anthem, " Bow Down thy Bar," in which Miss Hales sustained the solo very creditably. Rev Mr Adamson .. gaid, to use an Irishism, he would like to say a • - word or two before starting'to speak, Mr ' Davies had said .'that he had to thank* their anniversary -for having only one sermon to preach: he had had three to preach. He then earnestly spoke of the great advantages o£ the Sabbath School, lo which they owed the slrength of the churches. They v/ere' the firmest adherents of churches. MrChas. Hudson sang, "Not lost, but gone before,"— accompanied by Mr Vivian on the flute, and to this combination must be given the -credit of being the finest item of the . evening. Mrs May sang •" He shall feed his inck" in really a sweatjnMnar. nQiwitliataiKling inat tiisriaay-n'aa Bufleriug from a severe cold. Eev. Mr Watkln said it had been stated" that the children of to-day wanted .severe handling, as they were too fast; but he thought theymnderstood better now how to treat them, i shoeing how hard our forefathers were dealt . within youth, all teaching being instilled with 'hard blows and much- howling. The old idea ' was inculcation, and that meant stamp it in.' He protested, that demonstration was the proper ,and modern: plan adopted. He gave several happy illustrations, instancing great Abraham Lincoln and Samuel Wesley. . The former had been simply a rail-splitter, but had risen to ■ 'ominince throush hard, practical demonstration - of right. Mr, Vivian sang "Eemember now ' thy Creator in the days of thy youth" fairly well, Mr Eenshaw gave a short qddreas. ' The last item in singing was a duet by .Messrs - W. Stewart and Charles Hudson, "The Bloodred Banner, !l Mr Stewart's tenor being heard to great advantage. Mr Ashby spoke of the characteristics of the Sabbath-school, saying that he found there were three or four classes. As in politics, there weie Conservatives and Liberals, and the advanced among the latter approached the licentious. AH the accompaniments were very effectively played by Miss : Hudson on tho harmonium. ; ■In reference to the paragraph we quoted yesterday from.the Herald respecting concealment of mining news by a certain manager, we find the following explanation given We are informed by one of the directors of the Kuranui mine that in acting as he did the mine - manager complied with his instructions from the directorate. The head office of the com: pany is in Auckland, and the greater portion of the stock of the company is also held by people in and about Auckland, and the directors consider it only right that any change in the condition of the mine should be first made known to them, As soon as a telegram of this nature is received, the information it contains is at once posted outside, so that the sharehol-* dera and the general public are at once apprised of any'{fresh discovery which is made. The directors have no desire to withhold information from the Thames shareholders, but consider it only right that the head office of the company should be first made acquainted with the changed prospects of the mine, It would surely be better to arrange that importaut information of the kind referred to should be made known at both places as nearly simultaneously as possible,

The inquest on the fire at the Marine Hotel -will open before Dr Kilgour, Coroner, at the Wharf Hotel this morning.

We learn that upwards of 2000 logs were brought down to the Shortlahd booms with Tuesday's fresh.

The action of the police yesterday in compelling the owner of an inoffensive poodle to pay a fine of five shillings before roleasing a dog without a collar,—although aware that the fed had been paid for one, and that nothing small enough for the animal could be supplied,—caused some comment of an uncomplimentary kind in dogfancying circles. A letter on the subject appears elsewhere.' We think the authorities had no right to receive the fee unless preparcd_ to give the correct thing in exchange, and certainly ought not to enforce two payments for one * animal,

A special meeting of the Borough Council is to be held to-morrow, to receive notice from the Mayor of his intended visit to Wellington, and to discuss matters affecting payments into the Borough account hy the Government.

The Union Bank of Australia shipped to their head office in Auckland, oil Tuesday, two boxes of gold, confining 2647 ounces,

The Queen of Beauty pump and battery, and the Alburnia and Herald batteries, wore stopped yesterday owing to the accident to the water race caused by the heavy rains of Tuesday. We are glad to hear that the County Eugineer expects to have the damage repaired early this morning, and the water turned on aa^uaual,

It is said the Government intend to supply the men at work on the Windsor Livingstone line of railv/ay, Canterbury district, with full work during winterthe months.

Mr William Eowo appears in Wellington as the representative of the Auckland and Thames Licensed Victuallers at the united assemblage of delegates from the principal centres of population, whose object is to oppose the beer tax and shepherd the new Licensing Bill, Mi Rowe will no doubt prove a useful representative, possessing the advantages which being an e-c-member of the House will give him.

We regret to learn that Miss Clara Stephenson's injuries necessitated her remaning behind when the Steele Pramatie Company left for Auckland, and that her medical attendant has reported serious injury to several ribs as the result of her falling down the stairs of the Pacific Hotel. It will, therefore, be some time, we fear, before she is ablp to re-join the company of which she was tho leading lady.